william from texas

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.

Quick!

Imagine you are the last human alive, and you are trapped on a spaceship with the last cat alive. Top 5 things you bring with you?

1. The complete Monty Python dvd collection
2. Enough canned fish for both
3. Kitty claw clippers
4. Lots of little pieces of string
5. Mariachi music

See if you can access these same videos that I found much inspiration at this guy’s blog. Video’s 2 and 3 were the best, but they’re quick. Ira Glass, a radio show host, on some story-telling philosophy.

One of my favorite take-away quotes: “If you’re not failing, you’re not going to get lucky.”

And how about this quick one as well: