Monday, February 25, 2008


I was begining to get a bit worried after being in Nepal for a week with out having seen a clear view of the mountains. However my fears were laid to rest.


I'm not gonna lie the last two post brought tears to my eyes (especialy the potty thoughts comment). You guys can't be sending anymore posts like that, otherwise I might be home sooner then expected. Thank you Steve for the amazing picture you brought to my heart.


So I figure there aren't to many places back home where I can get a stright razor shave for 15 cents so I thought I'd give it a shot here. Not to worry I am still hairy as ever I just got a bit of a trim job and neck shave.
I love you all and I am thinking about the snuggle puddle that you might be in right now at the GC wishing I was there.
Brent


Saturday, February 23, 2008

So we can remember

February 23, 2008. We have been here a year.
I came home late one night a few days ago, and after snuggling into my sleeping bag I turned over and said: "Hey Trav, you awake?" He replied a disgruntled "Yes!". Of course he was, since I had just awakened him. We started laughing, and he proceeded to critique the delivery of my question. After having given the appropriate feedback he asked what I wanted. "I just realized that we have been living an amazing life for a whole year" I said. We spent a good 20 minutes discussing our great fortune.
Its rather chilly here today. I don't know whether I should be writing this outside where the sun shines randomly or stay inside our wonderful cold house. Either way my fingers will function at 75% of their capacity.

Ashley Poe arrived at our house yesterday from her sabbatical. It was wonderful see her again!

Neighbor Allison has proposed to her girlfriend. The ring she gave was her great-great-grandmother's wedding ring. She expects to move to Portland eventually, and suggested that the GC take over her house. Perhaps we will. We could use another house.

Most of the house rallied to the contradance at the school near our house. It was glorious!!! There must have been upwards of 50 people there, and we all danced for nearly 3 hours. The current house trend suggests that the outing will become a tradition.

Franger leaves in a month, and we will miss him. I know its early to be sad but, dumpster diving will not be the same. His exclamations of delight when finding red peppers, and acorn squash will be sincerely missed. Not to mention when we have the great fortune of finding delectable pastries. We generally eat them on the spot.

Valentine's Day was glorious. I think Frang was the only one with a date at the party. Travis scored big with an anonymous store "Non-profit Organization Compost". He has connections in the compost department there. It was a non-consumerist potluck so folks were asked to bring whatever they already had. Trav made an amazing full-course meal! There was pumpkin squash, delicious grapes, apples, and all sorts of other delectable dishes. The main dish was, of course, quinoa.

We've been spending more time on the front porch recently. It was quite warm last week. Jenna serenaded a porch couch cuddle puddle of five the other night. Not surprisingly, many of us were rendered silent for a few moments thereafter.

Begin significantly improved his wigwam in the past few days. He acquired a tin snips from Allan and opened up the draft. The smoke dissipated significantly according to Beegs. He also put another blanket up in front of the door, which has reportedly increased the warmth of the beloved Wiggie.The GC had a great show on KPOV the other week.



And tonight, Colin is carving chopsticks, Travis is curled up on the couch with his feet tucked snugly underneath my legs. Ryan Adams is singing Sweet Carolina. Some of us are humming along. Tex just arrived home, we have no idea where she's been. Beegs has already retired to his Wigwam. He made a fabulous vegetable curry for everyone tonight. Kelly is on the floor browsing jobs, because he's tired of working on the mountain. Scotty is still singing along with Ryan Adams. We haven't seen Allan for an hour or so, but he did bring home some delicious bread from Dilusso's (as is his custom since he works there).
The house has a feeling of contentment, deep joy, and love.
We salute the world travelers in our lives: Brent, Tessa, Ethan, Ashley, Dylan, Cheri, Brianna, James, Rachael Scdoris and the rest of our wonderful friends abroad. We love you and send you sweet vibes!

*Colin Franger has insisted on receiving public recognition for some of the photos taken above.

Talent Show Cancellation!

Cancellation!!

Unfortunately, due to a relatively low bit of interest/excitement, we will be delaying the Leap Day Knack and Aptitude/Talent show

Please check back in four years, the next leap day for updates on this very important celebration.

Rumors have it that a fair amount of stuff is going on that weekend, so we hope you find something to enjoy!

For those out there preparing talents, knacks, etc. we apologize humbly, sincerely, and acutely.  

However, look forward to the Goodness Collective's 2nd Annual Housewarming Potluck/Crazy Hat Party!!  March 15...now THAT is something you shouldn't miss!

Sorry to disappoint!  To distract yourself, please gaze at this giant fireball:

Friday, February 22, 2008

Brent- We think about you when we use the potty.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thinking of you from Katmandu




Namaste Friends and Fam,


I made a quick move striaght up to Nepal. I went from beautiful beaches packed with pasty tourists, to the cold mountainous air of the Himalaya. I am currently staying in an apartment in Katmandu that Dylan and Cheri have rented for a couple months.




It's been nearly a year since I have been in cold weather, and the mountains and chill bring a familar feeling, certainly reminds me of being back in Bend. I gave away my shoes back in Israel so my toes are a bit cold, I might need to remedy that soon and buy some more clothes as well.




Much Love as always,


Brent




Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Lance Won the Quest Again

Hey Guys, this is so cool- not a surprise but cool, nonetheless- my good friend, Lance Mackey won his fourth consecutive Yukon Quest, this morning. My other good friend, Ken Anderson finished 2nd, 15 minutes behind Lance. The first time Lance won the quest (2005) he broke into the top ten in the Iditarod. Last year he became the first person to win the Iditarod and the Quest in the same year. Ken has finished as high as 3rd in the Iditarod. We'll see what happens!!
As for the rest of the Quest teams, they are still out there and there is still a lot of race left!
~Rachael

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Two Weeks To Go!!



My time in Alaska is just flying by. I can hardly believe I have been here for over a month. Joe and I are having a great time, training, getting our teams to travel together and learning each others’ tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. The last few training runs have been phenomenal. My usual partner, Tim and his family have been wonderful, helping us get ready. Tim, despite his broken leg, has managed to train a top-twenty team for Joe. We are training every other day, running 30 to 50 miles, Tim and his kids help us get ready then he rides a snow machine out on the trail and tells us which way to go and at the end of the day, Joe and I have a meeting of minds in the hot tub.
Last week we did food drops, which is a very exciting process. First we gather and bag all of our personal stuff- anything we might need, for ourselves for ten days: extra clothes, chore gloves, food, etc- about 150lbs for each of us. Then it's on to the dog stuff. Each of us packs about 400lbs of kibble into 16lb bags. Then we each pack about 1,200lb of meat and fish into 10lb bags. All of that goes into big woven plastic bags and is trucked up to Anchorage where it is sent out to 18 checkpoints along the trail. Food drops can be very stressful but Tim having already done 25 food drops has a way of making it fun. His wife and two younger kids came and helped us bag stuff up and provided some good comedy for us as you can see.
Yes, Daniel has allowed Marissa to wrap him in shrinkwrap and spray paint a target on his chest. In fact, it was his idea.
Over the weekend we did EKGs and blood work on our teams, a long, tedious process that must be done every year. We were at the Vet clinic virtually all day, drawing blood, micro-chipping the dogs and trying to get 46 Alaskan huskies to be still- what a riot.
Now all we have to do is figure out our final 32 dogs, do the final vet check and go. We only have 11 days before the big race. I am so excited.
I miss you guys, loves and hugs for everyone
Happy trails ~ Rachael

Monday, February 11, 2008

Holy Cow!!!


I was walking on the beach and something caught my eye, there she was lying on the beach naked as ever for all to see, I had to get a picture to remember this sexy sun bathing beach beauty.


Ashley and I have parted ways, and I worked my way over to the West Coast state of Goa. I have met up with a friend of a friend who is running a coffee shop here. I think I am going to help him out a bit, and crash in the coffee hut at night, at least for a few days. I think I will head north before to much longer and meet up with Dylan, Sherri and Ritter in Nepal.


Things are going great, much love as always

Brent


Thursday, February 7, 2008

Namaste from Mysore

Hello Friends,
I was just telling a friend here about the group of inspiring people I communed with in Oregon, so I come to the blog, and find out the GC is hosting a talent show. How I would love to attend!
I've been in India about a week now and I've had some troubles sure, but this is good here; this is where I should be now. Coming to India is the realization of a dream, and I feel so open in this experience. I have a couple posts on my blog, with a some pictures and many words, so please investigate if you are curious (ethanburns.blogspot.com).
I hunger for news of life in Bend, and like all who wander from its sanctity, I think often of the GC community. Be well my friends, and much love,
Ethan

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Leap Day Pseudo-Talent Show!

Do you have any talents? Oh, I'm sure that you do! Come show them off at the 1st Quad-Annual Goodness Collective Leap Day Knack and Aptitude Show!

Yes, friends, neighbors, boys, girls, kitties...if you can sing, recite poetry, knit engagingly, stand on your head, break-dance, swing, juggle, touch your tongue to your ear, do impersonations, or anything else mildly entertaining, let us know!

We need participants and maybe some help conceptualizing a stage of some sort.

This is to draw attention to all those groovy skills, knacks, and talents we each possess on a day that only occurs once every four years...
...
so let us know; sign up, and enjoy yourself. Need not participate to attend.

The day only exists for our enjoyment, the way we see it:

Friday, February 29th, 6:30pm.

AND!...>>>It's a POTLUCK, so showcase your food skills, loves, etc. too!

See you there!  Email goodnesscollective@gmail.com to get in on the action.