PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.39
1. Who has authority over you? Me, myself and I, and I wonder if those folks ever have authority either...
2. Where do you go to get a feeling of community? Old friends in Arizona, a channel on IRC, and DC bloggers.
3. What do you do, or have you done, in your life that "goes against the tide?" Last weeks newspaper story seems like a good example.
4. Guilt can be a powerful weapon. Those who have mastered its power can very good at getting what they want. Have you ever used guilt to get you what you want? Have you ever had it used on you? How did you react? Too broad a question really, people use it or have it used on them often. Luckily I grew up in an environment that wasn't really based on it, so it doesn't effect me much, I tend to respond "Tough sh1t" when people try it. I have been known to use it on occasion, but there are much better ways to get things accomplished.
5. I was walking through the mal
Posts
Busy weekend, golf Saturday morning with Hencio , Hungry Couch and Mark with definate proove that I still Suck at Golf .
Yesterday I spent the whole day helping friends move into their house. I got home completely exhausted ate dinner and went to sleep. The result is I completely sore this morning. Not just physically either. I was so tired I had forgotten we were going to have an online memorial for Reemul and now I am rather mad at myself. I know others will forgive me missing it, but me forgiving myself will be a tougher matter.
What makes me all the more mad about the issue is I was late yesterday to arrive at the move, because I was trying to help a friend deal with the loss, then at the end of the day I turn around and forget a chance to share fond memories. My friend thought that others were moving on with their lives, getting back to normal quicker than she could. It didn't bother me any we all morn and move on in proper time ( proper by our own speed and healing not
Blogcooks
Hmmm, have you noticed a lot of bloggers post recipes, maybe there is something there, like a blogger's cookbook. Have a central blog site that you post hey I have this great chicken dish you'll love and then a link to your url where you posted it. Post by category, not unlike blogcritics come to think of it, but the content remains on the bloggers site. It wouldn't be that hard to organize I think. Something to think about.
Southwestern Black Beans
I was asked for the recipe so it just makes more sense to type it once and share with all. It is based on the black bean dish in the Southwestern Grill a great little cookbook, but with a few chef influenced changes.
Two cans of black beans, well rinsed
Half an onion (red)
1 tablespoon Cumin (to taste though really)
Jalapeno pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 Chipotle pepper
salt and pepper
1 beer (lager works well, but a pale ale might be nice too)
2-3 strips of bacon (okay you got 4 use it)
Directions
In a large skillet cook the bacon well, rendering out all the grease, you want the bacon well done, but not burnt. Dice onions. Finely mince garlic and half jalapeno (also remove the seeds from the pepper, the beans will have plenty of flavor). By the time you are done with the onions and everything else your bacon should be finished. Remove the bacon for now, saute the onion, garlic, and jalapeno in the bacon grease, allow the onion to get tender, even
Words have become my passion of late. Especially the process of taking them, shaping them into new constructions from those originally available. Yet I haven't found my path it’s just an early stage of this exploration I must make finding them and how to use them.
I don't have the answers about where this will take me.
I'm abit scared, lost a friend and you look around saying what if today or tomorrow were your day, have you said everything you need you say? Have you found your way, I have known this path was my way for a while, but as buddy Fred says "Even the bravest of us rarely has the courage for what he really knows ..." While I have enough time to say I want, learn all I want, I don't know, but I have got to try.
So I am off on a quest to find the passion and voice, not really sure where it will take me much less how I'll pay the way, just knowing that if I want to live, to truly be alive, I have no choice this is the path I need to take
Poetry Wednesday
Death is a dialogue between
The spirit and the dust.
“Dissolve,” says Death. The Spirit, “Sir,
I have another trust.”
Death doubts it, argues from the ground.
The Spirit turns away,
Just laying off, for evidence,
An overcoat of clay. - Emily Dickinson ( found at Bartleby , where else? )
How old are those exactly?
In my office there is a file cabinet, the top drawer sticks so I never use any more I ignore it. I can't tell you the last time it was open. So as I was about to go to lunch I got curious, " What exactly did I have in there? " After five minutes of prying and fighting I finally got it open to reveal the following treasures.
Company Policies and Proceedures Manual (dated 9/1/98) - I checked on the network the newest edition is dated 1/1/99, but has been edited as recently as June.
Division Fax Cover Sheet - Under old division name, we haven't used that name since 12/00.
One box of cookies (sell by date 4/1/01) - They looked fine we may use them at a meeting this week. No I am serious, they were sealed in plastic.
3 cans Coke
2 cans Ginger Ale
One box of business cards - Old title I haven't used since 12/00.
One Xmas coffee mug - Given to us in 2000 Holidays, I think.
Half a container of chocolate covered coffee beans - An
Last week's Friday Five was about friends, so while late I'll give it a spin, I just never seem to be able to pull up the site lately, not sure why it doesn't matter location either, very odd.
1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people? I used to be better but I do a decent job.
2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why? I prefer in person, but email, blogs, and IM are good for keeping in touch. Sometimes you just need to speak to people in person. I am horrid at snailmail.
3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it? I have trillian and run it constantly, about the only time I don't run it is if I really am under the gun and then I leave it off. It is currently set to use AIM, ICQ, and Yahoo messengers.
4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away? Far away, too far, working on fixi
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.38
1. Do you like to drink warm beverages in the morning or do you prefer yours cold? Coffee! No matter the time of year, nor the weather outside, even in Phoenix in the summer time the day starts with coffee. Period.
2. Have you ever been so upset with someone that you wanted to get revenge? What did you do? Or if you didn't, what would you like to have done? Yes, I did and I did get revenge. I ain't telling.
3. Sometimes I can look back at my past and see so many things that I was too naive to take advantage of. A time where I could have moved ahead in my career if only I'd chosen to move, the High School girlfriend who said she would do anything if I just asked, and so on. Looking back, are there any opportunities you missed out on that you can see now but didn't realize then? Alot but at the same time, it was the person I was then, your choices decide your path, you wouldn't be who you are today with out them, no point
Flagstaff always amazes me in the little things, I am flipping through their Sunday job ads, yes I know that isn't the way to find a good job but humor me, and I find the following:
ASTRONOMER is wanted for a one year position to operate a telescope at the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. The work is done mostly at night. Because you know daytime it's really hard to see the stars, well except one big one.
More seriously, I still think it's cool that they have active Astronomers in the area, that the light pollution hasn't stopped their work. It is approaching as you can see the city lights from Phoenix as far north as Verde Valley, but it's great to think that they have ads like that in the paper. Funny thing is I bet they get 10-20 applications from locals, it's just that kind of town, now only if they could turn all those science smarts into jobs, then it would be a happening town! If you are interested in light pollution you may want to check out
Last night was Blogarama 2 a lot more intimate a crowd than the first one meaning you could breath, but not as many bloggers showed up. It was fun and lifted my spirits and after the news yesterday it did me some good I think. Other than that it has been a busy day get a newsletter out and nothing else interesting to report. I have bearly had the chance to read news sites and maybe a blog here and there.
Fire And Rain
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
We
Poetry Wednesday
Not really all that surprising to those who know me, I picked this selection from one of Warren Zevon's song lyrics. I picked this particular song to both to him and my friends who are fight sicknesses in their lives. It's a tough thing to find a happy Zevon song they are like honest politicians, tough to find, but this one reflects a sentiment that I have had in my heart alot this year.
Don't Let Us Get Sick
Don't let us get sick
Don't let us get old
Don't let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
The sky was on fire
When I walked to the mill
To take up the slack in the line
I thought of my friends
And the troubles they've had
To keep me from thinking of mine
Don't let us get sick
Don't let us get old
Don't let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
The mo
Blogrolling
As I sit here at lunch I updated my blogroll, the main reason I mention it is to point traffic to those good folks.
Robert Gregory a friend of mine from Arizona, good to see reenforcements out there as bloggers have been dropping off the map out there.
Zeli who I learned of due to the Blogathon, if you like Elijah Wood, Hobbits, or just cool Brits check her out.
Correction : While I noted Elijah, Zel informs me it's Tobey Maguire she is really hot for...just so there is no confusion.
I also realized though I read Crookdimwit fairly regularly, I some how had missed adding him, the oversight has been fixed. I also added mighty Asian Viking Girl !
Da Rapmaster a lawyer and a blogger, who would have thought it possible.
Cool folks one and all go check them out.
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.37
1. Do you have a favorite piece of poetry or prose written by someone else? Care to share it? I do that every Wednesday, but last Wednesday's poem I really did like, nothing like a bit of Walt Whitman from time to time.
2. In High School, did you enjoy creative writing? Do you currently do any other writing in addition to your Blog? High school I really didn't do much writing, these days I do alot more in fact I probably write 2-3 times a week outside of my blog. It's not everyday, but it is getting there.
3. Have you ever noticed that the Blog entries you least expect to get the most comments do, and those you expect to generate a lot of feedback don't? Which Blog entry of yours surprised you by getting a lot of comments? Which one did you think would generate a lot but didn't? Yes, it happens all the time, a recent example is the media free September 11th image I posted, from Promoguy, I didn't expect it to start
Good Weekend
Fun weekend between Fray DC 6 back to my weekend docenting and general running around. In fact Fray Day 6, DC was a blast. Tom Cheng dragged me into the front row, where I quickly asserted myself as the group smartass for the night. I was a bit nervous because I had not practiced what I was going to do and then in the middle of Kelowna story she inspired me to do something completely different than I had thought about before and it worked out well.
Don demostrated his singing skills and let's just say that if James Taylor ever decides to give up music one day, we could put Ratbastard in as a replacement. Any difference people would notice would be seen as an improvement.
Missy has pictures from the night and highlights Eric's story. Since the whole thing was recorded, I'll have a link once it gets posted online. I am a bit disappointed Missy didn't include the picture of the ceiling in her collection. ;-)
After Fray we hunted the elusive pa
Imagine you are a school district in Arizona a state where there is a budget short fall, especially in education matters. So you careful examine all expenses and trying to focus on the students helping them prepare for the future. Perhaps work to help the teachers at the schools have the tools they need and resources to better educate themselves?
Nope, let's spend that money to close a sex shop . Great use of funds Deer Valley School District. An outstanding show of leadership when you are done if closing the shop if you have any money left you might consider putting it into teaching children. Just a thought.
Friday Five :
1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why? History hands down. Maybe because it told stories of the human condition, all though I wouldn't have understood it in such fancy terms at the time.
2. Who was your favorite teacher? Why? It's tough for me to say because I went to so many different schools in different town for any one to stick out. Probably my political science professors in college there were three that really challenged me and I learned the most.
3. What is your favorite memory of school? In high school there was a student who won a scholarship from Milky Way candy bars, on top of three or four others that we knew of, at the same time we knew the guy was a jerk and a cheat and we didn't want to be associated with him or the matter in any fashion. The school held an award ceremony for him in the auditorium one day and my friends and I managed to get our hands on a number of newspapers before the ceremony. We then found our way to the
The worst words I hate to read from a fellow blogger is I am taking a break, yet I understand this is a habit and a dangerous one if you do it with alot of heart and honesty. The advantage and disadvantage of a blog is that there is no editor to correct your statements or your writing, as is obvious nearly everday here at Bear Droppings because I am the first to admit I make typos, grammatical, and spelling errors. But to not have an editor and expressing ones self also means you can inadvertental hurt someone, especially if you care about them. Because this is a stream of consciousness medium, while it can show cutting insight to a person that razor is double-edged and can do damage just as easily. It's true in my own case where I have friends going through medical treatments, I think about them everyday and I often ponder blogging about it. But what to say? How to approach this issue a properly delicate matter and the truth is I know they stop by here on occasion so anything I wo
How we face death is said to reflect our nature, so what did Warren Zevon say to the press when he discovered he had terminal lung cancer?
" I'm OK with it, but it'll be a drag if I don't make it till the next James Bond movie comes out. "
The news still sucks but at least he has his sense of humor.
He is one of my favorite musicians, as Scully who oft gives me grief over the fact, and his recent album My Ride's Here is one of his best albums ever. I am sure that critics and fans will note that maybe he had a feeling the end was near because of the last two songs on the album entitled I Have to Leave and My Ride's Here . As I listened the first few times I wondered, does he have a medical problem or is it just his typically morbid humor.
I wrote a review of My Ride's Here in May and rereading it 3 months later I would say my opinions have stayed about the same, but Sacrifical Lambs and Basketcase have grown on me over the last few mont
Train to New York...
I took the train up to New York for the Blogathon a few months ago, it was the first time I had been in New York in a year and half. I knew better than to try to get a look for the WTC, I knew it was gone and looking an object that wasn't there, just seemed, I dunno silly. At the same time right before we crossed under the river half the people in my train car rushed over to the South side of the car to see if they could see where they used to be. It seemed like alot of folks were not sure where to look into the first place. The New Yorkers just looked up in an odd bemused expression and went back to what they were doing. Not out of spite mind you, but I think they thought it silly that people would looked for the towers and perhaps pleased that they tried.
Poetry Wednesday
I decided against an obvious September 11th poem, more of an examination of poetry and life from the master Walt Whitman. Please enjoy.
As I Ponder’d in Silence
As I ponder’d in silence,
Returning upon my poems, considering, lingering long,
A Phantom arose before me, with distrustful aspect,
Terrible in beauty, age, and power,
The genius of poets of old lands,
As to me directing like flame its eyes,
With finger pointing to many immortal songs,
And menacing voice, What singest thou? it said;
Know’st thou not, there is but one theme for ever-enduring bards?
And that is the theme of War, the fortune of battles,
The making of perfect soldiers?
Be it so , then I answer’d,
I too, haughty Shade, also sing war—and a longer and greater one than any,
Waged in my book with varying fortune—with flight, advance, and retreat—Victory deferr’d and wavering,
(Yet, methinks, certain, or as good as certain, at
Like alot of good little bloggers I read Lilek's writings pretty regularly, I don't point to him nor list him on my bookmarks because everyone else does and I hear when he writes something good, which is nearly everyday.
Today's is particularly poignant , go read it if you only read one bloggers account of September 11th and the last year make it this one.
Comics
Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows I love the comics, I read them nearly daily and they are my favorite part of the paper. That is why I enjoyed this post Why Peanuts kicks Garfield 's Sad Furry Ass which discusses the obvious. As a kid I really liked Garfield, especially his early material around books two and three, I really think he hit the best work the strip did. Since then, it really has never been originial or as fresh, heck Garfield was actually fat back in those cartoons . Yes Peanuts is annoying in their 'golly, gee whiz'ness Schultz really did provide more character depth. Garfield just seems to get more and more shallow as time develops.
Maybe I am just bitter that Liberty Meadows, Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side are gone...
Week One Wrap Up...
I know one week a season does not make and especially in fantasy football, but I can't help but be happy with the results of week one. Both leagues had big victories! Interesting thing is the league with more players had higher average point totals, though there are few players available to each coach. Things continue like this and maybe I'll have to move on to coach the big leagues okay not really, but it sounds good .
Just a friendly reminder to folks, Saturday is Fray day . Fray is a site about telling personal stories and Fray day is a live version of the idea. Herr Ratbastard ( aka Don ) is one of the organizers of the event locally. I know I'll be dropping by and probably even get up on stage for a few minutes. I still need to work out what I will do though...luckily I still have a few days. I have not been on stage since college, but it looks like a lot of fun! I even hear there will be a bit o' music. So if you are in the DC area stop by hear a few stories and if your feeling bold tell one of your own.
Monday Mission 2.36 via PromoGuy dot net
1. Where were you and what was happening in your life the moment when you first became aware of what was happening at the World Trade Center in New York City last September 11th? What was the first thing you did when you heard the news? I was at the office and someone mentioned it and I went down to a conference room with a television to watch the headline portion and then I went back to my desk to search the web for more detailed information.
2. When those truly responsible for the attack are apprehended, what do you think would be the most fitting form of justice? Justice, funny term considering that we don't have a justice system, we have a legal system, I doubt any real justice can be achieved.
3. This will probably be much like when our parents respond to "Where were you when JFK was shot?"- an event never forgotten by those who were there. But how do you think the history books should present the 9-11 attacks? Shoul
Access Denied
9:00am - Our office got a message Friday afternoon from the MIS director saying that he would be doing work on the server at our office over the weekend. Immediately I sensed to quote Lucas " I feel a disturbance in the force ". As par my expectations, I came in this morning and while the computer starts well and fine, it is not connected to the internet, no email, no IM, no web pages, and no blogs. It's not that I blame the guy, I am sure he intended well by whatever he did over the weekend, but since it was Micro$oft any time you do an ungrade it screws up your computers and I was mentally prepared for it.
Luckily since I can't access my work I do have a few other things to keep me busy like editing a cover letter for a job. Unethical perhaps, but people are already having conversations in the hall in liu of work that can not be done. Funny thing was the work was just supposed to be done on the email server, which I thought was different than our
Arizona Blogging
You know what thought keeps me awake late at night, no not really but just play along , by the time I make it to Arizona I will be on the only blogger out there. First Desert Pundit goes silent and now Zonitics .
Then again maybe their computers just melted like at Uncommon Sense ...it is a bit warm out there at this time of year.
Watch out for your computer Gail !
Football
Football started up again last night and in a pretty good match up of San Francisco and NY Giants it was a better game than I had expected. Not that I am a fan of either teams, but it was still fun to see a game go down to the wire.
The biggest reason though I am pleased about the return of the season, besides cheering the Browns, is fantasy football. I started playing 4-5 years ago mostly as an excuse to network and get to know some coworkers, because while a Browns fan I otherwise hadn't really followed it. After a year or two I became I admit addicted to playing, normally I am in 3 different leagues from free to money, web and head to head. I still haven't gotten great at it, but I enjoy it far more than I had first suspected.
This season the Draft Gods were incredibly kind to me and I had first pick in both drafts, which means I have Marshall Faulk on both teams, this also means I fully expect him to have a season ending injury around week two. Otherwise,
Morning Campers
That's right I am up and struggling to be awake, you know why the call it 0h-5:30, because oh God it's early.
Helping out at my roommate's conference for the day so blogging will be light ( read non-existant )
Poetry Wednesday
In honor of the early wake up a salute to coffee, now off to get some...
Caffeine is my shepherd;
I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures;
it leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz;
it leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no EQUAL(TM), for thou art with me;
thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of Juan Valdez;
thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life; and
I shall dwell in the house of Maxwell Trader Joe's ( Editorial change
Back in the Saddle Again...
Long weekend and I accomplished....hmmm nothing. Mind you I caught up on some valuable missing sleep, a bit of packing, and even picked out some clothes to give to give to charity. Anyone suggest a good one locally? Otherwise I am just catching up on work around the office, exciting no?
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.35
1. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you on a date? And then I am going to share it with 10 million people across the web, okay really only the 5 that read this blog, but still nope, you'll get nothing from me.
2. Do you eat your veggies? Yup I love them, always have, fruit has been the thing I generally don't eat, though I do eat a bit more than when I was younger.
3. Most people are comfortable going to the bathroom in front of at least one person. Has anyone ever used the restroom in front of you that you wish wouldn't have? What happened and how bad was it? I was flying cross-country a couple of years ago and it had been a delayed and then bumpy take off because of local thunderstorms. I was seating in the last row of the plane next to this Russian guy, at some point he lost control of his bladder, the smell was horrid and there was no way to change seats because the plane was completely full
Germany in DC
Every Spring my University send a few students over to Germany for language courses, I went about 10 years ago. There was an old student joke about the semster that went "The warmest Winter I ever spent was a summer in Tuebingen". Waking up in DC this morning reminded me of it immediately the humidity, cloud cover and cool tempatures are exactly what I remember, not that every day was like that, but certainly enough that the joke remained throughout the generations of students. It makes me want to take a karafe of coffee, some brotchen, and perhaps a bit of meat and cheese out to the deck and sit out and enjoy the morning. Sadly, the cupboard is bear of most of those things, time to do shopping I suppose. Enjoy the last day of the long weekend.