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August 31, 2005

Vacation = no thinking about work, right?

I have been trying to spend my time off this week not thinking or worrying about work. Easier said than done. The first few days of my time off it was easy. I was out of town having a fun time and work, with the exception of discussing the merits of finding a new profession, was far from my mind. Maybe now I have too much time on my hands. My cell phone has not once rung with that dreaded ring tone that I know is the office. But that was the point of me taking 11 days off. Having time to just hang at the coffee shop, browse Borders, cycling, or doing lunch with friends (on their lunch breaks from work) is fine with me as a way of spending my free time. Or perhaps it is because I am supposed to be studying for my next phase of securities licensing. The class date has been set for some time now and is slated for September 19. I have two text/workbooks I have to get through in order to be ready. The reading is very boring and I find it hard to concentrate. When I am not particularly interested in something my mind wanders very easily. Those who know me will not find this shocking. I am basically trying to spend an hour and a half each day the rest of the week cut off from the outside world and its distractions in order to get through some reading. Sounds easy right? Not for me. Maybe if I put it under my pillow, the info will seep into my mind. Yeah that will work, sure.

Fury of Nature

Never again will I complain about a Michigan winter and being snowed in for a day or two. I cannot imagine having a house literally under water. The images and stories of people scurrying to the second floor and then the attic and then the roof as waters rose around them and having to be lifted by helicopter or boat to safety are unreal. Sadly, not all were so lucky. I hope aid, services, and needed equipment gets there and in place fast.
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-31-katrina_x.htm

President Slacker

Well I see our President cut short his five week vacation. Poor guy, he hasnt had one since April.
www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3333218

Just starting to add some links

Here are just a few links that I visit or have been directed to by others at one time or another. I will add more as time permits, but wanted to get it started.....

INTERNET SOLUTIONS
Nexcess.net http://nexcess.net

MUSIC
iTunes http://www.itunes.com
Billboard music charts, etc http://www.billboard.com
XM Satellite Radio http://www.xmradio.com
XM fan site/dicussion boards http://www.xmfan.com

SHOPPING
Amazon http://www.amazon.com
Target http://www.target.com
ThinkGeek http://www.thinkgeek.com

PERSONAL SITES
Alison & Paul http://www.alisonandpaul.com
Greg http://www.gregorybrand.com


ART / CULTURE
Alison's gallery in Pittsburgh http://conceptgallery.com
Chicago Museum of Contempoary Art http://www.mcachicago.com
Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh http://www.warhol.org
Detroit Institute of Arts http://www.dia.org

SOCIAL / POLITICAL
Troops http://www.operation-support-our-troops.org
http://www.americasupportsyou.com
Moveon.org http://www.moveon.org
Pflag http://www.pflag.org
Democrats http://www.dnc.org
Republicans http://www.rnc.org

NEWS
MSNBC http://www.msnbc.com
CNN http://www.cnn.com
Newslink http://www.newslink.org
Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com
Detroit News http://www.detnews.com

OTHER / MISC
The Onion http://www.theonion.com
Cats http://www.thecatgallery.com/funny_cat_pictures.html
More Cats http://www.kitenwars.com
Humane Society http://www.hsus.org
UofM Football http://www.mgoblue.com


It's just me....

Name: Brent
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

I have a wide variety of interests some of which are motorcycles, music (all kinds), writing, watching too much cable news, bicycling, and U of M football. Spending time with family and friends is also up there at the top of my list of enjoyable things. In my adult life, I have owned two businesses. Both were good experiences and I sometimes miss being my own boss, however I do now enjoy a forty hour week with a steady paycheck. I joined the corporate world 4 years ago and am employed at a large bank. It's not a bad gig, but it seems like I am still trying to figure out what I want or should be doing in life. It's frustrating at times, but I've found that life is too short to sweat all the small stuff, so I shall plug away doing my best at work and collecting that paycheck. And just maybe I can figure things out along the way.

I'll be adding more in the future, just wanted to get some info here as this online journal comes together.

August 30, 2005

TV

Six Feet Under has come to an end. I need a good, compelling, thought provoking, entertaining replacement. Also something to counter act mind numbing from enjoying Family Guy. Suggestions???

Memo to France -- GET OVER IT

I just read another article regarding Lance Armstrong and his alleged use of a banned substance in 1999. And while it is probably embarrassing to some people in France that the most prestigious cycling event in the world has not been won in a very long time by someone from the country that it is named after, going back to 1999 and resurrecting questionable results by people with questionable motives and ethics just begs another question to those who want to undo the real accomplishments of Lance Armstrong: Is there anything that those of us in the sane world can do to help you let go of your fruitless efforts to bring down a world class athlete and bring you into 2005 so you can go on with life? After all, Lance will no longer be a threat to you or your country as he has retired from the Tour. Of course there are some people on the American cycling team that are good contenders, but lets try to get you to let go of one hang-up at a time.

From all indications and seemingly fair substance testing and re-testing he has endured in all his Tour de France races, he has reached his status of world class athlete by hard work, unwavering commitment to his goals, a no-quit attitude, and even some luck in the gene pool. It has been well documented by independent doctors the reasons he is such a great athlete, and by all unbiased research that this small time researcher could find, drugs do not and have never needed to play a role in his accomplishments.

August 29, 2005

What's wrong with people?

Just saw a report on MSNBC showing devastation in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. People were caught on video looting a store on a storm ravaged street. Some people just suck.

August 28, 2005

Pittsburgh

After a great few days in Pittsburgh visiting Alison and Paul, I am heading back to Michigan tomorrow. It's been a great trip. Alison and Paul gave me the full tour of Pittsburgh including an outing to the Andy Warhol Museum, visits to some great restaurants, hiking in a local park, watching Four Brothers (great movie) at the theater, brunch, and some shopping. Also, thanks to Paul this site was born on this trip. It has been nice spending some quality time with Alison and Paul, just catching up and talking. I have been to Pittsburgh to visit twice before, but it was always for some occasion such as graduation or house warming and time did not permit to see sites and soak in the culture of the city, but this trip was all about taking in what Pittsburgh has to offer. It is a great city with all the amenities of a vibrant urban center surrounded by clean, safe neighborhoods. But, all good things must come to an end and sadly I have to say goodbye for now to my hosts and make the drive back to Michigan on Monday. Luckily I have the rest of the week off to relax and ponder what to do next...Stay tuned