What's GOOD in your life?

[Carlos 0]

I'm tired of reading depressed "post-game" analyses of Tuesday's disaster, and I'd rather get back focused on things that actually matter in life, like life for instance.

What's going on in your life that you are proud of?

After several years of work, my science research is finally coming to fruition, which is starting to yield some really nice and interesting results. I'm stumbling onto more fresh and exciting projects than I have time or computer resources for which to allocate.

To keep positive, especially while working, I devour inspirational music voraciously. This tune on youtube

has probably been played by myself personally hundreds of times. I find the fantasy orchestral music of World of Warcraft to really be indescribably stirring and beautiful.

In fitness, I'm back to seriously following Ray's exercise and nutrition philosophy. As a result, over the past 1/2 year I've slowly gained probably 5 lbs of muscle while shedding some fat, and hopefully I'll have a 6-pack other than the one I keep in the fridge. I've also gotten back into grappling martial-arts some, and have been training periodically with that as well.

My other hobby is the bass guitar, and I've been dutifully learning some Rush and Led Zeppelin songs, in addition to The Guess Who, Doobie Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, and others. Sometimes there's no better pick-me-up than imagining you are jamming with Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart on a Friday night

An unexpected hobby that has somewhat gripped me since mid-summer has been an experimental project in writing fantasy. It's something that in the past I would have never imagined possible. However after writing science journal articles I've learned that there are many transferrable skills, such as the more general tasks of planning out the scope of what you want to write, brainstorming out the big picture and them imagining how you will fill in all the details. I'm not sure if I'd ever want to publish a fantasy novel, but it has at least served as a lifeline to reality amidst the emotional storm of this election cycle and the general bad trends in the culture.

My reading for fun has been full immersion in everything Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, The Children of Hurin. This also is strangely comforting given the dark times right now, as his works often involve great struggles set against a backdrop of dark times.

When I'm not doing these things I'm having fun with my wife, which generally involved lots of cooking. We've been trying to expand our repertoire to cover more Mexican dishes, as well as traditional American dishes and deserts.

What's exciting in your life?

[ruveyn ben yosef 0]

One of my several joys are my grandchildren. I have three grandchildren in the family of one of my sons and two grand children (the older ones) in the family of my daughter. My older grandchildren and now going to college. My younger set are ages 6, 9, 9 (twins). I have seen them all grow from infancy into happy, intelligent, good natured children and in the case of my older g'kid fine upstanding young adults. There is not a mean bone in the lot of them. They are happy, active and always looking forward for even more fun.

I think my g'kids are of a generation that could conceivably re-generate the goodness and greatness of the nation.

I sure hope so.

ruveyn

[Darrell Cody 0]

Good post Carlos!

Check out some amazing things for good stuff here:

Keep fighting! Win!

[Darrell Cody 0]

[Darrell Cody 0]

[Darrell Cody 0]

[Darrell Cody 0]

[Darrell Cody 0]

Invictus (Unconquered)

William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me, 


Black as the Pit from pole to pole, 


I thank whatever gods may be 


For my unconquerable soul. 



In the fell clutch of circumstance 


I have not winced nor cried aloud. 


Under the bludgeonings of chance 


My head is bloody, but unbowed. 



Beyond this place of wrath and tears 


Looms but the Horror of the shade, 


And yet the menace of the years 


Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. 



It matters not how strait the gate, 


How charged with punishments the scroll. 


I am the master of my fate: 


I am the captain of my soul.

[Red 0]

I love the initiative Carlos! This thread brings focus the whats most important.

At the top of my list I put work. I love going to work every morning. It's interesting, challenging, i'm great at what I do and there are lots of interesting oppurtunities in the future. It's a sort of call-center or customer service where I help people navigate through, well... everything that's got to do with the debt enforcement authority. Imagine having this complex legal system, that most people are fortunate to be unfamiliar with, and making it accesible so they can navigate through it. At the sime time you have to deal with all kinds of difficult personalities. Difficult in both good and bad ways; sharp lawyers, digging journalists or people who have simply lost their marbles.

My studies in law are going well too. I don't know if I have talent for it or if it's just because I think it's fun, but it certainly is something i'm good at too.

Related to that are also friends and co-workers. I have lots of wonderful people around me, and we have lots of fun together.

I'm making plans on how to continue doing more beauty/fashion/"fine-art" photography. Had my first model shoot a while back and haven't had time to really pursue it further. Beginning next year I think I can get some needed equipment and do some more work. I have lots of ideas and sketches to try out.

I have also taken the first steps with my book. I've wanted to write something for a long time. Often thinking about different characters and scenarios, but never really putting them together into a theme and a plot. It will be the saddest love story you've ever read, unfolding through the events around a court trial.

Lastly, i'd like to say: Me! The last... I don't know how many years, have been uphill. And now, for the most part, i'm ridiculously happy and things are falling into place very neatly.

[Bert 0]

I'm making plans on how to continue doing more beauty/fashion/"fine-art" photography.

I remember seeing some photos you posted a bit ago that were really good - have an online portfolio or anything?

[Red 0]

I'm making plans on how to continue doing more beauty/fashion/"fine-art" photography.

I remember seeing some photos you posted a bit ago that were really good - have an online portfolio or anything?

Thank you, and yes I do! I have a page on flickr that I try to update whenever I have something new(the last one is the model shoot which was in september, I think, so there's some time between updates). You need to register an account on flickr(it's free) to see all photos. There's some nudity so a few of them are tagged as not safe for work, and only visible for members.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63343759@N04/

I hope there's something you like.

[Bert 0]

Thank you, and yes I do! I have a page on flickr that I try to update whenever I have something new(the last one is the model shoot which was in september, I think, so there's some time between updates). You need to register an account on flickr(it's free) to see all photos. There's some nudity so a few of them are tagged as not safe for work, and only visible for members.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63343759@N04/

I hope there's something you like.

Nice - the "Bugs" one was the one I recalled - thats good!

[Red 0]

Thanks! I think that's the best one too. If there's one shot i'd put my name and reputation on, it's that one. My other two favorites are the horse and the drawing. Gosh, I really need to free up some time so I can produce some new stuff....