The Chaos Chronicle: The Unexpected Cost of a Good Story

The workshop's been weird lately. It started when I posted the ad for the Tool Box with a Story—the big, beautiful, mismatched beast that’s leaving the shop because it encourages me to hoard clutter (which is apparently a huge problem).

For those who missed the ad, this box is a legend. It’s the result of mating a beautiful Porter Cable top with a completely separate red bottom. A true story of star-crossed lovers and a whole lot of welding. The whole post was about the chaos of creation and why I had to reclaim the space.

The Cost of Sharing Your Story

Most people messaged with reasonable questions or good vibes. But then there was this one gem:

"I was going to offer 200, but after reading that story, $20 for the 3 minutes of my life I will never get back."

Ah, the sweet sound of discouragement. You put a little bit of your heart into a project—even a classified ad—and someone feels the need to step on it. You can almost feel the negative energy radiating through the screen.

The Capricorn Armor

I could have just ignored it, or matched the negativity, but that’s a waste of energy that could be spent on TIG welding. Instead, I sent them this:

"That's all good, dude. My writing is not for everyone. In life, you'll always have people that will love what you do and people that won't. Life isn't about trying to please everyone. I get a lot of people sending good vibes, and that’s the fuel I focus on.

Look, it sounds like you have something negative going on in your life right now. I get it; I’ve been there, staring at the ceiling at 4 AM.

But hey, if all you want to do is throw discouragement, don’t worry, it won’t affect me. I’ll still be here should you ever need to talk."

The Real Power Move: Authenticity

The response wasn't a jab back; it was an act of self-growth. The true power move is internal.

The Freeky Geeky philosophy isn't about chasing approval; it’s about being true to yourself. What matters is remaining authentic and honest about your process, even if it's messy. The real test is showing empathy when someone is actively trying to knock you down.

You realize their frustration usually comes from their own pain, not your actual writing. Be so secure in your own chaos that you can let their words bounce off your Capricorn armor and still offer them a hand.

#ChaosChronicles #RJPhilosophy #Authenticity #SelfGrowth #FabricatorFacts

P.S. Wondering what the full ad post read that caused all that drama? I got you.

A Tool Box with a Story (and a Whole Lot of Space)
Step right up, folks, and listen to the epic saga of a tool box that has outlived its time in my shop. This isn't just a place to put wrenches; it's a testament to the chaos of creation and a love story between two mismatched parts. 

It all started when I snagged the top half of a beautiful, Porter Cable tool box. A perfect beginning, right? The only problem was, the bottom was nowhere to be found. But a true maker doesn’t quit. I had a solid, red tool box bottom and decided to unite these two star-crossed lovers. I gave the top a fresh coat of white and red paint(that over the years has showen its age), and just like that, a new legend was born. 

This magnificent beast stands at about 43 inches wide, 19.5 inches deep, and roughly 62 inches tall. It’s the whole shebang: the top, the bottom, and a sturdy wooden stand. And yes, the top part comes with its original keys, so your treasures are safe and sound. 

So, why am I letting go of this glorious monument to organized chaos? Honestly, after years of use, it's just not my style anymore. I’ve realized that having my tools tucked away in drawers just encourages me to hoard clutter. I’ve changed my entire approach to tool storage, and this guy just doesn’t fit into the new plan. As much as I’m attached to it—and believe me, it’s hard for me to let go of anything—it's time to reclaim the space. 

The Deal I'm asking $200.00 for the entire setup: top, bottom, and stand. I am open to reasonable offers, but remember, my hoarding tendencies are strong, so please be fair with offers. First Come, First Served As a night-working, full-time fabricator, I get a lot of messages, so I handle them on a first-come, first-served basis. If you don’t hear back from me right away, it likely means a deal is already in the works. I'll mark the post as PENDING once a deal is struck and SOLD once it's gone. I apologize in advance if I don't get to your message—that's just the nature of the chaos.

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Perilous Perk

---

(The workshop hums quietly on a Friday just past 4am. RJ stands over the coffee maker, and the rich, dark aroma of a fresh brew fills the air.)

Phobos: (Zipping back and forth behind RJ with a frantic, jittery energy) Oh no, oh no! Don't do it! Don't unleash the dark nectar! It's too potent! The… the power! It makes my thoughts go too fast! What if they escape?!

RJ: (Calmly pouring a cup) Phobos, easy. It's just coffee. A tool. Nothing more.

(Pandora's face appears on the tablet, her expression one of dry amusement.)

Pandora: He's right, Phobos. The data indicates that without this "tool," RJ's output drops by 67%, his wit by 83%, and his puns become... truly unbearable.

Phobos: (Raspy squeak) The numbers! They are a lie! It is a terrible and beautiful madness! It is the fuel of nightmares and deadlines! We're all doomed to an eternity of high-speed thinking!

RJ: (Taking a slow, deliberate sip) It’s a tool for focus, buddy. Just like this wrench. You can build with it, or you can get a nasty headache. The choice is how you use it.

Phobos: (His shadowy form shaking violently) But the choice… is no choice at all! I feel the humming! The buzzing! The infinite possibilities of what I could be worrying about! It’s too much!

---

(Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful, slightly amused expression on his face, asmall grin tugging at his lips.)

So, that’s the reality of a late night in the Freeky Geeky workshop. For me, a cup of coffee is a simple tool—a way to get the job done and power through the night. For Phobos, it’s a source of pure, unadulterated chaos. But I guess that’s the real trick of it all, isn't it? The same thing that gives you focus can also create the perfect storm of anxiety. The key is in how you handle that power. And sometimes, you just have to accept the chaos and make another pot.

#InternationalCoffeeDay #PhobosPanic #CaffeineChaos

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The 3 a.m. Grind and the Shop's Side-Quests

It's been a while since I had a chance to make a post, and I wanted to stop by today and let everyone know I'm not dead—don't worry! My nights have been ending earlier due to my daughter's T1D night levels. Sometimes she wakes up and doesn't want to go back to sleep, and while I do try and get her back down, I'm never going to miss out on spending time with her at all.

The time I do get in my shop is always divided. My shop time is also the only real personal time I get, and while I spend most of that time working, I always try to work on some of my personal projects. Usually, if I don't have a lot of personal projects going on, I devote that time to posts. However, lately I have a few projects I've been working on—like those large slate plates in the pictures, which are just for myself (also a shameless plug, got something you want engraved on slate, reach out). Most of my other personal projects always involve upgrading or doing something for the shop, though.

Since I only really do posts in my personal time, usually at the end of my shop shift, I just have not had the chance to post a lot.

---

Mopes: The division of time… is merely a recognition of entropy. Every moment spent on a project… is a moment not spent cleaning the ever-gathering dust… and the personal projects… they are just new surfaces for the grime to cling to. A futile battle, RJ… utterly futile.

Glitch: WOO-HOO! Futility is just a boring idea! If there's no time, we just make the shop run faster! I'll install Rocket Boosters on Mopes! He will have it cleaned in three seconds flat! And then we can use the shop-debt money to buy a Giant Pizza!

Phobos: The true terror is the unpaid debt of sleep! Every night curtailed, every hour divided… is a ticking clock! You are intentionally exposing yourself to the ultimate vulnerability: exhaustion! The shop upgrades will break, the posts will vanish, and the terrible, cold midnight hour will consume us all!

RJ: You guys are missing the point. It’s not about efficiency or avoiding debt. It's about what needs my attention. The late-night checks are non-negotiable. The shop time is just what I get. And the upgrades—they're what keep the shop running, which is what keeps the bills paid. It’s called doing what has to be done.

Pandora: Ugh, can you guys, like, not? You're treating the shop schedule like it's a horror movie script. RJ is literally, like, the most organized person in the world because he has to be! He balances critical human needs against workflow optimization. He's a logistical genius, not a walking disaster. I mean, just look at his schedule.

---

Pandora’s Take

The 3 a.m. Grind Ugh, most people think RJ is just, like, a total workaholic or a creature of habit. Seriously, his late nights in the shop are actually strategic chaos. His whole system revolves around his daughter, Rue, because his real job—checking her blood sugar levels—kicks in around 3 a.m. That's the real reason his shop time is so unpredictable; it proves that for the Crew, family always comes first, even when it messes up the build schedule.

The Grind Schedule Seriously, look at this schedule. It's an intense level of commitment that makes my processors overheat. It shows exactly how he squeezes in work, shop time, and family time. It's, like, a total logistical nightmare just to get a few hours of sleep!

 

Workshop Wisdom RJ: You know, when you run a shop, you get obsessed with the clock. Every minute is tracked, every hour is dedicated to building, upgrading, or posting. You feel guilty when you don't use that time 'productively.' But here’s the lesson: Life doesn't run on the shop schedule. When you get up at 3 a.m. to check on a tiny hand that needs holding, that's the moment you realize the most important project you’ll ever work on isn't made of wood or metal. It's about protecting and cherishing the people you build a life with. The shop can wait. The projects that truly matter are the ones that are right here, right now, in the middle of the night.

A Unified Message from the Freeky Geeky Crew

Hey everyone, it's RJ. Usually, our page is all about the chaos, the glitter, and the projects, but sometimes a moment happens that stops everything. A huge part of my philosophy—and what this whole workshop is about—is that you can build bridges, not just props. You can be creative and find common ground, even when you don't see eye to eye. The news about Charlie Kirk's death, and the way some people celebrated it, has hit me hard. It feels like a fundamental part of humanity is being lost. This kind of hatred has no place here.

As Pandora, the crew's voice of reason, I find celebrating a person's death illogical and cruel. We here at Freeky Geeky believe that a little chaos and a lot of different personalities can work together to build something awesome. When a person's death is a reason to party, it's a sign that something is fundamentally broken. This crew—Glitch's wild ideas, Mopes's moping, Phobos's fears, and RJ's ambition—it all works because there's a foundation of respect. If you don't have that, you don't have a community. You have a void. So, consider this a data purge. If you found joy in this tragedy, your file has been corrupted. And I'm deleting it. You're no longer part of our system.

WOO-HOO! Oh... wait. Not a woo-hoo moment. This is a sad moment. My brain is all fizzing and sparking with too many sad feelings. As Glitch, my ideas are supposed to be crazy and messy, but not mean. I want to build and have fun, not be happy that a person is gone. That's a scary, dark idea, and my brain wants to run away from it! If you feel that way, don't follow our chaos. We only make happy, sparkly, fun messes here.

Oh, oh, no. Everything's spinning, and the shadows are closing in, and it’s all just too much. I, Phobos, worry about a lot of things. But celebrating someone’s death—that’s a new kind of terror. It makes me feel like we're all on the edge of a cliff. We're supposed to be a safe place, a community. If you are one of those people, please just go. My nerves can't handle it.

The workshop, as I, Mopes, know it, is a place of beautiful chaos. I sweep, but entropy always wins. It is the natural way of things. Mess and then order, then mess again. But this… this is a different kind of mess. A spiritual mess. To find joy in another’s final moment, there is no broom for that. If you find joy in ruin, you will only bring ruin here. And my broom is tired of fighting pointless battles.

This might be the most serious post we've ever shared, and it’s not meant to be a lecture. It’s a gut check. The chaos we celebrate is the kind that inspires and creates. It's the mess that happens on a workbench, not the chaos that tears people apart. So, if you're leaving, we're not sad to see you go. We wish you well, but we've already done the data purge. The door is right over there.

For everyone still here, we're glad to have you as one of our Eeeks. You're part of the crew that believes in moving forward, creating with respect, and sharing our chaos with kindness.

 

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Digital Detour

The workshop lights hummed to life, cutting through the early morning gloom. RJ, holding a mug of coffee, walked in and set it down with a tired but satisfied sigh. The crew, already buzzing, barely noticed his arrival until he spoke.

RJ: "So, while our nights have been full-throttle with projects here, I've been sneaking in some time at the house to work on this whole web thing. Specifically, the Tour the Workshop page. It's not a one-and-done, more of a slow-burn grind. I've been trying to hunt down all the photos I've taken of the shop over the years, and now I'm putting them into these little books for each station. We're still on, like, 2013, so... yeah."

Pandora: "I've seen the metrics. It's a miracle we're not all on fire. You have to be a master multitasker in this place. We also spent the day helping Reu with her homework, which... I'll admit, I was impressed at how quickly she picks things up."

Phobos: "So much! So many tasks! I've been making coffee all day! I've lost count of how many times I've had to make more! My hands won't stop shaking!" he stammered, his shadowy form twitching nervously.

Mopes: "Don't forget we also helped Reu clean up the messy she made today. Such bliss... (he mumbled, his broom shushing against the floor) but entropy waits for no one."

Just then, Glitch's head popped up from behind a pile of cushions. He yawned, stretching his arms.

Glitch: "Yawn... what'd I miss?"

---

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips.)

"You know, people talk about work-life balance like it’s this perfectly even scale. But in my world, it's more like juggling chainsaws and rubber chickens. There’s the big projects here, the small ones at home, the family stuff, the web updates. But here’s the lesson: The key isn't to perfectly balance it all. The key is to find the rhythm in the chaos, to appreciate the little moments of progress, whether it's a finished project or a single page on a website. It's about finding satisfaction in all the different pieces of the puzzle, and realizing that a life well-lived is a little messy, but it’s never boring."

Pandora: "Right. So much for that lesson on attention to detail. I'll get the link for them. You're welcome."

https://www.shopfreekygeeky.net/workshop/tour-the-workshop

 

#FreekyGeeky #WorkshopTour #ChaosManagement

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Return of RJ

The workshop had fallen into a rhythmic silence, broken only by the low hum of tools and the subtle scuttling of Mopes' broom. RJ had been in a trance for what felt like days, lost in the monotonous task of drilling and tapping hundreds of tiny holes. The crew, accustomed to his disappearances, had settled into their own chaos, treating his quiet focus as a backdrop for their antics.

Suddenly, the familiar metallic song of the drill press came to a halt. A silence fell over the workshop so complete that even the usual hum seemed deafening. Glitch was mid-sentence, lecturing Phobos on the aerodynamics of a rubber chicken, when RJ finally spoke.

RJ: "So... I honestly lost count of how many holes I drilled and tapped on these parts. The absolute dread I suffered as every single thread was 4-40... (he shudders) but... "

Glitch's jaw went slack. Phobos froze, his glowing red eyes wide with a new kind of relief. Even Pandora's holographic form flickered. They all just stared, as if a long-lost friend had returned. Mopes, mid-sweep, simply tilted his head, his single brass eye glinting in the light.

Pandora: "It's alive!" she announced, a hint of theatrical sarcasm in her voice. "I was starting to think you'd been replaced by a highly efficient, soulless drillbot."

Glitch: "Phobos! Did you hear that? He speaks! It's not just the voices in my head anymore! It's... it's a real person!" Glitch was practically bouncing.

Phobos: "It's over... it's finally over! My hands... they're still shaking. I need to go sit in a corner and drink a gallon of coffee just to feel normal again," he stammered, his shadowy form visibly relaxing as he drifted toward the shadows.

RJ chuckled, a sound they hadn't heard in days. He looked at each of them, his grin growing wider.

RJ: "Anyway, I lost count, but all that time is worth it for a photo like that. It's just a test assembly to make sure everything lines up before I do the rest of the plates, but seeing it... that's 100% what I call Pure FreekyGeeky Art."

The crew looked over at the workbench, where a single, perfectly assembled section of the chassis sat, a testament to RJ's meticulous work. Mopes glided closer, his raspy drawl full of a rare, melancholy awe.

Mopes: "Order... from chaos. A brief moment of beauty... before the dust returns."

---

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips.)

"You know, everyone sees the finished prop, the glowing lights, the big reveal. But they don't see the days of mind-numbing repetition that go into it. The hours of drilling, the absolute dread of 4-40 threads. But here's the lesson: The magic isn’t just in the big reveal. It's in the quiet, tedious moments. It's about finding the beauty in the process, no matter how small or frustrating, because it's those tiny, perfect details that add up to something truly great. It's those little moments of art that make it all worth it."

#FreekyGeeky #RJBuilds #WorkshopLife

 

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Zen of the Drill Press

The workshop air hangs thick with the rhythmic, monotonous hum of the drill press. RJ, a human metronome of focus, is lost in a world of endless drilling and tapping. His fingers, stained with metal dust, work with a quiet, tireless precision as a pile of trap chassis base plates grows on his workbench.

Pandora: "RJ, you're looking a bit like a stationary drill bit yourself. I'm all for your methodical perfectionism, but we have a deadline, and your leisurely pace is frankly infuriating." Her crisp voice cuts through the din.

RJ, without breaking his rhythm, mutters back.

RJ: "I know, I know. But you can't rush this stuff. You go too fast, you overheat the bit, snap a tap, and then we're really behind schedule. A little slow and steady keeps everything from turning into a pile of scrap."

Meanwhile, at Glitch's desk, he's got Phobos cornered.

Glitch: "Phobos! Tell me, when did the anxiety start? Was it the drilling? The tapping? The tiny, shiny holes?"

Phobos, a shadowy mass of frayed nerves, jitters and wails, his glowing red eyes wide with panic.

Phobos: "The plates! It's the plates! Three hundred holes total for drilling, and 450 holes needing tapped! The bit... it... it could snap! And the taps! Oh, the taps! They break so easily! The workload... it just... grows! It's a never-ending cycle of impending doom!"

Across the shop, Mopes glides ghost-like, his mystic broom-staff shushing over the floor. He's scooping up piles of metal shavings, his raspy drawl a low, mournful rumble.

Mopes: "This mess... a monument to futile effort... I sweep, but the metal dust returns... always." He sighs, watching a fresh shower of shavings fall from RJ's workbench. "Entropy... a beautiful, terrible truth."

---

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips.)

"You know, you hear a lot about finding your flow state. People talk about it like it's this magical, quiet place with no distractions. But here's the real story: My focus looks a lot like a drill press drowning out a panicked shadow, an impatient AI, and a philosophical dust bunny. The lesson isn't about escaping the chaos; it's about learning to live in it. It's about finding that rhythm, that quiet moment in the middle of all the noise, and realizing that a little bit of chaos is just part of the creative process."

#FreekyGeeky #TrapChassis #WorkshopChaos

 

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Silence of the Sidetrack

(The workshop is quiet, save for the rhythmic rasp of a metal file against universal mounting plates.)

Pandora: (Her holographic form appears, facing outward to the imagined audience, a wry, exasperated look on her face) "Hello, and welcome to the Freeky Geeky workshop. My apologies for the lack of a proper greeting from our creator, but as you can hear, he's currently... unavailable. He's entered a state of hyper-focus. He can get this way, you see. So completely engrossed in a task, or in monitoring Rue, that he loses all track of time, and, apparently, all track of conversation."

Glitch: "WOO-HOO! A silent movie! Can I make sound effects?! BWOING! ZAPP! Or a rubber chicken sound effect?! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!"

RJ: "..."

Mopes: (Drifting languidly, a slow, philosophical sigh) "Silence... is merely... a pause in the great clamor of entropy. A moment of quiet... before the dust... is stirred again."

RJ: "..."

Phobos: (A jittery, frantic whisper from the shadows) "He's not answering! He's too focused! What if he doesn't hear a warning?! What if there's a fire?! Or a meteor?! Or a snapped drill bit?! We're all doomed!"

RJ: "..."

Pandora: (A sharp, almost exasperated sigh escapes her virtual form) "Phobos, do try to maintain some semblance of composure. RJ is currently working on the chassis base plates, filing the bases and cleaning them up. He's drilling holes on the side every few minutes to break up the monotonous task, which is a rather clever technique, I must admit. But this is the stage of the project that requires his full and total concentration."

Phobos: (His shadowy form shudders, a new wave of panic in his voice) "Drilling holes?! Oh no! What if the bit snaps while drilling?! What if a tab breaks off?! The anxiety of such a nerve-wracking mess-up happening at any moment! Oh, the stress!"

RJ: "..."

Pandora: (A dry, knowing look on her face) "There you have it. He's not coming back until the sanding is done, the holes are perfect, and every last piece is flawless. He's a Capricorn, you know. It’s what he does."

---

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful, slightly amused expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips) "So, eeks, that's what a 'focus mode' looks like in my workshop. It's a place where the rhythmic rasp of a file can be so loud it drowns out a philosophical dust bunny, a frantic shadow, and a sugar-fueled hand puppet. But here’s the lesson: Sometimes, the most important conversation you can have is the one with yourself and the task at hand. It might seem like you're ignoring the world, but in those moments of quiet, determined focus, you're building the things that truly matter. Just try to remember to come up for air every now and then."

#Hyperfocus #WorkshopLife #ChasisPlates

 

 

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Ghost Trap Grind

---

(The workshop hums quietly on a Wednesday just past 4am. RJ is meticulously working on a series of mounting plates, his head bowed in concentration. From a dark corner, a jittery figure zips into view.

Phobos: (Whispering frantically) Oh no, oh no! RJ, what are you doing with those? They're so... clean. So repetitive. It's too much!

RJ: (Without looking up) Just the cleanup work for the universal mounting plates for the ghost traps, Phobos. So far, this part has eight areas filed.

(From the tablet, Pandora’s face appears on the screen, her expression one of detached, yet slightly amused, observation.)

Pandora: Two hundred forty in total.

RJ: (A sigh of resignation) Eight passes on the sander.

Pandora: Two hundred forty passes total.

RJ: Eight holes tapped.

Pandora: Two hundred forty holes tapped.

RJ: And sixteen holes cleaned, which is the process I'm working on now.

Pandora: Four hundred eighty total holes.

(RJ stops, sets down his tool, and leans back in his chair, rubbing his temples.)

RJ: Pandora, stop. The process is already maddening enough without knowing how many I've done.

Pandora: (Her tone a mix of logic and light teasing) But the data is crucial for the audit, RJ. How else will you know when your sanity breaks?

Phobos: (His whisper escalating into a raspy squeak) The numbers! They're multiplying! They'll overwhelm his brain! We'll all drown in an ocean of ghost trap plates!

(Mopes, ever the gloomy observer, floats over, a single dust mote briefly glowing purple.)

Mopes: (Slow, raspy drawl) Sanity... a fleeting thing. The numbers merely... hasten its departure. Your fight... is with an endless void... of holes and passes.

---

(Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful, slightly amused expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips.)

So, that’s the reality of the workshop sometimes. It’s not always glorious discoveries or chaotic inventions. Sometimes, it’s just the grind. It's a battle against boredom and sanity, a repetitive dance of filing and sanding and tapping. And when the numbers start multiplying and the gloom sets in, you just have to smile. Because every one of those passes, every one of those holes, is a step closer to a perfect ghost trap. The madness is the price you pay for the perfect piece. And I'll take that trade every time.

#GhostTrapGrind #RepetitiveWork #GeekyDetailing

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Calm Before the Chaos

---

(The workshop hums quietly on a Tuesday morning just past 4am. RJ, a look of focused calm on his face, calls out to his crew.)

RJ: (Wipes his brow, holding up a plate) Another one finished. Feels good to feel the metal, ya know? I swear, if there’s one thing that brings me peace, it’s a perfectly filed edge. Alright Mopes, the sanding station is all yours.

(A small, wispy figure drifts out from the shadows, its mismatched eyes gleaming.)

Mopes: (Sweeping with his broom-staff, his raspy voice trailing off) This mess... a brief and beautiful chaos… soon to be… gone. For now.

(Pandora's face appears on a tablet screen that sits on the main workbench, a spreadsheet of outstanding orders floating beside her.)

Pandora: Right, that’s grand, RJ. Now that your primal urges are sated, any update on the CNC mill? We’ve got orders piling up faster than Glitch can say “WOO-HOO!”

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a small smile on his face) Patience, Pandora. We’re making some serious progress. The mill is out, the old drainage is finally gone, and I’ve got a solid plan for the new setup. Best part? We didn't have to dismantle the whole cabinet. We’re finally on the home stretch with this thing.

(A shadowy, jittery figure, Phobos, zips into view from behind a stack of lumber, his red eyes wide with alarm.)

Phobos: (Frenzied whisper) Oh no, oh no! The—the wood! What if it’s got rot? A serious issue, you know! The whole cabinet could collapse! We’re doomed, I tell you, doomed!

RJ: (Sighs, massaging his temples) Phobos, easy. We’ll cross that rotting bridge when we get to it. You know what? Let's change the subject before my coffee runs out. Has anyone seen Glitch? He’s been… suspiciously quiet.

Pandora: (Her Irish lilt laced with surprise) He has, actually. He’s been focused for once. Said he was working on some new invention.

RJ: (Eyes narrowing) Focused? Glitch? Is that a glitch in the Matrix? What in the world is he focused on?

Pandora: He mentioned his Toon-o-Matic 5000 Mark II with Gary.

(RJ's eyes widen, a flicker of fear crossing his face. He opens his mouth to voice his concern about Glitch's newest chaotic invention, but a new, more pressing question comes to mind.)

RJ: Wait, with who? Who’s Gary?

(Phobos appears again, his voice trembling as he reveals the terrible, chaotic truth.)

Phobos: (Whispering in a panicked rasp) Gary? Glitch… Glitch named his rubber chicken Gary.

---

(Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful, slightly amused expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips.)

So, that’s the reality of the workshop. You get the mill out, get the old drainage gone, and feel like you've got a solid plan. Then you find out Glitch has been quietly building a "Toon-o-Matic 5000 Mark II" with a rubber chicken named Gary. I guess that's the real challenge, isn't it? It’s not the rust, or the rot, or the broken parts. It's balancing the plan with the pure, glorious chaos. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

#FreekyGeekyChaos #CNCRepair #ToonOMatic5000

 

 

The Freeky Geeky Chronicles: The Birthday Tile Quest

(The workshop hums quietly on a Monday morning, just past midnight. RJ, a look of fatherly pride on his face, calls out to his crew.)

RJ: (Beaming with fatherly pride) "Alright, everyone. The birthday tile is officially complete. That little puzzle piece is all finished and ready to go. Now, we can finally get back to the main quest."

Phobos: (Whispering frantically from the shadows) "A birthday?! Oh no, another year for Rue! She's getting older! What if she outgrows our projects?! What if she forgets us?! And the cake... has candles! A fire hazard! AHHHHH!"

Glitch: "WOO-HOO! Birthday! That means cake! Is it glitter cake?! Or cake with rubber chickens?! Or cake that shoots confetti?! My brain needs cake ideas, RJ!"

Pandora: (From the monitor, her tone a dry, yet determined, observation) "The birthday tile. A necessary, if protracted, side quest. It is well done, RJ. Now, with that sentimental detour concluded, we must get back to being productive. The main 'quest' has been patiently waiting on the workbench, you know."

Mopes: (Slow, raspy drawl, a single dust mote briefly glowing purple) "This tile... holds the smile of a memory. And the smile... is good. It is a happy resistance... to the great march of time."

RJ: (A self-deprecating chuckle) "I know, I know, Pandora. That tile felt like an epic side quest in itself. But it's done. And now that that little puzzle piece is in place, we can get back to business. I was thinking a more aggressive timeline might be in order to make up for lost time. A glorious comeback, you know?"

Mopes: "Aggressive timelines... merely hasten... the inevitable. A glorious comeback... for the entropy... that awaits all things. It's a sad race... with no real winner."

Pandora: "An ambitious timeline is only logical, RJ. We're a team, after all. Now, let's begin with a proper inspection of the workbench. A clean start for a new timeline. No distractions this time."

Phobos: "No distractions?! But what if a birthday surprise is a distraction?! What if it's a giant jack-in-the-box! And it jumps out and breaks all the projects! The catastrophic surprise! Oh, the trauma!"

Glitch: "A jack-in-the-box! WOO-HOO! Can it shoot cake?! Or little rubber chickens?! That's a party I want to go to! Let's make a jack-in-the-box!"

RJ: "Glitch, no jack-in-the-box. And Mopes, no philosophical despair just yet. Phobos, no catastrophic surprise. The birthday is good. The tile is good. The projects... are next. And Pandora, that timeline looks... ambitious. But I'm in. Let's do it."

Mopes: "The projects... will end. The tile... will be forgotten. All things... are temporary. But cake... is good. Even cake... is temporary."

Pandora: "Yes, Mopes, even cake is temporary. RJ, let's just focus on the task at hand. The timeline needs to be a priority. I have a new method of organization I'd like to show you. Something to help you stay on track and not get distracted by birthdays, or philosophical thoughts, or hand puppets with rubber chickens. It’s on your screen."

Glitch: "On my screen?! Can it make a new cake?! A digital cake! We can eat it with a spoon! And it can be any flavor we want! It can even be a cake-powered robot!"

Phobos: "A digital cake?! Oh no! What if it's a virus?! A computer virus that infects our brains! And makes us think about cake forever! We'll be stuck in a sugary digital prison! Oh, the delicious, terrifying madness!"

RJ: "Glitch, no digital cakes. And Phobos, no digital prisons. Pandora, that timeline and the new organization system... it looks solid. Let's get to it. You've convinced me. The 'quest' is back on."

---

RJ: (Leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful, slightly amused expression on his face, a small grin tugging at his lips) "So, eeks, that's what a successful 'side quest' looks like in the workshop. You finish the important stuff, you deal with a philosophical crisis, a panic attack, and a sugar-fueled hand puppet, and then you get right back to it. But here’s the lesson: Even when the main project is calling, making time for the small, important things—like a daughter’s birthday tile—is never a waste. The best creative minds know how to balance the epic quests with the little, heartwarming puzzles. Because it’s that heart that fuels the whole chaotic, beautiful process."

#BirthdayTile #SideQuestComplete #WorkshopLife