Category Archives: shopping

Model Airplane Plans

September 14, 2008 – 9:21 pm

Building a working plane from model airplane plans can be an exciting and rewarding hobby, but it can also be a lot of work. Model airplane kits can be hard enough. They often have wings built entirely of thin, balsa wood ribs coated in a plastic outer wrap, which are easy to break and difficult to assemble. But building a model airplane from scratch is just that much harder. A good buddy of mine says that you should not even pick up model airplane plans unless you really are a true fanatic. And he should know - he has been building model airplanes for a good fifteen years.

Before you get your first model airplane plan, you will need to set up your workspace. You will need a variety of equipment. In addition to the standard model airplane glue, X-acto knife, paints, and other supplies that you will no doubt be familiar with, you will need a variety of small saws and jewelers tools, such as files. The precise equipment that you need to build your model airplane plans will depend on the aircraft that you will be making. A good rule of thumb is that the smaller the airplane, the harder that it is to build. In addition, certain types of model airplane plans are harder to put together than others. Single wing models are the easiest, with biplanes and triplanes being progressively harder.

Above all, building model airplanes requires patience. When I got my first model airplane kit, I was no more than ten years old. At that point, I thought it was the neatest thing in the world, but I just did not have it in me to build it by myself. By the time my dad stepped in to help me, I had almost ruined the kit trying to figure it out myself. I did not even have the patience to look at the model airplane plans until my dad made me do just that. There was a lesson in all of that for me that I did not soon forget. When I got my own son his first model airplane kit, I remembered what it was like trying to settle down and spend the hours required to assemble mine. You can bet that I was right there with him, helping him read the model airplane plans and build the plane, piece by piece without skipping any steps.

By Bill | Also posted in entertainment | Tagged | Comments (0)

Ohio State University Merchandise

September 12, 2008 – 2:02 pm

I had the opportunity to spend a few years living in Columbus, and I immediately fell in love with the place. It had the feel of a great college town while also possessing all the amenities of city life. That kind of combination is hard to come by these days. I knew I was experiencing something special, so I tried to make the most of my time there by attending various events on the OSU campus and by going to as many Buckeyes football and basketball games as possible. By the time I left Columbus, I was a full-fledged fan with as much red and white Ohio State University merchandise as the most fervid alumni.

After a few years, my Ohio State University merchandise collection started showing definite signs of wear and tear. I was still following the Buckeyes on television, so I definitely needed some new gear to replace the old stuff. The problem was that I now living a good thousand miles away from campus and wouldn’t be able to get official Ohio State University merchandise from the school itself. The t-shirts and jerseys sold at sporting goods stores near me were either poorly made replicas or generic products with the OSU or Buckeyes logo slapped across the front. This certainly wasn’t the quality Ohio State University merchandise I had grown accustomed to buying when I lived in Columbus!

Fortunately, I was able to find a few websites that specialize in selling official NCAA products to fans across the country. These sites gave me an easy and convenient way to shop for all the great Ohio State University merchandise that I really wanted. In addition to standard items like t-shirts, caps, and jerseys, these websites sell things like banners, flags, towels, bobbleheads, replica helmets, rubber wristbands, DVDs, and souvenir programs.

Some of these sites even sell Ohio State University merchandise that doesn’t have anything to do with sports. This was a great find for me because I have many friends that are OSU alumni and I’m always in need of gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, or the holidays. Giving official Ohio State University merchandise to alums is a surefire way to make it through any gift-giving occasion!

So if you’re a fan of the Buckeyes, an OSU alum, or both, I want you to know that you can still get a lot of cool Ohio State University merchandise even if you don’t live anywhere near Columbus. Just check out some online sporting goods stores and you’ll be set.

By Bill | Tagged | Comments (0)

Loose Diamonds Wholesale

September 9, 2008 – 2:36 pm

If you want to make a huge impact on your future fiance then you might want to have an engagement ring designed especially for her. This communicates that the relationship is precious and that she is one of a kind. The first step in the process is to find loose diamonds wholesale dealers who can offer you the perfect stone.

There are a variety of gems available on the market. You want to make sure that the loose diamonds wholesale supply is filled with a nice choice of quality gemstones. Things to look for include clarity and cut. The diamond should be clear and sparkling with hints of reflective color and the cut has to be precise and clean.

Common cuts for loose diamonds wholesale suppliers will carry are vast. Following are five very popular cuts that are sure to please. Once you have selected which of the loose diamonds wholesale distributors have to offer you are well on your way to creating the perfect original engagement ring that is as unique as your lady.

The round gemstone is one of the most popular, classic cuts on the market. You really want to choose this cut among the loose diamonds wholesale supply if you are creating a classic design for a traditional girl. The round solitaire is the quintessential choice for the timeless ring.

Also, there is a romantic connection to the round shape that is repeated in the metal body of the ring. The circle represents eternity and unity to many and this traditional romantic element makes the round cut a personal favorite of mine from among the various loose diamonds wholesale distributors offer.

Another classic is the marquis cut. This design is closely associated with elegance and royalty. This cut for any gemstone will provide interest and depth in the shape and it will give the diamond a reflective quality unlike any other. If you want to add a touch of rich sophistication you may want to choose the marquis.

One of the more expensive cuts is the heart shape. The added expense is due to the skill required to make such an intricate cut on the loose diamonds wholesale stock. These carefully cut gems represent love in obvious ways but there is a subtle notion of effort and skill communicated in this presentation.

The pear shape is another diamond cut that is gaining popularity. This is a great choice if you want something that is fresh, young and unique. The pear is a little more pricy than most of the loose diamonds wholesale selections but it is a newcomer that is worth every penny.

After you choose your gemstone the rest of the ring should fall into place.

By Bill | Also posted in Family | Tagged | Comments (0)

Fresh Flowers

September 5, 2008 – 8:22 am

When springtime comes, one of the first things I want to do is to go out and get some fresh flowers for my home. I don’t mind winter so much, and I always loved the snow when I was a kid, but there comes a time when you have had enough and you long for warmer weather. I love the first snowfall of the year, but I love even more the first signs of flowers popping up in the yards in my neighborhood. Sometimes you can even find them popping up out of the snow.

Fresh flowers seem to remind you that everything is coming back to life after what seems like a long and dead winter. Though some people seem to hate winter, I see it as something that makes life what it is. Without the winter, I don’t think I would appreciate the summer and the fresh flowers as much as I do. Winter reminds me to enjoy what the warmer weather has to offer, and I try not to take one single nice day for granted because I know they will not last forever.

You can find your own fresh flowers, but you have to make sure they aren’t in someone’s yard. My daughter has a hard time understanding this, but that is understandable as she is only four years old. She wants to pick all of the fresh flowers she sees on our spring walks, and I can rarely let her pick them because they are usually in someone’s yard. Instead, I go to the florist and pick out what we have seen on our walk to bring home and put in a vase. The fresh scent of these flowers always has a pick me up effect on the entire household.

This is also the reason why so many people give fresh flowers to people on dates, or when they come to visit someone for any reason. You will be hard pressed to find anyone who does not appreciate the color and scent of fresh flowers. This is why they are always appropriate. They are also popular for funerals, though I’m not entirely sure why that is. I suspect that it is a reminder that even though one life has come to an end, the world continues. Though that thought may not be welcome when you are first mourning the loss of a loved one, it certainly is a comfort in the weeks to come.

By Bill | Also posted in Home | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Beaded Christmas Ornament

September 4, 2008 – 2:22 pm

If you want to add some creative sparkle to your holiday tree that is truly unique you may want to consider the beaded Christmas ornament. There are many different styles and designs available. You can choose ones that are pre-made by crafters as well as professionals or you can make this beautiful holiday decoration on your own.

You local arts and crafts store is a great place to start for ideas. A typical beaded Christmas ornament design is anything but typical. You can be sure that no matter which design you choose you will have a unique piece for your tree. Making more than one ornament is also an option.

If you choose to make more than one beaded Christmas ornament then you should plan to put some time into the project. Most of the designs are quite intricate and involve quite a bit of effort and some practiced skill. However, the outcome is well worth the time and effort because you will wind up with either one great conversation piece or better yet, a collection of conversation pieces for your holiday decoration.

I have seen many different styles and designs with beading and holiday decoration. My favorite beaded Christmas ornament resembles a chandelier. Its oval shape has depth and texture naturally created by the crafting beads. The light from the decorated tree shines right through the ornament making the whole thing sparkle.

I was so impressed with the outstanding hand made Christmas decoration that I decided to make one myself. The pattern was a little challenging to find but there were so many styles that I chose a unique one that had the same look as the original one that I saw.

The one that I created is in clear as well as colored beads. I chose white and red for this particular beaded Christmas ornament because it suits my overall holiday decorating color scheme. Creating the ornament was a bit of a challenge and I think that my past work with beads really helped my efforts.

If you are a beginner with this kind of craft you may want to choose a simple pattern. There plenty of easier styles that are perfect for beginners. One of my favorite beaded Christmas ornament uses a traditional bulb. You simply make a netting of beads that drapes right over the bulb.

The netting project is a great place to start with this kind of project. In no time at all, you will be able to create any beaded Christmas ornament that you like no matter how challenging it is.

By Bill | Also posted in Family | Tagged | Comments (0)

A necktie

August 29, 2008 – 1:06 pm

Rodney Dangerfield, the incomparable comedian, once joked, “I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow. He told me to wear a brown necktie.”

A necktie is an object of praise or scorn, depending on your perspective. Nevertheless, the necktie has history behind it, and the practice of wearing a necktie is unlikely to go away anytime soon. The decorative neck cloth is a badge declaring a man’s status, honor, profession or allegiance, for over two thousand years.

We have China’s first Emperor to thank or berate for what is known today as a necktie. It seems the Emperor was so afraid of dying, he wanted company, lots of it, in the form of some seven thousand of his elite warriors, whom he wished to die with him, presumably so he wouldn’t be alone.

He was eventually persuaded to replicate life-sized statues of each of his men, to be placed around his sarcophagus in an honor guard. Archaeologists discovered the astonishing tomb in 1974, and were mystified by the Emperor’s fantastically large entourage. The figures were carved in the likeness of each individual, depicted in minute detail according to station and weapons. What mystified the archaeologists was that every single statue was wearing a silk neck cloth. Not only was silk a luxury reserved for the wealthy and royalty, but historical records contained no evidence of neck wear in the Emperor’s time. The final conclusion was that the neck cloths indicated the Emperor’s final conferral of his highest esteem upon the wearer.

Some three hundred years later, the Roman Emperor Trajan commemorated his troops’ magnificent and decisive victory against his enemy in what is now Romania. He had a marble column built, upon which 2,500 of his warriors are pictured. All wearing a necktie. As Roman soldiers did not wear neck scarves, historians again concluded this was Trajan’s way of honoring his men as distinguished warriors.

Now, fast-forward to the mid-1600’s, when some thousands of Croatian mercenaries journeyed to Paris to demonstrate their backing of King Louis XIV. Their traditional apparel included a necktie. Yep. Their costumes varied in material, according to their position, from coarse hemp cloth to silk. The French fell in love with this new fashion item. It soon became all the rage to wear a necktie.

The wearing of this new accessory spread like wildfire, across Europe and into the Americas. Within ten years of the French taking up the “cravat”, a necktie, the English were not to be outdone. They went crazy with enthusiasm, socially imaging a necktie as the mark of a gentleman. The English developed and put to print almost a hundred ways to tie a necktie.

The rest we know. Today, we have thousands upon thousands of necktie designs. You can choose from a variety of fabrics, styles and themes. There are neckties to herald your profession, hobbies, religion, politics, humor, military or cult affiliations.

Even if you hate wearing a necktie, there’s got to be something you can love about them!

By Bill | Also posted in fashion | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Adirondack Chair

August 27, 2008 – 9:03 pm

The beginning of the 20th century marked a turning point in American furniture. Furniture makers were eager to put behind the days of Victorian fussiness, stuffiness and form-before function. People wanted a more relaxed style of furniture, one that put usefulness before formality. This movement in furniture making became known as the Craftsman period. A man named Thomas Lee was highly influential, almost single-handedly ushering in this new era of American furniture.

Thomas Lee was an ordinary man, handy with a saw and looking for ideas for lawn furniture to use in his upstate New York lake property, suitable for picnics on sloping ground. He invented the Adirondack chair, intended only for his family’s use. The rest is history.

Thomas Lee began with the idea of a spacious chair with wide armrests sufficient to hold a beverage without need of a table, where the occupant might sit and enjoy the beauty of the lake in comfort and simplicity from a sloping hillside.

In 1903, he began with a single board, cut into eleven pieces and formed into a chair with a straight back and seat and the now-famous and signature wide armrests. He fashioned many models, testing form and function against the feedback of his family, before the final applause. The resulting Adirondack chair went far beyond his aspirations of simple functional furniture designed to please his family’s use.

Thomas Lee’s innovative furniture soon came to the attention of his friend, Harry Bunnell, a local carpenter. Mr. Bunnell, struck with the genius evident in the design, asked Thomas for a look at the chair design, hoping to reproduce the chairs and market them. Thomas agreed, and soon Mr. Bunnell produced replicas in basswood and hemlock, which sold with great success. In 1905, Harry Bunnell patented the design, dubbing the chair “the Westport chair”. Some of his reproductions of the original Adirondack chair are found in antique shops today, with a hefty price tag. Mr. Bunnell is credited with expanding the concept to include rocking chairs and lounge chairs.

Thomas Lee’s original Adirondack chair lives on today, in many forms of rustic mountain cabin-style furniture. The Adirondack chair style has been adapted to tables, benches, lounges, gliders, love seats, ottomans, beds and rocking chairs.

If you’re looking for the Adirondack style today, you’ll find many exciting variations. Adirondack furniture is found in maple, cedar and redwood versions, with a variety of finishes. Some furniture makers take substantial liberties, including rounded backs and cushions. There are knock-offs of this classic furniture made of plastic and metal.

The Adirondack chair is now popular in outdoor coffee houses, with the wide armrest a perfect host for a Latte, eliminating the need for tables.

It’s amazing indeed to realize that one man’s quest for comfortable lawn furniture for his family so long ago has become a staple in today’s American furniture. If you enjoy the outdoor rustic life, live it in comfort with an Adirondack chair. It’s a piece of history.

By Bill | Also posted in Home | Tagged | Comments (0)

5-Inch High Heel Shoes - My First

August 26, 2008 – 1:58 pm

Getting my high heeled shoes was kind of a rite of passage for me.  You see, I grew up as sort of a tomboy.  I hated dressing up.  I would much rather be out back, climbing trees with the boys or playing football.  Going to church was the worst.  I hated all those fancy dresses and skirts.  That is why I would not even look at high heel shoes.  That is, until my older sister made me try on her 5 inch heels.

If you have never worn a 5 inch heel shoe before, there’s just no way for you to imagine what it is like. You are towering up on a tiny spike, perilously suspended above the ground.  This may seem to be an exaggeration to you, but this is exactly how it feels.  The first time I put on that 5 inch heel shoe, I fell over almost immediately.  It is not like I wanted to wear it anyway, and trying it out was such a hassle.

My sister actually made me put on the 5 inch heel shoe when she was babysitting me.  She literally held me down and would not let me get up until I promised to try on the shoe.  It was humiliating, and I hated it at first.  After a while, however, it started to grow on me.  I liked the challenge of walking around the house in a 5 inch heel.  I liked the way it made me shake my hips while I walked. Although I still felt like a tomboy, I was getting to the age where I liked attention from the boys, and wearing a 5 inch heel would give me just that.

Of course I was never allowed to wear the 5 inch heels again.  Once my sister found out that I liked it, she kept the 5 inch stiletto shoes away from me.  Nonetheless, I did get to wear prettier shoes from then on.  My mom was thrilled to see that I was getting more into girls shoes and girls fashion, and was willing to indulge me with a few trips to get new clothes.  It was really a lot of fun, and it actually made me feel freer.  You see, I could still dress up like a boy when I wanted to, but I also got to dress up like a girl.  And as soon as I got old enough, I bought a pair of 5 inch heel shoes of my very own.

By Bill | Tagged | Comments (0)