LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS THEY'LL ENJOY?
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
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MY CHRISTMAS ARCH
Last year at Christmastime I spied this dazzling arch erected by my neighbor,
However, as many of us know, there's often a long bridge of inertia between desire and acheivement, and getting across this bridge can require a massive thrust of energy, ambition, and will-power. Manys a project and plan of mine have sputtered before the first step.
But I've also learned that sometimes it's just forcing that first step across the inertia bridge that makes the second, third, fourth and final steps happen. In fact sometimes taking that first step puts you in a position that obligates you to follow through. Or else end up looking like a schmoe.
Such was the case with the the first step in this project, which was me convincing myself to walk the several blocks to the house, where, happily, the Christmas arch was set up again this year,
As it turned out, the friendly builder was oh, so happy to help me. He generously came out of his house, went over the construction details with me, told me what materials I'd need and the quantities and where to purchase said materials, and shared some helpful tips.
Following my neighbor's schematic, I figured I'd need the following materials for a slightly shorter arch:
31 5-foot pieces of 1/2" PVC pipe
6 3-way connector pipe fittings
9 4-way connector pipe fittings
10 12'' lenghts of rebar
Zip ties
Mini colored Christmas lights on white wires
My neighbor was quite enthusiastic about my copying his idea and lighting up my street as he had lit up his and even offered to come over and help me with the construction. Thus I knew, having pulled someone else all up into this not-yet-conceived-brain-child project, I had no choice but to either make it happen or look, in the eyes of my newly-met, helpful can-do neighbor, like a big-talking can't doer. I decided to absolutely make it happen.
The next step, per the instructions of our helpful neighbor, was for my mate Tom - now also pulled into the project - and I to head over to Home Depot to gather our supplies, which we did on Thursday, December 2.
The PVC pipe, 10-foot lenghts cut in half for us by a Home Depot staffer