It's September 14th

And I feel like writing a blog post.

I also feel like curling up under a blanket with a glass of wine and a nice book (or in the case of this evening, the latest episode of Mad Men).

But first, where the hell have we been? It's been nearly a month since the last time I updated you on the goings on of Our Dear Mutt, and that sad fact makes my bones hurt.

A Surgeon I am not...

Well, here's your update- my hand in a terrarium. Yessuh. We've gotten our hands on something like seventy-five glass globes that we're filling with ideal office environments for our international friends RJohnson (you should re-click that link in a week or so for some terrific terrariupdates, not the smoothest but tee-hee).

In just four days time a few of us Mutts are heading to Vancouver for the weekend to plant (PUN!) these beasts (NOT A PUN!) in the heart of Vancouver's business district. For those of you following Mutt in the friendliest third of North America, here's a little map to help you flourish.

Auf Wiedersehen

That's German for goodbye, something we hate saying here at Mutt, especially to new friends and family. In this case we're losing a member of the pack, Miss Darcie Burrell, one of the summer interns (and then there was one) and second female of the office (Raphie is crushed).

In two short months Darcie has touched every account attributed to Mutt Industries as well as aiding in a few pitches. And she's been killing it. Next week Darcie starts at our old friends W+K, where she'll get to experience life in a big agency. Admittedly it makes us all very sad, but we're all hoping she'll be back. In the meantime she's left us with her face on our plants.

Great work Darcie, thank you for the words, awkward silences and great ideas. It was a pleasure to get to know you, you'll be missed

I Guess This is Goodbye - The Wake Continues

The John Deere Plow Company made tractors in our office.

As always, my spiritual guide and on-again off-again pilates instructor, Scott Cromer, was a stride ahead of me and stole my story.

Let me reiterate his sentiment. Mutt Industries is in mourning today.

The very proud symbol that has guided lost (and overburdened) souls to the Mutt den for our lifetime (and plenty others years before our existence) has officially been lost. Unabashedly washed away by men in white.

We had concerns months ago with the installation of The Mini Strip along the East wall. I imagine we all privately recognized the addition wasn't on the part of the PSC trying to boost it's street cred. Although, for a while you'd have fooled me. It was glorious while it lasted- have you ever seen such amazing big type?

I'm making an effort to be less precious these days, but give me this one. There's something sentimental being destroyed here. I'm disappointed.

I suppose our wildest childhood fantasies have been sort of fulfilled- we're sponsored.

Give us a hand in welcoming your Mutt Industries home to the the Alaskan Airlines Nonstop-To-Who-The-Hell-Cares Building.

I wonder if we can buy Clear Channel out...

One Bad Paint Job.

Yesterday on our way to lunch, the partners and I spotted a man high up on a scaffold whitewashing the iconic Portland Storage Company sign that lords over southeast Portland. At first glance we chuckled and made some smart ass jokes about the sloppy paint job. But moments later, when I finally realized the enormity of what was happening, my heart sank and I spent the next ten minutes stabbing at my Buffalo Chicken Salad.

To a naïve outsider like you, this whole scenario might seem trite and irrelevant. But really it’s not. This sign, this bold beacon of prosperity was our siren. Our lighthouse in dark and troubled times. I remember, upon first moving to the neighborhood, getting lost while out and about in SE Portland. It was late and I had no idea where I was. Yes, I had consumed a few beers and bourbons…but that’s beside the point. As I anxiously gazed westward, I remember finally spotting that cocky sign in all its lighted glory. And smiled as it whispered to me, “Scott, I am the Portland Storage Company. And now you know where you are. You are safe.” It is also told me to go back inside the bar and continue drinking, which I thought was pretty cool too.

So today, as I passed that horrid sellout of a painter, I couldn’t help but remember this special night and contemplate a future without this audacious icon in our lives. Oh Portland Storage Company sign, I weep for thee.

z hard at work

Let There Be Acai

And on the third day, Matthew gave us delicious bowls of Açaí.

Today marks the third day of Sambazon's official launch of the Warrior Up Campaign and we're thrilled. To celebrate our homie Matthew dropped by to make us some Sambazon bowls.
Inside those bowls are all of the essential fatty acids, antioxidants and healthful nutrients your body could ask for. And man is this stuff delicious. I'm not just saying that either, peep the picture below and look at the fruits of our labour.

Now tell me you haven't started drooling all over your keyboard. And while you scrub the saliva from your keys, head over to facebook and Warrior Up.

Hello World

You may recall earlier this week when Mutt had a mini-celebration for our main mang Mr. Webb and the whole Mutt team after the Pac Ten logo became official. Today we celebrate again, as our little rebrand hits new-stands and splashes the internetz (and even Steve's iPhone) in the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Not to mention, the Pac Ten website is less than fifteen minutes away from launching. (UPDATE: IT JUST LAUNCHED, CHECK THE TWELVE PAGES OF OUR LOGO) The anticipation is killing me.

It should be clarified that Steve has never been to Michigan, let alone studied there, and it was in fact Mr. Cromer S.I. was speaking of.

It's always fun to look at the progression of a mark, from initial concepts to final product, so why don't I walk you through the journey that was Pac Ten...

So once upon a time, the Pacific Ten Conference came to Mutt with a question, "Can you make us a new logo?" And Mutt said yes, I think we have just the ticket. Pulling from a collective 80+ years in sports we set out to make the ultimate sports logo.

Sketches became vectors.

Shields became significant.

And the new Pac Ten was born. We're thrilled to have been able to work on this project and we can't wait to show you all the Pac Twelve logo...