So Microsoft started up employee buses about 2 mos ago and they're great. Onboard wifi and power at every seat. The buses travel in the carpool lanes so even with the stop along the way and driving to and from the bus station it only adds about 20 mins commuting time each way, while giving me back about 40 mins each way to work...and BLOG!
Last week or two and the next week or two is the ultra busy season. We're doing prep for "Strategy Day", which is where each of the business groups go in front of the CEO to present a 3-year revenue/expenses plan in order to commit what future revenues are going to be and ask for additional investments from corporate. It's been a ton of work but extremely interesting to see how the entire business comes together. I still have a very long way to go, but already I'm starting to speak Microsoft (it's a language all its own) and by the end of this process I may even be able to explain what the products in my division actually do!
Ok the bus ride was faster than I thought. Here are some parting thoughts:
- the only thing worse than being an indians fan right now is being a Yankees fan. how low-rent is it for Steinbrenner to fire Torre? Anywhere else and Torre has a lifetime pass, like Atlanta or St Louis.
- Loving the Sansa. New this week is The Thrills, The Shout out Louds, Cass McCombs, and Band of Horses. Yes I wrote off Band of Horses as a hair band on Dylan's site, but they're one of those albums that whenever a song comes up on shuffle I like it more and more.
- Haloween is tons of fun. Can't wait for all the parties and to see the kids run around in their costumes. It's just as much for the parents as the kids (I didn't realize that until this year). I had thought that my kids could skip the Microsoft trick or treat fest...but man I want everyone to see them at my work! Cause my kids are the cutest!
- Season 2 of battlestar is awesome action. Not as fun as Season 1 was when everything was new and for a few episodes in a row, every episode had a very distinct flavor to it. Still absolutely top notch though.
- Loved last Gen Conf. Listened to Elder Bednar's talk this morning and really liked it. Need to listen again.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Bus Bus, Magic Bus
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Battle of 2007
So there's this little discussion sparked by a comment somebody very smart made on Big Red Robot about the best albums so far of 2007. I'm reposting the comment I made here, not like it's going to broaden the audience any (my unique readers outside of the BRR audience numbers in the low single digits) but I like the argument posted and it's a follow up to an earlier post, so I'm claiming it for my own. For those of you who already read it, there are some small enhancements, so READ ON...
Let me unleash a little TRUTH on ya:
Before I get to my list, it was interesting as I wrote it discoverings a few undercurrent battles going on:
The battle of Sweden: PBJ, Jens, Shout Out Louds
The battle of the alt country wunderkinds: Wilco, Son Volt, Ryan Adams
The battle of the Bruce's: Arcade Fire, Killers, Bruce Springsteen
And now for the list.
The top 5 albums (so far) of 2007:
1. Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha - too rich and textured to ignore. Sounds like it was recorded in a huge dark cathedral. Every intstrument, every tone, every voice is perfectly placed. And Bird gets extra points for being the only person on this list that literally (mostly) came out of nowhere for this.
2. The New Pornographers: Challengers - Obviously comparing this to Revolver (which is what caused this whole discussion in the first place) is hyperbole meant to incite discussion (or riots, or both...). When I say Revolver I mean this band is at it's peak but has also begun going down a road it can't return from. The voices (musically and lyrically) have never been so strong individually yet depended on one another so much for balance. And Neko as always is a revelation. I'm open to a re-ordering of the list come December, but as of now these guys are very close to the top.
3. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible - was recorded in a huge dark cathedral - and it's the best Bruce Springsteen album since Born to Run.
4. Josh Ritter: Historical Conquests - Carrying the torch for all the singer-songwriters (Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, even Ryan Adams)
5. Spoon: Gagagagaga - Barely holding on to this spot, really. This album should have been an EP. Then it would have been #4.
Very close honorable mentions
Stage Names (a little mopey and whiney after a while -- are these guys really Rusted Root?), Our Ill Wills (the Cure and Jam references come through shamelessly, but also shamelessly listenable and definitely wins for best of Sweden), The Search (wins my battle of the Alt Country wunderkinds - Son Volt, Wilco, and Ryan Adams), Boxer (I just keep discovering more great tracks from this album as I'm listening to 2007 music on shuffle), Icky Thump (not a weak track on there), Cassadega (Bright Eyes finally converted me), Magic (yes, THAT Magic...but mostly because it makes me think of Neon Bible and Born to Run)
Needless to say, the music of 2007 wouldn't be nearly as awesome as it has been so far without any of the above albums. Looks like I have to look up at least a couple more that made your lists but I haven't even heard yet - Time to go grabem all and throw them on the Sansa. Viva la Rhapsody! Viva la Musica!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
What Color is your CD-Rom?
This story was shared in a meeting today and I thought it was pretty funny. One of those "Microsoft Lore" myths maybe, but it came from a pretty pure source: back in 1994 when Windows Medial Player was new to the market, they were trying to establish how big of a product it would be, and therefore how much investment was warrented. Marketing gave a presentation that included the quote: "by 1995 40% of all consumer PC's will include a CD-ROM drive." The marketing VP, Rich Tong, was intrigued by this comment and asked for the source to be found. After an exhaustive search that wound its way from analyst to analyst to consultant and to another analyst, the source was revealed as none other than...Rich Tong! When word came back to him Rich just laughed and said, "that's funny, I thought that number looked familiar: I totally made it up a few years ago." Turns out the industry noticed, from PC manufacturers to CD-ROM suppliers to industry analysts and consumer magazines, and lo and behold Rich's "prediction" was transformed into reality.
So next time I have the opportunity to make a comment in a marketing meeting, I'm going to say "Jesse Todd will have a million dollars by 2015." Sound good?
Slight Retraction
Saw the 3rd Episode of Bionic Woman yesterday...and though it's still not any of the shows mentioned before, well, that's kind of the point: it is moving away from the stock set-up episodes and starting to become its own shown. Can't say it will ever be a must-see, but if the rest of the episodes build on what I saw last night, it's got hope.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Bionic Woman? It's No Alias
This is probably the show I was most excited about in the new TV season...and I think out of the handfull of series premiers I recorded on the DVR, it's the only one I've been interested enough in actually carving out some time to watch. Let me know if there's something HUGe out there I'm missing (Chuck still sounds like it could be fun, as does Reaper), but I'm pretty sure there isn't another Lost or 24 (first few seasons anyway) or Heroes out there, or another Alias, for that matter.
Which brings me to my point: Bionic Woman had so much potential: the team behind Battlestar Gallactica (we're only done with Season 1 but can't wait for Blockbuster to have Season 2 in stock --somebody else is a week ahead of us and they only have one copy of the series-- and the girl from Battlestar (Starbuck) and Isaiah Washington (always my favorite from Grey's Anatomy). But unfortunately the girl from Battlestar isn't the lead (I thought she was Jaime Summers but turns out she's "bad bionic woman" and she's pretty crazy and may not be around much longer), and the person who is playing Jaime Summers just isn't very interesting.
What keeps us watching Battlestar is how strong each of the characters are written and the emotionally-driven story lines. Strange to say, but a space opera played out in another time, another place, with mythically long-lost human relatives has some of the most believable and authentic acting and storylines I've seen on TV. Now it's not perfect, and there are plot holes big enough to drive a Cylon Raider through, but you really feel the characters' fear, frustration, anger, elation, joy, etc. So far Bionica Woman is pretty much a formula-driven action show, without the depth and layers that make Battlestar so enjoyable and relatable.
Another challenging comparison for Bionic Woman is Alias. So much of the first couple of episodes mirror each other: bright young college age girl is recruited/forced into becoming a super agent for a clandestine black ops arm of the US Government. So far JJ Abrahms did that story line SOOOOO much better. I remember holding my breath after the end of just about every one of the first Alias episodes, especially the first few story arcs where you had no idea who to believe or who you could trust or what was reality. That was a really cool show.
So for now, I'll probably still see a few more episodes of Bionic Woman, to see if they can make the Jaime character interesting or not, and to see if they can bring in some of the texturing of Battlestar. If not, well that will be 40 minutes I get back in my life each week! (Let's just hope I don't end up using it watching "Deal or No Deal.")
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A Transcendent Moment
"Charity is the defining quality of Latter-day Saints, just as it was when Paul enjoined the early saints in Corinth to develop the quality. Love for God and love of one's neighbor remain the marks of a Christian."
"Now, for us, the measure of our love is the measure of the greatness of our souls. ... Love is the beginning, the middle and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end, love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.
"Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life. True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father has for us."
" All humans yearn for that kind of love, given in spite of shortcomings. Heavenly Father is the ideal of such love. He sees and loves his children, with all their shortcomings, as the beings they are capable of becoming."
I hope I never forget the feeling I had when I saw Elder Wirthlin struggling at the pulpit. Over the years he's become a favorite of mine. His talks are sometimes difficult to follow as he delivers them, but when listened to closely are so eloquent and powerful and insightful. The talk he was giving this day was a masterpiece on Charity. And then the transcendent happened: Elder Wirthlin, who has had severe back problems for the past 8 years, began to have a back spasm. In the middle of General Conference, in front of millions of people. A man of his determination does not let that stop him, no, not one bit. One of his brothers, close by his side, rushed to his aid to provide a gentle but firm and supportive hand to give him the ability to complete his talk. I don't know what was more touching...the fact that Elder Wirthlin was talking about Charity and brotherly love and kindness, the sight of Elder Nelson's humble and loving demeanor, the sheer willpower evident in Elder Wirthlin's delivery, or the meek (meaning humble but confident) "thank you" Elder Wirthlin gave after the lights went down. It stopped me in my tracks when it occurred, and I hope I never forget it.
Elder Holland was supposedly heard saying as the brethren were retreating from their seats after the meeting, "Elder Wirthlin, if we're ever called to charge up a mountain, I want you to be the one to lead the charge!"
Amen, and Amen.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Josh Ritter goes Indie
I've referred to this a couple of times in comments, but I think Josh deserves a full post for his latest, "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter." This is the new album of the year I had no idea was coming out, and it may well be my favorite record of the year so far.
Yeah that was said slightly for effect...what with a year that included new discs from White Stripes and New Pornographers and Wilco and Ryan Adams and Interpol (which I STILL haven't listened to "properly" yet) and a ton of others, how can Idaho boy Josh Ritter's disc end up on top?
This is Ritter's 5th album, so by no means is he a newbie to the art of putting together a fantastic album...but it may be his best yet. Not as introspective or moving as "The Animal Years" -- which was a fantastic album in its own right -- this one's more upbeat, more engaging, and more...indie. Josh has always been known for channelling his inner Bob Dylan (best showcased on the excellent, folk-operatic "Thin Blue Flame" from Animal Years) but in this one he also throws in dashes of Death Cab, Spoon, Wilco, and others. The key is that his references are just that...references that remind you of another artist but never come off as pastiche. No, this is not another "Rock N Roll", Ryan Adams' fun but synthetic love letter to all his musical inspirations. This is a portrait of an artist who has been able to take sound references, phrasings, styles that are strongly associated with other bands and make them his own. I think it's the earnestness with which he sings and plays that makes it sound authentic and not a rip-off.
So what we're left with is a fun, varied soundscape that keeps you interested and keeps you wondering what comes next. Highlights include the rolicking opener, "To the Dogs or Whatever," the Spoon-ish "Mind's Eye", the indie-folk (think M. Ward) of Open Doors (although its much more propulsive than I've ever heard M. Ward being), to the beautifully laid-back piano-sprinkled "Wait for Love." The sole track that comes off as a disaster is the 3rd track, something of a Eagles/Elton John/America mashup titled "Right Moves." Yes it is every bit as cheesy as the title sounds. For better or for worse it sticks out like a cowlick just waiting to be chopped off or gelled into submission.
So, give it a shot. The best part about this review is that I can actually give you the album just for reading this post. Well, Josh is helping me out by streaming the album on his site (don't you love the internets?) but I get a little credit, don't I?
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Time for the TV IV
The fall tv season is officially upon us, and I'm at a bit of a mini-crisis. I had gotten very used to the long summer nights devoid of Survivor, America's Next Top Model, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, the Bachelor, and even 30 Rock, The Office, Heroes, and Lost. But here the shows are again, bigger and louder than ever. Do I really have to get sucked in again?
So we saw the first episode of Heroes last night, and without giving anything away for those who are catching it later, there were far too many times during the show where Eryn and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows and laughed unintentionally. Overall it was one big "meh." A couple of times I even said, "do I really care to get involved in all of this again?" I think there are just too many characters that you don't really like and the plots weave together way too simplistically. Thank goodness for Tivo. And Battlestar Galactica, which I am now finally starting to watch, thanks to Ben for sending the first season to me. The big contrast with that show is, they have this huge sprawling cast, and there's not a weak link among the actors or a stock character among the group. VERY interesting. And cool action sequences like space battles that are mostly silent (because space is a vacuum, blah blah).
On the plus side, the new Survivor actually was pretty interesting - I think the backdrop of mainland China is excellent for the show. I've never liked the first 8 weeks or so of the show, but the premier was actually fun to watch this time. The good thing about Survivor to me is that you don't have to actually sit and watch the whole episode...you can just dodge in and out, make sure you see the reward challange and then coem back for tribal council. Not like Heroes or Lost where you want to catch every word.
And so far the new show contending for a spot in our weekly lineup: Kid Nation. It's like Survivor....with kids. Thought I would hate it, and we kind of accidentally started watching it on Sat night. Here's the thing: it's really good! The kids are so much more interesting than I'd ever would have thought. The premise is very similar to survivor but with enough changes that you don't feel like you're watching a straight copy. I'm not quite ready to make it appointment TV just yet...but I'd say it's definitely worth a look...and much more engaging at this point than Heroes (sorry HRG and Parkman - if it was just your two stories (or any two..or three...but not seven) it would be great).
Monday, September 24, 2007
Doing my part to Save the Planet
So Microsoft started running new "connector" buses for people who commute. Now instead of crawling through traffic (although I did enjoy listening to music and audiobooks) I can get on a bus a 10 minute walk from my office, sit in relative comfort with wifi and a power outlet at every seat, and work or play my way along the road. From this morning's test ride it looks like it will take about 15 mins longer door-to-door than driving myself would. I'm thinking at this point that the gas savings and time savings (about 90 mins/day) will be more than adequate to make it worthwhile. The best part of it all...the bus is 100% free...paid for by Microsoft in their effort to keep their employees happy and the trees green. So thank you Microsoft...and thank you Google for doing it first (in San Francisco)!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Second Impressions
So at first I was underwhelmed by the New Pornographers' latest album, "Challengers." And lots of critics agreed...this album just wasn't what we were expecting, in fact it seemed to be missing something.
Last weekend I gave it another shot and absolutely fell in love with it. It's less immediate, less hook-filled, less in-your-face catchy, but dare I say it's actually more captivating and more rewarding than any of their releases to date? My first impression was that their manic creative energy seemed a bit played out, that maybe they weren't all interested in playing with this toy anymore since their personal side projects have all grown to fruition themselves. But on second inspection, I find more depth and richness and meaning than seemed to be there before. More measured brilliance rather than spontaneous brilliance. More Roxy Music than The Jam. More Smiths than Oasis (the early, good Oasis anyway).
I think the reason I missed it the first time is I tried it on a perfectly sunny day...this album needs a little bit of cloud cover and a bit of a cool, autumn breeze with some color in the leaves to bring out its full aroma. This album needs some atmosphere. It's the first perfect album of the fall. And will be sure to keep us warm all winter.
Monday, September 17, 2007
At the Prophet's Feet
Ours and 54 other stakes were visited (via satellite) by Pres Hinckley yesterday. The Lynnwood stake center was packed to capacity -- the parking lot was full to the gills, with cars double parked along every lane. It reminded me of the way we'd pack the parking lots for church in Japan. Like a giant Tetris puzzle. Luckily we were at the front of our row and were able to dart out without waiting for the giant puzzle to unfold itself.
The meeting itself was an interesting hybrid of general and stake conference. Pres Hinckley and those who spoke with him (Elder Hales, Bishop McMullen, and some others) were addressing all 54 stakes in Washington. The talks were all excellent, just a little generic. I think it's really up to me to try to listen deeply and learn from the spirit what it is I'm to take away. Listening to the spirit's whisperings is never easy with two little kids scrambling in your lap and at your feet, but here's what I can remember:
Elder Hales talked about listening to the spirit and bringing the spirit into our homes. He talked about the importance of temple attendance.
Pres Hinckley spoke about the restoration of the church and the priesthood. He spoke of the necessity of the restoration and the meaning of having a living prophet on the face of the earth. It wasn't an especially long talk (he even started it out by saying we were probably going to be leaving early) but it was vintage Pres Hinckley - simple, direct, eloquent. He closed his talk by thanking us all for our prayers on his behalf, requesting that we continue to pray for him--reminding us that he's 98 yrs old and needs the Lord's strength to carry on. What a powerful, humble, giant of a man!
So I am left with a few questions after this. Why has Pres Hinckley decided that holding satellite regional stake conferences is more effective than stake conferences presided by local leaders? It's not like we got to shake hands with general authorities and feel their spirit in person (always an exhilirating experience). But that will still happen every other year. And why would Pres Hinckley choose, of all the possible topics he could choose, to speak about the restoration of the Gospel and the restoration of the priesthood? Perhaps because that is what is centrally different about our church and any other church, and should be the foundation of all the "What is a Mormon" discussions swirling around us these days?
If nothing else, I'm committed to think about these things until I've learned what the spirit intends...I'll keep you "posted" when that time comes.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
At the CarManic
So I'm sitting here in the mechanic's lobby waiting for my left front wheel bearing ot be replaced, and I figure I should just go ahead and get away from my corporate email for a few minutes and actually put up a post.
Life/work has gotten crazy busy as of late. Lots of quarter-end projects starting up, I'm now responsible for all revenue reporting and analysis which means a ton to learn and alot more to do, the sr analyst I hired started this week so that's an additional person to be thinking about in terms of training and giving good learning opportunities to as well as trying to make the most of the resources we now have.
I just need a solid uninterrupted week to sort through everything and get back on top of the world. I remember feeling this way for about a solid 6 weeks when I first started here, and I think in alot of ways with the new responsibilities I have now I'm back in the "swimming with water up to my nose" mode and will be for a while.
But it's all good. The fam is great, the weather is beautiful, my mom comes into town for a few days tomorrow and that should be lots of fun. Ok back to work.
Friday, September 7, 2007
And Another
Mostly just to say I'm still alive. Listened to the new Ben Harper this week. Really enjoyable music. More the mellow/soulful Ben. Like the music Lenny Kravitz tried to play when he was channeling Curtis Mayfield...but not like a pastiche but the real thing. Also heard the New Pornographer's latest. I was really excited to give it a listen, especially after hearing new releases from Neko Case, AC Newman, and Dan Bejar since the last New Pornographers release. To be fair I was only able to listen to "Challengers" once, and not REALLY listen to it, but it wasn't as immediately catchy and fun and hooky as I thought it would be. That could either be a really good thing (sometimes the best albums take a few listens to start to sink in and TNP may have possibly leapt to that level with this release) or it could mean it's just a mediocre record. Only time will tell...
In other musical news, my main man BGT has releases his first ever mixtape . It's full of happy, energetic, fantastic music. The kind of music that gets you going. Nothing sloppy or cliche about it. As I told him, "if any radio station played this straight up like you've put it together here, it would be the best_station_ever. A balanced mix of folky, rootsy, indie, and jam, it's a great feel-good in the early sunny fall days mix. You can check it out HERE.
With that, I say Happy Weekend.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
And another deep thought
Two days, two deep thought blogposts. Given the LDSVoices podcast I listened to today, I had to write about it. It was Elder Scott's opener for 2007 Education week, about teaching and learning by the spirit. I first heard this talk when I was in the MTC and was absolutely rivited. I heard it later during a BYU devotional, another time in General Conference, and now here again as part of education week. Amazing how important repetition is when learning spiritual things. You'd think with a message as direct as this, and a style as straighforward as Elder Scott employs, you'd only have to hear this once and you'd be set. But this is 4x for me, and I'm still struggling to apply it. Well here we go again. The gist of the talk is this, which Elder Scott refers to as "perhaps the most valuable gift I could ever give you, the most valuable piece of wisdom I could ever impart:
Throughout the remainder of my life, I will seek to learn by what I hear, see, and feel. I will write down the important things I learn and I will do them.
He then goes on to enumerate the blessings and insights that come when you show the spirit you are willing and ready to learn. The last 1/4 of the talk is a whole barrage of insights he's learned that he felt comfortable to share. He said he keeps most insights to himself in his own sacred, password-protected journal. Some he shares in his family journal, and some he feels prompted to share with others.
When it comes to journals, he said he's not concerned so much about keeping track of all the occurrances that happen on a daily basis, but he does everything he can to keep track of the most important and meaningful learnings and experiences he has. I call it the "small plates" method of journal keeping. In a way, that's really the driving purpose of keeping this blog active...to have a place for me to capture those essential thoughts and think a bit as I write them out.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Bravo Boys!
For their first shot at national attention, on the Late Night stage, I'd say Okkervil River did themselves quite proud. You can tell these guys have been playing together for a while and recently came off a 18+ month tour (which was the fodder for their new album The Stage Names - a concept album of sorts about life as a rock'n'roller). It's always a true test of a band to see if they can actually sound good in these 1-set talk show venues. I say these guys pulled it off. And I'd say Conan agrees with me.
So what are we thinking about all these "indie" bands all over the place these days? A topic for another day. For now, I'll just be happy that there's great music out there to compete with the spears's and timberlakes and all the other junk out there.
Some thoughts
The subtitle of the blog says it will contain thoughts and musings. Lately it's contained mostly YouTube posts. Incidentally, I'm going to put up the Okkervil River Conan clip as soon as someone posts it...I was all ready to set the DVR last night then thought, "I'm sure it'll be on YouTube tomorrow"...so far my bet is not proving to be a good one, but I guess I'll wait a little longer before assuming it's a complete loss.
So on to the thoughts. Lately my scripture study has consisted of listening to the LDSVoices podcast on my way to work. Now I know that it's certainly not ideal, we've received admonitions from Pres Benson, Pres Hinckley, and others that there should be no substitute for the scriptures themselves...but until I figure out how to make that work (until I humble myself enough to make it a true priority) I've really been enjoying the podcasts.
Yesterday I listened to a talk by one of my favorite speakers, Truman G Madsen. He's a longtime BYU professor of philosophy, church historian, and my father in law's former mission president. I always enjoy his deeply-thought insights and personal glimpses of the lives of the early leaders of the church.
Here's something he said about prayer, and about Brigham Young:
Now may I take slices from autobiographical accounts? Are we to pray in practical and specific terms? Brother Brigham Young was hung up on a sandbar crossing a river on the plains. His companion, troubled, said, "Let's pray."
Brigham replied, "Pray? I prayed this morning. Let's get out and push." There is a time for total concentration in prayer and a time for answering prayer with your own muscles--helping.
But this is the same man who was specific enough to bring to the Lord concrete and urgent feelings, even hostile ones. His prize saddle was misplaced or did not hang properly, and the horse trampled it into shreds. He sharply rebuked the neglectful man and then made a beeline for the bedroom where he said (someone overheard him), "Down Brigham." Then he knelt and prayed, "Lord, I'm sorry. I was angry. Take my anger away and help me to do better next time."
"When I am angry," he said to a friend, "the first thing I do is pray."
Some of us have been taught that should be the last thing we do, that we should soak our head in a bucket and then pray. "I never am so angry but that I can pray," said Heber C. Kimball (JD 3:231). And as for the related emotions, the same holds true.
Of such a practice Brigham Young once said, "I do not recollect that I have seen five minutes since I was baptized that I have not been ready to preach a funeral sermon, lay hands on the sick, or to pray in private or public." Think of that! And then he added, "I will tell you the secret of this. . . . If you commit an overt act, repent of that immediately, and call upon God to deliver you from evil and give you the light of His spirit" (JD 12:102–3) rather than spend a week rationalizing and defending what you have done amiss or not done aright. He did it.
Now I'm sure I've lost all three of my regular readers by this point due to the length of this post, but I these words really resonated me and made me want to be better. Rather than add my commentary to Bro. Madsen's, suffice it to say that these words struck me and caused me to pause. I love these insights into the inner thinkings of the prophets. They always reveal to me the difference in the level of thinking of theirs and mine, and how I can improve...imperceptibly on the outside but profoundly on the inside.
OK. I think I've filled my thoughts and musings quota. Now time to find the Okkervil River clip...
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Hello I'm Back - Sort Of
Sorry for the hiatus...had some fun in the mountain lands. Here's a little treat for the loyals. Favorite band right now: Okkervil River. You can hear their new album streaming on their site. Good good stuff.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Brilliant!
Take Bart Simpson on guitars, add Jack and Meg White, one of the best songs of 2005, and a little Michael Gondry influence and I give you: BRILLIANCE!
Monday, August 13, 2007
DarkMatter
2 weeks later and I still say Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha is the disc to beat. Though the new(ly found) Camera Obscura is really really good too. But for now, raise the dark matter. You can't listen to that track without picturing the coolest laser light show ever. And he even whistles at the end (of course, but...)
Falling Asleep in Sacrament
eryn stayed home from church with a stomach bug yesterday, and when she asked how the meeting went, I said something like, "you didn't miss much. those were the two least-energetic speakers I've ever heard." Now since the two of us just spoke in church 2 weeks ago, you'd think I'd be much more forgiving in my critique...but they were really, really listless.
Then this morning on the way into work I'm listening to Hal Eyring (can you call an apostle by his nickname) and he tells a story of a home teacher that visited his home and took notes during their discussion. Elder Eyring (Pres of Ricks College at the time) was a little proud of himself, saying something interesting enough to warrant note taking. Until 2 weeks later, when he sat behind the same brother in a primary class and noted that he was taking notes, just as intently, while listening to a 9-year old speaking. The message was how it's up to us to listen to the spirit from whoever may be called to teach us. That the onus is just as much on us as listeners as on the speakers/teachers to invite and listen to the still small voice.
Point taken. Thanks, Elder Eyring. I love listening to his talks because he has a way of exposing such simple, human faults and shortcomings and gently and persuasively showing a better way.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Distribution of Wealth
So seeing (hearing) Ryan Adams display his songwriting prowess below got me to thinking: why is it just as easy for Ryan Adams to write a song as it is for me to type out this post? There's a whole conversation to be had about what talent is, and how there are many greats who have been extraordinarily blessed (Tiger Woods, MJ, A-Rod, Andrew Bird (he's my current singer-songwriter hero), etc) and obviously have an overabundance of creativity, intelligence and fast-twitch muscles. It has been said of an athelete like Ichiro Suzuki that not only is he quick as a cat and has an amazing eye for the ball, he is also a mathematical genius who can perform long division of 4-digit numbers in his head. So there's one way of looking at this and saying, "wow they're special, I'm not, I'll just sit back and enjoy." Then there are the times when our heroes are brought down to earth. When they're shown to be just as human as the rest of us. I'll never forget the time when Elder Maxwell, probably my all-time favorite apostle, came to visit our mission. In between his talks he checked his watch, then slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a little prescription bottle of little green pills and took one. It seemed such a normal, vulnerable, human thing for such a giant of a man to do. As I get older and begin to take stock of where I am, I'm realizing more and more how my daily decisions shape my present and future. Maybe MJ is on another plane, but even he spent countless hours taking jump shot after jump shot after jump shot to perfect his stroke. Not saying I could be MJ (by ANY stretch), but if I put that kind of investment in, who knows…maybe I at least could have started for our deacon's team. M Ward does things with a guitar that I cannot even register…but wouldn't 30 mins a day of consistent practicing make me at least a passable guitar player over time? In NY I home taught a great man, and also a very humble man, who started playing guitar in his late 20's, just for fun and originally just for his kids…now the guy plays Bach and Stevie Ray Vaughan. So it seems that of all the talents one can have the talent to persevere and work hard and focus may be the most important one to have. The talent of understanding the value of time and, while continuing to live a balanced life and not getting too crazy, making the most of the moments while you're in them. Ok I'm turning into Anthony Robbins so I should stop before my thoughts get too watered down.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
More Creativity in his Pinky...
So ryan adams was in a seattle radio station last friday doing a promo for his new album. they were talking about how Adams was pretty much a spoiled jerk the last time he was in-studio (about 10 yrs ago in his enfant-terrible Whiskeytown days) and how Adams has finally gotten sober. Also talked about the songwriting process and how for Adams "it kinda just falls out". Adams said," I guess I owe you one...how about if I write a song right now," so they got all the equipment set up, he grabbed a guitar, and on the spot put together a full-length song (lyrics, music, verses, chorus, rhyme schemes...and plenty of explitives) right there on the spot. Not exactly top of the pops quality, but definitely not a "Whose Line is it Anyway" Franken-song either. The station recorded it and now it's the #1 single every morning in the "battle of the new singles" contest they have at 8am. It's actually on YouTube now:
Admittedly not one of his finest, but definitely not bad for 5 minutes notice. Let's hope this doesn't end up on a future album...
But man this guy can put a song together.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Giving M Ward a Run for his Money
Introducing Andrew Bird. How can I not have known about this guy until recently? And how can I have reacted slowly when I first heard his music? Every track on his latest, "Armchair Apocrypha" is a beautiful, textured, interesting, deep, moving, emotional wonderland. Love it. He's coming to Seattle on Sep 2....SUNDAY! WHY!
Here he is on Letterman, which is the only time we'll be seeing him for the forseeable (maybe he'll be on ACL this season...)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
But Not On Me (plus new album of the week)
The last post was pretty messy and long-winded, just trying to convey the general angst with the news/sports media. The good news is, MUSIC is having one of its greatest years I can remember, with more creativity and quality coming from more places since the golden age. Not a week goes by that I don't hear a brand new album that "will change your life". Awesome stuff out there. And thankfully, for whatever reason, whether they're too busy touring and in the studio, or live hermetic lives, or are not attractive or sexy enough...for the most part musicians don't get themselves splattered across every tabloid and infotainment program out there (besides your occaisional James Blunt or Chris Martin) so they mystery of who THEY are is retained and the MUSIC is allowed to stand on its own.
If you haven't yet, try Camera Obscura's 2006 release "Let's Get Out of This Country." Fellow Scots in both name and style to Belle & Sebastien, CO puts together a very cohesive "chamber-pop" record that's equal parts intricate layerings of honey-touched melodies, sun-drenched playfulness, and enough depth to keep you from tossing them off as another "twee-pop" act. Fits in very nicely with B&S, Of Montreal, The Shins, Tegan & Sara, New Pornographers, but also have a sound decidedly their own.
Viva la musica!
The Sky is Falling
Haven't written about sports before, even though I'm a big Yankees (and now Mariners), Jazz, MLB and NBA fan. I'm excited about Beckham coming to America and hopefully putting soccer on the map (Kevin Garnett in the crowd at the Galaxy game? The tide has turned...).
But now the big three sports are each facing major (?) conspiracies/embarrasments: First there's MLB with the whole steroids/Barry Bonds about to break Hank Aaron's record thinnest of all thin ice scenarios, the ugly, scary, disgusting Michael Vick running a dogfighting ring in Virginia, and now the NBA has the scandal to top every US sporting scandal since the Black Sox in 1919.
Meanwhile, Paris Hilton is in an out of jail, Lindsay Lohan is constantly 10 seconds away from becoming a River Phoenix, summer TV is horrible, and the Yanks are 10 games out of first place behind the Red Sox. Yes the sky is falling. The Second Coming must be right around the corner.
Will this change how I feel about NBA games? You bet! My interest has cooled considerably over the last couple of years anyway, but was on its way back up after the Jazz's inspiring run into the Western Conf finals last year. But now...you just can't help but wonder how many of those games Donaghy officiated for YOUR team were not rightly won by them. Let's not even start to talk about the Spurs/Suns (or getting LeBron into the finals for that matter)...
I just wish that we could escape all the noise. I wish the shelf life for these stories was 3 days: 1 day for news to break, 1 to analyze, 1 to learn from it and MOVE ON. Instead we'll be hearing about these things ad nauseum for the next year, with every talking head and every blogger and every news reporter and every newspaper writer having to get his/her two cents in.
I think I'm going to start watching "Planet Earth." We're already totally enthralled with "Man Vs Wild." Time to get back to REALity.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Guaranteed to Make You Smile (2)
My very first post was a YouTube post of "everything that's right with music today" M. Ward and Co. jamming on Conan. If you enjoyed THIS, you'll definitely want to see the video below. Such a sweet little ditty. A pretty straightforward interpretation of the lyrics and the tone of the song...perfectly captures the innocence and depth and beauty of it. And that propulsive percussion section just keeps you movin' on. Quickly moving up the ranks of my all-time favorites.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Top Five of 2007 Update
A couple of new discs have landed that have quickly changed the order of the Top 5 discs of the year. Here's the new updated list:
5. Still being fought out between Boxer by The National and Sky Blue Sky by Wilco
The National is a new group to my ears, but I really like their take on the NYC Joy Division revival. Sky Blue Sky is "the best Eagles album never recorded". Both need more time to figure out which comes out on top.
4. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
Britt Daniel and Co. have done it again, taking their always-enthralling mix of 60's pop, transistor radio sound effects, sparse yet layered arrangements, and grooviness and serve up another very pleasing helping of Spoon. "Cherry Bomb" has to be one of the catchiest tunes in years. My only dis on them is for some reason they feel a little thin in the emotion department. There's a certain depth missing in the music. Lack of soul. Maybe further listens will reveal, and maybe it's because they're on this list between the neo goths in The National and the bleeding heart Ryan Adams...
3. Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams
Excellent amalgam of all 3 styles Adams explored in 2005. So far 2007 has only given us 1 Ryan Adams record...and this is all we need.
2. Icky Thump - White Stripes
Brilliance. Instant classic. Just as relevant 30(!) years ago as it is today. Rock hard enough to make Jack Black happy, yet filled with clever wit to make you smile.
1. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
Yes, Dylan, this did come out in 2007. March. I just didn't give it a listen until now. Awesome album. Rootsy, sometimes bluesy, deep, bright and murky. And dude whistles (really really beautifully). Impeccable songwriting and drum-tight production.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
All Things Considered
Listened to a talk by Elder Maxwell this morning called "The Inexhaustible Gospel." Not many things in this world make me feel as much an intillectual weakling as listening to Elder Maxwel. The talk was about truth and knowledge and how there are countless things you can gain knowledge about, but not all of it is useful. He says, "it is a truth that I am wearing a blue suit, but that knowledge is useless." He goes on to say that the most important truths we can learn are eternal truths, those that help us to become more like Christ which is the aim of our existence. He said that true knowledge is both mental and physical...it is both KNOWING and DOING. Reminded me about what the Book of Mormon calls Belief: which is both to "believe" and to "do." The Nephites and Lamanites were labeled as Believers or non-Believers because of their actions, not their words.
Anyway, it got me thinking how important it is to spend what little time I have exercising my mental muscles in ways that are meaningful and will contribute to something, and not just pass the time. Not to say that there isn't time for pure enjoyment now and again, but if it becomes a habit to use my commute to passively listen to sports radio rather than engaging podcasts or beautiful music, then that time is lost to me forever and what I could have become has been diminished.
So, All Things Considered, it is not wise to consider all things of equal value. And when time is the currency used to purchase who we become, I need to make sure I'm spending it wisely. Just need to be a little more aware and make sure I make the wiser choice.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New Artist of the Week: Brett Dennen
Call him this year's Ray LaMontagne for me...soulful white guy making really beautiful/if-slightly-funky music mostly on an acoustic guitar. The kind of music you can safely have on in the background during dinner or when friends are over, and yet is still interesting enough to be rewarding when listening to it on its own. Also like Ray, this guy's been around for a few years, but has some great tracks on his latest disc that have the chance of placing him on the map. Either way, it's a very mellow, satisfying listen. Brett's voice is every bit as interesting as his fingerpicking: for a 20 year-old white guy (sources say he may be more like 26 or 27 but dude looks younger than a 19 yr old with a dork dot), his impeccable phrasing and smokiness in his voice recalls a much older, wiser soul (a lot like Joss Stone or Corinne Bailey Rae without the "next superstar of soul" packaging). He's like the love child of Neil Young ("heart of gold" Neil) and Billie Holiday.
So he's the new artist of this week, because somebody had to be first, and he's still relatively "new" to me. When you're in the mood for some pleasant, interesting, singer-songwriter type music, give "So Much More" a spin. There's enough range on the record that you won't feel like you're listening to the same song over and over again (which is the chief plague of singer-songwriters, David Gray...) and it's textured enough to be interesting but earthy enough not to sound like John Mayer (loved his early records though...but I digress). Standout tracks include the world-weary "Ain't No Reason", the (Paul) Simon-esque "Darlin' Do Not Fear" and the borderline bubble-bum guitar pop of "She's Mine". And you can't miss the Dylan references in "I Asked When", which does an admirable job of reviving the early 60's slow-burn protest song.
Perhaps the best track is "One Who Loves You the Most"...a great peppy love song with some nice slack guitar and a tinkling organ in the background offsetting that blue-eyed soul and Lady Day worthy phrasing. Starts almost a capella and adds instruments slowly until building to a steady jam.
Already listened to "So Much More"? What do you think? Haven't yet? Give it a shot and let me know what you think...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Fear at 40 feet
A couple of weeks ago our division had a "morale" day at one of those high-ropes courses. The course had a wide assortment of obstacles to cross while standing atop platforms 40 ft in the air. From the ground, it just looked like alot of fun. Besides, everyone had helmets and harnesses connected to 10,000 lb test cables, so nothing could go wrong, right?
Not until you get up there. I was amazed how just as soon as I finished climbing up the 40 ft rope ladder and looked down at the ground below me, how unsure of myself I was. It didn't help that I tweaked my ankle in some earlier games on the grass so was pretty unsure of putting any weight on it. Now I had to cross 20 foot spans like a tightrope walker, with nothing between me and the ground besides my shaky feet? I don't think so! There were all kinds of stations to climb to, spread out like a rope and wood and wire spiderweb amongst the trees. I caught my bearings for about 5 minutes. During that time I seriously questioned what I was doing up there.
When we were on the ground, the instructors told us the purpose of the activites was to become more aware of our inner monologues. My inner monologue was pretty apparent at this point: Find a way to get down as quickly as possible! I was surprised at how shaky I was and how little confidence I had. I was blaming it all on my bum ankle, figuring that "I'm injured, so I get a free pass. But if I wasn't injured, I'd be all over this."
Well, long story short, I stayed up on those ropes for about 3 hours (and was one of the last to come down). I started very tentatively at first, doing the easiest passes two and three times to build up my confidence. Then I began stretching my confidence and my abilities. My ankle did keep me from doing some of the transfers, like doing a running jump from one platform, grabbing a rope and swinging like tarzan to the other...just too much jumping and landing...but I was able to do just about everything else. It was a great time.
Interestingly that afternoon has really stuck with me for these past few weeks. It's hard to explain exactly how or where, but it's made me aware how much I "play it safe" instead of confidently putting myself out there. It's helped me to catch myself doing that, and be more bold, assertive, confident, proactive when I need to be. The most interesting thing is, would you have asked me 3 weeks ago where my self-confidence is on a scale of 1-10, I'd have probably said "8". After the ropes course, I realize it might not be as high as I thought in all situations...but now I'm aware of them. OK the rambling has begun. Time to cut this one off...
Friday, July 6, 2007
Learning Bb
That's "B-flat", as in a very tough (for my fingers) chord that's the basis of most of Ben Gibbard's music. It's a very pretty chord, with equal parts hope and sadness...lots of melancholy but also a good amount of brightness. Works great to add some texture to G and C Major.
After 4 months (!) of hibernation I finally broke the old Seagull out and hit the strings a bit. I sheepishly had to look up some basic chords again, and my nails are too long(they have to be really short to play) but it was great to play again. Playing is both exhilirating and frustrating: exhilirating when I can piece together some chords in proper rhythm and tempo (usually for seconds at a time) and frustrating when I realize my limitations and how far I have to go before I can "really" play. How come I just didn't stick with those lessons I started back when I was 16? Why weren't my friends and I into actually MAKING music, instead of just listening to it (and talking about it ad-nauseum)?
Turns out I didn't pick great teenage hobbies: soccer, which was lots of fun and had a high "coolness" factor but thanks to months at a time of twisted and taped ankles now my ankles sprain when even looking at uneven ground (which really sucks), and acting, which was tons of fun and exhilirating and taught me tons and I really enjoyed every minute of, but ever since I decided the actor/director's lifestyle wasn't one I wanted to pursue (I'm waaaaay too risk-averse), and after leaving Franklin Covey (where at one time I wanted to be the next Stephen-Covey style facilitator/presenter/life changer) to enter the world of business...well, let's just say there's not a lot of opportunity for me to use my middle English accent these days. Come to think about it, another hobby of mine was Japanese...and I don't get to use that much at all. Unless there's an unknown opportunity coming my way that involves playing soccer in Japan while starring in shakespear plays at night....I think it's time to pick new hobbies. Which brings me back full circle to the guitar...there were no less than 5 guitar "acts" at the ward talent show last month, and zero Sam Shepard monologues. Not that the end goal is to perform at the ward talent show...
Anyway, playing again was great. Gotta get to it more often. And get that Bb!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
5 Best Albums of 2007 - so far...
Now that we've crossed into the second half of '07, it's time to take a look back at the best albums the music world has given us so far...
5. 3-way race between: Blue Sky Blue, Wilco / The Search, Son Volt / We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse Yes I know it's a cop-out to list 3 albums here, but all three of these surprised me with how good they were, and they caused me to want to listen again and again. These represent the first Wilco I've been able to get into from the first listen, the most consistent Son Volt I've heard, and Johnny Marr as the newest 'Mouse'keteer.
4. Icky Thump, White StripesI've listened to this abum repeatedly since it came out a week ago, and continue to find nuggets that make me smile. I love the "icky" (which I interpret as Jack's snaggletooth guitar or instrument-of-the-moment such as a tortured keyboard) and the "thump" (Meg's understated, simplistic, BOOM of a bass drum). Love the textures, love the variety, love tongue-in-cheek and the fact that Jack doesn't take himself too seriously.
3. Wincing the Night Away, The Shins Maybe the best new wave/british pop album since Violator. Except it's American Indie Pop. I love the arrangements and the intricacies found here. Lots of texture. You'll catch on soon that that's a really important musical element for me. I love me my simple melody like "God Only Knows" from Pet Sounds, but when a group can put together contrasting textures...interesting instruments, dynamic changes in tempo and sound, and keep it together as a cohesive whole, that always keeps me coming back for more.
2. Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams Easily this generation's Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams once again shows he can bring it with the best of them. I was a little over-anxious on the first listen and winced when I heard lyrics like "maybe we'll win the whole she-bang" and the track titled "Halloween Head", but after about 8 listens in the past week (in constant rotation with Icky Thump) this album is destined to go down as one of the best RA albums to date. A gentler, twangier sound, which kind of feels like all three of his 2005 albums rolled up into one. Lots of standout songs, like "Two" (again the music overcomes simplistic lyrics...and Sheryl Crow)and "Oh My God, Whatever" (can't wait to be able to play this one myself).
1. Neon Bible, Arcade Fire From the first time I heard this, it was the album to beat. Not since the best days of Radiohead has a band created such dynamic tension and cathartic release. And with such an incredible wall of sound coming from all 8 band members playing in perfect balance of chaos and harmony. Truth be told, I haven't listened to this album nearly as much as the others on the list. But it stays on the top (at least for now) for 2 reasons: 1) Easy Tiger and Icky Thump are too new to know how they'll age so I can't put them on top, and 2) When I was in my office somewhere in week 2 or 3 and feeling completely in over my head and overwhelmed and anxious, I heard some music down the hall that perfectly captured my emotions and mood and soothed and smoothed them and put them all back together again where they belonged. It was just a few bars but it completely captured the mood. It was one of those "music moments" that make being a music fan so rewarding. It was Neon Bible. That and because Arcade Fire is, ironically, the follow-up to Born to Run that the Boss never wrote. Awesome.
More to come...
Friday, June 29, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Get Back
Just one more then I'll post thoughts not videos: The Fab Four in their last-ever public concert. On a rooftop! Amazing. I love the dapper gents and the upstanding young men jumping across the rooftops to come take a look and see what the noise is all about. Talk about going out on top...
U2 and the History of Rock n Roll
Uncanny how by putting this montage together, U2 is cemented in the highest realms of the Rock'n'Roll universe. Can't tell if it's a fan-produced or professional mash-up, but either way it's brilliant.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Guaranteed to Make You Smile
Maybe the greatest music video of all time. Guaranteed to make you want to boogie. Is there ANYONE more iconic than Christopher Walken?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Getting Strong Now
Met with a personal trainer today to kickstart my "becoming lean and sinewy like Bruce Lee" program. The initial session is included with my membership at ProSports Club, which I think should be listed as one of the 8 wonders of the modern world. The place is unlike any gym I've ever been to...45,000 sf of space including 4 olympic sized pools (4 lanes each), 15 tennis courts, 10 racquetball courts, 10 squash courts, 2 full-sized basketball courts including one that sports the hardwoods from the old Key Arena (the floor on which the Sonics won their championship back in the day). There are three seperate workout areas, each with about 25 treadmills, 25 elliptical machines, 25 stairmasters, and every type of nautilus machine you could want. And don't forget the full-service auto detailing shop, or the gourmet restaurant, or the doctor's offices, or the physical therapy offices...it's not a gym..it's an adventure.
Anyway, I had my first (and probably only--I'm cheap that way) meeting with a personal trainer today. I talked through my exercise history, my trouble spots (knees and shoulders), and my goals (lose 10 lbs, do 10 unassisted pull ups). He gave me a good exercise regimen and showed me a barrage of stretching exercises that I can do to get more flexible and protect my joints.
I also got some raw data: my body fat percentage is 19.1% and my weight is 226.4 lbs. My heart rate was very low (108 over 74) which is really good but it's something I have to keep working at to maintain. My flexibility stinks, but that's not a big surprise. My chest measures 44" and my "true waste" is 38 1/2". It will be fun to see those numbers shrink over the next few months.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Birthday Musings and Goals
Alot has happened this past year. In just the last few months really. For the last few years I marked my birthdays with, "wow I'm 32 (or whatever age) and am still renting a 2 br apartment and have only a futon couch." We pretty much changed all that in the last 3 months: now we have our own home, 2 cars, each boy has his own bedroom, we have a dining room, a "nook", and a breakfast bar, and we don't have to share a bathroom with the kids anymore.
I feel like I should have something much more pithy to say on my birthday. I'm constantly getting more aware of how precious time is, and how easily it can slip through our fingers while we're busy "living".
Here are some things I'd like to do over the next 12 months:
- MEMORIZE 12 songs on guitar. Last year I got a guitar for my birthday and before this whole relocation thing popped up I memorized about 15 chords or so, and with the help of tabs can play about 20-30 songs. I have to get back in there though and get those songs committed to memory. There's a ward talent show in 2 weeks, and unfortunately I'm definitely not ready. My goal is to be ready for next June.
- LOSE 15 lbs. Nothing tracks the passing of time quite like the pounds slowly adding themselves to my waist. A goal? Let's see...a year from now I want to be 15 lbs lighter...but there has to be something more fun than that...maybe compete in a racquetball tournament or run a 10k? I'll figure that out soon.
- FIGURE OUT SCRIPTURE STUDY. In NYC, I had 40 mins on the train each morning to study, and as part of my calling always had great topics to dive into and develop thoughts, stories, and testimonies around. I want to keep pressing forward, choosing a theme each month and developing a printable talk at the end of each month. Seems to be the best way for me to keep my studying focused and effective. Goal: 12 talks.
- BE A TOURIST. We're new to the area and there's so much to take in. Any kind of nature you want (from hiking to fishing to kayaking) is within 45 mins. Great restaurants, lots of attractions, and tons to see and do. My goal is to at least once a month devote a day to being a tourist: go to the baseball game and have dinner in Seattle, go to the Experience Music Project and the Space Needle, take a road trip up to Vancouver BC, take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island.
- KEEP FAMILY FIRST. Above all else, I want to be a better husband and father. To be a better listener to Eryn and the boys. To be more patient, kind, and loving. To lighten up and bring a tone of joy and fun. To be a good teacher and a good example to the kids. To make Eryn feel cherished. How to measure this one? Tough to say, but it's definitely something I want to keep front of mind and work on and an area of my life in which I want to see a difference.
- MOVE FORWARD AT WORK. A year from now I hope to have revenue responsibility, to be involved in competitive analysis, to have 12 solid contacts throughout the company I don't know today. I need to keep up my learning and my networking. The Microsoft commitments process will help provide a framework for me to make solid goals around these areas, but right here I just want to say that it's my goal to take full advantage of the incredible opportunity I have before me in this job. I feel like it's the parable of the talents: I've been given so much on a platter, so many opportunities, and it's really up to me not to just take them at face value (bury them in the earth), but to take them by the reins and really make something great out of them.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
I Think I'm Turning 33...
33 and 12 hrs or so to be exact. Every year at this time I reflect on how much more reflective I want to be. This past year I started a family blog (jessanderyn.blogspot.com) which is our family journal, and I think it's now time to branch out and get my own. The readers of the family blog aren't interested in my riffs on music or tv or religion, or working at a certain software company in Redmond, or being a dad to 2 amazing boys or a husband to an amazing wonderful wife. Well maybe some of those things are more relevant to the masses than others, but in any case I thought it was time for my little ideas to leave the nest of the family blog and find their own home. This just leaves one question: is the world ready?
It's the end of budget season and I'm a little punchy. And I just turned 33 today. I look at my life and I'm amazed first off how in just a few short months I have been able to "catch up" in so many areas of my life that I always felt like I was "behind" on. When we were living in NYC I'd always feel bad about not owning a home, not having real furniture, not having a good car for the family, for not living in the neighborhood I'd want my kids to grow up in. It seemed like even after 9 yrs of marriage and 9 years into my career we were still somehow playing grownup, but hadn't actually arrived to adulthood. I'd think back to my own parents who at this time in their own lives seemed to be so much further along.
And then it happened. The fateful phone call of sometime in mid-February, when Shawn Hansen asked if I'd thought about coming out to Redmond to interview with the company. My own company in NYC was having financial "issues" so the writing was on the wall there (not exactly boom times for the publishing industry) so the timing felt right to make a move. But the company in Redmond was so far beyond what I thought I could achieve...I remember telling Eryn when it first came up, "don't worry, they receive 100s of resumes a day for every job...I'll be lucky to even get a phone interview." Well, 5 phone interviews, 12 interviews in Redmond, and 4 months later, here we are going on month #3 in Washington and my new job.
This is getting really long and I don't have time right now to flesh it out. The sum is, in a relatively short time I've "caught up" in so many of the areas I was behind and didn't know how I'd catch up. I mean, I bought a lawn mower last week!
Must See TV
This guy is everything that's right with music today. And to bring M, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, and Jim James (My Morning Jacket)...this is beauty. Makes me want to grab that old guitar and jam right along with 'em!
