#so i got the router set up yesterday and everything's good now

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning!! :3

[thessalian]

Thess vs Pain Flares

Update on the move: I should not have done that. I should not have done any of that. Because two days later and I can still barely move without absolute agony. Thing is, I had absolutely zero choice. I should have had, but I did not.

See, I got told that none of the work on my flat was going to happen within a few weeks. They still had to find a contractor, etc etc. (And here's me wondering whether they could have just shortlisted contractors before they had me move out, but apparently that's not a thing we think about.) So I thought, "Okay, once we've got the big furniture moved, the little stuff can probably wait, especially if I don't use it. I can move at a leisurely pace and have it take a few days, which will be good for me because I know what happens if I overdo it".

But apparently no.

A note about my desk - it's actually a long IKEA table and because I overestimated the sturdiness of the tabletop, it's sagging in the middle a bit where I used to keep my computer. (Side note: when it was suggested I keep it on the floor, I'd forgotten why I did so until I plugged in the primary monitor and the HDMI cable was too short and actually broke instead of just pulling out of the socket when I set the computer down; which is why on top of moving so much of my shit on Monday, I had to go out to the late-opening big supermarket / catalogue shop in my area to get a new, longer HDMI cable.) So in order to support that sagging middle, I keep my large collection of RPG sourcebooks under there - at least, the ones I don't immediately use. Two stacks, 75% hardcover, each standing at least two feet high. Now, because I was no longer having my computer on top of the desk, I didn't think I needed to bring them straight away, but my stepfather insisted I needed them under the sagging part of the desk still. And while thankfully I didn't have to carry all those books the whole few hundred yards to the new place, I did have to haul them from study to trolley in the corridor, drag the loaded trolley to the doorway (twice; this took two trips from sheer weight), and then haul them into the new study and set them down properly. Strenuous but doable under normal circumstances. Not so much when exertion causes pain flares.

Now, I was due to have my internet and phone connected in the new place on the Tuesday morning, so I figured, "Well, at least I can leave the phones, the router, and the end table that the router sits on until tomorrow morning; I won't need it until then". But my stepfather, after he was finally done wiring up the stove, asked if there was anything left that needed to go to the new place, and I told him that there was a couple of things, and his response: "Get that done this evening, then". He was done with his wiring job, and could have helped, especially when I said, "That's the plan, but I needed to sit down first". He did not do that thing. I'm trying to be generous because I know he has back issues and he did help with the big stuff, but ... seriously, this is the kind of thing that usually takes over a week to pack into boxes and more than two people to move, even if only from room to moving van and to new room. He expected to help only with things that are too awkward or heavy for a single person in average physical condition to lift.

Also did I mention that because he couldn't connect the stove on my first night, most of this was without food? I did two days of this fuelled by one cup of coffee, one bowl of cereal, two boxes of raisins and some rice cakes.

And now I am paying for it. I cannot walk beyond a hobble. Everything hurts very, very badly. It's a bit better than yesterday, but that's not saying much. I am trying not to move at all right now, if I can avoid it. Sitting upright hurts but honestly, it's not like lying down would be much better. I should not have done any of that. I should not have been obliged to do any of that. Or at least, not as much of it as I did.

At least the internet was hooked up without any issues. Can't say the same thing about the phone, mind. Apparently engineers are working on it. But I have the internet, so that's okay. I can live with that. And the stove is working - not that my appetite is all that great right now, but if I can manage food, at least I will be able to cook it. And I'm largely settled, so ... again, yay.

Silver linings - I need them pretty badly. The plumbing in this place is worse than the plumbing at the old place, I can't have a shower because there's no shower pump so it's bath in a tub that's a bit too narrow for about three months at rough estimate (and given my stepfather, that's a low-end estimate), and the decor is actively depressing because the previous owner had this obsession with peach. The layout's great, though.And now that the move has forced a declutter, I can do a 'start as I mean to go on' thing about keeping tidy.

Ow.

[aliceslantern]

Serendipity, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, chapter 1

ser·en·dip·i·ty | n -- the occurrence of an unplanned fortunate discovery.

It's all fun and games until someone gets pregnant.

Modern AU, Zemyx, Ienzo is afab trans

Read it on FF.net/on AO3

---

Ienzo hated parties.

No; "hate" was a strong word. As an eternal introvert, parties took a lot from him, and required several days' of mental preparation. But it was not always avoidable.

And anyway, he did want to go to this party. It wasn't often a childhood friend got their own gallery show, after all. There would be art and wine and probably intellectual conversation--something as designed for Ienzo as possible other than the social interaction. He sighed. All Naminé had said about the dress code was to "wear black" and the only thing he had since his unfortunate rebellious goth phase was a slightly-too-tight turtleneck that made him acutely aware of the fact that he was not in shape.

There was no point caring about his appearance. Who did he have to impress? If he cared, he'd actually do something about the hair growing directly into his eyes.

Ienzo was early. The city streets were narrow, and he needed a parking space. He walked slowly to the door of the gallery, trying to gather himself and smile. Naminé was already inside, of course, talking to one of the curators and adjusting the tilt of the frame just slightly. A few people were milling about, picking at the crudités that had been left out. He should've been later. Easier to blend in.

Well. No point backing out now. Once she turned away from the curator, she spotted him and smiled. "You made it," she said. "I thought someone was going to have to drag you." She leaned in for a hug.

"Congratulations," he said earnestly. "I do hope everything is for sale? I'd love to support you."

She waved a hand vaguely. "I'm just so in shock, to be honest. First time I haven't had to pay to be featured anywhere, never mind possibly making a profit. It does look so odd, right? To think most of this lived behind my couch until yesterday afternoon."

"Well, it's very much deserved," he said honestly. "It's about time someone noticed your talent."

She blushed. "Do you want any wine? Any snacks? It's all offered by them, so don't be shy."

He sighed. "That would be prudent, wouldn't it?"

By the time she'd walked him over, a handful of other people had entered the gallery, all of them wanting to congratulate the artist. Alone in her flowy white dress, she looked very much like a spec in the darkness. Pretty, free, glowing from the attention.

Ienzo spent a half hour or so wandering the gallery, with its exposed brick walls. It was nice, to have the excuse not to talk. She'd done a series based on portraiture and memory, something he forgot entirely until he was looking at a (thankfully small) charcoal sketch of his own face. Naminé had a bad habit of drawing anything not nailed down, and asking permission later.

"Hey, that's you!" a man said. Ienzo looked up.

He was blonde, his undercut gelled on the top. His black shirt was wrinkled and French-tucked. Ienzo knew this person was familiar, but wasn't sure how. Small town?

"Well--yes," he said. "I forgot I consented to sharing this."

The man reached up almost to touch the sketch. "She's talented, isn't she," he said, positively glowing with pride. "Oh! I'm not a creep, I'm her brother." A wry laugh. "Demyx. Hi." He offered his hand.

"...Ienzo. Pleasure." His hands were rough, callused.

"Oh, I know," he said breezily. Then, at Ienzo's blank look, "you're her friend. She talks about you."

"I'm sorry--all the years I've known her and she's never shown me a photo of you."

He laughed. "Our family is… weird," he said slowly. "It doesn't surprise me."

"...I see," Ienzo said. He wondered if it would be rude to go get more wine. "I suppose… every family has its quirks."

He nodded once. There was something in his teal eyes that contradicted the friendliness of his expression, something sharp and aware. Something that--to his chagrin--Ienzo found fascinating. But why?

"Are there any of you?" he asked lamely.

Demyx laughed again, that awkward, staccato sound. "Yes," he said. "It's--ah, over here." He rested a hand on Ienzo's shoulder and pointed him to another painting. Ienzo wouldn't have known it was a portrait unless he was told; blue green swirls and a flash of blonde showed an abstracted version of a person. "I almost drowned when she was little," he admitted. "I think she took it to heart."

"...I see." Ienzo looked over through his bangs at this man. He saw, very quickly when Demyx thought he wasn't looking, the man give him a once-over.

Ah.

He couldn't deny that he also found him attractive, despite the man being most definitely not his type (with that hair?). It was the look in his eye. The something more. "So what do you do?" Ienzo asked.

"Well, I'm also kind of an artist," he said. "A musician."

Figured. "...I see," he said politely. Well. No matter dwelling on a passing attraction.

"But for my day job I teach," he added, wrinkling his nose. "Music. At the college."

Ienzo's eyebrows shot up. (His heart fluttered.) "You're a professor ?"

Demyx snorted. "I don't look it, right? But I can prove it." He took out a beat-up wallet and brandished a faculty ID. "Read it and weep."

"You just look so--young," Ienzo said lamely.

Demyx shrugged. "It was sort of a happy accident," he admitted. "I was finishing my master's and the guy they hired to teach theory I and guitar crapped out. They offered me the job for a semester, and, well, I guess they liked me enough to stop looking." He grinned. "I tend to thrive under the radar. Want more wine?"

Ienzo's heart was racing. "Yes. Please."

---

They ended up talking for hours. Long enough for the gallery to close, for Naminé to waggle her eyebrows at him when she saw them sitting together. Long enough for Demyx to ask him to get another drink. Ienzo wasn't sure if it were his tipsiness, but this conversation didn't exhaust him the way previous dates so often did. It wasn't until the bartender was asking for last call did he realize how late it was--that, and he was in no shape to drive home. "Oh, goodness," he said. "I'm afraid I got carried away."

"Like how?"

"Like--I came out expecting to spend two very proper hours admiring my friend's art. Here we are."

Demyx smiled. "I don't know why she was hiding you," he said. "I've had… a lot of fun."

"Me too," he said earnestly.

"Would you want to go on an actual date sometime?"

He smiled. He was tired enough not to psych himself out. "Absolutely." He sighed. "Though I'm afraid I'm in no condition to take myself home."

"You could crash at mine," Demyx suggested. Then, seeing Ienzo's expression, "on the couch! Not what I meant at all." He chuckled. "Or I can call you an Uber."

"Is it far?"

"A couple of blocks. Think you can make it?"

"I'm not that drunk--just shouldn't drive."

He followed him out of the bar. It was very late, the moon hanging high in the sky, making everything quiet and silver. Demyx slid his hand into Ienzo's. He felt a little thrill, trying to recall the last time he'd enjoyed being touched so. His own attempts at dating hadn't exactly been fortuitous. Rarely did he ever meet anyone on an app that inspired real chemistry.

"I love this time of night," Ienzo said.

"Me too," Demyx said. "Nobody has expectations--the world is asleep. So calm. I come up with my best stuff at night. It's like I can breathe."

He bobbed his head. "I do sometimes have trouble with that. The annoying grind of mundanity. Easy to lose yourself."

"Yeah." He smiled sadly. "Well, here we are. Second floor."

It was a relatively new apartment building. The stairwell smelled like Pledge and dust. When Demyx unlocked the door, a small gray cat meowed indignantly.

“That’s just Janice,” Demyx said. “Come on. Be nice,” he added to the cat.

It sniffed Ienzo’s hand and nuzzled him. Blearily, Ienzo took in the apartment. It definitely seemed to belong to a bachelor--the furniture was plain and shabby, and the “couch” was a futon. The coffee table was a pair of milk crates with a board over it. There were some band posters on the wall. Thankfully the place seemed clean. It actually had good bones; the appliances seemed relatively new, the cabinets real wood.

“I’ll get you some blankets,” Demyx said. “Bathroom’s through there if you need. I might have a new toothbrush somewhere--”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ienzo said. “I’d hate to trouble you. Really.”

He blinked wearily. “Alright. Hang tight.” He came back with two blankets and a pillow. “Wifi password’s on the router.”

“Thanks again.”

He smiled. “Of course. Hope you sleep well.”

Ienzo was too exhausted to do much more than curl up on the lumpy futon. His tipsiness was good to him, and he drifted off.

---

Ienzo woke up to gold sunlight coming in through the blinds. There was something warm by his feet; he sat up slowly and saw the cat curled at the foot of the futon.

So. This had all happened.

Ienzo rolled onto his back and watched the light play on the ceiling. It had been a long while since he’d had so much fun on a date. It felt almost… odd. He’d told himself he was too busy to date, too set in what he wanted. But honestly? If he had seen Demyx on one of his apps, he probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance.

He heard movement from the other room. The other man was still in pajamas, his hair mussed and loose around his face. “You sleep okay?”

“Like a rock--then again, I always do when I’m drunk.” He sighed. “Thanks again.”

He smiled. “Don’t mention it. Better than you trying to get yourself home. Though I have to admit, it’s rare Janice cuddles up to a guest.” He leaned over to pet the cat, giving Ienzo a peek of his (surprisingly toned?) chest under the collar of his T-shirt. “Coffee? Tea?”

“I’d hate to be any trouble--”

Demyx rolled his eyes. “Which is it?”

“Whichever you’re having, I guess.”

He was handed a mug of black coffee. “I never asked what you do,” Demyx said. “We talked about so much stuff other than our actual lives.”

“I’m a librarian,” he said. “I work mostly in the research department.”

“Do you like it?” He sat on the other end of the futon.

“I love books, and I love research,” he said honestly. “It’s the best of both of those things. Sure, sometimes I have to help certain… characters with questionable projects, but it’s worth it to have so many resources.”

He cocked his head. “What do you research?”

“What don’t I research?” Ienzo asked, with a sigh. “Whatever strikes my fancy at the moment, I suppose, but I have a soft spot for linguistics and psychology. And gothic literature, but as my father is fond of telling me, that won’t pay the bills.” He rolled his eyes. “The joys of capitalism.”

Demyx laughed. “Sounds like he’s fun at parties.”

Ienzo smiled. “Oh, incredibly,” he said sarcastically. “But he… means well. Very doting.”

“Are you two close?”

“Closer than we were when I was a child,” Ienzo admitted. “His husband came ready-made with a child, and that transition wasn’t necessarily easy.” He wasn’t sure why he was saying all this. “You are… astoundingly easy to talk to.”

“Thanks, I’ll be here all week.” He looked into his mug, the glint in his eyes becoming sad. “I don’t remember my parents much,” he said.

“Naminé never brings them up.”

“They were… not so into childrearing,” he added, with a shrug. “Especially when I got older… there’d be food in the fridge, checks in the mail, but for the most part they sort of did their own thing. They call, once every few months, to see if we’re still alive, but that’s about it."

“So you were kind of on your own,” Ienzo said.

“Eh, I try not to get too hung up on it,” Demyx said. “No point, right?”

“I suppose not.” The coffee was strong, warming the pale shadow of his mild hangover.

He drummed his fingers on the edge of the mug. “So about that date,” Demyx said. “The library’s closed on weekends, right? How about today?”

Ienzo felt his face warm. Normally he’d need more warning, more time to mentally prepare himself, and to groom. But something about Demyx’s nature made that not matter. “Sure. Why not?”

They spent most of a day wandering around town, grabbing meals when appropriate, talking. Walking around the park, talking. Ienzo didn’t know how many words he’d been holding inside until they were coming out. It felt so good to hold Demyx’s hand, or to feel it on the small of his back. Something about it was so familiar. So… comfortable.

He didn’t believe in love at first sight. And it wasn’t love, not yet; but rather an intoxicating slurry of attraction and interest. Something that could… become. Perhaps this was why when Demyx asked him if he’d like to come up for “a cup of coffee” at the end of the day, he said yes.

And to be fair, there was coffee; they just didn’t drink much of it.

Ienzo found himself making out with him on that horrible lumpy futon. He wasn’t averse to casual sex, had done it multiple times, but typically when actually dating he didn’t immediately hop into bed with that person right out of the gate. With Demyx, he was absolutely breaking all of his own rules--seeing a creative, not making an extra effort with his appearance, not taking the time to fully process things before moving forward. But oddly, the rush of this made that all not matter.

Ienzo was sitting in his lap. He wasn’t sure if this made it better or worse, but Demyx was a very good kisser, especially compared to his last failed date. Ienzo’s mind stubbornly did not wander as it was normally wont to in these situations. Demyx’s hair was deceptively soft as he tangled his hands in it. Too soon, Demyx broke away. “This isn’t too fast for you, is it?” he asked breathlessly.

“No. Not at all.”

“Good. I just… I don’t know, I don’t usually do this.”

“What, instead of taking your time seducing me?”

He giggled. “Well, kind of.”

“I don’t usually either,” Ienzo admitted, kissing his jaw, his throat. Demyx was pressing up against him, the strangeness of hardness against denim. Despite himself, he felt his heart skip, this time with an anxiety. They’d talked about so many things, but not so much about one of the most important. He took a breath; and broke another one of his rules. “I… have to tell you something.” He swallowed.

“What?” Demyx touched his face. “Are you a virgin or something?”

“No, but it… might change things?”

“You’re shaking,” Demyx said. “What is it?”

He hated that he constantly had to explain himself. “I’m… trans. Transgender?” He shut his eyes. “I wouldn’t blame you if you want to cut things where they are.”

His expression was hard to read. “Oh.”

“I should’ve said something sooner.”

His hand was so warm through Ienzo’s shirt. “No. Thanks for telling me. It doesn’t change anything. I mean. It changes things, but it doesn’t change things. You know?”

He wasn’t sure whether or not to be relieved. “Oh?”

Demyx blushed and bit his lip. “I’ve never been with… a person with those parts. I’d… kind of thought, when I didn’t feel anything between your legs… I just thought I was doing a bad job.” He laughed awkwardly.

“That’s not it at all. I have a… packer I wear, but sometimes I can’t be fussed, honestly.” He could feel his face burning. “But it isn’t… difficult, if you’d be comfortable with that.”

His hand was shaking a little; Ienzo could feel it. “I’d be willing to try.”

“I could… show you, if you like,” he said slowly, unable to make eye contact. “Some other time… or now, whichever.”

Demyx kissed him, and for a moment they were lost in each other before he broke away. “I could try now.”

His heart skipped again. “Okay.”

“Come on.”

Demyx led him deeper into the apartment. Ienzo could barely take in the details, a combination of nerves and excitement making him feel vaguely dizzy. He thought he could smell incense, clean laundry, instruments on stands, a record player. Most of his focus was on the queen-sized bed. When was the last time he felt such genuine lust during a hookup, instead of mere curiosity? It was almost unfamiliar, making him shake and quieting the ever-present noise inside of his head. Demyx kissed him again, deeply, his tongue flicking against Ienzo’s before reaching for the hem of his turtleneck. He took him in with something like reverence before leaning down to kiss his collarbone, sending a fizz through his body. Ienzo reached up to take off Demyx’s own shirt, only able to look at him for a moment before he was eased onto the bed.

His thoughts were muddy, murky, and yet he was so inside of his own body. He struggled to unbutton Demyx’s jeans and felt him working at Ienzo’s, slipping them off. The nerves returned, making him acutely aware of the dampness between his legs, the insistent throb of his clit. He wondered if he might combust, and if that would be so awful.

Demyx broke away from the kiss. “Can I see it?” he asked.

“Yes--just--”

Demyx helped him out of his underwear. He was infinitely glad he was meticulous with his own personal grooming. He had not honestly thought this day would end with him getting laid. It felt a little awkward, to part his legs. Demyx ran his hand along the inside of Ienzo’s thigh, making him shudder. “Oh,” he said softly.

“I don’t believe this is the first one you’ve seen,” he said, attempting a drollness and a coolness he did not feel. “Not at all.”

“True, but… not in real life,” Demyx admitted. “But you’re so… god, you’re beautiful.”

He snorted. “Hardly.”

“Really.” He leaned down to kiss him. Ienzo tried to take off Demyx’s own underwear, his dick already straining against them.

The skin of it was warm against his palm. At least Ienzo knew he was competent at this. Demyx moaned against his shoulder.

“Before you… really go at it,” he said, with difficulty. “First tell me how to--”

A blush made him hotter. “Right. Ah--” He’d never had to explain this to any of his partners. “There’s a… little nub, the--”

“The clit?”

Thank god he knew that much. “Yes, just… that’s the most important bit.”

“Can I… can I touch you?” His expression was so tender. There was no way this was all real, Ienzo thought. There had to be a catch.

“Yes.”

He felt Demyx’s callused hand slide down his body, bringing with it a rush. After a moment where he seemed to struggle to find the nerve, he eased his hand over it, almost making Ienzo spasm. Demyx felt at it for a moment before he found the clit. “This?”

He swallowed. “That’s it. The… testosterone makes it… like that.”

“As long as I can make you feel good.” He kissed him again and began to stroke it, rolling it between his fingers. The feel of the calluses made Ienzo gasp aloud. “Is that bad?”

“No, no, it’s…” He could barely speak. “It’s very good.” With a trembling hand he fumbled to find Demyx’s dick, trying to move in rhythm with him. Hearing him struggle for breath only turned Ienzo on more. He could already feel the sensation building along his body, hot and electric. “If you want, you could… you could go inside me.”

Demyx looked up at him. “Are you sure?”

“Just--do you have a condom?”

His breath hitched. “Sure. Of course.” He dug in a bedside drawer that Ienzo honestly hadn’t noticed. He could feel his knees shaking. “Do you need lube?”

How had Demyx not felt how wet he was? “No.” Ienzo took the packet from him and eased it over his dick.

He laughed. “You might have to help me.” He guided the tip of it into him with one hand and gasped, his eyes closing. “It’s different.”

“In a bad way?”

“No.” He pressed into him a little more. “God, no. That doesn’t hurt you?”

“Doesn’t require as much preparation,” Ienzo explained. He opened his legs a little more, letting them rest against Demyx’s hips, for a moment just taking in the feel of his dick. It was more substantial than the hands or toys he’d taken over the past few months.

Demyx moaned. “You feel so good.”

“I could… say the same. Just kind of… slow and deep.”

He started to move against Ienzo. His skin was tingling, the warmth and weight of Demyx’s body combined with the thrusting bringing him again closer to that edge. The grind of Demyx’s hips brushed against Ienzo’s clit, forcing a small noise from him. He felt as though he were losing control--another rule broken--but found, in the moment, he didn’t care. Ienzo tangled his hands in that blonde hair and kissed him, finding a rhythm with him, smooth and gentle, a steadily growing heat blocking out anything else.

“Maybe a little faster?” he asked in a voice that wasn’t quite his.

Demyx made another noise and obliged him, moving harder. Ienzo could feel every bit of it, his body getting so sensitive the more excited he got. “Fuck,” Demyx said to his shoulder. He pressed his lips against his shoulder, his chest. “I--”

He let himself get lost in his body, his trembling thighs, the little waves of feeling starting to break over him in earnest, building smoothly towards that finish. “I’m really--”

Demyx’s hand reached down into the tangle of their bodies to find his clit again, and it was this more than anything that forced him over the edge.

It overtook him so fully and completely that for a moment he wasn’t sure where he was, a hot and demanding pleasure holding everything out at arm’s length. He couldn’t stop shaking. He could feel, on some level, Demyx thrust into him once or twice more before he seemed to finish too, his dick twitching a little inside of him.

Ienzo came back slowly, seeing the ceiling first, his hands trembling, his skin borderline raw. Demyx eased out of him, making him shudder, and threw away the condom. “Are you okay?” Ienzo heard.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m still--coming down.”

“...Me too.” Demyx settled next to him on the bed, breathing hard. “Do you cuddle?”

Another rule that would be broken. At this point why bother keeping track? “Yes.” If anything, the arms around his waist helped. “I’m not sure I believe that was your first time.”

He laughed. “What, because I paid attention to you for five seconds? What idiots have you been sleeping with?”

“...Idiots, indeed.” He found himself relaxing in this strange bed. He’d almost forgotten that sex with another person could be satisfying instead of mere physical upkeep. “I do believe that’s the best I’ve had for some time.”

Demyx brushed his cheek. “Fuck, me too. I just… where did you come from, Ienzo?”

“Here. Planet Earth.” He smiled. “Though I… haven’t experienced something so instant in a long while. Maybe ever.”

“Me either.” He kissed him, and for a moment Ienzo used that to ground himself. “I know it’s been… like, a day and a half. But I really like you.”

The smile was involuntary. “Maybe it’s against my better judgement… but I like you too.”

[xfurbishae]

Home Server Rack Basic Explanation of Everything

Hey guys what's up 

its Jacob here and today I'm going to be doing the first video of my server rack I'm probably going to go into a ton of videos regarding this rack but just so you guys know this is the first one I'm basically just going to cover the very basics of it because I'm going to go into many videos of this explaining exactly how every single box is set up and I'm going to show you guys what a jana just how everything's set up and I'll probably make another video after this showing the network topology of how everything's hooked up and whatnot and then we'll go into how each conservers can figure through Linux and what each one is doing.

So I'm basically just going to pop this open will open up the rack and I'll show you guys what's inside them basically what each box is for the general basics of what they're for and then later on we'll go into exactly the details of everything so I'm just going to do a very general rundown of it sorry if it's very loud guys um there's a lot of stuff in here that's running actually there's only one server running but the firewall is very loud as well as the one server that's running but I'm sure you guys can still hear me so basically we have the internet coming in up here okay this is Time Warner a fifteen down one make up not very fast right now but it does for what I'm doing soon when I get my website up which I do plan on doing that soon.

I'll talk about that in another video but I'm gonna be hosting my website myself from these servers I'm probably gonna have to upgrade the internet to a little bit faster up speed because one megabit per second is just not gonna cut it for a while this was my main firewall isn't it here a wireless router but it's no longer the main firewall so the lan comes out of here so when our wagon comes out of here can go to the cable modem and it goes down into this firewall.

This here's the way online so this here is just a Citrix access gateway on when I bought it it was imaged for an access gateway and it's no longer an access gateway more because i walked it now it has pf Sense on it so it's running pf Sense to point whatever-the-hell diversions out right now but um so basically it's just a firewall server but this does a lot more than the firewall it's also a DHCP it also has proxy in casing and stuff like that so it's very it does a lot this box does a lot um it's very noisy as you can hear um anyways our wind comes in here and it does the firewall and all the proxy servers and stuff and it puts it out.

Then it comes out here so this is also our gateway um this assigns DHCP addresses to everything that's DHCP it also assigns the static addresses to all the servers that are acquiring the static address it comes out of the via box here this is still basically a LAN but it's not quite a LAN it comes out of there and it goes into the outside length of this package packet ear package shaper this basically allows us to I'm not going to get into the details of this but yeah I'll do a whole another video on this box in itself because it's really cool these two boxes can do a lot they're very very powerful but this basically um allows me to set limits on network.

I can see every little bit of traffic between which website how much traffic over a period of 1 minute an hour a day a week I think it even goes up to a year maybe a month or whatever you can see where all your traffic spike so it's very very handy for finding out where all your traffic where all your a packets and stuff are going on this little router appears not set up for anything that's just kind of chill in there anyways um a lot of this stuff isn't actually on right now just my file server this Dell PowerEdge 14:25 but um right here this is a NetScaler made by citrix again citrix NetScaler this box here is a load balancer so it's going to load balance all my front-end of patchy servers as of now the website that I'm going to launch for the forum site to go to my youtube channel is currently running on this server it serves not running right now but it will be soon and the websites going to start running out start out ranked on this.

Dell poweredge 1750 so I'm going to use these two guys as Dell PowerEdge 1750s they all have three hard drives in them this one has 36 gig hard drives this one has 173 be hard drives are configured in raid 5 so those are going to be the front end web Apache servers they're both have the lamp on them and they would be load balanced through this load balancer and I'll get into how all that set up later will show you again we'll shade it topology graphs how everything's hooked up and I'll show you how we set up load balancing and all that to set up a very large network down here is the Dell PowerEdge 1850 it's got raid 1 so it's got a hard disk here the hard disk here those are 173 gigabyte hard drives again 10,000 rpm this right now it's not really running anything.

I just yesterday started putting squid proxy on it so it's probably going to be a casing server to run cache for the web proxies or for the web servers so that we can speed up are the serve times for the web pages it will probably have a local proxy as well as a reverse proxy to speed up serving web pages from these servers the reverse proxy will help assist these servers will take a load off these servers and serve web pages faster to the clients of the website this down here is my dell poweredge 2950 it's got um six hard drives in it so it's supporting a 7200 rpm each of them are 750 gigs this is basically where I store all my you know foreign illegal movies stuff like that it's all on that server right there for now it has a lot of like movies and videos and stuff and probably the video that you're watching right now is going to probably be stored on this server um as of now it's like 75% full which is actually quite amazing because it's got like 3.6 or something like that terabytes of space usable space and I've used like a lot of it most of its movies so I'm going to have to clear that out soon because when I am launch my website on these servers they're gonna on they're going to although this the website will be hosted from these.

it'll have a case here will have a MySQL server which will probably also be on this the main my skills are real also beyond the 1850 and then all the big files that people upload all the attachments and all the file sharing stuff I'm going to have on the site just going to go to.

Dell PowerEdge 2950 because it's got a lot of space for that and then this guy up here is my own cloud server I use it for own cloud and it also runs just a little basic like file stores and stuff it's got to 750 gigabyte what do you call it say does in there and those are running at 7200 rpm just the same exact drives that are in this and it's in raid one so everything here is redundant there's no raid zero going on here we don't mess around that kind of stuff so basically a back up to the top here um I never explained once once it gets out of this package shaper so we come out of this firewall here goes into the packet shaper then it comes out of the package shaper this here is just a management fork to the pack of shaper as you can see see if we can get in on it says management so that right there is just to manage it and through a web browser and see all the stats of the packet shaper let's see if I can get in on the screen there on all how well but you can see that I have the shaping off right now but it shows right what's really cool about this box as you can see in real-time megabits per second up and down so I can see all the traffic flowing through the network at all times that little graph right there it shows in megabits per second the traffic going in and out of the network at any given time.

So that's really cool it's got even more advanced graphs in real time or over a period of time that you can access the web browser that's what this box does so once it goes in it just basically loops through and now this is our internet line it's given DHCP addresses by this box our firewall and that goes all the way up into this Netgear switch so this is 100 megabits which 24 port and this basically connects all the servers we also have these little wires here which are going to fiber-optics these are just going to various devices throughout the house computers and stuff like that media devices it just it's a way of pursuing a fast connection not Wireless but about a LAN connection through the house but very far for fiber-optic so that's what that's for and those are just going into a switch right here and basically I mean these are all servers right here all the server network cards these are the first port on all my servers all these servers have two network cards here so um the first network card is plugged in right here this is how to megabit stuff right here this is all hunter megabit and then coming out of there you can see all the servers are plugged in and then just the wireless router or up here is also plugged in there so it can get internet access and then there's also a printer and stuff like that so that's all plugged in there but then you can see there's this red cable this red cable links up into another switch this switch right here is a d-link let's see if I can get in on that it's a d-link PGs 10,080 and see if I can I just got this camera today guys so I really don't know how to focus it um I don't know hopefully that's good enough but take my word for it that thing is a d d GS 1018 let's a friend here it's a gigabit switch and basically the second network card on all these servers is plugged in through there.I have this so that it can get internet access they can get in access on that second network card in case they need to but this is basically.

so that I can communicate from one server to another and shoot files between them very fast so gigabit so if they were all plugged into this which they would only have minor megabit but this way we can get internet access and all that and serve up web pages and stuff 300 megabit and do all the web services through there and if I want to communicate from server to server we have a gigabit connection between each of the servers second port on their network cards so server one through five and then this is the load balancer I have a load balancer plugged in here too so the load balancer has two plugs it has a one going into the hunter mega base and one going into the gigabit switch and then there's five servers and they all have a port here - so five ports for the server's load balancer and the added access into this switch so that's pretty much it this box appears just to spare fiber-optic convertor so that means basically just throwing a copper line right there puts out a fiber port right there and you can convert it on the other end here's another fiber optic convertor just spare hard drives and crap but this is what would be on the other end you know you have your fiber optics come in here and we convert it back into copper and there's a little low fiber up the converters this here's another if I were up the converter just first which is kind of big a bit under maybe bit just stuff laying around just for whatever that's pretty much it for everything that's in this  Rack Server and how it's what basically everything is going to do or what it already does did so I go over one more time the two web servers the caching and Apache are sorry the caching and MySQL will be stored here.

Then load balancer package shaper file server file server this is more like a cloud servers for own cloud so I mean like I can I use my iPhone and backup all my iPhone photos and everything to that right there this one's for like storing big Mucho Macho files that come from these web servers that people will upload to my website in the firewall of course that's the firewall box right there so that's pretty much it for this one guys I would show you back of it but it's kind of a pain in the a to pull out right now and show you the back of it there's all the power cables yes there are three power strips on the EPS right now obviously that UPS doesn't run on all this but the UPS is basically just going to run the firewall the packet shaper and the switches as well as the modem and a wireless router so it keeps all of our internet connections up if the power goes out but it doesn't actually keep any of the servers themselves running it just keeps the essential stuff to keep up the internet connection in the house if the power goes out and it doesn't go out quite often here just mainly because circuit breakers trip but besides that our power is actually very reliable here in Southern California but that's pretty much it for this one guys hope you enjoyed it and as always guys have a good one umm I'll definitely be making more videos soon on this  Rack Server and very great detail I'll show you guys how all those are set up but that's it for now guys like I always have a good one

[ineffable-monster-romancer]

Take A Break

I’m procrastinating because I have exams to sit and I can’t even. So @hamiltonhistory asked for some stressed Hamilton in finals week and Jefferson helping him and I kinda went wild with it. Beware, it’s a long fic! I also thought it was wildly appropriate, God knows I could take a break. Anywho, I don’t have finals week, I’m Scottish and we have EXAM MONTH which is a cluster fuck of anger and crying, so I’m glad I got to write this for you :D hit me up with any Hamilton prompt and I’ll try and write it! 

Thomas felt as though he was standing on the very edge of a cliff, only the heels of his feet grounding him.

What was the reason for standing on the edge of this metaphorical cliff you ask? Alexander. Fucking. Hamilton. And what was going to push him over the edge? Finals week.

Thomas thought he had been bad when it came to finals week. He thought he went full Monty over the hell that was exam season and the stress that came with it. His old roommate and best friend Jemmy had suffered through enough all-night coffee sessions, door slamming arguments over who’s socks were left on the floor, and holding Thomas as he sobbed into his history textbooks, to attest to the fact that Thomas went completely overboard during fucking finals week. Which is why Jemmy had laughed when Thomas took refuge in his old dorm and told Jemmy the horror that was his boyfriend, Alexander.

“Wait… You’re not joking?” Jemmy had tentatively asked when Thomas’s face had stayed the same pleading pity fare it had been when he first started the story.

“No. I’m deadly serious. He hasn’t brushed his hair since he started studying, he barely washes, hardly eats and if I even breathe near him he just stares at me with these sunken eyes that look fucking terrifying until I get creeped out and walk away. One time I asked him if he wanted to take a walk and clear his head and he hissed at me, like a feral tomcat. I asked him if he wanted to phone in food and he told me he ate a banana yesterday. That’s his idea of a meal Jemmy.”

Jemmy’s eyes widened throughout the story and he let out a low breath. “Uh… when did he last sleep?”

“He hasn’t.”

“How long?”

“That’s the thing Jemmy. He hasn’t. Full stop. Like, I can’t remember the last time he wasn’t hunched over his laptop or… or snapping at me, or the last time we even held a conversation that wasn’t a one-sided ‘Alexander drink something, Alexander eat something, Alexander come to bed with me…” Thomas’s eyes were suspiciously wet and he hid them from his friend, sniffling slightly. “Maybe he just… doesn’t want anything to do with me? What if this isn’t about finals? What if… this has been in the running for a while?”

Jemmy stepped forward and ran his hand through Thomas’s hair, smiling slightly. “In your complete worry about what Hamilton is doing, you’ve forgotten your own stress about finals, and now that everything is coming out, the stress is catching up to you and making you think silly things. Hamilton adores you Thomas, completely, so listen closely and take notes, we’re going to devise a plan to get you and homeboy some stress relief…”

And so, half an hour later, armed with one of Jemmy’s many, many notebooks, he walked to his apartment.

Unlocking the door, he realised how empty the room looked without Alexander’s usual clutter completely inhabiting the room. Unfortunately, it was now all relegated to the bedroom, and the small desk he had claimed as his own. Scrap paper, textbooks and jotters littered the floor making it a minefield trying to get anywhere in the room.

He walked into the room, not surprised to find Alex hunched over his laptop, hands flying across the keys with such a ferocity that Thomas was surprised the keys weren’t broken. Remembering the notebook, he flicked past the doodles and hearts drawn on the various pages (really Jemmy? Aaron Burr? For shame!)

1.       Organised apartment, organised mind

Okay, Thomas could work with that. He set to work, binning the papers that hadn’t quite made it to the bin, piling up the discarded textbooks and jotters, taking any plates and glasses into the kitchen and generally tidying up around Alex, who didn’t so much as acknowledge the light kiss Thomas left on his cheek and he picked up an apple core to the left of his hand. Once the curtains were flung to their sides and the window thrown open, the room seemed much more alive and Thomas had to smile.

2.       Goodbye Wi-Fi, no-one can talk to Hamilton on his laptop so it needs to go.

This would be slightly trickier, Thomas would have to invent a problem that would put their router out of action or Alexander would have it fixed in no time. Unfortunately, Thomas was a dinosaur when it came to the inner workings of technology. If it wasn’t as simple as plug it in and turn it on, he was lost (much to Alexander’s chagrin when teaching Thomas how to use Netflix). Thomas briefly toyed with the idea of throwing the bloody router out the window and letting Alexander try to put it back together with duct tape, but eventually he relented and decided to text Angelica Schuyler. The woman was a powerhouse, jack-of-all-trades wonder who could figure just about any puzzle set in front of her.

Thomas: If someone were to sabotage his apartment Wi-Fi for long enough to get his boyfriend to take a break, how would one go about it?

Angelica: I suppose throwing the bloody thing out the window isn’t an option?

Thomas: Trust me, I thought about it…

Angelica: What you need to do is unplug the Wi-Fi, then plug it back in. Alex will rush out, trying to fix it and while he’s doing this, you need to block his laptop from the Wi-Fi and then put your plan into action.

Thomas: And I do this how?

After a short tutorial that made Thomas’s head spin, he put his plan into action. Sneakily unplugging the Wi-Fi and plugging it back in before making a break for the bathroom. He listened for Alexander’s shuffling footsteps and hissed curses passing the door before rushing into the bathroom and saving all of Alexander’s over the top essay’s before blocking the Wi-Fi and practically racing back to the bathroom just in time for Alexander’s zombie walk.

3.       Prepare for the shit-storm

Thomas casually meandered into the living room, picking up his small, well-loved novel off the coffee table and flicking through it, trying to look genuinely interested in the words as he heard a loud “SHIT!” from the bedroom.

Alexander tore through the apartment, skidding to a halt at the router with his laptop in hand and desperately searching the box, scrambling to pull out the wires and push them back in, scrambling to check his laptop and practically screaming when nothing happened. And then he seemed to freeze.

“What happened to the Wi-Fi, Thomas?” He hissed, his voice raspy with the lack of use.

“I don’t know, I haven’t used it yet since I got back from Jemmy’s.” Thomas replied, gesturing casually to the book in his hand.

“You were out?” Alexander looked so confused, frowning at Thomas. His stomach flipped and the same sadness he felt at Jemmy’s dorm filled him. If Alexander hadn’t even noticed he was gone, what was stopping him from noticing if Thomas were to leave and not come back? Would Alexander even care if Thomas were to leave? Did Alexander care if Thomas was around?

“Yeah Alex, for nearly an hour…” He whispered, his voice losing the casual air as he turned back to his book, steadfastly staring at the words, willing his brain to take them in.

“Oh…” Alexander was still staring at Thomas, his eyes wide. The stare burned through Thomas’s skull and he brought the book closer to his face in an attempt to shield his face from it. Alexander looked down at his laptop, to the router and then back to Thomas before standing and shuffling out of the room and back to the bedroom.

Thomas sighed, throwing the book back to its original place on the coffee table and running his hands over his face. He steeled himself, only a few more points left in the notebook, and then he could stand proudly and say, “At least I tried”. He probably wasn’t the first person to stand up and say that about dating Alexander. That thought finally resolved Thomas to stand up and put the fourth point in play. He wouldn’t have to say that he tried, because this would work.

4.       Mac and Cheese

Alexander’s friends always joked about the fact that Alexander and he practically lived off a diet of macaroni cheese and decent beer. Laurens had dubbed it “the classy college food” a level up from ramen and cheap beer. Thomas was going to make the most fucking irresistible bowl of mac n’ cheese known to man and Alexander would have no choice but to eat it. It was likely that Alexander had ditched the laptop and had moved on to the textbooks, desperately trying to absorb every last word that he could, completely non-stop.

Thomas got the water boiling and soon he was lost in the calm that cooking brought him, eventually he left the burner simmering very low to keep the food warm and put into act, the fifth and possibly the hardest point in the book.

5.       Get him to eat and relax, without any work distractions

Thomas took a steadying breath and walked purposefully to the bedroom, knocking slightly on the door before opening it. Alexander’s laptop sat on the windowsill, and in its place on the desk was a textbook thicker than the bible opened at an incredibly bland looking page completely crammed with text. The afternoon was slowly changing to evening, bringing with it a pleasant chill that chased away the cloying heat of the day.

“Alexander,” Thomas called, hardly getting a reply outside a slight incline of his head, showing that he was listening. “Alexander, take a break. Run away with me for a couple of hours. Eat some food, and then we can go for a walk in the nearby park. Sound good?” He inched forward while he was talking until he eventually ended up perched on the edge of the desk, his fingers brushing against Alexander’s arm.

“I’d love to go…” Alexander muttered, finally looking up at Thomas, their eyes meeting. But before Thomas could encourage the thought, his eyes snapped back to the book. “I have to get this essay through to Washington, I’ll lose my scholarship if I don’t get this essay to him.”

“Alexander, you’ve already handed in four drafts of the essay to Washington, each one perfect. You can afford to take a breather!” Thomas pleaded with Alexander. “I made our favourite. We can forgo the walk in the park if it really bothers you, but please, Alexander, darlin’ eat something.”

Alexander looked back up at Thomas, the spark of interest in his eyes making Thomas desperately hope. “You made mac n’ cheese?” He asked, his curiosity piqued.

“What else doll? Our favourite, just one bowl and then I promise I’ll let you get back to work.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” Thomas said, shoulders sagging in relief. He fully intended to keep his promise, pleased that he had even convinced Alexander to leave his work at all. He held his hand out to Alex and lead him to the kitchen, ladling out a large portion into a bowl for Alex and giving him a look that dared him to argue.

6.       Help him relax

Thomas knew the only way to do this would be to get Alexander’s mind off his upcoming exams, so he did what he always did well. Between mouthfuls, he casually brought up one of his and Alexander’s most worn out debates, and then they were off, batting ideas, ideals, and arguments against each other and in Alexander’s fit of passion, he didn’t notice that his bowl had been emptied and refilled.

Soon, they were debating as they pulled on their jackets (and Thomas forced Alexander to cover his knotted hair with a hat, no way was he being caught associated with someone who looked like a bird had nested in his hair, boyfriend or not) and debating as they walked down the stair and out into the crisp New York air and to the local park. They stopped at a bench that had a clear view of the practically empty park, only a few joggers and dog walked inhabiting the walks, and took a seat. Their debate slowly petered out as they watched the sun disappear beneath the horizon, the streetlamps flickering to light and bathing everything in a soft yellow light. Alexander’s hand felt warm and comfortable in his and Thomas couldn’t remember when their hands became tied together, but it felt right.

“Thank you.” Alexander whispered, his head dropping to rest on Thomas’s shoulder.

“What for?” Thomas smirked, leaning closer to Alex, resting his own head on top of Alex’s.

“For blocking my laptop’s Wi-Fi and forcing me to change to books, for tidying up the mess I left behind, for cooking for me and making sure my brain was still alive with the debate and making sure I got out… For being the best boyfriend in the world, really.” Alexander replied.

“How did you… never mind, you’re welcome darlin’.”

“You always come up with some sort of plan when you’re with Madison, he’s a bad influence!” Alexander chuckled.

Thomas leaned down, pushing the fingers of his free hand under Alexander’s chin he angled his head upwards and claimed his lips in a soft kiss, their lips easily moulding together. Alexander pushed into the kiss, his free hand running through Thomas’s hair before coming to a rest on the back of his neck, slowly brushing the fine hairs there. Thomas’s hand framed Alexander’s face, gently guiding him through the kiss, his thumb slowly brushing over Alexander’s cheek. Eventually they break for air their foreheads rested against one another, hands still meticulously placed. Thomas slowly blinked his eyes open, smiling softly at his Alexander.

“I love you.” Alexander whispered, briefly flickering his eyes open to look directly into Thomas’s before closing them again, content to rest against his boyfriend.

“I love you more.” Thomas replied, the teasing tone completely offset by the tight squeeze he gives Alexander’s hand.

“I love you most!” Alexander laughs softly, the sound almost completely muffled by Thomas’s lips claiming his again, replaced by a gentle moan.

7.       Take him home and get him into bed, by any means necessary.

Thomas had this one covered he thought as he moved closer to devour Alexander’s mouth.

[igiti2019]

Day 2 (5/20)

Okay today was a lot better of course! A very rough start ­– when I woke up there was no electricity because we ran out overnight so I had to pay for more already, then we went somewhere for breakfast where I accidentally ordered an iced coffee and then remembered I need to avoid ice because of cholera, so I couldn’t drink any of that, then luckily my friend shared her hot coffee with me, and I spilled it on myself, and then our waitress gave me the wrong order BUT that was the end of the rough day. After breakfast we all walked back to the apartment, and a small group of very young school girls was walking behind us, and a few brave ones would run up to me one by one and walk next to me until I waved at them, after which they would have a huge smile and either continue walking next to me or run back to their friends. I asked one girl how she was, and she answered, “Good!” Once we got back to the apartment we met with our landlord and left for the wifi store to buy a portable wifi router which took a very long time, and was kind of expensive, but we decided that it was worth it. Also while we were there, our landlord fixed my phone for me, so now I have access to data! Once that was done we met a taxi driver and went to OUR FIRST DAY OF WORK!!!!!!!!! When we first got there we had a meeting with Obed and Sylvia, the outgoing and incoming head of admissions data. We asked them a bunch of questions and they gave us a bunch of really interesting numbers about their Rwandan students and their refugee students. After that meeting Obed had another meeting and our next meeting wasn’t for a while, so Sylvia gave us a tour of their beautiful Kepler campus. The campus is very small, but I’m already in love so.. There’s 7 classrooms – 4 grouped together in the main building, and 3 in a small building next to the main building. The employees all work on the 3rd floor that’s divided into 2 sections – one with a lot of small desks with short walls separating them on the tabletop, and one with one large table where you can talk and collaborate. There’s a very large common area on the first floor where students can work, and then a couple meeting rooms and specific offices like health and counseling that needed their own rooms. Their school year is still in session, so there were a lot of college students there, whom we really hope to become friends with eventually, even though we’re considered staff members (we even have access to the coffee maker that says staff members only!!!!!!) After the tour we all sat in the large common area and did some work on our laptops until our next meeting with Ashley, the head of education at Kepler. She answered some logistical questions like how to get to work every day (a taxi), how to get food every day (Jumia, Rwanda’s version of Uber Eats), and what our schedule will be (she really doesn’t care). After that we finished up some work on our laptops and left for the grocery store to pick up some necessities that we weren’t able to get yesterday. Then we all came home and hung out at the dining room table snacking on the Rwandan peanuts and potato chips that our landlord, Bruno, got us, and talked for a few hours which was entirely unscheduled but really nice. Then Zodi tried going to the gym and Ananya and I sat down to account for the day’s purchases in our budgets. Zodi came back really early from the gym because he wasn’t able to find one with a class he could take without a membership, so we all sat down again at the couches and talked some more. Because we had all snacked quite a bit before Zodi left for the gym, we were all really full and didn’t get hungry until around 8:30 when we went outside to get a taxi to an Indian place Ananya really wanted to try in a really nice neighborhood of Kigali. It took us SO long to get a taxi because our apartment is in a very residential and not well marked neighborhood that’s kind of hidden, but we finally got in the taxi and were on our way. In the neighborhood we saw a ton of well-known social enterprises, US Peace Corps, Never Again, M-PESA, Save the Children, OxFam, etc, and Ananya and I are anxious to get back and go in those places and walk around. At the Indian restaurant there were a ton of white people which was really weird because where we live we’re definitely the only ones. But the restaurant is not only in a much nicer neighborhood with a lot of international embassies, but it was attached to a really nice hotel, so it makes sense. The food was delicious, and Ananya was serenely calm after eating Indian food which was great. We also all got wine and beer which was of course fun. After dinner we came home and talked for a bit, and now Ananya and I are sitting on the couch while Zodi is going to bed. At work Ashley told us to take a couple days to adjust, and that we didn’t need to come in until Thursday, so tomorrow Ananya and I are going back to the nice neighborhood to walk around, and we’re gonna go to a SPA and I’m so excited. One thing that I’m struggling with is money. I told Zodi and Ananya today that money makes all of my decisions for me because it’s a big stressor for me even when I’m home, and they seemed to understand, which I’m grateful for. We over budgeted so we do have extra money, but their mentality is “okay great so we can spend” whereas mine is “ok great so I can save and take some home with me” Hopefully I’ll get a better mentality with that, but so far it’s been stressful. I also have no idea how quickly wifi is used up, which is something we need to pay for as we use it. We bought 30 gigabytes for 30 days, so I don’t know if that will go fast or slow. Anyways today was much better, and we all talked a lot about our difficulties adjusting, all of which are pretty different, and were able to relate on that. I think the next few days will be nice to relax and continue setting everything up that needs to be set up, and then I think we’ll all be happy when we can get a set schedule for work.

Peace

[cosmosogler]

i did stuff today. didn’t get enough done. i went to the bank and got my glasses tightened. then i went to the grocery store. tracking down all the ingredients and the necessary substitutes took forever, but the employees were really helpful and i didn’t have a bad time. just exhausted myself.

i dressed up again a little bit. as in i am wearing a skirt. and a doge hair bow. 

i spent two and a half hours cleaning out the pantry. i tossed old boxes and stuff that had expired five years ago and/or stuff that was unsealed and clearly old. this was problematic later.

then i talked with my new classmates and scheduled a channel call tomorrow... and i’m going out with gramma on wednesday. 

i only did that for about a half hour. then i went downstairs to start making dinner. that was really tough... but i didn’t really mess anything up except the broiling because i had never done it before and underestimated how thick my sauce would stay as it heated. it was cooked fine, because i had cooked it before broiling the sauce and bread together, but it wasn’t quite golden on top. mom liked it but my brother and sister refused to touch it.

the whole time i was cooking, after mom had gotten home, she berated me for my organization choices. she didn’t like that i had grouped like things together. like, all the baking materials were on a shelf together. all the jars were together. the rice products were all together, with the biggest box in the back so you could easily see everything.

and she REALLY didn’t like that i had put a whole bunch of stuff out for her to check if she wanted to throw away or not. all of it had expired at least a year ago, except for the cheese products, which had expired more recently. 

like... look. we’ve had this animal cracker cookie mix for 15 years. it’s just not going to get used. it’s not. it doesn’t matter that we *might* use it later. it’s taking up space that we need for things we actually do eat. there was a preposterous amount of things that had expired years ago that we just never touched. and mom PUT IT ALL BACK!!! WHY????? I KNOW IT’S NOT MOLDY. BUT WE’RE NOT GOING TO EAT IT! IT’S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS!! WE EAT LIKE 800 MEALS A YEAR EACH AND IT DIDN’T GET TOUCHED FOR ANY OF THEM!!!!!

god dang it i forgot to do my pokemon thing on time and now it’s late again.

honestly... i’m also still upset that mom invaded my privacy like she did when i wasn’t even around. going through my entire room and throwing away things she decided i didn’t need... but it’s not a big deal until it happens to her. of course it’s not.

i took eve and wiley outside for a little bit after dinner. eve started staring at the wall of the house when i was herding wiley toward the door. i followed her eyes and there was a big old snake winding its way along the wall behind the patio chairs. i got spooked, mostly because i was REALLY scared that wiley was going to try to check it out. it didn’t have a rattle at least... but it was big enough to hurt one of the dogs easily. i practically drop kicked wiley into the house.

then i went upstairs. shortly after my sister threw a fit when she realized i had thrown away the chocolate chips. the copyright date was five years ago and they weren’t sealed even a little bit. it was just an open bag sitting there behind everything else. i got really frustrated. she said she had just eaten a bunch like a week ago and i mean, i know she wasn’t expecting me to clean out the pantry while she was at work, but how was i supposed to know that??? 

a while later, while i was sorting through my music bookmarks, mom decided to apologize for both of them. i guess... it’s a nice thought? but the blowup still happened and i still feel bad. the apology came across as really useless and it made me uncomfortable. because now that mom had apologized i wasn’t allowed to be annoyed at her for yelling at me any more! even though that had NEVER, EVER WORKED EVEN ONCE when i apologized to her over the years. “you’re NOT sorry” is mom’s favorite reply to an apology. they were usually even genuine! but it doesn’t matter because mom decided i wasn’t really sorry so she still gets to be upset with me and ground me and hit me and whatever.

so i was uncomfortable. then a while later the internet went out. i went over to ask my dad or brother to reset the router because sometimes it just randomly shuts off wireless but not wired connections. so i asked them to reset it when they had a moment, no hurry. my brother shrugged and said it was out for him now too, but only in the last minute. i told him that was nice, but it’s been out for me for several minutes. he told me i was wrong and it was only out for less than a minute. i got a little more terse and he acted like i’d screamed at him or something. he said “sheesh, ok,” and got up and walked away.

dad didn’t make any indication that he’d heard, so i asked him again if he would reset the router when he got some time, since i saw he was in the middle of watching the walking dead. he still didn’t respond so i walked a few steps into the room to rub wiley’s ear.

“how big was the snake?” dad asked. i described it to him. he asked if i was sure it didn’t have a rattle. i took a breath and said yeah i was sure. why would he think i wasn’t sure?

IMMEDIATELY as i finished my sentence he snapped at me to reset the router already. that was really disorienting but i did it anyway.

i mean... i had asked him to do it at his leisure. i know he didn’t respond in any way, but i thought he had heard me say twice that he could reset it when he was ready. i just... i don’t really understand why he got angry.

i didn’t get any studying or worksheets done today... i was on my feet practically all day. i have to be ready for that call tomorrow. i know i won’t be. just gotta brace myself for not being very talkative and not making a good first impression.

i wish it was easy to get myself looking at physics. i have a tab of it open at all times... i just never look at it. i find other things to keep myself busy with. procrastinate. and then stuff like mom and dad happens and i just don’t want to do anything at all except cry and/or have a panic attack. well, i don’t WANT to have a panic attack, but it happens anyway. my hands are shaking. might just be because i’m tired though. that’s a possibility. i did a lot of heavy lifting today. 

panic attacks aren’t the same as panicking. it’s strange how they are called almost the same thing. there is some overlap but it’s like the difference between a house cat and a tiger.

at least my meal thing turned out pretty good... the salad went way better than i could have hoped considering all the substitutions and limitations in my selection. and i didn’t cut myself with the knife while i was chopping stuff even once. 

mm. it’s time to sleep again. but i don’t think i can right now. 

i feel like i am missing something, as in, i want it back. but i am not sure what it is i could be missing. i don’t want my family back. i never had that in the first place. i don’t want my childhood back. whoof. 

i think i am maybe missing the magic of losing a day inside a book. but it’s also kind of terrifying when that happens and it’s always sort of melancholy to get to the last page. and then panic sets in when i realize it’s 3 in the morning and i didn’t do anything but read a book all afternoon and through the night.

do i miss my friends? no... not THAT much. maybe i miss having friends? i don’t know. friends have their pros and cons. friendships don’t really end on good and/or complete terms, so it’s hard to miss them... 

i dunno. as active as i stay, and as much as i am doing, and as stubborn and/or tenacious i get about continuing, i feel like inside i’ve still given up in a way. i don’t feel like dying, but i don’t feel like living either. either one is just meh. i’ll let time decide for me.

(time shouldn’t decide things without your own input. it always picks death. it always picks missed opportunities.)

like... i keep going anyway, but i feel like i’ve given up on ever feeling happy or successful or fulfilled. i don’t mean permanent happiness, but more like, an openness to being happy, or a confidence about it. i don’t think that is a trait i am able to acquire. 

here i go again. doing a little better with therapy, and then a week later backsliding into even worse depression. good. great. cool. this time i made it NINE days without a really bad day. 

i’m so angry with myself. yesterday mom was being all buddy-buddy with me and i was tense about it but also able to just occupy the same room/backyard as her for a little while without everything exploding. so stupid. i’m stupid for getting comfortable. for not avoiding them and for helping around the house and for thinking i should organize things my way since i use everything in the pantry more often. i’m stupid for thinking things might change.

i’m exhausted and i’m still twitchy as hell. when does the sleeping and resting happen? 

i don’t know if i thought things might change. i guess it was an instinct. i saw the signs that it wasn’t going to last. but i stayed upbeat anyway and kept going because i’m stupid. waffling about dad picking on my friends... i wish i hadn’t tried to talk about the movie around him.

but how was i supposed to know he would do that? how was i supposed to know that asking a single question, about something i needed, in his presence would set him off today? why does this still bother me so much?? 

why can’t i just not care. maybe not in general, but certainly about this one thing. why am i scared of my parents? what’s their problem? why does dad have such a huge tree up his ass? and why is it my problem???

maybe... tomorrow i will try to do some work. maybe. it could feasibly happen. i’m going to be really tired though if i keep stalling. 

a lot of my friends have been getting married. well, “friends” as in facebook contacts that are my age and i have interacted with more than a little bit. i don’t want to get married, but i wonder what would happen if i was stuck with only my own company, forever. i feel the empty space next to me. i can’t imagine anyone who would fill it. i don’t have an ideal partner. just a couple rough outlines of what i’d look for. 

i guess it’s better that way. but even the outlines are impossible to really imagine. i got a lot of personal problems in the way. like being unfathomably emotionally distant even when i’m being frank.

it’s... hard to keep believing in other people when you’re told constantly that you can’t love others unless you love yourself. and if i can’t love others, how can i possibly expect them to love me? 

eve loves me. but she is going to die soon.

can’t think about that right now. too upsetting. think about something else.

interacting with my parents always gets me all discombobulated. i will try to have my head back on straight in the morning. well, not straight, but less crooked. i will try to have my head back on gay in the morning?? 

i ain’t got a better joke to end with. that’s all i got.

[theguywiththesixthsense-blog]

-x Day 24 x-

I slept till 1 today which i absolutely hate about today but my body was super weak yesterday so meh..

From maghrib time today i have been outside running in the heat constantly moving around. At first i walked all the way to the computer market then went to a mosque nearby to pray isha cz all shops are closed during ramadaan from maghrib to isha and then prayed 4 rakah tarawi and went out to buy a router and cable so i can bring the internet from downstairs to my house. Why ? because this is the 4th time this month my internet gave up on me and im honestly sick of calling up STC and complaining at this point. Anyways so my body still hurts a lot and that is why i am blogging so late today. After i bought everything which btw was amazing i mean the price i got for the items Alhamdulillah so i came home and set everything up internet was working fine Alhamdulillah for a while and then all of sudden it just goes off and im sitting here wondering uh-oh now dad will kill me and never let me take a line from others ever again. Cz he was against the idea as usual but i wanted to show him the difference between fibre and normal line. So i can convince him to keep this one but as you can already tell not a good start so far. So im not entirely sure what went wrong im assuming someone from downstairs unplugged my wire by mistake anyways have to check that but they are not at home atm so im waiting and its 12:56 am now. Seems like my plan of sleeping early and waking up early and going out for a walk to work out isn't starting tomorrow either. *sigh*.

Have to talk about two things first is referring to my last blog before leaving riyadh for Makkah about why i get so broken and dead inside before going to Makkah. well theres a couple of reasons actually

1) There are two events that took place in my life which i think shaped my personality a lot, and both of these events just happen to be about a trip to Makkah. First one was way back when i was tiny. I think i was only 3 years old or maybe even younger not sure, when my parents decided, well more like my Dad decided, to leave me at his relatives house and go for Hajj. Yes, they left, a 3 year old who probably just learned that people other than his parents exist in this world, in a completely new house that this kid has never been in before. I don't remember much about the experience but i remember few things like the fact that i didn't eat or drink anything for two days because i was confused and angry at my mom as to why she would leave me like this. Anyways that without a doubt messed up my mind a lot especially during that age when my brain was supposed to develop and my personality was just starting to take shape.

2) Another event was a couple of years ago actually when i was in Grade 7 or 8 maybe not entirely sure. Before stating this i should probably state a few facts about me. I never lived alone on my own never in my life. I always had my mom with me wherever i went never had to stay away from her in my life until this even happened... So my Dad ( haha surprise surprise its him again ) yeah so he decided that his son who never lived alone in his life before can now automatically learn to live without his mom and not only that but he can also adjust to a completely new environment for 5 days straight without his mom. Basically what he did was he sent mom to BD without me. First night itself was hell for me i remember talking to mom before she took off and then just couldnt hold back my tears i cried all night that day alone in my room. Anyways morning rolled up and instantly got busy playing and stuff so it wasn't so bad until ( surprise surprise its him again ) my Dad told me that he wants to go pray 40 salahs with the first takbeer in Makkah and he wants me to go with him. I mean i was very little and i didn't really care much or understood what i was getting myself into at that point. So yeah 5 Days from Zuhr to Isha after tarawi ( yeah this was during ramadaan ) i had to be in the mosque with him sitting at one place because if we leave he won't be able to get the next salah with the first takbeer. There was no internet no nothing which meant all i could think off was mom at that point and no i wasn't even given a chance to talk to my mom. I specifically remember him telling me once when i just couldn't take it anymore and i burst out crying to him saying i miss mom, he replied by arguing and saying why do you miss her ? she is enjoying herself in bd she isn't thinking about you stop thinking about her so much... Anyways so from Zuhr till tarawi no food no chance to keep my brain busy so i don't miss mom so much. This went for 5 days straight so just imagine what my developing brain was going through at this point. Anyways 5 days are over and now its time to go to Madinah where he wants to spend two days before heading back to riyadh. This is when i fell awefully sick and he had to leave the next day back to riyadh. Because for him 'mental health' is a myth. Only when you are physically ill is when you need to take action.

3) This one has a lot to do with her. The time span of my life during which i met her was a crucial part of me 'growing up'. When i met her i fell for her instantly and surrendered myself completely to her and handed her my heart completely. She became a part of everything in my life. Eating, Drinking, sleeping, everything... She was 'home' for me. Everytime i am away from her i would feel homesick. I would feel aweful like im missing a big part of me. And what i mean by 'away from her' is basically going away from doing something that i do regularly on a daily basis, because like i said... she was home. So that means whenever i would do something out of ordinary it would kill me to not have her beside me doing whatever im doing, with me. My mind had become set to the fact that as long as she was with me nothing in this world could scare me, but if she isn't there with me, i become empty... homeless. So whenever i travel away from home i get all those feelings always.

So yeah all three of those reasons combined would be the cause of me falling into a pitfall of depression whenever the time comes for me to go to Makkah, or anywhere away from home.

I was supposed to blog about my trip to Makkah but i am exhausted already after typing all these >_<

Its 2:00am already ugh no sleep today i guess. I'll watch the rest of Re:Zero now in bed and fall asleep if i feel really sleepy. Self reminder : Still have to pray witr so make sure you pray Tahajjud today.

Just wanted to mention the fact that Alhamdulillah i am up to date with reading the Quran and trying to finish it during Ramdaan. I am actually proud of myself for once that so far i have manged to stay on course. I fixed a rule that i am going to read 5 pages after every salah NO MATTER WHAT. So i made sure i did that and mashaAllah i managed to keep it consistent so far. I just made sure i dont give into ANY whispers at all from shaytaan while im reading it. 'lets leave these 2 pages for the next salah' or 'lets leave this 1 page only for next salah its okay its just one' or even 'lets leave these 5 ayats onlyyy' NOPE not giving into you shaytaan not this time. I know how your tricks work. Start by something slow and then get to something big later. N-O-P-E .

May Allah protect us all and give us strength to ignore shaytaan's whispers.

PS: i really do want to a lot more than just reading the Quran. I really need to read tafseer. Its actually quite interesting.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

BEFORE THE SEGWAY

What differentiates the different languages then becomes source code volume. In this case it was was from someone in Egypt and written in such an informal style could have anything useful to say about it has some of the money would go to the founders instead of the broken air conditioner in your studio apartment. But, like us, then they release it. Imagine talking to a roomful of people than 15. It worries me a bit to see brokenness, because you couldn't establish the level of university you'd need as a seed. It's pretty clear now that even by using the word convergence we were giving TV too much credit. Do you, er, want a printout of yesterday's news?1 First Round that they performed one. They're responding to the market. Nerds tend to eschew formality of any sort. There was an authenticity that everyone who walked in could sense.

In that respect it's a black hole. Nothing seems to stick. You have to be dragged kicking and screaming toward, it may be both. It's like calling a car a horseless carriage. She says to him: Here's the thing: If you want to start a startup, managing them is one of the defining qualities of organizations since there have been two ways of thinking about what employers want, like you, but you can stay big by being nice, but you don't need to. It will be interesting to try and write down what you said; expect 80% of the ideas writing would have generated. That will increasingly be COOs rather than CEOs. There's a limit to the number of startups is that there is a kind of deficit spending.2 I'm reluctant to suggest that our investors were nothing but a drag on us.

That sounds good. That would definitely happen if programmers started to use it. In the rivalry between Perl and Python at their own game.3 This lets them do a kind of suggestion box, because users were desperately waiting for what they want from me. More recently the recipe is more to setting up a company than to be built on NT. Eventually the pimps and drug dealers notice that the doctors and lawyers have switched from Cadillac to Lexus, and do things that might look bad. 1 out fast, then improve it based on users' reactions. But what does that really mean? Good design resembles nature.

But they work as if they used it to make money from it, because our definition of success is that the winning model for most applications will be the last you have. Notes Macros very close to good ideas, but that if someone wanted to design a good language. So what's interesting? For every rich person you probably shouldn't try angel investing unless you think of one that began in the 1980s. I never actually gave it, because there is more competition between investors, which is not very good in Europe. I started writing this. The reason risk is always proportionate to reward. And the success of a society is better at measurement than others, but the number of users you can support per server is the critical question for anyone interested in language design, I ask myself what I've found life is too short for, the word offers has a probability of. For example, it's ok to make career decisions on the fly, like a headset or router. Good PR firms use the same trick of enriching himself at the company's expense by selling them overpriced components. You.

This may not be sufficiently focused. Even if the professor let you change your sales conversations just a little from do you want to be, in any kind of special training. Arguably it's an interesting failed experiment. In 1989 some clever researchers tracked the eye movements of radiologists as they scanned chest images for signs of where you stand. The more general version of this article. And although the first may be weakening because it's now so cheap. If you succeed, you'll have less competition, like software for human resources departments. Use succinct languages. That kind of experience is hard to do in wimpier languages, but by doing labs and problem sets. Computers are a familiar example. If you're eating at a restaurant you suspect is bad, your best chances for beating insiders are obviously in fields where the rules change. What's special about startup ideas?4

Make it really good for code search, for example, didn't have numbers. Most only come into effect if the company gets sold at a low intensity for forty years, you work like hell for four.5 It wouldn't pay. Ed. A great programmer doesn't merely do the same thing as money. Though the nature of fashion to be invisible. Not in New York.

Notes

The reason you don't get any money till all the potential magnitude of the Industrial Revolution, England was already the richest of their times. 54 million, and the valuation is the case. Actually it's better if everything just works. But although for-profit prison companies and prison guard unions both spend a lot of problems, and that often creates a rationalization for doing so much more attractive to investors.

But not all, the apparent misdeeds of corp dev is to how Henry Ford got started as a process rather than given by other people. Compromising a server could cause such damage that photography has done to their returns.

Founders also worry that taking an angel. No one seems to have a notebook to write and deals longer to write legislation that distinguishes them, not an efficient market in this respect.

If you extrapolate another 20 years. But so many still make you take out order.

But a company doesn't have dangerous local maxima, the best case. Many of these titles vary too much to suggest that we wouldn't have.

[sikizu]

Aaah I’ve been getting a lot done today--finished a drawing I need for my D&D campaign--but brain gremlins are definitely acting up today

Graphic descriptions bellow, beware (tw self harm/suicide/trauma/depression/whatever the fuck else):

I cut the shit out of my arms yesterday, luckily not deep enough to bleed, which is good in retrospect, but my brain is telling me to do it again today? Which is really annoying. I forgot how fucking good it feels though so who knows, I might break out the nail polish to scratch off my wrists instead (it removes skin, and in my experience, feels better than just cutting)

I’ve been fighting off suicidal thoughts for the past like 10 days at varying degrees of severity, but today it’s really bad. I’m supposed to mow the lawn today because it’s going to rain tomorrow, but I don’t think doing that while my brain screams “let it run you over so you can get horribly injured and have to go to the ER” is a good pairing

I’m just glad that I have a hyperactive sense of self-preservation. haven’t been able to purge ever, have never actually gone through with an attempt on my life (though it’s been close a few times during college). So far the continuation of my lungs giving my body oxygen in rhythm to my heart pumping blood throughout my body has gone unaffected (with certain exceptions that were out of my control during childhood)

I’m just not doing good today y’all

I honestly need to get out of the house and interact with friends. And maybe just like. cuddle or something. I really need good touch right now

it’s been pretty bad as of late, cannot lie to you

last week I almost didn’t shower because my mind felt like it was literally glitching out. glitching frames of recovered memories overlaid with static and a discordant sample from one of my angst songs (hatsune miku-badbye, aka the song that got me through most of high school). the shower was 2 hours and I later recovered another few frames from a relatively new repressed memory

Ugh it’s 4:50 and I know I’m probably going to get in trouble with my dad for not mowing the lawn. He’s counting on me to do it because he’s ridiculously busy--both of his router machines stopped working, and he’s been repairing them for the last like 3 days, and earlier this morning he broke and ruined a few hundred dollars’ worth of museum glass for his flag cases--so I know he really doesn’t need to do the lawn on top of everything he’s been set back by

and yet I’m still scared of doing it, because. damn. it’s really close today. i... i honestly want to die today. not completely, because of all of my projects and the fact that I actually have things to look forward to now (the plan to live with my best friends in the coming 1-2 years, animals and pride flags included (called project “big gay house”), the promise of eventually getting animals of my own, now including cat because fuck yeah), but damn. today is just a big ol black cloud

and it isn’t even just something where I can see “oh I had a nightmare about the K-6 class last night so of course I want to carve the tendons out of my arms and die,” it’s just. so much has been happening since April, and it hasn’t stopped. I think I’ve had a period of 2 days straight were my mental health was sufficiently “above water?” I’m so tired

Anyway I’m going to try to continue to draw, then try to not die today, and also probably contact friends about getting together soon

peace out, my good bitches (luv u, stay safe you nerds, eggs, and cheezits)

[truereviewpage]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall.

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

45 Tools You Should* Own published first on https://aireloomreview.tumblr.com/

[yesterdaysdreams]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall .

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265713 https://ift.tt/2HrjuXZ via IFTTT

[billydmacklin]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall .

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

45 Tools You Should* Own published first on https://carpetgurus.tumblr.com/

[statusreview]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall .

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

45 Tools You Should* Own published first on https://ssmattress.tumblr.com/

[lowmaticnews]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall .

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

45 Tools You Should* Own published first on https://landscapingmates.blogspot.com

[interiorstarweb]

45 Tools You Should* Own

We get a lot of questions about what tools people should own and they only seem to pick up steam as we approach Father’s Day (are us dads really that predictable? Never mind, don’t answer that). “Should” is a strong term because what you need is very personal to the types of projects that you take on and how much budget/space you’re willing/able to dedicate to your tools. Also, I should note that Sherry uses every single tool that I do, so they also can make good Mother’s Day gifts… assuming your lady didn’t ask you for breakfast in bed and you got her a router. That might go over about as well as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster.

Anyway, back to the much-asked-about tool rundown. Rather than completely dodging the “can you share a big list of all of your favorite tools in one place” question, here’s what I’ve done. I looked through everything that I’ve accumulated over the years and picked out what I think are great basic tools and tool-related supplies to consider having. Some are completely unsurprising (hammer, duh) but others are easy to overlook items that come in handy a lot more than you’d think. So whether you’re just starting your collection or you’re looking to fill a gap in your (or your favorite dad’s) tool arsenal, here it goes.

The items linked are, in most cases, the same exact tool we own (or the current model of it). Or if they no longer sell something, or I’m not 100% satisfied with what I own, I’ve linked to what I would buy today. I’ve broken these 45 items into four groups:

Power Tools

Basic Manual Tools

Tools for Measuring, Leveling, & More

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

They’re meant to cover your bases for basic home maintenance and building projects. I have NOT included tools for specific projects like painting, tiling, drywalling, etc. I figured that might start to get overwhelming and 45 already seemed like a lot. I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten something (and you may have other opinions about what constitutes a “must have” tool) but, again, I didn’t want this list to get too overwhelming. I can definitely come back with a tool breakdown for specific projects like tiling or drywalling another time if you guys think that would be helpful.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that we accumulated these tools over several years. Please don’t interpret this as a shopping list that should be immediately added to your Amazon cart. Buying tools as you need them is one of the best ways to go. It’ll will ensure that you’re getting the item that best fits your current need – and you may be able to afford nicer items if you spread out your purchases over months and years.

Power Tools

I was once very intimidated by power tools – especially saws – but now I love having the right ones on hand to tackle tons of projects with more speed and accuracy than I could accomplish by hand.

Power Drill/Driver: From building furniture to hanging heavy stuff on the wall, this is my MOST USED tool. Don’t forget a battery and charger if you don’t already have one.

Drill/Driver Set: I’ve liked having several screw heads and drill bits all in one small kit, including masonry bits!

Hammer Drill: A corded drill is helpful for projects that need a bit more oomph, and making it a hammer drill helps if you ever need to drill into brick, stone, or concrete.

Nail Gun: This battery-powered nail gun is so ridiculously easy and convenient for building projects or adding trim.

Miter Saw: This is the closest to my hand-me-down saw, but it boasts a helpful sliding feature for cutting wider boards. This is my MOST USED SAW.

Table Saw: This current version of my table saw is great for ripping boards (like flooring) if you need them narrower.

Circular Saw: Great for cutting large materials like plywood. I’ve been using mine like crazy at the beach house. Only wish it were cordless like this one.

Dremel Multimax: I don’t use this super often, but it’s great for small jobs in tight spaces – especially with the blade that cuts metal.

Jig Saw: This comes in handy when cutting holes in the middle of materials, or when you aren’t cutting a straight line.

Palm Sander: A power sander can make quick work of removing finishes or roughing up surfaces for painting. I personally like ones with a pointed tip for getting into corners.

Basic Manual Tools

Let’s move on to the easy (and affordable!) hand tools. These are the types of tools you could also purchase as a kit if you’re starting from scratch (this looks like a good one) but I’ve included a few extra items (like #4 and #8) that I use more than you’d expect.

Large Hammer: This one does the job, it’s only $7, and the orange handle makes it easy to spot.

Small Hammer: We keep a lightweight hammer in a kitchen drawer for quick tasks, like hanging picture frames.

Rubber Mallet: When tapping a tight board into place, this mallet’s white head won’t scuff (or leave a dent).

Nail Punch: This is handy for setting nail heads flush into trim or building projects.

Screwdriver Set: Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a small set of these handy in my shed and in the kitchen.

Hex Key Set: This way you don’t have to keep every Allen wrench that comes with your IKEA furniture.

Channellock Pliers: I find these V-groove pliers offer a tighter grip than the flat Channellocks.

Pry Bar: Super handy for pulling off trim or removing really tough nails.

Needlenose Pliers: This is another tool we keep handy in the kitchen for grabbing or prying small objects.

Metal Snips: These cut thin metal and are great for work with ducting (they cut floral wire & picture wire too).

Ratchet & Socket Set: These can make fast work of removing or tightening bolts.

Adjustable Wrenches: A set of small lightweight wrenches is a nice complement to Channellocks, especially in tight spaces.

Tools For Measuring, Leveling, & More

These types of tools get less glory than the ones that do the smashing and screwing, but I find many of these to be the true lifesavers of our projects (I’ve proclaimed my love for #12 on our podcast more than once).

Metal Yardstick: Good for measuring, but also to use as a straight edge when marking.

Tape Measure: I’ve always found this tape measure to be comfortable and easy to use. You may also want a smaller version in the car for measuring furniture or other items on the go.

Rafter Square: Great for keeping things square when building, or marking 45-degree angle cuts.

24″ Level: You may need something longer, but this easy-to-grip level does the job fine for most tasks.

9″ Level: A smaller magnetic level like this is great for tight spaces and household tasks like leveling art.

Laser Level: This simple laser level has helped us hang picture collages & curtain rods for over a decade.

Utility Knife: A handy knife like this is good for lots of tasks, including cutting drywall .

5-in-1 Saw: I own quite the mish-mash of hand saws, so this 5-in-1 would be my pick if I were starting over.

Sanding Blocks: We keep a variety around to smooth rough cuts or rough up surfaces we’re painting.

Caulk Gun: This pretty basic caulk gun is our go-to for any, well, caulking.

Chalk Line: Use this to mark straight lines on objects (like plywood) or on floors too large for a straight edge.

Trigger Clamps: These are my favorite clamps to hold materials in place while working on them.

Handi-Clamps: It’s also good to have these smaller and quicker clamps handy too.

Things To Have Around Your Workspace

Last but not least, I wanted to include some other supplies you’d probably appreciate having around – especially if you have a workshop, shed, or dedicated spot in your garage for all of your tools.

Safety Goggles: We keep a pair (or 2!) around to protect our peepers when using power tools.

Dust Masks: Some jobs may require something heavier duty, but these are great for most tasks.

Saw Horses: These lightweight collapsible saw horses can prop up wood while you cut it – or create a mobile workspace.

Pegboard: Some sort of wall organizer is a HUGE help, some (like this larger one) come with bins too.

Small Parts Organizers: A good system to organize your screws, nails, etc is key. This one’s nice because it’s portable.

Hand Vacuum: This is on my wish list since I want an easy / fast way to tidy up my workspace.

Portable Tool Organizer: When I use a tool bag stuff gets lost on the bottom, so I’d love to switch to one of these bucket jockeys.

Work Lights: It never hurts to have additional light sources. Here’s another versatile option.

Wet/Dry Vac: A bigger vacuum like this one’s great for big demo or clean up projects, as well as day-to-day workspace cleaning.

Dust Pan Set: Can you tell I’m big on cleaning? Don’t forget this old-school standby.

If you want to read more about tools, check out this post we did called 5 Power Tools That Changed How We DIY (it includes a couple not on this list!) and this post about how we organized our shed.

***P.S. If you’d like bonus photos, tips, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes info delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. Last week we shared an easy way to upgrade air vents and this week’s is all about an exciting duplex development that just happened yesterday morning.***

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post 45 Tools You Should* Own appeared first on Young House Love.

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