An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

The other day I was looking for something (I forget what) and I came
upon a heavy duty two-prong plug. A few ago I went to several hardware
stores looking for a heavy-duty two-prong (no ground) plug to replace
a broken plug on a vacuum cleaner. I ended up buying a three-prong
plug and sticking an adapter on it. On Saturday I was looking through
my shop for something else (I forget what) and I found a never-used
heavy-duty two-prong plug.

A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.

A few months before that I'd been using a porter-cable orbital sander
hooked up to a vacuum cleaner for dust collection. When I went to put
the built-in dust collector back on the sander, I couldn't find it. A
few weeks later I found the dust collector, and now I can't find the
sander. This is the first time I've mislaid something that big.

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

I guess I should clean up my shop.

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:57:45 -0700, "
wrote:

A sad tale of the continuing quest for that thing I just had a few minutes ago...

I'm sorry you have to go through that, and I'm glad I'm not the only
one. Misery does love company.

Seems like every hour I spend in the shop consists of 55 minutes
looking for 'whatever' and 5 minutes doing the job. Everything has a
place and nothing's in it.

Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA

On Aug 21, 7:57 am, " wrote:
....spend far too many hours searching for things I know I have..... I guess I should clean up my shop.





you have the perfect opportunity here to build yourself a bunch in
rolling cabinets with drawers.

wrote:

On Aug 21, 7:57 am, "
wrote:
....spend far too many hours searching for things I know I
have..... I guess I should clean up my shop.





you have the perfect opportunity here to build yourself a bunch
in rolling cabinets with drawers.

Now where did that cabinet go?

"darkon" wrote in message
...
wrote:

On Aug 21, 7:57 am, "
wrote:
....spend far too many hours searching for things I know I
have..... I guess I should clean up my shop.





you have the perfect opportunity here to build yourself a bunch
in rolling cabinets with drawers.

Now where did that cabinet go?

I had some floor space for a cabinet lying around here somewhere.......

jc

On 21 Aug, 10:57, " wrote:
An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

The other day I was looking for something (I forget what) and I came
upon a heavy duty two-prong plug. A few ago I went to several hardware
stores looking for a heavy-duty two-prong (no ground) plug to replace
a broken plug on a vacuum cleaner. I ended up buying a three-prong
plug and sticking an adapter on it. On Saturday I was looking through
my shop for something else (I forget what) and I found a never-used
heavy-duty two-prong plug.

A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.

A few months before that I'd been using a porter-cable orbital sander
hooked up to a vacuum cleaner for dust collection. When I went to put
the built-in dust collector back on the sander, I couldn't find it. A
few weeks later I found the dust collector, and now I can't find the
sander. This is the first time I've mislaid something that big.

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

- I guess I should clean up my shop.

I'll clean my shop as soon as I find it. I'd swear I just used it the
other day.

On Aug 21, 10:57 am, " wrote:
An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

The other day I was looking for something (I forget what) and I came
upon a heavy duty two-prong plug. A few ago I went to several hardware
stores looking for a heavy-duty two-prong (no ground) plug to replace
a broken plug on a vacuum cleaner. I ended up buying a three-prong
plug and sticking an adapter on it. On Saturday I was looking through
my shop for something else (I forget what) and I found a never-used
heavy-duty two-prong plug.

A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.

A few months before that I'd been using a porter-cable orbital sander
hooked up to a vacuum cleaner for dust collection. When I went to put
the built-in dust collector back on the sander, I couldn't find it. A
few weeks later I found the dust collector, and now I can't find the
sander. This is the first time I've mislaid something that big.

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

I guess I should clean up my shop.

Recently, I was at the Borg, looking for a replacement bulb. I
couldn't seem to remember the word Halogen. The associate said I had a
case of CRS. ( Can't Remember Sh_t). Gray hair will do that to you.
Joe G

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:52:10 -0000, GROVER
wrote:



I guess I should clean up my shop.

Recently, I was at the Borg, looking for a replacement bulb. I
couldn't seem to remember the word Halogen. The associate said I had a
case of CRS. ( Can't Remember Sh_t). Gray hair will do that to you.
Joe G


dont worry! soon it will advance to craft ! cant remember a F#$KIN
THING! :-]

SKEEZ

skeez wrote:
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:52:10 -0000, GROVER
wrote:

I guess I should clean up my shop.
Recently, I was at the Borg, looking for a replacement bulb. I
couldn't seem to remember the word Halogen. The associate said I had a
case of CRS. ( Can't Remember Sh_t). Gray hair will do that to you.
Joe G


dont worry! soon it will advance to craft ! cant remember a F#$KIN
THING! :-]

SKEEZ

Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least
once a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the
last of the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes
of walking away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers
came back to me.

"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in message
...
Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least once
a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the last of
the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes of walking
away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers came back to me.

I shouldn't laugh; I worry about that very thing every time I step touch
the combination dial. But I DO have it written down and kept in a SAFE
place. Uh, that probably won't help.
--
NuWave Dave in Houston

On 2007-08-21 11:15:27 -0700, "Dave in Houston" said:


"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in message
...
Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least
once a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the
last of the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes
of walking away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers
came back to me.

I shouldn't laugh; I worry about that very thing every time I step
touch the combination dial. But I DO have it written down and kept in
a SAFE place. Uh, that probably won't help.

I hope it's not in the safe.
--
DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.

On Aug 21, 2:15 pm, "Dave in Houston" wrote:
"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in ...

Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least once
a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the last of
the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes of walking
away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers came back to me.

I shouldn't laugh; I worry about that very thing every time I step touch
the combination dial. But I DO have it written down and kept in a SAFE
place. Uh, that probably won't help.
--
NuWave Dave in Houston

I have long list of items that I've put in safe places, places where I
absolutely CANNOT forget where they are. They surely are safe, as
they'll never get found and used again.

"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in
:


Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least
once a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the
last of the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes
of walking away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers
came back to me.

You probably ought to write those numbers down somewhere where you won't
forget them. I'll tell you what... You post your home address and safe
combination to the wRECk, and you'll always be able to find them and
make sure it's yours (that's where your home address comes in.) ;-)

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Puckdropper wrote:
"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in
:


Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least
once a week for the last 11 years. I could remember the first and the
last of the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took about 30 minutes
of walking away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers
came back to me.

You probably ought to write those numbers down somewhere where you won't
forget them. I'll tell you what... You post your home address and safe
combination to the wRECk, and you'll always be able to find them and
make sure it's yours (that's where your home address comes in.) ;-)

Puckdropper


LOL!

A. The safe is at the office.
B. There is nothing in it except our weekly computer back-up cd's and a
few bucks petty cash.
C. There are 2 other guys I could have asked for the combination had my
pride allowed it. :-)

"Charlie M. 1958" wrote in message
...
skeez wrote:
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:52:10 -0000, GROVER
wrote:

I guess I should clean up my shop.
Recently, I was at the Borg, looking for a replacement bulb. I
couldn't seem to remember the word Halogen. The associate said I had a
case of CRS. ( Can't Remember Sh_t). Gray hair will do that to you.
Joe G


dont worry! soon it will advance to craft ! cant remember a F#$KIN
THING! :-]

SKEEZ

Just the other day I went to open a safe that I have opened at least once a week for the last 11
years. I could remember the first and the last of the 4 numbers to the combination, but it took
about 30 minutes of walking away and doing something else before the middle 2 numbers came back to
me.

A post-it stuck on the door should help.
Oh!

Oh it's grand when the things
that you can't do without
have at last got
so hopelessly strayed
that regardless of where
you start rooting about,
you will hit upon one you'd mislaid.

=== Piet Hein, "Within Reach" _Grooks 4_

Won't help now, but I've developed a habit - when I can't find
something, and eventually I _do_ find it, I put it in the first place
I looked for it.

Over time everything ends up where your subconcious thinks it is, so
the next time you find it quicker.

FWIW
Mike



On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:57:45 -0700, "
wrote:

An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

The other day I was looking for something (I forget what) and I came
upon a heavy duty two-prong plug. A few ago I went to several hardware
stores looking for a heavy-duty two-prong (no ground) plug to replace
a broken plug on a vacuum cleaner. I ended up buying a three-prong
plug and sticking an adapter on it. On Saturday I was looking through
my shop for something else (I forget what) and I found a never-used
heavy-duty two-prong plug.

A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.

A few months before that I'd been using a porter-cable orbital sander
hooked up to a vacuum cleaner for dust collection. When I went to put
the built-in dust collector back on the sander, I couldn't find it. A
few weeks later I found the dust collector, and now I can't find the
sander. This is the first time I've mislaid something that big.

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

I guess I should clean up my shop.
Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
Won't help now, but I've developed a habit - when I can't find
something, and eventually I _do_ find it, I put it in the first place
I looked for it.

Over time everything ends up where your subconcious thinks it is, so
the next time you find it quicker.

FWIW
Mike


I usually put it back in the last place that I found it because chances are,
if I found it there once, I'm going to find it there again.

"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
Won't help now, but I've developed a habit - when I can't find
something, and eventually I _do_ find it, I put it in the first place
I looked for it.

Over time everything ends up where your subconcious thinks it is, so
the next time you find it quicker.

FWIW
Mike

Holy cow, you can remember what the first place you looked was???????

I am truly impressed.

jc

Joe wrote:



Holy cow, you can remember what the first place you looked was???????

I am truly impressed.

jc



I work off the "What was I doing the last time I used it" principle.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

Nova wrote:
Joe wrote:



Holy cow, you can remember what the first place you looked was???????

I am truly impressed.

jc



I work off the "What was I doing the last time I used it" principle.


I usually quit looking after I find it at the last place I look.
I mean, why keep looking after you have found it?

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:31:30 GMT, Nova wrote:

Joe wrote:


I work off the "What was I doing the last time I used it" principle.

Unless...

I recall looking for something and finding my can of turpentine. I
remember thinking, "I wonder if turp would be an acceptable
substitute" for whatever it was that I was looking. I remember
thinking, 'Nah, I better find the right stuff". And eventually did.

Now, I'm looking for the turp, can't find it, can't recall what I was
doing in the above scenario to know where to look for it (besides my
whole house that I've gone over twice).

I'm sure it will pop up - after I've bought another can.

Renata

"Renata" wrote in message

Now, I'm looking for the turp, can't find it, can't recall what I was
doing in the above scenario to know where to look for it (besides my
whole house that I've gone over twice).

I'm sure it will pop up - after I've bought another can.

I never have trouble finding anything ... when I finally get around to
looking in the place I last left it, that is.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/8/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

"Renata" wrote in message ...
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:31:30 GMT, Nova wrote:

Joe wrote:


I work off the "What was I doing the last time I used it" principle.

Unless...

I recall looking for something and finding my can of turpentine. I
remember thinking, "I wonder if turp would be an acceptable
substitute" for whatever it was that I was looking. I remember
thinking, 'Nah, I better find the right stuff". And eventually did.

Now, I'm looking for the turp, can't find it, can't recall what I was
doing in the above scenario to know where to look for it (besides my
whole house that I've gone over twice).

I'm sure it will pop up - after I've bought another can.

Renata

I have a variant of this. Whenever I tidy up (get someone old to explain what this means ;-)) and
throw stuff out (again...), I always, always, need something I have thrown out, usually within a week.
Often its wood scraps, sometimes its a 10-year-old tin of paint with an inch in the bottom, or some
useful metal bracket thats been sitting around gathering dust for 15 years. Within a week of throwing
it, I will realise it was perfect for the project I am doing.

C-Nile virus again maybe.

Renata wrote:
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:31:30 GMT, Nova wrote:

Joe wrote:


I work off the "What was I doing the last time I used it" principle.

Unless...

I recall looking for something and finding my can of turpentine. I
remember thinking, "I wonder if turp would be an acceptable
substitute" for whatever it was that I was looking. I remember
thinking, 'Nah, I better find the right stuff". And eventually did.

Now, I'm looking for the turp, can't find it, can't recall what I was
doing in the above scenario to know where to look for it (besides my
whole house that I've gone over twice).

I'm sure it will pop up - after I've bought another can.

Renata

I know where your can of turp is! And why is it sitting on the tank
of our toilet in the half bath? It's been there for about 2 years. Maybe
I'll just ask the wife.

wrote:

| I guess I should clean up my shop.

Me too - as soon as I can find my glasses and a broom...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

" wrote

I guess I should clean up my shop.

It won't help. It's the inanimate objects. They aren't really inanimate.
I discovered that with extension cords.
No matter how carefully I position them they will become entangled and it
doesn't matter where you put things; they have a way of moving to another
location.
You just have to learn to live with it.

Max

" wrote in message
oups.com...
An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

snip
A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.


That explains a lot. I found your case behind my router last week.
Couldn't figure
out what in the heck it was for.

Just checked... it's gone again...

Tue, Aug 21, 2007, 7:57am (EDT-3) )
doth lament thusly:
snip And I spend far too many hours searching for things I know I
have, only to have them turn up months later... snip

No prob. I've got it all figured out. When I was younger I could
concentrate on half dozen for more projects at a time, switching from
one to another, with no problem. But, now that I'm older, my
concentration has greatly increased. I think of it along the lines of a
dozen or more railroad tracks, side by side. There I am, zipping along
in an engine, concentrating on something, and disregarding all else.
Then something comes along and distracts me, someone asking something
like, "Are you busy?", springs to mind. Then, because the concentration
is so intense, the sudden reaction is like jumping to another track
entiredly. Your train of thought is lost. Then no matter how hard you
try, you may not get a branch line taking you back to your original
track for days, weeks, months, and on occassion, never. So you can stop
blaming it on old age, and now you can blame it on your intense
concentration. Simple. No prob. What was I talking about?



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

On Aug 22, 12:40?am, (J T) wrote:
Tue, Aug 21, 2007, 7:57am (EDT-3) )
doth lament thusly:
snip And I spend far too many hours searching for things I know I
have, only to have them turn up months later... snip

No prob. I've got it all figured out. When I was younger I could
concentrate on half dozen for more projects at a time, switching from
one to another, with no problem. But, now that I'm older, my
concentration has greatly increased. I think of it along the lines of a
dozen or more railroad tracks, side by side. There I am, zipping along
in an engine, concentrating on something, and disregarding all else.
Then something comes along and distracts me, someone asking something
like, "Are you busy?", springs to mind. Then, because the concentration
is so intense, the sudden reaction is like jumping to another track
entiredly. Your train of thought is lost. Then no matter how hard you
try, you may not get a branch line taking you back to your original
track for days, weeks, months, and on occassion, never. So you can stop
blaming it on old age, and now you can blame it on your intense
concentration. Simple. No prob. What was I talking about?

JOAT

You know you really have a problem when the focus of the intense
concentration was tying your shoe lace!

FobbyTown
Most of my projects' best features started out as mistakes!

FoggyTown wrote in news:1187783869.671152.106480
@x40g2000prg.googlegroups.com:

On Aug 22, 12:40?am, (J T) wrote:
Tue, Aug 21, 2007, 7:57am (EDT-3) )
doth lament thusly:
snip And I spend far too many hours searching for things I know I
have, only to have them turn up months later... snip

snip So you can stop
blaming it on old age, and now you can blame it on your intense
concentration. Simple. No prob. What was I talking about?

JOAT

You know you really have a problem when the focus of the intense
concentration was tying your shoe lace!

FobbyTown
Most of my projects' best features started out as mistakes!



We have a well known sportscaster/social commentator here, who claims that
his measure of 'having arrived in life' is not having to tie his
shoelaces...

Patriarch,
barefoot and in shorts...

Wed, Aug 22, 2007, 10:19am (EDT-1)
(Patriarch) doth sayeth:
We have a well known sportscaster/social commentator here, who claims
that his measure of 'having arrived in life' is not having to tie his
shoelaces...

Too senile to tie 'em on his own?



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

(J T) wrote in news:22422-46CC6915-25@storefull-
3337.bay.webtv.net:

Wed, Aug 22, 2007, 10:19am (EDT-1)
(Patriarch) doth sayeth:
We have a well known sportscaster/social commentator here, who claims
that his measure of 'having arrived in life' is not having to tie his
shoelaces...

Too senile to tie 'em on his own?


Too involved in the rest of life to give a darn. Whether they were tied,
or whether anyone else cared.

Patriarch

"J T" wrote in message
...
Wed, Aug 22, 2007, 10:19am (EDT-1)
(Patriarch) doth sayeth:
We have a well known sportscaster/social commentator here, who claims
that his measure of 'having arrived in life' is not having to tie his
shoelaces...

Too senile to tie 'em on his own?

He has people to tie them. His people have people.

Wed, Aug 22, 2007, 4:57am (EDT-3) (FoggyTown) doth
sayeth:
You know you really have a problem when the focus of the intense
concentration was tying your shoe lace!

Nah, got it covered. I tie my shoelaces, put my shoes on, don't
need to tie the laces again until they bet untied again, which could be
weeks later.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

" wrote in
oups.com:

*snip*

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

I guess I should clean up my shop.


We have a saying around he
"You always find it after you buy (or make) a new one."

If you're building, you usually find what you're looking for when the
project's 90% complete. Happened the other day with a bench hook...

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

" wrote in message
oups.com...
An experience I have all too frequently is buying something I already
own. And using it before I discover that I had it already. And I spend
far too many hours searching for things I know I have, only to have
them turn up months later...

The other day I was looking for something (I forget what) and I came
upon a heavy duty two-prong plug. A few ago I went to several hardware
stores looking for a heavy-duty two-prong (no ground) plug to replace
a broken plug on a vacuum cleaner. I ended up buying a three-prong
plug and sticking an adapter on it. On Saturday I was looking through
my shop for something else (I forget what) and I found a never-used
heavy-duty two-prong plug.

A few weeks ago I used a self-centering drill bit (a Vix bit) that I'd
had for years in a clear plastic case. When I was done, I couldn't
find the case--even though I had had it just an hour before. A few
days later I found the case and now I can't find the bit. I've turned
my shop over looking for it. Still no bit. I had to buy a new one.

A few months before that I'd been using a porter-cable orbital sander
hooked up to a vacuum cleaner for dust collection. When I went to put
the built-in dust collector back on the sander, I couldn't find it. A
few weeks later I found the dust collector, and now I can't find the
sander. This is the first time I've mislaid something that big.

It's not a tool, but I bought a lawn sprinker to replace one that
broke. Two days later I found the even better lawn sprinkler I'd
bought last year on sale, to be prepared for when one broke....

It goes on and on...

I guess I should clean up my shop.


Sounds like an infection by the C-Nile virus ;-)