Hooray for micro blog posts! Halfway through Juarez Symphony rehearsal. Whatever shall I eat on the way home?

Sweet, testing out the new phone posting feature.

A Week in the Life #18 - Happy Feaster

Yes, happy feaster is right. Your friendly neighborhood Jimmy is officially stuffed with honey glazed ham, corn on the cob, potato salad, innumerable Chinese food dishes, and assorted grilled meats. All in a couple days work for this Easter weekend carnivore.

So now, back to the grind. After a lovely weekend off, including Monday, it's back to work. Have to make a living somehow, and for the time being it seems that the best way to do that is by working. Personally, I'm hoping that whole concept changes in the future. If I'm lucky someday you'll be able to make a living by sitting in the comfortable corner of the couch and falling asleep on a partly cloudy afternoon while watching The Simpsons.

Someday.

Not a whole lot going on this week. I had Monday off and I'll have Thursday and Sunday off this week as well, so my work week is split right down the middle.

This week my priority is cleaning the house and reassembling a computer I've been working on. I received a nice little piece of work the other day, and I'll be doing a complete tear down and rebuild since it wasn't posting. I noticed a couple of inconsistencies (i.e. improperly seated RAM, video card power cable plugged in 1 notch off) so I'm just going to dismantle the whole thing and start from scratch. Wish me luck.

As far as cleaning the house goes, I need to take out the trash and wash the dishes (I'm way overdue, it's totally my turn). Likewise I need to get rid of all the clutter surrounding my computer desk. I need to file away the important stuff (W-2's, paper copies of taxes) and throw out the rest.

This will be my final rest week before heading into the home stretch for symphony season. Juarez next week, Las Cruces the following 2 weeks, then Juarez again for two more weeks. The whole thing is already making me a bit sleepy. However, I'll stay active and alert if only to avoid the inevitable "Slowpoke Rodriguez" references.

Speaking of which, at some point I should acquire some credentials. I've been border-hopping the last 3 years pretty regularly and have yet to procure myself a passport. If I'm not mistaken I'm going to require one here shortly or they won't let my ass back into the country. Fortunately there's that new border crossing card which covers you for land travel to Mexico and Canada. It's cheaper and more efficient than a traditional passport, so I'll probably go that route. Especially since I won't be taking my European vacation anytime soon.

Caitlyn made out like a little pink Easter bandit. Chocolate bunnies, creme eggs, handsome little outfits, and even some delicious rice husks. She still seems to amaze us everyday, and I'll tell you right out that I totally don't deserve this kid.

Speaking of which, it's high time I put up some damn baby pictures. I talk and talk about her like she's Snuffleupagus. Add that to my list of things to do this week. Clean house, fix computer, post baby pictures to blog/Facebook page. Done, done, and done.

More to come,
Jimmy

P.S. I ate this bunny too.....

The 100th Post

Well, here goes.

Today is my 100th post. Honestly, it hardly feels like that many. For the most part I just threw out random rants and raves, and added a pinch of intelligence, with a side of humorous videos and pictures.

And then, before you know it. BAM! 100 posts.

I do this for the sheer fun of it. It's nice to feel like you're heard when you have something to say, and this has always been a simple way to accomplish that. Likewise, I've succeeded in accomplishing my primary goal of centralizing my social networking. If I run into a friend I haven't' seen or heard from in awhile, JRTW is an easy way for them to catch up with the ins and outs of what I've been up to lately. I can direct my Facebook/Myspace friends here as well, freeing me of the nagging necessity to consistently update my "status." Besides, in case you haven't noticed, MySpace has become a virtual assault on the senses, and Facebook is slowly turning into MySpace. But that's another post in and of itself, so I'll save that for another day.

Along the way I've had the pleasure of discovering new friends and have enjoyed reading the work of others. In addition, it has been nothing short of satisfying when someone new compliments the blog out of the blue (Just as in real life, this usually happens right around the time I think nobody is paying attention).

As for the future, only time will tell. It always seems like just when I'm about to dedicate myself to maintaining daily updates, some life event comes along that removes me from society for a few days. However, I've achieved some semblance of regularity with my "A Week in the Life" and "WTF" posts. So as long as there's something to complain about, I'll have work to do.
So thanks to everyone who reads, comments, or links JRTW. I'm fortunate enough to know most of you personally, and couldn't ask for a finer slice of humanity. I'm glad to be part of your thoughts once or twice a week, and rest assured that you're always in mine.

Here's to making it 1000,
Jimmy

Video of the Day - First

Nothing fancy here, but you'll get a chuckle. Here we go through the history of history to examine famous firsts.

More to come tomorrow.

A Week in the Life #17 - Hasenpfeffer

Well this week, like so many before it, will come and go rather uneventfully. The usual work and school combination, with just enough free time to take care of errands and family.

Took most of the weekend off from the Internet, something that Jimmy-from-five-years-ago would have never foreseen. It seems to happen more and more these days. Used to be I'd never go through an entire 24 hour period without being online, but now it just sort of happens. Funny how no matter where your focus lies in life, life finds a way to shift it without you noticing. It is a bit strange, when not so long ago most of my waking hours were spent in front of the computer. However, since I don't seem to notice, I'll leave it be.

Work is fine, although each week seems to bring another set of micro-managing rules. Don't do this, stop doing that, do it this way instead of this way. I'm sure it's not too different than most jobs, but it tends to feel a bit cliche (i.e. one bad apple). Whatever, I get off at 3:45 so by the time I care I'm already home. Besides, I'm no hypocrite.

Looking forward to Easter weekend. Had the weekend off already and took Monday as a vacation day, so we'll get to see all the family and gorge ourselves with rabbit stew and deviled eggs. I'm just sayin' cause people buy up all those roadside "Bunnys-4-Sale" rabbits since they're so cute, and before you know it our rivers are choked with dead Lepus. So I'm taking it upon myself this year to eat as many abandoned Easter bunnys as I can to ensure they don't contaminate the public water supply. It's just one more service I offer. As for the deviled eggs, I'm sure you can figure that one out for yourself.

Anyway, we'll make the local family rounds and then eventually head over to Alamogordo to visit my parents and my sister's family. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Caitlyn cleans up in the chocolate rabbit department. Diabetes doesn't onset itself you know.

So, the rest of the week should be posts as usual, I've got nothing going on at lunch through Saturday so I'll have the free time. No more concerts until the week of the 25th, so hopefully I can catch up on a few things. If not, the free time will allow me to come to terms with not giving a shit.

Yesterday: Off, taking care of business (BTO FTW).

Today: Work, dinner with family, freeing up hard drive space.

Tomorrow: Never Dies

Movies watching: Bedtime Stories, Marley and Me, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire.

Going to watch: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Yes Man, The Tale of Despereaux.

Reading: Lamb: The Gospel According to Bif, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.

More to come,

Jimmy

WTF #14 - Ugh

So freakin' tired. What the hell man?

I'm not really sure where this feeling of exhaustion came from, but I feel like I just came from the losing end of an out of control pillow fight. Like when you were younger and it started out playful, but then things got a bit out of hand. Next thing you know people are swinging wildly and you end up with a rogue pillow in the face. Except now that pillow's been swung so much it has all its' fluff compressed by centrifugal force so it's all packed in one end.

Then POW!, right in the kisser. It didn't really hurt but you're a bit disoriented, and your eyes won't stay fully open. That's pretty much the jist of how I feel.

So, what's the answer? Caffine? Perhaps, but we're out of cream and sugar, and I'm not sure drinking the office coffee is safe to inbibe in its' purest form.

I'd buy a soda, but I have no cash. I'm the type who deposits his cash every chance he gets because that way I don't spend it on stupid shit like buying sodas at wor..... ah, fuck me.

I guess it doesn't help that the AC is running at cryogenically appropriate levels. Why I'm inside with a jacket and outside with a t-shirt is anyone's guess.

Likewise, nothing says "wake up" like lukewarm flourescent lighting and surroundings that scream neutrality.

So yeah, Ugh.

But hey, only half a day left here, so all is not lost. Plus someone just handed me a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie, and my spirits are rising.

Tonight it's the final rehearsal for the Las Cruces Symphony before our concert set this weekend. Sure it's a 3 hour rehearsal, but on the plus side we get Roberto's burritos during the break, so it's still a win.

Looking forward to a smooth weekend, here's hoping yours is equally free of complication.

Must. Nap. Soon.

Jimmy

I Pity the April Fools'

You really have to love April Fools' Day. Now, I haven't managed to pull of any pranks today simply because I'm stuck at work. Likewise, with a brand new baby I really have to be careful who I'm fucking with because people are actually starting to take me seriously. I know, right?

To celebrate, I'm going to fool myself into thinking I'm finacially stable.

Hah! Good one Jimmy, you douche.

Here's a cop out link to some April Fools' Goodness. A little backstory and a list of well-known pranks from days gone by.

As well I've included one of my all time favorite prank videos. A group of guys ready to check out the day's lottery numbers. I would go on, but it's best if you see it for yourself.



As always,
Jimmy

Little Red Riding Hood - A Formal Analysis

There are many ways to tell a fairy tale, either through reading or audio/visual media. In fact, public domain fairy tales can be adapted for pretty much any audience your heart desires. There's the classic Little Red Riding Hood, all storybook with or without the happy ending. There exists any number of comical adaptations for your viewing pleasure, from Looney Tunes to Shrek. And then there's this little number, a bedtime story clearly aimed for the spawn of Nobel Prize winners in the field of science.


Slagsmålsklubben - Sponsored by destiny from Tomas Nilsson on Vimeo.

Let me know if you have any problems with the video.
Worse comes to worse just click on the link under the video, it's a larger size anyway so you can see the detail. Enjoy!

A Week in the Life - The "Most Hairy + Fat Bear" Award goes too...

Hello again my beloved minions. Back to work this week with a full load of school, work, and symphony.

Yes, that's right, the life monkey is pelting me with the feces of obligation.

Last week was great, relaxed, fun filled, and loaded with lots of time with family. This week is not.

Today I'll work from 7am to 3:45, then off to class from 4:45 to 7:15, then off to symphony rehearsal from 7:30 to 10:00. Mondays I tells ya.

But I'll not pine over my lengthy day. I'm a firm believer that you're not allowed to bitch about how hard your life is if you've made it so based on the options you've chosen. Nobody asked me to spend a decade+ in college, or play the violin for extra income, so I'm not going to sit here and whine about how tired I am. If it were that hard I wouldn't do it.

Instead I'll look at the positive side, I do have enough time to play with my beautiful little girl before she goes to sleep, I have enough time to eat, pay bills online, and post this super-awesome life update. Not to shabby, right?

This last weekend we went to my sister-in-law's house to celebrate her daughter's birthday. They had the usual eats: burgers, potato salad, etc. That evening we vegged on the couch and caught up on some DVR action. Sunday we hopped over to Alamogordo to visit my parents, as my sister and her family were in town visiting. I don't see myself heading to Roswell anytime soon so it was a good chance to see all of them before they left for home. Watched some good NCAA action that afternoon, and then the usual FOX Sunday night animation. Home by 9:30, we watched the episodes we missed on the trip home and then hit the hay.

Before my sister and her family left we were treated to a variety show performed by her 3 daughters. The "Crazy Colors Show" (free admission, which was great what with the economy and all) was delightful, and featured Josie as announcer, Lana on keyboards, and Brianna on choreography. The whole thing was really cute, with a brief intermission when my sister's son Brandon fell forward off the hammock he was sitting on and pulled of a grade A faceplant. But, as they say, the show must go on.

After the show they had us all dance, and then gave out awards to everyone. The awards ceremony was rather impromptu, so Josie basically pulled the categories out of her ass. Needless to say I won for, and I quote, "being the most hairy, and for being a fat bear." Now I've won an award or two in life, but never one so contradictory. I didn't even know there was a fat hairy bear competition, and if I had I might have been more compelled to be either:

1. Less fat.


2. Less hairy.


3. Less fat and hairy.


4. Not a bear.

Suffice it to say I accepted the award with some reservation. No worries though since she's still in the innocent child phase. She calls em' like she sees em'. Since I know I'm definitely not the least fat or hairy, so at worst she's partially right.

So on we go, this week it's a performance with the Las Cruces Symphony. Jennifer Frautschi will be performing the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with us, then we'll finish the show with Shostakovich's 5th Symphony.

Links to their respective sites/youtube recordings.

See you all soon,

Jimmy