Burn Season

Gordo Gets a Facelift

A couple of summers ago I had a testy exchange with God that resulted in our chopping down two mature liquid amber trees after the Almighty used them to bombard our roof-top with limbs. We’re still feeling the repercussions but over time trials are turning to tribulations. One of the after-effects of those huge temperamental trees being felled is that we now have a really wonderful outdoor fireplace. We had so many rounds left behind by the tree trimmers that the only solution we could figure was to burn them. A few hundred dollars worth of cinder-block, rebar and concrete later Gordo was born! I had never built a fireplace before and I elected to rely more on aesthetic and instinct that knowledge or research. As a result during the first burning season Gordo had some problems. A fair amount of the cinderblocks crumbled away to dust. Eventually the entire back of the beast fell out so that the firebox really only had two sides. There were also some issues with smoke but I haven’t tested the new design yet so I am reluctant to say too much about that. Well I spent the summer repairing Gordo and I am happy to say that he is intact and ready for the upcoming fire season.

In addition to the structural repair work I also spent some time applying a mosaic finish to the outside and a layer of white mortar to the inside of the firebox. All in all I’m very happy with the finished product – though it will be interesting to see how Gordo holds up as the burn season goes on. We generally end up pushing the capacity of the fireplace – particularly after 12-18 beers – so I’m sure that Gordo will be tested.

Bon-Fire of Banalities

After the recent two days of drizzle some good friends of ours burned three huge piles of brush and tree stumps on their almond orchard. There is something therapeutic about a good burn. Those massive piles of flame got me thinking back to ancient times when fire was precious and powerful – before our energy came through wires and cables. Even today, just over the lip of the second millennium since Jesus walked the earth, most of our power still comes from fire in the form of coal. Six hundred coal power plants provide about 50% of our countries power. Interestingly my friends burning the almond scraps have an entire side of their roof-top covered with solar panels. It’s fun to watch their power meter running backwards.

World’s Going Crazy Again

In Burma Buddhist monks are protesting nearly two decades of repressive military rule. By the time you read this things there may have come to a head. The government is growing increasingly impatient with the crowds of pro-democracy citizens and a curfew has been put in place. In the United States Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s request to visit Ground Zero and lay a wreath was denied and his speaking engagement at Columbia University was protested and condemned. The United Auto Workers are on-strike. What’s new? Everyone wants black and white solutions to problems that are infinitely grey. Government’s want order and repression is a tried and true way to keep things orderly… but for how long? We need to talk and listen to people – even, no, especially to people we don’t agree with. After all we gain nothing by talking and listening to people who already essentially believe what each other are saying. And as for the auto-workers – talk about a rock and hard place. There are economic realities at play on both sides of the ball. Any agreement they come up with now will probably only be torn down in future negotiations.

The Ride of Your Life

The world is changing right in front of our eyes. Good, bad, those words don’t mean much any more. The only fact is change and whether that change eventually becomes good or bad is ultimately going to hinge upon how we react to it. So get ready for it. Embrace it. Strap into the rocket car that is reality and get ready to hit the switch. I can’t tell you where it’s going to end but I can guarantee to you that it is going to be one hell of a ride!

Happy burn season!