Gun show weekend

I am off for the whole weekend, and, there is a gun show at the armory, an auction all weekend long at the auction house, and, it is suppose to remain gorgeous outside. It is going to be a great weekend. Got home from work and the neighbor across the street was kind enough to bring over some leftover grilled pork chops fresh off of the grill. Awesome. She is  a great cook. Wish they made air fresheners scented like smoked meats, or bacon for that matter.

At work, I am getting a new to me toy. A CNC universal grinder. I have been requesting one for the last two years, and, it will be here next week. YES. Get to take a look at it before I go on vacation the following week. It has the exact same controller I use on the OD grinder I have now, but it has ID and OD capabilities, and auto gaging for checking size while it is running. It is almost like Christmas in October. It at least takes our capabilities up to the end of the 20th century. Not quite into the 21st, but close.

Tree limbs are all cut up and disposed of finally. Tomorrow, at some point, I will rake up the last of the old mulch and leaves. Gaining on it. All the dead wood is gone. Next spring I will have to start planting some replacement plants as it is getting barren around the perimeter of the house. Just have to make up my mind what I want. Ahh, two whole days off. So looking forward to it.

Steam show day

It was the last day of the Elnora Indiana steam show today.  They have a huge flea market, an antique tractor section, an antique car section, a working machine shop, a working wood shop, a pioneer village and lots and lots more. Very entertaining. I first heard about it last year. It is now an annual trip for me.

Here is a small section of their antiques on display. They go on around the room all the way to the ceiling. Another room has an old train layout, quite massive.

                      This is an antique horizontal saw, with a grinder in the immediate background.

                                        Here is the drill press. They had it running for display.

Here we have the drive for the whole metal and wood shop. I don't think OSHA would approve of the belt set up:)

 

                                  Here is the a front view for the grinder and horizontal mill
.

                                        This is the largest of the lathes they had on display.

                                                   Here is the small lathe running.

                                                   Here is the vertical wood band saw.

Here is the wood working side of the building. It operates off of the same motor that drives the steel shop. They are turning rolling pins at present. Last year, I got to see them make baseball bats.

They had a tractor parade. That was cool. They had about anything you could imagine from all eras. lots of great things to see and eat. Definitely be back next year. Next weekend is a huge gun auction. I probably will have to work, but I really hope not. Around 400 guns up on the block. A couple of broom handles are there. Machine gun shoot is still a few weeks down the line. I have a vacations set, so it is a for sure this year.

well, it will still be a two day weekend...

Have to work Saturday, but I will still get Monday off, so that won't be bad. I was told I should be off  next weekend, which is the Elnora steam show, which is awesome. It is the one with the working metal shop. The working wood shop. A small town setup like pioneer days. Bluegrass music. Lots of good food. Plenty of steam engines. Huge flea market. All said, I would rather work this Saturday than next Saturday.

Well, that worked out great...

I thought I was going to have to move my antennae out of the attic, where I put it last weekend, and move it to the roof. Turns out, the tuner on the TV doesn't pick up over the air signal worth anything. I ordered a box late last week I can connect a hard drive to and I can then record my shows. I received the box today, hooked up the tuner and TV. Picture is perfect. I have to play with the record feature yet. I want to be able to record my shows as usual. Looks pretty straight forward. It does 1080p and surround sound, so it is better than VHS, and with a hard drive (which I already have) it will be cheaper than tapes. I am just happy I don't have to mess with the antennae anymore.

I am shot

After hitting the frog follies Friday, crawling around the attic installing an antennae and running cable Saturday, and then, spending the third day off back at the Follies, I am thoroughly shot. Follies was a blast. Picked up a chop saw for the garage with an extra cut off wheel for twenty bucks. I found some Rat Fink paraphernalia that just had to come home with me. Saw a ton of cool cars and neat tools and parts. Missed out on the wooden toolbox. It was gone, but if it was something I couldn't live without, I would have bought it first time around. I wanted to see if the guy would drop the price some more. Oops.

Who can resist a rat fink riding a hog, and I didn't have a rat fink bobble head:)

Day one of frog follies was awesome

I am still sore from all the walking I did yesterday. Today, I cut the cable. I had the other big cable company come out and install just their internet, no cable at all. Twenty five a month for the first year for 30 meg speed. Not bad. I picked up Netflix and Sling TV to cover entertainment at a small fraction of the price. Sling gives me AMC, History, TCM, Epix and a few other live tv channels I like. I spent the day installing an antennae so I can pick up the local channels. The area leaves much to be desired as far as signal strength and location. I originally came from Northwest Indiana, so, you aimed your antenna somewhat northwest and all was good. Down here, the stations are in all directions and weak. I tried an attic mount as I have a walk up attic. It is so so. During the week I will install it outdoors. It will be worth it in massive cost savings. Cable has been beyond ridiculous in cost, especially for the few channels I actually watch.

Tomorrow I plan on hitting the follies again. There was a Gerstner knock off box there that I would like. Being the last day, he will probably deal a bit more. I have a genuine Gerstner box, but this one is nice and a very decent size. It will give me additional storage for my mics and such. Many items I want to check on. Pork chop sandwiches are pretty tasty as well. Not really ready to go back to work, but hopefully next weekend will be a three day as well.

Frog Follies tomorrow.....

Finally time for the classic hotrod show. There are all kinds of custom cars rolling throughout the town. Got out of work a bit early today so I could knock out some chores. Tomorrow morning, in line at the gate anxiously waiting. One of my favorite events of the year. Huge swap meet. For sale coral has a ton of classic cars for sale. Can't wait. Weather is absolutely perfect.  Naturally, it falls on the big Indy gunshow weekend as it always does. Not sure if I can fit both in or not.

 Also have the competing cable company coming out on Saturday. Getting rid of cable altogether and going to internet only. 30 meg speed for only $25 a month for the first year, no contract. Figure Netflix and sling tv will replace cable at a fraction of the cost. Don't watch 90% of the junk on cable anyhow. Want to get my outside antennae up for the local shows this weekend. Have to run the old cable box back Saturday morning. Hate having to do that with the car show in town, but it is the end of the month and I don't want to have to pay another month.