Moving Forward

So this is pretty much an update to my previous post. So I a few ideas that I going to try and work into my blog and hopefully with some new tools and clear focus I can stick to more regular updates.

So the plan:

1. Re-molding Project- My idea here is to cover this using both blogs and video. Sort of a three prong attack. First post would be an overview of the project, give everyone an idea of what's going on. That way when you see the video you have some context as to what your seeing. Second phase would be a three part video series of before, during and after. Finally there would be project updates covering the process, adding any bits of info that I think people would find interesting. So that's the basic format, I don't know how entertaining re-molding sounds but(not very to me anyway) so I feel my challenge will be to find ways to make people interested and even enjoy the project. So even if its something that you might not think you would enjoy give it a shot.

2. So my second plan is a Course that I just got of hold of. Its called Learn and Master Guitar. Its a 20 DVD course that covers 20 sessions designed to take you from beginner to a more advanced stage. So I thought some people might find it interesting. This would be rather simple as I would just do a few blog post a week detailing my progress through the sessions. As I get more comfortable I might even record a video of me playing what I have learned. The course is designed to take as much as a year so I am really hoping I can stick with it.

3. My final plan for now is still pending a labor dispute, but if there is football I hope to cover the Saints this year on the blog. I am thinking here that I would do two post a week. One before the weekly game, giving up insights on the game, what I think we need to do get the W. The second would be after the game and would discuss the pros and cons of the game, things I think we can improve on and my overall thoughts on the season as it moves along.

One other note as I mentioned in the last post, we and the family going to the beach, so I plan on taking lots of video and will have a few blog post about the trip. We also have a trip to Disney World coming up next May, my plan its to live blog the trip from start to finish. The idea would be to bring you along on the trip, written updates, photos, video of all the day to day activities. So that's a little ways off but give you something to look forward to.

So I guess that's it for now...most of these project will not start to closer to Aug. but I will have a few more updates as we get closer. Until next time.


Daniel R.

A new direction!!

So its been a long time since I have did an update and I wanted to share with everyone what's been going on and what I hope to achive with the blog moving forward.

So yeah its been a very hectic two months, with the trip to see my familiy, camping, OT weekends and lets through a hoilday. Squeeze all that in with work, a 18 month old, house chores and a few hours sleep and you just don't seem to have alot of spare time. I guess in the end what spare time I have had has been used on other projects that seem more important.

Moving forward though I don't want to give up on the blog so I have come up with some ideas.
One I got a copy of Dragon Nautrally Speaking(its voice software that bascilly will type what  I say for me). I still need to by a headset to try it out but I hoping that this will speed up making post on my blogs and hopefully allow me to multi task some. Secondly I have moved toward the purchase of a Sony Bloggie. Its pretty cool digital video recorder that will allow me to make videos.  Finally and more importantly instead of random blogs I am going to try and make them more in line with whatever I am working on at the moment.  Hopefully the will allow me to give you guys more content on a regular basis.

What can you excpet next, well me and Robin have a huge house remolding planned. So while maybe not he most engaging blogging material the plan is toe give you guys a journal of what were doing. I don't have everything worked out but I do plan on shooting before, during and after video's and if nothing else I can promise tons of footage of Skylar.

So thats about it, I hope to have a better idea of how I want to present everything and maybe will have a post up in the new week. I do have to work OT the next few weeks. Either way we plan on starting sometime in Aug. so I should have something up before the end of the month.

One more thing we have a beach trip planned for Sept. so I will have some video up of that so I think you guys will enjoy.

So yeah that's about it, well I have to had to work so I am not going spell check or anything so yeah sorry for the grammar.

Daniel R.

Incoming Update in 3....2....1

Yeah so I am back....its been a busy last few days so of course no updates but, the good news is I have tons of stuff planned for this week. Soooo today's post is more like a look of upcoming things.

So this is my goal for this week but of course its all subject to change.

Today-So somebody made the comment last week that if I can die for my country then I should have the right to drink(liquor). We had a debated conversation that lead to other related topics and I figured what a great blog post. So later on today look for Drugs and Alcohol: My Take.

Wed.- Look for the Post-Father Day special Being a Dad: My Story

Weekend- Super secret project that will require some user participation.

On a final note me and Robin have committed to a new healthier lifestyle(I refuse to use the word DIET) Today is the first day so expect to see some updates and some opinions on the matter.

So that's it for now and remember post,comment, follow...you get the idea.

Life is often times "Stranger than Reality"

When I started this blog just a few short days ago, I had several idea, goals and ambitions that I hoped to achieve with it. What I have found is that some of those goals would be next to impossible with the limitations in using the blog. I also struggled with the fear of over-saturating the blog with to many topics and subjects. I have so many interest, but trying to cover them all in one blog quickly felt unpractical.  The solution I found was starting my own website.

strangerthanreality.com

So  what does any of this mean. Well for one the blog will now just be a home for my thoughts, rants and opinions. I still don't have a clear structure for what the website will be. I can say that I am already hard at work figuring it out. So if you follow this blog and what to see how far down the rabbit hole we can really go, bookmark strangerthanreality.com

Reach Me At: dreed@strangerthanreality.com

Anonymous meet Anonymous

There is a powerful tension in our relationship to technology. We are excited by egalitarianism and anonymity, but we constantly fight for our identity.
~ David Owens

Facebook.
Amazon.
World of Wacraft.
Ebay.
Netflix.
Myspace.
Twitter.

What do they all have in common, well if you said, " They all require the Internet.", you would be right. You would also at least have a valid opinion if you said, They make life easier." But I think they have more lasting effect, maybe even devious effect. To an extent they all allow the user some measure of aanonymity. Ask yourself this how do you know that anyone is who they say they are on the Internet, what measure of proof can you obtain.



1. Do you know your neighbor’s first name?

2. How often do you attend parades or festivals?

3. Do you trust your local police?

4. Do you know who your U.S. senators are?

5. Do you attend religious services? Or go to the theater?

6. Do you sign petitions? Or attend neighborhood meetings?

7. How often do you visit with friends or family?
The answers may shock you, then again maybe your more aware of the fact that as a nation the way we socialize has drasticly changed in the last few decades. Social media is the buzz, but is creating Internet communities the same as local communities? Does its offer the same real-world benefits? I don't know the answers to those questions.

Were heading into a bold new place in the world, one that requires less human interaction. We already get movies in the mail, we can order anything of the Internet, stream movies at home. Life has become a bubble were real world social interaction is limited to work and the few times a week you have to leave the house. I can only opine that less human interaction by default should makes us to some extent less human.

I do believe that some things have to change, I think we need social communities but not ones built over the Internet. We need to be more involved in local communities. I don't know how we can change things, but one simple step might be to go say hello to your neighbor.



Next up in my awkward rambling I talk more about the social media hype.




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Monday Blues

This is my first Mon.-Fri. job ever....its nice I really enjoy having most weekends off. But if there is one thing I hate its Mondays. Yep I seem to get a case of the Monday Blues. Its not that I don't like my job, its a pretty good job. But the weekend never seems long enough. One thought seems to be going through my mind over and over:





What makes it worse is that my Monday starts Sunday night at 10 pm. Its like some form of cruel and unusual punishment. You sir have a case of the Monday Blues so guess what lets get a jump on things and start feeling blue early. To be fair I also enjoy the benefits of TGIF earlier then most. But it don't make Monday's any easier.

So do any of you guys face the Monday Blues, what do you do to try and make Monday's a little easier. As I had off to face  Monday I leave you with Alan Rickman.

Face Book Friends

Hey quick post for friends and family if you followed my Face Book link. Please leave a comment, I am hoping to use this a place to generate some discussion. Also on the right, I think its on the right, is a link to follow me so yeah sign up to follow the blog. One last thing the blog is open to public so by all means you can send anyone over. The more the merrier. OK so another last thing if you have a blog link it so I can follow it. Yeah so that's all for now.