Piece of Ash » Friends

May I Be Frank – Review By New Contributor, Rachel (Mrs. Ash)

ethanash — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:00:55 +0000

Yesterday, Ethan and I spent our date night at Cinemapolis for a screening of “May I Be Frank“, co-produced by someone Ethan knew growing up in Ithaca, Conor Gaffney. Conor was out in San Francisco working with friends for Cafe Gratitude, (a Vegan/Raw Food restuarant), when their worlds collided with a native Brooklynite, Frank Ferrante. Frank, A 54 year old, obese and depressed addict, caught the affection of Conor & his friends, who put him on a 42-day regimen to transform his life, in quite the opposite way of Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me.

The result is a very real, raw account of the various steps he commits to take as he begins to heal his body, mind and spirit. It really, really moved me and his message is still with me today - that we, and only we, have the power to be who we want to be. Cliche, cliche, but there is nothing more true that that. Yes, this includes facing your demons and taking risks but Frank lets us into all of this and coming through the other side is a more centered, authentic and fulfilled person. The film also beautifully demonstrates the power of community and giving of your self to impact a life.

If it screens near you, check it out. If not, the DVD will be up on their website soon.

Here’s to paying Frank’s transformation forward in little ripples…

Eli at 2 Months & Happy Holidays

ethanash — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:22:56 +0000

I’m typing this post with one hand. I have a very fussy two month old in the left arm. Month 1 to 2 saw a growth spurt (up to 10 pounds), a few nights with 6 hours of sleep, and a lot of nights without that. As parents, there are still moments where we feel completely over our heads, and wonder what we’re doing wrong. But those don’t last long. They are usually supplanted by a moment like the picture above from this morning. And what’s better than that?

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year to our friends and family.

We hope to see you in 2010.

Piece of Ash Goes Offline

ethanash — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:33:48 +0000

Denise, Eileen, Greer, Jessica, Pam & Robyn- You win the award for most creative and thoughtful housewarming gift. Now anyone that visits Ithaca can stay in the ‘Piece of Ash Inn’. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Thanks, ladies. See you up here soon.

And just to please the Eli fans out there…here’s a picture with his Aunt Nutmeg:

Weddings, Moving Day, & Ethan Ash, NY Times Published Photographer

ethanash — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:12:46 +0000

Congratulations Jesse & Becky!

The last 10 days have been a complete whirlwind. Last weekend I was in Barre, Massachusets for my cousin’s wedding at Hartman’s Herb Farm. Monday Rachel and I moved into our new house in Ithaca, NY and Thursday morning I left for Monhegan Island, Maine for the wedding of Fred & Susannah. I’ll share a few pictures from both weekends once I edit down from 400, because both weddings & locations were incredible.

In the meantime, you can read about Fred & Susannah in the NY Times, and check out the listed photographer under their photo.

Monhegan Island, Congrats Fred & Susannah

3 Months to Go! And Saranac Lake Wedding

ethanash — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:27:39 +0000

Here’s a picture of Rachel with 3 months until the scheduled arrival of Baby Ash.

We were up in the Lake Placid area last weekend for our good friends’ wedding. It was the most beautiful wedding we’ve been to (other than our own of course). They were married on a very small island in Upper Saranac Lake & then had the reception at an open air building overlooking the Adirondacks. You really pulled it off, Rob & Maureen….Congratulations!

Thoughts on Dallas. And Friendship

ethanash — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:53:17 +0000

King of the Hill Gang in their Fence Alley

Traveled to Dallas last weekend to pay a long-time friend a surprise birthday visit. We’ve known each other since elementary school and lived together in Brooklyn for 4 years before wives and moves came along. Two other friends from Ithaca joined the trip and the look on our buddy’s face when we saw him was worth the weekend alone. A few other highlights & thoughts from the visit:

1) The only other city in Texas I’ve been to is Austin. Dallas is very different from Austin. Austin felt like San Francisco or Burlington, VT transplanted into Texas. Dallas felt more like real Texas. Like big oil, red state, belt-buckle Texas.

2) Those fence alleys from King of the Hill that Boomhauer and the gang drink behind all day? They really exist.

3) George W. calls this place home. And by the looks of things he’s VERY comfortable here. No, that’s not Alfred E. Newman on Mad Magazine. That’s Dubya on the cover of Dallas Magazine.

3) Rodeos. Not sure what to make of these. We went to one….and it was pretty unique. Prayers at the beginning, a girl flung from her horse and carried out on a stretcher (she was okay), children riding sprinting sheep bareback until they fell off into the dirt, clowns. It was all a bit surreal. But it was also pretty empty. This was opening night of the Mesquite Rodeo and the stands were only 1/4 full. How’s that for an economic indicator?

4) A cowboy hat, handlebar mustache and checkered shirt can transform a wall street money manager into a true Texan overnight:

Before

After

5) Childhood friendships can withstand 2,000 miles of distance, years of separation and all the other stuff that comes up in life. Sure, we’re all working through our own lives, one of us has a baby now, two are married, one is engaged, but for one weekend it was like nothing had changed. We were just friends together again….deep in the heart of Texas.

The King of Suburbia (Far Left) with Friends & His Own Fence Alley