While I've been muddling along the last half of 2008, my kick-ass brother has been busy converting a CRX into an electric powerhouse. He's always been into cars, racing (his first car was a bitchin' Camaro, after all), and working under the hood since we were in high school. So, the basics were all there. Along the way, he learned to weld, learned all about electric circuits and named it eRex.
I've seen eRex through its phases; a gutted shell, the old pieces removed, the new awaiting a place in their new home. He documented a lot of the steps here.
After all that hard work, he took eRex for its first spin last night! So cool! So inspiring! Way to go, bro!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Muckraker
I'm going to take my father's comment in a positive light (see gabyjones comment to 11/5/08 post). I take it to mean I have similar qualities to Upton Sinclair, Al Gore, Barbara Erinreich, and Nellie Bly. I stand proud in that company.
You can view a definition of "muckraker" here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker See, not too bad :)
You can view a definition of "muckraker" here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker See, not too bad :)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
SOAPBOX ALERT!
some thoughts on my President-elect...
of course, i'm excited about last night's results (see post on 2/4/08 "The Underdog"). yes, i'm totally biased. and i admit that i may not have seen the same strong qualities in a republican as i see in obama. because, in the end, obama is not about a set of environmental policies, he is not about bringing change to washington, he is not about ending war. he is fundamentally about leading a change of the vision we have for and of ourselves as americans. with that shift of vision, all the other platform details and crap in washington will slowly begin to change. we will demand it. and that is why his presidency will be different.
there are always people who want to spend more time blaming than putting their energies into more productive things. nobody with those tactics have ever been visionaries or spurred great things. in all honesty, my support of obama is not really based on his platform.
the energy spurred by obama, the record voter turnouts, the galvanization of the apathetic, the hope on people's faces this morning, are not about him being a democrat. it is his subtext that energizes. our system of democracy has been so bastardized by corporations (taking protections under the Constitution as if they are individuals - e.g. claiming right to free speech), it has become meaningless to the individual. we are living in an environment (financially, ecologically, spiritually) that is simply out of scale with human nature, human needs, the human soul.
obama's subtext is something that is difficult to find a soundbite for. but, simply put, he understands the world on a human scale. he understands that $250,000/year is a LOT of money to the majority of Americans.
no matter his politics, he is a visionary. i would go so far as to say we have not had a visionary in the presidency in my lifetime. and he is a great leader. he knows how to get people on his side. how many red states went blue, for chrissake? and he is able to express his vision; he does not have to rely too heavily on staff writers. i think that's a big part of why his subtext comes through.
honestly, when i look at his platform, i'm not all that in line with some of the details. he's far too right for me. his energy policy is short sighted, like them all. but, i feel calmer with him at the helm. i am SO sick of henny penny scare tactics and juvenile solutions equating to shopping. fear does not build a strong country.
i'm excited to have him as our president, but also a bit scared. i am always a bit scared when my hopes are high. our country is a huge vessel at sea, navigating a glacier field. large vessels respond slowly to a new course. it may be a while before we notice the effects of the new captain at the helm. and there's always those small-minded among us who threaten mutiny even when steered into certain disaster.
can't wait for innaguration!
of course, i'm excited about last night's results (see post on 2/4/08 "The Underdog"). yes, i'm totally biased. and i admit that i may not have seen the same strong qualities in a republican as i see in obama. because, in the end, obama is not about a set of environmental policies, he is not about bringing change to washington, he is not about ending war. he is fundamentally about leading a change of the vision we have for and of ourselves as americans. with that shift of vision, all the other platform details and crap in washington will slowly begin to change. we will demand it. and that is why his presidency will be different.
there are always people who want to spend more time blaming than putting their energies into more productive things. nobody with those tactics have ever been visionaries or spurred great things. in all honesty, my support of obama is not really based on his platform.
the energy spurred by obama, the record voter turnouts, the galvanization of the apathetic, the hope on people's faces this morning, are not about him being a democrat. it is his subtext that energizes. our system of democracy has been so bastardized by corporations (taking protections under the Constitution as if they are individuals - e.g. claiming right to free speech), it has become meaningless to the individual. we are living in an environment (financially, ecologically, spiritually) that is simply out of scale with human nature, human needs, the human soul.
obama's subtext is something that is difficult to find a soundbite for. but, simply put, he understands the world on a human scale. he understands that $250,000/year is a LOT of money to the majority of Americans.
no matter his politics, he is a visionary. i would go so far as to say we have not had a visionary in the presidency in my lifetime. and he is a great leader. he knows how to get people on his side. how many red states went blue, for chrissake? and he is able to express his vision; he does not have to rely too heavily on staff writers. i think that's a big part of why his subtext comes through.
honestly, when i look at his platform, i'm not all that in line with some of the details. he's far too right for me. his energy policy is short sighted, like them all. but, i feel calmer with him at the helm. i am SO sick of henny penny scare tactics and juvenile solutions equating to shopping. fear does not build a strong country.
i'm excited to have him as our president, but also a bit scared. i am always a bit scared when my hopes are high. our country is a huge vessel at sea, navigating a glacier field. large vessels respond slowly to a new course. it may be a while before we notice the effects of the new captain at the helm. and there's always those small-minded among us who threaten mutiny even when steered into certain disaster.
can't wait for innaguration!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Like Breakfast for Dinner
Tonight, we gathered at the home of friends, sat around the television and waited. While we waited, we had the 4-year old's favorite dinner - breakfast! Yummy!
We watched as polygons plastered across a section of the North American Continent were symbolically colored red and blue. There was even an ice rink in New York with the same design. There was a lot of disconcerting red for quite some time. The magic "270" seemed unachievable for over an excruciating hour. Then, after dinner was over and the west coast polls were closed, the announcement was made. We danced in the living room. We celebrated the dawning of a new day.
We cheered as President-Elect Obama gave his acceptance speech shortly thereafter.
Breakfast for dinner was always a childhood treat for me too. This election night is kind of like breakfast for dinner. Nutritionally sound, exciting for its novelty, and oh-so-satisfying!
There is a lot of hard work ahead. I'm fortunate to be well fed! :)
We watched as polygons plastered across a section of the North American Continent were symbolically colored red and blue. There was even an ice rink in New York with the same design. There was a lot of disconcerting red for quite some time. The magic "270" seemed unachievable for over an excruciating hour. Then, after dinner was over and the west coast polls were closed, the announcement was made. We danced in the living room. We celebrated the dawning of a new day.
We cheered as President-Elect Obama gave his acceptance speech shortly thereafter.
Breakfast for dinner was always a childhood treat for me too. This election night is kind of like breakfast for dinner. Nutritionally sound, exciting for its novelty, and oh-so-satisfying!
There is a lot of hard work ahead. I'm fortunate to be well fed! :)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Is that a hippie in a suit?
What do you do when your hippie-husband launches a struggling company and wakes up one morning to find that he's a successful VP? Why, you go shopping, of course.
Now, for those of you already versed in the consumer world, this may be no big deal. But for those of us who Value Village (pronounced Vuh-loo Vi-laj) is the largest department store we enter, the prospect of "dressing for success" is daunting.
It took several trips to the mall (the nastiest 4-letter word!) and one fitting at MWH. We even had a midnight fashion show last night to cull the rifraff and to determine which outfit was the most powerful power suit. (The black suite with b&w striped shirt & shiny black/grey/white tie.) And THAT is how a mild mannered laser man becomes a Super World Class Business Man!
This morning, he departed for a 3 week international business trip; and he LOOKS GOOD! Hopefully he finds all the tags to remove before he gives his presentation on Frdiay :)
Sorry, folks, I had hoped to have pics of the fashion show, but the camera was already packed.
God-speed, sweetie! Knock 'em dead!
Now, for those of you already versed in the consumer world, this may be no big deal. But for those of us who Value Village (pronounced Vuh-loo Vi-laj) is the largest department store we enter, the prospect of "dressing for success" is daunting.
It took several trips to the mall (the nastiest 4-letter word!) and one fitting at MWH. We even had a midnight fashion show last night to cull the rifraff and to determine which outfit was the most powerful power suit. (The black suite with b&w striped shirt & shiny black/grey/white tie.) And THAT is how a mild mannered laser man becomes a Super World Class Business Man!
This morning, he departed for a 3 week international business trip; and he LOOKS GOOD! Hopefully he finds all the tags to remove before he gives his presentation on Frdiay :)
Sorry, folks, I had hoped to have pics of the fashion show, but the camera was already packed.
God-speed, sweetie! Knock 'em dead!
PS - He sent a pic of him in his most powerful Power Suit! Feast your eyes on this!
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Best Day EVER! ... in the whole world!
Thanks to all who helped create a truly magical weekend! We have some great photos we hope to be posting soon. But, we are missing a few "moments." If you happened to capture some good shots, it would be great to see them... email works for us!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Summer Time
I had to post simply for these photos...
I've been busy... planning my wedding & honeymooning, mostly. You can check out all the details at www.after15years.blogspot.com.
This was the MOST amazing rainbow I've ever seen, and right out my back door on August 1st. A full rainbow that spanned the lake. Very unsettled weather that week.
It seems to me that this year's weather is about a month behind. The Farmer's Market's produce was slow to get started; the thunderstorms of early August were more reminiscent of early July; and now a heat wave ("thermal trough" they call it). I think we're in for a summer that lasts easily through September.
I love that thought.
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