Axe me no questions

First off, the axe review is still on its way.  I am enjoying using it.  I have trouble keeping from grinning like the Cheshire cat every time I see it.  More on that topic later.  I did have a moment to take a picture, though.  Yep, still makes me smile just looking at it.

I got side tracked this week by work and by the hundreds of other small things that pull precious minutes out of your day. It is Tuesday afternoon, the weekend is behind me, and I am smack dab in the middle of another work week.  Actually, as I type this, I am sitting on a conference call for my real job.  I didn't get much done on the wood working front this weekend.  I cleaned the garage and swept up the wood chips at least.  This small act makes my wife very happy, it keeps me from tracking them into the house.  For some reason, she frowns on having wood chips in the kitchen. 

I work in Information Technology for a living.  I am one of those computer guys.  I never know how to explain what I do very clearly, though.  It deals with call centers and phone calls and directing callers to the places they want to go, or in some cases, don't want to go.  I work with lines and boxes, flow charts that are created to direct the flow of incoming calls to people who can answer your questions or sell you a new product.

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At the end of the day though, there is nothing tangible that I can point to and say "I made that!"  That is why I enjoy spoon carving, I think.  When you have finished, you are left with something you can touch and feel and use.  It's a magic beyond what I get from working in Information Technology.

One of the most amazing things that I have found is that there are people everywhere that love to carve spoons as much as I do.  People who live close to me, and others that live on the other side of the world.  For the most part, spoon carvers are an unassuming group of genuinely nice people who are more than willing to share their knowledge.  I count myself lucky to be part of this community.

Two last things and then I will close this out, it is feeling a bit jumpy even to me as I am typing it.

First, a neat toy for those that are interested.  I saw Wordle on Sean Hellman's blog and thought it was pretty cool, so I made one for myself.  I like how it pulls out the words you use the most and emphasizes them.  Go check it out, make your own and see what you think.

And finally.  It is coming.  Can you feel it in the air?  The subtle change in temperature, the sounds of birds that you haven't heard in almost a year?  The first blooms are starting to make their appearance here in Woodlake.  At least in this part of the country, spring is here, not in all her glory just yet, but she is here.  I, for one, have missed her and am glad to see her back.