The Q

There are times where you know that the next step you’re going to take is going to change your life.  It’s just a gut feeling and there aren’t any obvious actions that will trigger that change.  It is a set of actions falling like dominoes one after another.  More importantly, it’s a shift in mind set.  You feel yourself thinking about life in a different way.

For me, I am finally getting to this transition point.  It’s been 4 months since I’ve left New York but the move wasn’t the tipping point.  I needed this time to acclamate myself to my new surroundings, to test out the waters and see how comfortable I am with my new life.  And now I am here, about to take that next transition point.  It feels exciting yet unnerving at the same time.  I know I won’t be able to go back, but the future holds great promises.  It will be a fun ride.  I hope.

I’m sitting on the bus as I type this heading for NYC.  That’s really nothing of interest or surprise due to the fact that I used to live in NYC as of 4 months ago.  It’s also not a great surprise because I still have many friends in NYC and I still think it’s the best city in the world.  The real note of interest is that I’m going from Boston to NY (200+ miles) because I desparately need a haircut.  Let it sink in.

A haircut for a man is a precious thing (it should be if it isn’t you barbaric caveman).  It can make or break you every 4 weeks of the year.  A bad haircut will automatically gaurantee that you drop at least 2 rungs on your social ladder (3 if you get a perm).  That’s why it is so crucial for any man to find a barber/stylist that he trusts and respects.  This trust thing doesn’t happen over night.  It takes a few visits to work it out correctly.  It takes a bit of practice to let someone else know your desired hair style in 10 words or less.  Don’t believe me?  Sit in on a guy’s haircut for yourself.  You’ll hear something like “A little off the top but keep the sides longer”….and that’s it!!  With those 10 words your barber is supposed to know exactly how to cut your hair.

So why am I going to New York for my haircut?  Because trust is hard find.  I don’t trust anyone else to cut my hair.  Not Boston, not LA, not DC, only one guy in New York.  This is especially true because Asian hair is notoriously difficult to cut.  I don’t think we have hair, I think we have soft spikes on the top of our heads.  So that’s why I’m going to New York.  Oh and it I guess it will be nice to see some of friends again.  I guess.

I think people are truly themselves late at night.  It’s the moment when you’re alone while the world sleeps that show you who you are.  The thoughts that cross your mind, the wants and needs to creep up.

Do you think about tomorrow?  How about yesterday?  Do you think about the ones you love?  Perhaps the ones that you have loved?  Maybe the ones you’ve lost.  Or the ones that you wished loved you?

These are the fascinating times when I wish there was a something to record your thoughts to play them back to you when are pretending to be someone else.

Yes, that’s correct that’s an iPhone app from the major French (still hate them) fashion label. The app actually doesn’t do all that much. Its main features are 1) short video of Fall runway show 2) view pictures of the fall collection 3) news article pertaining to Chanel and 4) a store locator.

The video uses the native iPhone video player and takes you back to app if you hit “DONE”. Being able to see pics of the Fall collection sounds mundane but there’s one neat trick up it’s black sleeve. If you you rotate the phone to landscape mode while viewing an outfit, the screen will show you three pics of the coordinating accessories. The news articles are self explanatory. Store locator works like you think it would except for the fact that it doesn’t utilize location services. It would be nice for the app to use my current location and tell me where the nearest Chanel store is (not that I buy stuff there…or can afford to).

What’s really cool about this app is the potential behind it and how it’s unlike any of the other apps for the iPhone. Can’t you imagine some day in the near future walking into your Target store and pulling out your iPhone to view the week’s specials or finding more details about a specific product, or how about stock level. You can walk into a H&M and be able to see exactly what new items they have for that week.

I think this app is just an example of all the cools that will come. The iPhone’s power and unique capabilities will be a boon for marketers and lifestyle companies. Internet + anywhere computing + location based services + individualized experiences = consumerism nirvana (or hell if that’s not your thing).

I’m man enough to admit it, I do love Meet Joe Black, I really do. I don’t even know why. It’s not even that great of a movie, the acting is okay given Pitt and Hopkins but thts about it. Maybe it’s Claire Forlanie? She sure it’s pretty. But even that doesn’t even explain it. Maybe it’s the concept that were are only here for a finite time and if we’re lucky we get to feel how much we’re loved before we are gone. Then again maybe it is Claire Forlanie.

I don’t know about you people but I always seem to think that I’m going to do all these crazy wonderful things after I leave work.  What crazy wonderful things you ask?  Well how about going to the cafe and reading.  Or walking around the neighborhood and checking things out.  How about learning something new online.  But as soon as I get home (probably all sweaty and gross because it’s 90 degrees outside and I decided to walk home) I automatically fall into this lazy mode.  I become lethargic and unenergetic.  All I want to do is eat dinner (maybe ice cream), watch TV, play video games / guitar and then sleep.  My brain shuts down and I am in automatic lazy mode.

Maybe I just need a girlfriend.

This whole Brett Favre retirement - unretirement saga is way out of hand.  I don’t have any opions on whether he did the right or wrong thing but I am joining those who think that if he still wants to play, let him play.  If you’re the Packers and you really think Aaron Rodgers is your best bet to win ball games this season and going forward, then either trade Favre and get the best you can get back or release him like he wants you to.

All I’m saying is that with each passing day, the Packers are cutting off more of their nose in spite of their face.  They have NOTHING to gain by letting this drag on.  It’s almost to point where it’s just sad…  The dude just wants to play.  You either let him play or you don’t.  If you don’t, then let him go.  Of course Gene Wojciechowski stated it much more eloquently than I just did but the theme is the same.

How about this for a scenario.  Trade Favre to the Lions.  Yes the Lions.  Take back a first round pick (it’ll enevitably be a high pick) or maybe a second / third rounder for Kevin Jones and address the running back situation.  Either way you know the Lions will, believe it or not, handle Favre far worse than the Packers are.  You are talking about Matt Millen receiving one of the top quaterbacks of all time on his rotation.  He’ll find a way to turn him into Joey Harrington.

Welcome to Detroit Brett.