Prototyped the x and y axes of my minimal gantry crane. Next up: z axis (hoist) and a pneumatic grabber. I’ve written a Python program to pull it all together and to interface with a PlayStation controller to help me test as I build. The final product may look nothing like this.
Category: Living
Spirit of Peace
Met friends at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. We walked to the Rose Garden and then the Peace Garden, where we stopped at this origami bronze sculpture, “Spirit of Peace.” This week marks the 78th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Tea, Scones, and Conversation in a Garden
Cycled over to the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus for a lovely morning of tea, scones, and conversation in a garden used for teaching. Dwight volunteers at a teaching/research greenhouse, and I got to meet a fellow volunteer, two research students, and the Curator.
Into the Woods
Walked over to the Guthrie to see Into the Woods, which explores what happens after “happily ever afters.”
Renewing Lake Street
A man in a car shouted, “Good job!” as he drove by the construction workers on Lake Street. “Thank you,” one of the workers replied without pausing his work. I didn’t mind having to push my bike past the construction. Lake Street has been through some tough times, now it’s coming back.
A Favorite Spot for Breakfast
Paused for cooked-to-order breakfast sandwiches beside Lake Harriet. Nearby, mothers relaxed with their young kids, and a four-person book club sometimes discussed the book.
Mitigating Risk
Tethered the shelving I set up last week to a wall bracket screwed into a stud. The tether is designed to prevent furniture tipping over in an earthquake. We don’t have earthquakes, but if someone falls and grabs on, they won’t end up with the shelves on top of them.
Sausage Saturday Shopping
On my bike ride, picked up the missing ingredients for Sausage Saturday: Ukrainian sausage from Kramarczuk’s, crusty bread from Surdyk’s, and over-packaged baby kale from Lunds and Byerlys.
The Weakest Link
My bike ride came to an abrupt halt when the rear derailleur locked up. A link in the chain had failed. Pushed my bike two miles to Freewheel Bike, near our home, where bike technician Martin replaced the chain on the spot in five minutes flat.
A Fruit So Smelly, It’s Not Returnable
On a walk with a friend, cooled off in a large Asian supermarket. Noted the nonreturnable durian. “Its odor is best described as pig-excrement, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.” (Wikipedia.) Left with a bag of matcha Japanese Kit Kats.