Erasure Unyouthfulness

There is a song that pops into my head from time to time. A tune that we used to dance to at the youth church dances in the 80's. It was done by Erasure and the first verse goes:

"I'd like to be a child again, so many things to do
Playground noise and colour toys, and everything brand new......."

Although it is true that children are easily amused by colours and toys, there is probably more truth in the observation that little boys are attracted to critters and animals. It was this urge, im sure, that jumped up out of their little bodies and snatched my birthday card off the Walmart shelf. They woke me last week to gift it to me on my birthday. I share:
You see, if a squirrel sharing his loot is cute to you,imagine how bad Konrad and Anders would have felt to have left him on the shelf. Then I opened it up to read the anticipated clever caption. I share:


Turns out, scooters gift came in handy. I will try to explain that but first enter 2nd verse of Erasure "when I needed you most":

"....I'd like to be a pirate ship, in search of hidden gold
on ocean waves I'd swim away, and sail around the world"

Ever since I have had it in my head to build a cabin this summer I have been on a treasure hunt, searching for tools, supplies, and ideas at discounted prices (only when the free supplies are elusive), searching "hidden gold" if you will, to build Nauvoo haus.

On Tuesday I found myself climbing a 40' Tv Antenna. After asking around, I found a good man who agreed to let me have his TV antenna if I took it down for him. I was nervous since I've never had experience with these things. However, this is where Scooter the squirrel's nut helped me out. Although, it probably had less to do with testosterone and more with the climbing genetics that, doubtless, runs in Scooters family. Anyhow, with my dads old Bell Canada climbing belt a few deep breaths, and a good quality diaper, I made my way up to the top. While on top the wind had a little fun with me as I swayed about 2-3 feet it seemed back and forth. After some creative manoevers and with my dads encouragement from the ground we managed to dismantle it piece by piece. I share:


I have a similar picture with a 12' satellite dish on top of my car. No I am not starting a spy station or a behind-the-curve telecommunications company. The TV tower will be used to make myself a crane that will help me position the 500lb logs of the cabin on days when I am working at the lake solo. The dish, well......lets just say that is next years project and without going into details, I plan on powering our entire cottage with electricity using the dish.

My main squeeze

In the same way we show gratitude on a day other than thanksgiving, I'm going to pre-empt Valantines day and send a shout out to my Jenny.

She is what champions are made of. She has been enduring constant pain and discomfort the last few weeks (shes about 8 mo. pregnant) and still manages to be relatively pleasant to be around:) She is winding down at work and taking more time off until she leaves in a couple weeks. She hasn't decided if she will take 5 years off yet.

When I met her she was very career oriented and had a lot of things she wanted to accomplish. Whenever I breached the subject of children I had about as captive an audience as I do when I try to talk to her now about anything during the boys waking hours.

Like Eve and like most women after her, she woMANed up and decided to endure the bad to know the good. If it were up to men to bare the children I'm positive real estate prices would be much cheaper than they are now due to a much smaller populous and more available land. Thanks for the mortgages ladies!

Now, with career goals and opportunities in sight, Jenny is contemplating pushing them off for at least another 5 years (if this is our last child) to take one for team Jakob. It is admirable. Although she is much changed over the last 10 years and although my perception of who she is has changed / evolved, it has all been for the better.

We have a soundtrack to the movie "Rushmore" and the words to one of the tracks is fitting:

"I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow"

Nauvoo Haus

Well, I'm gearing up to build a homestead. The picture of Dereks fathers cabin didn't initiate the urge but it did make me jealous and I'm hoping I can use that jealousy as a catalyst in focusing on the project.

It wont be anything as elaborate.. in fact the cabin I will be building will eventually be a garage / loft for friends that come to visit when we put the main cottage up, but it will be significant. 22 x 30' with a kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms. The dining area will eventually be the garage part.

So in preparation for "the big event" I am making sure all the gears are oiled. That includes documentation (This blog will serve sufficient).

I honestly feel I am already in over my head just by thinking about doing it so I hope to collect any pointers or insight others might have as I lay out my plans. So far all I know about building a cabin is I want to grow a bushy beard and go shirtless on a couple of the days when the mosquitoes aren't so bad. I think thats a good start.

Oh and I have a name for it too. It is based on D & C 124: 22,23,and 60 and my brother has already given me the perfect Christmas gift to get going. It is a 3 foot wooden sign with a German touch.