[TheForge] anyone know of a disabled person wanting to take upblacksmithing? OT:

Sun Apr 10 14:09:58 EDT 2011

NJBA throws some good ones, too.

peter fels wrote:
> Shawn...those BS meets and conferences are the best  thing you can do for your smithing!
> After my first conference my jaw was dangling and my head whirring for months.
> 
> 
> On Apr 10, 2011, at 10:25 AM, shawn.bennett09 at gmail.com wrote:
> 
>> Thank you.  I will definitely take you up on the offer.  To be honest, I thought the "meets" were for more experienced members.  I've been to Cold Springs a few times with the kids but have never been there for smithing specifically.  I'll check the calendar and try to make the next event.  Again, thank you for the invite.
>>
>> Shawn
>> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Bruce Freeman <freemab222 at gmail.com>
>> Sender: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:40:43 
>> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA<theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Reply-To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] anyone know of a disabled person wanting to take up
>> blacksmithing? OT:
>>
>> Ah!  You're in NJ.  You're not very close to where we do most of our
>> activities, but you might benefit a LOT by coming to our meets:
>>
>> http://njba.abana-chapter.com/
>>
>> I believe we have a meeting scheduled for Tuckerton Seaport, which is
>> across the state from you.  We will also likely have a few meets at
>> Historic Cold Spring Village, near Cape May.  We have meets roughly
>> monthly at various places around the state, and WEEKLY open forge
>> meetings near Freehold (Monmouth Co.).  You can see the latest
>> newsletter and the current schedule of events (subject to additions at
>> any time).
>>
>> If you are after equipment or instruction, there is no better way to
>> start than by coming out for meets like these.  At some point you
>> might want to take classes or buy over ebay, but for starters, the
>> local resources are the best.
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:32 AM, Shawn Bennett
>> <shawn.bennett09 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Good morning gentlemen,
>>>
>>> I've been part of the "team" for a few months now because of my interest in
>>> smithing.  I've got a very basic backyard set-up in the backyard of my home
>>> with a propane 2 burner forge, rr track anvil, a few hammers and a few tongs
>>> that I pieced together in a fenced in concrete dog run in the backyard.
>>> I've been interested in blacksmithing for quite a few years but have never
>>> had the finances to really get started.  I've bought many of the books and
>>> have spent quite a few days bothering the blacksmith display at the
>>> Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.
>>>
>>> I'm a 35 year old disabled Army veteran with 8 years of active service who
>>> was honorably & medically discharged with a 40% disabiltiy.  I broke my
>>> back, the first time, in Kosovo in 2001.
>>>
>>> My convoy was re-routed due to mines on the original route after spending a
>>> few hours on a medcap (we provided basic medical care for the village we
>>> visited that day.  Kinda like a public relations trip) north of Pristina,
>>> Kosovo.  The trip was wonderful.  The local village was primarily Serbian
>>> and they welcomed us with open arms.  My unit was guarding the doctors we
>>> brought to give them some basic medical care.  We brought candy for the
>>> kids, school supplies for the K through Highschool school that took care of
>>> the entire populous of the village and the neighboring village as well.  Due
>>> to my rank and my friendship with the Captain, I was invited into the
>>> village elders home to have tea and cakes with his family.  We were so well
>>> received and welcomed he (the elder was a man of approximately 60 years old)
>>> allowed his only daughter to serve us and sit at the table while we drank.
>>> It was explained to us that that was a very high honor.  When finished we
>>> took our 8 vehicle convoy through a dried out riverbed in a valley along the
>>> new route.  Again, thanks to the Capt. I was in the lead vehicle.  Our was
>>> an APC (Armored Personel Carrier - think of it as a small tank with no guns
>>> but a M-60 mounted to the roof) the only vehicle in the convoy with a tall
>>> antenna.  We were attacked at the center of the basin.  Mortars.  We lost
>>> the second and last vehicles in the first volley and my APC was damaged.
>>> The antenna was destroyed.  I exited through the top hatch and re-installed
>>> the spare antenna to radio air support.  The second volley followed just as
>>> I finished.  It hit the cliff wall to my left.  The concussion blew me off
>>> the top of the track about 20 feet down to the riverbed floor.  I woke up 2
>>> days later in Camp Bondsteel Kosovo to find that we lost 8 men but we got
>>> out.  I also didn't have the use of anything below my navel.  I was told I'd
>>> never have the use of my lower extremities again, even the fun parts.  4
>>> months later my toes started to itch and I was able to move them limitedly.
>>> 6 months after that I was walking again though a lot of effort and
>>> re-training.  I've now regained most of my mobility, as much as I can have
>>> with 2 12" titanium rods, 12 screws and a 3"x4" plate keeping my spine
>>> together.
>>>
>>> Due to a recent divorce, I've had to take a temporary break in my hobby.
>>> Amazing how much the courts in NJ make you pay for "Spousal Support" to a
>>> woman who hasn't had employment for over a decade.  I'm currently selling my
>>> home in Tabernacle, New Jersey to downsize into a much smaller one, but I
>>> found a house with a beautiful detached garage in Marlton, New Jersey.  I
>>> imagine that within the next 6 months the garage will be were I spend most
>>> of my time anyway.  The new home is much more affordable, thankfully, and
>>> also closer to my work.  I'm an apprentice engineering technician for Public
>>> Service Electric and Gas in Moorestown, New Jersey and have worked there for
>>> the last 3 years.
>>>
>>> I'm telling you all this because I would be honored to have the opportunity
>>> to learn.  I hate to sound like I'm begging but I would absolutely love to
>>> speak with you more about your offer.  I can't pay much, but I'd be happy to
>>> try and if you aren't interested in making any money I'd be happy to donate
>>> to a charity of your choice.
>>>
>>> If you'd like to speak with me, my name is Shawn Bennett and my telephone
>>> number is 609-353-8047.
>>>
>>> Lastly.  Are you really giving up the land?  I've been shot, stabbed, blown
>>> up twice, been to war and even survived a divorce where my ex-wife decided
>>> she wanted to have an affair with my father.  Even though I've lived through
>>> more than most, I'm absolutely terrified of the ocean.  I'm utterly
>>> convinced that I'm damn near indestructible on land, but in the water...  *Well
>>> I'm sure something will eat me.*
>>>
>>> Thank you again for your patience and I hope that I'm not sounding as if I'm
>>> bragging, but I felt that this is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up and
>>> I wanted to give you as much information about myself that I could.  I hope
>>> to hear from you soon.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Shawn Bennett
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 8:53 AM, <dann at wctatel.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Peter's thought was was first thought as well.
>>>>
>>>> Terry,  what after burning your bridges, you discover that your dream of
>>>> spending your last years at sea, was better than the reality.
>>>>
>>>> I live in Winnebago County, Iowa ... where the primary employer driving
>>>> the local economy is manufacture of Winnebago Motor Homes.
>>>>
>>>> I always wondered how so many people could afford to put a couple hundred
>>>> thousand dollars into a big new camper on wheels, and then pay nightly
>>>> camping fees for where-ever they parked them.
>>>>
>>>> So I asked.  Turns out, apparently the "average" buyer sells the
>>>> residence/ fixed home and uses that money to bank roll the purchase of the
>>>> Winnebago.  They  down size everything to what he/she can take in their
>>>> Winnebago.  Many use a mail drop with a South Dakota address for their
>>>> permanent address... and away they go.
>>>>
>>>> After playing at being a gypsy for a while, many end up living in a condo
>>>> in some Southern state.  Used motor-home sale value / salvage value of the
>>>> Motor Home falls about like you would expect in a used luxury car. Craigs
>>>> List anyone?
>>>>
>>>> Dann
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Peter Wrote:
>>>>> Say Terry;
>>>>> What happens if you tire of traveling after a while?
>>>>> It's a romantic notion viewed from afar.
>>>>> But as for myself...i'm an impatient spectator.
>>>>> I find i go pretty nuts if i travel for a few months.
>>>>> Think before you burn bridges.
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Bruce
>> NJ
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