A New Outlook

Yosemite Panorama - Click for full view

There's something about the joy of today and the uncertainty of tomorrow that really puts life decisions in perspective.  My job of 3 years was making me increasingly miserable and something had to give.  Because really, it was just a job, just something I got through each day to make it to the weekend.  I hated it so much I went through phases of depression.  So something did give, I said to hell with this and to hell with putting myself through this all for a paycheck.  I put in my two-week notice and booked my flight for California. The only thing on the agenda was to hike a mountain or two, feel the pacific ocean on my face, and have an In-and-Out burger or 5.

It was simply awe-inspiring to be surrounded by such beautiful nature.  Everything else in life seemed small and meaningless at that moment.  So instead of dwelling on all the bad I left behind, I thought about how free I was from that point forward to pursue what makes me happy and to never allow myself to drown in and put up with BS like that ever again.

My new routine has begun back at home.  A new job and a new outlook on what is to come.  I needed this and I'm grateful for the opportunity.  That's what this picture reminds me of everyday, just how important it is to to never limit yourself and to constantly pursue happiness.

Goodbye 2013

As we approach the end of the year and wrap up the Christmas season, I just want to thank everyone that pops in now and then to see what's happening here. And also for those of you who comment and become a part of the conversation.  It's always great to hear from you.  I'm excited about all the new connections I've made and can't wait to see what 2014 brings for all of us.  Have a wonderful New Year!

Dust of Snow

All about the Winter poems this time of year!  It's crispy outside and I love it!

Eddie's House: Frank Lloyd Wright

Transcript

June 19, 1956

Dear Mr. Wright

I am a boy of twelve years. My name is Jim Berger. You designed a house for my father whose name is Bob Berger. I have a paper route which I make a little bit of money for the bank, and for expenses.

I would appreciate it if you would design me a dog house, which would be easy to build, but would go with our house. My dog's name is Edward, but we call him Eddie. He is four years old or in dog life 28 years. He is a Labrador retriever. He is two and a half feet high and three feet long. The reasons I would like this dog house is for the winters mainly. My dad said if you design the dog house he will help me build it. But if you design the dog house I will pay you for the plans and materials out of the money I get from my route.

Respectfully yours,

Jim Berger

Transcript

Dear Jim:

A house for Eddie is an opportunity. Someday I shall design one but just now I am too busy to concentrate on it. You write me next November to Phoenix, Arizona and I may have something then.

Truly yours,

Frank Lloyd Wright

Transcript

Dear Mr Wright

I wrote you June 19, 1956 about designing my dog Eddie a dog house to go with the house you designed for my dad. You told me to write you again in November so I ask you again, could you design me a dog house.

Respectfully yours,

Jim Berger

(Sources: Architizer & Deborah Wright; Image: Frank Lloyd Wright, via Wikimedia.And Letters of Note)

Eddie's House was a doghouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Berger family of San Anselmo, California, to be used by their dog Eddie. Wright designed Eddie's House to be in keeping with the family's home, known as the Robert Berger House, which he had previously designed. The plans for the doghouse were completed by Wright in 1957, and the four square foot triangular house was built in 1963. In 1973 Eddie's House was removed and thrown away, but in 2010 Jim and Eric Berger, sons of Robert Berger, rebuilt Eddie's House from the original plans for a segment in Romanza, a documentary film by Michael Miner about Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural works in California. The doghouse remains the smallest structure Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed. (here)

Information about FLW:  here

Porteur Bars

I've had my Porteur Bars from Velo Orange for about a year and a half now.  I like them a lot and find the seat position comfortable even for the longer hauls.  I would highly suggest giving your commuter a new fresh feeling by changing up your bars.  Instead of blowing all your cash at Philly's new Shake Shack, buy something more fun.  Then buy me a burger.

Sidenote: I'm not a HUGE top-tube-pad person, but I like mine to keep my sparkle-fleck paint f r e s h. 

Every now and then I stumble upon something really cool.  Never before has story writing piqued my interests like this.  I'm sure it's been done, been blogged and written about a million times, but it's news to me and I absolutely love it.  -->

The Ministry of Stories is super fascinating and can only really get justice by following this link and reading some of the stories written.  While the idea may have bloomed in the states, a store like this one has never been done before.  If I'm wrong, link me!  Sharing the roof with the Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, these two interesting endeavors thrive.

 The team at We Made This Ltd. is pulling off some of the coolest designs for their shop and the Ministry of Stories.  Behind the bookcases of goods is the entrance into the MoS:

There is a short BBC write-up and video about the business.  You can view it here.  

Oh, right, I forgot to mention that this is across the pond in London.  

My dad works for Proctor & Gamble.  He always makes it a point to buy products that he more or less contributed to and asks that people in his family do the same.  So Bounty paper towels, Charmin toilet paper and Tide are the go-to products in his house.  On the same token, yes it is nice to support your own company and yourself, I, like many students, do not feel that it is necessary to spend away our hard earned and hard-to-come-by money on name-brand products.  So instead of the, "Geeze dad, that is just too expensive...but if you, but it for my I will use it..." I can just buy the stupid detergent without regret.  It may seem silly, talking about all of this name-brand product mambo jumbo, but it is something that has recently been brought to my attention and I will tell you why.  P&G spends millions of dollars on Tide marketing and advertising.  This is one of their most popular brands.  After making the product, telling y'all about it, and selling it (or trying to) the revenue is not that great.  Maybe a like hitting a triple, but not quite the home run--what the generic brands have been hitting.  So now Tide comes out with Basic, the exact same thing in the orange bottle or box and Wal-Mart or some other monster has some competition with their generic detergent versus Basic.  Instead of copying some of Tide's ingredients or, well I'll just say it, powers, and stealing all of its branding and advertising powers,  Wal-Mart now has another kid on the block.  I love it, bam!  Suck it Wal-Mart!  Well, the story doesn't end there.  P&G didn't want Tide Basic to seem like it was falling short in terms of quality compared to original Tide, so they came out with Cheer.  It's cheaper, I'll buy it and it makes my clothes smell yummy.  So it's a win-win.  You're welcome dad, it's the little things, bye Tide Basic, hellloooo Cheer, suck it Wal-Mart(!) and do your laundry.