Archive for February, 2007
AND THE PLAGUE CONTINUES…
Monday, February 12th, 2007

Every since we came back from Vegas, Utility has been plagued with the ever popular “flutility”. So this weekend I was driving around on the web and saw this. A sure fire way to stop this epidemic. A quick peek at a few of those videos and its no wonder after high-fiving, hugging, pats on the back, general handshaking and bro-brahing that a person wouldn’t catch the “flutility”. In this case “flutility” looks charming compared what they’re spreading around.
WELL, THE POLES STILL STANDING.
Friday, February 9th, 2007

Well, first of all we’d like to thank Dominique Harrington, for providing an excellent assortment of art for the crew that assembled last night at Utility for the 4th DOE party.
Good crowd, good eats, good drinks and good times. Thanks to the Red, White and Blue for providing a many a hangover for some. Also a BIG THANKS go out to Crystal, Jynn, Ryan, Corin, Peter, and Bryce (by the way if your reading this Bryce, come to work, we have Advil™, greasy food and we have your keys).
Thanks to everyone that came out and supported the Ping Pong Party, damn there are some ringers out there, but thank god our very own Corin held his ground and maintained to keep his game focused until the very end. Congratulations on your side of beef.
Until the next time.
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Happy Birthday going out to Bruce Clark, not that he’s turning 50, but “shit, fifty is the new forty.
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UPDATE: Bryce has shown up to work, thank god. Plus he brought the greasy goods with him. A huge bag of Mickie D’s is gracing his arm. Have good weekend everyone.
COME PARTY ON OUR POLE!
Thursday, February 8th, 2007

Wait…that didn’t come out right. It’s true that we have a pole but probably not the one you’re thinking of. If there were anything resembling dancing on this pole there would be slivers, paper cuts, and/or staples causing some serious pain. That’s because our pole is a Utility pole! That’s right…a fuckin‚ power pole, one that runs right up through the floor and supports the massive quantities of voltage being cranked out by the dastardly devils representing the Dept. of Energy. You won’t find hard hats and rubber boots up here, but you will find some kick ass good times and a support group to match. So roll on down to 3931 1st Ave South tonight and we’ll hook you up with enough good vibes to last you another month.
Remember we just came back from Vegas so, bring your paddles, …not for that you dumbass, get your mind out of the gutter, they’re for the Ping Pong Tourney stupidbutt, get ready to be paddled and like it.
And yes the one and only Skip will be in the house to meet and greet and maybe even throw down an autograph or two… Meet him in person and fall in love all over again, he’ll be the friendly soft spoken gentleman waiting by the pool table, to kick your ass and if he doesn’t, the Redrum™ will.
WE ONLY USE THE BEST WOOD THAT MONEY CAN BUY.
Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

Welcome, everyone to the weekly Skip Report coming to you from Utility Inc. in Seattle WA.
First of all let me tell you what kind of weather were having today here in Seattle. Well it’s about 50º and partly cloudy. The kind weather we Seattleites love and we are fortunate compared to what’s happening on the East Coast.
So today I will be taking you through our woodshops and telling you what the crew is working on today. And also what I’ve been working on. There in the woodshop all of us enjoy our work because we know what we make has never been seen before so we have fun doing it.
So I’m not going to hang you up too long today with the Skip Report because I know you have other things to do to. So today and all this week we will be working on a Reception Counter for Cloudveil stores. And this reception counter will be going to the city of Jackson Hole.
We’ll start with Mitch. Mitch does excellent work, he is truly a master at his craft and Mitch is working on the reception countertop today and I must say it looks most excellent. And I must tell you we only use the best wood that money can buy. And over here to my left we have Ann. Ann is working on the reception cabinet and I must say she doing a fantastic job on it. See Ann is that good. My favorite name for her is Miss Picky because if there is a microscopic flaw somewhere, Ann will see it. And that’s why I love having Ann in the woodshop.
Oh and I forgot to tell you I call Mitch, McGuyver because he can come up with any kind of contraption to get the job done and we love it. Well I see big Mike back here in the back working. Let’s see what he’s working on. Well Mikes working on the Cloudveil store wall systems and store fixtures. And he’s making out of wood and like I said the best wood. We call Mike, Big Mike because he’s pretty big. So we like to keep Mike calm as possible.
Ok let’s check out the new comer to the shop Zoran. Ok Zoran is up here in the front part of the warehouse working on organizing Magnum crates. And also taking inventory and he just said he’s having big fun doing it. Well we’re missing a couple of people today that helps round out this fantastic crew of woodshop and two people are Jack our boss in woodshop and Little Mike who we call Grumpy.
And as for me today I’ve been helping Ann Miss Picky on the counter cabinet. And keeping everything straight and organized in the woodshop and keeping the wood shop clean and enviormently safe. Well that’s all for today. Thank you for tuning into the Skip Report. So stay safe and tune in next week - I’ll see ya, Skip.
PS: Happy Birthday Justin!
A VIEW THROUGH THE ARTISTIC LENS OF BLOTTO
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

One thank you that I completely overlooked from “the YARD” in Vegas, was photographer Dean “Blotto” Gray. Somehow I had overlooked this portion of the show in “the YARD”. Dean, I apologize… I feel as embarrassed as a whore in church for not mentioning your participation of photography for us at “the YARD” at SIA in Vegas.
A heartfelt thank you to Blotto for gracing the many who came to experience the vibe we had going. I owe you dinner and drinks the next time your through Seattle. I’m thinking I can accommodate you before or after the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. Bottoms up Blotto.
THE SECOND LARGEST U.S. FOOD CONSUMPTION DAY FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING
Friday, February 2nd, 2007

So finally a weekend when we’re not working or on the road at shows. Gonna feel good to relax this weekend with maybe a trip to the hill for some riding or not. Plus, it’s that time of the year for the annual new TV commercial rollout better known as Super Bowl Sunday.
A time for beers, friends, nacho stains on your favorite teams jersey, beers, pizza, overly buttered popcorn, beers, that chili-cheese dip that you hate but eat anyway only to taste again on Tuesday morning before your coffee with a belch, mmmm beer.
IF EVERY COMPANY IN THE WORLD HAD THIS MUCH HEART AND SOUL THE WORLD WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER…
Thursday, February 1st, 2007

Helllllllo, welcome peoples to Utility Inc., and the Skip Report, and also the Dept. of Energy. I am Skip and I will be attempting to take yous through the shop, and explain the types of work that we do, taking you behind the scenes through the tradeshow business and the business of design.
So this is my first weekly reports and I will be coming at you every Wednesdays and a matter of fact, it is a beautiful Wednesday here in Seattle todays. The sun is shining, its about 50º, that’s hot to us at this time of year. And the wayyyyyyy it has been, it’s burning up. So anyways, I will be the one coming at you every Wednesdays from Utility Inc and DOE to take you behind the scenes.
And let me explain myself to you a little more. Like I said my name is Skip and I have been at Utility Inc. a little over a couple of years… and I really enjoy working here… one of the best companies I have ever worked for… People are just fantastic… Everyone gets along… we laugh and joke while we are working and we are just like a big family here, too. I am going to be coming at you every Wednesdays to take you in the shop, in the design depts, in the assembly depts. I am going to do my best to introduce you to everyones that works here and show you how good they are at what they dos. So until next week – I’ll see ya, Skip.