Motivation

I interviewed Dar Williams today. When I first discovered her music more than ten years ago, I fell in love with how she embraced her life journey. She is an artist who has inspired me. When I'm celebrating, I listen to her music. When I'm depressed, I listen to her music. What I need is to be motivated to do things that I know I could do.

Hibernation

After the 2004 election, I quit following politics on a regular basis. I still knew more than the average person, but I had to get away from the partisan bullshit that seems to be more important than doing what is right for the country. After Obama's first week in office, I'm going back into political hibernation. The Dems modify the stimulus package to placate the Republicans, and yet none of the Republicans voted for the package. Now the Republicans are saying all the crap that should have been said as the Idiot of the last 8 years ran this country into the ground. I'll keep up by visiting some blogs occasionally, but mostly I'm going to visit blogs that demonstrate the magic of life is, like Carpe You Some Diem!

h/t Blue Gal, one of my new heroes

Munching on Bait

Since I've been without a job for a few weeks, we haven't eaten out much. Two days ago, the wifey finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha and loved the book. Thanks the Netflix, we had the movie two days later. Tonight, we drink Kirin Light, much on mahvelus sushi from Kaisen's, and watch the movie. I make a damn good house husband. The kitty, whose name has become Jamaica, slept in my lap most of the afternoon and is now asleep in wifey's lap.

There has to be a pony in here somewhere

This morning I came down the stairs to the smell and site of dog shit from the sliding glass door in the living room to the front door. One nice thing about having old dogs is that they sleep most of the time and don't need a lot of attention. The bad thing is that anything will upset their stomachs. As I took one rug outside I heard a meow and saw a kitten sitting on the fence in the backyard. The kitten was skittish of course but with a sense of curiosity. It jumped down when I walked towards it and headed to a hole in the fence that leads to the road by our house. I bent down and used the "here kitty kitty kitty" line and sure enough the kitten came to me. I fixed it a bowl of water and got some dog food and she chowed down on it immediately. The kitten stayed in the backyard all day as I wiped, mopped, vacuumed and shampooed dog shit all day long. I was gone for a couple of hours in the afternoon and when I returned, there she was sitting in chair on the back porch. I decided to let her in the house and she fit right in. She and the dogs are getting along quite well, although I can tell that T-Bone would like to catch her when no one is looking. After 24 hours, I think it is safe to say that we've been adopted.

The song that should be the National Anthem

Dog dreams

Great Danes are big dreamers when they are asleep. Every dog I've had dreamed, but this is the first time I've ever had two dogs. What really surprises me is the number of times that the dogs dream at the same time. When one starts wagging the tail and the back legs start kicking, the other one joins in like a bass guitar over drums.

He's dreaming, not humping the couch, is this low quality video. The sound you hear is him snoring.




I finally caught Mocha on tape.

Not what I had in mind

I'm sitting in the waiting room while my wife has an MRI. The inauguration is on, which is good except it's on Faux News. I feel sick everytime I have to listen to Brett Hume. /puke

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The times they are a'changing, thankfully

This was 2004.

Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style.


This is 2008.

President-elect Barack Obama called his former Republican presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, a hero at a bipartisan dinner Monday night and encouraged politicians to reach across the aisle.

"I could stand here and recite the long list of John's bipartisan accomplishments ..." Obama said.

"Campaign finance reform. Immigration. The Patients' Bill of Rights. All those times he has crossed the aisle and risked the ire of his party for the good of his country. And yet, what makes John such a rare and courageous public servant is not the accomplishments themselves, but the true motivation behind them."

After praising McCain, Obama urged everyone to take the bipartisan dinner past "just an inaugural tradition" and turn it into a "new way of doing the people's business in this city."

"We will not always agree on everything in the months to come, and we will have our share of arguments and debates," Obama said. "But let us strive always to find that common ground, and to defend together those common ideals, for it is the only way we can meet the very big and very serious challenges that we face right now."

"The energy on the streets is something I've never seen before," said Nancy Wigal, who lives in Vernon Square. "People are walking lighter, standing taller and are reaching out to one another. It feels like hope. It feels like shared happiness."

Wigal said Obama's inauguration has given residents hope that change actually will happen.

"It's all because of Obama -- we dare to feel positive that we may have actually elected a leader, not just a politician," she said. "There are impromptu progressive dinner parties, cookouts and house parties. We finally feel like a real change has come to town."

YAY!!!!!

The start of an awesome week

Today was MLK Day and Obama's call to Service. I did a radio show this morning and played music that was very topical to the day and tomorrow's inauguration. Since I have lots of time on my hands, I marched in the MLK parade. Just by chance, I caught this pic. Click the pic to see a larger version. Needless to say, and unfortunately, I was one of maybe 30 caucasians in the parade. I've wanted to march in the parade for years, and I loved it...especially knowing what tomorrow will bring.

Who needs it?

I've never been a big sleeper. Usually seven hours is plenty for me. Since I've been out of work, I've gotten up anywhere between 5 and 645. Granted, when I got up at 5, I went back to bed at 7 and slept til 10. I know I'm going to have to get up in about 6 hours, but part of me wants to stay up til midnight again. I'm doing my show in the morning, then hanging around the station to walk in the MLK parade. Beats working!

Slacker

I'm not off to a great start with blogging everyday. I am learning that I have to get something constructive to do to fill my time. This after being out of work for 3 complete days. The house is nice and clean, though. Two media related jobs have presented themselves so far. One is low-pay, short-term and the other is a morning co-anchor for a local TV station. I'm sure they are looking for a young, good looking person and not an aging slacker, but who knows? I've been on TV before and I think I came across quite good. We'll see if either of these go anywhere.

Planning the plan

I spent my first day of unemployment on me. After gathering some information in the morning, I started cleaning the house. About 1:30, I decided to have a margarita. It's a gateway drink in that once you get started, you can't stop. But I didn't have anything other than water for the rest of the day.

I like being at home during the day. I would love to find something that allows me to work from here. For starters, I could start working really early in the morning. The dogs would be by me all day and its....just my environment. Know what I mean?

The things that really interest me are low paying, which is an issue. I don't seem to be qualified for the things that are high paying. Maybe I should look at starting something new that will take, say, 5 years to reach a skilled level. I would be 58 at that time....but imagine if, for example, I was a skilled and competent Java programmer...if I had the skills I could get work...hell, I could get work now if I had Java skills. I will start mapping out careers and paths to see if that leads me anywhere.

As I post this, the song Dream Cafe from Greg Brown is playing on the radio.

from Cafe Astrology

January 14 Birthday Horoscope

If Today is Your Birthday: January 14

---

The Year Ahead Forecast for January 2009 to January 2010 A trine between the Sun and the Moon in your Solar Return chart this year is a fortunate aspect. It suggests that your domestic and career needs are not in competition with one another in the year ahead. Your inner needs tend to be mirrored by external events, and vice versa. This aspect is very powerful and rewarding. It suggests that you will be on top of your game this year, for the most part, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. A comfortable level of personal popularity helps to keep conflict to a minimum. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you! Saturn and Uranus transiting in harmonious aspect to your Sun much of the year indicates that you are likely to want to bring reform or restructure to your life and perhaps your career and life goals. While you are willing to adapt to new circumstances, ideas, and unfamiliar situations this year, you are also considering and honoring traditional methods and responsibilities. You are flexible, yet organized and realistic. This attitude benefits you in most life "departments". It’s easier than usual to express your unique individuality, and if this involves changing careers or jobs, a new love affair, or an entirely new hobby, it’s something that takes you forward into unexplored territory. You are more willing to adapt to new circumstances, ideas, and unfamiliar situations this year. It's a good period in your life for joining organizations and groups and for attending meetings or social events. Even so, Mercury is in slow motion and in hard aspect to Saturn and Uranus, suggesting that there can be times this year when you experience "paralysis by analysis"--indecision due to weighing two sides to any given situation. Mercury's conjunction to Jupiter helps in this respect. You are likely to find your mind expanding and many intellectual opportunities opening to you this year. Venus sextile Mars in your Solar Return signifies pleasant sexual tension, libidinal attraction, and playful competitiveness in relationships this year. Romance is in the air, as this aspect increases your sensuality, sex appeal, and animal magnetism. Marriage could occur in such a year. Now is also a good time to engage in creative projects and to join with others in pursuing a common goal. If you are involved in competition, you may very well come out a winner. Mercury conjunct the Moon's North Node suggests making contact through learning, communicating, and mental pursuits. It indicates an intellectually stimulating year in which the exchange of ideas with others figures prominently. Relationships tend to be pleasantly stimulating and fun this year. You are eager to take on a challenge and happily engage in friendly competition. You are bound to make new and stimulating friendships through learning and mental pursuits in the year ahead as well. Overall emotional balance, flexibility, and realism are your strengths this year; indecision is something you may struggle with. 2009 is a Number Eight year for you. Ruled by Saturn. This is a year of power and accomplishment. Actively seeking to expand, taking educated risks, and moving forward are highlighted. This is a year of opportunity, particularly in the material and business world, and opportunities need to be seized. It's generally not a year to find a new love partner, simply because the focus is on the material world and your place in the world. This is a problem-solving year in which you can expect real, tangible results. Advice - take action, plan ahead, seize opportunities. 2010 will be a Number Nine year for you. Ruled by Mars. This is a year of completion and transition. It is a time when we need to let go of things that no longer serve their purpose, and hold on to things that have a future. It is a time of cleaning out dead wood, not necessarily for new beginnings. It can be a time when a burden has been taken off your shoulders, and it can be a year of giving of yourself. Advice - let go of things that are holding you back, give of yourself and express your sympathetic, compassionate side.

This isn't what I had in mind

It's my birthday, and I got laid! off.

Can you imagine being laid off from your job on your birthday? This is not the type of discovery that I had in mind to start the year off with. I've already filed for unemployment.

Jeez......

Fortune Telling

I don't read horoscopes on a regular basis but I've always liked to read them on my birthday. Here are some that I read.

Your brain is going to take longer than usual to ramp up this morning, so it's not a great day to do any heavy research or calculations early on. To help speed up your cerebral wake up, seek out vibrant people who are always full of energy and sass. Also, getting involved in situations that require collaboration will help you get more active and energized. You won't be fully responsible for any one task, but you can still add your good ideas and input.


The luck gods, and goddesses, are very much on your side at the moment, promising a special year ahead for those born on this day. Make a list of the 12 things that you would most like to accomplish, and tick them off as you do them, month by month.


In one of his journal entries, Henry David Thoreau wrote about stumbling upon a single stalk of corn deep in the woods. It looked out of place there, so far away from any cornfield, growing next to a pine tree. And yet it was doing just fine. How did its seed get there? By wind or animal? I suspect you will soon make a comparable discovery, Capricorn: a blaze of vitality that seems out of its element but is perfectly beautiful. Should you pluck it or engage with it or simply admire it? The freshest part of you knows the answer.


Reach out to someone you haven't heard form in a long time -- even if they owe you a few calls! Your ability to mend fences is strong now and it's easy to get people talking on any level.


You have a good grasp of how the wheels of commerce turn and will make a good showing between now and July with any job, career or business pursuit. Do your best to build helpful connections with others who will very likely keep you in mind when the rewards and favors are passed out. You could make a fateful decision in September, so watch your p's and q's. If you will wait for late October to launch a new idea or business, you could receive enormous and favorable publicity.

Dates to watch:

Best romantic days: January 1-4, 6-7, 10-11, 13, 22-24, and 28-29.

Make a long range plan: January 2 when the Saturn will meet with the Sun on your behalf.

Visit a campus, take an exam, have an entrance interview at a university: January 16-18.

Your career brings unexpected, positive developments: January 22.

Happy days for travel: January 9, 17-18 (long trip), 22 (short trip).

A big earning opportunity will come up: January 26.

Your luckiest days of the year: January 23-24, for money, love, career - you seem to have it all - but luck for earned income gets top billing.

It took way too long to figure this out but I think I discovered how to blog from my crackberry. I need to come up with a name for the cb.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Discovery is my word of the year

Christine Kane (www.christinekane.com) is a singer-songwriter and multi-talented soul who lives in the Asheville, North Carolina area. Instead of making New Year's resolutions that no one keeps, Christine urges people to come up with a single word that will guide them throughout the year. My 2008 word was spirit. I kept it in mind, but it didn't really drive my 2008. For 2009, I had some ideas and began to make a list, then I trimmed the list, then expand it, and the word that evolved for me was discovery.

The definition of discover is to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown). For me, the key is find out.

Discovery is a noun; discover is a verb; discovers, discovering, discovered are transient verbs. I'm adequate with grammer, but don't ask me to lead an english class.

Discovery is a positive word, even when used to improve the places where my demons live. For example, I want to discover what it is like to be sober for three months. I want to discover how my body feels after a three month weight training program. I want to discover whether I would be happy working as a cook. I want to discover a new job. Those statements are more positive than I want to stop drinking. I want to get in shape. I need to be healthier. I want a new job. A resolution like that only reestablishes past failures, and one reason Christine thinks we don't keep the New Year's resolutions.

I want to discover what will happen if I blog every day. Why? I want a new discovery every day. I'll write more. That's a positive start. One thing I want to discover is how to easily blog directly from my crackberry.