Thank you iPod

I gotta send an insane shout out to my man the iPod. If it weren’t for you I’d be in serious trouble here at work. I spend most of my day here listening to podcasts and tasteful music from all genres. I also work but that’s besides the point.

Below is a list of some of the things I would be listening to if it weren’t for the iPod. These are the kind of tunes that come wafting over my cubicle wall everyday, and they are the very reason that I never leave the house without a fully charged ‘pod.

Please realize that this is an actual list of actual “artists” heard in my office numerous times each week. It’s important to stress that they are generally played in the same order each time, and this impressive list comes from a single source. It’s also interesting to note that I do work in an otherwise (mostly) professional office and not a parts warehouse or a garage as some items on this list may suggest. And yes, the Christmas songs are played year-round. Rock on.

AC/DC
Huey Lewis and the News
Weird Al Yankovic
The Simpsons (musical numbers)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Poison
Paula Abdul
Quite Riot
Billy Joel
Queen
Moulin Rouge soundtrack
South Park Christmas songs
Billy Idol
Rent soundtrack
Meatloaf
Village People
Don Henley
Blondie
Bon Jovi
Foreigner
Guns n’ Roses

…and many others that I can’t identify but loathe equally.

Dark Invader

Here’s one from the archives. This is back in the mid-nineties when carpet vests were hot. I mean literally, putting carpet against your bare skin creates heat.

Farewell old friend.

Heather and I had to have Lucas put to sleep today. It was without a doubt the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. We had been preparing ourselves for the worst ever since he fell ill, but now that it has actually come to pass, it feels so much worse than I could have imagined. I fed him with a syringe for nearly three months, but his condition was only worsening and we were left with very few options. We couldn’t see putting through it anymore when there was no real hope of recovery.

What more can I say? Call me sappy if you must. I love all animals, almost to a fault in fact. We’ve still got a dog and a cat that are loved much, but Lucas was easily my favorite. In fact, I venture a guess that he was the best cat the world may ever know. There’s an enormous hole in my heart left by that little guy, and we count ourselves lucky for being able to spend the last nine years with him.

Here’s a rambling list of things we’ll remember about Lucas:

• milk stripe
• wire ties
• tinkle dance
• biscuit stomp
• 3AM purr attack (with face taps)
• bathroom greetings
• back porch gazing
• toy basket ransack
• always listened
• always responded
• work time == laptime
• office chair balancing
• wire in the water bowl
• third floor castaway
• snaggle tooth
• movie time == talk time
• Stella terrorizer
• defender against 100lb dogs
• suitcase warmer
• water glass licker
• body builder
• rough rubdown
• cry baby
• slow snacker
• keyboard crasher
• sloppy pee(er)
• hater of automobiles and baths
• paw sharpener
• destroyer of fingers/ring eater
• shredded paper enthusiast
• tub walker
• never without his tuxedo

100% Shields

I’d be remiss If I didn’t mention a piece of My Bloody Valentine news. Although, we’ve all learned by now that these things often add plenty to the lore surrounding the band but very little the their discography.

Pitchfork has an article detailing a recent Magnet Magazine interview with Kevin Shields in which he states: “We are 100% going to make another My Bloody Valentine record.” There are also some other baffling, perhaps contradictory statements in the interview. As with all Shields related info, take it with a truckload of salt.

Clouds over Phoenixville

Let’s get back to the sort of thing for which this blog is named. Here’s a time-lapse shot of five hours worth of cloud cover over Phoenixville on 1/6/06. I shot it from the window of my third floor using my Canon 400D tethered to my laptop. Get ready for a gut-punch of pure excitement!

Plethora

I finally found enough time between the feedings, poopings and cryings of Linus to post some photos. Check out the photosets here and here. In case that’s not enough there’s also an animation of the “owl” photos here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get back to not sleeping.

Is this thing on?

Wowie zowie. That was some hiatus. I haven’t spent much time in front of a computer since Linus was born, and blogging has been pretty far from my mind. Funny how quickly life-changing events can put everything into perspective. Two weeks away from work was certainly a refreshing way to unplug myself and spend some time with the people I love. My first day back was yesterday, and I’m slowly coming to grips with reality again. Last week I was staring at my son’s face; today I’m staring at polygons. C’est la vie.