I got Seth Godin’s blog blurb in my inbox today. He mentioned some books by McWade and a couple other authors. I looked up McWade’s stuff on Amazon and decided I had a hankering for Before and After Business Graphics. Then my wife Mary pointed out after dinner that I had a sweet coupon for Barnes & Noble that was expiring today. Get in the car lady. I gotta go spend $20 to save five bucks, now!
No joy at the bookstore. They had another McWade book, and it looked really good too, but book discipline prevailed, for once, and I went home empty-handed.
Then I found his site, then his YouTube channel, and this fantastic video about making quick and dirty logos, that are actually quite professional and elegant. Next time you need something for an event or project show this video to your designer. Then get out of the way.
Cleaning out some “filed” emails I came across this one from almost three years ago. Better than late than never I’m posting another project by my Mom. In her own words:
Hi Tracy,
When I was talking to you about making the jean purse and items for Paris and Mars, I mentioned that I had also picked up a pair of embroidered jeans that I was going to make something out of for Ally for Christmas. I finally got around to finishing it up this morning, so as you said to do – I took a picture. Read the rest of this entry »
Mars just finished another week at Rock Academy here in Asheville. At the finale concert the kids tore the roof off with an eclectic mix eight cover songs. Mars recommended this Riptides cover from their instrumental record Mental Therapy. Very surf rock and I love it. Notice Mars’s attention to stage presence. He’s fun to watch, because he looks like he’s having fun.
The kids also did a great cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon.” Dig the laid back drum solo around the two minute mark. That kid rocks steady! Mars was not in this one. Read the rest of this entry »
And oh yeah, riding horses. This is Paris riding at my parents’ neighbors’ joint. Now owned by Hampton University.
An evening stroll at Buckroe Beach. I have fond memories of the amusement park that was still there when I was a kid.
Fireworks finale from Fort Monroe. My parents live on Mill Creek directly across the water from where the fireworks are launched. Always a good view.
Osprey nest over on the Fort Monroe side of Mill Creek. My lady loves the birds, especially raptors.
Boating on Mill Creek with the yacht my dad and uncle recently bought. We usually canoe but considering the heat I didn’t mind the motor.
Saturday morning before we left Mars and checked out the hot rods at a car show in Asheville. I’ll do another post with some pics.
Friday before we the trip Mars and his friends at Rock Academy put on a show. The one song I didn’t capture in its entirely, tragically, was Mars singing (what??!?) “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead. I need to post this on Imheavyduty.com too.
That’s my dad! Usually the dude is busy doing things for other people, but once in a while he cranks out a project for himself. He makes it seem easy to make this copper sunflowers sculpture, and for him it probably was. He’s got the gear, and the skills. Dad used a nibbler to cut everything out but you can definitely use a bandsaw with the right blade or maybe even a jigsaw. Snips? I doubt it, with copper this thick. Once he had all the pieces fabbed up he used an oxy-acetylene torch to braze everything together.
We love the waterfalls in NC. The falls at Dupont Forest are some of our favorites, and they’re close to Asheville. These videos are from “High Falls” which is at the top of the park. As a special treat we had some extra family members with us yesterday, Jolly, Phil, Ellie and Dillon.
On the other side of the falls there is a sweet looking natural slide. There were some college-age kids zooming down it but I didn’t manage to catch them in motion. It looked like it was hard on the backside, but worth the pain. Well, maybe at that age.
Bye bye Mr. President. I hardly got know you. POTUS Obama and posse left just in time for him to deliver a eulogy at the memorial service for the 29 men that died in the coal mining accident earlier this month in West Virginia.
Those drivers really put the “motor” in motorcade. Hammer down through my neighborhood. My house is just a few doors down from this intersection. Once they started closing streets everyone figured they were about to depart. It turned into a regular block party. My (favorite) neighbor, who will remain nameless walked back to her house and mixed up some mimosas for the adults and lemonade for kiddos. Here’s to you President Obama. Don’t be a stranger.
P.S. Thumbs up for the Asheville Police Department, at least the guys at this intersection. They were, very, serious when it was called for, but the rest of the time they were chatting with the crowd and giving out various APD trinkets to the all the kids.
My daughter caught this on the Flip cam. Jump to the end to see President Obama tee off, then speak to us as he drove by. This is the golf course at Grove Park Inn. The tee is right by our back yard. We get to hear people yell “fore” and less polite things all day.
Then Paris walked down a few houses to catch him again. Unfortunately, that’s when he decided to walk back to our group and shake hands with everybody. So Mars and I got the introduction and handshake, but no video. Paris gets a handshake in the video below, but only her hand is on camera. ;) Fun day.
In the video above our house is just beyond the trees on the golf course. This is a roundabout path to the Grove Park Inn.
The Obamas enjoy some fine dining at 12 Bones just down the street from my office downtown. I love how after he orders The President says “you’ll call our number or something?”
If I’d hung around the house a little later today I would have gotten to see the motorcade go down my street.
Around 6 PM tonight four patrol cars parked in front of my office building with their lights flashing. Our balcony overlooks Pritchard Park. I was SURE the boss was going to come check out the regular Friday night drum circle. I would have had a perfect view from the balcony, but alas, they eventually got back in their cars and drove off. Change of plans I guess.
My neighbor down the street, very nice home, has a large sign on their picket fence: “We weeded our garden for the Obamas. Welcome to Grove Park.” I’ll mow my grass tomorrow.
I recorded this interview with my uncle, Robin Sigler, on Christmas Eve 2009. It’s taken me a while to edit it together with some related photos. I like his philosophy that you don’t have to paint things exactly as you see them. As I watch it and hear all the conversations and dogs whining in the background I feel like I’m back at my parents’ house during the holidays. And I always enjoy our time there.
I have a lot more photographs of Robin’s painting and will eventually add them to the site.
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