Feb 28 - learning from my mistakes

We learn from our mistakes all the time. Sometimes they are so stupid that they're really memorable. I'm not talking about the life-changing version, yes, there are plenty of those ... some we would very much like to do over.

I'm talking about medium sized mistakes, like when I was tiling the basement floor up north and left the two tiles 'till last that go under the stair stringers. Did I think that I could bend those to get them underneath ? Stupid, stupid, stupid ... so the next morning I had to take up the outward two tiles, lay tiles under the strings so that I could push them in flat and then relay the outward two tiles.

That was enough of a foolish mistake that I kept those two tiles, hardened mortar attached, and they're at the edge of the dock. People sometimes ask why I've got two tiles there ... and I tell them.

I consider this mirror falling down business to be a similar type of mistake. I really should have known that the glue wouldn't cure. Crash. I've saved the mirror, but in this case not to remind me for how long could I hang onto a broken mirror ? but to help in setting up the new one.

I used duct tape on the front and back of the mirror, which is still in the frame, by the way, to ensure that it doesn't fall apart and isn't dangerous. It got some use yesterday prepping for hanging the new mirror.

I had two questions that needed answering -- would the chemical reaction between the resin and hardener somehow spoil the reflective surface on the back of the mirror so that when I attach wood to same, it will show up ? I stuck two small pieces of wood to the back with epoxy and so far success, no show-through. Since it's a 5 minute epoxy and fully cured within 24 hours, I'm pretty sure that question has been well asked and answered.

The second question is/was -- will the epoxy hold the weight of the mirror ? I intend to place four small pieces of wood on the back with two hooks on either side. Well, last night after attaching those two pieces of wood and waiting about an hour, I screwed in the hangers and suspended the mirror from a point in the garage. It's up against the bench, mimicking hanging on the wall, only a couple of inches from the floor with stuff out front so that if it had fallen, it wouldn't tip over.

This morning it's still hanging. Four hangers will provide extra insurance. I need insurance this time ! Yay !

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I had a training session with John yesterday, who has taken over from Christie. He's gives a good workout, probably even more so than Christie, but isn't as much of a "trainer". Christie gave a constant flow of information -- more than I could take in, really -- on muscle groups being worked, variations on the exercise that would help and constant reminders about form. The form reminders were either verbal -- "bend your knees slightly", or physical -- knuckle-in-the-back to remind me about my posture.

The verdict -- John is good; Christie was more fun. I learned a lot from her, John's probably not hitting on me regarding form as much as Christie because he sees where I am; Christie sees where I was.

After an early lunch, I went for a ride, north this time. It was good to see the ocean, rather than Merritt Island. I enjoy the ride north.

We had tuna for dinner, quite good and fresh, with a new recipe -- curried couscous -- and sauteed spinach.

Today -- more on the mirror -- painting, afix wood to back, get ready for hanging.

Onward !