Well, it's September now and college football season is starting tomorrow(I know, for others it already started but I'm a UGA Dawgs fan so it starts tomorrow) so I'll be adding some about the dawgs game to my blog entries.
So, to start with football, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's game. It should be a warm up game for the upcoming SEC games so I'm expecting a good showing for the home team. Aaron Murray starting at QB, Logan Gray will add his talents to the already well balanced receiver corps, and a lot of returnees on the team. Unfortunately, Washaun Ealey, the last I heard, won't be playing but I don't think they'll miss a beat with the crew of backs on the roster. So, it's Friday afternoon and I probably won't post this until after the game so I'll add more to wrap it up. Gooooo DAWGS!
September 11, 2010
Before I get started on my regular post, I must take a moment to remember this date 9 years ago when Islamic radicals flew hijacked jumbo jets into the World Trade Center Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington killing upwards of 3000 people. We must never forget what happened that day, and why. It wasn't because we aren't sensitive to or are disrespectful of the Muslim people, nor was it an inside job as some fools continue to spout. No, it was a group of young men who insist on taking their religion, bastardizing it and using it as an excuse to kill innocent people just because they don't hold the same beliefs. Unfortunately, there are many more out there and more coming because of the teachings of radical clerics who instill this mindset into their people at a very young age.
The thing that really bothers me about the 9/11 tragedy is that they spent so much time bickering politics they still haven't completed any rebuilding on the site. The memorial is set to be finished in time for the 10th anniversary but the tower(s) won't be. Ten years!?!? That is just far too long for something like this, something that is a symbol of our defiance of their attack. And now there are plans to build a mosque/community center right in the shadow of ground zero. This is clearly an "in your face" gesture by radical Islam as they have done throughout history; building a symbol of their victory against the infidels. With our constitution it is hard to actually forbid it from being built, but I still think it should be stopped and moved to another site. We're supposed to be sensitive to Muslim feelings, don't they need to do the same?
That's about all I have on that except to say, "NEVER FORGET!"
Well, I didn't get this post finished last week like I had planned so now it's a week later and the Dawgs have played their second game. The first went according to plan. It was a blowout as expected and ended with the score UGA 55 - ULL 7 . With a few exceptions, Georgia was able to do what they wanted with Louisiana-Lafayette.
However, this week was a totally different story. While Williams-Bryce Stadium in Columbia S.C. is one of the most hostile venues in which to play as a visitor, that was only a small part of the problem. It was clear that Georgia wasn't ready for this game, and were beaten in almost every facet. There were a few shining moments; a 61 yard completion to Chris Durham, the always stellar kicking game, and a few good defensive plays, especially in the second half. However, The Gamecocks put it to the Dawgs on Saturday, winning by a score of 17 - 6. Georgia got into the red zone more than a couple times but weren't able to punch it in, having to settle for two Blair Walsh field goals.I hope they take some lessons from this game and are ready for Arkansas between the hedges next weekend.
Now, I had planned on writing on a subject but some things I thought I knew I have come to see in a different light so I'm just going to give a quick update on a previous post.
I posted previously on my procedure for drying rough turned bowls using my oven. So far, with one exception, my process has worked very well, shortening the drying time substantially. That one exception happened to be the wettest piece of wood I have ever turned. I could feel the spray hitting me in the arm as I turned it. It was a bowl made of hemlock, a wood which I don't plan on using again. After drying it cracked quite a bit in several places. I was able to fill those cracks with sawdust and glue but I still don't like the way the bowl came out. It didn't polish up very well, it was very susceptible to cracks and nicks, and it ended up with a strange greenish discoloration on the sides that appears to be mildew, or something similar. I may try hemlock again but not any time soon.
That being said, I've dried many bowls using this procedure with only a couple of small cracks here and there that filled easily and are not visible. I've done cherry, maple, walnut, red sycamore, walnut crotch wood, mesquite and mahogany to name a few with excellent results.
Now, I'm getting things made to replenish my stock for the upcoming fall festival in October. Only 5 more weeks to get ready. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year. I wish I could do more of these but my body just can't take the stress and strain that is needed to do the full festival/craft fair circuit. I did one back in June and found that it was way too hot for me so I'll be sticking to spring and fall only along with my online sales at Etsy.com. (http://mlcwoodworks.etsy.com)
Well, that's about it for now. I'll try to post another entry next weekend after my brother and I attend the "Turning, Southern Style" symposium in Helen, Georgia next Saturday. We will only be going to see the displayed work and visit the vendor area but it should be interesting day. I'll remember to take my camera.
Bye for now,
Larry
