Friday, April 1, 2011

out of the blue...

About a week ago...I got a call about a job.  Decided today that it was just too good to pass up.  Bad news is I have about a week to close up shop here at The Field Lab.  I leave on April 11 for a 6 month assignment for National Geographic shooting a story about the real off gridders in third world countries.  I will be in DC for two days going over the itinerary then off to Costa Rica for the first leg of the trip.  Hope to be able to keep the blog going.  Will be off line for a couple of days.  warm,hot,cool,rain...are you kidding?,breezy
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41 comments:

  1. John WellsApril 1, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    APRIL FOOLS!

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  2. gumoApril 1, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    I'm a school teacher and had a full day of it today so you can't fool me. Good one, though.

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  3. czardastxApril 1, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    And I was gonna get ready to claim squatters rights on TFL...

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  4. GYPSY JESSApril 1, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    my jaw dropped to the ground reading this!!!!! got me good!!!!

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  5. El ViejoApril 1, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    I wasn't fooled but it was a great attempt! Best one I heard all day......Stay cool John.

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  6. John WellsApril 1, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    I know better than trying to fool Santa...

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  7. ratgirlsApril 1, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    I was worried about Benita if you left. You really got us!

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  8. Kyanite Acres FarmApril 1, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    I was going to say that you could stay here... But Benita would have to stay in the back yard....

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  9. The Flying TortoiseApril 1, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Well you got me John... here I was saying what a great opportunity etc etc and then saw April Fools!
    Guess I wasn't expecting it as we are now April 2 here... was thinking what a coincidence because in a couple of months I'm starting a trek up north to document interesting characters who are living real lives off-grid... now I wonder if NG would be interested...

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  10. John WellsApril 1, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    TFT....send them an email...you never know.

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  11. JenApril 1, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    You had me goin' there fer a minute John..lol. That was a good one.

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  12. Dizzy-DickApril 1, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    You got me, for sure. Like was stated in above comments, was worried about Benita and you. (In that order - grin)

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  13. jeddApril 1, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    I actually got mad for a moment.

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  14. Ron KApril 1, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    The first 'person' I thought of was Benita...what is Benita going to think?!!
    Good one!

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  15. Cindy TalbotApril 1, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    I laughed when you said real off the gridders in 3rd world countries (but it is Friday night and I have had a few adult beverages). Earlier I thought it odd that I hadn't heard any April Fool jokes, so thanks for not disappointing me...

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  16. TundraroseApril 1, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    I think it's good to manifest new realities. Today only gives us permission to dream them.

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  17. Cindy TalbotApril 1, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    oh and FYI, while out tonight, someone called me Benita and I had to ask if they thought I looked like a Longhorn cow.... of course they looked at me like I was crazy and explained Spanish to me.... (guess the beverages haven't worn off yet) and sometimes being blonde is a curse...

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  18. EMCApril 1, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    You got me. It's already April 2nd in Japan.

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  19. Eric A. GarciaApril 1, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    Been reading your blog for awhile. I saw the post and was fooled. I thought, wow what a great opportunity! Anyway, greetings from Austin.

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  20. louApril 2, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    GOT ME GOOD,JW. I read the blog last night and went to bed with selfish feelings, and read the comments Saturday morning :)

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  21. Michael PeckApril 2, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    I was thinking, what a great article that would be. And, being a photographer, the big dream job that everybody wants!

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  22. tffnguyApril 2, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Whew! I thought I was going to have to start feeding Benita & Mr. Floppy!

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  23. RayApril 2, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Fell right into that one...was worried about how the Grub Shack would make it while you were gone, and was starting to pull together a resume to convince you to take me along as your grip!

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  24. CoolChange©©April 2, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    Yessir, you got me, too! Good one.

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  25. TimApril 2, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    tffnguy, I was wondering who was going to feed Benita. I'm glad you decided that you could do it.

    tffnguy, would you be giving the tours too?

    Where are the temperatures and wind data for April 1st?

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  26. leilaniApril 2, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I fell for it too late last night doing some pre-sleep bedside surfing without reading the comments. And after I'd been patting myself on the back all day yesterday for not falling for any other pranks elsewhere, too, dagnabbit.

    Like many others here, my first instinct was to fear for Benita and immediately started scheming to load her up & pull her down I-10 over here to the easterly side of the state for the duration of Mr. Wells' absence. (Didn't get far enough in the scheme before I dozed off to figure out where I'd put her though. I only have 3/4 acre in the burbs & it's all trees and no pasture.)

    I think the reason this particular prank seemed so plausible to me (aside from the fact that it was after midnight and I was too sleepy to be cynical) was that he had mentioned a few posts back about upgrading his refrigeration which made me think about zeer pots (low tech 3rd world refrigeration) which in turn made me think that an article about innovative low-tech strategies used by others around the world who have no grid even to choose to be off of would be interesting - almost exactly the topic of the fake NG story he supposedly got hired to shoot!

    But I'm sure glad to know Benita will be staying with her Dad and doesn't have to be uprooted from the only home she's ever known.

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  27. Kelly FannonApril 2, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    I thought what a great job, nobody could pass that up. Then I was thinking how much I would miss the daily weather report. You never know, National Geographic could very well assign you now.

    My best, Kelly

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  28. UnknownApril 2, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    John it would have probally been a good move since Waste Management, a leading provider of comprehensive trash and waste removal, recycling, and environmentally safe waste management has purchased 500 acres adjacent to your property.to develop for Marfa an surrounding communities.

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  29. repsychallbluesApril 2, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    I couldn't imagine you leaving Benita and the gang, as well as your solitude. Even for NG.

    Glad all is well at the FL.

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  30. alam0txApril 2, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    Well! John
    Now you know how literal we take your blog. I think all of us thought you were gone..and I wondered where you were going to send "your child support" for Benita.. Great Fun...Now get back to work planning Benita's birthday party...Surely you will provide webcam coverage.

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  31. tffnguyApril 2, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    Well Yeah Tim, I was prepared to do the full service routine. Mugs, postcards, tours, weddings and the whole nine yards.

    Now all I have to do is figure out how to get rid of all of that stuff I ordered prior to reading the April Fool note. The new products will all have the following on them.

    Terlingua or Bust
    /////////////////
    The Field Lab

    I was even going to paint that on the side of the falcon! Glad I didn't get that far...

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  32. AnnieWorksApril 2, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Got me big time. I almost fell off my chair...

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  33. Al BossenceApril 2, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Well, you surely had me convinced....

    Kelly

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  34. MichelleApril 2, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Hi John,
    My name is Michelle and this is my first time posting to you. My fiance and I are looking to buy a tract of land - and perhaps become your neighbors. LOL, can you be neighbors even with the 200,000 acre range? *smile* I have enjoyed reading about your journey and really wanted to be able t meet you when we come down to look at the land we are planning to buy. Id love to hear from you if you have any pointers or comments about the area. You are a wealth of information and knowledge. A high school friend of mine is a photographer for National Geographic (Julie Naff) - let me know if you bump into her. Look forward to hearing from you. Id love to swap personal emails if your interested. Enjoy your trip. We will wave to your homestead while we are down there! lol
    Michelle and Dale

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  35. MichelleApril 2, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    lol funny! *grimace and pout*

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  36. UnknownApril 2, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    I cannot express the agony & despair felt while reading your post, until I saw your post LABEL.
    Well Done! Thanks for the lighter moment.
    You got me, fer sure.

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  37. AnonymousApril 3, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    And two days later, sharp as a tack, you had me going for a minute. Good one!

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  38. Dr. CrackCornApril 3, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    jeez louise. you had me going there. thought i was going to lose my favorite blog. good one, though.

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  39. billkeithApril 3, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Congratulations and look forward to hearing about this new project.

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  40. JamesApril 4, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    My Birthday is April 1 and I'm pretty impervious to being fooled by this point, but your joke got me good. Glad to hear I'll still be getting my updates about the Off the Grid Life in the Big Bend in Texas.

    Palmer
    Paris, FRANCE

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  41. Dwight ParkerMay 19, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    Ok, so I go searching the blog to see if I missed the post about the National Geographic assignmnet being cancelled or postponed and then discovered I HAVE BEEN HAD!!!!

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