1554

All right Mr. Q, this one is for you since I have had the chance to consume a few tasty 1554 brewdogs. Yes...the first time since that fatefull morning after the consumption of many such beverages that caused massive internal conlflict on our mountain bike ride.

Conversation...isn't it amazing? How people can interact with one another and have the potential to reach things on so many different levels. For example...people will talk about other people and things in their lives...then people might talk about current events and how they could possible shape our world we live in today...and then finally ideas. People will discuss ideas, theories, and opinions with the expectations that they might actually stimulate one another's brain on a higher level. It's a wonderful way to mine out information deep within our minds. How difficult it is to sometimes find that person or persons that might actually respond to these ideas with ideas of their own. So many people are consumed with the simplicity of everyday life. There is nothing wrong with that. But what about those ideas? What about the possibility of the unknown. What about discovering things you never knew or were perhaps too frightened to actually take that next step to find out? That's what it's all about. And that's where the magic lies.

Sitting in the bar over beers and such. Problems one can relate to or at least empathize with. Maybe not even that. Perhaps it's just a willing ear. At the same time that ear is a release. That ear hears those words, translates them into thoughts and opinions, forms it's own words, and then spews them out in a back and forth match of Pong. If you're from the age of Atari that statement more than makes sense. Problems are solved this way. Crisis averted. Confidence is bolstered and simple ways of thinking are expanded to see the new twist or possibly revert into the retro way of thinking.

Try to actually talk, think, conceptualize, realize the possibilities.

Dumb Pride

Have you ever been driving somewhere searching for a location, 100% sure you know where it's at but can't for the life of you find it? Then, once you've sucked up your pride you call the place you're trying to find to get directions, listen half-heartedly, act as though what you're hearing makes perfect sense and you'll make it no problem. The only problem is that you really weren't listening at all. You kept on agreeing to not appear like an idiot. But...you are. Thinking you know the directions, you take off once again in search of your destination, but the more you drive, the more things look unfamiliar, and the higher the temperature seems inside your vehicle. You turn on the air, try to not sound even more stupid when you call this time, and actually listen to the directions given on the other end.

After turning around 374 times, cussing like a sailor, having irregular body temperatures, and feeling like everyone on the road actually knows how much you've screwed up and what's running through your mind, you make it to where you were trying to find 45 minutes ago. Probably ought to pay attention and maybe even make use of your education with a pen and paper to actually write something down. And if I'm not mistaken that's nearly the same advice I gave my son last night in regards to figuring out the amount of days between now and Christmas. "That's why you're learning math" I tell him, "For you to make practical use of sometime". And that's exactly the precise moment I realize I could have actually used nearby resources to take notes. That's what they're for, memory backups.

With all of that said an done I did come home with just a hair over 100 board feet of beautiful hickory. I'm excited to get the sawdust flying. With a little bit of luck from Father Time I hope to turn these pieces of wood into a rustic dining table no later than the 23rd of December. Sleep is over-rated...it'll be done. And now with a couple new techniques and tools this table is going to turn out amazing...I just have a good feeling about it. There's a pair of oak cabinet doors having glass cut to fit them as we speak, and I hope a lacewood handled knife has made it's way to Wasilla, Alaska by now.

Hickory in the shop, tools set up to rock and roll, toons crankin' and a deadline approaching rapidly...time to fire it up. No doubt I'm with Dustin. Procrastination certainly does suck, but it's the pressure you thrive on and the results that pressure brings which forces you to accomplish your goals. I know it's not readily understood, it's just the way a few of us work.

So how do you find the material you're looking for? Head to the store? Look it up in DEX? He knows where everything is at right? No matter what I'm sure someone has what you're looking for or can help you in some way. So tell me this...how do I come up with as many black walnut tree stumps and root masses as I can? I tried Home Depot...they were fresh out. I tried TSC...sold the last one to a newly retired 42 year old investment banker who thought he'd buy himself a little acreage outside of town, get some livestock, buy a little tractor, and try to convince himself and others that he's a good ol' country boy who just loves to get his hands dirty. Tell me that's not the case and I'll call you a liar. Not that some people don't, it's just with everything so nice and shiny new and with a fresh sparkle it makes me wonder what they really do.

How do you come up with stumps and root masses? That's the question of the day. Every day in fact. It's not a dirty hunk of wood in the ground. It's a beautiful piece of furniture in your living room. That's what I do. Take the undesireable and turn it into a desirable piece once again. That's what I love. Sitting among a mountain of wood shavings, breathing through a respirator, finding that hidden treasure within the soil encased mass. But I need more...much more.

Building Momentum

It's been many years that I've been saying I'd love to do it without really ever doing anything about it. My creations are just that, my creations. My ideas, my tore up hands, my concepts turning into reality. How wonderful would it be to do something that you love and people actually pay you money to do it? It's what we all really want isn't it? So I'm trying it...with goals. Two years by my humble estimations. Two years until I'm swamped. But I'm trying. A person can only talk about things so long. If you want to see if you've even got a chance, you've got to give it a whirl. If you never take the chance you'll never know. I'm taking that chance. I'm gonna stick my neck out there and see who trys to take it off.