“We are as gods and we have to get good at it.” – Stewart Brand

I find Stewart Brand’s pragmatic approach to environmental issues refreshing. Ideologues of any stripe are tiresome at best and at worst, reek havoc on the very things that they profess to hold dear. The Edge article hyperlinked above and associate articles in the recent edition are worth a read. He can be quite provocative.

A Road Trip and the Beauty of Terlingua, Texas

Sunset at Wildhorse Station

Home Base at Wildhorse Station with Porch for Guitar Picking and Beer Drinking

View from the Porch at Sunrise

Last month I spent a week out in the Big Bend Country of far West Texas. If you have never been there, this remote section of Texas is stark, quiet and stunningly beautiful. While there are modern conveniences to be had, a few hardy souls live off of the grid out here. One in particular, John Wells, is doing some very fine experimentation in sustainable living at his place known as The Field Lab. Please visit his blog for excellent daily posts on the subject.

So, a little quiet time and stargazing got me to thinking. Those Wrangler jean sure were comfortable. The boots crunching against the limestone rock paths and clean, dry air filling my lungs made me smile. I could live with this on a regular basis. Maybe that townhouse in the city is not my best option. And so, life’s rich tapestry unfolds…..

Zucchini from the Garden and a LEED Silver House

So, two things on my mind. First, the extremely warm spring in Houston has yielded zucchini on April 20. I cooked it into a pasta sauce – early stages shown below. Fresh basil from the garden was added as well. A nice glass of dry Italian red wine, some good music and the Astros game (muted) on the screen made for a superb evening.

Second, I stopped by the Green Building Resource Center of Houston today and checked out the various building materials and systems for LEED certified housing. Now my current flight of fancy involves building a LEED Silver certified house in Central Texas sometime in the next five years. Lots of research obviously needs to be done and more than a few road trips as well. I’m in the very early stages of this fantasy come reality so the optimism meter is off the chart. (FYI, my Meyers-Briggs is INTP so I am easily enchanted with big, fat ideas brimming with possibility). Nevertheless, there you have it. One has to start somewhere and my general philosophy is that if you throw enough stuff against the wall, sooner or later, something is going to stick.

The mesquite flooring sample at the resource center (mesquite is indigenous to central Texas) was beautiful.

OK, if anyone is out there, please chime in. I’m looking for thoughts and ideas on environmentally sound residential construction in central Texas.

Early stages of tonight's pasta sauce

The Future of Motorcycling

I love this. It’s a great idea, especially for getting around town and commuting. But make sure you check out the Shocking Barack link at the bottom of the home page. Two guys who work for Brammo are riding Brammo Enertias from Detroit to DC, taking the same route as the auto executives did when they came begging (the second time). Only these guys are going to present Obama with the two bikes as an example of what American engineering and creativity can achieve. Following their journey and story on their blog is great. Oh, and make sure you submit your name. They will write it on the bikes that will be given to the Prez.