This was my backyard just a week or so ago. My back is feeling it after this month, I tell ya.

Digging ditches, singing barbershop, and NOT dying a fiery death

Adminisk8or

10/29/2024

How did a month just happen?! Well, a lot can happen in four weeks... and that's no exception, in my case.

In these last several weeks, SO much has changed at my house. I went from not having a sprinkler system in my backyard to having a fully functional one. I went from having a wood shed overgrown with weedy trees and vines to a clear and easy to access shed now supplied with power and network. Dealt with a battery backup unit at work that was literally leaking acid. I installed a bathroom fan- electrical and exhaust, all in a single day. I've replaced all my old light switches in my house with new rockers. I rewired a floor lamp that used a hot and dangerous halogen bulb to use a normal A19 light. It has been long, hard work, but it's nice that it's finally coming to a close. And the last couple days have been an effort to remove the patch of sticker weeds growing in the corner of my hard. After carefully hunting down and destroying all of them, I decided to play it safe and just torch the ground, since there was almost no grass there, anyways. But my weed burner was a bit on the slow-going side of things, so I thought I'd spice it up. Yes, you guessed it- out comes the gas canister. Honestly, it was working really well- the weeds were burning at a rapid rate, and I was carefully sprinkling the ground as I went. And then came the nearly fatal mistake...

You know how some moments in time take only a matter of a few seconds but feel like they're stretched out forever? That was exactly the case the moment I saw the gas canister catch fire. It only took perhaps 10 seconds or less, but I quickly made every effort I could to douse the fires with my gloved hands. As I tried to do so, I realized I wasn't succeeding fast enough. Realizing I was holding a time bomb in my hands- about as literally as it gets, I cast it into the grass nearby- partly to get it further away from me to prevent the worst outcome when it would eventually explode, but also to try to extinguish it that way. Surprisingly, it worked a little- and seeing that I had just bought a few precious seconds to disarm the bomb, I quickly made the effort to rush over and put out the remaining licks of fire.

How that story ends with me walking away unharmed and not looking like The Human Torch's funeral is honestly beyond me, but I was grateful. Apparently not so grateful that I gave up on using the gas can, as I shortly resumed my burning- though it may come as a surprise to you that I was oddly a lot more cautious about doing so.

But near death experiences aside, there's been fun in the mix, too (I know, how can you have more fun that that, right?). I had the chance to perform for the first time in a barbershop quartet at a public venue, and it was honestly a lot of fun! There is a special energy that resonates with four folks just singing fun songs with tight harmonies and having a fun time.

Speaking of music, I just became a choir director for my local congregation! On the one hand, it's super exciting, as it's something I've always sort of dreamed about. On the other hand, it's a little scary now that it's reality and another thing to add to my life's plate; but I look forward to it!

And I'd tie in some special message, perhaps, but sometimes it's just good to have a post where I say things happened and that's it. Hmm... I guess we could say something quick and true, like "Without music, life would B flat" or "Hard work pays off" or "don't set yourself on fire due to sheer stupidity". Anyways, until next time, see ya!