Harbor Freight Trip 03 of 2023: The Tablesaw

I've been looking for jobsite table saws for over a month. I never needed on in the past, but just made my own jigs and clamps for my circular saw to get the rips/crosscuts I needed. It always required a bit of a setup, but I got exactly what I wanted. Breaking down a 4x8 sheet of plywood was always awkward with the sheet resting atop a sheet of foam board.

I thought I was gonna go with a DeWalt. A couple of YouTube woodworkers said it's a good first-time table saw. I even considered a cheaper Skilsaw version. But, after watching others and being enamored by Harbor Freight, this bear won me over along with a coupon of 10% off anything $50 or higher.

HERCULES - 10 in., 15 Amp Compact Jobsite Table Saw with Rack and Pinion Fence

I dunno, it just makes sense to me to go with a company that gets the factory to build to their specs, because if they can procure the equipment at a lower price point, there's not the build-up of middlemen along the way. Perhaps it's sorta like an ALDI or IKEA of tools?

Future purchases ahead!

Physical Fitness

I have NOT been writing about my physical fitness regimen. That's gonna change. I've really put that area of my life on the back burner. The thing is, everything remains up in the air regarding the move, but this is the time I can plan. I'm pulling off my fitness events from my main calendar on Google for its own space. In time, I'll even post it on this site. The swimming component is gonna be an ABSOLUTE game-changer. I worked that YMCA pool over so hard I developed shin splints. Much more to plan out. Stay tuned.

101 Day

Passing with no fanfare yesterday sans this site's footer, I hit 100 Days of Carnivore Today, I've traced the steps of 16% of my last Carnivore adventure—OK, so I'll just ignore that little tidbit. But, I'm going after it. A heavy whipping cream-less path to August 19, 2024.

"To Infinity and Beyond!"

I’m Your Huckleberry: Now Witness the Firepower of This Fully Armed and Operational Battle Station

I am rethinking my strategy of once we purchase this house to not Hulk smash the support wall between the living / kitchen space and add all of our other wants. Instead, our contractor will address just the repairs needed before we move in. And after I learned of the labor markup for flooring, I knew I'd gonna start leveling up my skillset.

See, the problem is that I want to get a truck around 18-20K from Carvana. In life, I've learned that car notes are not something I want. And yet, I've also learned in an American South context, a family only needs one vehicle...mostly. Again, when single, I functioned quite well when I gave my truck up for a bicycle—those are years bygone.

Sidebar: And again, I've never needed an automobile in Europe, but Europeans seem to do a better job recognizing the collective thing over the individual—but what do they know: they'd all be speaking Russian if it wasn't for American might, ingenuity and economics.

There's some justification as to why a second vehicle could provide me with $20K of value over time.

So, I'm wondering about the affordability of everything I want in context to a house downpayment, a truck, appliances, new tools...my fear is costs unforeseen. And, I really like budgeting! I've been hanging my hat on the idea of buying only what I need right now for a project; that mindset ought to apply across the board. Do I really need the wall down right now?

In the future, I'll stand at the podium and say, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Spinnin’ the Big Wheel for That $1.00

We have a pool that is open. We HAVE a pool that is OPEN!

Who knew that something that once seemed so insignificant would be a turning point in a contract negotiation? After that last house where that scoundrel was pulling all the tricks out to not do it, we actually have a seller who wants to sell a house, a seller that is motivated out of his own economic self-interests. Is a rational approach just a Bartlett thing? Maybe lead paint never made it onto the walls over there?

I mean, I would think it's readily obvious that if I were to sell a house with a pool, I'd have it open for an inspection. But, I am of Bartlett. The other two places I've walked from, I didn't even know I could inspect the pool—that shootin' from the hip, the dual agent never gave a heads up—and that last one...I bristle. You can't hide a cracked pool, folks.

So, we've got our dynamic duo of our inspector with our contractor at the new place today. It's weird to not yet buy a house and think in terms of what you'll do five years down the road in adding equity. That "forever home" is a bit of a misnomer. Life has so many variables that a few pop out of our arms. The only place like that has some exquisite craftmanship of pearl on the front gates and it's over in New Jerusalem. Heck of a time getting over there, however!

Carmageddon 2023

Yesterday, I found out that Harbor Freight is running a deal that with the purchase of a cordless tool, you get a free battery. A week ago, I bought both, but they have a 30-day policy where they honor it retroactively. $40 for free! Maybe a new toy! So, off I went to the Collierville location...and that was NOT the one I should have picked.

Now, I did shop for 15 minutes. But, I was out for...TWO hours. It's Mad Max out there: a blown-up motorcycle; a high-speed wreck; a stalled, budget "car" on an interstate overpass; a slammed SUV that was in the Chic-Fil-A drive-thru on an arterial road; and lastly the collector road near my house that had all three lanes of incoming traffic blocked as guys pushed shop brooms around a wreck.

I was beat. I don't remember Memphis traffic being so daunting back in 2012.