Thursday, September 24, 2009

Austin

I'm hunting for a city with beauty and personality disorders.
This city has musicians, politicians, professors, and blue collar workers. I'm going to see some shows and do some rock climbing and other outdoor activities with my good friend Megan. My summer started late and this is the last to do before I push out my thesis.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Rock Climbing


My skinny arms, lack of coordination, and weak ankles would probably not make me the best boulderer. Yet upon my first time at indoor climbing, I found out that the security from a harness and the rope builds different strength and that climbing practiced involves much skill. It's a game of strategy and to set up some good stemming problems is as stimulating as playing a challenging crossword puzzle. The levels go from easy to severely challenging. I am yet to dangle at a 45 degree angle upside down.

After palming several rocks and climbing to the top (50 ft) several times, my arms and fingers felt gummy. If it wasn't for that there would be no reason to leave. If climbing indoors is this rewarding, I can only imagine what it would be like to do it outdoors. I can't wait to find out.

Monday, September 14, 2009

I found this podcast from All Music Considered interviewing
Thom Yorke about the music he listens to. Yorke's musical taste
is hard to categorize, but through the different genres you can
hear where he picks up certain elements in the music he creates.
Here's the link.


Sunday, September 13, 2009

My thoughts on success have changed in the last year. I conducted many interviews with people discussing their careers and found a trend in their thoughts. Few people in the deepest recesses of their heart feel like they are successful, I started to question my own ideas of what it means to succeed.

The whole concept of success seems skewed, even from the beginning with the way we define it. Webster's dictionary defines success as "attaining of a desired end." It seems the way this is defined and the way most of us think about it is in black and white terms, rather it is success or it is failure, good or bad. Failure and success work hand and foot and we have little to no control over these two forces. In fact, as William James stated this pursuit of success may be a disease of our society and if we aren't cautious it may cause us harm. "What the world giveth us the world can also take it away", and frequently does. The only control we have is in our response to failure and success. We need to understand what is real success and what's not. It's a judgment only we can make.

After completing my thesis in December, I will graduate with a master's degree in journalism. When I tell people that I am student in journalism I get the same response, What are you going to do even Pulitzer prize winning journalist are losing their jobs. It is realistic to say that I may not find a job in this field, however, all my hard work and the concepts that I learned will pay-off and I view this as a success.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Rained Out

Charity softball game this weekend!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009




















There is so much fresh produce in Seattle from brambles of wild blackberries to garlic that bleeds a purple color and remains fresh for ages. I discovered a lot of these local goodies at Pike's Market. You really don't need to eat lunch with all the sampling going on here of everything from smoked salmon, dried strawberries, and honey with different vine riped berry flavors. If your belly isn't full after all the grazing I would recommend going to have a piroshky at Piroshky Piroshky. I had a potato, onion, and cheese one. The caramelized onions paired well with the goey cheese and soft bread. All and all, I didn't eat anything that wasn't in the category of being delicious.

After Times Kennedy Leak, Hachette Hires Private Dick


After Times Kennedy Leak, Hachette Hires Private Dick

Shared via AddThis

Labor Day Weekend in Seattle


I posted my pictures from Labor Day weekend. I spent it with my brother who recently moved with his family to work at Microsoft in Redmond. I have been missing my little nieces and this visit made for one wonderful trip. I also snuck away to go to Pike's Market with my Dad and to Bumpershoot where I saw Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Losing It Over Softball. We lost 2-19

You know that cutie that you can't help approaching after seeing them at your favorite cafe sitting next to you, or in line at the grocery store, biking through your neighborhood -- that's my relationship with softball. I'd seen and heard about people playing before, and it definitely sounded fun, my buddies had partaken and raved about being on a softball team so I was intrigued but somehow didn't join until this year. Bash. And I am so glad I did!

We played short games then partied at the best dive bar in Boston. It was ideal for our big group as we had ample space to play darts, watch the Red Sox games. I was really impressed with how fun hanging out with employees can be. Not to mention my coach is simply awesome.

All in all, it was a fantastic way to spend Tuesday nights mingling with friendly spirited people and engaging in some kinesthetic activity.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Tonight is our Championship Game.

The Upper Peninsula


I write this to honor the weekend I froze my ass off in Upper Peninsula with my two friends Laura and Colleen. The Upper Peninsula, or tenderly referred to by locals as the UP is full of natural wonders from sandstone rock formations to large waterfalls that you can hike to in a day. We hiked bouncing from one gorgeous site to the next, fresh air, and discovered Midwestern beauty.

These gals make all sorts of fun and silliness even on a cold weekend that felt like Boston in November. Colleen sang sentences as if they were Broadway show tunes while posing for pictures. Laura and I talked and talked about food. Most of the time my head is so fascinated by what's going on with these two, I don't even notice my surroundings.

Because of the bad weather our plans to camp out turned into getting a cabin. The cabin was adorable - I mean everything: tiny beds, mini chimney, moose and bear curtains and so comfortably. We loved our little cabin.