helmetiblog

"Mmm, sweet Monday, I know it truly cares as the brunt of its attention seems squarely focused on me ..."

How have I found myself in a world wherein the coffee both tastes bad and acts as an antistimulant? I have two cups on my desk, one for the coffee and another of cold water in an attempt to keep myself alert.

Now that the big issues are out of the way I'm happy to report that last week I had my first successful small group attendance in years. As some know, after moving to Issaquah a few years ago I had difficulty finding a church nearby that I a) liked and where I b) was able to meet and connect with people. That search ended early this year when my friend Tembi took me to The City Church in Belltown. A good pastor, great group of friends and peers (called young professionals) and even podcasts welcomed me and helped me to belong there. The church is also big on small or cell groups, heavily promoting them and publishing a quite-lengthy catalog quarterly, and while many have encouraged me to find and participate in one, I hadn't been successful. "Hadn't," as last week I joined a group talking about business and going through an Ed Silvoso book. It's a quaint group, with five at its inception, but it's a good start for me.

I had the pleasure of attending a formal dinner party last night in honor of a friend's birthday. It was fantastically put together, and wow, so much work to host and prepare elaborate meals for thirty. My measly contribution of projecting the movie at the end of the evening pales.

Good morning! Just wanted to point you over to my friend Kristen, who is doing a great blog series this week called What do Women Want?. I recommend you stop by.

: ) I recommend I stop by, too.

Lars sent me some prototypes for a new logo for Big Day Images, our online wedding album business (and the reason I don't get out much!). We're looking to have it finalized in time for the big wedding expo coming up, and I'd love to hear your opinions or suggestions. Thanks!

Option 1:



Option 2:



Option 3:




*kidding on the not-getting-out bit above. Well, mostly.

I'm getting sick for the second time so far this fall. I'm also normally able to enjoy good health without putting forth any real effort to achieve it. What's changed? I'd like to figure it out, because frankly, this is no fun.

sleep: unchanged. I typically get seven hours a night.
diet: unchanged. I don't eat according to any master plan (could be read that I don't eat well). Convenience is key.
exercise: increased. My commute has me walking about thirty minutes a day, up from not-at-all. Ideally I'd like to be running too, but it's just been too cold and rainy.
exposure: increased. Greater exposure to the elements given my commute and sleeping near the floor in my new, draftier house. Greater exposure to germs, riding the city bus every day (I try to be conscious of this and wash my hands most of the time).

No surprises, I guess. I'm surrounded daily by a higher-than-average concentration of sick people preceeded and followed by being cold and/or wet. Even an amateur chef could get this recipe to turn out from time to time.

So what are the practical steps I should take to help myself stay well? Winter coat and umbrella? Echinacea? Eat more of x? More sleep? Remodel so I can fit my box spring up the stairs and assemble my bed?

Probably all of the above, huh?

I'm back from my first-ever real business trip! Real, as in the name of my company, and real in that it wasn't merely to attend offsite training, but to actually do something that needed to be done. And as an added bonus, I get to color a new state on my map. Woo-hoo!

I wonder periodically whether I'm working in the right role for myself. James' post today especially got me thinking. I like programming, as it's a fun method of solving problems, creativity and expression; I also like the steps that come beforehand: all the analysis, clarification, personal interaction, design, strategy, etc. My current position involves some of both, and I'm a bit bogged down in creating documentation. I don't know that there's a toolset I like better than an elegant programming language and a good IDE (though PHP and emacs provide a rewarding experience of a different sort). Visio and Word are fine for a day, but that day's come and gone and I'm ready to code.

I've spent way too much time conquering the world this week. Or at least, playing Civ IV. It's really, really, really good. This game has lived up to my expectations like few have. I'm going to rend myself away tonight to attend a party, but if I don't show up, you now know why!

Argentine city hunkers down for anti-Bush violence

I spent much of my 2001 - 2003 in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata and throughout Argentina and South America. My very first day there, September 11, 2001, I arrived with a black eye and was set loose for the evening by my host dad in downtown B.A. I didn't yet understand the local speech, between accent, speed and slang, so when an Argentine man asked me in rough English if I were American I gave him a wary nod. He sat down next to me and for the next twenty minutes went on to share his opinions of the world bank, the IMF, Bush, the US, the first Iraq war, how we had that very day's terrorist attack coming and the Falklands. (The last was not really related, but it's obligatory to most rant sessions). It reinforced my already-held belief against political and economic discussions with foreign strangers, but it also painted what was confirmed repeatedly as an accurate picture of the prevailing mindset.

I was there for the currency crisis, rapid inflation and rioting a few months later. I saw the Citibanks and BankBostons, defaced, burned and with windows broken. I walked the streets as protesters fought and looted, blocks (and sometimes less) away. Tanks rolled through the city as I sat in class and went about my life there.

It appears that some things haven't changed. The violence died down as time went on. McDonalds took the boards from the doors and windows. The peso arrested its slide after several months. Life stabilized, though more difficult, for a majority of folks. But many still carry bitterness and distain and have only grown more resentful for another war in Iraq and other, new injustices, perceived or actual.

Mar del Plata is a beautiful city with many great people. I even have several friends who call it home. It's a shame that it has to be a center for trouble in current events. I love Argentina, and I understand that much of it doesn't love me, my president or my country in return. And I'd still go back in a heartbeat.