I’ve been listening to the Dave Ramsey Show via podcast on my commute up to Dayton every day. Our family is going to buy his book The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. We think this is a good deal. Not sure if we want to wait for it to be delivered or simply go buy it now at the brick and mortar store.

Related tags: dave+ramsey total+money+makeover personal+finances

I’m reading several books right now.

One of them is by a fellow podcasting friend, Charles Hodgson. I’ve been listening to his podictionary podcast for almost two years now and have even mentioned it here and on the Journey Inside My Mind Podcast.

Charles was very gracious in that he sent me a copy of the book, in return for my “helping get the ‘word’ out.” lol.

If you’ve ever wondered where the words we use to describe parts of our bodies comes from, then this book is for you. I’m getting a copy for my Dad for his upcoming birthday, since he’s also a word lover.

Carnal Knowledge: A Navel Gazer’s Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm charles+hodgson

Mood: nostalgic
Listening to: quiet
Reading: Who Let the Blogs Out?: A Hyperconnected Peek at the World of Weblogs
Eating: nothing – feeling hungry

I’m inside the main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Being here brings back a lot of memories. The library has changed considerably since I was a child, but some of it is still the same.

I used to catch the 17 bus from home to downtown. I would sometimes come down here with my best friend David Mixon, other times accompanied by his younger brother Adam, and still other times by myself. This library was one of the coolest places to hang out. I even had dreams about things happening down here.

• I remember poring over the items in the Films and Recordings department. I recall vividly searching through the card catalog drawers to find some interesting music. Other times, I’d browse the LPs and cassettes – CDs weren’t around that much just yet. I remember testing some LPs on the record player they had set up, to see if I really wanted to check out the record.
• Another time I remember spending a lot of time down here was in my junior year of high school, while working on my English term paper on Miles Davis. I would spend entire days up in the Arts and Literature department on the third floor, poring over materials. I would often listen to music I’d put on cassettes in my Walkman.
• Yet another time I was reminded of just this morning was when I’d graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1994 and was looking for a job. I spent a lot of time at the Government and Business department back then. I remember, after learning of an interview I had with Alcoa Building Products in Sidney, Ohio, looking through scores of newspaper articles and other publications to find out anything I could about the company. Looking through microfiche and other materials, I’d print out and make copies of pages for my company research, back before the internet was really mainstream.
• And then again, after receiving a job offer, I remember coming back to the G&B department to research the kind of car I wanted to get, spending lots of time going over reliability reports and insurance information.

I’m really impressed by all the changes to the downtown library, especially as I look at all the computers and the addition to the building that was done several years ago. Films and Recordings is now on the first floor. The Mezzanine, which used to be a paperback book area, is now a snack area and gift shop. The card catalog has been replaced on the first floor by a bank of computers. The checkout is no longer right at the both exits, but instead in a more central area.

Yet as I walk through this building, I still see younger versions of me doing the things I used to do so long ago.

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr cincinnati library nostalgia

I opened the envelope from our credit union, ready to toss the usual filler stuff in the trash. I quickly scanned the headlines and was convinced to hold off for a little while.

They have been conducting a “Hidden” word contest to win a $100 gift card. So I wound up reading a little further into the articles to find the hidden word. Then I logged onto their website and submitted my entry to the contest.

I think this is an ingenious way of getting a customer to pay more attention to the content, and I’ll be thinking of ways I could apply this technique.

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr

I went to the library today for the first time in about a month. I was looking for some quick and dirty books related to programming. I don’t know if these will help, but here’s what I brought home.

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr reading programming

This book comes highly-recommended:

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr dreaming+in+code

Keisha and I just came back from putting gas in the car and a quick trip to the public library. It had been a few weeks since we’d been there, and she found a book called “The Deaf Musicians”. We just finished reading it while eating some ice cream. I recommend you do the same. Go ahead; I can wait.

I think I’d heard about this book recently on a podcast, but I can’t remember which one. It was really good. Keisha said her favorite part was when the piano player realized he was losing his hearing because that was just like her.

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr deaf music hard+of+hearing reading

Saturday was an all-around great day for us. A single mother from church had some serious spring cleaning work that needed to be done, and several of us went to her house and helped her out.

At about 2:15 pm, we left her house and drove to Meadowlinks Golf Course, which is part of Winton Woods here in Cincinnati. We signed Keisha up for some Junior Golf lessons a few weeks ago, and Jennie and I have been taking lessons concurrently.
Last week we practiced pitching and chipping; this week we learned full swings. Next week, we’ll learn putting. After next week’s lesson, Jennie, Keisha, and I will have a golf scramble on the beginner’s course together.

I can easily see why golfing can become an obsession because it looks a lot easier than it is. I have found myself watching golf on TV – something I NEVER was interested in doing when I was younger. I think it could become a healthy obsession that our entire family could enjoy. Yeah, of course it could. If Keisha shows some serious interest and can develop some good skill, she could get a scholarship to go to college.

It’s probably just serendipity that one of my all-time favorite family podcasts, “Dancing With Elephants“, just did an episode about golfing. They mentioned a couple of books to check out, related to teaching kids golf:

Related tags: journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm daniel+johnson+jr golfing spring+cleaning winton+woods meadowlinks

Mood: upbeat
Listening to: DSC 507 – 12/1/2006
Reading: The Magic of Thinking Big
Eating: Taco Bell
Watching: wind blowing everything all over the place outside

A little video message from yours truly to kick off the last month of the year:

I’ll be recording the next episode of Journey Inside My Mind and posting it within the next day or so.

Related tags:

journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm dan+johnson hellodeo video christmas2006

Mood: tired
Listening to: fan in the window, washer and dryer in the kitchen
Reading: The Magic of Thinking Big
Eating: Hmmm… an evening snack perhaps?
Watching: something on TV

Jennie, Keisha, and I went to get our hair done this evening. I’d shaved earlier in the day, so this picture really makes me look a lot younger:

The smile sure helps, too.

Related tags:

journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm dan+johnson

Mood: chilled
Listening to: Chillcast Cocktail Party Mix
Reading: The Magic of Thinking Big
Eating: ham, eggs, and biscuits, with low acid orange juice and black Folger’s coffee
Watching: (last night) Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy

(It’s interesting to note, as I was filling out the status info above, the potential for links and affiliate links. I should definitely look into that stuff.)

Jennie had to work Wednesday night and last night, so yesterday Keisha and I went to a Thanksgiving dinner at church. We brought some honey bbq wings and some hot chicken tenders. After eating a few of us guys went upstairs to the auditorium and played Halo 2 using an Xbox 360 hooked up to the projector screen. I can understand why role-playing games (RPG) are so popular now. I was the newbie of the group, but I still had fun learning my way around the game.

Related tags:

journey+inside+my+mind journeyinsidemymind jimm dan+johnson thanksgiving2006 thanksgiving chillcast ugly+betty grey’s+anatomy xbox+360 rpg halo+2

Mood: sleepy
Listening to: fan in the window, crickets outside
Eating: Subway Italian BMT on wheat

How cool is it that Keisha and I are interested in the same sci-fi/fantasy stories? We both are really into Harry Potter, and tonight, we watched Star Wars Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

Several months ago, I started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Book 1) to Keisha. After we finished that book, we saw the movie. Then we’d move on to the next book, and we’d watch the movie for that book afterward. Right now we’re reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5), and it looks like we’ll probably finish the book before the movie comes out next year. We may opt to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) beforehand anyway.

A month or so ago, I checked out some of the Star Wars movies from the library, and tonight we finished with the last movie in the saga (chronological). We probably could still watch Star Wars – Episode I, The Phantom Menace, since we hadn’t watched it yet. It’s interesting to have seen the original trilogy after just having seen the most recent trilogy.

Well, I’m pretty tired and need to go to bed.

Mood: sleepy
Listening to: Jennie and Keisha talking about Keisha’s dreams last night
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Eating: nothing yet (but coffee’s brewing, yay)

Power went out again last night. This time to the whole complex, it seemed. I woke up at about 4:15 AM because it was feeling stuffy. I noticed everything was off. So I grabbed my cell phone and used the light from it as a flashlight, since one was not readily available.

I went to the kitchen and checked the circuit breakers, but they were okay. So I found our telephone book and called Duke Energy to report the power outage. Someone else had already called, so my report was maybe the 2nd one. I opened all the windows and went back to bed – or at least tried to fall back to sleep.

Then, at about 4:50 AM, the fans came back on, and I got up and closed the windows again and turned the air back on.

Mood: caffeinated
Listening to: JIMM 62 – Caffeinated Clips
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Eating: popcorn and Miller Lite

I really enjoyed making this show; hopefully you can tell. Here’s the summary:

Next week is the 1-year anniversary show (with a contest)! Get your audio comments in now! But first, on this show: PSA from Aslan Extermination, local deer crash begs questions, where are we and why’s it so noisy, strong enough to get ring around the collar and your whole wash clean, and the story of the blow-dry kid. Songs related to coffee, caffeine, and being awake. A couple of promos for other shows.

Go on over and listen!

Mood: chilled
Listening to: Dave’s Lounge #56 – The Natalie Walker Special
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5) (chapter 10 “Luna Lovegood”)
Eating: Wendy’s

Jennie seemed so different today. Out of sorts. Lethargic. I asked her this afternoon if she’d checked her blood sugar lately:

This evening I asked her what the reading was. She said it was above 400. Normal is less than 100. So she took some Amaryl. She took a nap before it was time for her to get up and get ready for work. When she got up it was under 200. She got ready for work and ate a salad for dinner.

I’ve got to be more on top of stuff like this.

Mood: sleepy
Listening to: nothing
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Eating: nothing yet
Watching: nothing

Some people just write “Wash Me” on the window of a dusty car. This guy does artwork. Very good artwork.

via Rocketboom

Mood: elated and slightly tired
Listening to: a program on PBS about Lucille Ball
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5), with Keisha – just finished ch. 3

Bene Diction, the Official Canuck of Journey Inside My Mind, writes (my links):

Journey Inside My Mind has found his niche. Dan – you are a natural at podcasting. And thanks for introducing us to Ganns Dean (Superblessed) music, which I think is very cool.

Ganns is the Official Superblessed Blogger of Journey Inside My Mind, you may recall.

I’ll be doing the 60th episode this coming weekend, and I realized a short while ago that I’ve almost been doing this for an entire year. Please check out the show, and leave feedback – good, bad, and ugly.

Update: It looks like Ganns is up at the Podsafe Music Network as of today. I think that’s supercool because he’s got the potential to get played by podcasters from all over the world now, not just my little show!

Mood: sleepy
Listening to: JIMM 58 – Happy Birthday Keisha!
Eating: fish and salad
Watching: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)

It looks like PodShow+ has recognized my podcast, probably since it’s registered with the Podsafe Music Network. I haven’t opted to migrate everything to the PodShow Delivery Network – still counting the cost on that.

Update: after looking at what else is in my collection now, I think my show arrived there because the OPML import finally worked.

Mood: hungry and tired
Listening to: KCRW’s Martini Shot
Reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) (reading “The Madness of Mr. Crouch”)
Eating: no breakfast yet

I am wavering between doing a music show this weekend with only Alternative music or only Funk music. I have a lot of both I could play. On one hand, I’ve been wanting to play this sweet collection of funk music I’ve had for months now. On the other, there’s some really nice alternative music that I’d love to play just to help promote the artists.

I may decide to do the alternative music this weekend and keep back the funk for a Super Funk Mix show next week.

I’m still not fully convinced which way to go. Any thoughts?

Mood:sleepy
Listening to: the window fan in the living room
Reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) (just finished “The Second Task”)
Eating: haven’t had breakfast yet
Watching: the sunshine, and it’s only 7:37 in the morning!

We have a pool in our apartment complex, and we’re using it this summer. Last summer we didn’t use it that much. I think this summer it’s becoming the default activity.

When I was 12-15 years old, my sister Stephanie and I would spend summers with our Mom in Texas. That meant that we’d spend a lot of time at the pool. Almost every day. It was great.

There were diving boards in the deep end, and at least once every two hours, we’d ask the lifeguard on duty to “close the boards” so that we could swim in the deep end.

One of my favorite activities was to toss a quarter somewhere and then go find it, even at the bottom of the deep end. I got pretty good at holding my breath underwater, and I also became used to swimming with 9 feet of water on top of me. I felt like a fish. It was fun.

Another thing I’d like to do was create the biggest splash that I could. In fact, I and my friends would take turns doing cannonballs, can openers, and preacher seats to try to get the biggest splash.

I also remember the music of 1985. There was always music from the radio. That year Paul Hardcastle’s song “19″ was very popular.

Has it really been 21 years?