Saint Augustine

I read this quote by Saint Augustine a few weeks ago:

"Love God and do as you please."

On first reading, I wasn't sure what to think about this. It seemed a little liberal to me, well, a lot liberal. I mean, where's the rules? Do as I please? That's a little scary. So, I thought about it for a while - maybe even meditated on it. Finally, it dawned on me the simplicity and beauty of the quote. If I love God, really love God, the things I do will be in line with the things God wants me to do. Doing as I please isn't so much about me as it is about God. No rules required. Essentially this is a the same as love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Or so it seems to me. What do you think?.

A Thing A Day: Update

I haven't forgotten this or given up just yet. Over the weekend, I trashed a lot of stuff from my office and shop (mostly boxes, old screws and stuff, baseball cards, etc.). Michelle and I went through the boys' room and tossed out three lawn bags full of junk. After a couple of hours, Michelle decided she hates legos. The boys have a couple million pieces - and that was just what was in the floor and in Seth's desk. Another box full is under the bed. The speakers and stamp sets are still available ($10 each now). More to come.

Old Signs - This One's Gone!

Walter Nipper's Nashville Sporting Goods - Before 

For those who don't know, I take pictures of old signs in all of the places I visit. Most of the larger cities are full of these signs. Part of my thinking was that these signs are going to be gone someday. Well, I took the first photo a couple of years ago. It's a sporting goods store on 8th Ave N in Nashville. How could I resist a photo with a big bass on it? Today I was doing a job on Church St. and when I was leaving I noticed a Sears painted sign a few blocks over I had never photographed before. While walking over I saw the sporting goods store and the sign was gone. Glad I got the first shot.

After

The Mid-Century Modernist

I like this site - The Mid-Century Modernist. If possible, I would have my entire office equipped from furniture from this era. Watch shows like Mad Men, movies such as The Incredibles, and even iCarly (the apartment Carly shares with her older brother is full of this style of furniture). I enjoy browsing this site because it helps me identify items to pick up on the cheap at yard/estate sales to use or sell (for a profit) later on.

The Pen Addict: Giveaway: Doane Paper Daily Arsenal Kit

One of my favorite blogs is giving away a bunch of paper products like notebooks, notepads, etc. I love this kind of stuff, which is why I read this particular blog, and thought I would share it with you. All you have to do to enter is click the link - The Pen Addict: Giveaway: Doane Paper Daily Arsenal Kit - and enter a comment. While you're there, browse around a bit and learn more about pens and those who love them. Funny how a blog can be so popular about old fashioned pen and paper. Here's a photo of what you can win (from the Pen Addict site):

Bonnaroo 2010: The Avett Brothers In Concert : NPR

Photo courtesy of NPR

Bonnaroo 2010: The Avett Brothers In Concert : NPR - Here's a link to the Avett Brothers show at Bonnaroo this year. I haven't heard it yet but I would imagine it's really good. There's also a link on this page to the Brothers at the Newport Folk Festival. Give it a listen: you might just be won over by the boys.

A Thing A Day: uncluttering your home one thing at a time

I'm trying this technique to cut down on my clutter - A Thing A Day: uncluttering your home one thing at a time | Unclutterer Forums - in a nutshell, you sell, give away, or trash at tleast one thing every day. So far I've done very well. Of course, I could keep this up for years without a problem, but I am starting to see clear spaces in my office and shop. These are workbenches and table tops I haven't seen in years. I'm shooting for a month but may go until I run out of expendable stuff. So far I've gotten rid of:

• A guitar amp
• Several fountain pens
• An old palm pilot
• Threw away a computer tower and a guitar body for a project I started 4 or 5 years ago
• Put an old men's fedora on ebay.
• Offered a tiki hawaiian shirt for $5 and for free (no takers - anybody?)
• A Zippo lighter that was given to me.
• A skateboard for a kid at church (sold it fairly cheap).
• An old Compaq Armada lap top (if anyone wants it).

More to come.