It began with this email:

Dear Mark, Matt, et Blair:

Two of you have been here for more than a week. One of you has been here less than 24 hours. Good news. We're leaving. Together. On a trip. Into the unknown. Elsewhere.

Please be prepared with the following: (1) Toothbrush and Toothpaste (2) Sleeping bag and/or blanket (3) Pillow (4) Flashlight (5) Utilitarian shoes (6) TP. Optional items include but are not limited to (1) A Water bottle (2) Powerbars (3) One change of clothes (4) Deodorant (5) Bug Spray (6) Trail Mix. All of these items should fit tidily into a waterproof backpack, knapsack, rucksack or hackysack of some sort.

Please be ready to go at Nine-Oh-Clock AyEm. A large, recognizable vehicle will be waiting outside your home. Do not ask questions (Matt). Just pile into the grey transport, and hold on. We will be making (only) one stop while en route.

This trip has a purpose. More on that later. Trust us.

Fondly, M/R

:|

Three point five hours later we were deep in the heart of the Talladega National Forest, Cheaha State Park. At a campsite. On a waterfall. Three point five hours after that, we saw a baby bear fall from a tree. Three point five hours after that we ate sweet corn and sweet potatoes and sweet marshmallow smashed between two graham crackers. Three point five hours after that the New VISTAs became the VISTAs and The Meg/Ryan returned to simply Megan and Ryan.

And then it was done.

Construction begins on the ____ (name still to be determined). The ____ will serve as the future home of doLAB, an open studio and living lab for learning, among other things.

When asked what doLAB is Megan might respond this way: doLAB is a diverse group of individuals fostering opportunities to inspire, encourage, support, and challenge one another and members of the community around them, through creativity and design. This organization aims to provide a place for students, professionals, and citizens to connect, communicate, and collaborate on initiatives for the greater good of society through a variety of design-based projects, programs, and outreach activities.

Surely, this statement will be modified numerous times. And maybe that's okay. Because that's how it works here. Stay tuned.

Tonight, PieLab will know whether or not we have won the 2010 James Beard Award for "Outstanding Restaurant Design". Our fellow nominees include Choice Kitchens & Bakery and The Wright.

Dan and Breanne have taken the lead and are in NYC tonight representing PieLab. If we win, they get to stand in front of an audience of thousands and personally thank Greensboro for its support of PieLab. If we don't win... Then I will still be amazed that we were nominated in the first place.

It looks as if the James Beard Awards will not be on television, streamed online, or even on radio. If this isn't the case, please let me know!

The end is near. Perhaps this isn't as finial as it sounds. These 'end' times come more then once in a person's life and actually happen more frequently then one might expect. One such end is drawing near for me as my year of service in Greensboro Alabama closes. My feelings are mixed. I'm not sure whether to laugh, cry or be excited. I suppose I feel a little of everything and therefore this bizarre feeling I feel inside me right at this very moment surely must be the overtaking of these disparate feelings and/or the mixing together of these feelings as if churning around inside a glass beaker of sorts. I'm not quite sure. It's odd.

But it's over. It's almost done. What a ride. What a journey. What a change I've seen in myself in one year's time. What a change I've seen in others I've come to love and respect. Who would have thought? WHO would have thought?

Your in it. Your in it. Your in it. And you loose focus. You loose perspective. You get mad. You get really mad. You get annoyed. You want out. You hate your friends. You hate your life. But then you get out. You get out for a minute and look back upon. And then...(pause for dramatic effect) all is well with the world, your life makes sense and you understand that everything will be a-okay.

and we're happy?

Q:What do you do when someone you know says, "hey...come to New Orleans?"

A:You go. And so, we went...Co-rin and Mego...on a train...to visit this guy...and hang with more friends who work here...to drink this...and this (never again). Here' why. Well worth it.

Meet John R. Neill...

Recently I picked up L. Frank Baum's book "Glinda of OZ" from the local library while I was looking for retro typography inspiration. What I found instead are some of the most beautiful illustrations I have ever seen. It is amazing to be able to count exactly how few lines it takes Mr. Neill to suggest accurate and volumetric form.

*Illustration from "Glinda of Oz"

Ryan spoke about BikeLab at the Baptist church (by invitation of Brother Dee) this past Sunday, but not before enjoying an amazing breakfast.

Afterward, Mr. Johnny Whaley approached Ryan and said he would deliver some bikes. And of course, as promised, Mr. Whaley showed up this afternoon with a truckload of bikes. After a short greeting, he had gone, and the bikes were left behind at PieLab!

Simply asking... It's tried and true.

Dan stripped the Clockwork "M3", and his Takara of parts to use with his new NADA frame. This Frankenstein of a bike* is what was born of the conversion. Light, tight, and ugly, it is NADA all the way.

Oh, and if you see Dan riding this bike around town be sure to try and race him; we are preparing for Bici Coop's Heartbrakes Benefit this February.

Another monday, but a morning like no other. A crowded table this morning at PieLab, with a few new faces and a couple regulars.

Larry and Terry were just passing through. They showed Charles how to use Facebook. They're going hunting later today. Larry likes his venison barbecued; Terry likes his in spaghetti sauce.

Erica is from Eutaw. She bakes and she's a graphic designer. Irony? Erica moved to Alabama in 2004 from Philly. She works with a nonprofit in Selma. She'll be back.

Charles is considering getting a computer. I think he'll probably have one by next week.

One of our most fascinating customers is Jerry. Three pieces of pie today. Two cups of coffee. I think Jerry just likes to have someone to talk to.

Every time I see James I remember the great time at his house earlier this fall. A wonderful family who makes wonderful pizza.

No other place like this one. This is what it's about.

Another day, another tour. Today a great group from the Alabama Poverty Project in Birmingham, visited Greensboro to find out more about HERO, PieLab, Project M and Rural Studio. Rain aside the tour went well finishing up nicely with some chocolate peanut butter pie!

Megan and Ryan have been tasked with producing the UBBT's promotional materials for this year's fundraiser.

Each year a group of (up to 100!) black belt toting martial artists come to Hale County in conjunction with HERO and volunteer. They have built several houses, renovated several historic buildings, and did so while training (100 push-ups & sit-ups each day).

This year they will be tasked with building a home for Georgia, the woman pictured, and the recently thirded, moved, and placed Rosenwald School on HERO's campus.

Updates on the progress of the poster and website soon.

It all started with Dan and Breanne's trip to return their moving van back to Tuscaloosa. The song "Home" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes came on the radio... Dan and Breanne were stunned. This historic moment was followed up with this simple phrase from the station's DJ, "I'm not so sure about that song."

And thus, PieLab's love for the Magnetic Zeroes was born. As soon as we heard they were playing in Birmingham we bought tickets (thanks Breanne). The show was absolutely amazing. Afterward we got to meet the band and talk a bit about PieLab.

*Alex Ebert (lead singer/awesome dancer), Dan, and Ryan.

The Episcopal Church requested 40 PieLab invites to hand out to their congregation. We delivered hand stamped, hand lettered, and hand signed cards, inviting local folks to our opening on November 28th.

Megan and Ryan and Corinne are working with Pam Dorr on her presentation for the upcoming Design Summit in Aspen, CO. Pam will be presenting to a group of 60 designers, change leaders, NGOs, and other experts brought together to discuss five potential projects, including a National Design Center for Rural Poverty, slated to be located in Hale County.

The photo above is the blueprint for a presentation.

Now that the first tour has been completed Christapher, Dan, Marc, and Ryan are working on a website to organize the transformers.

The (blank)LAB returned to Greensboro today after a successful run to AIGA Memphis and A Better World by Design Conference. Christapher and Marc, although shaken, were still in once piece. They also came bearing gifts! (Pictured above)

Ryan had just returned from a quick visit home (to see his brother off to Manchester).

Christapher and Dan were hard at work on (blank)LAB for its departure the next day. After we swept, mopped, and cleared out the entire shipping container, Johnny Parker and Pop came by to load it onto our trailer. After all sorts of industrial pushing and pulling, the container rested perfectly on the back of the (truck) ambulance.

Because we knew Christapher was leaving early the next morning, we said our goodbyes and hoped for the best.

Oliver Munday, Joseph Shipp, and John Bielenberg all in town at once? You had better believe it.

Oliver has been helping us through the renovations (tearing apart) of PieLab on Main Street. He also designed up a poster for PieLab's grand opening. Joseph brought some friends to see the area, but also to help our Kickstarter reward selection out (coming soon). John is going to help us think wrong about (blank)Lab and to help plan our upcoming Blitz with Auburn... among many other things.

Meg/Ryan: Now working 18 hour days.

After a good night's sleep at Jeff's sister's boyfriend's house, Meg/Ryan hit a Royal Oak Starbucks, where Megan enjoyed the first $4 hot mocha beverage she's had in 3 months. Once back at the M house in Corktown, we had a good back-porch discussion about the project. It's all about the ringers and leaners (more on all that later).

Soon after the backyard talk, we found ourselves driving around the city looking for salvageable wood. Before we knew it, we were standing on Michigan Avenue, dismantling a few wooden bed frames that were conveniently leaning against a nearby business. It was like we never left Alabama.

With our findings packed neatly in the jeep and the film crew toting close behind, we made our way uptown to Traffic Jam, a great local restaurant w/ a sizable beer list. After a delicious lunch, we drove through Eastern Market and up Gratiot to see the Heidelberg Project. From there, we made a brief stop at the Jazz Fest then back to the house to relax. After much waiting around and deliberating about our next move, we decided to head out to the burbs, to Ferndale's great Woodward Avenue Brewery. Megan's friend Rachael met up w/ the group, and together we enjoyed some delicious craft beer(s).

Our night ended at Jeff's brother Steve's friend Diane's house. Bed. Couch. Dog. Sleep. Phew.

About 5 seconds in.

letterhead. So...we're designing some.

It was night, highway 69 south was pitch black except for the shine of my own headlights and the truck's about 20 yards back. We had just seen Inglourious Basterds and my eyes were somewhat fatigued.

Armadillo! Dan yelled. I saw it just in time to straddle the small creatures between my car's wheels. Its tiny eyes lit up in surprise and disappeared under my front bumper as I suddenly remembered what Megan had recently told me: Never try to drive over an armadillo. I heard that their defense mechanism is to jump... So, they basically pop up into the underside of most cars. I cringed, gripped the wheel, and sat quietly as the car slightly jolted and a muffled bump was heard.

*Logo by Luke Williams

HERO is currently working with residents at Magnolia Village, a nearby low-income housing complex, to develop a plan for a new playground. We're developing a flyer to hand out to families at the complex to promote an upcoming brainstorming meeting. Our goal is to help residents understand the advantages of putting in a well designed playground, rather than one that's pre-manufactured.

One down, six to go!