I'm just on the Harbor Freight mini lathe. I do the same type of stuff, pens, some small turning projects from Rockler, a couple of bowls, and funny enough a conductor's baton, like a magic wand I guess. I'm self taught too, went through a bunch of wood learning, and it's not easy finding wood down here.
Thanks, I made the cutting board for the wife. Made a couple of kitchen knives too. Anyway, it's funny how carving pens out of spinning wood makes me feel good.
It happened about two years ago. I'm not quite ready to share all the explicit details but I will say I had been on my way to crazy town for a few months before my first encounter with cannabis. I'm actually thankful that it brought everything to a head where even I knew I needed help. I was out of the country visiting my father for Christmas and had an associate of his fetch me some grass. My condition deteriorated over the course of about half a week of smoking to the point where I insisted on leaving early. I'm not sure what I smoked (the guy later said he "thought I was an experienced smoker" so who the hell knows) or how I managed to get home. Unfortunately I haven't spoken to my father since and likely never will again. I don't blame him given the things I said/did. Were I religious I'd probably have some interesting takes on some of the things that happened to me. All I can really do is scratch my head and chalk some things up to hallucinations/false memories, etc. Ultimately I'm a bit more of an agnostic now than uncompromising atheist. Anyway, it's possible I had something synthetic/laced and could handle the natural stuff. I'm not inclined to find out though.
That's some really nice work. I have some spalted maple blanks like your pens that I haven't made anything out of yet. It's stabilized & I don't prefer working with stabilized wood. I haven't tried a bowl yet. I don't have the tools to turn any. Get you a lathe stabilizer (if you don't have one). They really help when turning long, thin items.
It takes your mind off your troubles. You have to focus 100% on what you're doing or you'll screw up. Oh, if you decide to do acrylics, buy you some micro sanding pads. I sand using regular paper (150, 220, 340, 400 & 600 grits). They work great for just wood, but acrylics will still be scratched up after a 600 grit. I wet sand, or more appropriately polish, using the wet pads to a 20,000 grit. Makes acrylics shine like a new penny.
A, that wasn't weed. B, if it was, it was too strong. C, hydrate and take a break for goodness sake. D, my dad died years ago. Grudges with parents aren't cool. jmo. There will never be Peace. It's up to ourselves to find it. If you can't find it, it's on you.
It is probable, but I know a friend that had horrible reactions to ordinary pot and had all manner of hallucinations on it when her friends did not. So it is possible he had a bad reaction to some normal pot.
Cannabis Induced Psychosis is a thing. But really asthmatics need to be most aware. It can cause a bronchospasm.
Thanks for sharing. I've heard vague talk about such things, but no one who had experienced it firsthand.
I am glad the story did not involve jail in a foreign Country and that you found the help you needed.