Fly Over

Posted on February 3, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

Three days before they come to pack up our stuff, four days before they load almost everything, five days before Cowboy, Don Cyrus, and I begin the westward trek in a cargo van mainly for our certified household plants, but also some artwork, and a few muffulettas to munch on…and counting!
While I had my step ladder out late yesterday afternoon, I couldn’t resist climbing up as high as I could, higher than I’ve ever been before; and to my surprise I could see where all the planes were going. Also saw Ann in a hot tub with a glass of wine.

Winding Down with the Parranderos Latin Combo (PLC)

Posted on February 1, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

My last Friday night here in Des Moines, IA was positively electrified by the Parranderos Latin Combo (PLC) at Vaudeville Mews. Just last December at the Moberg Gallery I saw them perform – and even “illustrablogged” on it! These guys are going places, literally, check this out!!! Something tells me I’ll be seeing Fernando Aveiga and the PLC in the future.

Weighing In

Posted on January 30, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

Here’s a possible partnership…

100% me, more or less

Posted on January 29, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

Ok, maintaining the autobiographical tone here at portfoliolongo.com, DNA testing within the last year revealed the following speculative analysis of my ancestry composition, maternal and paternal combined, reflecting where my ancestors lived 500 years ago, before ocean-crossing ships and airplanes came on the scene. (I’m inclined to cite that quote, but I won’t for a few reasons) Who knows how accurate this information is? Better yet, who knows whether it’s valid, credible, useful, etc.. Theoretically, it applies to my sister and brother as well. At any rate, here’s essentially what got spit out:
25.4% – Italian
21.2% – Nonspecific Northern European
18.5% – Nonspecific Southern European
17.1% – British & Irish
10.7% – French & German
6.1% – Nonspecific European
0.7% – Middle Eastern & North African
0.7% – Middle Eastern
0.2% – Sardinian
0.1% – North African
< 0.1% – Unassigned
100% – Me, more or less (Note: An estimated 2.7% of my DNA is from Neanderthals.)

What if…

Posted on January 29, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

Somehow after routine cleanings and multiple moves an ancient jar of pepperoncinis manages to remain, except there are no pepperoncinis left, just the pickled pepperoncini brine. I’m guessing it’s from the early 1990s. What if I gargle with it?

Many a Meeting

Posted on January 28, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

I wish I knew the number of meetings I attended at Smokey Row in Des Moines, IA over the past 4 years or at least the number of gallons of coffee I drank there. Kind of a neat place. I’ll miss it.

Please Stand By

Posted on January 27, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

What ever happened to the TV test pattern? After a day of canceling services here, starting services there, suspending services, talking with customer service representatives, most of whom are pretty darn good, and listening to “I’m on hold” music, my signal strength is weak, I’m tired. Look, I’m going off the air!

Our 1st Move: Simpler Times

Posted on January 25, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

Would you look at what Ann just found in one of the boxes!

It certainly didn’t take much back in July of 1991 – at least in terms of moving – for the two of us and India, our Doberwoman, to move in together and initiate 21 months of blissful, premarital cohabitation right there in our Nation’s Capital. If I’m reading the mover’s estimate correctly, what we “had” then is a lot less than the 10,794 lbs, incl. 2 vehicles, that we’ll be dragging nearly 1,800 miles over the Rockies in a couple of weeks!

Loyalty

Posted on January 24, 2014 by portfoliolongo.com

This iPad drawing in Fifty Three Paper from a couple of months ago was animated by a fascination I’ve had with the notion of loyalty as the glue that bonds followers or subscribers to both a.) whatever and/or whoever they hold dear as well as b.) their like-minded, fellow followers. Who better than the Koch brothers using Elmer’s Glue with their own bare hands to assemble their followers, I thought, to illustrate this? When the unidimensional adhesive cures, you’ve got yourself something like solidarity, an exclusive affinity group, a virtual gated community of sorts; it’s the basis of culture without all the messy pluralism and diversity.