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Today was definitely one of those days where I (kinda) over-did things, but as tiring as that is, it also inspires me to want to do more.
Weight lifting, three treadmill runs (Running 22 min and walking inclined 38 min), 240 flights of stairs, and three hours of mowing the property in 100-degree temps... just a little too much?
Theme: Weight For Me
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Another long but productive day of meetings… thank goodness I love my job!
Theme: Working Conditions
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I always prepare my meats at least 12 to 24 hours in advance- give the rub time to season and help flavor the meat before I put it on the smoker. The good thing about this roast is that it will be several days worth of meals, and it will make for some pretty amazing smells for about 9-11 hours while it cooks!
Theme: Tastes Of Life
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
The dawn of a new year is here, and a new beginning with it. It brings a new year, new month, and a new decade. I struggled for a time at the end of 2019 with not achieving everything I wanted to achieve, but it’s far more productive to start a new year with a new pace and a new outlook on life.
Theme: Power In Words
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Song of the Day: Thing Of Beauty
By: Hothouse Flowers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=woa0GFwhciQ
Theme: Guitar Tuesday
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Keeping the Thursday theme with more pages, but these are from my last journal that I was just now able to color and edit.
Theme: Upon These Pages
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I went to help my father install a metal ladder into his attic today. As I was screwing the frame into the joists of the garage, dad knocked the 60-pund ladder off the brace and it fell towards his head as he was right below the ladder. I managed to catch the ladder with one hand in mid air and somehow pull it up, back into the attic before it hit and likely would have killed him- if not from the blow of the ladder from a fall he would have had onto the hard cement floor.
Sure I life weights, but catching a 60-pound ladder mid-air and pulling it up with one hand... that was almost unnatural. And I sure didn't feel alone in that attic.
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
When I was in university, my big brother in my fraternity worked for a small record label outside Austin, Tx. One day he called me to come listen to a new band, whose CD he just received from another label to give a listen to. By the time I got down the street to his apartment, he was already jamming to their CD, and the album instantly blew me away. The band was Tonic.
We got invited to see them play in San Antonio, we got to meet the band, and had a great time watching this band that no one really knew about (yet) stand on the verge of a stage they were about to ignite. It was a very “Almost Famous” moment. Their debut album had a lot of air play, some great success, and everyone waited anxiously for their sophomore album.
Critics hated the second album, absolutely ripping it to shreds, so I never gave it much thought… until a couple weeks ago when Amazon recommended it as an album I might like to listen to. This year I have been trying to expand my music to artists I have never listened to, or albums that I never really gave their full chance. This album fell right into that bucket and just blew me away.
The beautiful thing about music is that what one person loves, another can absolutely hate- and in this case vise versa. I loved this so much I bought it almost right away, and every track just pulls me in. Let that be a lesson to myself to really give an album a fair chance if you trust the artist, and be your own judge.
Theme: Music To My Ears
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
A break in the rain brought the ability to cut the final front panels to the CD Cabinet. This is the entirety of the first CD cabinet (minus the back panel).
Tomorrow I should be able to drill and route all my boards, so after a quick sand and paint I can assemble. Pretty good timeline if I can hold onto it!
Theme: Re-Creation
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Just when I thought 2020 was winding down… While I was working in the workshop Sunday I was setting the height of my roller stand so I could pass wood through my table saw. As I tightened the clamp to hold the bar in place, I crimped the side of my finger off. Ugh.
I don't know how bad the injury really is because there was so much blood, and by the time the bleeding stopped, the doctor wrapped it and I didn't get to see it. The good news is that I didn't crush off down to the bone, no chipped bone. The ER was pretty quiet on a Sunday morning so I was not sitting around a lot of sick people. My parents were near by and could drive me and be there with me (my wife was there but does not drive). Also I did not break the "No stitches" rule in the workshop as there was nothing to stitch, only a wound to pull back together.
Of course this week begins the busiest time of the year for me at work and I cannot take time off... of course. But I will try my best to plow through and not let this set me back.
Theme: Re-Creation
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Spent another day digging trenches and laying drain pipe through my land. I came across a stone shelf under my land which was not fun to dig through- but that's part of the adventure of it all!
Theme: ...This Land Is My Land...
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
This Yeti coffee mug was a birthday gift from my boss. I cannot understate the value of a gift that is something you want, need, and use every day without fail.
I love that it keeps my coffee the hot or cold temperature that I have it at (yes I like cold coffee in the summer), and I cannot spill little droplets from the kitchen to my office.
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Eleven Of My 365 Project
I spent the day today in my element...
I worked on extending my drainage pipes, while listening to great music with cool winds blowing through the pines. Off the porch a beef brisket sat and slowly smoked its way to perfection, while casting the beautiful aroma of cherry wood smoke across my back yard area.
I am sore, my hands are cut up, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. And as a bonus, the drainage connections work and the brisket was smoked to a juicy perfection :)
Theme: ...This Land Is My Land...
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Log in and work, or take my day off…???
I consulted the life rule book and it says that working from your phone doesn't count- especially when you feel like you are getting sick. Here's hoping I don't!
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
As a treat I bought myself some new music- I loved this studio album from Coldplay so here's hoping the live tour recordings are just as good!
Theme: Music To My Ears
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Today I refinanced my home at almost a full percentage point lower than where I was at. It took a lot of work to get the numbers to crunch, but it was worth it.
It's amazing how many people called me to try and get my business, but I am happy with the company I worked with. The bit of financial weight lifted off my shoulders is a great relief, and hopefully soon I will have the ability to finance my dream- to embrace my passion for building and music to start helping others in this world!
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Eleven Of My 365 Project
Yesterday with the rest of the world I learned of the passing of Neil Peart, drummer for Rush- musician, lyricist, and truly one of the greatest influences in my life.
Like so many I could share many stories of inspiration, life-changing and life-saving moments because of the music of Rush. I spent the morning writing about so much, and this one is truly going to hurt for some time.
Theme: Music To My Ears
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
On days like today, I am thankful that I can step away from the madness, set aside the craziness, and find lingering moments of peace and solitude amongst the trees and the gently falling snow.
Theme: …This Land Is My Land…
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I was not able to make all the cuts I needed to make yesterday, so after work I ran outside to get as much done as I possibly could. I am working to finish the door on my camp cabinet, and I am building a cabinet for all of my tool boxes and parts kits.
Theme: Re-Creation
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
How can you beat a simple home-cooked meal when trying to feel better?
Theme: Weight For Me
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I have a very vivid memory of sitting on the swings one day in the park with the girl I was dating, singing a song in my head over and over again (Perfect Circle). We had just graduated school, and the world was wide open- and like most R.E.M. songs I had no idea what the song was really about, nor why I felt so emotional- but I knew I was feeling something in that moment- I just couldn’t connect to what it was.
Years later when I discovered this song and lyric by the Foo Fighters (Everlong), I instantly knew what I was feeling- what that song was making me feel all those years before, and that was simply that I was so happy and I wanted that moment to last forever.
Strange that one song makes you feel such a powerful emotion, but another teaches you what that emotion was telling you…
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Today in We're Here!, we are celebrating Xavier and Lady Xavier's birthdays by copying something from his photostream. Like I usually do, I did the easiest one possible. Happy Birthday, Mr. and Lady Xavier!
After 9/11 the skies were eerily quiet and still- no planes were flying overhead in the cities, and it was such a haunting calmness that something didn't feel right.
Even living out here in the middle of nowhere I still have cars drive by- neighbors, delivery drivers and construction contractors- but it has been so quiet these past couple days. You almost don't notice it until someone actually drives by and you realize there is an outside world. With all the mist and fog it also reminds me of that movie The Others where they were in a constant state of being shrouded in mist and fog...
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Eleven Of My 365 Project
The first guitar I ever played was my mother's. I remember playing it when I was in second grade, and I still remember the day I sat by the back door strumming it softly, learning what each fret did to the sound as your hands moved up and down the board.
Theme: Guitar Tuesday
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I finished my outdoor cart today, and then focused my attention to my CD Cabinet. Finally I attached the doors on the first cabinet.. and more importantly they (soft) open and close perfectly.
I have two notches at the top and bottom that were going to have led lights to light up the CD's, however I decided against using them- other than plugging those holes all I have to do is install the back and trimmed top and bottom!
Theme: Re-Creation
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I rarely pre-plan my journal pages, but when it involves replicating a picture, I tend to take my time and make sure I get it at least somewhat the way I'd like it to be before I commit it to writing. One page was from last week (left) , the other will be for writing on the next couple weeks.
Side note: I absolutely am not a self-proclaimed drawing artist to any degree!
Theme: Upon These Pages
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Fridays deserve treats, and these Strawberry White Chocolate chunk cookies are too good- but they're strawberry flavored so they have to be healthy I imagine...
Theme: Tastes Of Life
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
It had been a long time since I went for a walk in so much snow. I think the last time I was in so much snow was in Edmonton, Alberta- it brought back so many memories...
Theme: …This Land Is My Land…
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Today marks the 2-year anniversary of when we left Texas to start a new adventure in Tennessee. The first year was a challenge, living in a rental for a year, but it was also such a blessing to live here while my house was being built.
I still stand amazed at the leap of faith, and the determination to have a better life and a better world. 2 years later, in the midst of everything going on I can say without a doubt I am in the right place and where I am meant to be for the time being anyways.
Theme: …This Land Is My Land…
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I was far too busy today to stop and get all dressed up for my virtual meetings, so my webcam conveniently had issues today!
Theme: Working Conditions
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Somehow it seems fitting to play Taps on the last Guitar Tuesday of this crazy, messed up year
Theme: Guitar Tuesday
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Today was one of those days that should have been terrible- I slept terrible, I was sick, I received news of a friend passing- that was how my day started.
I spent the day at my desk, listening to music while I worked away at my projects while the rains slowly poured outside my window. It was dark for a majority of the day, so I worked by the light of my lamp from start to finish- working through the obstacles that came my way. I love what I do for my company, and love the challenges I find in my day. So take that dark and gloomy day!
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Eleven Of My 365 Project
I am feeling a bit better today- I feel that feeling like the sickness is fading, and you're seeing the light of day for the first time in a couple days :)
Theme: Devoid Of Color
Year Eleven Of My 365 Project
I have been thinking what to do with the tree that fell on my property, and think I have a couple ideas.
1. I am going to take the bottom portion, remove all the dirt around the tree roots and strip it down to its natural wood- then invert it and make a tree root sculpture with the roots of the tree standing up. I'll probably add some elements to the tree roots, but I can decide that later.
2. For the wood that cut to move I am going to bore out the center and make little log planters out of them. I thought they would be cute.
I have way too many projects on my plate, but the first project will likely be a long time in the making!
Theme: …This Land Is My Land…
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Song of the Day: Daughter
By: Pearl Jam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIJwXgNdWbI
Theme: Guitar Tuesday
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
My least favorite part of project work is sanding, painting and/or staining... and my face shows it!
Theme: Re-Creation
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Theme of The Week - Poem Sonnet 18 Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Four workouts, wings, and a win for my Cowboys today (ugly as it was)… it was nice to push to get through some things, but I feel already behind for the week. Here's to another great week!
Theme: Weight For Me
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Many years ago I gave my wife the present of a collection of leather books for Valentines Day. It was a lifetime dream of mine to own such a beautiful library, and she has always been like Belle in Beauty and the Beast with her love of classic literature and books- wanting a library of her own.
Book by book the bookcases have become filled with such a beautiful library. I believe the collection will be completed in another year or so- 100 heirloom-worthy books of the classics.
Theme: Dream A Little Dream
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I told myself that when I got within 20 pounds of my goal weight I would get a new hairstyle, feeling like I need something new. I feel like I've styled my hair the same way for too long. Now I am well within that target, but I can't seem to find a men's hairstyle that I like. Who knew THIS would be the hard part??
Theme: Weight For Me
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
I had been growing my beard and hair out of solidarity for the people working hard to keep the world moving in this pandemic. I have found myself thrust in many new work projects with newer and much higher pay grade audiences, so out of professional courtesy I decided to shave, trim, and get a haircut. If I wasn't going to be working and presenting on video it would be a totally different story- but that is not what we're doing these days.
I still keep endless hope and prayer for our Healthcare workers, pharmacists, doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, truckers, and every other essential worker working and sacrificing themselves to keep us all going. God bless you all. My best way to give back now is in the projects that I have been placed in to help in the back end support.
Theme: Working Conditions
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Good day of meetings- sometimes busy is a good thing...
Theme: Working Conditions
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
My wife decided to wake up early and sneak out of the house for a short hike at Foster Falls with me. We took a new route today- a short hike, but it was beautifully cool outside today and perfect weather!
Theme: TN State Of Mind
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project
Today's song of the day for Guitar Tuesday was Amazing Grace, which I always play in tribute to someone close to me who has passed away.
This morning a close fraternity brother passed away from COVID. He was a man larger than life, with a capacity for love and music. He will be missed by many, and today and for a while... again... my heart hurts.
Theme: Guitar Tuesday
Year Twelve Of My 365 Project