Meadowbrook Park - Urbana, IL December 2011
I’ve been kicking around, for months, the idea of moving this blog to a domain. I’m pretty serious about this radio thing, and I thought that maybe being more serious-looking online would prompt more frequent posting on my part. But, you know, that’s a stupid excuse for not updating the blog and stewarding my shit. As I look around this place, it’s obvious some serious updating on all fronts is needed, even if a domain is in the offing.
We have some catching up to do, no?
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Since my last update, much has happened. Rather than recount it all for readers here, here’s the truncated version:
- Cody is still in CHGO, working for an apparel company and working as a freelance photographer when he has time. He was home 8 days for Xmess and we talked a bit about his plans for the spring, which may or may not include taking a few classes. However, just this morning Jim was checking Kayak on the Tablet Computing Device for airfare deals and ran across flights Cody was researching while he was home – Kuala Lumpur. Karachi. Ulan Bator. Other places on his list include Lebanon, Jordan, New Zealand…
- Lilly goes to a new school and skipped 7th grade to do it – it’s basically a 5-year high school. She’s kicking all kinds of academic ass. I’m also very excited – her social studies class does a pretty intense radio project with the NPR affiliate here, which is also the station I do segments for. She had an excellent soccer season in the fall and is looking forward to some indoor soccer action while we wait for winter to arrive/end. She’s almost 5’8″ tall, willowy, beautiful, and, she will tell you, a complete geek. And, I will tell you, a total badass.
- Jim continues to work for Parasol, though the nature of the business has changed. Almost 16 years ago, Jim and I moved here to help Parasol expand its reach as a group of record labels, while the mail order/record store aspect of Parasol continued to thrive. Over the years, Jim has been called on to do more mail order/record store stuff and less label stuff, despite the fact that people weren’t buying records from stores and mail orders as much any more. In December of 2011, Jim’s boss decided to refocus on releasing records by excellent bands and to close the mail order/record store. This means Jim has come full circle and will be back to releasing records for Parasol and its associated labels in 2012. I think there are seven records on the schedule already, with more to come. Last year, they released one. The stuff on the schedule that I know about it is awesome.
- As a family… we’re solid and happy and healthy. 2011 was quite kind to us overall, for which I am extremely grateful.
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There was a lot of IMBY in 2011, only some of which I mentioned here. I’ve collected everything starting with the May 30 segment for you here – you can either download the files or stream them from the station or, heck, subscribe to the podcast.
Lisa Haynes owns her farm. She does, not her husband. (May 30)
Weird weather is the New Normal. (June 8)
The little farmstand that could. And does. (June 23)
Daniel Tucker, who wrote Farm Together Now, came to our party. (July 21)
Cathe Capel and her Sidney homestead. (August 4)
Every place has its taste. (August 17)
So many tomatoes, so little time. (August 25)
Considering the local food economy. (September 8)
Pickling is nothing to be scared of. (September 22)
The one where my neighbor makes a smoker out of an old dishwasher. (October 12) *
The one where I admit I am afraid of squash. (October 27)
I’ll bet you’ve never thought of this as an alternative to bagging leaves. (December 6)
Be it resolved! (December 21)
* potential submission to some contest my producer said I should enter
New content will resume February 9 – I need a month to go dormant, just like the gardens do. So far during this time off, I’ve brainstormed more topics than time slots, which should prove interesting. I’ll be blogging the segments as they appear, with transcripts. Swear.
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One of my online pals is doing this photo challenge:
So I thought I’d do it, too, both here and using Instagram. Here’s January 1:
Me and Mattie Flicktail Lonesome, Best Cat Ever
And January 2:
Formerly poached eggs, black beans, and cracked pepper chevre
I think my theme/challenge/goal for this year, if there’s going to be a theme/challenge/goal, is engagement. I’m giving a work-related talk this month about creating a culture of commitment around farmers markets as the food landscape changes, so it’s obviously been on my mind, but I haven’t been thinking about it just for work.
Now, however, it’s time to put away Xmess and engage the birds by putting some seed in their feeder. Even if it does attract raccoons.
