1,464 brush strokes in Sketch Club on my iPad and roughly 29 minutes, I looked up, and suddenly they were gone. I’m at One Line Coffee in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Annyth’s getting her hair cut next door.
…looked up, and we’re gone pecans…
This year’s annual retreat was held at Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center in Glouster, OH. Over the course of three extremely productive days, thanks to the consulting team from McKinsey & Company, the Board of Trustees, senior management, and the entire staff at portfoliolongo.com revisited our organizational values and refreshed our vision and mission statements using 356 yards of butcher-block paper, 17 dozen scented markers, and 1,257 colored stickies. All together, the 36 participants invested a combined total of 6,854 lbs. of competence!
In addition to our Annual Report, a copy of which is being mailed to you, we hereby issue our Annual Christmas Letter for 2025 in keeping with our 15-year tradition. In accordance with our commitments to parsimony and stewardship, it’s O. You’re welcome to visit our North American headquarters over the holidays in Canaan Township, Athens County, where you will see our letter posted. (Click here to view previous annual Christmas letters.)
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Dave, in 2014
Rest in peace, my friend.
Obituary for David Leroy Thornburg
You know, you were 38 when we became friends in 1978. I was 22.
When you died a couple of weeks ago, you were 85.
Well, here I am, 69, finally getting up there myself.
I’m gonna miss you in many ways.
The hydraulic fracturing market, not just in the Appalachian Basin, but globally is projected to continue growing, with market analysis expecting it to nearly double between now and 2034. It’s argued that, to meet the energy demands needed to power AI data centers, more fracking is justified.
I asked AI if fracking is considered clean, and here’s AI’s response:
“No, fracking is not considered clean because of its environmental impacts, which include water contamination, air pollution from methane, and the creation of large volumes of toxic wastewater. While the burning of natural gas produces fewer emissions than coal or oil, the fracking process itself has significant negative consequences for air and water quality, as well as public health.”
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Technical: Sketch Club app on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil, some additional work in Procreate and iColorama. Here’s some Sketch Club stats, click on arrow to see a tiny progress video.
Here how I pictured Van Morrison as he was:
Traveling down an open road with youMaking plans for all we hope to doSo much to say to you, so I’ll drive slowWe can drive to France, or down to Monte Carlo
Once in a Lifetime Feelings – Click here for the soundtrack on YouTube.
Van Morrison
So much to say to you…
You’re on your way somewhere. You see apocalyptic orange signs in the distance. Then, the orange flagman.
O’Hooley’s Dry Irish Stout at Jackie O’s, Athens, OH.
Was that too dark? Try these:
Sketch Club app on an iPad Pro w/ Apple Pencil and iColorama app.
Annyth and I called the audible at around 3:30 pm today, Thursday, September 11, 2025. Go to the West End Ciderhouse for a Guinness and some live Celtic music here in Athens, Ohio. Yes, we were up to our ears in 911 sorrow, not to mention the more contemporary, constant, and ubiquitous GOP-related horseshit not worthy of elaboration; but, the thought of draft beer and Celtic music helped us come to our senses.
the scene at the West End Ciderhouse
I had my iPad for some live digital painting in the Sketch Club app and was able to focus on one of the local Athens musicians, guitar and fiddle player, Rusty Smith. I finished him before I finished my first Guinness.
Rusty Smith
“I have never in my life seen a talent like this.” Quincy Jones
Sketch Club Stats
We were in “Ireland,” yes, the Emerald Isle, for nine short but glorious days divided almost equally between Belfast and Dublin. Glorious… Divided… These words didn’t just pop into my head, but that’s a different story. Among the many common denominators, Guinness!
An airplane doodle…
Squint and you’ll see they’re enguinnessed.
portfoliolongo 