Woohoo! Two of three big projects down here at work, and the third one is complete except from some input from outside of my department. I can finally consolidate some of the paperwork that has been spread all over my desk for the last few weeks and start planning my next projects.

I was puttering around a bit last week and sent away for a couple of catalogs, just for fun. The first was for Burley, a bicycle manufacturer. Seeing how regular bikes play hell with my knees, I’m thinking about a recumbent (which seems to work well for xydexx). By comparison, the recumbent cycles at the gym are usually not too bad for me. The only drawback is that new models start at $750 and head north to about $2,000 from there. I need to figure out where I can find a rental place or something where I can at least try out a ‘bent to see how well it works for me. I’m sure as hell not going to drop that kind of money on one of those things without testing it out first!

Also, just for fun, I sent away for a catalog from Lindsay Publications (as mentioned in Cool Tools). It includes such books as the Impoverished Radio Experimenter series, “Rockey’s Regenerative Receivers,” “Build a Full Size Coal Forge,” “Build a Mower-Style Line Trimmer,” and “Preserving the Dead.” I don’t see me ever actually ordering any of these books, but the catalog is entertaining in an American Science and Surplus kind of way.

So it sounds like we suddenly have dinner plans for tomorrow night. Cool! I’ll have to get the specifics from Dan tonight, but I’m happy about it. I’m a social kind of guy and I sometimes feel we don’t get out enough, but that’s just me. And now, back to work!