Gods of Steer

I don't know about you guys, but I think these things look like giant corn tortillas. Give me a cauldron of menudo or posole and I'd be in heaven. They're actually the skins for my new taiko! I feel like I should give some sort of offering to the gods of steer in thanks for these skins (does anyone know of anything like that?). I don't know much about choosing hides, so I let the good folks at Rolling Thunder do it for me. I heard good things about the rawhide they sourced, and when I called them they were very helpful and sent these things my way. I'd like the drum to be ready for our Big Show in July, but we'll see, especially since I've never skinned a drum before, or even seen a drum get skinned before. But luckily I have the Holy Grail of drum notes, borrowed from Janet:
This book has all the answers. Or at least, it's enough to give me the courage to try to do this on my own. I think the best thing about it was that she was willing to give drum building and skinning a try and she just rolled up her sleeves, jumped in, and gave it a go. It's actually a good read, and it helps that she is very precise (ahem, anal!) and observant (anal!) and exacting (anal!) with pretty little pictures and diagrams which are enormously helpful*:
I can so totally do this.

*I'm anal too. That's why I think it's such a great read. Who else would totally be enthralled by notes about how the radius was more successful when it was at 3/8" larger than the original 1/4", or whatever.