Live Life. Life is Short. Life is an Adventure.

Today, thanks to Malm from Ikea, finally I feel somewhat better. For the past year I’ve lived in a room with a mattress, table, chair, several boxes (not mine) and 1/2 available wardrobe. All my clothes bar the few I can hang in available space are in suitcases.

Last night I bought a chest of drawers and today I assembled them. They need a wipe down before I can transfer most of my daily clothes into a more permanent location, but it’s assembled thanks to the flat pack from the Swedes.

There are many reasons why I’ve not done this earlier, not here in NY often as I travel all the time, I live out of a suitcase during the week while in hotels, I’d not expected to be in this location this long, it’s difficult to get stuff when you don’t have a car, etc, etc. Maybe I’d just become lazy and complacent and I hate that. So in the spirit of my upcoming 2008 goals I did something for me.

It was Thanksgiving, Nov 25th while enjoying an evening with friends Phil and Deanna in Columbus, Ohio that I first felt home sick. While sitting in the living area, I missed having a home, a place of my own, a place where I own stuff like furniture, books etc.

This is of course hopefully furniture I have to dis-assemble soon as my goal is to live in Central Manhattan, another apartment to view in just a few hours from now.

From a napkin at Milestones Restaurant, Whister Canada (Yes, the one a was red, still perplexes me!)

I’ve just returned from my first skiing trip this winter (Yes, I’m planning several). The destination Whistler, Canada.

Lot’s to say, plenty of photos, here are a few to temp people until I get all my photo’s sorted, but it starts here.

Life’s Window

If you looked out at your life,
  what would you see?

If you viewed your life
  from a window in motion,
  what would you see?

If you could not change any decision or action,
  what would you see,
  how would you feel?

If you traveled thru your life
  in motion in only a few minutes
  what would be significant?

You stop at a key junction point
  to observe a pivotal moment,
  what would it be?
  A birth, a death, a marriage,
  a graduation, a home, a life saved,
  a good deed that made a life changing impact.

If you viewed your life
  through a window in motion,
  what conditions would it be?
  Would it be day, bright, cloudy?
  Would it be day, raining, snowing, bleak?
  Would it be night, bright lights, or a dull blur?

What would make you smile?
What would make you laugh?
What would make you cry?

Would you be moved by what you see,
  would you be unaffected,
  or would your emotions be overbearing?

Would you be proud?
Would you be happy?
Would you cry out in sadness or anger?

You had just a few minutes
  to view your life in motion
  what would you see?

What would you remember?
What would you forget?

Is it people, is it money, fame and fortune?
Is it legacy? It is God, faith? Is it love?
Is it glee?

Is it a life you would be proud to say,
  this is me.

Is there honor, is there respect?
Is there harmony with nature?
Did you make an impact in the life of another?

Will your motion of life end at a high,
  or end at a low?

Will you be glad to see,
  your life’s window.

Diary: 26.12.2007

I look back at 2007 and I don’t see I’ve for filled my mantra “Life is short. Live Life. Live is an Adventure”, at least not to it’s fullest. I arrived in the USA in Nov 2006, I’ve spent my entire year of 2007 with a home base of Jersey City, New Jersey. While I say I live in New York mainly for simplicity, of explaining my location, and while I may in fact be closer to central Manhattan then others in New York, I’ve not reached my goals of living downtown Manhattan. There are a number of reasons, excuses but we are not here this. I was getting closer with a potential roommate make it easier, now looking for a 2 br location, but this has since also changed, I’m back on my own again.

I had high hopes that 2007 would be my chance to perhaps meet somebody, to date, to enjoy the close company of another, somebody special, but this was surprising more difficult then expected and I end the year as it started, as several recent years have, single.

I’ve made some new friends, kept some, but others have vanished. I’ve had the chance to become better friends some of my peers, to know them outside of my profession, this has been great. I end the year with a new dear close friend, Meg. We met only 3 months ago, but our paths in some way share similar experiences, and our future goals share common threads. We are at the same point in several aspects of our life. It is great to meet somebody that just “get’s you”. There are not expectations, just good company that is treasured.

My job in 2007 has been far from ideal. The greatest disappointment is no opportunity to actively contribute to making it better for myself and other peers.

I’ve struggled to find a balance between travel for work, fitness and american food. I weigh the most I’ve every had, it’s the thing I hate the most, I’ve failed at. Recent months have seen a clear positive movement, and I will continue with desire at this pursuit. The colder weather, and poor location I’m living at now for indoor activities have been lame excuses.

What does 2008 bring? A year where my mantra remains unchanged. A year I plan to plan better, rather then let my work travel dictate my exploration of this country. I have places I specifically want to see, to photograph. Manhattan, New York is a goal that must be met. As I say, “I didn’t come half way around the world to almost live in New York”. Meeting more people, networking, is part of my career goals, but to once again feel loved is a longing desire. One I would do much for. As I end my vacation, this night in Whistler, Canada, a life goal of a white christmas met successfully yesterday. I ponder why, like most nights this year I’ve spent it alone, even just for dinner. Am I unable to just meet people easily? Am I not approachable? What does this life have hold for me? I don’t know.

I know that for the first time in 3 years my sense of goals, desires, planning has returned, and I am grateful. The urgency to make an impact in the world, to be worthy to have lived. I wish to make something of my life, I have now for the past 3 years not expected or wanted to share so intimately all of my life with another, now I know my life is just incomplete, and to not fight against my greatest failure is to admit defeat, and that’s just not me!

I’ll be detailing 2007 looking back, and 2008 looking forward in a few days. Stay tuned.

It’s winter, Dec 15th, it’s below 0C and snowing in New York, but in San Francisco it’s a sunny ~12C. The waves are definitely flowing and the surfers are taking advantage.

I wanted to get a photo series of a wipe out. This was the result, obviously intentional but I was in the right place at the right time.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to play tour guide to one of my closest friends, Tino and his family in San Francisco. While I live in New York, this was the best meeting point and having been there often enough it was no problem.

Locations include:

• Treasure Island
• Pier 39
• Alcatraz
• Golden Gate Bridge at night
• China Town
• A Tram ride (a short one)
• Lombard Street - the world’s crookest street
• Postcard row at Alamo Square
• Pacific Ocean Beach and Surfers
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• SF 49ers at Monster Park

I had a wonderful weekend, the only down site the weather restricting another friend from visiting and meeting my friends.

Wind, Rain, Ice & Snow

As the wind blows strong
The sound echos true
Winter is here
before winter even starts

Rain falls
Ice and snow remain
Yet past plans
opportunities
ice and snow withdrew
What fate be

Ice white we see
black we cannot
danger is underfoot
what was simple
walking now not

Snow is beautiful
from the confines of indoors
or designed for sports
which I seek very soon
For travelers, snow
is not

We scurry around
rugged and covered
Coldness is here
Wind hits our extremes
we cover more and more
we can

Others less fortunate
fight for what we have
Survival of those lucky
easy, warm, convenient
Others, cruel, hard
life threatening

I love winter
Still novelty for me
Snow is so wonderful
We have to accept
all
wind, rain and ice
the thorns of a rose
so beautiful

Last month in San Francisco at Oracle Open World I got a chance to catch up with good friend Marc from NY, and we got the chance to savor a sample of fine cheeses from Cow Girl Creamery at South Pier. It was a great place, well worth a revisit, and with a number of other stores offering fine breads, olives, fruit and vegtables and also wine. You could have your own little party here. Having enjoyed cheese tasting and other outings here in New York, it’s great to know the world is a small place. Photos here.

I’ve to construct a list of cheeses, but don’t remember the best.

• ???
• PIERCE PT - California - Cow Cheese
• Pugs Leap - California - Goats Cheese
• Super Aged Gouda
• ???

TV ad

Diary: 2 December 2007

For the second time in two weeks I find myself traveling on an Amtrak train to my next work engagement.
The first was last Monday, heading to Providence. My on-site location was a rather annoying distance midway between Providence and Boston, and flights this week were prohibitive, being $500 and $600 respectively.

Today I find myself on the train to Washington DC, after 2 canceled flights already today. My third was due to depart at 7:30pm but I hedged my bets and got a train. Ironically the trip to Washington DC is not much longer then the flight. Needing to get a taxi from the train station out to the airport for my hotel a downer, 45 mins and $70 laster.

And why the cancellations, weather. I woke this morning to a fulfillment of the forecast for snow. A good few inches had fallen. Winter has arrived, and I’m so looking forward to my skiing later this month in Whistler, Canada, but paranoid about getting there given my employer tried to schedule a difficult location between a weekend away and a 9am flight Thursday for my vacation. Here is hoping great snow in the mountains, and clear in NY in a few weeks.

We have all heard of red-eye. The result of a flash in a photograph reflecting the light back thru the retina of the eye to produce great big red spots on our eyes.
Well it seems dogs have a different eye, well at least Charlie does here. His eyes are green!

In the beginning God created day and night. He created day for footy matches, going to the beach and barbies. He created night for going prawning, sleeping and barbies.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Second Day. On the Second Day God created water - for surfing, swimming and barbies on the beach.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Third Day. On the Third Day God created the earth to bring forth plants, to provide tobacco, malt and yeast for beer and wood for barbies.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Fourth Day. On the Fourth Day God created animals and crustaceans for chops, sausages, steak and prawns for barbies.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Fifth Day. On the Fifth day God created a bloke - to go to the footy, enjoy the beach, drink the beer and eat the meat and prawns at barbies.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Sixth Day. On the Sixth Day God saw that this bloke was lonely and needed someone to go to the footy, surf, drink beer, eat and stand around the barbie with. So God created Mates, and God saw that they were good blokes.

God saw that it was good.

Evening came and morning came and it was the Seventh Day. On the Seventh Day God saw that the blokes were tired and needed a rest.

So God created Sheilas - to clean the house, bear children, wash, cook and clean the barbie. Evening came and it was the end of the seventh day. God sighed, looked around at the twinkling barbie fires, heard the hiss of opening beer cans and the raucous laughter of all the Blokes and Sheilas, smelled the aroma of grilled chops and sizzling prawns, and God saw that it was not just good, it was better than that, it was bloody good.

IT WAS AUSTRALIA!!!!

I’m being able to spend more time using my MacBook finally. The following are some essential tools I needed to install.

• Firefox - Browser
• Skype - Chat, Voice Calling
• Colloquy - IRC Chat
• VLC - Media Player for xVid
• Mac the Ripper - DVD Extractor
• Parallels - Virtualization for Windows XP

http://www.leadingedgesuccessclub.com