Pulse Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
jacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com
Tuesday, January 14,2003
Oregon Daily Emerald
On Thursday
Get sensual with
"Erotic Tales"
Power tools, wood
and sweat build
‘heavenly’crafts
Nika Carlson
Living Columnist
I think 1 found heaven. From the outside, it looked like a
gigantic, corrugated-metal garden shed. But when 1 walked
through the unassuming front door, I felt like Alice stum
bling through the looking glass. Behind the portal, the sweet
scent of freshly-cut wood filled my nose. A bodv-chilling
cold seeped through my shoes from the concrete floor, and
my eyes squinted in the dim light that
barely tilled the cavernous building.
What did I see? I saw wood scraps,
work benches, half-built wooden boats
— and power tools. I’m not talking
about those cutesy tools in pinks and
teals designed for delicate ladies’ hands
to put up curtain rods with. These
were real loots made lor real jobs:
routers and planes, band saws and jig
saws and joiners, shelves of power
drills and power sanders, a drill press
and a table saw, and an air compressor
cobbled together from old parts. 1
could build a small city with the contents of this place.
I came across this unlikely haven by wav of boredom, too
many episodes of “Monster Garage” and my Dad. 1 was
home for winter break, trying to do something more pro
ductjVe than grow fat off Cfiristmas buffets.
1 found inspiration in the ripped cardboard box that held
mv records. Records really don’t travel well. They are heavy
and awkward, and the Smirnoff box 1 was using just wasn’t
working out. 1 decided to build myself a better container.
And I found the perfect place to carry out the endeavor.
My dad is rebuilding the wooden dingy my great-grandfa
ther built in 1935 from the design of the dingy class boats
used in the 1932 Olympics. He rents space from Sound Op
portunities, a government program in my hometown of
Olympia, Wash., designed to help “troubled youth.” It is
home to even7 tool known to mankind, and my new hero,
program director Patrick Barmes. The man rebuilt an air
compressor. How much cooler can you get?
On Christmas Eve, my dad and I paid him a visit. Instead
of wrapping presents, caroling and eating figgy pudding, I
was measuring, sawing and sanding. Sorry Santa, but you
just can’t compete with a table saw.
Olimigod, I got to use a table saw.
From wood scraps, glue, and an air-compressed nail gun
(swoon!) I built a box perfectly sized to carry approxi
Turn to Carlson, page 4
Nika
Carlson
D.I.Y. living
Rituals, paraphernalia and G-57
Consistently popular, varied
bingo games deliver enjoyable
entertainment for most ages
Ryan Bornheimer
Senior Pulse Reporter
I can’t say I ever considered spending
a Saturday night at a bingo parlor. But
there I was. And all that stood between
me and SI00 was G-57.
It may seem like a conflict of interest:
an evening of gambling sponsored by a
church. But as history has proven, in
the world of bingo, anything goes.
Bingo has a rather elusive history.
While some records indicate the game
originated in Italy in 1530,others say it
dates back to ancient Greece. Whatev
er the case, bingo has stood the test of
time — becoming one of the most popu
lar games ever played. The American
version actually started in the late 19th
century as a diversion called beano,
where players would mark their cards
with beans. Rumor has it, one night, a
tongue-tied winner yelled out .“Bingo!”
by mistake. The name stuck, and soon
after, bingo was everywhere. The game
became so common, in fact, that most
people may have forgotten just how
much fun it can be.
But not Maxine Kimbrel. This retired
tavern owner has been playing bingo for
34 years. She said she comes for the
easy-going social atmosphere. Kimbrel
comes to The Arc of Oregon & Nativity
Church bingo hall on Highway 99 six
nights a week. She arrives with her per
sonal collection of multi-colored ink
daubers, the tools serious bingo players
use to mark the matching numbers.
Kimbrel has won as much as 51,000 on
one card. She emphasized that she
spends till her winnings on more bingo.
Arc manager Debbie MeCaulv said
bingo is one of the truly simple pleas
ures of life, and the game is a relatively
harmless form of gambling. She has
been managing bingo for five years.
“The most important part of my job
is to create a pleasant environment for
,
Adam Amato Emerald
Vicki Chandler calls numbers four nights a week at The Arc of Oregon & Nativity Church
bingo hall. Chandler has been calling numbers for fouryears.
the players,” McCauly said. “It’s a gam
ble, and anytime you take people’s mon
ey, you have to make sure they’re hav
ing fun.”
A portion of the profits made at Arc is
used to provide mentally disabled peo
ple with education and housing.
The doors of the Arc open at 3:30
p.m., and it doesn’t take long for the ex
citement to build. By 7 p.m., the place
is hopping. I never could have guessed
how serious people can get about bingo.
One couple arrived with a carrying
case specifically made for bingo para
phernalia. Their ritualistic preparation
Turn to Bingo, page 4
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