revjim.net

So we're not going to West Texas for Thanksgiving. Yes, I had my heart set on it. Yes, it was very much a part of my therapy. Yes, I imagine it feels a lot like taking Methadone away from a recovering heroin addict. It's my own fault, I've learned my lesson and it won't happen again. If you want more details than that buy me a drink and we'll talk.

The good side of this is that I get to spend some time with friends and family. I also get to have Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday with my family including my grandparents with whom I don't think I've ever had a Thanksgiving. If I'm lucky, my brother, his wife, and my nephew will be there too. I'm still going to look for a decent hike for one or two days of the week, though, and I intend to take a lot of photographs both in and out of the studio. I'll even do it alone if I have to.

I have the worst luck. On Thursday, for the first time ever, I started downloading TV shows from the Internet. It never even occurred to me that there might be any legal issue with doing so what so ever. On Friday my Internet service was disconnected when a complaint was filed by Universal Studios against me. Apparently, sharing recordings of televisions shows is illegal despite the fact that they were broadcast unencrypted all over the globe. And, just my luck, I got caught.

If anyone happens to have Battlestar Galactica episodes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from this season recorded and would like to share them with me let me know. Of course, I wouldn't want to acquire something for free that I already pay my cable company for, that would be stealing. I think. Err. Wait. Anyway. I'd also like to entertain ideas regarding methods of sharing your recorded episode with me that would not be considered illegal. Is it legal for me to look through your living room window with binoculars (with your permission of course) while you watch a pre-recorded episode of a Television Program? What if I keep my eyes closed the entire time?

it's hard to be the better man
when you forget you're trying
it's hard to be the better man
when you're still lying
you're still lying

– Brand New / Handcuffs

I now, officially, own a pair of hiking shoes. They are the most comfortable thing I have ever tied around my foot. I want to wear them 24 hours a day. With the weather here being fairly mild, the terrain here being fairly flat, and the fact that I don't have anyone to do any real backpacking with, they will probably suit me for most of my outdoor needs. However, I would like to acquire a sturdier boot for more strenuous treks and colder weather as well as a more ventilated hiking shoe for summer and shallow water hiking. Maybe I can get a good deal on the summer shoes in the off-season. We'll see.

I went running around downtown on Saturday by myself: I took a few photographs; listened to some music on the street; had a cup of coffee; lusted over the beautiful lofts and huge spaces being turned up every day for creative minded people. I saw some absolutely beautiful art, too — paintings, sculpture, and photography.

I got a little jealous, though, talking to the photographers. These people are travelling the world, experiencing rich cultures, and seeing things I will probably never have an opportunity to see. Most of them aren't filthy rich, nor do they have companies funding their expenses. They just happen to have found that equilibrium between marketing their work and producing more of it that allows them the opportunity to travel and explore. They treat themselves and their passion with importance and command that others do as well. They work, first and foremost, to please themselves. Maybe I should have been taking notes instead of looking at their photographs.