Sunday, July 31, 2011

August and Everything After [Counting Crows]

08-11ws by joshuaMLoliver
08-11ws, a photo by joshuaMLoliver on Flickr.

august's calendar. a bit of a return to nature for this one.


next up, july's big news.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Down and Out [Kid Cudi]

here is a link to a collection of stories/emails from people who have faced long term unemployment. I didn't spend a lot of time telling friends and family how terrible being unemployed was - I always took the good humour, positive outlook approach. I don't know that anyone can fully understand until they've been through it - and that's something i wouldn't wish on my worst enemies. This collection does a good job of highlighting some of the thoughts and feelings that you go through while you're unemployed, and also reveals just how tough the market is for some people.

down but not out

It Is A Crime [Sade]

here's an interesting link to a in interactive website depicting the time that crime happens in various US cities. You can seek out specific crimes, and the page will rearrange according to frequency.

time for crime

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Dallas [Steely Dan]

I've been waiting to post this link since I moved down to Dallas, and now I get to. Don't pay attention to all the lyrics, just focus on the chorus, which is my favorite part right now.

I'm sayin' goodbye, bye, bye, Dallas;
I can't stay.
Should have been at the palace
Yesterday
Bye, bye, Dallas; got to go


That's right, the Dallas adventure is over. OVER!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Changes [David Bowie]

So i've been not posting lately, despite my promise to post more. I apologize, but it's for a very good reason. There have been a slew of changes going on, and this weekend I will address them all. for cereal.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

The Heat Is On [Glen Frey]

Grilling. It's never really been my thing. Don't get me wrong, i like a good grilled chicken sammich, but in general, take it or leave it. My lovely wife, on the other hand, could exist purely on a diet of grilled chicken drumsticks, i think. When we lived in separate apartments, she had a tiny little weber grill - so small you had to put it on a table or hunch over it to cook anything. and, while charcoal is better (so they say) it was a pain to work with, cause it could take forever to get the thing hot, then good luck trying to cook enough food on that tiny surface area. when we bought the house, we upgraded to a big ol' 4 burner gas grill, with upper rack, additional side warmer, etc. it was a big deal for her to move from charcoal to gas, but we actually grill a lot more with this thing, cause of the ease of use.

Thing is, i don't like to be outside in the summer sun, standing next to a giant flaming heat source. Also, I dont like to have little pieces of burnt on my food, which tends to happen on the grill. Char marks - no thanks. and, as it turns out, yesterday i also singed off most of the hair on my right arm. so grilling for me is a bit of a challenge. i try to be supportive - "sure honey, let's do chicken on the grill" but i'm really thinking "i could just as easily eat cereal tonight".

When we have people over - more in the past, less now that i live 600 miles away - we cook foodstuffs on the grill. it's just the way we do things around here. normally that's brats and dogs and burgers. while i might not care for grilled food, i do like to experiment in the kitchen. at our cook-outs people have been introduced to my creations, in the form of "world famous burgers". i figure a catchy title makes the fact that it could be a disaster go down a little easier. in the past i have made jambalaya burgers, Hawaiian burgers (pineapple inside the burger) and just yesterday we had taco burgers.

so far, i think its a tie - jambalaya burgers were a big hit. hawaiian burgers not so much. yesterday's taco burgers were a mixed bag - most people said they liked them, but some people said it in that 'my mother taught me manners' way, and i had one myself (obviously) and it wasnt what i expected or intended. so i'm calling the score 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 tie.

I've got some other ideas for "world famous burger" recipes, but i'm willing to take suggestions, too. how about it, dear listeners? any crazy burger ideas living in those heads of yours?

also - hope you all had a good 4th of july.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Firework [Katy Perry]

2011-07WS by joshuaMLoliver
2011-07WS, a photo by joshuaMLoliver on Flickr.


2011-07WS-ALT by joshuaMLoliver
2011-07WS-ALT, a photo by joshuaMLoliver on Flickr.


look, i've been absent for a little while. sorry about that. the quarter ended, there was all sorts of training and prep for the next quarter, etc. i know it's no excuse, but let me make it up to you with a new set of calendars for July? these are widescreen, but if you follow the link you can get to a standard sized one as well.

hope that makes it better - more soon, i promise.