Perfectionist?

I feel contentedly subdued today, as in “quiet and rather reflective” and NOT “depressed” if you check online dictionaries. A peaceful calm has settled over my nest and I am energized as in revived, able to take on tasks postponed far too long, such as scraping the old paint off the old bathroom tiles. That has been on my “to do” list ever since I moved into this place.

Am I a perfectionist?

Words echo, circle in my head, audio memories in other people’s voices: if you are going to do something, do it right. If you can’t do it right, there’s no sense doing it at all. Rip it out and start all over. Learn to do as many things as you possibly can and learn to do each well, someday you might need a loaf of bread. A is for average. Three strikes, you’re out. Trained by the best to be the best. Error free, hit the mark, dead on. Precision, precise, perfection?

It’s not a piano. Precision not required to build a crude crate. Nor apparently, to paint apartments. It will take hours to scrape down the tiles, days because I am in no hurry. Whenever I go in there, maybe scrape a little more. I’m doing it because sloppy workmanship drives me nuts. Yet, it is par for the course. Another echo: not everyone does things like we do.

I think I am a perfectionist when precision is required. That’s a given… as a tool & die maker, I worked to close tolerances, often plus or minus a tenth. That’s ±0.0001″ for those not familiar with the lingo. So yes, I am a bit of a perfectionist per training and conditioning. I definately expect more from myself than I do from others, especially if I know that I can do better. But not about everything… not everything is a piano.

What I am asking myself today: how much tolerance do I allow myself and should I work on loosening that up a bit?

Well, I can’t be too much of a perfectionist if I have lived with THIS (see photo below) for damn near a year.

Thanks for reading!

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Shopping Shrinks & Bowls

I wanted to take some time to absorb things, so I hopped a bus to Boardman after I left the shrink’s office yesterday. So much for a mad shopping spree. I spent a whole $1.07 at the card shop in the mall and only $6 and change down at “Pipe Dreamz” on Market Street.

So, how did the shrink appointment go?

We talked. I think we reached a greater understanding or at least now we can talk to clarify what is said with what is heard, if that makes sense. Like, I told him that he pissed me off and he hears that I was angry so I must have projected anger felt towards someone else on him as that happens sometimes… but no, it was not misdirected. Talking about what exactly pissed me off lead to talking about other things and I feel much better about our ability to communicate more effectively now.

Oh, want to see what I got up at the Re-Hab store?

That brown wok shaped bowl resting on a chafing dish base will become a little bird bath for a flower bed, with a bit of clear caulk and a purple birdie. The ceramic cat will go outside, too. I also got candle glass, picture frames, and a few other things, but didn’t find what I went there looking for (small baking dishes) so maybe better luck next time.

As for the yellow bowl? It is old with crazed glaze, inside and out, and feels way too heavy for a bowl of that size. I don’t know why I bought it as I don’t think it is suitable for food use, not sure what I am going to do with it. I feel like there is something special about this bowl, so if you know anything about old bowls, please share. This one was made by the “GEM CLAY FORMING CO” in Sebring, Ohio.

Thanks for reading today!

Bread Crumbs

Special thanks to my sister Jai for sharing her special recipe for homemade bread. I haven’t tried it yet… hopefully tomorrow I can find a small bread pan up at the Re-Hab store.

As for the half loaf of bread made the other day, it was good sliced with cheese melted on top with a mug of tomato soup, being short worked out great. Still, it was way too much bread so I ended up cutting the rest up into cubes and letting them air dry until today. Some went into a bit of dressing under a small chicken breast for my dinner tonight and some got tossed with chopped half an apple and made into a mini bread pudding. That will be good for breakfast tomorrow as I like bread pudding cold.

As for the rest of the cubes, they got whirled up into crumbs. I’m not sure if I should store bread crumbs in the cupboard or the freezer as homemade has no preservatives. If someone knows, please tell me.

Maybe I can find some more single serve baking dishes at the Re-Hab store. I like those little measuring spoons: pinch, dash, and smigeon, lol.

Yes, I know… the proper name for that thrift shop is “Habitat for Humanity Restore” but that’s an awful long name. “Re-Hab” is good for me.

Thanks for reading! See ya Monday!