[rick-in-seattle]

I took a walking stick carving class several years back. The class itself was educational, but the instructor told stories, tall tales, and outright lies nonstop for a week; now that was an education. At the end of the final day, the instructor asked if I planned to teach wood carving; I told him I didn’t know enough stories yet.

Carving instructors by their nature are required to share their experiences with students. Which came first, the desire to teach or stretching the truth for a paying audience, I really don’t know; but that’s how it is.

Of all the stories in all the classes, one stands alone, the pinnacle of tales.
It was during a two day class with Harold Enlow that I fell witness to it. Harold can tell a tale while carving and giving instruction without missing a beat.

It went something like this;

I was walking through a swap meet one day and came upon a small box containing a battery powered electric nose hair trimmer. It appeared to be unused or perhaps used a time or two.
It was a beauty, apparently a modern (Buck Rogers) design from the 1950’s with red plastic and chrome metal.

I had been looking for just such a device for some time. I tried the switch and it came to life with a high-pitched whine. I negotiated the price down to $1.25, which I thought was a bargain.

I took it home and somehow forgot all about the trimmer until I came across it several months later. I couldn’t wait to try it out, and so I flipped the switch and inserted the rotating cutter into my nose. Whuurrrrrrpp!!! It grabbed my nose hairs and twisted them up tight as a rope.

With great patience and care, I was able to cut myself free from the device in just a couple hours and returned it to the box. It set on a shelf laughing at me until one day Tom Wolfe came to visit.

He noticed the box and said "An electric nose hair trimmer! I have been looking for just such a device for some time"; and seemed quite envious, so I told him to “go ahead, take it home, it’s yours�.

A couple weeks later I happened to see Tom in town and asked how the electric nose hair trimmer worked. He said just fantastic, I use it every chance I get.
I couldn’t believe it, so I asked if he had any problem with it trimming hairs.

He replied; are you kidding me? Who would be foolish enough to stick that thing up their nose?
I use it for carving eyes.

[woodcarver55555]

What kind of classes did you say you were paying for???

[Thomp]

Dang i been using my noise hair tripper to check my tear ducts with, when you get all them hair tangled in it and yank it loose, the tears like magic just start running on their own.... works great as a diagnostic tool...

[whitecree]

Hmmm...

That almost makes sense.

[Kenny_S]

HAHAHAHAHHOHOHOHHEHEHEHE!
My gut is hurting. Thanks Rick andThomp. Needed that This morning
To carve eyes eh?Hmmm I am on a misson to find me one of themthere nose hair yankers for sure.or sure. I am in to pain don't'ca know! Why else would I put up with the little bride and her "dang club"
Ciao!

[Canopener]

Soooo, would it be safe to use on my ears?
Jim

[Nancy-ID]

Rick, I would say you are very qualified to teach carving. LOL. You do tell great stories.

[Blake Lunsford]

Having met Tom in Charlotte, somehow I believe that was a true story!

Blake