Welcome to California

I worked my first day for Paul Desomma and Marsha Blaker-Desomma today. We pulled everything out of their shop cleaned it and put it all back in. It was great and a good way to see what I am in for. Paul and Marsha have a great shop, right in their backyard. It is basically a glassworkers dream. Oh, and they might be the nicest people ever. It will be a couple more days of just getting the shop ready and then the hot stuff.

Had another first today.....
      got in the Pacific Ocean for a swim and though it was cold; it felt great.

Santa Cruz is as beautiful as everyone says it is, come for a visit while we are here.

                                                  This is one of Paul and Marsha's pieces.

                                                  

found a battery in the desert

           We spent a couple of days in Austin TX checking out the culture, people, and nature in and around.  Art is everywhere in the town and there were a few glass shops. Austin seems to be one of those places that really has “it” going on.

            Christy and I have never traveled by car across country and it has been breath taking.  Getting closer and closer to the sky and watching the horizon stretch. I now realize why the Native Americans of the southwest use such vibrant blues, reds, and yellows in their art.

            Santa Fe is an aesthetic paradise; even the city parks look like Jun Kaneko and Richard Deacon collaborated. Best of all, it has a glass scene that has momentum and direction. I visited facilities and passed out resumes, looking to make some connections.

   All this traveling is great but it is also completely necessary. In this lead up to working for great and amazing artists for the next few months, this time to recharge is crucial. I feel my batteries coming back on line and inspiration sparking its lighter.  

         

moving West

    I hear a voice as I move, watching the land change.
West.

Stopped to taste local cuisine.
Andrew, has gotta try some creole sausage

In Texas tonight, looking at the sun
           waiting for tomorrow's adventures in Austin.

Red and Scalloped

    We took two boats out on St. Joseph bay to dive for scallops. Most of the bay is only three to six feet deep. It was beautiful to snorkel along sifting through the sea grass and examine, new to me, marine life. I have lived in Florida most of my life but have never developed an immunity to the sun. I floated around and periodically reapplied sunscreen, but still got a little burned.
   I am really enjoying these moments of relaxation before we travel west. It is also very nice to hang with family I might not see for awhile.

Florida.... Day 1

Thank you Tennessee for the best goodbye party ever!

We arrived in Apalachicola Florida last night at 10:45pm.  Today we woke up and went to the beach. The oil is not here yet. 

It was great to see lots of people out enjoying the beach and hopefully spending some money at the local businesses. I saw oyster harvesting going on in the bay, and BP is employing local fisherman for some of the boom laying and moving operations.  

            Tonight we are off to a cook-out at my sister-in-law’s and whatever it is that the Apalachicola night brings.  

Friends make us lucky.

Last night I sat around on my back porch with two amazing friends. We talked for hours about art and life. We argued, we agreed, we yelled, we laughed, but most importantly we reveled in the company. Both of these guys have been a huge influence on the last five years, teaching me amazing lessons about life and art.

Filling out a form today I realized that I only have 10 days left in Tennessee. Kinda scary, kinda amazing.

18 days

Almost everything is packed and the countdown is at 18 days.

I have loved living in Tennessee the past five years, especially these last two in Silver Point.

My adventures hold to deep grooves in my grey matter. At least the ones that haven't been erased by late nights on porches or by the fire. I have met many great people that have shaped my life, or illuminated new paths. And I am ready to start traveling those paths.

Everyday Christy and I plan a new aspect of our adventure or debate what can be put in storage, but we are just over-thinking it and we know it. What else are we supposed to do? We are ready! Aren't we?

We took a minute the other day and sat on our porch, on a particularly sweltering afternoon, and drank a beer. It was beautiful. We are trying to take time and enjoy Tennessee while we are still here. One hand on the chalice and one eye on the prize.