"In the year two-thousand..."

Surely, every generation finds itself in the middle of some pretty huge changes that gives that generation an identity in history.

Despite the inherent vagueness of the definition of "generation", everyone believes and understands they are part of some sort of generational bond with those around them.

In my (our?) case, the newest change might include this recession. Despite it's temporary nature, it could likely affect how the global community interacts from here on out. I'm not even going to get on with Information Technology. The speed of the expansion of modern technologies makes me want to laugh and puke at the same time--kind of like being on one of those carnival rides that demonstrates centrifugal force. I'm proud to say I almost got through high school without the internet or cell phones. Currently I'm getting along fine without an iPhone.

What might be a bigger phenomenon defining this generation is climate change and how we respond to it.

I just read this strange article about the future of farming (published by The Columbus Dispatch; found at Columbus Community Gardening). Is it possible that farms of the future will in fact be massive, self-contained greenhouses? My gut reaction at the end of the third paragraph was that this was a total environmental catastrophe waiting to happen. Apparently it's not: energy-neutral, sustainable, water conserving, fertilizer reducing, production-increasing, worker-friendly future farms... It is Biodome come to life.

Currently, family farms seem to be disappearing--not due to the climate, but other problems. At best, big, trend-conscious cities are experiencing a spurt of small farms peddling organic, heirloom, free-range goodies--which is sort of a throw-back to pre-War agriculture. But these hip farmsteads, especially, won't survive severe climate changes that scientists are predicting.

Farming (or "raw food production") can't die, but it's apparently possible that farms and Agri-Culture as we know them might. Obviously farms have changed a lot over the years, and I'm not a big fan of what are known as "conventional" mega-farms that, collectively, are the monster of the Industrial Agriculture Revolution. (Fun fact: agriculture developed roughly 10,000 years ago.)

So, it occurred to me that the end of farming might be impressed upon my (our!) generation. I can't really say how the disappearance of a farm might affect my daily life other than I pass them on the highway and I appreciate the aesthetics of their seasonal variation; I take comfort in the fact that farms have a potentially positive ecological relationship with the surrounding natural environment as they might benefit animals and watersheds, to say the least. Also, while I've decided to not pursue a life in the Country, I care about the preservation of Rural America which is part of my identity in many ways.

And consider this: if farms are being replaced by greenhouses because of the climate, how soon will neighborhoods turn into big, climate-controlled bubbles?

(Photo Source)

Quote, marriage

For me I am standing back at that stove and I want a do over. I want to live this marriage so Cole knows that I am hers and that nothing is as important. Making more money to buy more things, keeping a house, mowing a lawn, taking the garbage to the street, all of these domestic annoyances that people let ruin moods and marriages are on my list of things to not let win over this love. So fuck that spinach.
-Ryan, Pacing the Panic Room

in case

i forget to tell you: i found a four-leaf clover today. a huge one. what's funny was it was moments after getting out of the van at the beginning of this three day trip to look for an endangered species of clover. i decided if i find a four-leaf version of the endangered kind, i'll get double points or extra luck, or maybe luck to share.

the clover is now in my wallet, stuck to my driver's license.

Killer Bikes

I'm sure this debate comes up in a lot of forums but "surfed" across it today and felt compelled to post it up. A New York Post editorial about dangerous cyclists: Dangerous Bike Riders Run Wild with Impunity in NYC. I thought the author was making a salient point, but he quickly falls into a poo-slinging tirade. It's unfortunate that this editorial could have served as an important start point for debate about regulations for cyclists but he fails to keep up the mature dialogue. When people start accusing cyclists of being Lance Armstrong wanna-be's, I get pretty turned off. I think it's legitimate that cycling is under-regulated and people don't learn how to properly ride a bicycle at an early age. There is no education in schools. You can buy a bike as inexpensive as $60 at Target and there's no telling how you'll use it--on a sidewalk, on a road, in a parking lot. Many people on bikes have no clue that they should be behaving like cars and at the same time have the capacity to act like pedestrians. It makes cyclists a lot less predictable to the uninitiated driver. People who want to cover all their bases before getting on the road do some serious internet searching about local cycling laws, visit websites that offer commuting tips and road safety, and go out of their way to meet up with fellow cyclists to learn how to be better cyclists. Otherwise, bikes on sidewalks are a common occurrence, and it almost seems like the obvious choice when compared to intimidating streets where cars unquestionably rule. Almost everyone whom I've talked to are surprised to hear that biking on the road is the safer and more responsible choice. It's all about education.

Cargobike/Shameless

Ok, so this link to Madsen Bicycles, is clever way for one company to advertise in a crazy exponential way and also to potentially help me win a tight cargo bike for C and me. I mean, it's pretty intense. You can start your own children-trafficking business (as exemplified on the website). We could also haul Alden, Bella, and hella' groceries around our small town in this human-powered pickup truck. I'm not sure that you need to click the link, and you are in no way obligated to buy the advertised bike. If I understand it correctly, by simply providing the link as a blogger, I will be included in the random-selection lottery to win one.

Speaking of cargo bikes, I've been getting really anxious to buy a rear rack for our mountain bike and a couple of grocery-bag-style panniers that have shoulder straps for big grocery trips... Unfortunately, a good set up like that (on sale) could cost as much as $100. D'oh!

Paint/Holiday Chill

This is my latest work of half-ass-ed art, but I'm a bit obsessed with it for a couple reasons: (1) this particular canvas has been serving as our makeshift baby-gate to corral the dog(s) in one room or another, so it is constantly being shifted around and always visible; (2) this painting marks the first time I've picked up a can of spray paint in a long time and it felt great. Nothing compares to painting with spray paint. It's a phenomenal medium and gives you an awesome amount of control.
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So, the weekend was pretty great. Instead of filling it with tons of chores, errands, traveling, etc. we got a lot of rest. C would argue it was pretty boring and a waste of time, but I really appreciate all the mid-day napping and couch-surfing that went down. Plus, we DID get stuff done. We bought as many as twenty-one plants which are now planted in the front yard; we weeded and cleaned out helicopters from our garden beds; I removed some turf to expand another garden bed; we added a lower level to the garage work bench for additional (and essential) storage which allowed some much-needed organization; I also organized the basement a bit. The one thing I am really frustrated about is getting a pretty wicked sunburn on my back which was extra stupid considering I had applied 50SPF sunscreen to my neck, shoulders, face, and arms...twice! C and I biked a lot this weekend and I'm sure we got many other small things done, all while watching M&J's dog.

All the R&R was afforded, unfortunately, at the expense of spending time with family--which was not an easy decision to make. If we had traveled out of town, not only would our time with each relative be pretty thin, but on top of the long drive, no rest would have been had. I've got a big week at work coming up and needed some home time with C, the pup, and our impatient gardens.

Sometimes I fear that I walk a thin line between laziness/boring and "chill." I can be pretty complacent about things and am usually not too frustrated with doing nothing--as long as that nothing is restful and pleasant. I can get antsy at times, but usually don't have a problem with filling those small gaps with completing useful chores or doing something I enjoy (riding a bike, making art, etc.). I guess I mastered the art of un-organized, solo activities when I was younger (skateboarding, playing music, etc.).
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Tonight, our holiday chill will include tacos, a Red Stripe, Religulous, and maybe brownies...byah!

quote/DIY

the do it yourself culture started way before the punks. people have always loved learning how to be better in touch with their surroundings by problem solving life’s inevitable breakdowns and becoming proactive in keeping their world functioning. it is great to learn how to fix a leak in your plumbing or not have to pay some stranger to do a simple oil change on a vehicle. learning to do it yourself aids in a lifestyle where one does not have (or want) a 40 hour work week. you can learn to get by on less by having to pay fewer people to do things you can easily do yourself. it is a great thing. when we learn how to fix things, our relationship between time and money shifts and our appreciation for the great, well functioning things in our lives grows.
from the chainbreaker bike book; a rough guide to bicycle maintenance by shelley lynn jackson and ethan clark
(stolen from Get Buck)

sleepyhead

reblogged from pacing the panic room

Pacing the Panic Room: a blog

I am pretty fond about this blog, Pacing the Panic Room. My favorite part--and perhaps the ultimate point of the whole blog--is the series of photos documenting each week of his wife's pregnancy.

The blog as a whole is a little confusing to navigate, and I don't like how some of the earlier posts of the series includes redundant copies of all preceding photos, which only clutter up what should be uber-minimalistic.

The author is super talented and appears to live a pretty charmed and hip life. Check it out and prepare to be envious.
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Update: Ok, so since this morning--when I found out the author of PTPR has caught wind of my blog's link to his own and was gracious enough to read my first-ever post and even leave a flattering comment--I feel like I need to offer more credit to him if I care to give any justice to his world and writing. To say he lives a charmed life is a careless overstatement. If you read any of his lengthy posts you'll know he airs a lot of laundry, revealing myriad concerns in the daily life of a young family, but always seems to come out on top with at least a determinedly optimistic attitude if not a wholeheartedly positive one.

The fact that he was exposed to my blog has exhilarated me, proving that I've reached out beyond a small circle of family and friends; it has also disappointed me to realize a lot of the content of ADITGL is relatively boring and/or poorly written. Ryan of PTPR has the ability to write long, coherent posts, in a stream-of-thought manner, and reach meaningful conclusions that provoke inspiration, insight, and self-reflection.

Hopefully I'll keep this train on the right track and be able to write more posts with passion similar to my first one.

Salad Days

Nothing marks the beginning of summer better than Minor Threat's Complete Discography on a warm and sunny day. It reminds me of driving to Short Vine in a metallic gold 1986 Honda Prelude, windows down, wearing Chuck Taylor All-Stars with my bare toes peaking out between the rubber toe cap and faded black canvas--I probably had my skateboard in the trunk and was wearing a maroon beanie despite Cincinnati's sweltering smog, prepared for some underage consumption of a terribly cheap 40-oz and circle-pitting to lots of music at the basement of one of a few local punk houses
Link: Minor Threat

Spring, explosion

I realized last night that our garden is really starting to look like a garden (not just bare soil dominated by sprouts of dandelion and thistle). Spinach is really getting huge, the romaine lettuce looks like miniature heads like you would find at the grocery store; sugar snaps peas are climbing beyond the top of my poor trellises; herbs are exploding with flowers. The 3 different squash have sprouted in place and will soon be spreading several feet in every direction. What really offers some vertical structure to the beds are the tomato cages around the four transplants and a smaller cage around my recently transplanted hot pepper.

I still haven't planted my Kentucky Blue pole beans--I'm avoiding because I haven't figured out how to trellis them yet... Also, I still have about 1 cubic yard of pine bark mulch in the middle of my driveway. Hopefully soon I'll expand some more garden beds in the front yard if only just to get rid of the mulch. Of course some will probably go to enhance our compost as well.

Frost! Really?

Really, frost? Are you kidding me? 30-something degrees last night - and the forecast shows frost again for tonight. Supposedly it's not a "hard frost" and shouldn't bother sensitive young plants (like tomatoes), but really? If my tomatoes or sugar snap peas or squash get messed up I'm gonna flip out. It's freaking May 18th.

Witness/fitness

I was pretty psyched when late last year I read on the Urban Velo website that Dhani Jones (Cincinnati Bengals linebacker) was an avid fixed gear rider. Dhani became a sort of poster boy for fixed gears (at least in my mind)--and a bit of trivia I could evoke at a moments notice to convince a friend that fixed gears were cool.

Well, coincidentally or not, the article that was referenced by Urban Velo was one from Bicycling Magazine. The coincidence being that today, in the pages of the latest issue of Bicycling Magazine, I found an interview with Cleveland Cavaliers player Lebron James about his passion for cycling. Apparently he hosts a bike-athon every year in Akron, Ohio, to raise money for his hometown. (Online version of the article is here.)

Long story short, I realized this could be the exact leverage I needed to convince C to get a new bike and possibly enjoy cycling as much as I do. C is practically obsessed with Lebron's talents and accomplishments. I admit, I've become a huge fan and have been enjoying following the Cavs alongside the entire Love crew.

Great Day

Whutup Thursday

Great day today:
Woke up to thunderstorms (we rarely ever get t-storms)
Starbucks, half decaf
Dayton, planted 100 plants, got muddy
Sunny and breezy
talked to mom, talked to dad-in-law
Drove downtown, rode bike to the "bike hop"
mostly a bust, met some nice people
hung out, drank a beer, rode bikes to a second bar, beautiful weather, drank a beer ate some food
talked to J
chipotle burrito, super spicy = sweaty face
greater's ice-cream, chocolate chocolate chip (a.k.a. double-chocolate chip)
clips of 30 Rock between Gray's Anatomy, belly full, getting tired
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C says she hates life, i think she's mostly joking, but i wish i could understand why she's not happy about life

Footprints, footsteps, pedal pushing

I just stumbled upon Lighter Footstep: a website about eco-friendly living. "The Daily Footstep" is short columns about small choices that make big differences. Brandi at Get Buck linked up the article It's Smart to Ride a Bike - and Riding Makes You Smarter:

A 2004 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that aerobic activity yielded up to a 20 percent improvement in pattern recognition and sorting. It also produced dramatic improvement in short-term memory.


While I may recognize patterns and be able to sort like a champ at 9 o'clock in the morn, I'm not convinced biking helps out my memory. It does get my blood flowing, however, and probably keeps the edge off on these days when I don't have coffee.

I should mention May is "Bike Month" and this week is the official "National Bike to Work Week." Columbus is doing it real big, with a website and lots of events: www.b2ww.org. On Thursday I intend on joining a group of local cyclists for an event called "Green Drinks: Bike Hop" which will travel down a bike path between a few local bars around Happy Hour. Should be fun as they predict scattered showers throughout that day. And don't worry - I'm developing a strategy involving drinking a lot of coffee before the event and not drinking a lot of beer.

dirt virtue

I like getting showers. No doubt. It feels great. Especially when I have some Dr. Bronner's pure castle hemp oil soapy goodness. I feel good when I'm wearing clean socks and clean underwear. Other than that, I don't mind getting dirty. I might go so far as to say I enjoy being dirty. What's worse than having some nice khakis or a clean shirt--then spilling something on it; or not being able to get on your hands and knees to garden, play with a dog, walk in the rain, or whatever...? That sucks. My wardrobe is built around getting dirty. That is mostly due to the fortunate fact that my job entails getting dirty and I can get away with wearing pants with knee stains around the office on a normal day. In most cases, stains on your knees and dirt on your hands are a measure of good work in my mind.
If you have been suffering from an aversion to soil--go start a garden, or plant a container, and do it without gloves. Break up clods of soil with your fingers and sprinkle them back into place, then wipe your hands on your thighs. Don't change until you've enjoyed one of your favorite drinks (ice water is a good choice) and admired the metaphorical (or perhaps very literal) fruits of your labor. One of my favorite things is plunging my hands deep into a loose, loamy garden bed as if it were a pool of water, then lifting up a pile of cool soil only to dump it back into the new hole and churn it again.
If you've ever seen me try to "dress up"--you should be able to notice the small indicators that prove I am not experienced nor interested in that fine art. I can admit that it can be fun to occassionally dress in suit pants, buttoned shirt, and tie--but it's not comfortable and far from practical. Plus, just as the term "dressing up" implies, it is a better indicator of money spent than hours worked.
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Sidenotes: Congrats to BW graduate Terry "Waste No Time" Love
and Happy Mother's Day to all my moms who have helped shape me into the dirt-loving freak I am

FOTO

Not to push my sister and her awesome wedding out of the way but I was blown away by the photographs of this guy, Benji Wagner... Maybe because it features pro skaters touring around New Zealand on bikes, I dunno...

Incredible.

Good Folk: West Wedding

Garden

Today (5-4-09)
Planted:
- 4 tomato plants (not sure which is which...oops)
- zucchini
- yellow summer squash
- butternut squash
- sunflowers
Added mulch to the squash bed and around the herbs
and weeded like crazy

Yesterday, thinned out lettuce (which is about 2" tall) and spinach
Also planted zinnias (~6" tall) that I started inside