"One of the things in my life that I don't want to miss"
Horst Blessing
During a visit of my in-laws in Michigan, 15 years ago, I looked at a book about beautiful wooden canoes, made out of cedar strips. Since then I had the vision of building one of those beauties. Being back at work in Germany, tied up in work, and not really knowing how to get started with this project, this idea went really way down on my personal list. Then, 10 years later, when I had internet access, I found lots of stories about people who built a canoe in their garage. So I walked down to my garage, measured its dimensions, and ordered a plan and materials for a canoe that would barely fit into this space. It fit in diagonally and left about a foot on each end in the corners for me to pass by. And then exciting work started. I spent almost each weekend and many after work hours in my garage for about 2 and a half months. During that time I learned quite a lot about hull structure stability, making wooden joints, bending wood with steam, laminating glass fiber/epoxy covers, and how hard this work must have been 100 years ago, when there were no power tools for sanding and cutting. During that time I also learned to know my neighbors better than I would have ever done. The pure fact that I was starting to create and shape something beautiful, very visibly for everybody attracted many who wanted to be part of it and see it grow. So I had company for most of the time providing a lot of helpful comments.
Finally, the job was done, and my wife and I took the canoe to Sweden for its fire baptism.
The work I invested, and the patience my wife had with me, paid out by many times. Since then we have been very proud canoe owners and are enjoying being marveled at when we take it for a trip on the lake.
This experience is one of the things in my life that I don't want to miss.
If you have a dream, don't wait too long to make it come true.
And here is a picture of the proud craftman with his cedar strip canoe.
Euskirchen, Germany
Loafer's #4, August 1995
Front side of the magazine that goes in either direction. Andrew Clason's Loafitorial on the 50th anniversary of the Hiroshima Bombing; Over-rated and Under-rated by Frank Portelli; where Jon Pyle roams; "Cat Food" comic by John Schilling; Urshgur's reflection on the poverty of grad school life; John and Karin tell us all a fable; Andy's "A man had a dream and the dream was corn" postcard; John Lund on the shit of marriage, and more on other side. Cover of happy dog by John Schilling.
Loafer's Magazine
"No Skepticism"
#13 Spring 2005
Your Host Peter Schilling Jr.
Master O' Ceremonies Andrew Clason
Editors, for lack of a better word Peter Schilling Jr.
Andrew Clason
Featuring Fodlund Family Circus
Tron John Schilling
Iron Chef Minnesota Janice Rideout
Inaugural Weenie H.R.H. George W. Bush
CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE:
Gabe Angieri
Paul Bernstein
Horst Blessing
Claudio Cambon
Chippendale G.O.P
Andrew Clason
Todd Clason
Andrew Dugas
Abhay Ghiara
Kim Greene
Tom Loretto
Reuben Saltzman
Janice Rideout
Pamela Rosengard
John Schilling
Peter Schilling Jr.
but no
Kurt Schmidt
as always, Mix D. Mixford President and Spirtual Guide
Massages Lesley Pearl
music gratefully provided by John Ashcroft
Entertainment and an unfinished Kitchen Wade & Kimberly
The Best Ding Writer You Done Never Heard Of John Fante
New Dogs on the Block: Margot
Newton (no relation to Gingrich)
Callie
Reese
the other Greyhound
Cosmo
During a visit of my in-laws in Michigan, 15 years ago, I looked at a book about beautiful wooden canoes, made out of cedar strips. Since then I had the vision of building one of those beauties. Being back at work in Germany, tied up in work, and not really knowing how to get started with this project, this idea went really way down on my personal list. Then, 10 years later, when I had internet access, I found lots of stories about people who built a canoe in their garage. So I walked down to my garage, measured its dimensions, and ordered a plan and materials for a canoe that would barely fit into this space. It fit in diagonally and left about a foot on each end in the corners for me to pass by. And then exciting work started. I spent almost each weekend and many after work hours in my garage for about 2 and a half months. During that time I learned quite a lot about hull structure stability, making wooden joints, bending wood with steam, laminating glass fiber/epoxy covers, and how hard this work must have been 100 years ago, when there were no power tools for sanding and cutting. During that time I also learned to know my neighbors better than I would have ever done. The pure fact that I was starting to create and shape something beautiful, very visibly for everybody attracted many who wanted to be part of it and see it grow. So I had company for most of the time providing a lot of helpful comments.
Finally, the job was done, and my wife and I took the canoe to Sweden for its fire baptism.
Loafer's #4, August 1995