My Word with Douglas E. Welch: 12/29/2002 - 01/04/2003 with Douglas E. Welch

Events/Outdoors

Saturday 1/11 4pm

Sooky Goldman Nature Ctr

Birds are very active in the evening. Join us for a casual sunset stroll. Bring binoculars. Beginning birders welcome. 2hrs WODOC

News/Career

What should I do with my life?

This article by Po Bronson in this month's Fast Company magazine is an interesting read. Interesting enough, in fact, to put his book (of the same name) on reserve at my local library.

He makes some interesting points that I have experienced first hand. Even at my age, I find myself conflicted about what I really want to do with my life. Maybe this book can help me sort it out. One can always hope.

Web

A Gardener's Notebook Reborn

The New Year is a good to for new beginnings, so I have re-invented my old column, A Gardener's Notebook, as a web log. A complete archive of all the past columns are also available.

AGN is designed to share gardening information as I face the challenges of managing my home garden. Please feel free to send in your questions and I will share my answers in the weblog.

What I'm Reading...

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity

While I realize that no one book is going to solve any particular problem I am always on the lookout for books from which I can take away at least one lesson. I recently checked this book out from my local library and I have been very impressed with how much it has helped. I am a pretty well organized person and don't let a lot of things slip through the cracks but I seem to suffer from "analysis paralysis" when faced with too many projects and too many steps to accomplish these projects. I just kind of sit and stew, unable to figure out what to do next. This book has helped me with that significantly by helping me identify the "Next Action" in any particular project, move towards completing that and then move onto the next action. Allen also breaks down your work into discrete areas so that you can accomplish tasks in those odd moments between meetings and phone calls, instead of wondering what to do next. Check out this book when you get a chance. I think there is more than one good lesson that can be taken away

Audio CD

Audio Tape

At Home With Friends

Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs

Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape

How to Live 365 Days a Year

Extreme Success: The 7-Part Program That...

I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking

I am a big fan of Alton Brown's show, Good Eats, on the Food Network. He has an irreverence that is refreshing, even while he conveys lots of information about cooking and food science. Like Brown, I like to know the "why" behind the "what" in all things in my life, even cooking.

Career Column

Career-Op: A New Chance
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Every time the calendar rolls around to a new year, it is your opportunity for a fresh start. While New Year’s resolutions are much ridiculed, the concept is still sound. Take the time to evaluate the past year and make plans for the next. You may not keep your resolutions, or plans may fall short of your expectations, but the power is in trying. Merely by reaching a little farther, reaching a little higher, you can bring new energy to your career and your life.

(Continued)

Web/Photos

Panaromas R Us?

This site posts a new 360 degree picture each week and they have a large selection of previous images, as well. These are some of the best QuickTime VR images (free download available) I have seen anywhere and really give you a sense of the place you are viewing. Be sure to check out the picture from Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Warning: this could be a real time waster. The pictures are gorgeous, but they are also fairly large. Consider this fair-warning for dial-up users.