It has been an emotional month...

*** Personal story, not sure why I am rambling but I feel I need to write it... it may just make you sad and mean nothing to you so turn around now if you know what is good for you!

August has been a very emotional month.   Some of it was planned.  I was looking forward to take a woodturning class on the 8th and 9th with an MCW meeting the evening of the 9th.  The 10th-12th was a trip to take my oldest son to start first year of college in Fl at a school that I am not 100% sure that is the right fit for him, but sure he will do fine if he commits to it.  What wasn't in the plan was quick demise of our 15 year old beagle, Biscuit.

Biscuit was getting old and cranky and seemed to think that the carpet was his morning tinkle spot.  He has been living for years with heart and kidney issues with a full recovery from a back leg problem that took water treadmill treatments to fix.  The morning of Thursday the 9th,  my daughter, the main dog walker,  got up to go to work at camp with a sleepover and wouldn't be back until Friday night, and Biscuit woke up barely able to move.

We put him down Thursday afternoon and I made my meeting Thursday night.  We flew my son down to Fl. on Friday early.  Moved him in, bought him a bunch of stuff,  and went to events for parents at the school.  We, my wife, called our daughter Friday night to tell her the bad news.  We had warned the neighbors and they helped take care of her.   Saturday we took my son to his first class, we took him to see my mother, bought more room stuff, got him setup one more time and we left him so we could go eat with my mother.  We left early Sunday on a jet plane.   It has been tough in the quiet house.  I have found that Biscuit became more dependent on us as it got closer to the end and my son has slowly weened us off by staying at friends, staying out late at night, driving everywhere, and working full time.  It is funny how life works.

Add into all of this, the AC went out and we had to buy a new system, summer ending and having to go to work in a job that I took because there is no responsibility and great benefits, yet somehow, it becomes as stressful as when I had a job with responsibility.  (I really need a lottery intervention!)  I just went to a memorial service for a wife of a volleyball friend of mine that died unexpectedly from complications from kidney disease and questionable reactions at the hospital at the age of 53.  On the other hand I did get to spend some time at the Ag Fair turning with the club and I am excited about the magazine article I mentioned in my previous post.  I hope September calms down and gives me some calming fall events, maybe more woodturning.

I'm in a magazine!!!!

I got my copy of Woodworker's Journal today (my first issue of my subscription!!).  I opened it up and there I was, pictures of me, my name in print, and my bowl!!!! OMG.. I had recently had my volunteer efforts in volleyball recognized and had a story in a local Patch website and then the local newspaper had to do it one better with a story but this is a national magazine, run by a seller of everything woodworking, Rockler.  The story of my entry I posted before but today it was official!  I can't link to the article because they want to sell magazines!
As I suspected I did not "win" the competition but entering was the win and being in the magazine is a win, win!   The write-up about the  winner is pretty interesting and she seems to be a very talented artist.    Time to get back to the shop...I think my 15 minutes are up!

A Busy Day.

8/2/12

The walnut tree in Great Falls, VA

The homeowners at the trunk.

The Syca-no-more

Today was a Busy Day.  While on vacation there was a storm that ripped through the area tearing down trees all over the area.  Coming home almost a week after that was not good for my wood hunting. I did find a few logs here and there as people were clearing out and leaving by the curb.  Today made up for some of that.  A member of my club had emailed to say that someone that he sold a bowl to put him in touch with someone with a walnut tree downed in the storm.  I told him I would go with him.  Then yesterday I was talking with my mother-in-law.  She had talked to the people that bought their (35+ year) home in early June and they said they had a large Sycamore tree come down in the storm and new owner said that we could have some of the wood.  I called her last night and told her I would try and come by today.


At 8:30am I filled up my car with chain saw, gas, oil, gloves, eye and ear protection.  Emptied the chairs and tennis bag from the car.  I made it to the Virginia location right on time @ 9:30 and Phil was already cutting on the tree. He cut most of the branches off and took most of the crotches and ripped them down the pith line.  By 11:50 Phil's van was filled with walnut crotches, I had 2 large pieces, and several smaller pieces in the back of my car, and we on the road home.  I got it home without having the brakes fail, grabbed a snack and headed to my in-law's former home.  I rolled 2 large trunk pieces over to my car, and carried a smaller piece to the car, and home by 1:30.
Just to add fun to the day I had been avoiding 2 calls from a tennis friend, while driving, wondering if I wanted to play tonight.  I called her and told her I could make the 6:00.
Now comes the fun... my chainsaw was not running all morning but now is the time.  I moved and cut all but one of the walnut logs, Anchor Sealed the edges, called my daughter out to help clean up and I staggered to the shower, by way of the Advil bottle, by 5:20.  The shower felt great but the back was a little tight and stayed tight through tennis but I made it!    A good day has been had....... if I can get out of bed tomorrow!