Spit & Spat

Planning Italy

2009-07-01T07:20:00.003-04:00

8 weeks until I leave for Italy! Touring northern Italy for 10 days before joining a friend for her wedding, I'm thrilled for the adventure of being on my own. This week I've been making plans and sketching out an itinerary so that I can make reservations for places to stay. I'd like to say that I'll "follow my whims" and not make a plan. But traveling alone, I feel better knowing that I have a safe, clean place to sleep at night waiting for me. I'm planning to land in Rome, spend a few days, wander up to the Montepulciano area in Tuscany, take day trips to Sienna and Assisi, head to Pisa and Florence, then settle up in Alagna for Mara's wedding. Any suggestions on sights, experiences, tours or delicacies to try? Drop me a line, I'm all ears!

St. John Festival Kicks Off

2009-06-27T10:38:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again! St. John's Festival 2009 has kicked off already with the Pan Dragons, the St. John Princess Show, the Senior Variety show, Reggae show and this weekend's Queen show. This coming week will be Festival in Cruz Bay each evening, culminating with Ju Vert and the parade all day on July 4th. People from surrounding islands crowd onto St. John towards the end of the week, and the island comes to a stand still on July 3-4 to "Come Jingle and Unwind" for Festival 2009. More photos to come!

New Company, New Adventure

2009-06-17T13:39:00.006-04:00

And we're off and running! My two partners, Hector and Brent, and myself are officially moving forward with our new company, Odyssey Security. It's a security and surveillance company, marketing to homeowners, associations and businesses here on St. John. I mention it here on the blog because it's a new adventure--and I think adventure is key to living a full life. Adventure is what makes you feel, think on your feet, respond with instinct and act with passion. Many of us talk about wanting adventurous lives...but what steps do you take to actually do it? Whether in our jobs, our relationships, our travels or our personal goals, taking adventures fuels the spirit. It can be taking a trip to a new place, going into business for yourself, ending a relationship, taking a class, going to visit an old friend...you know your limits. You know how to push them. The longer you wait to do it, the less time in life you have to live at your fullest.

2009-06-13T07:35:00.001-04:00

Launching a new company is energizing, overwhelming and exciting. Now 2 weeks into operation with my two partners, Odyssey Security is starting to blossom: http://ping.fm/x6RqY

Promo Tactics

2009-06-04T10:44:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to figure out how to make social networking a useful tool for business. There are many articles out there with tips for using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook Pages, blogging, etc. to both enhance relationships with exisiting clients and to generate new business. My Twitter account and my other blog, Creative Bits, have been created for that purpose. I just set up a Facebook Page for Asolare Design this morning, as suggested by Problogger.net. Do you have experience with your own self-promo and social networking sites? Being a freelance creative in today's culture, one must learn to use these strategies or simply become obselete. I'd love to hear your own thoughts.

2009-06-02T06:34:00.001-04:00

Some of the best poster and advertisement design tutorials: http://ping.fm/Yu6Ed

inspiration

2009-05-26T23:24:00.000-04:00

When I'm inspired, I'm "in energy": I hardly sleep, I have great workouts early, work long days and stay up late, reading, planning, reflecting, researching. I've slept 5 hrs in 3 days on this most recent trip to North Carolina to explore a new business. And I'm having a blast! It's about balance: mind, body, spirit, working then taking a break, relaxing and yacking then planning and learning. When you find your balance, you feel it: you feel endless energy, inspiration and joy. You're having FUN.

May you find it.

Morning Routines

2009-05-21T09:05:00.000-04:00

Your routine in the AM sets the stage for your whole day. What's your routine? I just came from running at 5:15AM in Central Park with dozens of other runners and bikers. Shower, podcasts, email, out the door. What about you?

Waiting to Fly

2009-05-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

My life's dream is to build myself a career that involves traveling the world as an entrepreneur, learning and being inspired by the diversity, people, technology and delicacies of the globe. Today I'm off to it! Off to NYC for the week, a conference for investors by some of China's head companies. Very excited!

Can you hear me now?

2009-05-10T14:44:00.003-04:00

Had a super time home in WV a week ago. One of the highlights was spending a day hiking with dad at Blackwater Falls State Park near Davis, WV. Lush, wet from spring rain and chilly, the blossoms were just starting to peek out. We scrambled over rocks, climbed down ledges, laughed and goofed and then had a great lunch. In the midst of it all, however, we did stop to see if we got cell service out in the middle of the forest...just out of curiosity. And to think I used to make fun of people that carried their cells and checked them everywhere.

2009-05-05T20:17:00.001-04:00

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
- Helen Keller

Family is so important.

2009-05-04T15:11:00.002-04:00

Just returned from a visit home. Having grandparents on both sides feeling their age, winding down in their lives, a visit was needed. Admittedly, I'm embarrassed to say that I was more worried about scheduling around work than just getting home to spend time with family. But I am so glad I did--it put my focus back on the right track. Truly, what is your life without your relationships, both friends and family? Nurturing those relationships is key in life, which I am reminded of when I see my grandparents in their later years. When you're at the end of your days, do you care about your job and title, or those who come to see you to lift you up when you are no longer physically capable? Cherish your friends and family, feel grateful for your relationships.

2009-05-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

One of my fave design resource sites, with ideas, samples, tips, etc: http://ideabook.com

Off to NYC again!

2009-04-26T20:37:00.001-04:00

May 15, going for a China Dragon Conference for investors. I can't wait! Not only am I psyched to go back to the city, I'm eager to attend the conference and absorb all I can. I haven't been to an investors' conference before and look forward to meeting some of the pros I hear or read about in financial news. What an opportunity!

2009-04-23T16:18:00.001-04:00

Very cool! Check out examples or submit your own CSS site to this showcase: http://ping.fm/qcWpH

Trying something new

2009-04-20T21:02:00.002-04:00

Windsurfing is kicking my tail! But it's awesome to dive into something new: a new sport, a new challenge, a new venture. Whether it's business, athletics, relationships or spiritual quests, trying something you've never done before can revive the spirit like nothing else! You're forced to "think on your feet," reacting from instinct rather than from your mind. That makes the experience intuitive, from the soul. And for that reason, you're present in the moment...you're alive. Doing new things brings new perspectives and attitudes as well. Whether small or big, taking a new step can be just what you need for a jolt in your life.

2009-04-17T22:22:00.001-04:00

Great Podcast on Creative Self-Expression:
http://ping.fm/cU6CH

2009-04-15T19:06:00.001-04:00

This article sings to my soul. For all artists, adventurers and creative spirits:http://ping.fm/fs5cB

Traveling

2009-04-14T05:32:00.002-04:00

Traveling has a way of instantly changing your perspective, helping you to step back and take a breather from your everyday routine. "Stresses" from your daily life suddenly seem trivial. You meet new people, get new ideas and are better able to "live in the moment". Traveling to NYC this past weekend alone was incredible: I met up with friends for part of the time, but the rest of the time I headed out solo. Doing so built my confidence and let me be more aware of everything I was doing and seeing. I highly recommend traveling solo at least once in your life. But more than that, I recommend taking a trip--even just a day trip--somewhere new or different, to simply remember to enjoy life and all parts of it.

Creative Bits Design Blog

2009-04-07T18:13:00.002-04:00

I've started a blog devoted to design on my professional site, AsolareDesign.com, with daily postings commenting on design: good and bad, ideas, trends and musings on the web, print, interior and architectural design. I'm getting used to blogging daily now, and enjoy having one for professional use and this one for whatever the hell I want to post! That's what you have a personal website for, right? That's why I designed ChelseaRocks.info, to try all the stuff I wanna try but don't want to toss onto my portfolio site...and to be able to talk about whatever in order to stay in touch with family and friends. Thanks for checking out both, I am honored and grateful for your interest.

New Site Launch

2009-04-04T22:57:00.001-04:00

Today I've worked on getting a new website up for a client, the St. John Phonebook. I'm proud to say it's going up right now. You can view it at: http://theislandbook.com

50 Beautiful Blog Designs

2009-04-02T23:07:00.002-04:00

Here's a list of 50 websites offering blog designs for downloading and using for your own. Thanks to SmashingMagazine.com for publishing this list!

50 Blog Designs

Twitter

2009-04-02T20:16:00.002-04:00

Twitter has seemingly become insanely popular in the past month or two. I hear about Tweets from NPR, from podcasts, newsshows, celebrities...what's the big turn on all of the sudden? So I had to go and sign up for it to see what the big deal is. So far, I'm not seeing why it's better than Facebook...but seems like it may be useful as an advertising tool, perhaps. How about you? Do you tweet on Twitter? I'm found under "mizchels". Look me up, we'll follow one another and see how cool it really is.

St. John Virgin Islands: American Kestral

2009-03-24T05:53:00.001-04:00

St. John Virgin Islands: American Kestral

Posted using ShareThis

High Winds, Good Surf

2009-02-21T19:59:00.000-05:00

Winds have definitely picked up here this week. Swimming on the North Shore is for the adventurous only. I was out swimming from Ditleff to Monte Bay on Wednesday; it was the calm right before the winds. My buddy Antony said he went windsurfing today possibly faster than he's ever surfed. He's surfed all over the world, too! The island seems to be bustling with tourists this month. That has everyone breathing a little sigh of relief, not knowing how the economic climate will fare here on STJ. So far, so good. Ride the wave.