There was a package on the table when I came home yesterday. I was pleased to find out it was a limited edition (575) print created by Dan and Mike of Aesthetic Apparatus. The print celebrates the latest release of the Coudal Partners’ Field Tested Books which is a project in which people are asked to review books that made a particular impact on them relative to where they were read. A fun idea. Fortunately enough, I recieved my poster free-o-charge by winning the 543612 contest but you can get yours here.

The last couple of months have been pretty crazy/amazing/profound. So much has happened that, I’ll probably never remember it all, and truthfully, that doesn’t bother me. In some ways I have a tinge of regret for not having taken the time to write it all down as it happened or shortly there after. If not just so I have it archived somewhere. But in reality, some of it I don’t know how to write about - i don’t have the words to fit the experience. Some of it I don’t care about. And some of it I simply don’t care to remember.

So instead I’m going to cop-out and make a list of some of the major and minor events of the past 10 weeks in no particular order and just leave it at that. I can only hope my life remains as eventful and that I take the time to write about it afterward.

I went to my first honky tonk.
I saw Built To Spill play again.
I’ve been to the hospital three times for three different individuals. Two of them in the emergency room. One fatal.
I met family members I have never met before and most likely will never meet again.
I spent a long weekend at my timeshare in Vail.
I went to a mini-family reunion and ski vacation in Breckenridge.
I suffered through a 150-hour work week.
I took a full week vacation.
A loved one died in my arms. It was probably one of the most weighty and profound experiences in my life to this point.
I did my time in the back of a cop car in Henryetta, Oklahoma.
I had the pleasure of staying in a giant mountain mansion with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, two hot tubs, and ski in ski out access.
My car was hit by a kid who had his drivers license for a measly two days. He ended up totaling his car a week later.
I Was invited over by complete strangers for a mardi gras party/steak dinner.
Somehow fit in about eight days of skiing.
Saw a friend who I haven’t seen since his wedding.
The kitchen remodel was completed.
Mom came to town for a visit.
A few birthday parties were celebrated.
I got fall down drunk with a co-worker.
And lots of other various sundriness and ephemera.

Since I’ve been doing the dog thing so much, I think it’s only fair that I do the cat thing for a bit. Below you’ll find the “mental model” of a cat (click to make the picture big and legible). The cat’s mental model, as well as the concept of metal modeling, can be credited to Mental Models: Aligning design strategy with human behavior by incredibly smart Indi Young. There are a lot more images from the book on flickr. If any of this sparks your interest, Liz Danzico has a good review of the book.