June 2011
4 posts
“People underestimate the importance of diligence as a virtue. No doubt this has...”
– Atul Gawande, Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance (p.29)
Pardon My Absence, The World Beckoned
Hey to the one person reading this! Just checking back in for my quarterly post. Ha, I kid, I kid. Really, though, things have been busy all around.
“Busy with what?! You’re just a student!”
Woah, hostile reader. Student I am, but think back to when you were in school and about all the stuff crammed into the March/April/May months. You’ve got midterms, spring break, and finals. Couple those with...
March 2011
4 posts
"...No Friend as Loyal as a Book."
Out of books? Want to know what’s similar to that memoir by Snooki? Just finished Hawking’s A Brief History of Time and it left you wanting to know more about the curvature of space-time and the inflationary model of the universe? Here’s a site that can help:
http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/
Just type in a book or author, then click the link. You’ll get a...
Off The Grid →
Sadly, the first thing about this link that caught my eye was how the author was using headings, systematic indentations, and using the opening lines as a guide for what he would be discussing throughout - all aspects of writing one of my current professors spent 6 hours drilling us on… before we even turned in an assignment. The next thing I noticed was the title, “Vanishing Point: How to...
February 2011
5 posts
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma... →
Sometimes I miss the place. This was not one of those times.
1 tag
100 Best First Lines from Novels →
More often than I’d like to admit the posts on this blog have to be wrestled away from the shallows of my mind. Perhaps its because I don’t update regularly. Maybe it’s because when big things happen, I don’t always feel like sharing them with the whole internet. It could be because, like in most areas, writing is not something I feel fully confident in. Or, maybe it’s because the first sentence...
The February Informer
Two months into the new year and you people have no idea what I’m up to. How shameful of me. Here’s the latest, to satisfy your overwhelming curiosity:
-Climbed mountains, combed beaches, and explored warm and sunny southern California.
-Returned home on the one clear day between two major snow storm.
-Began Spring classes and gave out a lot of secret handshakes to friends....
January 2011
5 posts
The JKM National Tour Update
My time in the midwest draws to a close but the chase rolls on. Let us now look at what my campaign of relaxation, community, and frivolity has conquered: By State: New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Illinois OKLAHOMA Missouri Texas By City: New York City Newark, New Jersey Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ephrata, Pennsylvania Lancaster, Pennsylvania Millersville, Pennsylvania Chicago, Illinois...
Onward!
A few days ago I blamed the slowness of new entries on mounting school work and general East Coast livin’. For the sake of giving you a taste of that wild, mayhem-filled lifestyle I now present a snippet of the final paper I’m about to turn in for Budgeting. The assignment was to examine the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) from 2008 & 2009 for the state our given...
Back Home and What is Beyond
Living and going to school in New York means constantly meeting new people. 99 times out of 100 the next exchange is telling each other where you’re from. Telling New Yorkers that I’m from Oklahoma usually results in either a blank smile or a shocked withdrawal. The first reaction I follow up with “Oklahoma - the state north of Texas.” The second reaction forces me to...
November 2010
1 post
October 2010
4 posts
Jumping the Gun
“3 Chapter ‘N Chuck” is the a habit where I go ages without reading a book, then pick one up, get 3 chapters in, and toss it aside only to start the process with another title. The most books I’ve had going at once was probably four and you know how far I got? Me neither but I sure didn’t finish them. The routine was recently stopped cold turkey thanks to all the books and articles I have to...
Ahhhhhh-ctober
Today is the first day of the best month of each and every year. That statement will divide most into two camps: those who agree with me and those who do not. The cool thing is those who disagree have to then divide themselves into 11 other possible months the call the best, whereas those of us who love October are united and quite certain of being correct. You think that’s not true? Very well,...
Comments? Giddy up.
As great as Tumblr is, sometimes it can be crazy confusing. Take for example the ability to comment on posts: as easy as untying the Gordian knot. Ok, maybe it is easire but I’m a simpleton from the midwest and can’t be bothered with all this “HTML” mumbojumbo. Regardless, the issue has been solved and now you can give me feedback, bolster my ego, or tell me to stop...
September 2010
4 posts
5 Weeks In
Like most things, there’s no way to unpack all my feelings about grad school into something coherent or short enough for a simple blog post. Do I like it? Yes I do. There’s nothing quite like devoting your days to learning from a variety of sources, in all kids of ways. Once your brain gets back into accademic mode its as though it wont stop absorbing information and making...
The Next 7 (in People Years)
Surprisingly, only a few people have ever asked me what I’ll do when the seven years are up and I’ve completed each goal. The only thing that crossed my mind was to do seven more goals, or maybe up the ante and do a 10x10. What to put on that list? What rules should be adopted? Easy, tiger, we’re lightyears away from that. Mostly.
Aside from the Parent Project, all the goals...
A Window Into It All
I shifted forward in my seat as the suited man with glasses and graying hair held firmly to the lectern with one hand and made large, emphatic gestures with the other. He quoted various statistics and used phrases like “cumulative GPA” and “geographic diversity” and “unparalleled work experience” to drive home a very specific point: we were special. Then he recounted a similar evening years...
August 2010
8 posts
WatchThe SevenXSeven was in no way meant to get political. But times are strange.
This is a snippet of Rush Limbaugh’s August 12th show. Thats the same day I arrived in NYC. In it he spits a little venom towards the Left (understandably) and towards the Obama regime (undoubtedly) but then he lumps “NON-PROFITS” in with everything the Left is doing to kill the “golden...
The Better Samaritan →
Take a listen to this clip and be amazed. The actions of the victim are something worth striving for.
This comes from NPR’s Morning Edition, who in turn found this from StoryCorps (a great non-profit that helped form my ideas about what The Parent Project could be. Dad and I participated in their mobile recording session that was in Tulsa in late 2008).
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Re-Run
Today was the first time in a little over three months that I laced up and hit the pavement. **Runner’s Tip** - Pizza and Ice Cream before a run, even 4 hours prior, is not a good call. It wasn’t until I got home and plugged in the route to see a 4+mi of meandering that I was struck with a simultaneous feeling of glee and dejection. Glee that I could still run at all, dejected that I...
So I Live In New York
What that title has to do with the sevenXseven is way beyond me. Just figured you’d want to know where I am in the universe. “But weren’t you just in Okiehoma, like, a week ago?” Close, faithful reader, close. I got to NYC about a week ago after a quick move-out and roadtrip. Needless to say, life is tumultuous as of late. Within the last month I….
-quit my job -put my car up...
Word Problem
If you put “save 10,000 dollars” as on of your seven goals and sell your car for more than $10,000, then put that money into your savings account, does that mean you’ve achieved that goal?
Tricky.
I want to count this as a successful achievement, but it doesn’t seem right, like beating a video game with cheats. What do you think?
Thanks to Olivia...
July 2010
1 post
...There's No Knowing Where We're Rowing...
I don’t have a lot of time.
Both to update you on the status of my goals or of being a resident of Tulsa, Ok anymore. So quickly, let me tell you that progress on the 7x7 is good. There will soon be an entry on the latest endeavor: the Parent Project. It’s not what I would call “complete” but a sizeable portion of it has been accomplished and my oh my was it good. Seriously, talk to your...
June 2010
1 post
CHOP CHOP
I know you’ve been asking alot of questions. Like “why doesnt Justin update more frequently?” or “when’s he going to have another yard sale?” and “if he does have another yard sale, will he have cool stuff?” And because you’ve been so patient I will now answer all three of your questions with two words: GIDDY UP.
Saturday, June 26th, 6:30am...
May 2010
3 posts
Help, I need somebody
Lately, one thing has become ABUNDANTLY CLEAR: it is indeed a small world after all. Every new person I meet seems to already know or be connected to someone else I’m friends with. This has made for some great connections, a few bits of hilarity, and the occasional tidal wave of supreme awkwardness. Regardless, there’s a clear interconnection of seemingly everyone in Tulsa and within that lies a...
April 2010
2 posts
"You've Made it on Perez. Life Complete." →
Uh-mazing. Sara C sent me the above link to Perez Hilton’s site where Hanson’s new music video, “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’” is getting touted and hyped. But why is it on this blog? Because a good friend of mine, Heather, did ALL THE CHOREOGRAPHY. Oh, and Im the trumpet player.
But Heather taught me all my moves, for serious. Check it out!
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Shake Up
We all have goals we want to accomplish – a good job, steady income, travel, maybe a family, eat a whole 72oz steak dinner and get it for free…. Likewise, you know about seven of my big goals. However, most people don’t talk about the other ideas that go fluttering through their brain from time to time. Some can be accomplished in a short order, without much effort – a good bike ride, running a...
March 2010
4 posts
WatchAfter 18 is a new series from TulsaWorld.com - it features my company, Youth Services of Tulsa and our big boss Jim. I’d post most anything having to do with work because I do like it so much. But when its as well produced and executed as this I feel all the more good about what we do.
Also, shout out to Sara C. who discovered it!
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The Parent Project
Of my seven goals the one cloaked in the most mystery is #2 The Parent Project. Today it will be fully revealed! Set your expectations low people….
This goal was born out of the monotony of being a child with a Mom & Dad. The truth is I take my parents for granted. How could I not? They were the first people I ever met, they clothed me, fed me, wiped my butt, and that was all the way...
The last time I hunkered down to write something on here gas was going for $2.55, it was safe to make Haiti jokes, and nobody would’ve ever thought James Cameron’s 3D remake of FernGully: The Last Rain Forest would be hailed as one of the best films of all time. Scary no? But here we are and that’s the world we live in. I dunno about you, the faithful reader, but I’ve been quite busy lately....
August 2009
2 posts
re.launch
Hi, you still reading? Wow, thats sticktoitiveness at its finest. Give me a day or two to relearn Tumblr and then maybe i’ll give your eyes some jollies.
May 2009
1 post
...Which Direction We Are Going...
Apologies for lack of updates. Life is a maelstrom and Im just hanging on. Lets get to it, aye? GOAL UPDATE: 1. save 10,000 dollars - I was 1/10th of the way there then Spring Vacation in Dallas happened. 2. Parent Project - several books purchased (with money from #1), and a list of ponderous questions is forming…. 3. story, play, or screenplay - Does stealing lines off of...
April 2009
6 posts
