Casteller from Mike Randolph on Vimeo.

Rachel just showed me this. It's so cool. These peeps are tough, especially the kids. I want to have tough kids. Maybe I won't force them to do this, but I'm sure I'll be making them do others.

Rog

I get to hang out with this chunky monkey this week and I can hardly wait. hardly hardly.

Holly's blog made my day when I found this on it. Can't wait to start training Tag.

What does this say about my life?

I have had a night of inspiration watching none other than . . . MTV. Yes, you heard me right. There is one show I have been watching for a few weeks - World of Jenks. A. He's a babe. B. He spends time interviewing a myriad of people, spending time with them. I'm a geek for that kind of stuff. You should check it out.

Then a surprisingly good show afterwards is called The Buried Life. It's these four lucky lucky boys that are cruising around the country doing things on their bucket list. The episode I watched is them purposefully getting stranded on a dessert island. You'll just have to watch it to understand, but it's real good.

Chelsea's House

one of Chelsea's pieces

I have been able to hang out at Chelsea's house off and on for the last few weeks and it's such a dream. Her, Adam, and Lulu live in the woods (kind of) and their home is open and airy and just a lovely place to be. Plus I get to hang out with this jelly bean.

House Shows

I have had such great luck and experiences with home shows where friends showcase their friends musical talents for the rest of us.

Tonight was one of those lucky nights. First these two boys played who are Utah locals who have just returned from an East Coast bike/musical tour from Vermont to Virginia. They played shows and slept on couches all of the 700 some odd miles they rode. They were a banjo and acoustic guitar duet.

Next a couple with the most lovely little duet going. They live in San Fran and are in town to visit family. They were magical in person. You can check out their website to learn more about them here.

Mostly I was touched by all of these adventurers out there living their dreams. I love coming across people who are actively doing something they strongly believe in. I see it in my brothers letters he writes home from his mission in the Philippines and I see it in the passion these people have for their music. I guess my point is that it's touching no matter the subject as long as it's an honest and good endeavor. Makes me want to work harder at doing the same.

Let the Right One In

Best scary/vampire movie I've seen in a long time. You can watch it instantly on Netflix.

I was going through some old photos and it has been just over a year since I was worked by those old folks in their Pantiac.

Yes you're seeing right, I have cowboy sheets.

Great news, I've made what I like to consider a 110% recovery and some wicked awesome scars to prove it. Why 110% you say? Well my wrist is stronger than ever with a titanium plate in there, I'm back doing everything I did before AND no more student loan! Muahaha. It may have even been worth it.

Jigidy Jam

Slot Canyon from Jessica Baucom on Vimeo.

sometimes when I'm supposed to be working I work on things like this . . .

1 more point for Utah

I love Southern Utah. I would kill to live on one of those little orchards in Springville. It's a magical place and I have been away too long.

Labrynth

I got to tag along on a canyoneering trip last weekend. So worth it. So cold.

Breanne as Laura Croft

the labyrinth

froggie

swam in that

San Francisco

Got away to San Francisco last weekend for a music festival. It always amazes me how beautiful the surroundings are in this city. For all of the water that is around New York you rarely get the feeling you're near the ocean. In San Francisco you can smell it in the air.

The festival was "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass" in Golden Gate park. Sooo many great bands were there - Patty Griffin, Jenny & Johnny, Conor Oberst, Indigo Girls (yes, to me they are great), Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Avett Brothers and some more.

We made it to Arcade Fire (opened by Calexico) in Berkley too. It was worth it to see Michelle see them for the first time. I think it changed her life, or at least made it a lot better.

Besides the music I was such a nerd for the plant life at Golden Gate Park and around SF. The trees in particular in the park were AMAZING.

There were so many people selling "stuff" there. This guy was one of my favorites. He was writing poems in person on his little type writer with the mantra "name your subject name your price".

There were also a LOT of these guys.

Then there was the drive there and back. Long and beautiful.

Poor Tyler, we tuckered him out with all of our Indigo Girls singing in the car.

Hussler

A couple of weeks ago I bought the new iPhone because this guy told me you can buy a new one and sell your old one on Craig's List for the same price. With out much research I dove right in and I've been trying to get that old phone off my hands ever since! Because I'm in New York I figured there would be more demand for it. I was right, but at a price. I first met with this guy yesterday who said he wanted it and then after making me come to Starbucks to charge it up for 15 min. he finally looked it over and realized he couldn't hack it so he didn't want it, but then he asked me on a date. Ya right, didn't even buy the goods and now he wants something for free?

Tonight I found a taker. A Russian exchange student buying it for "his friend". He looked it over for about 10 minuets. These buyers are serious. He asked me a bunch of questions and then he pulls this wad of cash out of his pocket. He paid me all in $10's and $5's. He took the bait - finally made some money back! (not the same that I payed for the new one might I add).

Thanks Amanda, I'm stealing this from you.

Very Cool. Click on the image - do it.

Tripping Me Out Right Now

Have you ever heard of this book? Have you ever read it?

A very peaceful hippy that I met while traveling suggested it to me and I started reading it last week. It's supposed to help you find balance and peace in your life, but right now it's mostly got my head spinning.

It's about letting go of all the useless junk that is always bouncing around in your head and enjoying and appreciating what is going on right this moment. It's harder than you'd think, and I think I like it. It's not an easy read, but I have a feeling I'm going to be glad I did once I'm done. I would love to hear if anyone has read it and what they think about it.

Diversity in Living

This week has been one of those upside down weeks, but in the best way possible. Started semi normal. A little too much web surfing not quite enough work, but I do my best.

Right in the middle of the week of pushing to get it all done my dad asks if I want to go up to our cabin for a few days. Turns out I have a flexible schedule so I'm in. We drove the three hours up there and I go instantly from emailing and web surfing to being completley cut off and loving it.

We worked hard for two days. We worked on the tractor, I cleaned the tack shop, and then we spent about 8 hours cutting brush out of this field so that more grass would grow there for the horses. Him or I would drive the John Deer while the other lifted or lowered the mower (that is huge by the way) and being dragged behind the tractor.

How greatful am I that my day can start in the mountains driving a tractor and watching hail storms from the front porch - to dancing the night away at a free Big Boi concert (yes, you heard me right, Big Boi) with a follow up at Urban.

The answer is very.

I am the epitome of unmotivated right now. I have a million things to do - many of which I could be doing on this here computer - but I can not bring myself to be productive. It's 10 a.m. I've been up for an hour and a half and I have yet to do one thing that is not useless. Kelly, Cardon, and I were talking about this at dinner last night; The pitfalls of being self employed. I am a shining example of this right this second. So instead of breaking through and being a design rock star I thought I would blog!

I'm on the last leg of a 18 day east coast journey. Starting in DC I worked with Lizzie on her amazing new little home - then a jaunt to West Viginie with a herd of radical DCers - then I made my way north to Maine where I met up with my clients/friends to look at a new project of there's - and last of all a few days in the city to catch up with some hommies and supposedly get some work done. Ha! The only photos I have are from Maine because I took them with my phone. Camera is dead and being a genius I left the charger at home. Just too much to keep track of I suppose.

Katie and Leo being the cutest

This water is so pure - when you swim in it you feel like you should be drinking it down at the same time.

Sneak peak into the new project. It's a 7 building camp built in the early 1900's. There are 3 livable cabins. A boat house, a bath house, a school house, and a house keepers cottage. Should make for an adventurous time to design. Unfortunately they have someone restoring it right now, so there is no need for my help with materials (which kills me just a little bit), but I'll be all over it when it's time for furniture, rugs, lighting, and those final touches.