The Dark Water Hymnal Records Again!

We spent 13 hours recording our next album, Chandeliers, last Sunday. 13 hours, and we're not even half-way done. Below is a pic of Brandon (bass, piano, percussion) strategizin' to go on and get his folk on. Check out our website to see who we are (or, who we were last year).

Hop Harvest

Oh, happy day! The first hop cones are mature and ready for harvest. There are several others still on the vine, and lots more just starting to bud. I think it's a race: will the cones mature before the Texas heat completely withers the vine? Stay tuned to find out!

Formulas for Sailing Town Lake

I know it's Lady Bird Lake now, but I don't know if I'll ever get used to it.
I shirked canoe building for a day of sailing the Colorado River in the Sunfish. The Sunfish is a 13ft. sailboat built in '68 with 1 sail , and I'm only going to have it for the rest of the summer, then our friend and part-owner (and person housing the boat) wants her garage back. We're going to miss the old boat- lots of great memories; hopefully we can make some more before she's gone.
Today I made it from Fiesta Shore to Red Bud Island in under an hour. It only took 4 hours to tack 50,000 times to get back. The wind was gusty and tricky, shifting from east to south and back constantly. It made navigating around all those canoe/kayak/paddle board renters an adventure, and the rowers kept eyeing me anxiously. The bridges were the worst: for both 1st street and IH-35 I had to take down the sail and paddle through. It was a great day, and I learn something every time I go out. For instance, if there is little wind and things are calm, open a Dale's Pale Ale. It's like washing your car to make it rain. The wind gods take notice when you are fumbling to control the rudder with one hand and using your other hand and both feet for the main sheet and cracking open a beer.
I have thus created "Captain Hammer's Proofs and Postulates for Sailing Town Lake (or Lady Bird Lake). Some are universal to sailing, but some are specific to sailing Town Lake in a kick ass sunfish:

1) sail area x wind speed = velocity of your sailboat

2) bottles of water imbibed /opportunities you'll have on your trip to pee = how many beers you can have

3) degrees Fahrenheit x number of the day (Monday being 1, Sunday being 7) / the Sunfish constant = how many times some kayak cutie will see the Sunfish and say "That's, like, awesome!"

I Hate to Waste

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate to waste things- I have screws and washers from things I took apart 9 years ago.
So, I'm sitting here at work looking out the window, watching all this wind go by, and I don't have a damn thing with which to catch it...
All wasted.

Things I Have Learned

Been busy: wedding, bachelor weekend, another San Diego trip, etc, etc, no excuses, I'm a slacker. I have some catching up to do- on the canoe and on the blog. Canoe work will continue this weekend (the boy is leaving for scout camp, and I'm taking Monday off. Perfect weekend to work). Blog catch up: things I've learned since last post

1. caterpillars like peppers
2. it only takes some rented tuxes and a thousand dollar camera to make you and your friends look like Reservoir Dogs bad asses
3. it only takes one asparagus spear to make my pee smell weird

Pictures I've taken since last post:

1. huge sailboat in San Diego bay; the one in the middle is at least twice the size as your average boat (black sail)
2. inside Enchanted Rock cave
3. "Pepe, the Pepper Eating Caterpillar". That bastard was as big as a finger after decimating my serranos.
4. Groomsmen at Lee's wedding. I'm second from the left, Mr. Blonde. Which Reservoir Dog are you? Find out.