SWTLO(micro)

#commute

#fall

1. On the train platform, this morning. a lady stood right next to me. She stood really close… really close. And suddenly, for seemingly no reason at all, she just started laughing. This continued as we boarded the train, where she sat a few rows behind me, and through four stops. Every now and then she would just start laughing out loud. No headphones. No reading material in her hand. No conversation with myself or anyone else. Just, laughing.

2. Windows 10… I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to rebuild my profile because of the “critical start menu not working” error. It’s happening on both the laptop and the Surface Pro 3. It’s driving me crazy. Microsoft, please fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it. Fix it.

1. People pushing and shoving to board trains and rush to the open seats. Getting poked by umbrellas because people aren't paying attention, mostly because they're staring at their phone screens while trying to walk to their destinations. Stand to the side and watch how ridiculous that is; people look like they're drunk because they cannot walk in straight lines and keep running into other people/things. But, when all is said and done, the commute still beats the LA freeways. Though, I feel sorry for the next person that pokes me with their umbrella because I'm going to rip that thing out of their hands and throw it into the middle of the street. You wouldn't think it would be difficult for an adult to use an umbrella. I'm pro mobile device and tech but I'm also pro paying attention to where you walk. (Though I really really enjoy watching people walk into things.)
2. New phone today! The bigger screen (iPhone 6s+) and better battery life is already awesome. Definitely will pay off during travel. Don't think I have to take my tablet any more. Yay for one less device in my bag!
3. My new hire backed out, before her start date, for personal reasons. I could tell that she really didn't want to. It sucks but is totally understandable. Sometimes, family truly comes before everything else. I admire her sacrifice.
4. Every Wednesday, there's a Farmer's Market at Reston Station. I have to walk through it from the train to the bus. While doing so, today, I accidentally made eye contact with the empanada guy, which (obviously) is an automatic commitment to buying at least one empanada. So, I obliged. And it was good. Because seriously.... empanadas! Meat! Potatoes! Other spices! Pastry! Baked!
5. Less coffee, more water. That's my rule for the rest of the week.

1. Rough day… the morning was nice and mellow but, as soon as I got back from lunch, it got 5,000 different kinds of crazy. Still trying to figure out where the afternoon went.

2. I really think it’s time we all end our culture of considering “number of emails” and “hours worked” as a badge of honor.

3. The hypocrisy: I work a lot. Probably a lot more than I really need to.

4. More and more I’m starting to see the same people on my commute to and from work. It’s an odd thing, seeing each other each morning (or evening) and not knowing each other’s names. And everyone burries themselves into their phone screens instead of reaching out to talk to one another. We all know we’re there. We all know we see each other almost every day. Why don’t we talk?

5. I am such the epitome of “introverted” it’s not even funny.

Five things for today:

1. I chose a more appropriate jacket for today. Much better.

2. A crowded train is always a good place to have a phone conversation, on speakerphone… Not. Just, no.

3. Remember the Bud Light campaign, “Real Men of Genius”? I’m going to start writing those about the different people on the train. “Here’s to you insanely ginormous neon green headphones guy…” and “Here’s to you trying too hard to impress that girl, college intern guy…” And “Here’s to you, falls all over the place even though you’re holding on to the railing guy…”

4. I ate tacos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner today. Because #tacotuesday. And because I can. And it was glorious.

5. Grateful… just, grateful.

#tacotuesday

1. Thinking about my SoCal friends, at the (hopefully) tail end of their heat wave, while I stand in 28 degrees waiting for the bus. The neighbors are using ice scrapers on their cars.
2. Related: I did not choose an appropriate jacket for today.
3. Work work work work work... busy but, I wouldn't have it any other way. Good stuff.
4. You know why Californians are all about the avocados? Because they are awesome. An avocado, picked from a local tree and ripened on your counter is way better than the avocado spread/mix/substitute used around here. Avocado spread, "made with 10% real avocado" frankly, sucks. Also, east coasters, the "avocado" shouldn't be the color green that glows in the dark.
5. Fully enjoyed listening to Note To Self's episode, "Even a Silent Phone Disconnects Us". Definitely makes me evaluate my mobile device usage, especially as I continue to work to further appreciate "being in the moment".

1. I spent 10 minutes explaining what chilaquiles are (and how completely awesome they are) to someone and now I have an intense craving for some... quick Internet search reveals that they are very difficult to find in this area. I miss you, Southern CA.
2. I took an "extended" route/walk from the Metro station to the office, this morning. This really is a pretty city to walk through, and it was good to gather my thoughts before starting work. So much less stress than driving in.
3. We have a tendency to make things more difficult than they really need to be.
4. I'm growing to like my sit/stand desk but note to self: I need more comfortable shoes. Or some Dr. Scholl's inserts.
5. I'm tired. Need to work on sleeping better.

1. This morning, lady sitting next to me on the train was reading the bible and speaking some of the phrases out loud. For some reason, this made me more uncomfortable than the homeless guy, strike that, "hipster" sitting next to me on the bus. Sorry hipster dude, your artisan soap and gluten free deodorant aren't working.
2. It's odd (and uncomfortable) to listen to a non-diverse group talk about diversity.
3. Finished two essays on deadline. Seriously, *on* deadline. I hate deadlines. #school
4. Was invited to tonight's Capitals game. Wasn't until later that I found out that it was in a fully catered suite. So fun.
5. Work day wasn't as productive as I would have liked but, some of it was out of my control.  Meetings and distractions.

1. I cleaned up and edited my reading list; it's now down to just over 200 books. So little time...
2. Related: connecting with writers/authors over social media is great. I love that I can interact with writers I admire.
3. This morning, the train hit a really rough part of the track. It felt like we were on the Universal Studios tram tour. I kept waiting for King Kong to appear through the windows.
   1. Yes, trains aren't supposed to have "rough parts" but this is WMATA
   2. Speaking of the train, my estimation is that this car is 30% less sticky than yesterdays car.
4. I hired my first FTE today (my second staff at SOI, counting my part-time intern). I'm excited to see my team and our efforts grow, globally.
5. I just discovered that there's a 240 page book called Tacos: Recipes and Provocations, by Alex Stupak. So many tacos, so little time...

1. I hate writing on a deadline, or assigned writing. I think that's why I don't like my current course. I love writing as long as I have complete say over what and when to write.
2. It's Christine's birthday, today. I wish I was close enough to take her out to dinner to celebrate. Too many missed chances over recent years.
3. Starting this week, I'm using my lunch hours to wander around DC (at least near the office). No specific destination, just wandering.
4. I need to find a photo project. Need. To.
5. Good, productive day at the office.

Breakfast

Beer. In a beer garden. In Austria. Woot.

Not clear on what this was before but, inside is an art gallery now.

Fall in Dornbirn.

Took a short walk around the area and stumbled on this small city park. Very pretty. Even better, good clean mountain air. Was good to be outside.

Condominium for small insect, lizards, and birds.

Not a bad way to begin a flight.