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Journal (The Ember Update)

Wednesday, June 18

Art

Spent a few hours Sunday with my friend Jonathan, who I hadn't seen since my return from California. We met at the National Gallery and saw two exhibits:

• Jean-Antoine Houdon: Sculptor of the Enlightenment
• Frederic Remington: The Color of Night

(We also saw the fun "Bugs in 3D" IMAX at the Natural History Museum … presented by Terminix, no less!)

While I was a little disappointed by the Remington exhibit, Houdon's sculptures inspired me to unearth my out-of-print copy of Anatomy for the Artist (John Raynes), and to ponder making anatomy drawings.

I've been trying to organize drawing classes with friends, but have a bit of a roadblock on where to hold them. Alex graciously agreed to let me use the ballroom once monthly, but I want to teach weekly. In 1996 I held drawing classes for friends as a way to get myself drawing again. Now I know more people who could take turns teaching with me (at least occasionally), but I don't know if a suitable space will materialize. Aargh!

Random Pics

Anyway, I have a few random photos for this week. They're a pear pizza I made for Rash (it's a dessert), one of the orange trees from our place in Mountain View, some weird peely red growth on certain California trees (anyone know what it is? email me!), and three pictures of Morgan, the adorable son of my friends Martin and Lucy (from their visit to the US in March):

Pear Pizza	Orange Tree	Weird Growth
Me & Morgan	w/Martin	w/Lucy

No update next week … I'll be in California & Ohio!

Wednesday, June 11

The Cabin

Last weekend, Kristin, Alison and I gave Andy a much-needed weekend alone, while we high-tailed it to my Mom's cabin, down in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We cooked, watched my dad's favorite move (Being There, one of Peter Sellers last, and it's set in DC), and Alison took a two-hour walk down the mountain and back, to pick up eggs we'd forgotten. On the way she gathered wildflowers, which she and Kristin later identified.

Below are a few cabin photos (Rash took the first when he was here previously). [Click thumbnails to see more.]

Also, at right is a photo of Gina taking a bite out of Looney Labs wonderful new Volcano boards (on sale soon!).

Speaking of Rash, I'm looking forward to my next visit in a couple weekends, and then I'll be flying directly to Origins in Columbus. It'll be great!

Wednesday, June 4

The Gift Tree

Last Sunday Alison and I were horsing around in Wunderland's back yard, and Alison started climbing a tree. The tree is a Dawn Redwood (metasequoia glyptostroboides), but it's known around here as the "Neva Eylar Gift Tree," because around 1989 Neva gave Andy and Kristin the tree as a housewarming or wedding gift. Now it's gotten big enough to climb!

Since I was taking pictures anyway, I took some of Alison in the tree (and one of Alison and Kristin elsewhere in the yard). Alison makes a good model, and you can see my favorites here. (Unfortunately the photos didn't compress well, so all but the last are between 80k and 95k):

Wheels, Digs, etc.

I've bought a new bike—a Marin San Anselmo hybrid—with a 20% off coupon from REI! I'm really excited about having it … if only it would stop raining! I've ridden it to work a few times—3 or so miles—though I've always ended up getting a lift home because of the weather (or because it was after dark).

In another month, however, I'll probably be walking to work. I'm seriously considering moving into Janet's house, once her current renter departs in the middle of July … and Janet's just 6 blocks from Wunderland! It'll be a great arrangement, since I will be able to walk to work, the local organic grocery store (My Organic Market), REI, Metro, the Post Office, the flower shop, and just a little farther will be Home Depot and the new Ikea. I'll be able to take my bike out to cycle on local bike paths, hopefully with Kristin and/or Alison, and not have to worry about getting a lift home.

Last Saturday I got to visit with an old friend, Stephen. He's a drummer, and is really good (check out "The Solos"). Last time I'd seen him was at a wedding we both happened to attend, about 5 years ago. If anyone is looking for a good builder/remodeler in the MD/DC/VA area, email Stephen; he comes highly recommended and has owned his own business for several years now.

A friend of mind recently got a beautiful tattoo (I promised I wouldn't say who). And in case you haven't yet seen enough pics of Alison, this one depicts some of the spinach she's grown in her garden. We made it into salads, with organic tomatoes, avocado, and a little blue cheese crumbled on top. Nummy!

Oh, and did you hear? Instead of up to 60 years in prison, a federal judge gave Ed Rosenthal a one day sentence, with time served! From the article:

"His trial gained international attention when jurors publicly recanted their guilty verdict, and announced that they would have acquitted Rosenthal had the judge allowed him to explain that he was legally authorized to grow medical marijuana under state law."

Right on!

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