Too do or not to is the question... whats the answer?

Keep the story going!!

Although the weekly wait is agonizing, it is very exciting. I have to admit that I love the wait, the anticipation.
I’m not one who reads the ending of the book first. I want the suspense, the personal growth, the journey.

The work shown at LumberJocks is all ART and, to me, art comes from the heart and soul. Your words, your story, although hopefully not a common story amongst our fellow woodworkers, symbolizes the heart and soul that people put into their craft.

I think that we all overcome something in order to meet our goals and to create our visions and on that level we can all relate to your journey.

If you choose to just skip the story and go to the end (heaven forbid) I’d still like to receive the story via email! :D

My two cents.
Debbie.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

If you skip ahead, we’ll only make you go back to fill in the missing bits!

I’m not one to peek at the presents under the tree… I like the anticipation, and the slow unfolding of whats to come. What will we have to look forward to once this book is done?

Please keep them coming – that is just my selfish wish. Take, and spend, your time as best you see fit.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Keep at your own pace Dusty, Were with you until the end.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

The whole story Dusty! Please.
The longer the better. If it takes another four years that is fine with me…I’d hate to see it cut short. Our stories are our greatest gift…left unshared they just get lost in history, but shared the simplest acts become channels of growth and healing for us all. Many here have shared their stories in one way or another. This is what makes this place special.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

I was enjoying the journey and am in no hurry to get to the end.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I wouldn’t mind if this was one of them unending stories. I’m not the type of person who’ll sit down, & read a book, but your story has peaked my interest in reading.

Barb told me to say she’d be very disappointed if you didn’t continue. She’s one of your best fans.

Besides that you wouldn’t want to see a little Grandma cry now would you?

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

We don’t just come here to see pictures of woodworking, We come to see the inner working of the heart and sole that go into the woodworking.

The furniture store down the road and an Ikea sale flyer have pictures of furniture. I want to know why something was made and why it’s important to the builder, and to the recipient.

I may say that I’m going to build something like that some day, but I probably won’t. Its not because I don’t want to its all about time and not necessarily about desire.

I also want the project builder to think and know that I like it so well that I’d like something like it in my home. We are not asking them to build 100 of them and pass them out to us. But we’d like to use our own inventiveness to build something like this in our shop.

That why I like the Thorsen Greene and Greene side table challenge. We all see the picture and the size that Popular Woodworking put in their article. But, now its our time to shine and how we want to make this ours. It’s our “Karsons Greene and Greens Side table” or “Dustys Greene and Greene side table” or “Dennis Greene and Greens side table”. It might not look like the original but then the PW version doesn’t look like the original either.

It’s our view of life that makes us what we are. and the things that we do are a part of us, never to be removed, and hopefully never forgotten.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Dusty, my fellow Jocks have said it very well above. I’d be bummed if I quit getting that email update about the new posts. Truth be told, and I’m serious about this, your projects and posts were one of the reasons I decided to join this community. It’s not dribble where I’m concerned.

As long as you personally continue to derive joy and healing from the process of sharing is what really matters. ;-)

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

I want the whole story but I would like to see the end results first. I want to marvel at your work and then read how you got there.

Diane

-- http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/DMarcella/

I’m kinda new here, but certainly keep the story going! One of the things I value most in working with wood is the necessity of patience. Please take your time and do it as you see fit, I have no doubt it will be worth the wait.

-- Jeff, West Linn, OR, http://www.dogwood-design.com

Diane, look at his project posts… you can see bits of the house in the background. It’s really quite remarkable.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Keep the story going please and at your own pace…

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

Dusty…I have been teaching for 10 years…I take pride in my work…and I am very passionate in trying to help young people…I am new to this site. And as a full time teacher with three kids (one just 3 weeks old) I wish I had the time to work and learn about the levels of woodworking that all of you have attained. However that being said—your story must be told! As I am passionate about what I do everyday—-it is clear to me that your story is important. We all have our stories, but some of us were given the gift to tell about it. When I saw this post I finally had to go back and take Dennis’ advice and start reading “This old crack house” I am only up to #5—-but with that far in the story I had to stop and come back to write this—-(with emotion on my sleeve): “Please dont stop!” Let the story come to you. Take your time. Enjoy the process (we usually forget that). But the process—like the journey is where the memory comes from. You are a gifted writer…and I only hope you decide to go on…thank you for including us on your journey…as I go on my own journey I look forward to posting my little projects…and learning along the way with my successes and MANY foibles to come. If we cant share that…I am not sure if it is worth it. Thank you to all for creating this community. We are all from different places…but it has been a very positive experience for me.

-- Matt, Napa, CA...119 days to sanity...

I look forward to each chapter Dusty, you can’t quit now. The end results are great, but it’s the obstacle are what make a story worth it. I for one am willing and wanting to read about every twit, turn, and suprise.

-- remember always measure once and cut twice

Please do not stop Dusty. We want to hear the whole story. I think you should keep going as you have been. I picked up the story lately, so I have to go back and catch up. But, I would not like to see the end now, and then read more about it later. It is like watching the end of the movie first, and then going back to watch the rest to see how you got there.

I agree with someone else about the writing being a good thing for you as well. It will be a release for you, a chance to know why you did things, how you would have done them differently, what you have learned, and how you have grown as a person. It is about the journey, not just the destination.

And, just think, when the blog is finally complete, you will have your story already written for your book. Maybe by then Lumberjocks magazine and LJTV will be publishing and broadcasting your work as an inspiration to many more of us.

Keep going Dusty. There is nothing wrong with being humble, and yet telling your story. This is not for the fame, it is for passing on the learning experiences to others. Just like the old days when a master had an apprentice. We are the apprentices waiting for the knowledge of one who has been there.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

well, there you go—you can’t make Grandma Barb cry!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Every Chapter, every word. You can’t get totally healed if you leave out the parts that caused you to grow into who you are. I want it all. I can wait for the ending, what I cannot do, is sit by and allow you to turn this full length drama into a short story.

If your furniture deserves the 12 step method, do we, your friends, deserve any less?

I’ve copied and saved every chapter so I can read it whenever i want. Failure would be to write suddenly… The End.

Get back in your office and give us the next chapter and quit pissin around. You should know by now that we are waiting for the next nugget, not just the jackpot.

Type, man, Type. If you ever want this to turn into a full length motion picture, you need to get back to work and give your life the importance that it is due.

Well? We’re waiting…

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

Dusty, I am relatively new to LumberJock.com – but I have truly enjoyed following your blog. Please continue! Ultimately, I would like to see pictures of the finished project. Maybe you have already posted them. If so, please provide the link. Mike

My wife records every hour of her favorite soap to make sure she doesn’t miss a word.
Come on, she’s got a Master’s degree.

I love the pictures inserted in the story.Your creativeness is inspiring. I’ve gone back and read every chapter to this blog. We all learn from you. I’ve got a doctorate.

As long as you know where it ends you will get us there. One step at a time.

BTW what is the name of the HGTV show and when will it air?

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Lee,

It is scheduled to air on April 17 at 6:00 et/pt.

The show is called “Look What I Did”

You can check there web page at

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hlwid/episode/0,2756,HGTV_24156_47189,00.html

for more information. It is listed under Minnesota Library.

Thank you for asking

-- Dusty

When all else fails, Dick, Guilt them…

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

I’ve set the TiVo to record it. It does not conflict with my wife’s shows. LOL

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

COOL…we will see a LUMBER JOCK ON TV—-dusty—-make a short blog with this announcement and link—-lets see if their ratings for this show jump due to the LJ’s…now that the number is rising…maybe HGTV will have to make a show called “LumberJocksTV”...

-- Matt, Napa, CA...119 days to sanity...

Dusty, I am sorry I have been away from my computer for the past few days. I recently shared via message with another memeber about an illness I experienced with a child. I found that by sharing with someone else, it helped me grow a little bit more. i think as you may already have that you will find that by writing this you get just as much out of it. We and just as Obi put it, Why would you not give your best for your friends. God Bless, and keep at it, on everything you do.

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

Dusty, everyone else has said it, and I’ll add in…please keep the story going and deliver at your own pace. We will all wait patiently.

-- Erik garagewoodworker.blogspot.com

Love your work… almost seems fictional it is so good… Keep it coming.

Drew

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Drew,

Thank you for the compliment. As far as my work (writing) being good, it simply is me telling the story as it happened. With out the help of a fellow lumber jock with the editing it would merely be words that wouldn’t make sense or mean anything.

I am not a good enough writer to make this up.

Its real. It all has happened as I tell the story.

I think that is what makes it special to others.

I tell it as it is, I open up my heart and soul. That has not been easy for me to open up and expose my raw emotions.

I tend to be on the standoffish side.

Private.

When I first started writing this blog I said I wanted to share my story because it was time to reflect , to move on and began my healing.

That has started.

After the accident with my hand, it was like time became frozen for me.

I stopped living.

I existed.

Barely at that.

It has been very healing for me, to share this with all of you.

I am great full that so many of you have allowed me to share my story. You all have been so encouraging and respectful regarding the human emotions that are so much a part of this story and journey.

If it was simply a remodel job of an old house and a few pieces of some furniture that I had built, so many better qualified, gifted, and talented Lumberjocks would be a better choice to share their projects . There are extraordinarily talented Lumberjocks who practice there crafts , to a such a perfection, that wouldn’t even worthy of sweeping up behind them.

I learn from them.

That is what makes this place (Lumberjocks.com) so special. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have or don’t have in woodworking.

We are all welcome here.

Thank you.

-- Dusty