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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 5h

Problem being that's two hours out of my shift I should have spent on production, now I have to double-check everything that came out of that machine over the past month, and pray to Godzilla all those parts are still serviceable.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 5h

Something was off with my jointer, so spent the past two hours troubleshooting and fixing it. The infeed table wasn't coplanar with the outfeed, causing crowning on my stock. Had to clean and manhandle it into alignment, but it got done and now my edges are straight as can be.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 11h

BTW if you're reading this, chances are I really enjoy your content.

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Reposted by How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon

⋆✧✦Zwiezda✦✧⋆ @zwiezda.bsky.social · 26d

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Can turn into sticker on telegram!
DM me or comment to claim a slot 🧡

#halloween #commission #chibi #dragon #commsopen #pumpkin #furry

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 11h

"I really enjoy your content" could mean anything from "I really enjoy your content" to "You can have your way with me any day of the year" and anywhere in between. Polite ambiguity keeps things civil.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 11h

I had a 700 mg cookie and just fell asleep for 12 hours. It was a damn refreshing sleep, too, though I still felt residual effects the whole day after.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 12h

Very interesting topic, thank you for sharing that.

How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 1d

Another set of crib posts in the clamps. This one is staying on the bench lol.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 1d

Watching Vox Machina. Highly enjoyable.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

Watching a show on Amazon Prime, I hit pause on the remote during a commercial. But instead of pausing, a pop-up window came up that said "This product has been added to your cart". Sneaky sumbitches.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

*Wilfred Brimley voice*

"Check you dust collector and check it often, there's just no reason not to"

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

BTW this is the glue assembly in question.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, one other ethic is earning my keep in any situation, stand on my own two feet, whether it be living in this world, business, or personal relationships. It cuts into my heart when others get wrapped in my bullshit, furthering my sense of failure.

That's all for now. Time to make some sawdust.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

The result is that I'm much more steady in my progress, enjoying it more, fewer mistakes, and more mindful of my abilities at any given moment. I've accepted that whatever the future holds, I can only do what I can with what I have.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

This breakthrough made me understand what's going on inside me. I can now focus on the task at hand without the urge to rush or compromise. I'm taking better care of myself and my sleep/nutritional needs to stay sharp and focused. I'm not compromising my health with ungodly hours & stimulant abuse.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

I'm really trying, but trying doesn't mean jack shit when people are out their money and just want their stuff. I'm still 20 contracts behind from 2022. I can't afford real assistants, I can't afford a better van, I can't even afford to pay my rent and insurance right now. But you know what?

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

That threat response felt like everyone screaming in my ear all at once, distracting me from the immediate task at hand. That led to rushing the task, leading to mistakes and compromises, making the frustration worse, extending the timeline, and more excuses. Eventually, I just shut down.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

The people who paid me money deserve a damn sight better than I've been able to provide. The sensation that I'm putting in the time and effort yet always falling short had me feeling like a perpetual failure. In early 2023, the threat became so real it put me in the hospital.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

I want my clients to be happy not just with my work, but the service that comes with it. That's my ethic. I want it to be a positive and affirming experience, not filled with excuses and disappointment of why their shit is taking so long. When I fall short of that ethic, it really fucking hurts.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

This leads into the breakthrough I had last month. It has to do with my natural animal threat response (mine is "freeze"), my perfectionism, and personal ethics. If I fall short of either, my freeze response would engage. The sense of failure would be so overwhelming I'd be locked into it for weeks.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

At my first woodworking job in Summer 1992, one of my co-workers, Bob, called me out in front of the staff at lunch. He said, "Thrash takes forever to do mediocre work" I've spent the last 33 years living that down. He was an ass, but he was half right. I do competent work, but it takes forever.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

I've been reflecting whether I've been expecting too much of myself. My mentor had a perpetual waiting list of 40-50 projects with a 2-3 year waiting period, but he had 2 skilled helpers. I overestimate my abilities, or discover something new, or something goes wrong, and fall behind.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

I bust my tail for relative pennies for my skill level, surviving on the patience of my customers and generosity of my friends. It's feast or famine in this gig, the vast majority of it famine. I screwed up 4 years ago, overloaded with contracts with very little (if any) income left on them.

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How to Train Your Heavy Metal Dragon @thrashdragon.bsky.social · 2d

This situation reminds me of the precarious position of my venture. Like a lot of artists, I have no worker protections, unemployment, worker's comp, none of that. I get hurt, no recourse. Van dies, so does this. Lose my lease, lose everything. Something goes wrong, this place is toast.

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