Following Bliss

"The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die" is following along with the direction I have been taken the past several months. 

Following Bliss.

My picture of the National Archives is included on Schmap! http://ping.fm/YDsoe

I have enjoyed taking pictures for years but never found them useful from a small business or micro business until now.

Went to a Zoomla developers group meeting. Great meeting Zoomla folks are very nice and passionate about what they do. Over 50 ppl at the Zoomla group, there is even a Zoomla social networking component that is free!

Recycling- Green Uses for your Clothes

During my internet surfing and research I found a great website Earth 911. The site includes a search engine for finding local places to recycle your old stuff.

Because of my interest in construction project management, I found the following article of interest. Have you ever considered using your old blue jeans for home insulation? I never would have thought of using non-fiberglass insulation. Purportedly one of the uses for your old blue jeans is for housing insulation. Green construction materials are not only beneficial for the environment, but will also allow more flexibility in construction in the coming decade as the increased population requires additional natural resources.

Here is the article....

Blue Jeans Gone Green
by Ashley Schiller

It might be time to accept it: you are never going to fit into your old “skinny jeans” from freshman year of college. Toss those acai berries, love yourself as you are and get rid of those menacing pants!

We go through dozens of denims in a lifetime-whether we grow out of them or they become simply too worn to pass off as anything but part of a Halloween costume. What should you do with your old blues? Are they recyclable? You bet.


The rest of the article can be read here.

Life Map

About a month ago I checked out several books from my local library. These books proportedly help with finding my passion and how to leverage this into a job. Reading these books have been enjoyable, but still have not lead to me my answer. Recently I have enrolled into a life coaching class and meeting with a life coach to help speed up the process and get me to my end game.

Here are a listing of the books I have been reading.

"Finding Your Perfect Work" by Paul and Sarah Edwards.
"How to Get a Job in Chicago" by Robert Sanborn and Susan Schwartz
"Go Put Your Strengths to Work" Marcus Buckingham
"Find Your Calling, Love Your Life" Martha Finney and Deborah Dasch

Take a look at one of these books they will help you find what you are passionate about.

Learning Guitar

I just bought myself a Yamaha (solid spruce top) acoutic guitar and trying to teach myself to play. It has been 15 years since I played any music instrument and miss playing alot. My goal is to post each song I learn on Youtube.com and eventually to find a singer to accompany.

Animal Handling Class

Today I have finished my final class at the Anti-Cruelty Society and can start volunteering. The class reiterated about reading cat and dog behavior, things like a wagging tail doesn't always mean "friendly". A stiff slow wag of the tail means the dog is aroused and to read the other signs to see is the dog could bite.

Anytime I get to take a class and learn I enjoy myself. Especially when it has to do with animals.

Free Music

I don't know what kind of music you prefer, but my tastes run wide and deep. Classic rock with an edge gets. If you haven't seen "Across the Universe" you are definitely missing out on a great moviea and even better soundtrack!

Dana Fuchs plays a Janis Joplin type character in the movie, where she sings "Helter Skelter" made again popular in the past couple decades by U2. All I have to say is listen to this........ her voice is amazing, Chris Cornell and her would make beautiful music together.



This song is also great without all of the edgyness but still great.

First Concert in Years- Jay Brannan

I LOVE live music but all these large venues turn me off 1)the cost for tickets 2) you barely can see the artist way down there on the stage. If you have been reading my blog you know I happened across Jay Brannen's music on Youtube a couple months ago. I have been entranced by his voice and honestly both through his music and the view of his own talent (wrongfully of course).

My friend Megan and I went to the Lakeshore Theater in Chicago to watch Jay Brannan. (To avoid the service charge call the theater directly, they are very nice) Originally I told her about the concert and asked if she wanted to go, but with moving and still looking for a job it fell off my radar. Luckily for me she reminded me about it, I called up for tickets, and she drove.

The theater where Jay Brannan was playing is located near the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Upon walking to the theater Megan described the venue as very New York-like, and since she is connected with the talent scene there (they love her there!) I took her word for it. Hopefully she will soon record something on Youtube for you all to enjoy!

His live concert was SOOO much better than his youtube videos (which are really wonderful too!) Here is a recording made for/by Jay.

Have a listen and watch.



This is an except from his show in Chicago. Yes his personality is the same as on Youtube, please enjoy.

Out and About

Michigan Avenue- Trump International Tower and Hotel can be seen in the distance. This project has been going on for sometime but as you can see from the cranes, will be finished soon.



Millenium Park- "The Bean"

Spending all day inside searching for work isn't my idea of fun. I am much more efficient while involved with a team, so today I decided to take a little time out and go enjoy the day.


Millenium Park- Frank Gehry bandshell

My goal was to get to the Art Institute of Chicago but the free admissions for the summer are on Thursday and Friday nights after 5pm so I wandered around Millenium Park. Getting outside and taking pictures of things always clears my head and brings back my energy. Whether or not you have been to Chicago here are a few pictures of where I went and what I saw. Hope you enjoy!