soapbox

I had a lot of fun playing croquet a few weeks ago and I’ve become sort of fixated on building a set of croquet mallets to play with. I did a bit of research, and it turns out that a competition-quality mallet is going to cost you at least $150 and likely a lot more.

The best folks even put the dimensions of their mallets online.

So I figure that I can build my own set of mallets. I’m going to use maple for the heads, probably ash for the handles, and I’m considering a bamboo or ironwood striking surface. Everything is right angles (although I need to figure out how I’m going to join the handles to the heads since I don’t have a lathe.) so it should be easy.

The first step? Find some wood. It turns out that it’s not that easy to find maple boards that are around 2.5 inches thick. In fact, it’s nearly impossible unless you go to specialty lumber stores. And specialty stores usually have really really really nice products.

So now I’m thinking that I need to use curly maple for the heads just because it would be so stunningly pretty. Check out this link to see what I’m talking about. It’s stunning. (Note, I’m not going to get that particular board… too rich for my blood.)

Of course, if I do find THE ONE piece of wood that’s perfect for the heads, I’m going to have to find some perfect pieces to make the handles too. Troubles abound.

I had to finish the 3-2-1 sequence and I’m sure that Chris was feeling left out that he didn’t have a picture up last week.

There are two music videos currently out in top-20 rotation that you all really need to see.

The Pussycat Dolls - “Don’t cha” and Jessica Simpson - “These boots were made for walkin’”

Anyway, both of them are just totally about sex (the videos, not necessarily the songs) but the Jessica Simpson one just goes way the hell overboard. She’s giving Paris Hilton a run for her money. The Pussycat Dolls at least have a catchy tune to back them up instead of taking a classic and changing a few phrases to have something to kinda sorta do with the movie you just made. Willie Nelson’s on the song too and I’m just as disappointed with him even if he isn’t wearing a small red bikini and washing the General Lee.

Side note: apparently I have some subconscious anti-semetism going on. As a child I used to think the lyric was “these boots are going to walk all over Jews.” Like I thought it was a Nazi propaganda song or something like that.

One: I washed and cleaned out the inside of my car this weekend. Once all the cat fur was cleaned out, the interior went two shades darker. I almost forgot that the seats were charcoal, not just grey.

Two: There’s nothing prettier than a well waxed car after a rainstorm. (Well, obviously there are other things…)

Three: I’m pretty sure I ran over two frogs on my drive home from work. I feel really bad about it given the trouble that frogs are having with pollution/increased UV exposure.

forgive me if i’m being a bit callous here, but any bets on whether the shuttle repair makes things better or worse?

when are they finally going to accept that it’s RISKY blasting people into space? and accept that you can’t expect miracles from 20+ year old vehicles. my car isn’t even that old! the very first shuttle launch (Columbia, yes?) was scheduled for THE DAY I WAS BORN! it was ultimately delayed a couple days, but still. i really think they’re flogging a dead horse here, trying to make the shuttles “safer”.

shrub used a loophole to finally appoint bolton as ambassador to the UN. and tried to make the democrats look like the bad guys for holding up the appointment!

I tried to make my drive more interesting today by seeing how far I could get before panic gripped me and I had to buy gas. I made it about 10 miles after the little gas light turned on, which happened to be in Ascutney.

Then $35 (well $34.58) poorer, I drove the last 15 or so miles home.

Yowzas.

So how much does it cost for you to fill up Tim?