Randy Pausch
I've been looking forward to seeing this. I must say, I expected a bit more than what seemed like at times to be an advertisement for Carnegie Mellow. But the story and lessons were pretty good.
If you knew you didn't have much longer to live, what would you do with your time? I hope I'm never in that situation, how awful would it be to know you've got a wife and three kids who are going to spend the rest of their lives without their husband/dad?
What were your childhood dreams? I don't think I remember mine. I know somewhere that I have a 50 things to do before I turn 50 that I made in high school, I'll have to pull that out and see how I'm doing.
12.29.2008
Let's blame poor nutrition and obesity on a weak economy!
Should have been doing all along?
I'm going to put this out there - I believe that a big part of why the economy is heading south is because the media don't have anything else to report and the abundance of information we're getting is causing very low buyer confidence.
Recently, I read an article stating that consumer spending on Christmas presents hasn't been that low since 1969. Who needs that much "stuff"? Also, the US has been cutting jobs and laying off people - maybe it's a good thing. We may be just trimming the fat of who's producing the least in the workforce.
Personally, I'm sick of hearing just how bad the economy is. Yup, it appears we've fallen on hard times - deal. I feel that we are now putting blame on it as an excuse. Yes, jobs ARE harder to come by. It may be harder to keep your job - I say work that much harder so you are so valuable to a company that they can't get rid of you. Yes, stocks, bonds and 401Ks aren't doing well, but did you expect that they would just keep climbing? Of course at some point we were going to not buy as many cars, trips, and material things so the production would be slower. I think we as Americans are to the point now where we can just go, "Oh, I'm late to work because of the damn economy" and our bosses would just nod.
Obviously, we had it coming. The "war" is costing us billions for one. And the main reason is that people had it good, bought houses, cars and things that they couldn't afford in the first place, and now wonder what the hell happened. Sure there were some predatory lending practices - but who can't look at how much they make and how much the house will cost and realize the latter is more?
I know we've fallen on hard times, but come on people - you can take some of the blame too.
Anyhow, in reference to the article, I'm curious - do you think the economy is causing us to make poor food choices? Do you think the economy would make obesity rates lower because we go without food, or higher because we choose soda over milk?
It did make me sad to read this article. We're paying tax dollars to feed people, I think we have a right to at least know that they're purchasing more than chips and candy with it. If that means educating people on the basics of nutrition and exercise, than so be it.
I'm going to put this out there - I believe that a big part of why the economy is heading south is because the media don't have anything else to report and the abundance of information we're getting is causing very low buyer confidence.
Recently, I read an article stating that consumer spending on Christmas presents hasn't been that low since 1969. Who needs that much "stuff"? Also, the US has been cutting jobs and laying off people - maybe it's a good thing. We may be just trimming the fat of who's producing the least in the workforce.
Personally, I'm sick of hearing just how bad the economy is. Yup, it appears we've fallen on hard times - deal. I feel that we are now putting blame on it as an excuse. Yes, jobs ARE harder to come by. It may be harder to keep your job - I say work that much harder so you are so valuable to a company that they can't get rid of you. Yes, stocks, bonds and 401Ks aren't doing well, but did you expect that they would just keep climbing? Of course at some point we were going to not buy as many cars, trips, and material things so the production would be slower. I think we as Americans are to the point now where we can just go, "Oh, I'm late to work because of the damn economy" and our bosses would just nod.
Obviously, we had it coming. The "war" is costing us billions for one. And the main reason is that people had it good, bought houses, cars and things that they couldn't afford in the first place, and now wonder what the hell happened. Sure there were some predatory lending practices - but who can't look at how much they make and how much the house will cost and realize the latter is more?
I know we've fallen on hard times, but come on people - you can take some of the blame too.
Anyhow, in reference to the article, I'm curious - do you think the economy is causing us to make poor food choices? Do you think the economy would make obesity rates lower because we go without food, or higher because we choose soda over milk?
It did make me sad to read this article. We're paying tax dollars to feed people, I think we have a right to at least know that they're purchasing more than chips and candy with it. If that means educating people on the basics of nutrition and exercise, than so be it.
12.03.2008
A Ryan and Katie vacation
After the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving with a brand new baby (also known as the "four family tour" - breakfast and late supper with Ryan's families, lunch and dinner with mine, and I'm not talking immediate family here), we unpacked our warm clothes and packed up the long underwear and plenty of layers for a trip to Lutsen, MN.
Now, admittedly, we first took this trip after finding out Cowboy Mouth would be doing a concert at Papa Charlie's. But it's a four-hour drive from home, so that meant a hotel stay. That turned into finding a deal where we could get two nights in a hotel, two lift tickets, AND two rentals all for the price of one. PLUS booking the multi-night stay got us free concert tickets. So, with Grammy Pammy and gRONpa begging us for more time with their grandson, we obliged.
Off to become snow bunnies gracefully jetting down the mountain, right? Wrong. At least for one of us.
After a late night with the Mouth at the bar, we layered up and hit the mountains the next morning. After TWO trips down the bunny hill for me (where you conveyor belted up) with Ryan coaching me on how to ski (previously, I went once in college with no instruction, it was a doozy), we got into the chair lift. Apparently there was a bigger bunny hill somewhere up there, but somehow we missed something and hit only blue squares and black diamonds. So, after two good falls, some swearing and nearly having to change my three layers of pants, we got to the bottom and found a map.
I became a bit more confident after we took the gondola to the other mountain. We ate a bit in the chalet, and feeling a bit better about my skiing skills, I whizzed down the mountain and took an amazing fall. My hat was ten feet from where I ended up, my sunglasses shattered and my knees, head and pride all injured.
Back to the ACTUAL Big Bunny we went. While I stuck to that one, and another similar one, Ryan took some other routes that ended up in the same place.
After we exhausted ourselves, it was time for the hotel hot tub and sauna, where we met three drunk girls. We got some dinner, then more hot tub and wine. I awoke the next morning and nearly fell out of bed, I still hurt from all that skiing/falling. But all in all a very good trip, and a night full of sleep with no late night feedings to worry about.
But again, back to reality. Now, I sit with a sleeping baby in a very Christmas-themed apartment, but in a few hours, I've got 18 rugrats to bring home from school and try to keep from killing each other, followed by around 30 more to watch while their parents work out.
It's a great day to be alive :)
Now, admittedly, we first took this trip after finding out Cowboy Mouth would be doing a concert at Papa Charlie's. But it's a four-hour drive from home, so that meant a hotel stay. That turned into finding a deal where we could get two nights in a hotel, two lift tickets, AND two rentals all for the price of one. PLUS booking the multi-night stay got us free concert tickets. So, with Grammy Pammy and gRONpa begging us for more time with their grandson, we obliged.
Off to become snow bunnies gracefully jetting down the mountain, right? Wrong. At least for one of us.
After a late night with the Mouth at the bar, we layered up and hit the mountains the next morning. After TWO trips down the bunny hill for me (where you conveyor belted up) with Ryan coaching me on how to ski (previously, I went once in college with no instruction, it was a doozy), we got into the chair lift. Apparently there was a bigger bunny hill somewhere up there, but somehow we missed something and hit only blue squares and black diamonds. So, after two good falls, some swearing and nearly having to change my three layers of pants, we got to the bottom and found a map.
I became a bit more confident after we took the gondola to the other mountain. We ate a bit in the chalet, and feeling a bit better about my skiing skills, I whizzed down the mountain and took an amazing fall. My hat was ten feet from where I ended up, my sunglasses shattered and my knees, head and pride all injured.
Back to the ACTUAL Big Bunny we went. While I stuck to that one, and another similar one, Ryan took some other routes that ended up in the same place.
After we exhausted ourselves, it was time for the hotel hot tub and sauna, where we met three drunk girls. We got some dinner, then more hot tub and wine. I awoke the next morning and nearly fell out of bed, I still hurt from all that skiing/falling. But all in all a very good trip, and a night full of sleep with no late night feedings to worry about.
But again, back to reality. Now, I sit with a sleeping baby in a very Christmas-themed apartment, but in a few hours, I've got 18 rugrats to bring home from school and try to keep from killing each other, followed by around 30 more to watch while their parents work out.
It's a great day to be alive :)
Family Vacation
So, my two-month old son is now a plane travel expert and been in more states than I was at 19. I think he's even picking up a bit of Spanish!
We took a much-needed vacation to California just before Thanksgiving. The trip started with an early morning flight out (we had to take the sleeping Keegster out of his car seat and snowsuit to get through security!) from 13 degrees in Minneapolis to 83 in San Diego. The three of us walked the La Jolla caves and shops before taking our time getting back to Palm Springs.
We stayed in the Springs for two nights at my favorite, semi-cheap tiki-themed hotel. Keegan went swimming for the first time and loved it (then not so much the second time), we ate GREAT food that I missed, and met up with JP and his girlfriend. The second day, we got out to Idyllwild to hike the Devil's Slide and visit various little shops. The next morning before heading back to San Diego, we hiked the Museum Trail (Lykken) and had breakfast with some friends.
That night we found Old Town and had GIANT margaritas and awesome Mexican food. The next day, we experienced Balboa Park, Ocean Beach and played around at Horton Plaza. For our last full day, we walked the boardwalk and piers of Mission and Pacific Beaches, went to Hotel Coronado and rounded out the night with some Inn-N-Out burgers with animal style fries.
It was pretty sad to leave, especially since it was a cool 80-90 degrees throughout our stay, and Minnesota was insane coldness. But California will always be just a plane, train, or automobile away.
We took a much-needed vacation to California just before Thanksgiving. The trip started with an early morning flight out (we had to take the sleeping Keegster out of his car seat and snowsuit to get through security!) from 13 degrees in Minneapolis to 83 in San Diego. The three of us walked the La Jolla caves and shops before taking our time getting back to Palm Springs.
We stayed in the Springs for two nights at my favorite, semi-cheap tiki-themed hotel. Keegan went swimming for the first time and loved it (then not so much the second time), we ate GREAT food that I missed, and met up with JP and his girlfriend. The second day, we got out to Idyllwild to hike the Devil's Slide and visit various little shops. The next morning before heading back to San Diego, we hiked the Museum Trail (Lykken) and had breakfast with some friends.
That night we found Old Town and had GIANT margaritas and awesome Mexican food. The next day, we experienced Balboa Park, Ocean Beach and played around at Horton Plaza. For our last full day, we walked the boardwalk and piers of Mission and Pacific Beaches, went to Hotel Coronado and rounded out the night with some Inn-N-Out burgers with animal style fries.
It was pretty sad to leave, especially since it was a cool 80-90 degrees throughout our stay, and Minnesota was insane coldness. But California will always be just a plane, train, or automobile away.
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