Blog

  • July 3, 2024

    I think I’m starting to come down from the school year. I hit a wall tonight. Hard.

    The day was fine enough. We both left early because they shut the water off again. I went to the shop and Hannah went to school. We both had a frustrating day, in different ways. For each of us, things just didn’t go the way we were hoping they would.

    I wanted to go to the gym tonight to work out some of my frustrations but I ended up falling asleep. Staying asleep would’ve meant waking up far too early tomorrow morning. Now, I’m just waiting for this second wave to pass so that I can melt back into bed again.

  • July 2, 2024

    At 6:17 this morning, Eloise started scratching at my butt through the duvet to let me know that she was hungry. I told her to go away and wait until 7. She hopped over my leg and snuggled into Hannah. Eloise soon learned that she wasn’t going to get fed.

    (more…)
  • July 1, 2024

    My writing setup looks a little different than I’m used to but it should do. I’m looking forward to starting this writing project, with a direction but few expectations.

  • June 30, 2024

    It’ll take a few days before I finally feel relaxed and at ease. Right now, I’m still in the mindset of having to go to work tomorrow, even though I know I don’t. If it were a long weekend, I’d have no trouble relaxing. Alas, I have two months off.

  • June 29, 2024

    I miss wood turning.

  • June 28, 2024

    Today was my last day at the school where I was hired into a full-time, permanent position with the school board. In September, I’ll be on to a new adventure in a new environment. Before getting there, I need to rest.

  • June 27, 2024

    Sharing my intentions is the most effective way to ensure that I won’t follow through on them.

    I’ve been thinking about writing about the things I’ve learned from woodworking since starting just over two years ago. It might make for an interesting story, and should definitely be a good point of reflection. It might be nice to have something to read over in twenty years when I’m working on the what I’ve learned from woodworking over twenty-two years.

    The summer always appears to be full of potential until it arrives. Maybe I can do some more writing during the summer.

  • June 26, 2024

    After today, I could leave tomorrow. I packed up my office and filled the car today, readying myself for the move to a new school.

    When I had my first classroom, I brought some of my old computers in for the students to use. That didn’t really happen, and I’ve been holding onto them since. Today, however, I put them out for e-recycling.

    I’m feeling somewhat sentimental about it, having to remind myself that they are tools that I used to create other things. Their value lies in their usefulness. They are no longer useful, and haven’t been for a good few years.

  • June 25, 2024

    The boxes that I’ve been working on are doing a number on me. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on what I’m doing, another problem arises. While staring at the problem, all I want to do is force it into a fix. Often, once I’ve stepped away and taken some time, even just half an hour, a solution presents itself. What doesn’t show its face is the next problem that that solution will deliver.

    I’m having a real issue with the glued-up boards cupping. The small curvature is causing big problems for me. I managed to get the sides sorted out – they’ll be forced together – but the lid is a different issue. I’m think that some cross-grain action is in order. How I’m going to make that happen is what I need to figure out now.

  • June 24, 2024

    I went to the grade eight students’ graduation today. It was nice to see them walk across the stage, but something felt different about this one, it didn’t have the same gravitas that the ceremony has had in the past.

    I’ve been working with the same group for three years so it felt right to attend their graduation ceremony. When they saw me sitting in the seats, they all turned to wave and tapped each other on the shoulder to share where I was sitting. That was a good feeling.

    There’s a general feeling of being done with this school year. If nobody else is feeling it, I certainly am. That I’ll be at a different school next year further entrenches that sentiment.

    I suppose, in a way, tonight’s ceremony was also for me. After six years, I’m heading somewhere new, too.

  • June 23, 2024

    It’s 9:30 pm and I’m heading to bed. I can’t wait for summer.

  • June 23, 2024

    It’s 9:30 pm and I’m heading to bed. I can’t wait for summer.