Sabbatical Reflections of a Fierce Wild Priest

Since my last post, I have remained busy both in creativity and in "adulting".  I know last time I mentioned the log that I found and began trying to use it to create something. After a couple of days working on it, I stepped back and realized that it just looked like a rough log with a couple lines cut into it. Well, I'm happy to report it is now a "better" shaped rough log with lines cut into it...AND a mouth! At least, the start of a mouth. I also finally finished the elaborate (also gaudy and ridiculous) Mjolnir (Thor's hammer) pendant. I'm happy to report that my friend really liked it, and it actually looks good on him. I have also started and failed at a number of other pieces, but that's largely because I either am learning as I go, or I'm trying to perfect new skills. Here is a piece I designed and am currently working on finishing.  It is etched stainless steel. The design is a black bear paw print wi...

 My apologies. I have completely missed one of my weekly posts. Was there a lot going on? Yes. There always is a lot going on. But, more than likely I find it harder to get back to posting when I am not even turning on my computer every day. Also--to be honest--I don't know that I have a lot of interesting stuff to write about week-to-week. But, for what it's worth, here's some stuff you may have missed because you didn't know about it (or care about it, really. LOL) As I may have reported previously, I am learning as I go when it comes to woodworking. Of course, that was part of the point when I chose it as a sabbatical concentration. However, it also means a lot-a lot of frustration. Like, I will decide that I want to try making something, and find out part way through that I need some special tool to make it happen. Or, I will start working on a thing, and I will find out (to my own frustration) that I should have "stabilized" the material before doing intr...

 I want to begin this post by saying that Boxing is delicious. I sincerely don't know what kind of positive superlative to use here--I think most of them have already been overused. Anyway, I have learned that transitioning knowledge from Muay Thai to Boxing is not necessarily as effortless as I had assumed. In fact, I seem to have settled into some lazy habits with my technique that are now getting addressed. Things like shifting weight properly, keeping one's torso over the legs when throwing jabs, crosses and hooks can get overlooked when trying to add newer, flashier techniques. The problem is that one's overall arsenal (for lack of a better term...maybe tools?)--rather, "tools" become less effective. A cursory search of MMA, Muay Thai, or Boxing matches on YouTube will show plenty of examples of fights (professional fights) being ended with very basic techniques--something as simple as Jab, Cross, Hook for example. Nothing fancy. The point is that regardless ...

 I had every intention of posting on Sunday. However, we had some house work to finish prior to my Mom coming to visit. I mopped the floors, by the way. Since my last post I have gotten myself a little caught "in the weeds" regarding projects. I have taken a short break on the Brandubh pieces--largely because I have learned that I can become frustrated with a project, and can sometimes rush the process. Often these situations lead to me bungling a project. Anyway, I have started a new piece, as well as done some design work and experimentation for some new projects. When I talk about "experimentation", it's important to realize that I am learning a lot of this stuff as I go along. Prior to the pandemic, I had never carved or attempted to build things. So, there are a lot of latent skills that I learned from my Dad that I'm trying to remember--but there are also a lot of things that I find must be worked out. One example of this is a design that I am hoping t...

 Last week Charity and I did chaplain duty for Family Camp at Claggett Center . It was a great time, and our boys were with us as well as a family friend. It would be amazing to have more families from Southern Maryland at camps--they do amazing work at Claggett Center. With the option of church during the week, and my Sunday mornings open, I have started trail running with a group of people (a couple of them I've known for a while). There's nothing quite like getting up for an early run in nature with a group of fit people to remind you how much work you have yet to do... I started running trails back before the pandemic, and have really enjoyed it. The benefits are that I get to be in nature, the terrain is challenging, but doesn't batter my knees and back like pavement or other impermeable surfaces. However, I admit that I have not run the same trails as this group, nor have I done such a long run as the people in this group regularly run. But, for as difficult as it is,...

 I began sabbatical on Saturday, July 1. Honestly, it took some getting used to... While there weren't a bunch of things vying for my time, we did realize that we were going to need to take our van to the mechanic. This meant that we were going to be without one vehicle until we got the situation resolved. Meanwhile, we have been trying to remain nimble while our street is supposed to be getting paved. This process was supposed to begin on June 19th but has been an extended experience because of weather and now the upcoming holiday on Tuesday (4th of July). However, that is to say that I have dutifully gotten up early each weekday morning to stash our car somewhere in anticipation of road paving that has yet to happen. However! This is to say that I have been able to start some projects and get things together for martial arts training. I'm intending to get into a regular routine after this week because this week is "Family Camp" at Claggett Center. As I mentioned, th...