What I'm thankful for...

This being Thanksgiving, it seems only natural to spend some time reflecting on what I'm grateful for in this life. There are certainly things for which I'm grateful that are material (e.g., a roof over my head, reliable transportation, food on my table and in my refrigerator), but most of what I give thanks for is non-material and intangible.

Such things include abstractions such as life itself, as well as the experience of having my life stripped from me six years ago and later returned to me. Perhaps I will have to wait until I'm an older man before I fully understand how much the experience of going through the leukemia and bone marrow transplant has impacted my life. For the time being, however, I can say that I have some sense of the import of the experience of traveling to the edge of life and then returning.

I'm also grateful for the opportunities I have to work and to use the talents and skills that I've developed. Doing such work, like that which I've done for the "Brookings Register," other newspapers and for the books I've been writing, is helping me to further sharpen my skills. And those skills, I'm sure, will serve me well throughout the rest of the life.

Above all others, however, I'm most grateful for the various people who have populated my life over the years. These various people have taken the forms of friends and relatives. And in many instances, people who start out as friends later enter into a territory where the line between "friend" and "relative" becomes indistinct. In any case, I give thanks for having these people in my life and for helping me grow. I've truly been blessed by them, and I hope that being a part of their lives has been good for them, too.

In closing this post, I'd like to share a poem that I wrote about a year ago. It speaks primarily of the impact that different people have had on my life, but I think that it also gives insight into how other things for which I'm thankful have left their marks on me. Enjoy.

Looking Back While Moving Forward

I sit in this lonely space
enveloped in plastic and glass
as I steer my steely steed through the toothy night
The reddish glow of gauges, rock roaring out of speakers
and starlight peeking through the clouds
punctuate the miles and darkness that lie ahead
In this space, in this time
I find myself looking back upon those who have impacted me
who have helped forge the man I am today
Some of them still walk the earth cocooned in flesh as I do
while others have shed this earthly chrysalis
and gone to dwell with those who came before them
To these people, whether I’ve known you as mother or father
brother or sister
friend or foe
I wish you peace and love
and offer thanks to you and for you
for helping me be the man I am today

Birthday

It's hard to believe that I'm 28 years old today. Where has all the time gone? At this point, I'm not sure if the time has gone by quickly or if it's gone slowly. I suppose that it feels like it's taken a long time to get to this point, but maybe time will seem to speed up as I continue with my life. As my editor said once during a discussion, time speeds up as you age.

Looking back, I guess a lot has happened in the past 28 years. For instance, while I was having lunch with my dad about an hour ago, he talked about how 28 years ago today, I was at the University of Minnesota medical center being treated for a collapsed lung that I had suffered shortly after a birth. Other than that, there have certainly been many milestones during my journey from infancy to young adulthood. Surely among those were graduating from high school, graduating from college and getting my master's degree, and surviving leukemia and bone marrow transplant. I certainly remember all the work that those things took to achieve, but it may not be until some point later in my life when I'll develop a full appreciation of all that I've done. It's probably one of those deals where you can't "see the forest for the trees;" it's hard to see the big picture and the impact of things when you're in the thick of something.

Driving impressions

This evening while I was in Sioux Falls, I finally had the chance to drive a 2006 Honda Civic. I'm not sure which generation this new car represents, but I do know that the Civic has been on sale in the United States since 1973.

It's been a while since I've had the chance to drive a late-model Honda Civic. The last was a 2005 Honda Civic EX coupe. Needless to say, slipping behind the wheel of a 2006 Civic EX coupe proved to be a very satisfying experience.

The first thing that struck me was the redesigned interior. More specifically, I first noticed the steeply-raked windshield. It's angle, coupled with the design of the interior, gives one the impression of being in the cockpit of a fighter jet rather than the cabin of a passenger car. I think one magazine said that the windshield angle in this new Civic coupe is similar to what has been used in Honda's Acura NSX supercar.

Another striking feature of the new interior is its two-tiered instrument panel. The top pier includes a digital speedometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge. The lower tier houses an analog digital tachometer. It would take some time for me to get used to such an instrumentation set up, but I already know that I think that it's cool.

I also like the overall design of the interior. It, like the rest of the car, seems more upscale and refined than the old car was, and the seats were nicely bolstered and comfortable. The only aspect of the interior with which I wasn't thrilled was the shifter. It made changing gears easy enough, but it lacked precision, in my opinion. The shifters in my Mazda6 and Miata feel a lot more precise to me.

When the time came to actually drive the car, I was again pleasantly surprised. The new 1.8 liter engine seemed like it had plenty of power for everyday driving, and was quiet in its operation. The ride was comfortable and quiet, and the suspension seemed to soak up the bumps and other road imperfections well. Because most of the roads on which I drove were straight, I didn't have much opportunity to test the car's handling limits. Perhaps another drive will give me an opportunity to see how well the car tackles the turns.

Although I was only about to spend about 20 minutes with the car, I already know that I like it. Maybe I'll get the chance to drive one more in the future. In the meantime, I'll do more research on the car to learn more about it, and also think about what kind of replacement it might make for my Mazda6.

Now, the car dilemma that I'm facing is whether it would be better to buy a newer car or put some money into the Mazda6. If I keep the Mazda6, I'd likely either leave it as it is now, or perhaps accessorize it by adding 17-inch wheels and tires, and maybe a sport grille. Buying a new car, if only to have something different, is always appealing, but adding equipment to my current car would be a lot less expensive. Again, it's not a serious debate, but it's fun to think about nonetheless.

Figuring out what to do with this computer

As I sit here and write this, I'm working on a computer that I recently purchased from a friend. Technically I haven't purchased it from him yet because I haven't paid for it, but I do plan to pay the price we've agreed to at first opportunity.

Neither of us is certain how old this machine is, but for only 650 MHz and 256 MB of memory, it seems pretty spry. It's a computer that my friend built a few years back, and he's selling it to me now because he no longer has any use for it. He built a newer, faster machine, and now also has a sweet Compaq laptop on which to work.

There have been a few things, however, that I've had to do to this machine to get it up and running again. But I understood that when I agreed to buy it. As my friend said, the hard drive (a 120 GB Western Digital unit) had gone bad, so I replaced it with an 80 GB 7200 rpm Seagate drive that seems to be working nicely. With my friend's help, I initially installed Windows 98 SE as the machine's operating system. I've since installed an upgrade to Windows XP Professional. If I decide to keep this machine to myself (my original intention has been to get it running again and then give it away), I may eventually repartition the hard drive so that I can make it into a dual-boot system. That way, I could boot into either Windows XP or Red Hat Linux 9.0.

Now I'm getting all philosophical again. Especially considering the relatively small sum of money that I've put into this machine, I'm now debating whether I should give this computer away as I had originally intended or keep it. If I do give it away, there are a few different parties that I'm considering seriously right now. On the other hand, if I keep this machine, it would give me a decent Windows computer on which to work when I needed it. There's no question that I love Macs, but there are some rare instances where it's useful to have a Windows box on your desk. For instance, in the Web design work I do for South Dakota State University, the interface for the templates with which I work seem to work best when I'm using a Windows machine. There are also instances where software that I'd like to use (e.g., Adobe Audition, formerly Cool Edit Pro) is only available for Windows machines.

Oh, well, I suppose the answer will come in time. Also, I'm feeling pretty tired right now, so that probably has something to do with why I can't make a clear decision right now about what to do with this computer. As with so many other things, the solution will present itself when the time is right. In the meantime, I'll enjoy this machine while it's still in my possession.

A friend's book about spirituality

A few days ago, I met with a couple of friends with whom I used to work when I was employed by the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service. We usually get together for lunch at least every couple of weeks, although we've met more frequently lately. We've been good friends for some time now, and the fact that all three of us are only children is one of the bonds that's brought us together.

While we were visiting before our food arrived, one of my two friends produced two copies of the manuscript of a book she's been working on over the past year or so. She's always had an interest in spirituality, and she's put together a book on what she refers to as "new spirituality," and it addresses thoughts on what God is, what the universe is, what karma is, and so on.

I haven't read the complete manuscript yet, but in the 2/3 or so if it that I've already read, I've been blown away. This book that my friend has written encapsulates a lot of my beliefs and understandings of spirituality and the nature of the universe. Some of those beliefs and understanding come from my upbringing, but many of them stem from what I've learned from others and from my own experiences through this spiritual path that I'm on now. The manuscript has been a lot of fun to read so far, and I hope that my friend is able to get it published. There's no pretense to it whatsoever, and I feel that it's very clear and well-written in its presentation. Although the book that I'm wrapping up is about a different subject altogether, I hope that it can be at least as understandable and enjoyable.

That's about all I feel that I can say right now, so I think I'll conclude this entry for now. I may feel like writing more as the day goes on, but for now, I'm content with this.

Wanting something different...

It's hard to believe that it's as nice as it is outside, especially considering it's Nov. 5. It would really be nice if it could be like this all winter long, but my guess is that that's not in the cards. A person can dream, though, right?

The morning has been fairly active already. I've made it over to Volga to interview the owner of that custom bike shop, and I just got done cleaning up my parents' Honda Odyssey a little while ago. Now I'm just sitting here hanging out on their couch and watching TV while Dad goes out to the farm to run some errands. I haven't yet figured out what to do with the rest of the day.

When you have a lot of choices, even if they're good choices, it can get overwhelming and hard to decide what to do. Something inside me is telling me now to take advantage of this nice day and blaze on down to Sioux Falls for a bit. I'd like to go look at some different cars (not that I need another one, but it's always fun to look in any case) and then head to Sioux Falls Music to visit a friend of mine there. I enjoy visiting him, and it's always fun to go down and check out what gear they have down there.

That's something that I've really been pondering lately, and it's been something of a pleasant dilemma for me. What's that, you're wondering? Well, I've been thinking about getting some different drums lately, or at least some new hardware, such as a new double bass drum pedal. I guess what's hard about all this for me is trying to figure out if it's best to hang on to my current equipment (which in reality works fine, particularly for how I'm using it now) or to buy something different. I must admit, though, that my main motivation for wanting to buy something new isn't because what I already have is worn out or doesn't suit me anymore -- it's simply because I think that I'd like to experience something different.

As far as the drums go, what I've been playing for the past seven years is a set of Premier XPK drums. The kit originally included six drums (22" bass drum, 14" snare drum, and 10", 12", 14" and 16" rack toms), but has included seven drums since I added an 8" tom in September of 1999. Other changes or additions that I've made to it have included removal of the stock tom mounting hardware and the installation of Tama StarCast isolation tom mounts, the use of DW stands for mounting the toms, a DW throne and a Pearl el-cheapo double bass drum pedal. It's been a good set of drums altogether, and I'm sure that they would serve me well for years to come if I hang on to them.

The key reason, again, for wanting to get some different drums is simply to have something different and perhaps "better." In delving further, the key reasons that I would like to get something different are that I'd like to explore alternative sounds provided by different drum shell materials supplied by different manufacturers (the XPKs are eucalyptus and birch) and that it would be nice to have a drum configuration that's less complex and easier to haul around. Seven drums and the necessary mounting hardware are a lot to transport from gig to gig (not that I'm using those drums for that many gigs these days), and having all the toms mounted on separate stands makes getting precisely the same setup each time I move the drums a real PITA.

If I do end up buying a different set of drums, I'm thinking that I'd like to buy a line of professional drums made by either Pearl, DW, Gretsch, Tama, Yamaha or Sonor. I'd likely buy a basic five-piece configuration (bass with a tom mount, snare, three rack toms) with the understanding that I could always add component drums if I want. Again, it's not a big rush or anything. It's just an idea that I'm kicking around in my mind right now.

One need look no further than the realm of professional drummers to see that there are those who make significant changes to the equipment that they use, and that there are also those who remain loyal to the manufacturers they endorse (or are they themselves the ones being endorsed? I've never quite figured that out). For example, Neil Peart is someone who has changed brands a few times over the years. In the early 1970s, when he began playing with Rush, I think he used Slingerland drums and Zildjian cymbals. From there, he stuck with Zildjian cymblas, but then started using Tama drums. Next came Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals, and now he's playing DW drums and Sabian cymbals. Todd Sucherman, who's played with Styx for about a decade now, used to play Sonor drums when he toured with the band. He later played Ayotte drums for a while, and now he's playing Pearl Masterworks drums. In terms of people who stick with the same companies over time, Steve Smith (Journey, Vital Information, Steps Ahead) provides a shining example. Since the late 1970s at least, he's played Sonor drums and Zildjian cymbals. Regardless of what one does, it probably all comes down to simple personal preference and desire.

I'm kind of going through a similar thing with cars now, too. As with the drums, there's nothing wrong with what I have now, but I am thinking that it would be fun to experience something different. Then again, at its basest level, my motivation could be what motivates many of us to want for more...I may simply want something that's shiny and new. On the other side of the coin, however, I have to remember that, in time, the shininess and the newness tend to wear off, and then I may be back at square one. My quest for something shiny and new is probably akin to what Peart wrote when he penned the lyrics for Rush's song "Available Light"; by always looking for something new, I, in effect, "chase the sun around the world..." In other words, I may be chasing after something that I can never catch. Or if I can catch it, once I do capture what I'm after, I find that I'm right back where I started.

Anyway, I'm starting to ramble, so maybe I'd better cut this thing off. To make a long story short, an ongoing philosophical argument that I've been having with myself is whether it's OK to, from time to time, long for something different, even if it's material things like drums and cars and when what you already have is fine. I can't think of any rational reason why a person shouldn't strive for something new or different (and certainly not just with material things; experiences and sensations would fall into this category, too) so long as he or she has the means to do so, but I am aware of maxims that say things like "wanting what you have is better than having what you want." It's probably one of those things that one needs to decide for oneself, and that will probably come naturally through patience, experience and maturity.

Reflections on the first day of blogging

Well, it looks like another day is headed for the history books. This is actually later than when I usually try to go to sleep, so it makes sense that I'll be headed for bed very shortly.

Looking back, I'm not sure what it is that made me decide to start a blog today. I do know, however, that my enthusiasm for the concept has grown in the few hours that it's been since I got this blog up and running. I'm now starting to realize that, regardless of whether anyone else sees it, I can use this blog as a tool for reflection and organizing my thoughts. That is, of course, as long as I don't lapse into laziness and fail to update it from time to time.

As I was driving home from a friend's house a little while ago, I was thinking about how, in a lot of ways, writing for this blog reminds me of an ongoing assignment I had for a state and local government class I took six years ago. The ongoing assignment entailed keeping a daily journal of what we did in that class (this was during the summer, by the way), with the idea of it serving as a method of organizing our thoughts. I seem to remember that keeping a journal like that did help me reminder what we covered in class, and it did serve me in the long run. If I persist in my efforts to keep this blog up to date, I have a feeling that this corner of cyberspace that I've claimed for myself will help me in a lot of ways. It will help me keep track of thoughts and ideas that traverse my mind and will likely serve as a good reference for me in times of searching for inspiration.

All right...my eyelids are starting to get heavy, so I'd better crash. I'm glad that today is Friday, and that two days of relaxation (I hope) will follow. The only thing that I have to do is to interview the owner of that custom motorcycle shop owner in Volga tomorrow morning at 9. That should make for a good feature story.

A little bit about me...

Hmm...a little bit about me. Where should I begin? As one of the characters in Huxley's "Brave New World" said, I guess I'll "begin at the beginning."

Right now, I'm sitting here in my folks' house in a Midwestern town working on my mom's laptop. It's a Dell 5100 series, and seems to be a decent machine. The only thing that's not enjoyable about working on it is that my fingertips sometimes catch on keys adjacent to those I press.

A couple of hours ago, I got home from work. My full-time gig now is working as the education reporter for this town's daily newspaper. It has a circulation of about 5,000, and is published six days a week. I've been here for just over two months now, and the job seems like it's working out pretty well so far. It feels like I'm really having an opportunity to use skills that I picked up as a student journalist and as a professional freelancer, and it's also given me new confidence in my ability to produce stories quickly. Extra confidence, so long as it's not overconfidence or arrogance, is good, right?

Other than that, I'm still doing some Web design for the university where I earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism. The other big project in which I've been involved is writing the biography of a benefactor of the university. I've been working on the book since April of 2004 (at the same time I was completing the first three chapters of my thesis), and the work on it is nearly complete. Writing the book has been quite a professional challenge, but I think that it has helped provide me with a decent skillset for writing other books in the future.

What do I like to do for fun, you may ask? Lots of things, in fact. Like my taste in music, the things I like to do in my leisure time are quite eclectic. That is, of course, when I allow myself to take advantage of leisure time.

Since I've already mentioned it, music is obviously a big interest of mine. It seems like it's always been an important part of my life in one form or another. I like listening to a wide variety of music (even though I've been on a progressive rock kick as of late), but I enjoy playing music even more. I started out as a singer when I was very young, then switched to piano, and have now been playing drums and percussion for nearly 19 years. Simply put, I can't imagine what a life without music would be like.

Cars are something else that's always interested me. I'm not really sure where the interest comes from or how my tastes in cars developed, but there's no question that I really like cars. It's fun to read about them, work on them, detail them, and of course drive them. Driving on the streets is fun, but I've learned lately that it's most fun to drive cars competitively in events like SCCA Solo II autocrossing.

Computers and related technology have also held my interest for a long time. Again, I'm not sure what it is that I like about computers, but it's something that I've always been drawn to. Of course, I'm naturally a geek, so that may have something to do that. But beyond that, computers have always been tools that I've found useful, and I've also gotten a lot of satisfaction from learning how they work and how to fix them when they break down.

It's been a long day already, and I'm starting to run out of energy. With that said, I'm probably going to stop here and then talk about my other interests sometime soon. Hopefully this weekend will be good and relaxing, and will afford opportunities for me to add to this new blog and partake of some of the interests that I've mentioned.

My first blog...

Well, it's taken me a while, but I've finally done it. Thanks to Blogger, I've been able to set up my own blog.

I have to admit that I haven't really spent much time looking at other peoples' blogs, so it's not really clear to me exactly what one should do with a blog. Is it like a journal that anyone with an Internet connection can see? Is it is place for storytelling and reflection? Or is it something different altogether? At this point, it's not important. The answer will probably reveal itself as time progresses and as things develop.