hungry eyes

though I have little to tell about life here in Arkansas...the stories coming from cali-way are outrageously fun and exciting. it seems that eric is having a pretty good time there despite the disappointingly paucity of trees, rocks, and dust-free trails...fighting off raccoons in the deep of night (that's for him to tell...I couldn't dare), keeping the fishpond from going dry, meeting a "diverse" cycling community, playing with the new iPhone... Speaking of that little geek-inducing device -- Eric has just about talked me into getting one as well. He was right, don't touch it unless you are ready to splurge for one. Besides, like he said...I'll need it in the city: to get around on my new bike, find my favorite coffee shop, get to my new job. yeah right.

To report on Pep: she got to take a little trip with us to northcentral arkansas, Hardy, where she happily laid on the covered sidewalks and snoozed while mom and dad went into the shops...I think her favorite part must have been the ice cream stop...I think she's taking a special liking to Orin..."yeah, dad, i know she looks like she's never fed, but really? does she need ice cream too?" I just hope she's not mysteriously missing the day we're ready to take off to SF -- it seems Orin's getting a little attached to those big eyes...
-g

"Please??? But...I'm Pepper!"

how big is this country??

Five weeks gets longer everyday it seems. Yeah, yeah, yeah…we’ve only been apart since Eric flew to San Francisco on Saturday, but already it seems like an eternity. Pepper and I both miss him horribly, but thankfully, Pep has accepted southern living (or at least fit it into her former mode) and has remained pretty chill. The thunderstorm yesterday put her in a bit of a tizzy but within minutes of the thunder ceasing she was back to her laid-back self. As you may notice by my focus on Pepper and what she’s up to…not much to relay here. No Yankee to harass anymore! Awwwww….just kidding. I found a coffee shop in Paragould where I am settling in to heat up the job/apartment searching. It’s funny how the trend of coffee shops has reached NE Arkansas and transformed. To put it mildly, this breed of coffee shop is a little different but a hangout for regulars more than stoppers-by nonetheless.

I suppose that the biggest news that we have right now is…the date is set!

The hitchin’ is taking place: May 15, 2009 at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. A little background is in order here (I apologize for my own dorkdom up front—push glasses up nose—the art history nerd comes out)…Thorncrown Chapel was designed by Arkansas architect, Fay Jones, and built in 1980. It has been noted as a major turning point in his career and was awarded only a couple of years ago the very prestigious award, the AIA 25 Year Award. Just before I came up to PA, I helped to archive Jones’s work and quite honestly became admittedly enamored with not only his quiet aesthetic but especially his attention to engaging the landscape. Thorncrown does not exist without its environment. Placed on a concrete surface, it would lose almost all of its delicacy. It is composed of only glass, stone found in the Ozarks, steel connectors, and nominal lumber (nothing fancy…just whatever can be purchased from the lumber yard). Jones designed the building so that it could be erected on the site with minimal site work or damage in the process of construction…it was raised like a barn! The walls are transparent, broken only by the repetition of the slices of structure. (Check out the Fay Jones Papers for some really cool images of building it) It is a simple, elegant building that is entirely encased by the woods…I could think of no better fit for us.

Now, we have to figure out how we're going to get you all there...

-g

"heeeaaaayyy yaw'lll...I'm Pepper..."

This is the place! Not so bad for a bunch of rednecks, eh?

red lobsters and green tomatoes

"Now don't eat that green stuff- I'll do it for you" Btw- that's Ingrid (mom)

I'll let the viewer title this one! Three each and we still got things done that day.

"I'm Pepper!"


The new family

It was way easier for Gretta to show me how to eat these fried green tomatoes than me show her how to eat Lobster

This just may explain why I log all those miles on the bike.

An Arkansas lawnmower

Orin treating me like 'kin

Not quite fitting in like I wanted to but still trying

Life is about finding your place and being comfortable (this thing had better A/C than the Exploder)

8 Wheels of fury heading down the road at 14.5 miles an hour. I really got to drive it down the road about a mile to the "shop".

way down south where deer heads grow...

Yes Deer! No I didn’t misspell that. Turns out that rural Arkansas is populated with the same white tail deer that grace the hills around State College making for fine hunting. Orin, Gretta’s paw, has amassed around a dozen trophies that he shows in the lower portion of the house. Honestly, the number of deer heads helps to make them a bit more interesting. Not being from a hunting family it is more of a curiosity than anything. For those of us priding ourselves on having cool bike parts made of the finest carbon fibers available- Orin uses carbon shafted arrows and raves about the advantages over aluminum. So what am I getting at? Geeking is all around us. Guys just seem to embrace neat things and want to explore technology no matter what the form- bikes, hunting; iPhones (don’t get me started on that thing!)

It is cool to be in a new place and relax for a few days.

Eric.

It’s kind of funny being back home now and seeing all those familiar things pulled to the surface again with new eyes. Applause is in order for Eric, no doubt. Everything moves slow in the south except news…and, there has been a steady flow of meeting (which entails lots of hugging with the Tritch posse). Since most everyone in the family lives on the same stretch of highway, everyone knows when I’m home. A couple cousins have already stopped in to check out this boy that Gretta brought home, and I dare say Eric’s charm has won ‘em over as quickly as my northeastern Arkansas accent comes back out.
-g

The Rockland Breakwater- 7/8 mile of pure Maine hard work and granite

"I'm Pepper..."

Who ever knew the Greyhound was good for shipping things?

Geeking, again...

The West Virginia sunset lasted longer than normal as we drove west chasing it

Looking out from the breakwater into the Atlantic Ocean

One last stop before we head west...don't worry- it was at the Sheetz for some "gaz"

Yes sir Mr. Tritch, What ever you say Mr. Tritch, No sir- I don't grow antlers, why do you
ask?!?

We all geek on Carbon parts! Awesome!

Why I choose not to grow antlers....Sir

My attempt to "fit in"....race cars are a great common ground...thanks to all of you who questioned my affinity towards NASCAR

Mmmmmm...dead plants....

Rice and Orin showing us the ropes of farming in the Southern heat


Tritch Road

Who would have thought to look for us on the computer in a coffee shop?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

SF here we come "...grande half caf, skinny, no foam, not too hot, with a sprinkle of something exotic...please "brah"" (for you Rob)

Big Views and Bigger Plans

What better lesson in materialism than moving? It has been a rough one for us, but that's not to say it's been bad. When everything you own is reduced to weight and size, though, the importance of things changes. "Need" changes, and I think that by now we have a much better understanding of what "need" is. Today, on our first day of this long adventure, we are beginning with a lot less than we've had. At the same, we are beginning with much, much more. Each of us has purged a lot out of our lives...and to tell the truth, it's really relieving. Besides, how much can we really fit into that little studio apartment that we'll have in SF? Not much more than what can fit into that little gold machine. And besides, what's the point of having a bunch of things that can do different tasks when you can have just one little package that does it all?!?! Ah, that must have been our reasoning as we (actually, Eric) were/was sitting outside the AT&T store in Brunswick, Maine, at 4:00 in the morning...SECOND in line for the new iPhone. I'll leave the rest to him to tell.

Maine is gorgeous--once I could actually see it in the daylight. We found his parents' place, tried to nap, and chilled most of the morning. Later we took Pepper up Mount Battie on an amazing hike where, at the top, I finally saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time from the shores of the US. Aside from the tourists greedily picking all those yummy blueberries, our time on top of Mount Battie was unforgettable. Seriously, how could a person ever forget the moment that two people decide to become permanent partners in the longer, crazier adventure? Yeah, we did it...we're doing it.
-g

I don't think anyone who knows me will ever say that "geeking" on new things isn't entertaining for people to watch. Gretta enjoyed mosquito free lounging while I found out that a zero degree sleeping bag isn't too warm at all when laying on the cement in anticipation of the latest and greatest (don't play with the new iPhone unless you have more will power and restrain than I). After the drive from our beloved State College to Maine- it seemed the easiest option and it afforded me the opportunity to chat with the 15yr old girl who beat me to the line. I like the toy- it will be fun to learn how to deal with all the time I loose looking at that silly little screen. BTW- my number is changed!!!!!!!! email me if you haven't received the number yet!
As far as being home? Hell's bells- Maine is filled with sea air, clear skies, and the best thoughts. Mom and Dad are good and have made this trip relaxing in the eye of our packing storm. Dinner at Moodys diner (where 3 generations of Roman couples have dated), lobster in the shade (Gretta can now school the rest of you in how to eat that fine food), and hiking with Pepper to the top of Mt Battie to see tens of islands and sail boats in the bay! The land is breathtaking and the trails are so different than Rothrock that it felt much more exotic than it should.
It was from the lookout over Penobscot Bay and Camden harbor that I asked Gretta to join me in making this fun and adventure continue together. Most of you know what we are together, if you could see us the rest of the time you would agree that two people couldn't add more to each other's life than we do. We are both riding high and giddy. The next few postings might be a bit mushy- deal with it.
Eric

all that separation anxiety for nothin', Pepper...we're taking ya.

Eye on the prize! (Maine, and iPhone...)

Never let me listen to "sweet" music or pay the price


waiting...


why else would you wait with me if you didn't want to play with it too? Thanks Gretta!


"I think I see it!"


GEEEEEEEEEKIN'


e-"...now you have to be nice to her"
pepper-"I'm Pepper!"

my "inner child" revealed with a toy r/c helicopter

going away party

Some nights just seem to lend themselves to celebrating situations. Last night was one of those times to kick back and share some food and beer, talk a bit, and get rid of some things that people can use and remember us by. As Gretta and I sit here putting off the latest round of packing, it hit me that there really isn't one defining moment of my time here. Just as my photographs gain strength from cohesion when allowed to exist as a singular body of work- the past 8 years stands tall and true as mortared stones compromising those historic buildings we ride past out on this landscape we call home. Sure, there have been harder times and adverse situations...there have also been amazing times to off set the bad. As we travel west to our new life in S.F. I am certain that nothing but the best of times will last in our memories.

Thanks to Leah and Clay for another amazing dining experience- the lasagna defies description ...and the carrot cake took sugar and butter to a new level of baking.

Just for the record- I had no idea how to use the camera for a while so these are a few images that turned out. Good thing I am getting a Masters of Fine Art in Photo!

Don't hesitate to call or email us!

Eric (and Gretta who is currently geeking on her new Milano (Freezethaw.com))

the two of us...

Leah and Clay's latest and greatest!!!

Central PA's next hope for the Giro- Serge

packin'

rule 1: if it doesn't fit in the car or can't be shipped...it's not going

rule 2: do you really need that...I mean really??

rule 3: do nothing, go nowhere without the essentials -- coffee and the garmin

And then later today...

true quote: "holy crap...how young was I??"