Back In The Saddle

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It feels like forever since I paid attention to blogs or blogging. I have to be honest here but it's been a wild ride. I wouldn't wish open heart surgery on my worst enemy...and I mean that. The good is simple - triple heart by-pass surgery saved my life. So here's a quick update. 

 I went back to work on a Friday night shift and boy howdy was it a wake up call. I knew the 36 hour shift [that's 3x12 shifts] would be grueling...and it was. What was great is I didn't get sick or winded. Oh yes, I was exhausted at the end of my 12 hour shift but I wasn't sick. I'm happy to report that I've been back to work three weeks now and I get stronger with each shift.

Toyo Tires - I call this home away from home (aka work)

I should mention here that it is important to get back into the swing, back into life and back into your hobbies. The Dr's told me this as did all the nurses and my wife. This is why I am so bent on getting back into my hobbies. This is part of getting well.  


The first thing I wanted to do was jump back into my leather craft. I've made two knife sheaths and three scissor sheaths with a fourth scissor sheath waiting for my next paying customer. I have the sheath cut out and ready to go.

My first of two knife sheath projects

My Christmas present from Daniel, Mora Clipper Stainless Steel in it's new custom sheath

I copied the pattern from the left and am now make my own scissor sheaths with Allen tool holder

The second project I wanted to get back into was my YouTube Channel so I made three new video's for my YouTube Channel.

The third project I wanted to get back into was knife sharpening so I found three knives from friends at work and sharpened them all...to a razor edge. I sharpened both on my KME sharpener and free hand sharpening. Pictured below is a custom Boot Knife sheath made by my good buddy Daniel; The Buck model 673 Packlite has been fitted with a custom handle and brass finger guard. I'm guessing that next week I'll sew this sheath into the $300.00 custom cowboy boots the sheath was made for.

Custom Sheath, Custom knife handle and guard on Buck  model 673 and StropMan strop

The KME Precision Knife Sharpener

I sharpened a Sog Flash II and a real cheap Bench Mark hunting knife. (The knife I made a sheath for)

Next...but not least, my desire is to jump back into blogging. So much is going on, so much news, both good and bad...So, that said here is my first back to blogging post. Hm, what next you say? I've got to finish the master bath remodel. I have to repair the ceiling downstairs where the water leak damaged the ceiling. Spring is almost here and the lawns and flowerbeds have to be weeded and tended too. Did I mention spring cleaning? I have to clean up the tree I cut down and get ready to open the pool. 

That would be 10 acres of yard work....."sigh" I knew we should have purchased a  double wide 

It's good to have a healthy heart my friends. I guess I'll have to get back to reading your blogs and see how these past four months have been for y'all.

My boss asked me Thursday "how I was doing", I replied, "glad to be alive boss"

That's right, the "DeanO" is back in the saddle, looking mean and building muscle

I've learned that good-byes will always hurt, pictures will never replace experiences, memories good/bad will bring tears, & words can never replace feelings.

Nishan Panwar quotes
image from Internet