the usual

Garden Time

2012-02-07T12:50:00.001-06:00

Garden Time, a photo by .solo. on Flickr.

whilst January is not traditionally spring; this year promises a breadth of opportunities for alternate cycled plantings (actual winter rain vs. scorching summer drought). let's see if hearty plants can establish themselves before the sweltering begins...

Garden Time

2012-02-01T18:56:00.001-06:00

Garden Time, a photo by .solo. on Flickr.

big bed no. 1: filled, lined, & seeded. now let's see if the 'it's not really winter' ambitious planing schedule pays...

Smoked pork shoulder

2012-01-18T16:24:00.001-06:00

Smoked pork shoulder, a photo by .solo. on Flickr.

~$2.40/lb bone in pork shoulder smoked at 225deg for 6+ hours is most likely the best multi-day meat meal protein ever.

Market farm house; morning roundup

2011-06-20T18:35:00.001-05:00

Market farm house; morning roundup, a photo by .solo. on Flickr.

just another summer saturday: tomato season fully sprouting regardless of inferno temperatures and continued lack of rain.

X Factor acquisition

2011-06-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

X Factor acquisition, a photo by .solo. on Flickr.

river proximate motivations now realized. a dream has always been to live on an estuary, ocean, or large lake; but river explorations should suffice for the moment.

now to figure logistics of house to river kayak put-in. that and lola fishing training...

Fractals & bubbles

2011-02-08T14:37:00.001-06:00

Fractals & bubbles, originally uploaded by .solo..

patterns of nature

repetitive consistent random modeled events: math + food.

Still white city

2011-02-08T14:30:00.001-06:00

Still white city, originally uploaded by .solo..

the joys of northern bred pre-dawn inklings of fallen snow...

pristine blanketed streets commuted; warm quiet office productivity and stories of foreboding and woe from natives attempting regular activities balanced with shouts of glee from those for whom an inch and a half of powder is impressive.

this is winter in Austin

Culinary muses

2011-02-01T15:47:00.001-06:00

Culinary muses, originally uploaded by .solo..

Prohibition era gin, dub 45, ad hoc Keller inspirations: all muses for culinary creativity.

I'm getting more and more comfortable making pie dough (this time it was goat milk butter and local Richardson Farms flour). This comes with the realization that there are exceptional permutations of fillings to explore. Yesterday's filling was pureed roasted squash and fennel with sauteed greens, onions, carrots and herbs (seared pork, fennel fronds, and eggs completed).

Many many cultures have already fully explored this media but for some odd reason winter creativity currently strikes in this vein. It'll likely last till spring where fresh vegetables and simple preparations again overtake the warm hearth of oven wintered creativity.

Crispy Pig Trotters

2011-01-17T16:19:00.001-06:00

Crispy Pig Trotters, originally uploaded by .solo..

another year beginning and the realization that restaurant openings coincide with the new year. unfortunately so does the post holiday exhaustion that accompanies family congregations, travel, and general merriment.

new places to visit: Haddington's, Barley Swine, Backspace, Second Bar & Kitchen, Trace at the W, as well as others; three down two to go

also difficult to stay loyal to those bars & restaurants that are favorites; one can only go out so often...

Tasty cross section

2010-11-29T14:56:00.001-06:00

Tasty cross section, originally uploaded by .solo..

Finally found a muse for recipe following creativity. Excited appreciative nights and days of kitchen and other room fun await

Graceland Lola

2010-11-29T14:52:00.001-06:00

Graceland Lola, originally uploaded by .solo..

the usual turkation extensive adventures entertain:

2661 miles of thanksgiving marathon festivities complete: czech elvis bbq blues; beignet country parthenon jellystone christmas; opry duked charcoal whiskey blue ridge winding leaves; waterfall apple gamed fish powering cribbed settled trains; appalachian three forks fog turkey toasts; porch sammie campfire frozen friendly fall.

it's amazing to reminisce about year five in Blue Ridge and previous adventures of Big Bend, Redwoods, Hot Springs, & Durango. many friends and relationships and the growth, progress, fading, and adaptation of each.

the virtual opposite to christmas traditions of static family structure but a perfect bookend for self exploration and balance.

Garrison Brothers tejas finest

2010-11-14T12:48:00.001-06:00

Garrison Brothers tejas finest, originally uploaded by .solo..

fresh & local - only available in the county it's manufactured in. craft excellence

sandwich section

2010-11-01T21:41:00.001-05:00

sandwich section, originally uploaded by .solo..

one of my most favorite flavor combinations & sandwiches: the banh mi. an excellent balance of tastes combining french and asian influences.

shown: local dai due head cheese, boggy creek spinach, basil, springdale farm chilies, full quiver farm pickled ginger carrots; fresh bread (traditionally served on a banquette but deviated for fresh local purposes here).

livestrong signage

2010-10-26T09:32:00.001-05:00

livestrong signage, originally uploaded by .solo..

Oktober & fall: transition of colors, slow rolling clouds and wind. Also the re-emergence of cycling season and charity ride events. This weekend it was the Livestrong Challenge (previously Lance Armstrong's Ride for the Roses before it expanded to multiple cities and expounded in its charity fundraising goals). Livestrong always surprises in its scope and appeal: people from all over the US and even a few international participants (Italian, Spanish) come to Austin to ride and now run to support the fight against cancer. Livestrong along with the Hill Country Ride for Aids (my favorite spring charity ride) focus on the survivors, the cause, and the participation of a wide variety of riders.

A perfect weekend of clouds, headwind & hills. I rode with a team of very good friends (Anne, Jess, Kristi & Amity) and started out early to get some miles in before meeting them at rest stop #8 (65 miles of happy hills for me; 45 amazing accomplished miles for them). Flickr has all photos but suffice to say it's extremely rewarding to pedal through beautiful challenging hills while thinking about those one rides in support / in honor of (for me it's my Aunt Kathy who went through breast cancer and had her last chemo session last year). Seeing that there are people who conquer the disease and then continue with riding and living strong (as the motto says) gives strength to those who are faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of cancer.

It's a bit motivating.

Kartoffelsalat

2010-10-25T10:27:00.001-05:00

Kartoffelsalat, originally uploaded by .solo..

oktoberfest - a cultural annual tradition of friends and merriment with the finest of foods and music (all kinds of polka; an acquired tasted, yes).

kartoffelsalat is a family tradition I was raised on (I was completely unaware of the yellow mustard based potato salad of the south and was perplexed as to why they were identified the same at friends' picnics and at restaurants). For everyone knows that all good potato salads have bacon, onions and a cider vinegar sauce as their base.

regardless; I have now taken this familia dish as my own and present it proudly every oktoberfest for friendly enjoyment and appreciation (with tasty tweaks added over time).

wine food art: performance pile

2010-10-20T18:09:00.003-05:00

IMG_9619, originally uploaded by .solo..

La Dolce Vita - my favorite event of the year. Austin Museum of Art's premier fundraiser benefiting its art education programs. Nothing finer than merging my preferred triad of interests at one of the most beautiful venues in this fare city; La Guna Gloria.

Favorites of the night:
- running event logistics and overseeing a smooth operation
- east side show room lamb rillettes and squash terrine
- balcones distillery new releases
- back porch end-of-night lake overlooking relaxation
- san palo's puerco nopalitas cheese & avocado perfect bites
- paggi house oyster soup
- llano winery

Road trip favorites

2010-10-14T08:07:00.001-05:00

IMG_9328, originally uploaded by .solo..

the usual position of anticipatory joy and west tejas adventures.

tdf 10 vista

2010-07-17T11:17:00.001-05:00

tdf 10 vista, originally uploaded by .solo..

with world cup done (viva espana; alas hup nederland); classic grand entertainment now moves to tour de france. this clockwise year quite entertains with hills, cobbles & mountain categories to challenge. and oddly enough; I'm glad that the lance isn't in maillot jaune contention as it allows almost neutral passionate coverage.

celery reduction

2010-07-09T12:19:00.001-05:00

celery reduction, originally uploaded by .solo..

corn stock; celery stock; lamb stock...

things to play with and insert as a background for sauces and dish creations.

lamb box

2010-06-16T15:07:00.001-05:00

lamb box, originally uploaded by .solo..

Johnny G's - a local butcher that sources farm raised fresh animals and sells to the community. A great service that's no longer really prevalent in the supermarket driven culture of today (large companies have minimum orders and supply chains that often prohibit local fare).

I still prefer getting meat directly from farmers / ranchers at the farmers market but it's a nice alternative to have.

Now it's time to find enough various recipes for half a lamb...

restaurant thinkings

2010-06-08T11:42:00.001-05:00

restaurant thinkings, originally uploaded by .solo..

business plan pondering: remote restaurant near nature with fields of seasonal fare.

small house
family style service
seasonal kitchen fare
on-site gardens & prep.
water features
cycling stop
large outdoor flagstone / CG patio with garden trellises

cap tex tri

2010-06-01T14:11:00.001-05:00

cap tex tri, originally uploaded by .solo..

first time tri - sprint distance.

quite fun and an affirmation that goals are to be accomplished.

official results:
chip time = 01:38:00
class position: 30 overall place: 264
splits (time / overall rank):
750m swim (23:23 - 446); 20K bike (37:34 - 156); 5k run (30:25 - 297)

South Austin creation.

2010-05-25T09:05:00.001-05:00

South Austin creation., originally uploaded by .solo..

interesting creation - fit for south congress and hippy enclaves / college campuses everywhere.

fast? finished.

2010-05-25T09:01:00.001-05:00

fast? finished., originally uploaded by .solo..

congress avenue mile race.

training:
six course dinner
email reminder of morning race
wake & run

too fast a start (first quarter; balanced second quarter with no kick at end).

baby octopi bests

2010-05-25T08:56:00.001-05:00

baby octopi bests, originally uploaded by .solo..

'new' current favorite establishment.

open kitchen (hot!) and a short eclectic menu of fine things. great staff; amazing food & reasonably priced. a fine northern neighborhood addition

http://www.foodanddrinkaustin.com/

eve luxurious lunch

2010-05-09T11:33:00.001-05:00

eve luxurious lunch, originally uploaded by .solo..

birthday week brings obligations of celebration (difficult I know) and affords the opportunity to focus on what I really enjoy (many many things. But with opportunity I get to choose various settings of life enjoyment: nature-centric; solitude; group joined; close friend enjoyed activities; all various activities to allow relaxed focus and introspectional enjoyment.

Friday lunch: a hot summer-ish day that eschewed the usually enjoyed warm hearty plates in favor of the lighter porch friendly fare: charcuterie, beans, olives & beets; all with an amazing Sancerre Rose

Porch declarations

2010-05-03T13:06:00.001-05:00

Porch declarations, originally uploaded by .solo..

congregations of friends and years of traditional ongoing: tired post-oaks waking, morning-long drizzled food prep, cocktails, stories & races of the day; celebrations throughout the night.

Oaks Day Beauty

2010-05-03T13:05:00.001-05:00

Oaks Day Beauty, originally uploaded by .solo..

There might be nothing finer than sauntering through Old Louisville south past the university to Churchill Downs; walking through shotgun shack neighborhoods and seeing the twin spires slowly rise.

Friday is Oaks Day; the precursor to the Kentucky Derby which is held on Saturday and receives the majority of media attention outside of the city. Oaks is more of the locally focused day with the same amount of fashion, juleps, races & festivities. It's usually half the cost to attend and a bit less crowded; which allows for a more relaxed excited environment. That and it's been the best weather day the past several years.

Tradition at its finest

summit presented climbing leg(s

2010-04-27T07:49:00.002-05:00

summit presented climbing leg(s, originally uploaded by .solo..

Hill Country Rid for Aids: one of my favorite charity rides. Beautiful spring wildflowers accompanied by perfect weather. Well, except for headwinds - not so much fun but quite a lot of swearing; that and the distracting musical motivations of Ghostland Observatory. Did I mention hills?? Because that is one of the finest amenities of the ride (and of course the hill country in general); lots of hills - rolling, gentle, steep, surprising, wind-blocking and just mean (all kinds!).

This year's team was Ballet Austin which consisted of friends from ballet fit class that I was introduced to almost a year ago now. Initially bought in to try the program and evaluate its athletic benefits and how it might be marketed to the male demographic. It ended up being a great ongoing experience and offers a great complement for cycling training: strength, balance, flexibility & fluidity. Alas, no team Soup Peddler this year; but the team costume tradition continued (and with a professional edge). I had to go with a last minute boa addition to balance the comprehensive tutu costume of the other team members. It's a lighthearted ride for sure; well - as much as a 65 mile ride with headwind hills & a water crossing crash can be.

Lots of fun, camaraderie, crazy support and seeing folks that don't ride too much achieve something that truly does challenge (all while exhausting oneself and achieving that favorite euphoric fully muscle exhausted state of being).

blooming boggy

2010-04-19T09:35:00.001-05:00

blooming boggy, originally uploaded by .solo..

rains of spring and misty morns: the slow revealing of spring and scents reward those who wander out despite the lack of sun. the realm between full motivating sun spring and the heat of oncoming summer is most enjoyable.

visiting my favorite farms throughout the spring rewards in that the slow evolution of late winter growth and the transitions to verdant vibrant productive spring illustrates the growth and seasonal evolution is fully appreciated.

spicewood

2010-04-12T12:03:00.003-05:00

spicewood , originally uploaded by .solo..

serenading sun spring is here and with it the best biking weather of the year (along with October.

open road, open thoughts & a wandering mind to accompany swift rhythmic peddling and miles of rolling road intermixed with the finery of spring: bluebonnets, indian paintbrush, flowing creeks & lush trees. such enjoyment and scenery accompanies the euphoria that continued physical exhaustion provides.

happy tired legs; clear head & healthy being

Grouper ceviche

2010-04-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

Grouper ceviche, originally uploaded by .solo..

office - desk made.
file under "how to make co-workers confused"

a dilemma: one has acquired excellent fresh local fish (gulf grouper flash frozen immediately upon catching and then transported to Austin upon docking where it's filleted and then sold the next morning). what not to do: let it rest in your fridge or re-freeze it.

so upon morning waking and noting that fresh amazing fish is now just over two days old and demands immediate consumption. wait until dinner?? never! have for breakfast?? an excellent option but requires time; thus compromise = lunch; but how to prep... (work has no cooking facilities) which leaves the great lime + chili + fish ceviche option. pack fresh herbs (dill, chervil, italian parsley), green garlic, salt.

a small sharp knife; desk prep & a sealable container create the opportunity for sashimi light lunch. it's not quite the office space desk gutting; but it does suffice.

3 palms lounging

2010-03-30T10:02:00.001-05:00

3 palms lounging, originally uploaded by .solo..

phoenix spring training. amazing baseball setup of comprehensive intimate laid back fun. small field professional training that combines the innocence of youth and the uniformed technical repetition of the simple things that comprise a great game.

the only randoms: autograph seekers and the city itself. why are signatures of strangers so valued?? perhaps a documentation of pleasant memories or a tangible alternative to photographs. also, the city: a strange combination of Vegas & LA - expansive 'flat' development in a setting that seems desolately beautiful.

she + him. day two

2010-03-22T14:16:00.001-05:00

she + him, originally uploaded by .solo..

the exhaustion that is the marathon of music, fun, friends and stories too numerous to tell; if recall completely in detail. similar to ACL there are so many hours in so many days that are all chalked full of details of hilarity, fun, enlightenment & musical enjoyment. many many new things never before heard along with validations of acts rumored and enjoyments of the absurd.

now rest and relaxation; physically on the precipice of illness (throat, head & nasal challenges). documentation in hand but requiring the sorting, downloading, cataloguing, filtering & cross checking of information.

exceptional as always; and with quite a few friends participating this year; several from out of town which is always exceptionally fun. nothing more edifying that helping host amazing vacation fun for those who travel.

broken bells

2010-03-18T10:48:00.001-05:00

broken bells, originally uploaded by .solo..

day one - brooklyn vegan, broken bells, dark castle, neon indian, zoe keating, soko, choir of young believers, fanfarlo, ozomatli, the black, paul wall & chamillionaire.

amazing musical wanderings as well as a first: ride home for a 20 minute sunset siesta & lola run.

musical city appreciation and anticipation

2010-03-16T13:16:00.000-05:00

it begins yet again! four full days of official spring introduction and wandering explorative freedom. most look at band lists and carefully plan what shows, venues, bands & schedules work best. I find the most fun in the freedom that comes with fresh air sweet sun cycled wanderings; fully appreciating the influx of out-of-town music enthused folks and bands where the level of energy is palatable and relaxed at the same time. night enjoyment of notable acts mixed with new artist sampling complete the experience.

daytime activities consist of outdoor venues, free beer & cocktails and occasionally food. short sets starting at noon run the full length of the afternoon with ebbs & flows of crowds, energy and musical stylings. eventual transition to night small (or relatively large) indoor venues and 'proper' shows.

exhaustedly night cycles home and relaxed musical musing dreams rest up before waking and finding that in this beautiful town that reinforces happy local living: daily juice beginnings; local coffee shop book and lawn lounging; friendly folks abounding in exploration and shared experiences.

all begins tomorrow. random musings and extensive pictures and photos will assuredly appear.

enjoy!

urban saturday

2010-03-14T08:34:00.001-05:00

urban saturday, originally uploaded by .solo..

Mobile social ride great times cap a typical saturday of active happiness. ballet fit in the morning awakes, strengthens & stretches. downtown market farming with stops to chat with Roberto, Sebastian, and the Dai Due crew leisurely entertain. last sunset valley farmers' market day Richardson Farms steak acquisition and tales of blue corn possibilities and wet fields.
To note: I was not able to find one copy of the Oxford American after visiting three book stores /sigh: I guess on-line shopping is indeed best (direct ordering costs only 5.95 from the comfort of home).

Compiling market acquired (& other local ingredients) in brunch form is one of the most rewarding enjoyable practices of the day. Nothing quite like cooking imminently with acquisitions to accentuate the excitement and reinforce the discussions had with farmers and folks.

Mobile social rides have grown from in the neighborhood of 20 people when we (I was conceptually and loosely involved at the beginning) started back just over a year ago to routinely more than several hundred folks now. amazing (& I can take no credit for any of it as I typically have to miss the Thursday night rides in favor of long standing (6 years!?) softball traditions). Acting as a ride leader is rewarding, fun & a whole different type of responsible dynamic (especially in this group. Yesterday I was able to help the googlemaps bicycle group (marketing & engineers that created the program who flew in from Seattle for sxsw interactive and attended the ride) change a flat and then escort them around town catching up with the main portion of the ride. It's always nice to welcome out-of-town folks to our city and be the best hosts possible (something that I wholly appreciate when I visit other cities and that which leaves lasting impressions). After two hours of city sun riding, free beer, raffles, & swag under a mellow johnny's tent. new out of town folks were amazed by the greatness of this (now familiar) city along with the fact that free beer was available for more that two hours with minimal lines (new belgium beer is an great supportive brewery & company!).
great days such as this have afternoons that cumulate with sunset home cycling, lola happy greetings with rewarded neighborhood hill running. further farmer market short order cooking with Zhi Oolong favorites and music (transitioning into the rewarding Up film) yield a happy tired leg relaxed self. great well rested dreams.

happy chen

2010-03-13T08:20:00.001-06:00

, originally uploaded by .solo..

small hole in the wall favorite locate in my favorite triangle of food (southeast corner of 183 & McNeal / Spicewood along with Samberts & Asia Cafe.

handmade noodles cut to order convey a warmth and cozy feeling hard to describe.

talking water

2010-03-07T21:27:00.001-06:00

talking water, originally uploaded by .solo..

conversations with rapids are always a favorite.

planned banh mi

2010-03-04T15:06:00.004-06:00

planned bah minh, originally uploaded by .solo..

the wonders of work and lunchtime routines.

once upon a time lunch was mother morning made and packed into either a sturdy (ranging from metal to plastic) lunchbox with possible thermos accompaniment and toted to work or school where it was placed in a safe corner for several hours while lessons were learned or tasks were toiled.

eventually boxes of lunch gave way to cafeteria and restaurant fare enabled both by the ease associated with acquired lunches and the subsidization of food.

it seems that folks have transitioned to regard lunch as a type of pit-stop meal where the quality and enjoyment of food is not paramount as is a pivot point in the day mandated by those who create schedules.

finding a balance between those two while remaining productive remains a challenge.

shown: a desk banh mi (favorite vietnamese sandwich) interpretation created from the following:
Walton's demi baguette
Countryside pork loin
Boggy Creek greens
Full Quiver Farms kimchi
Dai Due liverwurst

Service up

2010-03-02T21:41:00.001-06:00

Service up, originally uploaded by .solo..

an afternoon of busy usual things: balletfit flexibility; balanced single speed commute night cycling; a mug of craft pale ale camping planning with friends.

unknown dinner plans and Foer's 'Everything is Illuminated' waiting leads to short order fridge cooking. it surprises and entertains that the ingredients, techniques and skills are in place to transform the best of local ingredients into what I humbly consider a very fine meal. the dilemma is that with such revelations come the expectations and understanding that a certain cost structure and price point exist; and at this juncture it is either worthwhile to partake & purchase well made quality food or that one is paying an unreasonable premium for substandard average tasting, overpriced, unhealthy & unsustainable fare...

pedernales falls

2010-03-01T19:03:00.001-06:00

pedernales falls, originally uploaded by .solo..

the coming of spring; slowly.

plenty of fall & winter rains allow for hill country bubbling falls, flowing talkative rivers & blooming wildflowers.

happy respite outside of the concrete jungle of busy schedules & routines.

lagoa bisque

2010-02-26T13:44:00.002-06:00

lagoa bisque, originally uploaded by .solo..

second visits with Kim, Chris, Dean & Lindsay allow for comprehensive trials. random choosing yielded excellent selections.

the cheese balls (pão de queijo): amazing sublime taste and texture: a cross of gnocchi & Mochi ice cream. three varietals

soup, yucca frites, pastels (multitudes of types): all perfectly balanced

go

French 76

2010-02-25T10:19:00.003-06:00

French 76, originally uploaded by .solo..

a Justine's favorite; in addition to the food of course.

preferred with just a twist of lemon; but still one of the best cocktails. discovered more than a year ago at the favorite, but not as often currently visited, Peche.

French 76 - a combination of the 75 & 77
gin, fresh lemon juice, st germain & champagne

skeletal dancing

2010-02-22T10:11:00.001-06:00

skeletal dancing, originally uploaded by .solo..

one of the better dancing 'puppets'

a photo to complement the video

2010 carnival brasileiro

2010-02-21T13:07:00.001-06:00

2010_carnivalbrasileiro
Originally uploaded by .solo.

the rhythm of drums mandates dance. costumed masked happy painted people mingle freely and happily. a night of performance and community; brazilian sourced

By morning

2010-02-19T09:19:00.003-06:00

By morning, originally uploaded by .solo..

the oddities of sporadic visits of favorite things savored. one of the first places I visited upon moving to this fare city. The others are the Ritz, Lovejoys & Deville; two of which are both surprisingly still here; mostly because of the loyal niche market they serve and despite the demands that come with the high rent of their prime locations.

nevertheless: almost decade old wandering memories and appreciation of things progressed and slowly dynamic things that can still be appreciated.

which brings us to the Amarillo burger at Casino el Camino. still hand-formed and cooked to order (they do properly prepare medium rare). no longer the hand cut fries as the popularity and demand along with the small staff & kitchen make such volume inefficient & not quite affordable. the same staff: kind & talkative if properly related; surly and curt if pressed durning typical rush times or by drunkenly disorganized & demanding customers.

relax with a cold bottle and burger and peruse the excellent jukebox or take in whatever dark movie is showing on one of the two TVs above the bar.

Hens up

2010-02-17T09:23:00.001-06:00

Hens up, originally uploaded by .solo..

boggy creek coop & morning chicken waking

relaxed farming conversation regarding various plantings, pickings & tabled diners in the field by local food folks.

frosted morn warmed yet again by barrie's excellent chocolate croissant & local coffee in conjunction with this week's colorful tasty beet & carrot resupply.

stay tuned

Horrible no good productive day (opposite

2010-02-15T21:13:00.001-06:00

Horrible no good productive day (opposite, originally uploaded by .solo..

a productive happy yet semi-solitary weekend of enjoyment. the usual of new exploratory things mixed with friend adventures & relaxing. overall sun, warmth & a bit of accomplishment.

this would be the summit of weekend fare: friday was a mix of cheese acquisitions & trailered lingua specials; saturday bought morning market acquisitions; tea resupply & brazilian tastings. greenbelt & siesta adventures. sunday was enjoyed with marathoning misty sunrise excursions correlated with brunching rewards and half-day sun outdoor wanderings. siesta sojourns and lazy nights of valentine still motivated culinary creativity. morning monday routines prefaces nights of finery shown:

cheeses: four & cured meats: two by antonelli's (specific available - excellent
countryside duck egg & boggy creek chervil with seasoned seaweed
sautéed yellow boggy beets & beet greens
walton's rye bread
full quiver kimchi
loire tabled white

Steam spring

2010-02-15T20:59:00.001-06:00

Steam spring, originally uploaded by .solo..

in summer: frigid relaxed cooling.

in winter: temperate soothing comfort.

Cheese!

2010-02-12T16:04:00.002-06:00

Cheese!, originally uploaded by .solo..

Antonelli's Cheese Shop

second day of operation: inaugural visit.

loved.

following a passion of artisan cheeses, meats, vino, beer & other fineries. great neighborhood setting. amazing staff ecstatic about sharing tasteful worlds through samples & conversation.

colliding colors

2010-02-10T10:34:00.001-06:00

colliding colors, originally uploaded by .solo..

my favorite new tradition.

relaxed sleeping in (as much as 7 am with lola allotments); meandering neighborhood morning constitutional that reminisce of happy places wandered: eastern european city walls; canal towpath & english/welsh gardens; tide-swept sun rising beaches; silent ancient forest & conversing bubbling rivers.

rested & happy self prepared; setting off with music / news eastward; lazily weaving through neighborhoods and arriving to final pickings & tabled placements with fresh dewed produce. fully awaked cheerful farmer greetings & affirming morning welcoming rooster solos.

fresh coffee mug filled leads to growing conversations and reviews of the mini-seasons that encompass a week. favorites fondled & nibbled; choice pieces picked.

weighed & counted tallies allow monetary exchanges to complete; fresh morning pastry treats selected for immediate reward. circuitous recessional route back to auto allows fields & coop perimeter appreciation. produce stowed and the merging back into a regular morning commute schedule.

all with a comprehensive smile and cycled life affirmations

a few of my favorite things

2010-02-09T09:37:00.001-06:00

breakfast.desk, originally uploaded by .solo..

an odd way to start the day?

oothu white - zhi tea
green onion, carrot - boggy creek
raw milk colby - full quiver farms
duck egg - countryside farm
chicken egg & wheat - richardson farms

smoke kiss

2010-02-09T09:36:00.001-06:00

smoke kiss, originally uploaded by .solo..

super bowl gastronomic day of food and excess:

finally a perfect time to experiment with a whole rabbit. typically quartered and sauteed / oven finished the opportunity now presents itself for a long slow oak smoke.

marinade of mustard seeds (black & yellow), calvados, dandelion greens, sorrel, pepper & coriander.
three hours between 230-250 (windy day of damp wood) followed by a tight wrap oven finish to bring to temp (155) yielded a beautiful sweet yet smokey moist meat.

reward

2010-02-07T22:27:00.002-06:00

reward, originally uploaded by .solo..

2010 Austin January apples to complement. countryside rio grande valley heritage turkey rilletts by dai due. homemade fresh bread from richardson wheat flour. happy taste

couldn't decide on a cheese to accompany.

likely an aged goat.

a goal

a bus I'd take

2010-02-06T20:53:00.001-06:00

a bus I'd take, originally uploaded by .solo..

how to describe?!

a day:
begin with relaxed sloped lawn mid morn (post farmers market) coffee and delicate pastry conversations and shared tastings. add slaloming cross town smiling week hiding sun biking. new passionate indian trailer crushed glass patio feet-on-chair indian food sampling. affirmations and smiled welcomes of future patronage. headphone insertion & friend-meet-up; sampling plate of shared entrepreneurial culinary excellence. discussions of ideas & possibilities. taped exchanges. neighborhood full rollings to things yet unseen. magical school bbq stories of beginning and introductions of possibilities & sharing of local meat purveyors. unanticipated success & meat congregation. favorite patio rio relaxing with books & surprise friend transitional making; a town loved. cozy storied familiar finish: knowing that all days are new & offer endless opportunities of happy life experience

siesta (dual

2010-02-06T20:44:00.001-06:00

siesta (dual, originally uploaded by .solo..

pack perfection

injera mix

2010-02-05T09:30:00.003-06:00

injera mix, originally uploaded by .solo..

Karibu Ethiopian: finally visited as promised

standard lunch plate fare (reduced menu options): excellent veg options; tasty meats. typically order off the expanded menu for more in depth options so dinner explorations definitely on the horizon. coffee perfection though I must find a way to have the entire fancy pot remain tableside.

Bath time

2010-02-02T22:38:00.001-06:00

Bath time, originally uploaded by .solo..

cozy cleaning trust. confused reassured bonding.

entertaining. humorous. rewarding.

prelude

plan view chop

2010-01-31T16:13:00.002-06:00

plan view chop, originally uploaded by .solo..

fresh favorite:
chopped boggy creek sorrel along with thick cut richardson pork chop.

salt, white & black pepper. seared simple prep. happily rested. meat tells its own tale

stocking

2010-01-31T16:11:00.005-06:00

stocking, originally uploaded by .solo..

fresh free grouper heads & bodies. morning stock making.

san miguel seafood: downtown farmers market sourced

bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice berries; pinch o salt

one recipe:
bring stock to temperature and add quality rice noodles; simmer for ~20 minutes until all stock is absorbed.
sauce of sliced serranos sautéed with fresh garlic (bulb & shoot), small bit of peanut butter, thai chili sauce & coconut milk.

new tote

2010-01-31T16:09:00.001-06:00

new tote, originally uploaded by .solo..

finally broke down and got a knife bag. too much camping, cabin, travel requires... affordable & functional

Custom

2010-01-31T16:07:00.001-06:00

Custom, originally uploaded by .solo..

cocktails by jeff - excellence

paggi house patio

carroted rewards

2010-01-27T10:04:00.001-06:00

carroted rewards, originally uploaded by .solo..

boggy creek freshly laid morning table.

work traditions usually dictate the regular week morning routine of early waking; lola running; tea & snack commute for a productive 7-ish am office start to the day. however I have reconsidered...

new mid-week morning still consists of waking hill run routine; but either a longer run or a later start as the goal is to wander over to the east side for the ideal morning: warm tea and waking feeding chickens heralding the breaking day while fields are being hoed and picked. fresh from the ground produce as well as cheese, eggs & chickens up for acquisition. a proper day start

>farm happenings

communications upgrade

2010-01-26T22:12:00.001-06:00

communications upgrade , originally uploaded by .solo..

i3G finally upgraded & synced.
poco cocoa; boots in the oven. recommendation-ally begun

two ways

2010-01-26T10:01:00.001-06:00

two ways, originally uploaded by .solo..

acid cooked; sear finish.

rice & greens (broccoli & dandelion)

radish & seaweed: texture

inquisitive

2010-01-24T10:27:00.001-06:00

inquisitive , originally uploaded by .solo..

local sourced golden yolked eggs & fresh feta; slow cooked pork leftovers.

more experimentation with morning scrambles. this time cooling attempted with full quiver farms feta & diced pork shoulder. butter cooling is preferred for creamy textural balance but result was still excellent. shrimp tails not as crispy but size & pan balance challenges firm exterior with tender medium flesh. perhaps two ways to cook...

boris verifies

pie happy hour

2010-01-24T10:19:00.001-06:00

pie happy hour, originally uploaded by .solo..

weekend of canyon of the eagles RECA LDC retreat.

secret society revelry and things getting to know. a great group of individuals comprehensively. the year will accomplish much.

also a reason to stop & acquire some of the best pies (along with Blanco Bowling Club) in central tejas. meringue as high and fluffy as the eye can see.

2010-01-22T09:31:00.000-06:00

A fine sunny spring day of seventies: afternoon road trip with surprise pies ending in canyons of eagles. Stars, stories, games & introductions.

It's retreat day for the Leadership Development Council of Real Estate Council of Austin.

a new story begins

an assignment

2010-01-20T11:29:00.000-06:00

In the traditional Peter Graves fashion: I accept.

Karibu ethiopian restaurant & bar

rare kitfo & injera first on the list.

impressions & photos to come

tasty bits of szechuan

2010-01-20T09:53:00.001-06:00

tasty bits of szechuan , originally uploaded by .solo..

from various exhaustive searching for fine chinese local fare (austin, tx); asia cafe continues to please.

extensive szechuan focused menu with local hidden gems: pork intestines with blood (shown) squid; whole fish; sea cucumber; eggplant... perfectly balanced szechuan spicing with the comforts of a family style run close-nit community restaurant.

go. try. enjoy. revisit

perfect scramble

2010-01-18T19:17:00.001-06:00

perfect scramble , originally uploaded by .solo..

in the classic french style: low, low heat... wait... stir... add butter at end. cooking done.

perfection.

progressive realization

2009-08-24T13:49:00.000-05:00

hello strangers. a long time been.

so things to motivate, lives to lead, people and paths to enjoy and explore. a complicated litany of living. and I am finally progressing back into the realm of progressive bliss and enjoyment: quite good. happiness in ones self and facilitating sunch enjoyment with and in others: a lofty goal.

summers of julia child, hemmingway, culinary creations and enjoyment. stoies, books & films to demonstrate the varieties of paths and routes available. communicate, enjoy & commit.

until a time of next.

motivation

2009-06-23T15:07:00.000-05:00

so more posting. perhaps differentiation and focus. or just comprehensive musings on biking, cooking, food exploring, farmers' market adventuring, cocktail sampling, music menageries, pool listings...

contemplation and thinking on

today...

2009-04-21T16:59:00.000-05:00

less trying and thinking, more doing and enjoying.

ahhh...

2009-04-14T12:29:00.000-05:00

ah - nothing quite like a country road lunch excursion on a bike. verdant roadsides lined with fragrant spring flowers, scampering small animals, foraging horses, and singing birds, trees, and grasses.

something about spring and cycling that just frees the mind and allows for happiness in being.

now back to office work.

hey stranger

2009-04-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

whistling... whistling. why hello there...

[stretching and leaning back against support beam, running heel a couple feet up the post and resting]

yes, it has been a while hasn't it? well, the foundation is good and there's a lot to be done. guess I should get out the old notebook and rustle up a pencil...

so spring seems to have wandered back around and is again an amiable host. excitement permeates the air and waves of warm green breezes accentuate busy schedules.

to catch up these are the ideals of days:
morning: natural awakening, spring briskness, & a choice of Zhi
days: flowingly productive and focused mixed with constant observation and digestion of surroundings.
evenings: creative relaxing with adventure.

stay tuned for fun.

2009 Gardner-Betts Art Austin - May 13th

2009-03-12T13:19:00.000-05:00

A happy brisk and finally wet day,

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read the following letter concerning the Gardner-Betts Project Bridge Program annual art auction that takes place on May 13th. A slide show of the art can be found here.

Although the people in our lives are many and diverse, we tend to most often interact with those whose backgrounds and experiences are similar to our own: as a result of our routines, interests, and hobbies. However, many of us donate time, material, money, and expertise to those who have a different and perhaps more challenging life path. The impact of our subtle actions and donations can have a measurable and real impact on others in our community.

The Gardner-Betts program is a subset of the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, addressing both the needs of the children who have committed offenses as well as the families and victims of these occurrences. The arts portion of the program encourages the dual positive impact of personal exploration and creation for the probate participants, along with community involvement thus providing a path towards rehabilitation through community support.

The Gardner-Betts’ Project Bridge Program was founded in 1996 and focuses on art and music education, immersion, and creation for high-risk juveniles. The Art Auction, an annual event occurring on May 13^th, 2009 showcases selected work of incarcerated children. The first purpose is to silently auction the artists’ work for the purpose of raising funds for the coming year’s program. Possibly more important than the first, the second purpose is to provide a forum in which the artists can observe and interact with the patrons and community. Positive communication, interaction, and feedback (for those artists present as well as those who are unable to attend) with the community are essential parts of the program.

The Real Estate Council of Austin Gardner-Betts committee and I encourage you to look at your charitable budgeting for the year and find an acceptable level of monetary support (any amount truly does help). Possible levels of sponsorship are attached, encompassing both donation amounts and different ways your group, self, organization, or memorial can be recognized or associated with the program and its marketing campaign. Even if you are not able to fiscally contribute to this event, I implore you to find time to stop by the show on the 13^th of May, or to visit the exhibition space during the week leading up to the event to see the art displayed and make bids if so moved. Further details will be disseminated as the event date grows closer; but please take a look at your charitable options, mark your calendars for the 13^th of May, and pass this along to your friends and colleagues.

Feel free to call with any questions or if you would like to learn more about the program or this particular event.

Thank you for your time and participation.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Jeff Scott P.E.
PBS&J
(512) 342-3481 Direct
(512) 327-2453 FAX
LEED-AP, C.F.M., & MBA
jrscott@pbsj.com

Art Link: http://vt.realtour.biz/?P=44436&T=NOTIDX

Event: Art Show and Auction

Wednesday, 13.May.2009 – Event Day: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, 7 May – Event Day: lobby hours (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Art Viewing and silent Auction.

Art Show and Auction Location: 98 San Jacinto Center Lobby

epiphany

2009-02-17T21:20:00.000-06:00

It's not that I was in love with her; it was that I was euphorically in love of what I could again experience, communicate, & have become. Finally realizing that you are happy with yourself & the fact that you are happy and able to communicate: such revelations are immensely freeing. For once not having to worry, yet not worry, about other peoples' feelings; because they cannot help but participate / share in bliss & happiness. If she cannot realize or accept; then that is not my fault. It seems that I have finally reached a point where I understand and accept myself unabashedly. For I did nothing to impress other than to be myself and with that I was euphoric. But the canvas is not the art. It is critical; but art must be created dually.

such a moment and setting is to strive for.

thoughts in winter

2009-01-13T20:47:00.000-06:00

Why should I be sad, dour, and depressed; because I have happy memories? Should not past happiness be remembered fondly with an appreciation of one’s own mortality along with the satisfaction that one chapter in life’s book was magical above others? It indeed would seem that one variable in that equation changed, then sadness would be the outcome; but how dependent upon a single variable is a situation and happiness in and of itself? If anything, past happiness and satisfaction should illustrate that life is indeed magical and full of variables, situations, and forces that we can never plan for nor appreciate any more fully than in the present time. We can digest, analyze, and attempt to plan moments; but for what purpose?

Life is a mystery and the beautiful thing about it is that multitudes of souls have gone before us and had almost identical experiences; relationships; and situations. However, no person or situation is or will be identical or repeatable; and to attempt to manipulate or recreate is folly. Our minds and our existences are that which drive us to be who we are and how we interact.

Depending on your view: fortune and fate do not create all mentalities or approaches equal. This is likely a good thing; but can confuse in the relating and valuation of various peoples’ worth. One tenant I still struggle with is that no matter who the entity is, each of us has something to offer and some point or experience that is unique. Generalizations and rationalizations are necessary to maintain sanity and order; but life entails more than can be understood.

How one attempts to understand, digest, and interact with life and its ultimate end is the question that begs. An open view has advantages along with the burden of accepting the weight of life’s inputs while the closed view creates sheltered comfort at the expense of potential life-beautifying experiences and contacts.

In the continued ingestion, interaction, and investment with my surroundings, I will continue to struggle with perspective, balance, and meaning. My only hope is that I am able to contribute to others experiences and living moments as much as I take from those with whom I directly or indirectly interact.

truesday - 29 july 08

2008-07-29T10:54:00.001-05:00

hello tuesday.
hello self.

S: it seems that today is just another in the routine of mid-summer. it is past holiday and early vacationing time and still not quite yet festival and late summer time. if dogs had days I reckon that such days would be these.

T: what do folks do then?

S: wake, work, limit productiveness, sweat, and soldier on. (and apparently really crazy masochistic people move)

T: that doesn't sound like too much fun.

S: quite right, unless one finds fun in relaxing and the oppressive slowness of tropical living.

T: so how do folks get motivated to do things?

S: they don't. that's the point. this is the time for wandering, lounging, and un-ambitiousness.

T: what should we do today then for fun?

S: rough plan activities and then set forth.

T: do tell; what's the plan then?

S: leave work, ride up to something fun & indoors for post work interest: looks like the blanton has a new exhibit of Japanese woodblock prints called the floating world (till 5). perhaps find a nice shaded patio (dog & duck) or cozy establishment (tx chili parlor / opal divine's ) and read while relaxing over a pint. or depending on similar minded folks' turn-out, then lounging conversation and stories of summer productiveness, or the lack thereof. and there's always the chance for live evening music as well: antone's has some women blues as well as other usual venue's music assortments.

T: not half bad.

just a bit of change

2008-06-10T16:07:00.000-05:00

well, here we are again.

i've pretty much let go the random narratives of introspective blog posting and random updates as it takes just a bit more time than i tend to have in a day. i do enjoy the freeing random musings; but since life's happenings trend towards the routine on a micro scale but change drastically if looked at in a long view, its hard to write fresh and about things of interest.

so since april: i was able to take excellent trips to DC and the derby in louisville. my 30th birthday was celebrated throughout the week with various activities and relaxings. valerie and i decided to relegate our relationship from 'couple' to 'friends' which now leaves me in the unusual state of singleness. i continue to look for challenging work opportunities that will be mutually beneficial and afford me a path to excel. also, it is summer (not technically, but it feels as such); my favorite time of year.

i'll likely be relating through facebook and my flickr page (via photos). but who knows? i could always update this page every once in a while...

ABC spectacularness

2008-04-17T23:29:00.000-05:00

If you're going to blatantly ignore issues; at least go the route of interesting character questions.

LINK

My view and notes:

Journalism and ABC News: I was under the impression that the goal of such debates was to provide moderated discussion of issues. It seems that what I view as journalism has been usurped by sensationalistic questions, echo chamber reverberations, and apparent gotcha topics whose issue-based ties can only loosely be interpreted as 'character-orientated'.

Such avoidance of actual issues that will affect the citizenry of our great country (for approximately half of the allotted debate time) reinforces my sad realization that ABC News is no longer in the business of journalism, but entertainment and marketing. I understand that the 20 preceding debates have focused primarily on issues; which has allowed people further introspection on the candidates' stances beyond the written platforms put forth on their websites. I had hoped that events which have transpired since the latest debate (Senate hearings on the Iraqi surge, the Bear Stearns bailout, commodity and gas prices) would be discussed. Unfortunately those who chose the questions decided that we the people are not intelligent enough for such important discourse (or perhaps that the issues are not weighty enough to debate?). It seems that ABC and the media in general have left their journalism roots and news credentials at their desks and embraced the entertainment and 'high energy' controversy (no matter how contrived) in order to drive ratings. I must conclude also that ABC's family of companies and sponsors condone such base discourse as opposed to upholding the journalistic charge of their profession.

Such facts lead me to a point of sad realization. I did not think that such a negative re-branding of a company (ABC) or sector as a whole (political media coverage) was possible before last night. I now realize that in our new world of communication there are fewer and fewer people and organizations that strive to uphold the reporting of news, the proliferation of honest debate, and the critical analysis of issues and candidates' stances.

I frequent blogs, opinion pages, and columnists to stay abreast of gossip, talking point, conjecture, and sensational items; but I had hoped that journalists and news organizations would focus on finding the facts behind such topics and reporting them rather than bringing them into the framework of a debate.

Alas, I will now move forward by placing ABC News and her affiliate companies into the category of sensational entertainment and duplicity. I do not know how the company would be able to regain my trust and respect; but it would take a great effort and a lengthy amount of time. I can only suggest that those in production meetings who pushed for focusing on actual issues and stressing the imperative view of an evenly moderated issue-oriented debate be elevated in their responsibilities and respect. Conversely, those moderators and production managers who pushed for sensationalistic questions and media-focused introspection should be marginalized in their responsibilities and duties.

Journalism has its responsibilities and charges; more weighty than most professions. The facts are that ABC News and other purported news organizations are the primary conduit for informing the populous of the views, issues, and detailed policies of candidates for all political offices (even of more importance when it comes to the highest office in the land).

I rarely if ever write to comment on issues but felt compelled to inform you all of my opinion. Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.

Regards,

Jeff Scott

a comic

2008-03-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

the current mortgage crisis explained best

sxsw

2008-03-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

saturday fun

austinist rundown

sxsw - time for weekday fun

2008-03-05T15:43:00.000-06:00

daytime wednesday free shows

Austin - Long Center

2008-03-05T13:30:00.000-06:00

finally a close new art-specific venue that's separate from UT.

open house this weekend

just another reason

2008-03-03T12:37:00.001-06:00

Obama in Beaumont, TX

2008-02-26T16:33:00.000-06:00

reading for fun

happenings

2007-12-09T09:21:00.000-06:00

so thanksgiving vacation was wonderfully adventurous and fun. there's nothing like camping under old-growth redwoods and hiking the vast forests, rivers, and coastlines that comprise northern california.

now its back to a too-busy routine of pre-holiday events, deadlines, and activities. pictures should increase / continue once a new camera is acquired. other than that, life progresses.

good times

2007-11-19T16:27:00.000-06:00

so i passed the LEED examination this past friday and now get to call myself a LEED AP

after a good friday of celebrating, there was soccer tournament saturday where we kept true to form and played down to inferior competition; drawing two games before dominating the last (1-1, 0-0, 5-2) which earned us second in the division, but left us one point short of advancing to the next round. of course that would have meant two more games on sunday, so perhaps it was for the best.

now that studying and test taking are done, its time for thanksgiving trip preparation: Redwood National Park!! so most of yesterday was sifting through post flooring boxes and unearthing camping gear, warm weather clothes, and travel items. most fun will shortly be had. now its just finishing up a weeks' worth of work by tomorrow afternoon and then off for adventure.

i'll do my best to explore thoroughly and take sufficient photos to document random events.

ciao,

jeff

with wind comes a front

2007-11-15T09:02:00.001-06:00

so one more day until the home flooring is complete - and it is excellent. so much so that i have forgotten all previous abstractions of the space (which is a good thing).

tomorrow i have committed to take the LEED test in order to become an 'accredited professional'. the program is a good comprehensive design with positive economic sustainable points layered with environmental foundations under the auspice that people are bettered throughout. the good thing is that i get to find out the results immediately afterwards; unlike having to wait 4 months as with my PE exam (although the PE does carry much more weight).

other than that i must recommend the following NYT Magazine article on Daniel Day-Lewis; an excellent piece on all fronts: the prose of the article, the subject, and the quotes contained within.

amazing as it is, next week is thanksgiving. i guess i should begin to plan in more detail my California vacation? perhaps even pack a little...

2007-11-12T14:24:00.000-06:00

another late summer weekend gone (and in november none-the-less). lots of outdoor adventure: lakeside lunch / happy hour on friday; evening kickball; then saturday UT football tailgating. sunday brought gold and soccer adventure (our second win in which i played quite well).

hopefully flooring will be complete today and i can get in a good amount of studying for friday's leed exam. and then next week is thanksgiving holiday camping trip. amazing it all comes so fast.

2007-11-07T11:15:00.000-06:00

so the great flooring project of '07 is almost done - hurray indeed.

i'm excited to see the complete bamboo in all of its glory and of course to redistribute all my stuff out of its 'very large pile' format. it's kind of exciting.

so that should be this weekend and then the remainder will be the usual outdoor fun; work studying; and musical enjoyment.

oh - and if you're interested, watch Austin City Limits on Saturday night for the Arcade Fire taping that I was able to attend: one of the best live shows i've ever seen. you can see a summary of it here.

2007-10-29T16:10:00.000-05:00

so good changes finally. not quite yet in the ideal job front; but finally on the condo. bamboo flooring repairs will commence this week and hopefully be complete by next. should be a great new look (finally). it is odd how one acclimates so well to ones' surroundings. i guess it is a human evolutionary nature to be comfortable and conform to a home; no matter how inconvenient or old certain things become (long after they should be replaced). a good topic to explore later in full.

this weekend's fun included soccer games; an excellent oktoberfest party; more soccer; AND a hoa meeting where we finally chose a new property management company to replace our current ineffective / unresponsive entity.

should be a busy holiday week of fall transition.

cheers,

jeff

so close

2007-10-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

so camping was excellent as always. although camping in such proximity to a vehicle always has that lack of 'pure isolation' feeling. take a look at the flickr page for photo evidence of hill country journeys.

elsewhere, work continues to go; new work is still out there, yet appears to be an elusive creature. soon enough i hope.

this weekend is the official fall celebration: oktoberfest, halloween, and the triumph of cool temperatures that allow fires.

i'm planning on making the family's famous german potato salad for saturday, which hopefully will offer great sustenance after playing two soccer games.

live pleasantly,

jeff

eh

2007-10-18T15:14:00.001-05:00

well, it is the best time of the year. activities of outsideness with little searing sun but just the right amount of breeze. the ability to wear multiple types of clothes. transition foods and cooking; all the good things that make you want to be productive.

of course that is complemented by work and my continued inability to transition to a job where i can make a difference, challenge myself, and utilize the backpack of skills i've been acquiring. i'm planning on adding one more skill set (LEED accreditation) and then attempting to find a dynamic development position. hopefully something will come up; but after constant searching and evaluation i'm coming to the point of realizing that i might as well just do things myself. you know, throw on the mantel of entrepreneurial spirit and learn from some failures while achieving varying degrees of success.

i have come to realize that organizations and structures are not set up to excel, but to perpetuate; and there's nothing exciting or challenging about the predictable unless it is your passion, which even then can become rote.

so i think i'll have to put on my pants and stride out with a sense of running things instead of convincing people to let me join their team.

fun times as always,

me

need more postings!!

2007-10-11T15:14:00.000-05:00

so much to do. opportunities everywhere and obligations about. that and change; some good things, some sad, some hopefull...

something i need to put on the schedule and buy:
illumination

2007-10-01T17:02:00.001-05:00

LCRA and water; what we do.

link

fall / summer transition

2007-09-25T11:23:00.000-05:00

well, an excellent weekend was had venturing up north for family time and northern fall appreciation. there's nothing quite as great as visiting the chicagoland (and by proxy Michigan, Indiana, & Wisconsin) this time of year. the air is brisk and full of change while the transition of fall takes effect. there is nothing quite as fulfilling as this and makes one greatly consider how much fun it is to experience such seasons; to the point of longingly considering living in the region. of course then one remembers how that quickly changes to short days, bare trees, and the gray sullenness of early and late winter. it is this period after daylight savings time has passed that the memories of outdoor roaming and life hibernate until late march when hope and the explosion of spring and the energy associated with it return.

the good thing is that i now get to look forward to several months of fall here and prepare for camping, soccer, late night softball, and general non-heat controlled outdoor adventure.

work progresses and i am transitioning to more construction activities as various projects move away from design towards construction. this is a nice change and will help the malaise that has overtaken this past month due to ambiguous project management and general office chaos. hopefully this period will provide further experience and ease into a facilitated change towards a yet-to-be found ideal position.

other than that football so far greatly disappointing in both the fantasy and team rooting realm; which is thankfully saved by the cub's push towards the postseason and the inevitable heartbreak associated with rooting for such a team.