SoundByte 60
Sixty episodes? Really?? This week’s show is an Early Monday Edition again – but there’s a good reason for it. Updates, music, thoughts, and all the stuff you come to expect from your favorite Boston podcaster are all in this show this week. Thanks for downloading and enjoy!
This Week’s Music:
- Shades of Love – Josh Gallahan
- Future Memories – ATB
- Wishlist – Pearl Jam
- To Love Somebody – Nina Simone
- Single – Natasha Beddingfield
- Proud Mary – Tina Turner
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07
- Having a meta-Sunday. I will get out of my head, though, and do a show, I promise
# - Promised to do a show, and I will. It might just be an Early Morning Monday edition #
- found my 1st Gen nano Seems so damn antique at this point! #
- settling in for a quiet evening while he sleeps… #
- Tomorrow starts a journey down a path I know is tricky. Here's hoping I make it to the finish. #smokefree #
- Today's weather: snain (snow n rain) #
- Songs to quit smokes by: Teeth by Lady GaGa #
- Songs to Quit Smokes By: All Apologies by Nirvana #
- Made it without any real struggles so far. Mentally, I'm ready for this….#smokefree #
- 24 hours and my body continues to heal. This isn't easy, and trying to do it is scary, but I know I'll be a better man for it. #smokefree #
- ♪What I'm listening to: These Days – ATB #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Made Of Glass – ATB #
- Check out the 2.35 mi walk I did with @runkeeper #runkeeper http://bit.ly/dxcxsi #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Long Way Home – ATB #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Some Things Just Are The Way They Are – ATB #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Sirens Of The Sea (Above & Beyond Club Mix) – OceanLab #
- and the workday is already overwhelming…fabulous! Vive le LUNCH break! #
- kind of in a take-no-shit kinda of mood. a bit of a nic craving, a bit tired, and feeling overwhelmed a little…not a great combo, but… #
- RT @universalhub: Kenmore Square jeans store held up at gunpoint yesterday http://bit.ly/bEOsQg //CAREFUL OUT THERE! #
- United States of Tara, 6 Feet Under, Mad Men, Alias, Oz. You next!#fivefavoritedramas #
- What I'm listening to: Right Here (Departed) Brandy♪♩♬♫ for @cranky_pants. We will get there, together. #brandy #
- Lunch #
- So it's day 1. Been a little more enraged today, but also didn't sleep well last night.Could use coffee, but that's a trigger… #smokefree #
- and by day 1, I mean day 2 #
- RT @txalan: Can I call it day? // ME TOO?? #
- Each minute, each hour I'm getting better. Sense of smell has increased a lot! Got to find better ways to cope with work stress. #smokefree #
- Such a beautiful baby! Love my new niece Tracey! #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Memory – Fragma #
- Day 3 and feeling like a truck hit me.Very restless sleep, still a little ragey and light-headed.Could use a day to sleep.Still #smokefree #
- so, I've transitioned from being grumpy/angry/nic-fit boy to just plain tired and grumpy. I suppose that's a good thing…I NEED solid zzzs #
- free burrito at @Boloco on School St = perfect lunch/afternoon snack! Line is long but moving very quick – great service w/smiles! #
- rolling through day 3 and it's much easier today…awful tastes in my mouth, and weird sensations in my my nose/throat/sinuses… #smokefree #
- Wanted to have a great dinner w Nate…spent the entire time nic-fitting and enraged…bad night. Still #smokefree #
- Morning all…not a whole lotta sleep, but certainly not as upset as I was last night…here's to another day #smokefree #
- Doing the best I can with the strength I've got. Not superhuman…simply human. #smokefree #
- 12 hrs ago: WIDE STONKIN' AWAKE. Now? can barely keep my eyes open… #
- strolled BostonCommon in the snowfall…very tranquil. #
- Not my finest day, and I resolve to do better tomorrow. Reminding myself I'm human is quiet comfort #smokefree #
- What I'm listening to: My Saving Grace ATB♪♩♬♫ #atb #
- One more shift at DSW to go #
- Bed…and hopes of a full nights rest. #
- Ahhh…Friday! Good morning all got a full nights sleep and feeling good. #smokefree #
- the password for my workstation at work is Fiji…everyday, I'm reminded of a place I want to visit one day… #
- RT @massteacher: RT @GlobeEducation: Dramatic shake-up planned at 12 Boston public schools – http://b.globe.com/91X6pQ #
- So, Boston's weather forecast is looking pretty good for the weekend. Anything going on? @BostonTweet @universalhub #
- okay..the "Download Full Movies" group on FB? total spam, total junk…BEWARE. I keep getting it from my friends on FB…. #
- Finally Friday Freedom: last shift at DSW, weekend with Nate and Friends…and lotsa sun. It's gonna be awesome #
- Last shift at DSW tonight…relief. #
- What I'm listening to: Teeth Lady GaGa♪♩♬♫ MARCHING ORDERS #ladygaga #
- DONE #
- Sleep is apparently not my strongest suit… #
- Where's a good place in Boston to see the sun rise? #
- Fabulous day in Boston! http://twitpic.com/16yen8 #
- Wandering around Beacon Hill area. Pics to follow later #spring #
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A New Tuesday
Get Moving
So, I woke up this morning, at my usual 5:30, but unlike most mornings I’ve had over the past 17 years, I did not immediately go outside for a cigarette. No, no. Instead, I put the new sneaks (as seen above) I had got last week, and decided that I needed to get a little walk in before starting my day.
It wasn’t much of a walk – RunKeeper marked it at 2.35 miles. It honestly felt like a good way to start my day. Far better than any rolled, dried tobacco product could ever make me feel. Next time, though, I’m thinking of bringing my camera. There are some amazing colors in the sky in the morning – pinks, purples, blues, grays – that I would love to capture and share. It did feel awesome, however, to get out and be on the move this morning. I didn’t sleep that well last night, which I think is going to happen as my body adjusts to the new chemistry going on inside it. Still, I feel alive, full of fresh air, and have a rediscovered bounce in my step.
In other news, my time off request was approved, so now I need to get the ball rolling with regards to shots and prepping to go to Ethiopia. I’ve got a few months yet, but I still need to get things in line.
In any regard, here’s to a better way to start my day, and to hoping you all have a good one too!
-Thom
SoundByte 59
Good Morning All! It’s an Early Monday Edition of the show, so nevermind my bedroom voice and groggy tone. Today’s show is just a few updates, and the reason why I decided to wait till March 1 to record a show. Hope you all enjoy, and thank you so much for downloading!
This week’s music:
- Don’t Rain on My Parade – Bobby Darin
- Baby When The Lights Go Down – David Guetta featuring Cozi
- Swept Away – ATB
- To Love Somebody – Nina Simone
- The Storm (Inpetto Remix) – Jerry Ropero featuring Cozi
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A Quiet Sunday
I know, I know, I should have put out a show today. I got my notes all together, and nearly started recording, but the ADD kicked in, and I started the dishwasher instead. Just as it was finishing, Nate came home, and as he was out late last night, I didn’t want to keep him from catching a few zzzs this afternoon. In fact, he’s still sleeping – a 31 hour stint of awake time yet again. I love him to bits, but I get so worried when he does this to himself. Call me Worrywart Wanda, I guess.
This morning, I will admit, wasn’t without it’s productivity, however. I managed to dive head-long into a story I’ve been writing for a bit now. It’s a story about a young man who wakes up and realizes what opportunities he missed by following instructions, rather than his own personal instincts, while in college. I know that sounds super-generalized, but I don’t think I can really give anymore out than that. Someday, you’ll be able to read it, but for now, it remains a nebulous creation of yours truly. That, and it’s four other sibling-stories, are sitting there, looking up at me everytime I open my Google Docs account, and saying “do something with us, will you?”
Yes, my stories talk to me – like little children.
Along those lines, I did manage to get my FAFSA filled out and in the mail today. Now, all I need to do is secure one more letter of recommendation – something I’m going to do start after writing this post – and get my transcripts from UNH sent to Goddard. After that, I just hit the “Submit Application” button on the Goddard website, then cross my fingers. Hard. And my toes.
Gosh, there aren’t many hurdles left for me to overcome with this application, are there??
Don’t mind me, just having a bit of a reality moment.
…
Anyway, so I managed to do that this morning. I’m liking the way my editing skills are starting to take initiative, too. I feel I can really look down the bones of my stories and pull out the essential bits, and refine them to where they sound reasonable and logical, and closer to what I had initially envisioned. I suppose this skill just comes with time and practice, but of course, I wouldn’t have known that without first going through the paces.
I also want to drop a quick note to my Brother and Sister in Law as they welcome their new daughter (and my new niece) Tracey into the world. I haven’t had a chance to see the little sweetie, but mom and baby are doing okay, by all accounts, and are resting at the hospital for a bit before coming home. Hopefully next weekend, I’ll be able to go meet the little darling.
In other news, there’s not much else going on. It’s my last week at DSW this week (three more shifts – Monday, Thursday, and Friday). I’m pretty pleased with that. I’ve been fighting off the urge to just walk out of every shift since I gave my notice, but I’ve managed to keep it together, so far.
I guess that’s it! I’ll have more to talk about on tomorrow’s Early Morning Edition of the From Bostonia podcast. I want to go a little deeper with my writing, and my thoughts on my writing, and as promised, I will talk a little about the photo shoot I was at last night. I do hope this post finds you all well. I’m keeping the Chilean people in my thoughts, and I hope you are too.
-Thom
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28
- SoundByte 58 on it's way shortly #
- There's a little too much cute in this weeks show…beware. #
- shout out to @jcmarple for a segment of this week's show #
- Coffee, camera, good shoes, and sunshine = Off on a wander around Boston on a lovely day! #
- Apart from the ever-present wind, had a great wander through Boston's financial district. Pics to follow #
- ♪So far away [Original Mix] – Kaskade #
- ♪The One (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix – M1 Edit) – Kylie Minogue #
- ♪You can have it all – Zoo Brazil #
- ♪Sensitivity – Shapeshifters #
- ♪With You – Electrobios #
- ♪Nadia – Shogun #
- Jesus…it's like some monster took over my music stream…I keep posting songs!! #
- ♪Armin Van Buuren – Never say Never #
- ♪Party Of Politics [Original Club Mix] – EDX #
- ♪Always – BT #
- ♪The Ghost In You – BT #
- Ack!! My "In the Mood" App has hijacked my iTunes! #
- ♪Le Nocturne De Lumiere – BT #
- ♪#308 Trance Around The World with Above & Beyond – Above & Beyond #
- So yeah…can't isolate the prob with music tweets…may need a new Twitter acct… #
- I *despise* Sunday train service in Boston… #
- Just had an amazing experience with a beautiful family. Will go into details tomorrow #
- It's official: headed to Ethiopia for two weeks at the end of May. Very excited! Details in a post tomorrow morning #
- What I'm listening to: Far Beyond ATB♪♩♬♫ #atb #
- For some reason, I'm ok with Monday this week…a good thing. #
- Loving the sun at lunch…esp since the rest of the week is looking likes wash, weather-wise. #
- Work… #
- What I'm listening to: Tonight (Above & Beyond Mix) Dirty Vegas♪♩♬♫ #dirtyvegas #
- hmm…for some reason, I'm super sound sensitive today…could use a nice quiet room of my own today. #
- I know I'll live to regret this, but if this is a weatherman's version of a rainy day, I can deal with it (not a drop on the ground yet!) #
- Off to Needham for in-law dinner #
- I am filing taxes, and want to personally thank DSW for screwing up my deductions…now I owe. #
- ♪Rain [Seamus Haji Big Love Remix] – Mika #
- ugh..owe $661…but getting a refund from MA to offset some of that (thankfully) #
- Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" … Just LOVE this song! #
- love me love me say that you love me #
- hmmm…data entry is soul-sucking #dailyrevelations #
- RT @someecards Sarah Palin's dilemma: http://some.ly/cD8nRU //So true… #
- Drunkie Nate quote: your hands are cubicles.
He meant ice cubes
# - deep in the trenches of work, and yet my thoughts are elsewhere… #
- Geek Cute? Chemistry professor named 2010-2012 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow – SMU: http://bit.ly/duxYt0 via @addthis #
- using Pandora to entertain myself at work, and its like it reached inside my music library and is playing from it…does Pandora do that? #
- RT @AndyTowle: UPDATE: Dubai Mall Evacuated as Aquarium Cracks http://bit.ly/ak0nYT … THE SEA ANIMALS ARE TAKING OVER! #
- just listened to Olbermann's show from last night…very powerful commentary #HCR #Obama #
- Bova's calzone for dinner…delish! #
- Ugh…not happy about going back out in this 'liquid subshine.' oh well. I know I float more than melt
# - That 10 minute catnap was a tease…back to work (DSW) tonight. 8 more days n I'm a free bird!! #
- Water does flow uphill…when driven by gale-force winds! Who knew?! #
- Glad to see @cranky_pants made it home safe to Boston in the middle of this weather chaos outside. #
- Nordic race-skiing is so intriguing… #
- Great commercial P&G #olympics #
- Well done USA Men in Nordic Combined! #
- In such a good mood! I'm an uncle again, it's Friday, and there's a good tune in my ears #
- More precip in Boston…frozen kind #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Shut Your Eyes – Snow Patrol #
- ♪What I'm listening to: Warmer Climate – Snow Patrol #
- ♪What I'm listening to: You Could Be Happy – Snow Patrol #
- G'mornin' all #
- What I'm listening to: Love Will Find You (ATB and Heather Nova) ATB♪♩♬♫ #atb #
- Nearly home for a stint with Nate before we get on with our weekends #
- sipping a little liquid sunshine and heading out into the night shortly. #
- What I'm listening to: Edge Of A Broken Heart (Anton Bass Radio Edit) Kim Sozzi♪♩♬♫ #kimsozzi #
- Warm scala bread from Bova's Bakery smells divine. #
- What I'm listening to: Take Your Time The Love Bite♪♩♬♫ #thelovebite #
- So nice to see a father enjoying the company of his two sons (as seen on the train tonight) #
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SoundByte 58
So, this week’s show goes all over the place. I’ve got more news to share, all of it good, as far as I can tell, and I go into a little bit more detail about when Nate and I first met (Thanks to Julian from FoulMonkeys for the suggestion via Twitter). Thanks again for downloading, and be sure to check out the blog to make a donation to my mom’s massive bike ride for the American Lung Association!
This Week’s Music Pick’s:
- Music Sounds Better With You – Stardust
- Rose Rouge – St. Germaine
- Love Will Find You – ATB
- Clear Blue Water (Ferry Corsten Remix) - OceanLab
- I Love You (Cosmic Gate Remix) – Kyau and Albert
- Shades of Love – Josh Gallahan
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21
- Strolling to the wharfs along Boston's north end waterfront. Just need some cold crisp air. #
- What I'm listening to: Swept Away – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- It's now the Year of the Tiger! Grrrowll! #
- #lastfm #love A New Day by ATB http://bit.ly/9mhbu #
- New pictures: February Days http://teachingthomas.net/Photojournal/?p=320 #
- A Blog to Follow: http://mennonnosapiens.com #
- #lastfm #love River by Sarah McLachlan http://bit.ly/7cogE #
- RT @BostonTweet Looking for a VDay treat w/bite?Flour Bakery has an entire batch of Anti-Vday cookies just for you.http://twitpic.com/138c2l #
- It's actually not unbearably cold out today…this is a nice surprise! #
- Peaceful day as @cranky_pants recovers from a week spent prepping food to delight other peoples 'special someones.' Bakers need sleep too. #
- So @cranky_pants is up making dinner, and has suggested we have a viewing of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane." I think this is a FAB thing. #
- Catching some of the Olympics before dinner. Wmns Speed Skating. Go USA!!! #
- Ended up watching Running With Scissors. Another good movie #
- Its a day mostly off (work at 6pm). Feels like a blank slate day. Oh the possibilities! #
- School app? Done! Now to work on my FAFSA and figure out letters of recommendation… #
- #lastfm #love Gravity (2010 ATB Club Mix) by ATB http://bit.ly/841mEe #
- Finally did a podcast it's a long one…watch this space for more… #
- What I'm listening to: Shades of Love – Josh Gallahan ♫♬♪♪ :::dancing while cleaning house::: #
- I like the idea of being a house husband. I really, really do #
- ahhh…clean kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. #goodhousehusbandry #
- I believe the USS Constitution is having a 21-gun salute to the Presidents #
- BOOM BANG BOOM #
- Nate's home, getting gussied up to take me out to lunch! http://twitpic.com/13fts4 #
- Lunch/Dinner with Nate — at Wagamama http://gowal.la/s/3Qkw #
- Leaving the comfort of my home to go hawk shoes… #
- Got that liberation sensation again #
- What I'm listening to: I Love You (Cosmic Gate Remix) – Kyau & Albert ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Shades of Love – Josh Gallahan ♫♬♪♪ for @cranky_pants! #
- Mardi Gras tomorrow #
- #lastfm #love A Million Stars by BT http://bit.ly/cCoQLY #
- Snow!! #
- What I'm listening to: Every Other Way – BT ♫♬♪♪ beautiful song #
- being taken to lunch for Chinese New Year Thx boss! #
- off for a Chinese New Year's Lunch Happy Year of the Tiger everyone! #
- Full of Dim Sum, ready for a nap… #
- I just voted for http://tweetphoto.com/11615737 check it out! #TweetPhoto #
- Home with hubby on a snowy evening = pure bliss #
- #lastfm #love Love Can Kill You by BT http://bit.ly/87GVCw #
- Lots on my mind today. I'm hoping to find and keep focus while at work today… #
- What I'm listening to: It's Beginning To Get To Me – Snow Patrol ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: I Love You (Cosmic Gate Remix) – Kyau & Albert ♫♬♪♪ #
- Going mostly social media silent today was a good thing. Needed the focus. #
- Good night fellow tweeters n FBers. See you in the a.m. #
- This song makes me want to drive, or run a distance. ♫ http://blip.fm/~l7nkf #
- RT @arminvanbuuren: Isn't asking money for a wifi connection in 2010 the same as asking money for a colour tv in your hotelroom? #
- What I'm listening to: Le Nocturne De Lumiere – BT ♫♬♪♪ #
- Short Building Syndrome http://flic.kr/p/7E2h5j #
- What I'm listening to: L`acrobat – Ferry Tayle & Static Blue ♫♬♪♪ good walking tune #
- morning all…let's just get through Friday in one piece, shall we? #
- why are we paying attention to Tiger Woods…why do we need to know this much about his private affairs, regardless of how tawdry they may r #
- ah Friday, how I have a split personality issue with you… #
- What I'm listening to: Tonight (Above & Beyond Mix) – Dirty Vegas ♫♬♪♪ #
- Lunching #
- The ROBINS have returned to Boston! http://twitpic.com/1457xf #
- Just gonna put it out there: Working two jobs means missing my husband and it sucks sometimes. Today, especially. There, said it; own it. #
- RT @Boston_Police Crews responding to Congress and Hanover Sts, burst steam line has melted the pavement. Traffic impacted, avoid area. #
- Two-weeks notice given to DSW. Very pleased about that. #
- Gonna be a pleasant day in Boston today #
- Before leaving DSW, we successfully purchased another 6 months worth of shoes #
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St. Valentine’s Day
Ahh, Sunday. The day I have forcefully kept as my very own, free and clear of any work-related obligations, and a day when I can do/create/be anything I want.
Today, though, is also Valentine’s Day. It is a day that I will be spending with Nate, doing anything we like, but as a couple. I know, for years, I used to LOATHE Valentine’s Day, and I’m still not a huge fan, on the principle that love between two people should be celebrated everyday, all the time, rather than get glamoured up in pink and red and shoved into a storefront in the form of chocolate boxes, stuffed animals, cheese-ball cards, and pink champagne. That said, it’s easier to accept such a holiday from this side of the single/coupled fence. I’m coming to terms with it.
I will be doing a podcast at some point this weekend – maybe today, maybe tomorrow – and I have loads to share. I’m thinking tomorrow morning, as I actually have President’s Day off! I wanted to share, however, some of the pictures I’ve been taking over the past few weeks. It’s been so damn cold that I haven’t really had a chance to go out for a proper photo shoot. Those days are coming, though. I hope so, at least…the cold is driving me a little closer to insanity at this point.
Click for More!
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14
- Woah. Bright sun! Mornin all #
- Had the *best* time with friends last night…cautiously optimistic about the Facebook pics to come… #
- playing around on my linux-based laptop. kinda wish more people I knew had linux… #
- Wow. Had no idea I had two hours worth of writing in me That felt AMAZING. Now, must eat! #
- RT @itsmecassieb What is up with the pantless ads this year….My thoughts EXACTLY #
- Dove for Men? Good ad…deffo see the target for tonight is middle-aged men. #superbowl #
- Scary dodge commercial!! #superbowl #
- Such an interesting study in Americana when you watch these expensive ads. Makes me think… #
- GOOGLE AD? Awesome #
- The turf at the superbowl looks like florist foam #
- Pretty sure I still prefer rugby over American football. Just sayin' #
- New SoundByte on the way through the intertubes #
- No heat in office today…
# - ssshhhivvverrringgg #
- I have eaten my sandwich to increase calorie burning inside me, as I can no longer feel my fingers, or toes thankfully, heat fixer here.. #
- Still no heat at work. I'm going home #
- Good night all. Very long day… #
- not NEARLY enough sleep (reaching for the cuppa joe) #
- #lastfm #love Toca's Miracle '08 (Inpetto UK Radio Edit) by Fragma http://bit.ly/cNG7Vb #
- leaving in 2 hrs feels SO nice #
- IT JUST HIT ME: NEXT MONDAY = OFF FROM WORK! #
- I used #Shazam to discover Shut Your Eyes by Snow Patrol http://www.shazam.com/music/web/track?id=44214781 #
- Google Buzz? Hmmm…exploring #
- Crawling home…dead tired #
- What I'm listening to: Shut Your Eyes – Snow Patrol ♫♬♪♪ #
- First flakes in Downtown Crossing @universalhub #
- What I'm listening to: Take Your Time – The Love Bite ♫♬♪♪ #
- RT @BostonTweet: Buy a burrito at @Boloco today and get a second burrito for free on Thursday or Friday. http://bit.ly/dkLmut @cranky_pants #
- What I'm listening to: The Way (John Dennis Mix) – Divine Inspiration ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Tristan Da Cunha – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Together We Rise – Armin Van Buuren ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Don't Rain On My Parade – Bobby Darin ♫♬♪♪ for @cranky_pants #
- I have spent the day posting some of the soundtrack I live by. I hope you all don't mind #
- Oh, so it starts snowing as I walk home from work…good times #
- Feeling nebulous…for lack of a better word. #
- 9:25 and to bed we go. Side effect of a strained week so far. Here's to hoping it improves. #
- What I'm listening to: Hyperballad – Bjork ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Still Here – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- Off to work again. #
- What I'm listening to: Shut Your Eyes – Snow Patrol ♫♬♪♪ #
- #lastfm #love Every Other Way (Armin van Buuren Remix) by BT feat. Jes http://bit.ly/34Gj6l #
- Up and being very productive. There's nothing like an influential e-mail to get a ball rolling again. #
- another major piece of my school app is done. Still working on my potential reading list… #
- ♪Mind Dimension 2 – Tiga #
- ♪Hands Open – Snow Patrol #
- ♪Galaxia – Ferry Corsten Pres. Moonman #
- ♪L.A. Nights (ATB`s 2010 Energy Club Mix) – ATB #
- ♪Animal – Lost It.Com #
- ♪I Put A Spell On You – Nina Simone #
- Let this good mood continue through the day, please. #
- RT @universalhub: Memo to T workers: Photography is NOT against the law on the T #mbta http://bit.ly/bTyLBL #
- What I'm listening to: Beggin' You (Armin van Buuren Remix) – Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren ♫♬♪♪ #
- All around, a pretty good day. Lots to ponder. #
- What I'm listening to: Feel Your Love (Original Mix) – Kim Sozzi ♫♬♪♪ #
- Gin & Tonic to soothe my nerves…it's just what I needed #
- Mmm…what's this new taste? Oh insomnia you say? How delightful #
- Getting up out of bed to go to work. I just need a few more hours. #
- RT @Chris_Noble Glad its the weekend! // me too! #
- Only an hour n a half left till my weekend begins. Can't wait to catch a quick nap and plunge headlong into relaxation mode! #
- What I'm listening to: #307 Trance Around The World with Above & Beyond – Above & Beyond ♫♬♪♪ #tatw #
- Home and unwinding. Methinks it's time for a beer…just because #
- UFO Hefeweizen: http://twitpic.com/131btd Delicious! #
- Feeling better than I have all week. It's amazing how time spent with @cranky_pants makes life better. #
- Out for the evening, this time without the rage remainders of work #
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Thursday Morning Over Coffee
I do not know why, but it seems we’ve entered the darkest part of winter. Yes, yes, I know the sun is coming up earlier and setting later – it’s been doing that since December 21, 2009. Still, this time of year, the period between high winter and the beginning of spring, has become a real struggle as of late. Any energy that was on tap from the New Year, along with the resolutions and future planning, seems to have dried up, or just gotten lost in the thick of it all. I’m not sure why, or how I’m going to navigate my way out of this little hole I find myself in, but it’s taking all I have to just keep trying. No, I’m not necessarily whining (okay, maybe a little), as I know, once I find my feet under me again, I’ll be off and running like a shot. It’s just that I’m not getting any traction. The same can be said for life at work, and outside of work. I just feel like I’m keeping my head above a waterline that’s creeping up ever-so slowly.
I wonder what causes this? I know I’m not the only one who’s facing this feeling. Maybe it’s that, from a kid, we’re programmed to have a week off in February to gather our strength and get back on our feet? Maybe that’s what I miss? I do know, after a brilliant realization, that I’ll have next Monday off from at least one job, which, for me, is a sweet blessing. I’m hoping to spend my morning relaxing, somehow, and will have the energy to do the things I’ve been meaning to do for a while now. I still need to reconnect with influential people in my life and cajole them to write me a letter of recommendation. I still need to file my damn taxes. I still need to complete my FAFSA. I still need to write, and find some space in all this chaos to stoke that fire inside me which is nothing more than a bed of luke-warm coals at this point. I need to send an e-mail to my grandmother. There are so many things I need to accomplish – maybe I’m just feeling overwhelmed? Maybe this feeling of being in neutral is a direct response to how much I need to get done?
No, mom, it’s not procrastination. I will say, though, it might be lack of time management skills. Maybe I need to schedule myself more?? Ugh…I despise schedules, truly.
Anyway, as you can see, my mind can’t seem to stay on one train of thought for more than two seconds. It’s bouncing around like a pinball. I’m hoping to get through this cup of coffee, maybe pour another, and finally feel like I can start to face today. Just today.
-Thom
SoundByte 56
Hey all! It’s another Early Monday Morning show! We had an awesome weekend, which I recap, and reveal a little bit about where I’m at, both in my head, and looking forward. Thanks for downloading the show, and look for more posts on the blog – I don’t do it enough, I know.
XX
Thom
This Week’s Music:
- By Your Side: Melina
- My Feeling: Junior Jack
- Bliss (Alpha 9 Club Mix): Alpha 9
- My Saving Grace: ATB
- Feel Your Love: Kim Sozzi
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-07
- Up early on a frosty Sunday with a podcast to do, and some writing, hopefully. #
- there's something wholesome about a bowl of oatmeal on a frosty morning. #
- Conjuring up more of my story while listening to #TATW Ep. 305 #
- 1000 words after a few weeks of nothing? not a bad recovery step. Need to do this more!! #
- moment of total geekdom: become a fan of From Bostonia on Facebook! #
- ugh…thought I was making a FB page…instead it was an app…not what I wanted! Sorry for the nothing invite!! #
- Hmmm…not pleased with my latest soundbyte…will try again later. #
- Managed to re-record a soundbyte. It's got more energy than the earlier one, I think… #
- now what do I do?…. #
- What I'm listening to: Take Your Time – The Love Bite ♫♬♪♪ #
- #lastfm #love To Love Somebody by Nina Simone http://bit.ly/MDj0s #
- so strange to send a letter to an old professor of mine…like I expect him to remember me?? #
- total botch job on the beard today, but at least I smell nice, thx to John Varvatos and @cranky_pants #
- Ugh, rent is due today #realitybites #
- RT @BostonPhoenix: Don Draper for Mass. Senate? http://bit.ly/clAPAs // YES PLEASE!! #
- What I'm listening to: Get Your Freak On – Missy Elliott ♫♬♪♪ #
- just started singing "Somebody to Love" by Queen for no apparent reason…. #bizzaremonday #
- What I'm listening to: Take Your Time – The Love Bite ♫♬♪♪ with memories of Gloria on I-684 #
- Had a rough shift at the shoes…and they want me to show up in a tie tomorrow. Heck, a suit was suggested…um, no. #
- Cup of tea prior to bed will help me sleep, I hope. Till tomorrow… #
- Awake? Already??? #
- #lastfm #love Take Your Time by The Love Bite http://bit.ly/2RrlXO #
- So, I'm reworking my study plan for school…and of course, I need to stop and get ready for work…could use a solid day to focus on this. #
- #lastfm #love The Antikythera Mechanism by BT http://bit.ly/3kLNlf #
- What I'm listening to: Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright ♫♬♪♪ #
- change at work makes me grumpy. I don't know why. It just does today. Tomorrow, hopefully not…. #
- What I'm listening to: Lucky Love (Acoustic Version) – Ace Of Base ♫♬♪♪ #
- RT @anamariecox: DADT hearing today: SHOCKINGLY UPLIFTING. And, gays, you have a new hero: @TheJointStaff (which sounds dirty! even better!) #
- today has been one of the craziest days in a while in the office…and I still have shoes tonight I kinda want a dark corner to curl into #
- oh, and the Self-Doubt monster was growling all day today… #
- What I'm listening to: Absolutely Not (Chanel Club Mix) – Deborah Cox ♫♬♪♪ #
- Crawling home and straight to bed. Good night. #
- I have a strange habit of drinking a half glass of OJ (with pulp) cut with water just before bed…it's a sweet fix before I sleep. #
- #lastfm #love Into The Dark Ferry Fix by Ferry Corsten http://bit.ly/c12aGI #
- happy birthday Norman Rockwell #
- What I'm listening to: Jellyhead (Motiv 8's Pumphouse 7" Edit) – Crush ♫♬♪♪ #
- I would really like to transition to a different position than the one I'm currently at with this job #trainofthought #
- What I'm listening to: Midnight At The Oasis – Maria Muldaur ♫♬♪♪ #
- Such a Dead-Zone afternoon – in desperate need of fresh air, hotter coffee, and @cranky_pants 's face #
- What I'm listening to: Get Your Freak On – Missy Elliott ♫♬♪♪ #
- Home with Nate brought to you by Finally, A Damn Night Off! #
- Chicken soup for the soul also is good in my belly! http://twitpic.com/118qj7 #
- There's nothing like a lucid scary dream to wake up to in the morning. How 'bout I write it out… #
- 1 1/2 pages later, anxiety is dealt with…I LOVE WRITING!! #
- I'll be reaching for coffee all day today…haven't really slept well for a while now #
- What I'm listening to: Galaxia – Ferry Corsten Pres. Moonman ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Shades of Love – Josh Gallahan ♫♬♪♪ #
- hmm…wicked dizzy spell on lunch…that's a bit worrisome. Guess I'll keep to the water this afternoon. #
- 1 hour of sleep later, and dinner on the way, feeling a little better. #
- http://twitpic.com/11fr6g – Say hello to Myss T Moonlyght! Make yourself a little more fabulous. http://www.dragulator.com #RPDR #
- http://twitpic.com/11fr9e – Say hello to Myss T Moonlyght! Make yourself a little more fabulous. http://www.dragulator.com #RPDR #
- Had way too much fun creating that concept of me in drag #
- It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me, and I'm feeling good! #
- Good luck @archerr with all the snow! #
- What I'm listening to: Tonight (Above & Beyond Mix) – Dirty Vegas ♫♬♪♪ #
- I'm kinda wishing Boston would get some of what's going to hit DC today…been such a let-down in terms of snow this year… #
- What I'm listening to: Big Love (The Dronez Mix) – Pete Heller ♫♬♪♪ #
- "Young Hearts! To Yourself Be True!" Loving the music du jour care of my #iPhone on random #
- wondering about this weeks podcast…got a few ideas, but nothing concrete. maybe I'm drying up? #
- Nerves of steel, please #
- Morning all. #
- What I'm listening to: By Your Side – Malina ♫♬♪♪ #
- Ok cannon, you scared me. #
- RT @universalhub Even better than Pete Bouchard's snow report: Baltimore weather guy forecasting snowpocalypse http://bit.ly/d1mpZM #
- What I'm listening to: Tonight (Above & Beyond Mix) – Dirty Vegas ♫♬♪♪ #
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Mid-Week
I still can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. I’m feeling so tired, and beat down, surely, it must be closer to Friday than this? In any regard, I didn’t want to post just so I could bitch and moan. I wanted to just write down some of the thoughts that greeted me upon waking this morning.
Soon, there will be a shift in my life. Soon, if all goes well, my life will become a little restructured, and though I welcome a change up of things, I’m still wondering how I’ll make the adjustment. These changes, thankfully, have been coming at me in a semi-organic way – meaning if it felt good/right, I went with it; I am rolling with it. Still, as with most changes, there is an adjustment period, and it’s that time which usually causes the most anxiety in me.
Okay, so I’m talking rather nebulously, and for that I apologize. Honestly, after this Friday, I’ll go into more detail. I mentioned I have an interview for a new second/part-time job on the podcast. I’m also preparing myself mentally for the adjustment of school. I was working on my study plan yesterday morning, and as I was going into finer detail with what I want to focus on, and what I want my writing to explore, it really hit me that this whole process is going to take a large chunk of my already-short time. I may not have time to work both jobs, and attend to my studies. I would probably need to give up a job in order to create space in my day/week for the work I’ll be doing. I only hope I can manage to figure out a way to pay my share of the bills, and still be able to give the majority of my attention to doing my best with regards to school. Still, if there’ a will, there will be a way. It will be up to me to find it, and adjust. Always adjust.
For now, I do know I’m tired of working two jobs and having little to show for it. I can recognize when I’m not using my time in the most efficient way possible, or earning money in the most efficient way I can. I’m hardly using my degree, or any of my further education that I’ve already earned, so there’s lots of potential energy stored inside me that could be put to use. I could be commanding a higher salary, and it’s that realization that keeps me moving forward, trying to find the best balance of my time, and earning potential, to match my abilities and our expenses. Eventually, I will get there. Eventually, I will be in a more fiscally comfortable spot, with a work/life balance that comes close to the ideal for me. Until then, I’m going to be in flux, and I’ve got to keep on my toes.
Right…off to get ready to go to work!
-Thom
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-31
- up with the sun and wondering what the day will bring… #
- So an SUV goes by…BLASTING "You Can Leave Your Hat On." Single guy on the prowl?? Calling in the cougars?? #
- What I'm listening to: In Love With the D.J. – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- Fellow East Coasters, be well, stay dry, and don't get blown off course, if you can help it. Crazy weather has arrived. #NewEngland #
- send good thoughts to @cranky_pants, he's home sick today #
- So, I suppose we do now vote with how we spend our money…going to make more informed choices about where we shop. #SCOTUS #
- RT @OnPointRadio: What's next for US politics, US dmcrcy, after the SCOTUS bombshell decision on campaign finance. http://bit.ly/4xBbIU #
- Lunch #
- RT @Jeep4×4Bear: It feels like it should be Thursday for some reason #
- What I'm listening to: My Saving Grace – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- Off to foot job #
- Home and bed. #
- I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is only TUESDAY. That said, magical things happen to me on tuesdays @cranky_pants #
- Work was ok today. Who knew that was ever possible? #
- What I'm listening to: Appelle mon numéro [Manhattan Clique Remix] – Mylène Farmer ♫♬♪♪ #
- On my way home…might need to unwind a bit before trying to sleep. #
- Mornin all! Trying to kick this mid-winter doldrums with loud music seems to be working! #
- What I'm listening to: You're Not Alone – Olive ♫♬♪♪ #
- And fancy this: my iPhone has produced a good idea for my next podcast via random mix of tunes today. Gonna be a good one #
- Je veux ton amour et Je veux ta revanche Je veux ton amour, even. #
- feeling the music today…truly feeling it and wish I could dance around the office for a while. #
- sweet…Mary J Blige on KTU…LOVE HER!! #
- RT @change: Since DADT more than 13,500 gay, lesbian and bisexual soldiers have been booted out of the military: http://bit.ly/af4Fn9 #
- RT @ZachInBoston And on that note, Lunchtime! // DITTO #
- Michelle O looked mad…I kinda like that…powerful woman #
- Red and Blue is purple…color of Biden n Pelosi = bipartisan? #
- I want O's tie… #
- I just heard a cell phone? Really??? #SOTU #
- Ugh…not nukes #
- Repubs not in favor of Climate bill? #
- Glad to hear he's still for #hcr #sotu #
- wow…SCOTUS smackdown! #SOTU #
- G'night all…gonna get the recap on the SOTU tomorrow #
- Crisp, beautiful morning in Beantown #
- Overall, I was not that "fired up" by the speech last night. Maybe I'm just too cynical at this point… #
- wake up in the mornin' feelin like P. Diddy… #
- Do I feel like writing XML? no, not really…but I have to. #
- hmmm…then maybe just a portrait of our current president…REALLY LARGE. #
- What I'm listening to: Hyperballad – Bjork ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Fairground – Simply Red ♫♬♪♪ #
- okay…here's a helpful tip: before you call customer service, have a cup of coffee, wake up, and then call. don't do it when you're grumpy. #
- What I'm listening to: Edge Of A Broken Heart (Anton Bass Radio Edit) – Kim Sozzi ♫♬♪♪ #
- ugh…grumpy call #2 ..seriously folks…don't call anyone until you're calm, cool, and collected, esp. if you need something from me. #
- Flurries… #
- What I'm listening to: Perfect Exceeder – Mason Vs Princess Superstar ♫♬♪♪ #
- sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell. They told me so. #
- RT @ZachInBoston: Oh whoa. RIP J.D. Salinger. Wrote one of my favorite books of all time. #
- At Masa on Tremont bring on the Sangria!! #
- New pictures: Around The City Again http://teachingthomas.net/Photojournal/?p=312 #
- Still can't feel my legs/toes… It's damn cold in Beantown today! Be careful out there! #
- What I'm listening to: Dreams Can Come True – Gabrielle ♫♬♪♪ for @cranky_pants with Love #
- In the shadow of Learning http://flic.kr/p/7zeNiS #
- What I'm listening to: Sheep Go To Heaven – Cake ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Dreams Can Come True – Gabrielle ♫♬♪♪ #
- Let's hear it for the Haymarket vendors, still out selling in this frigidity! #
- Found Nate's doppleganger http://tinyurl.com/yacfwgr #
- Damn stupid link! this is what I meant: http://twitpic.com/10dxxc #
- Just watched "7 Pounds." What a damn good movie! Well done, Mr. Smith! #
- Feels like -10F in Boston today. Be careful my fellow beantownies!! #
- For real: http://twitpic.com/10hnd9 #
- Sometimes, the best news comes in a two-sentence email #
- Watching the hubby recouperate from a very early shift today. @cranky_pants sleeping soundly #
- British invasion music on WGBH? kinda liking it. #
- Unbelievable…just let the earthquake victims get the treatment they desperately need! Worry about $ later… #
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Tuesday Morning Random Ramblings
I woke up today with no intentions. I mean, normally, I wake up, make myself a cup of coffee, and sit down in front of the computer with the intention of putting some more words down, or catching up on the blogs I follow, or even just getting my iPhone updated. Today, though, none of that seemed to feel just right. I don’t know what’s going on with me, but lately, it feels like I’m just floating through my days, not really sure which direction I’m headed. I mean, I know I need to shower, eat, get to work, get home, then get to work again tonight. I also know I’ve got stuff I should be working on, and things I need to accomplish. It’s like just beneath the surface there lies all this motivation, but somehow, the surface of the pond has a skim of ice, and I can’t quite break through to that energy that lies just below, yet within sight. Even if I take a fist, or a hammer, to the ice, it’s strong these days.
And there I go talking in metaphor again.
I did manage to get my hands on a few books from the library yesterday, from probably the most disgruntled librarian I’ve ever met, I might add. Still, she checked me out, took my $.10 overdue fee, and at least she didn’t growl at me too loudly so as not to scare the children who were also in the library at that moment…
These are the books:
- How Fiction Works by James Wood
- Contemporary Gay American Novelists, edited by Emmanuel S. Nelson
- Rewilding the World: Dispatches from the Conservation Revolution, by Caroline Fraser
The last title was on a recommendation from listening to a show on NPR, and I know I’ve already got a STACK of books I should be reading, but from what I heard on the show (I think it was Talk of the Nation?), the book seems like it’ll be a good read.
Maybe I just need to get outside more often. It seems like, since we got back from Provincetown, I really haven’t gone outside during the day.
In fact, I spent most of last weekend inside, either at work, or here, at home, on the computer. Now that I think about it, maybe I’m just being super lazy, or avoiding the piles of work that are creeping in at me from all sides. Like my mom is keen to point out, procrastination has always been a fault of mine, and I just need to take the bull by the horns, knock off the BS, and get down to it.
Notice how the coffee’s kicking in, and my thoughts are starting to string together? Well, if not, I can certainly feel it.
So, here’s the plan, then. Strictly enforce a Twitter/Facebook blackout on myself for a few days, at least while I’m at home. Stop checking my damn phone for missed messages or updates from people. Take a little stroll in the morning to clear my head, and get me moving internally. Then, with a little music in the background, get down to it, and work some more on what I’ve been writing. See? When I put it down in writing, it doesn’t sound so hard, but when push meets shove, that’s where the true test of my resolve lies.
And, yes, I do enjoy a good stream of consciousness bit of writing from time to time.
SoundByte 54 Mid Winter Vacation Show
Today’s show is a reflection on the vacation that Nate and I took to mark our 9th year of being a couple. I also talk about where I’m at in my head, and where I am with regards to school, politics, and being social. It’s a reflective show, and a little random, but I hope you enjoy! Thanks for downloading!
-Thom
Leave a voice mail: (617) 466-9740
Today’s Music (in no order):
- Feel Your Love: Kim Sozzi
- Begging You (Armin Van Buuren Remix): Cerf, Mitiska and Jaren)
- A New Day: ATB
- Mysterious Skys: ATB
- Walking on Clouds: Tiesto
- Death and All His Friends: Coldplay
- Riddles in the Sand: Ron Hagen & Pascal M
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-24
- And I'm back, rested, focused, and engaged with my future. Bring it on! #
- Just had a lovely meal with the inlaws. Am in no rush to get home! #
- slowly lurching back to reality. #
- I realized this morning that the roar of the city is sometimes more than my ears can stand… #
- in an office with top 40 music on = bleeding ears and echos of GaGa bouncing in my brain…and not in a good way #
- RT @universalhub:NEWS: State officials investigating Cambridge ballot pre-marked for Brown in Senate election http://bit.ly/4yFKb7 (UGH!!!) #
- RT @veritable_virgo: Hmmm Tornadoes in CA, 3 Earthquakes this week. Anyone else think Mother Nature is getting pissed with us? // I DO #
- Off to Gram Centola's for a bite. Feeling post-vacation low spot…but @cranky_pants has succeded in making this grump grin again #
- TRAFFIC SUCKS WHEN YOU ARE FAMISHED. rant over #
- RT @veritable_virgo Massachusetts. Now is NOT the time to send a Republican to the Senate. // AGREED #
- Coulda slept all day… #
- RT @universalhub: Court says Canton can't stop mega-project just over the line in Westwood http://bit.ly/8QKFPZ #
- What I'm listening to: Somnambulist (Simply Being Loved) – BT ♫♬♪♪ #
- I kinda feel like I need to be a hermit crab for a while…shack up in someone else's home, and cover my face with my arms. #
- Having coffee with @cranky_pants — at Starbucks Coffee http://gowal.la/s/3adP #
- Excellent visit with friend for coffee, now I must eat!! And yes, my tweets are becoming food-centric #
- #lastfm #love One Small Step by ATB http://bit.ly/5m6KGF #
- #lastfm #love Death and All His Friends by Coldplay http://bit.ly/2APyUa #
- writing sample and intro essay for school app? DONE! Feeling pretty pleased about that, actually. #
- What I'm listening to: Right Here (Departed) – Brandy ♫♬♪♪ #
- RT @Jeep4×4Bear: Some podcasts rarely have anything positive to say about pretty much anything. I find that to be a shame. #
- Daydreaming and thinking of you, daydreaming and thinking of you…. #
- RT @jcmordecai: Shark featured in the Boston Phoenix's "5 for '10" bands to watch! RT http://bit.ly/6RQPle paper on newsstands today! #
- Delicious: http://twitpic.com/z508z #
- Early to bed. It's a good thing! #
- Something big may be brewing for me today (workwise) Keep me in your thoughts! (Details to follow) #
- I'm still kinda in shock that the SCOTUS just sold the voice of the people to the corporations and their bottomless coffers… #
- RT @rudepundit: I still can't get my head 'rnd the idea tht $$ = speech. So SCOTUS says that sum people get to have more speech than others? #
- #lastfm #love Feel Your Love (Original Mix) by Kim Sozzi http://bit.ly/8upb0s #
- New pictures: Mid-Winter Vacation http://teachingthomas.net/Photojournal/?p=305 #
- What I'm listening to: Feel Your Love (Original Mix) – Kim Sozzi ♫♬♪♪ cause it's stuck on repeat #
- Home is a great place to be at the present. #
- RT @BostonUpdate UN: Haiti government confirms 111,481 dead – http://b.globe.com/6cBKUS //we must do more! #
- To all my friends in snowy places on the east coast: please check the weather…and be careful #
- In fact, check here: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ #
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A Week Beyond
So, I know, I know…I’m overdue for a podcast. I promise, there will be a show this weekend, and probably an extended one. I’ve got so much to catch you all up on. This morning, though, I wanted to just get some stuff out in writing, and see where it takes me.
A week ago, Nate and I were tucked away in our little room in a quaint little guest house in Provincetown. A week ago, I was struggling to unwind, struggling to let go of my anxieties and just relax on our little break from reality. Today, I find myself struggling to get up the gumption to get out of bed, let alone be productive and creative. It’s like my body is here, in Boston’s North End, but my mind (and potentially my heart) have found a home away from home at the end of Cape Cod and are refusing to catch the next bus home. I’m clinging to the feeling of relaxation, of not taking myself so damn seriously, and of simply smiling because I woke up to see the day before me. I know, eventually, this feeling of floating will subside, and I’ll be looking at the calendar, wondering when my next opportunity to get away with Nate will be coming. For now, I’m just getting through the week, and hoping the weekend comes quickly and painlessly.
I am pretty happy with the progress I made this week with regards to my school application. I decided to just give it up, and submit my writing pieces. When I mean submit, I mean I’ve added them to my school application, with the unwritten understanding that I won’t be editing them again until I’m actually in school. I’ve put that whole fear of failure with regards to the words I wrote behind me, and now am looking at gathering the info I need to plan out two years of studying. I have a general idea of the overarching focus of what it is I’m going to be doing, but it’s the finer details that I’m worried over. I also need to develop a bibliography of books I’ll be using in my studies. It’s going to take some time, and some research, but I think I’ll get there, hopefully by the end of next week. That, coupled with filling out my FAFSA, will put my application to rest, at least in terms of my end of it. There’s still the letters of recommendation to collect, and transcripts to request. Soon, though, it’ll be complete. Then, it’s a matter of waiting to hear from Goddard.
There are so many other things rolling around in my head right now that need to be attended to, and sorted through, but I’m hoping a little downtime this weekend will prove to have the soothing effect I need. Right now, I just need to get my life in order, and get through the tasks I feel have fallen behind, organize my schedule, and set some reasonable goals in terms of my writing. I also get to undertake filing my 2009 taxes (joyful time), and hopefully get a sizable refund. That would come in VERY handy right now – especially in terms of putting money in the bank, and saving for our next adventure out.
Anyway, I’ve got to get ready for work, but know I’ll be back on the air this weekend, with a mouthful to say, I’m sure. Thanks for standing by!
-Thom
Having Returned
We needed that. We needed the chance to re-connect, to break away, and to take a breath. Our trip to Provincetown, MA over last weekend provided us with the perfect opportunity to do all we were missing during the holiday season last year. We shared each other’s company, we got out in the fresh air, we shared a few drinks, ate a fabulous meal or two, and took a few deep, well-earned breaths of fresh January air.
Below is some of the evidence of our little excursion:
Click for more!
I needed the chance to refocus my energies on the things that I began shortly after our last trip to Provincetown last October. I came back from that trip with a heightened sense of ability, a realization that our life was too damn confined and limited, and a real drive to move forward. This trip served as a refresher of those exact same feelings. I was able to jot down some thoughts while we were there, in a little composition book that I kept with me for most of our trips out. I was able to take a step back, and work on building up my own confidence in my abilities, and now realize that the only thing standing in my way is myself, even more than I thought before this trip. In fact, I realize more clearly now that I need to finish what I’ve started, not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of Nate, and our relationship. He deserves a chance at a life better than the one we have currently, and it’s my responsibility, not only as his husband, but as a man who owes so much to him, to provide for him, and for us. I can do that, as long as I am able to take the massive leap of faith in myself that needs to happen.
There’s so much going on in my head right now. I’m feeling myself stumbling over what to write, even here. I suppose, for now, I’ll stop, and go into more detail on my next podcast, which will probably be sometime this week, if not on next Sunday. For now, I’m just going to let the after-glow of the long weekend away continue to wash over me, and not get too wound up about things. Being overly anxious only serves to stand in my way when dealing with what lies ahead for me.
-Thom
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-17
- The snow and cold has inspired a little dark and stormy writing. Wonder what the summer sun will bring later this year… #
- There…new Twitter background. Kind of appropriate, methinks. #
- Kick-ass new coffee mug = a happy Thom. Thankyou @cranky_pants!!! #
- What I'm listening to: Let it Rock – Chuck Berry ♫♬♪♪ #
- ….reaching for more coffee…. #
- What I'm listening to: Weak Become Heroes (Royksopp's Memory Lane Mix) – The Streets ♫♬♪♪ #
- mom taught me how to dress in ME winters…glad that lesson remains: Layers, Layers, Layers – esp. in a chilly office – v. important. #
- What I'm listening to: Right Here (Departed) – Brandy ♫♬♪♪ for @cranky_pants with love #
- Hey! It's not pitch black out at 4:30! Love it #
- spent the last hour researching online and realized how much I miss this activity! JSTOR is my Friend! #
- What I'm listening to: #300 Trance Around The World with Above & Beyond – Above & Beyond ♫♬♪♪#tatw #abovebeyond #
- doing my damnedest to not let this furrow in my brow get the best of me. #
- Author of Eat,Pray,Love says that gay marriage will save the institution of marriage itself- http://tinyurl.com/ycg9jp8 (via @michaelajones) #
- I would rather be home, writing. #
- RT @CourageCampaign Urgent: sign the letter to Judge Walker. Tell him to televise the Prop 8 trial http://bit.ly/59ody5 #
- Back to work…again. At least the check will be bigger this week. I do miss my husband, though… #
- What I'm listening to: On A Good Day (Above & Beyond Club Mix) – OceanLab ♫♬♪♪ just to up my mood before bed…great tune!! #
- Up on very early side today…letting the coffee take me wherever it leads… #
- Nothing like a little creative fire to start off the day 0 – 2k words in 2 hrs! I was born for this… #
- final tally before putting the writing to rest for the day: 3753 words. #
- RT @pusspatrell No moneyman can with my love / It's sweetness that I'm thinking of. #
- the only problem with waking up at 3:30 am is that I've already eaten my lunch and am ready for a nap…at 10:45am. Such is life #
- And please, bring back the actual singer/songwriters on Pop radio..autotune has come…now it needs to go. #
- RT @MichaelSage: I'm seriously considering going back to bed. I don't have to work til tonight. // JEALOUS! #
- RT @maddow: I take this as a direct challenge to the snowman-making youth of America: http://is.gd/5OI0X / RMaddow broke ChinaSmack! #
- What I'm listening to: Please Forgive Me – David Gray ♫♬♪♪ because I love you @cranky_pants! #
- Can't wait to get out the door and get some food in my belly! #
- Had a FAB time watching a movie and eating too much pizza #
- Not up as early as yesterday. Still, @cranky_pants is making my bkfst and lunch. Who's luckier than I? #
- could have used more sleep, and the full-size week is dragging, but I know the weekend's not too far away! #
- What I'm listening to: On A Good Day (Above & Beyond Club Mix) – OceanLab ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Demons – Fatboy Slim Feat. Macy Gray ♫♬♪♪ #
- Beautiful winters day in Boston today! http://twitpic.com/x2mqu #
- What I'm listening to: Clear Blue Water (Ferry Corsten Remix) – OceanLab ♫♬♪♪ #
- RT @BostonPhoenix HEY! LISTEN! Nintendo's doing another Zelda game. http://bit.ly/8iv4nn
#laserorgy # - Going out for a beer with @cranky_pants. Anyone care to join us? #
- Friends http://flic.kr/p/7tZwYR #
- Party Vending http://flic.kr/p/7u4F5N #
- Home safe tomorrow, long day with both jobs #
- Snow is lightly falling on Boston #
- What I'm listening to: My Saving Grace – ATB ♫♬♪♪ #
- RT @universalhub: Logan shut down; plane evacuated http://bit.ly/7wfOoj // UGH… #
- RT @Boston_Police:Logan Airport now re-opened after an unknwn fluid in a plane's AC causing fumes,the planes evacuation and Logan's closing. #
- listening to KTU out of NYC on iHeart Radio…and wishing we lived closer to NYC. #
- What I'm listening to: We'll be Together Again – Billie Holiday ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Anthem – Filo & Peri/Eric Lumiere ♫♬♪♪ #
- What I'm listening to: Weak Become Heroes (Royksopp's Memory Lane Mix) – The Streets ♫♬♪♪ #
- Pondering dinner #
- Dinner: http://twitpic.com/xft26 #
- I used #Shazam to discover Celebration by Madonna http://www.shazam.com/music/web/track?id=49957914 #
- Had a fab time tonight with the boys! #
- Our #mbta conductor is too busy bitching about sports teams to announce the damn stops…time to upgrade the orange line… #
- Time for bed… #
- Good morning all! it's a balmy 12F in Boston…with a light breeze http://twitpic.com/xinop #
- The hub is making a fab disco mix cd for the ride to the inlaws today! Shake, shake, shake…shake your booty! @cranky_pants #
- Time to shut my eyes for a few minutes to nap like a cat in the sun. #
- The weather at P'town for our vacation: http://twitpic.com/xk0ik looks like perfect winter weather! Can't wait to go!! #
- RT @wilw I have discovered that iPhone and Blackberry cultists are as annoying as Mac and PC cultists.It's a phone,guys; a tool.Get over it. #
- And now that i've learned not to delete the spaces after my .'s… #
- ….waiting #
- Really enjoying the visit with the inlaws #
- Thanks to my inlaws for yet another fabulous dinner on a Sunday! #
- Home…full n happy. Now to unwind a bit… #
- Another 1400 words today…but I need to do a little character backstory first…gotta understand who is speaking in this one, and why… #
- New pictures: Winter 2010 http://teachingthomas.net/Photojournal/?p=299 #
- hmm…there's a frigid chill in the air…in the office..today. Hope they get the heat working… #
- RT @BostonUpdate: A&E: NBC ending Leno's nightly prime-time show- http://bit.ly/4Te1UT //marvelous decision. Just don't do a CSI replacement #
- RT @Rambleredhead: Hoping for the best for the trial in California for same sex marriage #
- RT @wordcampboston::Volunteer http://bit.ly/8EKozw #
- Just spent a good 1/2 hr worrying over the fate of gay marriage while on Boston Common…disconcerting to say the least #lgbt #
- I am so grateful for the friends I have who support @cranky_pants and myself, who we are, and what we have become. Thank you all! #
- Power is down … No computer = no more work today?? #
- Power's back…so bizzare…oh well..back to work #
- RT @BostonUpdate Local news update: Obama has no plans to campaign for Coakley – http://bit.ly/5wbWpk //except the OFA sent me a letter… in reply to BostonUpdate #
- Back to footsville (DSW)… #
- very pleased today is my Wednesday. #
- …today's a stellar day…at least, if I keep telling myself that, it will be true, right? :/ #
- What I'm listening to: Somnambulist (Simply Being Loved) – BT ♫♬♪♪ #
- morning all. hope your day has begun/does begin on the right foot. #
- RT @BostonUpdate: World news: Boston group sets up quake clinic in Haiti – http://bit.ly/5cyZJk #
- RT @katebornstein: RT @TheSHW: text "Haiti " to 90999 & $10 will go to Red Cross releif. #Haiti #
- RT @BostonTweet: TraniWreck is at the Middle East Downstairs on Friday at 9pm. http://twitpic.com/xxfck #
- RT @michaelajones: Yes, calling Rachel Maddow a man is homophobic – http://tinyurl.com/yahfdpl #
- 2.5 hrs…that's it. I can make it. #
- note to self: remove the sticker from the apple BEFORE biting into said sticker… #
- Liberation #
- What I'm listening to: Imagination [Tiesto Remix] ♫♬♪♪ #
- Came home to prezzies and this:
http://twitpic.com/xyv8a made with Sapphire, just like @Clarkyboy would have made @cranky_pants!! <3 # - RT @JayT RT @Alyssa_Milano: Dear Pat Robertson, You're a douche. Sincerely, Alyssa Milano #Haiti #
- 100k dead in Haiti?….unbelievable and so appaling. #
- Rocking the vacation status update #
- #mbta tell bus 2128 to turn on their headlights. #
- We are outtie in a half hour. Will tweet again next Tuesday. Have a lovely weekend all #
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SoundByte 53
Good Morning All! This show’s a bit different from the rest, thanks to Gavin’s great idea. It’s a musical recap of 2009, and as you will note, it’s an hour long. I hope you enjoy the music, and have a visit to the artist’s links that I’ve provided. I look forward to another great year of music for 2010, and look forward to sharing it all with you over the weeks and months to come. Just a reminder, there won’t be a podcast next Sunday, as Nate and I will be in Provincetown, but I’m sure I’ll have loads to talk about and share with you upon our return. Thanks!
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Frosty Morning Thoughts
This past week was the first full-length week of work since before Christmas. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for Friday to come. Now that it’s Saturday morning, and I’ve got a short shift at DSW this morning, then freedom till Monday, I’m feeling the effects of such a long week. I don’t know why, but everywhere I turned, I found something to stress over. If it wasn’t a terrible phone call from an irate customer, it was a project that needed to be done ASAP, or racing to get home in time to run back to my next job. I did find one morning to accomplish quite a bit of writing, but that was because, for some reason, my body thought 3:30 am was a great time to wake up. It was a nice respite from the rest of the week, but for the last two days, I’ve been playing catch up with my sleep. Only today am I starting to feel more like myself.
Nate made mention of the anxieties in my life right now during the week last week, and that’s been sticking with me for a bit. I suppose I am facing some rather big things right now, and maybe, underneath it all, I am worried about a lot. In no particular order they are:
1. School application. I need to finish/edit/submit the damn thing and just put it out there for all to witness. Letting go of it, and putting my work up for judgement does, in a way, terrify me. Okay, so it really terrifies me.
2. Work. Both jobs are building pressure on me, kind of like a pressure cooker you’d use to make canned beans. I can see the gauge on the top of the cover inching upwards in p.s.i., and I’m not sure how to relieve the stress, or let some of it go. I know I need to keep trying to leave the stress of work at work, but this week, I found that to be more of a challenge.
3. Health. I’m pretty sure I put on a little weight over the holidays, and though I really don’t want to think about it, and I don’t want it to be an impediment to my life, I’m reminded that I need to clean my act up and make the efforts needed to slim back down a bit every time I walk or move. Bits of me are a bit more round than I would prefer. Nate constantly reminds me that I still look fine, and when I look in the mirror, I know I’m not seeing some drastic need for a weight loss regime. Still, I feel it. It’s a general malaise that needs physical activity – be it a run or a brisk, long walk a few times a week or something more intense, like a gym membership – in order to shake it. I’m also feeling the pressure to make another attempt at giving up the nic-sticks so we can afford to go to they gym. This too must be done. I just need to find the willpower and wherewithal to actually make an attempt.
It’s not a really bad life I lead, and I know these stresses are minute compared to those that many of you, and most of the people around me, face on a day-to-day basis, so I try to keep that in mind whenever I feel myself going back into my shell. Still, these little points of anxiety are resting on me, I feel them, and I know they all need to be dealt with.
-Thom
So Many Thoughts
So, I’ve just spent the last hour doing research. I’m trying to build the bibliography I had mentioned in an earlier post, and I’ve discovered a side of me that I forgot was there – my inquisitive side. Digging deeper into citations, the reference lists of various scholarly articles, and pouring over documents that I could find online has proven to be not only successful, but as I go deeper, and dig further, I find myself smiling. Truly smiling. I want to go further with this, I want to see where this line of inquiry takes me.
I also want to see how it affects the writing I do. My goal is to broaden and deepen the writing I’m already doing. I’m still searching for the right tone/voice for my characters. For me, having a past, a sense of place, and a history to draw from helps in understanding who my characters are.
Of course, now it’s just after 7am, and I need to put it all on hold to go to work. ARGH!!! Such is the frustration of my life these days. I suppose getting up a little earlier might work – though I’m up at 5:30am as it is just to give myself this small window of time already. It just reminds me, daily, how different I want my life to be from what it is today. Someday, soon I hope, I will be living in a world where I set my own schedule, to a point, and where I can take the time/space I need to follow both my head, and my heart, and not just go chasing a paycheck.
