Merry Post and Pre

It's after Christmas and before New Year's.  Just a few observations / status updates:

If I'm not mistaken, this is about the time of year that the NFL Playoffs start. If you follow this blog, you know that I now don't care about donating my time to watching sports -- especially professional sports.  Having said that, my mother-in-law did have a college basketball game on the TV followed by a college football bowl game. I must say that I rather enjoyed watching -- a little.
 
Now to this bombing event in Nashville. Had the TV news on all day at work and I was not surprised by the amount of speculation that was being disseminated as fact -- or potential fact -- by the networks. As it turned out, most of it wrong. What amuses me the most is, no matter what the subject or who the interviewee is, there is always this awkward exchange:
 
Interviewer to the "special, exclusive to us" guest expert: "I'm sorry to interrupt you. Of course, this is one of the most monumental events in the history of the world; however, we're up on a hard break. We'll be back after this." 
 
FADE TO BLACK

FADE UP ON KITCHEN PAN FULL OF BURNT GOOK

ANNCR: "Has this ever happened to you? Are you tired of food sticking to your pans? Well, now there's . . . " 

- - -

Suzanne and I received our first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I don't feel confident enough to go around and licking doorknobs, but it's something.

Today, I got an early jump on making a 2021 list and organizing my to-do lists (and when I say "making," I mean re-writing last year's, which was a list from the previous list, which was . . .). Yes, so many trivial things to do, so little time. But, at least I make a list. Right? (Note to self, create a list that contains a list of all the drawers, boxes, shelves, etc., that contains all the decades of lists I've made).  

Anyway, I procured an old three-ring notebook to contain one section of my 2021 list and opened it up. This is the fortune from a fortune cookie that I must have taped to the inside years ago:

There is hope?
 
Carpe diem Life,
David Kuhn

Ramblings

This is an easy week to say that I didn't watch the NFL or College Football. For starters, I worked Saturday and Sunday. Then, there are Christmas gifts. 

I've always tried to make a few gifts when I can. This year, I made three wooden trees for my girls and a friend. I also made ornaments for the grandkids. One has Garfield (the cat, not the old president) in it. Garfield is Annabeth's favorite. For little Mr. O, who is in his first year of Scouts, I gathered up some of my old scouting pins and such and filled a globe.

 

 

 

On the cigar box guitar front, I ended up making three. A one-string for a dear friend:

And a three-string (with logo that happens to be his last name):

This leads me to this quote by CBG builder and author David Sutton. Describing his experience building these things, "I will tell you that I can't say as I've ever made a mistake building a cigar box guitar. I will say I've had plenty of unexpected outcomes that inspired improvisations, but mistakes? Naw."

I love that. True of so many things in life: unexpected outcomes that inspired improvisations!
 
Carpe diem Life and Merry Christmas,
David Kuhn

Week 14 Projects

 They almost got me.  "They" being the NFL.  Was flipping through stations and almost stopped on some Week 14 NFL highlights.  But, I switched off before connecting.  So, I'm not going to count it.  As of this date, I've yet to watch a second, see a score, or know what the standings are.  And, truth be told, I don't miss it.

 

This week I got the 20-year-old pontoon boat running and out for her last ride of the season up at Lynnville Lake.  She's been a good companion for us through the years; just needs some TLC over the winter. 

I docked her at the park dock and hiked back to our little cabin.  Some of the hike was on the new path being built along State Rd. 68. 

.

On the way home, I came with this little song.  I recognize that some the images have probably been used a hundred times before, but . . 

 

Chasing Rainbows

I was chasing rainbows
Searching for a unicorn
I was chasing rainbows
Searching for a unicorn
Ended up -  tangled up — in barbwire
Staring down a mad bull’s horns

Everyone around me  Has the Devil’s own luck
Everyone around me  Has the Devil’s own luck
But my world is a broken mirror with the pieces run amuck

Went searching for a pot of gold  Ended up having to fold
Hung a horse shoe upside down  All my luck poured to the ground
Went chasing a rabbit for his foot  Ended up in a snare and staying put
Rode on a carousel  Reached for that golden ring
Got bucked off a pink panda  My head went ding-a-ling-a-ling
Pulled a wishbone with my best friend  But ended up with the short end, again (then he stole my girlfriend)

Everyone around me Has the Devil’s own luck
Everyone around me Has the Devil’s own luck
But my worlds a broken mirror with the pieces run amuck

I went in search of a four leaf clover That’s when I knew it was all over
Stepped in a pile of fresh poo  Didn’t know what to do
But that’s when I saw it was aglow  With all the colors of the rainbow
And there was glitter in it —
(spoken): Folks, that’s when I realized
Unicorn poo still smells like shit!   And then there’s that bull . . .

I was chasing rainbows
Searching for a unicorn
I was chasing rainbows
Searching for a unicorn
Ended up tangled up in barbwire
Staring down an angry bull’s horns

 

Carpe diem Life,

David Kuhn

13 And Counting

Today's project has been an on-going one: A Christmas gift (I'm 99.9% sure he doesn't read this blog, so I'm safe to unwrapping it for you here).

 

A few years ago an old friend of mine surprised me with a guitar for a Christmas present.  Said, "Here, you should learn to play this."  And I have -- been trying.  Since then, he's also bought for me a few other very nice toys to help create music.  

 

So, this year my gift to him is . . . 

 

a cigar box guitar that I'm building.  I was planning on giving him that bottom one, but I'm now thinking of the top one -- it's electric!  Having never built a cigar box guitar, it's been a challenge.  Let's just say that I've hit more than a few sour notes along the way.  However, I'm hoping that by the end of the day tomorrow I'll be able to string one up and test it.  Then it's off to its new home.

 

Again, not exactly a three-hour "not watching the NFL" project, but something very new for me.  Who knows, if it actually plays,  I might have just found a new hobby to take the place of TV sports.

 

Carpe diem Life,

David Kuhn