It's such a crying shame...

Stupid Comcast.

I'm posting from my cell phone because my internet service doesn't seem to be functioning. At least I'm getting about half of my regular cable channels. It's Craptastic!

Normally, I wouldn't bother posting anything under such circumstances, but since I need to follow my "once a week" rule (and because I promised a friend I'd write about an event), I'm giving my thumbs a workout.

Tomorrow night (Friday) is your last chance to catch a free movie at The Other Barn in Oakland Mills. The feature presentation is one best viewed on a big screen with a bunch of people: Star Wars! (The first one).

The show starts at 7 pm and is free and open to everyone (we're really nice on the East Side). Hit up Jessie's spot for more details.

Look at me... I can be... centerfield...

Instead of talking about 27-run losses, how about some happy sports news?

Kickball season is underway!

Yes, Team Hayduke had our first (and only) practice last night, and judging by what I saw, I think it's time to put the other teams on notice: We're ready to ball.

But I'm not really here to share all the details of my kickball team (yet). Rather, I'm writing because David Wissing made me do it.

He has perfected the art of throwaway digs -- using an offhand word or two to take a swipe at things like global warming, Democrats, or the Redskins.

So, the other day when he called my blog "dormant," I took umbrage: "Hey, I'm posting at least once a week," I said to myself.

Which is a pretty lame response.

My trouble accepting the obvious -- that my blog is what's really lame -- was probably a result of the fact that for the first time since I took my new job, I missed blogging. This isn't to say I'd trade my job for the blog -- let's not get crazy -- it's just that I missed being part of all fun everyone's been having these past couple weeks. A few examples:

Our own local Carmen Sandiego, Jessie, has popped up in various places with play-at-home questions and tangible examples of community planning principles. Her most recent visit was to a couple impromptu paths in Oakland Mills, which reminded me of a story I heard in one of my first urban studies classes.

During the early days of Disney Land, people were eschewing the carefully laid out walkways in favor of shortcuts across grassy areas. Park management approach Walt Disney about the problem and recommended installing fences around the grass. Disney, apparently, rebuffed them, saying that's where new sidewalks should go.

There's more to that than just sidewalks, I think.

Bill Santos has also been sharing a bunch of Columbia and general planning insights, including this post linking to the "Neighbor Manifesto," a great, thoughtful read on where.

Meanwhile, with tons of pictures and frequent updates, David Wissing's coverage of that thing that I don't really want to mention has been great; he even created a separate category for it.

Of course, there's politics, too. See David Keelan and Freemarket.

Even Wordbones, after taking a slew vacations this summer, is rested up and back in the saddle.

Actually, it seems to me that, like my kickball team, our local blogs have covered all the bases, and also like kickball, I should just stay out in centerfield and catch the occasional lazy fly ball, such as:

I'm reading a new book about the development of a subdivision in rural Pennsylvania called Last Harvest: How a Cornfield Became New Daleville: Real Estate Development in America from George Washington to the Builders of the Twenty-first Century, and Why We Live In Houses Anyway (kind of a mouthful). At times reminiscent of our own situation in Howard County, it offers a comprehensive look residential development, from theories and planning to public hearings and approvals, some of which is, naturally, common knowledge to people like us. Nonetheless, there are many insights within the book that, I think, provide valuable to our local dialogue (which is a way of saying I think you should read the book).

Here are a couple quotes worth sharing:

The modest single-family house is the glory of the suburban tradition. It offers its inhabitants a comprehensible image of independence and privacy while also accepting the responsibilities of community.

If you've been to my house (or neighborhood) you'll probably know why that one resonates with me.

Then, there's this, from a town meeting:

We've been doing conventional development and we hate it. Why don't we try something new, and if we don't like it we won't do it anymore.

OK, that's enough for now. Back to dormancy, at least until somebody pokes me again.

And the cat's in the cradle...

Goodbye, Bijou, and rest in peace.

Between me, my brother and the dog, you had some tough times, but you lived to a ripe old age, even catching your first mouse in the twilight of your life.

My deepest apologies for "Super Kitty." Just don't forget who snuck you into the house in the first place.

With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole...

I'm not going anywhere near some of the recent local stories on this blog (for obvious reasons). If you want to talk to me about them, however, a cold beer might loosen me up.

Short of that, I wanted to share a meeting announcement about something that was (is?) a bit controversial.

The Green Neighborhoods checklist developed as part of the package of recently approved green building legislation is still awaiting a final decision. In an effort to inform more folks about the checklist and what it is designed to accomplish, there will be a public meeting on Wednesday, August 22 at 4 pm at the Gateway building to discuss the details. If you're interested in attending, shoot me an email (hocohayduke - at - gmail.com) and we'll make sure we've got space for you.

For those of you who don't know, this checklist will be used to certify residential projects wishing to take advantage of the pool of green neighborhood housing allocations. Projects must earn a predetermined number of points for each green feature included in the development. If you're interested in seeing the checklist before the meeting, let me know and I can get you a copy (I know people who know people who know how to get it).

I'd like to teach the world to sing...

I tend to look at things from a very selfish perspective – everything's always about me – which is completely fine. Just ask any economist.

Anyway, keeping that in mind, a brief statement about immigration/multiculturalism as it relates to me: Mexican Coke is now available from at least two local merchants, Sam's Mart in Oakland Mills and Exxon in Long Reach.

Given that Sam's is basically a Latino grocer, it's not surprising to see imported sodas there. That the best version of Coke is available at an Exxon station, on the other hand, is certainly a sign of mainstreaming.

I say, bring it on! Let's erase the artificial borders (and sweeteners) that keep us from total soda enjoyment!

I've been walking the streets at night...

When I took the new job, I made a promise to myself that I'd post something on the blog at least once a week; my last post was exactly a week ago.

There's a lesson about human nature somewhere in that statement.

On a somewhat related note, I've always thought that I have a finite amount of words in me each day and that attempts to cross that threshold will always end in disappointment. I now know that to be true.

Since I'm nearing today's word limit, I'll keep this brief.

In case you haven't heard, there was some big news on the Turf Valley front. Freemarket's got the details.

Meanwhile, Wordbones started a new blog to chronicle the development of an office building in Emerson that he's overseeing. I think this will be a fascinating look into a world some of us like to think we already understand (really, we don't).

Finally, I'm still thinking about ways to spice up this blog while I'm busy, in Jessie's words, "calibrating himself and his blog to his new job." One idea that has popped up in my mind (and others') is to turn this blog into a family affair. Since Little Duke (my brother) is now a resident of this fair city -- and one of the original readers of this blog -- maybe we can convince him to weigh in on the news of the day. It's not like he's got anything else to do, after all (sitting around in his underwear learning old Dream Theater songs doesn't count).

If the weather gets better we can get together...

Just a couple of quick item to share.

First, the county council just passed the package of green building legislation, which made the people I work with rather happy (me too, but not, apparently, Jessie). I'm sure you'll get all the details from the local papers in the next couple days.

In other county news, the Department of Planning and Zoning introduced an RSS feed today. If, like me, you can't get enough information about planning, zoning and development matters (really, who can't?), you'll love it. I'd say it's a safe bet that you'll soon see a DPZ RSS widget on this blog sometime soon.

And finally, if there's one thing we aren't left wanting for in Columbia it's meetings. Indeed, the glut of Columbia-related events makes it hard for most normal people to keep track of everything. Well, the good people at the Columbia Association have made keeping tabs on the packed schedule a bit easier with this new, online calendar, which is surprisingly sophisticated and powerful. The only drawback: No more excuses for missing meetings.

So let me introduce to you...

...the new deck.

As promised yesterday, here are some shots of our new outdoor living space.




Now we just need to get some deck furniture and landscape the rest of the backyard.

But first, I have to say how happy I am with the guys who built our deck -- Don and Mike's Home Improvements. Although it may appear otherwise, our deck was not a simple project, but Don and Mike (and their assorted helpers) took all the complications in stride and gave us exactly what we were looking for. This project has also been the talk of the pathways around here, with many of our neighbors stopping on their walks to admire their work and inquire about their services. If you're looking for honest, hardworking, and reasonable contractors (who are friendly to boot!), I highly recommend Don and Mike.

(In the interest of full disclosure, they're not giving me anything to say such nice things.)

Stay tuned for an announcement about the first cook out!

It's done.

In a little over a week, my side yard went from dirt to deck. It's nice.

Since it was dark when I got home tonight, I don't have any pictures of the finished deck. But these photos of the construction site over the past few days should tide you over.

The old deck:

The new deck frame:
The new deck boards:

For those about to rock…

Although I’m still trying to figure out how to walk the fuzzy line between my job and blogging, when I saw this come across my desk, I knew it was something I could share.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will be on hand to get a birds-eye look at Merriweather Post Pavilion’s newest addition, rooftop solar paneling. Brad Canfield, Director of Operations & Production for Merriweather Post Pavilion, has invited the County Executive to come view Merriweather's first step in "going green" and to learn more about exactly what these types of solar panels can do. In addition to viewing the solar panels, County Executive Ulman will also be awarding Merriweather the County's first "Green Salute."

This salute will be part of an ongoing effort to recognize Howard County residents and businesses who have decided NOW is the time to do their part to protect our environment. After a brief presentation, the County Executive and Mr. Canfield will be joined by the installers of the solar panels; all will then take a lift up to the rooftop to get an up close look at the installed solar panels.

The public is invited to come, too, so if you’ve got nothing better to do on Thursday (July 26) at 9:30 am, come on out and see the new solar panels for yourself. Actually, if you’ve never been to Merriweather while it’s “dark,” you’re missing out. I think I had as much fun on the tour a few years ago as I did at some concerts.

And while we’re on the topic of Merriweather, the Sun this week asked residents how they felt about the possibility of a renovation that allowed for year-round use. Send your letters here.

And, finally, speaking of letters, I was glad to see the letters to the Sun about the Columbia birthday party – just a bunch of people who, apparently, had a grand old time. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Stay tuned for more pictures of the deck! (Are you tired of that yet?)

He was turned to steel in the great magnetic field...

I finally found a license plate worth paying a premium for:


My Cooperstown plans having been thwarted, slapping a pair of Cal Ripken Jr. plates on the Red Dragon seems like the next best tribute.

Share this evening...

Hey, OMers, did you go to the meeting tonight? Want to share any interesting ideas you heard?

Also, for all county residents, County Executive Ken Ulman will be hosting a somewhat open-ended public forum next Wednesday night at Oakland Mills High School beginning at 6 pm. All of his department heads will be there (his executive assistants, too), and you'll have a chance to talk about pretty much whatever you want.

All dressed up, no place to go...

Hey, the Sun's website got a fancy, schmancy redesign.

And speaking of redesigns, here's more on Merriweather and the idea to make it a year-round venue (without sacrificing the quality of it's summer state).

Keep him in the hole...

The Deck, day one, from last night.

We always stand up straight...

Although Dan Beyers mentioned it last week, I'm going to mention it again because: 1. Repetition is the key to awareness; and 2. I don't have the time or energy to think of something else to say.

This Thursday at 7 pm at the Other Barn residents are invited to share their thoughts for a community enhancement project on Robert Oliver Place, between the Barns and the Interfaith center. I've already heard some great ideas, but I'm sure the community at large can come up with concepts that are even better.

In the great effort to revitalize the Oakland Mills Village Center, this is probably just a small step, but it is certainly not an insignificant one. I hope you can make it on Thursday.

This life is going to be all about the dangling possibilities...

After saying in my last post that, new job aside, I'd try to keep up my regular blogging pace, I dropped off the face of the earth for the next five days. Talk about empty promises (maybe I do have a future in politics).

If it's any consolation, not only have I neglected the blog, I haven't returned an email or phone call or done much of anything over the past nine days but paint (and putty and caulk and sand and similar nonsense). I did make a couple exceptions: a midnight showing of Harry Potter on Tuesday, a friend's 30th birthday party, half a day at the county office building getting the deck permit (work starts this week!) and a couple bike rides. But for the most part, I got up in the morning, worked until it got dark and ran to Home Depot(s) at night.

It was glorious.

Some people go on vacations to exotic (or not) place or retreats to monasteries to clear their minds. Me, I work on houses. Indeed, the last time I left a job I really liked for an opportunity stuffed with uncertainty, I spent two weeks repairing a beat-up rental property for a landlord who personified all the bad connotations associated with "absentee." At least this time the house is mine (and there aren't any fleas to speak of).

While I've done more than my share of painting, I've never actually painted a house. So, I had no idea what I was getting into. And as much as I think I should have finished the job during my week off, I'm content with what I accomplished, especially considering the amount of work required to prep the house and the quality of the previous paint job (a neighbor mentioned that the last owner to paint the house bragged that he finished the job in just 13 hours -- it showed).

Anyway, as proof that I haven't been just lounging around playing Wii, here are a couple shots of the house. Note the remaining work for next weekend and the new shed in the "after" shot.


Thanks to my dad for helping out on Friday and all my neighbors who stopped by to offer advice (some good, some less so) or words of encouragement.

More later.

Until then, an advertisement for an great event this week:

twentyfivefortyfive
at the Columbia Foundation invites you to join us at

"Give to Greet"
a benefit for the Domestic Violence Center (DVC) of Howard County

Wednesday, July 18, 2007
5:30-7:00 pm

Domestic Violence Center- 5457 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 310-Columbia, 21045

A donation to the DVC "Wish List" is required for admittance.
Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided.

THIS IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT!

RSVP: 410.730.7840 or cdodsonreed@columbiafoundation.org

It's getting hot in here...

Man.

It's freaking hot.

Not that you didn't know this -- even if you go from an air-conditioned house to an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned office and back, you can't escape the dreadful, stifling heat (or people talking about it).

Naturally, I picked this week to paint the house.

The outside of the house.

Of course, given that I live in a 35 year old house with wood siding, I haven't actually gotten around to painting just yet. Four days and all I have to show for my work is a new post for the carport, a handful of new pieces of trim, and gobs and gobs of patched and caulked holes, cracks and crevices. Also, I've probably lost 10 pounds (a lot for someone as skinny as I), but I've consumed at least two, maybe ten, times that much in Gatorade and water.

I actually didn't pick this week to paint. It just sort of happened that way.

I hinted at something in the last post I wrote but claimed I couldn't explain it. See, I had planned to write a comprehensive, long-winded post describing something that's kind of a big deal (for me, anyway). I was probably going to talk about it in philosophical and psychological terms, about how it's changing the way I've defined myself for the last several years (mainly as a thrower of "wrenches" -- figuratively speaking).

After trying for weeks to write something about it, however, I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to say. So...

I left my position with Enterprise last Friday to take a job with Ken Ulman's administration. Starting next Monday, I'm going to be an Executive Assistant in his office, helping with a variety of things like writing, constituent service and policy. In a lot of ways, it'll mean getting paid for things I already do -- attend meetings, write about local matters, think about ways to make Howard County even better -- but from a completely different perspective.

That I'm taking this job should in no way reflect poorly on Enterprise, which was the best place I ever worked. As excited as I have been for the new opportunity, saying goodbye to Enterprise was one of the main reasons I've been out of sorts for the past couple weeks.

Now, obviously, I'm expecting at least one hater to come out of the woodwork and criticize me, my new job and Ulman (I think Berkhouse once even asked whether Ulman had promised me a job before the election, which he didn't). That's fine. Sometimes you just gotta let it out.

But just know that I wouldn't have taken this job -- or ever started this blog -- if I didn't want what everyone here wants: a great place to live. We may have deep, fundamental differences of opinion about what that means or how we accomplish it, but the end goal is still the same.

So, what does this mean for the blog? Well, you may have noticed that over the past month I've drifted away from some of the more controversial and political stories -- the Tower, the duplex legislation, etc. For myriad reasons, I won't really be writing about such things, but I will continue to write about all sorts of other happenings in the county and, of course, the deck (getting the permit tomorrow and the guys will start working later this week, hopefully). I can't say with any certainty how much blogging I'll be able to squeeze in, but I'll try to keep up the usual pace.

Anyway, lunch time's up and I've got a bunch of stuff to do before going to see Harry Potter tonight (woo-hoo!), so that's it for now.

Someone came and washed away your hard-earned peace of mind...

Maybe you've noticed, or maybe not, but things have been quiet around here this week. Not for lack of effort, however. I've sat down to write nearly every night, but thus far haven't been able to say just what I want to say.

It's been a strange week. The pleasant temperatures (for July, anyway) and the midweek holiday framed a few deeper personal happenings, among them the death of a friend from what seems like another life, the approach of the big 3-0 and something else that I haven't figured out how to explain yet.

On balance, I'm fine and there's no need to worry or sympathize, but rather than navigate around the uncertainty, questions and emotions, I decided to embrace them, which makes for a mindset not suited to pithiness and sarcasm (i.e. blogging). I'm only writing now out of a bizarre compulsive need to broadcast personal details about my life.

There is much for me to be excited about in the coming weeks and much of it I'll share on this blog -- maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, but definitely soon.

Now, I need to go spend a lot of money at Home Depot. Yay, power tools!

I want it all...

After six months of drooling at pictures, I finally got a chance to stop by the Apple Store today and play with the iPhone.

It is fantastic.

But as much as I want one, spending $600 on a phone, not to mention the $175 cancellation fee to get out from under Verizon's grip, isn't in the cards for me now. I've had enough trouble convincing Abbzug to let me buy a new laptop, and there's no sense destroying all that hard work by angling for something else. Stay focused!

Anyway, here are some pictures I took a few hours before the iPhone's release on Friday.


Look at all those suckers waiting in line.


Who am I kidding? If allowed, I would have been right there with them.

We're gonna have a good time...

How about some pictures from the last night at the City Fair?









Hmm. That picture doesn't fully capture the fireworks experience. A video, perhaps?

That's better.

The whole set of photos from yesterday, including some of the preparations, can be seen here.