Last month, the person that I will forever think of as erin-dot-erin did an exercise of following a day by taking a picture each hour. I thought this was a darn good idea and thought it might be fun to cover a day in the life of Stevil. Erin did hers for 10 on 10 – that is a picture an hour for 10 hours on the 10th of the month, but I didn’t feel like waiting another two weeks, so you’re getting 12 on 28.
Morning Walk
7 am. The morning started like most others, with Penny and I heading up to the summit of Mt Miramar. She runs, I walk. (The Beloved is out of town until tomorrow.) Cloudy day, but still a pretty good view.
The Drive To Work
8 am. We’re just starting some renovations, so Penny is coming to work with me a lot. We head in and I must endure the dreadful ocean view commute that I have. Again.
Getting Started
9 am. As I collect my thoughts for the day, the most important thing is, of course, coffee. That experiment can wait a couple of minutes.
Experiments on ice
10 am. Okay, okay. I’ll start the damn experiment already.
Research Tool
11 am. When I was in grad school, “going to the chemistry library” was a euphemism for “I’m going to go screw off for a while”. Sadly, the internet has taken that away and the sum of human knowledge is at your fingertips. Though sometimes you have to pay a subscription fee.
Mmmmm lunch
Noon. Lunchtime! Peppered turkey breast (which was pretty damn tasteless–boo) on homemade quinoa bread with mustard and swiss. Toss in a mishmash of dates, almonds and choco acai berries and it’s all gone too fast.
Post lunch nap
1 pm. After a busy morning of following me around and going out for a post-lunch pee, Penny gives up the ghost.
Delayed gratification
2 pm. Experiment in incubator until tomorrow. Talk about delayed gratification.
Piano lesson
3 pm. Mondays are usually short as I have my weekly piano lesson on Monday afternoon. Is there a problem with me leaving work this early? Hey, I’m a founder! I can leave whenever I damn well please.
Heading home
4 pm. Good lesson, heading home. Penny is long enough to stand in the backseat and put her head on your shoulder. I mean, why should you be denied a dog (or vice versa) just because you’re driving?
Stripped
5 pm. As I said nine hours ago, we’re having some renovations done, and I bet you can guess that we’re getting new floors installed.
Happy Hour -- Words With Booze
6 pm. Okay, grass is cut, so it’s time for happy hour (a blood orange martini) and a little Words With Friends before dinner.
Okay – that’s 12 hours – not a bad day at all. Dinner looks like it’s going to be some left over pesto pasta that I made last night. And my last “Non-Beloved Movie” is going to get queued up — a trip down memory lane with a re-watching of “Cloverfield”.
Stevil 
Shuuuuun the non-believer!
Shhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn-nah
Awesome entry! I really like the idea behind this. I’d like to do something similar, but think I’m going to hold off on a bit – I’ve got to get cracking on this 30 days of Books thing now that I’m recovered from the head-cold from hell, and don’t want to get sidetracked on another project before even getting going on the first! :-)
Thanks Ross — it was a lot of fun, I would definitely suggest it, but only you get finished with the Creeping Crud you’ve had and done a few more 30 DoB — Cori and Mad-tante are leaving us in the dust.
I’m with you ross,
Great Idea, but time seems to be an issue for me right now too…
I love that Penny comes with you to work. And that you drive along THE PACIFIC OCEAN to get to work.
All I get is the Potomac.
e*c — yeah, sometimes I get a little cynical about it. You should come out sometime and we can dangle our toes in… ;)
Yeah, that’s a cruddy commute!
BEST. MUG. EVER.
That cocktail looks like as pretty as a liquid sunset.
I think I’d like to steal this idea!
Shhhhhhhuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn those that don’t do an Hour By Hour post.
The recipe for the drink is here: https://stevebetz.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/thursday-happy-hour-the-bom/
Beautiful post. Thanks for the glimpse into Steveland, especially that dreadful commute. ;-) Hope the experiment turns out well. (Give Penny a scritch for me)
Thanks Tom! It’s a rough life sometimes! :)
WOW – the Penny on your shoulder pic is PRECIOUS!
And I commiserate with your renovations. Your floors are stripped. My walls are stripped (living room/ hallway) as I am trying to finish sanding before my mom and I can paint.
Kelly — oh man, our house would look like that for a year if we were relying on me doing the renovations! Thank God for the service-based-economy!
This is awesome! I totally want to do this now!
Steph — definitely do it! It’s amazing the different things you find in your day!
Penny reminds me of Santino (my pup)
Lakia — that Penny’s a sweetie, alright!
That commute?!?! You poor, poor person…
;)
And it’s nice to see I’m not the only one with more “Words with Friends” games than I have fingers…
Great post. Fun to live vicariously through your day. But I have to reiterate: The commute…I’m SO sorry!
Mikalee — yeah, sometimes I remind myself that I’m not allowed to get cynical when I get to see the ocean every day. Did I mention that sometimes there are dolphins?? :)
That’s FUN! I love the “glow” of that martini! And the quinoa bread made my tummy GROWL and I already had breakie.
MT — those blood oranges sure did catch the setting sun, didn’t they?? :)
Words with Friends! Totally a part of my day, too. Love how your pup is a part of your day – awesome. Thanks for the great post!
Thanks TSLoaCMW — it was a good day. I’m glad the photo-experiment turned out. Actually, so did the other experiment! :)
That is a genius idea! May I re-steal it? You’re day seems many and varied, what with walks, terrible drives, experiments (v. cool) and piano. And yes, that Martini is very vibrant – I’m sure nothing that colour can be good for you
Bill — considering that I borrowed it from someone that borrowed it from someone, I definitely say “Go for it!” — it was fun experiment.
With all that blood orange juice in it, I’m SURE that drink was good for me! :)
Very interesting. It’s fun seeing what life is like for someone else. I think I’ll try this for my next blog on Monday. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks Jennifer — definitely go for it — makes you look at your “ho-hum” day in a completely different way.
Okay – I finally accomplished it. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. It was very enlightening to actually keep track of what it was I was doing hour by hour. If interested you can see my copycat version of your post at mondayswithspd.wordpress.com
Again, thanks for the idea.
nice dog and very nice pictures , i have a dog and its breed is Dachshund,thanks http://aryanmolaei.wordpress.com/
OMG! that’s Torrey Pines State Beach! I am from Del mar—but live in Santa Barbara now!
Just got back from Santa Barbara.
Candace — sure is! Our lab is up in one of the science parks across from Torrey Pines. :)
I lived off Carmel Valley in the Terrace growing up and later rented a place on 13th Street! Small world the web is! I am taking a stab at posting once a day. Good luck with yours!
c
Did you personally cut the grass? You used the passive expression, so I’m just curious.
carolanne — I had just finished cutting the grass when I sat down to write the post, so it was sort of like checking something off in my head — “The grass is cut, so now I can get on with my drinking and word-gaming… :) “
What a creative idea!
That commute + a pooch companion? Now that’s a pretty nice day.
Great photos! :)
MJ
Love this idea–and also love a blog that features a dog doing anything.
We traveled with our dogs to Vietnam–material that merited two posts on my blog:
“Canines in Conical Hats: Lucy Does Vietnam” and “An Unfortunate Incident Involving the International Trafficking of Canines and What I Haven’t Learned Since Then.”
http://www.reinventingtheeventhorizon.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/canines-in-conical-hats-lucy-does-vietnam/
http://www.reinventingtheeventhorizon.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/an-unfortunate-incident-involving-the-international-trafficking-of-canines-and-what-i-havent-learned-since-then/
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! Hang on for the ride!
Lovin’ all things canine,
Kathy
Thanks Kathryn — Penny’s pretty popular around here. I get dinged by people if I don’t post on her enough!
What a cute idea to take photos of your day… and may I just say… I LOVE Penny!!!!
Mixtape — yeah Penny has a pretty strong following! I get pestered for “Penny Posts” if she doesn’t appear often enough!
Love the concept of hour by hour! Great post! My very favorite is you and Penny driving home. How awesome is she?!?!
Thanks Myra — Penny’s probably more popular around here than I am by a long stretch! :)
Great pictures & what a cool idea! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, that commute. And with your companion at your side? Heaven! Although when I saw the tubes-on-ice I thought it wouldn’t be the best flavoring for your morning coffee. ;)
Em — always important to separate the experiments from the snacks! :) And I have to admit, it really does help the workday when you can walk over and pet your dog… :)
what a cool idea–and I must admit, the thing that made me want to click to read was the photo of your lovely dog, gazing out to the far distance.
congrats on Freshly Pressed–it’s a fun ride!–as was your post, today.
blessings
jane
Thanks Planejaner — she was very nice to come up and pose like that — usually she’s chasing bunnies!
Great project!
What a fun post! I especially loved a glimpse into the life of a scientist — y’all seem so mysterious to us liberal arts types.
I’d love to post hourly pics of my workday but,hm, 1) clearing through piles of paper on my desk 2) newspaper/magazine/blog reading 3) writing (sitting at a computer). Zzzzzzzzz. People think being a writer is pretty cool (and it is) but it sure isn’t photogenic!
broadside — well, Monday was a good day b/c of getting out for my lesson. Most other days, there would have been more “bench” or “computer” shots! :)
As has been mentioned beautiful commute! Congrats on being FP’d & your day doesn’t look too shabby, thanks for sharing…nice idea!
Thanks Evie — sometimes I have to remind myself not to be cynical or blase’ about getting to see the ocean everyday!
Great post! Can’t get enough of Penny, especially over the shoulder during the drive.
Thanks ACI — there’s a lot more of Penny’s adventures if you click her tag on the sidebar. :)
Lunch looked great! And I love this idea for one of my postaday2011!
Thanks R — it was fun to think about as the day went on what might constitute “interesting” — I definitely suggest giving it a shot.
Nice. It just goes to show that anything can be interesting if you’re good enough to make it so.
Thanks Lemon Tree — Monday was a good day since we were out for the lesson too. Otherwise there would have been more lab bench pics — or a couple of hours skipped! :)
Yes, you have permission to leave work early. I’m sure the petri dishes (or however it’s spelled) will do just fine on their own.
The picture of Penny ‘riding on your shoulder’ made me remember something I’d heard awhile back that a legislator in California had introduced legislation to make people restrain their pets while riding in cars. Good news that all the Cali budget woes are taken care of and that’s all he has to worry about!
petri is correct!
I’m sure there was nothing wrong with my dog leaning forward into the driver’s space and me holding my arm out to snap a few pics. Complete control all the time. Maybe I should have made a phone call to complete the distraction! :)
Very cool idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by!
The pictures are amazing.
Love your dog, is she a great dane or mix? She looks like mine, i have 2 lol :)
I would like to take that morning walk! Too bad out here it was 28 this morning.
middle — Penny is a Pointer — sometimes referred to as an English Pointer (I think to distinguish them from the German Shorthaired Pointers). Penny most definitely is a SoCal girl and does NOT like the cold… :)
Fantastic pictures and post. If you want to play words with friends – jschlenker
nice post I think i might copy you one day
I love this photo entry! My commute, lack of dog, and work are a whole lot different! Love it, may need to get a camera on board and do this sooon, just for kicks :)
Love this post!
What a great day you had! The Penny Head on Shoulder pic is SO good!
Lauri — she has a way of stealing the scene, doesn’t she??? :)
You can’t go wrong with dogs and martinis.
Sometimes I feel like I’m pandering with all the Penny shots, but there you go.
I love this photo entry! I need a camera to see what this looks like from a different part of the world, with a wholly different commute!
Definitely give it a shot — link back if you do!
I love that dog!
Having multiple readers planning to steal your idea is a ringing endorsement of your blog. Congrats. I wonder, have you ever accidentally left your martini in the incubator and drank your expirement? Yuck. :-)
Thorsaurus — fortunately OSHA prohibits me from having booze actually ON my bench-top. Also fortunately, it says nothing about my desk drawers… ;)
Great post. I spent almost 12 hours today on the internet. There wouldn’t be much variety in the photos. Me thinks I’ll try it.
Ex-ex: give it a shot, I’d love to see it. I just looked at your site — I grew up in Camden!
Cool! I love posts like this that give a glimpse into someone’s daily life. Of course I love the Penny pictures as well. That commute must be horrible. ;)
Have you checked the online databases at your local public library for some of the science journal articles you can’t get free online? It depends on what they subscribe to, but it’s worth a shot!
Maybe I’ll do this one day. Like Ross, I need to get going on my 30 DoB posts.
Bookish — you know, I never thought to check out our local library for journal access. Back in the day, no public libraries carried them (physical subscriptions) and so I never thought to look — now with e-subscriptions, who knows? I will check that out.
I’d definitely keep the hourly photos in your back pocket for when you’re looking for a new idea.
DELIGHTFUL! Anyone who blogs with dogs is tops to me.
Thanks Sandra — there are lots of Penny-posts here. I’m very sure she’s more popular than I am. :)
I saw a lot of New Mexico on your site — The Beloved lived in Santa Fe for a few years. We love it there and are always looking for reasons to go back.
Loving the concept! You executed it very well. I especially like your booze portion of the day
Great idea, post -and- I love your dog ❤ And I look fwd to more…
‘Mr. Midnite’ and I once traveled across from east to west coast…nothing can ever beat that feeling when they ‘lean’ on you.
Meredyth — Penny went with us two Christmases ago on a big cross-country-and-back excursion. https://stevebetz.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/pennys-big-adventure/ I think that’s where she learned the “over the shoulder” technique since we were in the car so much!
I love Penny! I have a tall lab with a similar case of hangover when we’re driving…that big ‘ole head drapes over my shoulder as we head down the hwy. I also like the photo of your lunch. I love lunch. I love dinner. Also, I love dogs. Obviously, I’ll be back to visit your blog. :)
hippyk — thanks for coming by! There’s a lot of Penny here — and some food, though if I’m completely honest, there’s a lot more cocktails than snacks!
What a great idea. I’m so borrowing it ; )
Your drive to work really sucks. Great view and that pooch has way too much personality!
Maria – yeah, sometimes I have to make myself appreciate it — and Penny is all personality!
My favorite shot has to be Penny riding with you in the car! 10 in 10 great concept!
I really enjoy reading your blog very much. Thanks for sharing this post. Live life to the fullest. Feel free to stop by our site sometime.
Check out these Ways to Live a Healthy Lifestyle
I’m about to leave a job I hate. Your blog reminds me of all the things I’ve begun to take for granted in life. I hope that in leaving my job (and the hatred), I, too, will find wonder in the hour-by-hour drive through life. Thank you. I might have to do this to rediscover the beauty in my own life.
Yvonne — there is a “stop and smell the roses” quality to a project like this — it’s a great exercise for realizing that there’s a lot of great things going on every day.
awesome dogs! my dogs hate my office with a passion.
What a great idea! Penny is gorgeous, and I agree with the above: the shot in the car is great!
Really thinking you need to give up research and keep up the photography – you did such a beautiful posting of photos. And I love the comments. Seems like you have a blissful life.
eco — hah! Thanks for the compliment, but sadly my photography nor my blogging can pay the bills right this minute! ;)
hahaha the picture PENNY is on your shoulder is very funny!!!I love dogs soooooooooooooooo much~
well, i saw petri on incubator, just like i did last 3 months. are u working with mikro agents right know? mikrobiology is my interest now.
Nice post:)
julio — yep, we do a fair amount of molecular biology here. Comes in waves. It’s always a nice break for me.
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This post was good fun, love the time travel through the day. Am totally inspired.
Photo with Virtuoso Pianist is the best :)
Really nice picture indeed
Thank you
Hi all,
lol, what’s wrong with the view to work? it’s great!!..beats the view of tall skycrapers and exhaust smoke from cars in front of you…
Hi all,
lol, what’s wrong with the view to work? it’s great!!..beats the view of tall skycrapers and exhaust smoke from cars in front of you…
Ha! Great idea. I would try this but my life isn’t as exciting as yours. I love the head on the shoulder pic.. sweet!
Katie — I don’t think my day was really what I would call exciting, and I’d think you’d be surprised about what you’d find throughout your day. :)
Oh, dear. Next they are going to make a law prohibiting taking pictures while driving, lol. Be careful! And your drive to work is too awesome. I hate you. ;-)
James — I’m pretty sure that I *shouldn’t* have been doing that, but the ends justify the means, right?
Great post. Wish my dog could come to work with me! Loving the petri dishes :)
I’m thrilled I found you Freshly Pressed. All kinds of inspiration in your post–the artistry, humor, sweetness–and the voyeuristic peek into a musical, dog-loving, nutritionally-healthy, mad scientist. It’s a joy-spot in my day. Thanks, Steve.
Thanks, Sandy Sue — I’m really surprised how many people have chimed in with kind things to say!
OK OK you’ve convinced me- San Diego and ocean views really ARE nicer than NJ! Ah well, maybe one day :-) Great post and great blog actually. I love this idea – I think I might do it – thanks for the inspiration – and congrats on being FP!
jonie — well, as someone that grew up in The Garden State, I can say that it’s a great place to be FROM… :) Definitely — give the hour by hour a shot!
This is such a great idea and one I will have to make an effort to produce myself. I don’t know, that sandwich looks pretty good to me. And, apparently, your dog appreciates the view returning home, too!
You have some great views all the way through your day. I mean, seriously, what a way to start your morning!
Thanks rtcrita — yeah, there are a series of trails that go into the canyon and hill behind our house. We’re constantly worried they’re going to put more houses there and then where will we walk in the morning?!!??
A fun and rewarding post!!! congrats on Freshly Pressed!!!!!!! I really enjoyed reading it and the pics are great. Of course sometime I will copy…maybe the day we open the pool for the the season! Enjoy your weekend and give that baby doggy a chin rub for me! :)(:
Amber — thanks! Definitely copy – I think it’s a fun idea. Penny sure appreciates all the love! :)
LOVE IT! My fav pic is the one of you and the dog on the ride home! very cute! Love the pic idea, too! wow, i need to try that!
J
Jenn — definitely give this meme a shot (can you tell I’m using memes for inspiration these days?) — it forces you to look at your day in a new way.
I am going to do my very best to try it tomorrow! I can’t wait to see what my day looks like through the lens! thx for the inspiration! :)
This was a really neat post. I, too, love the picture of you with your dog! I have a german shepherd/husky and she loves to run too.
What a great post! So neat to see the snapshots of a day. I was talking with a friend of mine just recently how interesting it would be to look back at points in our life with weekly snapshots, especially the awkward years of adolescence! Maybe I’ll try your photo an hour some time :)
CreativeIsthmus — it’s funny how digital photography has transformed the way we think about chronicling life — it’s so easy now and the way to get great pictures is just to take lots and lots of pictures. Impossible before!
LOL, I have the same LunchSkin bag, only in sandwich size. I have the green one and the brown one.
Fine Chopper — we have several. My favorite is the sharks. :)
“Excellent adventure” ( I know I’ve heard that before). Having your dog with you in my opinion makes the day better.
nn — you always read that having a pet with you lowers your blood pressure — and it sure is nice to be able to stop and pet your dog or even go for a short walk as a break.
Freshly Pressed, Steve! FRESHLY PRESSED!
Mmmm just like the juice I’m gonna use in that martini…
lol Congrats!
Thanks Erin — I used to think the [this is good] page generated some traffic. Holy crap.
Penny, you are beautiful! Congrats for being FP’d. (Oh. You too Steve.) lol
http://sarajuly.wordpress.com
It’s okay Sandra — Penny’s a lot more popular around here than I am… ;)
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is that TorreyPines in the distance?
It sure is! Our lab is in a science park across the street from the golf course. :)
I applied at a couple places down that way (all mega-corps) but nothing panned out. No loss for me – my current career is better for me.
L – most of the mega-corps are gone these days!
Just had to tell you that I work at an Elementary school and told the other teachers about this blog. Great assignment for kids! The 1-4 graders will be doing this next week. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Olivia — that’s awesome! I hope the kids have fun with it!
super cool idea!
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