This is Dean Jackson, a friend of Thomas' about to enjoy a beverage in a cafe near his home in Florida. (Snapped February 2004. Click to see it bigger.)
I only know about Thomas' friendship with Dean second hand, but I know Thomas relied a lot on Dean's thinking, strategizing and just plain old advice when it came to internet marketing and connecting with people online.
Plus, I think Thomas found Dean's really easy-going lifestyle fascinating. Thomas was so driven; Dean was so laid-back. It was an interesting mix.
Dean and his wife Sony still run one of the quietest, smoothest, far reaching (and lucrative!) internet businesses I know of. And no, his stuff wasn't just limited to StopYourDivorce.com which was cited often at CoachVille, cool as it was.
Susan Austin and I stayed with him and Sony in their home that February and also snapped this photo of me in front of the "Men on Spoons" artwork that used to hang in Thomas' living room.
It's exactly what the title indicates...men (that look like monks in their robes) atop spoons. It's one of those 'odd' things that make you go "huh?" which was exactly why, as I understand, Thomas liked it. (Again you can click the photo to see it bigger.)
As you can tell, it's a pretty big piece of art and would dominate any condo wall. It's now in the dining room of Dean's place having been gifted to him by Thomas' estate.
I remember being surprised at the expressions on the monks' faces...one looked annoyed, I think (not pleased at spoon positioning?), another serene. Before seeing it in person I hadn't realized each monk is different and has a personality.
Kind of a cool reminder of how Thomas used art in his environment to energize and support his creativity, isn't it? Non sequiturs are great that way, I think, to keep your brain limber and open to the possibility that the impossible, doesn't have to be.
(Says the person with not only no art on her walls right now but half empty boxes all around, lol. This will be it for tonight's trip into dusty spots on my c: drive. Until next time, cheers!//a)
Talk about your funny slip-up! It's not spoons, it's forks! Men on Forks...not men on spoons, as anyone who clicked the photo would have noticed.
I spose I've had spoons on the mind.
Just the other day at brunch I mistakenly nearly drank my neighbour's water too, so there you have it. ;)
Posted by: Andrea Lee | February 14, 2006 at 10:03 PM