Camping is in your Element

In 1985, my wife, young son and I took my mother's 1971 VW Bus camper to Oregon and back. It was fun and easy taking our home on our backs, tortoiselike. That vehicle was a favorite for many in those days--compact but full of room, and with the hard extended roof, there was room for sleeping--and you could stand up in it.

Nowadays, the Bus is an historical relic, but one company is putting expandable roofs on Honda Elements. Although the last Element was just built a couple weeks ago (see blog post), there are hundreds of thousands you could buy and get converted by Ursa Minor Vehicles.

It's a great platform for it, and the cost seems reasonable. I wonder if you could rent one?

Friday on My Mind

Friday -- the last workday of the week for most of us. If it's the last workday of your first week at a new job, it's a good time to assess what Friday means.

By any measure, this first week has been a success. I've met dozens of new colleagues, and they're all terrific. I have a good workspace--nothing fancy, but amidst my fellows. I have interesting things to do, and have had to deal with some deadline pressure. But I've also had time to take time to watch what's going on and learn how things work. I'm tired - but I've earned my rest.

When you're unhappy at work, 5 p.m. on Friday is the door to escape--when you get to do the things you really like. Me? I'm excited about next Monday, but intend to get my weekend's worth of fun with family, music and--some rest.

Work and rest--a daily, weekly and yearly cycle (think vacations) but it's a lifelong cycle, too. The first years are when you learn how to work and what you're good at. In the middle years you learn focus and dedication, and, with luck, develop some wisdom about yourself. In the later years you get a chance to reflect on your worklife. My retirement plan? Never stop working, but gradually get to work at what I like best. What could be better than that?

Friday songs: My favorite has always been Friday on My Mind by the Easybeats. Yeah, it's a real oldie. But my new work neighbor, Loni, told me about the latest, Friday by Rebecca Black. Yes, it's insipid, and combining a 13-year-old girl and her friends with an older man seems a little bizarre (watch the video) but I dare you to get the song out of your mind after even one listen.

Personal Bandwidth - A New Beginning

How does your mind spend its time?

I recently began sitting quietly in the morning for about 10 minutes after my shower. On a hard chair, in my old bathrobe, I sit and breathe in and out. I listen to my thoughts.

A few weeks ago, my brain was filled with a job search. Last week, before my new job began, the content was of my home automotive project. Now, as day four of my new job begins, I find most of my bandwidth is on that.

And what a great time it is when you start a new job. There's the excitement of meeting new people and learning new things mixed with some nervousness about not really knowing what you're doing yet. Those slow, even awkward, processes will be smooth before long.

On my band of attention I hear the cry of my daily bass practice and blog duties--joys, but also responsibilities. I hear the needs of my family and the reminders of jobs still left to do (mow the lawn, fix the faucet, balance the books).

Meanwhile, the photo above is of today's sunrise--the fresh beginning to every new day.

Final Honda Element Leaves the Building

The Honda Element is no more. The last one rolled off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio on Monday, April 18. Don't cry, though--they made 361,500 of them since production began in November 2002.

I drove at least two as test cars--if not three. The car is bigger than you might think--compared to the similarly boxy Scion XB--especially the first generation model. I remember the second row seats being WAY back--like a limo's, and the ceiling so high that I could barely touch it with an upstretched arm.

Being based on the perennially popular CR-V crossover, it offered plenty of utility and decent fuel economy--but it wasn't at the top of the gas miser index. As a Honda, it was well made, reliable and pleasant to drive.

The last one I tested was a 2010 model--the Dog Friendly Edition. It had special dog-friendly trappings, such as a little cloth "house", a ramp (for bigger pooches), and the rubber mats had bone graphics on them. It even wore a canine-oriented logo on the outside.

There are no plans to produce another generation of this car, so it's really goodbye. But don't count Honda out. I expect that the next "box" from them will be smaller and more fuel efficient. It will have plenty of competition.

Would You Want Your Son to Join the Marines?

I remember the Viet Nam era, when our servicemen came home and were blamed for the war. Today, we recognize the courage and sacrifice of our fighting forces, while still finding war itself upsetting and painful.

But what do you do if your 18-year-old decides he might want to join the Marines? When he turned 18 he received all the branches' brochures, but now, he's talking to a Marine recruiter. This puts me, as a parent, in a strange position. I hate war, as many people do. I also understand that as long as there are more than two people, there will be disagreements, and that some of these will escalate into armed conflict. I appreciate our fighting forces, who defend my rights and my freedom. But I balk at sending my own son off to possibly lose a limb or an eye--or his mind.

This reminds me of racist statements in years gone by--"But would you want your daughter (son) to marry one?" We want others to do the right thing even if we're hesitant (I did "marry one.") Wanting to protect your child from harm is natural for a parent--but where are these defenders of democracy going to come from if nobody volunteers? It's almost like I appreciate the idea of the military more than the reality of it. I'll bet many others feel the same way.

When your kid is no longer a child, you have to let him go. But I can't help worrying that's he's making the wrong choice--and that he may live to regret it. Or worse, he may not live at all. The Marines are a proud and patriotic few--and deserve our respect. But it's a very hard road to walk.

My Two Drawings

Yesterday, my wife and I visited the Oakland Museum of California. Not only is this the place we went on our first date many years ago, but it has been significantly remodeled, so we enjoyed seeing the changes as well as some old favorites.

The museum has become more interactive. For example, in one section, a wall full of closely-spaced California portraits contains two video screens. Next to the wall is a workstation where you can draw your own self portrait and it subsequently appears on the wall--and in rotation afterwards into the future.

I sat down and tried my hand at it just minutes before the museum announced it was closing. You can see the results above.

Today, at my new job at Luidia, I was experimenting with the company's eBeam technology, which allows you to draw on a video monitor for education and business presentations. My scribbles took on the look of some of the 20th-century "modern art" at the museum! See below for my masterpiece.

Con Alma Rocks the House

Con Alma sings a range of songs; they give everything a Jazz-tinged swing. Richard Kalman, the founder and leader of the group, plays keyboard and incorporates versatile bassist Michael Fourie and finesse drummer Richard Freeman into a strong three-piece rhythm section. The singers, including Kalman, then make the magic happen over that.

I've seen a few different versions of Con Alma; my interest started when the group began to contain my ex, Catherine de Cuir, whose considerable vocal talents I have experienced since we met many years ago. She can sing the lights out of Cole Porter, the Beatles or anyone else you can name. Last night, the group also included singers Patty Paul, Nancy Shneiderman and Terry Lee, led by Richard. Together, this ensemble fills the room.

Noteworthy group numbers included the Beatles' Come Together and Drive My Car (the latter sung acapella, with Ms. de Cuir performing George Harrison's guitar solo with her voice). They also hit it big with "How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You," "I Can See Clearly Now" and "The Way You Do the Things You Do."

Both sets included a middle section where the individuals got a chance to solo. Richard gives a pleasing Randy Newman treatment to his solos. High points from the others included Catherine nailing "Thou Swell" and Nancy evoking a powerful sentiment with Abbey Lincoln's "Throw it Away." Patty delivered on her solos too, but I was so immersed in listening that I neglected to write down the titles.

Con Alma is worth following. Until they produce a specific website for the group, see Richard Kalman's website or MySpace page for more information.