man unable to ask for better day, 2.0

isobel and i took a sick day last week and had an awesome day together. we:

- mailed a letter to her friend
- made homemade lemonade
- played Connect 4 until Isobel finally beat me
- went to see LEGO Movie part 2
- it was 1/2 price popcorn day
- walked over to the apple store and got new Airpods
- the airpods are amazing

man unable to ask for better day

today was an oddly good day. m

- wore a fantastic sweater at found at thrift store 2 nights ago
- stopped by metro on my way in to make life easier.
- finished all my work the day before so was able to take care of housekeeping items today like a recommendation letter for someone
- had christmas lunch at work
- got some work done then
- had drinks with work friends
- sweater was a huge hit
- got $25 cash from work
- logan at work bought one of my xmas sweaters from me for $20. i paid $5 for it and 3 other shirts. free shirts for josh
- went to music with todd and parked right at the front door to exit/in
- music sucked but tickets were free
- had some beers and talked w todd
- came home and blogged about my delightfully social and fulfilling day

 

 

good week

i have so many good things happen in my life all the time and it’s such a shame i don’t write it all down; i’d never complain again.

had a good last week.
- we’re all done with winter illnesses
- isobel is doing great in school and learning piano (sort of)
- gus is talking so much
- a really big project i’ve been working on at work got approval. it’s no where near done by now construction can begin and the client is happy.
- i got a new chair at work that’s tall enough for my standing desk, which i still love
- i got $700 back from insurance after my foot surgery
- my foot is doing ok, not amazing, but good i think
- i got a new car... for the first ever i chose a new car for myself. it’s an ‘05 Saab 9-3, 5spd turbo with 115k mi and xenon lights... i went from a ‘96 honda that i was proud to drive but not necessarily “proud of”  to a car with every bell and whistle possible (in 2005).  it’s kind of a dream car to be honest and i got a heck of a deal. here’s hoping i can quickly sell the honda. (sold the honda for $2300. win)

fundamental attribution error

...A natural tendency to see the behavior of others as being determined by their character – while excusing our own behavior based on circumstances.

thoughts one week later

Regardless of how you feel about a certain issue, learning more about it and the people it effects can't be a bad thing right? Education benefits everyone.

I would encourage anyone with an open heart to watch 13th on Netflix... gain some perspective and understanding on this country's most divisive issue. See how far we've come... and how far we have to go.

Because, regardless of who won the election (or rather, despite), this is an opportunity to stop repeating the old mistakes, stop having the same arguments, stop judging people the same way and start reconnecting.

Instead of being defensive, look for opportunities to step out of your normal. Get outside your regular world and share a moment with someone you typically wouldn't, whenever you can, and start to reconnect with each other.

Look for chances to learn, to question your opinion, to grow and change; to surprise someone with patience and kindness and generosity... to speak up for the downtrodden.

No one man or woman put into power will solve our country's internal struggles, but neither will insulting the other side or delegitimizing the oppressed. We can't blame and neglect our way to a solution. We created this mess, this environment of defensiveness, this divide, but we can make things right together...

as one nation, under God,
indivisible,
demanding liberty and justice for all.

tonight

I feel heartbroken.

Hillary is no Marty McFly, but I feel like this is Back to the Future, America is Lorraine, and she just chose Biff.

The bully won tonight and I have to explain to my daughter why there isn't a female president yet. I get to try and explain what everyone is so scared of... because fear also won. fear of people different from us, foreign and domestic, fear of oppression...

We just elected the worst example of a human I've ever seen, into the most powerful role in the world. You saw he was sexist, a bully, ill- tempered, apathetic to input, incapable of speaking sentences like an adult and yet... you still picked him. YOU HEARD THIS MONSTER SPEAK... AND YOU STILL PICKED HIM.

I'm furious. I feel betrayed, left in the heat of battle by the cowardly soldier trying to save his own skin.

My family picked a known sexual predator over a woman who they think is "corrupt". Fuck them so much. I'm furious with their ethics and blatant double standards.

I dont know what I want to happen more... for trump to skate by on the experience of those around him and not cause much damage, or to totally fuck shit up so theres a revolution in 4 yrs and we can finally learn this lesson.

That podcast from Malcom Gladwell, Revisionist History, pretty much called it. Australia went through this same thing with their leadership. They had their first female prime minister and then voted in a trump-like figure, someone who was a sexist, asshat. They're still fighting for gay marriage.

I just feel numb. I can't even begin to grasp the ramifications of what we just did.

What if we tried the Civil War thing again but without the war part?

I guess I'm going to bed. I'm so sorry Isobel.

#ElectionNight #trumpvhillary #usapickedtrump

I Never Left, Really, But... I'm Back

My old host dropped my photography website so I'm redirecting to my old trusty blog for the time being. I haven't posted in a while, which is a shame because there's nothing quite like reading what 10yrs-ago-you had to say about something and being fairly embarrassed but also happy that that's not exactly you anymore.

As a dad of two little ones, my current photography endeavors are limited but they'll return one day. For now I'm the full time photographer for my family and friends... and I'm perfectly fine with that. All things in good time.

That and I still listen to tons of new music and try to share a new mix every month. So here we go... back to blogging and music and life.

(All past mixes and more can be found by clicking on the Spotify badge in the right margin)

June (& May) Music Mix

Well, it just happened again... I created the greatest mix ever. And actually, I split them up into two mixes, thus fine-tuning the art of mixes in ways never thought possible.

12.06 I Need Time to Stop Moving
(indie/rock/pop)

12.06 Everything That Shine Ain't Always Gonna be Gold
(dance/electronic/hiphop)
(i.e. the stuff you won't hear on Grey's Anatomy)



I didn't get a chance to make a post for last month's mix, but here it is (it previously held the record for greatest mix ever):

12.05 Don't Leave Without Me

Favorite Tracks That Aren't on Spotify

Even though I use Spotify 24/7, there's a lot of music that won't ever make it there. These are some of the tracks that I keep listening to that aren't on there. (Warning: There are bad words in some of these)

April Music Mix

 

Listen on Spotify 

Tracklist 

(It's cool, now you can listen to the songs straight off of Sharemyplaylist.com. Maybe posting a link to the tracklist is redundant since you can just as easily see it in Spotify. Either way.)

There is a lot of dance on this mix. I just wasn't really into the lighter indie stuff this month. Still some great stuff. I love the Warrior track from Kimbra, Foster the People and A-trak. Diplo, Rusko and Miike Snow put out some great stuff this month. Just give it a listen. Oh and theres a fantastic version of Sexual Healing on there. Louisiana marching band style. Love it.