Before I got into blogging, a lot of my leisure time was spent playing video games. With my interest in blogging beginning to wane, I wonder what is next for me. The Great American Novel? Abs of steel? Abs of note?
A friend of mine keeps threatening to buy and wear a t-shirt just for me which reads, "No one cares about your blog." I think I could accurately wear a t-shirt that reads, "Even I don't care about my blog anymore."
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Slut
I came home from work tonight ready to see what the boob tube had in store for me. After scanning my plethora of channels, I found two shows whose topics captured my interest. Of course, I could only choose one.
- Letters from the Other Side - A look at four Mexican women and their families, and ways their lives are impacted by immigration. One woman has tried to make a new life for herself and her two daughters by selling cactus products. (2005) Documentary, PBS
- Slut - A look at the meaning of the word and the intrigue and fascination associated with it. (2005) Documentary, Sundance
Monday, October 09, 2006
Her Weekend In The Georgia Mountains
My wife's girls' weekend left me home with the kids (and thankfully the mother-in-law to help) this past weekend.
She's home now and it's great to see her.
The rest of her pictures are here.
She's home now and it's great to see her.
The rest of her pictures are here.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Vote For Pippin
The Nashville Humane Association is looking for Nashville's Top Dog. The dog with the most votes will be the face of the association next year.
Me? I'm voting for Pippin. Pippin has fliers all around east Nashville. Pippin even has a myspace page. Obviously, Pippin is a social animal who cares about you.
So go here, scroll down, and vote once a day through Wednesday and show your support. I've even heard it said that Pippin has promised never to poop in your yard. Have Pippin's opponents promised the same? I don't think so.
Pippin thanks you for your vote.
Me? I'm voting for Pippin. Pippin has fliers all around east Nashville. Pippin even has a myspace page. Obviously, Pippin is a social animal who cares about you.
So go here, scroll down, and vote once a day through Wednesday and show your support. I've even heard it said that Pippin has promised never to poop in your yard. Have Pippin's opponents promised the same? I don't think so.
Pippin thanks you for your vote.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Sounds Good
Today at 1:00 P.M. on WRVU, Claire's radio show, I Like Songs has a theme. The theme? Claire says, "today's theme is music you can dance badly in your pajamas to! no really, it's totally a theme. i swear."
Sounds good to me.
Give it a listen. If you read this late, each show is archived for a week here.
Sounds good to me.
Give it a listen. If you read this late, each show is archived for a week here.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Watch Out For Slither
Josh Linkner on how he keeps his staff motivated:
We'd been enjoying a lot of success and so my team was feeling a little cocky. I said, "OK, guys, I want you to close your eyes and imagine this." And I started to describe this company that was beating our pants off. As I looked around the room I saw the color melt out of everybody's face. And I said, "If this were real, how would you feel?" ...more>>
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
You Are A Refugee
Imagine.
You are a refugee.
This is your life. (Scroll down and click "View a flash preview of the exhibit.")
Go to Centennial Park between Oct. 4 and Oct. 8 to tour the simulation of a refugee camp.
Concurrent to this is a photo exhibit inside the Parthenon ending on Oct. 7. It is titled Doctors Without Borders: Photographs From Afghanistan 1984 - 2004.
More:
Doctors group brings refugee camp exhibit here
Centennial Park will become a sea of tents as Doctors Without Borders simulates a refugee camp
Doctors Without Borders Nashville presskit
You are a refugee.
This is your life. (Scroll down and click "View a flash preview of the exhibit.")
Go to Centennial Park between Oct. 4 and Oct. 8 to tour the simulation of a refugee camp.
Concurrent to this is a photo exhibit inside the Parthenon ending on Oct. 7. It is titled Doctors Without Borders: Photographs From Afghanistan 1984 - 2004.
More:
Doctors group brings refugee camp exhibit here
Centennial Park will become a sea of tents as Doctors Without Borders simulates a refugee camp
Doctors Without Borders Nashville presskit
Monday, October 02, 2006
He Plays Guitar
A couple of days ago, we visited Granddad. Like any good Nashvillian, Granddad plays guitar. On this visit, Joshua took special interest in the guitar in the corner. He strummed it a bit and asked if he could have one of his own. His mom and I gave him the non-committal, "We'll see." Some wants don't last long as his interests move quickly onto other things.
The guitar, however, stayed high on the list. For the next day or two, everytime Joshua's mom or I left the house, we'd hear, "Are you going to buy me a guitar?" or when he'd see me with any dollars in my hand, he'd inquire, "Do you have enough money to buy me a guitar now?"
And so, his mom went shopping this morning and came home with Joshua's first guitar. The three year old was ecstatic. All morning, he's been holding and strumming and picking. He's progressing nicely even though he keeps calling the pick a pickle. He's loving his guitar and it's great to watch him walk around the apartment with it.
The girls at daycare are going to love him.
The guitar, however, stayed high on the list. For the next day or two, everytime Joshua's mom or I left the house, we'd hear, "Are you going to buy me a guitar?" or when he'd see me with any dollars in my hand, he'd inquire, "Do you have enough money to buy me a guitar now?"
And so, his mom went shopping this morning and came home with Joshua's first guitar. The three year old was ecstatic. All morning, he's been holding and strumming and picking. He's progressing nicely even though he keeps calling the pick a pickle. He's loving his guitar and it's great to watch him walk around the apartment with it.
The girls at daycare are going to love him.
Even The Pantry Reminds Me Of Blogs
Does anything in your daily life take on extra resonance because of blogging? I like my Vietti chili and now when I reach for it I think of Sista Smiff whose husband is in the Grascals.
Happy Birthday To My Mom
Here we are at October 2nd again. It's my mom's birthday and it's time for me to reflect on how much I love her. I won't focus on her age, but I will focus on mine. I'm 36 years old and for all of those years and for all of those days, she has cared for me and loved me unrelentingly.
She's known me as a good kid and she's known me as a troubled kid. She's been there for me at my happiest and she's been there for me when I couldn't see any reason for happiness. When I self-analyze, I can't help but see her influence in the best parts of who I am.
During the Great Candy Bar Shoplifting Attempt of '74, it was she who questioned me about the not purchased confection in my right hand as we exited the store. And within the minute, I was issued my scolding and was sent back to the cashier to replace what was not rightfully mine. I learned then that a life of crime would not be tolerated by my matriarch. (Of course, I seem to have no problem lying about remembering in what year this occurred, to say nothing of recalling in which hand I clutched the candy.)
I'm told (or do I remember?) that she would play "Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce on the record player when I was a toddler and she would hold me and we would dance over and over to that song. It was through her influence that I also learned at a young age to love the music of Queen and the Beatles.
It was she who signed me out of school early one day so that she could take me to the first showing of The Empire Strikes Back at the Melrose Theatre. I knew that somebody was somebody else's father hundreds of minutes before most of my friends. And if I had had the foresight to not open the absolute plethora of Star Wars toys that she bought me over the years, I'd be a much richer man today...but then I wouldn't have the memories of playing with those toys that brought me so many hours of fun.
I never really went through the teenage rebellious years - sullen, but not rebellious - because she never really gave me much to rebel against. She never had a problem with long hair, loud music, or concert tees. In fact, she once took two of my friends and me to see Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue. Some parents would have gone just to keep the kids out of trouble. My mom went mostly as a fan. Imagine my friends' reaction when they looked to the row behind us and saw my mom rocking out more than we were.
She's been through a lot in life. She's had two divorces and she recently lost the love of her life to multiple sclerosis. She's more wonderful than she knows and I wish she could see herself through my eyes, or I wish I could do a better job at showing her how I see her. Whenever I sing to my children, I think of her singing to me when I was a child. When one of my kids is hurt or sad, I know that the need I feel to protect them is exactly the same as my mom's need to protect her children.
I thank her for who she was before I came around, and I thank her for who she has been for the 36 years that I have been her son. It's love and kindness that guides her. I can ask for nothing more from the best influencer in my life.
Later in the morning, I'll call her and tell her happy birthday. I'll also tell her I love her and that I'll visit her on my next day off. Hopefully, I'll remember to buy her a card. But for now, as I finish writing this, I'll listen to Jim Croce sing "Time In A Bottle," and I'll know that life dealt me a good card when it made me her son.
Anyone want to give my mom proper birthday regards? I dedicate this post and the comments to her.
She's known me as a good kid and she's known me as a troubled kid. She's been there for me at my happiest and she's been there for me when I couldn't see any reason for happiness. When I self-analyze, I can't help but see her influence in the best parts of who I am.
During the Great Candy Bar Shoplifting Attempt of '74, it was she who questioned me about the not purchased confection in my right hand as we exited the store. And within the minute, I was issued my scolding and was sent back to the cashier to replace what was not rightfully mine. I learned then that a life of crime would not be tolerated by my matriarch. (Of course, I seem to have no problem lying about remembering in what year this occurred, to say nothing of recalling in which hand I clutched the candy.)
I'm told (or do I remember?) that she would play "Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce on the record player when I was a toddler and she would hold me and we would dance over and over to that song. It was through her influence that I also learned at a young age to love the music of Queen and the Beatles.
It was she who signed me out of school early one day so that she could take me to the first showing of The Empire Strikes Back at the Melrose Theatre. I knew that somebody was somebody else's father hundreds of minutes before most of my friends. And if I had had the foresight to not open the absolute plethora of Star Wars toys that she bought me over the years, I'd be a much richer man today...but then I wouldn't have the memories of playing with those toys that brought me so many hours of fun.
I never really went through the teenage rebellious years - sullen, but not rebellious - because she never really gave me much to rebel against. She never had a problem with long hair, loud music, or concert tees. In fact, she once took two of my friends and me to see Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue. Some parents would have gone just to keep the kids out of trouble. My mom went mostly as a fan. Imagine my friends' reaction when they looked to the row behind us and saw my mom rocking out more than we were.
She's been through a lot in life. She's had two divorces and she recently lost the love of her life to multiple sclerosis. She's more wonderful than she knows and I wish she could see herself through my eyes, or I wish I could do a better job at showing her how I see her. Whenever I sing to my children, I think of her singing to me when I was a child. When one of my kids is hurt or sad, I know that the need I feel to protect them is exactly the same as my mom's need to protect her children.
I thank her for who she was before I came around, and I thank her for who she has been for the 36 years that I have been her son. It's love and kindness that guides her. I can ask for nothing more from the best influencer in my life.
Later in the morning, I'll call her and tell her happy birthday. I'll also tell her I love her and that I'll visit her on my next day off. Hopefully, I'll remember to buy her a card. But for now, as I finish writing this, I'll listen to Jim Croce sing "Time In A Bottle," and I'll know that life dealt me a good card when it made me her son.
Anyone want to give my mom proper birthday regards? I dedicate this post and the comments to her.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
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