Holy 2011!

Here we are, the last day of 2011. It has, as per usual, felt like a hell of a ride. Personally, I am pleased with the year of posting effort here at Captain Stupie. Oh, sure, it resulted in many, many posts without so much to say. It also flushed some good ideas out of the brain pan that would not have made it to publish had it not been an insane need to write a post for the day.

My personal favorite was, "want less, do more."

None the less, at the close of the year I am most interested in offering my thanks. Some of you have checked in often. Others occasionally drop by. Both are tremendously flattering. I humbly thank each and every one of you.

As for Stupie 20.12, not sure. I am going to be writing again soon, but will likely be taking a breather here soon. 2012 already has some big plans instore for life and this blog. Some of which will require you, my dedicated few to dictate where this adventure will go next.

From all of me here to all of you out there, have a wonderful and safe New Years!

Happy Picture Friday

Thanks College

Ever get the feeling your student loan is the only thing college gave you that never gets better? It just keeps hanging out there. I pay and pay and it just is still there. The host of credit cards I picked up naively are finally all paid off, but that slowed the process down a lot. A BFA should not leave college with debt. That degree and a big bill to pay... well that's just cruel. None the less, I know at some point I will be rid of those nice folks at Student  Loan Services. After all, college taught me no matter how horrendous the lesson, they all conclude.

Puppy Priority

It's fun and pointless trying to write this tnight. Estes is vying for the same attention. To be honest, it feels stupid to pay attention to the invisible mass that may see this as opposed to the adoration of a dog right here and now. Time to play with the dog then.

Punching the Clock

Funny how quickly getting back into your life can happen. Today was a get back to speed day and I was suddenly quite ready to head back out to the farmland of Northeast Ohio. None the less, it felt good to get a few needs knocked off the list. I am uncomfortable with lists that last more than 24hrs, but for the first day back, I am satisfied with the progress.

Welcome

We enjoyed a rather full day of travel, getting back from Ohio to Denver tonight. The dogs are home now and the luggage is empty. It feels good to be home.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all! I hope you all have had a wonderful day of smiles, good food, & lots off loved ones.

We Always...

It's interesting when visiting Tiff's family. You get to see the traditions they enjoy and what becomes important. I love it. When you are welcomed in for the holidays and get to enjoy a new perspective on things you may not already consider. It's truly a treat. I miss my family, for certain, but am truly grateful to be so welcomed here in Ohio.

I'm Late. I'm Late...

We're about to dash off for another social visit. It's a unique factor to where Tiff is from, but to get anywhere it takes close to 30 minutes. I appreciate the hurry up and go approach, especially when it's for a fun trip.

It makes waking up late, not so bad.

Ohio!

It was the get around and visit friends day. Tiff is new to the fly home for Christmas routine and it feels very familiar to me. After a few years it felt good to finally just relax. Today, though, was not that day. We hightailed it all over, enjoying lunch with our friend Amanda in Niles. Then we booked it up to Cleveland and had dinner with Brian and Olivia and their two boys. It felt good getting about and I loved seeing all the new sights.

There's a added thrill in just visiting and not writing the dance card.

DEN to CLE

"Ah."

The simple relief of sitting at the gate at DIA, ready to board our flight. There is such a routine to get just to this point. Getting the dogs to my folks, packing, and repacking (packing once again). The profuse gratitude to Scott for wheeling us here. Then the circus of TSA security. I enjoyed the full body x-ray only to be pulled aside, have my fingers swabbed and tested, patted down and asked, "do you have a gun on you?" No lie.

Yes air travel is luxurious and fancy.

Tiff and I are off to Ohio for Christmas. I am excited to see her family and will miss mine. It's still the greatest gift every year to spend it with family. As I get older I appreciate ll the work that goes into gathering around the Christmas tree on December 25th. Hell, even the cost of the tree has meaning now.

However, my time is up and we boarding momentarily. As is tradition from Denver International Airport, I bid you, my 4 readers, adieu.

Being an adult sucks sometimes. I am just going to go out and say it. Blah. I am aware of this factor today as I have a doctors appointment to checked out . I also kinda need a doc closer than Chicago. I don't like going to the doctor at all. Positive thinking usually cures all for me, lest I need stiches. None the less, I know this is a good precaution. I would be disappointed if the fear of hearing a bad prognosis would prevent me from doing positive action.

Today I say fuck fear.

Quiet

It's snowy and quiet outside tonight. The Christmas lights are twinkling across my neighborhood. I am not sure if it's just the byproduct of having worked so much for so long lately, but when the quiet settles in, sometimes I am not sure if I have forgotten something. Just being still is still a challenge, pardon the pun. 

Fa La La La La

The final packages are being wrapped and arrangements for multiple family Christmas stops are being worked out. I love this time of year, but always feel there's a simplicity that annually escapes me. I yearn for the ease of just enjoying my families without all the hulabalou. It is that energy though that makes it fun too. I look forward to seeing loved ones more than any gift. That is what I look forward to personally.

The Mall

Tif and I are about to venture into the retail world for some last minute needed shopping. We take off for Ohio this week and this will be our last chance to get a couple things together. I am excited but ever mindful that the true spirit is less in what we may get and more in how we get on with those around us. My hope is to get what we need and get out with little aggriavtion. That seems to be our responsibility. No one can take my happiness but me and so long as I can hold that idea close, I am confidant we will enjoy this potion of the holiday frenzy.

I hope...

Happy Picture Friday

Bike Mental

"You rode your bike here? You're crazy."

That was the warm greeting I received tonight when I was checking in at my neighborhood gym. The sentiment was mostly in jest, yet it struck me that there was no cause for it. Now bear with me as I attempt to explain. This is not merely a case of shallow nerves. It's 28 degrees out there with some thick patches of ice still. Denver may not be without its share of hardy bicyclists, but my suburban world still has 20:1 ratio of coyotes to cyclists. At night, a bike does not exist out here. This was a fact I discovered recently when I decided I would not drive a half a mile to go to the gym. That is stupid. Ergo, I began riding again, and to be honest it is one of my favorite things to do now when I can.

Enter the remark. Why is it when someone does something unusual, it is usually met with disdain? At very least a dismissive comment? It would have been easier, warmer, safer, faster, and considerably more normal to drive. Yet I rode and the guy rather sincerely passed it off as the act of less intelligence (i.e. crazy).

Well, if trying something even modestly adventuresome is crazy, I hope the sane world remain small and quiet. Personally, I liked the chilly ride and quiet, empty streets.

Blah, blah, bah...

If it's all the same, I have little to say tinight. I occasionally scan the horizon for something to rant on and come up with little. I try hard to not fight the unworthy and see where I can be of help rather take. I still strive to "want less, do more" even at this time of year. I know I am full of it so tonight, I will spare you. Hope there's an unexpected smile out there for you.

Couch Trip

I am still on hiatus from running with a broken toe and tonight just got home too late. It felt so good to drop onto the couch and just watch some TV (via Netflix). It's been a long go and I am just happy to do nothing tonight. Sometimes that is just what the doctor ordered.

By the way, watch this show. 

I Had Christmas Down in Africa

There is a great magic in the air this time of year. It has been documented by many, far more qualified than I, but it feels so good when the stress is not there. You get to just enjoy the Christmas lights and a good holiday song (currently The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser). As with all life, when I keep it simple for me I enjoy it more.

Nutcracker

Just saw The Nutcracker for the first time with my wife and two close friends. I feel as though I have finally partaken in a festive holiday classic. It was great and a little reassuring that even as an adult you have things that make you go, "wow" at Christmas time! That's it for tonight.

Christmas Ambling

It was good to get out a do some Christmas shopping today. I enjoyed it but mostly I was master of my own destiny today. I had no one with me and no necessity to purchase today. I am enjoying that middle ground of being excited to shop for my family but interested in moderation and keeping everything reasonable. It felt good to be out and just take my time. That seems to have been in shortage out there lately, the ease I enjoyed. Why does the holiday season seem to force such a frenzy? Buy now and save or miss out! To hell with that. I say stroll. Find the farthest parking space and take numerous coffee breaks.

Happy Picture Friday

Seriously, she just does this. It's like Maggie is part Otter. 

Printed

I just got back from the print shop. The latest design has been finished and is ready for use at the party this weekend we are doing. My design was not too complex, but was also put together very quickly. It looks good. It is gratifying to see something I did on my computer produced. That still feels magical. To actually make something is kinda great.

The Happy Place

I had today off, first one in a while. I enjoyed a couple of my favorite things this morning. Rode my bike to the gym and then a coffee shop. That was the height of happy for me. I can not explain why my 2 wheels makes me so giddy but it does. The gym is a place where the stress comes out and the body gets recharged. The coffee house is perpetually a good place for me for so many reasons. It helped a lot to get those things in today while I could.

Tired and Smiling

It's always easier to take something apart than to build new. There seem to be cynics everywhere but true dreamers, very few. I am always impressed when I encounter the truly positive. They finish a tough day and are still smiling. Those are the folks I admire so much. Thank you for being out there.

The Person You Are Trying to Call is Not Available at This Time...

I lost my phone yesterday. Did not even notice till pretty late last night. That attention to detail is natural after a 27hr work day. None the less, today has been peppered with baby steps to find and retrieve the lost cell with potential success to be determined tomorrow morning. It has been a fairly relaxing day without it though. All of my coworkers were within 20 feet of me most of the day and my wife knew I was unreachable. It made for a stress free work day. It made me wonder if giving up a computer would be equally liberating?Netflix? PS3? DVD's? iPod?

It just sounds good to unplug no and again.

All This Time...

So I have been trying to figure this whoe thing out for quite a while. What the hell it all means, you know? Why are we here? What are we supposed to be doing? Then it hit me. We just need to...

Enjoy it a little more and a little louder.

Hope you all will! (Especially you... yes you.)

Weird....

Do you ever have that feeling that you are talking but no one is really listening? What about when you are listening and no one seems to really be talking?

Weird...

Happy Picture Friday

The Kid View of a Snowy Morning

I am far from the days of hoping when the snow is falling that school will be cancelled. None the less, with years of conditioning, there is a sense of longing to just stay home on a snowy morning. The coffee tastes better, the blankets are warmer, and had I the time, I believe the waffles tastier. It just seems right to stay in. None the less, I am on my way in as is everyone else. Maybe we'll all get a snow day soon.