moving day...

Two years ago tonight I spent the first night out here in my semi-assembled box of a house. 51,71,36,0

diagonally speaking...

Late start today ....chasing down breakfast and the mailman took up most of the morning. Borrowed a grinder from my closest neighbor and got to cutting away on the steel. The two sections of diagonal bracing got notched and spliced as planned. Used a narrow width cutting wheel with the loaner/grinder and just followed the marks. I must say that I am quite pleased with how they came together with just a tiny bit of finessing. Welded the parts together and finished off the day cutting the rest of the vertical support pieces. 48,65,37,0

Art D'Lugoff

Got a rip roarin' start on my Monday. Midway through the cutting and grinding, my grinder shit the bed. Had to pack peddle and use my belt sander for some fine tuning. Got 4 cross braces cut and precision tuned to fit but will need a grinder to execute their final placement before welding them into place. Ended up short changed on the day so quit early. Cleaned house, took a shower and headed out to the Starlight Theatre for my normal Monday night.Just yesterday I came across an old friend and former neighbor from my NYC days on Facebook....Sharon Blythe. We shared a lot of anguish over an evil landlord back on Elizabeth St. Feels good to touch base with an old buddy from the hood. I was sad to learn that her father recently passed away. I had the great honor of knowing Art D'Lugoff - legendary impresario of the Village Gate. The absolute best show I ever saw in New York was Tito Puente performing there back in the 80's. Not very often does one get a chance to have a friend that was an icon and who's name and works will live on through history. We'll miss you, Art. 61,85,37,0

half'n'half

One of the really nice things about this new life of mine is that I really enjoy having lots of work to do on a Sunday.....especially if it is for myself or friends. Today I had a two-fer. Went over to Chuck and Aunt Kathy's to weld up a couple of extra pieces onto their new shade pavilion this morning. Was treated to breakfast with a couple of freezer to microwave omelets that weren't half bad.....like having a meal with the Jetsons. Finished up his little project by noon.

Back to the ranch and back on the ladder. Pieced together the third support for the trusses on container one. Got about half way done and took a break for a vitamin D tanning session....nice warm sun out there this afternoon. My new buddy Coby came out with wife and infant son for a brief tour then back to work. Finished up just in time before the sun set behind Agua Fria mountain to get some photographs of the latest step in the evolution of the Field Lab. 52,80,29,0

tools of the trade...

Didn't sleep well last night....something outside of the Field Lab vortex must have been effecting me. I reckon it has passed and I will sleep like a baby tonight. After the normal round at the GrubShack for breakfast, I took advantage of the beautiful day to cut'n'weld the second of 10 truss supports onto place. Amazing how many tools are involved with each step here. Hope to be able to pick up the pace as soon as I finish the first container supports along with the cross bracing to be added next.

Got a CD in the mail today that I have been looking forward to. "Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl"...silly name but I love this duo. http://www.727records.com/site/nmwg/ I almost moved to Bisbee Arizona because of them. A clever review I once read of their music...."Karen Carpenter meets Tim Burton". Amy's rendition of My Morphine is exceptional. Now if I could only get them to come play the Starlight Theatre...

The day got topped off with a wonderful gift. Seems my friend JD was telling my new BFF Ella about how Benita has gone away for the winter. Together they drew this picture for me so I won't miss Benita too much. How sweet it that? If I had a refrigerator, this would be front and center. Will frame it instead and find a place of honor for it. 52,79,27,0

"fab"rication

Had an excellent day of bringing imagination into physical reality. It all came together just as I had seen it in my head for so many days. Welded up the first of 12 truss supports a bit slowly but just as I had imagined it would come together. I think the reason I did not pursue photography is because it didn't give me the amount of satisfaction that sculpture does....and the greenhouse is the biggest sculpture I have ever built. Nice to be back in the physical labor groove again and way from the computer. 51,74,31,0

just shoppin...

Not much to report today....Alpine and back with more "stuff", then a load of water from the Ghost Town. Did however get an email today from my brilliant independent radio producer friend Joe Richman (from my NYC days) about his year end wrap up. http://www.radiodiaries.org/ This is someone really worth watching (er....I mean listen to). 46,70,35,0