Reducing My Carbon Footprint

I haven't driven my car in almost two months. Imagine that if you can. I've been without my own little piece of the American dream for almost two months. I still own a car, but it hasn't moved. Heck, for much longer than that, the main purpose for my car was to get me to the Brewhouse at early hours of Saturdays and Sundays to watch the Arsenal on TV.

So, how am I getting along? Perfectly fine, thank you very much! I take MARTA to work every day without fail (I'm lucky that my employer and my client both live within easy walks of a train station). The time on the train actually works much better than time in a car in getting me ready for my workday. It gets my head right in the same way as reading the paper worked for my Dad. I listen to various podcasts and music on my iPod, and boy, is the people watching ever fun.

Anyone else ready to make the leap?

My Office

Is finally starting to take shape and become a center for productivity:



Keen eyes, however, may discern one of my chief productivity sucks as well (and I'm not talking about the TV or the Xbox that's hidden below it).

Doesn't everyone just have duct tape just lying around?

NP: "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above" - CSS

Another Trip Around the Rock

Yep. That's right. It's my birthday. Here's a list of people I share it with. I have to say, I'm underwhelmed--I mean, c'mon, Phyllis Diller? David Hasselhoff? Camilla Parker Bowles?

Jimmy Cagney is cool though.

Intown Living

I've never noticed it before, but when I'm outside my loft, I can actually hear the whistles of the traffic cops directing shepherding traffic out of the Turner Field lots.

NP: Baseball Tonight

Not M.I.A.

Maybe the folks who put together the class of '91 newsletter read this blog. I'm no longer M.I.A. as I received said newsletter today. I do notice that my freshman year roommate is among the missing though.

It must be time for them to start asking about money.

Justification for Higher Education

Just so everyone is clear on what we're talking about in the comments to my M.I.A. post. That's me in the Ferrari.

The funny thing is, this poster didn't seem at all out of place in The Palms, the main bar serving W&L's students in the late 80s and early 90s. It really did capture a bit of the spirit of most of the student population. It's only looking back over a couple of recessions and an Internet bubble popping that this seems so funny (horrible art aside, which we ridiculed even then).

And yes, as of last year, it was still hanging in the same spot in the bar.

Maybe this explains my pleasure at being one of the unknown alumni.

NP: "In the Shadows" - Ivy

M.I.A.

I'm officially missing.

I'm not talking about my lack of updates to the blog either. Nope. This is more official than that.

A friend informed me yesterday that the official newsletter for my alumni class lists me as missing. Now, on one hand, this isn't very surprising for a number of reasons. I moved last fall, I ditched my land line in favor of going entirely mobile, and I haven't given money to my alma mater for quite a while (almost never... the 20-odd thousand a year they received in my name for four years should be enough).

On the other hand, this surprises me a lot in this day and age. Hasn't whoever is in charge of this newsletter ever heard of the Interweb? All you have to do is google my name, and low and behold, this site is the first result. My resume, which lists the university and my graduation year? The second result.

Even worse, I still receive actual mail from the general alumni office, and my information is correct in their alumni-connections database, including my new address, e-mail address, and phone number.

So, for a quick experiment, I google a classmate that I haven't seen (nor heard of) since graduation. How long did it take me to find his contact details. About a minute.

I know that I may be a little more comfortable with performing such things online as others since it is intrinsic to my day job, but this is a little ridiculous. Did these people sleep through the 90s? So I suppose I'm only missing through their inaction.

Of course there's still an upside: they can't call me begging for money and I don't have to read about all the things that those classmates I don't keep in touch with are doing. [Ed. Note: Karma will get you back on the list for slagging on them like this.]

NP: "The Wait" - The American Analog Set

The Past is a Different Country

Note: Your humble correspondent is in the lower right quadrant of this photo, and I no longer look anything like that. Further, I do not now, nor did I ever, display the hippie-ish tendencies this photo may imply. I've never even did a noodle dance for goodness sake.

Thank God

From the Staunton Daily News Leader:

Brittany Truxell [my cousin], another freshman agriculture major, said she made it safely to her dormitory room.

I'm having a hard time comprehending what's happening in Blacksburg.

Still Alive

Just up to my eyeballs in a project. Don't worry, I haven't decided to abandon my own corner of that interweb. I hope to return to regular posting soon. Hope this update finds all six of my readers well.

Landed

So I just got back from training in Boston for my new gig (it sort of snowed). Three and a half days without Internet access kind of sucks just for the record. So I thought I'd check in. Once things settle down, we should get back to normal. Stay tuned [Ed. Note: Please].

Moving Update

One move is complete (mostly anyway). I'm still in the process of unpacking though. Between that, cooking a big turkey for Thanksgiving tomorrow, and preparing for my new job that begins on December 4, posting will probably continue to be light.

NP: " (I Want to Be an) Anglepoise Lamp" - The Soft Boys

Changes Afoot

Lots of changes are occurring for me right now, seemingly all at once. First, I am preparing to move, and I hate moving. Second, a new job is in the offing as well. Accordingly, posting may be light until I get into my new place next Monday and the employment situation is completely sorted out. Normal posting will resume then.

NP: "Stalemate" - Nada Surf

An Exclusive Club

HowManyOfMe.com

There is: 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

(via OW)

New York

As I mentioned in my last post, I got to spend a little time in NY last week. Sweetfrenchtoast has the details, including pictures!

NP: "Soul in Isolation" - The Chamelons U.K.

Vacation

I'll be leaving for the beach tomorrow and will be gone all week. After the last few weeks, it may be my most deserved vacation ever.

Expect less than zero posting until I return Saturday week. Until then!

NP "Silver Lawyers" - Elk City

Slammed

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I'm up to my ears in work.

Normal posting should resume soon (I mean, c'mon, the world cup starts next week, and I still need to post a primer for my non-soccer-loving readers to help them enjoy the world largest sporting spectacle).

NP: "Passover" - Joy Division

The Weekend

There was football (-1). There was more football (+1). There was Whisky (+1). There wasn't a nap (-1). There was an early evening exit (-1). There was a good movie (+1). More to follow, as I have a lot to catch up on right now.

NP: "Wake Up" - The Walkmen

Washing Your Car is Useless

Since there's always a landscaping crew around to blow leaves and assorted detritus on it.

NP: "Untitled (8)"- Sigur Rós

Darts at The Usual®

Some character named Master Shakes has provided helpful power rankings for the darts players at The Usual® blog. I can't argue too much with my ranking. I can beat most of those above me on a given day, but consistency can be my hobgoblin. It all depends on how the bulls fall.

NP: "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" - LCD Soundsystem

A 40 Degree Shift in Temperature

Around 40 degrees leaving Michigan, and almost 80 back in Atlanta. Normal posting should resume as soon as I remove my cold weather clothes.

Back to the ATL

I made it safely back to Atlanta after a weekend in the mountains. This is what I learned:

• The weather up there made it very hard to return to the smog and humidity in Atlanta
• My niece can run at full speed with a soccer ball at her feet (right, left, no matter)
• I'm still a pretty good shot--at skeet anyway as there were fields ready for dove hunting
• Real country ham is damn tasty
  
• The Findells are still a very tight band, even if they are covering the Statler Brothers
• You can eat a good meal in Staunton for pretty cheap
  
• St. Mary's falls still look the same (much of the upper river and trail seems to have escaped the damage caused by Isabel)
• The Blue Ridge Parkway is some of the best driving that I know of
  
• Col Alto is a pretty decent hotel
  
• Frank's still makes great Calzones
• The Palm's still has that ridiculous "Justification for Higher Education" poster in the corner
• Lexington really needs another bar
• And Lexington rarely changes
  
• No matter where you travel, the traffic in South Carolina is guaranteed to suck

I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday weekend.

I Don't Read Anymore

Seriously. I read, but I don't really read. I read a lot at work of course, but that's mostly marketing drivel. And most of my pleasure reading these days consists of books on history (ancient and medieval) or what I would call mass-market fiction. For example, the last two books I read were Codex and A Long Way Down, not the most literary of pursuits.

What troubles me is that I was an English major. Not the type of English major who was only doing it as an entre into law or business, but an English major who studied it because I really liked it. Up until a year or so ago, just about everything I read would qualify as literature with the proverbial capital L. I used to try to read one big important book a year, and if I couldn't find something new, I'd just re-read Ulysses. A few months ago, I tried to reread Gravity's Rainbow, but couldn't get through the first 50 pages. What the heck is wrong with me? I read Gravity's Rainbow within the last 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and now I can't even get started. And I can't even remember the last time I read poetry for fun (not counting revising and posting my own, which were written at least three years ago).

Is this something that happens to everyone? Maybe I just don't have the energy these days after dealing with work and everything else that life deals you in your 30s. How do I get over this. My writing is suffering because of it.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the most recent books. I mean, Nick Hornby is still Nick Hornby (and he is an Arsenal fan after all). Codex was allright, but I've read much more intellectually stimulating books on similar themes; The Name of the Rose and Plowing the Dark immediately come to mind. I have friends asking me about The Sound and the Fury. Unless I can get out my reading funk, do I really have the standing to talk to them about it?

Eventually, I'll get my head around it, and more St. Mary's posts will appear. I'm already climbing the google rankings on the subject anyway. And if I'm really lucky, I have more the poem sequence to share too.

NP: Willie Nelson on PBS. Up Next: The Carter Family

A Little Creepy

So, I just received a phone call at work from some group of folks putting together an alumni directory for my alma mater. This happens to everyone all the time I assume and shouldn't be a big deal, but here's where it starts to get creepy.

Somehow, they had my work number. I didn't tell them, and I've been studiously ignoring their little postcard requests for information and money to get the brand spanking new deluxe edition of their new directory. Not only did they have my work number, they knew my title, email address, and, get this, my fax number! (who the hell uses fax machines anymore anyway?) Weird. The last time I had any contact with the alumni office was when I worked for Huge Corporate Entity that everyone will recognize if I mentioned them [Ed. note: That term is stolen outright from a former coworker who shall remain nameless to protect his anonymity.]

The thing is, I know the contact information for everyone that I want to keep in touch with. And I'd say they know mine. Of course, life happens, and I've lost touch with some of my fellow alumni. But even they know how to get in touch with me or with someone who knows how to get in touch with me.

Suffice it to say, I didn't buy the deluxe or even normal edition of the directory.

UPDATE: Edited to reflect what I originally intended the post to mean. Sorry for the poor word choice; it wasn't my intent to throw bombs.

NP: "Karl Blau"- The Microphones

Drunkeness Loves Company

And I thought I was the only one that woke up Saturday morning fully clothed with the lights and TV still on. But apparently not...

My electronics were all fine too.

Update: Fixed link.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

As I was walking into work about 10 minutes ago, I heard someone across the street in the City Hall East Auto Shop singing. Opera. La Traviata I think. He was standing in one of the garage bays, which effectively amplified his voice making it very audible across a very busy North Avenue.

Opera! I kid you not.

NP: "Anything You Want" - Spoon

Another Trip Around the Rock

So. I'm officially one year older as of yesterday.

Having a birthday on a weekend is always a nice thing, even if crawling into work this morning was kind of tough. I also got an email that says I share the same birthday as the following people:

Bitty Schram - 1968
David Hasselhoff - 1952
Diahann Carroll - 1935
Donald Sutherland - 1935
James Cagney - 1899
Mike Vogel - 1979
Phyllis Diller - 1917

What, there's no one famous born yesterday in 1969?

James Cagney is very cool, but David Hasselhoff? Yikes.

NP: "Fun to be Happy" - Love Tractor

More Travel, Another Exciting Landing

So sue me for the lack of posts. I've been in lovely Pittsburgh for the last few days (and, no, I'm not kidding--the weather was great there). I only wish I could have caught a baseball game, but unfortunately I could only watch the stadium in envy from my work meeting as the business-man's special played out on Wednesday.

Normal posting (Ed. Note: utterly random posting you mean) should resume shortly.

NP: "The Day John Henry Died" - Drive-By Truckers

April 1

This is not an April Fool's post (There are enough of those around the blogsphere today). Instead, this is to observe my Granny's birthday. She certainly wasn't an fool, April or otherwise.

There's so much I could write about her, that this really isn't the place. So I'll just leave it at this: You're missed Granny.

Darts

Bulls
Originally uploaded by trox.

So, I've been playing a lot of Cricket lately as a way to pass the time, and doing pretty well I might add (mostly due to the performance of the partner I've been playing with. Witness.

Admittedly, this was a practice shot between matches, but it's indicative of the quality of dart play The Local has been seeing lately. Well done Katie!

Weather Notes

Finally, I think we can bid the up and down temperatures and wild swings in weather quality goodbye here in Altanta* [ed note: wait 10 minutes]. The temperature is supposed to top 70 today. We've seen 70 before this year, but I don't think we'll have to worry about sinking into the 40s again. Of course, this only means that another trip to Pittsburgh can't be too far in my future.

It's so nice, I was finally persuaded to leave the car parked and walk to work again. Let's see if I can keep that as a resolution for the next couple of months--walk at least three or four days a week. Reasons I was so excited about my new job: a) it's proximity to my home b) it's distance from Alpharetta anc c) various work related things like autonomy, lack of BS, and the ability to regrow a goatee.

np - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Are You Ready to be Heartbroken

*Knocking on wood, of course.

Comfort Food

It's a gray, rainy, miserable day in the ATL. What does this mean? Comfort food at the Silver Grill of course! Today I had a breaded pork chop, mashed potatoes, and crowder peas. I tell you, it really hits the spot on a day like today. Special bonus--the cornbread was hot! I need to dwell on the cornbread a minute. I think Kevin stole the recipe from my Granny; it really is that good!

And no, their potato salad still isn't nearly as good as yours Mom.

Gray Day, Similar Feelings

In Pittsburgh, PA, for work all week this week. Work goes well thus far, weather not so much. Just knowing that it's sunny and 70 in Atlanta makes the everpresent overcast and coming rain hard to take. I know it could be worse--it is Pittsburgh in January after all--it should be freezing and snowing or something. On the off chance that someone reads this and knows of something fun to do in Pittsburgh, please let me know (This is only the second time I've been here and the first was a day trip). The involvement of alcohol would be a plus.

A side note: It's amazing how much Steelers talk I've overheard here in the less than 24 hours I've been here. Makes Atlanta football fandom seem kind of, well, weak.

So This Is What the New Year Looks Like

Pretty much the same as the old year, only with the Christmas-time addition of an iPod to my belongings. Funny thing is, when I was a kid, I always expected some kind of big changes with the annual calendar rollover--kind of like when you first car rolls over 100,000 miles, you expect something should happen, balloons should fall from the heavens and trumpets should blare.

Well the iPod is blaring me through my second day at work, so I guess my youthful self wasn't that far off.

Now playing:
Dirty Dancehall - The Zutons.
Into You Like a Train - Jawbreaker covering The Psychedlic Furs.

Sorry no links here, since everything I see online is just depressing and I'm sure all three of my readers have already done their part donating to Tsunami relief.

And Another Thing That Irks the Everloving Crap Out of Me...

...are drunk-ass people at concerts dancing right into you (incessantly). Even a few well placed elb(l)ows couldn't get through to them. So to the drunk hippie-ish people noodling into me at the Drive By Truckers show Saturday night at the Tabernacle: Fuck you.