It took me seven years, but I’ve finally moved back to the Seattle area. I didn’t want to leave back in 2002, but family and my-then relationship were very important. And while I was never happy about living back in Reno, I still think I did the right thing.
All that is so last decade now.
At the end of October, my mom died, ending my need to be in Reno. At the same time, my good friend Karen Kardell needed someone to take over her condo in Bellevue while she’s on an extended out-of-area work assignment. Kat and I flew up to check out the place and signed the lease. Losing my mom was—and remains—really heartbreaking but it did free me to finally leave a place I truly did not like.
And I get to share a new home with someone really wonderful.
Thomas Pynchon is perhaps my favorite novelist. After getting a copy of V for my birthday years ago, then multiple readings of The Crying of Lot 49, and of course, the incredible Gravity’s Rainbow (with reference book), Pynchon’s books have been, for me, the perfect combination of literary virtuosity, historic reinvention and absurdest humor. Researching his numerous historic and cultural references, and inside jokes, is as interesting as are his novels.
Thus, I am totally excited by the release of his new novel, Inherent Vice (http://www.thomaspynchon.com/inherent-vice.html). Now, I need to admit that though I have a copy of his previous book, Against the Day, I have not yet read it. At over a thousand pages, I just don’t feel like I’ve had the bandwidth over the past couple of years to give it the reading I’d like to. I also feel a bit guilty at having started, but not finished David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, another major commitment novel I promised to read before moving on to yet another Pynchon story. From the early reviews and comments, Inherent Vice may be return to the length and style of Vineland. That is, about 400 pages and a more readily accessible plot. Kind of a cop out, I’ll admit, but I think it may just be more realistically doable for me right now.
Dave B. and I went to AeroPac’s rocket launch event in the Black Rock Desert this weekend. We both used to build and fly model rockets as kids but this was the first time I’d seen large, high-powered rockets being launched. High winds cut things short on Friday, but Saturday was great. Some stormy weather did start to roll in mid-afternoon, but for the most part, things seem to have gone really well. The FAA temporarily lowered the maximum flight altitude to 11,000 feet above ground level due to having to re-route commericial air traffic through the area because of thunderstorms. There were some pretty spectacular flights though, and I suppose it’s now ineveitable that I’ll be building rockets again soon.
M-Powered L3 Qualification Launch – video by Dave Bryan
Kat and I have spent several great weekends in my old town of Santa Cruz. And over the weekend of April 18–19, we went to Santa Cruz Island, off the coast of Southern California. We got in some great hiking and pretty much had the island to ourselves on Sunday.
We’ve also decided to make it a travel goal to see as many of the Santa Cruz’s in the world as we can. It’s rather a long list, but here are my choices so far:
My good friend Reid Walley sent me this gem. Last week, I sent him this great quote by Red Adair: “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” And this video is a great study in how professional services are treated by some clients. The economy may be tight, but allowing your professional services to be devalued, be they design, legal, technical or something else, only cheapens the profession and devalues the skills many have acquired through years of training and experience.
Negotiation may be a part of some professions, but a clear budget and set of expectations, milestones, goals and methods should be part of every professional service rendered. Understand the value of your work, even if you’re just starting out in your field. A simple product photo with minimal lighting is worth less than a high end studio shot. You know it, the client should recognize this, and the target market will react accordingly.
