Artic Blast

Really, REALLY COLD!!!! The coldest day of the year here in Central Wisco. -20 degrees below 0 when I rose around 6:30 AM this morning - with windchill considered, and yes it's quite windy at the moment - it feels like -40 or more outside. I won't be going outdoors much today. I'm well stocked with food, beer, books, movies and other finer things in life. Hibernation should be work out on this chill day. Will let you know how things turn out.

A thought for today. Very wise words!

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.

Henry Ford (23)

www.inbackofbeyond.com

In commemoration of the 1 year anniversary of In Back of Beyond I have officially changed this sites name. I secured the domain name "In Back of Beyond" and have taken advantage of Bloggers "custom domain" feature to implement the switch. You will be redirected if you use the old "blogspot.com address. Enjoy!
Change is good.

1st Anniversary

It dawned on me today In Back of Beyond just had a B-Day. One year old as of January 27! Another milestone was reached earlier in the month - 20,000 visitors as of January 20. I've always been amazed this site gets any traffic at all. This was never meant to be a blog for public view. I've always believed if you write a few words about each day you live you will never forget a single one. Been doing it for years. In Back of Beyond is no more than that, a simple and effective way to record the things that interest me. For my own use. A personal archive of sorts. If anyone else finds any value to this endeavor so much the better. I'd still be doing it if nobody logged on at all.

Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose.
- Evan Esar

Call Me!

You can now phone in your profound In Back of Beyond thoughts. Don't worry your privacy is assured. Click on the "Call Me" icon on the left and Grand Central will take care of the rest.
Looking forward to hearing your voice!

Dark

It's so dark today. Snowy and dark. Miserable...... Spent a few hours walking in the woods this morning in a futile attempt to become one with the universe. Great exercise but all it did was make me tired. Still depressed. Later it ate a whole pizza, drank a pot of coffee, then took a nap. Upon rising a find myself still depressed.
Dark...... Craving sunshine......

Three Great Mysteries

Three great mysteries there are in the lives
of mortal beings:
the mystery of birth at the beginning
the mystery of death at the end;
and greater than either,
the mystery of love.
Everything that is most precious in life
is a form of love.
Art is a form of love, if it be noble;
labor is a form of love, if it be worthy;
thought is a form of love, if it be inspired.

Benjamin Cardozo, US Supreme Court Justice,
officiating at a wedding in 1931.....

Found this quote at the beginning of a new book by Jean Feraca titled I Hear Voices, a Memoir of Love, Death and the Radio. I'm sure many of you are very familiar with Jean, she's hosted many popular shows on Wisconsin Public radio including Conversations with Jean Feraca which aired from 1989 to 2002 and currently Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders.
I love her.

Minus 15

Got up early and made the drive from Amherst to my office for another exciting day of work and play. I know it's Sunday - I view Sunday as the first day of the week not the last - my favorite day to rise early and get things done, no distractions at all. What else is there to do when it's this cold? Minus 15 brrrrr......... My car is handling it OK, start rights off and the heater is good. I have a water pump that's getting a little weak and making me a little nervous - another project for another day. A simple switch out - the new pump only costs about $25. The first repair I've ever had to do on my Shadow. Not bad for having it over 4 years.
The big Packer game is today. Everyone is talking about. One more win and the Pack goes to the Super Bowl. Very Very exciting. It's going to be cold as shit at Lambeau, around 0 degrees at game time. The Ice Bowl revisited. Should be a great gamed -I'm betting the Giants go down hard. Go Pack!

P.S. The office has plenty of heat to say the least. The temperature differential between my outside environment and inside today is 95! degrees. Upon my arrival it was 80 degrees inside my building.
I'm sooo hot and know it. Yes!

Frozen Tundra

It's really cold out. Have not ventured outside yet, I'm scared to. The actual temperature is -15 below zero - that's not counting any wind chill. I had notions of doing some ice fishing today but am having second thoughts. Days like this the ice freezes in the holes pretty fast. It's not fun. Hoping my car will start. It has never failed me yet - you know you got a good one when it fires no problem on days like this. We soon shall see.

On my agenda today 1) finish my taxes 2) get my MP3 player to work 3) restring one of my guitars 4) Work on my new website 5) Be warm and happy........

Lofty goals but I'm motivated for success. Come on over and stay warm with me - consider it an invitation. The coffee is brewing, my favorite radio show "To the Best of Our Knowledge" is just starting - time to make it happen.... I'll be back soon.

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious

The Sea Wolf

Good morning. Riding out winter in good style here on the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. I've had a very enjoyable and productive week -my office is up and running! It's looking so good. I'm loving it! Personal productivity is high. Spent some time outside yesterday walking in the blizzard I needed some exercise and some time in the natural world to clear my mind. What fun. We got at least 8 inches of snow yesterday and more expected today. Very cold conditions forecasted for the next few days. -3 below 0 currently, windchills expected to reach -35 below tonight and tomorrow. Brrrrr...... I won't be outdoors much this weekend.

Just finished reading The Sea Wolf by Jack London. What a great read! London is easily one of the greatest writers the United States has ever produced. His imagery is so transfixing. I want to write more about Jack London sometime soon. I need to calm a bit and collect my thoughts first. Can't believe I have not read more of his work- he absolutely amazes me. Still deciding what London novel to read next.

Bought some new toys yesterday, a MP3 player and a cheap digital camera - both on sale at K Mart - $20 buck for both. One problem with the MP3 player however, having problems getting it to sync with my computer. My guess is their is some compatibilty issues with Micro Soft Vista. I downloaded some drivers from the manufacturers website but did not solve the problem. Another problem to solve. I create a few and solve a few everyday.......

Time to venture out into the cold world and dig out my car. More Later......

Toasting

I have not been blogging that much. Sorry. Fighting off the winter doldrums by working. Yes working. That's about all I do these days. When I'm not working you can find me in my office playing with my new toy. Get your mind out of the gutter Beyonders! My new toy is a toaster oven. Yes of the appliance variety. My Hamilton Beach toaster (pictured) oven is sooo cool. It toasts everything you can imagine to perfection. This morning before another work binge I toasted side pork and hash brown - Yum Yum. It can even accommodate a 12 inch pizza - that's what sold me - I can live off pizza for days at a time.
Isn't my life fascinating?

How about those Packers? Both Catfish and I concur they are going to the Super Bowl. Though I have not watched a down of pro football since October that does not mean I can't be enthusiastic about the Packs success. The youngest team in the NFL! Wisconsin can be proud.
They will face the Giants or the Cowboys in the NFC title game - I'm hoping for a rematch with the Cowboys. Can't wait.

A snowy day here in Central Wisco. Not much to do other than work and toast things. Perhaps even my brain. Of course I don't write about such things. Oh yeah - I don't write about work either, almost forgot. No wonder I have not been blogging much.

P.S. I also bought a new refrigerator. JK is much more than toast. I chill sometimes too. It's like Yin and Yang. So cool huh?

Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting.
- John Russell

Meltdown

We are melting! After a long bout of cold and snowy weather in December and these 1st days of 2008, the conditions have changed dramatically. Today in Central Wisconsin it's in the low 40's foggy and rainy. I like the warmer temps but it's very dreary in our environment today. The forecast is calling for warm weather all week - maybe even thunderstorms tomorrow. Say goodbye to our snow.
I've been on a 2 day shopping binge which is very uncharacteristic for me, I hate spending money. Scored some good deals yesterday on some office furnishing for my new studio; got a nice used desk ,desk chair, 6 foot table, and shelf all for $60 bucks and some change. All good quality stuff. The new home for JK Enterprises is starting to take shape. I have a few final touches to do this week, a little painting, some picture hanging and a couple more odds and ends to purchase - but for the most part I'm ready for action. Still shopping for a small refrigerator and a sofa, love seat or futon - just waiting for a good deal to surface.

Not too much ambition today. I feel like napping and just might make it happen. Dark Sunday afternoons are made for serious relaxation. I've been working hard lately no reason for feeling guilty about not being productive.

Yes! Time to Melt. Hope I don't stain my sheets.........

P.S. Does anyone recognize the pictured individual? Where did he get that 24 oz. Hamms?
Does he look drunk to you or just happy? I wonder if he fishes?

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.
- Mark Twain

So Grammarous

Look what I got and Yes! it made my day. My teacher HotforWords sent me a New Years Card. My wish for 2008? To be Marina's teachers pet.



The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.
- Horace Walpole