Life

     There's an old saw about life getting in the way of plans.  Can't say I had a lot of specific plans for the year.  You know the kind.  The ones tied to people, places and dates.  But I did have urgings toward possibilities.  Get out on the water.  Maybe head up north for another trip.  Doubt they'll happen this year.
     Seems life comes along once in a while to set the course and lay down the rules.  Like Moses coming down from the mountain.  But that's okay.  After all, we're just along for the ride.
     'Spose I could look at it as having to put the things I'd like to do off to the future once again but I won't.  Instead I'll call it variations on the theme of being alive.  It's all good.  Even the bad.
     Outside of that I'm still working on the paddles.  They're close to epoxy and varnish time.  Also have a new grandson.  Goes by the name of Joshua.  Maybe I'll call him Josh or J., possibly Shua.  For the moment he doesn't seem to care.  When the time comes, he'll let us know.

Paddles Redux

     After about a dozen hours of sawing, gluing, planing and sanding, I'm starting to think the two children's paddles are going to be okay.  I'm hoping for better than okay but have my doubts.  Next couple will be done differently.  Not sure how exactly but I will make construction changes.  My problem is getting a tight joint when I glue up the blade.  Blame that on a combination of operator error and equipment.  The gappage isn't earth shaking but wide enough to possibly solve with a little wood putty.  I know, craftsmen don't need no stinkin' wood putty.  Guess that says a lot about what kind of workman I am.  So long as they don't fall apart in the hands of one of my grandkids, I'll be happy.
     I wanted to properly use the word 'redux' in the blog tile and came close.  Seems redux is a return with a positive spin.  I'll call my use a spin-less return with a possible hint of the negative depending what the grandkids say.  Don't know how well I'd take, "Geez Gramps, this paddle sucks.  You sure don't know what you're doing, do you?"  I'm thinking about making a ten foot pole kinda like the one's used by wild ricers to push their canoe through the reeds.  They do it while standing up.  If you know me, you know I don't ever stand up in a canoe but that's not what it's for.  If I ever hear paddle complaints arising in the front of the boat, the pole will come in handy as an attitude adjuster.