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Rush, rush, rush...
Sep. 6th, 2002 07:58 pmThis morning's ham breakfast was sparsely attended, though a group of seniors traveling about by bus were in the dining room and well into breakfast by the time I got there.
Instead of the usual banter about engineering subjects, I got to listen to Mack and Maria J. (who are coming up on an imminent 50th marriage anniversary) talk about "the old days."
I love listening about the past, and about how people lived before the advent of many modern appliances. Maria told of something called an "Aladdin lamp," which was a kerosene lamp with a design that put out much more light than the standard kerosene lamp. The way Mack described the mechanism, it seems to resemble a modern Coleman lantern, with its mantle.
Mack also told of a household that cobbled together a carbide system for the house. Carbide, you see, used to be used in miner's lamps, where it would generate a flammable and bright-burning gas when combined with water. I've seen some antique carbide lanterns, complete with a flint and striker, that were used by miners to walk around underground. The system Mack was talking about was engineered to supply the generated gas to an entire house, and it was some kind of deal!
Me, I've never had to deal with a lack of running water or electricity, except for those few times when I've voluntarily gone camping, or something similar. It's a little humbling to know that people lived, and lived fairly well, in times past without all the modern conveniences.
* * * I hurried home as soon as I could this morning, to get a jump start on the translation due today. Still, I was surprised when I got a call around 1 pm today, from my Houston client.
"How's things going?" came the question.
I knew exactly what "things" were being asked about. "Fine," I said, "I'm finished with the translation. It'll take me another hour to check it over."
"Okay," said the voice at the other end, "just keep in mind we've got a tropical storm breathing down our neck, and everyone wants to go home, and I need to send your translation out to the editor."
"Roger that," I said. I still remember Allison, and driving through some spectacular water to get to work at JSC.
After delivering the finished work (on time),I went back to the store, where it was slow, especially after Drew and Galina left.
I'm coasting right now. I want to sleep. Later, for sure.
Cheers...
Instead of the usual banter about engineering subjects, I got to listen to Mack and Maria J. (who are coming up on an imminent 50th marriage anniversary) talk about "the old days."
I love listening about the past, and about how people lived before the advent of many modern appliances. Maria told of something called an "Aladdin lamp," which was a kerosene lamp with a design that put out much more light than the standard kerosene lamp. The way Mack described the mechanism, it seems to resemble a modern Coleman lantern, with its mantle.
Mack also told of a household that cobbled together a carbide system for the house. Carbide, you see, used to be used in miner's lamps, where it would generate a flammable and bright-burning gas when combined with water. I've seen some antique carbide lanterns, complete with a flint and striker, that were used by miners to walk around underground. The system Mack was talking about was engineered to supply the generated gas to an entire house, and it was some kind of deal!
Me, I've never had to deal with a lack of running water or electricity, except for those few times when I've voluntarily gone camping, or something similar. It's a little humbling to know that people lived, and lived fairly well, in times past without all the modern conveniences.
"How's things going?" came the question.
I knew exactly what "things" were being asked about. "Fine," I said, "I'm finished with the translation. It'll take me another hour to check it over."
"Okay," said the voice at the other end, "just keep in mind we've got a tropical storm breathing down our neck, and everyone wants to go home, and I need to send your translation out to the editor."
"Roger that," I said. I still remember Allison, and driving through some spectacular water to get to work at JSC.
After delivering the finished work (on time),I went back to the store, where it was slow, especially after Drew and Galina left.
I'm coasting right now. I want to sleep. Later, for sure.
Cheers...
