If we ever make one of these

then I'm going to HAVE TO find a way to make a few of the welds.

Aircraft Carriers in Space - By Michael Peck | Foreign Policy

 

Babylon 5 was my favorite.

Interesting!

 

That's funny. After two weeks of zero sleep, I finally got a full nights sleep. This was the last post I read before going to bed. During my sleep, I had a dream of when I took welding in college. Now, the fine art of welding has always bewildered me. I was never able to apply too much or too little heat the metal, aluminum, etc. Due to this fact, my welding sucked/sucks. Anyway, as I drempt, I recalled a time/day when the college gym coach asked me to build her a huge weight rack for the gym. Now, I must tell you, this was one of my favorite coaches, as she really made an impression on me, and I grew to really admire and like her. But I digress, since I have a propsentity towards verbosity.

Moving along:

So here it is and how it went down. When the coach asked me if I could do this, I said "of course", I can get this done (though I was not sure how I would get it done). I then went to my welding teacher and explained what the coach wanted, and that I had agreed "to get it done" for her. The "teach" (as we called him) told me to collect a bunch of scrap metal from the back of the facilities. I did so, but needed a huge cart since there ended up being one heck of a lot of metal. I then would stay after class, and the teach helped me make a diagram to plan this project out. He then explained what steps I need to take and how to do it. No problem right? Wrong! I started some welds, some looked half way acceptable, and most were definitely NOT acceptable.

Moving forward:

So what ended up happening you ask? Well, my classmates heard about what I was doing, and started helping me after class, pretty much taking over the project, thus saving me from certain inevitable disaster, doom or a plethura of calamities that would have occured if I did not finish what I had agreed to. Thankfully, the "teach" ended up making it a class project since it ended up capturing everyone's interest. Boy, was I relieved.

Aftwerwards:

After a month or two, the project was completed, painted and polished. One of my classmates brought a truck and trailer to school. I had previously notified the "coach" of when and how the project would be delivered. She had cleared an area to fit the enormous multi purpose weight rack. We then very carefully drove the truck and trailer into this olympic sized gym, and about twenty of us ended up lifting it to the designated spot. The coach then had us group around our "teach" for some photos, and she took several let me say. She had us pose this way and that way, upwards, sizewards, downwards, etc., as she was very excited and happy. Seeing that she was smiling, I then loudly said "See coach, I told you I/we would get it done" in a rather theatrical manner as I distantly recall. She thanked us all very graciously, and thus we departed.

Conclusion of this story:

My teacher and classmates ended up on the front page of the college newspaper, much to our surprise and delight. The very talented writer somehow managed to include drama, action, suspense, intrigue, mystery, and comedy/humor into this article. I must say this guy was good, as he had a flair for the dramatic.

Moral of the story:

I am sorry, what did I learn from this you ask? After much thought/pondering, I figured out that making someone smile is priceless. Simple as that. I also learned that a talented welder is invaluable, and still, to this day I admire a master welder. In present day I figured out that I must never volunteer to help Kizmet with any welding projects, as I would cause more harm than good. Finally, I also learned the value of people working "togher" for a common good. There is strength in numbers.

Fin:

After the wedling class, I then decided to switch over to the mortuary sciences department, but that is another story for perhaps another time.

Have a good weekend!

Abner :smile:

 

Please excuse all the gramos in the above post

Good thing my English teachers didn't see this, or they would be horrified. I still remember how tough they were on the "red marks".

Abner :smile:

 

For all the fire and power involved, welding is a skill that requires delicacy. Someone who was good at needlepoint would almost certainly make a good welder.

 

Ah, this is music to my ears "superfluous propensity for loquacious verbosity." I love it!

Abner

 

Yes, delicacy is definitely needed. I never figured out how to properly gauge the distance between the fire and the metal.

Abner