Jack Around the Tree

Never say over

2012-01-29T00:39:00.001-08:00

Treating each day as a little adventure. Days to be amazed and surprised by small things getting me to change the perspective lense. We need to make each day awesome in some way.

Varenikes

2012-01-14T00:20:00.000-08:00

Keeping the tradition. Even if is only once every three years. We engorge with cream butter and potato with bacon filling. Yum

Gold class

2012-01-09T23:29:00.001-08:00

Never again. Shadow protocol was fun, stupidily over the top like my eyes

Dare

2012-01-09T00:20:00.001-08:00

I will try a soy latte soon. Good wifi at southgate

Looking for reflective beauty

2012-01-08T23:21:00.001-08:00

Some of these patterns should echo into the dark caves of my sleepy brain

Sundays like this

2012-01-08T01:27:00.001-08:00

Found a spot for coffee

Acmi

2012-01-05T22:26:00.001-08:00

Friday outing is turning out well, hot chips coffee and a media exhibition at Acme

Walk and walk

2012-01-03T23:28:00.001-08:00

Nice cool change7

Ice cream nights

2012-01-03T03:43:00.001-08:00

Nice are the holidays

Stillness

2012-01-03T01:24:00.001-08:00

The buildings sway more than trees this evening

After 40 dgrs

2012-01-03T01:18:00.001-08:00

Now we need some water

2011-12-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

OMGosh, I had to stop and do this. I have so much stuff happening, worth it of a new entry and yet that level of life enjoyment and enthusiasm is what stops me from, well...stopping.
We went to Tasmania and managed to drive around for days and walked and hicked for hours. Tassie is a special place, very green and isolated. Hobbart was great, like a little Melbourne, less crowded.

One turn around the Tree

2011-11-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

The final attempt to revive an otherwise brilliant piece literary art, the inconstant, intermittent uncommitted Jack is due to return and devote a significant part of his ephimeral existence to its audience. Back to the pages that made him infamous, back to and around of the Tree. Jacarandas will bloom in this Spring.

Romantic Pickings

2011-08-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

OMG, I must be careful about what I romanticise at this point, because I pretty much found most causes and ideals revolting and full of human fault. short of creating my own flag and march I hope to be convinced by something pure and altruistic from something or someone since I would not be capable of it.

In a bus with no ticket

2011-07-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

The ever present angst that whatever you do feels like a by-product of having crossed the age of 40, is...well, an ever present angst.
I can compare it with getting on a bus and ride it for as long as you can and you hope to get off before the ticket inspector catches up with you.
it is a crude analogy, but this ride whatever you do, that by consensus, is way pass your age group, like...listening to Triple J, using your longoboard to commute to work or still try ride one last awesome wave that will let you brag at the end of the day on your way back from the beach.
One little voice inside of me keeps saying...-yes it is kinda sad I mean ageing while try to hold on to what represents youthfulness for males could be even embarrassing and yet I applaud the pitiful intent, even if your i-phone headphones keeps coming off because your ear hair pushes it out. pitiful, but better than antidepressants
What is the rightful place for the over 40's?

2011-07-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday noonish, well early arvo really, just woke up and the sunshining is putting some pressure on my schedulle. with grey and wet days is easy to stay in and watch a movie, but in days like this I must do something outdoorsy. I miss already the long and twisty roads, either Great Ocean Road or Saphire Cost, no rivalries, pretty much all freedom and love for nature and exploring.

Wake up to this view

Walk to this beach

on a different State get lost in the forrest

and wrap it up with a beer and this view of a moonrise

Tathra 2011

2011-07-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

I couldn't go without leaving my digital footprint on this date, this week, back in Tathra for a few days.
Middle of winter and yet the weather was awesome, sunny, warmish and we did pretty much all we could do in three days, I walked this place to death and then some the hiking and sight seeing was spectacular.
The food sucked, most of the 4 shops were closed or hardly ready for the only three turists in town, spending the big bucks, around 50 dollars in coffee cake and souvenirs.

We will miss this trip, but Melbourne is great and we will be happy to be back. Roadtripping is a dream

Cold and foggy, almost Devic's time

2011-05-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Autumn is definitely gone with just a few trees holding on to leaves with the most vivid oranges and browns.
It seems as if all that is happy and ripe has left leaving this empty space that starts to fill with foggy nights and drizzle. Now in Melbourne everytime we see the sun we chase it and soak it while it last.

TIme for the Devics :)

It is not a Fitness blog

2011-04-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

And yet latest entries are simply a -uh! hey! I did this! I did that! good on me! blah blah...
Must be the adrenaline, endorphine or Yerba Mate after the run, but It feels great and I trust that one day I will be able to look back at this post (maybe when on a wheelchair, or cane assisted because my sciatic gave up) then show and tell my grandgrandgrand sons all cranky pointing with my cane at the screen and saying -see you spoiled brats in my days we used runners in our feet, not these hover-boards banana powered-
So...what was the milestone this Wednesday 27th of Aplril? the Half Marathon. yep did it, done it in the foggy evening 22 Kms around this loop that used to be my long walk. Now I can say it -I am the 21+ kms man.

and on the 7th day Jack rested and eat a lot

2011-04-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

The very significant milestone last Friday was truly memorable and perhaps the actual peak of my physical life.
I ran for 6 consecutive days. the mix of walking and jogging of roughly 30 kms a day for 6 days came to an end last week.
It has been s bit more than 6 months since I began my runs. a mix of 2 or 3 hours of brisk walks and a 90 minutes jog.
On Friday I that I was pushing it, halfway through my run my joints were a bit sore and my shins were burning. It is always a worry because after 40 I realized that injuries can really get complicated in terms of recovery or added complications.
I am not sure about the right balance in the sense that I feel better when I run every day, but I know it will get to the point when repetitive injury will occur.
I can hardly remember a starting day, but I remember mental tactics to get me going because "running" was always a synonym of pain, boredom, exertion, more pain. So I try walking and do very short runs downhill 100 metres at the most, then on leveled surfaces counting steps, like 90 steps of my left foot, then 130 and one afternoon I remember doing something like 15 minutes and from that day it developed into this habit, almost everyday runs, 80 or 90m minutes after 2 hours walks.

Sparks

2011-03-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

My cat clinging onto me, he realized that on this lazy Sunday I was his best chance to draw some pleasure from my patting. While watching this cosmologist talking about how minuscule we are and how much we progressed in the last 100 years. It occurred to me. We wont be here for perhaps more than 100 years.

New Year and New Projects

2011-02-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Nothing injects more energy into my weekly routine than new projects, new contacts and new organizations.
February and already tensed by meetings, challenges and old enemies :)
I hope to find the time to invest on this irregular and ordinary narrative where I connect imagination without design constrains, I hardly check spelling anymore, hoping to have the time to come back to read and reflect on this journal.

128 km Melbourne Radar Loop

2011-02-06T03:47:00.000-08:00

128 km Melbourne Radar Loop

If you ever go out in Melbourne, you need to bookmark this site

Urban Harvest

2011-01-31T21:32:00.000-08:00

These are some pictures from this Zapallito plantation and fruit.

Huge Veggies

2011-01-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

These are Zapallitos huge plants

Somewhere at the movies

2011-01-10T05:16:00.000-08:00

Hmmm....still thinking about the movie and maybe that is a good sign, maybe that is what Sofia Coppola's movie tried to convey, a void that you need to fill with meaning.
After a short while I began to feel uneasy about this "casual peek" into a persons life a celebrity that actually shows no sign of having a life, It is sad to witness how someones highest goals in life like having a Ferrari and a double pole dance act home delivered becomes routine.
The introduction of the daughter brings substance to his life, she is like a lifeline I worried that he was letting it pass.
Watching a celebrity having such an mediocre and uneventful existence reflects more on our ability to be even more perverse by watching it. It is a clever missive to all of us for even reading tabloids headlines and registering in our conscience whether Angelina Jolie has checked in into rehab. Good Movie.

Summer heat

2011-01-07T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is Felipe, my cat. He is very dramatic about how he feels and very vocal with what he wants.
On this picture he is saying "This heat is making me sleepy and I will be on your way so you know how I feel"

This is me, in your way, all the time.

Lorne 2011

2011-01-06T08:03:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed an almost perfect day, I missed the waves only.

No waves, but we freesbied a lot :)

Lorne always surprises me and like an the Great Ocean Road always manages to draw an awe inspired comment even when we do the trip several times each year.

Again, what amazed me me once more was the subdued, restrained summer furore on this side of the bay.

The good thing is that it never gets too crowded or dirty or noisy, the bad thing is that many shops will close before the sun goes down and the whole place seems to go to sleep too early.

2010 Movies

2010-12-30T23:51:00.000-08:00

This year the list is very short, I didn't get to watch a lot of films in 2010, a mixture of busy and bad trailers made me stay at home and watch some good TV (yep there is a TV renaissance so there is not shame in watching the tube anymore) in any case here we go:

1- Kick Ass
why because it was fun and irreverent and I am sure it must have seen a lots of walks-offs when into the first 5 minutes the main character, a 11 years old girl says to her dad across the table "I am fucking with you,dad!"
the whole movie worked for me because it was not your typical super-hero movie, yet it manages to entertain like one while you watch how far they will push it or whether there will be a redemptive end for this psycho pre-teen girlr who impales bodies left and right without any remorse or restrains.

2- Scott Pilgrim...
why? well it is a movie first, the style seen for the first time I believe, the rhythm is that of a frantic C64 game the direction is great in that sense...I mean you could make a disaster failure or it could remain glued together as new genre and it did. it had lots of funny bits in it, the first ex is just amazing 'WHAT IS IT WITH THE PIRATE LOOK?"

3 - Inception
Maybe instead of why the questions should be "why not #2 or even #1?" I think Nolan overreached with this Film. Inception is one of those films that you know the director/creator will overplay his hand, he did what most people expected and he delivered but I do not think that it was a surprise.

2010 Music List

2010-12-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

I mentioned before how difficult it gets to find music that can top the best bands already discovered, then I realized it is not necesary to keep rising the bar, but to get noticed stay on reapeat for a few weeks.
Best album goes to Laura Veirs' "JulyFlame" an awesome collection of melodies and the song writing got even better, even better than "Year of Meteors"
Close second, and this is as close as it gets...Cordrazine's new album "Always Coming Down" their site has a free sample http://cordrazine.com.au/
Why they disappeared for so many years? not sure, but I wish I could watch them performing live, but they are absent from every possible "band-like" activity, they played twice here in Melbourne and they went silent again.
Works for me, at least they appeared, dropped a fantastic new album and left me chasing the gig guide for a concert date.
From the depth of winter during a foggy and very cold night I discover "The Devics" and this album found me walking late one night in winter and hit me, or better yet it transfigured me into the enviroment of that night:
http://www.last.fm/music/Devics/My+Beautiful+Sinking+Ship
The questions is: do I need to be depressed to enjoy this album? or would it be like rubbing salt into a wound? it is beautiful, but dark and somber and so theatrical. I then went looking for a happier Devics Album and found "Push the Heart" lighter but still not for the weak of spirit. The whole Album took a trip down from Tathra to Melbourne along the Princess Highway and it made it magical.
When I found a band that I like I look around for similar bands so I found Sol Seppy http://www.last.fm/music/Sol%2520Seppy?ac=sol%20se
and I had my fill of shoe gazing for the rest of 2010, another beautiful voice.

This is not a tricked photo and the listening of "My beautiful Sinking Ship" was not staged and the two Vodka shots was a coincidence for a Saturday at 2 am.

And this is it for Music in 2010, there was the usual, Shins and Nada Surf and DCC and perhaps discovered very late in the year so it can't make it to this list, but I take my chances with boy&bear: http://www.last.fm/search?q=boy%26bear&type=all

Bats, Snails and Possums Tails

2010-12-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

This was 2010. We didn't make Contact ;)

2010 had all the ingredients for a soapy B grade movie, scary moments, happy events, visits from distant shores, local travel and even the tension of a family member having surgery. all in all I survived it.
Abusing the roller-coaster metaphor the ups and downs of 2010 were legendary, maybe not so much.
Perhaps the biggest event during this year was turning up the outdoor life, not by a little but a huge change in the way I spend most of my free time and the not so free time, since I found that ideas pop-in and out of my head much more frequently in the outdoor world. Hours of walks and 90 minutes runs 4 times a week, 150 Kms on my feet facing sunsets that grab my chest and pulls my whole body towards endless horizons, night skies and it is Melbourne so I found myself under all kinds of rain, showers, drizzle, tropical downpours and splashes from cars along the roads.
I would like to be able to explain this transmutation from the man who hated running to the man who can't stop moving now, faster and for longer periods of time, outside always outside on the streets of Melbourne. I now know several ways to tie my laces to avoid injuries or like in my case to minimize several injuries already suffered like a black toenail, a tendon injury and a mysterious pinching pain in my hip and the old sciatic nerve that came back from so much impact while running.
I will explain this weird addiction in detail later on a separate post because it is not a physical thing but a whole mental attitude switch that actually came at the right time, meaning anytime after 35 is the right time check your little book of do's and dont's if you want to live past 100 or like me 150.

The usual spot for a rest and coffee

2010 was also the year in which my work load went askew. Too many commitments, bad time management and my lack of multitasking skills created a convoluted year that I will try avoid in 2011. Basically the tension level grew too high and the stress was only counteracted by these extreme long distance walks. Anyone who is freelancing and juggling several clients each week will attest to this affirmation, "it will kill you" unless you learn to control the workload and the type of commitments. again this is outside my "2010 summary"
I also learnt, almost like a second postulate to most freelancers "isolation will kill you" (maybe I should round all these as a big post call "things that will kill you if you are a designer" like 12 hours in front of a monitor will....and so on.

The view from our bedroom - Tathra in July

In 2010 I lost my biggest client, well...not lost entirely, but a program that we ran for several years came to and end. They could not longer afford me or decided spend their budget impressing their demographics with shiny new Macs instead of a special ICT program I can understand the motivations behind that move, but if you ask teachers if they need more gadgets or more training and programs the answers contradicts the actions that some schools are taking.
Although this lost will send serious ripples back to my own budget, it was a good thing, the level of stress of working in a large institution which has lost its long term planning and vision is very weakening, I felt that there was not financial incentive that could make up for a total lack of purpose. I guess that a lot of people who needs to stay passionate about their work would find that purposelessness takes away all the energy required to stay professional and effective.

The mix feeling of happiness and the panic when you lose a major client

To finish part one of this end of the year special here is a nice photo from todays trip

Another joy of 2010 was longboarding it is an activity way passed my age bracket, but I have fully mastered the art of longboard cruising.

and by sheer luck they opened a nice car park across the road

It got very cold for the pier and yet ragging up and the promise of an extra hot coffee get you going anyway.

Peak Performance

2010-11-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! wow again I deserve this self praise after runing for 31 minutes...yes that minute counts too.
For the last four years I have been trying to get back into shape in general become as healthy as I possible can.
After years of back problems and weight excess (aka "the fat complacent middle age man") I took a turn for the better and put myself in a diet and a progressive excercise routine.
4 years later and 69 kilos lighter I managed to run 31 minutes, for the first time in 30 years (wow again 30 years?) I believe that I am fitter than when I was 15 years of age and I couldn't pass the high school phys ed final test of 12 minutes of jogging non-stop.
I know this is lame for all of you super fit freaks that run marathons every weekend, but for me....it is amazing.
So...congrats Ric! you just need lycra and an I-pod in attach to an arm band :)

Sleepy Avo

2010-10-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Coming down to the final term, the final 8 weeks, it is gruesome.
I guess that after so many dissapointments and lack of enthusiasm the result is a complete lack of motivation and energy to finish this year.
It is all in my head, I mean I have heaps of physical energy, in fact I have never been so switched on and surged with this need to move, explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Anyway...8 more weeks and this year will be over, 2011 will be different.

Back in the Open

2010-08-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Due to a winter bug, chest, sinus and throat infection I was house bound, looking through the window the days going by, grey, Melbourne winter greyness that can kill, showers, drizzle windy and clouds every day. really depressive

Looking back

2010-08-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

I know that we remember by reconstructing the past again and again, our brain is capable of re-combine the pieces that we need. Remembering is an act of creation or re-creation.
Once in a while, usually triggered by a dream I am moved to recall past events, methodically, sometimes it feels like a compulsion to help round up the feelings that the dream awoke.

Check this out!

2010-07-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

If you follow this link you will some some awesome examples of toy photography. I'm sure it will inspire you.

http://www.noupe.com/photography/55-absolutely-beautiful-examples-of-toy-photography.html

Alejandra

Lingering Melodies and Endless Roads

2010-07-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

Life has an expiration date and in between there are a few moments that we share and cherish with a handful of friends and family. Some food, drinks and a few tall tales of our mundane achievements leaving behind so very little traces of our existences that a carving of initials in a tree could be our most substactial contributions to posterity, that and the ripples we create with the shape of our double helix.

We know about the "end of the trip blues" some feel it more than others and some can make a habit of it and wear it with pride. We punish ourselves with Piazzola, we look at old photos and we long for the days of endless horizons and music.
We just returned from a very special trip to see my friend Luke.. After many failed attempts, I visited my friend in NSW, who I haven't seen for 7 years. I enjoyed his hospitality and befriended his family who wholeheartedely welcomed us.

While travelling north along the Hume highway we had fog for 6 hours. Fog adds nothing to the experience when you are in it. looks nice in pictures, but it is a pain to drive through.
During the trip I listened to old music and some newly discovered bands like the Devics (thanks Last.fm) chewing on roasted almond to stay awake I endured the night drive to arrive to Goalburn at 10am, getting petrol and a sandwich was a nice reprieved after the night drive.

Picton Visit

2010-07-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

There will be a long and nice rant on this, which btw was very nice, coming up here and meet with my Friend Luke O'neill

Tripping Milestone

2010-07-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I was ging to make it all the way back, pure skate&walk from the city to the house, not only I made it back, but I also feel energized and in a better mood.
We took off 1:30pm and I think we came back around six. My guess is that there was a 50-50 Walk skate ratio. The sidewalks are not really smooth and the hilly nature going towards the east makes it too fast to risk a dive on concrete, I am not very skilled swirling in narrow gaps so I pick up speed and...well it gets risky. All in all 25 kms on my legs, without a bike was amazing and Melbourne like always is a very cool place to do this kind of things.

The holidays are back

2010-06-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Like the tides, school holidays are a cyclic event in which my workload takes a break and I get to enjoy some time with my personal Angels, as opposed to working and dealing with transpersonal Deamons (get it?)
As usual a succesful break is one with lots of open spaces, nice views, travel, music, coffee and basically moving away from my desk.
I love the work, I am not kidding, I am lucky and glad that I get to do what I do, but I know when I need to decompress and every 2.2 months seems like the right time span to do it, like a car service you do it even when is not broken.

I have to admit forcing my self away from the computer takes some effort, I am so hooked to the inter-web and its tubes that going a whole day without the web and web related work is a werid event and feels...well, weird.

I guess that pushing myself away from the desk is imperative and I did. So far I manage a trip to the bay on Sunday

That was nice, but then we came back to the Sunday spot....Camberwell, some shoping at Coles and a little browsing at Borders.

Then, Monday Came.

It was freezing and the will-power game began. Too cold, but sunny so I added an extra layer and checked-out before 2pm.

Port Melbourne Pier was desolated, I took a couple of pictures and left, I didnt even stop at the little fruit and flower shop for a Fuji and a short walk while chewing all the way to PM Library.

Hot Coffee!!!

The perils of illusion - how to write a novel

2010-05-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jack shall curse thy when the illusion is gone.

The first smile that twisted his lips awkwardly in a week, he caught a glimpse as he walked pass a mirror on the door. -who puts a mirror on the door?- he thought smiling again, he didn't care, it was not his house, but the rent was cheap.

Jack noticed the picture on the new book, Bertrand Russell was looking slightly off centre, he couldn't catch his gaze, Jack thought out loud admitting the irony "There is a vain trust in the photographer's instructions, posing and taking good care of your high collar", philosophy my ass- he murmured.
Jack had his own ideas about how agnostics should stand in front of a camera. He suddenly realized that book will never be read and will simply add to the pile of "I'd like to be an intellectual" pile with "History of Christianity" under "The complete works of Sigmund Freud".

Jack started compiling his notes again, some from very far away and long past.-" It is a different world" he thought, literally. He took another sip and kept punching keys. He also thought his tolerance for almost everything was proverbial, including alcohol, so he punched away.
He listened to the cars rolling on the wet road at 2am, the main street was only 100 metres away from his place, the window was wide open in winter, the cold air was a godsend, and then again Bertrand Russell was watching in sepia.
He was alone, trying to remember whatever his brain chemistry could reconstruct from that year "or were there two?" he rapidly corrected his notes to accommodate fallacy or add a hint of fiction, after all he was portraying a different man, a man that had a death sentence and didn't die, those memories were warm in light, but cold in the mind, like the concrete he remembered landing softly and resting his cheek for a while still laughing drunk.
1988, "it seems ancient" he thought for a second, "what I did and what I saw is somewhat fresh in my mind I had 20 years of brewing, but tonight we meet again"

To be continued...

More on School Sites

2010-05-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Good fun weekend

2010-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly suprised to find the the city of Melbourne full of zombies this Saturday and today we saw Iron Man 2...it was amazing, better than the first. It will take a whole lenghty post to explain why this is good for the Cinema in general, big budget comic character being given the royal treatement, and the sequel taken even more seriously.
The only little black spot was during our trip back on our bikes, my sister was hit by an opening car door, dickheads, cars on the road are dangerous.

Feeling off by miles

2010-04-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

I am just recording this event as a post. Friday 14 of April I ended up at the doctors with something like a rash over 20% of my body. They did a blood test and told me to go home, there is only a 5% chance of...Of WHAT I F...ing said, thanks! 5% is a lot to send me home and tell me to relax. I cried and worried all night I felt awful by midnight I was 50% covered and todays, 2 days later I am still the same but now it is a bit itchy and went up to my chest area. at least everything in the blood test came up fine. according to the doc that was the most important thing, still waiting for the liver test that comes on Monday...so still not fully off the hook. it could be...well when the liver is involved it is never good if it is positive whatever it is. keep my fingers cross (also with the rash)
We went for a ride, it was fined but hot for April, really warm, and the sun was pretty much hitting like a summer day., South Bank was packed. Melbourne is funny that way, the weather moves the people a lot.
I am happy when Ale comes, I would like to see her becoming very enthusiastic about cycling. Our next big project is touring Tasmania.
This Sunday awaits the traditional Camberwell Coffee, book browsing and walk.

2010-04-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

It is hard to explain the mixture of pain and pleasure of a 110 kms ride (maybe 105kms) I know, I know it is not the popular "around the bay" but this is equally rewarding and my legs are thankful that we are happy with a half a bay ride.
We left 12:40 about an hour earlier than usual because the extended ride I thought oen hour would cover it, but not quite. I forgot, since last time the bit from Port melbourne to Beaumaris was considerable, I actually forgot the usual headwind and the slight feeling of uphilliness all the way pass the HMS Cerberus.
We had a few almonds for energy and fruits back in Port Melbourne a huge Fuji apple was so nice and juicy I can still remember the feeling that was our first stop after 4 .5 hours and the taste of that apple will stay with me until the next trip.
I was thinking that 110 Ks is close to a one way trip to Torquay, perhaps one step closer to my touring dream, like...maybe The Great Ocean Road, maybe from Melbourne to Sydney! How long would that take? what will I found along the way beside cramps and hunger and should I take a netbook and do a blog about it, get it publish and become rich so I can affor one of those houses I saw today along beach rd? hmmm It would be nice if this is the seed that will grow into a grand adventure.

Moving post codes by 1

2010-03-13T06:02:00.001-08:00

We moved places last Sunday, just a few blocks away and yet we needed two full truck loads and we did the packing, loading and unloading under a severe storm, heavy rain flood and hail, quite the anecdote, but like many other things the superfluous distracts from essense, the 'thing' the move, the holding to, the letting go, the moving on and acepting change.
It was sad to drive by today and see the place we lived in for 8 years, the longest stay in the same place ever.
That place had an added charisma, it was our first 'back home' feeling after an unfortunate adventure in South America. Coming back to Melbourne was like reaching safe port and living across the entrance to one of the most beautiful parks along the Yarra was like paradise day after day. It was also the birth of my newly aquired adiction, long bike rides and super healthy leaving on an almost vegeterian diet, no smoke or dring, I can safely say my last address saw the rebirth of a new man. I strongly believe that places have ways to heal or ways to link or click with people, Melbourne and specially the Eastern suburbs and the city has that special vibe that re charges me.
So all in all I feel some nostalgia when I think about the place I Just left, no matter that is it 2 kms away only, that house was the place where my son grew and I know he loved and enjoyed that place. He took walks in the park and talked about the beauty of the place we lived and I enjoyed that quietly, but intently since I have very sad memories of where I grew.
The second item in my bag of crazy moving rant is "the stuff" the million things that we take with us wherever we go, boxes and furniture. To be continued...sleepy now.

Broke and back mountain bike

2010-02-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

Exactly one week ago after celebrating my renewed ability to move again in my previous post, I found myself on my bike in the city with a freshly cracked frame, pretty much a death sentence for my bike.
Since there is no road assistance for bikes that I know of, I had to pedal 30 kms with no seat to take the weight or rest after a step hill. I came back sored and sad, My so much loved, life changing bike was dead.
The next morning I picked myself up and took the bike to Marcus who owns Walkers Wheels in Montmorency. After a disapproving but hopeful lookhe promise to do something about it and the 3 days later the bike was fine again. After the bandages were pulled off I saw it and it felt ok...still my bike and yet a different frame makes it something else.

So here I go again, from Templestowe to Port Melbourne and back!

Moving again

2010-02-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

Wow, I am amazed how adicted to my car I really am. Not the car, the souless machine, but the going places, the places themselves that have some kind of healing power and the ability to rejuvenate a sad Sunday into the promise of a new born week, full of more places to visit and see.
We also found a place where we will move in early March, so I guess that we are finally starting the year.

Maybe Saturn on Mercury

2010-01-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

The universe is busy conspiring to inmobilize me. Maybe the theme for 2010 is close the doors and just watch DVDs, but I doubt I will follow this cosmic mandate to the letter.
It all started to smell like destiny when I punctured my bike tyre 3 times in last weeks trip to the city and yes I am that determined to keep going, 3 flat tyres and I sent my son home telling him, "My son you can return now, I will continued even if I have to walk there and back" sounds crazy, but not as crazy as I imagined myself coming back frustrated from a ride that started as medicine for my stress. I finally made it, bought a new repair kit from a hardware store and pressed on.
A couple of weeks ago I got crashed into, some rear damage, nothing serious. I thought, no more Lorne, Surfing or Sunday Camberwell book browsing, sounds sad, but that is only part A. Part B begins on the 31 of December, before part A weird I know this is some Pulp Fiction narrative. I answered the phone thinking it was the alarm, but it was actually an incoming call from the house agent asking us to leave, because the owner will be demolishing this property, this is New Years Eve. The New years celebrations came and went on a haze, confused by what it meant moving after 9 years and the firsts week that we tried to dedicate to our well deserved R&R past also in a haze of doubt confusion and uncertainty, needless to say fun was cut in half.
The insurance took the car for assesment and they estimated that we were going to be without a car for 20 days and the car rental was not covered by our policy.
It is obvious that no having a car means that house hunting will be dificult, and the last two weeks of our well deserved and much needed holidays were ruinned.

First heat wave in 2010

2010-01-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to sleep until the heat was over, but even in bed with the fan at maximun could not stay much longer, the cats had been laying around the house like stuffed animals forgoten on the floor, almost no sign of life except for the ocassional streching yawn and turn.
2am and the bed feels like it has been under the sun, which burnt and passed many hours ago

What a year 2009

2009-12-19T07:24:00.001-08:00

It has been a year of increasing tension, stress going out of control and moderatelly bad news.
The good thing is that we can work on it and make things better, but I have the feeling that every minutes we wait, the work gets harder, we have less energy at our disposal. I will make it, I am sure that I do better.

Crazy end of 2009

2009-12-09T17:04:00.001-08:00

I have been busy working on a new project, the kind of project that sucks each minute of the day, my brain and sould funelled to the tubes of this internet thing. It is done now, and I miss it.
During the rest of this week and the next it is all about wrapping up lose ends and begin planning for a smoother 2010. 2009 was a dificult year, lots of power play everywhere.

In a mood for a visual treat

2009-10-31T20:31:00.001-07:00

The Cat Piano from PRA on Vimeo.

2009-10-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

When is hot and I see this green crystal water and the sparkle I need to be there, floating paddling diving, surfing. oh the ocean!

Lush and Fresh October

2009-10-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Today has been by far the best afternoon for a while. we had a very grey winter and spring comes and goes a few times a day.
We went to the city and then to Port Melbourne, the city is getting ready for the many sporting events and festival that come with the nicer weather. I think that the Melbourne cup is just a few weeks away, there is an Arts Festival tomorrow so people is starting to come out a bit more.
We had a terrific day!

Casting back

2009-10-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

It is an odd feeling to be going back in time to get some old self that might be worth recovering.
It is like if I went too fast and left a few bags behind. the content of those bags then is forgotten.
Many years later I start to wonder how important that was, how much of myself I left in those bags. If it is of any use to go back for them, or why I left them behind in the first place.
Too late.

2009-09-22T21:09:00.001-07:00

While I am away, you can visit my friend's blog at: riczalewski.com

Saturday Mood swing

2009-09-18T20:18:00.001-07:00

It is no mistery that my moods go up and down, they stay down for a while and when I bounce back I am the idiot clown that no one can stand, no really I am a lovable character.
As I type in my little dark home office the sun is coming through the clouds, I just decided that the weather was terrible, rain began to fall andthe wind picked up. I took a shower and sat in front of my computer. It took 10 minutes for the weather to change completely in Melbourne. This winter has been terrible and srping will be more of the same. No bike ride, no happines today.

The Terrifying Holidays

2009-09-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

So much expectations, so much stress to relieve that I am already disappointed. 1 day away from the break and I know that the escape valve will not open :)

Another amazing bit

2009-09-08T05:16:00.001-07:00

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Micro Surgery

2009-09-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday My dear wife had surgery, now she is back home and feeling fine, more than 30 days to relax and recover. I envy her holidays :)
Just done my Saturday ride and very glad I did I needed the endorphines. I hope they carry me through the rest of the week.

Nice days work

2009-08-30T05:21:00.000-07:00

Cover creation from Peter Belanger on Vimeo.

Why so stressed my dear

2009-08-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Just to keep with the regularity of entries, just another compulsion.
One of those Saturdays, showers and grey as led, no city ride, food and a movie, Drag me to Hell, fun horror from Sam Raimi.
Ale is Close to her surgery, nothing to worry about, but a big disarray of times, and little natural worries, she'll be fine, I hope the post operation is a pleasent one. weeks and weeks of staying home and that will be good.

Strong winds and feelings of to hell with all

2009-08-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well that is what happens after a week of no-advancement in my entrepenurialistic spirit.
Lots and lots of energy go to waste because I am so unfocused and otherwise busy with keeping the jobs that pay the bills that at the end of the week I feel like I am actually moving backwards.
I registered the domain and started to post a few test entries and my business doesn't look like Google's :)
No matter...we, my son and I, had our Saturday Ride to PM and today after cleaning the house, we did our rounds of coffee and book browsing. Sudden drizzle and windy, this is the old Melbourne weather as I remember it from the early 90s.
Lets see how this week begins.

Amazing Saturday

2009-08-08T09:41:00.003-07:00

Finally an afternoon with a bit of sunshine, cold but crisp and nice for a bike ride.
I had my head so wrapped up in work issues that the trip felt like a dream for which I curse the work issues even more. It will pass.

ScribFire test

2009-08-07T06:17:00.001-07:00

If this add-on doesn't slow down too much Firefox, it could be really good. FastPosting.
While I test I could say how sucky my last two weeks have been, people I work with have been specially stupid, two dogs with the just one bone is funny, but also a bit tragic because one is not a dog, but a dumb bitch with a constant PMS, sorry but as bipolar goes she has to negative poles. Frack!

Back on the bike

2009-07-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

After 10 days I am back on the bike, it was very cold and it took a lot of self willing. My knee showed signs of its affliction coming back, very mild but a good indicator that my self healing powers might not work this time. I will research glucosamine and others. Also I have this peculiar pain under my ribs, I think my liver is there, it is like a very mild stich that come and goes, of course I think I am dying and these entries, being my only legacy, I feel very poor indeed.
Sunday will be cleaning day for me then some shoping and hopefully some family action in Camberwell with coffee, music and book browsing.

Type I couldn't resist clip

2009-07-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Typography in Motion from ilovetypography.com on Vimeo.

This also caught my eye

FireFly Letterpress from ilovetypography.com on Vimeo.

Almost Over

2009-07-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

The first week back comes to an end, fairly relaxed but still clocking too many hours of which half were very unproductive, the bitter tast of an unproductive and inconsequential portion of my time procludes me from having a fully happy weekend.

If only I had the time, talent and patience and...

2009-07-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

I can only say that I would eventually achieve this dream. I love the "create a world" theme in this area of digital design, 3D and PSD, an island, time, internet and coffee.
This is what I would attempt:

Showreel 2008 HD from Peter Roe on Vimeo.

...and so it begins, again.

2009-07-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Definitely mixed feelings about these holidays, we can only output what is in us plus the unexpected that the universe seems to throw at us. Ale has a tear in a muscle in her shoulder, very painful and might need surgery. That was the surprise, as bad news goes it could have been worst. Anton has his L permit so he is taking us for daily drives, very boring, but a well-deserved rite of passage.
And I...well been a bit lazy and yet productive even during holidays, I managed to clock a couple of days doing a rollout at BHPS and many short PSD lessons and some PHP. So why do I say lazy? Well there were a couple of things that I procrastinated out of insecurity and yet those were very important bits. If you care to read a few entries back, I was on track for the big pre-launch of something very significant and secret and that is what I skipped, funny how I managed to do lots of little things around it, but avoiding what is at the core "swimming in the magma"
The rest of the year, well...If I ever needed some self-guided philosophical road map, some moral stand, some integrity in life that I can grab and hold this is the time. Keep my head up, my mouth shut and my stare firm and calm at the same time.
I will need to MAKE IT SO.
In terms of achievments, something that I need to remind myself often in order to dare to push further, I finished two PHP applications, a Job listing and a photo voting system I have also learn quite a lot of Photoshop techniques that are now part of my permanent skill set.
The weather can only get better from now on, the rides will be more fun and the Surfing season is around the corner. For now I re-visit my image collection every time I am forced behind this window; this is an example:

Sci-Fi Lite

2009-07-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Back in the 2004 I started to wondwer if this decade was going to ever produce a big hit TV series.
Already reminiscing about the old days, ready to order the VHS STNG collection at a discounted price, I saw the first huge TV event rising over Caprica's horizon. Battlestar Galctica was the prove that every decade should have its Sci-Fi masterpiece.
The Star Trek universe flourished during the 90's, Vampires and Slayers ran wild in the Whedon universe and the X-files spook more children than M. Jackson ever did, well I am prone to exageration, neverteheless, the 90's was a Sci-Fi and Fantasy heaven. So what is happening a few months away from a new decade? TV lite has infiltrated my favourite genre and it wont return. My theory will be explained, maybe...soon.

Very well done

2009-07-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

2009-07-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Slow, so Slow

2009-07-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

The last few days were remarkably eventless, drizzle, windy and cold.
Half way through the holidays we are lucky to have launched our expedition last Sunday or we wouldn have been stucked home looking through the window how the days passed by.

Port Fairy

2009-06-30T02:05:00.000-07:00

I have to admit we arrived in the middle of winter on a very gray day, but the first impression was "is this it?" and yes that was all, we looked around and the magic that we were expecting wasn't there.
We took the quick way down, the M1 avoids all the twists and turns that make the Great Ocean Road so nice and slow. It was good to arrive quick, it takes less than 4 hours from Melbourne and the landscape is fairly flat country and the tarmac is average. It does help with the fuel since I could pretty much cruise at 100 kms never going over the 2000 RMP mark. On the way we went through Warnanbool looks like a city large enough to generate its own cultural gravity, I found a nice Jeff Buckley Live in Chicago for $9,90 in decent size record store full of Iron Maiden CDs.
Port Fairy lack the rolling hills so common in most coastal towns after Geelong and it is hard to see the sea unless you step on it because there is a hump along the shore that hides it from view while you are in town.
The next morning after a good night rest we saw the fishing boats along the Moyne river and under the winter sun all looked brighter and inviting. The Little cottages with their own jetties could really make a dream week, but I guess that $200 a night minimun off season can also make it a bitter experience, although a very movie like one. One last thing, I wished I had the power to throw up at will. There is a pizza place, I think is it the only one and they still haven't discovered the allure of the oregano and traded in the exotic ways of the salt. To compensate they shredded cheap ham to add weight and thickness to the tasteless pastry. and If you move the chairs you will be asked to leave, said the inkjet printed signs all over the walls.
We came back through the Great Ocean Road which was a massive antidote, the stimulus to the senses is permanent, Hills, vegetation, Cliffs and the ocean is magnificent, we even spotted a couple of whales.
APollo Bay is very pretty, clean and is developing a very personal character, just the right balance for when Lorne get too crowded which is happening very often even in winter. We stopped at Wye General Store and had coffe and custard donuts, the warmth of that place near the fireplace early in the morning made it very welcoming, not too new agey, just right.
and then back to Lorne, our second home, we cant even complain about Lorne on its bad days, we forgive the contruction taking place at the moment, trucks and tractors invading the main road and basically ruining any chance of a holiday feel. So we had Lunch and headed back.

Far and away

2009-06-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Wireless in Port Fairy, 20 past midnight, I thought I put into words todays somnic wonder around this place where its soul still eludes me, granted with only two hours of sleep my judgement is impaired. The beach and country side looks featureless. The little marina has all the charm but in winter looks sad and lonely. We'll give it another chance before we leave after 10am, but like always heading to Lorne because it feels right.

2009-06-21T02:56:00.000-07:00

The Shortest Day

2009-06-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today, if I am not mistaken is the Winter Solstice down under. The PM ride was uneventful, except that Anton didn't come, but Ale did and we had a nice afternoon. We had a coffee in Southbank, took a few pictures and returned to another suculent dinner. Great home made pizza.
This Sunday the big clean-up begins, starting with the shed and the lawn, Thuesday we booked the car for a service and I hope to get the office clean up done too.
This is Alejandras Zalewski photograph on a very low tide and clear bay waters. Nice!

The Week Ahead

2009-06-19T07:56:00.001-07:00

I hope to get all the heavy lifting and nasty "must do" stuff out of the way before next Friday.
It is always frustrating to start the winter holidays with a list of things to do that will weights heavily in the back of my head and damp the holiday mood. So what I manage to do this week it is all I promise myself to do the rest is only nice holiday adventure.
Take out the Hard Rubbish, do the lawn, empty my office throw away all the old clothes. It should be okay.

Note worthy

2009-06-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I impressed myself when despite the cold I went for another 70kms after yesterdays 70kms. The afternoon was glorious, but cold.
I listened to lectures from Stanford while riding and I got all fired up about start-ups, but then... it gets all consumed in my head.
Check out this pic, using and old 5mp Nikon. The afternoon was so crisp, it shows.

Winter is cool

2009-06-14T05:43:00.001-07:00

We went to PM this Sunday, it was cold and also very rewarding, It takes some will power to get going after so much food still in my stomach from Saturday, I am so glad I went, I feel now as if I drop a load of muzzarella on the way and came back feeling like a pure raddichio.
This Week I begin the walking thing. and maybe push-ups preparing for the next surfing season.

Moving the project along

2009-06-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

In the last few days I did some serious PHP programming trying to get off the ground some applications, two to be exact. I know I am facing the problem in the wrong way, but at least I am aiming at the general right direction. Note to myself: get the hosting going and the main page up.
In other news...I missed the bike trip to the city. We went to the movies at Doncaster Village to find out that the whole of Melbourne population was there, parking, queueing (how many vowels are there?) 15 minutes to start we had a 100 metre queue, so we headed back with a bitter taste in our blood. maybe this Sunday or next week. Terminator will be there, not a huge fan of the polilogy but a fan none the less of any Sci-Fi so T4 will not be missed at the movies.
If all goes well the next few days should see me doing a mixture of relaxing walks and rides to counteract the crazy amount of hours that I am pulling in front of this computer. Some Paid work the rest is a lot of preparation and setting up to do.
No picture today.

2009-06-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Last embed for a while, feels like cheating, but I wanted it on my face so I watch it.
ah also...I will miss my ride this weekend. It is frezzing in Melbourne.

Paul Boag - Getting your clients to say YES from Rob Hampson on Vimeo.

Marketing today

2009-06-09T02:41:00.000-07:00

Because is relevant now and I want to watch it, I thought I share it.

A whole week into stage -1

2009-06-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Yep yep, stage -1 is the forever stage, I know I know, but hey it takes time because it is honest preparation time, easily confused with cowarding time, or the "procrastinator hour" the how long is a piece of string? blah blah... and yet the love for it is still there. Also I dont see any other way out and that is a great way to feel when you are against the wall and found that you carry a jet pack.
SO very busy and a bit worry as usual. there is a lot of maintanence work that pays the bills and very little room for the creative or the entrepreneurial Jack.
SO... I have a clear picture of the next few stages, but like in any launch preparation is key, there is a lot of work that I am doing that doesnt even measure in the "progress scale" and yet are very significant and time consuming.
We are living at the tune of STNG, back watching it 4 eps each week and it is a soothing activity, all is better in outer space.
Today was very cold for going downhill I could feel the pain in my ears and my fingers numbed from the chilled winds and yet very very pleasant, 5 hours on the bike and I crave for more. I would like to do more exploring. Today was the first time in over a month that the 3 of us did the trip and we are all proud of it. We had shepherd's pie for dinner and a variety of sweets for dessert.

Online Debut

2009-05-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

I am excited planning on an oline debut, a common marketing technique that aims at exposing the person behind the business as much as possible.
Of course it is a fictional personna, but adding some degree of 'Online Celebrity-ness' seems like the only way to take the work I am so proud of, out there.
Funny that I followed a certain moral conduct for this long and now I am changing it because it had not worked and I am getting old.
It will take me away from my Journal writting, sorry all my readers and cointributors will notice a slight decrease in the amount of postings, but it mus be done; some of this energy will need to be chanelled to the new venture. Yes it is all hush-hush, both personas will never meet.
Today we talked about while walking the streets of Camberwell, we had a Cappuchino and checked out some games in EB and bought some cloths For Ale and a plant that now the cats are eating.
I mostly talked about how much work it will mean the new endeavour hinting at how much I would appreaciate a bit of help, but we are all so busy that I will endure the full burden of it myself. Jack will not be your name no more.

Preparing for 2010

2009-05-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well...the foetus orbiting around earth didn't happend, but despite all the techno advances that didnt see the light of day I am preparing myself for my own cyber launch in 2010. Website, blog, twitts every 2 hours and yes my photoshoped face pastered all over. it will be a do or die, an attempt at getting some of my work out there and some money in here.
This online ego marketing is not new, but the vacancies are filling up quickly. I cant say more, but there will provide some educational value in freelancing and design, again nothing new but hey there are more carpenters out there and they all go to work in the cold mornings, me, I begin at noon, so I am already winning wink wink!.
Last Saturday we had our ride with Anton and while at Camberwell on Sunday we bought s1 and s2 of STNG. I am finally throwing away the tapes and getting to watch my favourite show from s1 to s7 at an average of 4 eps a week. My god the intro music brings back so many warm memories.
Today I went to PMel by myself, the wife and sonstayed home studying, me...unplugging from another intense week and just an hour ago we watched Coppola's 1992 Dracula, very nice.
HEy I found the sepia button on the little Nikon.

The Perfect Monday

2009-05-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

This was another Glorious Monday on the bike, I am afraid about this getting the "ritual" status that I am so proned to. What can I say, I do work long hours mostly in the evening and late nights, but I still feel a bit guilty when I experience the freedom of transforming the Mondays stigma to something quite the opposite.
I could have fallen asleep in the warmish sun and with just a breeze that helped the breathing but without taking the warmth from your skin. Just perfect and even in the middle of the city with all the cars in it the air was super crisp.
Boring myself with this so...sayonara

Beating the Weather

2009-05-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

Melbourne tried the "drizzle on-off" to confuse our determination, but we took off and had a great afternoon.
I am tired and still have a whole pizza to go through, a DVD, maybe a cartoon so keep my inner child alive and fresh.
Oh my god what a boring blog! by comparison my life outaside this digtal margins is quite fun and outgoing, but this is lame. nothing to write about and yet I am forcing myself to the ocassional entry. anyhoo. check the birdies!!!

A week I wish I can forget

2009-05-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Don't want to remember it, doent want to think it and yet it is on my mind all the time. when work related problems arise I am on edge 24/7 and the easing out of such a state is too slow.
I went for another long ride and the city was right in the cusp of near winter state. It was rather soothing and peaceful, a lot less people due to the cold, and everyone covered in heavy clothing. The carrousel and the wheel were spining without people in them, I liked it.

Remember when we watched TV?

2009-05-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

There is a pre-emptive nostalgia about watching TV these days.
There was an episode of Angel in Channel 10, Saturday past midnight, a huge improvement over the chances of a Bad Cops impromptus. I had that goodby feeling that you get when without realising it things desapear from your life and you notice it because there is an echo or a smell.
I told my son that he is perhaps the first generation of non-tv viewers. Internet is the main source of cheap entertainment. For them, having to wait 7 days to watch their favourite show is unthinkable and I can't shake the amazing feeling that it was to tune in week after week season after season until years later you actually say godbye to the show and you somehow wave goodbye to those years that went by. STNG, Voyager, X-files, DS9, Xena, B5, Buffy, Angel and a few others were shown very consistently with slight changes to the air time and day.
Today the networks apparently under an increased pressure from stakeholders and ratings, trial new shows for a few episodes and unless the show is an inmediate hit it is taken to the graveyard timeslot when is lay to die and almost never resurrected.
TV is getting dumber by the minute, and people must be too or otherwise we would expect better shows and more of them consistently.
Not been a TV expert I wouldn't mind someone explaining to me how an infomercial is a better choice than any cult series, new and old? ok..leave the weight loss and the singing freaks in the peak time of the day, but at least keep the tradition of shows after 11pm going, even if only for the weird nostalgia effect that they produced when Angel catchs the periphery of your eye after midnight.
Nice ride this Saturday, Ale stayed studying and baking cakes, we bought her chocolate at Coco Black after we got our green juices at Coles. Perfect weather.

2009-04-25T09:06:00.001-07:00

Rainy Saturday and the DVDs weren't that good so not-too-ha-ppy about the whole weekend thing, but I think that there was an "aim medium" kind of actittude that made it bearable.
This is a bit of a pick me up vid that I found, nice too see that they can still be grab for another TV session, who knows...maybe the impossible could still happen, a new STNG TV series, maybe Riker at the helm of the Titan, I'd watch it.

Half way through week one

2009-04-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

And 10 more weeks to go...I must say that so far all my dreadful anxiety driven expectations held back giving away a normal, almost eventless week so far.
I just need to keep my mouth shut 90% all the time to avoid demise by own devices.
These April afternoons are glorious, dificult to explain, the mildness in the air and the soft orangy paled sunlight, 22 degrees make the perfect Melbourne postcard.
I must have touch my nostril insides with a chillied finger because it is burning.
I will give twitter another go. I am preparing a full arsenal of marketing tools for my almost realized online presence, the "Web Designer Maestro" is coming!!!

Mediocrity is in the Genes, maybe.

2009-04-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

I know how conditioning factors would affect ones own decissions in life so when those conditions are passed on by parents it simply augment the genetic psicological make-up.
When we open that door, the one with the sign "Mediocrity Welcome" maybe "Mediocrity Accepted" and finally "Mediocrity tolerated" because we can not longer distinguish the clear differences between Excellence and Ordinary.
If there is one thing that we can try on regular bases is perseverance, understand that there is a finish land that we can not move as we feel, so diferently every day.
It is very hard to feel the full extent of "we can do so much more" and the factual result of what we actually do. Like having all these expectations of oneself before an empty canvas, then grab a brush and ruin it so quickly that even trying was a mistake.
Today's Entry is one of dissapoinment with my own expectations and even worst, my motivations. when I was expecting someone other than me to do more, to do better and to feel the urge to continue until what we can produce on that empty canvas was at least worth the time and intentions. Posibilities will rest in the peace of the current personal contentment, sit back relax and get pay the expectator's ticket.

About work - 'The Control technique'

2009-04-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

I am wondering how to deal with work issues. Some of it is complex some is private which prevents me from a full disclosure detailing the type of morons I deal daily. Still I think I can use some blogging therapy to keep track of what techniques works and which one makes matters worse. This week Technique will be 'shut up and listen'. All information related to work will be documented as a series of statements and recommendations. avoiding verbal confrontations at all cost.
Mantra for this period: 'If I loose this work it is not the end of the world' Keep a very Zen type of work ethic.
I will monitor and report each Wednesday night, see how I do and what needs correcting.
Of course there is the "out of control" tactic in which I make sure that I confront each incompetent who is on my way with the crudest approach and see hwo they take harsh criticism.
Finally the Picard approach is the one that appeals to me the most, basically is based on absolute integrity and a strong moral centre.

Melbourne in April

2009-04-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday is almost gone, the last day of the school holidays and we had another city trip.
It is curious how people travel outwards from the overpopulated cities to the country, but we do the reverse by spending time in the middle of Melbourne whenever we can.
I probably said it a few times, but just in case...Melbourne is clean and pretty enough to make you want to visit. Sometimes I wonder for how long they will keep it like that, i guess that most cities begin like that and then become overpopulated dirty and dangerous.

Wasting valuable time

2009-04-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last Precious moments for this holiday. Food and movies was again this Saturday main atraction. all good and hoping for a nice Sunday to end the holidays. we are planning for a ride, nice views and coffee.

The clever bunch

2009-04-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

I am unable to delete this post so I replace its content until I do.

The Potoless ride

2009-04-13T06:01:00.001-07:00

I had a very crappy morning, the consequence of a nasty neck pain during the night and it almost ruined my perfect Monday. I walked around the house for a whole hour with my accessories for the ride on me. Finally I decided to stay, I was feeling awful, 15 minutes later I went out, saw how glorious the April afternoon was and I left for the city and I am so glad I did.
Nothing new or unusual happend, but the so much needed dose of endorphines found its way through my mood and I can still feel it now kicking in at 1:40 am.
Well there was something odd...it was a potoless ride, very weird. We missed him a lot.