Slickrock Creek

Slickrock Creek. View from camp. 10.26.08

Real Outdoors.

Days Inn Swimming Pool | Asheville, NC | Nov. 2007

I get to go backpacking with an old friend this weekend...to the real-outdoors...not the mural-outdoors. We're going to the Joyce Kilmer / Slickrock / Nantahala National Forest area in North Carolina. It's been years since I've been there...in fact, the last time I went, we were camping in a sleet/snow storm. It was the coldest trip I've ever experienced...the kind of trip where my water filter froze, my camera barely worked, my pants froze standing up overnight, and sitting by the fire wasn't even that rewarding. It was flat-out cold. Fun though. Anyway, I don't know the point of this post really, other than to say, "Here's to old friends and fall camping." Being October, I think I'm safe from having to pull on ice-pants at 7 o'clock in the morning.

am / with David Walker

am | Tuesday, October 21 | 8 - 9am | Gourmet's Market (Cosmo's Café)

Come join us for a leap into the world of printing, with the printer's walking guidebook, David Walker of Martin Printing. Unbeknownst to many, David Walker is a Yale graduate that can read both Latin and Greek. He is a pianist, a father, a theologian, and a local printer whose depth of knowledge about printing and grammar will astound you. He'll answer questions, share stories and open up our eyes to possibilities and the realities of the future of printing. Also, Gourmet's Market has been kind enough to offer their omelet bar to us. So join us for good food and great company October 21st from 8-9AM. We'll see you there!

am/pm is a series of events aimed at bringing together the creative professional community in Knoxville to converse and learn. AM events are more structured, topic-oriented, and often involve a speaker. PM events are more social and open ended. So whether you're a night owl or an early bird, we hope to see you out and about.

FREE pre-registration (just so we can get a headcount of sorts)

AIGA - am registration

Riffage...

Yet another 8Tracks mix...

The Replacements - Run It
The Rolling Stones - Happy
The Cherry Valence - Drunk
Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
The Gories - You'll Be Mine
Jack Logan - Ugly River
Joel RL Phelps & the Downer Trio - Be First!
Hot Snakes - Lovebirds
Grandpaboy - Vampires and Failures

Cleaning House.

Somewhere in Arizona (1983-84?)

I hate throwing things away. It is painful, actually. It makes me physically ill to throw things away that I might miss later on down the road. Deep down inside I know it's good to purge every now and then...hang on to what's really important, and let the rest slide. I know this, but have a hard time coming to grips with it.

We cleaned out our basement this weekend. Like most folks I had boxes full of nostalgia...lots of things to remind me of my childhood such as old report cards, certificates, awards, pictures, drawings and the like. I also had all of my college notes (might need those, huh), all of the letters I have ever received (scary), and every journal or attempt at a journal I have ever written (real scary). Well, I turned 6 large boxes into two, and feel better in most respects. I feel better because most of that stuff was dumb to keep in the first place...(papers written in high school, c'mon, really?) I kept the photos, the important letters (not the pathetic, sappy "love" letters), and I kept most things from my trips to Idaho and Russia...those two trips really mean alot to me, so I kept that era of my life. Someday they may get purged as well, but I'm not ready for that just yet.

All in all, it was a good thing to do. It brought back a flood of memories...some good, some not so good, but it forced me to think about hitting my mid-30's and realize what I have done in that span of time. I have had a variety of experiences, and feel fortunate for that. Travel has been a large part of my growth and I have realized just how important it is for sanity, and for keeping a proper perspective on things. (mental note - must travel more).

As it all went up in a ball of bonfire-smoke last night, I thought I would write about it...accumulating more crap...but in the world of computers, cables, and screens instead of in a box in my basement. I hope someday I'll be able to burn this box and start another chapter too...

Highway 70 Blues

Highway 70 window.

Courtyard Bush, Exit 52 Red Roof Inn

We went to Middle Tennessee this weekend to see the Bell Witch Cave. We had big plans of being creeped out at the cave and retiring to our campsite to talk around a campfire, telling ghost stories and spending a night under the stars. Ha! The cave was...how to put it nicely...um...a...let's just say it was a cave...with lights in it...and a "tour guide". It was Ten Dollars and 30 minutes of our day. That's about all. So, we rejected our planned day and went to Nashville to play tourist under a different kind of star. We strolled down Broadway for Bar-B-Que, went to Tootsie's and watched gals dance to bad country music, headed to Coyote Ugly to watch wedding parties do body-shots, and we played corn-hole in East Nashville on a back patio. We got to hang out with my little brother and his friend Chris, and we found a cheap hotel with an interesting Courtyard. All in all, we had a really great, non-creepy time (well, Coyote Ugly was creepy). Nashville is an interesting place...interesting as in the "I wouldn't want to live there" interesting, but fun to see every now and then. We drove home via Hwy. 70 and stopped at the Hillcrest to eat (great food, friendly service, and a cool baseball-themed bathroom mural). A fun, and quite random and unexpected weekend.

Select photos (mostly from the hotel)

AIGA / GET OUT THE VOTE!

GOTV - 1/24 entries selected (detail) Designer: Office, AIGA San Francisco

A juried set of 24 posters were professionally printed and distributed nationally in early September. The posters have been hung in the windows of storefronts, restaurants, dormitories, laundromats and elsewhere around the country. You too can participate in getting out the vote by viewing the online gallery below, and then downloading, printing and posting your favorite designs around your community.

AIGA Knoxville will participate in this campaign beginning this First Friday (October 3rd) by displaying the 24 juried posters "election-sign-style" on the grass in Market Square. There are several locations downtown registering voters, changing addresses, etc...so get out there and Vote! this year...and stroll through downtown looking at art and sipping free wine. Links below:

AIGA - Get Out the Vote

AIGA Knoxville