Have you ever seen Robots, a cheesy movie from 2005 about a young robot inventor? Mr. Bigweld is famous for proclaiming that when he sees a need, he fills the need.

By now, you have seen the droves and flocks of 3D printing experts and engineers who are working day and night to support the medical professionals trying to "do their job" that has evolved into something so much more than that. We in the maker community have long-loved designing and constructing ways to help in one way or another. I have been blessed to work alongside the team at Airwolf3D for years to design lessons and model classroom practices, yet this is so, so, so different. 

If it weren't for a dentist in Montana, a Boy Scout in Vancouver, and a company in Southern California, I would wield a great machine and nothing more. Sure, plenty of companies have put things out in the open for folks to print. In fact, there are so many people ready to help. These are the three who I leaned on first. The dentist brought us MakeTheMasks.com which details how to print N95-style masks. The Boy Scout brought us the ear guard straps to alleviate the stress on the ears while wearing surgical masks. The company brought us a design for a face shield for medical professionals to don in times of need. 

Through local contacts in Southern California and family in Arkansas, I have found a home for over 75 ear guards, 30 face shields, and 30 masks. We have run into trouble along the way because, well, things don't always go as planned.

Yep, that's a blob of plastic because my son decided to put soap in the brush used to lay down the glue. That's what happens when I leave things unattended.

If you have a 3D printer, then great. Put it to work, find someone in your area to donate the finished products to, and feel great about it. My wife, who has a gift with making in her own way, has sewn over 25 masks and has plenty more on the way, giving them to friends and family. 

If you have neither a printer or a sewing skillset, there are other ways to help. 

Give blood
Help a food bank in your area
Send crafts and notes to nursing homes
Order take out once in a while
Stay home unless you need to get supplies
​Please, please, please take care of yourself, too

This sucks. It all sucks. Trust me, I have feelings about getting back to baseball, work, life as we knew it. The reality is, though, that the only way to get over it is to go through it (Goin' On A Bear Hunt, anyone?).

Makers make, builders build, and helpers help.

Try to be one of those, for someone, at this time.

Happy "Seeing The Need" Fishing

Going into Week 4 of the most surreal experience of my (all of our?) life, things are slowing down. We went from 3 sports to zero, no time to all the time, busy at work to busy at home, and abundance to scarcity. That, and it's about to rain for 5 days straight, with two kids who at this point want to spend time with anyone but the folks they live with. 

I get it.

Chrissy posted a comment about making broccoli cheese soup, and it reminded me of my Dede (grandfather in Macedonian). 

Dede was born and raised in war-torn Macedonia, moving to Canada, then immigrating to the United States where he worked for his uncle in his Ohio restaurant. Most of my memories of him revolve around food, and/or us talking by the kitchen with a 1970's oven, flowery plates, and a simpler motif. As he aged, my brother and I wanted to capture one of his favorite recipes, but here's the thing: you can follow the recipe, and no matter what you do, it won't be the same. You need to hear the love that goes into it.

So my wife, brother, and I videotaped Dede teaching us how to make the soup, starting with the vegetable broth. Adding butter (lots of butter), flour, then milk, it came into focus. Then, while listening to him tell stories and coach us through what to do, we added blocks and bricks of cheese; a lot of it. We stirred as the soup took form, thickening up, getting creamy and more orange with every drop of cheddar. We added the broccoli, stirred it up, and let it boil, stirring occasionally between laughs and bits of advice from an old man with a lot to teach a few young adults.

Salt and pepper to taste.

We sat around the dinner table that night, enjoying broccoli cheese soup and the company that it rallied together. Except for one person: Dede. He always told us that he was allergic to cheese (found out after throwing up during a cheesecake eating contest; Baba always laughed him off). He made the best broccoli cheese soup and never used the recipe, never even tasted it.

Those were simpler times, slower times, times focused on family and telling stories, learning from each other. 

Maybe that will return.

Happy "Soup and Memories" Fishing

If you want to learn how Dede made his soup, here he is telling you all about it. For reference, they go in reverse order.