My New Summer Writing Project - Big Brother 15 Power Rankings

As much as I enjoy writing,
it can be tough to find the time

I started this personal blog about a year ago with hopes that I'd have written more regularly by now, but hey, it's been a busy year.  

It's never too late to correct course though, and looking back I can see that what most motivated me to keep my keyboard crackling was last summer's Euro '12 soccer tourney. I think the whole "project" nature of the event, the set starting date and finish line, worked well to keep me on task and focused on carving out time each day to consider and arrange my thoughts. Even if those thoughts remained centered on one small, highly-specialized aspect of my life, it was time well spent.

Of course I tried the same thing with Bike Month this past May but quickly lost steam as the more general parts of the daily routine infringed on my free time, both for riding and for writing. But again, it's all about getting back on track here, and since I'm lucky enough to have a big chunk of extra free time coming up in the month of July, I want to do just that.

With all of the above in mind I have two new project ideas for this summer that I can hopefully execute with quality composition and the commitment to match.

Halfway There

So after a belated start to my own personal Bike Month, I made it two days riding out of two today, even though I had to squeeze it in real quick-like, driving part of the way to work this morning and then biking the rest of the commute from there. I figure I might as well make it 2-for-2 on blog posts go as well, even though I don't have a ton to say at the end of this very full day...other than that despite the abbreviated ride, I'm exhausted.

Back on the Bike, Back at the Keyboard

So...six days into May 2013, I finally noticed that it's Bike Month here in Austin.

Without knowing it, I had actually already started participating last week, though it was an observance just about as embarrassing as it was unwitting.

Despite a cold, biting wind on the evening of May 2nd, I took a stab at Austin's popular Thursday Night Social Ride. I wasn't because I knew about the holiday month just kicking off, it was just a desire to get out on the road and stretch my legs a little bit - it has been months since I did any serious riding.

Welcome Home, Thanks for the Free Bike!

Black Beauty

I spent the last year living just outside the most bike-stealingest city I can imagine, but I had to come all the way home to sleepy Austin Texas to become a victim of cycle thievery, myself.

Last week I finally took the time to write out the details of my employment exile in New Jersey. It was great to read all the feedback from friends who appreciated the sentimental story of sacrifice and family reunion. I thank you all...but sadly I have no such happy tale to tell you this time.

Finally Home With No Plane to Catch

What man WOULDN'T be beaming??

While a rare biblical-level storm pours down on my beloved hometown of Austin Texas tonight, I'm wrapping up an amazing week in which love has rained down on me like a flood. For the first time in almost a year, I'm home living it up with my family, without having to worry about a plane to catch.


July 2011 to July 2012 was one of the most challenging and unstable years of my life. After a few things went haywire with my job situation last summer, I headed to New Jersey for a three-month freelance gig that ended up stretching to eleven months plus. Though I was blessed with some great rewards professionally, the personal sacrifices I had to make felt just plain dumb.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Final Report

The last ball has been kicked in Kiev, and the biggest question in world soccer has evolved from "Who will be European Champion?" to "Is Spain the greatest dynasty in the history of the sport?"


There are of course a few other answers out there still to search for: What was Jogi Loew thinking? Who the hell is Jordi Alba?? And why did it take me a week to finish this final writeup???

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Semi #2 Roundup

When Mezut Ozil stepped up and banged home a penalty kick in the 94th minute of the second semifinal of Euro 2012, no one watching, save for possibly GiGi Buffon, thought the gifted goal would actually lead to a change in the match's end result.

But while it may've been too little, too late for Germany, Ozil's conversion from the spot went a long way towards shaping the final standings on our fantasy leaderboard.

Besides just the big points to Ozil himself, the goal erased clean sheet bonuses that the Italian defense had seemed destined  to earn most of the day. Even though most of Mezut's owners in contention lost those bonuses along with everyone else, they more than made up for it with a big chunk of MID Goal points all to themselves.