Back to Pirogues

Probably it is due to the long winter, possibly because I feel a need to do some woodwork, likely because I really want to explore some remote backwaters this summer. For whatever the reason, I've been re-bitten by the boat-building bug.

Too long ago, I initially posted To Build A Boat which documented my initial plans to build a cajun pirogue style boat. I've contacted my brother Brian, who is a self-proclaimed rock star with a table saw, and he is working on building the bow and stern pieces for me.

So John and I will begin the boat building process in earnest within a few weeks. Updates to come. I think.

Carbon Footprint ?

Another Dani Jo-ism.

We were having dinner at Olive Garden tonight. We had been shopping for Dani Jo's costume for the Christmas play. We were discussing how to ... er ... 'pad' her backside. See, she is playing an older country 'lady'.

After finishing up her pasta she says "All I need is for all those carbons I just ate to go right to my butt and I'll be all set."

More Dani Jo-isms
Bird
Rock Bladder
Plow The Yard
Crackle Bucket
The Secret

Owning Mistakes

The only way to get better is to take ownership of our own mistakes. We often tend to stagnate in a swirling pool of "well that's not my fault", and "I can't help that..."

As long as that sort of self-imposed error-blindness continues, the corrective portion of the try-fail-correct-improve sequence never occurs; leading to an infinite loop of try-fail-try-fail... We must understand our own involvement in a failure before things can get better.

Charles Bosk, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, once conducted a set of interviews with young doctors who had either resigned or been fired from neurosurgery-training programs, in an effort to figure out what separated the unsuccessful surgeons from their successful counterparts.

He concluded that, far more than technical skills or intelligence, what was necessary for success was the sort of attitude that Quest has -- a practical-minded obsession with the possibility and the consequences of failure. "When I interviewed the surgeons who were fired, I used to leave the interview shaking," Bosk said. "I would hear these horrible stories about what they did wrong, but the thing was that they didn't know that what they did was wrong. In my interviewing, I began to develop what I thought was an indicator of whether someone was going to be a good surgeon or not. It was a couple of simple questions: Have you ever made a mistake? And, if so, what was your worst mistake? The people who said, 'Gee, I haven't really had one,' or, 'I've had a couple of bad outcomes but they were due to things outside my control' -- invariably those were the worst candidates. And the residents who said, 'I make mistakes all the time. There was this horrible thing that happened just yesterday and here's what it was.' They were the best. They had the ability to rethink everything that they'd done and imagine how they might have done it differently."

Lake Of The Woods 2009

The annual fishing trip to Lake Of The Woods this spring was once again excellent. The water was pretty cold (50-55 degrees), and the trees were just starting to bud. Driving up there was like going back in time about six weeks.

Two days were sunny and calm, which is fairly unusual. In fact Sunday afternoon we were fishing a mile and a half outside Lighthouse Gap, within a few hundred yards of Canada, and the entire lake was like glass; stretching out to the North as far as you could see...it was pretty cool.



Walleye:
The walleyes were running a little bigger this year, and the numbers were down slightly ( I think I only caught about 100 ). I had 3 guys in my boat, and we put 6 slot fish in the boat (slot on LOTW is all walleyes from 19.5 - 28 must be released). So our boat's biggest walleye were 24, 23, 22, 21, 21, 20.5. Saturday we put together a 12-fish limit that was close to 25lbs of walleyes, along with a few bonus sauger. Many 17 and 18 inch eaters were coming in the boat. Our group's biggest walleye was a nice 25 incher taken from Morris Point Gap.









Northern:
Northern Pike fishing was slow until the weather started to turn
Sunday night. After we limited on 'eyes, we hit the bay to cast for some pike. Todd, one of my boatmates, picked up a very heavy 37" fish, and we saw several more good fish. Early the next morning the rain was starting and I picked up 3 good pike 32, 37 and 42 inches.


As always, our group ( 15 men and 5 boats ) had exceptional accommodations from the fine folks at Cyrus Resort in Baudette, MN.

Oldest Object In Universe?

Apparently, based on a blast of gamma radiation and some infrared energy; scientists now believe there was a gigantic star that exploded 13 billion years ago; when the universe was only 600 million years old.

From an article on CNN.com Scientists spot oldest ever object in universe, comes this exceprt:

" ... he was looking at the oldest thing ever spotted -- an enormous star exploding 13 billion years ago.

"At that point the age of the universe was only 600 million years," he said. In other words, Berger said, he was looking "95 percent of the way back to the beginning of time."

So this brings me to a question. If the universe is expanding from a big bang, and the radiation travels at the speed of light, then the explosion allegedly happened 13 billion light years away. Yet it only happened 600 million years after the big bang? How does that work? How fast was everything expanding? Wouldn't we have had to be expanding at faster than light speed for the energy to take 12.4 billion years to get to us?

Perhaps I'll need to investigate this. The Hubble constant seems to be around 70Km/sec/Mpsc; so I'm off to crunch numbers.

Trout In VA

We were fortunate to recently stay for two days in a mountain cabin in southwest Virginia. It was right near a Big Wilson Creek, which you can see in the photo of the cabin.


It was a wonderful, private, secluded spot with (no kidding) zero mobile phone reception. None. Nothing. If you drove up the mountain a little ways and parked near a gap, you could make a call. Luckily, the kids brought their fishing poles, and the creek was full of trout. After some learning curve, they caught enough for supper.

I'll Tell Him

My wife and I were settling into bed one Sunday evening. We were discussing things of God, and how He relates to people, along with a host of other spiritual topics.

Sensing that one of the children was at the top of the stairs (which cannot be seen from where we were), my wife loudly speaks into the air "Yes?". Taking what I saw as an opportunity to be funny, I whisper "is God talking to you now?". Without batting an eye, she tilts her head slightly as if listening intently and then says loudly, "Ok...I'll tell him".

Food and Travels

I was cleaning my desk this afternoon, and I happened across a few scraps of paper lying around with notes scribbled on them.

One was from my last trip to Austria, where I had a memorable meal of Bauernbratl mit saurkraut und semmelknodel. That was something. Knodel is a dumpling, and semmelknodel is like a bread dumpling. Very nice.

The other is a well-worn scrap of paper that hung out in my money clip for a couple of weeks. My family and I were in Providencetown, MA one rainy August day when we ducked inside a Portugese bakery and almost by accident discovered these wonderful pastries called malassada. They were cheap, and looked like they'd go well with a cup of coffee. We were right. Marvelous.

Lucas County

My son John is doing a report on the great state of Iowa. While doing some research online, I happened across a Wikipedia article on Lucas County, the county in which I spent my first fourteen or so years.

I knew there were not many folks there, but I was surprised to learn exactly how sparse it is, with only five towns and cities and a total of less than 10,000 people in the whole county. By comparison, I now live in Dakota County Minnesota; which has about 400,000 residents and dozens of cities and towns. In fact one of several school districts in Dakota County has almost 30,000 student...3x the population of Lucas County.

Lest you think they left out the smaller towns on the Wikipedia entry, I'd point out that I attended grade school in Williamson (one of the five listed towns). My class was the biggest ever with something like 17 students, and when school was in session, I think the population of Williamson was easily doubled.

Drift (A Poem)

Troubles, trials, feelings come and go
But beneath it is this strong
And steady undertow
Pulling us along to
Where we need to go

This current has a name
As you likely already know
We drift along, in the grasp
Immersed in the flow

It is the love we have
The love we show
That makes this whole thing go

Mike's Ringtone Theory

I decided to finally publish a longstanding work of mine, namely a theory regarding ringtones on mobile phones.  

My theory states: "The duration of time which elapses between the beginning of the ring, and the subsequent answer of the call is in direct proportion to the overall annoyance impact of the phone's ringtone."

This theory is derived from practical experience.  First and foremost, my wife enjoys "cool" ringtones.  She also has a penchant for misplacing her phone.  Herein lies the genesis of the theory.

Secondly, I worked in downtown Minneapolis for about a year, and rode the express bus from Burnsville pretty much every day.  This experience led me to further develop the theory.  Note that your typical blackberry-toting professional uses a subtle vibration for a ringer, and answers the phone/text/email within nanoseconds.  Note also that your average college student, with polyphonic hip-hop ringtone may not even hear his phone ring because of a) his apparent coma or b) his omnipresent iPod earbuds.

Obviously there is further field research to be done in order to provide proofs and data to support the theory.  I am currently looking for funding for such research.

Bird

A Dani Jo-ism

Our new home in Inver Grove finds us with a very nice, wide sidewalk which passes near a local nursery.  The landscaping is marvelous, and it makes a very nice walk.  Since we no longer have a back yard, and so Bob The Dog must be walked for his periodic restroom needs, I find myself walking the sidewalk frequently, often with one or both of the two children who still live at home.

One fine evening, Dani Jo and I were walking along near some conspicuously lovely foliage.   The air was clean, the sun was sinking, and it was a truly lovely time.  Dani Jo, who doesn't miss an opportunity to maximize on "creating memories" seemed to be particularly caught-up with the events.  It became clear that she was searching for something momentous to say; perhaps to cap the sheer elegance of the experience.

She stopped, and in a hushed tone, she whispered to me "Dad, do you see that bird?", pointing at what appeared to be a robin.  Then, with the same quietness, and complete sincerity  "I think it's a red-breasted hat-nutch".

A Stick And String

Yesterday marked my reacquaintance  with an old friend.  It has been several years since I nocked a cedar shaft to a self-made Flemish string and sent it downrange by the momentum of unspringing wooden limbs.

I sincerely enjoy the sport of archery, the skill of placing an arrow on target.  Or in my case after years of non-practice, the lack of skill in placing the arrow.  Two friends with compound bows, peep-sites, carbon fiber arrows, and mechanical releases shot with me on a charming 28-target course in the woods not far from my home.  I was armed with my very modest 50# Bear production recurve (mid-1970's) which my wife purchased at a garage sale for $5 some years ago.  I made the string, the arrows, and even the quiver (which is sewn from the tops of two old Tony Llama boots).

My friends shot considerably better than me, but I made some good shots.  The course was obviously geared toward fast, flat shooting compounds and/or archers more skilled than myself, this fact witnessed by the abundance of 60-plus yard shots.

At the end of the day, as the sky faded, and we ambled toward the source of some good cheeseburgers, I fondly remembered my childhood, most of which saw me toting a bow of some sort around the fields and pastures of southern Iowa.  I decided I should like to shoot more often.  Perhaps getting my children more involved in archery will help me with that endeavor.

The Successful Gentleman (Fiction)

The distinguished gentleman sat next to me. His very presence commanded respect. His posture said "good schooling". His clothes assured he had met success. His every gesture radiated supreme confidence. This was undoubtedly a man who knew who he wasm what he wanted, and where he was going.

"Excuse me, sir", I beckoned. I expected a subtle English accent but was instead greeted by an almost imperceptible drawl, hinting at the area around Atlanta.
"Yes, may I help you?" came his steady response.
"How, sir, shall I measure my success?" I asked.

His eyebrows raised only slightly. He paused, then spoke again in clear, well paced tones. "Measure your success at what endeavor?"
"Well..at life, I guess." I said simply.

A small crease appeared on his smooth forehead as he searched my eyes. "Shall I measure myself by my paycheck?" I inquired.
"I am quite certain that there are some very undesirable people who make substantial amounts of money." he spoke. "That does not seem an accurate assessment".

"How about children?" I asked.
"Creating children is certainly an easy enough task", he stated, seemingly relieved that the question was more focused. "Some children," he continued, "would be successful with any sort of parenting. Some children would fail regardless. No, that also will not do."

We both sat in silence for a few moments. He softly broke the silence, "It is said", he began, "that a man is known by the company he keeps." He paused again, the crease deepening on his forehead. Then he continued slowly, carefully selecting each word, "Perhaps the best measure of success is how the man keeps his company."

Then his brow unfurrowed, and he leaned back only slightly. "Yes," he said, breaking contact with me, his eyes drifting, looking past my shoulder. "Keep your company well. Cherish your friends. Love people as much as you can. Excuse me won't you..." His voice trailed off as he arose and walked back the way he had come. His posture and his demeanor were different as he merged into the crowd.

Experience in Arundel

I've recently had occasion to travel to the UK for business. In fact, as I write this, I am packing for my journey home. My stay has been quite pleasant. Not knowing what to expect, I packed entirely too many things (which is quite unusual for me).

The trip has been delightful and enlightening. I am absolutely charmed by the country and the people in southern England. My temporary dwelling has been suite 16 at the Swan Hotel in Arundel. This quaint hotel is so quaint, it seems a crime to use that word to describe anything in the US. The place is actually a pub and restaurant with some rooms upstairs.

The town of Arundel is smallish, built on a river, and watched over by a magnificent castle; which is apparently inhabited by the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk. The townscape itself is the kind of thing that US developers and even theme park designers have tried to capture. After having experienced it firsthand, I must say that every attempt at recreation seen by these eyes has been an utter failure. From the small, cobblestone town square to the butcher shop with large, plate glass window. I had this epiphany about what it is all those designers are trying to accomplish. Amazing to actually be in it.

I was also surprisingly captivated by several smallish items. I had Scotch eggs, which seems so obvious I cannot believe I never just made some up on my own. Additionally, there is a small electric kettle in my room that is simply brilliant. It is a Morphy Richards model 43276. Very nice.

Old Friend (Fiction)

The crisp autumn sunrise sees a familiar sight. Hunter and Old Friend lay in ambush on the swamp. Old Friend's muzzle shows signs of his age. Hunter's face tells of many days spent in harsh sunlight and wind. Days spent in rain and freezing cold.

All is still. Old Friend's breath billows white clouds which cling in icy rivulets to his graying nose. Abruptly, whistling and fluttering wings betray the approach of the quarry.

Tipping and wobbling. Dropping closer, closer. Then, as time and motion seem to stand still, they parachute in to the well laid scene. Old Friend shifts impatiently, a soft whine escapes him. Hunter is transfixed as the gathering light flashes from wonderful specula, tails and wings.

They are close enough now, and their red legs are reaching for the frigid water amid their conterfeit friends. But something is wrong. The oldest bird senses it and all follow his frantic lead as he strains for the sky. It is confusion for a moment, then it is over.

Hunter quickly understands he has just missed his big chance. He had forgotten his purpose. Or had he only just remembered it. He looks at Old Friend and their eyes meet. For a moment he sees recognition. A moment shared between the closest of friends. Hunter circles one arm about Old Friend, looks out and smiles.

Rock Bladder

Yet another cute Dani Jo-ism.

Several years ago I was praying with my youngest daughter Dani Jo at bedtime. She was probably about eight at the time. My wife had recently had a bout with terribly painful kidney stones ( I guess they are ALL terribly painful).

So as we were praying, Dani Jo asked God to bless momma, and heal her rock bladder. It was difficult to maintain my composure, but we finished the prayers somehow. And momma got better.

To Build A Boat

I've decided to build a boat. Why build a boat? Well...actually, my wife asked me that too. I'm going to start with a pirogue, which is basically a flat-bottomed canoe. She pointed out that we could probably buy a decent canoe on Craigslist for less than $100. Sure, but its not a pirogue. And the plans say this pirogue, at 14 feet weighs less than 40 lbs. That opens lot of possibilities. I'm expecting to build a couple of them, so my kids and I can fish and/or duck hunt out of them.

Just the other day, after much research, and a ton of deliberation, I ordered up a set of cajun pirogue plans from Uncle Johns. The plans look great, and I'm anxious to get started on building the boat, although I suspect it may be awhile. My brother Brian is going to cut out the stems for me since he has really nice woodworking equipment, and he is probably the best woodworker I've ever met.

My current plan is to make the pirogue out of 1/4" Luan plywood, with 10" sides and about 14 feet long. I want it to be light, but durable, so I'll use 3" 6oz fiberglass tape on the inside seams, and glass the entire outside with 3.25oz cloth. I'll coat the whole works with several coats of resin, and paint it with flat exterior paint. I'm planning on possibly coating the floor inside with roll-on truck bed liner. I've got a couple other tricks, but we'll see how it goes.

I'll put updates and photos here as I make progress.

Plow The Yard

Dani Jo-ism #3.

After a long week I was tired, and it obviously showed. To top it off, on Friday night we got several inches of snow. I must have made some comment about the work of clearing the driveway the next morning.

Nine-year old Dani Jo says to me as she's getting ready for bed, "Dad, why don't you get me up at four in the morning and I can plow the yard."

Of course, my week didn't seem so bad after that.

Crackle Bucket

The second in the series of Dani Jo-ism's

My 9 year-old daughter Dani Jo told us awhile back that when she got older she wanted to work in a retaurant. "Which one?" I asked. "Either McDonalds or Crackle Bucket", she replied.

What she meant by "Crackle Bucket" was Cracker Barrel, but sometimes she just says funny stuff.