Wait? The weekend is over?

Where did the time go?

I am not sure, really. I looked all over for the lost time. In the couch, around the shop. Outside. It is just gone. I can’t believe its back to work tomorrow.

I am going to look some more.

Shop update: The 4-5 Table

Is dry fitted before gluing.















*updated* now glued up and ready for finish.

Out flying this morning

I am one lucky bastard.

For some reason (long weekend)…

I am having trouble (long weekend) concentrating and getting anything (long weekend) done today.

Its as if (long weekend) something is on my mind (go home) that that is causing me to loose concentration.

Seriously its as if something (long weekend) is taking up a part of my brain (leave now) and it is preventing me from thinking to my full capacity (fun is waiting)

If I could only put my finger (long weekend) on it I could get done with my work (please leave) and get on with my rarely seen LONG WEEKEND

Leaving work early

Leaving work early...nice.
Being the only ones at the park because of it...priceless.

Cool Gear: Rooms with a great View:

If you are like us, you don’t get to get away as often as you like. When you do get away, a great hotel can make or break your time away from home.

That is why roomswithgreatviews.com is so awesome.

Its pretty self explanatory and such a good idea, I am not sure why it was not done before.

I saved this one for future use myself. You know for those vacation days We have all been saving up.

Thanks lifehacker for this one.

With unmatched determination

The Kitty stands vigil by the shop door in the off chance that she just might, against all odds, get outside. She seems to think that she is a hunter killer and that her talents are wasted inside on the occasional errant insect or length of string. So…she lies in wait.

Outside waits squirrels and birds and an entire world of motion, and more importantly the thrill of the hunt and the prestige of the kill. With a single minded obsession she feels compelled to get to the other side of that door. So…she lies in wait.

Her mind like a blade cuts though all other feline divisions and forsaking even her own safety everything else fades away until only the burning need to get outside remains. She would rather starve than give up her post. So…she lies in wait.

It is only when I physically remove her that she is forced, crying and twisting, to give up the obsession… but it is only temporary. I can only shake my head at her single-mindedness as I drag her away killing the dream.

For a moment.

Tonight, inside, she will dream of the door. Of lying in wait, and of squirrels and birds and motion…

It might be my true single comfort that this is a world of men for if cats had a say…

Service... again

The new truck is already in for service this morning. I have not had it a month yet and still I am back.

Of all things, the much touted USB port gave up the ghost the other day.... while I was using it.

With fancy tech comes fancy bugs, still not to happy about having it back so quick.

Just a little life reminder that simple is better.

And then there was Monday

And then there was Monday, that in many ways was a textbook example of how a day should not go.

Completely opposite in almost every way of that perfect Sunday that seemed to fade into a distant memory like a pleasant memory from long ago.

I am not 100% sure but I think this work thing is part of the problem.

A perfect day...

So all the usual ingredients for a bad weekend were there:
Saturday office hours
Stormy weather (Saturday storms)
Family stuff to do (both sides)
A huge to do list
Imperfect timing

And yet things worked out.

Obligations were met. Things were done. Papers were signed. Things fell into place.

I found myself walking the dog though the park as the dogwood tree seeds made it seem like it was snowing...realizing that it really was a good day. Later that night again the trees were raining down as we ate dinner at Mac's looking out the window almost sparkling in the setting sun. The Girl was happy and all was good.

With temps in the 80's Summer has arrived and with it seemingly endless possibilities. This much Zen seems a little to much to believe.

Of course tomorrow is Monday.

If anything can make you happy

Anthony's Gourmet Pizza should do the trick. Best Chicago style stuffed pizza east of...well east of Chicago. Sure made me happy!

I usually hate it when things don’t go as planned

This Saturday everyone is NOT with the program and that is making f’n with my plans. This normally makes me crazy, and stresses me out. God knows I don’t need more stress.

That is why I am surprised that, so far, even though nothing is going as planned… I am relatively calm.

Wow, taking things in stride. It’s a thing.

S. Korea Says North Will 'Pay' For Ship Sinking

S. Korea Says North Will 'Pay' For Ship Sinking

This is how wars are started....

come on now, play nice.

Article *here*

Really, don't you think he should be more upset about the bad hair cut?

Thanks to to AP for the photo


PS- the haircut thing is a joke, I know that 46 sailors died in that explosion and my heartfelt condolences go out to those families. In all seriousness, lets not start a war over this. Please.

Good Press:

Well what do you know... my brothers studio and his finance's spa is in the news today at annarbor.com

Good luck to them in the new location.

Best comment of the day:

Best random comment of the day: from :sektor503

On a random news story about ninja's saving a guy from getting beat up.

"Birthday Ninja Say: Birthday cake go down best with a glass of Wah-Tahhh!!!!"

Today was spent answering the phone

and not even touching my to-do list.

The Apple Store is Poison to Me… and other reasons I cant be trusted.

I have been avoiding the Apple store as I know within lies a demon so tempting that it will lure me from my fiscal responsibility. It is called the iPad and I know I can live without it. I just want it.

The only thing that keeps me safe is distance, and that safety net is only in my mind and every once in a while… I remember it’s just symbolic.

So it does not help matters that when I was talking about the problem with the Girl, she said “lets just go get one”. I was half way into the car before cooler heads prevailed. I had to remember that Apple is evil. It does not help that the courier seems dead. But do I really need one? Of course not. Will the price go down? Of course it will. Do I still want one?
You betcha!

Damn Evil Apple.

Overheard at the office today:

(On the phone with the company)

Me: Do you show a payment I am missing on this policy # XXX XXXX

Auto service: The last payment I show was : Eleventeen, I mean 11/18

Me: Eleventeen huh?

Auto Service: (Not missing a beat) It’s a new number its....French.

Me: Got it!

The Great Fruit debate

Fuck Grapefruit.











Thanks xctd.com for making me laugh

Shop update: The 4-5 table

So its coming together... the 4-5 table still missing the the bottom shelf, and unfinished but still valuable enough that I had to pay Tanner for full time guard dog service.

Sunday visiting an old friend: The Plane

I may have been super busy but I took a min or two get the plane out
of hibernation if for no other reason to make sure I remembered how to
fly. It needed to be dusted off anyway. Next weekend a hop up to flint
is in order for breakfast with another friend.

Last night downtown

Parking was crazy. That did not stop this Ford GT from finding a spot
in front of Grizley Peak. I guess when you have a super car you get
super spots to park in.

Kitty at Play:

As the girl gets ready to to ship off for her summer internship/job she her boxes provide a perfect play structure for the Kitty.

And a light snack as I cant seem to get her (the kitty) to stop chewing on the Styrofoam cooler.

Crazy Kat.

Lately I have been juggeling a bit to much....

I am going to have to do something about that it is starting to wear on me.

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Speaking of a happier note:

The flowering Bridal Veil bush next to the house (really that's what it it called, I don't just make that shit up) seems happy with the cool wet weather as it it blooming like crazy.

River over the banks .

Tonight the rain continued.
At the park, the swollen river was brown and angry, overflowing the banks and scaring the regulars away.

Except for Tanner and I.

Sometimes it is nice when we are the only “people” there.

Ode to the office Fridge:

Lurking in the corner, white and frosty.
Holding forgotten food growing green and mossy.

A fortress of long forgotten meals,
of plastic bags and vacuum seals.

Where value is not measured in gold and such,
But in taste and time and “ordered to much”

Although best of intentions on were on your mind,
Someone’s last drops of latte is what you will find.

Salsa and mustard and sauces and stuff,
If only someone would clean it up.

Seriously, clean it up- I cant keep anything in there. Honestly, who saves this stuff?
Is there anything worse than the shared office fridge? Sometimes I think it is a microcosm of what will happen if left to our own unsupervised devices.

Chances that Tuesday will improve my spiraling week:

Chances that Tuesday will improve my spiraling week:
(in chart form)


Usually I am a glass half full kind of guy but its really not looking good. Time to write the rest of this week off.

My day

Shop update: The 4-5 table contiued.

Sure today I was busy as hell...

but still the the 4-5 table is slowly coming together.

Here you can see the legs...











The second photo shows the legs laying next to the top and the bottom shelf.

Mowing the lawn:

Turned into a huge deal, as I broke the pull start and had to take it apart and re-engineer a fix

Happy Mothers Day

To all of you...Have a good Mothers Day.

Shop update: The 4-5 table contiued.

Since the weather was crappy again, I finally had some shop time today, and the legs of the 4-5 table are coming together.
The first shot is the solid maple legs mortised out to receive the rails.
















The second photo shows the legs with the walnut inlay.

Its funny that the smell of maple reminds me of grade school. I think our desktops were made of maple or something because that distinctive smell brings back strong memories.

Walnut, however, is seductive and strong. It smells great at first, but only in small doses as the dust is a know irritant.
It sure does look good, doubling its seductive powers.

The park was swamped today....

Literally. Swamped.

Still, the dog was

unaffected.

The rain today...

Left the hood of the truck dappled with drops creating a striking effect against the strong hood and the blacked out grill of the tuck.

Wow. Today I am having a trouble...

I feel like I am having trouble even trying to catch my breath, much less get anything done.

Right now... its raining like a Bit@#

and to make things worse.... Tanner is under my desk because of the Thunder. Sitting on my feet.
Killing production.

Silly Dog

Best quote of the day:

"I read somewhere "don't dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want" and that's why I come to work every day in a lion tamer costume."

Random life hacker comment from:

edosan

Best part about May: The Farmers Market brings great stuff to us.

Best part about that is the fresh bread makes my "brown bag" lunches much more fun!

Sometimes, in my world, its best to know the enemy. My enemy is a liar.

In the “Art of war” it is said:

“ if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles”

Since it seems like half my day is a battle of wits, I decided to see what it takes to be a good liar. Here are some tips from psychology today.

Habits of a good liar:

#1 Have a reason.

#2 Lay your groundwork

#3 Tell the truth, misleadingly

#4 Know your target

#5 Keep your facts straight

#6 Stay focused

#7: Watch your signals

#8: Turn up the pressure

#9: Counterattack

#10: Bargain

Read the entire article *here*. It is interesting light reading.

We finally did stop for a drink

Or two.