phildirtwanted

50th Birthday "unplugged"

2009-04-20T09:12:00.006-04:00

I had the best birthday gathering ever. Old friends and new friends alike were there. We held it at Cessna and Elizabeth Decosimo's beautiful studio in Chattanooga. Matt and Lewis Oehmig backed me up on drums and bass as I attempted to play the Nirvana Unplugged set. Could have done better. Could have done worse. Great friends, great gifts, great cards, and a great time.

Ash Wednesday

2009-02-28T13:23:00.003-05:00

This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. I was at church at 6 pm to participate in this solemn service and receive ashes. "Remember, Oh man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return". Mid service it became apparent that something was wrong. The priest and the deacon were quietly talking to each other, then the deacon left the altar and disappeared. You could hear cabinet doors opening and closing and when the deacon returned it was announced, the ashes could not be found. The ashes which are made from the burning of last years palms from Palm Sunday were missing. The service continued without the application of the ashes to the foreheads of the parishioners.The scripture readings dealt with not showing your Christianity by praying loudly in the street or giving money so all can see what you have done. Your rewards on earth are from man and your reward in heaven is for your "quiet" Christianity. Those who attended Ash Wednesday with me had no outward sign of their annual remembrance of the realization of where they came from and where they shall return. Quite appropriate.

Valentines Day

2009-02-16T08:17:00.003-05:00

As you know Valentines Day was on Saturday. I spent the day building a bookcase for my daughter Esme', which I had promised months ago to have for her by Valentines Day. Esme' had a party and in order to declutter her office/work room she needed the bookcase. It was delivered an hour before the party just as her mother had predicted. It would have been delivered earlier but I fell asleep and Esme' was frantically calling me knowing I was comatose.
In the meantime my wife Sue, part owner of a flower shop, Making Arrangements, was filling the last of her Valentine orders. She did most of the work herself because her partner Gloria was down with pneumonia.
The flowers were delivered, the bookcase filled and the party was a success. All in a days work.

Burning Man Post Card

2009-02-03T08:51:00.002-05:00

My son Bradford received a letter yesterday from Vancouver WA. We don't know anyone in Vancouver. When Bradford opened the envelope out dropped a postcard I had sent to him while at Burning Man in September. The attached letter explained the postcard was unsendable through the US Postal Service because of the glitter I applied to the watercolor card. Mari Stephenson of Vancouver had worked at the Black Rock City Post Office and volunteered to repackage and send out all unsendables from her home. In true Burning Man form this burner took it upon herself to spend the time and money to get it done for others. I am forever grateful she did and hope all the other postcards that were mailed will eventually find their homes.

Bloody Tuesday!

2009-01-28T19:01:00.002-05:00

Tuesday started with me searching for my keys. Not a totally unusual situation. I eventually found them locked in my Landcruiser. Baffling, since the doors won't lock if the keys are in the ignition, which the were. After 2 hours of cramming coat hangers and other objects into my car window , I finally got it open. The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful until I moved a 10 foot step ladder and felt the crowbar that had been sitting on top of the ladder hit me on the nose. The nose ceased bleeding in 15 minutes. What a gusher. I just went home and went to bed. As the good Presbyterian said after falling down the steps,"I'm glad that's over with."

Nine Lessons and Carols, All Saints Chapel, Sewanee, TN

2008-12-08T19:05:00.005-05:00

For the last 5 years our family has driven up to Sewanee,TN to enjoy Lessons and Carols at All Saints on the campus of The University of the South. It is always bitter cold and you must get there an hour and a half early and wait outside to get a good seat for the service. Lessons and Carols were started in England in the 1880's, and is an annual event in many Anglican, Lutheran and Roman churches. Through nine readings (Lessons) of scripture from Genesis to the Gospels and Carols which correspond to the scripture the story of the advent of Christ is told. All Saints is an ancient looking cathedral, although it is not much more than 50 years old. The Sewanee choir sing the carols, many in Latin or German and the audience can sing some also. You can probably hear The Kings Choir perform this service from England on a Public radio station on Christmas Eve. Our Advent Season would not be complete without this tradition.

Florida Christmas Decorations

2008-12-03T19:03:00.005-05:00

For the last two years I have had Thanksgiving at my in-laws in Florida. There is something so wrong about eating turkey then sitting on the beach. No icy rain as in Chattanooga. No hot chocolate by the fireplace. No regrets about not raking the leaves off the steps before guests arrive to eat. Both years I've been taken by the Christmas decorations in South Florida. Somehow reindeer on still green grass, wreaths on the front of yachts, lights wrapped around the trunks of palm trees are bizarrely incongruous. This year I sat by the pool as my daughter swam and watched the condo association decorate the pool area. If a Santa went by on a jet ski it would have been a nice touch.

St. John Will I Am Coltrane

2008-10-03T14:19:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago my daughter Esme' and I were in San Francisco. Somewhere in the back of my memory bank I recalled a church devoted to John Coltrane's album "A Love Supreme". I looked it up in the yellow pages and there it was, The African Orthodox Church of St. John Will-I-Am Coltrane. We walked the hills of San Fran for about an hour and finally got there before it started. And start it did. Several saxes, drums and stand up bass blew for a couple hours. A Love Supreme refrain was the basis of everything. There were beautiful icons of Coltrane, as well as an African Christ and African Mary. The best part was when in the middle of a 20 minute sax solo a lady put on her tap shoes and tapped to Coltrane. Check out their web site.

Orville Wright Turns 90

2008-08-12T14:54:00.003-04:00

My father turned 90 last week. Bradford, Esme' and I drove up to southern NJ, for the celebration. While we were there we went to the beach, into Philadelphia, and a few flea markets. The trip was way too short.

Framing Photographs Workshop

2008-07-15T11:51:00.002-04:00

I gave a little talk to 15 children who were part of Photo Camp at the Creative Discovery Museum here in Chattanooga. I told them why and how photographs should be framed to protect and display them.

4th of July

2008-07-08T18:58:00.004-04:00

I drove up to Linville NC for the July 4th weekend. I stayed with Kincaid and Allison Mills and their children Kaid and Augusta at their vacation accommodations. My daughter Esme' was helping the Mills with their children as she occasionally does. I stayed in a log cabin by the river and relaxed, played my guitar, took photos, took walks, played badminton. built dams in the river, shot pellet guns and watched fireworks. I had the best time.

Easter

2008-03-26T06:32:00.002-04:00

I wanted to sport my Sewanee bowtie at church on Sunday but no matter how much I tried it didn't come together. At Easter dinner later in the day, Sandy Soltau went through bowtie tying 101.

Art Hanging Road Trip

2008-03-17T08:25:00.004-04:00

Last week I had another road trip to install a house with art. I drove to Hilton Head SC with Sissy Tarumianz of the interior design co Swatches and Swags. The couple who I hung for had lived on Lookout Mtn TN and I had hung their art at 2 previous homes and had framed much of their art. It took the better part of 3 days to hang their art but we did have time to tour this lovely island and walk on the beach before leaving. Hilton Head is on the coast between Savannah Ga and Charleston SC.

Esme' Turns 25

2008-03-09T20:37:00.002-04:00

My daughter Esme' was born 25 years ago on March 10th. It was a snowy cold day in Tn in 1983. Today she is in Fl at her grandparent's home relaxing and enjoying her spring break. She will had back here Tues. and start her last few weeks of college.

Tattoo with Sushi

2008-03-03T15:22:00.006-05:00

The other night we had dinner at the Mendonsa's because their friend Chiho was here from Kyoto Japan. Not only was it a treat to meet Chiho but she took it upon herself to fix us a traditional Japanese meal. We had tempura, rice, sushi and other delectable sides. Asher Mendonsa ate a tray of sushi himself. Asher was sporting his new tattoo of a bird (swallow or starling?) on his neck. I think this is tattoo number three and he said it was the most painful one yet.

New Dog in Parade

2008-02-27T07:41:00.000-05:00

I started the St. Elmo Corgi Parade several years ago because I thought it would be quite humorous to see a bunch of corgis walking together. Our last parade had over 50 corgis. At the time we had 4 corgis and our own mini parade twice a day. For the last few years we have had only 2 corgis but our personal parade has increased by
1/3. Wiley the corgi moved in with us last month. He is 8 years old and was cared for by a friend with small children who couldn't keep him anymore.(Let me just say the Queen of England used her corgis for nursery dogs and this may be the cause of much of the dysfunction in the royal family.) Wiley is small compared to our other corgis and can often be found on laps and beds. Although he is small in stature he has become the alpha-dog, at least in his mind. Welcome Wiley to the our parade.

HOMECOMING

2007-11-28T21:37:00.000-05:00

MY DAUGHTER ESME' WAS CHOSEN BY SEWANEE FACULTY TO REPRESENT THE INDEPENDENTS, (NON- SORORITY) IN THIS YEARS HOMECOMING COURT. ALTHOUGH SHE WASN'T THE QUEEN SHE HAD A GOOD TIME AS DID I.

2007-09-15T13:11:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON D.C.

2007-09-15T12:11:00.000-04:00

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GET TO TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN TO INSTALL ARTWORK. I'VE BEEN TO THE FLORIDA KEYS, CHICAGO, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH GEORGIA, ATLANTA, AND NOW WASHINGTON. I INSTALLED 30 SOME PIECES OF ART IN THE OFFICES OF SENATOR BOB CORKER. I ALSO TOOK A TOUR OF THE CAPITOL, SAT IN ON THE SENATE AND WAS ABLE TO SIT IN ON THE HEARING WITH AMBASSADOR CROCKER AND GENERAL PATRAEUS.

UP TO NJ

2007-07-15T21:51:00.000-04:00

BRADFORD AND I WENT TO NJ FOR A WEEK TO VISIT MY FAMILY. WE WENT TO OCEAN CITY NJ, THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, PHILA, AND VISITS TO PA TO SPEND THE FORTH OF JULY AND STOPPED TO BRAD A HALLEY IN COLUMBIA MD.

EFFIE'S VIEW OF FRAMEWRIGHTS

2007-06-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

EFFIE JOHNSON' RON'S DAUGHTER SPENDS PART OF HER SUMMER HERE AT FRAMEWRIGHTS. SHE JUST FINISHED A TRIP TO THE EAST COAST WITH HER CLASS FROM ORCAS ISLAND, WASH. SHE HAS PUT TOGETHER A BOOK ON HER TRIP AND FINISHED IT WITH A PAGE ABOUT FRAMEWRIGHTS.

25th ANNIVERSARY

2007-06-05T14:45:00.000-04:00

TODAY IS SUE AND MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO WE WERE MARRIED ON LOOKOUT MTN. TN IN THE COURTYARD OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. WE HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

bradford at lil philly

2007-05-30T12:44:00.001-04:00

bradford at lil philly, originally uploaded by phildirtwanted.

we finally found a hogie/cheese steak joint that is close to the real thing. they even have tastycakes

making arrangements

2007-05-30T00:19:00.000-04:00

my wife sue and her friend gloria mendonsa are opening up a flowershop in st elmo.it should open the first week of june. it is called making arrangements. they did wedding flowers this past weekend and the shop worked out great as a workspace. there are a few more touches needed and it will be open for business.

WEDDING AT THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH

2007-05-01T22:54:00.000-04:00

ON SATURDAY NIGHT SUE AND I ATTENDED THE WEDDING OF GEORGE DAWNAY AND SUZANNAH BEZZONE AT THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH ON SIGNAL MTN. ACTUALLY THIS WAS THE SECOND CEREMONY FOR THE COUPLE. THEY WERE MARRIED IN COLORADO A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT THEY WANTED TO SHARE THEIR CELEBRATION WITH US IN CHATTANOOGA. SUZANNAH GREW UP IN THE CHATTANOOGA AREA WHILE GEORGE IS FROM ENGLAND BUT HAS SPENT ALOT OF TIME IN CHATTANOOGA AS A GUEST OF CESSNA DECOSIMO. GEORGE'S FAMILY FROM ACROSS THE POND WERE THERE EXCEPT FOR HIS SISTER SOFIA WHO IS ACTING IN A NEW PLAY IN LONDON. CESSNA LED THE CEREMONY AND THE RECEPTION WAS HELD AT HIS STUDIO DOWNTOWN. IT WAS ALL FANTASTIC.

CHECK IN

2007-04-28T02:33:00.000-04:00

STRATOBLASTERS

2007-04-28T02:30:00.000-04:00

SKY AND KENDRA

2007-04-28T02:20:00.000-04:00

ASHER RIVER MENDONSA

2007-04-28T02:16:00.000-04:00

GLORIA AND ANDY MENDONSA

2007-04-28T02:14:00.000-04:00

CJR GREEN BALLOON

2007-04-28T01:59:00.000-04:00

HKMFUND FUND RAISER

2007-04-28T01:16:00.000-04:00

ON THURSDAY NIGHT I ATTENDED A FUNDRAISER FOR THE HKM FUND. HKM FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF HADRIENNE K. MENDONSA, WHO DIED LAST YEAR. TWO OF HADRIENNE'S MANY PASSIONS WERE ROWING AND THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS WHICH ARE ENDANGERED. THE MONEY RAISED WILL BE USED FOR ROWING SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE AID FOR RESEARCH AND PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS. THE EVENT WAS HELD ON A RIVERBOAT ON THE TENN. RIVER IN CHATTANOOGA. FOOD WAS DONATED BY GREENLIFE AND MR T'S AND MUSIC BY THE STRATOBLASTERS. A SILENT AUCTION WAS HELD WITH THE HELP OF MANY GENEROUS BUSINESS DONATIONS.FOR MORE INFO GO TO HKMFUND.ORG

EATING AT NIKKI'S

2007-04-22T21:21:00.000-04:00

THE BOYS IN SCOTT'S BOAT

2007-04-22T21:19:00.000-04:00

SPEED GOLF

2007-04-22T21:17:00.000-04:00

BRADFORD IN GOCART

2007-04-22T21:14:00.000-04:00

WATER WORLD

2007-04-22T21:11:00.000-04:00

BADFORD CALLAWAY WRIGHT TURNS 12

2007-04-22T20:47:00.000-04:00

ON APRIL 19TH, MY SON BRADFORD HAD HIS TWELTH BIRTHDAY. WE HAD A DINNER FOR ADULT FRIENDS, AND JONAH AND OWEN CARDILLO. ON SATURDAY BRADFORD'S BUDDIES GAVRIEL, CONNOR AND THE TWO CARDILLO BOYS HELPED BRADFORD CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY. THEY ATE LUNCH AT NIKKI'S, GAMES AT SIR GOONEY'S AND A RIDE IN UNCLE SCOTT SOLTAU'S BOAT. GOOD TIMES!

OPENING PRESENTS

2007-04-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

BRADFORD WITH CAKE

2007-04-22T20:38:00.000-04:00

BRADFORD'S CAKE

2007-04-22T20:35:00.000-04:00

FRIDAY THE 13TH/KNOXVILLE

2007-04-16T07:10:00.000-04:00

SUE , BRADFORD AND I DROVE UP TO KNOXVILLE TO SEE SHELAGH LEUTWILER'S FIRST SOLO ART SHOW. THE SHOW WAS FANTASTIC AS WAS THE CROWD. THE ART'S THEME WAS THE MOUNTAINS OF TENN., THEIR BEAUTY AND THEIR DISTRUCTION.

2007-04-16T07:06:00.000-04:00

KNOXVILLE TN

2007-04-16T07:02:00.000-04:00

2007-04-16T06:51:00.000-04:00

2007-04-16T06:41:00.000-04:00

easter cake

2007-04-10T11:44:00.000-04:00

EASTER AT ASHER MENDONSA'S

2007-04-10T07:44:00.000-04:00

ON EASTER AFTERNOON SUE, BRADFORD AND I WENT FOR LUNCH AT THE MENDONSAS. I TOOK BRADFORD'S COCKATIEL, YELLOW BIRD TO VISIT ASHER. AFTER KEEPING THE DOGS AT BAY, YELLOW BIRD SAT WITH ASHER AND HAD HIS NECK RUBBED, WHICH IS NIRVANA FOR A BIRD. YELLOW BIRD DID FIND ASHER'S LIP RINGS FASINATING AND QUICKLY REMOVED THE BALLS. ANDY, ASHER'S FATHER HAD TO REATTACH THE BALLS.

asher meets yellow bird

2007-04-09T22:22:00.000-04:00

ASHER AND YELLOW BIRD

2007-04-09T22:16:00.000-04:00

EASTER EGGS

2007-04-09T22:09:00.000-04:00

TOO MANY PHOTOS?

2007-04-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

I WAS WONDERING IF WE ARE TAKING TOO MANY PHOTOTGRAPHS. WHEN I LOOK AT PEOPLE'S BLOGS OR FLICKR SITES, I AM OVERWELMED. SOME PEOPLE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND PHOTOS ON THEIR SITE. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OPEN SEASON. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS OF FEET, MEALS, LOVE ONES IN EMERGENCY ROOMS AND MORE SELF PORTRAITS THAN I CAN COUNT. IT'S TOO MUCH TO TAKE IN. MAYBE WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE SELECTIVE .I WOULD RATHER SEE A FEW GOOD PHOTOS THAN HUNDREDS OF MEDIOCRE PERSONAL SNAPSHOTS.

2007-04-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

BUSY DAYS AT FRAMEWRIGHTS.

2007-04-03T20:24:00.000-04:00

WE FRAMED ABOUT 30 PIECES IN THE LAST TWO DAYS WE ALSO INSTALLED ALOT OF ART AND CRATED UP A PAINTING. WITH PASSOVER HERE AND EASTER ON IT'S WAY, EVERY WANTS THEIR HOUSE READY FOR GUESTS.

2007-04-02T08:15:00.000-04:00

MY FATHER,WHO WAS A MINISTER STARTED A BUS MINISTRY AT HIS CHURCH. ONE WEEKNIGHT EVERY WEEK WE WOULD GO FROM DOOR TO DOOR AND INVITE OUR NEIGHBOR'S CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL. IF THEY AGREED TO COME, MY FATHER WOULD PICK THEM UP WITH THE BUS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AND DROP THEM BACK OFF IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. IT WAS AMAZING HOW MANY CHILDREN WE PICKED UP EVERY SUNDAY. I WAS THE BUS CAPTAIN. I WOULD LEAD THE CHILDREN TO THE BUS, MAKE SURE THEY STAYED SEATED AND MADE SURE THEY GOT TO THE RIGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.

2007-04-02T08:05:00.000-04:00

2007-04-01T07:14:00.001-04:00

IN MOST OF THE PICTURES OF ME AS A CHILD, I AM HOLDING OUR SMALL DOG. IT WASN'T UNTIL YEARS LATER THAT I REALISED MY FAMILY WAS TAKING PHOTOS OF THE DOG AND NEEDED ME TO HOLD IT. MY FAVORITE QUOTES ABOUT DOGS, "THE MORE I GET TO KNOW PEOPLE THE MORE I LIKE DOGS", "LORD HELP ME TO BE THE PERSON MY DOG THINKS I AM".

2007-04-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

2007-03-30T23:53:00.000-04:00

LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WOULD BE WORKING FOR MY COMPANY ONE DAY. SUE, ESME' AND I VISITED THE HOWARDS ON ESME'S FIRST TRIP TO THE GREAT NORTH EAST.

2007-03-30T23:49:00.000-04:00

2007-03-30T08:07:00.000-04:00

2007-03-28T21:34:00.000-04:00

30TH HIGHSCHOOL REUNION

2007-03-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

THE OTHER NIGHT I RECEIVED AN EMAIL INFORMING ME OF MY 30TH HIGHSCHOOL REUNION. I SIGNED UP. HIGH SCHOOL WAS NOT GREAT BUT I HAD A COUPLE OF FRIENDS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

2007-03-28T00:44:00.000-04:00

2007-03-27T08:31:00.000-04:00

2007-03-24T21:13:00.000-04:00

2007-03-22T21:18:00.000-04:00

2007-03-22T21:03:00.000-04:00

phidirtwanted

2007-03-22T14:00:00.001-04:00