PROJECTS - HOBBIES

DAS BRAUHAUS
 

SOAP MAKING
 

GLASS ETCHING
 

ELECTRONICS/COMPUTERS
 

 


 


 So you come off of a busy "Pre-Retirement Life" and constantly look for fun things to do, while in "Retirement."  That mode last the first year or two, then it switches to just plain "Life".  It is almost as if you never had a career, or a previous life.  Everyday when you get up, you wonder what will I do today, this week, this month, etc.  Almost never will you wake up and think about the past.  FORWARD HO!

The first two years of retirement, I didn't have time to stop and think, much less start new fun projects. But, you kinda get used to the hectic pace and start reaching out for more stuff to do. Besides traveling, flying, playing with toys, and watching the grandkids grow up, I've taken on a few "Projects".  I call these things "Projects" because they involve a big fan fare (read that as mess), procedures, documentation, some skill, lots of luck, and you end up with a product. If you are really lucky, someone will help you with your projects. Projects then become a social activity!  After the mess is cleaned up, you gain a lot of satisfaction from knowing .... "Hey, I did that!"

DAS BRAUHAUS - When I was a young and dashing fighter pilot, I drank outrageous quantities of beer!  Was not into "Hard" drinks, so much, but I sure pounded down the beer.  Over the years, I drank less and less. Now, I may drink one or two commercial beers every six months.  I may drink a six-pack of my home brew each week, if I have it available.  The beer brewing is now, Ale brewing and Lager brewing!  I've made a foray into Mead, which will be followed by Cider and Schnapps! Come visit Das Brauhaus!

SOAP MAKING - The actual soap page tells the story on how I got into making soap.  It started out as a practical thing and has developed into a fun hobby.  Not so practical any more.  Bet I have 50 or 60 bars of soap waiting to be used!!

GLASS ETCHING - Standby for this section.  Etching glass is going to be my next project.  I have etched glasses for Wendy and Shawn's wedding.  That was a positive experience.  But my good friend, Ken Weber, is who really got me interested in glass etching. Actually, it wasn't Ken so much as Ken's father.  I'll never forget this beautiful full-door glass panel that he etched. Forty years ago, I knew I would someday try etching glass, like Ken's father. The time has come!

ELECTRONIC/COMPUTERS - This project I brought with me from "Pre-Retirement" days. Many years ago I met a fellow fighter pilot named, Bob Barton.  They called him "Fix It". We slurred it all together and it came out as one word, Fixit, and that stuck with him as his moniker while flying. Anyway, Fixit got me started in electronics and computers. Over the years, I went back to school and picked up an Associate degree in electronics, several other designations as computer mechanic, systems, and programming. But, it was those 6 hours per day, everyday of my life, time spent sitting here messing with computers, that taught me the most. I'm not a "Geek", and I am not very proficient, but I sure do enjoy my computer projects. Thanks to Bob Barton for getting me started. As a side note, Bob Barton is still Mr. Fixit; still messing with electronics and computers, and still flying.  He is truly an expert, and it is all self-taught! Plus.... He Shares!