Trip to Jeckyl Island

So I suppose the most significant news at the moment was my loss of my contract at Coca-Cola.  Fortunately, I had already paid for the hotel that I planned to take Julia for her birthday.  We went back to the site of our first romantic weekend getaway, Jeckyl Island.  We left on Friday and got back on Sunday.

On Friday, I picked Julia up at her house around 6pm.  She had made me a nice sandwich and we went straight away.  Traffic was insane in Atlanta itself due to the Final 4 of March Madness. Wahoo, poorly paid collegiate athletes being exploited for a multibillion dollar corporate empire! Yeehaw! 

I had recently purchased a bluetooth enabled speaker which was cheaper than spending the money to fix my CD player.  It worked great and the two of us listened to Pandora most of the way down, but there were frequent breaks because we listened to the Google Navigator app which told us to take a short cut in the middle of nowhere.  If you are going to Jeckyl island, unless you really LIKE traveling the back ways of Georgia, stay to the high ways.  Not only was it dark and not particularly pretty but there is no internet connection there whatsoever (at least wireless for MetroPCS) but there were also at least a DOZEN speed traps as the state highway went right through town with several rapid drops in speed designed to catch the unaware in hopes of generating local revenue.  The view of the stars, of course, was fantastic, but you can't appreciate that too much when you are driving.

We arrived at Midnight and there was a mixup of rooms.  They...(and I don't know what crack they were on) had originally given us two rooms on Friday night and none on Saturday.  Moreover, they were full up on spring breakers and wedding guests.  Fortunately, our concierge was able to get us a nice room.  In fact, that was the ONLY error the entire time, and as per our last stay, the Ocean Side Hotel did a fantastic job and was a wonderful stay.  The larger rooms are spaceous, have a beach view and also have a Jacuzzi.  It is an excellent weekend getaway.

Saturday we took an initial long walk on the beach back and forth for about an hour and a half.  After lunch, which was moderately OK, we went out and hung out on the beach on some chairs Julia's parents had leant us.  It was quite nice.  There was a steep cool wind which got slightly chilly but I interceded my chair between Julia and the wind, acting as a lee.  Got a tiny bit of writing done but it became increasingly apparent that salt and sand are bad for computers so I took it inside and instead read on my kindle.  Julia read several magazines and mainly enjoyed the view.  The beach and the sea naturally recharge her, and she's had a hell of a past few months, so I can understand the need to get away from it all.

We had dinner at Latitude 31 by the harbor.  It was OK.  Julia liked their food.  I discovered a lovely cocktail called a Strawberry Kiss which I need to learn to make/order, but my food was the daily special.  Mental note: Do not order the special when they are expecting a large dinner party [like over half the restaraunt from one of the weddings.]  It was, to say the least...bland.  It wasn't BAD per se, but very pedestrian.  But the setting was gorgeous and we even saw a dolphin out in the water.

Saturday night we watched two episodes of Angel on Netflix.  The streaming was problematic due to spring breakers using all the bandwidth but I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the show, and Julia loved it too.  Looks like we have found a new show to watch together.  We've watched the first three seasons of Buffy so far.

Sunday we came back.  Pandora worked the whole way.  The scenery was nice and the traffic was minimal.  In short, it was better all around.  We got back to Julia's house around 5:30pm, and relaxed on the patio for about 30 minutes.  It was nice talking with her family. Then we had a delightful meal (much better cooked than Lat 31 :p :) ) of Chicken Catchetori. Then we had cake and sang her Happy Birthday.

All in all a great weekend!

Quarter Year Goal Check 2013

Goals 2013
Quarter Year Goal Grade Check
Physical
Primary: Get to 250lbs by July 20th. - B-
Serious dieting has started, but it took me two months to get around to it.  Prognosis high.
Secondary: Go to 60 Yoga Classes. C-
I've been making efforts on this but my first actual yoga class of the year was this week.  Passable only because of likely success in the near future.  There won't be a second muligan on this one.
Mental
Primary: Read the following 6 books: [Quarterly] - A- On track but haven't started book #2 on this or chosen the mystery book. Need to write a review for Magical World View.
Secondary: Learn 48 French phrases. [Monthly] A - Fun and doubling as voice over practice.
Emotional
Primary: Abstain from Paranoia. [Quarterly.] A+ - DAMN this one is hard, but I'm making a serious effort into it.
Secondary: Continue optimism. [Quarterly.] A- - Nothing new but no ground lost either.
Spiritual
Primary: Write one poem a month in soul forging. [Monthly] - A - Done.
Social
Primary: Take Julia dancing 12 times in 2013. [Monthly]  - F - None done but easily changable.  optimistic to pass.
Secondary: Hang out with friends at least once a week. [Weekly.]  - A+.  Done and I have gone out of my way to do so and strengthen rather than maintain friendships.
First Life: Retired.
Second Life
Primary Goal: Finish Forever West by the end of the year. [Quarterly]  - A- ....Not much done but what is done so far is good.
Secondary Goal: Write Tossing Grenades at Windmills in National Novel Writing Month. [Quarterly] - N/A....but looking forward to it.
Third Life
Primary Goal: Operation RUR schedued for production in an actual physical location charging money for admitance at least once by the end of 2013. - Swapped for Lunacy.  On track.  A
Secondary Goal: Film Project Chaylite in 2013 or another short film.  - Grade: ??????  Chaylite is...unknown.  And my film equipment is damaged but I may yet put something together re: Pullman archives or a cell phone camera...ew but...I take this seriously.  B+ for effort.  ESSS could replace.
Fourth Life
Primary Goal: Initiate Project Horribly Inappropriate and remake yearly investment budget in RAA. [Monthly]  -A.  On track.
Secondary Goal: Project Red Attack Tagging viable for its intended goal. A-....no charter, no cards but on track and Project ATLAwesome seems set to replace the need for it.
Fifth Life
Primary Goal: Project Chysalis II. [Monthly] - A-....but this could go down fast...not from lack of effort that's for damn sure.
Secondary Goal: Decide and Enact the Year of the Kane Eagle. [Monthly] A (Only A instead of A+ because of invitations)
Sixth Life
Primary Goal: Write in Eagle as Phoenix Once a Week. [Monthly]  - A+ (Missed only once)
Secondary Goal: Operation Evict Reed. - F.  But...no one seems to care.  May need to replace.  Must decide by July.
Incidentals
Earn my PMP. [Quarterly] - Complications.  N/A but slated for end of year for sure.
Write the script for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky. [Quarterly] - Slated for later this year.  On track.
Write the League of Christmas Darkness Dodecaology. [Monthly] - B+ - 2 out of 12 done.
Reach the half way mark in the Egress fund. [Quarterly]  - A+ - On track. Ish.
Somehow make the Mosaic Inglemia campaign idea work. [Quarterly] - A+ On track.
Julia's Goals
1. Get straight A's in her classes toward her MLA degree. [By Semester] - Not grading.
2. Lose 10lbs by July 20, 2013. [Quarterly] - Not grading. 
3. Stay physically afterwards and maintain that. [Quartly] - Not Grading.
4. Obtain a full time job. [Monthly] - Not grading.
That's her place to grade them but I sure gauge A by my book in effort and observation!
Marriage Goals
1. Remain patient and communicative in our relationship. [Biannually] - A for my part.
2. Datenight at least once a week. [Monthly] A+
3. Successfully complete and ENJOY the wedding. [Once] -On track.
4. Decide Starter City. [Quarterly]  1 out of 3 examined and rejected.  May replace with other candidates...by the end of the year...may not happen but target is still on track.
11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2013 A- On track

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in 2013 unless an opportunity comes before hand.
C...but might try this later in the year.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
2013. Bish so far.
52. Hypnotize someone.
2013-2014.  On track n/a
55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [0 of 7 done.] First slated for 2013.
A+ with ATLAwesomeness...
29. Marry the Right Person. [2013]
A+ so far.
Overall Grade so far: B+...which will go down a lot of physical goals not achieved and/or maintained.

Portland, Oregon

Friday was a bit rough quite frankly.  My idea of traveling insanely early in the morning to get there early meant that both of us were rather tired.  The hour layover in Denver wasn't so bad, from the air anyway.  When we finally got to Portland (which has a fantastic airport by the way) our first visit was with a cab driver who was a rather nice fellow but ....well...either daft or deliberately daft.  We gave him an address and then, 40 minutes later, we arrived at the wrong spot and he said, "ooooooooooh.  I thought you meant Southwest because you said downtown.  There are four sections of the city."  Yeah.  After a week there, NOT asking that is....not that bright.  He wasn't a native english speaker but he knew about quadrants and just assumed.  And in the process got an extra 30 bucks.  The return trip was half the price of the trip in.  Having said that our first impression of the Lion and the Rose was that it was gorgeous.  It is also very homey.  If you are going to stay in Portland, I can't recommend it enough.  It is *THE* best Bed and Breakfast we have been too so far.

Saturday was 'sun storm' day as the locals referred to it; bright sun, warm temperatures etc.  Once we had done a bit of school work, we headed out to see the sites.  The public transportation system there is *AWESOME* and that's generally awesome, not just kind of awesome as anything compared to Atlanta or or worse Houston is just anemic.  We went to a weekend market with all kinds of fabulous performers.  Then we walked along the river front park.  We ended up eating at a seafood place near the inn.  Wandering around downtown, I showed Julia Powell's books and she was very pleased.  We found the ballet section and her eyes were wide as saucers as she found two books she had wanted to own since she was a little girl and had serially checked out from the library.  That alone made the trip worth it.  Also made a minor stop in a russian art store and got her a tiny ballerina ornament.  It was quite nice.

Sunday was a bit more relaxed.  Breakfast was FANTASTIC, and we got into a fascinating discussion with a couple from Washington state and another from Ohio.  Some political things were brought up, but I somewhat politely side stepped the land mines and we focused more on international politics.  The elder gentleman from Ohio had spent some time in Saudi Arabia and, though not a co-reality inhabitant, still had some rather interesting insights into their culture, to the point that I want to learn more about it.  Afterwards, I read and Julia got a bit more school work done and then we headed out.  A second trip to Powell's got me the mother load of sci fi hardbacks, including the missing Dresden files volumes as well as the first six Xanth books (the ones I consider worth reading at this point.)  We ate at a wonderful Itallian place.  Strangely, *ALL* of the coffee joints were closed as of 8pm on Sunday night so we ended up having to go to Applebee's, where the bartender was kind of nice.

Monday we slept in.  Late.  Very late.  It was awesome.  Then we went downtown.  We went to a Chinese garden in the entertainment district called the Lan Su garden, which is an authentic chinese garden that was build by their sister city in China with over 65 chinese artisians.  We had tea in the tea house.  Afterwords, we went to Voodoo Donuts which as fantastic donuts...and fantastic decoration.  There was a line out the door in the middle of the afternoon!  That night, we ate at a very nice restraurant called Veritable Quandry which had fantastic food.  We both had the Steelhead (fish) and enjoyed every minute of it.

Tuesday, we made a final trip to Powell's books and retrieved a few more books.  By the time we returned, we had doubled the weight of our bags.  Afterwards, we saw Argo at Living Room theater and enjoyed it quite a bit.  It makes our own "fork and screen" or "movie taverns" pale in comparison, and had a real kitchen with real food and alcholic beverages.  Good movie, good food, fun date. 

Wednesday we deliberately took rather light.  We walked all over the historic district and saw several fantastic houses.  We watched several episodes of Dr. Who.  We read.  I got some writing done.  We relaxed and enjoyed our inn.  We also ate at McManniman's brew pub which had fanastic food and beer.

Thursday we came home.  The flight was even crazier...hey...5AM SEEMED like a good idea at the time...I mean its 8AM our time, right? We got back, exhausted and had a brief meal at Raging Burrito before walking back to our cars.   A fantastic trip all around.

Anarchcon 2013

This last weekend was very busy and very fun.  Friday and Saturday night Julia and I went to Anarchrocon, which is a local celebration of the past and all things Steampunk.  We got Julia a corset and she seems to like it a lot...except for the slight problem with you know...breathing.  However after talking with my friend Ace it seems there are some tricks to wearing one, so it might not have been a waste of money after all.  More importantly, we finally found Julia a 'tiny hat' which I have been looking for her for the better part of a year.  She likes the one we finally found.  It is bright red with little red wire things on it.  Hopefully we can put up a picture of it on facebook at some point in the immediate future.  We got to see some awesome music and concerts, though the best was by an artist named Edwina who is only 16 but sounds like she has a lifetime worth of pain and skill in her voice.  That girl is going places, but she was performing in the front hall and no one could hear her unless paying attention.  She was also pointed out to us by Ace.  One of the more interesting panels involved Dracula which was in part moderated by Anya.  Anya also took a look at Billy's First Bolt Gun and offered some excellent advice on tweaking the ending...but it looks to see the light of day some time in the near future.  The Costumes, as always, were awesome.  Since Anachrocon was our second date, I think Julia and I agree that it has largely become 'our' con. :D

Wedding preparations are going well.  We have officially set the date on July 20th, and formal documentation should be sent shortly.  Honeymoon plans are in the islands of the West and should be quite awesome.  We're greatly looking forward to it. :D  My projects are going well, but nothing earth shattering.  Julia has now obtained the dress, though she has thus far resisted all the good natured efforts I've made to trick her into letting me see it. 

Earlier in the month we went to Dracula the Ballet.  It was gorgeous! I am only a nominal ballet fan, but I will readily acknowledge talent when I see it, and they had it in spaces.  We both had a great time and I'm glad we got the season tickets to the ballet.  We got a very good deal on it, and a few monthly payments last fall are reaping their dividends now.

Return To The Booth Museum

I last went here when I was desperately seeking distraction and an attempt to find inspiration of some kind, and completely got it in the form of a gift wrapped bundle of awesomeness that is the current format for my fifth novel Forever West. So when I rather ...ditzily...forgot to get the hotel rooms in advance for Miami and they were going to cost us something like $700 for the entire weekend trip we took, we had to cancel, but I had promised Julia a weekend trip. So I remembered that we had talked about going to the Booth museum for quite some time. Julia had been before, but not for 8 years.

We got a room for a very cheap price at a nice little 'microtel' not more than 10 minutes from the Booth museum. It was very new, and immaculate but it reminded us a bit of a dorm room. We spent some of that weekend doing homework (Julia) and working on the Fulton County Arts grant for Mythic (Myself). However we also went to the Booth Museum. It is a world class museum and both of have seen some rather impressive ones. The art was fantastic and it was definitely excellent creative fuel for the second half of the novel that I'm starting again in March. In addition to the traditional western art that you might expect, they also had modern art and an extensive collection of art from the 'mythic' west including posters from a number of movies. The sculptures were easily one of the most impressive elements.

Later that night, we found out some friends of ours not only worked in Cartersville, but lived there too. Holly and Adam were sick but Terrence took us out to a lovely dinner at the Appalacean Grill. It was a fascinating conversation and many topics were covered including dating, politics, economics, entertainment and literature. We had to skip the Telles Museum because we stayed up late watching the last two episodes of Homeland Season 1 (which is fantastic.)

On the way back we picked up a bottle of wine for Julia's family's super bowl party. It was called "Sebastini" and therefore we had to get it. (Julia's dog is called Sebastian.) I also picked up a pair of sunglasses and acted like a warped combination of Rebel Without A Clue and Wolfman Jack. I left the tags on and kept talking about how all the cool kids wore sunglasses like that. Julia put up with this for about 20 minutes and then patiently took glasses off, and without a word, removed the tag. After laughing for 3 minutes solid, I smiled put the glasses in the glove compartment and we resumed our trip.

Good trip :D

First Month of the Year of the Kane Eagle

It's been a busy month.

Last week Julia and I went to visit the family in Houston. It was a long drive there, and leaving at midnight probably wasn't the brightest of ideas. Julia fortunately had a plane ticket back, but it took me over SIXTEEN HOURS to get back thanks to traffic...the longest it has ever taken me on the trip to houston. I think it will be flying from now on despite the cost. Friday night we went to Christy and Jon's reception. Nice to meet him and for Julia to be able to meet most of the family. The meal was fantastic too. Most of Saturday we spent with Randy's family and Mom watching movies which was quite fun. We all got to know each other.

Earlier this month, on the final day it was open, Julia's parents took us to the Botanical Gardens. It was a veritable wonderland of various lights wrapped around plants. It's hard to describe if you're not there, but some of the more interesting things included coreographed giant pearl lights that turned different colors based on the music and the tone of the music that was playing, as well as a brilliant green 'laser show' inside of the hot house which was mostly dark and quite surreal, as well as lofty trees with blooming 'light flowers' on them. Afterwards, we went to Antico pizza which has all of its ingredients flown in from italy and was FANTASTIC.

We've taken it easy a lot of the month due to my two week forced vacation; so we've been watching movies a lot including the rather incredible series 'Homeland' which is quite good. Febuary should be a bit more interesting. Wedding plans are progressing well and we hope to send out invitations on the second week of Febuary.

Goals 2013

Goals 2013

Tracking Goal: Track status of all goals on a weekly, monthly or quartly basis in Evernote.

Physical

Primary: Get to 250lbs by July 20th. [Weekly]

Secondary: Go to 60 Yoga Classes. [Weekly]

Mental

Primary: Read the following 6 books: [Quarterly]

Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks by Friedrich Nietzsche

Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone by Immanuel Kant

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View D. Michael Quinn

The Complete Works of Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

[Not yet determined. Will decide by July 2013]

Secondary: Learn 48 French phrases. [Monthly]

Emotional

Primary: Abstain from Paranoia. [Quarterly.]

Secondary: Continue optimism. [Quarterly.]

Spiritual

Primary: Write one poem a month in soul forging. [Monthly]

Social

Primary: Take Julia dancing 12 times in 2013. [Monthly]

Secondary: Hang out with friends at least once a week. [Weekly.]

First Life: Retired.

Second Life

Primary Goal: Finish Forever West by the end of the year. [Quarterly]

Secondary Goal: Write Tossing Grenades at Windmills in National Novel Writing Month. [Quarterly]

Third Life

Primary Goal: Operation RUR schedued for production in an actual physical location charging money for admitance at least once by the end of 2013.

Secondary Goal: Film Project Chaylite in 2013 or another short film.

Fourth Life

Primary Goal: Initiate Project Horribly Inappropriate and remake yearly investment budget in RAA. [Monthly]

Secondary Goal: Project Red Attack Tagging viable for its intended goal.

Fifth Life

Primary Goal: Project Chysalis II. [Monthly]

Secondary Goal: Decide and Enact the Year of the Kane Eagle. [Monthly]

Sixth Life

Primary Goal: Write in Eagle as Phoenix Once a Week. [Monthly]

Secondary Goal: Operation Evict Reed.

Incidentals

Earn my PMP. [Quarterly]

Write the script for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky. [Quarterly]

Write the League of Christmas Darkness Dodecaology. [Monthly]

Reach the half way mark in the Egress fund. [Quarterly]

Somehow make the Mosaic Inglemia campaign idea work. [Quarterly]

Julia's Goals

1. Get straight A's in her classes toward her MLA degree. [By Semester]

2. Lose 10lbs by July 20, 2013. [Quarterly]

3. Stay physically afterwards and maintain that. [Quartly]

4. Obtain a full time job. [Monthly]

Marriage Goals

1. Remain patient and communicative in our relationship. [Biannually]

2. Datenight at least once a week. [Monthly]

3. Successfully complete and ENJOY the wedding. [Once]

4. Decide Starter City. [Quarterly]

Life Goals - "At some point"

1. See the Louvre.

**2015-2016.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.

** Goal to see all by 2017. Egypt pending political situation.

3. Learn a martial art.

**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

Slated 2014

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.

**Completed. [And also permanently dead :( ]

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.

**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2013

13. Go on a cruise.

2014.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING. [Small chance of 2014]

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

Slated 2017-2018.

18. Have a room with a secret passage

Slated 2017-2018.

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

Do in 2013 unless an opportunity comes before hand.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

Doing.

27. Ditto the sixth.

Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

28. Ditto the seventh.

**Kept in reserve until 2027.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).

2013.

48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.

49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)

50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)

51. Join the Masons.

2014. Maybe.

52. Hypnotize someone.

2013-2014.

53. Firewalk.

54. Visit the Library of Congess

55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [0 of 7 done.] First slated for 2013.

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person. [2013]

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.