Congrats to my brother Jack who got his first car today!
Archive for May, 2002
Subaru WRX
Thursday, May 30th, 2002
The all white garden
Friday, May 24th, 2002My mom and I planted my garden last night. It’s supposed to have all white flowers – a mix of annuals and perennials. It’s been 24 hours and nothing has died yet so I remain optimistic.
Giving from the grave
Thursday, May 23rd, 2002Got some spare cash? Looking for a unique way to do some philanthropic giving? Go to Long Bets, a website that lets you place bets on long term accountable predictions in hopes of fostering discussion and better long-term thinking. For example, one guy bet another guy $1,000 that commuters would be flying on non-piloted airplanes by 2030. The proceeds ($2,000) go to the charity of the winner’s choice. There’s a chance the bet will last longer than you will so the money is invested up front. (The interest on the bet goes to run the website.) Giving from the grave, pretty cool.
Unacceptable
Tuesday, May 21st, 2002I’m wearing a wool sweater, jeans, boots, wool socks and long underwear. Last night’s low was 29°. It’s almost June.
Social butterflying
Sunday, May 19th, 2002Definitely one of my better weekends, weather aside. Too many fun events to babble about all of them but I will say that I, the introvert, met/saw and talked to A LOT of people. And quite a variety of people at that. Breakfast, for example, consisted of a menu item I shouldn’t repeat and Bloody Marys with eight other creatives at Bennetts. Saturday night was spent grilling and gaming with the FoodUSA crew – a great time as always. (Thanks C&D!) Sunday there was a shower in Oregon for my former boss’s new baby with a bunch of (very nice) people I didn’t know, and later, an ice cream social thrown by friends of our family at a lake house on Mendota which was like walking back in time 10 years. Temps in the 40-50s put a damper on things tho. You know it’s arctic-cold when I pass up ice cream.
Tad windy today
Friday, May 10th, 2002I literally got blown over yesterday by the wind. Going to my car which sits at the highest point on campus, I was hit by a gust that blew me off a cement path into the grass. Total wipeout. The weather guys said there were 50 mph gusts but this had to be stronger than that… considering I was in a wind tunnel coming off the lake. If I would have opened my jacket up I’m pretty sure I could have taken flight.
Tortillas
Tuesday, May 7th, 2002Had my final b-day celebration last night with the parents at a new restaurant in Middleton called Tortillas. Ambiance was ok, but the food was awesome!! Without exception. It’s in the old Pasqual’s location in case you locals are interested. Make sure to try the chili mashed potatoes.
More incentive to travel
Saturday, May 4th, 2002So here’s a sad commentary on the man-scene in Madison… a few weeks ago I received an email from a webmaster in Madison who had come across my site by accident and read part of this page, in particular the April 10 entry from last month. While I was expecting, (hoping??) if anything, some annoyed male to respond refuting my commentary, here’s the gist of what HE wrote in regards to that subject:
“…Madison seems to have a conspicuous shortage of single men. There are a few single guys at my work place, but I, uhh, wouldn’t really wish them on anyone.”
Super.
May 2002 update
Wednesday, May 1st, 2002Ok, so my trip to Texas was just about the coolest trip ever, from the moment I left until even after I returned. Going away for a birthday is definitely a good idea… makes the day more memorable and then just when you think it’s all over you get to come home to cards and gifts! Plus, as always, traveling helped me gain a little perspective on my job, life, friends, the united states, my rock-star-totally-amazing car, and family. The trip is all being documented in the babble section, complete with photos, if you’re interested. April 25-29.
The rest of April was good, with a few get-togethers of the FoodUSA clan, Vilas folk, relatives, friends, etc. and a whole lot of freelance work. I am officially not taking any more freelance work for the summer in hopes of maintaining some kind of life, and of course, spending as much time in, on and under water as possible. There’s a happy thought.
On the downside the problems with the state budget seem to be effecting more and more of my life, state employee that I am. Travel budgets were cut, parking rates are increasing and any kind of substantial raise seems doubtful. On top of this, my uncle who is a veritable market-genius, seems to think the economy is in big trouble. As in pull-all-your-stocks-out-of-the-market big trouble. I’m not prepared to do anything that rash, but it does keep me up at night. I’m all about perspective, but would rather pass on the broke & homeless perspective, given the choice. Unless I could keep my car, then everything would be just fine.