Madness Doorway

Dear J-

Oddly, for a Sunday, it was busy and productive.  I wasn’t too distracted at work (when other co-workers weren’t scaring the bejeezus out of me, that is — I admit that I turn up the volume to 11 whenever I think I’m alone, and assuming you’re alone is not always safe), so I was able to bang out most of my targeted work.  It’s the distractions that’ll get you.  It’s been effective enough, in fact, that I almost want to get a door for the cubicle.  Door closed, don’t come in — busy working.  Ah.

Speaking of doors, I spent this evening working on the garage door.  Honestly, it took more time sitting around and worrying about the awesome maiming power of garage door springs (and that’s not something to take lightly, those of you with sectional doors — not only are there safety cables if you’ve got extension springs, but the right torque cones for those of you with the torsional sort) than it did to install the new springs.  In fact, it took longer to buy the springs than to install them, as the ones currently on were a touch too long and I was shifting to a different sort of end connection as well — I ended up with three different sets of springs before settling on the right length (30″), end connections (“safety lock” — a two-piece loop), and wire gauge (7).  All the same, I’m not precisely the world’s strongest person, yet I was able to budge the springs with enough pre-tension to make the garage door work smoother than ever.  Those of you with one-piece garage doors take note:  they’re not obsolete, and they’re much easier to work on besides.  I suspect that the local Home Depot has so much stock of springs because of the vintage of local houses.  The roll-up doors present two advantages:  you can fit bigger cars into the garage, and you can pull up right next to the doors.  Easier to just get a smaller car and remember not to pull in too close, eh?

By the way, they warn you about the extreme force stored in garage door springs — I believe it, but was compelled to look for horror stories on the internet.  I’m not saying that they’re not out there, but I can’t say that I found anything directly related to springs.  On the other hand, I’m not getting a warm, fuzzy feeling over being able to find additional supplies of springs, so I may go hoard a few sets.

Meanwhile, war breaks out between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, and all we get from our fearless leader is powder-puff interviews with sports reporters and photo opportunities with athletes.  The more I see his smiling, unworried face, the more I believe that there really must be someone hidden pulling the strings.

Mike

Tags: busy, door, fearless leader, garage, georgia, holmes, install, productive, russia, south ossetia, spring, sunday, work