Bits and Pieces

Servus!

This little gem kept me busy yesterday.



It is a band that I wrap around my right ankle to keep my chainrings from eating my pants. being that I am a man of great and mighty stature, I find that things designed for your standard stick-legged 50kg German Man simply do not fit me. Plus, I wanted to make one of my very own so that I could have something that stood out.

I used a touch over 6 meters of neon yellow and reflective black paracord (3m each color) and the standard locking 24mm Karlie Dog Collar buckle. The knot I used is the Blaze Bar from J.D. Lenzen. As usual, I got about a quarter of the way through and turned over, only to realize I had been tying it incorrectly. Oh well, only about 30 minutes worth of work to undo. I finished by pulling the running ends through the last two knots on both sides - that way, I could adjust it if necessary.

In use: It worked this morning... this afternoon it slipped down and made an attractive bracelet for my ankle! I just finished putting drops of hot glue on the back to give it a bit more grip. I also think that I wrapped my pants leg around the wrong way and it unfolded. I guess I'll see tomorrow.

As promised - a better picture of my bike!



I went shopping and realized that I said I would take a better pic of the Kalkhoff. I must admit, it's a great bike. Really comfortable and well made.

For those of you who are interested in such stuff, I found a way to attach my Hazard 4 Kato to the rack:



As you can see, I used two Maxpedition TAC-LINK polymer carabiners (the orange thing in the upper left) to attach the bag at the sling points directly to the rack. It works fairly well, although it's a bit of a pain trying to unclip one side at a time and it flops a tad when I go over bumps. This is a temporary solution at best but, hey, a dumb idea that works isn't a dumb idea.

So, that's it for right now. I bid you Peace.

Jake

Knots For Peace and Freedom...or something like that.

“Friendship is a knot tied by angels' hands”
- Anonymous

One of my newest hobbies is knot tying/paracord weaving. I must admit that I was heavily inspired by the work of a single man in the 'Net, "Stormdrane." You can find a link to his blog in the link list - I would encourage you to go there and see the skill and artwork that this man creates.

During my absence, I took it upon myself to find something to do with my hands that was creative and produced a useable and tangible result, at the same time didn't require a workshop or tons of specialized tools. One day, while searching for something completely different, I happened upon Stormdrane's blog and I remembered that I had tried (rather unsuccessfully) to make things out of paracord while in the military. He not only made cool, useful everyday things that were beautiful but he linked to where he learned it - J.D. Lenzen of FusionKnots (his website is also in the list.)

Watching a few of J.D.'s instructional videos on YouToob showed me that it was possible for even a klutz like me to tie knots. So, I tried it one night with a bit of rope I had lying around the house and found that not only was it fun, but it required concentration to assure that everything comes out right at the end. Even better is the fact that you can usually untie what you have done if you realize a mistake has been made. Finally, I have the opportunity to make cool stuff and/or improve the function or appearance of things I already have.

Now, my lovely girlfriend has expressed concern that everything in our home will either be:

A - made of paracord

or

B - covered in paracord

Despite the fact that I don't find this to be too bad, I assured her that this was not the case, as there are other types of cordage out there that are just as easy to work with so it doesn't always have to be paracord. She rolled her eyes in frustration...

In the end, I find a kind of peace in the repetitive nature of knotting. I love doing a knot over and over to the point that I can do it without looking at a video for instruction. I encourage you all to try knotting a bit today.

As Stormdrane says - "Knot Responsibly" ;-)

Jake

The Journey is the Goal... isn't it?

Since about a week and a half, I have been riding my bike to work. Sorry for the crappy pic of my new ride. I took it with my iFone while grocery shopping and it's the only one I've got right now. Hey, at least I have a picture...

Needless to say, riding to and from work is not only a way to get fit and enjoy nature before slogging in the Corporate Mines, it's an ongoing process of seeing what works and making adjustments as needed to assure that riding is a pleasant and satisfying experience. For me, the journey is not enough - although this is a large part of why I have decided to start riding - the process of making my bike a harmonious extension of myself is something that has fascinated me and that I have striven towards since I was a teenager.

Back in a thinner time, I was a cyclist. That means, I wore a casing of insanely colored Lycra and rode a incredibly thin-tired road bike hundreds of kilometers a week. These days, I'm a fat guy in street clothes on a bike with both a dynamo driven light AND fenders. Oh, how the mighty have fallen... At any rate, I didn't choose to be a cyclist - my parents bought me a Schwinn Traveler in light blue for my 15th birthday. I wanted a cool freestyle bike, 100% sure that with the right bike, I would be able to do all those cool tricks I saw on TV without any sort of practice. Instead, I got a road bike and was tossed involuntarily into another world.

As I rode the new bike and became familiar with the basics like riding position and using the gearing to ride farther and more efficiently, I came to realize that my bike was rather cheaply equipped. I had made some friends who rode regularly and the snickered endlessly at the balloon-like width of my tires. To remedy this required me to get new rims. This, logically, meant I had to get new tires. Since I now had less rolling resistance and was able to get supercool 16mm wide slick tires, i had to stop wearing my Nikes and get some cycling shoes. This, of course meant new shoes AND new pedals.

I think you can see where this all leads.

When I finally got rid of the old girl, the only Schwinn-issued part of the bicycle left was the frame. Even the fork had been replaced. I had done everything within my limited funds to make that heavy steel frame as close to the Colnago I had been dreaming of as possible. Every part exchanged was to either improve efficiency or to save weight - usually both. My parents never really understood it but they didn't complain when my weekly wages for feeding the cats, mowing the lawn, and taking out the trash were spent on some new thing for the bike. Of course, now that I am older, my desire to constantly improve my bike hasn't left me. My girlfriend doesn't really understand it either. ;-)

Anyway, I'll keep posting about the various changes regarding my bike.

Keep riding!

This is a test...

...a test of the mobile Blogger interface.

I figured that since I am now online constantly with my iPad that I might try my hand at blogging again. Not that I have anything special to talk about but my photography friend/work colleague Raul blogs.

The punk.

I bid you Peace,

Jake

- posted from the L3 point above Jupiter with my ancient iPad...

A Passion for Grilling

Servus!

When was the last time that you fired up the grill?

For me, it was last weekend. My girl and I decided not only did we want to put something on the flames but it would be a good thing to invite some friends to enjoy as well. Nothing too fancy - in fact, I grilled nothing more than humble burgers, corn, and potatoes. Stupid easy with superb results. This is what grilling should be - good food, good times, and good company.

Yesterday, I asked myself why is it that I enjoy this so much? Oddly enough, the answer was as simple as it was profound:

Grilling is a way to experience something that grounds us in a tradition that dates back to the dawn of Man, something that marked the advancement of humanity. Cooking over a live fire is the most basic form of cooking, one that most people today haven't the first clue about. In fact, most people have problem cooking in even the most modern of kitchens!

"What about the expensive grill you have, the bag of charcoal, all of the modern implements you use?"

All we're talking about here is a pit in which I set fire to something flammable wood-product with a way to keep my meat from falling into the flames. Sure, it's made of steel - all it does is give me a way of making my pit portable and convenient. Sure, it's nice to have all the good equipment - it makes the end-result that much better - but in the end it's meat over flames.

Go out, fire up your imagination and your grill. I doubt you will regret it.

Pax,

Jake

In Memoriam

 

May those who have perished find rest.

May those who survived find peace.

May those who have lost someone find closure.

May this never happen again.

 

 

It Was an Appointment....

Salút!

"C'était un rendez-vous"

1976 - director Claude Lelouch affixes a gyro-stabilized 35mm camera to the front of his Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 and creates one of the finest examples of cinéma-vérité ever filmed....

EDIT: The used to be an embedded YouTube version of this but it has since been removed by Spirit Level Films due to copyright - or better said so they can sell you a 15€ DVD of it. Sharing is caring guys....


This was filmed on a whim after the filming of "Si c'était à refaire" with leftover film in a camera that didn't need to be turned in for a while

I will not go into the specifics - there are numerous sites that examine this film in much greater detail

Imagine the stones it took to film this. Lelouch was quoted as saying:

"Yes, I was scared. I was scared of running out of film."

What a man.

Wer bremst, verliert.

Jake

Weapon of choice...

Servus!

No, not THAT kind of weapon - I'm talking about my choice of pen.

Let me be upfront here - I am a pen snob. I detest using anything with a plastic barrel that came four-to-a-pack. I like pens that have weight, pens that have a certain heft in the hand, pens that feel like you are holding a precision tool as opposed to a hunk of cheap plastic with a pressurized barrel of ink.

That being said - on with the show...

My trusted companions - LAMY pens.

I really like LAMY pens. Their Bauhaus-style really appeals to my sense of form vs. function and they are always my first-line choice when it comes to everyday writing. I have a LAMY tri-pen in brushed aluminum - pen, pencil, data-tipper (for my PDA phone) and this is my daily driver. I have those super-cool pen clips that attach to the spine of my moleskines and my LAMY is always found there. Admittedly, I rarely use the pencil an secretly wish that I could replace it with another ink cartridge but, alas! it is not possible. Good diameter for my thick fingers, good heft, spins well. I also have a LAMY duo in the same style that I have as a backup that resides in my messenger bag. Another cool LAMY that I have is this ultra-thin pen that I used for a data-tipper for a while but now has a highlighter cartridge - great for making correction notes on my documentation. The original idea was that it would fit in your planner, like Franklin-Covey or Filofax bjut who uses that anymore? ;)

I have a LAMY 2000 fountain pen that is broken (I somehow bent the clip mechanism in the cap) and I still have to take that in to be repaired. It's an older pen - from the 70's - and I really like the feel of the nib. Being relatively fine, I can use this for daily writing. Reminder to myself - send it in!

The Aristocrats - my Pelikans

I just got a gorgeous set of Pelikan Series 150 pens for my birthday from my friend Karsten (whom I've told before not to get me such expensive and extravagant gifts but he never listens to me...) The fountain pen is my "signature pen" as the nib is of medium thickness and I can fill it with blue-black ink (ONLY Pelikan ink!!!) I have started using the ballpoint as one of my "daily drivers" but I'm not sure I like the way the ink flows. I will look into replacement cartridges. There's also a Souverän mechanical pencil that is very luxurious but works better than anything I have ever used before. These are the pens that I have that really make me look like I'm someone important

The tools - my Rotrings

I have a Rotring multi-pen that was made for Levenger that feels like a screwdriver in my hand. It was my workhorse for the longest time but I have since phased it out for the LAMYs. I still love this pen even though it's hard to find ink cartridges that fit. I also have numerous Rotring mechanical pencils that I just don't use.

The Pocket Rocket - Diplomat Space Pen (usta be Fisher)

These things are SO cool. Without the pocket clip, this is the perfect size and form for a jeans pocket pen. I have several - sadly my Millennium Edition one broke and I can't find my flat black one. The ink is really great. The form makes it so that you always have a pen with you. My tip - by the chrome one as the finish doesn't chip off (like the black does as it comes in contact with my keys and/or pocket change.)

Mind you, these are just the pens that I tote around with me at work. I haven't gotten to all the Watermans, Crosses, etc. that I have displayed at home!!!

Now, I know that a lot of individuals who are big in to Moleskines like I am swear on the Gel-ink ens. I've tried them to see what the hype was all about. The cheap-ass feel of the pen itself causes me to forget about all of the advantages gained by using the Gel ink. For me, a worthy pen is one that I would go back to the meeting room for if I forgot it. One that I make sure I remind my colleagues to give back once they are done using it.

One of the simple pleasures of life is manually refilling one of my fountain pens. Get a decent fountain pen and try it - I know you will understand my fascination.

I bid you Peace,

Jake

Where was I?

Well, here we go again....

As always, I seem to have this growing desire to blog which lasts for a few entries and then peters out. It's been almost a year this time. Many changes in my life since the last update - both good and bad - which just goes to show that no matter how hard you try to keep things static, life will always throw you a curve ball...

Since it's summer I want to mention that I have the ol' grill out again. Much tastiness coming off the coals as of late. With the EM going on (That's the European Soccer Championship for you North Americans) there's been plenty of smoke and fire from the Weber. For those of you who are grill-challenged or are so sick of bratwurst and pork steaks, try ordering this fine book from Steven Raichlen "How to Grill". Seriously great recipes there that go from the embarrassingly simple to the fairly complex. I know the most of you are saying "But, I already know how to grill!" - let me assure you, you probably don't. I have gone from a Hot Dog Charring Chump to Regional Grill Hero since purchasing these tomes. Well worth the price.

Summer is also the time for ice cream.

I know, ice cream is fattening, high in cholesterol, causes colon cancer, etc but there is nothing better in the world than walking down to my local ice cream parlor and having one of dozens of ice creations with good company. The one close to my house is a family run organization - all Italians who know what ice cream should taste like (They did invent it, after all). They do nothing else: no food, no drinks, no bar, just ice cream. They are neither cheap nor well known for their prompt service but it's ll worth it in the end. This is the kind of place you need to find - no chain stores, no bar and grill - just ice cream, preferably someone local.

Take your girlfriend to the ice cream shop on a sunny day. Buy her whatever she wants. Be a hero in her eyes for the rest of the day. ;)

I bid you Peace,

Pathfinder

Right here, right now....

Servus.

I've been wanting to publish another wildly intellectual and amusing post but I find that the world seems to throw me topics that are only relevant to me at that second. Being a nice guy, I really don't want to foist stories of my work challenges or marital adventures on anyone - there are a million billion other blogs out there that provide just that sort of content - usually in a much more engaging and interesting format.

But that's just it - that's all that happens to be in my mind right now. Topics that are only relevant to me at this second.

I can't get my Smartphone to reconnect to my PC. I don't know why - it connects, syncs up, and then disconnects of it's own accord about an hour later. Unless I do a reboot, I can't make it work again.

I have divided my lists into a Excel sheet and a moleskine. Now, I hesitate to use one or the other for fear that I will forget to carry the task or note from one to the other. This means I'm still forgetting shit.

I have a headache. One of those really cool tension headaches that feels like your neck will explode and your disconnected head will roll under the desk. Normally I would stay home and stand under a screaming hot shower for hours but I have a certification interview at 1530 that can only be moved to a later time. Nothing like presenting my new training concept to the certification body while trying not to sweat from the pain.

My armor is not getting built fast enough for me to be ready for the next big event - I try to do it in the evenings but I get bogged down in other shit or the weather keeps me from hammering outside. Weekends always get used up for shopping and cleaning the bathrooms/laundry/kitchen/etc. I can always wear my old stuff but I'll look like baked ass.

None of these things are critical (well, maybe the headache thing) but that is what is dominating my mind - right here right now.

I wish you all clarity of the moment and peace of mind.

Pathfinder

We don't serve your kind here...

Servus!

I just read a story from a friend...

That's like the time when I lived in San Jose and was determined to support the local alterna-cafe, rather than the Starbucks cattycorner to it on the Alameda.

One day I went in there and had the audacity to order a BLT (which was on the menu). The pierced and tattooed counter girl reared back in disgust and then told me in a deadpan voice,

"That has meat in it. I don't know how to make a sandwich with meat in it."

I said, "Really? You are being for real?"

"I can't make meat sandwiches." (pointed glare)

"Wow. Okay." (cut to me walking out and never returning...)

I firmly believe that everyone is entitled to follow whatever philosophy, religion, belief, etc that they so desire. I applaud such individuals that have strong convictions on certain topics and that they live their lives within the boundaries of these convictions.

When you force those beliefs on others you have stepped over the line.

I think with the example I stated the first question that comes to mind is "why in the hell do you have this job?" Seriously, if you know that you would be in a position to serve people food that has meat in it WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THE POSITION?!?!? And then to refuse to serve a customer (essentially losing a customer and taking money out of the pocket of your employer) is beyond the pale.

Think meat is murder? Fine - don't try to make me feel the same way! Vegan? Great - enjoy your salad without screaming at me about how my steak is the epitome of animal cruelty!

I have never been able to understand why it is that those with strong convictions always seem to be the ones that rub your nose in it every opportunity they get. Do these people think that their strong arm/guilt-trip tactics will suddenly make believers out of non-believers? Appeal to my sense of morality, my ideas of right and wrong, my intellect but don't try to bash me over the head with your personal philosophy until I "get it". All that will earn you is a lifelong enemy.

Go forth and be well, people! Live and let live.

I bid you Peace,

Pathfinder

I buried my friend last night...

Servus.

To be honest, I don't know why I'm writing this. Maybe because I have no one else to tell and I have to get it out.

My cat, Apollo, was sleeping on his spot above the stairs Monday morning. I was already at work when my wife called. He must have rolled over in his sleep and fell to the stairs below. He broke his neck and died instantly.

He wasn't that old - only eight. He sat on the table with me outside in the garden all afternoon Sunday while I read "Lord of the Rings" and smoked my pipes. I fed him Monday morning and called him "knucklehead" like usual. Now he's gone. Apollo was a friend and companion. This morning was really hard - he wasn't there to annoy me about chow while I made coffee. He wasn't there to get his cuddles before I got in the shower. He wasn't around to beg for the yogurt lid so he could have his morning treat. I feel really empty.

The worst thing is that it hurts so much but I have to keep it together cause I'm back at the office. People can't understand my loss - my wife and I have no children. Our cats were the closest we had to a "family". You can't just put something like that away.

When your pets are sick and cannot care for themselves anymore or when they are suffering, it's easier to let go, to be able to say "it was time". It wasn't his time.

Our other cat, Luna (his sister) has been taking as hard as the rest of us. She's just hidden in a cabinet upstairs and comes out only in the evening. I know she knows he's gone - she saw his body and looked into his grave for a while before we buried him.

I read the Rainbow Bridge text and wrote him a note on the paper before we put him in. My wife left his favorite toy mouse. We planted a tree above his grave so that he'll never be disturbed.

I know it will take a while to put all of this behind me. I can still see him sitting in his spot in the garden. Best of all, I know his spirit is with us and he'll be waiting for me on the Other Side.

He was a good buddy. I will miss him.

Damn I miss my cat.

Lovin' from the Oven...

Servus!

I like to eat.

For anyone who has seen me lately, this is clearly obvious but when I say it, I mean that there is a genuine interest in flavors and aromas - not simply feeding my face. Oddly enough, one of the things that I have a fascination with is meatloaf. Yep, good old meatloaf. A humble dish to be sure, but one that is filled with memories of times gone by, both good and bad. A dish that will perpetually remind you of home no matter where you make it or eat it. Of course it won't be like the one that you got at home but the basic ingredients are always the same. It's the feeling that you get when you tuck in that really counts. I have gone to great lengths to create a meatloaf recipe that is a combination of things I get here and the flavors that I remember from home. It has been extensively tested and the result has been heavenly. I suggest you try it...

My Version:

Ingredients:

600 grams of ground beef (not pork and beef mixed!)
Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Mustard powder
1/2 tsp Hickory Salt
1 tbs Sweet Paprika
3 Shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 eggs, beaten
75 grams crumbled smoked bacon
Fresh nutmeg
100 grams Breadcrumbs (may be more or less, use your judgement)

Prep:

Take a rectangular baking dish (15x30) and grease it up . I use Butaris, a butterfat used for frying.
Preheat your oven to 200' C. Don't cheat on this- it will come back to bite you later.
Make a strong cup of instant beef broth and set it aside. You'll use this to baste the beast later.

In a large (I'm not kidding here) non-reactive bowl add all ingredients and proceed to mix the hell out of this. The trick is to make sure that your mass is as homogeneous as possible, otherwise you'll get spots that taste like one ingredient more than the other. Form that bad boy into a oblong, not too thick (10 cm max) loaf and put it in the dish.

Cooking:

Pop this in the oven and bake for 45 - 50 minutes (good things take time!) Every 15 minutes, baste the loaf with the broth. This is the secret to keeping your meatloaf from drying out and becoming a doorstop. It also provides you with good drippings which is a base for your gravy.

Measure the internal temp with a thermometer and when it reaches 70' C, it's done! Take it out and cover the dish with foil for 30 minutes, allowing it to rest. In the mean time, make gravy from the drippings -there is no shame in making a packaged gravy but if you have the time and means, I suggest using demi-glace which will lift the flavor of the gravy to the heavens.

Serve with mashed potatoes and peas. Anything else is just wrong.

When you take that first bite, I promise that you too will be transported back to a better time.

Pax,

Pathfinder

Lists

Servus!

Lately, I have become interested in the concept of using lists. Lists for everything - mostly because I have this terrible habit of forgetting things (therefore incurring the wrath of my dear Wife).

I've been trying to come up with a useful way of noting down all the myriad things that I have to accomplish both at home and at work. Work has been relatively easy as I always have my trusty Moleskine handy with all my little flags, highlighters, etc on hand to catalog and prioritize what needs accomplishing. Home has been another challenge.

I have pocket-sized notebooks that I carry in my back pocket and a wonderful Fisher Space Pen in my pocket for writing things down. Sadly, when I'm sitting around in t-shirt and sweats or in my robe in the morning while sipping coffe, it's a bit impractical to lug these things around (not to mention embarrassing). This means that when my wife gets on my case about something (and she will...) I will forget it if I don't write it down.

Like this morning.

There was something between folding the laundry and buying cat food that I was asked to do but I cannot for the life of me remember what the hell it was.

I do know that I will be reminded of what that was tonight.

Pax,

Pathfinder

Those Little Black Books...

Servus!

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. A few months to be exact.

Well, I'm back at it.

As for the title of this post - those "little black books" I refer to are Moleskines, a product that rises above others mainly through it's simplicity, elegance, and quality. Sure, it's "just a notebook" but if you hold one in your hand, there is a difference that you can immediately feel and see. This isn't one of those cheap-ass 99 cent things that you get from the materials cabinet at work, no sir, it's more like a book. Something that you would feel bad about losing. Something that you would not use as a coaster for that cup of coffee during a meeting. I hope that I've been able to relate to you, dear reader, the feel that you get from having a Moleskine. It is a feeling of holding something of great quality and worth.



Go here: http://www.moleskinerie.com/ to see how others use their Moleskines.
Go here: http://moleskines.com/ to purchase these gems online.

Me, I use mine for my notes and lists. I have a small lined on in my back pocket along with a Fisher Space Pen for jotting down things like To-Do items from my wife or gift ideas. It's an everyday kind of list - nothing of great structure but something I can make freestyle notes in. I have some of the hardbound Large notebooks for work - I have a specific book for my daily taskings and one I use for concepts and ideas. I mark the spines of these with gold paint so I can separate them from my non-work notes.

You'll never want to lose your notebook ever again!

Pax,

Pathfinder




Image by artandstory
© All rights reserved

Cookies...

Servus!

Like the title of my post says, I made Christmas cookies over the weekend.

Making cookies is one of those odd things that is very good for the soul and should be attempted at least once a month.The magical equation of simple ingredients combined with warmth go on to create something that makes everyone feel good and be reminded of good times past. I forget who said that "Baking is love" but I believe in my heart that this is the truth.

Baking is also work.

Seriously - after about fifteen minutes of kneading cookie dough with my hands, my forearms began to burn like I was at the gym. If you ever meet a professional baker you will note they all have arms and shoulders like a linebacker from years of kneading dough. Remember how fast and strong Grandma was when she snatched your arm when you were screwing around and she's had enough? That's from making cookies. Here's a little known fact - unless you wear gloves to knead your dough, you are leaving something of your person behind in the dough. Some of you may be grossed out by this fact but it could explain why when you try to replicate a recipe from someone else, be it Mom, Granny, Aunt Nancy, or whoever it never tastes quite the same.

I generally like cooking but I don't bake as often as I would like. The best part of baking is having something wonderful to share with others. Next time you are invited to a dinner, bake a good loaf and bring it along. When your hosts ask the inevitable "where did you get this bread?" you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have created this with your own hands and that your work has gone on to satisfy someone.

I bid you Peace.

Pathfinder

The Lounge - Updated

*Check out the new updated photos!*

Servus!

I am of the opinion that everyone should have a Lounge. Not "just like mine" but somewhere that they can go to and be surrounded by comfortable things to be able to pause and enjoy life for a while. Some guys call this their "den" or "cave" but I like the the way the word "lounge" kind of rolls off the tongue. It's a fairly accurate description of what I do there - I "lounge".

Being a dedicate lover of pipes, cigars, and all things tobacco-related, I have a special room in my home all to myself so that I can enjoy my pastime and not bother another soul (particularly the non-smoking woman I married!) I have my bookshelves so that I have immediate access to my books and novels - another of my consuming pastimes. There is NO television! I dislike television as a rule and having some way to watch DVDs and films down there woudl ensure that I would probably never reemerge! There's a small stereo that I can listen to my music on.

The decor is simple, yet refined. I have numerous wooden vitrines lining the walls which hold my books, my pipes and tobaccos, my flotsam and jetsam. Seating is provided by a big dark brown comfy club chair and there is a leather couch for guests and for when I want to take a nap. Lighting is indirect - I have this gorgeous lamp that I simply cannot describe. My pipe vitrine is lighted to highlight my collection. I also have a Lava Lamp. Tables are wicker and wood chests that help with storage. I have a writing desk with a banker's lamp.










About fifteen square meters of tiled, heated, windowed bliss in the basement. No cats wandering in and annoying me (unless I want them to, of course.) No wife wandering in and annoying me (unless I want her to, of course.) My wife respects this space of mine so much that she actually KNOCKS before coming in! Just one of the many reasons I married her.

Here is where I spend time in the evenings, winding down from the stress of the day. A fine pipe, a cup of coffee or sometimes a whiskey, and a book in my hand. No phones, no computer, just solitude.

I hope that you have such a space.

Pax,

Pathfinder

Coffee and Insanity

Servus!

Don't get me wrong - I love coffee. I mean REALLY love coffee. My life would be without joy and color if there was no coffee.

I hate coffee snobs.

Seriously - those people who go to fabulous lengths to create the ultimate cup of coffee drive me batshit. Buying the finest unroasted Guatemalan beans that were picked by the hands of blind virgins. Spending thousands of dollars on home roasting machines so that they have unlimited control on how much or little the beans are roasted. Using only Japanese iceberg water to brew with. Unbelievably complex and expensive brewing systems that look like something that was either designed by Salvador Dali or taken from a BASF research facility.

All that over a cup of coffee? But that's not the worst of it. These are the same people that scoff at a cup of "normal" coffee that I make at my house. To these gourmets of Java - sorry that I'm just not that interested in how intricately one can create a cup of coffee. And fuck you for insisting that I should also care that much and being rude enough to refuse what I made!

Coffee has been simplified for speed in my house. I have a Senseo machine, which has sped up the " I need a cup of coffee" fix to about two minutes. It makes a decent cup of joe - nothing to write home about but it's drinkable. One of the big negatives about the Senseo machine is that the pads are painfully expensive. This is offset by the fact that there is virtually no waste. I tried making a cup with a just-used pad and got a cup of coffee similar to what you get when you rinse out the cup after the last few drops have been sitting in the bottom since the morning.

If I REALLY want something special (and I have the time) I'll go the "grind my own beans and use the French Press" route. Otherwise I'm pretty easy to satisfy coffee-wise.

As a counterpoint to my argument I will say that most fo the coffee that you get in the States just plain sucks. Like the "bottomless" cup of coffee that one gets when at fine dining establishments such as Shoney's and Denny's - more in common with a glass of weak tea than coffee. For this reason I can barely understand the desire to go through with the aforementioned time-consuming and arcane ritual of making coffee .

In the mean time, I hope that you cup - whatever you may be drinking - fills your need.

Pax,

Pathfinder

The Phone Holder...

Servus!

Just trying to do my part and make the 'net a more surreal and disturbing experience for the rest of you. No need to thank me - cash donations will suffice.

What was I saying?

My damned handsfree device in my car is acting up. This is most annoying, as my handy (that's "cell phone" for you Americans) is recharged in teh handsfree cradle and I didn't notice that the thing hadn't been charging for a week until I was on the phone with my boss who is in the U.S. Now I have to go to the techies and explain that, no, it ISN'T my phone (I tested it in my colleague's car with his device) and could you please just fix the damned thing!

Another annoying aspect is that it seems like the handsfree pillar for my model of automobile is a temporary solution. Every other car I have seen with the device installed has some sort of permanent anchor while mine is a "fits oddly around the console rendering one of my cupholders useless and flopping about" model. I will bitch to the technicians about this but it will most likely be to no avail.

If I weren't such a goof, I would spend the buxx to get the Bluetooth module for my device and tnen I could use any of my phones and not have to worry about missing a call EVER AGAIN!!!!. Being cheap sucks.














Sign of the times...

Pax,

Pathfinder

Energisch aber Sinnlos

Servus!


I read somewhere that to be a successful and well-read blogger, you need to make sure that you update your content at least five times a week, if not every day.


Wow.

Every day.


Problem is, I don't usually have so much to write about - unlike most of the cool bloggers out there, my life is relatively humdrum and no one wants to read about my ongoing adventures in CorporateLand. Another hurdle is that I am not blessed with copious amounts of free time. A good example is my pal Joe over at book of joe (see the links). As an anesthesiologist, he tends to have buckets of time to not only come up with cool things to write about, he has people who assist him in his "cool hunting". Obviously, this makes it a lot easier to have a fresh and interesting blog on a daily basis.

Anyhow, my boss just bought an iPod nano for her travels. Pink. With "music soothes the savage beast" engraved on the back in Latin. I have considered buying such a device, mostly because I have an overwhelming desire to belong to the Apple Elite but I hesitate only because I really do not have the opportuinty to isten to that much music. I also don't download music from the 'net - an expensive and sometimes quasi-legal activity that I would rather not waste my limited bandwith with.

I still think iPod's are still pretty cool though. Meaning that they are probably passé and I should avoid them at all costs to avoid being labeled as such.

The point of all this? There is no point.

But I did update! ;)

Jake