thisisdocrivs

Review: Dracula: The Original 1931 Shooting Script, Vol. 13 (Universal Filmscript Series)

2011-11-30T22:29:00.001-05:00

Dracula: The Original 1931 Shooting Script, Vol. 13 (Universal Filmscript Series) by Magicimage Filmbooks

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' has thrilled me since I was very young, as the vivid descriptions of the geography and people of the Carpathian Mountain region has filled my imagination and fueled my creative impulses ever since I first laid in my bed with my, now-worn, copy of a paperback edition. The 1931 film, starring Bela Lugosi, has long been one of my most favorite films. I traditionally watch the film in September or October, as a prelude to the festivities of Hallow'een. So, I was delighted to find the script was available for me to read through, and this book has an excellent collection of background information on the original film, the actors, the director, the producer, the writers, and all that went into the film. There is a photo of a first American edition of 'Dracula' that is signed by Bram Stoker, Bela Lugosi, Dr. Raymond T. McNally, Christopher Lee, Vampira, and many other famous horror film figures, which really caught my attention. I highly recommend checking this one out.

View all my reviews

Review: Night of the Living Dead

2011-11-30T22:12:00.001-05:00

Night of the Living Dead by Joe Kane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story of the place of zombies in our culture cannot be told without a significant part of that story pointing to George A. Romero, and the movie that staked its claim in the zombie phenomenon, 'Night of the Living Dead' (1969). The story about how this movie came to be and on its impact in horror cinema and american culture, in general, is a very exciting story. This is a great book that tells that story. There is a lot of exposition on movies that preceded 'Night...' and a lot that came after.

View all my reviews

Review: The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead

2011-11-30T22:06:00.001-05:00

The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead by J. Gordon Melton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an excellent resource for serious researchers, fans, and writers who appreciate the realm of horror, the cultural phenomenon of vampires, or culture, in general. This reference contains many entries related to cultural works related to the vampire mythology, legends, and lore, but there is a good amount of research on the less fantastic environment in which these myths, legends, and lore have been borne and thriving.

View all my reviews

The 2011 Dystopia Challenge

2011-02-18T12:15:00.004-05:00

I have decided to take on Bookish Ardour's "BA Dystopia Challenge" at the "Congtagion" level of reading 15 dystopia-related books by the end of 2011. Since it is now the 18th of February I am beginning a little late, but I already have a few dystopian novels checked out from the library, ready to read.

If you want to join me, that would be great.

2011-02-02T18:43:00.003-05:00

so I creep, yeah. ♫ http://blip.fm/~11eivd

2011-02-02T18:43:00.001-05:00

so I creep, yeah. ♫ http://blip.fm/~11eivd

2011-02-02T18:41:00.001-05:00

it's been a minute... first blip for months... wick-it the instigator's remix of big boi & black keys ♫ http://blip.fm/~11eisr

2010-08-26T22:06:00.001-04:00

no, america, i'm sad to say, "your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore." â™« http://blip.fm/~vdrv4

2010-08-26T21:55:00.001-04:00

one of those nights... my stepson needed some stories... so i went back to the 80s. so, here's a 2000s band for ... â™« http://blip.fm/~vdreq

2010-08-15T03:37:00.001-04:00

awesome tune â™« http://blip.fm/~uvm32

2010-08-14T18:31:00.001-04:00

welcome to the terrordome â™« http://blip.fm/~uv0eb

2010-08-14T17:54:00.001-04:00

my pleasure, @Epythymy â™« http://blip.fm/~uuyq2

2010-08-14T17:41:00.001-04:00

see ya, @trinaunz. great tune. â™« http://blip.fm/~uuy4f

2010-08-14T17:37:00.003-04:00

yet another hot tune... @zaskie â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxyt

2010-08-14T17:37:00.001-04:00

yet another hot tune... @zaskie â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxyt

2010-08-14T17:36:00.003-04:00

it's a hot song, @Miss_Bella. 'all lit up' is another of my favorites of theirs â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxwz

2010-08-14T17:36:00.001-04:00

it's a hot song, @Miss_Bella. 'all lit up' is another of my favorites of theirs â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxwz

2010-08-14T17:34:00.001-04:00

the island of Mykonos seems like a fantastic place to be, @Sherelle â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxud

2010-08-14T17:33:00.001-04:00

I agree. Love this. One of their more mellow ones. @trinaunz: "RB @Martinshorn - very nice!" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuxsl

2010-08-14T17:17:00.003-04:00

hard pagan beantown rock... @DeAnn â™« http://blip.fm/~uux4w

2010-08-14T17:17:00.001-04:00

hard pagan beantown rock... @DeAnn â™« http://blip.fm/~uux4w

2010-08-14T17:14:00.003-04:00

@trinaunz, love that 'noise and fury' tune... reminds me of this one, or is it just bc i can't get it out of me ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uux0o

2010-08-14T17:14:00.001-04:00

@trinaunz, love that 'noise and fury' tune... reminds me of this one, or is it just bc i can't get it out of me ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uux0o

2010-08-14T17:12:00.003-04:00

and... it's true, 'no woman, no cry' ... @mikethebee â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwx6

2010-08-14T17:12:00.001-04:00

we rolled the legs up on our pants ... @bulletsucker ... kim's a babe â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwvr

2010-08-14T17:10:00.003-04:00

and, as 'only love can break your heart', it seems many want something they can never have, @trinaunz â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwt0

2010-08-14T17:10:00.001-04:00

and, as 'only love can break your heart', it seems many want something they can never have, @trinaunz â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwt0

2010-08-14T17:07:00.001-04:00

@trinaunz, yes it's true â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwoy

2010-08-14T17:05:00.003-04:00

don't you miss this band, @Epythymy? â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwlk

2010-08-14T17:05:00.001-04:00

don't you miss this band, @Epythymy? â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwlk

2010-08-14T16:59:00.001-04:00

Props to @Epythymy and @trinaunz for giving me props @wankergirl: "If its not Swedish...it's crap!" you all rock â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwda

2010-08-14T16:58:00.001-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @TaraKLucero: "my ringtone! auto rb and props! Cassiopexa A Perfect Circle â€“ ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uuwa9

2010-08-14T16:57:00.001-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @bulletsucker: "â™¥" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw8i

2010-08-14T16:54:00.009-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @bulletsucker: "â™¥" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw4i

2010-08-14T16:54:00.007-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @mikethebee: "california girls" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw4k

2010-08-14T16:54:00.005-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @mikethebee: "california girls" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw4k

2010-08-14T16:54:00.003-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @TaraKLucero: "my ringtone! auto rb and props! Cassiopexa A Perfect Circle â€“ ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw3j

2010-08-14T16:54:00.001-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @TaraKLucero: "my ringtone! auto rb and props! Cassiopexa A Perfect Circle â€“ ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uuw3j

2010-08-14T16:43:00.001-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @deniseaya: "The Killers vs La Roux" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvnr

2010-08-14T16:42:00.005-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @lucilistens: "this is my fave massive attack song." â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvm8

2010-08-14T16:42:00.003-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @Sherelle â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvl1

2010-08-14T16:42:00.001-04:00

Props (if I had some right now) to @Sherelle â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvl1

2010-08-14T16:41:00.001-04:00

@Miss_Bella: "NEW EMINEM! what an amazing song." â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvjd

2010-08-14T16:37:00.001-04:00

this is a cover, but i love this old song, was also featured in 'stranger than fiction' @fun4lilli: "The Proclai... â™« http://blip.fm/~uuvco

2010-08-14T16:34:00.001-04:00

to mom: little richard rocks, and he was one of your favorites. i love this song. #heartmom â™« http://blip.fm/~uuv83

2010-08-14T16:14:00.001-04:00

@pattonroberta: "â™«Â Tell me now baby is he good to youÂ â™« Can he do to you the things that I doÂ â™« I can take you h... â™« http://blip.fm/~uuuc5

2010-08-14T16:13:00.005-04:00

DEAD BOYS!!!! yeah. awesome band. @Automatic: "XXX" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuubl

2010-08-14T16:13:00.003-04:00

DEAD BOYS!!!! yeah. awesome band. @Automatic: "XXX" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuubl

2010-08-14T16:13:00.001-04:00

love morcheeba... @wilsoke: "@FridaFrei good morning! how is it going? :) [gained the world, by morcheeba]" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuuag

2010-08-14T16:12:00.001-04:00

@ritaDasinger: "a saco, paco" bonne chantuese â™« http://blip.fm/~uuu8u

2010-08-14T16:11:00.001-04:00

@allicette: "Did you miss me? The Arcade Fire â€“ Keep The Car Running" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuu6s

2010-08-14T16:06:00.001-04:00

@fun4lilli: The Strokes - Last Night, awesome, uplifting song â™« http://blip.fm/~uutzo

2010-08-14T15:53:00.003-04:00

@DeAnn thought it was metallica doin seger's 'turn the page' at first, but the chorus brought me back. only bad ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uutf7

2010-08-14T15:53:00.001-04:00

@DeAnn thought it was metallica doin seger's 'turn the page' at first, but the chorus brought me back. only bad ... â™« http://blip.fm/~uutf7

2010-08-14T15:34:00.001-04:00

@CherryBlossom: "rb for props cuz as usual I'm outta props for you @Lovecat: "inspired by @CherryBlossom ;-)"" â™« http://blip.fm/~uuslj

The Flying Spaghetti Monster

2010-08-04T00:04:00.001-04:00

The Flying Spaghetti Monster
Originally uploaded by ohioskeptics.

his noodliness

Little Fisherman

2010-08-03T13:36:00.000-04:00

My First Rain Barrel

2010-07-20T16:08:00.002-04:00

First, I bought the barrel, which was $15. It once held Kikkoman Soy Sauce.

Then, I drilled holes in the lid so that I could cut the lid off. I used a saw to cut the lid off.

Once the lid was off I was able to clean out the inside of the barrel with soap, water, and a scrub brush.

Next, I drilled a hole for the tap. I forced the tap into the hole and sealed it with plumber's caulk, which turned out to be a bad idea. That stuff just erodes away. Use silicon. I made my own rubber gasket out of a piece of rubber.

Then, I tested the seal. The seal was great when I first tried it out, but eventually, the plumber's caulk gave way.

I screwed some longish screws around the inside edge of the barrel to hold the lid up, because it shrank up. The lid had already been outfitted with a PVC pipe adapter, courtesy of the guy who sold me the barrel. But, that would be the next step if you were to cut your own hole and add an adapter. This adapter makes it easy to go directly from a gutter or PVC pipe into the barrel.

The next part was screwing some mesh screen to the bottom of the lid to keep the mosquitoes out. They're bad this year.

After that, I set up a PVC pipe / adapter / gutter system to run from the roof to the barrel. And that was that. It works great!

Two more to go.

Young Buck at Rush Creek

2010-07-20T15:53:00.001-04:00

Young Buck at Rush Creek
Originally uploaded by docrivs.

We were only 8 or 9 feet apart, so I am very grateful that he let me get that close to him and just sit there and shoot. Maybe he was just as curious as I was, or maybe he was just cautious and didn't care that I was there as long as I didn't make any sudden moves. He had a companion off in the woods a little bit away, but I couldn't tell if it was a male or a female, adult or younger. Rush Creek can seem like a magical place sometimes.

Irish Fiddler, Kevin Burke, of Patrick Street - Dublin Irish Festival 2008, Dublin, Ohio

2010-07-20T12:05:00.002-04:00

Patrick Street Kevin Burke
Originally uploaded by Cindy Funk.

Great pic!

Down With The Military-Industrial Complex

2010-06-23T21:07:00.001-04:00

Read this USA Today article, by Edna Gunderson, about Bob Dylan. Pay close attention to paragraph 22, which is the part where Dylan's words about his song, "Masters of War", were placed. Then, after you've read that paragraph, go back up to the byline of the article and check out the date.

"You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you sit back and watch
While the death count gets higher"

More than 6,000 Coalition Troops, from over 20 different countries, have been killed in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many more 'insurgents'/'anti-occupation' forces members have been killed, whether they were members of Al Quaeda, Taliban, Iraqi army, or some other armed force, or whether they were just lone operators. Many, many more civilians have been killed in these conflicts.

A Perfect Circle - Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drum

2010-06-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

From cowtown to the rest of the world... the sheep are warring...

Hotel War Promo Video

2010-06-22T15:10:00.000-04:00

Hotel War is a rock band, currently based in Columbus, Ohio.

And they ROCK!

An old friend's words... still relevant

2010-06-15T23:40:00.004-04:00

We interrupt this program with a special bulletin

America is now under martial law

All constitutional rights have been suspended

Stay in your homes!

Do not attempt to contact love ones, insurance agents or attorneys

SHUT UP!

Do not attempt to think or depression may occur

Stay in your homes!

Curfew is at 7 p.m. sharp, after work

Anyone caught outside of gates of their surveillance sectors after curfew WILL BE SHOT

Remain calm, do not panic

Your neighborhood watch officer will be by to collect urine examples in the morning

Anyone caught interfering with the collection of urine examples WILL BE SHOT

Stay in your homes, remain calm

The number one enemy of progress is question

National security is more important than individual will

All sport broadcasts will proceed as normal

No more than two people may gather anywhere without permission

Use only the drugs described by your boss or supervisor

SHUT UP! BE HAPPY!

Obey all orders without question

The conformity is now mandatory

BE HAPPY!

At last everything is done for you

How To Make Your Own Rainwater Harvesting Barrel

2010-06-06T23:04:00.005-04:00

Using Google Documents I have created a folder dedicated to rainwater harvesting, and in that folder is a PDF document that contains a great set of "how to" instructions for making your very own rainwater catchment system, using a 55 gallon plastic barrel and some very low-cost pieces of hardware. It shouldn't take much more than a half-hour to build one of these.

2010-06-05T09:28:00.001-04:00

Watching the first Resident Evil movie again. Awesome flick.

Central Ohioans For Peace Tent, ComFest 2010

2010-06-04T16:15:00.002-04:00

If anyone interested in speaking briefly at ComFest 2010 (Friday - Sunday, June 25-27, Goodale Park, Columbus, Ohio), leading a discussion more than giving a long presentation (about 10-15 minute presentation, followed by discussion & q&a), at the Central Ohioans For Peace tent please email docrivs@gmail.com or jay@docrivs.com. There is a recommended list of topics, but if you can speak about a peace-related topic, then let me know. Thanks!

About COFP: http://www.centralohioansforpeace.org/aboutus.asp

COFP Meetings Info: http://groups.google.com/group/central-ohioans-for-peace

ComFest: http://www.comfest.com/

Greyson Chance Singing Paparazzi

2010-05-16T22:05:00.000-04:00

2010-05-04T08:25:00.001-04:00

VOTE TODAY

2010-05-01T17:31:00.001-04:00

At the Xenos church Recreation Center, for the Bellydancing and Arabic culture fair, Cairo Columbus 2010. Z Nomads booth.

2009-09-15T16:06:00.001-04:00

ain't no easy way... ain't no easy way out ♫ http://blip.fm/~devco

2009-09-07T11:18:00.001-04:00

At Green Living Fayre, Z Nomads booth, Zanesville, Ohio...

2009-07-09T22:32:00.001-04:00

Circus. Titz N Milk, Adultagers, and Men

2009-07-01T16:12:00.001-04:00

Dirty Frank's!

2009-06-28T15:01:00.001-04:00

Dr. Kenny Delicious, then Old School Union, then Jason Quicksall

2009-06-27T20:11:00.001-04:00

Willie Phoenix!

2009-06-27T17:29:00.001-04:00

The Receiver

2009-06-27T16:47:00.001-04:00

Flotation something or rather

2009-06-26T19:05:00.001-04:00

Brainbow!

2009-06-22T18:46:00.001-04:00

this is one of my favorite songs, and i love this cover! very good rendition of an old dylan song @DJSomeMoSir ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p9my

2009-06-22T18:40:00.001-04:00

'and the cat came back... the very next day... you know the cat came back... he never went away!' ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p9a0

2009-06-22T18:31:00.001-04:00

to the movement! ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p8on

2009-06-22T18:27:00.001-04:00

:-) this is one of my favorite ps tunes,@deniseaya ("why do i have to leave?" - postal service) ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p8e5

2009-06-22T05:06:00.001-04:00

nap time

2009-06-22T05:05:00.001-04:00

such an awesome album... alchemy live @wilsoke ♫ http://blip.fm/~8nyif

2009-06-22T05:01:00.001-04:00

@tubilino: "Smells Like Teen Spirit " i dig this... i like the way she sings 'dangeruss' ♫ http://blip.fm/~8nyf3

2009-06-22T04:52:00.001-04:00

follow the golden road to the golden door ♫ http://blip.fm/~8ny7l

2009-06-22T04:46:00.001-04:00

psycho groupie cocaine crazy ♫ http://blip.fm/~8ny11

2009-06-22T04:43:00.001-04:00

i do what i'm told to do... they tell me what i need to know... ♫ http://blip.fm/~8nxz6

2009-06-22T03:07:00.001-04:00

but then again you could know someone all their life but might not know their a freak unless you see them at n... ♫ http://blip.fm/~8nvk9

A Taste for the Blues in Cowtown

2009-04-04T10:21:00.003-04:00

I've been looking at the page for the Columbus group, and I thought I'd post a collection of blues music-related links.

Columbus local bluesman, Damian Knapp seems to be a success story. He's won a Columbus Blues Alliance award, and he has a few CDs on the market that appear to be doing well. I like a rather somber acoustic/slide blues tune he does, called "Goin' To Realsville." It's on my MySpace page right now, and Damian has his own MySpace page. Also, I found another page on Damian, indie911. His music is posted on there, and there is a lot of good content.

The Sean Carney Band also has a following in Columbus. He has a voice like Tom Waits and he plays blues guitar like a mf'er. There was a little write-up on Sean in the Columbus Alive.

Dirty Linen has a good page on Events in Ohio.

There is a site for Blues Festivals that has a page on Blues Societies, and on that page, there are links to Ohio blues societies.

You can always check out "The Columbus Dispatch" Weekender page on their website. There are always good blues happenins going on in Columbus.

ColumbusArts is another good place to check for blues events in and around Columbus, for any night.

You can check out the Columbus Alive for any nightlife, concert, and event info. There are restaurant and bar reviews, interviews with chefs, servers, and bartenders. Although, the Alive doesn't necessarily specialize in blues music, it's a great source of info for what's going on in Cowtown.

The Cringe seems to be another great Columbus entertainment-related website. Again, this is not a blues site, but you can find info on events related to all kinds of musical styles here. It's a great site to check out, if you love music.

If you want another place to check out blues events in and around Columbus, then check out BuckeyeBlues.Com. Here, you'll find info on blues festivals, organizations, artists, and fans.

In the Arena District, you have a place called Park Street Tavern, and here you will find great live blues or jazz music just about any night of the week, and the atmosphere is kickin'. Plus, you'll be close to some of the best bars and restaurants in Columbus, and Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets (if you're into that kind of thing).

For other music, you can check out the site of the New Basics Brass Band, who have been jamming out brassy funk for years. These guys know how to rock a party with that N'Awlins style white boy funk.

Another band that's been rockin' Cowtown for decades is the Hoodoo Soul Band.

I don't know much about this next band, but Terry Davidson & The Gears have been entertaining all over Columbus for a long time, as well. Check them out.

There is an infamous venue for great blues, located in Grandview. It's a little place on 3rd Street, called The Thirsty Ear. Great place to check out some down-home blues and soul.

“There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.” General Douglas MacArthur

2009-04-02T18:32:00.003-04:00

i knew i'd find it. i've been trying to think of the exact words of that quote for awhile. there are many ways to say what you said above, but the main point is that with change comes opportunity. i like how general macarthur put that into words, because he included the reality that we sometimes feel the illusion of security when we do things the same way we have always done them. however, there is no security in that. life gives us situations, and it is what we do in those situations that determines our destinies.

another reality is that it is usually action alone that defines us in our own self-perceptions and our 'selves' in the the perceptions of others.

i've sought love and trust and respect from people, based on 'who i am' (as you put it) - based on my own perception of who i am, as a person. other peoples' opinions that have been voiced to me (directly or indirectly) about myself have colored my own self-perceptions also, and have become part of my self-perception. what i've found, in reality, is that people give love and trust and respect based on one's actions - not some illusion of who you are as a person.

life deals your cards, to put it in another way, and it doesn't matter what you've done in the past, how good or bad of a card player you are, or what kind of a history you've had as a person, the only thing that really matters is what you do with that hand - right here. right now.

you'll remember what you made of a situation. other people that were touched by the experience also will remember what you made of that situation. most people won't take the time to analyze your history - where you came from, your childhood, your younger years, your middle years. what they'll remember is that one moment where you shined (or bombed?) and they saw it happen.

you've probably heard the phrase, 'never rest on your laurels'. it means don't hold so much pride in your past achievements that you forget that you are still alive - that life hasn't stopped putting you in challenging situations and opportunities to shine and grow and develop.

life seems crazy and chaotic most of the time, but when you reach the final years of your life i think it will all make sense. you'll look back and say, now i see how i came to be where i am today. this led to that. that led to this. this allowed this to happen. that prevented this from happening. that led to this. the road is much clearer then.

i'm not that old. 36. i just know enough from my own experiences that this is what we can expect when we look back at 40, 50, 60, 70, or more years of life - if we have the ability to recall that far and are cogent enough to synthesize all that information.

i've been in a similar situation as you are in - looking forward to change - to a new job in a new place - possibly a new lifestyle. i know how it can be exciting, scary, hopeful, and sad, all at the same time.

i wish you well.

...and (*clink*)... here's to new beginnings and the possibilities for further adventures.

How to master an artistic skill

2009-03-23T23:01:00.001-04:00

"mastering the guitar has been one of my greatest accomplishments so far."

How I did it: it's something i worked really hard at, although i've enjoyed it all the way. i don't think you ever really 'master' something in the sense that you couldn't improve somehow. it's just that i've reached a level on the guitar where i can say that i feel like i can do what i want to do with it and make the music i hear with it. how did i do it? discipline, practice, hard work, open mind, listening, and practice... oh... and practice.

Lessons & tips: practice. find a teacher. love what you do.

Resources: videos. books. the internet. other musicians. teachers.

It made me rock!

See more progress on: master an artistic skill

making room for new goals

2009-03-23T22:49:00.001-04:00

i just haven’t had the desire to really do this. the idea is interesting to me, and i’ve actually followed other people online who do this. it’s very cool – portable art that people find. i just haven’t done anything with it, and i don’t mind saying that i think i can live without accomplishing this task. it’s not a goal. it’s an idea.

See more progress on: write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find

10 weeks of walking to work everyday

2009-03-23T22:40:00.001-04:00

it’s been about 10 weeks since i found a new job within walking distance of my home, and i have never regretted having to walk to work. it’s just a short walk – about 10 minutes – but if i get up early enough it is a relaxing time to shuffle down main street towards the office. after work, i love not having to fight traffic. i’ve felt much more free than i have for a long time. now… grocery shopping is a different story. walking home with 5 or 6 bags of groceries really sucks. i did that last week, instead of taking a cab home, and it was a bad idea. the plastic bags stretched almost to the point of coming apart, and they were much too heavy for walking. my backpack can only hold so much, and i am not going to be dragging a wagon down the street or sneaking off with a grocery cart. i’m thinking about an electric scooter or maybe a very fuel-efficient or even hybrid personal vehicle. i’m still walking to work, though.

See more progress on: Walk to work everyday for a year

i've been thinking a lot about design, style, and fashion lately

2009-03-23T22:30:00.001-04:00

for most of my life i haven’t really put too much thought into what i wear – the clothes that i pick off the rack. if i have an unconscious liking for a t-shirt, a button-down, or a pair of shorts or pants, then i try it out. however, i’ve mainly shopped in the ‘big box’ kind of stores – target, kohl’s, walmart, marshalls… i haven’t really wanted to spend a lot of time picking out clothes, trying them on, and spending a lot of money. now, however, i realize that i just have no unique style. i just wear these generic clothes that don’t really fit me well. my favorite clothes are usually the clothes that certain people in my life have given to me as gifts. on the other hand, i have all of these other bits of clothes that i don’t even really wear, that i bought, and they just take up my closet space and keep me from buying newer clothes. i see things i like, but i feel like it’s a waste of money to buy them. then, when i feel like i need clothes i go buy clothes that i see on the rack – generic, boring, and tiresome. so, now, i want to empty my closet of a lot of what’s in there and replace them with clothes that i pick out – that i really like and will honestly wear – clothes that make outfits. this is not a gay thing. this is not a ‘metrosexual’ thing. this is an ‘i want to look how i want to look’ thing. the same goes for the haircut. i tend to shave my head when i get tired of my hair being in that mid-way point between short and long. i want a haircut that i can actually maintain and ‘style’ without having to do much with it. that’s what’s so great about a shaved head – no need to do anything. but, i guess i’m bored of having no hair.

See more progress on: develop my own style

getting up when the clock radio chimes

2009-02-20T23:59:00.001-05:00

it’s tough to do. i like to hit that snooze button.

See more progress on: Get up when my alarm goes off

stuff everywhere and too much distraction

2009-02-19T18:17:00.002-05:00

i’ve got to move a huge pile of things over to a storage unit, or something, and i need to do something with my memorables, cds, books, and documents, so i can have my living room back. i have a very small condo—582 square feet, but it has 13’ ceilings. so, plan on redesigning at some point. i’ve already been looking at books full of design ideas and suggestions.

See more progress on: clean my living room

it's about time i've written more songs

2009-02-12T01:34:00.001-05:00

i’ve written a couple dozen songs, but i could have written about 100 times more than that if i wasn’t so lazy and such a procrastinator. i am going to set a new goal for myself: 12 new songs before the end of the summer. that’s only 2 songs per month, and they don’t have to be masterpieces, just songs.

See more progress on: write more songs

How to have a job by feb. 28!

2009-02-12T01:16:00.001-05:00

"I moved back up to Ohio without having a job lined up, and three weeks later I was working at my own desk, making money."

How I did it: Well, I did tell some people that I was looking for work to spread the word around. I went to one of my old places of employment and told them I was back. Then, I went on Craig's List and looked up administrative, design, writing, and computer jobs. The first job I replied about, though, was the one I ended up getting an interview for, and I was working for them 7 days later. It was unreal, but it made me realize that I just needed to get in there and start looking and make it happen. Noone else is going to make it happen for me.

Lessons & tips: Do the same. Grab your life by the cojones and take it where you want it to go.

Resources: craigslist.com

It took me 3 weeks.

It made me sane

See more progress on: have a job by feb. 28!