Man, those are some wild horses. They are clearly not use to people.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Commercial Success
Why don’t I ever see commercials like these Honda commercials? All I ever see are crappy commercials that make me want to do things that will make parts of my body other than my brain hurt, because then I would be distracted. I feel that if I ever saw commercials like these, maybe I wouldn’t hate commercials so much.
Enjoy! (P.S. Thank you people at Honda)
http://84.40.3.164/
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721903
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721895
Enjoy! (P.S. Thank you people at Honda)
http://84.40.3.164/
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721903
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721895
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Discoteque District
This city pumps people around like blood through its vains. The metro rumbles through the grate beneath my feet and I look back up just in time to see the cars accelerate away from the intersection. Around me the daily pedestrian parade spills into the street, either antsy to get away from A or excited about B. They're quickly obscured as a bus pulls between us to drop off more participants.
My trip to the Capital in the morning reveals news papers discussing the most recent political maneuvering and what was “Heard on the Hill”. When I go out for lunch, someone on the corner is wanting to tell me about the newest world tragedy and why they need my help. At happy hour people standing around are talking about what neighborhood is ready to bust onto the real estate scene or how much their 1.5 million dollar 3 bedroom house with no yard has appreciated in the last 6 months. My inbox is overflowing with notices of concerts just announced, museum exhibits opening, evites for parties, improv comedy, cultural events, festivals, small groups and dinners.
Politics, finance, ideals all vie for the attention of this city’s residents. For every minute in suburban America where I had to search for a motivation, hunt down activities, the District throws them at me like a rescue worker tossing sandbags. Everyone here is convinced that their cause is the most important, their view the right one. It seems to have one of two results. You either get caught up in a cause or you get cold to them.
How do you balance a desire to care about what is going on around you, to take advantage of the situation you are in, and not go crazy with the dizzying array of options? Some nights I just want to sit on the couch and read.
My trip to the Capital in the morning reveals news papers discussing the most recent political maneuvering and what was “Heard on the Hill”. When I go out for lunch, someone on the corner is wanting to tell me about the newest world tragedy and why they need my help. At happy hour people standing around are talking about what neighborhood is ready to bust onto the real estate scene or how much their 1.5 million dollar 3 bedroom house with no yard has appreciated in the last 6 months. My inbox is overflowing with notices of concerts just announced, museum exhibits opening, evites for parties, improv comedy, cultural events, festivals, small groups and dinners.
Politics, finance, ideals all vie for the attention of this city’s residents. For every minute in suburban America where I had to search for a motivation, hunt down activities, the District throws them at me like a rescue worker tossing sandbags. Everyone here is convinced that their cause is the most important, their view the right one. It seems to have one of two results. You either get caught up in a cause or you get cold to them.
How do you balance a desire to care about what is going on around you, to take advantage of the situation you are in, and not go crazy with the dizzying array of options? Some nights I just want to sit on the couch and read.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Plans
Camping this weekend and KS September 4-8. Does it get any better? I will tell you the answer to this and more questions, coming up at 8.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Back to the Future
So I have reverted back to using my old cell phone (sans camera). It isn't the worst tradgedy in the world since I didn't find myself using the camera feature often. Also, my older cell phone actually has BETTER battery length. However, as I mentioned in my last post the numbers I got since having the new flip style phone are lost. If I know you from Kansas, you're probably good. If I've met you since then, it's probably best to email/voicemail me and leave the number again.
Summary: I have a working phone again now, so I can start calling people back. Wonderful!
Mike
Summary: I have a working phone again now, so I can start calling people back. Wonderful!
Mike
Friday, July 21, 2006
Contagious?
If so then I suppose I have Kaufman to blame for this. Otherwise it's just my own stupid luck. I just lost my phone. How freakin exciting. I should have most of the people in KS's phone numbers in my old phone. If your number has changed in the last 6 months though, or I've met you in DC, please email me your cell phone number. Or if you don't want to worry about me ever calling you - feel free to not email me. Either way.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
World Jump Day
I just wanted to share this link with everyone. You should all participate in this activity. By committing to a once in a lifetime event, a single jump (you jump up, you come down...done) you can improve all of the environmental alterations that many scientists claim are a result of our poor treatment of the globe. It’s a one time quick fix! How could it go wrong?
Seriously though, World Jump Day? As a joke it’s pretty funny. As a statement about our society it’s pretty telling. I don’t think that a single website will necessarily work to indict our whole culture, but I do think it is indicative of a people who are more concerned with covering symptoms than fixing a problem.
My only hope is that this is actually a marketing ploy on someone’s behalf to sell some T-shirts. From that perspective it’s genius. I’d buy one just as a funny statement about what I was saying above.
Seriously though, World Jump Day? As a joke it’s pretty funny. As a statement about our society it’s pretty telling. I don’t think that a single website will necessarily work to indict our whole culture, but I do think it is indicative of a people who are more concerned with covering symptoms than fixing a problem.
My only hope is that this is actually a marketing ploy on someone’s behalf to sell some T-shirts. From that perspective it’s genius. I’d buy one just as a funny statement about what I was saying above.
Friday, July 07, 2006
4th of July Zaniness
I spent my fourth of July on the lawn of the national mall. It was great fun. Amon got to the mall with some guests she had in town and staked out a spot for us. I showed up about noon and hung out with Amon and others all day, anticipating the wonderful fireworks. Amon had packed a picnic lunch, brought blankets and sun umbrellas. It was grand. The only hitch in the plan was the massive storm that raged through the area bringing gale force winds, hail, and sheets of rain that were parallel to the ground.
How did we deal with this monstrosity of a storm you may ask? While others fled for cover we stacked all our stuff in the cart Amon had brought, put the tarp over the top and climbed underneath. We waited out the storm huddled in the shadow of the Washington Monument watching (it was a clear painters tarp) the storm approach, the gusts of wind almost tear the tarp out of our hands, the rain march across the reflecting pool towards us, and a branch get ripped off a tree. When it had reverted to sprinkling, we climbed out from beneath the tarp, set the area back up (blankets nice and dry sitting on top of the tarp) and enjoyed the rest of the evening in the newly cooled off air.
The fire works went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. As a side note, Becky (Amon’s roommate) had her digital SLR with her and playing with it re-ignited my desire to purchase one for myself someday. Sooo nice. Sigh.
Hope your 4th was fantastic.
How did we deal with this monstrosity of a storm you may ask? While others fled for cover we stacked all our stuff in the cart Amon had brought, put the tarp over the top and climbed underneath. We waited out the storm huddled in the shadow of the Washington Monument watching (it was a clear painters tarp) the storm approach, the gusts of wind almost tear the tarp out of our hands, the rain march across the reflecting pool towards us, and a branch get ripped off a tree. When it had reverted to sprinkling, we climbed out from beneath the tarp, set the area back up (blankets nice and dry sitting on top of the tarp) and enjoyed the rest of the evening in the newly cooled off air.
The fire works went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. As a side note, Becky (Amon’s roommate) had her digital SLR with her and playing with it re-ignited my desire to purchase one for myself someday. Sooo nice. Sigh.
Hope your 4th was fantastic.
Monday, July 03, 2006
One more update
It’s been a long time since I updated but things have been exceedingly hectic, which isn’t to say all bad, just very busy. The weekend after the retreat (see pictures below) I went to Michigan with Amon. I got back from that and was back at work Wednesday, so the 3 day work week made for a very chaotic work week. There were 3 deadlines when I got back from my mini vacation. Additionally, when I got back from MI Tuesday evening I discovered that my apartment had soggy carpet in both my bedroom as well as my roommates. So the second half of last week was also spent moving both my furniture and my roommate’s from our bedrooms to the living room. Thankfully I had a relatively relaxing weekend spent reading primarily (and hanging out with Malcolm and his parents a bit). I’m on schedule to finish The Brother’s Karamazov on my 4th of July day off.
Best things last, Amon drove back from MI Sunday evening. She brought along her brother, her cousin, and her cousin’s boyfriend. Hopefully they will do some fun things in the evenings and I will get to tag along.
Hope that helps bring any curious people up to speed. I have a whole list of people to call and seem to always be trying to find time to call them. If I haven’t called you in awhile PLEASE don’t take it personally. I’m very sorry and really mean to call. Hopefully I can catch up this week.
Best things last, Amon drove back from MI Sunday evening. She brought along her brother, her cousin, and her cousin’s boyfriend. Hopefully they will do some fun things in the evenings and I will get to tag along.
Hope that helps bring any curious people up to speed. I have a whole list of people to call and seem to always be trying to find time to call them. If I haven’t called you in awhile PLEASE don’t take it personally. I’m very sorry and really mean to call. Hopefully I can catch up this week.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Balancing: Not Just For Check Books and Acrobats
Inspired by another blog…
I have been hemming and hawing for some time now about setting time aside specifically devoted to solitude, contemplation, quiet time, call it what you will. If you’ve known me for long enough you’ve probably heard my thoughts on the relationship between solitude and community. For that matter if you’ve read Bonhoeffer’s Life Together or Foster’s Celebration of Discipline you probably already know my thoughts on the subject. If none of the above apply to you, or you just need a quick refresher…
It seems that solitude and community work together as one machine (like a lock and key as Lewis would probably say). Spending all one’s time in solitude is unhealthy, just as the same applies to time spent in community. Time spent in community is made richer and more meaningful when it follows time spent in solitude. Time spent in solitude is dangerous when not balanced with time in community. Lastly, it should be clarified that by solitude I do not mean time in front of a tv or asleep, but time spent reading, praying, writing, and contemplating God and life. Similarly, by time in community I do not mean sitting shoulder to shoulder at a bar starring at the liquor bottles while steadily draining a bourbon on the rocks, but rather time talking to others, sharing with others, learning about others and loving others, serving them where possible.
Since most of my time recently has been spent in community, hopefully more the positive kind of community than the negative, I realize that I need to restore that equilibrium with more time in solitude. As I look at the scripture reading I have not been doing, the conversations I haven't had with Abba, or simply the utter lack of reflective writing I’ve done, I see someone who is seriously drying up. I thank God he has shown me this before the creek is dry, but I know that is the logical destination unless I act.
So for now I’m setting aside Tuesday evenings as a time to go home, get out some good books, a notebook or two, and make sure I meditate on all those things that mean most to me in life. It's a measley way to start, but it's something and hopefully it will lead to an increased appetite for more solitude.
Question for the moment:
What do you value most in life? What do you make sure you set aside time for? If these don’t match up, why and what are you going to do about it?
You Have Redeemed My Soul (100 Portraits & Water Deep, Enter the Worship Circle)
You have redeemed my soul
From the pit of emptiness
You have redeemed my soul
From death
I was a hungry child
A dried up river
I was a burned out forest
And no one could do anything for me
But you put food in my body
Water in my dry bed
And to my blackened branches
you brought the springtime green of new life
And nothing is impossible for you
I have been hemming and hawing for some time now about setting time aside specifically devoted to solitude, contemplation, quiet time, call it what you will. If you’ve known me for long enough you’ve probably heard my thoughts on the relationship between solitude and community. For that matter if you’ve read Bonhoeffer’s Life Together or Foster’s Celebration of Discipline you probably already know my thoughts on the subject. If none of the above apply to you, or you just need a quick refresher…
It seems that solitude and community work together as one machine (like a lock and key as Lewis would probably say). Spending all one’s time in solitude is unhealthy, just as the same applies to time spent in community. Time spent in community is made richer and more meaningful when it follows time spent in solitude. Time spent in solitude is dangerous when not balanced with time in community. Lastly, it should be clarified that by solitude I do not mean time in front of a tv or asleep, but time spent reading, praying, writing, and contemplating God and life. Similarly, by time in community I do not mean sitting shoulder to shoulder at a bar starring at the liquor bottles while steadily draining a bourbon on the rocks, but rather time talking to others, sharing with others, learning about others and loving others, serving them where possible.
Since most of my time recently has been spent in community, hopefully more the positive kind of community than the negative, I realize that I need to restore that equilibrium with more time in solitude. As I look at the scripture reading I have not been doing, the conversations I haven't had with Abba, or simply the utter lack of reflective writing I’ve done, I see someone who is seriously drying up. I thank God he has shown me this before the creek is dry, but I know that is the logical destination unless I act.
So for now I’m setting aside Tuesday evenings as a time to go home, get out some good books, a notebook or two, and make sure I meditate on all those things that mean most to me in life. It's a measley way to start, but it's something and hopefully it will lead to an increased appetite for more solitude.
Question for the moment:
What do you value most in life? What do you make sure you set aside time for? If these don’t match up, why and what are you going to do about it?
You Have Redeemed My Soul (100 Portraits & Water Deep, Enter the Worship Circle)
You have redeemed my soul
From the pit of emptiness
You have redeemed my soul
From death
I was a hungry child
A dried up river
I was a burned out forest
And no one could do anything for me
But you put food in my body
Water in my dry bed
And to my blackened branches
you brought the springtime green of new life
And nothing is impossible for you
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Memorial Day Weekend - The Post That Wouldn't End
I hope everyone out there had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend.
Friday I went and helped Amy, a friend (not just some person), prepare communion kits for all 3 church locations. I think they said in all we made over 600 kits. It was fun sitting around talking with the other 3 people helping put the kits together though. Then Friday night Amon was both free and in town so we went out. We had dinner on U street at Duke’s City (named after Duke Ellington I would imagine since it’s practically across the street from the Lincoln Theater) and dessert a few blocks down at Love Café (run by the same people who own Cake Love). I can heartily recommend the strawberry shortcake, oh so delicious.
Saturday I managed to meet up with Malcolm and Amy to see the Bartok string quartet perform a piece that was commissioned by the Library of Congress in the 40’s. It was the first time this piece has been performed in the Library of Congress’s Auditorium. Afterwards Malcolm helped me lug some furniture around, and then he and I went to Dpont Crcle to get a Krispy Kreme donut and watch some kids do the robot dance quite impressively.
Sunday was fun because I got to go to the 11:00 Union Station church service, then I met up with Wendell, Malcolm, and Amy to go to Wendell’s brother’s house and eat traditional Trini food. It was strongly influenced by (Western?)-Indian food and included Roti (a kind of flat bread), potatoes and chick peas in a curry based sauce, and chicken on the bone stewed in a wonderful blend of seasonings (including brown sugar). It was all cooked by Wendell’s mom who did an excellent job (they are from Trinidad). After dinner Wendell, Malcolm, Amy, Malcolm's sister and I sat around and played Scrabble.
Monday found me over at Malcolm’s to help with a Barbeque/pool party. Malcolm had invited one of his co-workers to help us cook and it was amazing. This guy brought his own grill and equipment, including real skewers (the flat metal kind you see at places that specialize in kabobs) and probably 15 or 20 pounds of good quality beef that had been marinating in something excellent for quite awhile. It turned out to be some of the best, most tender beef I’ve had in a long time. We supplemented that with barbeque chicken and some fresh fruit. Then of course there were some chips, delicious drinks, good friends, and a wonderful pool. It was a good day.
About the only thing missing from this weekend (Sat. through Monday, yes I realize Monday isn’t the weekend, but it was a holiday) was Amon. She flew back to Michigan to be with her family and should get back in town today. Her grandmother passed away last Monday and the service was Sunday. While it would have been nice to have her around, it is good that she was able to make it back and be with her family. Amon, my prayers are still with you and your family.
Now I’m back at work for today through Thursday. Next Monday I start my new job. I admit to being a bit nervous, but at the same time quite excited. It should be an excellent opportunity to build on the things I’ve learned here, as well as working on developing another skill set, and meeting new people. Wow, less than a week away.
Friday I went and helped Amy, a friend (not just some person), prepare communion kits for all 3 church locations. I think they said in all we made over 600 kits. It was fun sitting around talking with the other 3 people helping put the kits together though. Then Friday night Amon was both free and in town so we went out. We had dinner on U street at Duke’s City (named after Duke Ellington I would imagine since it’s practically across the street from the Lincoln Theater) and dessert a few blocks down at Love Café (run by the same people who own Cake Love). I can heartily recommend the strawberry shortcake, oh so delicious.
Saturday I managed to meet up with Malcolm and Amy to see the Bartok string quartet perform a piece that was commissioned by the Library of Congress in the 40’s. It was the first time this piece has been performed in the Library of Congress’s Auditorium. Afterwards Malcolm helped me lug some furniture around, and then he and I went to Dpont Crcle to get a Krispy Kreme donut and watch some kids do the robot dance quite impressively.
Sunday was fun because I got to go to the 11:00 Union Station church service, then I met up with Wendell, Malcolm, and Amy to go to Wendell’s brother’s house and eat traditional Trini food. It was strongly influenced by (Western?)-Indian food and included Roti (a kind of flat bread), potatoes and chick peas in a curry based sauce, and chicken on the bone stewed in a wonderful blend of seasonings (including brown sugar). It was all cooked by Wendell’s mom who did an excellent job (they are from Trinidad). After dinner Wendell, Malcolm, Amy, Malcolm's sister and I sat around and played Scrabble.
Monday found me over at Malcolm’s to help with a Barbeque/pool party. Malcolm had invited one of his co-workers to help us cook and it was amazing. This guy brought his own grill and equipment, including real skewers (the flat metal kind you see at places that specialize in kabobs) and probably 15 or 20 pounds of good quality beef that had been marinating in something excellent for quite awhile. It turned out to be some of the best, most tender beef I’ve had in a long time. We supplemented that with barbeque chicken and some fresh fruit. Then of course there were some chips, delicious drinks, good friends, and a wonderful pool. It was a good day.
About the only thing missing from this weekend (Sat. through Monday, yes I realize Monday isn’t the weekend, but it was a holiday) was Amon. She flew back to Michigan to be with her family and should get back in town today. Her grandmother passed away last Monday and the service was Sunday. While it would have been nice to have her around, it is good that she was able to make it back and be with her family. Amon, my prayers are still with you and your family.
Now I’m back at work for today through Thursday. Next Monday I start my new job. I admit to being a bit nervous, but at the same time quite excited. It should be an excellent opportunity to build on the things I’ve learned here, as well as working on developing another skill set, and meeting new people. Wow, less than a week away.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Apologies and Treasures
Huh, so I’ve been chastised for not posting enough. I suppose that is fair. I’ve been doing good recently just to get a post in per week. In my defense though, I hate posting entries that simply read, “I washed my hair today, and I also went to work. I love lamp.” That may work for some people, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I feel like if I’m going to post something there should be a good reason such as keeping people I don’t get to talk to every week updated on events in my life, possibly posting some bit of writing to get feed back on it, commenting on some current event, or sharing newly discovered music or books.
I thought I would remedy my lack of posts by putting up something that was about how I haven’t posted in awhile (smell the silliness of that remark yet?)
Oh, and the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PORTION OF THIS POST!!!
Check out this link:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58151200
My Goodness!!! Alex, your songs, your voice, it’s just amazing. The range is nice as well, from BrokenPeacefulSleep to the Pumpkin Song, to Pitcher OK. Brilliant (even if The Pumpkin song does remind me of a certain song I heard an impromptu version of sitting in an Irish bar in the French Quarter). Still, Brilliant. Download these before he wises up and puts them on an EP and starts charging $14.99 for it. And then, because he deserves it, you should probably send him some money, just to be nice.
I thought I would remedy my lack of posts by putting up something that was about how I haven’t posted in awhile (smell the silliness of that remark yet?)
Oh, and the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PORTION OF THIS POST!!!
Check out this link:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58151200
My Goodness!!! Alex, your songs, your voice, it’s just amazing. The range is nice as well, from BrokenPeacefulSleep to the Pumpkin Song, to Pitcher OK. Brilliant (even if The Pumpkin song does remind me of a certain song I heard an impromptu version of sitting in an Irish bar in the French Quarter). Still, Brilliant. Download these before he wises up and puts them on an EP and starts charging $14.99 for it. And then, because he deserves it, you should probably send him some money, just to be nice.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Changes
It's seems that anyone with interest enough to still be reading this blog deserves to have the following bit of information:
Over my lunch hour last Friday I had a follow up interview at another company. The possibilities over there are pretty exciting and after having taken this last weekend to pray, ponder, and repeat - I have decided to make a career change.
Not only will I be switching companies, but I will be altering my career path (if only slightly). I'll discuss in more detail later, but the new job will involve a more varied Architectural Engineering experience. I'll be involved with telecommunications, AV design, possibly security system design, and maybe some occasional in house acoustics jobs. Ultimately I will likely be taking on a project management roll and functioning as a sort of "jack of all trades" AE person. Could be fun. At any rate, I certainly won't be taking a cut in pay, the benefits are better, and the DC office is larger (offices in DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, LA, Miami, London, Madrid, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul-Korea).
As I said, more details will certainly follow.
Mike
Over my lunch hour last Friday I had a follow up interview at another company. The possibilities over there are pretty exciting and after having taken this last weekend to pray, ponder, and repeat - I have decided to make a career change.
Not only will I be switching companies, but I will be altering my career path (if only slightly). I'll discuss in more detail later, but the new job will involve a more varied Architectural Engineering experience. I'll be involved with telecommunications, AV design, possibly security system design, and maybe some occasional in house acoustics jobs. Ultimately I will likely be taking on a project management roll and functioning as a sort of "jack of all trades" AE person. Could be fun. At any rate, I certainly won't be taking a cut in pay, the benefits are better, and the DC office is larger (offices in DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, LA, Miami, London, Madrid, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul-Korea).
As I said, more details will certainly follow.
Mike
Monday, May 08, 2006
New Music Monday
I’ve encountered some new music lately that I wanted to make a quick note of…These aren’t intended to be full reviews (I’ve only heard one album by each of these people), but rather notices to keep your eyes (or ears) open for these artists.
Denison Whitmer:
I’m really enjoying listening to the cd, “Are you a Dreamer”. The cover art seems to indicate he isn’t taking himself too seriously, but not in a, “Hey I think life is a big joke” sort of way, more in a “Hey I realize that life is too short to not enjoy the small things,” sort of way. The instrumental portions of the music remind me, ocassionally, of Sufjan Stephens on Illinoise (who I’m told he’s toured with). Whitmer’s vocals stand up wonderfully among the better singer song writers of today. Despite the fact that Josh Ritter makes a conscious effort to hark back to artists like Dylan, Whitmer pulls the whole package off better, in my humble opinion. I still love Josh Ritter’s sparse work on Bone of Song and other songs on Hello Starling, but that’s another subject.
Rosie Thomas:
Someone I know has called Rosie Thomas the match to Denison Whitmer. Lyrics from the song October on “When We Were Small”, “Some days when she is slightly down, tell her it is ok to frown, it makes you just fall more in love with her.” I lack the proper music library to discuss Rosie’s voice, but the ambience her music creates is undeniable. When you listen to her songs you feel like you’re alternately wearing your most comfortable sweater watching it rain outside, or sipping tea on a sun covered leather couch rereading your favorite book.
Brandi Carlile:
Ah Brandi Carlile. I first heard about Brandi Carlile when she opened for Jamie Cullum. I was so satisfied after hearing her that if Jamie had pulled a no show, I would have still felt great about the concert (he did play though and his energy was INSANE). Have you ever watched someone who is excellent at something? It could be as simple as watching an expert chef cut an onion, the sort of thing that happens in kitchens all over the world every night. But the way they do it reveals how many thousands of times they have used that knife, how well they understand the entire process they are involved in, and how supremely competent they are. Listening to Brandi sing Hallelujah was like that. Her combination of youth and talent (hey, she started EARLY in life) result in someone with an already well developed skill presenting life in a very fresh way.
Denison Whitmer:
I’m really enjoying listening to the cd, “Are you a Dreamer”. The cover art seems to indicate he isn’t taking himself too seriously, but not in a, “Hey I think life is a big joke” sort of way, more in a “Hey I realize that life is too short to not enjoy the small things,” sort of way. The instrumental portions of the music remind me, ocassionally, of Sufjan Stephens on Illinoise (who I’m told he’s toured with). Whitmer’s vocals stand up wonderfully among the better singer song writers of today. Despite the fact that Josh Ritter makes a conscious effort to hark back to artists like Dylan, Whitmer pulls the whole package off better, in my humble opinion. I still love Josh Ritter’s sparse work on Bone of Song and other songs on Hello Starling, but that’s another subject.
Rosie Thomas:
Someone I know has called Rosie Thomas the match to Denison Whitmer. Lyrics from the song October on “When We Were Small”, “Some days when she is slightly down, tell her it is ok to frown, it makes you just fall more in love with her.” I lack the proper music library to discuss Rosie’s voice, but the ambience her music creates is undeniable. When you listen to her songs you feel like you’re alternately wearing your most comfortable sweater watching it rain outside, or sipping tea on a sun covered leather couch rereading your favorite book.
Brandi Carlile:
Ah Brandi Carlile. I first heard about Brandi Carlile when she opened for Jamie Cullum. I was so satisfied after hearing her that if Jamie had pulled a no show, I would have still felt great about the concert (he did play though and his energy was INSANE). Have you ever watched someone who is excellent at something? It could be as simple as watching an expert chef cut an onion, the sort of thing that happens in kitchens all over the world every night. But the way they do it reveals how many thousands of times they have used that knife, how well they understand the entire process they are involved in, and how supremely competent they are. Listening to Brandi sing Hallelujah was like that. Her combination of youth and talent (hey, she started EARLY in life) result in someone with an already well developed skill presenting life in a very fresh way.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Put some water on the Kettle...
...Let's just sit here and talk a little while.
Job update: Not much to report that I can mention on the internet. My company keeps on keepin' on. Supposedly I'm getting a promotion in June, so that will be interesting. They just hired someone to work on Audio Visual (AV) projects in DC. So at least there's another body in the office. Helps with the not slacking when there are other people around - no matter how well intentioned you are.
Church update: I've been switching services alot lately. I had been going to the 11:00 Union Station service, but I’ve also gone to the Saturday night Coffee shop service which is cool. Then last Sunday I went to the 10:30 Union Station service. I need to pick a service and keep going. The good news though, is that the reason I’ve been going to the different services is that I know people at each of them, which means I’m getting more plugged into the important part of the Church – Relationships. I owe most of that to the Small Groups I’ve been attending.
Small Groups: The Church History group is over, but I was glad to have been a part of that, and now I have an excellent book to go back and reread more thoroughly (you could say peruse if you wanted to use the correct definition). Narnia is going excellently. We are taking a “month off” but enjoyed discussing the books so much we are still going to meet twice this month to go over the two books we weren’t able to cover in the semester long group (Voyage and Silver Chair). In June we start Mere Christianity, officially making us Inklings Reloaded, Beyond the Lamp Post (Amazingly enough, I did not come up with that name). I’ve meet some great people at the Narnia group.
Meeting People: Yes, buried in the middle of this post is in fact the most exciting news…I met this really cool girl at the Narnia group. I don’t know how she feels about having her name on the internet, so I’ll just say that I’ve been extremely happy to spend time with her recently. Call me sometime and I can fill you in on a few more details, but only the details a gentleman can be expected to share.
Conclusion: Busy, check. Learning, check. Having fun, check. Challenging myself, check. Missing Lawrence and all those friends back in KS, sigh…triple check.
Job update: Not much to report that I can mention on the internet. My company keeps on keepin' on. Supposedly I'm getting a promotion in June, so that will be interesting. They just hired someone to work on Audio Visual (AV) projects in DC. So at least there's another body in the office. Helps with the not slacking when there are other people around - no matter how well intentioned you are.
Church update: I've been switching services alot lately. I had been going to the 11:00 Union Station service, but I’ve also gone to the Saturday night Coffee shop service which is cool. Then last Sunday I went to the 10:30 Union Station service. I need to pick a service and keep going. The good news though, is that the reason I’ve been going to the different services is that I know people at each of them, which means I’m getting more plugged into the important part of the Church – Relationships. I owe most of that to the Small Groups I’ve been attending.
Small Groups: The Church History group is over, but I was glad to have been a part of that, and now I have an excellent book to go back and reread more thoroughly (you could say peruse if you wanted to use the correct definition). Narnia is going excellently. We are taking a “month off” but enjoyed discussing the books so much we are still going to meet twice this month to go over the two books we weren’t able to cover in the semester long group (Voyage and Silver Chair). In June we start Mere Christianity, officially making us Inklings Reloaded, Beyond the Lamp Post (Amazingly enough, I did not come up with that name). I’ve meet some great people at the Narnia group.
Meeting People: Yes, buried in the middle of this post is in fact the most exciting news…I met this really cool girl at the Narnia group. I don’t know how she feels about having her name on the internet, so I’ll just say that I’ve been extremely happy to spend time with her recently. Call me sometime and I can fill you in on a few more details, but only the details a gentleman can be expected to share.
Conclusion: Busy, check. Learning, check. Having fun, check. Challenging myself, check. Missing Lawrence and all those friends back in KS, sigh…triple check.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Update
I am now officially, as of today, the only full time acoustical consultant in the DC office. Hmm...hopefully this won't last too long.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
Small Groups
I have now attended two different small groups that are sponsored by my church. The first is one you have already heard about, the Chronicles of Narnia small group. The second is a new one for me, Church History.
The Chronicles of Narnia group is an great fit for me for many reasons, it’s main topic being the most obvious reason. It has been quite fun though to get to know the other people in this discussion group, and I’m quite looking forward to getting together more with them. There have been murmurs of doing a general Lewis group next “semester”. That could be a fun way to continue the thread we’re on right now.
The second group I alluded to, the Church History group is lead by my friend Keelan. He has his doctorate in Church History, and as such has more than a bit of background in the area. I need to get the book we are using as our “text”, but that should be more of a delight than a chore. It looks like an interesting book.
I haven’t done a stellar job of putting myself out there and making zillions of new friends here in DC, but looking back on my life thus far – that doesn’t seem to be my modus operandi. In the past I have focused on developing deep friendships in lieu of broad reaching acquaintances. Whether this is a good thing, a bad thing, or a thing completely lacking in moral or ethical value, I don’t know. I also don’t intend to delve into that, at least not at this juncture. All that is simply to say that I see this happening again and find it interesting and that it is hard to change things that are a deep part of you. I’ve thought about intentionally making more friends and it just isn’t how I’m “wired”.
That would be a good topic for another blog, the subject of friendship. I think I’ll stop here and continue on with that later.
PS. Go read some of the Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis is a genius at British humor. So freakin hilarious. I just can’t stop laughing at some of the lines in Magicians Nephew (it helps if you read them out loud and see for yourself how absurd they sound).
The Chronicles of Narnia group is an great fit for me for many reasons, it’s main topic being the most obvious reason. It has been quite fun though to get to know the other people in this discussion group, and I’m quite looking forward to getting together more with them. There have been murmurs of doing a general Lewis group next “semester”. That could be a fun way to continue the thread we’re on right now.
The second group I alluded to, the Church History group is lead by my friend Keelan. He has his doctorate in Church History, and as such has more than a bit of background in the area. I need to get the book we are using as our “text”, but that should be more of a delight than a chore. It looks like an interesting book.
I haven’t done a stellar job of putting myself out there and making zillions of new friends here in DC, but looking back on my life thus far – that doesn’t seem to be my modus operandi. In the past I have focused on developing deep friendships in lieu of broad reaching acquaintances. Whether this is a good thing, a bad thing, or a thing completely lacking in moral or ethical value, I don’t know. I also don’t intend to delve into that, at least not at this juncture. All that is simply to say that I see this happening again and find it interesting and that it is hard to change things that are a deep part of you. I’ve thought about intentionally making more friends and it just isn’t how I’m “wired”.
That would be a good topic for another blog, the subject of friendship. I think I’ll stop here and continue on with that later.
PS. Go read some of the Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis is a genius at British humor. So freakin hilarious. I just can’t stop laughing at some of the lines in Magicians Nephew (it helps if you read them out loud and see for yourself how absurd they sound).
Thursday, March 23, 2006
That Minutia I Mentioned in the Header...
As indicated by the title, I just wanted to update with a few things that are going on in my life. Consequently, today’s post should be skipped by anyone wishing only to cull the fine strands of wisdom that are ever so carefully woven about this page.
JOB:
First announcement: I’m going to go ahead and let the cat out of the bag: I’m getting a promotion in June. My superiors have been telling me they appreciate what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and the situation I’m in; and at my review I found out they are going to show me their appreciation as well. Certainly this makes my decision about what to do about my job just that much more complicated, though it is nice to see they can act when it is called for.
Every time I talk to people I get asked how my job is going, so to help minimize the frequency of this question…As far as the WORK itself goes, things are going swimmingly. I can look back on where I was when I started in January 2005 and am astounded by how much I have grown – in technical acumen, comfort in front of clients, and ability to manage projects. As far as the environment goes, things are a bit more gray. We are down to 2 full time people in my branch office, Abigail and myself, with the president of the company, Victoria, coming down to triage the situation until a more stable solution is secured.
Additionally our Marketing Assistant, Jen, has moved on to a larger company where she can focus less on administrative tasks and more on marketing. At this job she will have people to work with on marketing matters in her office. It was definitely a good choice for her. However, we had gotten to be really good friends and not seeing her every day at work is quite a downer. It hasn’t really hit me fully since this week (first week she has been gone) has been absurdly busy.
I co-led a presentation to the DC chapter of the American institute of Architects last night. It was part of a continuing education series designed to give AIA member the credits they need and educate them on the impact of acoustics in learning environments (classrooms mostly). Apparently it was one of the best attended lectures they have had recently. It was pretty exciting to be standing in front of all of them going through this presentation. Good times.
HOME:
I’m seriously considering vacationing in Lawrence again this summer. The only question right now is if I take a week in May or a Week in June. Any thoughts?
I was up until 2:00am Monday morning doing laundry, and putting together more IKEA shelving and storage. My room has been a disaster area, and the main culprit is clothes. I just have too many clothes. Oddly enough, I can never find what I really wish I had. Sigh…consumerism.
I’m attending a book discussion my church is sponsoring; it’s part of their small group program. We are studying the Chronicles of Narnia which has been immensely fun. Unfortunately I have missed the last two weeks, but I’m back full force tonight.
The Kennedy Center is putting on performances of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and I’m desperately trying to find people to go with.
One of my acquaintances/friends, Beth, is going to see an improve act in Gallery Place/Chinatown Friday and I think I’m going to check that out with some of her friends.
I still haven’t bought a laptop computer.
I still owe 10 billion dollars to the IRS (it’s close enough to 10 billion given the amount of money I have).
I still love where I live - so close to Adam’s Morgan, U Street, Dupont Circle, and Work.
If you made it thus far, congratulations. Any questions I didn’t answer or areas I didn’t update feel free to ask about in the comments section and I might answer them.
JOB:
First announcement: I’m going to go ahead and let the cat out of the bag: I’m getting a promotion in June. My superiors have been telling me they appreciate what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and the situation I’m in; and at my review I found out they are going to show me their appreciation as well. Certainly this makes my decision about what to do about my job just that much more complicated, though it is nice to see they can act when it is called for.
Every time I talk to people I get asked how my job is going, so to help minimize the frequency of this question…As far as the WORK itself goes, things are going swimmingly. I can look back on where I was when I started in January 2005 and am astounded by how much I have grown – in technical acumen, comfort in front of clients, and ability to manage projects. As far as the environment goes, things are a bit more gray. We are down to 2 full time people in my branch office, Abigail and myself, with the president of the company, Victoria, coming down to triage the situation until a more stable solution is secured.
Additionally our Marketing Assistant, Jen, has moved on to a larger company where she can focus less on administrative tasks and more on marketing. At this job she will have people to work with on marketing matters in her office. It was definitely a good choice for her. However, we had gotten to be really good friends and not seeing her every day at work is quite a downer. It hasn’t really hit me fully since this week (first week she has been gone) has been absurdly busy.
I co-led a presentation to the DC chapter of the American institute of Architects last night. It was part of a continuing education series designed to give AIA member the credits they need and educate them on the impact of acoustics in learning environments (classrooms mostly). Apparently it was one of the best attended lectures they have had recently. It was pretty exciting to be standing in front of all of them going through this presentation. Good times.
HOME:
I’m seriously considering vacationing in Lawrence again this summer. The only question right now is if I take a week in May or a Week in June. Any thoughts?
I was up until 2:00am Monday morning doing laundry, and putting together more IKEA shelving and storage. My room has been a disaster area, and the main culprit is clothes. I just have too many clothes. Oddly enough, I can never find what I really wish I had. Sigh…consumerism.
I’m attending a book discussion my church is sponsoring; it’s part of their small group program. We are studying the Chronicles of Narnia which has been immensely fun. Unfortunately I have missed the last two weeks, but I’m back full force tonight.
The Kennedy Center is putting on performances of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and I’m desperately trying to find people to go with.
One of my acquaintances/friends, Beth, is going to see an improve act in Gallery Place/Chinatown Friday and I think I’m going to check that out with some of her friends.
I still haven’t bought a laptop computer.
I still owe 10 billion dollars to the IRS (it’s close enough to 10 billion given the amount of money I have).
I still love where I live - so close to Adam’s Morgan, U Street, Dupont Circle, and Work.
If you made it thus far, congratulations. Any questions I didn’t answer or areas I didn’t update feel free to ask about in the comments section and I might answer them.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Faded Black and White
Previously written at the Hirshorn while contemplating ,”Plastic Construction of Noise and Speed”
She wants me to live like there is no absolute truth. He wants me to accept that our view of right and wrong is just evolved conditioning to promote survival of my species. They want me to cast aside the concept of Holiness and Evil, black and white in favor of their comfortable gray sweaters. I have to admit the idea of curling up on the couch in a well worn faded sweater is very appealing.
The problem is – as good as that sounds, I can’t accept that the idea of that gray sweater solves all my problems. Without a black and a white, all the grays are lost. What does it mean to say one is “darker” than another, or “lighter” than another. There is chaos.
I want to embrace the idea of grays because I look around me and they seem real. Every day people are faced with decisions that do not easily break down into an embracing of Right or a Denial of it. It seems that the problem is not in the existence of the grays, but in the banishing of black and white.
And so I ask myself which system seems more honest. A system that acknowledges a black and a white but scoffs at and derides the grays that appear everywhere? A system that sees the multitude of varying valued grays and disallows the ordering of them because to do so would be to recognize a black and a white? Or a system that recognizes a black and white as the organizing scheme by which we make sense of all the grays we see in this foggy world?
It is written that some day we will see Him even as He has seen us. I wonder if on that day we won’t say, “This is the white I have always seen hinted at but now realize I never saw. And that over there is the black I always felt pressing in but, Thank God, realize I never truly saw.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG) We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
She wants me to live like there is no absolute truth. He wants me to accept that our view of right and wrong is just evolved conditioning to promote survival of my species. They want me to cast aside the concept of Holiness and Evil, black and white in favor of their comfortable gray sweaters. I have to admit the idea of curling up on the couch in a well worn faded sweater is very appealing.
The problem is – as good as that sounds, I can’t accept that the idea of that gray sweater solves all my problems. Without a black and a white, all the grays are lost. What does it mean to say one is “darker” than another, or “lighter” than another. There is chaos.
I want to embrace the idea of grays because I look around me and they seem real. Every day people are faced with decisions that do not easily break down into an embracing of Right or a Denial of it. It seems that the problem is not in the existence of the grays, but in the banishing of black and white.
And so I ask myself which system seems more honest. A system that acknowledges a black and a white but scoffs at and derides the grays that appear everywhere? A system that sees the multitude of varying valued grays and disallows the ordering of them because to do so would be to recognize a black and a white? Or a system that recognizes a black and white as the organizing scheme by which we make sense of all the grays we see in this foggy world?
It is written that some day we will see Him even as He has seen us. I wonder if on that day we won’t say, “This is the white I have always seen hinted at but now realize I never saw. And that over there is the black I always felt pressing in but, Thank God, realize I never truly saw.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG) We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
Friday, March 03, 2006
I went to a wizards game on Wednesday evening. My friend Malcolm had access to some extra ticketes. I don't think I'd ever buy a ticket to go see them but going once off a free ticket was a worth while experience. If nothing else I got to try my hand at being a sports photographer. And our seats were on the 2nd row, I was seat B-06.
Friday, February 24, 2006
More Narnia?
Just a little note, there’s a new post on the Narnia blog I started. Anyone still interested in doing a discussion on the Chronicles of Narnia series should check it out. The short of it is that I’m attending a weekly book study here in DC and at the very least will post some of the stuff we talk about for further discussion with anyone else who’s interested. If this sounds appealing to you, leave a comment on the most recent post at:
http://friendsofnarnia.blogspot.com
I’ll probably make up my mind by next Friday, so try and add a comment by then even if you’re just curious.
Mike
http://friendsofnarnia.blogspot.com
I’ll probably make up my mind by next Friday, so try and add a comment by then even if you’re just curious.
Mike
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
But then when it rains...
6:00 PM Tuesday night: Did my taxes.
9:00 AM Wednesday Morning: Shredded my passport application.
I guess if I'm to look on the bright side...at least I hadn't already bought my plane tickets or payed for my passport yet. My only remaining hope is that my friends going to europe will take lots of pictures and I can once again see europe through someone else's eyes.
Sometimes life sucks. Here's to living in the real world, Cheers.
9:00 AM Wednesday Morning: Shredded my passport application.
I guess if I'm to look on the bright side...at least I hadn't already bought my plane tickets or payed for my passport yet. My only remaining hope is that my friends going to europe will take lots of pictures and I can once again see europe through someone else's eyes.
Sometimes life sucks. Here's to living in the real world, Cheers.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Random Rays
Have you ever had one of those days where:
You wake up and you aren’t really tired. Eh, you could roll over and snooze for another 6 hours, sure, but today…something just feels different. Despite your most sincere attempts at squeezing every last minute of sleep out of that juicy, juicy pillow your body just keeps telling you, “Nope, I’m ready to get up now.” So you roll out of bed, make your way to the bathroom, find the usual cloud of grogginess parted even before the scent of the soap tickles your nose. Huh, that’s odd. After your shower you find that while you haven’t done laundry in about a week and a half you somehow have just the right outfit starring you in the face.
You step out of your door only to be greeted by a brilliant sky and even though it’s the middle of February you’d swear you can hear birds chirping. To silence those nagging reminders of spring you plug into your favorite mp3 player and let loss a tidal wave of cheerful upbeat music (Beastie Boys…Girls?) instead of the sad bastard music you’d usually listen to in an effort to pump up for the day ahead.
When you get on the elevator to go up to your office you are followed by 3 girls in their mid twenties who look like they just stepped off a run way in Milan, and they are all going to the floor above yours. So wearing your positive attitude on your sleeve you uncharacteristically find yourself talking to them. You'd ask them if they all worked at the same office and, when they said yes you’d actually be so on your game you’d come up with the reply, “Man, I’ve got to change jobs!” delivered right as your getting off the elevator. If that happened to you I’m sure you’d hear them giggling pleasantly as the doors shut, and I’m sure it would feel wonderful.
Unfortunately I can’t remember the last time I had a day like that. Well, the last time before this morning anyway. It’s nice sometimes, to get a great beginning to the day in the midst of all the crappy ones.
You wake up and you aren’t really tired. Eh, you could roll over and snooze for another 6 hours, sure, but today…something just feels different. Despite your most sincere attempts at squeezing every last minute of sleep out of that juicy, juicy pillow your body just keeps telling you, “Nope, I’m ready to get up now.” So you roll out of bed, make your way to the bathroom, find the usual cloud of grogginess parted even before the scent of the soap tickles your nose. Huh, that’s odd. After your shower you find that while you haven’t done laundry in about a week and a half you somehow have just the right outfit starring you in the face.
You step out of your door only to be greeted by a brilliant sky and even though it’s the middle of February you’d swear you can hear birds chirping. To silence those nagging reminders of spring you plug into your favorite mp3 player and let loss a tidal wave of cheerful upbeat music (Beastie Boys…Girls?) instead of the sad bastard music you’d usually listen to in an effort to pump up for the day ahead.
When you get on the elevator to go up to your office you are followed by 3 girls in their mid twenties who look like they just stepped off a run way in Milan, and they are all going to the floor above yours. So wearing your positive attitude on your sleeve you uncharacteristically find yourself talking to them. You'd ask them if they all worked at the same office and, when they said yes you’d actually be so on your game you’d come up with the reply, “Man, I’ve got to change jobs!” delivered right as your getting off the elevator. If that happened to you I’m sure you’d hear them giggling pleasantly as the doors shut, and I’m sure it would feel wonderful.
Unfortunately I can’t remember the last time I had a day like that. Well, the last time before this morning anyway. It’s nice sometimes, to get a great beginning to the day in the midst of all the crappy ones.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Asthmatic Kitty
As sort of an in-between-posts post, I'd just like to say I've been listening to the Sufjan Stevens album "Come on Feel the Illinoise"
Pretty good album. I first saw it on a couple of Best Album's of 2005 lists on NPR, then I saw it in a couple of magazine reviews, then a friend (Malcolm, thank you very much!) loaned it to me. So I guess you could say it’s getting a bit of buzz, though I still think your average person has no clue who Sufjan Stevens is, let alone how to pronounce his name. The label he's on is called Asthmatic Kitty. That's great.
As far as the album itself goes, I must say I love his track titles, such as “A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The Great Godfrey Maze” (a 19 second track). Sure, MAYBE it's sort of gimmicky, maybe if every artist on every album was as verbose about their song names I would want to burn all of my cd's. However, for a single album by a single artist, it works.
I started to review the album from a musical standpoint and realized after getting 3 paragraphs in, that this wasn’t what I wanted to do. I just wanted to tell you I’m listening to this album and enjoying it. THAT IS ALL. You are dismissed.
Pretty good album. I first saw it on a couple of Best Album's of 2005 lists on NPR, then I saw it in a couple of magazine reviews, then a friend (Malcolm, thank you very much!) loaned it to me. So I guess you could say it’s getting a bit of buzz, though I still think your average person has no clue who Sufjan Stevens is, let alone how to pronounce his name. The label he's on is called Asthmatic Kitty. That's great.
As far as the album itself goes, I must say I love his track titles, such as “A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The Great Godfrey Maze” (a 19 second track). Sure, MAYBE it's sort of gimmicky, maybe if every artist on every album was as verbose about their song names I would want to burn all of my cd's. However, for a single album by a single artist, it works.
I started to review the album from a musical standpoint and realized after getting 3 paragraphs in, that this wasn’t what I wanted to do. I just wanted to tell you I’m listening to this album and enjoying it. THAT IS ALL. You are dismissed.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Interesting Job Situations
Well the principal at our DC office (yes, my boss) had his last day today, so it is official and I can talk about it so what am I going to do? I guess not talk about it. I don't really know what to say right now. This has been a rather interesting first job.
Mike
Mike
Friday, January 13, 2006
New Years Resolutions
No, actually I didn't make any of those. I probably should have though.
Things I didn't do last year:
1. Kill anyone.
2. Go bancrupt.
3. Get in a wreck.
4. Lose a limb.
Things I did last year:
1. Move half way across the country
2. Start a new job
3. Start exploring our nations capital
4. Pay my OWN bills
5. Make some new friends
6. Eat at some great restaurants
7. Read quite a few books (but not enough)
I think the only thing more depressing than not accomplishing much is seeing how much others have accomplished. Some times I wonder, though, if other people aren't just better at "telling their story".
Things I didn't do last year:
1. Kill anyone.
2. Go bancrupt.
3. Get in a wreck.
4. Lose a limb.
Things I did last year:
1. Move half way across the country
2. Start a new job
3. Start exploring our nations capital
4. Pay my OWN bills
5. Make some new friends
6. Eat at some great restaurants
7. Read quite a few books (but not enough)
I think the only thing more depressing than not accomplishing much is seeing how much others have accomplished. Some times I wonder, though, if other people aren't just better at "telling their story".
Monday, January 09, 2006
100 days of reading
I don't know for a fact that it took me 100 days to finish 100 Years of Solitude, but it was close. Sometimes you read a book and it just does NOT suck you in. Usually that's when you decide not to finish the book and just say, "Well, at least I tried". I'm glad I didn't give up on this one. And I'm now going to have to re-read this book.
The rest of this (hopefully not too long) post will be about why, exactly, I'm going to have to re-read this book. As I read through the book I kept getting bogged down by trying to remember who they were talking about at any given time. 90% of the characters have some derivation of 1 of two names, either Ursula or Aurelino, the matriarch and patriarch of the family. Additionally they timeline gets switched around quite a few times. Also, there are long stretches where the only thing happening is character development (that very important task of bringing your flat characters into the third dimension so to speak), without any Hollywood-esque action sequences. No single one of these things would have put me off the book, however the frequent overlapping of each of these characteristics was enough to make the book a chore at several intervals.
So why re-read a book like this? That is a question easily answered by a reading of the last page of the book. In my humble opinion, the genius of this book is that it takes the story of many generations of a family, essentially from its genesis to its quite literal extinction, and uses the lives of these characters to reveal the story of an entire village and its people. The way in which he combines figurative with literal is nothing short of magnificent. I'm left wondering if there actually was a cloud of yellow butterflies that constantly followed one character around, even marking his death, or if that single drop of blood really did navigate an entire city all the way to the room in which the victim's mother was sitting just to announce his death?
Any one of the reasons I liked this book could possibly (I said possibly) be considered gimmicky. However, having all of them in one place and tied together by masterful narration, it's impossible for it to be a fluke, or beginner's luck. No, the reason I wish to read this book again is that now I understand how to view it. When I first started reading it I had no idea what to look for, no idea where certain things were going. And if this book has a fault (from my perspective) it's that it is hard to read until you know what to expect. Sort of like that uncle that is hard to appreciate until you really get to know him - at which time you realize just how well intentioned he really was and can finally appreciate his actions and words.
Also, I completely understand why there is a family tree at the front of the book. More useful even than the maps in the Lord of the Rings books.
Mike
The rest of this (hopefully not too long) post will be about why, exactly, I'm going to have to re-read this book. As I read through the book I kept getting bogged down by trying to remember who they were talking about at any given time. 90% of the characters have some derivation of 1 of two names, either Ursula or Aurelino, the matriarch and patriarch of the family. Additionally they timeline gets switched around quite a few times. Also, there are long stretches where the only thing happening is character development (that very important task of bringing your flat characters into the third dimension so to speak), without any Hollywood-esque action sequences. No single one of these things would have put me off the book, however the frequent overlapping of each of these characteristics was enough to make the book a chore at several intervals.
So why re-read a book like this? That is a question easily answered by a reading of the last page of the book. In my humble opinion, the genius of this book is that it takes the story of many generations of a family, essentially from its genesis to its quite literal extinction, and uses the lives of these characters to reveal the story of an entire village and its people. The way in which he combines figurative with literal is nothing short of magnificent. I'm left wondering if there actually was a cloud of yellow butterflies that constantly followed one character around, even marking his death, or if that single drop of blood really did navigate an entire city all the way to the room in which the victim's mother was sitting just to announce his death?
Any one of the reasons I liked this book could possibly (I said possibly) be considered gimmicky. However, having all of them in one place and tied together by masterful narration, it's impossible for it to be a fluke, or beginner's luck. No, the reason I wish to read this book again is that now I understand how to view it. When I first started reading it I had no idea what to look for, no idea where certain things were going. And if this book has a fault (from my perspective) it's that it is hard to read until you know what to expect. Sort of like that uncle that is hard to appreciate until you really get to know him - at which time you realize just how well intentioned he really was and can finally appreciate his actions and words.
Also, I completely understand why there is a family tree at the front of the book. More useful even than the maps in the Lord of the Rings books.
Mike
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