Tomorrow or the next night, we plan to load up the grandkids, daughter, and probably the daughter in law, and run a few towns north to the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) "Nature In Lights" Christmas display. It's competition for Austin's Zilker park light display, but you don't have to park 5-10 miles away and get a shuttle, you drive through at about 2 mph, unbuckle the curtain-climbers and watch them scurry over each other getting from one window to another, to see what's new. Having a modern enough vehicle means it has driving lights though, which is unpleasant for the folks in front of you. One year we pulled out and yanked the fuse for the headlights, but lots of people aren't very helpful, and won't stop to let you get back in the line.

This year he wants a kill switch, just for the headlights, you still need to be a little bit visible. I think a 3 position switch would be cool, regular, headlights off, and full blackout, but that's kind of why my input was not sought.

So here I am, sitting up late with a pair of side cutters, modifying things that will be connected to the wiring. These cutters are in a size usually not seen in vehicular tool sets and manly garages. You get small ones (side cutting, regular, needle nose, split ring, and very smooth ones that resemble needle nose, but completely smooth,) in the jewelry-making section of craft stores. The ladies will want to know that you can get them with soft pastel grips, protecting them from random acquisition into the men's toolboxes.

What we're doing is placing an electrical connector (the part I was resizing, ) in each side of where the flat type fuse goes, running wires out to a more convenient location, where the fuse will now be located, and the switch for turning off the "safety feature!" lights that are always on.

Is this about tools? A little, since having a good selection of tools, in a variety of sizes, can allow a number of projects to take place.

It's also a bit about make-do. Willingness to consider alternative methods, and to do it yourself, goes a long way. Having someone else install a secret blackout switch for your lights, or an anti-theft starting switch for the ignition, would mean it's not a secret any more.

Being willing to try something that might not work has been known to save lives, shorten conflicts, and solve problems. If you don't believe me, go watch "Sergeant York" again. Maybe "Stalag 17" and some episodes of "Rat Patrol" and "Black Sheep Squadron" too (and God pless Pappy Boyington, and Sergeant York, and hold them safely in Your care 'cause I want to shake their hands when I get there.)

Then go practice wildlife calls, and woodland stealth and stalking. Just for goodness sake don't stalk people, and don't try walking up on dangerous critters. When you get home from your nature walks, finish a project.