Know when to hold 'em...

It's well before dawn and I about to head out to the Doll House for another day of fun. Curiously, I have a meeting that could address most of my frustrations as of late today. What boggles me though is what to say? While I have my griefs, there is only so much that can be done. That lends itself to one of my beliefs that complaining just to complain is pointless and spirit deflating. As it stands now, my grievances are like a card players hand, concealed and my responsibility to deal with as I need to. If I lay them on the table, with no plan, then that is the end of my ability to handle my frustrations. At least on my own, I have a brilliant system for walking through frustrations life deals out. Fortunately for me, it works really well too. As for today's meeting, I leave it in the hands of powers greater than myself. Like I learned so long ago before stepping on stage for an improv show, it is best to keep the mind blank. That way I can keep focused on what is actually happening. For instance, the sky is getting brilliant pink.

We the people...

We, the people...

6hr Round trip comute?

According to Google Maps, this is what I can look forward to for riding to work from Reunion:

Bicycling directions are in beta.
Use caution and please report unmapped bike routes, streets that aren't suited for cycling, and other problems here.
Bicycling directions to Park Meadows Mall, Englewood, CO 80112
Suggested routes
1. 3 hours 52 mins
Platte River Bike Trail
42.5 mi
2. 3 hours 2 mins
Tower Rd
32.1 mi
3. 2 hours 59 mins
Tower Rd and High Line Canal Trail
31.5 mi
This route has restricted usage or private roads.

It does not bode well, for full time bike comuting, but I am not giving up. There has to be a way to get to work without having to drive, at least everyday.

One of Those Days

Thanks Cody for summing it up well here.

Dreamcatcher

While there have been some excited things on the horizon, I am starting to see the value of not letting my ming drift there often. For example, our house is just a concrete form in the ground and yet I am occasionally exhausted with the thoughts of what can or needs to be done. Seriously? I know that's a little sad, but to me it feels a little like a kid waiting for Christmas, so excited that several scenarios play out for him while he waits. Some good, some not. What I want is to stop thinking about it as much so as to enjoy where I am. As said before, the space between the steps. It's not always a problem that draws me from where I am at.

Feels Familiar

Between the Steps

I was on a run this morning to clear my head. While I was out, feeling cold and more than a little frustrated and unmotivated, that I noticed something kinda fantastic. It was the stride between the steps. My whole life, I have wished I could fly. I still do, to an extent. When I had a moment of pause in my otherwise nonproductive train of thoughts, I realized that while the impact of each step commanded more of my notice, there was a significant space in between where I was actually just... flying. When I paid more attention to it, the spell of midair propulsion seemed to last longer and longer. I noticed the steps that much less and enjoyed the gliding. It seemed pertinent to where I found myself prior to the run actually. I had been very focused on the steps in my life and not noticing the amazing time between them. It was nice to get a perspective shift.

Look, Puppies!

That's all I'm going to say today.

Morning!

So here's my question to you, my dedicated few readers: What makes a good Sunday morning for you?

All is peaceful this morning on the Stupie front. The coffee is good, the dogs are walked. There are the sounds of keys being typed as Tiff and I quietly work on our own projects. as of yet, no music is playing but my playlist in my mind is already had some Street Dogs, They Might Be Giants, and a little Etta James. The running shoes are by the door and they dogs are settling in. To me this is a great morning. the funny part is I could never plan all this. Maybe that's what's so great about it. Like a strange little symphony, there are too many elements to pick out each one, but when they come together it's wonderful. Or maybe, it's just a healthy acceptance this morning that everything is going the way it should and I can just enjoy it. Whatever the case, it's good!

Happy Sunday to you!

Work Week

One of these days, I'll know what it's like to usually only work Monday through Friday. As is I am still adjusting to working 40hrs instead of 25 or 75, only having one job, and not sacrificing my body everyday I go to work. Today is Saturday and my "Friday" this week. What makes me smile is the quiet you find early in the day when most folks have the day off. When I was a teenager, i would drive around all night reveling in the city being empty, as if it had been give to me for the night. I find a similar feeling on these early Saturdays and Sundays. It's nice and now less of a concern about curfews.

A few pics from New York

Seriously, running New York was amazing!

Thursday beat

To tell the truth, there's not much on the Stupie front today. On occasion, the world gets quieter. I used to describe this in the city as being in rythmn with the city. When the beat is more stagnated in a quieter town, it seems more subtle. As of late though, it's been good. Hope this finds you, my dedicated 4 readers, is step as well. Till tomorrow.

Working Theory

As of late I have been observing the differences in approaching my job that I have as opposed to some of my colleagues. I discussed previously the difference between talkers and do'ers. What I have realized recently is the difference between faith in ones employees and lack thereof. I have always held that if I have the right people working for me, I should have faith in them to do what is right for business and trust the quality the have. There have been occasions where this is not possible, but more often those are the exceptions and once known there is little doubt as to what to do. I always have believed if you can not trust the people you have working for you, you have the wrong people.

Routinely though, I find myself working with people that feel unless every step is laid out, their employees will never be effective. It seems a breeding ground to drive zeal and thought out of a work force. Guidance is necessary, but to a degree. If all thought is removed, it will eventually yield thoughtless people that either quit or will never rise above what is given them. McWorkers. Oddly these managers seem to want that. Their reasons could be easily guessed at, but why bother? The point being it is tough to watch them transform vibrant work forces to atomitons. My trust may be optimistic, but the people I am responsible for more often than not do excellent work when given some responsibility for it.

Besides, life seems to rarely go according to a plan.

Influence

I have noticed lately a trend of mine that is irritating. I am finding myself becoming negative when surrounded by negative personalities. At the moment I have nothing really to be feeling that way about. As always, I can find something easy enough, but truth be told, I am very lucky and very blessed. Yet, when I fall into that pattern it brings me down. I can not see the good things all around me. Sooner or later, I don't need the influence of anyone else around to get gloomy. It's a good reminder to watch what I decide to take from those around me. Time to follow Rollin's advice when someone tries to hand me the aforementioned.

Happy Valentine's Day

For my wonderful wife!

Gimme Gimme Gimme...

I have found that I seem to go through some serious "want it" stretches. There comes times where I just want to buy stuff. I could give it a good spin and say it's helping the economy, but seriously. It seems to know no bounds either. I can think about a particular project or area and get minorly obsessed on the stuff I could get. Then I think about something else and we are off to the races again. When it goes unnoticed, I occasionally just act on it and wonder where all my money has gone. Typically, for me, it's a symptom of transition elsewhere. Fortuitously, money just doesn't fly out of my wallet anymore without serious scrutiny, so the unchecked "want it" periods actually get checked. It's not always clear what is in transition, but these symptoms are almost always definite. Why else would I have been up late looking at new bumpers for the Jeep online last night so long?

Business School

I am often amused at the skills I have acquired through several jobs after college. I have become an adept barista and a fairly respectable Production Assistant. But the actual titles are not what I am referring to. It's the actual skills and experience gained on these odd jobs that amuses me. I can drive almost any type of truck, even in the tight streets of New Orleans or Beverly Hills. I have become very good with getting impossible tasks finished. The most recent amusement is coming from the Doll House though. Beyond the obvious, laughable work related tasks, I am becoming more and more savvy to business. I have a new love with Excel and the ability to truly analyze data. I have often joked with my friends that for an artist, I am a closeted math dork. Well, now I truly get to enjoy those skills. I am learning a lot about the way a business runs and for that reason alone, I am glad to have this job. Who knew I'd learn how to understand yearly business trends and pierce doll ears at the same job?

Good start

I am wearing a shirt so bright, the color has not been seen in my closet since 1988. Great jazz playing on the radio. I have 2 sleeping pups next to me and a mug of fresh coffee. So far only one crazy request from work and it's already handled. I think it's going to be a good day.

Ready to Run

Last year was anything but quiet. Fitting 2 marathons into the works was a great effort for sanity, but damn it wore me out. I started training for New York tired. It concerned me some that my affinity for the 26.2 miles might be short lived. As it turns out, energy has been renewing and I find myself excited to sign up for one this fall. I am interested in running Denver as there would be a welcomed lack of travel to get to it. Unfortunately, no advantage for me training here with elevation as I enjoyed in Minneapolis and New York last year, but I'll still take it.

Snow in my Basement

Ah, it has been a delightful winter wonderland in Colorado for over a week. Legitimate cold, bountiful snow and beautiful frozen views in every direction. I am at odds though. Suddenly I find myself craving mild weather for one reason. We have a giant hole in the ground where our house will go and so far they have only had a chance to dig the hole. I love snow and even foolishly was still wearing shorts when yesterday's subzero snowstorm came in. Yes, I know that was a mistake. So while I know there are fewer futile things to do than wish on the weather. I am trying to enjoy the snowy good and hope our hard working home builders can make up some time.

Good Friends

There is something wonderful about getting to see good friends you don't see often. You know, the type of friends that even when you have not been in the same room for months, the conversation picks up where it left off and suddenly you can't quite remember what the date is? Those are the friendships I am truly grateful for. There are a few in my life. It reminds me how some of the most important relationships I have can not be tracked via an online network or even by record of call history. Some of the people that mean most to me, don't even enter my day to day life all that often. None the less, when there is an opportunity to connect, it never fails to show me how each of them has helped influence me, even just a little, to where I am today. That's pretty damn cool.

Airports

As is tradition, I am sitting here at Denver International Airport with Stupie on the mind. It's a quick trip to help a friend. If ever there was a place more in need of the purpose of this blog (something about obvious), the airport is it. It was my first time to get full body scanned and second time to have my coffee cup wisked away for further scanning. I don't fault the gung-ho TSA Agents for enforcing the rules but man are they getting crazy. The world thinks our airline security measures are a joke. Aside from reaction policies like taking off shoes after one idiot tried igniting his, I have never heard how these measures could have prevented previous terrorist attacks. The illusion of safety is important I realize, but so is some common sense. As it turned out the courage of good people to do the right thing was our best allie when bad guys did what bad guys do. I wonder often if the real bad guys would even be troubled by our airport security? I only hope the good guys aren't.

Good Saturday Morning

Sometimes the simple things make for a great day. After relatively fighting the world around me most of yesterday, it just felt good to wake up on a chilly, overcast day to my wonderful wife and endearing Westies. I took the dogs out for a walk in the crunchy snow and then enjoyed a cup of coffee with Tiff on the balcony. The air is fresh and not bitter and actually kinda refreshing. Then came the dogs favorite game, me chasing them around the apartment trying to catch them. Maggie thinks it's the best, but Estes likes to be caught and loved on some. All in all a great morning and a nice reminder how good life can be when I am not mentally wrestling with everything.

Have a Fun Friday

Just think, this could have been you.

Ah, the Windy Windy

To all my friends in Chicago, surviving the arctic conditions, please stay warm. I was catching up on the news of the tremendous storm and the unusual disaster of Lake Shore Drive becoming a literal parking lot as it hit. The spirit of the city seemed to resound as I was reading about residents braving their way to the frozen cars to deliver food and water from close by homes. That was the Chicago I grew to love and appreciate. The additional reports on the emergency crews working hard also reminded me of how well the city comes together. Then I got to "official comments" from city officials like, "To those who were “very inconvenienced,” Raymond Orozco, chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, issued an apology, but would not single out anything in particular that the city might have done differently." It reminds me again of the most tiresome aspect of Chicago... its leaders. I wonder if Daily actually just sold off the snow removal equipment along with the Chicago Skyway or the parking meters and just didn't tell anyone about it.

Foodcourt

The foodcourt. What a facinating display of culture. By that, I don't mean the Taco Bell is my Latino influence, but of American culture. We have so much as a country, but the food court seems an awesome place to take in what we are doing with our bounty. Just the way people behave there can be rivetting. I watched teens doing what teens do, older couples holding hands, and several stroller watchers exersizing the gammut of taking care of children. Then there's me, reluctantly participating because I didn't want to pack a lunch today. I'm seeing all this life because I forgot a distraction (iPod, book , etc.). Consequently I get to watch the free show and try to just take it in and not judge. I was one of those teens doing what they do and hope to be holding my wifes hand when we are older too. Think I'll pack my lunch though tomorrow.

Icy Priorities

At the moment, according to the weather report, it is a -32 windchill. Most of Denver is shut down. So far as I know the Doll House is still open, which is not a shocker. What does seem strange is to imagine who would brave this cold for anything nonessential. It begs the question, what are the priorities out there? I almost got out of the whole thing when my Jeep almost did not turn over. Hopefully more people chose wisely today, there is not much worth risking this weather for.