Life (non) Aquatic

Having lived on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico for twenty five years, being a product of a marine biologist, and then relocating to the mountainous region of Utah the day after I found a quarter century, the aquatic life has become an image imprinted inside of me. The vast landscapes, the foreign topography, and the arid expanses only remind me all too greatly of where life comes from. Patterns and shapes of natural and artificial methods create a delicate balance of how frail mankind and life as a whole is to its dependency upon water. Vegetation resembling the forms of what resides in the sea coupled with hand originated resourcing via a demand to survive. The Jordanelle emerges into view as the journey to work brings me up and down the mountains while the anemone and squid like flowering plants expose themselves around the corners and crannies of landscaped yards and roadside gardens. Forms flowing like the tides along the zephyrean moved hills bring the subtle smile and gentle reminder that the ocean truly isn't far away.

To Be Square

The plate and the fork.....the cow and the moon...the little dog laughed because he had the spoon. Never ending seems to be the dinner ware decision. I have become as frugal as possible with my purchases for the club. Not my choice but by force. They forgot to budget small wares!! This would be all of the "small" things that make a kitchen operational. Containers, glasses, plates, mops, utensils, pots, pans, and such. What should be a cost of $10,000 or so has been violently beat down to less than half. One might say rob Peter to pay Paul, but I say.....what about Marry? The owner is into all sorts of contemporary design and style which brings the lack of budget to a whole new concept. I find it ironic that with the line of credit, the national accounts, and the wholesale tax exempt status of the company in which I work, a cliche filled retail store has the ability to be square at a much cheaper cost than any distribution company can offer. None the less, the above is one of the plates that I have chosen to be my palate. At six dollars it can be effective for breakage. At six dollars it can be replaced that same day. At six dollars.....who cares what goes on it. I do believe that most of the membership is expecting to eat off of paper and plastic as most new golf clubs do. This, I feel, will bring a new beginning to a new concept of private clubs through efficient production of much more than burgers and dogs. When we receive accolades like "best of" this and "best new" that, those who desire it will follow suit.

Philosophies change minds.......Minds change philosophies.

Disparate Climates

Altitude affected climates, clouds beneath your feet, rain for countless days, hail all week. ................... 6,500 feet brings a whole new meaning to weather. I heard a commercial that said "turn off your sprinklers... Utah's wet enough" as if the people of Utah are expecting to have some kind of drought. The past several days have been pelted with the ever so agile hail storms. Some isolated between sunny bursts and breeze kissed hillsides. Some in rolling patterns like droves of footmen engulfing the entire city. I'm not sure about the wet enough part. I have welcomed the moisture with a smile. As a matter of fact I do believe that I have brought this rain with me. I have been in some kind of precipitation every day since a week or so before my birthday. The sky is fragile up here on magic mountain. At any time with little to no warning electric bolts slice the air and pierce the soul. It isn't regularly that the eyes get to see the disparate climates from above. It is like looking into the chest of mother nature having no comprehension of what visualizes before you while settling into awe.

The Little Brain That Could.....The Hands That Badly Want To

Two weeks now in the office. Phone call, email, phone call, pricing, cataloging, email, spread sheet, email, arrival of glass samples, ownership axing 20 of 22 samples, credit app, email, meeting, phone call, do it again.........when does it stop? This has been the daily routine of me. Only weeks away from grand opening and it will more than likely come down to the last second. Thom says it best..."this just feels like spinning plates". The only piece of mind that I get is around 7:30 pm when I settle into the couch with a good album and the laptop. (yes, still working) Last Sunday I took a rest and turned the TV on for the first and only time since I have been here and succeeded at not using my brain.

The sun finally came out today but it was only 62 degrees. I am starting to feel better upon becoming acclimated to the 6,500 feet closer to the sky of my location. I also have quite the grand appetite since I have been here. This morning I went to Salt Lake City and met a baker. She had a plethora of goods for me to try so you can only imagine the carb-fest I ate for breakfast. Afterwards I went to another purveyor in SLC that specializes in meats and game. Upon arrival back at the office to engage in the before mentioned, no one was there which only meant that I would be enjoying my wonderful sandwich alone made from the freshly baked bread and fantastic meats. I have noticed that all of my associate contemporaries are fast food junkies. Meanwhile I am over at my desk eating bananas, nectarines, and granola. I have mentioned it to them but they continue to eat that garbage anyways. The clubhouse has got to get finished so I....1. can start developing my recipes, 2. get away from the continuous administrative duties and get my hands into some food, and 3. start feeding everyone wholesome meals before they turn into a french fry or a greasy spoon burger.

From House to Hole and Home Again

Moving the Earth, growing the grass, remodeling the house....these are the reasons for what I do. In a month, maybe two, the shaggy rimmed cups and the naked "trailer" will be transformed into functional recreation and leisure establishments. Transplanting Junipers through a process of months and thousands of dollars, raising berms of unorganized rocks and gravel, splattering paint from here to there, removing the skeleton then replacing it not in the manner of which it came, a concept shall come alive. Red Ledges Clubhouse shall fully operate under the moniker from the staff "The D W T"(double wide trailer) until a permanent structure is built four years or so away.

The Cold Closet

A small room, an extra corner, the garage door entry, a shivering body. 3055 Fawn Dr. isn't much but it suits me well. The weather has been what is said to be abnormal for the high mountain desert. It has rained almost every day which makes the temperature struggle to break 56 degrees. Adding to the altitude adjustments within my transition makes for a slight discomfort in this closet of mine. Pre fixe utilities attached to the rent makes the climate a bit more bearable. Heat will overtake before long. Somewhere around 6500 ft. is the elevation at which my head rests.

Gluttony Without a Price

California Pizza Kitchen.........

commercial....sterotypical.....free!

A bit of R&D for the job. The boss said he was going to send me on a mission to several area eateries to experience some of his delights. Recreation a la Daniel is my mission via an all expenses paid culinary tour. The micro-brew I drank was better. A bit generic but I can change that. He won't eat it again when I am done with it!






BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

chicken, romaine, black beans, cheese, tortillas, tomatoes, jicama, basil, cilantro, avocado, creamy herb dressing. It's much larger than it looks.
At $12.95 it holds good value due to its size.

The Land of Bloody Noses

St. George

Only among the erroding landscape of millions of moons does this emotion find me. The tapering reds, subtle greens, the blood of my nose. Yesterdays heat...the mornings cold. Scattered illusions of prehistoric expanse wonder me...am I here or here I am. It has been almost two weeks in Utah and I have driven more than 3000 miles. Far away from the the lush semitrical, straight row forests of JOE land where the organic presence overtakes any comprehension of what the human element thinks it knows. I find it hard to think in the desert. Sitting about, the bats fly around my head as I try to digest the physical and mental reasons of my work. Ironically......solace.