Magnificent detail, dreamlike subject matter, and a whole lot of color. what could be better than that. not much.

See photos here.

I think I first attempted this post when half asleep. Couldn’t figure out how to post the NYC article….but oh well. The satisfaction is in the images themselves.

Sunday, on the way back from the outer fringes of the Hill Country…we listened to the Moth on D’s ipod. Talk about weighty subjects/ experiences…we listened to five in a row…I had to cry, at least once…maybe more. Such horror… mixed with such beauty….most (but not all) were sublime.

What the stories began to illustrate for overall me: the importance of the individual’s triumph over personal tragedy. Horrific things happen, but how does or how can one move beyond?

and…the importance of a well told story/experience. the art of communication/sharing can never be undervalued.

a long dry spell for new posts (but not the longest). Per the blog, I haven’t written one since March…and it’s practically August?! As usual I blame the heat, and life, and other online pursuits (for better or worse I started yet another blog today….it is such a horrible addiction…this one is work related though…it will be interesting to see if it survives).

but I’m pretty sure it’s the flu. I feel horrible. I can’t remember when I last had it…but it is soooo not fun. (I am a pro at stomach illnesses, but this is flu thing is not my forte) Especially when there’s work to be done. But today I couldn’t handle it. I had to go home early and rest up. Blahh. In other happier news, the pecans are finally starting to show some leafage! And the chinaberry and lantana blossoms smell amazing…especially on warm nights. I’m off to find more tissues.

Bummer! Oh well. Matthew Rodriguez brought it twice, maybe he’ll go for a third.

this evening, in the living room, under Doon’s paw (good boy!).

Summer must be on its way!

What is the world coming to?

I took this yesterday afternoon. The photo looks like a crisp winter day, but it felt like summer.

Most trees around the neighborhood have started budding and producing quite a bit of greenery, alas the Pecans-which are in the above photo, are usually the last of the bunch to turn green.

I don’t know who they are, but I love the game.

Since I’m not in SF at present, I don’t have any first hand info about this, but a little surfing on the web reveals some scattered clues. I know there is a beautiful map, and a radio frequency at the top of Dolores Park. And other things…that you have to go find yourself….unless people are twittering about it. I will have to wait until May–then I can take a walk and go find out for myself. Maybe.

Thanks to Bran Van for the tip!

It had been well over a year since my last trip to Marfa, but this past weekend I made the trek west again. And what a trek it was. Getting there, and then the Chinati Hot Springs, felt like traveling to the edge of the earth on a desolate gravel road (well, at least for the last hour of the drive that was true). But such beauty and pure isolation are worth it.

And it seems Marfa never disappoints. One of the surprises on this last visit was coming upon a performance by Sandman, the rappin cowboy in a kitchen at a house party. awesome! I recommend checking him out if he comes to a house/venue near you. (I think he was in Marfa because the annual Cowboy Poetry festival was happening in Fort Davis that weekend-kinda sad I missed it).

Most of these photos were taken in and around the Chinati Hot Springs.

From Chinati Hot Springs and Environs

I don’t know who or what this is for. Just came across it the other day. The only items I can make out are the leather gloves and red roses, surrounded by bricks…no other clues.

?

Touching nonetheless.

As of last Monday, I began seeing green buds on a few species of trees in the neighborhood. …and then a few days later blossoms on some other trees near Lady Bird Lake. Nothing on the pecans that surround my house yet. But hopefully soon.

I made a salad on Sunday evening that included lettuce I harvested from my own garden (though “garden” is an over statement….3 large pots with some vegetables growing in them is more like it) All I can say is that it’s a start.

I wish I had something more interesting to post about (not that plant life isn’t important or entertaining to some)….I just feel really in between things and kind of blah. Between people, projects, and future plans. Not on a clear path, kind of off to the side. Which is fine, since sometimes I often feel I am on the path, moving at light speed, and that gets old after awhile too. I’ve just had a few of those “what am I doing with my life” moments this week. and those can cast doubt. I worry about how long I can do what I do. Physically, it just isn’t sustainable.

Thank goodness for the buds on the trees, those give me hope!

It’s always strange when you see something you’re familiar with portrayed in a mashed up sound bite. Say for example your boss talking about a project you worked on. Check out the video clip here. The newswoman says something along the lines of “this architect designs houses to the clients request, to the constraints of the site/lot, and around trees. Which is true….but she’s saying it like that’s something unique to our firm, which it isn’t. It’s what architects who design houses do. Maybe she’s confusing architects with developers? and she says everything with such knowing confidence…. I could never be a news reporter.

the real unique thing is that we’re a design build firm…and that’s why it takes 3+ years to complete one house.

how bout them guardrails?

not a lolcat, but still so funny (to me)

+

this

=

this

Coming across this on my dog walk earlier today made my morning. So well worn and broken in…and in such a prominent location, and so…unexpected.

From MISC