Dear World:

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[lazarillo]

Sleeping Guy With Hat

This is the point where I start to make up back-stories for the people I see on the train. First in line, guy across the isle (at this point there are probably only 7 people in this entire car... he's pretty much the only person I can actually see). Probably 25. Tennis shoes, headphones in. Baseball cap pulled down over his face while he takes a nap (it's 9:20 AM hippie...wake up). I'm going to say his name is Zach (or maybe Cory). He got on at Stamford so he's probably just out of college, working at a financial firm (not UBS or RBS... not for Cory... or maybe Zach). I bet he's headed to Philadelphia where he's inevitably from. He'll catch up with some friends and drink a lot of Fireball,

[lazarillo]

Question?

Who gets on an Amtrak train without bags? On the platform there was a family traveling with no luggage or anything. Sure, they could be going just as far as New York for the day... but then why not take the Metro North? I'm pretty sure an Amtrak ticket to Penn Station from Bridgeport is considerably more than a Metro North ticket to Grand Central. Who are these people? Traveling any further than that and why wouldn't they have something with them? They can't check bags in Bridgeport so that's not it. A day trip is a bit long for DC... they wouldn't even get there until this afternoon. It's a mystery.

[lazarillo]

[lazarillo]

Is Any Far Too Far?

This afternoon after work my significant other instructed me that we were going on "a quest." This ended up with us driving 4-5 hours round trip to a liquor store up-state somewhere that sold, in addition to numerous international varieties, my own favorite brand: Point Special Lager.

Of course, special or not, I'm not going to drink this beer any less than ICE COLD so it is currently in the fridge awaiting me.

The real question is this: Is it worth driving hours and hours to buy that one particular brand of beer?

The answer is yes (of course - and if you have to ask... well then I pity that you've never been in love with a beer before).

[lazarillo]

New Trend

I would like to start a new internet trend.

To be honest, I never really understood the whole "planking" phenomenon. Like a high tide that passes in the night, the whole matter passed me by as just another link on a blog, joke on AM radio, and clip on some late-night talk show.

And now it seems like the trend is waning.

BUT, something needs to replace it and I have a recommendation. I recommend that we begin a new internet sensation that I am going to call "balling."

Balling, of course, will be the opposite of planking. Rather than stretching out flat on some random surface, people who are balling will simply curl into a ball.

I really think we can make this work. Join me people.

[lazarillo]

I'm Not Proud (But I'm Also Not Quite Ashamed)

I'd like to say I'm a "good person" (though I have friends who would readily stand on both sides) of that argument. But I do, from time to time, engage in morally ambigious activities...

Who'm I kidding, sometimes I just simply do bad things. 

For example, from time to time (not often!) if I'm at a bar with a unique pint glass, I might take one. If it makes things any better, I would buy one if they sold them but they normally don't. So if I wish to have one for my very own my only recorse is to slide one into my pocket and walk out.

Now, at home I have quite a collection of pint glasses. Rest assured that I've purchased most of them. They are an excellent and useful thing to collect. They are the perfect size for drinks (beer of course, but also margaritas on the rocks, a glass of water, some soda, etc.) and they are the perfect size/shape/thickness to stick in the freezer. I've found that a drink served in a frozen pint glass is hard to beat.

This isn't a confession I guess. I wouldn't say I'm remorseful per se. I will do this again. I don't necessarily feel good about it, but it's true.

[lazarillo]

A Question For You

Which is more important, justice or forgiveness? I honestly do not know.

[lazarillo]

I just read that they have banned bullfighting in Barcelona. I can see and understand both sides of this story.

On the one hand, I appreciate that killing for sport is problematic and contains certain moral quandaries. On the other hand, it is a tradition that is practically emblematic of Spain itself. Although, if the Spaniards themselves are no longer in favor of bullfighting then, by definition, it is no longer indicative of Spanish culture.

I had the opportunity to view a bullfight in Castilla y Leon. I had mixed emotions about it at the time but left knowing one thing: Regardless of the morality of bullfighting, it really does highlight the best and worst of human nature.

The thing that most stuck out for me was how the matador won't kill the bull until the animal is exhausted, until it litterally buckles at the knee and bows before the man. How human.

How human the concept that it is not simply enough to defeat our enemy, but to actually make our enemy bow before us. It's reminiscent of total war, of unconditional surrender, and of the greed innate in all of our kind.

[lazarillo]

Things That Make Me Sad

It makes me sad that, after blocking the people who were following me to Spam me (lots of naked people if you must know), I have nobody leaving notes.

[lazarillo]

I think this is pretty much the most worthless item one could have in a kitchen. And that's really saying something from someone who has no problem collecting quite the assortment of kitchen gear. But really... I'm pretty much as uncoordinated in the kitchen as one can be and even I can manage to handle the job of cracking an egg. I suppose this files under "if I can do this, anyone can do it."

[lazarillo]

I don't care if it will no longer be the tallest, the Empire State Building will remain to be one of the most impressive buildings in the skyline.

[lazarillo]

How Long?

I pose a question:

How long can I randomly blog before I blatantly start to repeat myself? My best guess is some slight repetition within 2 months and then some all-out "haven't we heard this exact same thing before" situations.

Only time will tell.

[vintageanchorbooks]

[lazarillo]

vintageanchor:

With apologies to Harper Lee.

Well, this is just plain hilarious. Good book, funny poster. Puns are fun.

[simko]

I bought a seven dollar pen because I always lose pens and I got sick of not caring.

Mitch Hedberg (via simko)

[lazarillo]

Monterrey, Mexico is one of the most beautiful places. Remember when Northern Mexico wasn't host to a brutal and quite frightening drug war?

[lazarillo]

The Dinner We Really Want

This evening I decided to skip dinner (or hold off on it...) because I am later going to a social function where there will be plentiful hor dourves including cheesecake bites, mini-cupcakes, and some make-your-own smores. Instead of a wholsome dinner I plan on gourging on those snacks instead.

Am I proud of it? No. Is it going to happen anyway? You bet.

[lazarillo]

Things I Hate

I hate the phrase:

"If you're early you're on time; if you're on time you're late."

On the one hand, it's just not true. By very definition early, on time, and late mean specific things.

But more than that, as someone who appreciates the concept of punctuality, this phrase just runs me the wrong way. If a meeting starts at 8:00 I want people to be in their seats, notepads open, and ready to go at 8:00. This applies for both meetings I attend or lead.

Now, if I'm attending a meeting I know that it's my responsibility to leave whenver I have to to travel however far I have to to be ready on time. But, just like a library book that is due on the 30th is not "really" due on the 27th, a meeting that starts at 8:00 does not "really" start at 7:56.

Once upon a time I took a class that started at 7:00 PM. The first day of class I became incredibly nervous that class actually started at 6:45 because when I arrived at 6:50 the professor had already handed out the syllabus, introduced the class, and had begun to lecture. But I wasn't late... the class was scheduled to start at 7:00. Consistently though, throughout the semester, class would begin whenever the professor arrived.

Why did this bother me? For one reason, people selected this class, in part, because of it's start time. Maybe I didn't have time to get to class by 6:45? And, in reality, I wouldn't have been bothered if the professor showed up early and chatted for a bit, or even answeres questions about the reading... but to hand out assignments, to introduce guest speakers, and to begin lecturing! Well, that was unacceptable.

Secondly there are the times when I am leading a meeting. Personally, I find it frustrating to have a meeting start at 7:00 and have everyone present and ready at 6:50. Maybe I'm a procrastinator (OK, I definitly am), but still, I want those few minutes to prepare and be ready.

So my suggestion: Be on time. I value promptness and punctuality. But don't ever feel the need to be early to be on time.

Rather, be on time to be on time.