March 05, 2006
Hey Dad
All these years I figured the only person who shared your name was a basketball player for the Celtics. Who knew?
March 04, 2006
Hot Basil Redux
For some reason my blog is getting search hits from people looking for info on the new restaurant Hot Basil, on New Park in West Hartford. (hi people....)
If that's why you are here, here's a hot link to my posting.
Oh, and mea culpa, the cleaners next door is still pretty crappy inside; the green paint fooled me from outside, but they do seem to be working on it....maybe in time it will come along. Zippy and I spend an unpleasant couple of hours there washing quilts....
If that's why you are here, here's a hot link to my posting.
Oh, and mea culpa, the cleaners next door is still pretty crappy inside; the green paint fooled me from outside, but they do seem to be working on it....maybe in time it will come along. Zippy and I spend an unpleasant couple of hours there washing quilts....
Super Size Me
Just finished watching the movie (courtesy of Netflix). I did have a bunch of minor technical complaints. First off, he kept throwing down (mostly) double quarter pounder with cheese sammiches. I mean, come on, you can eat slightly less toxic fat laden things at McD's. Same thing with breakfast - if you try you can eat slightly less fat laden things than a big breakfast with hotcakes. So it seemed (to me) that he was a wee bit over the top in terms of injesting crap.
For the record, I worked at McD's for a long time (1976 - 1982 or threabouts). I to this day have dreams about working an occasional shift (and forgetting to pickup my paycheck). We used to joke that the grease gets in your veins and you become an addict for life. I do think the sensory overload of dipping my hands into the condiments at the "dress" station (before the days of gloves) sort of imprinted on my brain.
I will say that I worked my rear end off at McD's - definitely developed a positive work ethic.
Anyway - great film - and definitely tipping the balance for me in terms of avoiding fast food*. So a good watch!
* Wendy's is not so bad if you stick to chili (high fiber), salad, and an occasional potato. Let's not talk about Taco Bell
For the record, I worked at McD's for a long time (1976 - 1982 or threabouts). I to this day have dreams about working an occasional shift (and forgetting to pickup my paycheck). We used to joke that the grease gets in your veins and you become an addict for life. I do think the sensory overload of dipping my hands into the condiments at the "dress" station (before the days of gloves) sort of imprinted on my brain.
I will say that I worked my rear end off at McD's - definitely developed a positive work ethic.
Anyway - great film - and definitely tipping the balance for me in terms of avoiding fast food*. So a good watch!
* Wendy's is not so bad if you stick to chili (high fiber), salad, and an occasional potato. Let's not talk about Taco Bell
Weight Watchers: Week 1
3 Pounds Lighter.
Not a particularly stellar weight loss for the first week of weight watchers, but the week held challenges - I had a cold earielr in the week and there was a snowsotrm (less exercise) and I ended up eating out a lot - Corner Pug (Wed dinner), Rainforest Cafe (Fri Lunch), and Texas Roadhouse (Fri Dinner).
Not a particularly stellar weight loss for the first week of weight watchers, but the week held challenges - I had a cold earielr in the week and there was a snowsotrm (less exercise) and I ended up eating out a lot - Corner Pug (Wed dinner), Rainforest Cafe (Fri Lunch), and Texas Roadhouse (Fri Dinner).
March 03, 2006
Springsteen on PBS
Whoa.....flipped through the channels just now and I came across Springsteen circa 1975 at the Hammersmith Odeon, London.
I first saw the Boss in 1977-78 (guessing) - Darkness on the Edge of Town tour, Boston Garden. We were on the floor but way back.
Happy flashback night.
I first saw the Boss in 1977-78 (guessing) - Darkness on the Edge of Town tour, Boston Garden. We were on the floor but way back.
Happy flashback night.
March 02, 2006
Birthday Blahs
Not that I am particularly upset about my reasonably proximate birthday (it is not a super major decade-ish anniversary, but its meaningful nevertheless). But mom thinks its a biggie, so I am asked what I want. We want to get you something nice (says she).
I am thinking of a bouzouki. I've played guitar for years but it's sort of lost its charm - I'm not much of a singer, do not have the time / patience / desire to become a guitar wizard, and the world is full of bad singer-songwriter wanna-be's. But I was charmed by a bouzouki at a celtic concert earlier this year, and thought it would be fun to learn to play and be slightly more exotic than a beat up Ibanez six-string that I bought new but seems to have become an antique whilst in my possession. Who knew?
Anyway, I found an inexpensive short neck one on ebay. I'm thinking of springing for it and getting my family to chip in (if they want).
What's interesting is that after decades of not really knowing what I want or choosing things I think I should get (or practical things, like for the house), I have come to a place in life where I can be smitten with something (an activity, a thing, a person, a concept) and actually want it openly. It feels positive, like I finally feel as if I deserve good things.
Oh, and for those keeping score at home: Pisces.
I am thinking of a bouzouki. I've played guitar for years but it's sort of lost its charm - I'm not much of a singer, do not have the time / patience / desire to become a guitar wizard, and the world is full of bad singer-songwriter wanna-be's. But I was charmed by a bouzouki at a celtic concert earlier this year, and thought it would be fun to learn to play and be slightly more exotic than a beat up Ibanez six-string that I bought new but seems to have become an antique whilst in my possession. Who knew?
Anyway, I found an inexpensive short neck one on ebay. I'm thinking of springing for it and getting my family to chip in (if they want).
What's interesting is that after decades of not really knowing what I want or choosing things I think I should get (or practical things, like for the house), I have come to a place in life where I can be smitten with something (an activity, a thing, a person, a concept) and actually want it openly. It feels positive, like I finally feel as if I deserve good things.
Oh, and for those keeping score at home: Pisces.
Catching Up
Snowing here - I had a 10 am appointment (dry) and when I emerged at 11 am the grounds were covered, roads were slick, and it was coming down pretty hard. Still is. No Jazzercise ::pout::
I blew off the Philly conference cause I am just a wee bit too backed up on stuff - cranked out a bunch of reports today and am set up to get some good stuff done tomorrow. I really should go to the office, fetch a couple of faxes, and do some work at home tonight. Might do that after dinner. Pity about the conference, I wanted to see / spend some time with my bud MB, and I meet some other distant correspondants.
Rants: I'm waiting for two largish checks. One is about 75 days out and is pretty large, I poked the client this morning and its been in her Admin Asst's in box for a few months. Grr....might be another two weeks. As long as it gets here by the end of March so I can stuff my 2005 401(K). The second is an EFT transfer promised on 2/27 and so far MIA; I called the client, ended up in India, and was told it had gone out today. Couple of hours later I get a call back from India, apparently the name on the account bounced. So I gave it to them again (MY NAME dba MY BUSINESS) which was slow work what with the ESL issues. I followed up with an email. We'll see.
I blew off the Philly conference cause I am just a wee bit too backed up on stuff - cranked out a bunch of reports today and am set up to get some good stuff done tomorrow. I really should go to the office, fetch a couple of faxes, and do some work at home tonight. Might do that after dinner. Pity about the conference, I wanted to see / spend some time with my bud MB, and I meet some other distant correspondants.
Rants: I'm waiting for two largish checks. One is about 75 days out and is pretty large, I poked the client this morning and its been in her Admin Asst's in box for a few months. Grr....might be another two weeks. As long as it gets here by the end of March so I can stuff my 2005 401(K). The second is an EFT transfer promised on 2/27 and so far MIA; I called the client, ended up in India, and was told it had gone out today. Couple of hours later I get a call back from India, apparently the name on the account bounced. So I gave it to them again (MY NAME dba MY BUSINESS) which was slow work what with the ESL issues. I followed up with an email. We'll see.
One Point Wonders
Things that add up to 1 point at Weight Watchers:
Light English Muffins - 5G Fiber / 90 Calories / 0 Fat
Joseph's Oat Bran and Whole Wheat Pita's - 5G Fiber / 60 Calories / 1.5G Fat
Something bread-y for a single point? I am so there!
Stoneyfield Farms 4 oz yogurts - 2G Fiber / 80 Calories / 0G Fat
All natural and yummy too!
Sargento Light String Cheese - 0G Fiber / 50 Calories / 2.5G Fat
Mmmmmm! Cheesy snackage!
Light English Muffins - 5G Fiber / 90 Calories / 0 Fat
Joseph's Oat Bran and Whole Wheat Pita's - 5G Fiber / 60 Calories / 1.5G Fat
Something bread-y for a single point? I am so there!
Stoneyfield Farms 4 oz yogurts - 2G Fiber / 80 Calories / 0G Fat
All natural and yummy too!
Sargento Light String Cheese - 0G Fiber / 50 Calories / 2.5G Fat
Mmmmmm! Cheesy snackage!
March 01, 2006
Behind on Stuff
I dunno how, but I dug me a hole at work. My monthly invoicing is usually a slam dunk on the first of the month but its rolling into the second this month. And I have a couple of reports, some web site changes, and finishing up some long term projects all backlogged. Annoying.... I'll probably crank a lot out tomorrow.
Dinner tonight with a friend from OH (Corner Pug - Yum, although the experience will be tempered somewhat by a WW inspired counting of points).
Still waiting for the direct deposit payment to show up. Whine whine.
Dinner tonight with a friend from OH (Corner Pug - Yum, although the experience will be tempered somewhat by a WW inspired counting of points).
Still waiting for the direct deposit payment to show up. Whine whine.
Chim Chim Cheree
Waiting for the chimney sweep. We're getting ours cleaned (Zippy has been fretting about it for, oh, 2 or 3 years now. We only have a couple of fires per year. But this is one of the long term projects that are getting done this season.
Anyway, I have a 1 pm appointment, and its not almost 2 pm. Grumble.
At 2 pm, I call the place to see whats up. This is attempt #2, #1 fell through since they had scheduled a quote (not a cleaning) and they don't do quotes for chimneys. AND SO YOU SCHEDULED IT WHY?
Oh well. C'est la vie with the building trades. It's a sellers market.
Anyway, I have a 1 pm appointment, and its not almost 2 pm. Grumble.
At 2 pm, I call the place to see whats up. This is attempt #2, #1 fell through since they had scheduled a quote (not a cleaning) and they don't do quotes for chimneys. AND SO YOU SCHEDULED IT WHY?
Oh well. C'est la vie with the building trades. It's a sellers market.
Tracey in Casey (Antarctica)
No particular reason - someone jumped from her blog over here (and probably jumped right back, since her blog / life rocks adn mine is rather pedestrian) and I followed the link back via Sitemeter....
Damn, she looks like she is having an adventure! Great pictures too!
Damn, she looks like she is having an adventure! Great pictures too!
Ash Wednesday
Hey, it's Ash Wednesday (or alternately)
Having stood on a Catholic altar more than a few times in my life, the appropriate verbiage for today is imprinted on my brain "Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return" - usually mumbled incoherently but once in a while you get a priest with crisp diction and a certain drag queen attitude who says it like he means it.
I always like Ash Wednesday, conceptually. Kind of like Gay Pride day for catholics, who were out of the closet for one day - and it provided an opportunity to consider one's mortality.
But in truth, its sort of a nihilist sentiment. You came from dust, you return to dust. Nothing matters. Do whatever you want. I know the official catholic teaching deals with issues of soul and eternity but it all seems rather disjointed.
I much prefer the concept that I am a creature energy and light, and that my body is a garment I wear for some years. My body may return to dust, but I return to the light.
Maybe we should smear glitter on our foreheads and say "Remember that you are a creature of divine light and beauty, and you will return to the source of light and beauty when you shed your garment of flesh and dust"
Oh, and scientifically, since our bodies are more than 50% water, maybe it would be more accurate to use holy water instead of ashes. "Remember, man, that you are water, and unto water you shall return"
I'm going to hell. Sorry mom.
Having stood on a Catholic altar more than a few times in my life, the appropriate verbiage for today is imprinted on my brain "Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return" - usually mumbled incoherently but once in a while you get a priest with crisp diction and a certain drag queen attitude who says it like he means it.
I always like Ash Wednesday, conceptually. Kind of like Gay Pride day for catholics, who were out of the closet for one day - and it provided an opportunity to consider one's mortality.
But in truth, its sort of a nihilist sentiment. You came from dust, you return to dust. Nothing matters. Do whatever you want. I know the official catholic teaching deals with issues of soul and eternity but it all seems rather disjointed.
I much prefer the concept that I am a creature energy and light, and that my body is a garment I wear for some years. My body may return to dust, but I return to the light.
Maybe we should smear glitter on our foreheads and say "Remember that you are a creature of divine light and beauty, and you will return to the source of light and beauty when you shed your garment of flesh and dust"
Oh, and scientifically, since our bodies are more than 50% water, maybe it would be more accurate to use holy water instead of ashes. "Remember, man, that you are water, and unto water you shall return"
I'm going to hell. Sorry mom.
Rant and Rave
Rave: Eudora, the email program and specifically its spam filter. I've been a Eudora fan for eons, since I got my second email account and realized Outlook Express could, at the time, only handle one and the fact that I am off-the-grid in terms of Microsoft Outlook is both a sort of snotty geek pride and self preservation in virulent and wormish times. But the spam filter - transparent, easy to use, effective. Rah!
Rant: One of my clients is migrating to direct deposit. Monday morning I arrived to work to find a fax saying "a deposit is being made" as of Monday 2/27 but no sign of said deposit so far. I am sure this will be a good thing long term but I am nervous of some snafu or complication. Gar. I am much more reassured by a piece of paper with a clear plastic window and a PAY TO THE ORDER OF inscribed somewhere therein.
Rant: One of my clients is migrating to direct deposit. Monday morning I arrived to work to find a fax saying "a deposit is being made" as of Monday 2/27 but no sign of said deposit so far. I am sure this will be a good thing long term but I am nervous of some snafu or complication. Gar. I am much more reassured by a piece of paper with a clear plastic window and a PAY TO THE ORDER OF inscribed somewhere therein.
February 28, 2006
Targeted Blog Marketing
Yesterday, on a blog comment with a link to this one, I made a comment that included the sentence "Do we get hats or suitably logo'd polo shirts?"
Today, I get SPAM to the email address I use for this blog from the Queensboro Shirt Company with a special $9.95 embroidered company shirts. Mind you, this is a fairly new email account to which I have never gotten SPAM.
Coincidence? Or has targeted search marketing gotten that good?
Today, I get SPAM to the email address I use for this blog from the Queensboro Shirt Company with a special $9.95 embroidered company shirts. Mind you, this is a fairly new email account to which I have never gotten SPAM.
Coincidence? Or has targeted search marketing gotten that good?
Hollaback NYC
Because creepy, threatening, and harassing folks (mostly guys) should have their pictures taken and posted on the internet. Yo, baby....
Emergence
Slowly coming back to life after a minor bout of illness (sniffly and sneezy cold)
Yesterday was pretty mellow - work, a doctors appointment, yoga, work. A friend dropped by the office (she was in the area and had to use the facilities) and she liked the vibe (light / layout / windows / location) of the new office. She also liked my hair, which she said reminded her of the Flying Tomato aka Shawn White. Not sure what to make of that; my hair care routing that day had involved: shower, spritzy conditioning product, comb it back wet, go to yoga, avoid brushes. He does have great hair. Also a gold medal. I love that snowboarding has become an olympic sport - shake up the staus quo. Not enough to actually watch the olympics, mind you, I had to google FLYING TOMATO to figure out who she was talking about.
I skipped jazzercise, figured I'd stay at 1/2 speed for a few more days. Maximum one exercisish thing per day.
End of the month, so I have a rash of things to do - mentoring status report, end of the month invoicing, dry-erase February and put together an April calendar, some checks to write out.
I have to put together a note for a long-time client; my pricing to them is based on high volume and standardized reports, and the nature of the work has changed (lower volume, more customized reports) so I need to both (a) up the time per report and (b) start to charge them a retainer or bump them up to my regular rates. I'm thinking of putting a small (say 4 hours per month) retainer surcharge when their volume does not exceed 16 hours per month. Cause I spend a lot of time hand-holding and on the phone, and the like which I am not getting paid for, and which is not really cost-effective for 8-10 hours of work per month.
Yesterday was pretty mellow - work, a doctors appointment, yoga, work. A friend dropped by the office (she was in the area and had to use the facilities) and she liked the vibe (light / layout / windows / location) of the new office. She also liked my hair, which she said reminded her of the Flying Tomato aka Shawn White. Not sure what to make of that; my hair care routing that day had involved: shower, spritzy conditioning product, comb it back wet, go to yoga, avoid brushes. He does have great hair. Also a gold medal. I love that snowboarding has become an olympic sport - shake up the staus quo. Not enough to actually watch the olympics, mind you, I had to google FLYING TOMATO to figure out who she was talking about.
I skipped jazzercise, figured I'd stay at 1/2 speed for a few more days. Maximum one exercisish thing per day.
End of the month, so I have a rash of things to do - mentoring status report, end of the month invoicing, dry-erase February and put together an April calendar, some checks to write out.
I have to put together a note for a long-time client; my pricing to them is based on high volume and standardized reports, and the nature of the work has changed (lower volume, more customized reports) so I need to both (a) up the time per report and (b) start to charge them a retainer or bump them up to my regular rates. I'm thinking of putting a small (say 4 hours per month) retainer surcharge when their volume does not exceed 16 hours per month. Cause I spend a lot of time hand-holding and on the phone, and the like which I am not getting paid for, and which is not really cost-effective for 8-10 hours of work per month.
February 26, 2006
Cold Chores FTP Weight Busy
Because I cannot think of a succinct and pithy title....
I've been sniffling through a cold; it happens now and then - usually once in the spring and once in the fall. Seems lessened this morning. Not taking anything for it - just letting it run its course.
We're not doing much this weekend - yesterday was jazzercise, a support group, and watching a Hip-Hop documentary on VH1 (surprisingly engaging). Today seems slotted towards chores - laundromat for some comforters, moving some boxes to the attic / storage hole, further organizing of the spare room, maybe doing some personal filing and sorting.
I have mastered (mistressed?) FTP - figured out a way to set up an FTP site for work that clients can access using a simple browser, set all that up twice (one for a general purpose FTP area, one for a specific client whose need to send me a 17 Meg file precipitated this) and put a "how to" document together that I need to finish up (logo, header and footer, then convert to PDF) and integrate into the work website. Little tweaking fun project. I've been able to FTP all along, but usually I just set up a separate account and tell my clients to go get / install an FTP client; my one client keeps losing his FTP setup when his IT department periodically wipes his laptop. This is a lot easier, long term.
I did get back to WW yesterday (and got applause for "coming back") I did not regain all of my weight from the last go round (maybe 1/2 of it) but with all the exercise I have been doing, I am pretty sure I will drop the first 10 or even 20 pounds pretty quickly. Now lets see if I can punch through to the next level....like I mentioned earlier, having less belly to fold over and less mass to balance and invert at yoga is a good incentive.
And finally, the week ahead looks kind of busy. Lots of errands and chores and appointments, plus the end of the month stuff and taxes needing to be done and lots of sundry work projects.
I've been sniffling through a cold; it happens now and then - usually once in the spring and once in the fall. Seems lessened this morning. Not taking anything for it - just letting it run its course.
We're not doing much this weekend - yesterday was jazzercise, a support group, and watching a Hip-Hop documentary on VH1 (surprisingly engaging). Today seems slotted towards chores - laundromat for some comforters, moving some boxes to the attic / storage hole, further organizing of the spare room, maybe doing some personal filing and sorting.
I have mastered (mistressed?) FTP - figured out a way to set up an FTP site for work that clients can access using a simple browser, set all that up twice (one for a general purpose FTP area, one for a specific client whose need to send me a 17 Meg file precipitated this) and put a "how to" document together that I need to finish up (logo, header and footer, then convert to PDF) and integrate into the work website. Little tweaking fun project. I've been able to FTP all along, but usually I just set up a separate account and tell my clients to go get / install an FTP client; my one client keeps losing his FTP setup when his IT department periodically wipes his laptop. This is a lot easier, long term.
I did get back to WW yesterday (and got applause for "coming back") I did not regain all of my weight from the last go round (maybe 1/2 of it) but with all the exercise I have been doing, I am pretty sure I will drop the first 10 or even 20 pounds pretty quickly. Now lets see if I can punch through to the next level....like I mentioned earlier, having less belly to fold over and less mass to balance and invert at yoga is a good incentive.
And finally, the week ahead looks kind of busy. Lots of errands and chores and appointments, plus the end of the month stuff and taxes needing to be done and lots of sundry work projects.
February 25, 2006
Up and At 'Em
I'm awake courtesy of two dogs - Melina the blind and old Heeler was tick-ticking around the bedroom at 4 am, and Elo the Beagle/Heeler mix stood on my back, whining into my ear, and licking whatever patches of skin were accessible. Bad dogs. I let 'em both out and gave them a cookie, but now I am up. Grumble. They will want to be fed sooner or later. Right now they are worshiping at the church of the holy hot air vent while I caffeinate and blog.
Methinks this morning I am heading back to weight watchers. It's been a long time since I went - I lost 25 pounds or so about a year ago (I last went in July 05), but sort of lost interest - I was plateau'd, I was not being rigorous about eating, I was tired of spending the money for weekly fees and not really working the program. I was kind of hoping that yoga might magically and holistically get my eating into a better place - but nope. On the other hand, doing yoga has made me a lot more body aware, and the incentive of a svelter body with less belly to work around as I do postures and less body mass to balance and invert is good incentive. So.....off I go to a 7 am meeting, which fits into my schedule pre-jazzercise.
Now all the dogs are up - the little hound mix Callie has joined the pack, I suspect I will have to feed 'em soon - cause they tend to fidget en masse.
Not much happening this weekend. WW and Jazzercise this morning, taking MYA to a support group this afternoon. No other serious plans.
Next week could get squirrelly - I have a meeting slotted in for Tues, the Philly trip never firmed up so that still might bubble up, and no decision on the conference....
Methinks this morning I am heading back to weight watchers. It's been a long time since I went - I lost 25 pounds or so about a year ago (I last went in July 05), but sort of lost interest - I was plateau'd, I was not being rigorous about eating, I was tired of spending the money for weekly fees and not really working the program. I was kind of hoping that yoga might magically and holistically get my eating into a better place - but nope. On the other hand, doing yoga has made me a lot more body aware, and the incentive of a svelter body with less belly to work around as I do postures and less body mass to balance and invert is good incentive. So.....off I go to a 7 am meeting, which fits into my schedule pre-jazzercise.
Now all the dogs are up - the little hound mix Callie has joined the pack, I suspect I will have to feed 'em soon - cause they tend to fidget en masse.
Not much happening this weekend. WW and Jazzercise this morning, taking MYA to a support group this afternoon. No other serious plans.
Next week could get squirrelly - I have a meeting slotted in for Tues, the Philly trip never firmed up so that still might bubble up, and no decision on the conference....
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