alleybaggett.net ~ View topic

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1521

Ok, I'm quite certain that every one has had some point in their life in which they displayed great determination and/or improvisation.

Perhaps the reason I had this idea relates to the same reason I am currently soaked in sweat.

We are having satellite dishes put in on the house, but the only area they could go required the clearing of part of two small trees. By small, they were about 20ft. tall and 4-5in. thick. Since I was told the trees should get cut down anyways, I went more towards the base. With a chainsaw, it would have taken less than 5 minutes. However, all tools were currently elsewhere, and not an elsewhere I'd have access to before the installation guy would arrive.

So, what tools did I have at my disposal? A hacksaw and a claw hammer. Not exactly the most useful pair of tools, as the hack saw could only get as much as 1 in. into the tree before I couldn't get it any further. At first, though, I was only using the hacksaw. So, pondering my options, I searched for more tools, coming out with a hammer and chisel, assuming I could widen the cuts of the hack saw enough to get more progress, but alas, it did not work. Looking at my watch, it was an hour before the guy would arrive. In frustration, I started smacking the tree with the hammer, and then realized I could use the claw hammer like a hatchet. So after about 20 minutes of fury, the tree still stood. I decided I'd try to get on the roof and try to find a narrow spot nearer the roof. The best way up was to grab a branch onto the air conditioner, and then use the tree to get onto the roof. As I was starting to place more weight on the tree, it started to fall, until it had at last broken. I then proceeded to apply this technique to the other tree, until it had at last, also fallen. I had finished both about 3 minutes before the time I was given to expect to see the installer, but even as I write this, he has yet to show up

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2311

Cable and satellite guys never show up when they say they will.

Still, good job with the trees.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 6010

That certainly took alot of what you described as determination and improv. I'm just glad you got your trees down before the cable guy came and then THAT would have been ackward. I should know what its like to cut down trees since I spent an entire summer doing that for fun to collect firewood, and those took hours sometimes. So good job man.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 4287

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1521

Not exactly the direction I was hoping this would take. As much as I appreciate the compliments, I'm more interested in hearing other people's stories of great perseverance and/or determination and/or improvisation. Sure, some stories may seem mundane to a few, but they may be remarkable to others.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 6010

lol, I can't really think of anything other than surviving the hell called boot camp. Not much of a story, but man, what a painful experience XP

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1521

Depends on branch of service. I went Navy and boot camp was a joke, except for one part. In the gas chamber, I was in the next to last row of people and my gas mask wasn't on tight enough. I felt the tear gas the whole time, it just felt slightly more intense when I took the mask off.

Rank: Veteran Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 998

uh... gas chamber... thats kinda cruel Shocked

Rank: Veteran Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 998

ok, you wanna talk determination. try teaching yourself to use the program "blender" to make 3D models and animations, that shits hard Rolling Eyes

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1521

I can relate to your pain, my brother went to Art Institute of Pittsburgh and "attempted" to teach me some of his programs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0hiELrGgs

That's one of his projects that he did. He wanted to fix some things with it and what not, but the ceiling in his room collapsed and ruined all the original sketches. Don't know if he knows flash, though, but I could ask him.

Rank: Veteran Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 998

thats pretty good, better than anything i could do, currently.

man, i would love to learn flash, but i'll stick to 3D modeling for the meantime.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1521

Well, he doesn't feel confident enough with flash to do it for commission. It would have been nice if he did, as he would have been a nice alternative to Zone. He has, however, agreed to do some sketches of Samuel for me.

Rank: Veteran Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 998

i would love to see them when he getts done with em