Monday, March 05, 2007

February - Back-Pedaling

I honestly don't know why February was so danged busy. But it was. The weather is getting better so I'm able to start walking more, which should help my diet. I think my goal this month will be to get back into reading more, talking to family more and making sure to bring Lori flowers.

My goals for the year...

Post In My Blog More Frequently - Check.

Artistic Photos - I feel I failed on this count this month. The computer was moved into the kitchen during painting and the printer wasn't connected. Busy.

Lots of Reading - I am failing miserably on this front. I'm working on The Experience Economy. It's good, but there's a lot to think about and I haven't had much time.

More social - I'm still not sure on this one. I've been trying to walk around the office and talk to people and rely less on e-mail. I'm even using *gasp* the phone more.

Diet will return - I'm really disappointed in this month. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I seem to be stuck.

Less Busy - Certainly failed here. I'm actually more busy.

Bigger Help Around The House - I've been inconsistent this month. I've taken over the vacuuming duties and I was doing the laundry, but our hot water heater's been having problems so we've been having to do the laundry during the day.

Make It To The City Monthly - Yep, I was up there at least twice. We went to Westlake Mall and Seattle Center for my birthday and then I was back up there for a conference. I think we might be going up there this weekend, too.

New Restaurant Each Month - I don't think we did this in February unless you count the mall food court on my birthday. I need to pick one for February.

Same Restaurants Less - No.

Send Lori More Flowers - Did not send flowers or bring home flowers this month. How sad.

Don't waste time on the computer or doing chores when spending time with Rachel - Yes and no. I did the taxes one night while watching Rachel. But they had to be done. But now they're done. The other night she and I went to Home Depot. There was stuff to buy, but I think she had fun.

Get finances under control - Yep, did that. Spent less than we made. Woo. Not counting tax refunds.

Talk to family more frequently - Did not happen. I will have to refer to this throughout the month so that I'm reminded because I haven't looked at this since last month, unfortunately.

Declutter - Yes, moving forward on that.

Enjoy the view out my bedroom window more - I guess...? That's what I said last month.

Appreciate the beauty of nature more - Check

I missed it.

I intended to commemorate the one year anniversary, thought it was today. Discovered I had missed it by three days. Bummer.

Stranger Than Chicken

If I stood in the parking lot with $5 in my hand, should I go into Hollywood Video and rent "Stranger Than Fiction" or should I go into Panda Express and get some tasty orange chicken? (Disclaimer: They are 20 blocks apart and if I got orange chicken, I'd want a combo and since a combo doesn't include a drink, I'd want that, too and that would push me over $5. And I never carry cash. And I got both the combo and the movie on Saturday.)

While well-cast, the great concept just didn't play out well. I believe it was intentionally mis-marketed to try to make up for some failings. That is, that isn't as funny as it wants to be, as dramatic as it wants to be, and certainly not as daring. There were some really funny moments, some rather interesting graphical effects, a very cool watch, and at some points, some good writing that calls to mind Douglas Adams. But overall, it was predictable and disappointing. It could have been so much more.

Orange Chicken would be a better choice.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Tree of News

MSNBC.COM -- For 10 years, a woman (now 24) has been reporting on local news, women's issues, and lately, the war in Darfur -- in handwritten dispatches she's hung on trees in her city. Recently, her work has been picked up by an African Union-run publication and someone's recently provided her a computer and printer to allow her to do more. Kinda cool. More...

Saturday, March 03, 2007

This Is Progress?

One day in 2000, I wanted donut holes. It was one of those weird "project days" -- you know the kind, you're walking around, talking to people, going to meetings. Not a sit - at - your - desk - and - stare - at - your - screen - for - hours kind of day. And I wanted some poppers. So I go to my computer, punch in my location, my credit card and within 45 minutes, there's a call from the front desk that I have an order waiting for me. And yet today, in 2007, this isn't possible.

I'm just saying...

Stupid dot com bubble.

In other news, my new phone isn't here yet. It started in Maryland and has since arrived in and left Indianapolis. Which means it's not going to arrive today, it's going to arrive on Monday or Tuesday. Which means Lori will be the one to receive the package from the FedEx guy. Not that I think they're turned on, but I thought it would be really awesome to call the phone from the house while the guy's coming up the steps, just in case they are turned on. So it would be kind of like The Matrix.

Stupid Fed Ex. Stupid Wirefly. Stupid Amazon. Stupid Cingular. Stupid everyone - involved - with - the - second - and - third - Matrix - movies.

P.S. Honestly, not as grumpy as this post makes it seem. Just a little bit tired and cold and hungry and without my new toy.

Friday, March 02, 2007

At What Cost

I don't know whether to cheer or be sad. Country returns to Los Angeles, but at the expense of KMZT, a classical station. Not only did it have killer call letters, it was a really great station that played a lot of good music, including music from movies. Movies like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Welcome KKGO, farewell Mozart. Of course, with my iPod car adapter, I haven't listened to the radio up here since Dec. 23, 2006. (MSNBC.COM)

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Feel Like Clicking?

Here's a handy, dandy voting guide for some open questions on Yahoo! Answers. (Of course, if I were Yahoo!, I'd make it change the order every time the questions were presented during voting. (If that looks like the case, please vote for mine where it's obvious. Mine are often more likely to use punctuation. And paragraph breaks. And real words. And correct answers.)

#3

#2

#3

#10

#3

#7

#6

#4

#6

#10

#22