'Hot Fuzz' a different genre of foreign film - Life & Arts

'Hot Fuzz' a different genre of foreign film - Life & Arts

So today's activities: work; greenbelt hike / bike; relax with brew and bbq; a good kickball game; and then the aforementioned movie.

Should be a fine friday. Oh - and thursday turned out great as well. I was able to visit my latest design - a large multi-staged wet pond / storm system that is under construction in conjunction with a elementary school. After that - service awards at the oasis on Lake Travis (it is amazing how different it looks post-fire). Finished the night with a great softball game - it went 11 innings (6 extra innings of tie ball with my team ending up loosing by 2 runs).

Machen Sie zu viel spass on diesen Freitag.

Mid-week ramblings

So work continues to keep me quite busy. I do enjoy the ability to focus on a task and grind it down to completeness without being interrupted; which is a rare thing as of late. But it seems this week has been a productive one for current work at least.

I continue to search for a transition into the financial realm; with varying degrees of progress. I have made several contacts in the banking committee, but do not have any solid local prospects. It seems everyone I speak with suggests starting with a major corporate bank and being trained at one of their financial centers. Were I to re-insert myself at the base of that ladder in Dallas/Houston, San Fran, Chicago, or NY; I would have to re-evaluate quite a few things. I am looking to get experience in the field rather than drastically change my life. But in this slow revelation I am considering that if drastic change is necessary, why not strive and create the ideal change? Such thinking leads me to possibilities such as the World Bank and organizations which I have actual interest in that would be of some benefit through my participation. I fear major change to a corporate bank would only serve to mortgage my life for 5 years while I accrue experience that allows me greater flexibility. I have noticed that the cultural question persists: how much effort should be made to make oneself happy in the idealistic future at the expense of current happiness and contentment?

Briefly sequining to the topic of the week: the Virginia Tech massacre. I finally was able to read detailed reports and then digest and briefly contemplate the event. Initially I abhor the sensationalized coverage of today's 24-hour news market and tend to ignore all ''shocking update'' type stories. But after finally reading the Washington Post's narrative [LINK] that focuses on the routines and lives that were interrupted, I have a great sense of sorrow. The Post's account brings the reality back to the story and allows me to relate to the scene; up until the shooter enters the room of course. The description of college life and people are striking, and the classrooms that were hit were of many courses that I took in college: advanced hydrology (my major); german (one of my minors). It saddens me to consider many good people; potential colleagues that most likely had similar interests and abilities as a younger me - now never to be realized; are now gone. And all this by the acts of one person; through an event that no one ever considers possible. So while many now will focus on how to prevent such evil acts, or who is to 'blame' for something so unfathomable; I urge you to visit the above link and scroll down to the full list of those that have left this earthly plain of existence. It is an odd sense of voyeuristic grief; but say a quick prayer and transition back to the drudge of regular life knowing that life is fragile and the unthinkable, while always possible, should never be focused on for too long. Hopefully some good will come of this; although I can think of nothing right now.

Apart from that, the week continues. I think I shall go for a relaxing lunch ride on 360 and enjoy this beautiful spring day.

Post work service awards at the Oasis restaurant should provide some great picture opportunities of which i'll link to tomorrow and then an evening softball game should provide the perfect way to round out the day.

windy spring

so a great ride today. they actually cancelled the 'official' ride which means we ended up riding the route with no support. a very hilly hill country course with crosswinds 60% of the time and headwinds 30%; usually uphill as well. unfortunately I wasn't able to get the full 80 b/c of lack of support; but 30 miles and a brewery tour and bbq afterwards more than made up for it.

plus, i get free registration next year. not half bad.

saturtag

so another early morning and getting ready for a ride-race.

storm moved through last night dropping rain and temperatures. hopefully it isn't too windy today; but i'm sure it'll be great.

80 miles of hill country, blue bonnets, and relaxing to bluegrass music with real ale relaxation.

freitag!

ah yes, another spring weekend. so first the not-so fun part: work.

but then it shall be relaxing and riding the greenbelt (now full with water, which is great!).

and then relaxing and games until I prepare for tomorrow's 80-mile charity / brewery ride. hopefully its not too windy...

should be great weekend regardless.

doh!

i did not win yet again. the sadness is palatable.

i guess it just wasn't meat to be. full price tickets again!

for all those that like to be winners though; here's the link

so the weekend - it is over; eh?

nothing of note; just the typical late january musings and lusting for sunlight. i was able to finish one of my books: Freddy & Fredrika by Helprin, and as always he did not disappoint.

of course saturday was so miserable that no outdoor adventures were possible; well at least by bike. i was able to visit the new brewpub that just opened down the street though. unfortunately they don't have any of their own beers ready and the setup of the space is conductive to patio lounging; but it was still good to get the meet-n-greet in.

other than that, i enjoyed easter: a bit of scripture in the morning followed by neighborhood biking and a futile attempt to get a haircut. but after that tea and newspaper time at flipnotics which was nice.

so i hope tomorrow brings a return of spring and the sun. i plan on lunch biking regardless in preparation for this weekend's fun.

Midnight Thursday

hmmm - so who would be interested in such a show?

ATHF - Movie Link

spring ice storm

well, the possibility exists: so i am quite excited.

of course I scheduled the attendance of an iowa cubs v RR express baseball game; so that should be great. should be some good tailgating.

right now its a relaxing morning watching Liverpool v Reading on foxsoccer. it must suffice because my team has the weekend off due to easter.

so it looks as if it'll be a relaxing weekend; perhaps i'll even finish my taxes!

also - in my morning Internet journey:
ATFH - movie comes out next weekend. it appears to have the mix of evil dead army of darkness crossed with adult swim: it intrigues.

but next weekend is the Real Ale Ride benefiting the Kelly Davidson Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

it better transition back to spring before then though; because 80 miles of hill country climbing in 40-degree temps with wind does not have the appeal of the same route with mid 70s through bluebonnet covered fields.

good friday

it is a sunny good friday. i miss the days when this was a half-day of school aligned with the budding of spring.

regardless - my work will be short today and i will retire to nature to enjoy the creation and take in life. perhaps i will even spend time in a garden and contemplate.

have an excellent weekend.

enjoy family & lilies; avoid chocolate, ham, and indoors.

- jeff

morning

I listen to kmfa and transition into the day that is today over a morning cup of chai. today's sage tea wisdom is this:

"to be calm is the highest achievement of the self"

good to know.

until later,

jr

mittwoch

as promised: last weekend in austin = spring.

so work continues and i am realizing that in order to find a suitable career i must become proactive and take risks; something i'm not all that adverse to, but which goes against my general demeanor.

for some odd reason i have the ability to be happy; to let very little bother me; and to have a positive mentality about most anything. i believe that comes from the beauty of life around me: found in nature, people and their interactions, activities, and creations. perhaps it is just the season, but i currently have a heightened appreciation.

the only detriment to my constant good mood is my tendency to avoid conflict and to ignore negativity in others and in potential situations. such ability to transition to 'detached views' can be insular: both in a beneficial and detrimental way.

i suppose the difference in philosophy i have can be summed thusly:

carpe diem versus Memento vivere


well - i must return to work.

live your day,

jeff

beautiful day

so this weekend was one of the best in a while. one of the most beautiful collection of spring days in quite a while. as work is quite demanding right now, i will summarize and link to photos later.

cheers!

it rains.

well, i'm exited to visit the creeks once the weather breaks; but until then it shall be relaxed indoor periods observing the dark outside of steady light rainfall. so it appears that my outdoor weekend activities will be postponed. although the botanical garden festival might still be on; i can't think of a better venue than this for the warm fragrance that accompanies ferns, flowers, and trees clouded in warm moisture.

Something I've always wanted to do.

And never will.

Flickr address

the usual - The permanent address

I enjoy the program; and for a small yearly fee; it is quite useful. I've uploaded a decent amount of photos so far.

Drafthouse to move to Ritz - Life & Arts

Drafthouse to move to Ritz - Life & Arts

Well, the only way to properly pay respect to this move is by taking in as many events before the June transition; such as this one this evening:

the original: TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE

so thunderstorms and busy days: quite a way to start a week.

everything is fresh and damp; I cannot wait until the trails dry a bit more and I can go ride the greenbelt. hopefully the water will be up, because there's no better place when it is.

yesterday I got to attend my first engineers without borders meeting. a local chapter was just started the middle of last year and I finally got in touch with them. seems like quite a rewarding and fun group. now I just need to learn spanish: I know it can't be that hard; I just have to figure a way to get started... It is one of my goals that I've been putting off now for a while, but soon enough. here's the site for the EWB ; seems like they don't have a local chapter site up yet.

so the remainder of this week should be good: perhaps soccer or wine bar tonight and then the original transformers movie tomorrow at the Alamo in honor of this summer's new release. Thursday should be fun with a co-workers art showing (provided it isn't like an episode of the Office that is) and softball. and then more weekend fun; I can hardly wait.

ciao

the rain of spring

well, it is here again - and welcomed it is. there's nothing quite like the warm needed rain of spring where when you walk outside the air permeates with the warm musty growing of plants and leaves.

so i finally put together more of my pictures. take a look

this weekend was fairly fun: got to play an exciting game of kickball on friday and enjoy some excellent local clam pizza afterwards. saturday was fun with soccer (we won 6-1) and an afternoon of reading and picture sharing followed by an excellent meal of seafood at a restaurant that i've been wanting to try for years. and the weekend finished yesterday with a relaxing day of cooking, reading, and just a bit of sports watching. not too terrible a way to prepare for a busy busy week of work.

picture time!

rough set of vacation pictures (partial)

take a look if you get a chance and comment as desired on the site

cheers,

jeff