Sipping Coffee Thoughtfully

January 29, 2008 at 6:31 pm · Filed under Points In Time

Tagged with: Charlotte-Art, Growth, IMI, Strobist, update

Robin and I are out at Smelly Cat in NoDa, reflecting, pausing before running more. I wish I could have bought this place a few years ago. Man I’d have turned it into something special. Ah well, in another reality I’m sure it’s going on and I rock. It’s all good though, we’re going to rock in any reality. hah!

Strobist gave IMI a little link mention with the video we put out of the recent meetup outing. We have nothing but love for the growing communities around us and are glad to see them blossoming.

To the extent that I’ve started a new blog, Charlotte Art (.info), in an effort to start tracking down and helping local artists into the light. There are many and they are all so impassioned.

I like to think I’m building a bridge between the constructive—imaginative local artists and local designers, decorators, project coordinators, editors, etc, that can utilize the talented people around us.

Signups for either way of traffic coming soon. You can email me as well.

I’ve been running so fast from one event, fire, request, meetup, responsibility, after another. It has been a great pleasure to meet many new faces, artists, farmers, people.

Somehow I managed to create a plethora of new sites (if you use IE stay away for now or install firefox today). More like they have finally matured to semi-usable states. Check out the new IMI landing page and see for yourself. The main Photography site needs love but it feels pretty solid, the real one that I need to finish up is the new gallery / portfolio. I just need more time in the day. Who doesn’t. Luckily I really enjoy the work.

Lots of new initiatives and maturing other ones on the horizon. 2008 is feeling pretty strong.

-a

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Julias Coffee

January 25, 2008 at 1:11 pm · Filed under On the Radar

Tagged with: charlotte, coffee-shop, independent, Julias, local

If you are in the Charlotte region, or passing through ripping around I-277 think about refilling yourself at Julia’s.

While we get comfortable with the things we frequent Julia’s needs your support. Heck, all independents trying right (and by trying right you figure out where their integrity is) and you support that. If you don’t you let what is already a diminishing greatness grow even further dim in a sea of mediocrity coughstarbuckscough.

Snacks, pastries, sandwiches, coffee, and espressos. Take a moment, support the habitat restore, find yourself a little java and a comfortable seat and enjoy.

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Farewell Poppy

January 10, 2008 at 2:29 pm · Filed under Life Happens

Tagged with: goodbye, grandfather, memorial

On Sunday, January 6th, 2008 my grandfather, Honorico “Ric” Ciordia, known to many of us as Pop or Poppy, passed away. My grandfather was someone very special and dear to me. He had the perfect set of grandfatherly ways. He lifted me up in times of doubt and set me back on the path when it looked like I had wandered a bit too far. His beautiful mix between giving and discipline, listening and action, teaching and watching, was well played and beautiful.

My earliest memories of my grandfather are surrounded by lemon gumdrops. Riding with him in his old cadillac with a secret stash of the sweet and sour treats buried in the center console. He paced me on them but he seemed to always have them. Something about his consistency with this really made an impact on me.

Then came the Georgia Bulldogs. Good ol’UGA. While he went and graduated from the University of Tennessee he had a real team spirit for Georgia. My grandfather and father deeply indoctrinated us into Georgia football. We knew all the fight songs, tales, went through their good streaks and bad. Those times were marvelous and until you experience large scale college football, the communion it provides you won’t quite understand it. Unfortunately UGA didn’t want me so my football spirit waned over the years.

As soon as I was able to reach his bar (which I now use for my elixir, espresso) he taught me how to make the perfect Scotch and water. No matter the time of day, no matter how many had come before Pop would ring out his drinking catch-phrase, “First to day!” followed by “Salud!”. From his home garden he raised his own grapes (among many other good veggies) and used his laboratory space (and assistants) to produce some very fine (very alcoholic) wine. My cousin Kristin McKnight wrote the following in 2003 to commemorate some of our early wine memories.

Poppy’s Wine

Down in his basement he did brew
That muscadine wine with a taste so true

Oh Oh that muscadine wine
Oh Oh made me feel so fine

Made with grapes on the government’s tab
We all know what you were doing in that lab

Oh Oh drinkin that muscadine wine
Oh Oh a great way to past the time

Well you drink with young ones, you drink it with old
No matter what your age the effects are ten-fold

If you were there in the early years, you get what I’m preaching
Because then it was in abundance and forever we were reaching

Oh Oh for that bottle of muscadine wine
Oh Oh hope I don’t get outta line

But who cares … Cuz I’m drinking that muscadine wine

The taste was so sweet, a nectar so fine,
It could only be … Poppy’s Wine!

— Kristin McKnight ‘03

I used to love being at his home in Griffin, Georgia. A classic ranch style house. He always kept a golf-cart for riding around his neighborhood or to the grocery store right down the street. The grandkids, myself included, used to wear that thing out whistling around the yard and street (sometimes on two wheels..). I’m surprised in hindsight we never got seriously injured. The only thing we walked away with (generally) was a lot of itching due to aging fiberglass frames.

His basement was a place I spent a lot of my time. It was filled with the artifacts of his travels, his hobbies (small boat replica’s, collecting, etc), his experiments, his slide reels and more. I could spend hours in a corner just exploring and thinking. Open another door, dig through another cubby, look through another volume of notes, it was amazing stuff.

He also collected wine labels which he would affix to the wall. As we came of age we would send him special labels from our own travels. The collection started small but over the years it grew to encompass two walls. I wish I had my own collection of pictures of this but my memory will have to serve.

While as he got older he faced more struggles and challenges than his body could keep up with I will always cherish the memories we had and work on not forgetting them. From the stories he told of being raised in Puerto Rico, to his time in the Navy, multiple birthdays, trips to far flung places. He was a brilliant man and lived in a world of good order. As I wrote this and went through piles of his life and the memories I have of him I cannot see a trace of regret. He was exposed to many facets of the world and seemed to have taken them in with vigor and determination. We should all be so lucky.

I am thankful to the times we had together and sad at the loss of not being able to have my future children know him. My wife tells me it is now my job to bring his experiences through me to our children. I think I can do that. At a family wedding a year or so ago the groom spoke of how we were where we were because of those that came before us. As I get older I see more of the collection of who I am by those who have been around me and am thankful for their contributed wisdom.

To my dear dear grandfather, Pop, I love you, I will miss you.

Obituary

DR. HONORICO “RIC” CIORDIA
1920 - 2008


Dr. H. “Ric” Ciordia, 87, of Pensacola, FL, and formerly of Griffin, GA, died January 6, 2008. Dr. Ciordia was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Survivors include his wife, Polly Pearson Ciordia; children, Dr. Richard H. (Page) Ciordia, of Pensacola, FL, and Cynthia (John) McKnight of St. Simons Island, GA. He was “Poppy” to his six grandchildren and two great-grandsons: Kristin McKnight of Edwards, CO; Melissa (Mike) Brant of Dublin, CA; Dr. David Johnson of Salisbury, MD; Elizabeth Johnson, Andy (Robin) Ciordia, and Catherine Ciordia, of Charlotte, NC; Cameron Lott of Dublin, CA; and Joey Ryan of Charlotte, NC.

He received his BA, MS and PhD degrees in Zoology from the University of Tennessee. He obtained a research grant from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in 1953 to study the effects of radiation on parasites and on parasitized animals. For 31 years he served as a Veterinary Parasitologist for the Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A., Georgia Experiment Station, Griffin, GA until his retirement in 1986. During his tenure there, he served as Adjunct Professor of Parasitology and as Professor Emeritus at The University of Georgia. He was the author of numerous scientific publications in his field. In 1997 he was honored by the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists with the Distinguished Service Award in appreciation for outstanding service to the advancement of veterinary parasitology..

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Elks Club of Griffin and a volunteer at the Medical Center Clinic in Pensacola.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to support his interests in education and classical music. Contributions may be made to: Arch Foundation, UGA Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223 or Friends of the Saenger, Attn: Renovation, P.O. Box 13666, Pensacola, FL 32591.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel in Pensacola with memorial service to begin at 6:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Westwood Gardens, Griffin, GA at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.

The family of Honorico Ciordia wishes to give special thanks to the staff of Carpenter’s Creek Community, West Florida Hospital, The Haven, and Covenant Hospice for their compassion, kindness, and especially their appreciation of Ric’s humor. He could make everyone smile and laugh. First Today!

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2007, a Year in Review

January 4, 2008 at 3:43 pm · Filed under Points In Time

Tagged with: 2007-2008, business, marketing, photography, recap, year-in-review

I could never have guessed how much of a roller coaster ride 2007 could have been. To recap just about everyone I know quit or left their former employment. Some people went on to join others in their new endeavors, some just needed a change, and for some change was forced upon them. In the end everyone has survived (even if not with great stability) and the outlook for 2008 is a positive one.

Personally

We have good friends and good times. While the 2007 year might have left some higher, and some dryer than we would want we’ve still got our health (even though some were seriously put in jeopardy). Robin is with a new school that cares for her as much as she cares for them and a PTA that can’t be beat. We find ourselves enjoying quiet times at home to gaining further skills in dancing. As well our families have all moved closer looming and crowing for children. (Oh me Oh my!)

I had a good time skydiving this year. I had wanted to gain a rising faller award but due to income restrictions I had to cut my time in the air down to a fraction. It’s hard to be the best at something when you can’t dedicate a lot of time to it. My last jump of the year brought me to 87 jumps; which to some may seem like a lot, to me it seems like so little. Funny how your perspective changes. Regardless my skills have continued to improve and I have a lot of good drop zone friends that are great fun to be around. Once capital starts rolling again I see myself hanging aloft a lot more frequently.

Business

After trying to work within the corporate structure to build something new Jeff and I branched out on our own mid-year by forces that were cumulatively out of our control. We began with quick steps and steady motion to build a new organization on organizing. Serving the productivity community by scratching an itch that still isn’t being scratched correctly.

We began our journey with many excited partners and developers; unfortunately due to timing and execution we lost some of that momentum in a grab for early investment. Looking for an angel did not pan out but we did learn that we had a solid business model and a market with which to do business. We just had to prove that.

If slowing down to pour over research, reports, and give dog-and-pony shows wasn’t enough, the way we handle things in our massive generalist approach caused us to lose further buy-in from our friends out West. After being educated, and educating others on working problems, and working hard to recoup from them, our partnerships that were to be, never were.

As a person who is considerably people oriented I was, and still am sad at the loss of participation. This coupled with our lack of investment basically brought our project back to the garage where we work on it still. It has life, it has desire, a beautiful process, and it will be born. However, with so few people working on it; it will have to see daylight when it is able.

The Green Revolution

2007 also saw the rise of my involvement in the local food and agriculture scene. Slow Food Charlotte was a recipient of my attention and work as their technology coordinator. From branding, website, communication, and interviews I was lucky to be a part of some great things happening in Charlotte.

Grateful Growers Natalie & Cassie culminated their on-farm dinner in September for which Robin and I sat on the board. We also put over 600 miles and 800+ photographs over 4 months into a book for the event, “The Farms that Feed You” that covered most of the farms that participated in the event. We donated a copy of the book for the dinner fundraiser auction and the copy was won at over $200. That and the beautiful comments we have received has been very very heartwarming. Copies of the book are still available and your support of the book and the message of local farming would continue to be appreciated.

Charlotte and the surrounding regions are waking from a deep slumber wanting to know more and participate with their local agriculture. It’s a great thing and there are a number of fabulous people involved with multiple initiatives around the area. If you are interested or just want to hang out for the conversation head on over to the Slow Food Charlotte website and participate to a level you are comfortable with.

If there is one thing I’ve learned this year is activism is about the individual taking little steps with many others. It is simply amazing how much we are all capable of when we move in the same direction.

My Business, Photography & Relationship Marketing

Since our business, like most businesses, take 2x as long and 3x as much money to see the market. I’ve had to take a long look at what I can do to bring income to the home. I had two very impassioned paths; photography and life/productivity coaching. After a good quarter of reflection and research I decided to head further down my photography path. I love coaching but the costs to get accredited and the emotional strings which form between clients I felt would not allow me the long term flexibility that I needed.

IMI Photography was turned on and I started my foray in oversized prints via my shoppify site. It’s been a hit and miss site but building it, maintaining it, and growing from it has taught me a great deal. Much of that knowledge is being harnessed in a new IMI blog that is coming soon and a new portfolio site that I can point people to. Flickr has been a great resource but I use it pretty wide open. I needed something a bit more refined and sophisticated; again much more professional portfolio oriented. You’ll see soon enough. It’s nearing the finish line.

I’ve got the gear, the means, the passion, and the ability so if you need a hired photographer let me know.

During this time Jeff has been plotting revenues of sustainment through network/relationship marketing and it’s channels. Since I work with him so closely it’s hard not to become involved especially when the products that are being vended really are quality products. In a sea of carpet baggers and products (too many) it takes a good deal of research and testing to find companies who are doing it right and I think we’ve found them. More on this in time, but if you are interested in learning more before just drop me an email and we can talk about it.

2008

The first few days of 2008 are here and I think it’s going to be a great year. With so much going on, such diversity at hand, it feels great and will only get better. I’m not good at forecasting because the worlds dynamics have a tendency to shift but with every foot forward you grow closer to your goals.

May your 2008 be grand and if we have common synergies let us work together.

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