Author Archives: Tom Childers

fireball

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Tom Childers

The house shook yesterday at 4:36pm. It was a single shock, rattling the windows but doing no damage. Jen and I speculated about it over a glass of wine. Earthquake? There was no record of an earthquake on the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Geek | 1 Comment

new neighbor

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Tom Childers

One of the pleasures of living on the outskirts of Fairfax is that we are in contact with wildlife, though I seldom comment on it. From the beginning when I was camping on the hillside above the house during construction, … Continue reading →

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ttitd iv

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Tom Childers

This was my fourth year at Burning Man, my first solo trip, and my first art build. Last year at this time, Jen an I were wiped out after nine days on the playa, and the noise and chaos at … Continue reading →

Posted in Burning Man, Geek, Reflection, Travel | 1 Comment

not the ohio buckeyes

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Tom Childers

As we settle into the deep part of winter, letting go of the excitement of the holidays, it’s sometimes hard for me to be completely present with the season. We are dug in deep in ourselves, the season of death … Continue reading →

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a lesson in lighting

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Tom Childers

One of the joys of home ownership is an ever-present task list. When we finished building our home ten years ago, I made a list of 50-odd things that required completion, most of which still await my attention. Some items … Continue reading →

Posted in House Building | 2 Comments

westy guts, part III

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Tom Childers

I’ve saved the best for last. The final task in this project is to replace the heater fan. This is not for the faint-of-heart, as the fan is deep inside a sealed heater box, bolted to the front of the … Continue reading →

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westy guts, part II

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Tom Childers

The Westy resurrection includes fixing a fuel problem. At highway speeds and full throttle (occasionally, she gets going fast enough to pass someone!) the engine will hesitate like there is fuel starvation. Our fuel pressure gauge confirms a big pressure … Continue reading →

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westy guts, part I

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Tom Childers

I like fixing things, especially vehicles. So perhaps it’s no surprise that we own a 1985 Volkswagen Westfalia camper, a vehicle known throughout mechanic-dom as a labor of love. “Mz. Parker”, as she is know, is not an unreliable vehicle, … Continue reading →

Posted in Geek, Reflection, Travel | 1 Comment

60 autumns

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Tom Childers

I’ve recently turned 60, no longer working for companies, and getting used to all this freedom to do exactly what I want. It’s a little disconcerting how often I look for ‘what I should be doing’. What do I truly … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection, Travel | 1 Comment

a sudden oak death

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Tom Childers

This is not a bush behind our house. And the odd appliance in the center is not harmless, it is a chainsaw. Jen and I were recovering from Burning Man on Labor Day, resting our exhausted selves and doing laundry, … Continue reading →

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