I’ve Got Commonality

It all started with last last Friday’s blog, specifically with my eggs photo…

Read Along With Me
Today’s passage from Notes To Myself.

Anxiety, fear, panic, etc., is fleeing from something. There is something over there in the corner of my mind, some thought, some image, that I don’t want to look at, that I want to run away from.

Fear is often an indication I am avoiding myself.

To all who have helped me — Thanks.

Smile, Your On Candid Camera
In that photo from last Friday I off-handedly mentioned that the greenish egg was seated in the “Fannie Flagg seat on ‘Match Game’.” Admittedly, I hadn’t thought or heard of Fannie Flagg in years, but her name popped into my mind when I saw that photo.

On Friday night when I saw Paula Poundstone in concert she included a story about speaking with Fannie Flagg. I was flabbergasted! Poundstone’s reference made a little more sense when I listened to last week’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! podcast on my drive home yesterday. This program was recorded last Thursday, Paula Poundstone was one of the panel contestants, and lo and behold Fannie Flagg was the celebrity guest.

I Have A Hard Time Shooting People
It felt good to be around friends last night. Amazingly, I have not seen some of my Flickr friends in over a year and I am non-to-sure how I let this happen.

I took off from work and headed to Elliott Street Pub only to get lost again in Castleberry Hill, this time thanks to the maze of closed streets thanks to years of neglect and the tornadoes.

There was a great turnout for last night’s shoot. I’d guess there were about forty there to shoot the two models. Shooting models is not my photography forte, so I was not surprised that I didn’t force my way to shoot and wound up leaving a little early. In my defense it was a weeknight, had already consumed my two beers, and wanted to head home to process some of the photos that I took.

ITP Flickr Pic
From last night’s Atlanta Photographers Guild meetup.

I’m still struggling to get the shots I want.

I Finally Have Something In Common With Bourdain
On Monday night I watched some television, mostly stuff backlogged on my DVR. Two of the shows I watched were episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”, one on his trip to New Orleans and one in which Bourdain does his first tour of duty as a (line) chef in New York’s Les Halles in over six years.

While both episodes resonated with me it was the New York episode that made me think the most. You see I am trying to do what Bourdain did, just in the world of software development. For the first time in eight years I am diving head first back into the world of software development. Substitute “programmer” for “line cook” and my world parallels that shown in the episode exactly; I am slower, my skills are rusty, and the good times are remembered much better than those in which I struggled as I am struggling today. However, unlike I am scoffing at Bourdain’s conclusion that his former life is for the young and plan to keep my ship on course. Now where did I put my bifocals? 😉

The Doppelganger Project
A handful of years ago my friend Stacy (who was Stacey back then) asked me a question that has haunted me ever since — “Who is your nemesis?” Recently I thought that the girl who lives near Old Fourth Ward and drives the Jeep sporting FSU / NY Giant paraphernalia was my doppelganger but I think that Stacy correctly identified her as a nemesis.

I think that I’ve identified someone who is a better doppelganger — Merlin Mann. At one time I thought that I had a man-crush on Mann, but I’ve now since heard enough to move him into the doppelganger category. Why you ask? Mann an I seem to share a lot in common. He and I are both in our early forties; spent formative years in Florida (he in Tallahassee, me in Clearwater); have a love for independent music and were Husker Du fans back in the day; have worked in high-tech, and I will soon own The Flip video camera because of his recommendation. About the only differences in our lives is that Mann made the move West whereas I stayed East Coast, he was able to figure out how to get married and have a child, and he’s a Canon shooter whereas I shoot Nikon.

Me At George’s? Yes. Me With Yuengling? No.
I swear that my brain has turned to mush. For the life of me I cannot remember to pack Steve’s Yuengling in the car when I get my stuff ready for George’s.

Weather permitting I will make my return to George’s and running tonight. It will be the first time in a month that I’ve been able to fit George’s into my schedule.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – meh
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Black Rebel Motorcycle Club — “Weapon Of Choice”
Website Of The Day – I have to admit that I’ve not tried TagCow (don’t even think about it Stacy!) yet, but the name amuses me. According to TagCow’s website they’ve invented a way to automatically tag photos. Interesting…
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly Foot Mileage – 0 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – My car
Monthly Marta Rides – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 2 (2)

April Goals
1) Run no fewer than 75 miles
2) Ride Marta no fewer than ten times (five round-trips)
3) Read at least one book
4) Make my bed every day

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]