life – Disaesthetic

Looking Live at NFL Thursday Night, Week 4

Summer is the busiest time of year for me professionally. My responsibilities as Project Manager varies in scope and in phases of that scope, but in the warm months I try to complete as many construction projects as possible. So… I just ran out or lacked the energy to write out my week 3 picks for the NFL spreads. My self esteem aches, just a bit, when I miss write out my weekly picks. Feels like failure. No one cares so it’s only a personal failure to me, but I detest missing a mandate I made for myself.

Anyways… My professional life has bled into my personal time, but the stress of deadlines and demands have started to calmed. I know I can write this post for Thursday Night Football in peace. I “plan” to make my picks for Sunday’s slate this weekend. I wish I had more to say other than I’m actually glad I made zero picks for week 3. Most teams who were projected to cover (by so called experts) failed harder than my own personal failure. I expect more of the same this week, but after week 5 we’ll know if teams like Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, and others have the coaches, players, and organizational know how to make a deep run in January and beyond.

More on that after next week… We go to East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Thursday Night, Cowboys @ Giants: Giants +6, Under 45.5

Through 3 weeks of football, spreads of 6 or more have been covered 13 times already. Feels like a lot. Scoring and passing is down league wide. Run scoring is up significantly. Dallas doesn’t deserve 6 points on the road with their performance over the last two weeks. Do I feel confident in the Giants? Not really; however, Danny Dimes has connected with rookie stud Malik Naybers for 3 touchdowns over the last two weeks. The Giants feel like they’re on an upswing while Dallas sputters out of control. I wouldn’t touch the moneyline for either team here, and yes last year Dallas embarrassed the Giants winning by 32 points or more. But that was last year. This Dallas team is less talented, hasn’t found itself on defense, and can’t run the ball. Everything is on Dak Prescott and he’s not talented enough to carry the team as they figure themselves out in season. 6 is too many points. Giants cover and 45.5 points is too many if this season has taught me anything thus far.

Photo: Izaac Crayton

All spread from BetNow.eu

Lines Sway

Photo: Krista Mangulsone

Feels like I haven’t written a real post in years. I wrote a little piece about the Raiders earlier last year and wanted to write about the team every week; however, it fell by the wayside as I started taking a project management course and then the COVID-19 pandemic broke. The last twelve months have felt lost in some ways. In other ways it’s trimmed the fat and inefficiencies from my life, and shown me what I care about most.

Expending my energies on responsibilities, commitments, and activities that causes unhappiness needs to stop. Sometimes it’s unavoidable but there’s opportunity to stop wasting time and energy on frustrating and unpleasant matters. I’ve not made the most of the past twelves. Certainly tried various experiences and projects to varying results. Recently I stepped back from a newsletter I’d been making with some friends. I’m glad I tried the project but it was a miserable experience by the end.

I felt a little defeated and bummed after but I’m glad it’s over. Doesn’t change the fact I love music and discussing my amateur connoisseur music takes. This seems like the best space I have to share my thoughts the way I want, when I want, how I want, and about what I want. The format of these writings remains unclear at the moment but I wish to write about my current listening rotations, new and old songs/artists/albums, and commentary on my listening experience.

Occasionally I may comment on current, or past, music events and non-music events simply to stroke my curiosity. Either way I want to use this space again for my own benefit. Share with anyone who reads this what I’m listening to so they can experience the same tasty goodness my ears enjoy.

Welcome to Dryden

After 12 hours of delay, $60 in Uber rides, and whole day of wasted vacation I made it to Ithaca.

We spent Sunday hanging out at home with quick into town for breakfast and warmer coat for me to sport while I’m here. The drastic difference in weather bewilders me. It’s been snowing all day, yet it’s bearable conditions for the community.

The cold immediately whips your face when you step outside. My nose felt like it was cracking Saturday night waiting for my ride to fetch me. Thankfully I’m here and enjoying my vacation far, far, away from work with my girlfriend. Last night was nice just hanging out playing Pokémon while she finished some work.

She goes to class during the day which allows me time, and no excuses, to scrub down my to-do list. Hanging out on a university campus and atmosphere influences some working honesty.

At home I get distracted so easily. I find ways to waste a whole day doing nothing I’m proud of. I’ll have time for productivity and fun this week.

Comfort at Home

My goal is to feel ready to go back to work and face the rest of the year by the time Friday morning rolls around. I need to set some short term goals for the next few months along with some longer term, perhaps, life goals.

I met with a team lead from a department I’m interested in working last week. We had a really nice conversation and hit it off really well. I keep find I’m kindred spirits with each person I met from the group. The phrase came up again with her, unsolicited too.

It seems like a fit but how do I break through the barrier?

The key is to not get ahead of myself and start imagining working there full-time. First just get some exposure, if possible. Shadow over there first. Make sure it’s something I want to do while at the same time making a contingency plan with my supervisor.

My primary goal this year is to advance beyond my current position and department.

Ideally I can get on this urgently, fresh from vacation, when I return home. Finally I feel a bit of clarity in wake of floundering through a gloomy fog.

There’s a long list of albums I’ve started to eat through while typing my hopes and dream away.

Gave Artificial Selection another chance before going to Swanfest next month. It’s much better than I remember. I got burnt out on Dance Gavin Dance after I went on a 6 month bender with them. Collected 3 LPs and saw them twice in that time.

This version of the band found its best formula on Mothership stepping up tablature heat index on this outing.

Saying it’s more of the same is a bit dismissive, yet it’s no different from when I roll down to my taco shop and order the same shit every time. Carne Asada fries always taste great and never surprise me with declining flavor.

I’d have to ask for something new, and unknown, for a fresh experience, which I won’t ask of them or DGD.

Similarly Parquet Courts developed a popular sound receiving more publicity with Wide Awake! They’ve released 6 albums yet I only found them last year. Originally from New York City, their taste for 70’s art rock isn’t all too surprising except for the briefness in which it’s done.

Call it post-punk, garage rock, whatever, they’ve dialed into an easily understood rock sound which elicits movement. The guitar distortion sounds purposely lofi for an artsy aesthetic but serves to energize, not overwhelm, the funky rhythms.

While it’s definitely a hipster’s delight, I don’t see myself listening to Wide Awake! again; however, I find the funk and art rock arrangements vibe with my city lifestyle. It’s a soundtrack for city folk like me.

On my way over to Ithaca I rolled through Crystal Lake’s Helix and Czarface Meets Ghostface while playing Pokémon. I’m debating reviewing Helix or taking another approach in blogging my thoughts.

People don’t generally read album reviews anymore so how do you engage people to both hear the subject and find substance in your words? Perhaps this requires help from Jake and Andrew. Thoughts for another day.

I really enjoyed bobbing along Czarface’s album almost completing a second run on the plane. So fucking tired of the saturation of trap beats and mumble rap. Far more repetitive, and tiresome, sound motifs reoccur in trap than in metalcore. Fight me.

Again, another day for that. Remembering I’m actually on vacation I need to enjoy myself everyday, not just work. There’s enough time for both.