I haven't posted anything for the last several days, as I was on a nice summer vacation and really hate to let the criminals in town know that it's okay to rob my house. I'm a practical guy like that.

But - besides having a great time - I had a very cool experience with a local artist / sculptor named Jac Ouellette.

The story all starts with the house that we rented from Jac for the week in Maine. After being there for several days, my wife and her sisters ran into her at the local coffee shop one morning where she informed my wife that she knew I was "The Tool & Die Guy" because she had Googled me during the rental agreement just to make sure that I was "okay."

Lots of nuts out there, so that was probably a good idea.

Anyways, she told Heidi that I'd probably get a kick out of her "studio" in invited us over.

The reason that I put "studio" in quotation marks is that Jac has one heck of a fabrication shop...I was stunned.

Plasma cutters, MIG welders, a drill press, overhead crane...I have to say at the risk of sounding very un-PC that I've never seen a gal with so much cool stuff.

And, she knows how to use all of it.

In the end, my new friend Jac - "without the K," as she'll remind you - is quite the famous gal. Her work is mostly commissioned by hospitals, universities, and folks who have a more than a few bucks to spend. I just saw a metal sculpture on her Facebook page that went for $15,000.

Not too shabby.

We were lucky enough to get - as a gift - this very cool fish that she made and I absolutely LOVE it and what it stands for...as in working with your hands.

I'm not sure what she would call it, but I'd say it's "industrial art," at least as far as I'm concerned.

Such a pleasure to meet a gal who works with steel all day!

I've already named it "Jack" with a "K" and it's already on display in our home.

For more on Jac Ouellette and her work, please visit the AnvilJac website.