2-3 Rays lose...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

1. Baseball season starts in just a few days. "GO TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!! I guess I better get my cowbells ready.
   
2. Tomorrow is the first day of spring.
3. Emily still likes me (unbelievable as that may sound!)
4. 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...

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...

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...

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...