providing graphic design, branding, photography and marketing expertise to denver and the world

Quote of the Week:

All solitary dreamers know that they hear differently when they close their eyes.
-Gaston Bachelard

Notes from Notchcode

3.28.2007

Co-operation (Dig it!) Workin' Together...

I love that song. They don't play it much on Sesame Street anymore, but I can still sing it to my kids, who look at me as if I am craaaaazy.

Speaking of kids, if you have some, and they are between 2-1/2 and 5 years old, have a look at Steele Cooperative Preschool, in North Denver. Our kids have been going there this past year, and they (and we) love it. Great teachers, (necessarily and willingly) involved parents, and --since you dontate your time here and there throughout the year-- much cheaper than comperable preschools in the Denver area.

You can download an application from the site for the 2007-08 year, starting right......now. I donate my web development skills to the school, and a brand spanking new app is on the server, waiting for you. New applications will be accepted after April 18th, or thereabouts.

posted at 8:33 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

3.27.2007

A Holdout in Time

Terry Dalton was an imp. Or the perfect loaf of bread. Or both. When we were teens with notions to play lots of acoustic guitar, Terry was our source of indefatigable encouragement and warmth. Nick and I would show up at Paris on the Platte for open mic night and nine times out of ten, Terry was there, too. His performances were an education in themselves for us. Full of musicianship, and--more importantly--humanity, he could always elicit a quiet moment from an audience, a laugh (always more than one), and respect. A Ranger in Vietnam--twice over--he was crusty when he wanted to be, but we learned that it was just that: a crust, hiding a caring, soft, warm person underneath. When I would go down to the Acoustic Music Revival to meet Nick, Terry was always there, either behind the counter, or on a stool with his twelve-string, or sitting in the back watching Jeopardy! (he and the rest of the crew there were quite good at it). He was always ready with a joke, and a smile, and I could tell that he really cared about us wayward teen musician-types.

And now he is gone.

After college, I didn't see Terry as much. I was busy finding a job, starting a life, and the guitar wasn't out as much as I really wanted it to be. But I tried to get out and see Terry play, or even sit in front of the mic and sing and play once in a while--but it was mostly an excuse to get out with Nick and see Terry and the others, usually. Then marriage. Then kids. Then a business. And here I am. Terry had health issues stretching back to his Ranger days, but we could see them getting worse. First the cane. Then the walker. But he all but ignored it. "Tease me about my age and I'll beat you with my cane" read a button I remember on his vest. I wish I had told him how much of a friend he had been to me, back when I was getting ready to go out into the world, but I think he knew. I certainly know it was a privilege to get up on his stage, or be in his shop, or listen to his songs, and I will never forget what that means.

posted at 10:29 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

Participatory Action Research for Educational Leadership now available for pre-order on Amazon.com

Our book, Participatory Action Research for Educational Leadership: Using Data-Driven Decision Making to Improve Schools is now available for preorder at Amazon.com. Alana, Margie and I are really excited to see it (nearly) on the (virtual) shelves!

There's no cover image yet, but I designed a few suggestions which show one of the many illustrations I did for the book:


posted at 10:17 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

3.20.2007

nearing the end of the tunnel

It's been nearly a month since I posted, mostly because I have been very busy working on several web development projects, as well as a number of fun print ads. But I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, more or less; there are other projects that are getting started, as these wrap up, but this transition time allows me a few minutes to update you on what's been happening.

My work mix has changed, a little: many more print ads this quarter, than usual. Which is fun. About 60 percent of my total project workload remains in web development, with a hefty portion of that being integrated marketing efforts for clients who have other projects on the table as well (branding, print marketing, and so on). It's a good mix for now, but I am going to have to start contracting out the most basic coding and content importation pieces soon, if the volume goes up. Which is a good thing, I suppose--it means I can focus on the core tasks of Notchcode: building brands, integrating marketing efforts, and creating effective designs around those two things.

posted at 8:20 AM Leave your comments here: 0 comments


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