Payback's a Bitch

Well, being in lousy shape is biting me on the ass at a whole new level. Signed up with a couple of health care companies since I left with my team to form a new company. Just got rejection letter #1 from Blue Cross. Let the fun and extra worries begin

Shhh... It's The Quiet

Saturday night I went out to see a favorite band of mine, The Quiet. You might not have heard of them, in fact unless you check out my friends on myspace or are one of a select few of my friends I know you haven't.

It is not for a lack of talent or style you don't. They have not been signed yet, which is a shame because they put on a great show. I highly recommend you check them out at www.thequietband.com

My friend Rachel introduced me to Brendan, the lead singer and I've been a big fan ever since seeing them.

These guys are talented, can play most any type of music and know how to have fun. Their enjoyment of playing comes through and is infectious. If they don't really love it they are damn fine actors then. They have a particular knack I enjoy, they are awesome with covers. Their original material is great and is what the show is all about, but unlike most bands which I don't like to see cover songs they always do great renditions.

The only problem with the band... they don't play often enough.

The Drift

Without thinking I just came up with a term that describes a good 10+ years of my life. The Drift. I openly admit to letting a decade or so of my life slip by without doing much in the way of existing. I let myself go physically, I went pretty much soul dead, my money went to nothing. I just didn't care. My world was very insular, my usual close group of friends and family, and not much else. This should not be construed as a slight to friends and family as they are great people and it made living in The Drift quite pleasant most of the time

I started to wake up about 4 years ago. It had started tenuously by getting back into a favorite band, REM. It accelerated when I joined on and got involved in murmurs.com. I met more and more interesting people, many of whom have similar thoughts on life as I. I discovered a whole new world of music which proved to be a real eye opener. Through the combination of new friends and music I got my ass going again to degree.

I've found it difficult to fight habits formed over many years. I've pushed some back quite a bit but others I struggle with. I have found that without some of my friends as near in the last year I have started to fall back again. I cannot let this happen. I will not let this happen. If my friends are that much farther away I will have to make an effort to travel to them a little more. If I want to try and keep up with the group who are 7+ years younger than me then I need to be in better shape then I have in 7+ years. It will take work, but that's life.

Song of Fire and Ice

I might have mentioned this series before, but I will repeat my admiration for George R. R. Martin's book series that begins with Game of Thrones. The series is set in a fantasy world that is much like Medieval Europe with a touch of magic thrown in. I appreciate the depth and history Martin has given to the world.

Martin's world created here is one of Tolkien grounded in reality. Instead of elves, men and dwarves of differing backgrounds you have the men and women of Lannister, Stark, Tully and Targaryen. Each of these noble houses have a history, a personality and make for a colorful world. While Tolkien's stories are from the heroic epic tradition, this world shines from the unexpected turns derived from the machinations of the various characters.

The heroic epic fantasy focuses on a relatively few characters, but Martin's characters are wildcards. You can never be sure who will become the next major character or who will meet an untimely end. Being a protagonist in this series is dangerous and the reader is all the better for it.

So, there is my say on a favorite book series. the only drawback is that it takes a lot of time to get a book turned out, but the 5th in the series hopeully will be out this year.