Ice Storm 2026

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I was hoping to upload a pic from our recent ice storm but some glitch is preventing me. In the meantime, enjoy this excerpt from one of my favorite short stories “The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.” (The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde)

"10 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE SEA" by Lorenzo Fonda

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I'd like to share a poem with you. But first, a word from it's creator:

"This video is based on footage I shot on marine vessel 'Portland Senator' on the route from Los Angeles to Shanghai, in December 2008. Warning: this film requires ten minutes of your life and hopefully no phone calls during the screening. thank you."


One expects a poem to have an "author" and perhaps that is the better choice of word than "creator" but if you've sanctified ten minutes and experienced the film, you understand why the term falls woefully short. I'll venture that if you merely watched the film, you missed the experience.

Coupled with a soundtrack by the greatest ambient post-rock bands of all time ever ("Hammock"), this short film--this poem--sits you down and makes you think, feel  . . . well, you decide. I know how it made me feel. 

The photography: amazing
The music: moving
The insights: deep

Frankly, I'm intrigued with the idea of taking a cruise to a foreign port on a freighter:
  • Un-glamorous. I want to hear and feel the engines, the wind and the water.
  • Without distractions of the glittery; more personal freedom on deck 'cause nobody else is there!
  • On a mission. Think about it--seeing the world a passenger and not as a tourist.
  • A freighter will go through a storm, not around it.

Please visit Lorenzo's page to learn more about this trip and his experiences. Enjoy other photographs and insights as well.




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