August 24, 2010 – Tarps? Tarps!

Wrap 'yer head around these items, why dontcha?

Methinks he sees a pattern.

The STUFF that’s the easiest to get rid of is the STUFF that protects or holds other STUFF.

These tarps were purchased to protect my outdoor furniture and gas grill from the high winds and rain of Seattle. Now that I live in Dallas, they’re not needed anymore.

As I sort through the stuff I’m considering getting rid of – it’s giving me pause to think of all the stuff that protects our stuff: tarps, cell phone cases, laptop bags, shoe trees, specialized boxes for organizing, etc.

I’m thinking a little about the cost – both financial and psychological – about protecting our stuff.

PERSONAL ANECDOTE: A co-worker was talking to me yesterday about storage lockers. And no, I don’t have one. But it occurs to me they are the ultimate “STUFF for STUFF.” I’m kind of sickly fascinated by the storage locker business in America — and I’m marking this topic for a follow-up.

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The power of the shipment.

You have no idea how freeing this feels.

So – the RID project started just a few short weeks ago, and this weekend – the first exodus of STUFF began.

It feels so good to see this stuff begin to make its journey to its next home.

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The RID project — as trip inspiration.

“Currently back home in San Francisco, we’re all about downsizing: Getting rid of stuff we don’t need, don’t use, and could honestly live without. We realized a little late in the game that this amounted to roughly 75% of our belongings, which, during the course of our travel and transition periods, collected dust for three years in a 10’ x 15’ storage unit, to the ugly tune of $239 a month.”

Click here for the story.

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This guy’s doing a month-long RID project. But with meat.

“Why on earth would a barbecue guy nicknamed Meathead decide to become Potatohead for a 30 days? Why would I violate my well publicized motto “No rules in the bedroom or dining room”?

In June, in order to better understand the issues surrounding our dietary choices, I wrote an article on Huffington Post called Meat or No Meat. It attempted to explain the pros and cons of eating meat and divided the arguments into six categories. I continue to edit it based on reader comments.

There have been more than 8,000 passionate comments from everyone from cattle ranchers to PETA members. People feel religiously about this subject. I invite you to go there, read it, and join the debate.

Most of the arguments against meat do not impress me. But two give me pause every time I reach for my tongs:

  1. The way most of our beef, pork, fowl, and fish are grown nowadays, in huge factory farms, can be inhumane.
  2. These methods may be harmful to humans.”

Check it out here.

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August 23, 2010 – No need for a Mariners stadium blanket in hot Texas.

Go M's!

Okay, we Seattle Mariners fans concede. The Rangers have indeed won the West.

What better sacrifice to the baseball gods than my well-worn Seattle Mariners stadium blanket that has kept me toasty through oh-so-many chilly nights at Safeco Stadium in the Emerald City?

Seeing this blanket makes me think of the many Mariners games I enjoyed with my now 15-year old daughter. Being a divorced dad, I cherish my time with her — and the Seattle Mariners, through the triumph of 2001 and the despair of almost every other year of the teams existence — have provided many an enjoyable and terrific night for my daughter and I to share.

Now that I’ve moved to Dallas and the 100-plus degree temperatures of Arlington, I feel quite confident in giving up my cherished blanket.

But you’ll never steal my Mariners from me, Texas.

There’s always next year.

On a side note, have a good retirement Lou – we already miss ya.

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August 22, 2010 – Stadium butt pads.

Bow down to Washington, indeed.

Let’s walk the path on why I was hanging on to these shall we?

IF….I was going to a sporting event,

AND…I had the foresight to think “hey, I’ll be sitting on hard bleachers,”

AND…I remembered which box these were packed in,

AND…I took the time to remember to take them from my apartment to my car,

THEN…remembered to bring them from the car, through the parking lot, into the stadium,

then yes, my backside would be slightly more comfortable for 3 hours of a sporting event.

Goodbye University of Washington bleacher seat pads I purchased years ago, and used for one Washington/Wisconsin game.

Adieu.

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August 21, 2010 – Art without meaning.

Simple entry today. Hope you’ll understand.

The above is a piece of art given to me when I was in a relationship that has since ended. It represents togetherness and an optimistic view of the future.

Obviously, the relationship didn’t last, as I stand before you today a single man.

But…I am staggeringly hopeful, and a more confident, optimistic man than I’ve been in years. Perhaps it’s because I’m more confident and comfortable than I’ve been in a long time about who I really am, and what I really want.

Or perhaps it’s simply because I recognize through the RID project that objects don’t define me, my actions and my sense of self are what matters.

So…here’s to art. To thoughtfulness…

And to having your feet firmly planted in the ground facing strongly towards whatever you’re working towards.

Namaste, my friends and readers.

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Lottery tickets, stuff, and the nature of dreams.

“Curious about how people spend their winnings after hitting it big with the lottery, collaborative artists Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom channeled their research into astounding representational sculptures of dream desires like a Hummer, a yacht and a large home using scratch-off lottery tickets.”

Hum along if you know the words.

The link? It’s here.

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August 20, 2010 – For the birds.

Seriously, how long was I gonna hang onto this?

My home in Seattle had a great place to hang this. My apartment in Dallas…doesn’t.

As of today, I’m officially giving this to someone who will enjoy it. Someone who will put it in a place that will give them hours of enjoyment as they take a breath, and simply watch nature at its best.

I hope this object brings them the happiness I originally intended for myself.

PERSONAL ANECDOTE: This connects to the RID project in that I’m starting to think a lot more about the interconnectedness of things — and the nature of giving back. It occurs to me that there’s so much thought to this in the END…(“What do you want on your tombstone, etc.”) — and not enough to the daily joys of giving back to our planet, and to each other. More on this later.

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An article about Man Caves, and the stuff they contain. What we choose NOT to RID defines us.

Darwin's.

Famous men, and their caves.

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