What is in your cup?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Attachment 106317

Enjoying the great outdoors. He drinks formula or water, that is it. I know juice is coming soon but for now, water or formula.

My youngest son is 10 years old now and still drinks nothing but water (not formula any more!).

[dreams]

Fresh coffee in my cup, as I try to wind down to sleep.

*No, coffee is not a stimulant to me, which made it completely worthless while I was in college and really needed to stay awake. *

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

This is the basic setup that EVERY Samurai would use on a daily basis. A little hammer to drive out the pin that holds the 'tsuka' (handle) onto the blade, remove the tsuka, the 'seppa' (spacer,) 'tsuba' (guard,) and habaki (front spacer.) Once it's all taken apart, the blade is oiled, wiped down with the cloth, then powdered and re-assembled. Daily maintenance. Keep in mind that all the thousands and thousands of soldiers were Samurai. Only Samurai were permitted to fight. 99.9% of them would sharpen their swords themselves using a set-up like this.

Read the instructions for use on the page. You'll notice that most of the work is done with small chips of stone and the finger tip. Yes, very Zen-like, rather than sitting around with a couple of beers and friends and a cigar while sharpening. No one would DARE think of letting their swords get to the point of dullness that would require a large sharpening stone!! However, after a battle, stones were used, but most often by professional sharpeners (not necessarily 'master sharpeners,' but pros none the less.)

As it's one of my hobbies, I can sharpen a knife to the point where it will shave curls off of a hair. It will slice a ripe tomato paper thin... without needing to even hold the tomato to cut it.... (try that with your kitchen knife. First cut a slice off the bottom to hold it steady on the cutting board, then try slicing horizontally paper thin slices off the top.) But edges like that are basically useless in warfare. While the katana of a Samurai was razor sharp, there was nothing magical about it. It was the combination of the sharp blade and, more importantly, the way it was used in the cutting motion that made it such a devastating weapon in the hands of a skilled Master. Samurai practiced 6-10 hours a day. Every day. Even today's Kendo players (the good ones, anyway) will make 1,000 cuts every day.

Take a look at this video. These guys are just hobbyists, by no means Masters. This would be the sort of folks that would do the sharpening for the average Samurai on the street.


Stitchawl

Thanks! That is a great help. I will change the scene to have him oiling the blade instead of sharpening then. That would be more fitting as they had been traveling for a while and not fought anyone so there would be no reason the sword would have needed sharpening.


Faux Mocha in my Travel Mug

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Thanks! That is a great help. I will change the scene to have him oiling the blade instead of sharpening then. That would be more fitting as they had been traveling for a while and not fought anyone so there would be no reason the sword would have needed sharpening.

One other perhaps critical point... He may have used paper rather than cloth to wipe the blade. It was often thought that cloth held too much moisture, so tissue was the frequently preferred wiper-uper. Then the blade was powdered afterwards too.

Good Mexican dinner tonight, and now a very (too?) strong Lime/Lemon water with a touch of sugar. Pucker Power.... But gooooodddd.


Stitchawl

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

One other perhaps critical point... He may have used paper rather than cloth to wipe the blade. It was often thought that cloth held too much moisture, so tissue was the frequently preferred wiper-uper. Then the blade was powdered afterwards too.
Stitchawl

Hmm okay. I will google up some proper oiling styles and see how they are described. Wonder if most readers have any idea the amount of time authors spend on just a couple-few minor sentences like this.

Moca gone black coffee now in travel mug

[CRussel]

Peet's Anniversary Breakfast Blend tea.

Ahhhhhh.

[ProfCrash]

Red in Red tuocha puerh. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by dreams

So cute. He looks like he is going to be a handful once he starts running around on his own. (How are you on sprints?)

Eating cheese tortillas and making a fresh cup of coffee to go with my bottled water.

He is a handful already. Kid flies when he crawls.

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

My youngest son is 10 years old now and still drinks nothing but water (not formula any more!).

I am aiming for milk, watered down juice, and water.

Originally Posted by dreams

Fresh coffee in my cup, as I try to wind down to sleep.

*No, coffee is not a stimulant to me, which made it completely worthless while I was in college and really needed to stay awake. *

Caffeine is not a stimulant for me, it actually calms me down. I like a good cup of coffee.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I am aiming for milk, watered down juice, and water.

I should have said, entirely his own choice. I'd love to see him drink fruit juice or milk, but he just doesn't like anything but water.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Wonder if most readers have any idea the amount of time authors spend on just a couple-few minor sentences like this.

Only the good ones spend the time...


Nothing in my cup at the moment.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I should have said, entirely his own choice. I'd love to see him drink fruit juice or milk, but he just doesn't like anything but water.

If he eats enough fruit then he doesn't need the juice. In a month Lucas turns one and with that seems to come a change in taste buds so who knows what he will eat or drink. The meals at daycare are well balanced but I have heard horror stories regarding kids and their finickiness.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

If he eats enough fruit then he doesn't need the juice. In a month Lucas turns one and with that seems to come a change in taste buds so who knows what he will eat or drink. The meals at daycare are well balanced but I have heard horror stories regarding kids and their finickiness.

No worries for us on that score fortunately. Youngest son's favourite food is Brussel sprouts! He'll always choose raw carrot or grapes over chocolate. I think this was down to his nursery school when he was little - no meat, no sweets, lots of fruit and veg.

[ProfCrash]

Limited sweets at his school. There is meat, I am fine with that. Every meal has one veg and fruit. Snacks are crackers, bread, or fruit. I have the menu for the older kids and it is a good one.

More red in red puerh.

Thinking about making puerh ice tea...

[Stitchawl]

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3a_7242Lc with English translation)

Thanks to all who served.

Good morning, everyone! Packing is almost done... Ha! There seems to always be one more thing we simply overlooked... But there's still time. The shipping company won't be here for four more days. Time enough for East India Company's "Royal Breakfast" tea and some Mexican breakfast burritos, guacamole, and rice. Gotta use up what's left in the fridge and cupboards.

Stitchawl

[cromag]

Just back from taking the family to visit Mom and Dad in their new place. Traffic wasn't too bad. Finishing off a diet Coke I had for the road, but in a can, not a cup.

[pdurrant]

Coca-cola in my 'cup'. Yes, I almost always have it straight from the can. Best way, unless from glass bottle.