Time to Regroup

I've just finished the Porter County Master Gardeners show at the Porter County Expo Center. Despite sub freezing temperatures a very large, lively and inspiring crowd showed up.

Of course, what took place behind the scenes for me were a few weeks of controlled hysteria as I designed a new look for my shows.

New backdrops were built along with a couple of rustic accent pieces made from used pallets. Along with all of this chaos, welding still needed to be done to prepare pieces for the show.

All in all, it left my garage and my studio in a shambles.

I will take a break, catch my breath, AND CLEAN and ORGANIZE my shop. This has been long overdue but coincides with most New Year's Resolutions to become more organized.

Organization of my shop will ultimately lead to not only being more productive, but being safer.

The spring rush of shows will be upon me shortly. I'll be happy to get rid of the Carhart's in favor of some warmer weather. Already the days are growing longer and it is nice to see the sun setting later in the evening.

I look forward to meeting some of you this year. Please stop by the booth and say hello. It will be my pleasure to meet you.

Life Is Good

Do What You Like, Like What You Do.

In a moment, I'd like to share with you the story of "Life Is Good". Over the past year or so I've purchased quite a bit of their products. To me, it's a feel good story of "the little guy" succeeding in a world where the little guy often gets trampled.

I really like their mantra "Do What You Like, Like What You Do". I have been so blessed to find a hobby that has turned into a lucrative business. The best part about that is that I never get tired of creating pieces of art.

Someone once said that you should do what you like and find a way to make money at it. I couldn't agree more. So many of us toil in careers that really do little to satisfy our inner hunger for peace. Economic conditions now force even more of us to stay in a less than satisfying position just to keep the bills paid.

Some of us who are laid off during times of economic hardship find the courage, drive and commitment to pursue lifelong dreams and end up finding fullfillment. As I often say with my art, you just need to look at things in a different perspective.

I hope that 2009 is good for you. I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone. Explore new interests. Take a class. Find a hobby. You never know where it will lead.

And now, the "Life is Good" story:

In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first tee shirt. They knew nothing about the business.

For five years, the brothers hawked tee shirts in the streets of Boston and traveled the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories.

They collected some good stories, but were not very prosperous. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could.

Chicks were not impressed.

By the Fall of 1994, heading home from a long, less-than-fruitful roadtrip, Bert and John were desperately searching for answers to keep the dream alive. Little did they know, the only answer they needed was back in Boston, hanging up on their apartment wall.

Jake's contagious grin, simple as it was, seemed to express everything the Jacobs brothers believed in.

One fateful September day, they printed up 48 Jake shirts for a local street fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They laid the shirts out on their rickety card table. By noontime, all 48 of those tees were gone. A star was born.

Soon Jake was introduced to local retailers, and his simple message of optimism was embraced like nothing the brothers had ever seen. As demand for product soared, Jake's team grew, and the Little Brand That Could began to spread across America.

Today, the New England based brand stays close to its roots, with an emphasis on humor and humility. Through Life is good Festivals, positive products, and a steady dose of ping pong, Jake's crew does its best to keep the good vibes flowing.

Cold Steel on Ice: The Chicago Blackhawks

I was extremely lucky to attend the NHL's Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day.

As a sporting event, it was one the most exciting spectacles I've ever seen and I've been to my share of "The Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports" the Indianapolis 500.

However, as a hockey game.......hmmm. The third outdoor regular season game in NHL history produced the most goals of the three but was also the least competitive. At least after the first period.

I thought the NHL, the Cubs organization and the Wrigleyville community did an excellent job of getting the fans involved in the game and maintaining order for such a sea of humanity. Where else but Wrigley would you be singing "Take Me Out To The Hockey Game?

I haven't followed the Hawks as much in recent years, but I know that several years ago, they had a marketing campaign touting the Hawks as "Cold Steel on Ice". They lived up to the hype against the Red Wings. After the first period, COLD was the word. The Hawks went cold. The fans were cold. One bright spot of the frozen tundra......the beer stayed cold!

I hope that the NHL continues with the Winter Classic. From what I saw of the fan enthusiasm, they would be foolish not to.

I think most kids growing up learn the game of hockey by playing it outside. That's the way I did as a kid. It is definitely a treat to watch a game outside, in the elements with the wind blowing, your feet freezing, your nose running, and your hands enveloped in gloves.