Already falling behind

This week it became very clear that summer is beginning to show signs of transition into a wholly different season. That's fall. Here, that's rain.

Last month I could rise at 5:15 and it would already be light outside, beckoning me to go on a run before work. Today, I rise at 6:20 and find the exact same light levels. Why does the peak of summer pass by so quickly, while the build up and let down seem to hang around forever?

This weekend is Labor Day weekend. The last hurrah before the school year begins. Next week I have to face the fact I will share the bus with teenagers again. It's been a really nice, calm last 3 months. The bus always has room and there's not a soul wearing Uggs. Sadly, just like summer's morning light, these fleeting days of figure flattering footwear will cease to exist.

This weekend my old classmate JP comes to visit. The last few months I have been very fortunate with amazing visitors coming to see Portland in its summertime glory, whether it be for pleasure or business, or a bit of both.

Figures

There comes a time
For everyone to sit down
And assess what's there and what is not there
Eternally up in the air

Head in hands day (H-I-H), part II

August 8, 2011 was an officially designated H-I-H day.

The arrival and passage of August 8, 2011 gave everyone a literal case of the Mondays. The stock market plunged 685 points (5%) with global insecurity focused on Western Civilization's hollow finances. Spain and Italy are primarily to blame, with the U.S. right behind in a neck-to-neck race to the bottom. Gelato can't fix this one, kids.


Curves like that don't lie.

The bad news was followed by a lot of media outlets encouraging everyday people to not attempt to liquidate their investments. It's the same thing we heard three years ago, and frankly feel like I got to believe this fairytale to keep sane and not start screaming at strangers on the MAX.

The comforting thing about all that happened today and in the weeks building up to it was we got what was coming to us. It would have been quite ridiculous to have gone through all that angst and bitter public debate for NOTHING. We made our beds, now we sleep in them - even if it's a leaky-ass, skanky waterbed that David Wu keeps in his basement.


Nice bed spread.

Enough of this gloom! Let's write!

Feeling a tad gloomy and partially nauseated when I got home from work tonight, I started to think about things that generally uplift my spirits and how such things can become more plentiful in my life day to day.

First off, I thought about the refreshing alone time that you get when you go out for a long run. That sounded pretty great, so I got on my running clothes, tied the ol' shoes, grabbed my ipod and got ready to roll out the door. But before I left, I remembered to be responsible: I tested my blood sugar to make sure all levels were in a favorable balance before exercising. Unfortunately, that pretty much threw a wrench in my happy time. My blood sugar was too low, so low that I would have to eat a lot of spoonfuls of jam (four or five of them), candy or juice to just walk around the block, let alone run 4 miles at full speed. So I bagged the run, made a simple dinner for myself and continued the happiness brainstorm.

Next, I thought about the nice collection of nearly 600 blog posts I've penned, most prolifically when I was in grad school in the mid-late 2000s. So I went to these blogs, this being one of them, and I started to read, peruse and feel nostalgic for my life of little to no sleep, strange roommates, three-legged dogs and weird Berkeley people. Man, good stuff (shout out to me!).

Here's my new pledge: *try* to make time to write a little something and post it here at least weekly! Looking back at my previous writing samples, I believe I had a talented eye for seeing the off-side and humor in things. I believe that talent is brewing somewhere deep inside, perhaps just partially obscured from the last 9 months working my butt off in an office. It's going to take some practice, though, so patience is needed by any readers as I better hone my craft.

I recall that one goal of my previous blogs was to recruit random readership, develop an online presence and generally impress the heck out of people. I gathered readers by posting my blog on my Friendster page. The result was mixed: I only recruited 4 or 5 regular readers that became involved with adding commentary, etc. So I might try that route at some point and see how it works in today's hyper-social networked environment. Hmm, I suppose I have to put on my marketing genius hat and figure out how to drive regular traffic towards my Facebook page. I have some ideas, perhaps not good or respectful ones, but they are ideas.

Until then... and check back soon.