Ah fall, the time of year when wasps attempt to invade my home. One day, I killed twelve before coffee.
I just got back from a trip to the ancestral lands. My great-grandfather owned a ranch near Fort Worth, and my Mom and I have started taking semi-annual trips to visit it. The guy who leases it amazes me. We went several years ago when we had a different tenant, and the place looked horrible. There was bare dirt everywhere, and stumps from blue juniper and mesquite trees poking up out of it. The stock tanks were all low, and I almost cried to see it.
The first recent trip was six months ago, and North Texas had just finished getting too much rain (for once). Everything looked beautiful, but G. insisted that god, not he, was responsible. This time, the rain couldn't take all the credit. The grass was more yellow in spots, but clearly his management has improved the environment. He gave me a book, Holistic Management, by Allan Savory with Jody Butterfield, which he claims forced him to unlearn everything he learned in college about range management. The chapter headings look intriguing, and I hope to come back and review it somewhere on the site, later.
I just got back from a trip to the ancestral lands. My great-grandfather owned a ranch near Fort Worth, and my Mom and I have started taking semi-annual trips to visit it. The guy who leases it amazes me. We went several years ago when we had a different tenant, and the place looked horrible. There was bare dirt everywhere, and stumps from blue juniper and mesquite trees poking up out of it. The stock tanks were all low, and I almost cried to see it.
The first recent trip was six months ago, and North Texas had just finished getting too much rain (for once). Everything looked beautiful, but G. insisted that god, not he, was responsible. This time, the rain couldn't take all the credit. The grass was more yellow in spots, but clearly his management has improved the environment. He gave me a book, Holistic Management, by Allan Savory with Jody Butterfield, which he claims forced him to unlearn everything he learned in college about range management. The chapter headings look intriguing, and I hope to come back and review it somewhere on the site, later.
I have no friends here. Well, I have one and the best explanation I have is that my hinky mouse jumped when I tried to click on something else (I know not what)... I liked her set okay, and when she suddenly appeared as my friend I thought it would be rude to unfriend her...
Don't pity me, please. I entirely accept that I don't have mass appeal.
I haven't deliberately sent out any invites, though. I think I have a philosophical disconnect. Insanity?
Don't pity me, please. I entirely accept that I don't have mass appeal.
I haven't deliberately sent out any invites, though. I think I have a philosophical disconnect. Insanity?
That settles it; the beard is coming back.
*dang, wires crossed... not much I can do about growing chest hair*
*dang, wires crossed... not much I can do about growing chest hair*
Work has sucked the last few weeks. I have nothing much to do, so I spend my time on discussion boards here and elsewhere. My boss basically knows this and knows I'd prefer to be honing my skills and making money for the firm, but I guess he's having motivational problems.
I delight in the fact that every time I get a new task, I do the job well and quickly. Still, killing time doesn't suit me.
What do I do when I get home? I drum on my new kit
and post more on the boards
I delight in the fact that every time I get a new task, I do the job well and quickly. Still, killing time doesn't suit me.
What do I do when I get home? I drum on my new kit
and post more on the boards
I broke an 20-year streak the other day.
I wanted to grab something from Grandy's for breakfast on my way in to work. I hadn't been to the one here in town, yet, and I missed the entrance without noticing. After I ordered, I realized that I was at Burger King. I haven't eaten anything from BK or McD's since 1987, when I flagrantly violated California's newly enacted smoking ban, but that's another story.
I pondered driving away or retracting my order, but I decided to just accept the consequences of my inattention. The food tasted okay, but three hours later I felt like I had a brick in my stomach. I ate a light lunch with lots of vegetables, and it passed okay. I did confirm that I was right to avoid those franchises, though, or at least that particular location. Trying a new restaurant always carries some risk for me; I don't suffer a lot, but I do feel it when I eat impure food.
I wanted to grab something from Grandy's for breakfast on my way in to work. I hadn't been to the one here in town, yet, and I missed the entrance without noticing. After I ordered, I realized that I was at Burger King. I haven't eaten anything from BK or McD's since 1987, when I flagrantly violated California's newly enacted smoking ban, but that's another story.
I pondered driving away or retracting my order, but I decided to just accept the consequences of my inattention. The food tasted okay, but three hours later I felt like I had a brick in my stomach. I ate a light lunch with lots of vegetables, and it passed okay. I did confirm that I was right to avoid those franchises, though, or at least that particular location. Trying a new restaurant always carries some risk for me; I don't suffer a lot, but I do feel it when I eat impure food.
I attended a fabulous annual party last night, hosted by one of San Angelo's favorite bon vivants. The lively crowd consisted of a cross-section of the area's fun-seekers. Gay, straight, lesbian, redneck, sophisticates, and assorted combinations thereof, of all available ethnic groups and economic strata mingled and conversed. The limits on behavior exceeded those of the wilder parties I've attended, but I found many opportunities for fun and wide-ranging conversation.
I limited my alcohol intake and didn't get too crazy; I enjoyed that, somewhat to my surprise.
I limited my alcohol intake and didn't get too crazy; I enjoyed that, somewhat to my surprise.
A Superior Vacation
Or, How to Fuck your own Ass in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport
My weekend away rocked. I visited the shores of Lake Gitchee-gummi; two of them, actually, but that's later. Duluth, Minnesota has a wealth of good food and fetching waitstaff. The banter flies through the air in massive swarms, and every citizen has very shapely thighs. Duluth has good hot sauce.
All throughout Minnesota, I found ordinary people who were prepared to waste time spouting nearly unintelligible gibberish, pausing only to erupt in fits of laughter. The local beer had real character and lots of alcohol content. I suspect that the two may be related. Its also a Blue state with a concealed carry law, the cooperative capitol of the heartland, and welcoming to oddball Texan riff raff. Sometimes I suspected imprecations of having been muttered behind my back.... Naaah!
My last day began with a quick round of heartfelt sharing and a nice plate of fried potatoes. A three hour drive to the airport goes well with a two hour interview with Andre Codrescu. People drive different in MN than in TX. If I'm speeding along in the left lane and someone pulls up behind me, I move over to the right. In the Northland, this will only confuse people. I observed and participated in 10-car convoys which barrelled down the road at 80mph, with about a yard separating each car.
I got to the airport two hours before my flight was scheduled to leave. This situation persisted for four hours. At some point during the drinking, interspersed with a shoeshine and a shave and much ogling of healthy farmgirls, I could no longer resist temptation. I staggered into a vacant bathroom, grabbed a stall and tore one off, inserting my finger into my asshole for the uber-sicko thrill of innumerable and simultaneous transgressive acts. Waiting six hours in an airport is such a turn-on.
Or, How to Fuck your own Ass in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport
My weekend away rocked. I visited the shores of Lake Gitchee-gummi; two of them, actually, but that's later. Duluth, Minnesota has a wealth of good food and fetching waitstaff. The banter flies through the air in massive swarms, and every citizen has very shapely thighs. Duluth has good hot sauce.
All throughout Minnesota, I found ordinary people who were prepared to waste time spouting nearly unintelligible gibberish, pausing only to erupt in fits of laughter. The local beer had real character and lots of alcohol content. I suspect that the two may be related. Its also a Blue state with a concealed carry law, the cooperative capitol of the heartland, and welcoming to oddball Texan riff raff. Sometimes I suspected imprecations of having been muttered behind my back.... Naaah!
My last day began with a quick round of heartfelt sharing and a nice plate of fried potatoes. A three hour drive to the airport goes well with a two hour interview with Andre Codrescu. People drive different in MN than in TX. If I'm speeding along in the left lane and someone pulls up behind me, I move over to the right. In the Northland, this will only confuse people. I observed and participated in 10-car convoys which barrelled down the road at 80mph, with about a yard separating each car.
I got to the airport two hours before my flight was scheduled to leave. This situation persisted for four hours. At some point during the drinking, interspersed with a shoeshine and a shave and much ogling of healthy farmgirls, I could no longer resist temptation. I staggered into a vacant bathroom, grabbed a stall and tore one off, inserting my finger into my asshole for the uber-sicko thrill of innumerable and simultaneous transgressive acts. Waiting six hours in an airport is such a turn-on.
I worked more hours during the second half of this month than I have all year. I appreciate this for the money I have earned, but also for other reasons:
1. I billed more hours. I earned quite a bit of money for the firm, even if some of the people who wanted our assistance have no gratitude when the bills arrive next week.
2. I had several opportunities to show off my crisis management abilities. Further, the stress of managing them didn't follow me home.
3. I gained a greater appreciation for my co-workers. I work with some smart, competent people.
4. I accepted my mistakes, eventually. That constitutes progress.
5. My work benefitted the clients. Sometimes this benefit consisted only of reassurance, and other times more tangible things.
1. I billed more hours. I earned quite a bit of money for the firm, even if some of the people who wanted our assistance have no gratitude when the bills arrive next week.
2. I had several opportunities to show off my crisis management abilities. Further, the stress of managing them didn't follow me home.
3. I gained a greater appreciation for my co-workers. I work with some smart, competent people.
4. I accepted my mistakes, eventually. That constitutes progress.
5. My work benefitted the clients. Sometimes this benefit consisted only of reassurance, and other times more tangible things.
Kiva.org
I like the idea of helping people improve their lives. Sadly, good intentions often go awry, and charity often does more harm than good. If you have experienced this bit of cognitive dissonance, I suggest you consider the good work done by micro-lending. Small loans to impoverished people from legitimate institutions (rather than shylocks) can help them improve their own lives in whatever way they think best. Rather than generating resentment, you can start a virtuous cycle.
I submit that if you do your own research on the subject, you too will soon be a banker to the world's poor.
I like the idea of helping people improve their lives. Sadly, good intentions often go awry, and charity often does more harm than good. If you have experienced this bit of cognitive dissonance, I suggest you consider the good work done by micro-lending. Small loans to impoverished people from legitimate institutions (rather than shylocks) can help them improve their own lives in whatever way they think best. Rather than generating resentment, you can start a virtuous cycle.
I submit that if you do your own research on the subject, you too will soon be a banker to the world's poor.
Big Plans
I had planned to go to Amsterdam next Spring, but I've come up with something better... if a bit more pedestrian.
I live in a travel trailer (caravan to you Europeans) on a piece of land about the size of an Amsterdam neighborhood; small, by Texas standards, but not too shabby by any standard. I have lived here for two years and a few months, and I have gotten a bit tired of it. I have no yard: I step out my door into "nature red in tooth and claw." Lately, Texas has had a lot of rain. For the first time in a decade, all areas of the state have had enough rain [go ahead, blame Bush] and the insects (and hence, the arachnids) have responded in force. I have killed over a dozen wasps and two black widows who attempted to invade my space. This must cease.
I intend to build a for-real house out here. It may end up looking like something out of a science-fiction novel set in the third-world, but it will conserve energy and repel boarders.
More to come, plus pictures!!
I had planned to go to Amsterdam next Spring, but I've come up with something better... if a bit more pedestrian.
I live in a travel trailer (caravan to you Europeans) on a piece of land about the size of an Amsterdam neighborhood; small, by Texas standards, but not too shabby by any standard. I have lived here for two years and a few months, and I have gotten a bit tired of it. I have no yard: I step out my door into "nature red in tooth and claw." Lately, Texas has had a lot of rain. For the first time in a decade, all areas of the state have had enough rain [go ahead, blame Bush] and the insects (and hence, the arachnids) have responded in force. I have killed over a dozen wasps and two black widows who attempted to invade my space. This must cease.
I intend to build a for-real house out here. It may end up looking like something out of a science-fiction novel set in the third-world, but it will conserve energy and repel boarders.
More to come, plus pictures!!
