"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

mnblade said:
Well, sure. But when I want something less sweet, I switch to Scotch. :cool:
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Well, there's always that...:cool:...but I still prefer the less sweet bourbons as an alternative. :thumbup: (And a good cigar is always a nice occasional bonus. :thumbup:)
 
So, I was out this fine evening with a buddy of mine (my wife and kids are still out of town, I can do this sort of thing ;) ) and he breaks the news to me that his wife is pregnant with their second. I was honored to learn I was the first non-family member to hear the great news. I guess it's superstition, 'cause I was the first to hear about their first as well, a boy, and he's turned out to be a great kid.

At any rate, over way too many beers, we got to talking about our dads, and how great it is to BE dads and how we love our kids and blah blah blah. What, can I say? He's of Irish descent and given to such sentimental outpourings. :D I kid. He's one of my best friends in the world and was the best man in my wedding. At any rate, it just got me to thinking about my own three kids. I'd like to propose a toast. Raise a glass, fellas, to your kids. To your dads. To your nephews and nieces. Knives are great. Toys are great. But what's really great in life? Well, if you're a dad, I don't need to tell you. Salud!
 
Something tells me you guys will get a kick out of this photo essay. In photo 19 you can see a guy holding a knife.

[ADDED: I just realized that the link puukkoman posted above has the same pics .... Sorry to steal your thunder, puukkoman.]
 
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mnblade said:
Something tells me you guys will get a kick out of this photo essay. In photo 19 you can see a guy holding a knife.
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Very cool photo set, Mark! :thumbup: Reminds me of a simpler, more innocent time in my own life ............... not quite as far back as in the photos, but the 1950's and early 60's anyway. I suppose we look back through rose colored glasses, remembering all the good things about the past, but forgetting how hard life was, in other respects, compared to today.
 
coyote711 said:
Very cool photo set, Mark! :thumbup: Reminds me of a simpler, more innocent time in my own life ............... not quite as far back as in the photos, but the 1950's and early 60's anyway. I suppose we look back through rose colored glasses, remembering all the good things about the past, but forgetting how hard life was, in other respects, compared to today.
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Hard, yes. But I wonder if on the whole, people were happier in thier life?

The materialistic rage had not started yet, and people were more content with a simpler life because no boob tube had invaded thier life to show them how they should be living according to some ad man's version of life.

It was actually easier to have a good life on a modest income back then. Money went farther, and things could be fixed up, vs now with the stuff being made so if it goes belly up you have to toss it and get a new one.

Most of all, people had respect for each other, and mannors had not gone out of style yet. If a neighbor was having a hard time, the neighbors would help out. I remember one neighbor had to get an operation. That was a big deal back then, as they didn't have medical insurance. While he was out of work, all the nieghborhood took turns each night making a dinner for them, and they never went hungrey. The hat was passed up and down the street, and a pretty good chunk of money was collected for them. They got by with the help of thier friends and nieghbors. Now a days, most people don't know the people who live more than two doors down the street.

I think it very well may be true that we sometimes look through the rose colored glasses, but then maybe we look back with such fondness, because we realize (those of us who lived it) the 1950's was a great time in this country, for a lot of reasons.

After Ike, it was all downhill. :(

Carl.
 
Carl, your points are well taken, and I agree with them all! :thumbup:

Concerning my thought on sometimes forgetting how hard life was back then, I guess I was thinking mainly about life on a farm. Much more physical, back-breaking manual labor back then compared to now ..... probably just the same as it is in most any type of work, when comparing "yesterday" with "today."

Looking back, I'm sure we were "poor" back then, but I didn't know it at the time; we always had everything we needed ..... maybe not always everything we wanted, but we had what was needed. That seems to be a distinction that has become more blurred now days. And I'll have to say that physical labor as a kid probably didn't hurt me none - sure as heck wouldn't want a repeat of it now that I'm in my 60's though! ;)

Yes, I have very fond memories of the 1950's and early 60's, and wouldn't trade them for anything. :D
 
Carl, thats a great post:thumbup::thumbup:


I wasn't born untill 1960, but it was kinda the same way when I was young. Everyone helped each other when help was needed, and like you said we knew all of our nieghbors very well.

The cable TV came along in my later teens, and that seemed like the start of it all in my area. People started watching more TV, and that seemd to cut back on the amount of visiting in the nieghborhood.
It just went downhill from there. Then the PC came along, and it seems no one has the time to help or visit these days.

When I tell people I wish it was simple like it was back then, with only 3 TV channels, no cell phone, no PC, they just look at me like I'm crazy.
We had time to spend with others, and help when it was needed. Now it seems like most I know are always trying to catch up, and don't have much time for family and friends.

I'm really having a time with my 15 year old daughter about Facebook, and texting. If I let her, those two things are all she wants to do anymore. I would say it's almost to the point of addiction with her, and many others I know.
Sorry to ramble a bit, but boy do I miss those simple days.


BTW- I moved here, way out in the country, 26 years ago. There was no cable TV out here, and it was like going back in time several years.
When I was building my house people I didn't even know stoped by to help me ALOT. Many would work all day, and if I offered them money they acted almost offended. Some of those men have passed own, and the others very old. If I built today, it would suprise me if anyone stoped to help that didn't know me.
 
I was born in '66 and spent my summers with my grandparents (never went to summer camps) where I played with cousins a couple of months apart from me. We "hunted" cats with slingshots (never harmed them) and did the typical boy stuff, camping outdoors, building club houses and all that. Those were the days. My grandma had a TV but we didn't really watch it all that much.

I have been a software engineer for over 20 years and for the past couple of years have had the opportunity to work remotely from home. I use Skype for the daily conference calls. I get to at least be around my kids during the summer and my wife pretty much all the time. When I take breaks, I can walk outside with my wife and dogs. That is one of the niceties of today's technology and my job that in some weird way it has helped me be around my family instead of stuck in an office. Additionally, I don't drive my truck all that much, saving on gas and maintenance.
 
backwoodsboy said:
hey mods how a about making this thread a sticky?
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What, we have to do everything for you? Isn't it enough that we set this thread up for off-topic discussion, now you're too lazy to save the link to it? ;)

:p

(Let me see what my compadre has to say about it...:cool:)
 
Let's do it. This thread although off topic seems to be bringing a lot of us together in a good way.
 
Blues said:
That's what we've been trying to tell you!!! :D:p:D

(Oh yeah, the forum rocks too!!! ;):p)
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For this, I'll tip up a glass of Laphoaig Cask Strength:thumbup:. I hope it isn't too sweet for you.;)
 
protourist said:
For this, I'll tip up a glass of Laphoaig Cask Strength:thumbup:. I hope it isn't too sweet for you.;)
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Better send some here so I can make an evaluation! ;)

Back at ya, Mack. Thanks for the good thought. :thumbup:
 
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