william from texas » zm4

Time Delay

william — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:30:06 +0000

I do apologize profusely for not being able to set down any interesting text. I have started two rather large side projects (one is very secret, the other is GUADEC) that are or will soon be a lot of work. But I like it, it means I have no excuse to be bored. Also, this past week it was my birthday! Needless to say, there were festivities (plural) involving cakes (also plural). The above photograph was a casualty: a guest with a lazy elbow in our kitchen at a house party. Broken ceramics, self-constructing archaeology.

Guest photos: Joao and HuizeZM

william — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:08:10 +0000

Virus-Induced Productivity

william — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:59:40 +0000

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

List Things That I Dislike About Being Sick
Bathroom-Related Products I Should Buy
Organizing Shoes: 25 Steps
People With Birthdays in January, and How to Say “Sorry I Forgot”
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.

Negotiating with Roommates

william — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:28:05 +0000

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)

The Working Guy Living With Musician Roommates

william — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:21:15 +0000

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.

It’s dress-up time of the year again

william — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:51:59 +0000

I think I’ve posted this picture before (on the previous version of this site), but it’s worth posting again. I wanted to find a good Halloween picture, but for reasons unknown to me I don’t have any, despite vigorous diligence on my part to partake of the hallowed celebrations every year. Halloween transcends nations and religions to fill a need for an October holiday. PLUS there’s free candy and dress-up involved. It really is one of the best holidays ever.

About the picture: For almost no reason we were invited to a ‘mustache party’ in the middle of last March. It holds sentimental value for me because some of those people have moved on. One of my favorite quotes from the TV show Sopranos is that “.. ‘remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation,” but this picture is more like a bookmark from the past – it’s where we were at that time, and it’s more than just a picture, it’s the whole evening and the whole week and the whole month and the whole season that we had good times together.

What I love about Halloween is the association with those memories from the past: being a ninja turtle as kid, toga parties in college, bag and bags of candy as a youngin’ and an adult. I think it’s important for everyone to celebrate Halloween, because it’s important to remember that the things that matter most to kids still hold their meaning as we grow. It’s important to feel like a kid!

So dress up, go out, and happy Halloween.