It’s Friday. You know what to do.

As of this writing, I have had 9990 visitors. If you happen to be visitor number 10,000, would you please let me know? The counter is in the left margin – just hunt around a bit.

I’m working on a bid for a house renovation – the owners are retired, and they are both in a care facility. The family has asked me to bid a few things to spruce the place up, and then they will be deciding whether to sell the house or keep it as a rental for a while.

Have a good weekend – I know I will!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

Hello, faithful reader(s)!

Yes, I am still running for President. I need your help, though – if you live in a state, and you believe in what I am doing, please, please, please (i’m begging, here!) consider volunteering your time to be either a member of the electoral college for your state (so I can meet the requirements of that state) or someone who circulates petitions to get my name on the state ballot.

Either one would be very helpful, and I’m not promising a Cabinet level position or anything, but I will do everything I can to recognize everyone’s efforts at the appropriate time. Also – if anyone out there is willing, please chat me up with your local media contacts – have them contact me directly for interviews. (how many “professional” candidates are willing to say that?)

I’m also starting a business, called casework by cary, inc. I do custom wood work, little projects, big projects, custom projects, whatever – as long as it has to do with wood. Yes, it’s an old medium, but I really can’t think of anything better to use to create, enjoy and pass down an heirloom quality piece. Right now I am honing my skills on the wood lathe, with a “Memory Stick” – a profile of a loved one cut into a candlestick holder. It’s difficult to describe, so when I have one perfected I will post pictures.

I’m also spending a lot of quality time with my “campaign manager,” MEG. Those of you who were paying attention a couple of times know her real name; her mother, The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, has requested that I remove mention of her given name for privacy’s sake. TMBWitW says that enough attention will be given to us when I am elected – or even before, with newspaper, radio, and television interviews. Honestly, I think I have a voice for TV and a face for radio. Keep that in mind when you suggest interviews…

I’m also putting on the big push, getting through the narrative portion of “The Wisconsin Cartters” over here. I just put up chapter fourteen – go check it out!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

OK – things are getting into somewhat of a routine. TMBWitW went back to work this morning, after maternity leave and vacation. She has been dreading this day, when she has to go without holding her daughter for nine hours. I don’t blame her. MEG is the most beautiful baby ever, and I’m not just saying that because I’m her Dad. I mean it:

I got a concerned call from Gawfer on Friday, while the three of us were in Kingman visiting our cousins. He asked if I was OK, since I hadn’t been active on the blogs all week. I told him I was fine, and I appreciated his concern. In the process of being approved for a contractor position with the Arizona Republic combined with finally getting the new pulpit completed, I didn’t have a lot of time for anything else.

What’s that? You want to see pictures of the pulpit?

This is the pulpit before any color was applied. The base material is 3/4″ maple ply, with hardwood trimming from Home Depot:

The nice thing about hardwood is that when you add color like I did, it blends the poplar and the maple very nicely.

Back view:

Lectern view:

Ignore the mess in the background – I was working on my back patio.

I used Vermont Maple base color from Minwax:

Lectern view:

This project started out as a refinishing of an old pulpit. The original piece had been stored in an outdoor location, under a roof extension, and covered with a tarp. One thing about beautiful wood and water – the latter will eventually find the former unless someone is very vigilant. No one was vigilant, so it soaked up a lot of rain, even in this desert environment. Combined with the fast drying action, mold attacked most of the structure, and sanding the old finish revealed large patches of deep damage. The old one was made of eastern white oak – beautiful, and I cried when I saw the mold. I was able to salvage some of the parts, and after talking with the Pastor, it was decided to use a carved grape motif and a Celtic cross from the front of the old pulpit. I did a face sand of the salvage pieces, retaining the old finish in the relief sections. These were incorporated into the face of the new pulpit, and the whole thing got a clear coat:

The contractor position with the paper is delivering bulk quantities to store fronts and racks; this takes place between midnight and 6 am. This allows me to watch MEG during the day while TMBWitW is at work, God is Good! and He allows us to keep MEG here at home instead of putting her in daycare. Parental supervision is best!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008