Traveling
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Friday, January 5th, 2007Today sucked. I had to get up early, and fight traffic to get to work. I had way to much to do at work to get ready for being gone for a week. I had to work late and get stuck in horrible traffic on the way home for a nearly two hours commute. I took Skype for a walk to Mud Bay to get him food for while I will be gone in the pouring rain - the one on Pine was out of his food, and I had to walk to the one on broadway. I’m soaked, starving, stressed out, and still need to do laundry and packing so I can get up at 5:00 am to fight my way across two states to cover CES.
What a day.
Next up: CES
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007I didn’t have the best start to the new year in that I got quite sick last Friday and ended up spending pretty much my whole four days off for the holiday in bed. The good news: I’m on the mend and now am no longer on deaths door, and am merely toting about a giant collection of phlegm lodged right down in my lungs.
Live is a busy blur getting ready for CES and to hand responsibility off for a week at work. I’m 100% psyched about going to Vegas to cover CES and see what the next year in portable electronics will bring. I have a puppy sitter arranged for Skype (thank you Brien!), my bags packed, ticket in hand, and have the portable life primed: Saturday can’t get here fast enough.
Power play
Friday, November 24th, 2006
Another shot taken on the way home from Walla Walla today. I actually wish I could go back and take it again with the focus point slightly higher on the electrical pole, but I still love this shot. It was taken at the same location as this shot of the Fruit and Antiques store outside of Yakima.
“Power play” by sparktography
Antique store
Friday, November 24th, 2006
On the way back from Walla Walla I stopped to let Skype stretch his legs and to grab a few pictures of this antique store I pass each time I travel to Eastern Washington. The photo just begged to be “aged” in post so I happily obliged - although with a few twists of mine own both from the Lensbaby as well as in Photoshop.
“Antique store” by sparktography
Return from Eastern Washington
Friday, November 24th, 2006Thanksgiving was good this year - 2 days with the whole family in Eastern Washington can be fun. Between Janet, Dave, Mom, Dad, Skype, and myself it was a pretty full house for the Toews family.
There were some great memories made over the holiday: dad burning the turkey, Skype getting a giant beef bone with real raw beef still stuck to it, watching Monty Python with the family. I gave my old Powerbook to my parents (an early Christmas present) and was quite pleased to see how much use my dad got out of it in even the first day - I think it’s good to see them getting more into technology.
I took the following picture while driving back with Skype today:
I’m glad to be home and have an actual weekend ahead of me. I have a little work to do, but hopefully it will be for the most part a chance to simply lay around and relax - something I have not done in far too long.
“Return from Eastern Washington” by sparktography
Over the pass and through the woods
Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006The good news is I made it to Walla Walla safe and sound. The bad news - I’m not home right now. I actually wouldn’t mind traveling if I could bring my whole condo with me, but I just like having my regular schedule, and my things arranged around me in my special little way.
Aside from the stress of getting out the door this morning (thanks to a work emergency, and forgetting things multiple times, and Skype being rather fussy) it was actually a fairly uneventful trip - the passes were rainy but clear, and traffic was moving at a clean 70-80MPH the rest of the way home.
Now that I’m here I have to admit that it’s nice to see the whole family. Last time we were all together was when my grandma died - and obviously I’d much rather see them under the guise of giving thanks rather than mourning the dead. I think this is actually the first time that the whole family (my sisters husband Dave included) has been together under the same roof with Skype - he’s been rather excited about the whole experience and the loads of love that he’s getting slathered on top of his already love-laden life.
I have taken a bunch of pictures already while I’m down here. I won’t have an opportunity to go through my workflow until I get home, but soon enough I promise to post something here.
The Archetype
Tuesday, November 21st, 2006
What better to tote and protect my slim new Macbook than the Archetype: a bag that busts out the cork for form fitting balance between style and function. Seriously - I love this thing. It’s padded enough that I’m not paranoid about my new precious getting dinged or dropped, but sleek and light enough (10oz) that it’s still a portable little package for running down to the coffee shop, or between meetings.
After I got off work I picked up Skype and went down to South Seattle to see the always friendly Darcy from Tom Bihn, and pick up the Archetype that I had ordered. They hooked me up with a 2nd generation ID bag to review so be on the lookout over at Gearlive for more details and a through review soon.
Tonight I pack. I hate packing, but if I don’t do it tonight then tomorrow I’ll be in a big panic trying to get it done prior to heading home to Walla Walla. Skype is already excited to see everything lined up and ready to go - he loves trips!
“The Archetype by Tom Bihn” by sparktography
Glide on through
Saturday, July 8th, 2006It’s been a while since I’ve posted - I’ve been busy entertaining Adam and catching up at work. It’s actually been a pretty fun week (Suzuki driving aside) and I’ve been up to all sorts of things.
Most likely the two most exciting events from my week both relate to audio: I got Electroplankton for my DS, and a surround receiver for my entertainment center. Not much to say about the receiver except that I like it and it falls into that beautiful category of things in my life that are big, black, and sexy. Now I just need to get some better speakers and I’ll be set.
Electroplankton is far from a “typical game” and is more of a user friendly sound toy and I have been having a lot of fun reviewing it and creating all sorts of little soundscapes with it. Think a touch sensitive synthesizer with a marine theme. I’ll be posting a more through review to Gearlive at some point in the near future so keep an eye out for it.
This morning I had to wake up rather early to take Adam to the bus stop in Yakima and pick up my precious GLI. After driving the Suzuki for an entire week I had almost gotten used to it and it was so nice to get back into my car. Zuki really did help remind me why I love the GLI so much - driving home on I-90 was a true pleasure, gliding over the pavement smoothly listening to my iPod and sportily flirting with motorcycles.
FREEZERTRON
Tuesday, July 4th, 2006I got back from Walla Walla on Sunday night after a nice day with the family. I ended up bringing my friend Adam back up from Walla Walla so he could get away and spend a week up in Seattle. When I go back to Yakima next weekend to reclaim my precious car I’ll drop him off there where he’s a short bus ride home.
Monday morning the best thing ever arrived: My Windchaser 12,000 BTU air conditioner. It’s big, it’s black, it’s rubberized, and it’s freezing cold! I set it up in my bed room and let it go. It’s so powerful that it glows blue and gives me radioactive special superhero powers!
I must say that after suffering through the heat last summer I’m quite glad to have something that will help me chill on through this year.
Now I’m off to go enjoy the 4th of July. I will be headed out to a BBQ at a friends on Lake Union to go watch the fireworks and relax before catchup mode starts at work tomorrow morning.
Technorati Tags: AC, Windchaser
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