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Friday, August 30, 2002
Entering a new trade
Well, as of Tuesday I will start a new business venture - of sorts. On Tuesday my company starts listing diamond rings, diamond earrings, and a few bracelets on eBay. If this initial sale works well, then we will continue selling these and many other items of fine jewelry online.
So, a new trade for me - but hopefully one that will more than pay my bills. Lots of work, and lots of details to work out, but it should also be a fun business to be in - and hopefully a reasonably lucrative one.
We will continue to also sell other interesting items online - from a collection of Playboys (which we are hoping includes the first few years of Playboy - which are the really valuable ones) to sports memorabilia, an electric organ, and scooter parts - we will be selling a bit of everything over the next few weeks and months.
I hope to really gear up to have a lot of great merchandise for the Christmas season - when sales really could pour in.
Anyway - should be a busy fall.
8/30/2002 06:25:00 PM
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Thursday, August 29, 2002
Spam or just plain weird
Okay - this takes the cake.
Not sent to me, but to a friend who is on AOL.
Subject: Billybob
Hello,
If you are a Time Traveler from Dimension D1263GT10, year 2008 or Dimension D2044GT5, year 2432 AND OR in possession of the Dimensional Warp Generator wrist watch, the Carbon Copy Replica model #52 4350 series or similar technology I need your help. I need a RELIABLE SOURCE. I would prefer someone with access to teleportation as well as a variety different types of time travel. I will also need temporal displacement. Please send a (SEPARATE) email to me at: MindTransference@aol.com if this applies to you.
KQpZ2drG5tZniYlJRamJWQ==
Yup. Not really "commercial" email - but certainly the oddest piece of mail I've seen in over 11 years online.
8/29/2002 06:30:00 PM
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Monday, August 26, 2002
The movies
This weekend I saw two movies, one in the theater, and one on TV (AMC).
In the theater I saw "Who is Cletis Tout?" - not a bad movie, a bit too contrived and trying for more than it achieves, but amusing and enjoyable in a movie buff who loves crime capers manner.
On tv I saw 'Grand Canyon" which seems to be a movie that divides viewers and reviewers. Looking at the reviews on Amazon of Grand Canyon you see that it is mostly split between 5 stars and 1 star reviews.
I really enjoyed the film, yes perhaps it was a bit sappy in some respects, but I thought that unlike most films it took complex characters and wove a story around them, one that involved black and white characters interacting in a way that was conscious of race but not unrealistic. Some of the reviews approach it as "will make you think that all inner city black young men are thugs, and that to escape required moving to a "white" neighborhood." This ignores what the film itself shows, not something black or white persay, but a family moving from the inner city of LA to a an area "not so white" as Kevin Klein's character describes it - an area with whites and blacks living in, but not in perfect harmony.
But it is shown as imperfect harmony in large part due to the character's own perceptions - the young black man of the family runs away from a group of youths (apparently hispanic) who approach him - one who comments "where did he come from, Beruit?", in his running he is then flagged down by two white police officers - but though flagged down, he is later shown brought back to his mom's house, where he then stomps off in a rage.
Not a simple picture, but a layered one, and one that clearly would have be very beautiful to see and hear on a large screen.
Perhaps I am a sucker of long, complex films that feel as if they have real characters, debth, and subtle touches - all elements that are rare in films of any era, or perhaps I am not well tuned as the many critics who seemingly panned this movie as toughly as any film can be panned (on the bottom of one critics all time worst films list!).
8/26/2002 07:03:00 PM
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One of my favorite places
or the story of the Korean Restaurant, named.... "Korean Restaurant"
For many years, probably going on 10 now, one of my favorite places in Chicago has been a restaurant on Lawerence Ave. that is a 24hr Korean Restaurant. Through countless late nights it has been my solution to "what can I eat for dinner when I am hungry after 11:00pm in Chicago" or more usually "after 3 am".
However, five months ago they had a fire in their kitchen and closed down.
Perhaps just how traumatic this was for me I did not fully comprehend, certainly I have often over the past four months found myself driving north just to look and see if they had reopened yet, always however being disappointed and having to resort to lesser places, sometimes not Korean places, and often more expensive and not as tasty.
So, this weekend, when I found myself far north having driven a friend home from a potluck lunch that had stretched late into the night, I decided to drive by, on the off chance that they were open.
Surprise.
They were open (or, to quote their banner "We opening 24hr 7 days") so not the most English language fluent of places, but good food and you can point to your choices on the menu and usually get something very tasty.
The interior was mostly unchanged, the same tables and chairs, but new lamps and new artwork on the walls. The menus were new, most of their old dishes, but reordered on the menu, some new dishes (at least new on the English language translations - for all I know they may have always been on the menu but untranslated), and some new dishes are served slightly differently.
I went back for dinner again Sunday night, I'll probably return a few times more this week. Feels very good to have a piece of Chicago that I had feared lost returned.
This week is my week for the past returning, a contact called me today whom I had thought was no longer at his firm, not only is the small project I had started for him possibly going to be finished (and my company paid), but he had at least one small additional project for me to work on - a very good kind of past returning.
8/26/2002 02:40:00 PM
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Friday, August 23, 2002
More calls
or how some lucky telemarketer was my wake up call this morning
So, there I was, hovering in that stage of the morning where you are not still asleep, but neither have you gotten out of the bed and even the effort of hitting the buttons on the alarm clock to change from an alarm to the radio was about all you can think about.
There I was, then the phone rang.
I was expecting a call, it was just about 8:00am, and I was meeting a co-worker around 8:45 to drive to client for a meeting this morning.
Still groggy, I answered the phone "hello"
"Would you like the hear about MCI's new phone plan "The neighborhood"?"
Yup. A telemarketer at 8:00am in the morning.
It was Friday, but still, imagine if it had been Monday?
I was not overly polite (but was reasonably) in my "nope, not interested" and hung up. At least they did identify themselves as being from MCI.
Still, it was a first for me - I'm basically in my condo only when sleeping, or about to sleep - I tend to get home around 10:00-11:00pm most nights (not all of which is straight from work) and I tend to leave the house around 9:00-10am in the morning (the perk of owning your own firm - setting your own hours) - so in general I am not there in "peak" telemarketing times, and not having caller id (why would I bother since I am never home to use it) I don't see who has called but not left a message.
So, this morning I was wakened by the telemarker.
8/23/2002 08:51:00 PM
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Thursday, August 22, 2002
The saga of random call
or how I never seem to be who is being called when I answer the phone...
My phone at home has rang six times in the past four days when I was there to answer it.
Not once was it call for me.
This morning, I was running late to work, having had a week of being at the office until after midnight, and as I was showering and getting dressed, the phone rang twice.
Both times, in the way that only telemarkers can, right when answering the phone was not overly convient.
Both calls were for a different person - not one who has ever had my number. A Mr. Peterson and a "Steven Clark".
I should note here, I have had the same home phone number for over SEVEN years, you would think I would be the only person still listed anywhere with that number.
Sunday however, was worse.
Then I was in the midst of having a relaxing morning, relaxing that is until the phone started to ring.
The first time it was just a wrong number, a telemarkter of some form called and asked for Mr or Mrs something, something not even close to my last name. He seemed indignant and annoyed when I said "no one ever here by that name".
Finally I hung up, and steped back into the kitchen to continue making my lunch.
The phone rang again. Same guy, asking for the same people but in a slightly different manner - this time he questioned me about whether I was sure that these people could not have had the number before me - I said very definitely no no way at all, I have had this number foa very long time.
Hung up the phone.
The phone rang again (with only a second or two between calls).
It was him, yet again. This time he in fact said "this is getting annoying isn't it?"
Yes it was, I assured him, he said "its the computer's fault" and I hung up again.
The phone rang AGAIN!
Yes, it was him, once again.
This time I asked him very directly "What company are you with and how do I contact you?" - two questions any telemarker MUST answer by law.
He refused, claiming that it was against his company's rules for him to do that.
I said, "well in that case, I will be filing a police report when we get off the phone", and I hung up again.
Silence.
Golden silence, not another phone call from him.
So, one victory I guess.
I did call 311 (Chicago's non-emergancy police line), but after being told that the wait time to file a report was 24 minutes, I decided that however satisfying it would be it was not worth wasting that much time on the phone indoors when it was a wonderful summer's day outside.
So, I gave up on making lunch, left the house, went to a local cafe, got a bagel sandwich, and met a new friend who was there reading poems by woman authors and writing in her journal - so a very good start to the afternoon.
Then I left that cafe to go to another just up the street where I was to meet a friend to go watch the Air and Water show with. He was running late, so I sat and did some reading. The woman I had briefly chatted with in the other cafe then entered this new cafe as well, I said hello again while she was waiting for her drink - they made it hot instead of cold so she got two drinks for the price of one. We kept on talking enough that she decided to pull up a chair next to mine and we talked until my friend arrive (half an hour late).
After he arrived the three of us went and watched the Air and Water show - all in all a truly great afternoon.
8/22/2002 09:57:00 PM
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Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Busy week
Okay, tomorrow - if I am really good - I have a breakfast meeting to start my day - a presentation on the state of Venture Capital.
Then, in the evening, to bracket my day I am meeting with a PR person who has offered to help me publicize an event I am organizing for a business networking group (Ryze Mixer in Chicago). We will probably meet first at my office then walk over to the venue to meet with the bar's owner.
Later still I will probably meet with a business partner and discuss ongoing business matters.
Somehow, amongst all this "business" meetings and talks, I also have one very major business proposal to write, one not as large (but possibly equally remunitive) proposal to write, a project to finish, and countless other minor tasks to complete - all tomorrow mostly.
And in my personal life - I want to write my fiction (yeah that'll happen...) and I need to run many sundry errands to start working on my to do list (see my post from a week back about that...).
Ah life.
8/20/2002 12:37:00 AM
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Monday, August 19, 2002
Poetry and motion
This weekend was a fairly quiet one, but oddly productive and mostly enjoyable.
Saturday evening I spent the first part of the evening in Wicker Park, but the independant coffeeshops there all close around midnight, so I found myself back at my usual Starbucks (which stays open until 2:00am now - used to be 3:00am and for a very brief time 24 hrs!).
I sat there, read some, and then I actually wrote a bit - two poems as a matter of fact. The first poems I have written in a very long time. So, here they are, for better or worse - probably in need of some further editing (but my poems seem to lose energy and my interest as I try to edit them - guess they either work or don't).
I'm writting at the moment in a very cool leather bound, gold trimmed "executive" notebook that I was given by a vendor for attending a lunch meeting/sales presentation - so cool I actually took an extra so I would have at least one refill (the refills in the future will be $12/ea, but since it is just so cool feeling and functional for me.. may be well worth the slight indulgance)
No titles as of yet.
See me there, yes picture me
sitting, in the window.
A regular, I get the best seats
Coffee at the ready.
Music blaring to a beat only I hear.
Notebook at the ready.
Books pilled up.
I am not a student.
They come and go, saying hello.
I study.
Yes, picture me there and
you will know of the
quiet nights, the long mornings,
the notebooks full but unread, unshared.
Picture me on a cool summer's night
the full moon hovering above the neon
of the city outside.
And then a bit later, I wrote this
Tonight is a night for lovers.
He entered, slightly lost, keys
dangling from his back pocket.
Alone and tired he settled into
the big chair by the silent fireplace.
She entered, circled and from
behind grabbed him.
Awakened, he motioned her to the lip of the fireplace.
They proceed to kiss.
Minutes later, they rested shoulder
to shoulder, unaware as the
couples, two by two, were inspired
around them.
Smiling deeply, with hand held
they skipped out into the
evening.
A night for lovers,
not for me.
So, two poems more than I have written in a while, but nothing further on my novel - which I really should be writing, and though I had a great weekend in other respects (met a new friend on Sunday, and then hung out and watched the Air and Water show - well just the Air part - for the afternoon with her and an old friend of mine - all in all a good way to pass an afternoon. Then spent the evening in heated philosophical debate with my old friend - all good enjoyable ways to spend a day.)
Hopefully this week will be both enjoyable and productive in my writing and my work (and my reading - been trying to catch up with the pile of unread books at my house, which seems to only be getting bigger as the summer goes on - finished an issue of Granta this weekend - Salmon Rushdie, Richard Ford, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and more all in the same issue - very cool issue, and lots of great stories and essays.)
8/19/2002 12:00:00 PM
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Friday, August 16, 2002
The lights
no camera and no action, sorry
In 15 minutes my office will be dark. No power to anything.
Thankfully I have friends with webservers - so my systems will keep on humming (getting mail, serving up webpages, serving up auction images) but I will have no phone and can not work in the space I pay rent to work in (no lights...)
Somewhat annoying.
Further, we've spent over 10 hours on the phone these past few days trying to get Ameritech's DSL to work with my server (Linux server - how uncommon can this possibly be???)
What's annoying is that when we are connected through the linux server we are neither fully down nor fully up - instead, parts of the web can reach us and parts cannot, and similiarly I can get to some web pages (but not others) - in fact I was able to get to some pages of a google search results, but not all pages... very strange and very annoying.
Technically this is all because Ameritech is using "PPPoE" a very stupid protocal that does nothing good (basically though they argue this point), but does one very very bad thing - it changes how the building blocks of communication between computers work in a way that not all servers and not all routers can handle cleanly (to be more previse it adds a few bits to the packets, making the content portions a bit smaller... causing some systems to just seemingly drop all traffic...)
So, the lights will go shortly - and there will be no action, when, much later tonight the lights come back I will still not have the action I am looking for (okay - that's suggestive, probably too much so...) - so a long weekend and week ahead of me.
I may spend the weekend organizing Playboy's (selling off a collection of them for a collector on eBay - all 1970's and 60's in this batch)
8/16/2002 05:55:00 PM
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Thursday, August 15, 2002
Power, take 3
Or How I get to Enjoy ComEd's Service
While out to grab a quick sandwich this afternoon, I stopped by the alleyway next to my office. It was blocked by two ComEd trucks working in the middle of alley.
Two weeks ago they suddenly cut the power to my offices, shutting my company down for the evening (no phones, no email, no website, no images on eBay auctions or this journal).
Now, it seems, they were preparing to have a repeat of two weeks ago. Without any notice to anyone in my building, they were going to shut the power to my building at 6:00pm tomorrow.
I have lots of calls into various ComEd folks (no response yet however).
We've now moved my servers to an out of the office server - which is an annoying process.
What really annoys me is how easily they were going to just shut the power off without telling anyone.
Last time, we discovered that none of the emergancy lights in my building work!
This time, at least, I will have all of my computers shut down and will be ready to go. However I am not happy at all about this enforced work stoppage, nor am I thrilled with the prospect of returning to my office for the THIRD Friday in a row to work on networking/connectivity issues...
Oh well, the joys of being a business owner.
8/15/2002 06:32:00 PM
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Wednesday, August 14, 2002
La Nuit
The night
I walked back to my office this evening, returning here for a few minutes on my way home, and I noticed a number of unusual sights.
Tonight I attended "Le reunions Francophone" where I mostly sat and listened, spoke a little, and tried to follow the conversations all around me - enjoyable but also challenging. Perhaps however, a good practice in listening for me - albiet a listening where if I really wanted to understand what was being said completely I would have to interject from time to time with questions and requests for explications on certain phrases and words - I think I caught most of the conversations but I am also sure there were some sublties that I missed.
In any case, back to my walk over here.
The protester outside of the Chinese Embassy, who seems to appear there each evening had left when I again walked past that building on my way back this evening - not sure what she is protesting, but the same woman (though I have seen men there as well) takes up a position across the street from the embassy and just stands or sits there staring at the embassy building - a rather odd sight.
There were spotlights on my block this evening, but not for anything I can explain.
It was not for the nightclub on the corner, they seem to be closed this evening, nor for the very hip new steakhouse across the street - the place with 50 tables outside on the sidewalk (must have paid someone off for that).
Nope, it was for, I think, a restaurant in the middle of the block.
Whats odd is that they have been open for a couple of months now, and they did not seem to be particularly packed this evening, nor did they seem to be having anything special or unique - rather just seemed like their usual crowd.
In anycase, there were spotlights on my block tonight - and it was interesting to follow them up the edges of the buildings into beams shing first in four directions then combined into one beam piercing the night sky.
Illuminating.
8/14/2002 09:16:00 PM
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Tuesday, August 13, 2002
Editing, (editors?), and selling
So, I just fixed a typo in my last post.
Is that wrong? I pride myself on my editorial abilities - my skill at grammer (though not specifically at spelling).
On the other hand, it seems somewhat like cheating to edit a post once published - something like rewriting the past.
Last night while briefly (really) channel surfing I saw a portion of an A&E Biography special on Hugh Hefner which showed a very cool side of him which I was not previously aware of. He has kept a scrapbook of his life since he was very young - now into the thousands of bound volumes.
Some day in the future, I image that that archive will be an amazing resource and scrapbook of the life of one our centuries most intensely lived lives. If I could I would love to take a look over it.
Before any dirty thoughts (*grin*) - and not for the photos... really. I admire Hugh Hefner for the business he built and the philosophy behind it. I'm not, in fact, all that attracted by most woman who seem (at least these past years) to be associated with Playboy - my tastes do not run towards blonds, large (enhanced) breasts, and ditzy woman. I much prefer non-blonds, highly intelligent, low makeup quantities. In short, the type of woman rarely wearing high heels and usually with short fingernails - much more my type.
So, to get back to my initial subject. Should I edit my logs? I think that fixing a typo is benign - but where does that stop?
Something for me to think about.
I spent this morning and afternoon in full on selling mode - pitching myself and my company to various people at a business networking event, trying to pitch while not being too eager and not too agressive - quite a challenge. I hope I met will - will see as I follow up over the next few days and weeks.
8/13/2002 04:39:00 PM
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Monday, August 12, 2002
So okay, am I getting older, or is it a real trend?
Sunday was my building's annual Summer Party out on the patio of our building. Usually lots of people, lots of free food (well paid for by my assesments), a barbeque, and a chance to meet my neighbors.
I arrived late, so perhaps I missed much of the crowd - but 4:00pm was a bit early for dinner in any case. I arrive around 6:30, still not all that late.
But everyone seems old.
Really old - at the table I sat down there was a man with a World War vetern's shirt on, WWII I think, but still - over 70!
Mostly the crowd were in their 40's, perhaps even in their 50's with some in their late 30's. Or so they looked to me.
Perhaps the young people in the building did not attend, or perhaps they did and had left by when I was there, but it was a far different crowd than in years past.
Further, I heard later Sunday that they shut down at 8:30pm, most years people have hung out until late into the evening drinking wine and talking - one year the talking continued back at one guy's apartment.
So, my question for myself is am I getting older along with the building? I'm only 28 - I should not "feel old" but at times I am beginning to, a very odd sensation. Though in my building at least, I am young still.
8/12/2002 04:59:00 PM
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Thursday, August 08, 2002
My french is not so bad...
Well, I held my own - a few fumbles, many questions about what word (or words) to use, and only a couple of major faux pas - good to see that all those many years of french classes did sink something into me - even it I never was very good, I can at least hold a conversation and express myself in complex thoughts - which is a very satisfying thing to be able to accomplish in another language - now if I could also listen to other people's conversations and catch more than about 80% of them... (not to mention if I could listen to music in French and catch more than just a couple of words here and there... but since I have trouble with that in English - shouldn't be surprised that I have trouble in French)
But for something I have barely used for almost 8+ years and even then only very basically in College so tack on another 3 years - it is good that as much stuck as it did... makes me consider whether or not to take some classes this fall at the Alliance Francais to keep up - at a minimum I think I will be attending a weekly French conversation group that occurs on Wednesdays not too far from my office. Should be good to get back in the habit of speaking another language (other than the Technogeek I speak all the time... which really should count as my second language pushing French to third and my smattering of German to fourth).
8/08/2002 09:17:00 PM
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Social life?
In a few minutes I am leaving for my second mostly social event in as many days - not my usual pattern at all, but a fun one!
Tonight I am attending an event at the Alliance Francais (where I can practice my highly rusty French), last night I attended an event by Eurocircle - a networking group for Europeans living in America - really an excuse for people to get together, mingle, drink, and meet - not at all a "business" networking event - but a fun event in any case - and one where I got to also practice my French (which is how I learned about the event tonight).
In any case, if this keeps up, a strong argument for me to enhance my social dress selection - getting a bit repetitious at the moment - though I was wearing a very nice new shirt last night - quite pleased with myself about that (great thrift store find - what was a very expensive shirt - hand wash only - that I found for nearly nothing - and which fit perfectly)
Not much else - trying to find people to sell stuff for at the moment.
8/08/2002 05:22:00 PM
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Wednesday, August 07, 2002
Neighborhoods, cell phones, and books
had to include the books
Last night I went out of my normal haunts and return to a former haunt of mine - Wicker Park. The "artsy" neighborhood here in Chicago it is an area now quite gentrified in large stretches, but still retaining an urban edge.
I arrived in the area a bit early, having a meeting scheduled with a friend at 7:30 to look at a club that he owns - so I walked up and down on area, which only months ago was fairly quiet and mostly shuttered storefronts.
Not that way anymore - now nearly all of the storefronts have been filled, some with new interesting looking restaurants, and many with various small shops and stores - gradually encroaching on the area changing the character and nature of the neighborhood.
Anyway, I grabbed some tacos (only so-so) and met my friend. After seeing his place, I decided to walk up north (to the more famous section of Wicker Park - the intersection of Milwaukee, North and Damen) to do some shopping and to sit in a cafe and get some reading done.
I stopped at a great local bookstore (Myopic books) where I have been a semi-regular for almost 10 years now - through three locations. They had a number of books outfront, and I stopped there looking at them - dangerously enough I found a number of books to buy - four old editions of Granta (perhaps my favorite literary magazine). However, first I recieved a phone call on my cell phone - I was not in the store, rather I was just near the entrance, but still, while I was on the phone the clerk came out and literally shooed me away saying "please take your call outside".
Had Myopic books not been one of my all time favorite used book stores, that alone would have led me likely never to return.
But it is a part and parcel with the character of the neighborhood - the artists/anarchistic trends (Myopic being the meeting space for the local anarchists for many years) vs. the gradual forces of gentrification. I guess that I, with my cell phone at my hip, looked every inch the force of gentrification (though I was dressed in an old t-shirt and slightly baggy structure pants).
Anyway, after my call I found still more books and bought them - then walked up the street to another neighborhood institution where I spent the evening reading and ate some vegetarian curried sweet potatoe stew (very good).
I miss "cool cafes" - far different from the crowds you see and find at my current normal cafe haunt - the Starbucks on my corner - there I do meet some very interesting people, but more often I see tourists passing through, and a subset of the "beautiful people". Earwax, where I was last night, is far from that, though there were a few couples - slightly tipsy - that seemed slightly out of kilter with the rest of the neighborhood.
More typical was the woman who joined a friend - she had a mostly shaved head, more piercings than I can count, was tattooed in many places (that were showing) and commented that someone recently had come up to her on the street commenting "didn't I just see you on the cover a magazine" - something tatoo related I believe.
Very cool. And somehow very relaxing - a mix of current students and artists, of all races, looks, and sexual orientations. If it were not for the fact that many (more than I can really believe) are smokers, it is an environment I would spend much more time in - I am not quite of the crowd, but I feel comfortable there - I like the variety, the willingness to question and to think. Far different from the typical crowds of more cookie cutter people in my neck of Chicago.
Anyway, it was a nice evening - I finished one book (by Milton and Rose Friedman) and started another (Tom Peters - will be finished tonight problably - not a serious read). A good clip, but one I need to keep up if I am to stay on top of my book purchasing of late.
8/07/2002 05:19:00 PM
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Sunday, August 04, 2002
The deterioration of normal life?
Last night bits and pieces of my life began showing the wear and tear of years of not really being an active shopper.
First, I noticed that one of my favorite "nice" pants, perhaps my dressiest pair of black pants - has a series of small, barely noticable, but highly annoying HOLES. Not sure is there is a fix for this one, though I will ask my dry cleaner this week to see if she can work some magic repair on them.
Second, my VCR just decided to completely and totally stop. It won't eject a tape I had left in it, it will not even POWER ON! I suspect the only "fix" here is to buy a new VCR.
Yes, I should also get a DVD player probably, but I do have a collection of old tapes and movies (though a small one) that are all on VHS tapes - so I should really have a VCR in the house.
My problem is first, I did not really plan on shopping for electronics anytime soon. Second, it is a fairly stress inducing activity for me.
I have to explain. Other than investments into my company, I have barely been a consumer of anything for the past three plus years. I don't buy many new clothes, I don't buy many cds, I certainly don't even shop for electronics all that often.
Heck, I was the first person in my immediate family to buy a TV in the past 20+ years when I bought my current tv set six years ago.
Since then, my sister has bought one set as well.
Other than that - the only other TV bought by my immediate family was a set my parents bought USED before I was born, by the time I was born it had failed.
The one set in my house growing up (which we did not get until I was in the 8th grade), was a gift to us from a relative of my grandmother's boyfriend at the time.
My family, as I just alluded to, are really not very good consumers by typical American standards, we tend to buy items very rarely, and tend to use them past the point they have failed (often just going without them when they do inevitably fail). Whether it is computers, vacumns, stereos, or other electronic items - we very rarely buy them.
In large part it is because my family essentially always pays cash for items - again with the exception of my company, I almost never have carried debts of any kind - which has tended to keep my purchases of big (and small) ticket items to a minimum.
That said, I am certainly at the point of no return in terms of how long I have put off "shopping".
I actually do enjoy shopping - though more when I have someone to shop with than shopping on my own - on my own it quickly gets boring, with someone else it is an event and enjoyable.
At the moment I now need to shop for: a replacement VCR (or get this one fixed), a dvd player (seems inevitable that I get one), at least one or possibly two new suits, a handful of new ties, about four or five pairs of new slacks (at least two khakis, at least a couple black, and some other dress/casual slacks suitable for going out, a couple of pairs of jeans (all of my current have seen far far better days), at least one new pair of gym shoes, a couple of sets of "activewear" (sweatpants etc - basically have nothing like that at the moment, one pair of sweats that have seen better days), many pairs of new t-shirts to replace my main that need to be tossed (stained and/or holes in them), a set of new white socks, multiple sets of new dress socks, more other essential men's clothing, probably a couple of new jackets (at least a raincoat, but also a couple of other weights of jackets), a pair of gloves, two new pairs of glasses (one sunglasses preferably), a wristwatch (or at least fix my favorite that has a broken glass), at least one new pair of business shoes (very difficult, I wear narrow and need major arch support - very very hard for me to shop for), a few new dress shirts, many new short sleeved button down shirts (i.e. for going out in the spring, summer, fall), lights for my house (at least three or four sets of floor lamps), a can opener (my current is broken), a real kitchen table, a real couch (or two), a rug for my living room, a stand for my electronics, cables to move my TV to the other wall, light bulbs to replace the many burned out throughout my house, a monitor for my home PC system which has a broken screen (and really should just be tossed but it has data I need to recover), and probably countless other items that I need (like a new toilet seat and some other minor hardware items for my house).
To prepare for all of that above, I first really should do a MASSIVE cleaning of my house (and my life).
This means, I should donate all the many shirts, pants, etc that I will never again wear (don't fit, have holes, have stains, hate how they look etc) - this will free up about half of my closet space (perhaps more).
Then I need to expunge all of the accumulated misc. "stuff" in my living room and bedroom - this means piles of unread magazines, desk that I am not using (have not in 6+ years), futon which is compressed to 1/4th the original height and futon frame that does not open, kitchen table that wobbles so much that it is useless for anything etc.
This will free up most of my living quarters.
Then I need to fix my bookshelves (first trip to the hardware store - anchors to keep my shelves from falling to the ground!) - and then actually put all my books back onto them (which will then require many many days of sorting and ordering - but that can wait).
Then I need to be brutal in my kitchen - removing all dishes, pots, pans, and utentils which I will never use (a large number), as well as any storage containers where the lids do not fit, food items long past their expieration date, spices from three apartments ago and the like (this will create a long list of other items to go buy).
I then need to call a plumber to fix my kitchen sink which is acting up - and an appliance repair person to look at my stove and dishwasher (which I suspect really just need to be completely replaced).
My cabinets, the kitchen wallpaper, walls, and floor are a project probably for another year.
My closet needs to be attacked - with the books on their shelves this is doable.
First all items that I will never use need to be donated or tossed.
My bike needs to be repaired (new seat, two flat tires, who knows what else).
Organizers and more organizers need to be purchased and USED to create order out of the chaos which is my closets - first the walkin hall closet, then my coat closet/suit, dressware, and pile-o-shoes closet, then my linen closet (linens that do not fit my bed need to go away!), then my bedroom closet.
With the second desk out of my bedroom (the one I have not used in 6+ years) I will have space to put, for the first time in my life since college, a "comfy chair" back into my life - a place to lounge, read books, and listen to music (what a concept!) - this of course needs to be bought.
My desk needs to be cleaned, organized, finished (I have a drawer for it which has never been installed) - and then made useable for regular work at home (which I cannot do at the moment).
Also in my bedroom, a new set of laundry baskets, and carrying cases should be purchased (replacing the current which are partially broken) and various random items need to be organized and/or throuwn out.
My living room needs, besides the couch(es) and electronics stand, various small tables, coffee table, side chairs, and other items to finish my room.
Art should be displayed (not stored in silly boxes hidden in the closet) - but also protected from sunlight and dust.
In otherwords I have months of cleaning, sorting, shopping, and buying ahead of me - and little time or money to do it with (but it has been put off for far, far, far too long.
8/04/2002 09:11:00 PM
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Saturday, August 03, 2002
And now for your local neighborhood beaucracy with a Landlord thrown in for good measure
Power is back... if just temporarily. Later in the week Com Ed will be putting up a new pole with new transformers - and will then be moving us from the temporary powertruck to the new transformers.
This means ANOTHER power outage in the future.... lets see how they do with telling us about that one.
Monday I will start filling the paperwork about this outage.
Looks like some damage to my various computer systems (hopefully all recoverable - will know more by next week). I may have one damaged monitor (a spare, but still a very nice monitor), my phone system seems slightly out of whack, and my server took some handholding to get back up (and I had to comeb back to the office after 2:00am to restart the server.
My neighbors in the building may not be as lucky - we will learn more on Monday (but what a "surprise" it will be to return to the office after a weekend to learn that your computers as acting up because no one told you that Com Ed would be cutting the power to your building in the very very near future.
Most worrying is whether or not I lost customers - either for my auctions (or auction services) or for my regular consulting services. In general Friday night is a light traffic and email day for us - however all it takes is the right person taking a look to be a great deal of money for us. By being off line for nearly 7+ hours, who know what we have lost.
The monitor that seems damaged also smells like it nearly caught afire, had it - my losses could have been huge.
Finally, I have tenants that do things like forward phone calls from their clients (over my phone lines), as well as others who just share my phone system with me - they lost any calls that came in this evening - again most likely not that many - but possibly all it takes is that one right call that was lost or the client that was unimpressed by a phone with a fast busy to be a major lost in revenue (whcih we all need at the moment0.
I shall try to get some sleep and return tomorrow to work.
8/03/2002 03:03:00 AM
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Friday, August 02, 2002
Power. Com Ed: 1. Shannon: 0
Well as of 8:00pm this evening (or just after) the power to my entire office building was suddenly cut. This means I have no phones, no website, and no email - not to mention that any auctions I was running on eBay would have no images (or the ones that just ended have no images), that clients who might contact cannot, and that my equipment - all of which was on may have been damaged during the power loss, or may be damaged when power is restored (hopefully early tomorrow morning).
Additionally - upon the power outage we discovered that all of the emergancy lights and exit signs in my building do not function - not a one.
To top it all, the people from Com Ed claim that the buildings in the area that would be affected should have been contacted - however I recieved no communications (nor did anyone else in my building) from either Com Ed or my landlord (who will be getting all kinds of messages from me shortly).
So, if you need to reach me - wait until late in the day Saturday, call me on my cell phone, or call me at home.
And for at 6 hours - perhaps more, I am essentially without a company that I have worked for over two years to build - gone with three cuts to power cables!
8/02/2002 09:42:00 PM
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my sitcom idea
inspired by a real classified from Craig's list
ISO flight attendant/pilot with a desire to get a free education
I am a student at a private college in Chicago. I also work for the school in an administrative capacity. My spouse and/or dependents may attend school for free. The student pays for books only. This means that my spouse may attend school in pursuit of any degree(s) she desires.
You should know that I am gay. This should mean nothing to you if you understand that I am only interested in helping you obtain a college education.
Marry me and go to school for free.
Marry you and I fly for free.
I have a co-worker (female) who is willing to do the same thing. So if you have a male friend let us know.
Our school does not recognize domestic partnership.
Please have some seniority…I hate to wait…(laugh)
Okay, so here is the concept (one or two perhaps?) couples - attending college and working there in a menial capacity, married to flight attendants (possibly for a foriegn carrier and/or a really cheesy one - flying to all kinds of obscure and offbeat places) who enter into this arrangement.
Clearly not a serious concept - but come on, there are lots of amusing possibilities here... of course not dissimilar to past successful comedies like "Three's Company" but heck, nothing is ever really new, with an element of "Wings" (I think that's the title - the one set in an obscure little airport about an odd little airline).
Anyway, my amusing thought for the day. Not something I ever really have considered writing - but you know, that might be a darn good reason to try.
8/02/2002 12:12:00 PM
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on lighter subjects
I bought one of my all time favorite books last night.
This is the book rapidly becoming my most frequently purchased of all time, the total now is about 5 copies - a couple to give as gifts, and at least two to replace lost copies for myself.
The book is "Writing down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. Perhaps my all time favorite book for inspiring me to write - something I need to do and plan on doing this weekend!
8/02/2002 11:57:00 AM
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Am I boring and do I never listen?
a reaction to comments recently expressed to me a friend
Last night a friend interjected a while into a conversation with me, that "Shannon you will be a lonely man if you don't learn to listen and stop being an expert all the time on everything..." There was more, and his observation was shared with me in the spirit of a real friend, and it was indeed meant to trouble me.
It does.
I tend to think of myself as a good listener, at least my close friends have always seemed to feel that I was - over many years I have had many close friends with whom I have held many long and deep conversations - sometimes with long stretches of quiet, sometimes with lengthy talks.
However, I also know that I am different in various situations - and that my conversational style changes, and that I certainly have bad habits aquired after years of hanging out with "the geeks" (and with being one). At various science fiction conferences (where the geek ratio is well, very high) I have observed that often conversations are held between people all claiming some degree of expertise about nearly everything.
Further, as a consultant (at least at times) this tendancy is definitely an occupational hazard - I'm supposed to be claiming to if not already be an expert in a subject, be able to become one very rapidly.
My tendancy in a conversation is to look for something that I have recently read, something I have recently learned, someone I know etc to relate to the topic at hand. Often this is appreciated, but not always - learning when my contributions are not positive is a skill I need to continually refine.
Something for me to ponder over the weekend and beyond.
8/02/2002 11:53:00 AM
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Thursday, August 01, 2002
Posts, no posts, posts, no posts?
Hmmm well my afternoon for technical problems I guess (and still issues with my mail) mixed bag all around.
Having a lot of problems posting to Blogspot today - seems to be something about the new month that is causing the problem - but not entirely clear what or how to fix it. I've written Pyra help, but have not even gotten an emailed response from them as of yet.
So a day of mixed communications.
8/01/2002 04:16:00 PM
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More books - should I is the question
Okay, if you have read my journal before, you have probably figured out by now that I like books... though I have been relatively light in terms of how many books I have bought in recent years (it used to average well over a couple hundred a year).
This weekend, temptation strikes. It is a the annual Friends of the Oak Park public library book fair. I'm very tempted to go tomorrow night (which costs money to enter) - but lets you get the first crack at all the books (along with semi-crazed used book dealers).
If I go, what would/should I buy? I just bought a number of books at the Newberry library book fair last weekend, and I have a dozen or so others waiting to be read (some still from Wiscon of a few months back). There are only a handful of authors whom I know I am looking for more books by, and I do not really have that much time to read still more books (have to first catch up on what I have already bought).
But, that has not stopped me in the past, and probably won't in the future.
Further, I may also buy some books to resell on eBay.
For the most part this would not be profitable - though the cost of buying them at the bookfair will be very low (under a $1.00 in most cases), most books don't sell for much more than $10 on eBay - not really enough to bother with.
However, I could find some that would (a signed book for example, or a modern first edition by a collected author), or I could find books pulled aside for the silent auction or the collectibles table which might be worth considering reselling (a collection of old magazines for example).
Finally, I should probably go on Friday to talk with the many book dealers and collectors who will be there, many of whom could be possible clients for my auction services in the future.
Its a tempting thought, how to spend my Friday night - shopping for used books (and surrounded by 150,000+ books and lots of fellow book lovers and book nuts.... sounds like a great time.
had trouble posting this, originally written Thursday, Aug 1st in the morning, posting problems with it all day
8/01/2002 01:44:00 PM
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