So all is fairly quiet on the western front. The front half of JPD left for the weekend to visit her family in Arizona. I don't know what to do with myself. Hmmm. Listening to Felt, setting blue diamonds, giving directions to lost newbies. Putting the finishing touches on a batch of about ten or twelve pendants. Mostly copper with blue and white diamonds, though I have some silver pendants as well with and without diamonds. The spring engagement season has sprung itself on us sooner than ever this year. I think it actually started in February. Getting to work on some real fun stuff. Working on two seperate engagement ring both using blue diamonds as the center gemstones. This is a fun time of year. Cranking out the spring line. Meticulously working on this year graduating class of newly weds. And the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You can still ski, but you can also mountain bike and golf. This is the time. The time is now.

Just a quick note to say that tonight is first friday, our monthly gallery walk, which we stay open late and serve mostly cold union made beer to mostly our friends and patrons. This has been something that we have been doing for quite some time. I have actually been doing first fridays for over ten years. Yes, it does sometimes get old, mundane, etc. But every single time that we do it, we're glad we did. Much like exercise. So I am banging out some extra special red heart pieces for a pending date that symbolizes love and affection. It's fine if you think this is overrated and hyped and hallmark and all that. But its only ok if you actually step up and surprise your loved one with something special in an otherwise unspecial moment. That's right, if you don't want to feel like a robot and have to do something because your supposed to, well, then don't. But make sure you do do something when they are least expecting it. Speaking of least expecting it and love, how bout them Green Bay Packers. Oh, and we just so happen to have been featured in instore magazine again, this time a big couple page spread with lots of photos, some kinda scary, and lots of odd information. Find that here. An article and a fidgety video where I seem annoyed for some reason, which I'm really not. And I don't look anything like that stalker with the moustache. That was for a certain wedding which in my book, every wedding is kind of a costume party. Well, that's all for now, plan on more posts to come.....Go Packers...

So things have been moving quite quickly as of late. It is the end of July already. A while back, I penned out nine or ten days on my calender that didn't have anything on them. I said, I'm motorcycling to Colorado, solo, to visit old friends. So twenty three hundred miles later, I'm back, and I'm alive and living life with some renewed zeal so to speak. Eighty five miles per hour sometimes for hours at a time, on a thirty six year old motorcycle. For some reason, risking your life and limb to have the wind wipe everything the world has to offer right off your face, your shoulders, your back. Turn and face the game.
So jump right back into twelve hour work days right when you return to have rings for people and deadlines. Not the most relaxing transition, though sometimes there isn't much you can do.
But I'm doing good work these days. I enjoy each day showing up at work to create. Lucky I am. Friends. Acquaintances. Always redefining who fits into which category. One person can be both at different times of your lives. Good friends. We have it good.
Just tuned the motorcycle after I limped it home a bit. Runs so much better now, took it up skyliner for buzz, nice night. I'm thinking Opal Creek could be the next run she goes on.....

So it has been a big weekend. I turned 40 on Saturday and celebrated with a handfull of friends for beer and brats. Amazingly, I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Not what I was expecting. Normally, birthdays are just another fun day, but for some reason, this was different. I think it might have been all the pressure and expectations from other that I didn't even realize were collecting on my shoulders. In any case, I feel much better now. I can actually turn my head both ways. Comes in handy for driving. Well I am back at work in full swing. Just met with my client and friend whose wedding I will attend on Saturday, after a demonstration at the inaugural Metal Symposium held at Joe Elliott's blacksmith shop on Greenwood. Apparently couples begin to worry when it is the week of their wedding and they don't have their rings yet. Not to worry, I have never missed a wedding in 13 years. And only once, did I have to bring them with me to the wedding. You know what they say, If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.....jp