...to have fun during the holidays. My lights are up!
-Terry
Monday, December 14, 2009
Big Green Marker
We will no longer accept ASI's on 8-1/2" x 11" paper. All future ASI's will be issued on (1/2" x 12" x 27) plywood only (from the superintendent)
The legend of the green pen is rather famous around these parts...and now throughout California. It seems that the contractor was so enamored with Mr. Engler's proficiency with the green pen that he bought him a pack of HUGE green markers...which James put to good use drawing details on plywood in the field. In this technology intensive world its refreshing to have someone who still kicks it old school.
-Brian L.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Town Hall Video
Question: What happens when people turn an everyday activity into a fun experience?
Answer: People smile.
Answer: People smile.
Happy to be in Lodi again
Lucas Winery
The Heaven and Round EMU collection
Robi in heaven (literally...that's the name of the chair)
Lonnie (steelcase), Kristi (UCF), and AmberThe wonderful people over at UCF treated us to an afternoon at Lucas Winery in Lodi. Partly to get together and drink some really good wines and partly to enjoy their new line of indoor/outdoor furniture. As good as the wine was Mel preferred to sip the local Lodi water. She described it as having a nondescript nose with a very earthy finish.
The furniture: CLICK HERE
The wine: CLICK HERE
-Amber
Toothpick Art
It took Stan Munro (38) 6 years to build this toothpick city. He used 6 million toothpicks and 170 litres of glue. He can spend until 6 months to create a building and each of his creations is built to 1:164 scale. Look at the amazing works of one of the most patient men in the world.
When Stan Munro started Toothpick City I in 2003, he convinced his wife that this might be an actual job. Whether she really believed him, or just reveled at the thought of a husband spending all his time in the basement, she supported him. She helped him in every way imaginable, and when Toothpick City sold in 2005, she helped him spend the money.
"My wife is the only sponsor I've ever needed," Stan admits. "She's a pretty good boss, and she doesn't mind if I work all day in my underwear"
-Mark
When Stan Munro started Toothpick City I in 2003, he convinced his wife that this might be an actual job. Whether she really believed him, or just reveled at the thought of a husband spending all his time in the basement, she supported him. She helped him in every way imaginable, and when Toothpick City sold in 2005, she helped him spend the money.
"My wife is the only sponsor I've ever needed," Stan admits. "She's a pretty good boss, and she doesn't mind if I work all day in my underwear"
-Mark
A Fable For Our Times..,.
We were sitting down for lunch with a client at a Thai restaurant on Broadway when the client saw a woman trying to push her stalled truck out of a bus lane. Jack, Jason and I turned to look, the lady was indeed struggling. Before we could say "Holy Damsel in Distress, Batman" caped crusader Super Jack was running out of the restaurant followed by his faithful sidekick Masty Boy. They flew across the street and were in time to help the young woman pull her car to safety. Without any sign of stress or strain our superheros returned to the restaurant and, shrugging off the applause from the admiring crowd, sat down and finished their Pad Thai.The moral of this story? In this economy you have to go to extreme measures to impress a client. And it's always good to have a side job and some tights, just in case!
-Naaz
What Doesn't Jack Do?
Jack forwarded me an article on "The School of (avoiding) Hard Spills." This is of course in regards to his new hobby / passion / obsesion of mountain biking.
The problem for many a novice mountain biker is failure to recognize the technical challenges and intricate skills needed to negotiate a course. That's what led a chastened Jack Paddon of Newcastle to spend a recent Saturday with about 10 other riders honing his mountain-biking skills at an all-day camp run by Total Body Fitness of Rocklin.
Instructor Dan Foster and Total Body Fitness hold instructional camps six times a year (the next is Jan. 30), during which he covers subjects that range from choosing a proper-fitting helmet to executing flawless wheelie drops off a cliff.
"My third time out (on a mountain bike), my buddy got me to the Downieville Classic," Paddon says. "It's 29 miles. I figured, 'Hey, I do 100 miles on a road bike, so I figured it couldn't be that bad. But I got crunched. I finished, but I was so far over my head.
"I'd like to do it next year with some skills."
The problem for many a novice mountain biker is failure to recognize the technical challenges and intricate skills needed to negotiate a course. That's what led a chastened Jack Paddon of Newcastle to spend a recent Saturday with about 10 other riders honing his mountain-biking skills at an all-day camp run by Total Body Fitness of Rocklin.
Instructor Dan Foster and Total Body Fitness hold instructional camps six times a year (the next is Jan. 30), during which he covers subjects that range from choosing a proper-fitting helmet to executing flawless wheelie drops off a cliff.
"My third time out (on a mountain bike), my buddy got me to the Downieville Classic," Paddon says. "It's 29 miles. I figured, 'Hey, I do 100 miles on a road bike, so I figured it couldn't be that bad. But I got crunched. I finished, but I was so far over my head.
"I'd like to do it next year with some skills."
