Joel's first update!
Well, I suppose I need to chip in here and make my first official blog-post. It'll be interesting to see what form this blog takes. Other blogs have interesting conversations about nothing in general, others chronicle their amazing travels, and many write about their interesting jobs. Who knows, maybe ours will consist of all three (can't promise how interesting it will be though!). As for now, I'll start with an update of sorts.
Sadie and I are doing great and we're having a busy winter, which is a bit of an oddity. Normally the past few winters we had every weekend open to do something new and different, but it seems like this winter so far is very similar to our summers...every weekend booked in advance! But that's a good thing too, as it keeps up organized and we've been able to visit a lot of friends and family and travel many places locally. Sadie's work is going well-- it's great to see her in a role that she's so talented at. And beyond that, it's always interesting to hear about her company--which is a smaller corporation. Comparing and contrasting between our two organizations is always interesting and eye-opening. But suite very unique business-needs. Work is going well on my end, busy as usual and everyday is interesting. I'm in an analyst role, so I enjoy looking at the problems that have never been looked into before---I enjoy those situations where I can use innovation to address the problem. Often times the same method is used to look at something, so it's refreshing (and challenging) to take a look at it from outside the box. The other job tasks that constrict you to look at things from inside that little box are a little more frustrating, and at times offset the fun I'm having outside of that box (in our business I guess I could call it looking outside the corrugate!).
In addition to the day job I've been dabbling in a few things. Wax benches somehow blew up this year, and what had started as selling 2 extra ones on EBay has flourished into a small industry. It's amazing to me the global audience there is on something like Ebay. It truly is becoming a world market. Wax benches are an odd commodity, because it's one of those rare things that hasn't been mass-produced in China to the point where the price hits a floor and it sticks there. Benches are mostly a locally-produced and home-produced item, so I guess by EBay-ing I've opened the door to a more national market. So far this season I've shipped to Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington. Crazy stuff. As I've refined the design a little more I have less to experiment with, so some parts are becoming more tedious, so we'll see how long I keep doing it. I may just outsource that tedious stuff. It funded a few new tools too, replacing some that I burned out producing benches, and adding a few that will make the job quicker and more professional, and next year will allow making the benches even nicer and handier to use (a high-end router!).
In other circles, I also started finishing one our friends' basement and it's going exceptionally well (the above is a 'before demo' picture...not after!). I'm more than half-way done. I miss using my hands and using my head in a different arena like that. Back at SJU, I was a handy-man of sorts during the day for work study, and it reminds me a lot of that. There is something about creating stuff with your hands and problem-solving in those situations that is indescribable. Maybe that's what artists feel like. It's definitely an abstract way to look at it, but building something large like that is canvas of sorts. It'll always be there, I'll always be able to take pride in it, and its something I love to do. I like working those small details that no-one else would notice or appreciate...I suppose that's how furniture makers felt (before everything was mass-produced) .
Outside of our work, we have plenty happening too. Bosco is probably the main event there. He continues to be a great dog--always adding some excitement and he has a personality that always keeps you upbeat...and always watching him with one eye!. I can tell winter isn't his favorite time of year. He'd much prefer going on two runs a day and spending the weekends swimming somewhere. The advantage of the winter though is when we do get out for runs he can go an incredible distance when the weather is cold. In the summer 6 miles is probably his limit for one run--otherwise he is too hot. This winter he's done 10 miles with me, and 5 miles with Sadie in the same afternoon and barely broke a sweat (in fact I think he was wild that night!). Bosco and I have to get out and go skijoring too--that's on my list. I'm sure he would have a ball.
House stuff...we have a list of things lets just say. 2008 will be a busy year for work at home too! Basement bathroom, a deck, a new roof, re-doing the bathroom upstairs, and re-doing our hardwood floors are all on the list. We'll see which ones we get to check off.
Well, Bosco is getting antsy for a run, so I should go. Hope all is well with everyone! Take care for now.
Sadie and I are doing great and we're having a busy winter, which is a bit of an oddity. Normally the past few winters we had every weekend open to do something new and different, but it seems like this winter so far is very similar to our summers...every weekend booked in advance! But that's a good thing too, as it keeps up organized and we've been able to visit a lot of friends and family and travel many places locally. Sadie's work is going well-- it's great to see her in a role that she's so talented at. And beyond that, it's always interesting to hear about her company--which is a smaller corporation. Comparing and contrasting between our two organizations is always interesting and eye-opening. But suite very unique business-needs. Work is going well on my end, busy as usual and everyday is interesting. I'm in an analyst role, so I enjoy looking at the problems that have never been looked into before---I enjoy those situations where I can use innovation to address the problem. Often times the same method is used to look at something, so it's refreshing (and challenging) to take a look at it from outside the box. The other job tasks that constrict you to look at things from inside that little box are a little more frustrating, and at times offset the fun I'm having outside of that box (in our business I guess I could call it looking outside the corrugate!).
In addition to the day job I've been dabbling in a few things. Wax benches somehow blew up this year, and what had started as selling 2 extra ones on EBay has flourished into a small industry. It's amazing to me the global audience there is on something like Ebay. It truly is becoming a world market. Wax benches are an odd commodity, because it's one of those rare things that hasn't been mass-produced in China to the point where the price hits a floor and it sticks there. Benches are mostly a locally-produced and home-produced item, so I guess by EBay-ing I've opened the door to a more national market. So far this season I've shipped to Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington. Crazy stuff. As I've refined the design a little more I have less to experiment with, so some parts are becoming more tedious, so we'll see how long I keep doing it. I may just outsource that tedious stuff. It funded a few new tools too, replacing some that I burned out producing benches, and adding a few that will make the job quicker and more professional, and next year will allow making the benches even nicer and handier to use (a high-end router!).In other circles, I also started finishing one our friends' basement and it's going exceptionally well (the above is a 'before demo' picture...not after!). I'm more than half-way done. I miss using my hands and using my head in a different arena like that. Back at SJU, I was a handy-man of sorts during the day for work study, and it reminds me a lot of that. There is something about creating stuff with your hands and problem-solving in those situations that is indescribable. Maybe that's what artists feel like. It's definitely an abstract way to look at it, but building something large like that is canvas of sorts. It'll always be there, I'll always be able to take pride in it, and its something I love to do. I like working those small details that no-one else would notice or appreciate...I suppose that's how furniture makers felt (before everything was mass-produced) .Outside of our work, we have plenty happening too. Bosco is probably the main event there. He continues to be a great dog--always adding some excitement and he has a personality that always keeps you upbeat...and always watching him with one eye!. I can tell winter isn't his favorite time of year. He'd much prefer going on two runs a day and spending the weekends swimming somewhere. The advantage of the winter though is when we do get out for runs he can go an incredible distance when the weather is cold. In the summer 6 miles is probably his limit for one run--otherwise he is too hot. This winter he's done 10 miles with me, and 5 miles with Sadie in the same afternoon and barely broke a sweat (in fact I think he was wild that night!). Bosco and I have to get out and go skijoring too--that's on my list. I'm sure he would have a ball.House stuff...we have a list of things lets just say. 2008 will be a busy year for work at home too! Basement bathroom, a deck, a new roof, re-doing the bathroom upstairs, and re-doing our hardwood floors are all on the list. We'll see which ones we get to check off.Well, Bosco is getting antsy for a run, so I should go. Hope all is well with everyone! Take care for now.
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