minty fresh

75,101,65, .11,B,0

Jane Beck Smith Wells

My stepmother Jane passed away at the ripe old age of 98 last weekend.  This photo by my friend Chris Callis of both my step parents was taken at a gallery show I was in back in the early 90's in NYC.  I knew her longer than I knew my birth mother and was blessed to have a second chance to relate to a mom as an adult.  We developed a very special relationship over the years.  When my stepfather died right before I moved out here, I told her if she wanted to remarry a much younger man to keep me in parents, she would have my blessing.  Jane said she was done with matrimony but laughed at the idea.  I reckon I am officially an orphan now.  She warned me that I will never get married unless I shave off my beard.  I continue to take that advice to this day.78,96,69,0,B,0

Reality Bites

I seem to be getting a lot of filmmakers interested in TFL lately.  Here is how it played out with the last two that came to visit and film for a day that wanted to pitch something to a network.  I haven't heard back from the first after I refused to sign their paperwork as presented.  The second came back for a visit on Monday to try to lure me into 8 episodes for a reality TV series.  They offered $20,000 for eight episodes - I said I wanted $96,000.  Within hours they came back with an offer of $40,000 and I said now I wanted $180,000.  I think they are going to pass.  I will NOT do a reality TV show unless they pay through the nose.  There is nothing real about The Field Lab when there is a film crew following me around all day.  That week last year with the British film crew taught me that.  I work alone and I hate reality TV... but I have my price to whore out my solitude.  Does the world really need another reality series anyway?   http://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvworld/allshows.shtml

In my REAL world (just me and the boys, and Mr. Floppy, and Carl and the girls - no other humans) the wind blew the door off my shower yesterday.  So far I have had 9 miss stamps on the ingots which means melting them down and starting over.  Ya gotta whack it just right to get a good impression (kinda like life).  Got 18 ready to do a final polish and ship tomorrow.  Is yours in the group?  83,97,75,0,B,.32
UPDATE:  The limited edition is sold out.  THANK YOU!!

Quality Control

Hmmmm...the ingots are selling a lot faster than I thought they would.  74 of the limited edition of 100 sold in the first 24 hours.  The ingots will start shipping on Friday in the order that payment was received.  A big CHEERS! to those who are supporting TFL and the Ben'n'Bud fund.  My boys will be well fed thanks to you.  I ordered more Benita postcards to include one with each ingot.  Note about VistaPrint:  Don't bother paying more for expedited shipping and handling  - I paid the cheapest price for S&H which they said could take 7 to 14 days.  I ordered them last Thursday and they arrived in the mail today.
Mr. Lizard has been on hand for each and every ingot pour - making sure the work zone is free of flies.
91,114,74,0,B,.46

Get 'em while they're hot.

ingot mania about to begin

A nice storm woke me up late last night - plenty of thunder, lightning, and wind but just enough rain to dampen the desert and leave my road intact.  Melted down more sterling today.  The limited edition offer officially goes on sale tomorrow.  90,101,68, .26",B,0

His truth is marching on

We have reached a point where instant information is at our fingertips...but truth still alludes us.  Liars are rampant in the information age.  I have a saying here at TFL - If someone describes an event or situation to me, I tend to say there is no way I can know the real truth unless I was there to witness it myself - and even then I am only half sure of what the truth really is.  Satan loves deceit and it is his strongest weapon.  The good news is there is an "app" available that can help with any situation.  The Holy Bible - The Living Word of God.  When I was growing up, we would sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic in music class and in choir.  I must have sung this song a hundred times.  Today we sang it in church and I listened to the words for the first time...

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.

John 14 : 1 Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am , there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know , and the way ye know . 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest ; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  89,100,72,0,B,.32