Friday Roundup for 12 October 2012

My “weekly” check-in of where I’m at.

Body and Mind

The good news is that (a) I’ve figured out how to reliably get eight hours of sleep, and (b) I’m about 10x better at everything when I do so. The not so good news is that after six weeks running 12-15 miles a week, I developed a slight bit of extensor tendonitis (aka “turf toe”) in my right foot. I’ve been resting it and doing some stretches to help prevent a recurrence, so I’m not feeling too bad about it

Friends and Family

Two good friends of ours are getting married today, and we were happy to wish them well at a dinner in their honor last night.

Creating

Last weekend’s Dying Kingdoms event was fantastic; I can hardly wait for the climax of the story arc at the end of this year. I also finished off two knitting projects and started on something brand new. Instant Karma is also rehearsing again after our September hiatus, and I’m looking forward to our two November shows.

Absorbing

The big highlight this week seeing Peter Gabriel in concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl — including the So album in its entirety. If you have a chance to catch this tour, do so.

Things I’ve read:

• The Case for Jerry Jones
• The Single Most Important Object in the Global Economy
• Iced Out: The Six People You Meet In Lockout Hell
• A Pairing Phrasebook
• Why Managing Innovation Is Like Theater
• The Crinkles

Professional

The Coaching Agile Teams course I attended last month continues to weave its way into my head on a nearly daily basis. Where it’s pointing me at now is research on the positivity/negativity ratio.

The Weekend

Tonight, meeting up with DK folks to eat German food and debrief last weekend’s game. Then it’s putting the house back in order after a weekend away. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a short recovery run in.

You?

Link Roundup for 8 October 2012

Strange and funny things are featured on this edition of the Roundup.

• Want another drink?
• The horrors and delights of the Anguish Languish.
• Brewery humor.
• A visual history of Bilbo Baggins.
• Your Instagram Horoscope.

Link Roundup for 6 October 2012

This Video edition of the Roundup is all about stuff you need to watch, rather than just read.

• Adam Levermore really wants to do production design on the new S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.
• A puppy in sneakers and people tripping on the stairs.
• Simply amazing technobabble.
• An exploration of the visual style of The Wire.
• Viewing play as “a way of engaging our soul in the world.”

Link Roundup for 4 October 2012

This edition of the Roundup is about things I need to do more of at work.

• Talk less; listen more.
• Help build Agile fluency.
• Develop team leaders: good, trusted sergeants near the front lines.
• Stop arguing about bug priorities and start fixing them.
• Think more deeply.
• Foster an artful organization.

Link Roundup for 2 October 2012

I’m in favor of getting excited and making stuff. Here are six articles I’ve read recently that are helping me do that.

• Patton Oswalt talks about the changing landscape for creative professionals.
• Chuck “I Like Lists of 25 Things” Wendig shares twenty-five ways to survive as a creative person.
• Robert Sapolsky explains the neuroscience of metaphors.
• And Anne Murphy Paul shows us your brain on fiction.
• Eric Zimmerman is writing a haiku every day.
• Jay Smooth sits down with Brother Ali to talk about the Little Hater.