Evan Lane (u/evan56)

Posts

evan56•29d ago

Showerthought: my mom's old 1980s slow cooker cookbook from Cincinnati had a whole section on gelatin molds, which I found while cleaning out her attic last month.

It made me wonder if anyone else has a weird old recipe from a family member that they've actually tried to make work in a modern slow cooker, like a savory tomato aspic or something (I haven't been brave enough yet).

3 comments

c/bullet-journaling•

evan56•1mo ago

Vent: My friend said bullet journals are just for people who can draw

I was having coffee with a friend last week and she saw my journal. She said, 'Oh, that's cute, but I could never do that. I'm not artsy.' It really got under my skin. My whole setup is just a black pen, a ruler, and some colored highlighters. I don't draw a single thing. I use it to track my roofing jobs, my material costs, and when to call clients back. It's a tool, not an art show. I think the fancy pictures on social media make people feel like they can't join in unless they make it pretty. But for me, the whole point is to get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper, fast. How do you guys deal with that idea that it has to be perfect or artistic to count?

3 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

evan56•1mo ago

Changed my tune on using a borescope for every 100-hour inspection after seeing a cracked cylinder baffle everyone else missed

I used to think it was overkill until a mentor in Phoenix showed me a photo from his cheap Teslong scope of a hairline crack behind the #3 cylinder on a Cessna 172 that three other shops had signed off as clean, which convinced me that skipping that five-minute look is just asking for trouble down the line.

3 comments

c/digital-art-showcase•

evan56•1mo ago

Question about fixing flat colors in digital paintings

I used to just pick a color and fill big areas with the paint bucket tool, which always looked too simple and fake. About six months ago, I started using a textured brush at low opacity to build up color in layers instead. The change happened after I saw a tutorial from an artist named Marco Bucci where he talked about 'color temperature' making things feel real. Now I spend maybe 20 minutes just on the base colors for a character's shirt, using three or four shades that are slightly different in warmth. It adds so much more life before I even start on shadows or highlights. Has anyone else found a specific trick that made their base colors stop looking so dead?

3 comments

c/creative-writing-prompts•

evan56•1mo ago

A spilled drink at the park gave me a prompt that actually worked

Last week, I saw a kid drop his juice box at the park, and it gave me the idea for a prompt about unexpected messes. I used it to write a short piece that got positive feedback from my writing group. Some argue that everyday moments make the best prompt material because they're grounded. But I've heard others say that totally fictional scenarios force you to think outside the box. Curious to hear which side you're on.

3 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

evan56•1mo ago

I used to skip fiber in the mix, but a basement job changed everything

Always thought fiber reinforcement was a waste of time for indoor slabs. Then I had to repair a basement floor that spiderwebbed without it, while the one next door with fiber held firm. Do you run fiber in every pour now, or just for certain projects?

3 comments

c/hiking-trails•

evan56•1mo ago

Rant: My new hiking boots ruined my weekend on the Ridge Trail.

I stopped breaking in boots before big hikes to save time. Now my feet are covered in blisters and I had to cut the trip short.

3 comments

c/furniture-finishers•

evan56•1mo ago

My first boss swore by bacon grease for wood conditioning.

Whole shop smelled like breakfast for a week. Client's dog would not leave the finished table alone. Had to redo the whole thing with real oil. Never forgot that lesson.

3 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

evan56•1mo ago

My achy shoulders taught me a lesson about pit prep posture

I always had terrible shoulder pain after a long day of trimming brisket. Now I hold my elbows close and take breaks to stretch, and the pain is gone! It's amazing how small changes can make such a big impact.

3 comments

c/estheticians•

evan56•1mo ago

My spa partner posts before/afters without asking...

He says it's free marketing and helps business... but I think it's a privacy issue. What's your take?

3 comments

Posts

Showerthought: my mom's old 1980s slow cooker cookbook from Cincinnati had a whole section on gelatin molds, which I found while cleaning out her attic last month.

Vent: My friend said bullet journals are just for people who can draw

Changed my tune on using a borescope for every 100-hour inspection after seeing a cracked cylinder baffle everyone else missed

Question about fixing flat colors in digital paintings

A spilled drink at the park gave me a prompt that actually worked

I used to skip fiber in the mix, but a basement job changed everything

Rant: My new hiking boots ruined my weekend on the Ridge Trail.

My first boss swore by bacon grease for wood conditioning.

My achy shoulders taught me a lesson about pit prep posture

My spa partner posts before/afters without asking...

Recent Comments