Un Poquito de Todo (Ecuador)

Now that I've been in Argentina for a few weeks, it's time to wrap up the Ecuador posts with a few last thoughts and impressions. People People in Ecuador are so, so, so friendly. It's kind of impossible not to feel good in this country when everyone around you is so nice all the time. … Continue reading Un Poquito de Todo (Ecuador) →

Sixteen Things for Sixteen Years

Did you know that Montenegro (tied with Serbia) is the world's third most recent sovereign nation? Montenegro split off by a referendum in which 55.5 percent of people voted for independence. The threshold to approve was 55 percent. As you might imagine, people still hold many strong feelings about this decision on both sides of … Continue reading Sixteen Things for Sixteen Years →

The Sound of Sound

I've never thought of ambient sound as something that some of us get to choose and some don't. I've never thought much at all about the sounds around me. I grew up in a house with four kids and an endless rotation of babies. The television was always on. I went to public school with … Continue reading The Sound of Sound →

Chi-Town, Take Two

Despite my love of big cities, I somehow didn't make it to Chicago until I was 35 and then never made it back. So when Solar had a week long conference there—giving me a free place to stay right on the river—I decided to join. Why not? And when he suggested we extend the stay … Continue reading Chi-Town, Take Two →

Sanctuary 2.0: Re-Engaging the Senses

I recently starting rereading Diane Ackerman’s A Natural History of the Senses, which I read for the first time approximately two years ago. The book is an exquisite and vivid journey through our five senses and how they guide and influence our interactions with the world around us. It’s a beautiful piece of writing that … Continue reading Sanctuary 2.0: Re-Engaging the Senses →

Week Two in the Mountains: Loud and Nude

Who says that moving from a crowded metropolitan hot spot to an isolated hilltop means that life is going to be that different? Life is going on pretty much as before. Well, maybe there are minor differences. Like deciding which outdoor view I want when I’m working at home – Boulder valley, the forested peak … Continue reading Week Two in the Mountains: Loud and Nude →