We go to Nantucket every year. That sounds pretentious - deal with it. Just a fact. My wife's family has a house there so I'm a Nantucketer by marriage. The kids love it and it's awesome to have a place where we can walk from the house to the beach. The natural beauty is spectacular and the restaurants are top-notch. And oh by the way - I never take it for granted and I never lose sight of the fact that I couldn't afford to vacation in such a place if my generous father-in-law didn't allow us to stay in his home. That's the good news.
The bad news is the people. Or more specifically - the fashion of the (visiting) people. Welcome to the Faraway Isle where grown men wear pink pants and call it "Nantucket Red" like that makes it OK. They also sport Madras shorts with canary yellow sweaters. It's like everyone but me is adhering to The Preppy Handbook. Every time I visit I feel like I missed a memo stating that everyone should dress like a goof.
What is interesting is that the local residents of the island generally don't dress so silly. They are actually more utilitarian Northeastern (rather than Boston-Bourgeois). We're headed up there soon so I promise to come back with photographs of the local ridiculousness. Stay tuned.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Guide Me Lloyd
I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
The prescient words of the great Lloyd Dobler from 1989's "Say Anything." The quote rings truer now than it did when the movie first premiered. Just like Lloyd I don't really want to sell or buy or process anything.
So at some point I need to settle on a new career. My daughter is going to kindergarten this fall so before I know it I'll be twiddling my thumbs at home while both of my kids are learning and growing as people. Jerks. How dare they leave me!
Don't get me wrong - loving the Dad thing...big time. But the pay kinda stinks so I need to start making a plan. While I'm going to be moving forward with my Be More Awesome campaign I don't think that is a career per se. I would love a "career." I'd like to have a clear mission that is easily explainable. Not a job but an actual occupation where someone at a party asks you: "So, what do you do?" And you don't have to fumble to explain how you spend your days.
Example:
"Hey Joe I'm Tim. I'm the COO of ADT's BPO . What do you do?"
"Nice to meet you Tim. That sounds great in an alphabet soup type of way. I'm a ..."
Complete the sentence dear readers. I welcome your suggestions.
The prescient words of the great Lloyd Dobler from 1989's "Say Anything." The quote rings truer now than it did when the movie first premiered. Just like Lloyd I don't really want to sell or buy or process anything.
So at some point I need to settle on a new career. My daughter is going to kindergarten this fall so before I know it I'll be twiddling my thumbs at home while both of my kids are learning and growing as people. Jerks. How dare they leave me!
Don't get me wrong - loving the Dad thing...big time. But the pay kinda stinks so I need to start making a plan. While I'm going to be moving forward with my Be More Awesome campaign I don't think that is a career per se. I would love a "career." I'd like to have a clear mission that is easily explainable. Not a job but an actual occupation where someone at a party asks you: "So, what do you do?" And you don't have to fumble to explain how you spend your days.
Example:
"Hey Joe I'm Tim. I'm the COO of ADT's BPO . What do you do?"
"Nice to meet you Tim. That sounds great in an alphabet soup type of way. I'm a ..."
Complete the sentence dear readers. I welcome your suggestions.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Be More Awesome: Step One
Pop Quiz - What do Stevie Ray Vaughan, Wynton Marsalis and Yo-Yo Ma all have in common? Very little. Except the fact that they are/were all super-talented musicians. Oh - and they're AWESOME. Don't think Yo-Yo Ma is awesome? Not cool enough for you? Anyone who is the best in the world at something is pretty awesome in my book. Hell, Stevie is still awesome and he's been dead for over 20 years!
But I digress. My real reason for bringing up these great artists is to highlight step one on my patch to ultimate awesomosity. LEARN AN INSTRUMENT.
As I near 40 I realize that I have few quantifiable talents. Does the adroit use of sarcasm count? How about the ability to recall obscure alternative rock bands from the 80's and 90's? Anyone remember the Hoodoo Gurus? Flesh for Lulu? No? Don't worry. You didn't miss much.
Pop Quiz #2 - If you had to choose the most awesome of all instruments to play what should you choose? Clarinet? No. Oboe? Definitely not. The guitar of course! Do you know any oboe players? I didn't think so. Guitar heroes have cool names like Slash, The Edge and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Hopefully with diligent practice I can achieve a reasonable level of proficiency in a couple of years. That coupled with some other steps should make me a more awesome person...eventually.
But I digress. My real reason for bringing up these great artists is to highlight step one on my patch to ultimate awesomosity. LEARN AN INSTRUMENT.
As I near 40 I realize that I have few quantifiable talents. Does the adroit use of sarcasm count? How about the ability to recall obscure alternative rock bands from the 80's and 90's? Anyone remember the Hoodoo Gurus? Flesh for Lulu? No? Don't worry. You didn't miss much.
Pop Quiz #2 - If you had to choose the most awesome of all instruments to play what should you choose? Clarinet? No. Oboe? Definitely not. The guitar of course! Do you know any oboe players? I didn't think so. Guitar heroes have cool names like Slash, The Edge and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Hopefully with diligent practice I can achieve a reasonable level of proficiency in a couple of years. That coupled with some other steps should make me a more awesome person...eventually.
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