Popular Post Fagyver Posted May 14, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Hello everybody! My name is Adam. I'm 35 years old...not for long, as my 36th is fast approaching (May 25). I've been lingering in the background for a few weeks, but I'm finally getting around to introducing myself. I'm very much a beginner here, but I'm happy to say that my interest in woodworking has gone from a strange case of voyeurism to a player sport as of late. I live in a little bitty quiet town in Southern Virginia with no lines on the road or stop lights, and though I love this little bitty town and my little bitty place in it, life is far from anything like I thought it might be. I would love to say that I was just bored and decided to start back up on an old project I'd shelved long ago, but that's not the case. Somewhere in the past decade, I became completely disenchanted with life. Failed relationships, the untimely deaths of several of the most beloved people of my life, and a surprise seizure disorder cracked the otherwise happy and strong foundation on which I believed I existed. At the risk of oversharing but making a long story short(er), all I know to say here is that I must not have been the person I thought I was - those things wouldn't have had the profoundly disturbing effects they did if I had been. Without really realizing it, I was on a desperate hunt for a reason to get out of bed the next day when I stumbled upon my interest in woodwork. Over the course of the last year or so, I've gone from being a person who owned a drill but reserved it for someone else's use to having 4 batteries in obsessive rotation at all times. LOL (It's funny cuz it's true.) I share that to illustrate the strange shade of surprise this whole thing is colored with for me. If you've read this far, keep reading...I'm about to tie it all together. Around last November or so, I came across a good price on some 1x6x8 pine boards, and I bought 30 of them. I put them in the living room floor to create an obstacle; I had to adapt to this obstacle or change it's form. (And obstacle it was since I live in a singlewide mobile home!) Well, that was the idea, but to my surprise, my stubborn @$$ is like my father after all. It wasn't until I'd called up an old buddy of mine and told him to "come get this (insert various expletives here - I used them all!) load of wood out of my (repeat expletive insertion here) way before I kill some- (one more expletive insertion) body!" that I finally felt the urge to build. As I watched him go out the door with those boards (over and over again), I felt like I was betraying something or somebody...myself? the wood? Who knows. I made him leave me five, and after finally firing up the table saw I bought, it wasn't a week later I called that buddy up and asked him if he'd bring me back 5 more. LOL Now everything in my living room is covered in saw dust, and I've got a newfound zest for life. Okay, "zest" might be a strong word selection, but I do have a couple projects under my new tool belt and a little hope in my heart. So far, I've made a crosscut sled, a tracksaw-like jig thing, a floating shelf, and a stand that's attached to my porch to keep my garbage can upright and safe from the 4 legged residents of this sleepy little town. It's been a slow start, but I think I may have found the most unexpected love of my life in this craft. Thank you all so much for being here, for doing what you do, for loving it, for sharing it. It's not lost on me! This is especially important for someone like myself that is without a mentor of any sort, like I'm sure a lot of you are. For what it's worth, I went ahead and offered up the subscription fee...not because I couldn't stand the ads, but because it's the only readily available way to show my gratitude to the community. You are appreciated. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Well, welcome to our sleepy little forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Glad to have you aboard! I hope we can continue to share things that aid and inspire, as I am sure you will, yourself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Welcome to the forum. Woodworking and the forum can be a great elixir. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to make mistakes during you learning process, we all do, well at least I do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 That's why this forum exists. To get people inspired, to help them improve their woodworking and their lives. There's not much more satisfying than going from a tree to lumber, to the saw, with your mind focused and making something that makes your heart smile. Welcome from another sleepy town, in middle Tennessee. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 I'm sure that many on this forum can attest that woodworking has played a big part in helping to get them through many a tough time. I include myself in that many times over. Welcome to the forum. We're glad to help where we can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Welcome. There are a lot of smart and friendly folks here. If time and space allows a good starting point is to see if you could be a helper at a cabinet shop. Get paid and learn. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Welcome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 A great introduction. Welcome bud! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Hey Fagyver, welcome to the forum! We all love this hobby/occupation in different ways, which is one of the best parts of woodworking. You know something can be done, and there are many different ways to get there. We don't all use the same road, but we all get there eventually 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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