Postage Stamps

I was a fairly avid stamp collector as a kid.  From the ages of 8-12, I spent hours in my room every week sorting through stamps, soaking stamps off of envelopes, and affixing them via stamp hinges to various stamp books.

I haven't touched my postage stamp collection in over 13 years, and decided it was time to do "something" with with it.

I put together several stamp collages that now hang proudly on the wall.  Going through the stamps again, rekindled my appreciation for the colors, textures, and designs that make postage stamps so beautiful.

Action and Passion

As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at the peril of being not to have lived.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Are you living?

A Composition of Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue

Ever since I first saw the works of Piet Mondrian while visiting New York years ago, I have enjoyed them.  There is something about the clean lines and primary colors that make a sophisticated, modern statement.  I want one. But there are two problems, the first is that I can't afford real Mondrian at the moment, and the poster copy will simply, not do.

I have always enjoyed artistic endeavors (mostly related to food), but haven't ever been even a decent sketch artist or painter. But after seeing a friends' (kudos to Alan Granberg) Mondrian inspired effort, I knew that even with my primitive painting skills, I could do it too.

For about $80 dollars in art supplies and 4 hours of effort, this is what you get.

True Grit

I recently watched the Coen Brothers remake of the western classic "True Grit" and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Coen Brothers delivered another brilliantly acted and shot story full of clever dialog and  It truly is a superlative to the earlier John Wayne version, and no, I am not knocking The Duke in any way.

My upbringing included a healthy dose of John Wayne films: Rooster Cogburn Texas Ranger, The Sons of Katy Elder, The Man who Shot Liberty Valence, Chism, The Searchers, and of course True Grit. True Grit is a classic. Rough around the edges? Schmaltzy? Weak acting by some? Yes, but still a classic, and surprisingly true to the novel by Charles Portis from which both films are based.

All of the clever and engaging dialog you experience in both films comes almost verbatim from the book. Knowing that the Coen Brothers' remake was due out in December, I read the Portis novel (of the same name) over the Summer.  It is an easy and a satisfying read.  I laughed out loud at least a half-dozen times while reading it.

If you haven't read the book or watched either of the films I would suggest the following order:

1. Read the Book
2. Watch the Coen Brothers' Version
3. Watch the John Wayne Version

Holiday Wines

I wrote an article for ThurstonTalk.com that helps you choose and find the perfect holiday wine.

Check it out.