11:55 a.m., March 20, 2012

It’s been way too long and I’ve been craving this post for a while now. So, once again, an unedited, unabashed, all guts out 15 minute writing exercise. I love it because my hands are sweating… what absolute nonsense can I muster up in 15 minutes?

I think this will be a very link-y blog. I’ve been on a link-y browsing kick lately. This morning’s finds can be categorized under a few things: Sad Music, Psychology and Random Crap.

Sad Music: Oddly enough, I’ve been pretty damn happy lately. A year ago, it was pretty dark. Life threw bullets the previous, oh 18 months, and Jan-March 2011 had me at rock bottom. But I didn’t know until someone gave me a slap to the face that made me recognize how bad things were. However, it was the trip to Australia in  March 2011 that gave me the chance to recharge and I actually came back from this undeserved but much needed vacation relaxed. It was a strange experience, coming back from vacation not exhausted from some sort of climbing/camping/backpacking trip.

But I digress – THE MUSIC!

These two songs have captured my attention recently:

Joseph Arthur’s “Gypsy Faded”:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGq2qoJAZGU

Damien Jurado’s  “Working Title” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzYSwNvB8Yk

Both sad and about break ups. I’ve been long recovered since mine, but for some reason, these are sweet to listen to.

Oh but then someone posted this cool link to FIVE HOURS OF WORLD MUSIC:  http://8tracks.com/kilgoretr0ut/travel-the-world (thank you Teresa!) Rodrigo y Gabriela came on right as the sun started to shine and the Office Chair Dancing began…

12:02 – 8 minutes left!

More Links – Blogs/Sites I’ve been stalking:

Semi-Rad.com – Brendan captures quite succienctly what most of us outdoor/active/athletic/good-hearted types feel when it comes to outdoor/active/athletic/good-hearted things.

The Everywherist – Snarky Geraldine captures her travels around the world here. I love snark. OOh and she updated it. It’s been a while since I stalked her.

The Oatmeal: Saying stuff in comic form that we’re all thinking.

Questionable Content: Ridiculous hipster comic out of New England.

Oh, right and REI because I just got my dividend and while I don’t have any pressing needs for gear, I’m sure I can come up with something.

OOOHHHH what else – four minutes left!

Right now, it LOOKS like spring outside, but we all know that well, in Seattle, we don’t have a spring. I take that back. WE DO. We just like to complain that we have two seasons: Sun and Rain. Officially, by my scientific calculations and living first hand in the PNW, “SUN” starts at 1 p.m. on July 4 and ends at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15. “RAIN” starts at 5:01 p.m. on Oct. 15 and runs until July 4, 12:59 p.m.  It’s very official.

OOOH and one more link: I hate direct sales marketing companies, like Mary Kay and Pampered Chef and Tupperware and all that, but I too get sucked in sometimes, if the product is good enough. I got so sick and tired of them one time, I decided to go the extreme end and hold a Passion Party. That’s right. 25 attendees for that one – go figure.

But, alas, I admit that tonight I will holding another party but not that kind of party – demarle – they make high end fancy cook ware for your stove.

And that’s it – 12:10 p.m. Love it. Heart rate is up and palms are still sweaty. Once a deadline freak, always a deadline freak.

POST NOTE: I forgot the Psychology angle – found this interesting paper on online vs. offline dating – http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/PSPI-online_dating-proof.pdf

Aw, hell and while I’m at it: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/07/04/110704fa_fact_paumgarten