I have been wanting to go check out the Channel Islands for years now and finally the weekend came. The lady got the trip for her birthday and she let me tag along too. The boat ride out was rough going. Swell was sizable from the wind equaling still bodies, shifty eyes, blank stares and nervous grimaces all around. It was a pretty big boat so it wasn't horrible but I did get a little sick.
The water was so clear out there. You could see to the bottom almost everywhere, including fish, sea lions, urchins and plants. A perfect time to realize the camera was in fact finally dead...and not just sick. Other pictures were taken and they may end up here sometime but this is the only one I have from my phone. This is actually looking over a 100 foot cliff even though it doesn't really look like it.Anyway, we had an awesome time hiking around the island, kayaking all over, and just getting out and camping.
The house I am working on has a really cool dome. The original house before the fire had a tower with a dome and so that, along with a lot of other characteristics were carried over. I've never built a dome before but we worked our way through it and it is coming along great. It is now on the top of the tower and is being waterproofed. Next will be the tiling process which should be interesting. Here are some shots of when it was still on the ground. Ja was added for scale.
Lately I have tried my hand at bouldering a bit. Honestly, I don't think I have ever said to myself, I really want to learn how to boulder. But, I work with a guy who lives for climbing so the opportunity came and I took it.
I didn't get it prior. Why wouldn't you want go higher? No Rope? How much time could you really spend on one boulder....if you made it to the top wouldn't you just move on?
These trips have really opened my eyes to a lot of things. This is really hard, technical, a lot of fun, nice and cool people.
Additionally I have seen some really amazing parts of this area that I didn't even know existed. There is something pretty cool about being high in the mountains, gazing out and seeing the ocean and then the Channel islands beyond that. It doesn't seem right but it is.
The strangest thing about these experiences has been the presence of FEAR. It's been a long time since I have felt that feeling. As I have aged, I have stuck with the hobbies I know and occasionally will experience fear but nothing like this. I am not sure if I like it but its different. I like the sport so far though. I reckon I had the same feelings when I was learning to ride a bike, learning to snowboard, walking alone in the dark, job interviews, talking to girls. Maybe the fear will pass overtime...unless its like job interviews.
In 2009 alone we made some pretty drastic living changes. There have been job changes, space changes, I've lost a lot of weight...the list goes on.
We are now in our third living space this year and size has dropped drastically each time. We have gone from around 1400 sq ft, to 700 sq ft, to now living in just over 400 sq ft. It has been an interesting transition. While I will admit this place IS really small, it works for us right now. It forces simplicity and meticulous space planning. So below is our new place. I am sure we'll make adjustments here and there but we have been here about a month now and it seems to work out alright.
Okay so I have been running errands after work the past two days and when I get home its been dark. Not so good for taking pictures of the place. I will get to it before this week is through.
Here is a nice pic of the job though...while sitting on the jon. Its the best seat on the mountain. The house is coming along and of course the aforementioned Kerwood Blog does generally give a better update on the happenings there. Architecture is still cruising along too.
The days are getting shorter. Ohhhh, who else longs for the days of waking up in the dark, working and finding oneself heading home...in the dark. Those days are coming.
Things have been busy. There are so many things I always want to write about but it just doesn't happen. It is a sign that I am not in front of a computer nearly as much as I used to be...which is awesome....for me. So instead of writing, I will sum things up in poorly taken phone pictures and potentially a few notes. Ben Harper on the Beach Not me but someone I know..... Serious Bocce Brand New & Manchester Orchestra in Hollywood
And the Tarantulas have been coming out....Halloween is coming. My favorite holiday....wrong. Oooo maybe tomorrow I will post a few pics of our "house".
Well I finally made it down to the beach yesterday. Still didn't touch the sand or anything because I was on a bike ride but I did stop and hang out a bit. You'd think the beach was really far away...it seems like this happens quite a bit around here. Folks live a couple minutes from the beach but get caught up doing other things. I guess its the same anywhere though. I am sure there are tons of people in the Denver area who never go to the mountains...probably some who have never even been to the mountains. The pic isn't actually too bad for a phone pic.
It was a beautiful day though. The ride was great and I got to explore some new areas of Santa Barbara. The concrete is now completely done on the house and its now time to start framing the floor!
I think I have started this post a dozen times and never finished. I have now successfully moved to Santa Barbara and have been working hard ever since. The work is fun and I am learning quite a bit but quite exhausted at the end of each day.
The scenery continues to amaze me, at work, on the bike or just around town. Its funny how a change in scenery can really make one notice their surroundings and how beautiful it is. In fact, I am back in Colorado for the weekend and I am having the same thoughts. I guess bouncing back between Santa Barbara and the Front Range isn't exactly hard on the eyes.
Its pretty weird being away from my lady. Its been three weeks and after this weekend it will be just under another three weeks. I will say I couldn't imagine better in-laws though. I think many would shudder at the thought of living with their in-laws for over a month but its been just fine. Our place will be ready on the 15th of September so I will move in there around then.
So here is the progress of the house so far. Its going well. I have been able to do some architecture on the side too for a firm in town so that has been cool. Another location for up to date info on the place is at whereskerwood@blogspot.com My postings will be a lot more than once every 3 weeks too ;)
Next week I am off to California so we headed up to the cabin one last time this past weekend. We had a fair amount of people come up too so it made it a lot more fun. Well, now the whole outside is done except for the redwood on the deck. So I guess I will just let the pictures do the explaining although I am told the pictures don't give the entire feel of the place...what can ya do.
Ryan, I wish you and the girls could have still been around for the upper picture....so the below one will have to do.
It was awesome!!! I am so excited to be finally done now. Now I am off to California in 10 days. Notice the squared after the 'R'....thought that was funny.
Oh and the picture on the card is pretty great too.
Excuse me, um, you are blocking the gate to the garden I hang out in. (I continue to stare Bambi down at 3 feet away) Okay, fine, I am going to go get my mom. (Bambi walks away, comes back a minute later with mom...just as close) Excuse me, will you move. We are trying to get to the garden. No. (Bambi and mom walk away) Note: Today I was painting a friend/old employer's house ______________________________________________
An hour later I am hearing a bit of racket coming from the other side of the house. I think...what is he (friend/old employer) doing over there.
Finally I walk over and find a squirrel in my open backpack! He runs off and I go to inspect things. My lunch bag had been chewed through and my cookies were GONE. (Curse the squirrel, zipped up my backpack and went back to work)
Ten minutes later I walk over and find the squirrel has unzipped my backpack and is eating my sandwich. Unzipped my backpack!!! This is now war and instead of just putting my bag inside I decide I am going to work on that side of the house to protect my property. The squirrel did not care. It just kept coming back and no matter how many rocks I hurled at it, he kept coming back. I guess the lady's cookies were that good.
Eventually I just put my backpack in the house...and basically ate cherries for lunch.
The siding of the ole cabin is taking a little longer than I hoped. I guess it's the trim that is taking a ton of time which is basically done now except for the stain. So, the siding is going up and the next trip I hope to have the most of it on.
It's now very clear that this is going to be an ongoing project. I only have two more trips up before I head to Santa Barbara; so we will get it to whatever point we can and do more when we can. It is kind of disappointing that it won't be finished but it is also kind of a relief to get away from it for a little while.
Soooo next weekend and the last weekend of July are the final trips.
This past weekend we went out to the cabin as well as cruised around the Gunnison/Crested Butte area. On the afternoon of the Fourth of July we decided we wanted to look for a nice hike to go on before dinner and the fireworks. We had gone to the parade in Crested Butte but went back in to Gunnison to check out the Blue Mesa Reservoir. I had been in the area so much but never ventured out west of town.
We hiked to an area called Dillon Pinnacles. These were really amazing...formations made out of rock and ash many, many years ago. A closer look revealed formations much like concrete but on a much larger scale. There wasn't really a trail to them but we managed to make our way around them. The close up experience was a lot cooler. In this picture you can see huge rocks cemented in to an ash base...some of them hanging out quite a bit.
Last night we had the opportunity to see the above mentioned choir at Red Rocks. Red Rocks is an amazing venue especially when the weather is perfect....like last night. I have to admit that they put on an amazing show! I have been to Red Rocks a dozen times and I can really say that this show is up there with the best of them. Different vibe than some for sure but awesome.
This past weekend we went with some friends to Durango. It seems to be a really wet season this year. At first I thought it was just the location of our cabin but the whole Durango area was pretty well saturated as well.
It's a long drive down there but we had a really good time and the weather was perfect.
This is what happens when a kid has a mess in his pants and doesn't want it changed.A really cool flume by the cabinThese pictures are from our hike to some waterfalls And yes, we finally made it to the enormous hotdog. We have been talking about stopping for at least three years now.
At one point I took great pride in being on the leading edge of tochnology. I had the newest things even when I couldn't afford them. Its crazy how fast that can run away from you. I mean, I still appreciate it and have an interest but I don't really have the money for it...I never really had the money for it.
Yesterday was the experience that solidified my position as a technology laggard. I met a guy for my brother to exchange currency for an iphone. I never really thought that I would probably want to check it out to make sure it worked before completing the transaction. Sooo, as he motioned for me to check it out I held it in my hands as if I was holding something precarious, delicate and valuable. My mind was blank. I had no clue what to do.
I pushed a button.....it turned on. Oh my, so many apps. What do these even mean. Camera...seriously, you amatuer....of all the apps you clicked on the camera???
It continued with me not knowing how to turn it off or even get to the phone feature...all in front of a group of seriously techie individuals.
I completed the transaction and realized I had now forfeited any claim to being on the leading edge of technology.
So I am now finally posting the metal door transformation from weeks ago. As a reminder, I purchased a cheap hollow metal door for a storage closet but wanted to dress it up a bit.
Last night I was reading an article for school about core ideology including core values in business. It explained that so many businesses don't have appropriate values. Some of the key definitions were:
- A small set of timeless guiding principles, core values require no external justification; they have intrinsic value and importance to those inside the organization
- There is no universally right set of core values
- The values must stand the test of time
I was really interested by this because when I think of company values I think of the same stupid set of sentences that every company has that mean nothing to anyone.
Also included in this article were core values of some well known companies. I was impressed with Philip Morris' core values. A company of questionable character in my opinion had pretty honest values....
- The right to freedom of choice - Winning - beating others in a good fight - Encouraging individual initiative
This made me think of my own core values and how those drive me. If a business could actually have core values that its employees could connect with, that could be really powerful. At the same time it seems pretty difficult to achieve in that individual core values are so custom. I guess religions are successful with it....that's a bit different though. I am getting nowhere. ;)
Points taken from, J.C. & Porras, J.I. "Building Your Company's Vision", HBR
Anything I ever wrote about being done with school by now.....not true. Well, it was then but there were a couple bumps in the ole dusty road but now it is happening. I am in one summer class with 1 of 8 weeks down. So, in 7 weeks I will have some level of Architecture and Business Administration qualification to architect and administer with. I am pretty excited.
Second, we are moving to California. Work is taking us out to Santa Barbara. I will be heading out there at the beginning of August. I am excited about this too.
I don't think I will completely finish the cabin in time but it should be done enough for family and friends to use....and I will just finish things as time comes available.
I know I haven't made an update on the other door but we had a chance to get the entry door in this past weekend and it turned out really nice. The only doors that I have ever put in are pre-hung units so this one was a bit of challenge. After multiple discussions, phone calls and such with my brother-in-law I felt like I was ready to give it a go. As mentioned before he made the door and it came out amazing.
Sometimes I post stuff on here. I wish I did more. It really is nice to write thoughts and experiences out even though I struggle with it. That's why most posts have a picture. "Yeah the writing sucks but at least there is pictures"
Anyway, we had an awesome time hiking around the island, kayaking all over, and just getting out and camping.
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