10.29.2009

sustainable connections run strong and deep


During one of my final weeks at Creque Dam Farm in St. Croix, we had lots of visitors come through for the Bush Skills Rendezvous. One very nice man from Pennsylvania, Kenny Point, stayed the longest. He was very interested and inspired by the R2R program and all the wonderful people on those beautiful 200 acres, and he wrote about it here:

Ridge to Reef for a Sustainable Education

He took the above picture right after Patrick and my presentation on renewable energy (notice the lit bulb in my hand). This makes me miss the island so much....

10.27.2009

build me this by joshua james

This past weekend, I did something that I don't do nearly as often as I should - I went to Grimey's. And even better, I went there with no specific purchase in mind. I left with this:


Build Me This by Joshua James

Take a listen...

Joshua James - "Coal War"








Joshua James - "Pitchfork"








and a B-side from his debut, The Sun Is Always Brighter
Joshua James - "Lovers Without Love"






10.26.2009

divine treehouse

How amazing is the guy who built this? (See lots of pics here)


Horace Burgess, of Crossville, Tenn, built this 97-foot tall, 8,000-10,000 square foot treehouse/church. Inspired by a four-second vision from God, Burgess has dumped 14 years and about $12,000 into the project. And it looks like it was worth it to me.

Who wants to go visit?

Read the story here.

10.22.2009

nintendo expert needed

Like Calvin's mom viewing his violent, self-absorbed behavior while playing with Tinker Toys as a future architect's genius - this Far Side perfectly showcases a parent's selective cognition.

It is also a fantasy I used to have while perfecting my Mario Kart and Zelda skills at a young age. I still, to this day, feel like I should be able to include the feats of my N64 prowess in my current resumé.

The Architect

10.13.2009

it's a magical world

In an effort to actually make myself post something on here despite my busy schedule, AND to begin a new tradition here at EEE (that will last more than a month or two, I hope), I will be posting a Calvin and Hobbes strip from time to time. Other than my fascination with The Far Side, Calvin and Hobbes has been my favorite comic for as long as I can remember. When we look at the world through Calvin's eyes, we see things through the eyes of one of the 20th century's greatest minds. Thank you, Bill Watterson.



10.07.2009

taking care of business

I'm pretty quick with my number 2's. I get in, flip on the bathroom vent, do my business, wash my hands, and get out. I don't dilly-dally.

But guys are supposed to do the exact opposite, says society. The bathroom is man's sacred kingdom, and the toilet is his throne. Lesser kingdoms have risen and fallen in the amount of time one man spends sitting on his throne reading box scores and fantasizing about his fantasy football team, or whatever. Some might say I'm not quite a man, but, while I may not be the most interesting man in the world, I know that my short bathroom visits are simply a product of healthy bowels.

However, while at the office on a work day, my normal bathroom habits are thrown out the window. The bathroom becomes much more than that place I do my business, it becomes a shrine of tranquility - a seat of solitude - a room of rest. Quite literally, a restroom. Normally, I'll catch up on my reading of the 1973 book, Modern Carpentry, or flip indifferently through a 3 year-old issue of OK! Magazine, or I'll just stare blankly at the wall in front of me. I have grown quite fond those few minutes of peace and quiet, without the ominous glow of my computer screen invading my optical nerves, and without the constant stream of emails and phone calls. The bathroom is the only place I can sit and not do any work - or any pretend-work. My boss can't look over my shoulder and scrutinize what I'm doing on the pot. In there, I am free to be myself.

And today, I took that to a whole new level.

This afternoon, while seated on the throne, with my chin resting in my palm, I fell asleep. It only lasted about 5 minutes, but it was just what I needed. And when I awoke, not only did I feel refreshed, but I had taken care of business - like a man.