Christian Ross

Notes from the road…

With the advantages of laptops, free WiFi, and an uncanny ability to not pay much attention when I read my flight schedule ahead of time, I have a few extra minutes to kill while enjoying the friendly confines of the Harlingen International Airport. Aeropuerto internacional de Harlingen, if you are a local.

Not many complaints about my trip down. At least the sun was shining for a majority of my trip. The water was pretty warm for being such a large body, holding steady at about 69F. Got a little work in and a little time to rest as well. Was excited as my schedule fell into place for me to get out for a while this morning to paddle out; till the waves went flat.

Due to being cheap, I reserved a compact car from Dollar Rent-a-Car. Due to overbooking, I spent my week in a brand new Dodge Durango. Due to their generosity (I like to think of it as my VIP-ness), I won’t be purchasing a new Dodge Durango anytime soon. Was nice but not for me. Didn’t handle very well, didn’t have enough get in exchange for the gas it guzzled, the rear door was a beating to get up/down (imagine with groceries or kid in tow), and I repeatedly had an issue with the driver side door not being able to stay open. Although I will give it a plus for the swerve it handled when the drunk guy in his Dodge Durango tried to match his paint scheme with mine today.

I called the cops on him by the way for it and the other 6 cars he almost hit. And the 8-10 curbs/medians he ran up on in a 6 block drive. For enjoyment I decided to eat lunch at the establishment across the street from the parking lot that he was being administered his sobriety test. Didn’t hurt that they had golden arches either.

I am also saying a little prayer that the right-rear tire decides to hold up for the next few days or at least until somebody else has had a chance to drive it. Apparently even new tires don’t stand much of a chance against coat hangers either. When I found it, I broke off the 7 inches of exposed wire instead of pulling it in hopes that it would magically heal and/or hold air on its own. Some pictures of my whip:

Highlights of the trip: Beach, shorts/flops weather, Mahi-Mahi fish tacos at Dorado’s, gaining a few extra shoots and potential for more down the road, and getting the offer for free/reduced stays from here on out from a new client. Gracias Nirav.

People watching at airports as new planes come in is awesome. What do old guys actually listen to on iPods? Are there actually Andy Williams or Statler Brothers mp3’s?

Question: Are continental breakfasts at the Ramada Inn enough of a reason to skip the most important meal of the day? I think so.

I tired of writing now.

Go figure

On the flight down to my island office, I finished a book that my cousin gave me when I was in CO. Knowing the source of the gift, I was a little leery about what it was or what it had to say. Actually turned out to be pretty good. May be the first book I have completed in four years. Easy read due to the decent author humor and more importantly the large number of pictures. I think more authors should buy into the thought that a picture is worth a thousand words. I’d probably read more if they did.

Anyways, with all of the knowledge that this practical book could impart, I felt the following may be one of the most important.

‚ĶTo test the 5-second rule, they had to spread E. Coli bacteria on floor tiles and drop food directly on them. And, yes, the food was contaminated within five seconds. So the lesson here is this: If your baby drops something into a pile of poop don’t give it back to him, no matter how quickly you pick it up.

Sound like wise words. Thank goodness the author decided that words were better than a picture on this one.

My office

Just a quick video to show everyone my office this week. I cut the sound cause it didn’t come out very well. The waves are great, the seagulls are hovering, the spanish is fluent. In the words (more…)

Not good

When I hoped for something to get the news outlets to forget about Don Imus and Anna Nicole, it wasn’t this

no real good excuse

for my lack of attention to this thing, more so probably just a combination of any of the following:
    – no motivation
    – writer’s block
    – laziness
    – way too busy to allot any time
but maybe I’ll make a feeble attempt at writing more often.

setting – temperature: approx 211F; time: a little past my bedtime and a lot past my wife’s; mood: not too bad; possibility of tossing broken laptop keyboard through the window: high

been working quite a bit recently, although the way this week has gone you wouldn’t say that. Alex came through town for a few a few hours Tuesday night. good to see him, wish he could’ve stayed a little longer but know he had to get on down the road.

busy week(end) ahead. Mel to DC. Me to lake house, birthday party for ACM, clean house/prepare lesson for small groups at our house, and small groups at our house. Mel to return Sunday. Me to board plane Wednesday for the beach.

Some recent projects if you’d like to see:
http://gcocyouth.txgeeks.com (work in progress)
http://www.thefallsatthepreserve.com
http://www.twocreeksclickin.com
and some others I’d rather not lay claim to…

mood change: taxes

mavs = best record in nba. mavs = no chance if they have to see the suns.

bought a moleskine, maybe I’ll learn to write like Hemingway or draw/paint like Picasso now.

mood: baseball is back. good.