I’ve been researching DIY tube guitar amplifiers for quite a while now. A few months ago I put together a small chip amp using a kit from Minty Amps, but that only confirmed my need for a bigger project. Fortunately my Mom, Bill, the boys and the girls got together and bought an AX84 tube amp kit for my birthday. The project has become a nice distraction from my school work, and over the last week I’ve drilled the chassis and started soldering together the eyelet board. But alas, production screeched to a halt yesterday when I found an incorrect resistor in my kit! Thankfully Chris at Doberman Amps was really nice and is sending me the correct part, but I doubt I will get back to work until after my trip to Ashland.
World's most expensive hobby!
Josh has been dying to bike for quite some time now. However, the thought of biking in Seattle fills me with terror. I have serious qualms that the saying about bikers, “It’s not if you get hit, it’s when” will come true. But, Josh and I have made a serious commitment to getting fit this spring and walking and occasional trips to the gym just aren’t cutting it. So, about two weeks ago we made the decision to get bikes. In fact, I told Josh that I would look at bikes and consider things on a Saturday and by Monday, I was soo excited that I convinced him to buy the first bikes we tried out at Recycle Cycles in the U-District. I got a Raleigh brand hybrid and Josh got a Diamondback mountain bike. Mine is white and gold and has a super cushy saddle, and Josh’s is silver and black, not so cushy saddle.
Well of course we never do anything half way, so by the time we left we had bought a bike rack for the Jetta, helmets, u-locks, bikes, and an adapter for my bike so that it would go on a bike rack. We also had a large shopping spree at the REI sale and got a bike computer, a jersey for me, padding bike shorts for Josh, gloves for both of us, and a repair kit. Another great find was a camelback hydration system and backpack for 20 bucks at Costco; it is the greatest!
As soon as we bought them, we took them to Gas Works park and biked the Burke-Gilman trail to Ballard and back. We both loved it! Although I wasn’t so good at stopping and got a major bruise/contusion on my right upper leg! We also tried biking around our neighborhood but that wasn’t as successful as I don’t want to ride on the streets and the sidewalks are too narrow and rutted. Last week we also successfully took the Burke-Gilman from Matthew’s beach to U-Village and back (about 8 miles). So slowly but surely we are starting to ride!
And no Dave, we are not ready for any races, scavenger hunts or cross city rides, but we’ll get there!