Never Going to Work - Merde!

After I don't know how many hours of fiddling with the second paddle project, I've come to terms with the fact that it's never going to work. Just spent 2 hours ripping away excess wood with a new belt sander. Despite all the effort, it's too heavy, awkward looking, just not even, and would take many hours more of hard labor to "finish". A wise old woodworker I know looked at it many months ago and told me so. He said the lumberyard sold me the wrong wood (some kind of heavy fir instead of aged sitka spruce) that would always be very tough to work with. So since I can't make it work with either hand or power tools and it's still looking like crap, I think he was right. I'm giving up on this one. Not even itnerested in finishing it crudely as decor, as it would still take many hours of frustrating slavery. A waste.... Might be a long time before I try again, but next time only primo western red cedar for me again! Meantime, Big Al, my original DIY Aleut paddle, still works and looks like a prize. Beginner's luck?