Fuck This Blog

Being married IS different!

2008-08-24T01:23:00.000-07:00

So I really can't put my finger I it, but I think I definitely feel different. How exactly, I am unsure. But definitely different. It's like all of life has another lens, another perspective, with which to filter everything through.

Today I helped a good friend move, so I decided not to wear my wedding ring. It's the first time since we got married that I have not worn it for most or all of the day. I really thought I'd have a tough time getting used to it, but it felt normal pretty much after just a day or two. So now it's bed time and I can't sleep just yet. I'm exhausted, but too wound up to sleep. So I sit quietly and contemplate the day. And there, on the side table in the office is my wedding ring.

I look at it for a moment and feel compelled to put it on. When I do, I feel immediatley better. About the day. About everything. I feel like I belong to Cathryn and am happy for it. That I am better for it. The trials of the day shrivel and blow away. How do such powerful feelings come to the surface from the simple act of putting on a ring???

Stuff like this doesn't happen to me everyday, and I find it very intriguing. So this whole marriage thing IS different. How I'm not exactly sure. But I think it's pretty cool. And I love my ring :)

Darn, no worm hole

2008-08-16T12:51:00.001-07:00

So I'm mobile blogging from in front of my computer at home. God I
love irony!

Bigfoot is ALIVE!

2008-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Got this off of the Wired RSS feed... hilarious! (you'll have to click on it to read it).

2008-08-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

2008-08-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

2008-08-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Our day in the city

2008-08-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Today we picked up our marriage license! SF city hall is *beautiful*
and now we're having a yummy lunch at Lalita : )

Woohoo! My first mobile blog :)

2008-08-01T00:38:00.001-07:00

I'm typing this on my brand new iphone and it's only somewhat painful. One day I will figure out this new dohickey and I'm sure my posts will return to their normal glory of mild diversion. Man, I wish there was cut and paste.

man and pigeon have staring contest

2008-07-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

The man scooting by on his Razor looks away from a most dangerous contest between man and nature. Lalita Distinctive Thai Restaurant serves delicious food.

dork!

2008-05-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

Yep. When I'm busy I get a little stir crazy punchy. I've been this way for a while now. At least I hope it's mildly entertaining for those around me :)

the office

2008-02-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

Now that I work in an office, it seems that the episodes of the show are much funnier. Not that I think I couldn't really relate before, but I think I now better understand the context. Speaking of working in an office, I think I need to simply wear earplugs all the time. I get so easily annoyed by all the random noise and chatter around me! Someone in the office has their ring tone set to sound like meditation bells and it's really loud and clear. Which is great I guess, but not for someone who thinks it's time to start quiet reflection. And because of the short nature of the ring, I can't find out who it is (so I can smash their phone). I swear, when I get an iPhone (and I WILL, heaven help me!), my ring tone is going to be set to the sound howler monkeys during mating season and the volume will be at maximum.

happy made up holiday!

2008-02-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

I was at Target tonight and it looked like a tornado hit the all pink Valentine's Day section. I have a new theory about why there are so many holidays. Like the answer to many a question, I think people are just bored. Sure companies want to make money, but I think the general populace will do anything to be entertained easily, and a feel good holiday with lots of products being pink or red is a sure fire thing.

The upside to all of the brouhaha though is that we can all take a moment to consider whom we love. I don't think you have to be in a relationship for that to happen, either. I remember many a past V-day spent single. I'm pretty sure I was bummed about being single of course, but it was the best day to commiserate with friends for sure! Bring on the food, drink, and/or games :)

I think I might have been going somewhere with this missive, but the deep thought train just left the station without me on it. Time for bed!

another day, another lunch

2008-02-13T21:18:00.001-08:00

So I've discovered that not only does iTunes have a stream for Live 105 (which is FAR less kludgey than the stream from the Live 105 site), they also stream NPR (among lots of other crap that I don't want to listen to - power ballads of the 80's anyone?). So instead of getting the occasional brain building hour or so of NPR on the drive to or fro, I got a mega dose of NPR today for about 3 hours whilst I mucked around in illustrator.

I now know way more than I've ever wanted to know about how nominations are handled, what super delegates are (kind of), and how Obama could possibly win the popular vote for being nominated but still might lose out to Hillary (the super delegate thing).

Beyond politics, they had a very interesting guest come on and talk about her article in the Atlantic.com called Marry Him! It's about "settling" (definitions vary for what's considered "settling") for someone to marry once a woman reaches 40 or so. I heard a couple of really sad callers tell their stories, but also a few people calling in to tell the world to wait for passion plus connection. I haven't read the entire article yet, but I'm sure it's meant more to show a particular point of view and perhaps offer hope or at least discourse a day before the manufactured day of love.

I say, life is hard and often lonely. Even if you're already married, I think having a good group of friends and/or a good connection with family is just as important. No one makes it alone. No one. And if by some miracle they do, they probably wished they had company along the way.

the internet is just a fad

2008-02-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

I admit it! I play way too much Warbook. Also, I tend to zone out in meetings. Can't someone just tell me what to do? I guess I'll learn to contribute one day and say stuff like, "maximize", "be the thought leader", and "these pretzels are making me thirsty!". Of course, I can't say anything now because I really don't know what people are talking about. I'm hoping that in a few months I get the jargon down. Plus, I'm working on getting more sleep to stay healthier and get stuff done.

Get this, it's almost 9am and I've done a bunch of small chores (that invariably add up by the end of the week) and I'm blogging (my catharsis). Going to bed around 11 really does seem to help and this could be the full-time schedule adjustment I was looking for. Of course, a lifetime of hating to get up in the morning wont go away quietly, so we'll see how long this will last!

Here's a shot of how the hallway fusebox looked during the electrical work (right now there's a cover over the box, but there are still several large holes in the drywall - sigh). We finally have updated stuff, which so far looks like it has made the dryer work properly once again (test load number 2 coming soon). The electrician, A & Zack's, did a great job. His son is apprenticing with him and beyond really knowing what they're doing, they're quite friendly too. The dad asked me where I worked, and when I told him, he said he'd check it out. It was great because he doesn't really use the internet and gets along just fine. I'm glad everyone isn't like him (because I would have not had much work for the last 10 years), but it's nice to see that you can live a perfectly happy and productive life without Googling anything. Crazy!

I voted! My caucaus for President.

2008-02-10T15:19:00.001-08:00

Here are some pics from Cathryn's first hockey game. We went with Merima and John and got to watch the Sharks win it 3-2 in a well paced, well played, thoroughly entertaining game. We got to drink beer, eat delicious pub style food, and even found great free parking!

Here are some shots from our weekend in Marina. It was very stormy most of the time, but we enjoyed the energetic atmosphere and found really good local places to eat. Italian dinners with caiperina (I got special treatment from the owner because he was Brazilian and I happened to be wearing my Brazil Futbol shirt :), fresh made donuts, and micro brews all were had by driving around a bit (thanks to Cathryn's adventurous spirit - I woulda just went to the tourist trap restaurant on the resort grounds). At one point I ended up running around on the beach in shorts in probably 50 degree weather. Got chilled and had a headache for the rest of the day, but boy was it fun! More pictures to come...

please pass the dramamine

2008-02-08T00:14:00.000-08:00

I got to catch Cloverfield the other day with the online store crew and it was loads of fun! We had lunch at a tasty pizza place in Santana Row and then it was off to catch the headache causing camera work that is Cloverfield. Not that it's such a horrible thing, as the way the footage is shot helps to suspend disbelief which is what all movies are about, yes? The critters are creepy, the running around fierce, and the screams of horror/pain keep on comin'. It's great fun and actually probably best caught on the small screen. Even then, you'd probably have to look away every once in a while to avoid dry heaves if you're like me.

The biggest effect this movie had on me was the feeling that I should be in much better shape. There was A LOT of running around and at one point, climbing 47 stories of stairs to retrieve an injured starlet. I'd be Cloverfield food in about 3 blocks - if that!

It's amazing that these old theaters are still around. Besides us, there were only 4 other people in the theater. A retired looking couple overhead saying, "This is the WORST movie I've ever seen!" and some other couple in the front who I think left sometime during the movie. Quitters!

Ah, old movie theaters. The land this place is on in San Jose would probably make more money as a housing development, a farmer's market, or a lemonade stand.

Probably I don't know.

2008-02-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I've blogged. I've been mostly adjusting to a full time position and its accompanying 45-80 minute commute to and from work. I find that my ability to blog, answer emails and even phone calls has been pretty severely curtailed. I know lots of people do everything I listed and more (kids, TV, clubs, skeet shooting, etc.), so it's probably just a matter of scheduling. I hope to figure it out soon. I started this blog entry on Jan 13 at 3:02AM (blogger logged it), and I will finish it tonight!

I uploaded a bunch of pics that I thought the blogosphere might enjoy and there will be a random narrative. These images aren't in any particular order.

A foggy night on our block. I leaned on the door frame and held still for this long exposure. Be sure to click on this image, as I uploaded a really big version.

Our brand new fake pre-lit Xmas tree. It's tall and slender like a super model, but with less vomiting and more personality. I picked this up the day before all trees at Target went on clearance for 30% off. The next week, I found that some of the exact same trees were still in stock, so I bought one at reduced price and then returned it with my original receipt for a do it yourself price adjustment. Not my most honorable moment, but the exchange netted a cool 30 something buckaroos. So we got a great tree at a great price. Thanks Target!

I bought my sister a Sunshine Buddy for Xmas off of eBay and the seller included these really fun rubber bands. When you stretch them, they're round like a normal rubber band, but relaxed they take the shape of small rubbery figures. Fun!

The bottom of a delicious ice cold Pepsi. I think this was an especially good batch of cans. We never did get around to writing down the lot number.

Me circa 1980 with a 5 pound bar of Hershey's. Because we operated a liquor store at the time, it was easy to get the 50, 100, or whatever amount of Hershey's wrappers you needed to collect in order to cash in a very special chocolately offer. If you ever want your kids to not like chocolate, let them ravage a 1/3 of a 5 pound chocolate bar in less than a week, and then because it's a giant freaking bar of chocolate and takes up a lot of room in the fridge, force them to finish the rest of it over the following 4 weeks even though they can't stand the sight of chocolate any more.

My first meal at the Apple cafeteria was apple stuffed pork loin with seasoned potato wedges and steamed vegetables. I've since discovered other yummy dishes there like wood fired pizzas, curly fries, bacon cheese burgers, burritos, and got healthier fare at the double salad bar, and make your own sandwich bar. The food is very reasonably priced and quite tasty :P

Stairs in the men's room?

The above three shots were taken at the newly renovated Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. It's quite beautiful and I hope many people keep going there so it stays in business. We were there to watch the re-release of Blade Runner. The theater operator came down before the show to tell us about the quality of the print, where to sit for the best sound, and a bit about the theater. It was really neat to actually feel like we were supporting a business instead of being just another butt in the theater bringing in money. The whole experience was really good. I love Blade Runner and to see it on the big screen so clearly was a visual feast. By comparison, the DVD is muddy (though I'm sure the remastered versions are of the same quality that we saw that night). As a bonus, there's delicious sushi nearby.

I can't remember exactly what we were eating this night, but I do remember that the gravy we made from powdered gravy mix looked like this by the end of the meal. Even looking at it now I feel the urge to fling it on someone.

I'll do it after later.

2007-12-16T01:31:00.001-08:00

Sometimes when I have change in my pockets, the metal jingles with each step and I imagine I'm a cowboy with spurs on my boots.

cool sampling

2007-11-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

If you're on the business end of this pose, you're probably about to get a HUGE can of whoop-ass opened up on you.

One of my favorite bands, Thievery Corporation, has a song (The Foundation) with this awesome sample in it. Lo and behold, it's a quote from Enter the Dragon.

[Han, referring to his collection of weapons...] It is difficult to associate these horrors with the proud civilizations that created them. Sparta, Rome, The Knights of Europe, the Samurai. They worship strength, because it is strength that makes all other values possible.

I don't know why, but that quote makes me think about the deeper meanings of truth, valor, honor and the like. And of course, it was a great lead off to some really fucking awesome kung fu ass kicking action.

I got nuts. Salty nuts. Care to put them in your mouth?

2007-11-30T00:22:00.001-08:00

While waiting in the long ass line on Black Friday at Fry's, I worked up a powerful hunger and thirst. The thirst was quenched by Glaceau Vitamin Water Defense Raspberry-Apple and my hunger sated by a bag of Corn Nuts Ranch with a BBQ bag for back up. Ah Corn Nuts, how I fondly remember your crunchy, salty goodness from my high school days when each bag cost a paltry 15¢, and my gastrointestinal system had a youthful fortitude that only the intestines possessed by the young could have.

Now they cost a dollar thirty and make me feel ill after eating them. Kind of like I ate large brick of margarine or something. Same happened with the BBQ bag a day later. I guess I'll just have to settle for my fond memories from long ago of greedily shoveling bag after bag of delicious nuts into my mouth.

awesome Bender background

2007-11-28T23:44:00.000-08:00

After finding a cool Bender desktop background based on the Apple iPod ads, I just had to create my own. Enjoy!

let's shug

2007-11-28T00:11:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching a new actually entertaining sitcom called Big Bang Theory. I don't know if they can keep up the decent sci-fi/geek/nerd yucks, but so far, so funny. I don't know who Chuck Lorre is (producer, writer, both?), but because of Tivo I was able to spot a funny easter egg of sorts during the end credits. You can read them all at www.chucklorre.com.

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #184

Don't fall for a woman who has had sex with one of your rock n'roll heroes. No matter how emotionally evolved you think you are, you will never enjoy listening to Eric Clapton again.

Don't lurk around web sites where people comment about your work unless you're drunk.

Don't use emoticons. You're too old to communicate like a twelve-year old girl.

Don't forget that you are the product of a culture that went stark raving mad about ten thousand years ago. Adjust your thinking accordingly.

Don't answer TV critics questions about the state of TV comedy. It's a trap.

Don't eat anything bigger than your head. True in the sixties, true today.

Don't believe that crap that you're as young as you feel. Your feelings lie.

Don't hug men while shaking their hand. Enough already with that. The shake/hug (shug?) is probably something Roman guys did when their empire was in decline.

will design for apples

2007-11-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

I'm still holding my breath, awaiting the soul crushing work that I'm sure is to come, but so far things at Apple have been happily in my sweet spot of design. Everyone is super nice, very much qualified, and as far as I can tell, happy to be at work (maybe they pump oxygen into the building like they do at casinos).

I spent lunch today eating a sandwich at an outdoor table and enjoying the warm sun in the main courtyard. I still can't quite get over how I ended up there, but I think it's one of those things where you shouldn't think too much about it, but just enjoy things and make the most of any opportunity you're given.

I was very tempted to take a picture of the grounds so you could see what I see, but security is taken rather seriously at Apple and I figured why chance it? I can tell you that it's quite the normal company campus though. I half expected things to be like Shangri-la with peacocks and maidens flitting about, but it's pretty much well manicured late 80s - early 90s architecture. The cafeteria food I think is good, but by the time I got there today things were pretty cleaned out - like a swarm of locusts had swept by or something. I can't wait to try out the lamb curry!

feeling all consumer-y

2007-11-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

Just like during October when I get a sudden craving for sweets, during November and December the craze of buying sets in. I can't help it! I've been successfully programmed! All the sales and deals abound are too much to resist. I MUST buy something!! The problem is, I don't really need anything that I don't already have. Sure, a diamond encrusted plasma screen TV would be nice, but all that sparkling would probably interfere with watching all those Lost Dancing Star Idol people.

Seriously, when did this happen to me? I never used to be this bad. I feel like I'm frothing or something (sorry, please excuse my bubbly spittle). It's like if I just went out and bought the perfect THING, whatever that was, all my gadgety dreams would come true! Now if I could only raise some quick cash to convert into a material object that I would soon tire of... anyone want to buy a PS2?

gas station ghost

2007-11-16T01:52:00.001-08:00

More fun video from YouTube. Personally, I think it's just a really amazing fart by the station owner and he's covering it up. Either that or it's something on the lens. No matter what, I think it's good for business.