Monday, March 29, 2010

butler university's hinkle fieldhouse

butler university plays its home games in hinke fieldhouse. this same gym was used to film the championship game in the movie hoosiers. the bulldogs of butler have been portrayed recently as a collegiate version of the team from hickory. make no mistake though, this team has big time talent unlike anything the huskers have ever seen. good luck butler.
~eightychoices

final 4

whether your bracket got jacked up by two 5 seeds reaching the final four or not (a first ever), this march has been all about the madness. this year's tournament has seen a slough of upsets & great games. parity has definitely shown up to the dance. three of the remaining teams are from traditional "power" conferences (acc, big east & big 10) & a first ever representative from the horizon. congratulations to the deserved participants. the two 5 seeds square off in the early game when butler plays michigan state. the late game pits duke, the only 1 seed, against west virginia, a 2 seed. if your tv is on april 3rd or 5th, check out some college hoops.
~thanks college basketball

tahoe

the days are dwindling in this winter ski season. however, those of us who love to ski, will probably wish that there had been one more outing. tahoe was gorgeous, even if the snow grew sticky by the noon sun. hit your favorite resort, local mountain or nearest back country location and send winter off in style. enjoy!
~eightychoices

Friday, March 19, 2010

nature

if our young men miscarry in their first enterprises they lose all heart. if the young merchant fails, men say he is ruined. if the finest genius studies at one of our colleges and is not installed in an office within one year afterwards in the cities or suburbs of boston or new york, it seems to his friends and to himself that he is right in being disheartened and in complaining the rest of his life. a sturdy lad from new hampshire or vermont, who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps a school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to congress, buys a township, and so forth, is worth a hundred of these city dolls. he walks abreast with his days and feels no shame in not 'studying a profession,' for he does not postpone his life, but lives already. he has not one chance, but a hundred chances.

- ralph waldo emerson



freshwater catfish

this rendering of a freshwater catfish was created by david ellis. i go to his work often, he is someone who inspires me. for some great reason, his work embodies action. check out his multitude of mediums. enjoy.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

march madness

the NCAA tournament is almost upon us, today is selection sunday. granted, college hoops are not necessarily an alternative choice, but it's a great choice none the less. i live in pac 10 country, my heart will always beat for the big 10 & yet i absolutely love the big east! college basketball is an example of young people competing at the highest levels, both in athletic ability & in mental awareness. the students, fans, campuses & cities that will vicariously live through these teams over the coming days is a reminder of the grandeur that exists in the youth of our country, our future. there's a glimpse into the limitless opportunities that higher education can offer. it's not about the name on the back of their jerseys, it's about the name on the front.


Sunday, March 7, 2010

eoto @ hopmonk

there will be good times brewing in the abbey tonight at the hopmonk tavern. eoto is playing. they are a break beat, downtempo duo with a storied past. i caught them in asheville & it was a dance party. support your local music venue & be a part of live music whenever possible.
~eightychoices

ride fast, live slow

Steamroller Complete
when the weather turns beautiful, riding your bike is one of the more pleasing & quiet things you can enjoy. on nice days, hikes to the pond (an attempt to make contact with the resident otter), treks on the beach & riding a bike can be, as good as it gets. go out & enjoy the sun if it's shining on you. my surly, a burnt brown, is a bit older but still likes to go. a friend of mine who loved bikes had a mantra, "ride fast, live slow".
eightychoices.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

backyard tire fire/hotel utah saloon


if you're looking for something to do in the city of san francisco tomorrow night, hit up the hotel utah saloon & support backyard tire fire. as i remember, they give it their all & have a great rock n roll sound. why not support live music from illinois in the city by the bay?

laguna de santa rosa

Wildlife from Maggie Hart on Vimeo.

enjoy your local watershed... even amongst all the rain there are plenty of things to enjoy. area watersheds & river systems are gushing with rain water. not only is this recharging our water tables, it's allowing all the critters that love wet ecosystems to flourish. go kayaking, canoeing or birding. sonoma county's laguna de santa rosa is a mecca for observing waterfowl, such as american coots, double-crested cormorants, lesser scaups, grebes & ducks. yesterday, while on the laguna, i also observed a blackhawk. this was a total rarity, they typically reside in the southwest. another highlight was paddling directly under a bald eagle. as much as we are all hankering for spring, let's not forget to appreciate the importance of wet winters.