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In the last five years the question I was asked the most was. “How are you doing this?” What they were asking was always about the countless articles and awards that LJ Urban was getting. We used to have a joke, if its been more than a week with no mention in the news of LJ Urban, something is wrong… I have been thinking a lot about that lately and weather or not I should tell about our secret weapon, I debated if I would be giving it all away or… Anyhow, I decided its best to just tell you and get it out there.

Without a doubt one of the biggest reasons that we were able to do what we were able to do was the guys at EMRL Floyd and Stephen are working on another level from the rest of us when it comes to getting a story told, they built this website and helped craft the vision for LJ Urban.  That is not to say that we were not authentic, that is just what is so amazing about them, its like they sat down with us and found the passion that was deep inside and pulled it out and brought it to life.  They should not call themselves an advertising company but rather a Business Consultant / Shrink.  They get to the bottom of who you are and tell the story like no one else can.

I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all they did for LJ Urban.  I know that they will play a major role in the next version of what we become…

Go check out their site www.EMRL.com

Levi

I do an awful lot of talking about this particular beverage but am by no means an aficionado. I brewed another IPA the other day with my buddy Steve. I think I have only brewed IPA’s except for the first brew I ever tried, a Hefeweizen. I have always known it was the world’s oldest alcoholic drink but I was surprised to find out yet another great historical fact. My Grandma Elenore is 93 years young and never ceases to amaze me. Seriously she is witty, intelligent and can still dance a jig. She moved to Alaska on her own with three or four kids back in the 60’s and built a grocery store. Her life really should be a book, but anyway back to the beer.

She got her license to sell liquor and had it shipped in from Seattle along with all the other goods she sold. So the other night I was with her and talking about my brewing in a nonchalant cool way and she just pulls out the “do you have a capper?” and motions the capping mechanism. I was like what, you brew too!?! She brewed it and gave it to her friends, and soldiers on leave ( I am sure that is a great story too). Anyway the thing that is great is that although it has been done through the ages it has the ability to relate across generations. I love that my grandma brewed beer. You too can get in on the action by going over to the Home Brew Outlet don’t mind the guy that works there, he was born that way. That’s what he said anyway.

Things are failing all around us constantly. GM, Chrysler, WAMU, KWOD 106, and on and on. I have myself been examining the simpler moments in my life and appreciating them more. In the crazy previous years 2005, 06, 07 I had a good time living but was too attuned to all of the balls that needed to stay in the air to keep the ship upright. Maybe it is part of letting things die that don’t have any business living that has allowed me to free up that mental space to appreciate the other things. Getting a recycled something, or fixing a broken down something else brings more satisfaction than going and buying something brand new. But similarly the BBQ’s with friends, walks around the neighborhood, days at the river, all seem more valuble in the light of what is truly important. When you wake up tomorrow, stretch and take a deep breath and enjoy the sunrise if you get a chance.

I think this might be the best email I have gotten in a while… It’s from the guys over at EMRL.

What the heck were the toy designers thinking?

Ever sat and looked at a blank page for a few minutes? There is something about it that both overwhelms and inspires at the same time.

I was in a coffee shop last night and there were two teenage boys sitting at a table drawing with an intensity and focus that made me stop and watch for a minute. I have to say that neither of them was an amazing artist but they both were sucked into creating the best skull and cross bones they could. Interesting to think of what it takes to grab a blank sheet of paper and start something, to start dreaming on paper and see if what you make jumps from the paper and becomes real. After all even the best painters in the world have to start with a blank page…

Ok I know its been a while. We have been running around like mad the last week and have not posted much here on the blog. Stay tuned, more good things coming your way.

Levi

I was talking to my friend the other day and he made a funny analogy that I wanted to share. Do you remember when you were a kid and you played tag? You probably had a safe zone like a car, the mailbox or maybe a tree? Well it seems as though the banks, the small businesses, homebuyers, are all just chillin in the “Safe Zone” hugging the tree and very few if any people are playing tag. Now is a very good time to start playing again.

Micah

I get these every once in a while from my Grandma-in-law (is that a proper term?) in the mail. Usually they are about some random person who also likes old houses and fixed one up once, or who is a teacher (my wife was one pre-kids),  or who knew a person who knew a person who did something interesting to someone.  Anyway I think you get the point I am usually less than enthralled by the content of the clippings.  This one is interesting though, small house movement in Texas???  They don’t do anything small in Texas, or do they . . .

Micah Baginski