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...

A day to forget...

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

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

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...