July 21st, 2009 by Chris Eng

Now, I am all for high-quality items that’ll last me the rest of my life, but there’s certain things I draw the line at. Like, say, $450 axes.

Oh, I’m sure they’re good axes. They might even be fantastic axes. And they’re definitely fantastic looking axes. But I’m not going to pay what works out to over $300 for a paint job, just ’cause it was conceived by the fellow who did design work for Brian Eno and Philip Glass… no matter how cool that is.

However, should you be in the market for a $300 axe and have a thing for the guy who helped cement Isaac Mizrahi’s corporate identity, you should talk to the Best Made Company–they’ve got a wood-chopper with your name on it. Well, I mean, not literally–that would probably cost in excess of $500.

December 31st, 2008 by Chris Eng

So, I’m back. I know that I didn’t tell you I was leaving beforehand, but I was off jetsetting for the holidays… if hanging out and drinking with your in-laws in a suburb of Edmonton can be considered “jetsetting,” anyway. Let me check up on that and get back to you.

Still, despite the neverending parade of sugary baking and Sailor Jerry Rum dancing past my eyes (and into my stomach), there were a couple of things that added a touch of greenpunk to my Christmas-time. First, I got two different encyclopedias:

 
The one on the left—The Encyclopedia of Country Living—is pretty much indispensible reading for anyone considering going back to the land or just adopting a more greenpunk/D.I.Y. lifestyle. The one on the right—The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia—is indispensible reading for anyone who wants to know what Lando Calrissian and Admiral Daala have been doing lately. I’m sure there’s a greenpunk angle there if I look hard enough, but I’m too thrilled with it to bother.

I also, in a roundabout way (which involved a bookstore giftcard), received a copy of Nikki McClure’s Collect Raindrops, which is one of the most awesome and inspirational books I own. Every year she makes a calendar of paper cut art, with each month illustrating some aspect of simple living. Collect Raindrops assembles the best of her art from 1998 to 2007.

 
The other thing we got to do, which I haven’t done in years, is visit a farm. Carla’s grandfather owns a small farm in Whitecourt, so we drove out and spent an afternoon socializing and wandering around the property. It was nice and I was happy to have been able to spend some time there, as well as finally meet her grandpa.

As a final note, in case anyone had read my previous posts and was wondering—yes, the Star Wars Encyclopedia is both excellent and beautiful. Just thought I’d clear that up.