Marian Built

03/06/2024

I hope we see some new and familiar faces this Friday and Saturday for the Grand Re-Opening of !!! We’ve cleaned up this Seattle Hardscape staple, and we’re excited to show her off.

Lite bites and refreshments from our friends at 🍩 🍪 and a party Friday afternoon 🍕

Check out our beautiful raffle prize from - (1) beautiful Freyr Trellis 🥕

And we’ll have a live demo from , Saturday 3/9 at 11AM. Oh and don’t forget to check out our new signs from 💚

02/03/2024

I got to spend a week, up in the hills of Marin County, meditating and learning more about the four fundamentals of mindfulness. No phone, no reading, no journaling and no talking.

Again, I share these things because I wish I had done this a long time ago, but it’s never too late. There’s nothing special about me, except my wife who encouraged me to go, and took care of the kids while I was gone. And my amazing team at work.

I cannot begin to describe how transformative this was for me. The effect of calming and clearing the mind was something I didn’t even know how much I needed. When I was 14, school was tough. ADD, Dyslexia, whatever they could use to label me unfit for this world. I told my mom, school is not for me, I need to go to Nepal and be a Buddhist monk. She told me I was crazy, but I felt strongly about it. Of course, that didn’t happen. So I stayed, got kicked out of that high school, dropped out of college, etc.

Fast forward to now, I’ve made my disabilities work for me, indifferent ways. And I finally got to meditate in a temple with Buddhist teachers. Three days in, I go to write one of the teachers a thank you note for her speech. It was the first time in my adult life I didn’t cross out any words, I didn’t write any words backwards, and my dyslexia had vanished. I’m not saying it’s the cure, or even that I’m cured. I’m saying that I had a strong feeling at a young age of something I needed to help me with something I have struggled with my entire life. And because of societal condtitioning, it took me 30 years to get here.

I’ve calmed my mind like never before. Learned things about myself. Remembered things I thought I forgot. And gained a deeper understanding of who I am.

(Continued in comments, sorry)

09/29/2023

I need a show of hands. After last night’s Historic Seattle event I am inspired. We still own the Tug Boat Sally S. Due to Washington State’s derelict boat law, I cannot give her away. I cannot find anyone willing to put the work into her to take her either. So…. Whatya say we start a non-profit, raise the funds to keep her afloat and insured, and donate nights/stays on her to charity. School auctions, fundraisers, and most importantly connect people who don’t otherwise have means to spend a couple nights on the water. We keep a part of Seattle’s History going, connect people to the water, and a big scoff at the city, who have dictated that you cannot short term rent any waterfront entity. So fudge it, can’t rent it, we’ll give it away. I’ll throw some fundraisers, big parties… could be a blast. The non-profit will exist only to upkeep the boat and operate cleaning costs. No one on salary, no other obligations. Who’s in?

05/10/2023

Big Mike’s is currently hiring drivers! CDL A and B positions available. Some machinery experience would be helpful. Come grow with us! Shoot me DM for details. Thanks!

11/18/2022

Ian’s last day at Marian Built. Well, for a while at least. Ian saved my life. I don’t think he knew it at the time, but he did. He started working for me in 2019. Took thd lead on our work at Tumble Creek Great House and Labor Temple, not to mention dozens of other projects. He has been a loyal soldier through a battle of pandemic, business shifts, my personal growth and projects etc. I cannot thank him enough for helping me through all of it. As employers, our employees don’t owe us anything. All we can do is create a good work environment, value our employees, and take the best care of them we can while they’re here. Ian has consistently gone above and beyond for me. I hope I did a good job of conveying my gratitude. He’s moving on to a bigger company as I continue to shift into my other ventures. It was the right time for both of us. And I could not have been more enthusiastic in my recomendation to his next employer. I wish him the best. He’s always got a spot with me if he wants to get crazy. I cooked the best carnitas I could, and sent him off with a full belly and a couple Modelos. Thanks Ian! We will see you soon.

07/20/2022

Keeping things moving on this sunny hump day ➡️➡️➡️ Meanwhile our neighbors are making dreams come ✌🏽

06/27/2022

06/24/2022

When my friends ask me for deck recommendations: “yeah, you should totally get composite decking, Trex has come a long way, maintenance free!”

Then in real life for myself “yeah, let’s custom mill 2x8, back kerf every board, spend hundreds of hours on scrubbing, sanding and finishing just to see this”

05/20/2022

Gotta make the time wherever you can. It’s always nice bonus when your temporary office has a view like this though 🙌🏽

04/20/2022

These screens will get painted gold. But they look really cool now too! Again, Labor Temple

04/12/2022

Luis showing the new guy around the shop

03/23/2022

Going old school today