Category: Good things

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Tectonic Shift Ahead

We’ve been sitting on this one for a while.

After a lot of conversations, long walks, and asking ourselves what we want the next chapter of our life to look like, we’ve decided it’s time for a change. This May, Joan and I are moving to Dijon, France.

Bend has been our home for the past nine years, though we’ve bounced around between LA and the Bay Area for work, it’s here where we’ve built community, friendships, and a life we’re deeply grateful for. Leaving Bend doesn’t mean we’re closing the book on this place or the people here. We’re just turning the page.

This move isn’t about running from anything. It’s about curiosity, a different pace of life, and choosing new adventures while we still can. Everything that matters most to us — connection, time outside, shared meals and good conversations — all come with us.

We are excited. And more than a little nervous. And very aware of how lucky we are to get to do this.

And yes, our door is always open to friends. Burgundy hikes, bike paths, wine, and long, leisurely French lunches are officially on the menu. ????

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The Teton Crest Trail: Will the Second Time Be a Charm?

Grand Teton National Park

Five years ago in October of 2016, I flew from Seoul, South Korea (where I lived for a year) to Salt Lake City. From there I rented a car and drove to Jackson, Wyoming where I was speaking at a conference. I got there a few days early, planning to meetup with another thru-hiker traveling from Germany. Our goal? To hike the Teton Crest Trail in three days.

That attempt was thwarted by an early snow storm that meant winter mountaineering. We weren’t equipped for that, and because it was shoulder season, the gear wasn’t available to rent or purchase. We hiked up Granite Canyon to an elevation of about 9,000 feet when it because obvious we needed a new plan.

So we camped on the snow for the night, and in the morning made our way back down to the valley trail which skirts the eastern flank of the range. It was still a pretty spectacular trip.

This year, I’m finally getting another crack at the Teton Crest Trail, and it’s coming up soon.

Countdown to the Teton Crest Trail

Day Hour Minute Second

I’ll be posting details of the planning and the full trip report over at SoCalHiker.net if you’d like to follow along.

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10 Albums That Made an Impact

You’ve seen the challenge. It goes like this:

The rules: In no particular order, choose 10 albums, one per day, which made an impact (at some point in your life) on you. Post cover, no explanation, and nominate someone each day to do the challenge.

My friend Jason tagged me, and the result is this blog post.

I’m nominating you, since you’re reading this.

Post your list in the comments.

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Acoustic Ninja – Trace Bundy

Acoustic Ninja - Trace Bundy

I first heard Trace Bundy on Pandora, and really enjoyed his music. Since then, Joan and I have seen Trace twice — in Hermosa Beach and again in Seoul, South Korea. Later this month, we’re seeing him again in Berkeley.

It may be difficult to imagine how an acoustic guitar concert could be so good, but this short 7-minute documentary gives you a sense.

Enjoy.

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All That We Share

There’s a lot shit going down in the world today. On Facebook I’ve seen lines drawn and names hurled between people that I consider friends. I’m enthused that people are more engaged than ever in the political process, and hope that action goes well beyond spouting off on FB and putting everyone into a neatly labeled box.

And then my wife shared this beautiful three-minute film from director Asger Leth in Denmark.

I’m hopeful that we will remember all that we share in common.

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The Family of Man

Bushman children playing games on sand dunes in the border area between Botswana and South Africa, 1947, Nat Farbman

Coffee table books have fallen out of fashion in today’s digital world. Our books are as likely to be bound by bits and bytes as they are by cloth and stitching. Yesterday a memory was jostled free from the cobwebs of my mind, recalling a book on my family coffee table when I was growing up.

The Family of Man

The Family of Man was the epitome of coffee table books. It was filled with beautiful black and white photos of people around the world, catalogued from a 1955 exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The exhibit was curated by Edward Steichen and featured 503 photographs from 68 countries, 273 of which were taken by amateur photographers. Many of those photos are etched into my memories and instantly recognizable.

Steichen considered it a collective portrait of humanity. I was too young to appreciate the larger message, but I remember sitting on the floor for what seemed like hours, slowly turning each crisp page and absorbing each photograph.  The photos conveyed the gamut of human emotion and experience. What was that experience like? How are they feeling? My mind filled in the backstory and I connected with my extended family of man.

As it turns out, The Family of Man is still in print. There are probably quite a few coffee tables that could benefit from a copy. Maybe it can bring our family together.