I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Thank you to Mark Morford for making me unbelievably homesick from EssEff:
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

What I would give to be shaking my ass alongside the Qool float as it winds its way to Civic Center on a crisp saturday afternoon.

Choosing a Line and Ignoring the Bad DJ

'Got back Monday from a magical weekend in Santa Fe visiting Bryan, Megan, and my niece Willow (whom I have discussed with much guilt in the past). I will talk about the trip later when I have more time...the aspens turning, wrecking my mountain bike and cracking a rib....WILLOW TAKING HER FIRST STEPS...but for now I want to quickly pass on a little bit of wisdom I picked up from Bryan on said bike trip. My brother is an insightful guy sometimes...not to mention hysterical and supportive. All traits I was reminded of while mountain biking in the hills above Santa Fe on a beautiful late summer afternoon.



When biking down a steep, rocky, rooty trail with a dropoffs on the left and trees on the right, one should not navigate by staring directly down at your front tire. You should not simply look straight down in front of you and focus on the dangers. The only way to truly survive the path, and perhaps do so with speed and grace, is too concentrate on what is downhill, far in front of you. Pick a line through the danger, and stick with it. Your body will automatically adjust to the rocks and roots directly below you...and you can breeze right though whatever obstacle is in your way.


At the first technical part of the decent, I was freaking out and thinking only of the myriad of ways that I could hurt myself. Sure 'nuff, I quickly flipped over my ride and banged myself up. My brother's advice was to pick your line and stick with it, and ignore the "bad DJ" in your head playing the songs that sing of danger. As I got more comfortable with these concepts, I began riding with much greater confidence...and in turn, speed. I was also enjoying myself much, much more.

The more I think about it, the more I think about how lately I've started to stare down at my front tire in life, and not looking far enough down the trail. Things are going unbelievably well in my life right now...and I am happy as I've ever been. I am blessed and fortunate in every aspect of my life. But I think all of us would do well by being reminded to keep looking downhill and ignoring the bad DJs. Once you choose a good line, it is important to stick to it and not be distracted...

That all being said, I am one sore motherfucker.

Carl Lewis Is A Fucking Rockstar

Come on folks, we have to work together.

http://www.blue-fortune.com/video/carllewismusicvideo.mov

'Not sure why this cracks me up as much as it does...

We Know Who Wears the Pants in This Family

This is a photo from Reuters showing Dubya asking Condi for a bathroom break during the UN Security Council meetings.

Notice the use of capitals in "I think I MAY NEED A BATHROOM break." I think that:
1) "The most powerful man in the world" should not have to ask for a peepee break.
2) If he is indeed the bitch of the relationship and actually does have to ask, one would think he would (at the very least) not be such a damn pussy about it. This guy invades nations over breakfast, doesn't listen to any advice, logic, or reason...yet he hems on whether or not he has to go pee?
3) What exactly is Rove's role in THIS particular mission?

My Brain Is Melting Out of My Ear

Just thought you should know. If I never see another excel spreadsheet again I will die a happy man.

Good news: I survived (albeit not in the most graceful of fashions) a full project review from the President and COO: two brilliant- yet equally scary- Men Of Power. I don't know what it is about the intensity of these MOPs that turns me into a quivering bowl of jello encased in an entry-level suit.

Bad News: it's budget season here in this lovely multinational corporation. Which means on my horizon looms another mind-boggling array of..you guessed it...excel worksheets. All of which have embedded links that take you to other embedded links that take you to "big ripper" rollup sheets with more links that will change the entire universe with one false hard code. A butterfly beating its wings in california may cause a tsunami in china, but that is nothing compared to the end-of-the-universe affect that occurs when an a property controller fucks up and accidentally messes with my boss' NOI. Nothing in life is more sacred.

Jason needs a cocktail.

Friday Roundup

I had a bad St. Louis day yesterday, even while having a great time at the ballpark. Allow me a moment to vent:

I am dead fucking sick of:

• Shitty beer. Yes, I'm talking to you A-B
• Smoke. Everywhere. Is there anyplace you cannot smoke in this city? Inside a gas station for the love of Neil Diamond?
• Tank tops and jean shorts.
• Bad, bad, bad tattoos. The grim reaper on your shoulder does not make you look dangerous. Just stupid.
• The local economy. 'Market sucks. 'Nuff said.
• Not to get into the job for fear of getting dooced, but I am dead sick of budgets and having to reforecast every six days and preparing reports for 17 different head honchos.
• Humidity and mosquitoes.
• The apple tree in my backyard is nothing but a factory for sticky, smelly bombs that drive the dog nuts and attract flies the size of my fist.

Get thee back to California. Okay. I feel better. Oddly enough, I am looking forward to the weekend.

The Greatest News Clip Ever

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/08/cheney-runs-into-trouble-with-the-locals/

"Go Fuck yourself, Mr. Cheney."
Live on CNN. Give THAT guy a medal.

'Betcha Dick is a little peeved that he cut his vacation short. So did Condie, who was in NYC buying shoes as the levees crubled. Wait...so did Dubya, who in fairness did fly over the area in AF1 on his way someplace else.

Is it too early to state that the silver lining to this ideal just might be the end to these joker's corrupt reign? And maybe...and this is a stretch...we as a county will pay some respect to the envioronment?

Journalistic Poor Timing 101

On the same day that St. Louis is preparing to accept hundreds of evacuees from New Orleans, the Post-Dispatch ran an article ran an article hailing St. Louis as the nation's largest mardi gras. Highlight:

"They don't want to seem too opportunistic, but some local companies and event planners stand to take advantage of New Orleans' misfortune. "

Umm, isn't that the very definition of the word?

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/martinvanderwerf/story/7713357C4162DB3486257076003254E3?OpenDocument

Gulf Coast

I cannot even comprehend what I am looking at right now. 'Sending positive thoughts to all those affected by this tragedy. This fills me with an unbelievable sense of sadness.

And, frankly, a bit of anger as well:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,372455,00.html