OF SOULS + WATER: THE MOTHER
The second episode of that work-sponsored video project I’m tangentially associated with launched over the weekend. This one feels more…authentic than the first. And it’s a bit more accessible to us normal humans who don’t spend their days dropping waterfalls or circumnavigating arctic islands.

Quick story: There was a library director I used to have to deal with—let’s call her “Brenda”—who was supremely capricious. She’d order one thing on a Monday, and then totally contradict herself on Tuesday. When called on it, she’d reply, “You have to understand, I’m old and I forget things.” My direct boss—we’ll call her “Merle”—is a good decade Brenda’s senior. When Merle heard that Brenda was attempting to use age as justification for being a terrible manager, Merle’s immediate reaction was, “Well, then she should quit! She has no business being in charge of anything if she’s going to claim her age is an issue.” (I’m paraphrasing a bit, as there’s a good chance there was some farmyard coloring to the original quote.)

Is this story a total non sequitur? Maybe.

OF SOULS + WATER: THE NOMAD
The first episode of that work-sponsored video project I’m tangentially associated with launched over the weekend. The aim was to produce a paddling video that wasn’t your average paddling video. I think they succeeded. There’ll be four more, and having seen The Mother (due out in late May), I think you’ll like that one even more.

That said, after seeing this, all I can think of is this: Erik Boomer — He’s so hot right now!

OF SOULS + WATER: THE TEASER
This is a NRS project I’m tangentially associated with (well, maybe not after tomorrow—I screwed up big with its release schedule today), but job or no job, this whole video series is shaping up to be pretty sweet.

It’s a break from the usual gratuity of paddle sports videos, and instead is meant to tell the stories of five different people with the common thread being water.

Do me a solid (and help me save my job)? Reblog and/or pass this video around to others who might find it interesting. Much obliged.

How we spent our morning. Nathan sobbed the entire time until he passed out (poor boy). And the girls are now soliciting for a “real” boat fund.

Many thanks to our kind and generous neighbors Brian and Sharon for humoring our demanding little masses.

Update: there’s a short video of Christina on the kneeboard here.

So I got back from Dan’s (re)wedding (more on that later) and promptly bought a used canoe.

Sidebar #1: I love craigslist. I know I’m late to that party, but seriously.

Why a canoe? None of the kids are old enough to come on a river trip yet, which is kinda a bummer.

Sidebar #2: did I mention that I get two (2!) river trips this summer? I believe the proper blogging term to put here is “squee!”

Anyhoo—back to the canoe: I realized a few months ago that I was about Amber’s age when my family came into semi-permanent possession of a canoe. My dad would take the kids out on the local reservoir (which I’m sure, in retrospect, was an attempt to give my mother some Saturday peace). I have little doubt that my love of the water, and my relative comfort on the water, comes from these early experiences. And do I want my kids also enamored with the thought of propelling themselves around in plasticy boats? Yes. Yes I do.

Hence the canoe.

Tonight was the maiden voyage; based on the faces you see above, my plans seem to be working splendidly.