Back in grad school, my friend and periodic reader Gary and I created what we called "The Intensity Sign." It was, simply, the word "INTENSITY" hastily scribbled in pencil on a sheet of yellow lined paper as a reminder to be... well... intense. Focused. Driven. You post it over your desk and it reminds you that the time has come to get the damn job done and move on.
You might guess that I'm in need of such a sign right now, plunking away these workday hours on a blog, and you'd be right. But these days I'm in need of deeper motivation than a reminder to be motivated, so to speak. I'll note a few... perhaps you, the reader, can share a few of your own.
"My family" -- yes, yes, of course. I'm working really hard because my family needs me to. OK, now that this is out of the way...
"Stickin' it to The Man" -- I have this theory that I could, if I wanted, get done most of what I have to do in any given week in about two days. This would leave me three days a week to obsessively pursue useless activities -- expounding on the media and politics, writing and reading comic books, surfing the Internet for online comic books, drinking coffee, sketching comic books -- while being paid a healthy salary. Downside: Amusing in the short term, mind numbing and self destructive in the long term.
"Becoming The Man" -- if I work really hard, I could get promoted, gain more responsibility, make more money, and buy a cute little cabin up in the woods by a lake and hide there during my infrequent vacations. I could be The Man, the guy in the office that people humor because they have to, follow because they must and fear because, well, because I'm The Man. Downside: Hating myself.
"Completion of Current Self-Loathing Cycle" -- (or, Avert My Chronic Impending Disaster). Even though my blog gets updated much more often, I don't like myself when I act like this. Usually it happens after I finish some big projects and I'm not sure what to do next. I should go on vacation. Fly a kite. Stick my feet in a river. Catch a fish. And then come back.
With Intensity!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
What to Do in Cerritos, California
And now, the long-awaited review of my latest business trip. I recently spent three days and two nights in Cerritos, Calif., a non-descript town of unknown size about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Let's get right to it!
Best Place to Stay -- Sheraton Four Points
I stayed at the luxurious Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Cerritos. It was very conveniently located. We could walk to numerous local restaurants, like Macaroni Grill and Starbucks, as well as shopping like Old Navy and Borders.
The hotel itself was well appointed. The shower left something to be desired -- while competently designed, it took a little over an hour for the tub to drain. My feet certainly got a good soaking!
However, it didn't have wireless access in any room, except the lobby. Look, Mr. Sheraton, Motel 6's and Holiday Inns have wireless -- you can spring for Wireless, too!
Best Restaurant -- Arte Cafe or something like that
On night 2, we had a late meal at this restaurant in the mall across the street. I ate the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and some vegatables. They were suitably delicious, but through the entire meal, I kept thinking about how I was eating lamb, which is, as you may know, a baby sheep. A baby!
Best Ribs -- The Wood Grill
Shout out to the Wood Grill, where I ate a full rack of baby back ribs. From the chest cavity of a pig! Why was I thinking about this all weekend?
Best Long-Form Magazine Article -- Harper's
The previous might have something to do with the article in the May issue of Harper's which discussed how the modern pork producer must engage in rather disturbing forms of artificial insemination to breed pigs, since the old-fashioned way carries high risk of disease, which, due to the lack of genetic variation among pigs selectively bred for their large size and deliciousness, would be disastrous.
Best Movie -- Mission Impossible 3
I have a colleague whose example encourages me to embrace my inner geek. His office is an ode to the tech gadget, decorated with comic book posters. So, traveling with him for the first time, I rode his wave. First, we made the pilgramage to Fry's electronics, a geek warehouse par excellence, and where he beat me out for a $60 2GB flash drive, and where, I must admit, I could have spent a lot of money of I so desired, but I didn't. But he got the flash drive, USB hub and a power strip, because, you know, you can't have too many.
Then we had dinner, indulged in three little bowls of tiramisu, and then trooped off for the 10 pm showing of MI: 3. This was a popcorn movie if there ever was one, and we each stuffed our faces with a medium popcorn and Coke.
The popcorn was stale, the Coke unnecessary, and the movie incredulous but fun. My eyes are still popping from the glare of Tom Cruise's teeth, but frankly, I went there to see unbelievable stunts, explosions, high tech gadgets, more explosions, gun fights and more explosions. Ka-Boom! Mission Accomplished!
That's about it for my trip to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. I hope you'll clip and save this advice, and you can do what I did in Cerritos!
Best Place to Stay -- Sheraton Four Points
I stayed at the luxurious Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Cerritos. It was very conveniently located. We could walk to numerous local restaurants, like Macaroni Grill and Starbucks, as well as shopping like Old Navy and Borders.
The hotel itself was well appointed. The shower left something to be desired -- while competently designed, it took a little over an hour for the tub to drain. My feet certainly got a good soaking!
However, it didn't have wireless access in any room, except the lobby. Look, Mr. Sheraton, Motel 6's and Holiday Inns have wireless -- you can spring for Wireless, too!
Best Restaurant -- Arte Cafe or something like that
On night 2, we had a late meal at this restaurant in the mall across the street. I ate the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and some vegatables. They were suitably delicious, but through the entire meal, I kept thinking about how I was eating lamb, which is, as you may know, a baby sheep. A baby!
Best Ribs -- The Wood Grill
Shout out to the Wood Grill, where I ate a full rack of baby back ribs. From the chest cavity of a pig! Why was I thinking about this all weekend?
Best Long-Form Magazine Article -- Harper's
The previous might have something to do with the article in the May issue of Harper's which discussed how the modern pork producer must engage in rather disturbing forms of artificial insemination to breed pigs, since the old-fashioned way carries high risk of disease, which, due to the lack of genetic variation among pigs selectively bred for their large size and deliciousness, would be disastrous.
Best Movie -- Mission Impossible 3
I have a colleague whose example encourages me to embrace my inner geek. His office is an ode to the tech gadget, decorated with comic book posters. So, traveling with him for the first time, I rode his wave. First, we made the pilgramage to Fry's electronics, a geek warehouse par excellence, and where he beat me out for a $60 2GB flash drive, and where, I must admit, I could have spent a lot of money of I so desired, but I didn't. But he got the flash drive, USB hub and a power strip, because, you know, you can't have too many.
Then we had dinner, indulged in three little bowls of tiramisu, and then trooped off for the 10 pm showing of MI: 3. This was a popcorn movie if there ever was one, and we each stuffed our faces with a medium popcorn and Coke.
The popcorn was stale, the Coke unnecessary, and the movie incredulous but fun. My eyes are still popping from the glare of Tom Cruise's teeth, but frankly, I went there to see unbelievable stunts, explosions, high tech gadgets, more explosions, gun fights and more explosions. Ka-Boom! Mission Accomplished!
That's about it for my trip to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. I hope you'll clip and save this advice, and you can do what I did in Cerritos!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Los Angeles Travelogue
My latest business trip takes me to Los Angeles. L-A. La la land. Yeah, baby.
On this trip, we decided to stay outside of the city in a little town called Cerritos.
Here in Cerritos, they have a Sheraton, where I'm staying, a Macaroni Grill, an Old Navy and a Borders, and palm trees, right outside my window! I can't quite see the ocean, but I'm sure it's here somewhere outside of the Sheraton. Maybe I'll go out tonight and check. Or, I might just avail myself of the various treasures in the Starwood Entertainment Network on the good 'ol television. Movies for only $12 bucks, and I don't have to go anywhere!
Tomorrow, we'll work some more and then drive the minivan back to the airport and have more adventures. Maybe we'll through Compton. By highway at least...
On this trip, we decided to stay outside of the city in a little town called Cerritos.
Here in Cerritos, they have a Sheraton, where I'm staying, a Macaroni Grill, an Old Navy and a Borders, and palm trees, right outside my window! I can't quite see the ocean, but I'm sure it's here somewhere outside of the Sheraton. Maybe I'll go out tonight and check. Or, I might just avail myself of the various treasures in the Starwood Entertainment Network on the good 'ol television. Movies for only $12 bucks, and I don't have to go anywhere!
Tomorrow, we'll work some more and then drive the minivan back to the airport and have more adventures. Maybe we'll through Compton. By highway at least...
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