Mom With Power Tools In Experimental Mode

I do not have cable TV. It has been over a year since I last had cablevision.

I was bored a couple nights ago, so I tried an experiment. I attempted to build a TV antenna. At least then I can have 4 or 5 channels.

Supplies

• plywood
• wire coat hangers
• coaxial cable

Built a small box out of plywood. Drilled two holes in the top. Cut top off two hangers and inserted them into the holes. Twisted ends of hangers together inside box. Used staple gun to stabilize hangers on top of the box. Used electricians' tape to attach coaxial cable to bottom ends of hangers.

Then I hooked it up to my TV.

It did not work.

I was not sure if it would work or not. It was worth a try... and it gave me something to do for an hour. Best of all, it did not cost me anything! Buying antennae is out of the question... I don't have $20. If I did, I would have cable!

In the process, I did find instructions online to make a simple antenna from 300 ohm twin-lead line. It is inexpensive... if I can find anyone who still carries it!

Mom With Power Tools is satisfied... she tried something new and learned something in the process.

It was a good project.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Ok, I'm not actually green... but I am different.

I have been different most of my life. Since elementary school.

When I was 7 or 8 years old, I wanted to be a fire fighter. Or a stunt driver. Maybe a doctor, or a mechanic. Stock Car racer was on my list, too.

By the time I was in high school, I wanted to be an astronaut. I looked into becoming a pilot in pursuit of that goal. I wanted to be a vetrinarian. I wanted to be a special effects technician. I wanted to be a computer programmer.

My friends were talking about who was cute, and how many kids they wanted. I was talking about what kind of truck I would drive, and how many dogs I wanted.

When they were buying lipstick, I was buying comic books.

They wanted to rent romantic movies. I wanted science fiction.

They were reading Teen magazines. I was reading Omni.

One day, they confronted me and asked me if I was a lesbian.

Ouch.

A couple of times, when rough-housing with them, apparently I accidentally touched someone somewhere private. Add that to the fact that I had no interest in looking for a boyfriend, and they thought I had sexual interest in them.

It took some time to get over that.

I am still different. Most people simply can't understand me -- or can't be bothered. Makes it hard to have close friendships.

Even my own husband had a problem with me being different. He was initially attracted to my sense of adventure and willingness to get my hands dirty. He thought of me as a unique individual.

Then he left me because I was not like other women.

It's not easy being green.

But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean,
or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why wonder?
I'm green, and it'll do fine. It's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.