Fall Madness

One of the things I hate (and love) about Fall is all the new television shows that are on. For the first time, my dvr/time ratio is growing out of control. It seems I must spend hours in front of the tube to catch up on all the great programs that are out. This is, one: pretty cool as it gives me something to do and two: really pathetic that I have nothing else better to do.

Since Bailey was sick today (prognosis - getting better), I was able to catch up on last week's shows. Some of my Season Passes include:

• Mad Men (a new fav)
  
• Heroes (getting to be oddly like 4400)
  
• Dexter
• Entourage
  
• LOST
  
• Californication
• Weeds (just ended)
• Jon & Kate Plus 8 (don't knock it)
• Gossip Girl (sorta the 90210 of NYC- I blame JD for getting me hooked)
  
• New 90210
• Desperate Housewives (getting to be really lame)
• Grey's Anatomy
• How I Met Your Mother
• Rules of Engagement (love the Putty character)
  
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (dark comedy)

This list ensures that my butt is plastered to the couch about 2 hours a day. Considering I'm a stress ball when I get home from work, it seems to ease the pain.

Genius

This is hilarious.

From, "The Rock Cries Out to Us Today"

...
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes,
Into your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.

Maya Angelou

Goals

My friend Henry sent me his lifetime goals today. I was so impressed with the idea, I asked him if I could post them here -- he said that was fine. Reading these goals really made me want to write my own, but I think I also want to include the goals I have already accomplished as well. What a great way to put one's life into perspective.

Henry's Personal Goals

Short- to mid-term

1) Complete Master’s degree in Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins
2) Fund scholarship for first-generation college students
3) Visit the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu with my Dad
4) Visit the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza

Mid- to long-term

1) Attend a Summer Olympics
2) Attend a Winter Olympics
3) Live in South America for at least 2 years
4) Live in Asia for at least 2 years
5) Live in Africa for at least 2years
6) Live in France for at least 2years
7) Live in Spain / Portugal for at least 2years
8) Learn Spanish
9) Learn French
10) Teach a class in Finance / Economics
11) Visit Vancouver
12) Visit Bhutan
13) Marry the girl of my dreams
14) Walk on the Egyptian pyramids
15) Go sky-diving
16) Hike the Appalachian Trail from start to finish
17) Help a non-relative achieve one of his/her life ambitions
18) Work in a non-profit for at least 3 years in service to a cause I believe in
19) Write a book
20) See a polar bear in the wild
21) Witness a volcano erupt first-hand
22) See the stars miles from the nearest city / lights
23) Achieve financial independence by age 50
24) Start my own school
25) Hike the Columbia River gorge
26) Bike / hike across a country
27) To add to my list of ambitions and never complete the list

www.yearbookyourself.com

This post needs no introduction.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Aubrey

I think I am now officially the Butler's Pastry Chef.

RIP Randy Pausch

Some quotes from Randy's "Last Lecture" and other speeches:

• Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.
• We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play them.
• Brick walls are there to let us prove how badly we want something.
• Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you.
• Don't bail - the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.
• Don't complain, just work harder.
• Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
• You might have to wait years, but people will eventually show you their good side - not everyone is all evil.
• Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.
• We beat the reaper by living well and living fully.
• It's not the things we do in life we regret on our deathbed, it's the things we don't.
• When people ride you hard, it means they care. When you're doing a bad job and no one says anything, it means they've given up on you.
• It's not about how to achieve your dreams, its about how you live your life. Live your life right, the dreams will come to you.
• The pioneers are the ones that have arrows in their backs.
  

Election Year.