love love love

this post from The Agitator.

How to Run a Protest-Proof Grocery Store

Current Personal Theme Song

Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise
The Avett Brothers

If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

 

Financial Reading

I've been doing a lot of financial reading lately, not surprisingly I guess, and I'm loving it - thank goodness.  However, I have been asked about recommending a basic book on finance that simplifies the investing message.  Right now, I'm reading Investing 101 to see if this would be a good option.

Have you read a basic finance or investing book that you would recommend to others?  I must say that have a personal bias against the "Idiot's Guide to ..." and "... For Dummies" books, but if you've read their investing versions and liked them, I'll check them out.  Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Albums

14. An Innocent Man - Billy Joel

Albums

7. Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
8. Peter Paul and Mommy - Peter, Paul & Mary
9. Hit Express (1982)
      Don't You Want Me - Human League
      Do You Believe in Love - Huey Lewis and the News
      (Oh) Pretty Woman - Van Halen
      Did It In a Minute - Hall & Oates
      Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
      Urgent - Foreigner
      In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
      Spirits in the Material World - The Police
      Love is Alright Tonight - Rick Springfield
      Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) - Rod Stewart
      Hold on Tight - Electric Light Orchestra
      Abacab - Genesis
      Working for the Weekend - Loverboy
      I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
10. Sports - Huey Lewis and the News
11. Fore! - Huey Lewis and the News
12. Ol' Waylon - Waylon Jennings
13. Arena - Duran Duran

More Albums

4. Life as We Know It - REO Speedwagon
5. Wheels Are Turnin' - REO Speedwagon
6. Music from the Edge of Heaven - WHAM!

J - 18 Months

March 31, 2011

Dear J,

I know I’m a little late with this letter, but things have been crazy lately. Time is moving very quickly, and you’re growing up too fast, that’s for sure. We’re trying to enjoy these days. They really are special right now.

You’re just so much fun. You’re happy most of the time and just love to laugh and play play play. You’ll play with your toys, boxes, pots and pans, the animals, whatever strikes you at the moment.

Everyone talks about how much older you look – like a little man. It’s funny, because that’s exactly what we all call you. But you really do look so much older. You’ve had a full head of hair since you were born and have been getting it cut since you were eight months old. You also have all your teeth except but the last four molars. I really hope your baby teeth situation bodes well for your permanent teeth, since they’re all completely straight. And none of that even covers how unbelievably expressive you are. I also hope that stays; you have no poker face, and this will come in mighty handy in about 12 years.

You also jibber jabber a lot, as your dad calls it. He actually says jibber jabber to you so much that you’re starting to say it, too. There are so many words, and I know I’m forgetting some, but so far there are: brush teeth, NO! (the index finger must be pointed for full effect), kitty, picture, baby, mama, daddy, gigi, papa, nana, cheechu (that’s a truck, strangely), uh-oh, what’s that, ball (comes out “bow”), cheese, and ice.

Speaking of cheechu, you LOVE trucks and buses. Every morning, we lift the blinds in the living room and watch the busses. Mondays and Thursdays are the best, though, because not only do we get three buses, but also garbage AND recycling trucks.

You’ve learned that a doggie says “woo woo” (you aren’t quite there with the f’s yet), and you bark with your whole body. So, of course, we ask you what the doggie says all the time.

You’ve learned to blow kisses, which makes your constant flirting even more irresistible.

We’ve struggled only with getting you to sleep at night. We’ve tried everything: rocking, cry it out, modified cry it out, staying in the room and soothing, going to bed earlier, going to bed later. And until three nights ago, nothing seemed to work consistently. Then, all of a sudden, for some reason, you’ve decided that you are ok if we slowly leave your room after putting you in bed. You pull on one of your many music players attached to the bed. You pull all your blankets into the crib. You throw your sock dog, Soda, onto the rocking chair. You talk to yourself, and generally procrastinate sleeping, for about an hour. But, and this is the best, you don’t scream your lungs out and cough and heave and gag anymore. Needless to say, we are keeping our fingers crossed that these three nights are the new way of things.

We love you and can’t wait to see what cool things you do next, but, please, not too fast. We are enjoying this time so much.

Love,
Mom

The Album Project

You may have seen on facebook that I'm working on digitizing my record collection.  I'll try to track the project here.

Last night was the first effort, and it took a while to finally nail down the right software and process.  With a little help from Dave - just one last setting - I'm there and really ready to go. 

Album 1, recorded March 30, 2011: Greatest Hits - Kenny Rogers
Album 2, recorded March 31, 2011: Thriller - Michael Jackson
Album 3, recorded March 31, 2011: No Jacket Required - Phil Collins

The initial part of this project will be my albums.  This is just a handful of records from the late 70s and early 80s.  The next round will be albums that my mom recently gave me (the largest collection - probably 30 or 40), and then, finally, the rest will be the albums that came in a record cabinet handed down from my Great Aunt Lou.

Why They Fought

hat tip: The Agitator, as usual

Do you ever

use too much shaving cream?  I do.  Every. Single. Time.

Exciting Times Ahead

I haven't posted this anywhere yet, because there are clients on Facebook and LinkedIn who don't know and need to be told personally.  But well, hardly anyone reads my blog, and I'm so excited to tell people that I've figured out what I want to be when I grow up - and I'm going to go be it now. 

I hadn't really thought about posting this here until today, but as I was driving around and running errands this afternoon, I felt a sudden rush.  I've been at my current company more than 10 years now, about eight doing essentially the same job, and I'm ready for something new. So, when the company merged with another one earlier this year, I was not-so-secretly hoping for a severance package.  I didn't get one, and though I was initially disappointed, now I'm even happier.  That may seem strange, but today an incredible feeling of power hit me - power that comes with leaving on your own terms. 

I turned in my notice on Monday, and it wasn't a shock to my boss because this has actually been in the works for several years and I've been up front about my plans (even working part time in both companies for the last year).  I think, though, that there are people who didn't think I'd really take the leap. 

I gave a couple months notice, will take a week of vacation, and then as of May 16th, I'll be working full time to become a financial planner - queue simultaneous excitement and terror.

Here we go ...

1001 Rules

I'm pretty sure I've blogged about 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son before.  He just posted another great one: "If you choose not to own a TV, keep it to yourself".

American Spirit

I can't remember exactly where I found Slacktivist.  It was either BoingBoing or Instapundit.  He's good, and I particularly like this post about how corporations have removed incentives to be more productive, but for some reason we keep doing it.  He asks a good question: How long can that last?

2011 in Entertainment and Travel

This year, I'd like to see more live shows, but last year I did manage to read a lot more than I had in some time.  That makes me very happy, and since I got a Nook for my birthday, I think I'll be reading even more this year. 

Movies
The Bridges of Madison County
Avatar
Noel
Zombieland
The Great Escape
High Society
Best in Show
Ocean's 13
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Sherlock Holmes (2010)
Couples Retreat
Babylon AD
Iron Man 2
Love the Beast
Crazy Heart
Away We Go
This Is It
The A-Team
Toy Story
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lighting Thief
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
The Two Escobars
Day Breakers
Barton Fink
Hope Springs
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Gran Torino
Kick Ass
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
The Rookie
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Diggers
Spirited Away
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inkheart
A Single Man
Inception
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Robin Hood (2010)
Rachel Getting Married
How Do You Know

Live Shows/Events
Craig Ferguson - Cobb Energy Center
Minnesota State Fair
A Prairie Home Companion - Grand Stand, Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN

Travel
Magee, MS
Charleston, SC
Hilton Head, SC
Minneapolis and Whitefish Lake, MN
Boston, MA
Charleston, SC

Books
Odd Thomas, Dean Koontz
Forever Odd, Dean Koontz
Brother Odd, Dean Koontz
Odd Hours, Dean Koontz
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
One Day, David Nicholls
The Passage, Justin Cronin
The Princess Bride, William Goldman

Merry Christmas

2010 had it's rough spots -- I miss you every day, Grandaddy -- but overall it has been a wonderful year, and 2011 is looking to even better. 

Enjoy your family, your friends and all the blessings in your life.  Carry these good things with you every day, keep your chin up, and keep moving forward.  See you in the new year.

Women and their bags ...

I have recently switched to a massive purse.  I have always been more of the "small purse" girl.  Carrying huge bags only invite you to stash more stuff in them and then they weigh 10 pounds.  The thing is, though, I am absolutely over carrying a diaper bag and a purse.  Well, that's a lie, actually.  During the week, I would carry a purse because the diaper bag was unnecessary.  On weekends, I would then move appropriate items from my purse to the diaper bag.  This is weekly event is what I got tired of. 

So, I got a giant purse.  Now I can just throw in some wipes, diapers, snacks and I'm ready to go out with the little man (and yes, it already weighs about eight pounds - whatever).

This recent change made this brilliant observation by the always great James Lileks even funnier ...

The need for a backpack is ancient and engrained, and it’s taking me a long time to shake it. In college my backpack would contain everything I needed if I was stuck in a small room for two days – books, magazines, newspapers, a journal, a People’s Pen, refills, matches, emergency quarters should there be pinball. Last year when I was getting up early and heading off to be Ted Baxter in the video department, I stocked my bag with every possible thing I might need, from a small tripod to extra memory cards, peanuts, moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, and so on. Never used any of it. But I was a shivering hermit in a loincloth compared to what my wife schleps around. It’s one of the things that mystified men: the quantity of things women carry. I goggle sometimes at the quantity of items in my wife’s bag, and then I stand abashed when I realize the bag is merely a conveyance for the purse, which itself contains the clutch. It would be like me taping my iPhone to my laptop, taping the laptop to the Mac Pro, putting the Pro on a wheeled cart and dragging it along wherever I went.  

Happy Picture of the Day

Depressing News of the Day

Just in case you are under the impression that we live in a free country, I present this story. If this were happening in any other country, it would be evidence of oppressive policies and a sham of a court system.

Full story here.

Good-bye, Old Friend

I wonder if my Walkman is still sitting in some ratty old box in the corner of our storage room. That would be the one an acquaintance borrowed freshman year in college and then brought back slightly broken, but still functional. I was using it until I got my first MP3 player about eight years ago. Honestly, I had no idea that Sony was still making these, but knowing they officially have stopped makes me a little sad today.

Ha ha - things don't really change

First of all, I LOVE Pandora Radio. This fun little diddy came up on one of my stations today - Guv'ment by Roger Miller.

Favorite verse:
Well you soul selling no-good
Son-of-a-shoe-fittin' firestarters
I ought to tear your no good
Perambulatory bone frame
And nail it to your government walls
All of you, you bastards

Fantastic and good to know that it's an American human tradition to hate our government.

Here's a version of John Goodman singing in Big River. Who knew?



Of course, the character singing the song isn't exactly a shining star.

Huck returns home in the darkness to find his Pap, a violent drunk, waiting for him, who drags him off to his cabin in the woods. In his drunkenness, Pap swings from tomfoolery to extreme violence as he rails against a government that would take his son (and his son's money) away from him ("Guv'ment"). Pap attempts to kill Huck, hallucinating that he is the Angel of Death, but passes out in an inebriated mess.

Hmmm, I guess we can't have it all.