bad children , and it gets worse.

sitting in ER of local hospital for hours ; i had thinking time fer sure , eh??
i simplify hours of musings simply ; at any age , beat your wayward children !! if that means cops , then call 'em! sheriff , troopers , neighbors , relatives , army , national guard , lawyer , WHATEVER !!! call back up and thrash their supposed little fragile psyche !! don't let the bums grow into maggots and leaches . brats in trouble ?? help them , fine; OUT THERE , IN THEIR WORLD !
worried for grandkids?? good ; beat the parents, your own kids . work to finish what you started regardless of who mucked up the process . start where things are at and confront , hassle , belittle , badger , prod , shock & aw , chew , teach , re-train ..............
you may well have done right , but kids have own choices and school pin-heads think they learned it all and lead our precious packages some other way ...... whatever the cause , move on and start again .
NEVER NEVER NEVER move them back in , EVER !!! in 47 yrs ALL ATTEMPTS AT HELPING BY MOVING KIDS BACK after attaining supposed "adult status" have ALL FAILED . 100% rate . so , dont follow failure.
words to heed , and then read God's word thru proverbs and ecclesiastes . REMEMBER........
and for PETE"S sake DONT GIVE THEM FREE CASH !! no work , no eats , or whatever .

pops, not done with parenting yet ............................

the saw-side

chain saws are still with me ; like a crash course in 1982 , and now part of experience and life. For 4 years i cut/split up to 10 FULL cord a season . Old-timers taught me much . One simple thing was filing chain . Snug on bar , bar clamped in vise or log kerf , file with handle slightly low or perpendicular to bar and on open side of tooth , and smooth slow to medium strokes thru , lifting slightly on return stroke. HOWEVER , the tip i received was the "TWIST". yeah , the twist. As you push file thru tooth , twist as the topside of file is turning INTO the tooth top plate . this causes file to ride UP rather than the usual cut-down too far into tooth and side of link . watch carefully the the "C" shape of your cut is center of tooth OR as with chisel/flattop chain , slightly hi .
top angle is important . keep as near to new angle . generally , about 30* measured tooth front from perpendicular to bar . sounds funny so , figure 60* from inline with bar and use tooth front as the pivot or center of angle point . MANY new chains have a small mark to follow on back of tooth .
LENGTH of tooth is NOT as important as properly sharpened teeth . it is true if length is severely different, one side to the other , chain will cut a curve . poorly sharpened teeth will do that and more .

Rakers or depth gauges on teeth ; leave them alone unless you are experienced OR have proper gauge tools . simply counting strokes across can work ONLY if experienced OR gauged .wrong adjustment will ruin chain , bar AND engine , clutch , sprocket . adjusted properly , you will enjoy cutting .
start working with teeth first . after a few chains and hours of experience , practice on an old chain with raker adjustments . ONLY 1-2 strokes across as same direction as tooth filing and AFTER teeth filed properly .
Many years ago i heard the statistics ; over 75% of ALL saw repairs are due to dull or improperly sharpened chain . note the word "ALL" . 25 years of experience agrees .
enuff for 2day . next , maybe hand splitting without breaking back . i have about 10yrs pain for there . maybe save YOUR back some hurt too .
pops , after sniffing wood chips ...........

pieces, together

Our fireplace has changed a little this year . The old coal insert removed and simple log rack in stalled . nice with ash bin below still . i have burned wood on and off since Feb. , 1984 . I have split much by hand ; lending credence to phrase , "heating with wood warms you twice ; once when you cut and twice when you burn". Add "thrice" kuzz splittin' oughtta be in thare too . Each morning , now , i have coals left in the grate often covered in ash . simply stir and add small logs , wait and it restarts . Brings to mind often forgotten words in Proverbs where Solomon talks of " two are better than one...."
I'm not entirely a "lone wolf" , though some may disagree , but i see church's dying while trying to BE the "lone sheep" . Funny to be of FARM blood and 'up-bringing' and have one concerned how i shovel the sidewalk around the church .............. hhhmmmmm .........someone needs time off . watching a lady cover and set tables for church function though constant critiques and corrections flow all over the work ; a wrinkle here , fork closer there , flowers and inch to right ........ these 'leader' types EASILY offended when we step back and say," go ahead . its all yours." often respond , "oh no ! i speak and you do." .......... ........ 'Family' idea just went out the window didn't it ??
i constantly MARVEL how in such exchanges , often the worker is further criticized by other 'leaders' for 'attitude' and not COMMENDED for stepping back and allowing 'leader/organizer' to demonstrate . ONCE , many year ago , i saw a pastor quietly pull a 'leader' aside and correct behavior and attitude . he was "old school" saying , "you WILL treat them with respect."
Two better than one ; when TWO work as ONE and that means BOTH!!!
so "Word For Today" is , shut up and work!! Divorce is rooted in disrespect and poor behavior . so is most church "exodus" . often those left behind wonder what happened/is happening. a little introspection may find people looking for 'perfect' instead of brothers , sisters , grandkids , grandparents , aunts and uncles . clean walls and pews and tables rather than dirt and skinned knees , footprints , papers wads , noises , voices , corrections , training , 'quiet time chairs' , lessons , hand-holding , hugs , giggles , tickles and pokes , scolding .................. yeah , in short ; training and love family style . ..............

AND , the message goes back to "TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE ......" when one doing too much to "get it right!! it must be RIGHT first !! and do it right by doing it yourself." changes to , "lets get the job DONE" for the PURPOSE intended , not perfection desired . the LONG LOST ART of discipling ; SHOWING someone what is needed . if 'perfect' were desired , woman at the well didn't stand a chance . BUT she did , and more will ................ GODLY , not 'prefect' ; we aint God . God , three in one , not one alone .............
we're in a church , not a "look , don't touch" museum !!
now , back to stoke the fire ........... pops