Category: 2011

It’s been nine months since we left Texas to seek out a new life in a place we romanticized about living in for the last ten years. Basic snapshot of our life there:

1. Pretty seafood
2. Waterfront Seattle is like nothing else in the world.
3. Trees and mountains are like extra credit for God.
4. Snow is free. Not a product of global warming. Simply free.
5. 2500 miles feels too far away from the things we like.
6. There is such a thing as too many Asians in one place. And they are mean drivers and I don’t care how that sounds.
7. Stop moving into houses where neighbors are named Nacho.
8. Give your kids all the bedrooms and take the living room so they know what a castle can feel like.
9. Fall in love with water.
10. Never chase a mama bear with her cubs. But if you do, get a picture and mobile upload it before you get mauled.
11. Play outside under the sun at 10:30 pm.
12. Drive around with no plans even if it’s bad for the environment. Some things just beg to be seen.
13. Work hard to make your dreams come true, even if you have to climb under someones house for a few bucks.
14. Make a fire in the snow with a bottle of tequila with your lover.
15. Always wave to people.
16. Think twice about giving up free cable to move to another location.
17. Stuff is still not important.
18. Freedom is everything.
19. Courage is within you.
20. Do what you want. Even if…well…just do it.

Thanks Seattle, but it’s time for us to go back to Texas…I miss my Family, my friends, and the music. I love you.

Handing out the first slice of American Pie, we chose to give the first piece to someone that has the most incredible work ethic we’ve ever seen.  Meet Thinh, our local Home Depot guy, who has what it takes to live the American dream.  He’s loyal, honorable, and works hard for his company and for his Family.  He truly represents the fabric of  what this country is made of ~ dedication, loyalty, integrity, and good ol’ hard work. 

Yet, some people make him feel less than that because he doesn’t have the all American look.  He has to work twice as hard to be the American he already is, but he does with a smile anyway.  All while redeeming the face of corporate America because he tells how wonderful it is to be a part of such a great company who he loves and loves him back.

We teared up while doing this interview and noticed that he fought back tears of his own as his hard work was being rewarded all because someone bought a photograph from us which in turn bought him a piece of American pie.  We teared up after leaving, during editing, and watching the final video.  This is more than American pie, this is Americana the way it should be.  Authentic, loving, and totally Thinh.

In the middle of months of hard work, pie making, and all things honest…sometimes I just like blog posts as simple as these.  A little barenaked goes a long way.

Feels really good that work is coming out of the winter hibernation and though we’re still navigating the waters, we’re getting busier.  This struggle has made us look at how we’re living now and how we lived in other parts of life.  We’re coming out a slow season, our lease is up in a few months, and it’s been kinda feeling like a sweatshop to keep up with this area.  It’s a blast being here and getting to see things like waterfalls, majestic mountains, and getting to live with so much beauty but we’re finding ourselves scratching our heads a bit.   Is it worth the work, struggle, and the damn doors that have separated the us the last few months?  Especially, when most of the work we’re getting is coming from all over the country?  Not to mention the BareNaked book is coming along great…