That's right. It's fucking hot. We all know. Repeating it over and over to each person you see in passing isn't going to make it better. I feel the same way about people walking their dogs. Don't ask me to explain it.
What I really want to talk about is the mini-dvi port on my Macbook - or really all the god damn proprietary plugs on my macbook. I want to start with the mini-display port.
Yes, I have an extra monitor hooked up at work. No, your right - I don't need it. But this is getting past the heart of the matter. First and obvious point is that the plug is proprietary. Yeah, big pain. Apple loves to make a buck off of extras (see: Apple Store, Apps). It's easily a two buck plug from any shady website that sells wires and plugs to connect every device into your house to each other, but at Apple it's a thirty dollar hunk of "California Designed" Chinese-made plastic. This again isn't my point. So what is my point? The connection is weak at best. Now, let me preface that I've got a 2008 black macbook. So you may not know my pains if you have another model. The connection: it feels cheap, barely in, and worst? Just kinda hangs in there. No clip or snap, just resting in there like a pair of overalls lay over the obese - sure they are on but they are just waiting for a strap to fall. A sleeping dragon of interrupted social media toolkiting.
(Author's Note: I'm just going to publish this b/c I've been sitting on it for a while.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tanks and the days of summer
I'm at this point in life, like a handful of points previously, I have to make a leap. Do I go to college? What is my Major again? Do I stay in grad school? What is my career?
The other day Liz asked me if 'this was what I wanted to do, for a career'? Was it? Fuck if I know. I know it comes easy and it uses a tiny bit of my degree. Sure. I can do this. Can't I? We'll find out.
There is this something about the summer air in Chicago. It's hot and wet, it sticks to you like long wet ooze from slug, the city kips up dirt and the wind carries the find street particles - you'll be nice and gross before dusk. Chicago summers are two-showers-a-day summers.
My only friend is moving away to South Dakota. He's lived far away for some time - but we saw each other a couple times a year. I have 'friends' at work, but I guess I considered this one a real 'friend.' We'll stay in touch.
The other day Liz asked me if 'this was what I wanted to do, for a career'? Was it? Fuck if I know. I know it comes easy and it uses a tiny bit of my degree. Sure. I can do this. Can't I? We'll find out.
There is this something about the summer air in Chicago. It's hot and wet, it sticks to you like long wet ooze from slug, the city kips up dirt and the wind carries the find street particles - you'll be nice and gross before dusk. Chicago summers are two-showers-a-day summers.
My only friend is moving away to South Dakota. He's lived far away for some time - but we saw each other a couple times a year. I have 'friends' at work, but I guess I considered this one a real 'friend.' We'll stay in touch.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My clumsy emotions, a censure
I'm not sure what is wrong with me. In the empty spaces between being happy and sad, for me, there is this wallowing ever waining feeling of not being good enough and being kinda okay. Clear you plate child, desert is almost ready.
Eh, I'd write more but I'd rather not complain more than I already have.
Eh, I'd write more but I'd rather not complain more than I already have.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Book on Lemonade and A/C
Chicago summers and a single air con to our apartment. I picked up a book called 'lemonade' by Fred Thompson in which nearly 100 pages are devoted to different lemonades. See, this is what is great about my job is that I am exposed to new things every single day, and when I say things I mean many many things. For example today we had hand made and bottled syrups that were all natural and damn good. Two for Italian sodas, two were coffee - I can't even remember what all they had in them, one was ginger passion fruit maybe? I dunno, but it was interesting. That is what this job lends it self to be - interesting.
I leave for New York on Saturday. Two e-mail newsletters, 5 posts to facebook about the weather, and 6 about new stuff were canning and I'll be ready to go. I've got three days to finish the above.
Five - six days till I land in Spain. The second (third kinda) country I've ever been to. There will be pictures.
I leave for New York on Saturday. Two e-mail newsletters, 5 posts to facebook about the weather, and 6 about new stuff were canning and I'll be ready to go. I've got three days to finish the above.
Five - six days till I land in Spain. The second (third kinda) country I've ever been to. There will be pictures.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Honey Bears and Olive Oil
Friday, mid June. It's Chicago so it's hot and sticky. Listening to Devo's new album, which is quite good. It's struggle every day to focus. With the marketing at SPG I find it incredibly difficult to settle and just bang out a couple blog posts, or e-mails. I could only muster 2 today, though I did leave by 1:30. My sister's wedding next week, and NYC > Spain the following week. I'm not sure what is more daunting, the Fancy Food Show or traveling. I'm sure others can sympathize, but I feel the need to get things right. I'm way out of my league just visiting New York with a foodie, let alone going head first into a Fancy Food Show.I've been stressing more each week as I've got to get a bunch of shit done before I leave - because my lovely job allows me to schedule 80% of my work. In reality, it's next to nothing and I spend more time worrying than doing the work it self.
For a long time I've had this layer of dread on top of me like a blanket, I'm not sure what its all about - maybe seeing my dad? Who knows.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
A Racecar Sounds Like a Cat
In the light breezes in beds of summer I lay reading, keeping my eyes fixed on letters and words. Skipping back and re-reading, my mild dyslexia and adhd becoming less of an excuse and more of a reason. I only feel the wind form the spinning fan above me on the parts of my body that are covered in the longer hairs - those that seem to be the first to shake in the wind. I try and think and write and ignore and imagine all wrapped into one complicated blanket of self-worth and identity. I flash ahead 10 years and try to imagine who I am, it's fuzzy and try for five and I still can only make out my awkward haircuts and thick glasses with a bend forward hunch and gimped ankle. The only time I see myself in my imagination I'm standing awkwardly in different hallways either lost or strangely misplaced, like a dream that has yet to happen. I'm never doing anything. My occupation is a faint outline of what I'm doing right now - which isn't much other than pretending that I'm not a waiter.
So I'm trying to write again right? Would I consider what I do at work, writing nearly meaningless blogs that 10 people actually take the time to read writing? I'm not sure I would. It's more like the internet or blog or web version of verbal vomiting. I just cram a bunch of shit people tell me or that I read about the product or that I make up while eating it or just plain pull it out of my ass and move some words around, adding verbosity and simplicity like a kid swinging a stick he/she found in a park. And yes, there are times I let loose and someone gets a stick tossed at their backside, luckily they just scowl and I furrow my brow and walk away.
But then again, maybe it's good I started doing this work. It's forcing me to put words to 'print' and even having a real audience helps focus my writing a ton. I do have to admit that the 'voice' I've created for Southport is leeching into my normal writing and I've been lucky enough to catch myself doing so (see smile faces & exclamation points) - on the opposite, I think my voice is slowly creeping into the "Southport" voice. As an example, I put up a sign in the store with my smarmy attitude that said to buy a group of prodcuts for people "who are nice enough to feed you."
So, again am I writing? Well all of this other blogging is leading to the wiener blog is leading to this blog which may or may not lead to me eventually working on something. Only time will tell I guess, I'm going to go ahead and it here by saying that if you try and push it out, you'll only end up wearing it.
So I'm trying to write again right? Would I consider what I do at work, writing nearly meaningless blogs that 10 people actually take the time to read writing? I'm not sure I would. It's more like the internet or blog or web version of verbal vomiting. I just cram a bunch of shit people tell me or that I read about the product or that I make up while eating it or just plain pull it out of my ass and move some words around, adding verbosity and simplicity like a kid swinging a stick he/she found in a park. And yes, there are times I let loose and someone gets a stick tossed at their backside, luckily they just scowl and I furrow my brow and walk away.
But then again, maybe it's good I started doing this work. It's forcing me to put words to 'print' and even having a real audience helps focus my writing a ton. I do have to admit that the 'voice' I've created for Southport is leeching into my normal writing and I've been lucky enough to catch myself doing so (see smile faces & exclamation points) - on the opposite, I think my voice is slowly creeping into the "Southport" voice. As an example, I put up a sign in the store with my smarmy attitude that said to buy a group of prodcuts for people "who are nice enough to feed you."
So, again am I writing? Well all of this other blogging is leading to the wiener blog is leading to this blog which may or may not lead to me eventually working on something. Only time will tell I guess, I'm going to go ahead and it here by saying that if you try and push it out, you'll only end up wearing it.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Down Day
Not sure what my deal is at times, but eh. Quiet and fed up I guess.On the 'being productive' front: I've set up Garage Band on my laptop to function with the wii remote, but I'd like to be able to change pitch depending with the accelerometer. I'm not super happy on how it all works and I'm going to keep looking for gameboy or nes setups - but this is my trail after all. I'm fucking awful at making music, but it'll take time. It's kinda fun to sit in bed and mash some buttons remotely to play tones.
Found this bad ass stenograph program (one pictured left), that is pretty fun. HTML5 only: http://www.benjoffe.com/code/toys/spirograph/
Work is getting a bit monotonous and I'm getting board with hot dogs. Maybe it's just my mood.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Colon blow
Well it's the day after my colonosopy and I feel fine. I didn't have a BM this morning, which I feel kinda weird about. This is beyond the point - 2 removed polyps - which the doctor didn't seem worried about. I'll be hearing back from the biopsy later this week. I'm not worried.I'm looking for my next bike trip, and for a way to mount my phone. I've looked online, and I know I've seen where a guy mounts his with a two buck light fixture and a silicone case. Mounting the phone would allow me to both see the live tracking on MyTracks as well as see maps when I'm lost (which is often). My only concern is water damage, but I guess I'd just not use it in the rain. I think my next long ride will be the North Branch Trial (http://www.traillink.com/viewtrail.aspx?AcctID=6032266). Forest Glen to Glencoe, with an around-the-pond ride turn around. It's a longer ride than the lake front ride (which was 18m), and is a bit longer of a ride to the start - meaning an all around slightly longer ride. I'm okay with it, after the last ride I thought I could have gone longer - so this will be a good run. Biggest difference is this path is a covered path (trees) and I'm not sure if it is concrete or 'prairie path' style dirt. I am starting to also think and consider the Grand Illinois Trail. Before that I'll try and do the 61 mile Illinois Prairie Path. Although I'm not sure how they measure the path (length vs entire run), because the path spider webs out west. Either way, I'd like to make it to sycamore on my bike this summer.
I'm working often, splitting a seedbox, and looking ahead to the summer - sister's weeding, fancy food show, and Spain.
Friday, May 14, 2010
New saddle
Got a few weeks ago, but decided I should add it to here. The more I ride this thing the more I love it. Pro-tip: be prepared for your ass to hurt after getting a new saddle - change can hurt.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
I rode my bike the entire length of the Chicago shore yesterday and back up again. I'm not in any pain which is surprising. I found things on the path though that were really quite interesting. I never knew there was a huge water feature behind the McCormick building. That fat girls always walk with a skinny girl (didn't grab a photo). For future rides I'd like to mount my phone on my bike so I can either a) track my speed/etc with Google's 'my tracks' or b) be able to capture a time lapse of the ride. Lots of great views and fields south of the loop. What is nice about my phone now is that I can track my rides with the gps (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216429673862229320600.000485c7889ff7c0a9726). I was going to try and do 'every' time I was on my bike, but that much info is kinda wasted on someone as lazy as me. I do think though that I'd like to capture the longer biking trips - this is just my first one. I also want to look into a solar charger that I can attach somewhere on my bike. Not sure how well it would work though, but still worth looking into.More updates 'soon'.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
New Bike
Hells yeah, first road bike. I love this thing. I ordered a new saddle though - this one is a bit chewed up. And got some mini lights for night time city rides. There is enough light that I don't need my own.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A test to see if I feel I can still write
When I ride I feel the wind and the breeze on my face. In the winter I can't help but feel it. I always feel the breeze on my lower leg where the wind catches the open flap of my jean bottoms and the uncovered leg above my low cut socks. Even in the early parts of spring do I have to wear enough clothes that the sharp northern torrents freeze me, the ones Chicago is notorious for. I think that is why spring is so special. We hide so long from the wind, covering ourselves that we can't really let ourselves just be. We are cooped up in our apartments and houses sheltered from life, from the spring air. At least, this is how it is in the Midwest. In the temperate zones of the world. We embrace spring in a full open arms kind of way. Arms outstretched in t-shirts and shorts before we really should. It is a fever really. Spring fever - how quaint. The people of California, only the parts those who don't live in California or near by thing of when someone mentions California, must be miserable. They have to think we are sad, with our snow and cold weather. We bear it. We know spring is coming.
I rode my bike through winter, all but the month of December and a few days here and there in November. I had thought it too cold to ride. Fed up with wasting thirty more minutes of my day waiting, I tried riding again.
The first thing you notice when riding your bike in January, is that in fact you are riding your bike in January. The grid street system of Chicago lends itself to what I like to describe as 'tunnel wind'. I don't really ever describe it as this, I just say 'the damn wind' or something. But I felt the need to say it this way here. No matter. From the years spent in front of the TV and even watching the Weather Channel a bunch, I found out that the jet stream makes a pattern down from the farthest reaches of frozen Canada and shoot straight for Chicago and pulls itself back north over lake Michigan. So it's cold. You get used to it, it is the wind - the force of wind so strong you question if walking would get you there faster.
A co-worker of mine describe it perfectly as though it was Jello outside. I couldn't help but see her, me, everyone in a world of livable Jello. Moving slow, not like in slow-mo replay where we know we can return to regulation time, but a place where we know it isn't supposed to be this slow. Everything tinted in a red or yellow. Just a big block of it maybe existing in an area where no one could avoid it. It would more of an annoyance than a hazard. The sounds of the radio muffled and distant on the inside. A smooth low hum over it all. People would live in it, just because they were different, or poor, or artistic, or just wanted to give it a run. Nothing would change, no damage to electric lines, we just move and live in it.
I've been thinking of a way I could dictate on my bike - something about motion makes me want to write. Trains, cars, planes - these are the places I want to write. Now I've got the bug on my bike and I'm getting things, little snippets of things that are like wisps of dreams that I'd like to capture. Talk to my phone to jot it all down. Just a thought I guess.
I rode my bike through winter, all but the month of December and a few days here and there in November. I had thought it too cold to ride. Fed up with wasting thirty more minutes of my day waiting, I tried riding again.
The first thing you notice when riding your bike in January, is that in fact you are riding your bike in January. The grid street system of Chicago lends itself to what I like to describe as 'tunnel wind'. I don't really ever describe it as this, I just say 'the damn wind' or something. But I felt the need to say it this way here. No matter. From the years spent in front of the TV and even watching the Weather Channel a bunch, I found out that the jet stream makes a pattern down from the farthest reaches of frozen Canada and shoot straight for Chicago and pulls itself back north over lake Michigan. So it's cold. You get used to it, it is the wind - the force of wind so strong you question if walking would get you there faster.
A co-worker of mine describe it perfectly as though it was Jello outside. I couldn't help but see her, me, everyone in a world of livable Jello. Moving slow, not like in slow-mo replay where we know we can return to regulation time, but a place where we know it isn't supposed to be this slow. Everything tinted in a red or yellow. Just a big block of it maybe existing in an area where no one could avoid it. It would more of an annoyance than a hazard. The sounds of the radio muffled and distant on the inside. A smooth low hum over it all. People would live in it, just because they were different, or poor, or artistic, or just wanted to give it a run. Nothing would change, no damage to electric lines, we just move and live in it.
I've been thinking of a way I could dictate on my bike - something about motion makes me want to write. Trains, cars, planes - these are the places I want to write. Now I've got the bug on my bike and I'm getting things, little snippets of things that are like wisps of dreams that I'd like to capture. Talk to my phone to jot it all down. Just a thought I guess.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
@ work again
So I'm sitting at work, not so much board but distracted. I'm not sure why I can't just push these damn blogs out. Even when writing for school I guess I had this same problem.
I stumbled upon this pretty damn awesome podcast (that might be dead): http://alifewellwasted.com/ its a podcast about video games that is kinda like 'this American life' but with video games. Great, amazingly well done.
New website design coming for SPG&C. Pushing the blog. I guess I'll be writing more. Travel journey writing should be pretty cool too. More camera action - got to take pictures for the media (e-mail/blog/fb).
Not sure how much longer twitter will be around, I think we should focus on the blog and facebook. I sent 481 friend invites with one quick clickity click. I'm doing my job with small steps, marginally impressing my boss. I could do shit loads more but I'd like to keep my 'getting shit done' side for when I have to get something done.
My mother, grandmother, grandfather, great aunt, are all on facebook now, and I still have trouble keeping up with all the new fancy shit on there.
Doing a tasting of my Giard tomorrow. Not so much worried, but I'm not sure how much I'm going to sell nor how interested people are going to be in it. Self doubt is great.
Working a lot still, reading books off and on, reading rss a shit load, writing for myself almost never. I guess I was never meant to be a short story writer.
I stumbled upon this pretty damn awesome podcast (that might be dead): http://alifewellwasted.com/ its a podcast about video games that is kinda like 'this American life' but with video games. Great, amazingly well done.
New website design coming for SPG&C. Pushing the blog. I guess I'll be writing more. Travel journey writing should be pretty cool too. More camera action - got to take pictures for the media (e-mail/blog/fb).
Not sure how much longer twitter will be around, I think we should focus on the blog and facebook. I sent 481 friend invites with one quick clickity click. I'm doing my job with small steps, marginally impressing my boss. I could do shit loads more but I'd like to keep my 'getting shit done' side for when I have to get something done.
My mother, grandmother, grandfather, great aunt, are all on facebook now, and I still have trouble keeping up with all the new fancy shit on there.
Doing a tasting of my Giard tomorrow. Not so much worried, but I'm not sure how much I'm going to sell nor how interested people are going to be in it. Self doubt is great.
Working a lot still, reading books off and on, reading rss a shit load, writing for myself almost never. I guess I was never meant to be a short story writer.
Friday, March 5, 2010
No boss, no direction
Ever wonder how you got the job you have? Yeah, me neither. There is usually a clear path to get where you are. My problem is direction. I guess I could be doing something right now other than writing this. But what? I know I could write some kind of blog post, maybe, on our site - about one of the 'new' products. But eh. My boss isn't here to say I should be doing something, not that I have to have someone looking over my shoulder telling me what to do, but I just need tasks that take longer than 2 min.
I've twittered, facebooks a bit this morning. I e-mail vendors for tastings. I just wish I was at home playing video games, well a particular video game - Just Cause 2. That game is very bad ass. It's a lot like GTA only you have a hook system to murder what I can only assume are North Koreans.
But I digress. I could be home right now, not wasting her money and my time. Should I feel obligated to sit here and wait till she comes back to say that I'm going home? Probably. Oh, I just remembered something I was supposed to do...
I've twittered, facebooks a bit this morning. I e-mail vendors for tastings. I just wish I was at home playing video games, well a particular video game - Just Cause 2. That game is very bad ass. It's a lot like GTA only you have a hook system to murder what I can only assume are North Koreans.
But I digress. I could be home right now, not wasting her money and my time. Should I feel obligated to sit here and wait till she comes back to say that I'm going home? Probably. Oh, I just remembered something I was supposed to do...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
An Open Letter to NBC
To those who buy the Olympics and mishandle them. I write this to you because I'd like to draw your attention to the other 200 plus other American Olympians that are competing in this year's winter games. The coverage of Lindsy Vonn alone is enough to make anyone tired. The worst of her particular coverage is people doing better than her seem to only see a slice of the limelight.
I feel major disappointment for those who aren't getting any coverage because they aren't Ohno, Vonn, or White. Seems like you all put the faces who you seem to think will sell the most ad space. I understand that this is necessary, but after the "big win" of US over Canada there wasn't an interview of any of the US male hockey team - who did you interview on the Today show? Vonn. Oh yes, her again. Let us not forget what seems to be a love affair between Matt Lauer and Linsey Vonn. After "her first big win" Matt's first question in the interview was a sigh of release - as if it was he on the mountain. I was also quite upset about the almost blind eye turned to J.R. Celski. Never a word about his placement right behind Ohno. What about the first cross country skier in US history to medal at the Olympics? A blurb.
I know you all need filler, and not every Olympian wants to be interviewed or maybe has the time. And yes, we all need heroes. Heroes to shine a light on and follow and fall in love with as a nation. There is a line between hero and media whore. I feel you had made the mistake of covering - what I call - the big three, too much. There are others at the games, giving all they have and I think you are acting like a small child and their first love - can't let go of the easy ones.
I feel major disappointment for those who aren't getting any coverage because they aren't Ohno, Vonn, or White. Seems like you all put the faces who you seem to think will sell the most ad space. I understand that this is necessary, but after the "big win" of US over Canada there wasn't an interview of any of the US male hockey team - who did you interview on the Today show? Vonn. Oh yes, her again. Let us not forget what seems to be a love affair between Matt Lauer and Linsey Vonn. After "her first big win" Matt's first question in the interview was a sigh of release - as if it was he on the mountain. I was also quite upset about the almost blind eye turned to J.R. Celski. Never a word about his placement right behind Ohno. What about the first cross country skier in US history to medal at the Olympics? A blurb.
I know you all need filler, and not every Olympian wants to be interviewed or maybe has the time. And yes, we all need heroes. Heroes to shine a light on and follow and fall in love with as a nation. There is a line between hero and media whore. I feel you had made the mistake of covering - what I call - the big three, too much. There are others at the games, giving all they have and I think you are acting like a small child and their first love - can't let go of the easy ones.
Well hello
Come in, share a seat and take a knee, in the most depressing month of the year - February. Luckily it is the shortest month in the year because lets face it, it's awful. I'm not single, but I can only hark back the emotions that being single on Valentine's day is like. It's near the end of winter and in Chicago it's snowing and not changing to Spring fast enough. February is the month that reminds us that Winter's clutches reach much farther than we remember or even wish to remember.
I've been breaking my ass to get out this new Cupcake Truffle bidness as well as finishing off this gauntlet of '8 weeks of winter.' What was worse is sticking it out and working Friday threw Wednesday, from retail to marketing. My job is pretty nice though.
Went to the goon meet, it was pretty fun. Lots of fat and awkward, but overall a pretty fun time.
I've been breaking my ass to get out this new Cupcake Truffle bidness as well as finishing off this gauntlet of '8 weeks of winter.' What was worse is sticking it out and working Friday threw Wednesday, from retail to marketing. My job is pretty nice though.
Went to the goon meet, it was pretty fun. Lots of fat and awkward, but overall a pretty fun time.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
flash update
Still working doing marketing, making 'giard,' and waiting tables.
Will write something with more "significance" tomorrow.
Will write something with more "significance" tomorrow.
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