A Yankee in Texas

The other day New Media Lab named me one of “Austin Social Media’s Top 100“. I am very flattered and appreciate the recognition.

Spring Cleaning

Ok well it’s not spring yet, but tonight I took the time to “unfollow” a whole mess of folks I was following on Twitter, but who were not following me back. The people I wanted to hear what they have to say started to get drowned out by the “noise”.

If you are on Twitter follow me: jeremya

Not sure what Twitter is? Watch this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o[/youtube]

– Jeremy

Ever since I saw the demo videos of the Microsoft Surface a few years ago I have been giddy about the technology.  I am not sure if Microsoft will ever make the technology affordable for consumers, but the folks at ReacTable have created an Open Source framework for creating your own surface like system.

This RPG demo speaks to my true geek self and makes me want to create Open Source RPG software based on this frame work.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QflrIK-m4Ts[/youtube]

– Jeremy

A few weeks ago I discovered that our apartment complex has recycling bins. We’ve lived here for over a year and had no idea the complex had recycling bins. In our defense the bins are over near the dumpster on the other side of the complex. This past week we have been saving our recyclables in a garbage bag and today we picked up some plastic bins from the Container Store. Nicole found a home for them in our laundry room.

I am planning on planting a small balcony garden this summer so I have been reading a few gardening blog and one of them made mention of a  way to recycle toilet paper and paper towel tubes in to seed starters.

 Here are a couple I have made.

A close up of the folded bottom.

You just fill them with some potting soil, add a seed or two, and water. When you are ready to plant you can either remove the seedling from the tube or just unfold the bottom and plant directly in the ground and let mother nature take care of the rest.

So here’s to being a bit more eco friendly in 2009!

– Jeremy

When my Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year one of the first things that popped in to my head was a Moleskine Notebook. I am a notebook junkie and Moleskine’s are arguably some of the best. They are wildly popular amongst the GTD (Getting Things Done) set. Besides the notebook that I asked for she also got me a pack of 3 Moleskine Cahier Soft Cover Notebooks and I have fallen in love with them.

The Cahier Notebooks are 5.5″ x 3.5″ and fit great in either a back pocket or if you wear baggy shorts like me a front pocket. Each notebook has 31 pages so I am using a page, front and back, for each day of the month. I am keeping To-Do Lists, lists of things I need to remember, and random notes on thoughts I want to explore later. (The photo above is the grocery list I wrote in one notebook and it inspired me.) Paired with my Fisher Space Pen, also a Christmas present from my Mom and Step-dad, it’s a great low-tech way to stay organized on the go.

I plan on labeling the notebooks at the end of each month and archiving them in box. Nicole has done this for years with her Daily Planner inserts and several times it has been really handy for her to look something up in one of her old planners that would’ve been impossible to remember otherwise.

So if you aren’t already carrying a notebook I highly suggest you give it a try.

– Jeremy

I don’t like New Years resolutions because most people don’t ever keep them. It’s been proven that successful people make goals and write them down. So here are my goals for 2009:

Learn to Two Step (and dance at Gruene Hall) – Nicole is always talking about how she’d like for us to learn how to dance. We took a few Ballroom dance lessons before our wedding and I didn’t really care for it. Since the Two Step is a bit more lively I think I would like it more. It would also give me a good reason to buy a cowboy hat and besides we do live in Texas now.

Learn how to take beautiful photos -  I have very little artisic talent. I can’t carry a tune, I can’t draw or write creatively, but I am pretty sure I can learn to take good photos. I love photography and it’s something that have had an interest in since I was a teenager. I am going to save up my pennies, get a lowend DSLR camera and start experimenting.

Kayak more -  Nicole and I have been kayaking on and off for years now, but it’s never been a very regular hobby for us. We are both to blame. When we were living in NY I always wanted to get up early and go paddle and Nicole never wanted to go, since we’ve moved I have to admit it’s been me that has been the problem.

Cook more – I love to cook, but since I tend to work late it’s Nicole who has done the majority of the cooking in the past year, but in 2009 I would like to plan out our meals, cook new dishes and have me do more of it.

Blog more – I don’t blog nearly as much as I would like and there have been when weeks or months have past with out me posting. I feel like I have more to share I just need to take the time to post.

Get Out(side) more -  I tend to be a bit of a hermit, but there are a lot of events in and around Austin that I would like to go to. My excuse? I am a lazy home body. I would also like to get out and hike the greenbelts regularly.

Exercise more -  … even though I don’t want to. I always feel better after working out, but getting started tends to be my issue.

Be happier with less -  I admit it I am a bit materialistic, but I am trying to reform, learn to be happy with what I have and not worry about what I don’t have or what I desire.

Lose weight -  Hopefully if I do the things I have listed above this will just come natuarally, but either way I need develop a healthier lifestyle.

Those are my major goals for 2009… what are yours?

– Jeremy

Our first full year back in Texas has been a great one and we are looking forward to 2009 being even better!

Happy New Year!!!!

– Jeremy