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Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Happy Black Friday, Wheelizens!

(Wait…is the term “Black Friday” raycisss?? It’s hard to know what is and what ain’t these days. It used to be pretty simple, but everything’s so “nuance-y” nowadays what with intersectionality and other progressive philosophies…)

Since we ate early (~1:30) because the kids had to attend another fete by SiL’s family and they had no way to keep perishables cold), we have a lovely surfeit of favored leftovers; teh yay! (I’m talkin’ to you, ham, turkey and Squash of teh Godz!)

Additionally, GoodWifeK had picked up a tub of some cranberry thingy from Publix made with naught but cranberries, sugar and orange juice concentrate. Deemed “far too tangy” for guests (it is quite intensely-flavored), so we didn’t serve it…but olive it! And the whole tub is mine…MINE!

Take that, scurvy!

Hope you’ve all recuperated from your food comas and have a lovely day; BBL.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Heya, Mac!

Bummer about your water heater; hope the plumber is competent and fair.

BTW, neither BK or I ever thought of you as “the blue collar Gerbil”; you’re freakin’ smart, well-read and well-rounded, write well, interesting, engaging and you listen to opera.

Classy. 🙂

As re your former business, we think that classifies you as “the skilled craftsman, successful entrepreneur, mentor Gerbil.” So neener, neener, neener.

Further Mrs. Arbuckle asked me to add that as someone whose career has mostly been as a “knowledge worker”, she’s most proud of the fact that she can work on her own car. She -- and I -- have the greatest admiration for people who can make things and/or keep them functioning. She thinks it’s an art. It’s functional, creative and not useless.

For myself…if I had to build a piano, I’d be playing spoons and 5-gallon plastic tubs with a couple of poorly-sawn dowels.

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
5 years ago

Happy Raycisss Friday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, and Mac!

I took Mrs. Paddy’s car in for an oil change this morning -- that’s one of those tasks that just isn’t worth doing myself, anymore. Especially when you take into consideration the hassle of disposing of the used oil.

Thanksgiving was a roaring success and we sent people home with lots of leftovers (while retaining plenty for ourselves). Tonight, Teh Older will make a frittata with turkey, stuffing, and dried cranberries.

Mac -- sorry to hear about your plumbing issues. At least you don’t have to replace the entire water heater.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Reply to  Mac

You got Lazhar and Herschel? I’ll bet you do solder better, Mac; hope their work’s good enough.

Glad they got the job done; hot water is a goodness.

Very happy I learned basic copper plumbing repair from Dad when I was a kid. When CasaK’s water heater bit the big one several years back, SiL and I -- amazingly -- got everything we needed in one Lowe’s trip. (Very nearly forgot the flux; remembered while we were standing at the checkout and I was able to run back and snag it.)

Even better, work got done right the first try and has held up. 😉

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
5 years ago
Reply to  Mac

Glad you got your hot water back! I wonder if Fatwa was involved in the selection of your plumbers?

I think I was probably 6 when my dad taught me how to solder electrical connections. Later, he taught me how to solder copper fittings -- same technique, larger size. I remember the first time I attempted to solder copper pipe with the new, California-mandated, lead-free solder. I just couldn’t get a decent joint and the flux wasn’t doing its job. I finally went out and bought a tub of lead-free solder flux, which turned out to be solder paste -- small spheres of solder in flux. Everything worked just like it’s supposed to. Nice and easy.

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
5 years ago
Reply to  Mac

I totally understand. 2020 is like ten years from now, right? At least?

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
5 years ago
Reply to  Mac

We’d have them by now, if Fatwa would get his compatriots to share their technological wizardry with the rest of us.