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Growing In The Green House
Beginnings
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Baby Steps, or "small wormy wiggles?"
We're finally in print!
"The Green House" and it's Weekly counterpart, "Shades Of Green" are now being read in these wonderful newspapers:

The Call (Woonsocket, RI), The Wilson County News (Floresville, TX),
The Examiner (Independence, MO), Palo Alto Daily News (Palo Alto, CA),
The People's Weekly World (online & by subscription) . . .
And we're included on many environmentally concerned web sites.


This self-syndication is not easy to accomplish, but we're making small advances. All of our 3 day a week subscribers have helped tremendously, forwarding the comics to friends and organizations. It's a longer process than we expected, calling Features Editors, calling them back, leaving messages, sending them material, calling them back, leaving messages. . . And it might be the hardest decision to make in a newspaper- changing out a comic strip. No matter how old or irrelevant a strip may be, it's still an important part of many readers day.

Where would I be if everyone decided to replace Nancy with The Green House? Well, it'd be great, I guess. . . but you get the idea. That's the hardest part about working with Editors and most of them want to wait to revamp their pages, which means more calling back, etc. Currently we are still waiting on the larger Syndicates to make a decision about working with us- which would make things much easier.

At the same time, we will be (FINALLY) starting up our 7 day a week E-mail subscriptions in Mid-March which will help to fund our endeavor. If you're new to The Green House, just send us an e-mail by clicking on our post-it pad on the main page of the web site and we'll sign you up for the Freebie- and let you know when the 7 day a week subscriptions are starting up. For those who have been with us from the start, and asking frequently, "When can I pay you and get the GH everyday?". . . thanks for your patience.

I'm working with our web master, Chris Camporeale on the store front now- and that will be up by Feb. 22nd.
The store will be selling our subscriptions, hats, coffee/tea mugs and signed limited-edition prints of your favorite comics. Sorry, this is starting to sound like a press release.

Sale! Sale! Sale! Save 50% if you order today!!!! Order me to shut up and get back to writing the comic! ;0)

Before I get back to work- if you want to help us out and have a web newsletter, local weekly paper or print newsletter that you think would like The Green House- we'd love to hear from them. We don't charge much- and we give each subscriber comics in black & white and color. For some, we don't charge at all. Getting greener and raising consciousness is the main concern.

The photo in this entry is of *Jon Michaels singing at our Peace Pole For Canton Dedication Celebration.
My next journal entry will be about the Peace Pole Project. I'm hoping to share some ideas that may inspire YOU or your community for Earth Day & National World Peace Day. Plus, the Canton Peace Pole is really beautiful!

*Thanks to Maureen & Erin Snyder for the photo and all the photos in the Peace Pole For Canton Gallery Page. Just click on Green House Photo Gallery at the top of the GH Main Page or click here:
http://web.mac.com/brad.g/iWeb/Green%20House%20Gallery/Main%20Page.html

Find out more about the Peace Pole project here: http://www.cantonpeacepole.org

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Getting The Worm Out Of The Bottle?


Hi Green Housers!
It's the end of a year and the beginning of new things for the Green House. . . finally?!
We are officially launching the strip in newspapers this month. We have 3 papers who are starting to run the feature in January, one who's starting on Feb. 4th and a few more that will be deciding shortly- we hope. It's a small group, but it's a group of new readers nonetheless.

We've finally honed down and focused our "product" for public consumption. What we are producing and selling now are two versions of The Green House.

First- is The Green House you've all come to know and love- a daily comic strip, which will be available 7 days a week VERY SHORTLY (promise!). Second is a WEEKLY version of The Green House that we're selling as, "Shades Of Green." We need to distinguish it from The Green House, as that will be a daily feature and there are copyright "things" associated with papers publishing comics with the same name- or something like that. It's basically the same feature, but it won't have any continuity. One big advantage is that it allows us to be more current with subject matter.

Another fairly important change in our work is the nature of our material (no pun unfortunately intended). I'll write about this next time, as it's a decision we've made that took a lot of deep thinking and discussion. Wouldn't mind getting your comments on it either. More on that in the next entry. What else is cool and new? Geez, this is starting to sound like holiday letter from Aunt Jill . . .

Peter got us involved in a really cool project back in October with a green printing company in Albuquerque called, Cottonwood Printing. We've joined up with them to produce a Green House Calendar that we'll be selling to the public this year- and it will also be marketed as a green promotional piece for companies and organization. Imagine, Wormy replaces the Snap-On Tool Girls in garages all over the world!! not likely.

FYI- the image I'm attaching to this entry is one of Peter's sketch pages where we were coming up with concepts for Pam's parents, Todd's Dad and an early version of Link. Thought you might find the developmental part of this thing interesting. . . oh, and thank you for actually reading the full entry of Brad & Peter vs John (from Farmington). I think there's some valuable stuff in there from both perspectives.
Peace!
-Brad

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Current Music: The World Goes On-Jon Michaels. . .Daily inspiration

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Jon Michaels and the World Goes On. . .


I first heard Jon Michaels sing on a local radio talk show. Jim Vicevich at WTIC was sent one of Jon's CDs and was playing a few songs off it. Jim was just discovering "Americana" music and was totally in love with Jon's song, The World Goes On. I fell in love with it too. It's one of those songs that just puts life into perspective in a simple and meaningful way.

Jon came north from Nashville to sing with Will Kimbrough at a charity event hosted by Jim Vicevich and that's where I met him. It was just your normal introduction, "love your music" stuff, and then we started talking about whether Jon would be interested in coming back to help my brother and I with our annual charity golf tournament/concert for a disease called Scleroderma. Jon said, "Absolutely. Tell me when and where and I'll be there." He even offered to fly up on his "own dime." Jon's an independent artist, looking for a chance to sing his songs, cut records and have other artists record his stuff- ( where he's been successful on a few occasions) and is easily one of the most talented songwriters I know. But in Nashville, there are (according to Jon) about 5,000 guys like Jon. . . or with the same situation as Jon. That may be true in general, but believe me, there is only ONE Jon. His music and lyrics are straight from the heart- and they are about things that matter. He's an amazing guitarist too- the combination of voice, presence and soul are unique to Jon. When I hear Jon's music, I think of Jim Croce, John Denver, Harry Chapin a little. . . but Jon's better looking than all those guys. Wow, I should have included at least one guy who's still alive in that group. . . uh, James Taylor?!

Well, Jon did come back to CT to help with our event and we got a chance to hang out together, talk and become friends. There are a lot of similarities between what Jon does and what I do. . . except playing a guitar at parties will get more girls to hang out with you than drawing worms does. However, we're both happily married so that's a moot point. . . welllll. . . yeah it is. It's a tough job, even when you "make it. " But there's nothing more rewarding than doing what is in your heart to do.

In October, Jon came north again to do a concert for another charitable endeavor of mine, A Peace Pole For Canton. It was probably the best concert I've ever been a part of. Just an extremely intimate environment (In a nature center no less) and Jon played and exchanged with the crowd for over 2 1/2 hours. I'll have to write more about this amazing event and the weekend we shared connecting in another post. Anyway. . .

Jon, Peter and I are kind of unique in the fact that we have been able to create our own situations and unique ways to do what we do. Jon met Christina Pirello and her husband, Robert after a show in Nashville (read more about that cool story on Jon's website) and he soon after was singing on a vegan cooking show.
Beth and I went to Philly to see Jon perform at a concert hosted by Christina and got to meet some more really conscious, thoughtful, creative and multi-talented people, including Jon's wife Jeannie- who has her own career, while helping Jon manage his. After filming this year's episodes of Christina Cooks, Jon made the decision to go back to the road, and to his music full time, to see if that level of devotion would finally pay off.

Jon's devotion and talent are going to bring all the good things he deserves into his life. . . success, happiness and a part time gig in The Green House. While revamping our storyline this year, we decided that Todd needs a brother. . . a brother that is just as creative (and concerned) as he is, only with a different talent. . . music.

Jon is joining The Green House as Todd's troubador brother and will be introduced within the first few weeks of the comic. That all being said, as we were redesigning the web site, Jon's song, The World Goes On was playing on my iTunes. "Somebody's gonna laugh today. . . somebody's gonna cry today. . . somebody's gonna take their very first breath of life today." Hopefully, they'll be laughing at our comics and getting all the lovingly complex, yet simple messages that song speaks of. Jon has graciously concented to let us use The World Goes On as our home page greeting:

"The world goes on and on and on, it's good, it's bad, it's right, it's wrong- It's fair, it's not, it's all the world we've got. . . "

That's what we're talking about with our comic. . . it's all the world we've got- and everyone from every walk of life has the chance to make a difference, to make a choice that makes the world better. We are all connected. . . and it's pure joy to have Jon's voice greet each and every visitor to our web site.
I just hope he doesn't mind all the stuff we're going to put his character through. . .

You can learn more about Jon (and buy his cds! ;0) ) here: http://www.jonmichaelsmusic.com

Here's Jon pretending he's Jimmy Buffett.

-Brad



Click here to return to the Green House: http://www.greenhousecomics.com/

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Gorey Details


This is Brad speaking. . . er, typing. . .
When Peter and I first started creating "The Green House", we saw it as an opportunity, not to educate the audience on our environmental beliefs, but to portray the journey we've taken to the place we're at now. Which is not solely about environments. . . but that's a part of what we wish to speak to. . .We both realized that it would also be a good opportunity to create characters that represent the polarized views we the public are barraged with daily. I'm basically a mass media hater, but what I do is create characters to tell stories and within the context of a comic strip, find humor in what they do and who they are- just as we all have to examine ourselves every so often- which is usually good for a laugh or two (if you have a good sense of humor). I was hoping that creating this comic strip would bring about some informative conversation. And I also won't miss an opportunity to have our characters piss somebody off once in a while. I mean, the media, politicians and certain self-pronounced expert piss me off a lot. . . but that's when we go out and educate ourselves.

Unfortunately, many turn to the radio, nightly news or the talking head shows to get their information. Talk shows. . . when someone with some real knowledge gets on to talk, the talking head host usually just starts talking louder, calling them an idiot and hangs up. Probably why Rush only takes a few well screened callers.
Other folks get their news from newspapers. A better choice, but not perfect. I TRULY hope no one goes to the Comics Page for their news or for an environmental education.

To get to my point, there was an entry on our Guest Book from Robert Johns, from Farmington, CT- where he took exception to our use of "An Inconvenient Truth" in our third comic. I asked Robert for permission to post our e-mail conversation here, as it really addresses some important points- from both of our perspectives. Peter and I would talk for an hour about each one of Robert's e-mails, and I'd reply with bits of both our opinions. Let's see what you think. . .

Robert's Guest Book Entry:
I'm passionate about our environment, but I was disappointed when I read today's strip. If "An Inconvenient Truth" is to be your baseline on environmental issues, your credibility as a defender of the environment is not to be taken seriously. Both Al Gore and Kyoto take all the air out of the room with their political, non-environmental agendas. They distract attention from working on specific issues, such as the rape of the mountains in Appalachia, the destruction of the rainforests to plant palm trees for ethanol, and the massive pollution of the air, earth and water by Kyoto-exempt nations like China and India. You have a great opportunity to educate your readers if you don't fall prey to simplistic and emotional feel-good platitudes of the type spouted by Mr Gore and his ilk.
_______________________________________

Reply: Hi Robert,
Thank you for the comment you left on our guest book this morning. We appreciate that you took the time to send us your thoughts, whether positive or negative, we're both thankful that you're sharing your concerns with us.
So, we'd like to reply:

Use of "An Inconvenient Truth" in Friday's strip was to make a smaller point, that in the character's opinion, there hasn't been any truth about the environment coming out of the White House. There was no "baseline," endorsement of a book, person or agenda intended. I could tell you more about what the character, Link is all about, but that's part of developing a character in the strip. . . you get to know them bit by bit through their actions. It's really unfair to read into a character's motivation based on one comic. If you were to try to do so, one observation might be that Link's the type of rat who looks for tidbits of info from the White House waste paper recycling. On this day, he found a book that the occupants of the building thought was "waste." Just one possible observation. Yours was another.

We are not creating this comic with the intent of being environmental educators. We don't know everything, and will not pretend we do. Nor will we try to convey our opinions or those of a well-informed individual or group. Our goal is to show the journeys, the experiences, concerns, mistakes and revelations of the characters we create. If along the way we ignite a spark that encourages someone to go out and educate themselves, become more conscious of their place on this planet - that would be amazing. I might also add that we are learning as we go also. This is our way of of being involved, active, passionate and compassionate as we learn about the environment.

For better clarification, please check out our Mission Statement. Just click on the ink bottle on the right hand side of that main page.
It's a simple statement that means something very personal to us.

Thanks again for coming by the web site and sharing your thoughts.
We sincerely appreciate them.

Brad & Peter
http://www.greenhousecomics.com
___________________________________


Robert: "Which Way Will You Go?"

Thank you for your response, Brad. I will watch with interest the "development" of your strip and it's characters. You COULD do some good things, but I fear you will go for the cheap and easy "consensus" viewpoint, and that your efforts will help shut down critical thought rather than encourage it.

Mr. Gore's self-serving zealotry and the widespread acceptance by those susceptible to his rabble-rousing, fear-mongering hyperbole and misinformation lead me to despair that serious focus will ever be given to our enviornmental problems. From what I have seen so far, I'm sorry to say that I think your strip will join him in trapping even more people into believing that their self-righteous agreement is enough. Instead of making the effort to educate themselves, think critically and THEN become pro-active, they will think they've done their part by urging the fanatics to continue...because it "feels" right. I hope I'm wrong in that belief.

Could you be so lost in ideology that you really believe your strip's suggestion (in spite of your denial) that one party (and this President in particular) is responsible for all, or even most, of our environmental problems? Politicans from both parties have for years been giving lip service about the environment, while feeding the base emotions of their constituencies with feel-good legislation that does little to go to the real problems. By encouraging people to believe that one party represents the bogeyman holding back environmental action, you close the door on real, over-arching, actions that can be taken to improve the situation.

If you are really serious about the environment, I hope that you take the time to educate yourself on what is really going on, rather than relying on the banalities that have been coming daily from those who blindly trumpet the latest alarmist junk science. Try to remember as you move forward that "consensus" is NOT science!

They will deny it, but virtually all Kyoto endorsers are operating through a political agenda and/or ignorance, and they should be ashamed of the way they divert attention and resources from areas where we can make real progress. Since they have the bully pulpit on the subject, the silence from the media and the environmentalists about what China is doing to the environment is nothing short of criminal.

Brad, you said "we don't know everything, and will not pretend we do." Want to begin educating yourselves? I hope you do, because the subject is very serious. Here's a start....
Toxins, Endocrine Disruptors And Carcinogens That Migrate (put down that water bottle and begin with some REAL environmental scare stories!)

http://www.ecologycenter.org/ptf/toxins.html

The collapsing scientific cornerstones of GW theory

http://www.ncpa.org/ba/ba299.html

Smearing of anti-GW scientists

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20030825-090130-5881r.htm

tilting of the earth's axis and it's effect on weather

http://earth.usc.edu/~geol150/variability/orbitalchanges.html

Junk science

http://www.junkscience.com/news/robinson.htm

Myths of Global Warming

http://www.ncpa.org/ba/ba230.html

Debunking Modern Climate Myths

http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Environment/debunking.htm
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Brad:
Robert,
I honestly admire your passion for the environment. It is the most important issue facing the world today and you are obviously well educated and well spoken on the subject. You also appear to be an expert on the “banalities that come from those who blindly trumpet . . . “
I seriously object to you insinuating that I’m “so lost in ideology,” that I’d suggest that one party is responsible for all or even most of the environmental problems. The truth is quite the opposite. I’m not going to get into an involved discussion of politics but essentially, I believe that we have 2 huge corporations running our country, that will tell us anything, as well as create any situation that they feel will increase revenue toward their “party.”
There are a lot of great writers, speakers and experts on the environment, but unfortunately, they are quieted and relegated to “cult” followings. I’m not using that term to diminish their relevance.

How can you presume to know what I stand for as a person, or where I send funds to aid the causes I believe in? I don’t buy whatever is put on my plate from Al Gore or George Bush or anyone else whose main concern is their stock portfolio and legacy. The fact is that there are MANY of those Anti-Bush, environmental activists who are just out there because they need a cause. They don’t know their own truths or sought to learn from all sides to find their own voice.

Yes, I have been one of the folks who hears about some cause and jumped on the bandwagon, just because I thought that was the way to be, and possibly could do so in the future, but I’ve been growing and striving to be an authentic, open-minded person who sees every voice as one that is teaching me. The websites you’ve highlighted are some of those I’ve already visited. There is a great deal of honest, experienced information out here that the mainstream media pushes aside for the sexy story. I’m well aware of that. I feel that I can make the greatest difference, by doing what I do best- and supporting those whose work I believe in.

As for Al Gore and “An Inconvenient Truth,” there is good and bad in what he’s doing too. The reality is that there are those who have no interest at all in the environment, as you well know. If Al Gore is appealing to them in some small way, that’s a step in a positive direction. Maybe they’ll just join the mass populous and simply start using compact fluorescents, cut back their driving and take shorter showers, thinking they are doing their share. That’s probably more than they would have ever done without being sucked in by 'Al’s hot air'. On the other hand, there are those who will see or watch “AIT” and say, “is that all true?” They’ll do some internet searching and find out a lot more than Al could ever tell them and find out some real truths. You really should give people more credit for being able to think beyond what they are being fed. You did- and so have I. I’m not however, going to start believing everything I read on the internet either.
I think the truths are somewhere in the middle.

Now, on a subject that I do know quite a bit about, comic strips.. . Don’t tell me what I’m going to write, or what you think I’m going to write. I would never tell you what to write and I’d expect the same consideration.
What I do know is that I can only write about what I’ve experienced. As I said before, I’ve been growing and learning and educating myself and will continue to do so. That’s why I value your opinions and how you express them. Because of the main stream perception of issues, it’s not possible to get a newspaper to take on your comic strip if they don’t find something humorous in the content. Green ideas are becoming “sexy news” now.
The idea for this strip started about 7 years ago, and several “not so authentic” versions later- Peter and I have finally found what we (and the strip) are about. I’m not about jumping on that bandwagon. I’m about expressing my own voice and showing it in my characters. Link is developing as a typical, left-wing activist. . . Bush-hater, Gore follower and semi-conspiracy theorist. Am I saying that’s the way to be? I hope not. I hope our readers will see the other side of the issues and the errors in single-mindedness. There are other characters coming as well. There will be balance. I and my characters couldn’t exist without it.

Also, the simple messages we’re delivering in the EarthWorm Comic ARE INTENDED to give a simplistic, idealist version of “how to make our planet better” for kids. That stuff appealed to me as a kid and has helped lead me to the paths I’m walking now. I’m sure you started out getting excited about some generalized media hyped issue and then sought your own information. We all need to start somewhere. Whether or not you agree with what I do with my characters doesn’t really matter a whole lot to me. It’s what I believe I need to say and what I think will bring readers to a web site where we can share information. I think it’d be a great thing for us to share all kinds of web sites in our Links. Oh and before I forget, no, I’m not a Global Warming nut. Global Worming could be misconstrued. . . But it’s really about getting back to the earth and reaching out globally.

I’ll check out the rest of the sites you suggest and continue to inform myself and act where I see I can be of most benefit to the causes I believe in most. Thanks for the honest E-mail and for giving us a chance, even if you think our strip will join 'him' in "trapping even more people into believing that their self-righteous agreement is enough."

In my opinion, Those who want to be trapped, will. Others will understand that we’re showing them all the options, and suggesting they take the path that is right for them. Everyone has to start somewhere. Where they finish is up to them. I really don’t think I’m persuading you, and that is not my intent. I do think that I’ve already started doing what I set out to do by inviting comment and expression. Another day, another lesson, another note in the bank of ideas.

Take care and please feel free to suggest web sites we should include on our web page, if you feel we’re something you want to be associated with.

-Brad
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Back again From Robert:

Brad, I apologize if I wasn't clear when I asked if you were "lost in ideology". My intent was to ask the question, not condemn. In the same vein, I wasn't trying to tell you what you're going to write. I said I would watch with interest the "development" of your characters, while voicing my fear about the direction. Those are honest opinions, not judgments, predictions or statements of fact. My subject line even asked "which way will you go?"

I'm no expert, just very, very concerned about the obvious waste of time and effort caused by the misdirection coming from both the agenda-driven and the uninformed. Think of the time and effort that is wasted when every change is turned into a new alarm on the flimsiest of reasons.

Here's a few snippets off the top of my head that only scratch the surface, but should catch your attention. Take your pick: people being sucked into feel-good environmental passivity, the "solutions" that create their own problems, phony charlatans with their own agendas, the environmental dumbing down of our children....

------------

Ethanol is a massive disaster in the making. It's usage has begun adding significantly to deforestation which probably negatively affects the weather and the environment. And ethanol is poised to begin devouring corn stocks, which will likely cause serious world food supply problems. Are you aware that filling a vehicle's 25 gallon tank with ethanol will consume enough grain to feed an Egyptian peasant for a full year?

In another unintended feel-good environmental disaster, when MTBE (another "pollution control" gasoline additive) was required by the government, it ended up massively polluting the groundwater in many areas.

The creation and transportation of "bottled" water (which is not any better tasting or more healthy than most tap water) burns huge amounts of fuel. The plastics that are used for bottled water (and many other food products) contain many nasty chemicals that migrate into the food and liquids we ingest.

Using energy-saving bulbs and appliances can be good, but if they come from China or one of the Kyoto-exempt countries, you've probably added more to the pollution of the world than you'll save in the usage of your new item.

Buying any Chinese goods (not just WalMart...we all know it's becoming harder and harder to find goods from any store that aren't made in China) adds significantly to the pollution of the globe.

We refuse the building of nuclear plants, but allow the rape of Appalachian mountains and the massive collateral destruction that it causes...

Ted Kennedy fights tooth and nail against wind farms because it interferes with his view, but rails against the "environmentally unfriendly" administration...

Al Gore spews and foams about the environment, but his own "carbon footprint" is huge. For example, he has multiple homes that he keeps warmed and cooled, but he's usually not there because he's constantly flying everywhere. He is driven to rallies and speeches in SUVs, but stops a few blocks short to change into a hybrid.

Speaking of flying, the worldwide increase in air transportation is a significant cause of growing pollution.

In a show of massive environmental feel-good stupidity, we won't allow offshore drilling for oil between Florida and Cuba, even though Cuba and China are already drilling there. Incidentally, our environmental regulations are much stricter than theirs...

Polar Bears have increased by many thousands in just the past hundred years. They are losing numbers in some areas but increasing in others. Our response is the hysterical feel-good act of placing them on the endangered list. (By the way, Polar Bears are a fairly recent evolutionary response to Global Cooling.)

I could go on and on and on...

Robert
________________________________________________________________________________________________


Very good stuff. . .

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Dan Millman
PEACEFUL WARRIOR MOVIE, Coming To Theaters everywhere, March, 2006 This is my first time writing in the journal. Brad has been plucking away some really fun entries while I just sit back and watch like a kid sidelined at the pond because he can't skate. And I really can't skate. This is Peter by the way. Thankfully, Brad is walking me through this and I'm able to finally get started. I'm a bit in the dark ages when it comes to computers, especially blogs. I still draw with ink and brush on paper for Pete's sake. Heck, when I cut and paste I'm actually cutting and pasting.... with scissors! ....and PASTE! The cool thing is I learned how to access this page in a nick of time. The Peaceful Warrior movie debuted in selected theaters on June 2nd (it will be opening nationwide in March), and I'd been waiting for that day for years. Twenty years to be sure. It was 20 years ago that I was handed Dan Millman's inspiring and successful book, The Way of The Peaceful Warrior" in Berkeley, California at a time when I was a directionless, emotional wreck of a man putting off my dreams and going deeper into debt and depression. I was sick of it all and wondered how I could ever pull myself out of this rut. As the saying goes "when the student is ready, the teacher appears". The book had a profound impact on my life. Dan gave me tools. And what guy doesn't like getting tools? Especially simple ones that you can create an authentic life with. They were reminders for balance, to be here and now, to move gracefully, be kind and consider that no moment is ordinary. I began listening to myself and followed my heart fulfilling a long time dream of being a cartoonist. In 1990 he suggested I practice a martial art like aikido or taiji to experience, in action, how flexibility works in life. I joined the Boston Kung Fu Tai Chi Institute and met my wife, Danielle. I got the chance to tell this story to Dan personally last summer in Santa Fe as Dan, Danielle and I shared a plate of guacamole and chips while our kids, Pema 6 and Bodhi 2 played joyfully underfoot. He admired our children and the strong bond they shared. He said it was a testament to their parents. I thanked him and marveled at how if it wasn't for being handed his book way back when, I would never have walked into the Tai Chi school to meet my wife and we wouldn't all be here having this conversation. I learned a lot from Dan over the years. Meeting him in person put all that knowledge immediately into wisdom. Body wisdom. He truly lives everything he so eloquently writes in his books. He was relaxed, aware, gentle, funny and very much present. It was truly inspiring being in this peaceful energy he radiated. We got to see ourselves more clearly. And truly being ourselves IS being a peaceful warrior. And that's why I'm excited about this movie. Not because it will be this amazing blockbuster, which it could very well be. But more that his great message will put in the popular culture, and it may become hip to be authentic and peaceful with a warrior spirit. Now there's a dream worth fulfilling. Where's my skates? Peter

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Current Mood: very much sitting in myself
Current Music: Jon Michaels I Am Who I Am

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Out Of The Clear Blue Sky


(Brad here)

This summer, while driving east on I-84 near Willimantic, CT I had an extraordinary experience. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic- just a long stretch of highway in front of me disappearing into a horizon which was draped in the most amazing blue, cloud dusted sky. . .

It came out of the sky in front of me and appeared right in front of my face inside my car. . . an image of a newspaper opening . . . then it zoomed up even closer. . . the left hand, top side of the comics section. I briefly saw the name Peanuts and then a blur, and two strips below Peanuts, I saw the first panel of another comic. . . in graying newspaper ink it said, The Green House and below the title was a panel with Pam sitting at the kitchen table and Todd leaning in from the right. I didn't notice what the copy said, as the page zoomed in even closer and the ink separated from the page casting a shadow on the paper below it which was suddenly all that existed. . . lightly yellowed newsprint. I could see the slight, tannish speckles of the pulp and the gentle yellowing that comes with age. Again, the shadow of the separated ink flashed briefly in my mind, settling back onto the page and then, it was gone.

Staring straight ahead, I saw an amazing sky. . . the same sky as in the Peaceful Warrior poster above. . . except Dan Millman wasn't hanging there, at least physically. I felt a rush of adrenaline and a sort of warm chill took over my body. My eyes started to tear at the same moment a joyful smile consumed my face. Goose bumps topped off the over all effect. I was overjoyed. I'd received an image, a vision from someone or somewhere telling me that the Green House IS. Ironically, I'd just been thinking of many of the things I wanted to write for the strip, and I'd been daydreaming of Peter and I working on building an Earthship together and talking in a studio that we will someday occupy. . . when the vision came zooming in.

First time experience for me. . . funniest part of it all was- as I got off the exit, heading toward the Golden Lamb Buttery- I came to a light at the end of the exit. There was a little country store/gas station. In front of the door was a big homemade sign: "We've Got WORMS!"
Yes, we do. . . well, one worm in particular.

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Current Location: Here, now (beat you to it Peter!)
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Wonderful Remark and other excerpts from Van Morrison

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The Green House Crew
Name: The Green House Crew
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