I am in the midst of a massive home remodeling project. Actually, it is more of a phase of my life than a mere project. I've been working on it for the better part of a year, and there is no end in sight.

I'm an amateur weekend handyman. I like to work with my hands, though I am not particularly good at it. My introduction to making stuff was in a summer shop class at Byron Junior High in Shaker Heights, Ohio when I was about 13. (The instructor was Mr. Tapendee.) Yep; while the other kids were outside playing baseball, I was building a Scotty Dog lamp. That's right; a Scotty Dog lamp - you know, the little table-top lamp shaped like a dog with a plaid coat (that's why it's called a Scotty Dog, folks). Anyway, you yank his tail, and the light goes on.

Really. Wait... I have a picture of him here:

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