The other day Holly brought home a printed copy of the book layout. Today we took it to her mom’s work and borrowed their binding machine. It feels neat to hold it and know I made it. I looked at it at dinner last night before it was bound, and thought – If I saw this on a bookstore shelf, not only would I buy it I’d also be impressed with the illustrations. That makes me feel good.

This is just a copy for me to look at and find corrections I need to make, without having to sit in front of the computer. I spend too much time sitting at the computer staring at a monitor, as I’ve mentioned here many times before (I complain using the very computer I complain about… fuck you irony). These days I look forward to having things to read that aren’t on an LCD display. Earlier today I had to call and renew my Timber Framer’s Guild membership, and they asked me if I’d like to save $10 annually by receiving their regular publications (Timber Framing, and Scantlings) via email, instead of in print form. I explained to them as well that I look forward to staring at anything other than a monitor, and although I could really use the $10 I would prefer to still get them in print form.

I then explained to the woman from the guild that I have never received any of the publications I should have, and asked her to check my contact info. It was all incorrect despite numerous emails between myself and the guild rep last year. It also turned out I had expired almost 6 months ago. The lady was kind, and fixed all my info then renewed my membership for free. She’s even sending me a few back issues of Scantlings she still has copies of (which I should have already received a long time ago).

I’m excited to finally get them since their full of great industry related info, and neat things I’ve yet to learn. It’s also one of the first places I read about how useful Sketchup could be for the timber framer. Perhaps one day I’ll read about myself in Scantlings. Oooooh.

When she was updating my info, the lady from the guild asked if I was currently employed as a timber framer. I said I wasn’t, but that I was working on a timber framing text book. She said “Oh, well then I’ll put you in the directory as a PROFESSIONAL.”. I said “Fucking right I’m professional, have you seen my Kill/Death ratio?”, then I spin kicked a boulder into a statue of myself banging aliens and saving the universe.

So far since Holly brought it home it hasn’t left my side, and I doubt a single person has managed to visit us without being forced to feign interest after I shove it in their face. So be warned. If you are one of the lucky few invited to attended the birthday bash in honour of everyone’s favourite nine year old tango neutralizer, you can expect to suffer the same fate.