A Boy and His Dog

It's been a while...

2009-09-26T11:47:00.002-04:00

Well David, here I am as you requested.
Worked on the kayak last week and got the outside of the lower hull fiberglassed, just in time for the heat to crank up again and be too hot to work the epoxy.
There's a cold front coming later this week...

Quick update

2009-06-14T17:48:00.004-04:00

Not a shred left...

2009-06-07T12:02:00.002-04:00

As you know, I am a huge fan of motor sports be it NASCAR, Formula 1, IRL, Grand-Am or even lawnmower racing (yes, there is such a thing). If it has an internal combustion engine and at least two people are competing, I am a fan. I am amazed at the skills the teams and drivers have to push those vehicles to their limits and their own skills to the ragged edge.
Except for one driver. Kyle Busch.
I feel like he is a snotty nose brat who pouts when he doesn't win. And when he does win, he rubs it in your face. You know... a JERK!!
I didn't think I had any respect left for the guy, but given what he did last night after winning the race in Nashville I have not a shred of respect left for him.
When he got out of his car in victory circle they handed him the trophy, a Gibson guitar hand painted by Sam Bass. What a fantastic trophy and I bet there are hundreds of drivers all over the country who would LOVE to win that prize.
Kyle Busch smashed it on the ground.
Not once. Three times. Then threw it aside like it was nothing.
His reasoning??? Because rock stars do it after their performance.
I'm sorry, Kyle Busch, you are not a rock star. You are a race car driver. Maybe it's time you take a lesson from some true racing legends like Mark Martin, John Force and Benny Parsons. These men accepted both winning and losing with respect for the sport, fans and fellow drivers. And you should too.
When was the last time you saw a hockey play throw the Stanley Cup on the ice?
Idiot...

Strange day...

2009-06-06T13:42:00.003-04:00

What a whacky weekend. Started off Friday with my kidney stones kicking my ass and putting on the sofa all afternoon and evening. Emily came over and made me some mac and cheese which is my favorite "I'm sick" food. Other than that I don't remember much because of the AWESOME pain killers my doctor has me on. Woohoo!!
Then today I wake up feeling fine!! I'm not complaining but what's up with that? I guess those stones have a mind of their own. So I thought I would cut the lawn this morning but it started raining about 8am and it hasn't let up.
I was forced to work on the kayak instead. Oh well!!!
I got the entire hull planed out and assembled. There are about 300 copper wire stiches holding it together. Which means I drilled about 600 1/16" holes to put them in.

This is the bow. It was rather difficult to fit together and get the wire installed. Lots of cutting and adjusting on the small tip ends of the plywood.

And this is a shot from the stern. It was kind of a bitch too but I got it worked out.
Next step, fiberglassing...

Finally started putting it together...

2009-06-02T19:57:00.002-04:00

Hull lay up.

Kinda looks like a mini canoe...

Peace and quiet...

2009-05-29T11:59:00.006-04:00

I got up early and took the kayak out for a short trip on the Rainbow River this morning.

I love living in Florida...

Baseball feaver...

2009-05-05T13:18:00.001-04:00

Catch it...

Class is in session...

2009-05-03T16:38:00.006-04:00

I finally have all those "busy work" projects and I can get back to my kayak building. Today I was able to begin turning 8 foot long pieces of mahogany into 16 foot long pieces. I got the scarf cuts ready to join together and I have glued the first three "planks". I have 6 more to make but I only feel comfortable laying up three at a time. The one picture is an example of completed scarf cuts from my first kayak project. The process is the same no mater what so I'm borrowing an old picture. The other is the the long pieces glued and clamped.
Move over...

WTF?!?...

2009-04-29T22:09:00.003-04:00

Only the Washington Nationals have worse game winning average than my Rays. I don't know what to think about this mess. Evan Longoria is leading the league in slugging and Carlos Pena is tops in OB percentage.
Where oh where is the defense?...

What's the deal...

2009-04-29T18:19:00.001-04:00

I've lost another friend. Second one this year.
The funeral is tomorrow and it's not going to be an easy one to sit through.
Godspeed, Bob Young.
You will be missed...

I'm outta here...

2009-04-19T14:52:00.002-04:00

I leave Ocala at the crack of dawn headed for Indianapolis where I will be for a full week. It's always a good experience at Indy, especially when I can break away for a few minutes and get over to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, It's too early in the year for any on-track activities, but they have the best museum with fantastic racing cars.
Charlie will be staying home this year for the first time. Usually he has to stay at the kennel but this time Emily and Kristin will be dog sitting for the week. How can that be bad? Hanging with 2 hot babes for a week of dog biscuits and laying by the pool!!
Charlie is psyched...

2-3 Rays lose...

2009-04-16T22:36:00.002-04:00

Ok... I realize it's early in the season. And I also realize that the Rays can't win every game. But how can it be that the runner-up to the 2008 World Championship can be next to last in their division? Behind the Blue Jays???
Tonight they left the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth.
WTF...

Happy Easter...

2009-04-12T19:25:00.002-04:00

What a wonderful Easter I've had.
It started off with a beautiful church service at 7:30am. Ash Wednesday through Easter is a wonderful religious season that I have fully enjoyed this year. For Lent I gave up beer. Yup, you heard right. Beer as well as all adult beverages. Didn't really miss it.
Then I was blessed to spend almost the entire day with the lovely Emily... we went to Sonic for a decadent treat of Chili dogs and Corn dogs. You'd have to know us to fully understand why that was so special. After that we took Charlies Jeep for a nice drive with the top down (the jeeps top, not Emilys) through the local area where you will find the most amazing horse farms. We came back to my house to watch the final few innings the Tampa Bay Rays game where they thoroughly trounced the Baltimore Orioles. (WOOHOO!!!). What a great way to start off the next week.
And to all a good night...

It must just be me...

2009-04-03T10:21:00.002-04:00

I don't know about everyone else, but I am sick and tired of listening to the news people spread their doom and gloom, all the while giggling like a child. No one is happier than the media when business, people and life in general go in the tank.
It reminds me of that old Don Henley song called Dirty Laundry.
I guess art imitates life.
How about open season on the media...

Return of the Jedi...

2009-03-28T09:45:00.007-04:00

The Force is strong. The Force, that is, that moves me to work on my kayak. Last night I started laying out and cutting the hull forms and managed to get them 80% completed. It's the first time that I've built anything using full sized drawings. On the last Kayak I had to "loft" the plans onto the wood, which is a boat building term for transferring the pattern from a scale paper drawing to full size drawings on the final medium. It was less time consuming and I'm sure the accuracy will be somewhat better. Anyway, I'm off to a Home Depot where I have finally found a suitable mahogany.

But it looks like rain today...

Addendum - 3/28/09: Working today has revealed that the full size plans SUCK!! They are hard to work with and are susceptible to tearing. CLC needs to fix this...

At last...

2009-03-25T21:19:00.002-04:00

Tonight I started my latest kayak project... at last!!
All I really got done was to construct my build table, that is, a work bench 16' long by 2' wide on which I assemble the kayak. I learned a lot the from the last (and first) kayak project and one of those things is that the build table must be lightweight and easy to move plus it has to be quickly knocked down flat if needed.
Anyway, this weekend I should get started on building the hull frames, which is an entirely different method than I used before. The construction is still "stitch and glue" but the unique design of the hull makes it impossible to assemble on a flat surface like the Mill Creek I built last time. The hull frames help suspend the hull over the build table while it's assembled. Next time I work on this I'll post up a photo of the table. It's extremely simple and easy to move around the shop.
Glad to finally be started...

Bi-polar thoughts...

2009-03-22T18:32:00.002-04:00

I love spring. I hate spring.
Love:

warm weather
baseball
driving Charlies jeep with the top down
sundown after 8pm

Hate:

yard work

That's all I have to say about that...

Where the heck have I been...

2009-03-19T18:41:00.002-04:00

Seems like weeks fly by and I'm rarely around this blog. I guess there are so many other things getting in the way that it's all a matter of priority.
My parents are finally feeling better after weeks of one bug after the other, I've started to get caught up on some work projects that have been nagging at me, and I'm home from yet another business trip.
The worst part about it is that my kayak is still not started. Yeah, I know, I can't believe it either.
There is some good news on the horizon...

Baseball season starts in just a few days. "GO TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!! I guess I better get my cowbells ready.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring.
Emily still likes me (unbelievable as that may sound!)
My swimming pool temperature has finally broken 80°

Of course the order of importance of this list is at my discretion as I change my mind on a whim.
Anyway, things are good. I have a job, I have a girl, and the Good Lord sees fit to keep it that way.
Charlie's happy too...

The fever builds...

2009-02-22T15:01:00.001-05:00

It's amazing what happens to me when I get excited about a new project. The new kayak is going to keep me pumped for weeks.
I think I hear some tools calling my name...

I have a fever, and the only cure is cowbells...

2009-02-18T17:55:00.004-05:00

Call me crazy. This weekend I am starting another kayak. This time a new style, affectionately called a "sit-on-top" but still made of wood. Going to try to make this one out of Oak and Mahogany, hopfully with some inlay or some type of decorative woodwork. Here are some pics of what it's supposed to look like.

Wish me luck...

Finally...

2009-02-07T23:47:00.002-05:00

Thank the good lord that NASCAR is back. Tonight I watched the Budweiser Shootout, affectionately called the "Bud Shoot-off" by my good friend Stephanie, and it was one hell of a race. This week is all about racing at Daytona Beach and I certainly hope I can find my way over there at least one day, hopefully Thursday, to enjoy one of the most exciting spectator sports of the day.
Charlie is a big Earnhardt Jr. fan. Apparently there is no accounting for his taste. But then again, he eats his dinner out of a big green bag.
Go Scott Speed...

A day to forget...

2009-01-23T18:36:00.003-05:00

This morning when I woke up and checked my email I found that I lost two friends this week.
First, my dog Sunny finally went to be with Kasey. She was living with my ex-wife since our divorce and was very happy there. Unfortunately, Sunny just couldn't do it any more and after 13 years she is gone. I guess she is somewhere with Kasey chasing birds and rabbits without the aches and pains they both endured before they left us. I hope there is a heaven for good dogs where the puppy chow is fresh and the drinking water is always pure.
Secondly, my old friend Les Strauch was killed in an auto accident yesterday. Apparently he couldn't stop on an icy road and slid into a moving train. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He leaves a lovely wife and two teenage children. I'll miss him.
RIP Sunny and Les...

a

2009-01-23T18:36:00.000-05:00

It's always someone else's fault...

2009-01-14T22:43:00.001-05:00

There is a show on TV called Parking Wars. Seen it?
People who have like a go-zillion parking tickets get their car towed and complain that they are the victim. What???
Pay your frakkin' tickets and shut the hell up!!
Ok, I'm better now...

OK, so I did have some fun...

2009-01-06T18:57:00.004-05:00

I blew off a little frustration in my last entry about being bored but there were a couple of highlights beyond the normal holiday and family stuff.
We spent New Years at Busch Gardens celebrating Kristins birthday and I actually remembered to bring my camera this time!! We had a blast cruising the park and hitting the coasters but I must say that I enjoy SeaWorld much more because of the sea critters. Anyway, I've put a couple of pictures on this post. There's one of Emily, Chris, Amber and Kristin and another of me and Kristin.

Secondly, my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers beat those pussies from Clemson in the Gator Bowl. I would have love to be at that game since it was only 90 miles from home but I made a commitment to Kristin to spent the day at Busch Gardens for her birthday. Keeping my commitments is very important for me.
I guess it wasn't such a boring week after all...

OK... I'm already bored...

2008-12-27T10:45:00.003-05:00

The Christmas holiday and following New Years holiday are parked closely to a couple of weekends this year which tempted me to take some vacation to stretch out some "off work" days. I fell into this trap and now I am beginning to feel the boredom set in. I'm off for 12 consecutive days.
I have enjoyed Christmas with my family so far, but the niece and nephew want to spend time with their grandparents and the new Nintendo DS games and my brother is pounding away at his laptop working on a big contract he has to complete. Charlie and I are just hanging out with nothing much to do.
I suppose when you are single and don't have those family obligations there's a lot more free time. While some would envy me, let me tell you... I wish I had something to do. All my favorite Charity groups are all shut down for the holiday and many of my friends are traveling or spending time with their family from far away, so I guess there's not much choice.
Maybe it's a good time to straighten up the shop and get started on a project...

Goodbye convention center...

2008-12-21T15:20:00.003-05:00

The RCA Dome where I have attended Fire Service conventions for the past 10 years has lost the battle. There is a video on Youtube that shows the action.
There is a brand new stadium they built for the Colts and we will continue our trade show in that dome.
It just won't be the same...

Inner peace...

2008-12-16T22:44:00.002-05:00

Some doctor on television this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res the Chesescke an a box chocolets.

Yu haf no idr who frkin gud I fel.

Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece...

Someone find my energy. Please...

2008-12-09T20:42:00.003-05:00

For the past 6 days I have been sicker than I can remember. I have an intestinal infection that almost pounded me to a pulp. I was so bad when I got to the doctors office on Thursday morning that they had to give me an injection for the pain just so I could be coherent enough to answer questions and be examined. I laid on my sofa in a Darvocet haze for 4 days before it finally let up but I did make it to work today. Good thing since my new boss was in town.
Holy crap on a cracker...

Where the hell am I...

2008-12-01T18:38:00.002-05:00

Look. It's me.
Months have gone by since I posted up a entry but things have been a little weird. All of us who work at my company have to watch out what we say and what we do on these blogs. It wouldn't be good if someone higher up didn't like something I have to say.
Sometimes it's hard to be good...

How can I describe the past few weeks...

2008-06-12T18:00:00.001-04:00

Ok, this works...

Get off me...

2008-05-19T18:03:00.003-04:00

I have A.D.D. I'm so sick of people trying to blame all short comings of ADD people on this misunderstood...
OH LOOK!!! A chicken!!!

Come on people. It's OK to laugh at yourself...

It's an over used word...

2008-05-08T18:14:00.002-04:00

Bitch. It's just so over used. Today at work I decide to be a little more aware of how people use this word since it has so many meanings. You know, like for instance... female dog (there were no references to this meaning today), a difficult time, a complaint, or my favorite, a special someone. Mostly the reference I heard today was concerning this last definition. Here's one of the best quotes heard today
"If that f***ing bitch sends me one more complaining email, I'm going to strangle her!" which was followed shortly by "She better not show her f***ing face around here or I swear I'll bitch slap her into next week!"
Which brings me to the term, bitch slap. I don't know exactly what that means, or what it is, but it sure sounds painful. What are the parameters of a bitch slap? Does it require the use of the right hand rather than the left hand? Or vice versa? Is this a slap to the face or the back of the head? If it's to the back of the head, then I was bitch slapped by my mother about a go-zillion times when I was a kid.
Do you need to announce a bitch slap? Do you need to be a bitch to do this? or do you only slap a person considered a bitch? What happens if the person you slap enjoys it? Is it still an insult?
I think you can see why I might be confused.
Another question. Why is it always a slap? Why not a "bitch punch"? Or a "bitch kick in the ass"? How about a "bitch poke in the eye with a sharp stick"?
I just don't get it.
And don't even get me started on "pitching a bitch fit"...

TGIF...

2008-05-02T19:43:00.001-04:00

Wow, what a week. One of my staff is home recuperating from hernia surgery and another one was on vacation. So the work load was almost overwhelming just trying to keep up with customer requests and putting out fires. Not to mention that Wednesday was month end, and if you have ever worked for a publicly held company, you know how nerve wracking that can be.

Fortunately, no one died.

Although, there were a couple of people that deserved to be gutted like road kill. It never ceases to amaze me how downright mean some people can be. I mean outright, frothing at the mouth with venom mean. It makes a stressful situation that much worse. This particular person takes such personal satisfaction in berating other people that I am surprised that they aren’t being physically affected by their own nastiness. And it amazes me even more that my company allows this to continue. I may lose an employee over this because she is almost at the end of her rope.

I have no idea why people do this. I’ve found that in almost every situation, you can find a way to take care of issues without being unprofessional and mean. I guess they just feel the need for people to think they are important and they get that feeling by being hateful and hurtful to those around them.

I don’t know how much longer I can work in this environment…

I can't believe my luck...

2008-04-30T18:28:00.003-04:00

I've been on line recently trying to track down old friends from years past. Not sure why we do that when we get older but never the less, I was looking. I ran across a blog from a person in the Phoenix area that mentioned the name I was searching. I dropped in to take a read and staring at me out of the screen was my friends wife!! Amazing luck, right?
I asked the blogger if they would pass my email address on to him and today I got a response. Wow. I haven't seen or talked to this guy since about 1980 or so. We were great friends back then, chasing girls and generally raising a little hell, all in good fun.
I'm really looking forward to catching up on what's been going on in his life as well as his family.
A real blast from the past...

You've gotta try this...

2008-04-27T13:00:00.004-04:00

This is awesome. If you put this on your head your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get to it.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & CINNAMON BANANA CREAM PIE

Why you need to build this:

This pie is low fat, very low sugar and if you don’t tell anyone they’ll never know. It’s perfect for your friends that can’t have much sugar in their diets. And it’s tasty!!

Gather your tools:

pie pan

wire whisk

Bill of Material:

1 cup Graham Cracker crumbs

½ stick of real butter

6 of those little paper packets of Splenda

1 ½ banana

1 ½ cups cold fat-free milk

2 pkgs. (4 oz.) Jell-o White Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant pudding

½ to ¾ tsp ground cinnamon

8 oz. tub of Cool Whip Sugar Free whipped topping

Some Assembly Required:

Melt the butter in the microwave. Put the Graham cracker crumbs and Splenda into the pie pan and pour the butter over the top. Mix it completely then press it up the sides and into the bottom. Slice the bananas into medallions about ¼” to 3/8” thick and install one layer thick on the crust.

In a large mixing bowl add the milk, pudding mix and cinnamon. Stir with your whisk for a minute or so. It gets thick quickly. Gently stir in the Cool Whip. Spoon the mixture over the bananas.

Refrigerate for 4 hours or so.

Tips and Notes:

The easier you stir in the Cool Whip, the fluffier your pie will be.

As written, this has about 5 grams of sugar per serving. If you want to reduce this to about 1 gram, use some sugar free shortbread cookies in place of the Graham Crackers.

Thanks James Hetfield...

2008-04-16T17:48:00.001-04:00

And if I close my mind in fear 
Please pry it open... 
And when I start to come undone 
Stitch me together... 

I'm in a Metallica kind of mood...

Spent...

2008-04-13T19:07:00.002-04:00

Just this morning I returned from Indianapolis after attending and working at FDIC 2008, which is our industry's largest trade show. I was responsible for setting up, working the show floor, and tearing down our massive show display. I'm exhausted.
We stayed at the Marriott across from the convention center and I must comment about their excellent customer service. I would recommend that hotel except for one thing. The beds SUCK!!! I haven't slept for a week.
I may blog more on this later but for now I'm too tired.
Did I mention that it snowed on us last night?
I love Florida...

No fun for my kayaking friends...

2008-04-06T16:55:00.002-04:00

Typical spring day in north Central Florida...

Handcuffed by time...

2008-04-06T08:34:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how busy a single, no kids guy can be. Every time I think about this blog I'm always in the middle of something else and I can't seem to find the time. So today I'm making time.
This morning here in north central Florida we are experiencing a phenomena that is unique to our area, and that is "liquid sunshine". It's bright and sunny this morning but it's raining. The first time I experienced this I thought I was in the twilight zone. I was driving down the Turnpike headed for Orlando, window down, tunes blasting and something wet hit my arm. Of course I thought some bird had made a deposit but the fluid was clear. What the?!?!? Then came the drops on the windshield. I had to look up into the bright clear sky to be sure I wasn't hallucinating.
It's a bit wild...

We waited, we watched...

2008-03-26T20:37:00.002-04:00

Tonight, Charlie and I waited in the backyard to watch the shuttle fly over. On many of the return flights, the path brings them almost directly over our house, and night time landings are prime viewing for us. Tonight the shuttle Endeavour flew over our heads almost right through the constellation, Orion, on a southward path. Somewhere south of Orlando they begin the u-turn back north to land at Kennedy Space Center.
It's rather strange to look up into the night sky and see no commercial flights (closed airspace over us during shuttle landings) and finally see the lights of the shuttle streaking silently through the night sky, and believe me, when I say streaking I mean it really hauls ass. On occasion we hear the twin sonic booms, but not tonight. Tonight it was quiet. For a few minutes I was in awe of the accomplishments of man and I wonder what it will be like in 20 years when I am an old man. Will I still be amazed? Or will I be like so many that take technology and the wonder of science for granted. Likely not.
As I look into the night sky I give thanks to God for the advancements of Mankind and everything it brings to us.
Our lives are rich...

Fun times on the way...

2008-03-19T19:13:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow the CEO of IDEX Corporation (IEX if you are an investor), our parent company, will be visiting our offices. He plans on having an "all employee" meeting and hopefully he will open it up to questions. My question? What are you going to do to bring up my stock price?!?!?!?
Enough of that... my friend Lani (click on the link, left side) is in town and were meeting for a drink after work with about 10 of our best friends. WooHoo!!
Friday is kayaking with the manatees over in Crystal River, should be a hoot as well as a very relaxing day with nature.
I can't wait...

Finally...

2008-03-16T20:11:00.002-04:00

It finally feels like summer is on it's way. Temps were in the 80's today and it was sunny and gorgeous!!!
I got the yard in shape today, trimmed the Crepe Myrtles and the Philodendrons as they were looking a little shaggy after a long, long winter.
Yesterday Emily, Kristin and I went to see Blue Man Group at Universal. The show was awesome but not quite as good as the one in Las Vegas. Blue Man gets a bad rap by lots of people, but I think they put on a fantastic, funny, high energy show that's well worth seeing.
Afterwards we met Amber in Winter Park and checked out her new apartment. It's pretty nice and close to the UCF campus. We all had dinner at CheeseCake Factory, the food was great and the waiter spent most of the time flirting with Amber and Sadie, Ambers friend from Tampa. But you can't hardly blame him... those girls are stunning!!!
Finally got out of there and headed for Ocala. I got home to find Charlie sprawled out on the couch sleeping.
It's a dogs life...

You can put a tuxedo on a goat...

2008-03-10T21:30:00.002-04:00

but it's still just a goat...

Hello, it's me...

2008-03-06T20:17:00.003-05:00

It seems like I have been busier than a pizza delivery guy at a weight watchers convention lately. Work is crazy as staff has been reduced to stay on track with this slow economy, but there is still plenty to do. I have a new boss, which is OK. He doesn't' suck but he certainly is an operations guy and not a sales guy. It should work out.
Last Saturday my Kayak, Rosie, took me on a nice 4 hour cruise on the Rainbow River. My friends Aimee and Ray went with me as my guides since it was my first trip. If you don't know the Rainbow, its a river created by one of Florida's huge freshwater springs. The water is 72°, crystal clear and runs over six miles before it drops into the Withlacootchie River headed for the Gulf of Mexico. It's a two mile paddle upstream to the head waters then six miles back to the "getout" point and my arms felt it the rest of the day. Rosie handled fantastic and got lots of comments by other kayakers and scuba divers that were also enjoying the river. I thought I might be sore Sunday but I felt great and considered going back, but I had way too much on my plate to do that.
We have another trip planned on Good Friday since it's a holiday for us. Aimee, her friend Val and her two nephews and I are going to Crystal River to paddle with the Manatees. Hopefully the water in the Gulf of Mexico will be still be cold enough to drive them up into the river. It's pretty awesome to float along side one of those gigantic animals. When you see them on TV they seem rather small but when one surfaces close to you and they are almost as long as your kayak, you find a little respect for their size.
Can't wait to wet a paddle...

Finally, a day off...

2008-02-22T10:19:00.003-05:00

I decided that enough was enough and I took today as a vacation day. It seems like I have had the throttle to the wall the past several weeks, as there have been lots of things going on at work. The newest change, just yesterday, is that I now have a new boss, one that works in Ocala rather than Pennsylvania. I like the guy, so hopefully this will work out. He is VP of Operations, which is a change from my last boss being VP of Sales and Marketing. But enough about work, for crying out loud, because I'M ON VACATION!!!
The Daytona 500 party worked out well. I had lots of my friends over: Dave, Gail, Pearl, Chuck, Emily, my brother Orin, Aimee, Ray, my Nebraska Cornhusker friends Jan and Bob, plus Miles and Nicole were hanging out with us too. Between all of us we ate 5 slabs of ribs that I smoked all morning... they were awesome!!
The racing was good, especially the last 30 or so laps. The best part is that Kurt Busch didn't win. Hooray!!
I'm really looking forward to this years NASCAR season...

Less filling, tastes great...

2008-02-11T19:22:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine who is going through some relationship "issues" (that is such a girl word!!) sent this to me.

Who was it that said "A picture paints a thousand words"?...

A Three Hour Tour...

2008-02-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the maiden voyage of the Kayak. I took it to a little lake in the Ocala National Forest called Mill Dam. Not sure how it got that name considering that there never was a mill and there is no dam.
Anyway, she floated and tracked well but it became obvious that boat wakes are going to be a problem. Even the smallish wakes from the couple of fishing boats that were out gave me a little panic attack as I was towards the middle of the lake when one caught me by surprise. Oh well, getting rolled will be inevitable I suppose. I'm just glad it didn't happen yesterday... the water was a little cold!
They say a boat without a name is bad luck, so I'm going to name her Rosie. That's was my Grandmothers name so hopefully that will bring me extra good luck.
But then again, every rose has it's thorns...

"Drinks well with others"...

2008-02-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

Ok I admit it. I'm having a bit of a party binge. In December I had two parties here at my place and I'm only 15 days away from having another one. It's the First Annual Daytona 500 Racing and Backyard Tailgate Party. Hosted by yours truly.
For the first time in 10 years I am not going to the Daytona 500. I know, I know, what am I thinking?? That race has been the one of the things I have looked forward to every long, hard, ugly winter. It sort of marked the coming of Springtime for me. But several things have influenced my decision not to attend, and here they are in no particular order.
1. Ticket prices. Last year I paid almost $500 for my ticket package that included 2 seats for two races. Good seats, but not fantastic seats, and I had to pay for them almost a year in advance. My friend Chuck decided to go about a month before last years race and his tickets were only about $300 and his seats were so close to mine I could almost throw a hot dog at him. Does anyone see something wrong with this?
2. Ticket prices. Over $500 for 2008? WTF?!?!? I'm not made of money.
3. Start time. The race used to start promptly at 12:30pm. By the time the race was over, there was still daylight, it wasn't really cold (most of the time) and you could take your time getting into traffic for the drive home. We used to hang out, have some food, listen to the post race shows on the radio and let traffic thin out. Now the race doesn't start until after 3:30pm, and for the past couple of years, with rain delays and other issues, the race doesnt end until around 8pm or later, which means we have to hustle to the car and get into the traffic queue so we can get home before sun-up so we can get to our jobs the next day. We gotta work to pay for next years tickets, right?
4. Parking. The race starts at 3:45ish as we know. But in order to find a suitable parking space for less than $75.00 that is close enough to the track that you don't require a lunch break during the walk, I have to leave my house before 6am. And all for a dirt lot parking space. I hate tailgating in the dirt.
5. Weather. I understand that it's Florida but out of the last 10 years of attending that race I have sat in the freezing cold and / or rain at least 7 of those years. It seems that the days before and the days after are always nice and balmy. I am betting that since I'm not going this year, race day in Daytona Beach will be 75° and sunny.
6. Rude fans. When I first started going to the race, the fans were all nice, friendly and courteous. We laughed with each other, teased about favorite drivers and shared snacks and beverages with each other. No sense missing some of the race just to get another beer, so have one of mine. Some where along the line that began to change and I can't really put my finger on when that happened , but it seems to coincide with the time when ticket prices began their upward surge. Maybe the richer you are the bigger prick you can be?? Or have we've all just become a bunch of racing snobs?
Anyway, I'm not going and I'm using the money I would have spent for tickets, parking and gas to have a bash for my friends. Want to come???
I bet the weather will be awesome...

Down a new path...

2008-01-27T09:29:00.000-05:00

My brother quit his job. Yep. After almost 10 years working for corporate America he balled up and quit. You can check out his blog by clicking here or the button on the left. He does own a small business designing and hosting web sites among other things and I just have this feeling that it’s going to work out for him.

I’m hoping that this blog will eventually be hosted by his company under my own domain name.

Then you’ll see some sizzle…

It's finally done...

2008-01-20T18:24:00.000-05:00

Now this is funny...

2008-01-15T22:49:00.000-05:00

It's been a few days...

2008-01-08T21:33:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how busy I've been lately. I figured that once the holidays were past and I was back to work I would have some down time. Wonder when that starts??
I'm trying to get the kayak finished up in time to paddle among the manatees over at Crystal River. I think I still have a few weeks before they move back out into open water.
I've done most of the trim work on the kayak...got the hatch finished, the tie-down straps are ready to mount and the final coat of epoxy went on the topside tonight.
Next step is painting the hull. I bought the paint already (at $36.00 per quart!!), a nice deep green and I may get the first coat on Thursday night if the weather holds. It can't be applied lower than 50°F and the fumes are highly toxic to breath so I'll need to do it outside. Three coats. Then Urethane for the topside, install the tie-down straps and it's done!!
I'll post up some pictures when it's done...

What we did on our Christmas vacation...

2007-12-30T12:23:00.001-05:00

It's not done yet but the inagural barbeque will be in two weeks...

Whew...

2007-12-29T15:23:00.001-05:00

Well then. The major portion of the Christmas celebration is behind us for another year. And my what a busy one it's been for me!! I am fortunate that I have had several days off this week and still have a couple more to go. It's nice to be away from the office for a while but, sick as this may sound, I'll be ready to get back to work next Wednesday.
Orin, Linda and the Tallahassee Rug Rats are here visiting for the Holiday. We seem to be playing a lot of X-Box 360 since that's what Miles got from Santa this year. I can't even master regular X-Box. We are also building an entertainment center for Orin's new HDTV. It's nice to have a project to work on together. He's not much for wood tools but he really enjoys sanding and staining, which is great cause that's the part I like the least. We should get it finished before they need to return to Tallahassee.
Speaking of projects, I did manage to get Emily's furniture done in time to give it to her on Christmas morning (And yes David, it's gorgeous). I didn't stain it yet because she's still deciding on the color she wants for her bedroom ( BTW, it's a chest of drawers) so I guess we'll do that next week sometime. I also built a blanket chest for Kristin because Dec 31st is her 14th birthday. I've already given it to her since she will be having a slumber party and she just might want to show it off to her friends.
So I guess you can see that I've been just a little busy. Building furniture for my family and friends is what I'm all about lately. It's how I relax and get centered. It's what makes me happy.
And Charlie likes to hang out in the workshop...

It's over...

2007-12-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

I finally got the problem with my computer fixed. IE7 was only a small part of it. Thank goodness I have a brother who can make a computer sing and dance. I'm no computer novice but sometimes it's such a mess I think it might never be the same.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try FireFox at every ones recommendation. I have some other things to post but I am furiously working to complete a piece of furniture for my friend Emily's Christmas gift. I should get it finished on Sunday.
Keep your fingers crossed...

Oh what a horrible mistake...

2007-12-13T18:15:00.000-05:00

I made the mistake of downloading Internet Explorer 7 and now I can't do anything. There are so many websites that I can't access including this blog.
What should I do?
I need help ladies and gentlemen...

Sea trials...

2007-12-03T19:20:00.000-05:00

In Charlies opinion...

2007-11-28T18:09:00.001-05:00

Need we say more...

A very sad day indeed...

2007-11-23T19:56:00.000-05:00

I'm heart broken. My brother told me today that he is no longer a Nebraska Cornhusker fan. (pause for sobbing). Where did I go wrong?
I wear the colors proudly... I drink coffee only from the sacred Husker mug... I have the logo sticker on my back window... I listen or watch every game... I check Wally's blog regularly...
I tried to be a good example.
And I failed.
Lord, forgive me, a Husker failure. I beseech you for your football mercy and pray that my brother will see the error of his ways.
Oh, the wretched misery. He wouldn't even watch the game with me today.
I am especially sad because as part of his horrible, horrible confession he openly admitted that he has become (sob) A FLORIDA STATE FAN!!!
Life has become a series of black and gray images. I am despondent.
Maybe I should plan an intervention...

I hate to be labled a typical TV watcher...

2007-11-19T20:36:00.000-05:00

But have you seen the new show called "The Big Bang Theory"? It's one of the few shows I watch and even fewer shows that actually make me laugh out loud. It's produced by Chuck Lorre, the same person who produces my other favorite sitcom, "Two and a Half Men".
At the risk of being called typical (that word again) I think Kaley Cuoco is the hottest woman in sitcoms today. Blond, curvy and so good looking the knobs on the TV melt when she is on screen. Sigh...
Anyway, watch the show if you get a chance. You'll laugh your ass off.
Any other shows I watch are either on Discovery, History Channel, TLC or ESPN. And now that NASCAR is wrapped up its season until February, it's out to the garage for Charlie and me. We have a few projects to get started on.
Fade to black...

Mmmm.... beeeerrrrr.....

2007-11-14T19:03:00.000-05:00

Charlie. What a boy he is. And apparently a beer lover.
Tonight I'm on line reading some fantastic news about my friend Tanya (click on Net Chick to the left) who lives in Vancouver while enjoying a frosty cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, when to my surprise I hear a long pink tongue lapping up the golden goodness in the glass next to me.
What the?!?!?
It was my pal Charlie trying to catch a buzz!!
OK... beer is for people but a little (very little) can't be bad for a dog. Brewers yeast helps keep away the mosquitoes and a little barley malt helps the digestion. Not to mention the stress Charlie lives with day in and day out dealing with the neighbors coming and going all day, the mail man, the yard guy and the lizards doing who knows what ungodly things on the fence and in the bushes. I guess he needs to relax at the end of the day just like I do.
Maybe next time he would like a nice glass of Merlot.
MilkBone. Red or white???

Jingle my bells...

2007-11-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

I went into Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse about two weeks ago (mid October) and the beginnings of their Christmas displays was becoming evident. Today I stopped in again and it was floor to ceiling Christmas stuff. And there were tons of people browsing through it.
Come on, Lowe's. Don't you thinks it's a bit early? How long until we'll be able to leave the 4th of July party and swing by for some tinsel and garland?
I like Christmas as much as anyone, but for once I'd like to enjoy November without being blasted by all the sales hype. And can we keep the Christmas music in the CD case until at least December 1st?
It's not too late to start thinking about the real reason for celebrating Christmas.
And it ain't Rudolph...

Stress is a many splendored thing...

2007-11-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

So far this week has been HELL.
I am dealing with a co-worker (equal rank in the company) who is completely out of control. Demands that are totally ridiculous, sending scathing emails and CC'ing every person in the company that out ranks me, stabbing my staff in the back with unsubstantiated bullshit.
It's killing me. I've never had a bout of "stress eating" but, according to Aimee, that's what's happening to me . All I can do all day is eat junk. I bet I've put on 5 pounds since Thursday.
This person has been passed from one Manager to another until now they have a long distance manager who has no idea how bad it's gotten and therefore there is no sign of it going away. It's unbelievable that my company has done nothing about this even though this person is rude and disrespectful to everyone. Lots of people have complained to no avail.
I guess it's time to start looking for another job. I don't normally run from these situations, but if no one upstream is going to fix this, then I have only one alternative.
And it sucks cause I love this job...

Yo ho ho...

2007-11-05T19:23:00.000-05:00

Work on the kayak is proceding nicely. The other night my Dad came over to help me put the mahogany on the deck. Thank goodness, as it was a pain in the ass even with two of us.

The second pic shows the mahogany trimmed to fit. I think I'm still on schedule to finish by Thanksgiving.

If I only had a paddle...

I love this state...

2007-10-31T19:43:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is November 1st and I'm wearing shorts.
It is absolutely gorgeous out tonight. All of the neighborhood kids are running around screaming, yelling and pretty much doing whatever it takes to make Charlie bark his fool head off.
Charlie and I were sitting on the back patio tonight sharing a beer and looking at a beautiful sunset. I just had to take a minute to thank God for the stunning display as well as all the other things and people that are in my life. I have it good.
Tomorrow is November 1st and I'm wearing shorts...

Art imitates life...

2007-10-23T20:52:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel like a man in the wilderness...

Days go by...

2007-10-14T21:40:00.000-04:00

It's been almost a week since this sickness started. I went to my doctor and he diagnosed it as a severe sinus infection, so now I'm on two different types of anti-biotic and a decongestant. I am as dry as a bleached out desert bone. It's affecting my vision, since I had Lasik surgery 4 years ago my eyes are very sensitive to dryness and my vision gets blurry. And my skin is getting like a gator, dry and scaly especially on my knees and elbows. Not to mention constantly peeing. As fast as I drink something it wants to come out. I feel like a funnel.
The good news is that the chemical cocktail he prescribed seems to be working. I'm feeling a little more normal and I actually got out of the house yesterday to attend the Chili Cook-off. My friend Dawn had an entry in that contest. Tonight I went to Emily's place and had dinner with her family. So I think I'm going to survive.
I need something to drink...

Pray for me...

2007-10-10T04:09:00.000-04:00

I am about to croak from complications from a stupid cold. I am miserable and can't sleep. Plus I am developing a toothache.
Time to get my drink on...

A few days off...

2007-10-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

Friday, Emily and I are flying to Dallas to visit our friend Darla and her husband Paul. I haven't had an "out of town" vacation for years and I'm looking forward to it.
We leave Ocala at 5:30am (ugh) on Friday and should arrive in Dallas around noon. Saturday we are having a huge bar-b-que with about 40 people. I get to be the assistant to the Grillmaster and plan on charring many pounds of beef, chicken and pork. Yummy!!
Sunday will be spent goofing off and doing some fun stuff in downtown Dallas. Emily has never been so it's really going to be an adventure for her, however, she's a bit nervous about flying. But she'll be with a seasoned veteran flyer (me) and it will all be good.
Monday we fly back home and then back to the salt mines on Tuesday.
At least it will be a four day week...

Week long crazyness...

2007-09-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

It's been a bit of a crazy week. I had a hard time finding time for myself, much less time for this blog. Sometimes I can't believe that a single guy like me gets so caught up in stuff that all my time is taken. Since I don't have a family to worry about and take care of one would think that I would have all the time in the world. Not so.

I did have a little time yesterday to have Emily and Kristin over for swimming and some delicious brats and kraut while watching about 5 different college football games.

Plus I got this great picture of Kristin and Charlie. He loves her. I think to him she must smell just like MilkBones.

So goes my week...

I have something to say...

2007-09-18T22:24:00.000-04:00

Hey it's me, Charlie. What's up.
You don't hear many dog rants but I have one.
Who is in charge of the lizards in my yard? There's about a Go-zillion of the damn things around here and frankly, they are annoying me. They run along the fence like they own the freakin' place then stop just out of reach. Pisses me off. It's just not playing fair. Someone needs to do something.
And don't get me started on the taste. Have you ever caught one of the little bastards and accidentally bit into it? Definitely tastes like ass.. not my ass, some other ass. They should taste good like wiener or something.
Whatever.
And WTF is the deal with the red bandanna? Are there no other colors?
It's apparent that someone has no taste...

If you're gonna live in Florida...

2007-09-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

If you're gonna live in Florida ya gotta put up with the bugs.

I snapped this picture about 6:30 this evening. This bad boy is a very common spider here in north central Florida.
You can't really get a true picture of how big this sucker is but if you were to lay a ruler from the tip of the upper left leg to the tip of the lower right leg it would measure about 5 inches. And this one is only average. I've seen them half again as big. If you smack them hard enough with a board they fly a long way!!

If you wonder where I found it let me give you a hint. The horizontal boards in the background are the ceiling rafters of my back patio. Yep, this friendly feller was hanging outside my house. I guess he was trying to make a quick meal out of the flying bugs that buzz around in the evening. He looked a little extra hungry and I noticed him eyeing Charlie so I told him to stay clear.

Some people call them Banana Spiders, some call them Wood Spiders.

I call him dead...

Shrouded in black...

2007-09-16T19:24:00.001-04:00

My beloved Huskers fell to #1 USC. I am truly shrouded in a black mood. You can see my wonderful barbecue grill, where I work flesh charring magic, displaying my true feelings.
I know, it isn't healthy to let a game get you down, but I was hoping for an upset. I wanted those Trojans from the Left Coast to go home in shame with their tails tucked between their legs. But it wasn't to be.
I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth coming from all true Husker fans all over the country.
I guess someday I'll feel better. Like maybe next week if we can win against those punks from Ball State. Yeah, that's the ticket. A win!! It might soothe my burning soul and let me live another day.
Who would name their team after a condom anyway...

Shitty day...

2007-09-13T22:45:00.000-04:00

Shitty, shitty, shitty...

The story is everywhere...

2007-09-11T20:27:00.000-04:00

Today is the sixth anniversary of the day that terrorists came into my county and destroyed several buildings and thousands of lives. It's all over radio and TV. Flags are being flown half mast. People are remembering where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.
After six years I still can't figure out how one group of people can kill another group of people in the name of God. The God I know is a loving being who wouldn't condone those actions. I know because He told us all about it, and I quote: "Thou shalt not kill". It doesn't say "unless you do in in my name" at the end of the quote. It just says don't kill.
Don't kill.
Don't.
Kill.
I wonder how those people are going to spend eternity in the spiritual world that waits for us after our days on earth. Will they "burn in hell"? Or will they get all those virgins and live in paradise?
Whatever.
The human spirit in me has an awful hard time forgiving. That's the other thing my God tells me to do.
Forgive? Maybe.
Forget?
Never...

The Shipyards are open...

2007-09-07T18:23:00.000-04:00

Progress on the kayak is coming along nicely. I wasn't expecting to get this far along this quickly but I have a tendency to get completely focused on a project at the cost of other chores. That's why my lawn sometimes looks a little ragged.

Anyway, I got the hull assembled today. Here's a couple of pictures.

Tomorrow I'll begin laying the epoxy fillets and fiberglass tape and coating all the wood with liquid epoxy. I think this is going to be messy!!

I will need to take a few hours off tomorrow since my beloved Huskers will be playing on TV at noon. GO BIG RED.

I guess I'll take the rest of the day off...

A day at the office for Charlie...

2007-09-05T12:58:00.001-04:00

Thats a good boy, Sparky...

Back to the salt mines...

2007-09-03T21:50:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow it's back to the office. I took Friday off so I had a nice 4 day weekend which was relaxing but short. I progressed nicely on the kayak, I got the hull planks mostly cut out and lots of the little parts done. There is one problem on the bilge plank where the plans have conflicting dimensions. It's only a quarter of an inch, but when the plans tolerances are 1/16", a quarter inch is too much to fudge. So tomorrow I'm going to call CLC and get an answer or some suggestion as to how to proceed. I'm getting excited to actually start putting it together but not looking forward to the fiberglassing part, but maybe it's because I've never done it before?? When I get some decent progress I'll post us some pictures.
Overall, it was a decent weekend spent mostly at home with Charlie.
Did I tell you I'm also taking this coming Friday off...

The Good, the Bad and the Charlie...

2007-09-02T08:52:00.000-04:00

Good things that happened yesterday:
1. HUSKERS WIN!!!
2. We started putting the kayak together.
3. Runza's for dinner (only a tiny bite for Charlie).
4. Spending part of the day with Emily.
5. Finding out that Sam Adams Oktoberfest is good this year.
Bad thing that happened to me.
1. I got a huge blister on the heal of my left hand from cutting the scarf joints on the kayak.
Good thing that happened to Charlie
1. New bone from PetSmart.
Is it obvious that it didn't take much for us to have a good day???

Today is the day of days...

2007-09-01T11:27:00.001-04:00

Nebraska football. I've had full body chill bumps about a hundred times already and it's still 4 hours until game time.
You've got to go over to Wallys' blog and check out the awesome video he posted today.
I'm too excited to post up much more so
GO BIG RED...

Finally, a day off...

2007-08-31T08:58:00.000-04:00

Today I am home. I'm not going to think about the office, what my staff might be doing, or how business is going. Today I am on vacation.
It's a nice way to stretch a 3 day weekend and hang with Charlie, who is currently asleep, laying on my foot. That can't be comfortable for him, since my foot makes for a lumpy bed and with his body heat my foot is about a thousand degrees. But I don't want to wake him up yet.
Anyway, today I plan to do only one chore, and that is cut the grass. But since it rained last night the grass is wet so I need to wait until after lunch. Other than that I plan to go to the supermarket for football snacking supplies (tomorrow starts Nebraska Football **GO BIG RED**), swing by the pool store to get my water tested, then spend the rest of the day working on the Kayak. And the weather is supposed to be gorgeous.
Yep, I finally am ready to start building the kayak. Last night after work I began building the work bench. It needs to be 14' long to support the entire boat and it needs to be a comfortable working height. It's almost done so I can start fabricating the hull planks today.
It's gonna be a great day...

The sweetest thing...

2007-08-28T19:50:00.001-04:00

I can hardly stand it. We are only 4 days away from Nebraska Cornhusker football. I have been waiting for 8 months for the day to arrive, the day we can welcome the Husker spirit fully back into our lives.
My boys play Nevada this Saturday, and I expect we will kick some Wolf Pack ass. It's going to be a nice tune up for the game against USC in two weeks.
I will be making the traditional Runza's for game time snacking as well as a generous amount of my Secret Recipe Cheese Dip. And the beer will be cold and delicious, perhaps some Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, in honor of the team we are about to trounce.
What a wonderful weekend. I think I may be getting a bit emotional. Sorry.
May the Callahan be with you...

Special delivery...

2007-08-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

All my kayak building supplies are finally here so I can get down to business. First up is building a work bench 14 feet long and perfectly level. It will just fit in my garage with enough work space all the way around.
After that I will begin cutting plywood for the hull
I can feel the spray in my face already...

Gone for a few days...

2007-08-20T22:05:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I leave for Atlanta for the second largest trade show in our industry. Or so they say. My guess is that Fire Expo in PA is larger as far as the number of people that attend.
Anyway... our company is cutting back on expenses as are many companies right now. Our sales are down and we are tightening our belts. I think my department, Customer Service and Inside Sales, is the only one not touched at this point, but I'm sure we'll feel it soon enough if we don't get some more orders soon.
On a more interesting note, I ordered the stuff I need to build the kayak. I already have the plywood which I purchased locally and now I am awaiting the plans, epoxy and hardware to arrive from Chesapeak Light Craft. When I get home it should be here and I can get started building the boat. I hope to launch it on or before Thanksgiving.
See you soon...

I just want to hang with Charlie...

2007-08-16T19:48:00.000-04:00

The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.
-Charles De Gaulle

The decision is made...

2007-08-12T11:18:00.000-04:00

I finally got my copy of the Mill Creek kayak construction manual from Chesapeake Light Craft (called CLC from here forward). It’s surprisingly well written and easy to read and understand, with excellent illustrations and good photos. After reading through the manual I find that the CLC method of building a boat differs slightly from other methods I’ve researched on the web. It should be a little easier, especially for a first time builder like me.
Mind you, I’m far from a novice wood smith. I spent several years (younger years) in the construction business doing everything from concrete work all the way to building custom cabinets. I designed and built my own home from the ground up and almost every piece of furniture in it has been built by me. I think I can handle a wooden boat.
Oh crap… I may have just jinxed myself.
The good news is that the people from CLC seem to be committed to their customers and offer their assistance via phone any time I might need it, which is one of the main reasons I selected to work with them and their plans.
I visited Home Depot yesterday to determine how readily available the materials will be and apparently they saw me coming. I can purchase almost everything I need from them except for the fiberglass, miscellaneous hardware, epoxy and marine paint, so I’ll purchase these items from CLC.
The next step is to clean up the garage in preparation for this project. Clean up is always my least favorite part of any project. I have some time to do this since I will be leaving for Atlanta on Aug 21st and will be out for a week. I’ll try to time the arrival of my CLC materials with my return from Atlanta.
I need to shop for some pirate gear...

Landlubber no more...

2007-08-05T11:19:00.000-04:00

I’m looking into starting a project I’ve been thinking about for a long time. When I lived in Nebraska, I spent most of my weekends and free evenings after work at Lake Minatare State Park canoeing, fishing, jet skiing, camping and all kinds of outdoor water fun. Since moving back to Florida, it seems that I never have much time doing those things and that needs to change.
I love building furniture and toys out of wood so it seems only natural (to me that is) to build a wooden boat. Not a big monster outboard boat, but a small one man kayak. Lightweight, easy to store and simple for me to get to the water is the key. I’m also finding that some of my friends are getting into kayaking, although they are buying the plastic type that most likely started life as a detergent bottle or milk carton.
So my natural skills manipulating wood into usable items seems just suited for this project. The boat I want to build is called the Mill Creek 13. The plans are available from Chesapeake Light Craft and seem simple enough. I will be ordering the manual tomorrow for a read through to determine if it’s something I really want to do.
Look out, Popeye…

SunTrust can go piss up a rope...

2007-08-02T20:38:00.000-04:00

Several days ago I looked at my online bank statement as I routinely do, and it showed me that someone in New (freaking) York had made some charges with my check card number. So I had to go through the unbelievible ordeal of working with bank employees, most of whom are so brain dead they need to wear a helmet just so they don't injure themselves while eating lunch, to file a fraud claim and get my old card canceled and order a new one.
"No problem sir, your new card will be delivered in 5 working days".
That was 10 days ago.
I just now got off the phone with Suntrust to find out where the heck my new Check Card is and they told me that I hadn't order a new one. Which is bullshit, I ordered it during the same phone call they deleted my old card. I asked if they show my old one cancelled they said yes and that I need to stop by a branch office to order a new card.
They didn't see my humor when I explained that I had visited a branch office earlier today and they told me that I had to either go to the branch I where I opened my account (like I remember where that was) or call the 800 number.
So the branch I visited told me they can't order a new card for me and the people on the 800 line tell me they cant do it either, that I have to go to a branch office.
Catch 22
I must have talked to 10 people before I finally got someone who finally helped me. Each person would pass me along so someone else could give a try at victimizing me.
What a load of crap.
For the last few years Suntrust has been a huge pain in my ass. You have a difficult time talking to someone unless there is 3" of bullet proof Plexiglas between us or if you can hold on the phone for 30 minutes. I guess it's time to find a new bank.
Piss up a rope and stand under it you freaking Sons-a-Bitches...

Where the hell am I...

2007-08-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's been well over a month since I made an entry on this blog. Time just seems to blow by at MachIII and I keep wondering where it's gone.
I seem to have time to explore some other blogs and search for inspiration but once I find something I can't seem to put it down in words. I guess I just need to open the file and see where I go.
Today, I had to see the vet about Charlie's ear. It seems to be constantly producing some kind of "funk" that looks a lot like tar. When you have a dog with floppy ears like a Golden Retriever or similar breed you always have to be concerned with their ear health. If you don't watch them they can become infected and it can totally screw up their hearing, not to mention be extremely uncomfortable. My other dog, Sunny, also had this ear problem but with some patience and routine cleaning it was always under control
Not so with Charlie. It just won't clear up. So Dr. Osborn gave me some ooey gooey junk that closely resembles yogurt to squirt in there every day. With any luck it will clear up and once again be manageable. If not, it will mean surgery.
And that would bite...

Damn those insightful movie quotes...

2007-06-28T18:20:00.000-04:00

There is a movie with Billy Crystal and Debra Winger, I can't remember the name, where the Debra Winger character has a bird land on some fly paper, get stuck in it, then fly onto DW's head. Later in the scene someone asked her how she was doing and she replied, "Did you ever have one of those 'Bird Stuck in your Hair' kind of days?"
That's me today...

Heavy is the head that wears the crown...

2007-06-21T19:49:00.001-04:00

Today I had to fire someone. It sucked.
I never what to do that again, however it's part of what a manager has to do.
With the crown came nothing...

Summer is finally here...

2007-06-12T21:30:00.000-04:00

What a fantastic weekend. It was the annual family reunion which meant that my brother and his family came to visit as well as my sister from Colorado. Of course we did the obligatory All Family picnic at Eddie Ray's house, but after that it was laying by the pool and eating barbeque the rest of the weekend.
And it was a LONG weekend. I took Friday and Monday off so I could get the house ready for company and spend some extra time with family. I got some extra sun so I'm a bit uncomfortable today. A little AfterSun Lotion is helping.
Yesterday I spent the afternoon being lazy and drinking beers and margaritas with my friend Emily. Yessiree, it was Margarita Monday. Later on we had Amber, Sal and Kristin over for steaks and chicken on the grill, some frozen beverages and a little dart tournament.
Hooray for summer...

It's like looking up to see bottom...

2007-06-07T22:18:00.000-04:00

Last year at this time I weighed 250lbs. I was miserable, my blood pressure was going up and I was advised that if I didn’t mend my evil ways I would be diabetic before the year was out. It scared me.
So I decided to do something about it and I set to work losing weight. No special diets, no expensive exercise equipment, no workout tapes and no membership to the Gym of the Month club. It was simply 1600 calories a day and walking. Charlie and I hiked a bunch of miles over the next 4 months and when we finally finished, Charlie was full grown and I was 45lbs lighter and down to a 36” waist. I felt different and everyone said I looked good. But something wasn’t right.
Today, almost a year later, I’m back up to 215lbs and I feel terrible. I’m under a doctors supervision, in fact, I’m going to see him again tomorrow. I know I can drop the extra 10 lbs pretty easy, but I don’t think that’s what’s throwing me into this funk.
Has anyone dealt with anything like this before?
I could use a little advice…

If Charlie could just dial the phone...

2007-06-06T18:16:00.000-04:00

Dirty, Dirty girl...

2007-06-05T19:06:00.001-04:00

My good friend Darla from Dallas introduced me to a wonderful adult beverage, the Dirty Martini. I liked it immediately because it has the word “dirty” in it (tee hee). But it turns out that I really like this drink and I’ve been enjoying them since my first one in Indianapolis in April.
Darla tells me that the real secret to a good one is to use only Grey Goose Vodka and she’s right. I experimented with some other brands of vodka and only wound up disappointed (and hung-over).
Those who know me well call me the Tequila Whisperer because of my enjoyment of good tequila.
That may be changing…

Charlie wants to post this one...

2007-06-03T13:11:00.000-04:00

Priceless...

2007-05-29T19:46:00.000-04:00

Gyno-chiatrist: A new type of specialist that helps men determine what makes them such pussies.
Absolutely priceless...

Dog day weekend...

2007-05-25T20:20:00.000-04:00

Hey yall. Charlie here.
Today is a landmark day for me. My dad put a hole in the glass door so I can go outside and drink pool water and pee in the grass anytime I want. And come back inside anytime I want. Pretty cool.
Plus, for the first time I didn’t have to spend the whole day in my crate. All day I was a free dog. “Viva la Revolution” or what ever the heck my Chihuahua friend Jaxxie says.
Anyway… My dad is telling me about this weekend and how it’s more special than most other weekends ‘cause of the people that fought for our freedom. That’s cool. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but my Dad’s house and if it wasn’t for all those soldier guys I might have to eat scraps from behind Burger King or McDonalds or something. That would be sucky ‘cause Eukanuba KICKS ASS and it’s my favorite food. Mmmmm.
The other cool thing is all that racing stuff. I really don’t understand going fast in a circle but my Dad thinks it’s cool. So of course it must be.
See you by the pool…

Someone call 911...

2007-05-09T22:41:00.000-04:00

Florida is on fire. Yesterday at 6pm, when the sun should have been blazing bright and hot... it was not to be. The smoke from the wildfires in north Florida and southern Georgia was so thick you couldn't see more than a quarter mile and the sun was completely obscured. It seemed like it was past sundown. Today it cleared up for a bit but about 5pm it came back with a vengence. Lungs and throat burning, eyes watering.
But then I think of the firefighters that are out there right now trying to get the monster under control, as I sit in the air conditioning.
Guess I should just be happy and shut the hell up...