We're heading out to the West Coast early in the morning. Hopefully I'll get some time to check in and post a few updates or at least some photos but we've got a pretty tight schedule. For the time being, below are a couple of my favorite California related songs.
A bit about the music on this blog. When possible, I'll try my best to post up live music when it seems legally possibly. As you'll probably find over the next several weeks and months, I'm a big fan of Josh Ritter and you can find quite a lot of his live performances here. When it isn't possible to post up something you can download, I'll most likely use the player from lala.com. Today you get one of each.
Josh Ritter "California (live)" [mp3] (recorded at the Double Door in Chicago, IL)
There's a great live recording of "California One" by Colin Meloy of the Decemberists floating around. It was part of a live NPR concert series. If you can still find it, more power to ya!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
You Can't Beat Fun at the ol' Ballpark
Or so Harry Caray used to tell me on WGN. We're off to Wrigley Field in just a bit to see the Cubs battle the Minnesota Twins in the first interleague game of the year. This will most likely be the last game I attend in a long time. Weather looks perfect, if only a little on the cold side. Just checked the matchup and it appears we'll be seeing Randy Wells face off vs Kevin Slowey. Randy Wells has looked really good as a rookie call up. Although he's 0-2, he sports a 1.86 ERA. Not bad for someone who appeared to be brought up just to fill a spot for a few days. I haven't watched nearly as many games this year as I have in the past, but I do know that the Cubs appear to have cold bats whenever Wells pitches. Let's hope that changes today.
Here's an oldie but a goodie.
Postgame update, 11pm. Not a good one. Not by a long shot. Nevertheless, we got to witness history. After catching a fly ball for out number two, right fielder Milton Bradley turned around and threw the ball into the bleachers, thinking it was the third out. He also lost a fly ball in the sun and dropped another one. Not a good day at the office. Nor could the same be said for Randy Wells.
So to answer the above song's question: yes, they do still play the blues in Chicago. After today's ballgame we hopped on the L and rode downtown to see a bit of the Blues Fest. We enjoyed some ribs and a much needed bottle of water while listening to Charlie Musslewhite. It didn't completely erase the stink of that game, but it sure helped.
Here's an oldie but a goodie.
Postgame update, 11pm. Not a good one. Not by a long shot. Nevertheless, we got to witness history. After catching a fly ball for out number two, right fielder Milton Bradley turned around and threw the ball into the bleachers, thinking it was the third out. He also lost a fly ball in the sun and dropped another one. Not a good day at the office. Nor could the same be said for Randy Wells.
So to answer the above song's question: yes, they do still play the blues in Chicago. After today's ballgame we hopped on the L and rode downtown to see a bit of the Blues Fest. We enjoyed some ribs and a much needed bottle of water while listening to Charlie Musslewhite. It didn't completely erase the stink of that game, but it sure helped.
In which I voluntarily become unemployed
Get rid of clothes: check.
Donate old books: check.
Sort through boxes of odds and ends: check.
Quit work: check.
Wow, we've gotten quite a bit done this week but I'm still a little worried. There's an awful lot of packing ahead of us. Still, we managed to get rid of a lot of things. I am sure more will be thrown out before I'm gone.
Sorry for the delay in writing. I had a feeling it would be like this. I picked Her up last week at the airport. We've got that down to a science. I leave work a half hour early, drive to the airport and park the car. By the time I walk inside, she's pretty much walking through the gate. I am not sure I'll ever get over what a great feeling that is when we finally meet up again. The visits back and forth are worth it if only for that first hug at the airport.
We've spent a lot of this past week going through the checklist above. We've also managed to squeeze in a little time for fun. Last Friday we went to see the new film "Up." I definitely recommend it. Maybe it was just the timing of the visit, but the opening of the movie really hit me hard. I don't want to go into too much detail and ruin it for you. Just make sure you catch it while it is still out at the theater.
Saturday morning was my last German lesson here in the States. If anyone ever needs a recommendation for a teacher in the Chicago area, I've got a great one for you. Later that evening we visited some friends and enjoyed some Lou Malnati's pizza. Wow, that's going to be difficult to give up deep dish pizza. Sunday we drove up to Wisconsin to visit my cousin. I locked my keys in the car. I don't think I had ever done that before. Word to the wise: don't do that in Wisconsin. Local law enforcement is not allowed to break into your car.
She stayed in and got caught up on some sleep and relaxation during the week while I had to work. Yes, work. It'll be a long time before I get involved in that again. Yesterday was my final day at work. It was an odd week with my last day looming. I tried to wrap up any open projects (rather unsuccessfully), and I consciously did my best to avoid anything new (also rather unsuccessfully). Everyone at work pitched in and we had a little party at lunch time. She was able to come in for the party. I think it was a lot of fun for everyone to finally meet Her. She probably enjoyed it as well because I became the butt of many jokes.
There was a ton of food. Brats, potato salad, potato pancakes, (notice a theme?), dessert. Oh, and beer. Thank goodness for the beer. It was a pretty crappy morning at work, one that reminded me of another reason why I'll be glad to be done working. But the beer worked it's magic and after lunch I was able to settle down and quickly knock out a half-assed project that satisfied the most insistent, stubborn person I've ever had the non-pleasure of working with.
Once that was done we walked through the office and said our goodbyes. It was still a few hours early but I just felt like a big distraction for everyone else. Plus, there was really nothing left for me to do. It felt pretty good to walk out of there. I was just surprised that I got a little choked up at the end. But for all the bad feelings I have had over the years at work, it was rarely with the people I worked with everyday. I will miss you guys. Others not so much.
Donate old books: check.
Sort through boxes of odds and ends: check.
Quit work: check.
Wow, we've gotten quite a bit done this week but I'm still a little worried. There's an awful lot of packing ahead of us. Still, we managed to get rid of a lot of things. I am sure more will be thrown out before I'm gone.
Sorry for the delay in writing. I had a feeling it would be like this. I picked Her up last week at the airport. We've got that down to a science. I leave work a half hour early, drive to the airport and park the car. By the time I walk inside, she's pretty much walking through the gate. I am not sure I'll ever get over what a great feeling that is when we finally meet up again. The visits back and forth are worth it if only for that first hug at the airport.
We've spent a lot of this past week going through the checklist above. We've also managed to squeeze in a little time for fun. Last Friday we went to see the new film "Up." I definitely recommend it. Maybe it was just the timing of the visit, but the opening of the movie really hit me hard. I don't want to go into too much detail and ruin it for you. Just make sure you catch it while it is still out at the theater.
Saturday morning was my last German lesson here in the States. If anyone ever needs a recommendation for a teacher in the Chicago area, I've got a great one for you. Later that evening we visited some friends and enjoyed some Lou Malnati's pizza. Wow, that's going to be difficult to give up deep dish pizza. Sunday we drove up to Wisconsin to visit my cousin. I locked my keys in the car. I don't think I had ever done that before. Word to the wise: don't do that in Wisconsin. Local law enforcement is not allowed to break into your car.
She stayed in and got caught up on some sleep and relaxation during the week while I had to work. Yes, work. It'll be a long time before I get involved in that again. Yesterday was my final day at work. It was an odd week with my last day looming. I tried to wrap up any open projects (rather unsuccessfully), and I consciously did my best to avoid anything new (also rather unsuccessfully). Everyone at work pitched in and we had a little party at lunch time. She was able to come in for the party. I think it was a lot of fun for everyone to finally meet Her. She probably enjoyed it as well because I became the butt of many jokes.
There was a ton of food. Brats, potato salad, potato pancakes, (notice a theme?), dessert. Oh, and beer. Thank goodness for the beer. It was a pretty crappy morning at work, one that reminded me of another reason why I'll be glad to be done working. But the beer worked it's magic and after lunch I was able to settle down and quickly knock out a half-assed project that satisfied the most insistent, stubborn person I've ever had the non-pleasure of working with.
Once that was done we walked through the office and said our goodbyes. It was still a few hours early but I just felt like a big distraction for everyone else. Plus, there was really nothing left for me to do. It felt pretty good to walk out of there. I was just surprised that I got a little choked up at the end. But for all the bad feelings I have had over the years at work, it was rarely with the people I worked with everyday. I will miss you guys. Others not so much.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Come and Find Me
Finally. Tomorrow you arrive. No more waiting. No more sad goodbyes at the airport wondering when we'll be together again. Now it is the two of us. Together. Finally.
Come and Find Me
If I could trace the lines that ran
Between your smile and your sleight of hand
I would guess that you put something up my sleeve
Now every time I see your face the bells ring in a far-off place
We can find each other this way I believeFrom the hills and up behind, my town
is naked from the horizon down
The curvature is pressed against the raise
We walked up in the fields alone
And the silence fell just like a stone
That got lost in the wild blue and the gravel greyCome and find me now
Though I'm here in this far off place
My air is not this time and space
I draw you close with every breath
you don't know it's right until it's wrong
You don't know it's yours until it's gone
I didn't know that it was home ‘til you up and leftCome and find me now
I keep you in a flower vase
With your fatalism and your crooked face
With the daisies and the violet brocades
And I keep me in a vacant lot
In the ivy and forget-me-nots
Hoping you will come and untangle me one of these daysCome and find me now
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Crazy? Yeah, crazy like a coyote.
What am I going to do for work when I get there? That's probably the most asked question I get when people hear of my plans.
To be honest, I still don't have much of an answer. And that worries me quite a bit.
But I stumbled across this today and it picked me up a little bit. Yeah okay, it did so mostly at the expense of you people here in the States. Nevertheless, maybe there's some hope for me. Suddenly I'd like to think I know what I am doing.
Your's truly,
Wile E. Coyote
Super Genius
To be honest, I still don't have much of an answer. And that worries me quite a bit.
But I stumbled across this today and it picked me up a little bit. Yeah okay, it did so mostly at the expense of you people here in the States. Nevertheless, maybe there's some hope for me. Suddenly I'd like to think I know what I am doing.
Your's truly,
Wile E. Coyote
Super Genius
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A quick update and a quick rant
Again, for you "Produce Department" fans, all episodes have been located as well as some great extras for the DVD. No idea when it'll be completed, but hang in there. It is everything you ever thought it was and worse. I think I have a temporary neck spasm from all the cringing I've done watching these tapes.
Completely unrelated, check out this article from the New York Times Magazine that a friend passed along.
I'm not in any position yet to agree or disagree with anything the writer said. Heck, I won't even be in the same country. But for those of you worried about our increasingly "socialist" tendancies here in the US, you ought to give this article a serious look and consider the following point:
I am on the verge of a serious rant here. But it is late and I need some sleep. I also don't want to alienate anyone. At least not yet, anyway. If you get a chance to read that article, feel free to share your thoughts here.
Completely unrelated, check out this article from the New York Times Magazine that a friend passed along.
I'm not in any position yet to agree or disagree with anything the writer said. Heck, I won't even be in the same country. But for those of you worried about our increasingly "socialist" tendancies here in the US, you ought to give this article a serious look and consider the following point:
I am constantly irritated with this rush to label increased social-welfare as "socialism." Call it what you will, but refusing to help your fellow man strikes of serious hypocrisy from a group often (but not always) associated with "Christian values."There is another historical base to the Dutch social-welfare system, which curiously has been overlooked by American conservatives in their insistence on seeing such a system as a threat to their values. It is rooted in religion. “These were deeply religious people, who had a real commitment to looking after the poor,” Mak said of his ancestors. “They built orphanages and hospitals. The churches had a system of relief, which eventually was taken over by the state. So Americans should get over ‘socialism.’ This system developed not after Karl Marx, but after Martin Luther and Francis of Assisi.”
I am on the verge of a serious rant here. But it is late and I need some sleep. I also don't want to alienate anyone. At least not yet, anyway. If you get a chance to read that article, feel free to share your thoughts here.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I might be getting the hang of this after all
Ok, I'm finally starting to find some empty boxes here. I spent a good part of this holiday weekend emptying out old boxes and files. At the same time, I've created a monster project for myself somewhere down the road. I finally went through several boxes of old video tapes. These tapes were full of school projects and family events. Of all the tapes I gathered up, I found I could pitch about 1/3 without hesitation. Others needed a quick scan to see if the label was actually correct. The rest, however, are completely unlabled. That is so like me to do that. This evening I drove in to work and started digitizing some of tapes. Some are keepers, but a lot of the more cringe-worthy performances are now relagated to the scrap pile.
For those of you familiar with the legendary MUTV program "The Produce Department," expect the long-awaited DVD sometime in the next year, complete with bonus footage. I have yet to find Episode 2 which features the infamous (although rather appropriate) bathroom sketch as well as the teacher sketch. I hope that it is on one of the unlabeled tapes. If not, the project may be in jeopardy. If anyone has any information on this video, please let me know.
By the way, for those of you following along, drop me a note sometime and let me know where you're from and what you do. Any of you go through a similar move? Any tips on preparing?
And finally, here's one for you "Produce Department" fans. It isn't the original Young-Holt Unlimited cut, but it'll have to do for now.
For those of you familiar with the legendary MUTV program "The Produce Department," expect the long-awaited DVD sometime in the next year, complete with bonus footage. I have yet to find Episode 2 which features the infamous (although rather appropriate) bathroom sketch as well as the teacher sketch. I hope that it is on one of the unlabeled tapes. If not, the project may be in jeopardy. If anyone has any information on this video, please let me know.
By the way, for those of you following along, drop me a note sometime and let me know where you're from and what you do. Any of you go through a similar move? Any tips on preparing?
And finally, here's one for you "Produce Department" fans. It isn't the original Young-Holt Unlimited cut, but it'll have to do for now.
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