Why Are We Here?

Sounds like a lofty question, doesn’t it? Well, lucky for you this isn’t a long exploration into the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. For those of you who want to have that conversation, I’m generally up to it. Just be warned that inquiring about such things may lead to regretting you asked—especially if I’m walking at the time as that helps me get my ‘ramble’ on. If you’d prefer a more succinct answer (and perhaps the best I’ve found) check out the answer provided here.

What this post is about is the blog’s current lack of direction and regular updates.

Piercing the Veil of PARRRRRadise

This past Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of venturing out of San Francisco with some fellow scallywags to attend the 2^nd Annual NorCal Pirate Festival. That morning, after getting myself appropriately dressed with my best pirate gear (mostly rolled up khakis and a white dress shirt worn as disheveledly as possible) I made my way to the secret pirate cove (a.k.a. friend’s apartment) that was to serve as our meeting place. Here we shared all the pirate-y things various folks had acquired, from eye patches, to hats, to wigs, and even tape on beards and mustaches.

By the end we were all sporting a number of unique pirate items: hooks, Johnny Depp style facial hair, bandannas, neck tattoos, studded eye patches, big leather belts, a sash of skulls (yeah I said sash of skulls). One thing though that became painfully clear as the group of four guys stood about: it’s difficult for professional guys to put together a unique looking base outfit. Each and every one of us was dressed in matching Khakis and white shirts. Solution: meet the white and khaki klan! All outfitted we made our way to the ships—er cars—to begin our journey!

Bit of a Rockaty Ride…

…brought to you by Virgin America and storm front Wisconsin.

So there seems to be some nice parallelism in my writing this post since, its once again being written from, oh let’s say, 34,029 Feet—yeah that sounds right. As perhaps someone has noticed, it’s been a while again since I updated this. And while I’m sure no one is dying from anticipation I still feel that I’m not living up to my promise (to you and myself) to be more proactive about maintain the blog with new content. Why you ask? Well, the reason is twofold: work and play.

Ride (above) the Lightening

So first off, let me just say that I absolutely LOVE Virgin America. Thanks to their plug in every seat I’m able to putz around on my computer and even get work don on this near 6 hour flight back home. Most importantly this extra juice is allowing me to write while in mid-flight. Generally I’d not do something that is so “YAY 1990′s technology–look and me on a plane with a computer!”, but I couldn’t help myself. Why you might ask? Well because between putting together some slides and turning the Candy Mountain Candy Cave song into a ringtone, I turned to the starboard side of the plane to glimpse one of the most impressive displays of lightning I’ve ever seen.

A Bone to Pick

Monday night on Fox showcased the season finale of a new found favorite of mine: Bones. To best describe Bones I turn to IMDB.

Brilliant, but socially inept, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence Brennan works at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington DC. After consulting for him on a FBI case, she is approached by cocky yet charming ex-Army Ranger turned Special Agent, Seeley Booth to help the Bureau solve crimes by identifying human remains that are too far gone for standard FBI forensic investigations. Brennan’s empirical, literal view of the world causes friction with Booths emotive, instinctive attitude creating a volatile relationship. However as their case load increases the symbiotic partnership produces results and with the support of Brennan’s Squint Squad, murderers, past and present should be on the lookout.

As usual, it excelled in providing an exciting, compelling, witty, smart (if techno-babblish), romantically-charged hour of entertainment. Adding to this usual array of strengths, the episode promised to deliver on a season of clues involving a series of cannibalistic murders. On the whole, it fulfilled its promises in a satisfying way. However, in the last five minutes or so, the show lost me. What follows after the jump is an investigation into what I consider one of the few failings of an otherwise brilliant show and stellar season.

SPW: A Retrospective

So my first return trip to Colgate since my summer of graduation has come and gone…and I don’t regret going for a minute. The experience on the whole was amazing. I not only got to hang around, party, play Frisbee, go to free concerts, and not worry about work, but most importantly I got to see people I’d not seen in near a year. For some it will be the last time I see them, but I hope for others it’s the start (or renewal) of a friendship that will far outlast life at Colgate.

Beer + Pengiuns + Indy = AWESOME

So I was flipping through videos on youtube the other day – something I don’t do too often I’ll have you know – and I stumble upon something I only briefly recalled from my childhood: the Bud Ice Penguin. I had forgot just how fantastic of a marketing mascot that little avian was. Such a trouble maker…clever, deceitful, an alcoholic…Fantastic!

Clicking through the different ads feature this cool (pun intended) spokesperson, I saw one labeled “Bud Ice” but featuring a thumbnail of a forest. And who is in that forest? Not a penguin, but rather the silhouette of a man with a fedora. As anyone who knows me can be imagine I clicked on it instantly to figure out what Indy was doing in a bud ad!

In the first few seconds I quickly learned it wasn’t Indy himself, just a scene in homage to the great adventurer. A few more seconds in “Indy” is captured a long with his companions. His equipment is confiscated and he tied to a pole. What happened next completed this triumvirate of things I love…. Watch for yourself!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

So this Wednesday I pack up my bags, hop a plane, and bum a ride back in time. I’m not really going back in time, of course. I’m just going back to Colgate. I’ve not returned to my alma mater since I graduated—save a trip in the summer when Colgate is not Colgate; its Hamilton, NY. A quiet town at the foot of a hill, which just so happens to house a host of large old buildings that sit quietly as a reminder that come September, Hamilton, NY will once again become Colgate University.

This trip though will not be to Hamilton, but to Colgate in rare form. No holds bar, gloves off, thrown down, crazy Colgate.  Or at least that’s how I prefer to remember it. I’m going back for SPW—as we in the “biz” call it…I have no idea WHAT “biz” so don’t ask. For the rest of you poor saps that’s Spring Party Weekend. The reality of the situation remains to be determined, but at the very least there will be more students than I care to count stumbling around after dark in a pleasantly numb stupor.

Adventures in Food

So tonight was an interesting one. Let me start with some background though. I’m in Seattle today–sitting in my wonderful Marriott Courtyard room, as a matter of fact–as part of a 4 day trip for work. I’ve not traveled much recently. Not since early September, in fact. Something I admittedly find a bit odd as I traveled nearly once a week for the first month I was working. Alas, I’m on the road (or in the sky) again. I enjoy it for the most part. Nice to see different parts of the country–especially when it means i get to experience the seasons like winter that seem so elusive in San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy the temperate and beautiful weather we seem to have year round, but once and a while its nice to walk outside and see your breath. Weird? Perhaps. But I think I established that with my self proclaimed love for all-nighters.

Quick side note: be careful what you blog for. Not a week after writing and posting that entry I found my self awake till nearly 4:30 am working on a presentation  for work. My only complaint about it was that I had to do it while Bob was out here. It kind of ruined our  Thursday, and the consequent nap on Friday spent most of that evening as well.

All right, back to the topic at hand: food!

All-Nighters

So recently my roommate Dan and I (mostly Dan, I won’t lie) have been working a lot–sometimes into the early hours of the morning. Last Tuesday was just such an occasion. After working all day I came home, sat down at my desk and started plugging away again. I made edits to a PowerPoint, tooled around in Excel, and spoke to my boss for near two-hours. Eventually (around 11:30) I got a break and wandered off from the grindstone to make some food while I awaited the “Final” version of the deck we needed to present to the client in the morning.