Vic’s Web Log

I’m finding less and less time to run a webserver and wordpress blog at home so I’m moving this blog to cloud…

http://analog-techie.blogspot.com/

Thanks for following this blog and please adjust your bookmarks for my new home.

Thanks!
Vic

About two months ago I started commuting via Triangle Transit. There is a route that stops at my apartment complex and just down the street from work so I thought it was just too convenient to pass up. First, I read all about the system and routes on the internet and found that routes 402 and 403 were just perfect for my commute. Next I stopped into the Transit Station which is close to work and bought a 6 pack of regional day passes which allow unlimited rides on Triangle Transit buses and also on Durham and Raleigh buses.

Riding the bus is pretty simple. There is a card/cash reader in the bus entrance so you either feed the machine two dollars or swipe your pass in the reader; then sit back and read your kindle on the way to work. As the bus approaches your stop simply hit the “Stop Request” strip or cable and get off when the bus stops.

Triangle transit travels between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill and cooperates with the other transit systems in the area. Using the system for the past couple of months has really made me see how efficient a good transit system can be if people, especially commuters, would only use it.

The Durham Performing Arts Center, DPAC, opened in Durham a little more than a year ago and its first year appears to have been a tremendous success. It is situated just east of the Durham Bulls baseball park and is easily accessible from the Durham freeway or from the Durham transit station.

Janie and I have been to two shows at DPAC and had a wonderful visit both times. Last October we went to see Cathy Griffin and just last month we saw Vince Gill. Both times we parked at the American Tobacco garage and walked to the Mellow Mushroom for dinner and drinks and then walked over to DPAC for the show. Both were very enjoyable evenings and made me feel pretty lucky to live in the triangle area. DPAC is a fun night out without any of the negative elements of a really big city; traffic was reasonable, parking was easy and walking in the area at night seemed very safe. From where I live in SW Durham, DPAC is maybe 20 minutes away and the route is easy secondary and residential streets.

Janie and I have also attended an event at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium which is more like 30 minutes away but pretty easy to find and very nice to visit. We went to see Rain perform a tribute to the Beatles last November. It was a great show and we have plans to go back for a Bill Maher show in a couple of weeks. The area is easily accessible from anywhere in the triangle via Triangle Transit. The transit station is easy walking distance to the Auditorium, the IMAX, the State Capitol, Museums and Fayetteville street. If you’re standing on Fayetteville street and look south you’ll be looking directly at the Auditorium and looking north you’ll see the State Capitol.

So if you’re looking for something to do in Raleigh or Durham check out these two venues. There’s something interesting going on at both just about every day.

One of the things I love about the Triangle area is the cultural diversity. The area is home to folks from all over the world because of the universities and because of Research Triangle Park with it’s demand for highly skilled workers in the tech and biotech fields. In addition, the area has a long and rich history of craftsmanship and arts.

Fairly recently, I’ve become fascinated with handmade pottery. I’m truly amazed at the skill and artistic creativity of North Carolina potters.

Janie took me to a Barn Sale event in Charlotte a few weeks ago where more than 50 potters set up displays in and around an old barn.

The leaf bowl shown below was made by Dove Pottery from Waxhaw NC.

Leaf Bowl

The pottery on the shelf below is from Cedar Creek Gallery and a Charlotte area potter. The plate on the left and the bowls are by Geoff Lloyd and the black and white plates are by Valerie Hawkins from Charlotte NC.

Pottery Shelf

The image below is of my kitchen pottery shelf with a collection smaller pieces from various sources. The piggy banks are made by  Dorothy from Charlotte.

Pottery Shelf

The next image is of a bowl made by Paul Ray Pottery and a mug by Dorothy.

Cup and Bowl

The two Paul Ray bowls below were a gift from Janie.

And finally, one more image of the leaf bowl…

Leaf Bowl

Thanks to all the potters out there practicing their craft and making the world a more beautiful place for all of us.