Sunday, March 26, 2006

Life Is Tough


I really don't know where to start here, this may be more of a rambling string of words rather than a coherent text. My wife says that I can make someone feel terrible without saying a word. I never intentionally want to make someone feel bad, but I suppose it happens. I've never really understood how I do this. I reckon it is my silence that is so horrible, the simple fact that I will simply not say anything if I am offended, I will keep my mouth shut and move forward. Despite that fact, I do forgive and I tend not to hold grudges. I move on, life is too short, etc. I don't know where I got this particular trait, my father is a quiet individual who always seemed to say more with his face than with words, like father, like son. I am not an angry person, in fact, I am not angry at anyone. I am frustrated by some people's actions and I am sure that there are some people who are frustrated with mine, but that is life. No one is better than anyone else, we all change, we all grow, none of us are the same people from 10 years ago, we are human beings who evolve and change, that is absolutely certain. I am a proud person, I have lived a good life, I love my wife, I love my family, I love my friends and if we didn't feel so passionately about each other then there wouldn't be a discussion about any of this. Life is not perfect, it is a constant battle, it is about forgiveness.

Miranda told me the other day that I should be a writer. I remember in junior high that I wanted to be a sports writer, but my insecurity about my writing style always held me back (I always prefered to write in a conversational tone and none of my teachers seemed to appreciate this laid-back style). I truly think that if I could do all of this over again, I would have given writing a shot. I do not think I am truly opinionated about things and so I think that having a weekly column would be a beating, but not being constrained by a particular syle suits me. The perfect job would be if everyone could simply pay me to write, whether it be on this blog or not, then I think that this would be the perfect job.

Last weekend Miranda and I watched two movies. We had not seen a movie in the theater since Friday Night Lights and thus these reviews are a bit dated. You can also find a list of my movies at Listal.

Elizabethtown: I really enjoyed this movie. I think that I really connected with this movie from a standpoint of failing and being able to pick myself up. This is what motivates me in life, the fear of failure and I have always thought that overcoming this is a huge hurdle for me personally. The acting was generally good and Kirsten Dunst was able to pull off the "quirky" girl, but Orlando Bloom seemed a little stiff, however, I think that this was how his character was supposed to be. Self-reflection is a good thing, I remember Duk telling me that he had a serious road trip to take and I told him that a road trip by yourself allows for this type of reflection and is a good thing and should be appreciated and not dreaded, more times than not you come out of it a better person.

The actual town of Elizabethtown, KY has a neat website, and you should click on the gallery for walking trails.

Wedding Crashers: I love anything from the Wilson brothers, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Stiller and I thought that this was a funny movie. Of course I watched it when I needed a "pick-me-up" and it was good to laugh. It was hard to envision Vince and Owen's characters as attorneys or mediators, but it was funny nonetheless. Funny quote from Owen Wilson's character in the movie: "That we're all one. That seperateness is an illusion, and that I'm one with everyone - with the Prime Minister of England, and my cousin Harry, you and me, the fat kid from 'What's Happening,' the Olsen twins, Natalie Portman, the guy who wrote 'Catcher in the Rye,' Nat King Cole, Carrot Top, Jay-Z, Weird Al Yankovic, Harry Potter, if he existed, the whore on the street corner, your mother. We're all one."

Thursday, March 23, 2006

It Is So Cold

It was only a week ago when my wife and I (and Tony and Leslie) were enjoying ourselves in the beautifully sculpted landscapes of the Dallas Arboretum. Since then it's rained 8 inches and tonight it's supposed to be 32 degrees.

I do believe that this weekend I'll try to haul off some more brush and scrape more windows. Once I get done with that I'll start working on all of the outside crevices to make sure that they are completely sealed. It just doesn't end. I am really ready for the cold to go away, I've had enough. You win.

You need to go here and look around. I would be willing to bet that there would be something there that would interest you.

This website is basically like being able to go to www.internet.com.

I can honestly say that there hasn't been too much going on lately. I have had to adjust going back to work after taking off for two days, but I'm back in the swing of things and I'm ready to go and save the world.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Ironing


This is how I spent my Saturday afternoon while everyone else went bowling. My mom had asked me to do something with her and I didn't want to break that commitment, but when I got home I knew that I had some serious work to do. In this picture is 20 shirts, that's at least 4 weeks worth of shirts that had not been ironed. It's one of my greatest flaws and one of my least favorite activities. You would think that a big hot-shot attorney would be able to afford to have his shirts ironed, but that seems crazy. Paying someone to do something you can do yourself. Don't get me wrong, there's lots of things I can't do (i.e. fix anything in my house), but the things I can do, it seems silly to pay someone to do them.

By the way, I really appreciate my Mom, she has decided to frame my diplomas, after almost 10 years of them sitting in the closet. I would never have done this, for whatever reason, nevertheless, I thank her.

I have yet to receive any pictures from anyone and (foot tapping) I'm upset. I've got lots of room in my inbox so I'm not real sure why everyone is waiting. I hope everyone participated, and if you didn't then I'll try to catch you next year, or the next.

I don't know if anyone reads the comments, but I want to give a big shout-out and congratulations to Duk who has decided to run for a judicial position in Missouri at the tender age of 30-ish. I've told him that he should blog, the kids love it (just ask TJ) and it would be a great way to document your journey. He's still considering it. As an aside, I would be willing to do whatever is necessary to get the blog looking like it should and something that you're happy with (i.e. red, white and blue everywhere, lots of Duk logos, etc.). You can send pictures and transcripts of public speeches, all things will be posted in a very professional manner (I might even spellcheck it). I also promise not to overuse the parentheses as I have done in this paragraph.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

A Day in the Life - Puppy Dog Blue

Puppy dogs sleeping in the evening.
We stalk squirrels in the morning
Mowing
The day closes.
Scraping the paint off of windows.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Home Renovation - Part III

Dining room and kitchen wall that was removed.
Kitchen.
Removal of the dining room and kitchen wall.
The entire kitchen was sanded.
Water heater and pantry that became the pantry and fridge cubby.

Home Renovation - Part II

Master bedroom.
Master bathroom.
Failing heater.

Home Renovation - Part I

Front bedroom.
Living room.
Miranda's bathroom.
Back bedroom.
Living room.

I've been meaning to do this for quite a while and here are some before pictures of the house. These pictures were taken a day or two after the house was actually in my name. The next post of two will be additional pictures of the before stage of the house. In the next couple of days I plan on taking some after pictures so that we can all see the difference of what this house has become.

Birthday Bash Number 32

Blow me up dog.
Grilling some burgers.
This one was posted because Tony R. turned away.
The morning after.

My wife bought me Vans for my birthday and they came today, they fit perfectly, and everyone can take them off of your shopping lists for me.

I hope everyone (other than Ben) is taking the First Annual Five Pictures, A Day In The Life project seriously. I think that this could be fun and if you think about it, it's the perfect time to take pictures. The landscape is turning green, the flowers are beginning to bloom, we can all start spending more time outside, rather than hibernating in our homes. I've started thinking that I should plan what my pictures will be, but what's the fun in that. I think that it's all about spontaneity and the moment. Don't get me wrong, I plan on taking more pictures that just 5 and I'll have to whittle it down from there, but I really think it will be fun.

I'm going to go ahead and call out T. J., Ashley T., Ashley F., Leslie R., Chris H., T-Storm, Stephen T., and Miranda. I expect pictures from you.

I saw this on Kottke a couple of weeks ago and I thought it would be a good exercise in lists.

4 shows that you watch:
1. The Office
2. My Name Is Earl
3. Scrubs
4. Globe Trekker

4 shows that you wish you watched:
1. Sopranos
2. Boston Legal
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm
4. Lost

4 shows that you're embarrassed you watch:
1. Wild N Out
2. House Hunters
3. Good Eats
4. 8th and Ocean

More than likely, I'll be posting tomorrow morning as well as I am not working for the next two days.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

I Can't Post Pictures


I cannot post pictures tonight and it's very frustrating. Who wants to just read a bunch of content without looking at pretty pictures? I've tried turning off my computer and re-booting, I've tried simply posting a link to a pictures and I've had no luck.

This posting is to simply remind everyone that we need 5 pictures in a day in the life on Friday. There are no restrictions other than we need to keep it clean, but I certainly want everyone to be creative.

UPDATE: It's the next morning and now I'm able to post pictures. Crazy.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Dirty Paws



For the next day or two I will be fighting this as the dogs run in and out of the house. Last time it rained I set out a towel by the door to dry off their feet and accidentally left it outside the next day. The following Saturday I spent about 30 minutes cleaning up the remaining shreds of towel. The funny thing is that none of the above pictures are Olive's paws as she refuses to leave the porch when it rains and she refuses to go to the bathroom if the grass is wet.

Yes, yesterday was a bit much, but work and life is really starting to grind on me (much like the forbidden dance). I know that I really have to relax, but it is very difficult for me. Nevertheless, I will revert back to my lighthearted banter and quasi-interesting links.

I want to give everyone enough notice, but here at puppydogblue we are going to do a day in the life on March 17th. I want everyone to break out their digital cameras and take five pictures, or a day in your life in five photos. I do not want to tell you how or what you should take pictures of, but these pictures do not necessarily have to be of yourself, i.e. no restrictions. If you do not have a blog then send the pictures to me at puppydogblue@gmail account or my private gmail account. So long as you identify yourself, I'll do a very special post for each one of you that sends in your pictures. If you have your own blog then send me the link by email and I'll post it here as well.

Great photo essay on The Morning News: "Cities change so quickly their postcards rarely resemble their current faces. Touring Europe and the U.S., French filmmaker Julien Donada restores a gallery of yesteryear’s cards to their original settings."

Things to put on your sidebar of your blog.

I'm going logo-free this summer, but if you do not plan to do so then here's Threadless.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Worry


So many things to worry about so little time. Work, job, family. It's enough to drive a man crazy. Nevertheless, we as human beings continue to chug along despite the constant hiccups or bumps in the road. Lots of things to write about, but this isn't the right forum.

Just sit outside and smell, I think there's a storm on the horizon.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Dallas - Main Street


The grassy knoll.


Random building (I think it's the Wilson Building)

Old Dallas County Courthouse.


Neat mural.


Reunion Tower.

It doesn't take much. I took almost all of these pictures on Main Street from my truck as I was driving back to work on Friday. It pays to have your camera with you at all times. It doesn't take much to create memories.

Now And Then

There is a fine line between writing about what was and what is. Sometimes I think I get lost in trying to recall memories of what was. Good times. Significant and sad moments. To balance that I think it is important to also write about the here and now, the problem of course being what is happening now is not all that exciting or splashy or memorable. There are moments that are fleeting and occasional that we should remember, but so many times these moments are like cars passing you on a highway. You see them, they pass you by and then they are forgettable.

Zoey will often sit in the yard, when we let her out for the evening to do her business, where she will sit, facing the wind and she'll just smell. Not for a moment, but for however long it takes for her to appreciate what is in the air. I know it's a cliche to say that we must all stop to smell the roses, and although it is can be insignificant, just stop to smell. Take it in. Relax. Make a moment.

I find that life if about being caught up in the rut. At times, I feel like I am hitting the prime of the rut. Work. Eat. Sleep. I am sure that the reason that I daydream about those past moments is that they always more seem fond than the present, but the reality is that the present is very good and wonderful. The rut is not a bad thing, it is life. It is a mortgage, it is a marriage, it is children, it is parents, it is family. If anything, be in that rut. Never be tired to take a moment, make a moment worth smelling. Take it all in.