I had a moment of panic followed by clarity and motivation when I realized my tenuous approach to managing tasks at work was no longer tenable. I needed to make a change.
Continue reading “Tracking Tasks at Work”Our First Wedding While Married
Last night the wedding of Erin’s younger brother and his lovely now-wife. It was fun to participate in the process of wedding preparation from a new perspective—one where we have tangible advice to offer, a calmer presence from experience—only one year after our own.
This took form in a few ways. Erin saw how our coordinator worked through each little detail as we got closer to the date, so she made sure to do the same with the bride who had painstakingly planned venue decoration. I mainly acted as a role model to the groomsmen who, though absolutely great friends and nice guys, still end up a little immature for self-governance.1My biggest suggestion from the rehearsal: They have the opportunity to give Jeremy a hug or handshake as they approach the front of the ceremony. That’s a great chance that they should capitalize on. This also meant during decorating in the morning and post-reception teardown, I could yield my influence to direct their help.
We could more fully take in their ceremony, focusing on how it reflected their ideals as a couple. We’ve been to weddings as a couple and the ceremonies always make you consider your own relationship, but this time we could do so with the added dimension of having experienced precisely what they were feeling up there: nervous excitement bubbling on top a foundation of certainty.
It was a fantastic day and a raucous reception. I’m so proud of them and happy to have had the opportunity to relive some of the wedding process without the full weight of the pressure behind it.
- 1My biggest suggestion from the rehearsal: They have the opportunity to give Jeremy a hug or handshake as they approach the front of the ceremony. That’s a great chance that they should capitalize on.
First Anniversary
One year of marriage has sped by. We unintentionally packed it full of travel, hosting visitors, and yet another road trip back to Minnesota. We spent time with friends, watched plenty of movies, found good restaurants, and made excellent meals. Throughout it all was a comfort, security, and joint responsibility of finally being married and working through what that means to us.
Continue reading “First Anniversary”A PSA On Staying Hydrated
I fainted for the first time last week from dehydration. I have the scabs on my left knuckle and forehead to show for it, and the memory of losing a hold on my balance and waking up to the impact of concrete.
Continue reading “A PSA On Staying Hydrated”A Little Rain Never Hurt Anyone – Joel Haver
I wrote about Joel Haver some time ago. He has a second channel, Joel Talks About Movies, which is focused on his ideas about movies and life rather than actual short films he produces for his main channel.
His most recent video on that second channel, a little rain never hurt anybody, was a lovely take on an idea I’ve tried to embody as I grow older. The thesis—which operates as both a direct idea and a metaphor—is to stop worrying about getting wet from the rain. If you get caught in some rain, the worst thing that happens is you get wet and you’ll be dry sometime later.
Why not have the same outlook on taking chances in life?
Joel has a particular style of rambling that I find engaging and endearing, so I recommend watching the video and seeing if it resonates. He exudes a calm demeanor and is always working towards enjoying life, whatever that life is. It’s fantastic.
Starting on Guitar Maintenance
An uncle on my dad’s side has been a guitarist on the side for years. We don’t talk about it too often, but now that he’s getting older and preferring instruments with better ergonomics, he offered me a Stratocaster that he really enjoyed but wasn’t playing anymore. I happily took him up on the offer.
It plays beautifully, with a well-maintained neck that feels comfortable and fast. However, some of the metal hardware has begun rusting.1I don’t know how long he had this guitar, but it was definitely purchased used. My guess is that dealing with this aging hardware simply wasn’t a high priority. My plan is to use this as a first step in understanding how to maintain my guitars. Until now, I’ve changed the strings and left further setup to professionals. They do an exceptional job, but you pay for it. Considering this guitar was free, it seems appropriate to determine what I can learn to do for free.
Maintaining your own tools both helps you use them better, and provides a better sense of ownership over them. The first experience with this I can remember is oiling up my baseball gloves each year. It’s a small task, but a necessary one to extend the lifespan of the leather. More recently, it was working with computers and operating systems, gaining comfort with technology and understanding how far I’m willing to go to get the result I want. I plan to develop a sense of those boundaries with guitars as well, particularly electrics because they’re sturdier and simpler than acoustics.
I’ll write up something once I complete the process, with some before and after pictures. I figure the worst that could happen is I mess it up slightly and end up bringing it in to a shop, but if I can at least manage cleaning it, the cost of anything else is reduced.
- 1I don’t know how long he had this guitar, but it was definitely purchased used. My guess is that dealing with this aging hardware simply wasn’t a high priority.
Five Years of Comical Start
Last week I released Episode 257 of Comical Start, Pockets of Conversation. Its publish date is just a few days after the 5th year anniversary of our first episode, Multiverse. Grant was unable to record with me, so here is a lightly-edited transcript1I used the slick program MacWhisper to get this done. of the 25 minute monologue that I did off the dome.
Continue reading “Five Years of Comical Start”- 1I used the slick program MacWhisper to get this done.
Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
This is a refrain in disc golf describing the approach to properly development throwing form. It’s typically attributed to Philo Brathwaite, a particularly smooth player out of northern California. It feels self-evident in the world of disc golf mechanics1Taken to the extreme, you get Eagle McMahon and Albert Tamm, two of the farthest throwers, neither of whom ever seem to “run up” for their throw like most high-level players. as you watch different players, but its applicability beyond this origin knows no bounds.
Continue reading “Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”- 1Taken to the extreme, you get Eagle McMahon and Albert Tamm, two of the farthest throwers, neither of whom ever seem to “run up” for their throw like most high-level players.