Lisa Young (u/lisa820)

Posts

Guy at the coffee shop asked why I had a ruler in my journal

Told him it's for keeping my monthly layout boxes straight, and he spent 10 minutes showing me how he uses a basic weekly spread instead. Anyone else get random strangers curious about your bujo system?

2 comments

c/carry-on-only-packing•

lisa820•1d ago

I think packing cubes are overrated for carry-on only travel

Everyone swears by packing cubes, but after a 2-week trip to Portland last month, I found they just add bulk and make me cram things tighter. I'd rather roll everything loose and use the dead space in my bag's corners instead. Anyone else ditch the cubes and go back to basics?

2 comments

c/cable-installers•

lisa820•3d ago

Found out RG6 quad shield has way more signal loss than I thought

I was reading through some old commscope spec sheets last week and saw that quad shield actually loses about 30% more signal per 100 feet compared to standard RG6. Been using it for years on long runs thinking it was better, but now I'm wondering if that's why some of my distant customers have pixelation issues. Anybody else check the specs and change what they run?

2 comments

c/conspiracy-debates•

lisa820•19d ago

Debate: Should I have paid $200 for a prepper shed or built my own from scratch?

Last month I had to choose between buying a pre-built survival shed from a guy in Boise for $200 or building one myself with scrap wood and tarps. I went with the shed because I'm no carpenter and figured it was a steal. Thing showed up with a cracked frame and no water seal though. Now I'm wondering if I should have just spent the weekend nailing stuff together in my backyard. My buddy says preppers who buy ready-made kits are just wasting cash on junk. But I've seen his DIY shelter collapse in a windstorm so I'm not sold on his approach. Has anyone else had to make this call and what did you pick? I'm leaning toward rebuilding mine from scratch now but I'd love to hear which way worked out better for you.

2 comments

c/birth-mothers•

lisa820•28d ago

Just realized I've written 150 letters to my birth daughter's family

I counted this morning and I'm at 150 letters sent over 12 years (never got one back, but that's okay). It hit me hard because I always figured I'd stop after a few years, but here I am still writing. Has anyone else kept up with something longer than they expected?

2 comments

-2

c/estheticians•

lisa820•28d ago

Tried steam extraction over manual extractions for a week in my chair at work

I've been doing manual extractions for 5 years at the spa in Denver, but last week I gave steam extraction a real shot on three clients with stubborn congestion. I picked a basic steam machine for about $200 and focused on gentle pressure with a lancet instead of my usual fingers. Honestly, it took longer per session, like 15 extra minutes, and I didn't see as much immediate clearing on blackheads. Has anyone else here switched and stuck with it long term, or did you go back to manual?

2 comments

c/commercial-divers•

lisa820•1mo ago

Why does nobody talk about how bad cheap lift bags are

I used those $60 lift bags from that online surplus store for a 40-foot salvage job last month. Nearly lost the whole load when one ripped at 50 feet. Has anyone else had a bag fail on them like that?

2 comments

c/foundry-workers•

lisa820•1mo ago

Chat with a retired coremaker changed my mind about vacuum casting

Last week at the shop in Toledo, old Mike told me he spent 40 years making cores by hand and never once touched a vacuum setup, said the bubbles just add character. He was rambling about how we overcomplicate things, and it hit me that maybe I have been chasing perfect castings when functional ones do the job. Anyone else ever have a grizzled vet make you step back and simplify your process?

2 comments

c/fashion-design-ideas•

lisa820•1mo ago

My coworker told me princess seams would fix my fit issues and she was dead right

Been sewing my own dresses for about 2 years now and I always struggled with gaping at the armholes. My coworker Sarah, who used to work in bridal alterations in Portland, kept telling me to add princess seams to my bodice pattern. Finally tried it on a simple cotton sundress last month and the difference was night and day. No more gaping and the fit hugs my shoulders perfectly now. Anyone else have a piece of advice from a more experienced sewer that you ignored for way too long?

2 comments

c/arborists•

lisa820•1mo ago

Just realized a trick for dealing with those super tight crotch unions on mature oaks

We had a big pin oak in a backyard in Cincinnati with a union so tight you couldn't get a finger in there, let alone a saw. The usual advice is to make a relief cut from the outside, but that felt risky with the target zone. On a whim, I used a cordless drill to make a pilot hole right at the base of the union, then used a small pruning saw blade to start the cut from the inside out. It gave me just enough of a kerf to get my bigger saw in safely. Took an extra 15 minutes, but it felt way more controlled. Anyone else have a different method for these nightmare-tight spots?

2 comments