tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38649689764159861962024-02-21T03:38:57.205-05:00On the Seventh Day"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."
If God created the Earth in six days, I want to find out what I can do in seven.
Every other week I will change one thing in my life.
Big or little.
Constructive or destructive.
Good or bad.
Whatever the outcome I am ready to take it. I am ready to experience.
Are you?alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-59841026389748227922009-11-07T13:50:00.002-05:002009-11-07T14:53:35.753-05:00Museum WeekOkay, sorry, I did not even finish my last challenge. I got distracted by flying to Miami and then getting drunk. I will now finish the challenge:<br /><br />Day two: did some stuff and then got drunk. Day three: flew to Miami and then got drunk. Day four: went to the Everglades, saw alligators, and then got drunk. Day five: went to the Florida Keys and then got drunk. Day six: went to the beach and then got drunk. Day seven: watched people get tattooed and stayed sober.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Seven Days - Seven Museums</span> (then I am broke)<br />I have been sober for seven days now, not for a challenge, but just for myself. To some this seems like a short amount of time, as I have a few straightedge friends, Mormon friends and a roommate who is almost at ten years. However, to some (sadly which includes me) this seems like a long time. How did I survive through kickball night without drinking? What do I do on the weekend?<br /><br />This week, I am becoming an art snob. I will be as pretentious as possible and always have a quick quip on some amateurs attempt of art. I will throw millions at the greatest paint on canvas, to hang in my loft.<br /><br />That or try and get into as many museums (many equals seven in seven days) for the least amount of money (I am unemployed and some museums have a "suggested donation," which is basically a nice way to say, "bums do not pay"). <br /><br />I am starting this today, on a Saturday (breaking my rules), because there is free entrance at the Brooklyn Museum on the first Saturday of the month.<br /><br />Have a good weekend, in a few days I will be snobbing all over the place.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-9072713297245378232009-10-06T00:22:00.003-04:002009-10-06T00:35:01.966-04:00Daily Journal: Day One - I Hate AllergiesI...<br /><br />Awoke.<br /><br />Ate breakfast;<br />soy yogurt,<br />strawberries,<br />shredded wheat,<br />orange juice,<br />allergy pills.<br /><br />Showered.<br /><br />Surfed the Web,<br />chatted,<br />facebooked.<br /><br />Ate lunch:<br />Indian,<br />chana poori,<br />aloo gobi matar.<br /><br />Biked to Manhattan,<br />biked to Brooklyn,<br />biked to Gotham Bikes,<br />biked to Brooklyn Bicycles.<br /><br />Brought forms to bank,<br />frame to Tony,<br />wheels to home.<br /><br />Got paid.<br /><br />Worked on my bike.<br /><br />Watched <span style="font-style:italic;">Family Guy</span>.<br /><br />Ate dinner,<br />bean and rice tacos.<br /><br />Cleaned room,<br />thoroughly.<br /><br />Listened to music.<br /><br />Called Kramer,<br />got answering machine,<br />said birthday wishes.<br /><br />Slept.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-45886839054006836532009-10-06T00:18:00.002-04:002009-10-06T00:22:13.185-04:00Daily Journal<span style="font-weight:bold;">Write It Down</span><br />Yesterday, I had an amazing day and wanted to document what I did. I did not.<br /><br />Today, I will.<br /><br />Tomorrow, I will.<br /><br />I will until Sunday.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Seven days, seven journal entries</span>. I am going to write one or more word for each activity I do. Yes, only one word for some activities. You will see.<br /><br />I am going to document my day now. And wish my BFF Kramer a happy birthday. You will see this in my next post.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-12329124018357105332009-09-28T16:34:00.002-04:002009-09-28T19:11:58.828-04:00Jesus Phone Revived<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUCeqSFpKX7AVFC3i-c7Xv5eOX0qVEixeVgkrznkhc_xdMc43_P-1iRx1vuaww-7d9dXVyr9bXmSKIAqC13Ket3JnAdG4bhXHhqw5HjtBmZ4MCjMZRvDgCk83DFHOkGmVrDZ7uSVLH0w/s1600-h/IMG_0001.PNG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUCeqSFpKX7AVFC3i-c7Xv5eOX0qVEixeVgkrznkhc_xdMc43_P-1iRx1vuaww-7d9dXVyr9bXmSKIAqC13Ket3JnAdG4bhXHhqw5HjtBmZ4MCjMZRvDgCk83DFHOkGmVrDZ7uSVLH0w/s200/IMG_0001.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386659855058135602" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The iPhone Is Restored</span><br />I made it a week and then some without my phone. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The One Time I Wish I Really Had My Phone To Twitter</span><br />I was in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn turning left at an intersection on my bike. There was a woman in the crosswalk and an ambulette turning left with me. The woman was screaming, "DON'T HIT ME!" Then the ambulette hit her. It was crazy. It made one of those loud car crunching sounds, like something truly out of a movie or Grand Theft Auto. The woman then yelled at everyone who approached her not to touch her. She then stood up and hobbled away yelling.<br /><br />New York City is crazy. I wish I had my phone to document that. Oh well, there is always next time New York...alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-72061794921523573352009-09-27T21:44:00.002-04:002009-09-27T23:02:48.900-04:00Technology is Crap<span style="font-weight:bold;">Shitty Technology</span><br />My iPhone has been dead for a week. I have an appointment with the genius bar tomorrow. Back to the world of people contacting me. Back to the world of text messages, phone calls, voicemail, and email on my phone.<br /><br />I will also be joining the millions of people with MMS texting when my phone powers up. I can get awesome picture texts of a large shit, like the first MMS text my roommate received.<br /><br />I was going to upload a picture of pool, but I will refrain. <br /><br />I hope Apple is able to get my phone working. If not I will have to teach them a lesson and take a dump on their carpet.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-89060193327011426992009-09-25T01:21:00.002-04:002009-09-25T20:50:35.100-04:00Becoming a Luddite<span style="font-weight:bold;">Technology is Whack</span><br />After four days without an iPhone I am questioning how useful technology is in my life.<br /><br />Technology that could have possibly been a little useful during this week:<br /><br />On Monday, I was going to a bar that I had been to before and knew where it was in a relative 10 by 3 block radius. I found it after 15 minutes of riding down wrong streets. The problem was that I trust my iPhone too much and don't care to actually check where I am going anymore until I am halfway there.<br /><br />and...<br /><br />That is it for times when my iPhone would have come in handy. I am doing quite well. Mostly because other technologies have kept me sane:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Instant Messengers</span> - I only used it a few times to text and only one person texted back to it, but it is useful to know that it was there and that if people were not bums and texted back it really would have worked.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />E-Mail</span> - I think I used e-mail like five times to tell someone something. It might have been like once or twice instead, but still useful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Internet</span> - Mostly for occupying my time that I could spend doing interesting things.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hulu</span> - The part of the Internet that is the most useful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Big Screen TV</span> (that is hooked up to the computer which is hooked up to the Internet) - My TV is wonderful, especially when it is playing The Biggest Loser in HD on Hulu. It is crazy how many fat rolls you can see so clearly at the beginning of the season and wondering where that fat will go in the next couple of months.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Food</span> - Most of food is not technology based, but a) I just wanted to say food is awesome and b) I had some soy cheese that was super melty and I don't think that would be possible without some technology advances.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Speedos</span> - Although the Olympics, being the haters they are, decided to ban technologically advanced Speedos, they are awesome and make life easier.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Skirts</span> - For some reason, since I lost my iPhone I spent one night in a skirt. It was actually really comfortable and kept my body cool during a strenuous sport event called kickball. After the game, the skirt made it easy to show off battle wounds on the upper leg below the buttock without having to pull down my pants like Forest Gump.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Microwaves</span> - I do not actually own a microwave and did not use one this week, but if I had one it would have come in handy. Microwaves are very useful.<br /><br />Technology that failed me and is useless:<br /><br />Hybrid Bicycles - These bastard children that came from road bikes and mountain bikes are my new nemesis. At the beginning of summer I would have said the complete opposite. Now I realize what they truly are - bikes that get their parts stolen while parked on the street and bikes that break and almost kill you while riding in the street. They also waste my locks by having their carcasses locked in the street rotting.<br /><br /><br />I now have two days left. I should probably work on getting my phone fixed, as my roommate says it is not a challenge if it is not working; but eh what is the use? MMS text messaging? Oh yeah, thanks AT&T... you wait for my phone to break and then allow me to receive all those cool text pictures I have been missing out on, like the fat naked women. Real awesome.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-19325701039994447132009-09-21T02:45:00.004-04:002009-09-21T13:20:49.604-04:00No iPhone Week<span style="font-weight:bold;">Another Rebirth<br /></span>Jesus resurrected himself once. This is the second resurrection of this blog. <br /><br />Then God Said, "your blog is better than my book."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Jesus Phone Dies</span><br />My iPhone decided to not turn on tonight. I plugged it in to revive it, but it just pretends to charge.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />iPhone Pretending to Charge</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlk2urlj2FLmp-7n73SFYcx7nKUvdIcUrhv2PQD9K22t-qr6kx1VRSO-o7VjgHmaRNFGDWaiS2pVwHmczTZEk9VfaeCMfwA4az09dhIC3KhH_Df0HBxNNskNrTq-H5Cp2Qzb6hlIA_Zo/s1600-h/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlk2urlj2FLmp-7n73SFYcx7nKUvdIcUrhv2PQD9K22t-qr6kx1VRSO-o7VjgHmaRNFGDWaiS2pVwHmczTZEk9VfaeCMfwA4az09dhIC3KhH_Df0HBxNNskNrTq-H5Cp2Qzb6hlIA_Zo/s400/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383810842109433666" /></a><br /><br />My phone is dead, my blog is dying, I have no job; therefore I will start a challenge.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />No iPhone (Cell Phone) Week</span><br />This week I will live without my iPhone. I will probably get it fixed and then just watch it sit in a corner collecting dust. As for now, I can't use it anyway.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">P.S. - Run to Work Week</span><br />I made it. Then my body crashed and my brain malfunctioned and this blog went down in flame, but I am back and refreshed without a job!</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-33393974132156154792009-05-17T23:52:00.002-04:002009-05-18T01:03:11.814-04:00Run To Work Week<span style="font-weight:bold;">Bike To Work Day</span><br />Last Friday, May 15th, was one of my sister's birthdays and it was also Bike To Work Day. There were people with free food being handed out in the morning to bicycle commuters. The weather was beautiful. I slept while all these people brought out their bikes and rode to work. I did not ride my bike to work on Bike To Work Day (I had the day off and did call my sister to say, "Happy Birthday!").<br /><br />Anyway, I may have missed Bike To Work Day, but May is still Bike Month here in NYC (and my birthday month which I celebrate year round). In honor of Bike Month and missing Bike To Work Day, I am going to run to work everyday this week. Not take the subway, not drive a car, not ride a bus, and definitely not ride a bicycle. Something much simpler and even more environmentally safe. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">No blood for oil! </span><br />Hey bike idiots, rubber is made from petroleum which is from oil and bicycle tires are made from rubber. However, my shoes are made from bamboo or something and definitely do not have a rubber sole, because I am super environmentally sustainable (even if my shoes were made with rubber, they have less rubber than tires and people who ride bikes have both tires, tubes, and shoes made with rubber... therefore I win).<br /><br />Seven days (five workdays) of running three miles each way. When I am done I will have run 30 miles. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Maybe this is a bad idea.</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-56895354781078787812009-05-08T14:23:00.002-04:002009-05-08T21:06:40.513-04:00Bless The YesAm I enjoying yes week? YES.<br /><br />The first day of saying yes, I forgot I was saying yes. Luckily, it was unnecessary and I attempted to say yes, but the person later turned down my yes response.<br /><br />The second day was a little more fulfilling. At work I was asked if I would transfer stores.<br /><br />Actually, I will just do a list of things I said yes to and if it worked out for better or worse:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Tuesday</span><br />Moving stores for work and getting demoted: worse.<br />Buying drinks for Jeff: good, except economically.<br />Giving wet willies to girls for Matt: good for entertainment and I received one back which helped clean my ear.<br />Buying a random girl a drink because Jeff told her the secret: okay, she gave me $5 for feeling bad.<br />Asked to buy a sandwich: failed, too drunk.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wednesday</span><br />Being asked to stay at my store and keeping my job: good, plus my boss now actually knows I am good at what I do.<br />Being invited to a grilled cheese party: awesome.<br />Being invited to a bar while watching <span style="font-style:italic;">Back to the Future</span>: okay, but I was a little hungover from Jeff making me buy him drinks the night before.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thursday</span><br />Asked to get coffee from the store up the street: good, because I got cinnabuns out of it.<br />Offered beer and pizza after work: amazing.<br />Offered beer in exchange for helping out at a friend's store: good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Friday</span><br />Invited to go to a bank and eat breakfast on the way: good food and a beautiful day to be outside.<br />Invited to see <span style="font-style:italic;">Star Trek</span>: AWESOME. Star Trek > Star Wars.<br /><br />That about sums my week thus far. I must say saying yes seems to be a highly winning situation. Especially when you say yes to something you want to say no to, but then the person changes their mind.<br /><br />Only two more days of saying yes. Do I want to have a party in my backyard tomorrow? YES.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-73005621730400197392009-05-04T00:01:00.002-04:002009-05-04T00:01:00.908-04:00YES MA'AM<span style="font-weight:bold;">A Challenge Involving Jim Carey? YES!</span><br />YES, YES, YES, and YES! My friends, <a href="http://www.harjitsgill.com">Harjit</a> and Andy suggested that I do a challenged based on the movie <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068680/">YES MAN</a></span> starring Jim Carey. At first I was hesitant to this challenge, but then I started watching the movie and I wanted to say YES to life (I did make a few suggestions about saying yes to everything before saying yes to the challenge, because at that time I had the option)!<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Just Say NO!</span><br />Usually I have a challenge where I say no to something, but this week is very much the opposite. I say yes to <span style="font-style:italic;">almost</span> everything. My obvious objections will be giving away free stuff at work (SPOILER ALERT! although in the movie Carl gave his customers everything they asked for) or anything that will potentially get me fired at work. Then, there were my personal objections of not eating meat or taking unwanted drugs (mostly stuff like dieting pills that can kill me or VIAGRA that will give me even more raging boners than I get without the drug). If you see me during this week, please do not make a fool of yourself and offer me dumb things that break my first rule of challenges which states I will not do anything that can do serious harm or kill me.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Yes And...</span><br />I am almost hesitant to post that I am going to do this for a week, because in the movie (SPOILER ALERT!) Carl gets into trouble when that girl (I already forgot her name) finds out that he was just saying yes to everything including doing stuff with her. I fear that posting it will give people the option to use and abuse me (but who am I kidding, nobody really reads this blog). Will I have one more drink? Yes. Will I make you a sandwich? Yes. Will I let you borrow $5? Yes. Will I allow you to give me a blowjob? Yes. Will I move in with you? Eh... Yes. Will I let you move in with me? Yes. Will I take heroine? NO. Will I be your best friend in the whole wide world? Yes. Will I lie? Yes. Will I make it seven days with only (except the exceptions) saying yes? YES!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In seven days I will have become a <a href="http://theyesmen.org/">Yes Men</a>. Then I will travel the world pretending to be someone I am not and give grand speeches about McDonald's reusing human waste to feed people in third world countries. Oops, wrong movie.</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-31674710645037061962009-04-26T23:59:00.000-04:002009-04-27T00:25:31.702-04:00Tacos Son De Españoles<span style="font-weight:bold;">Mi Español Está Perfecto</span><br />Mi challenge está done. I pratico(ed) mi español y come(ed) tacos.<br /><br />Practicing Spanish in your apartment is awkward. You sit on your computer speaking a non-native language and it pretends it cannot understand you, so you repeat and repeat and repeat words. My computer thinks I cannot say Hola o Adiós. I think my computer is dumb. I sometimes change the tone of my voice and try to sound like a girl (since my voice is so manly and deep); this sometimes pleases my stupid computer.<br /><br />Another downfall to my RosettaStone is that they forgot to put in a question mark that is upside down, which are one of my favorite parts to Español (¡!¡!¡the other being upside down exclamation marks!¡!¡!).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Español A Mi Trabajo</span><br />The two weeks I spent practicing Spanish on my computer mounted to a handful of hours, but this barely explains my Spanish studies. At work, I think I have become el gringo que habla español, because I have Spanish speakers ignore my co-workers and point that they want me to help them. They wait patiently while I finish dealing with whatever I am dealing with and then they say one word in Spanish, like gommas o camara (camera?). Very difficult stuff that is not for the faint of heart. I then proceed to explain prices and always mention "más tax," because they always pretend that their former country has nothing remotely similar to tax and I am obviously running a scam by "charging" them tax. Oh well, this is the price I get for being famous in the Spanish speaking bike delivery guy world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tacos</span><br />I made seven days with tacos easily. I believe I averaged 4-5 tacos daily. I could probably last another 357 days of eating tacos before I felt I needed a break (yes, just one day short of a year).<br /><br />Here are some examples of my tacos:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tacos Buenos</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8hUlNIKaeqZAIoVD6pj2g-jJEooyX2FhpM928CUPy2y3AdQo0q1IkSbQrRfmc9_teMAM15uSIuHM-qvfZXcGf_l8YDysDNYg2sfAhCe1AV15rgU2uWxKZzCuSCgkcYca57LmyuiK7xE/s1600-h/DSC_0008.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8hUlNIKaeqZAIoVD6pj2g-jJEooyX2FhpM928CUPy2y3AdQo0q1IkSbQrRfmc9_teMAM15uSIuHM-qvfZXcGf_l8YDysDNYg2sfAhCe1AV15rgU2uWxKZzCuSCgkcYca57LmyuiK7xE/s400/DSC_0008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329210416282509602" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Salsa Picante</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili1iV454mv4vGiGUTdQibpAgA7VZDww41eqq86U_ePZ7OIhd2nPpat8JGsLZN7YuJqk3ian8RmT9r4U1GXVCVA11r289tOvh_1mWRWzgIUQ9_TicPD_WgoGF239b1nbqbFirZ6eVPdg0/s1600-h/DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili1iV454mv4vGiGUTdQibpAgA7VZDww41eqq86U_ePZ7OIhd2nPpat8JGsLZN7YuJqk3ian8RmT9r4U1GXVCVA11r289tOvh_1mWRWzgIUQ9_TicPD_WgoGF239b1nbqbFirZ6eVPdg0/s400/DSC_0011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329210419882556354" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tortilla, Frijoles, Arroz, y Salsa Picante = Taco</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwENFYlwiUlFrvqt65P2ATIX48rybmqJOnFh8vJxNdfBfRB4OeHOAtgEGjba36AmThj2s4SeeElK2BbNujcQTpfkom-GtM_5aK9G-8oCrND4RxXdM8PCm4gK2h-uXWM7QAB8xJOnlInO4/s1600-h/DSC_0014.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwENFYlwiUlFrvqt65P2ATIX48rybmqJOnFh8vJxNdfBfRB4OeHOAtgEGjba36AmThj2s4SeeElK2BbNujcQTpfkom-GtM_5aK9G-8oCrND4RxXdM8PCm4gK2h-uXWM7QAB8xJOnlInO4/s400/DSC_0014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329210419987957730" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">¡Taco Más Grande Con Aguacate!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBBhoGN0KWpe10tCp7_PV4gvKlZn6L8Dhlze6_EzI7F5NK5sMJYWd8y6m-TgWReiZnuUV7XSVlV1XaihGPV_At2O1wugbRQpu_V8CG93mjEhmDR7SKbdnRsr_sQTs10PkNS_8OBioBn8/s1600-h/DSC_0019.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBBhoGN0KWpe10tCp7_PV4gvKlZn6L8Dhlze6_EzI7F5NK5sMJYWd8y6m-TgWReiZnuUV7XSVlV1XaihGPV_At2O1wugbRQpu_V8CG93mjEhmDR7SKbdnRsr_sQTs10PkNS_8OBioBn8/s400/DSC_0019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329210423754608866" /></a><br /><br />I think my next dinner is going to seem bland and boring. Eating tacos every night just makes me want to eat more of them. I am probably going to start Tacos Anonymous next week after I begin overdosing.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If you wish to contribute to my taco addiction, my birthday is Saturday May 2nd. Please ask for my address to send me tacos by mail, thanks!</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-5697930776466158142009-04-20T09:00:00.000-04:002009-04-25T02:24:34.299-04:00Tacos Tuesday Times Ten (Minus Three)<span style="font-weight:bold;">I FAILED!</span><br /><br />It was bound to happen at some point. I was so busy with my promotion at work and the weather getting warmer (and drinking for 9 hours straight... two days in a row). In honor of my failure, I have decided to double the pleasure and double the fun. I am not only redoing Spanish speaking week, but I will also be starting eating tacos week (since taco night was what started the whole Spanish thing in the first place and I had eaten tacos for three days in a row). <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Seven days, at least seven tacos and at least seven hours of Spanish</span> (or something like that).<br /><br />Quiero tacos. Estoy comiendo tacos. Yum.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L0qIgtJlc4fcMApq81qkoY-pSdr1cuwQmyRZgfDqcgP4-R3zgL2fxIrvfuwzlzUAzhbhtEPsdAhqUSOtrfJ0-jqux8SVQIhyYrudh2JAY8qUAB1kEa6fP4L3LDOufNuBVRbBqM6Eaq8/s1600-h/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L0qIgtJlc4fcMApq81qkoY-pSdr1cuwQmyRZgfDqcgP4-R3zgL2fxIrvfuwzlzUAzhbhtEPsdAhqUSOtrfJ0-jqux8SVQIhyYrudh2JAY8qUAB1kEa6fP4L3LDOufNuBVRbBqM6Eaq8/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328506253163816754" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ahora necesito estudiar español. Adíos.alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-3837862537674206432009-04-14T00:40:00.003-04:002009-04-14T01:11:37.817-04:00Tacos, Tecate, Tequilla, Telemundo, y TetasPara siete diás, yo hablo y escribo español. I will also speak and write in English, so I do not get fired from work (las otras personas might not compredenme as well).<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Tacos, Telemundo, y Tetas</span><br />Tonight rocked it. I solamente called my food Spanish names. Nosotros comimos tacos. Yo miré television con mujeres bonitas, pero los hombres were creepy (there were many rape scenes and a few scenes with old men with two or three younger mujeres around them and besé-ing).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Esa Semana</span><br />Mañana y toda la semana, I am going to work on mi español con Rosetta Stone. I am almost done with my first "lesson." My real challenge is going to be doing at least one hour a day or equivalent to seven hours this week of pratico mi español. Entonces, a mi trabajo, yo hablo con mis mechanicos y mis customers quien hablan español.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Siete diás of Spanish speaking and maybe swearing...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"¡Mama yema!"</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-51973678036355441662009-04-04T23:59:00.002-04:002009-04-05T00:17:46.998-04:00Master of Temptation<span style="font-weight:bold;">I Am Too Good For This</span><br />Either my challenges are too easy for me or I have become the ultimate master at sacrifice and perseverance. Probably my challenges are too easy, but I can dream.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Eating In With Food Brought From Outside</span><br />On Thursday, my roommates went driving to "the best" pizza in the world. Some old man and his daughter hand-make some crazy pizza with super fresh ingredients. I believe he cuts the basil that is growing in the window and puts it right on your pizza. I was invited, but with my strong will I declined (that or I had to work too late and they went without me).<br /><br />Friday morning, I woke up and was told that they brought me a piece. I ate the slice with the logic that it was in my house, paid for by someone else, and I was hungry. The hungry thing did not really do anything with me eating it, just the other two facts.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />The Real Battle</span><br />Friday night, I went to help some friends do some unnameable work. I was supposed to eat before I left so I would not get hungry, but I forgot. I helped out anyway and started getting hungry. After a while, they asked me if I wanted a PB&J. Score! I made two and we finished up.<br /><br />PB&J is always good, but not always filling. After the work was done, we headed next door to the bar restaurant. We sit and order beer. I look at the menu. It looks good. I feel hungry. The server comes and my friends order hamburgers. I order nothing.<br /><br />I had one more beer and then headed home before I starved. Victory was mine and I did not need to eat deep-fried mac and cheese.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">24 hours remain. Time to go out and test my powers.</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-88608287297639217082009-04-02T22:27:00.002-04:002009-04-02T22:29:09.555-04:00Beans Beans the Magical Fruit<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3407778353/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3407778353_df3225168d.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3407778353/">Rice and Beans</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26442315@N00/">alandicksonslife</a>.</span></div><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Lately, I have been having some problems with dietary substances. What I have been eating has been overloading my systems ability to properly dispose waste. The weird thing is that my diet has not really changed in the last month, so I do not know what is going on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Magical Fruits</span><br />My first day with the challenge was interesting. Like all work days, I woke up late and was really lazy about making food. I usually just shower and eat at work. I had stocked up on some oatmeal to make at work like I sometimes do, so I was fine for breakfast. For lunch, I remembered that I had brought in some beans and rice on Saturday that I had not finished and then I had some bread and PB&J to make sandwiches if I am still hungry. <br /><br />This seemed like a good plan until I arrived at work and was going to make some oatmeal and saw my beans and rice sitting out unrefrigerated. Sometimes food is okay when left out over night, so I put it in the fridge for later. Later rolled around and I went to open the beans and wow, the mechanics were not happy about the smell. After having the toots without magical fruits, I decided against eating extra-power magical fruits.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Stuck Inside</span><br />On a more mature (pronounced ma-tur for those uncivilized) note, I miss my fellow workers at Morgan's Deli, Taco Bell, and the wonderful women at Chinared (I was told by a friend that the sign does not have a space, so it is not China Red). If you did not include my friends and co-workers at the bicycle shop, I would be able to count the number of people I interact with each week (besides customers at the bicycle shop as well) on two hands. Now, I interact with about six, including my two roommates and two ex-co-workers. Basically, I have no friends and these food servers are nice to talk to.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Well enough about how cool I am. I am hungry. Time to make some beans and rice.</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-57826197551721293992009-03-31T20:42:00.002-04:002009-03-31T21:29:30.109-04:00Eating In<span style="font-style:italic;">As it turns out nobody knows anything about pagers and one week is not enough time to impulsively buy something that you cannot impulsively buy. Using a pager is on the short list with other things like Karaoke for a week (which I doubt will happen anytime soon, unless I feel like binge drinking for a week).</span><br /><br />This week is even more exciting! Exciting for my wallet, so I can buy cool things later.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I am going to go seven days without eating out.</span> I shall be preparing food at home for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No being lazy and buying delicious food from places like Taco Bell and the Chinese buffet.<br /><br />I was told that the best way to bring food to work was to get a sweet lunch box, so if anyone can find me this lunch box please tell me:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.zootoday.com/pub/21publish/s/skully/Cool_lunch_box.jpg">alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-13946468828273357912009-03-26T22:03:00.002-04:002009-03-26T22:42:50.435-04:00143 Pagers 823Mobile technology has been stampeding through our lives, leaving nothing sacred. The technology on my cell phone shows me the weather and makes me bring a jacket for when it is going to rain. It also can be used to transfer money to different accounts so I do not get ridiculous fees. It gives me locations, directions, photos, music, a flashlight, and dice.<br /><br />There comes a time in every person's life when they must say, "this is my life and I want to live it!" I have reached this point. I want to get caught in the rain. I want to overdraw my account. I want to get lost. I want to wander in the dark. And when it comes to making a hard decision, I want to act on a whim and not ask the dice gods their opinion.<br /><br />In order for me to get my life back, I must say no to my iPhone and yes to a pager. The only problem is that finding information about pagers seems to be near impossible. <br /><br />Does anyone have information on how I can obtain a pager for a week and actually be able to live?alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-48358284562399873722009-03-23T00:39:00.002-04:002009-04-12T21:39:58.905-04:00Gratuitous "Artsy" Shot<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3378411236/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3378411236_bb5890ff3f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3378411236/">Gratuitous "Artsy" Shot</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26442315@N00/">alandicksonslife</a>.</span></div><p>We should probably buy more than one pot and one pan, because our sink looks like this a lot.</p>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-91464219602959926622009-03-21T21:37:00.002-04:002009-04-12T21:39:47.205-04:00On Adelphi St in Fort Greene<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3374478740/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3374478740_f952b9590c.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3374478740/">On Adelphi St in Fort Greene</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26442315@N00/">alandicksonslife</a>.</span></div><p>Who would I be if I did not represent my block in my photos?<br /><br /><b>Adelphi St in Fort Greene! Brooklyn!</b></p>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-495828065945551292009-03-19T15:46:00.003-04:002009-03-19T16:00:44.934-04:00Copyrights and Ownership<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3368803926/" title="John Gets Mad by alandicksonslife, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3368803926_e4b618e8f2_o.gif" width="500" height="335" alt="John Gets Mad" /></a><br /><br />Here is "my" photograph for today. I made it with seven photographs from my camera. However, I did not push the trigger on the camera. I simply owned the camera and the memory card, so when I returned home the photographs loaded onto my computer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Who Owns The Rights?</span><br />My friend Henry snapped the photos, but I owned the media. Does he have copyright protection? Does my ownership of the media override his copyright? At what point is something you created yours and when point can it become mine? Had I never uploaded this picture, could he still come and claim that it is his? In other words, do you own copyright protections for things you do not know exist?<br /><br />There is probably some legal jargon out there explaining the technicalities, but I just thought it was worth noting. Perhaps, I should look into it and keep you updated.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">[I think John's anger in the animation was caused by this conundrum.] </span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-9952759518369017382009-03-18T00:22:00.002-04:002009-03-18T00:23:01.586-04:00advertising v. graffiti<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3363998755/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3363998755_3b8d0d0bfb.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3363998755/">advertising</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26442315@N00/">alandicksonslife</a>.</span></div><p>I was going to go out for a run tonight and bring my camera with me. Instead, I ate too much Chinese food and watched the Biggest Loser.<br /><br />Here is my photo. I took it two weeks ago or so in the Fulton stop on the G line in NYC.<br /><br />What do you think about graffiti v. advertising? <br />How about ugly grammar and misspelled words?</p>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-57551080655883248832009-03-16T22:37:00.003-04:002009-03-17T21:09:02.339-04:00Chris In Bed<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3360985993/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3360985993_f03420f0d7.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26442315@N00/3360985993/">Chris In Bed</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26442315@N00/">alandicksonslife</a>.</span></div><p>First photo for the week. My roommate offers his skills. In this photo he is watching some TV through SlingBox on his computer.</p>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-90645026672872128282009-03-16T01:09:00.004-04:002009-03-16T01:34:58.751-04:00Photo ChallengeI got a new camera this week, a Nikon D200. Since I have been really lazy about typing out posts, I am just going to take a new picture to post everyday this week. Maybe I will even take more, but let's not get carried away. If I do not post a picture everyday, somebody please yell at me.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Challenge</span><br />One Day, One Photograph<br />Seven Days, Seven Photographsalan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-69843534827739511872009-03-03T23:31:00.003-05:002009-03-03T23:40:02.248-05:00Let The Sunshine In<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsvpyOBnh9bBL_JoPUcZ_xZSOKyU8dRK-lkSp21ayR9eWHzRUWLf-psEoNFEC56zPpq4sUBXsx4llVncWB77lO40WYQVPXY8EyWPZe529-TsGWmzVNbrNvkw_l0URLfNJEajfTULWesQ/s1600-h/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsvpyOBnh9bBL_JoPUcZ_xZSOKyU8dRK-lkSp21ayR9eWHzRUWLf-psEoNFEC56zPpq4sUBXsx4llVncWB77lO40WYQVPXY8EyWPZe529-TsGWmzVNbrNvkw_l0URLfNJEajfTULWesQ/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309186199054167682" /></a><br /><br />Nothing can brighten a week like going to work and receiving a superhero picture of yourself made by co-workers (friends).<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Enjoy your week!</span><br /><br />Love, <br />"Sunshine" Dicksonalan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864968976415986196.post-61860811539457821542009-03-02T13:02:00.003-05:002009-03-02T13:53:12.978-05:00Yay Snow! Yay Cold Weather! (No Complaints Here)Today, I woke up to a phone call from a friend's friend who I believe is a rental agent in Miami. We briefly discussed what my plans are for moving to the subtropical paradise. Then, I got out of bed and looked outside to see seven inches of snow covering my backyard. The weather here is currently 24 degrees, but feels like 6. In Miami, the weather is currently 62 degrees and feels like 62 degrees. It is winter, so I do not expect it to be warm; I am simply just stating facts (and for my family, no I am not using tone while doing so).<br /><br />Yesterday, I watched a video, posted by a friend, of Louis CK joking (explaining life, but since he is a comedian I think it is joking) about how we have a better life, but we are not happy and in fact more ungrateful. Here is the clip:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jETv3NURwLc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jETv3NURwLc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />HAPPY TIMES!</span><br />I am going to be happy in honor of Louis CK, my flight to California this week, watching the Watchmen, a big influx of money, snow days, and Catholics giving up something to understand how grateful they are to have it.* Not just happy, but I am going to not be negative. This is not saying I will be super positive like self-help books, but I will be in a positive/neutral non-negative mood. I am not called "Sunshine" Dickson at work for nothing, so this should not be too hard for me (even though it is below freezing half this week and I hate being cold**).<br /><br />Enjoy your week! I am going to really enjoy mine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">For more information about being happy, please check out <a href="http://www.thesecret.tv/">this</a>, <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/45672/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-vision-board#x-4,vclip,1">this</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkoiHX1tPCc">this</a>.</span><br /><br /><br />*<span style="font-style:italic;">Except those Catholics who use lent as a second New Year's Resolution. They give up cigarettes or something that is bad for them. They give up something that they want to quit forever and not just be without for 40 days. I do not think this was the original plan of lent, but whatever it is not my loss of life that spurred it all.</span><br /><br />**<span style="font-style:italic;">Sorry that was my last hate reference this week. I will now only state facts. It is cold. The cold makes me not want to go outside. There is not much to do inside. I am so happy thinking about warm weather. YAY!</span>alan dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736605473953819090noreply@blogger.com0