Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wakesurfing at Sandy's
Harry Potter fans
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/29/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-the-trailer-has-arrived/
THE 69TH ANNUAL "VANITY FAIR" INTERNATIONAL BEST-DRESSED LIST:
WOMEN:
MEN:
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Everyday Zen
Anyway, by the end of the book I loved it. There are some great stories which will give you some "ah hah" moments as things apply to your life. You sort of leave on a high note that to best path to happiness is helping others. It's really trying to say "get over yourself!"
This is a good book to read if you if you have found that most Eastern religion just doesn't apply to our Western/American culture. I have read some of the other books that suggest going on a journeys into the mountains for enlightenment, blah, blah, blah. I just can't take off in the Tibet mountains when contractually have to be at work from 6-10am at the very least. I have joked for sometime that there needs to be what I call "Sea level enlightenment". Do we really have to take off for the mountains in strappy sandals and a small bag of berries for survival? I'm not really into talking to burning bushes, I much prefer people.
If you're a chronic worrier, you will find this book helpful.
This just might be that book I was looking for.... you might be too. Couldn't find it locally, so I would suggest Amazon.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Fathers day article from Parentwise
It was six and a half years ago I became a father. My wife and I were ready; we had discussed it at great length considering it took time and a team of scientific experts to get pregnant. We read all the parenting literature available. We were level headed adults who felt everything falling into place.
At about nine months the crying stopped. For the first time, we felt like we could venture out of the house and re-acclimate ourselves to society. Slowly, and I mean SLOWLY, we started to realize everything was going to be o.k. We hadn’t given birth to Satan’s child after all. Our daughter is six and a half now and an amazing well adjusted child. We felt guilty for so long because of all of the tension and worry she had to pick up from us. It took us years to shake it. This made us realize just how vulnerable our mental health is and what people can take for granted. We didn’t go “over the edge” but we got an awful damn good look over it.
Mad Men! Season Two... tonight!
My advice is to watch season one. It's only 13 episodes. They are for sale on DVD, you can get them on demand from Time Warner or you can get them from itunes. Watch this show! I love it, love it, love it.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Six Lounge 3 year anniversary
My dad would be proud...
San Diego Zoo and PB
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Caught up with my good friend Rick
Vacation in Carlsbad
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I really only have room in my life for one whiney brit band. Therefore, I'm still holding out by not purchasing the ever popluar Coldplay record.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Summer issue of Austin Monthly Home
Before everyone reading this starts handing out awards, commending each other for their green efforts and setting up a luncheon with Al Gore… I am here to tell you that you are not as Green as you think you are. I came to this reality when I was taking my own green home inventory. I realized that compared to when I grew up, we are total greedy, indulgent, all consuming mashers, yet we pat ourselves on the back for recycling and putting in double pane windows. You want to hear about true “green home living?” Let me tell you how it was when I grew up. We didn’t have a name for it at the time and there were no city rebates. We were just green out of necessity. I can’t tell if our green living came from those times or our modest economic status. Try reflecting on your own upbringing and you may too realize that you grew up greener than you could ever be today.
June issue Rare Magazine, Austin Neighborhoods
Grab the July issue out today. I wrote about Douchebag guys in their 20's. I originally titled it "ode to Bobby Bones". I think you will see why when you read the issue.
Here is what I wrote for the June Austin Neighborhoods issue:
Am I cool enough to live in my own city?
I am going to attempt something that is probably going to upset a lot of people. I am going to attempt to rank
There are many surveys out there that rank neighborhoods on crime, schools, parks, levels of educations, etc… Not me. I’m going for pure hipness. I’m not saying I’m the most in vogue, trendsetter this town has to offer, but I know it when I see it. I love this city and I’m offering my time and knowledge to rank Austin Coolest neighborhoods for you.
Everyone that lives in
When I was in college, I rented in
I love so many things about
This gets my strongest bid for folks who love location. Everything in this area seems packed in and there are cars everywhere. Either everyone owns about 5 cars apiece or every one of them has offered to house a starving musician…and his van. I get frustrated with Texans for opting for pure square footage. It’s an ego trip or something. This area is the antithesis of that. They are willing to give up space for location. This is one of the few areas not being torn to the ground for a rebuild… and they are not afraid to use outrageous exterior colors or cement bicycles or armadillos to the side of their house. Because of the UT housing in close proximity, you kids might come home speaking Chinese or Russian. Diversity at it’s best.
This neighborhood is great if you can tolerate all the political unrest. If only Bob Marley was here to get new and old to shake hands. I’ve learned to appreciate the naturalscape and applaud their efforts to keep it a place that could burst into flames at any moment. I love how the deer just stand there and stare at you as if to say “Go ahead, I’m gonna eff up your Cayenne S and my life sucks anyway…I’d flip you off but I got a damn hoof”. This neighborhood gets props for being more liberal, interesting and eclectic than anyone realizes. Too bad none of the neighbors come within 100 ft of each other.
The ONLY thing stopping this neighborhood from numero uno is location and the fact they have to use Mopac to get anywhere. I’m a sucker for well built cool architecture from the 50’s and 60’s and there are some real gems in this hood. I love the mix of young families with bikes, trikes and tree swings in the yard, next to memaw and peepaw making a run to the dumpster with the dirty Depends. It’s one of the least pretentious neighborhoods in the city and I love that so many of them are preserving some of the old school integrity in their homes, although I’ve seen some of my favorite mid-century homes get bulldozed to the ground in a day. Shame on you!
When I bought my last house, Barton
When I first moved to
This area just oozes cool. They are in for trouble though. The home prices and new modern homes are going to bring in a ton of people who “think they are cool” and they are going to dork it all up. The art to living in this neighborhood the right way is spending as little as you can on; cars, landscaping, personal hygiene, haircuts, or clothing. If you are going to spend money, spend it on; music fests, piercings, tats, hemp clothing and Eastern medicine. No one in Bouldin works for the
I have always wanted to live in this neighborhood but I’m afraid I would never fit in since I don’t have a Kiln. It’s very popular to be a white person with dreadlocks and to look as if you are heading to or from a Renaissance festival. Congratulations on spending more annually on the health of your trees than on yourself. There’s a difference between being “Cool” to attract attention or just “Being Cool”.
Downtown, Crestview,
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Bri rides a horse. another step in becoming a Texan
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Are you using the right sunscreen? This is interesting
FOUR IN FIVE SUNSCREENS DON'T ADEQUATELY PROTECT YOU FROM THE SUN:
--According to a consumer advocacy group called the Environmental Working Group, FOUR in FIVE brand-name sunscreens don't adequately protect you from the sun.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
"Britain's Missing Top Model".
The premise of the show is similar to "