william from texas

I just went on a trip! Spent last week with an old uni- and China-friend of mine. It was her first time in Europe, so we had to do the obligatories: Amsterdam (easy), Paris (of course), and Barcelona (something new).

To make the below video of the nearly 400 pics that I shot (which was not nearly enough – - I just didn’t want to look like a tourist the whole time), I used some Linux/FOSS tools. The learning curve was steep (as in, it is difficult to climb), but once you learn the methods you’ve got pretty good control. At any rate, this is my first video slideshow, and it gives me some good ideas for things to shoot in the future.

Paris and Barca in 399 pics from williamfromtexas on Vimeo.

July 17
Do: You have any idea when you’ll come for a visit? It’s been too long (and it’s only been a week)!
Re: Ya! Maybe next month. All my weekends are full this month, I can’t even sit down after work.

September 3
Me: Oh my gosh, where did August go? Wasn’t my birthday like a couple weeks ago?
Fa: Oops! I still feel bad I missed that party.. Did you get my postcard?? We’ll have to get together soon

November 9
So: I went camping this weekend! Did you meet the British when you were here? They’re friends from Re.
La: Aww. I wish I could go camping! Too busy, no time. So, are you coming to see me or what?! =)

January 28
Ti: Hey! I’m coming, I just bought my tickets!
Do: But.. I moved!

Did you ever have a really sunny and beautiful day where you were sure you only wanted to be outside? That’s the kind of day that I’m having today. I know what I want, but it’s different from what I can choose.

I have to accept that today isn’t like the last three days. Free of commitments, outside all day long in the fog, rain and blistering cold, I didn’t ‘belong’ to anyone over the weekend.

To enable the those days I agreed that I would spend today indoors. And today is the most beautiful day I’ve seen outside the window in a very long time.

Creating something from nothing is always a challenge. Today I have been sick in all the wrong ways, which called for creating something from something else. Normal rules need not apply.

Unlike my typical day, I woke with a bed-fellow, which I deduce is a cousin of the Russian influenza. Just like a Russian who invites them self over, it hasn’t been so terrible, though I do feel an invasion of my private space. Predictably (and typical for such house-guests), it cooks but never cleans. In my case my lungs have been boiled and everything else is a mess.

So, first thing this morning I created baby-step goals for myself:

5 Lists to Create While Sick

1. List Things That I Dislike About Being Sick
2. Bathroom-Related Products I Should Buy
3. Organizing Shoes: 25 Steps
4. People With Birthdays in January, and How to Say “Sorry I Forgot”
5. 10 Methods to Intellectually Stimulate the Cat

While only satisfactorily crossing one of them off of my list, I count the creation of the list as a personal accomplishment in itself.

” I think it’s great. I mean, I literally have it whenever I can. I’ll start with a cup first thing in the morning, and then another on the way to work. It’s free at work, too, one of the few reasons that keeps me there. I have another cup right after lunch and another before I go home at the end of the day. Saturday night, favorite drink: vodka Red Bull. “  – Augustus Caesar, Emperor of Rome

” It’s f- f- f- f- f- f- fantastic. ” – Mao Zedong

” That caffeine stuff? Don’t touch it myself. I have some friends who drink regularly, and that’s ok, but it weirds me out when they give it to their kids. ” – El Cid

” A consumer product from HELL. ” – Brigham Young

In the kitchen.

Me: Hey, there’s no more dark roast biological Indonesian coffee left. No more light roast either.

Roommate: So what? Use the fairtrade eco-label North African stuff.

Me: Nah, man, I don’t like that one, and I already had the Lugano ristresso Persian blend this morning. Can you run to the store and get some for me?

Him: What? Are you kidding me? Go yourself.

Me: Aww, I’m just reeeeeeally busy, you know? And I need some coffee to help me concentrate. Come on.. !

Him: No way! What you’re asking is impossible. And just so you know, I had a cup of the last batch of coffee, and it was delicious.

Me: (sad puppy face)

i successfully predicted the mp3 player and the iphone. add this to my list of ‘things that i predict will come true’:

the internet has shown that small portable electronic devices (such as smart phones or netbooks) that can interact with what we know as the internet have an important role to play. a digital picture is instantly shareable on the web with family and friends, so film will eventually be replaced. this is not to mention the ongoing costs of film processing. i predict, therefore, that in 2010 digital cameras will become extremely popular.

i had no idea what we were flying over at the time (texas, duh), but i’ve since discovered that my high school and neighborhood are in the first pic below. i am very happy with my new camera toy! allez..

wakes up at 3 in the morning.

The Working Guy: Hey guys, can you cut it out? I’ve got work in the morning and you’re having a powwow out here.

Roommate’s Hippy Friend: Hey man, we’re just tryin to have some positive beats, you know?

WG: You’re banging a drum outside my door, and I don’t even have a door, just this stupid piece of cloth.

Roommate #4: Oh, sorry. Maybe we can take it to mezzo forte.

WG: Maybe you can take it to the kitchen.

Roommate #3: But would you like some wine?

WG: Well, ok, if you insist.

Hippy: Duuude.