I am a life-time warranty....

I seem to be on an accountability trip lately...here comes another doozie of an entry...

not ready
It truly, madly, deeply makes me sick the pit of my stomach that there are parents out there that are not fit to be parents. And I don't pretend at all to claim I know what it's like to be one, I know I probably don't know the first thing about what life is like, but I have had SOME experience w/ child raising and I have close associations with those in that field. I hear stories about different parents. You'd think that bringing a child into the world would affect ones perspective in regards to responsiblity and common sense. But hearing stories of parents just being irresponsible makes me seeth. It just infuriates me that there are people out there responsible for another life and they just don't get it. It's called accountability, and we're all bound by it.

Not for me...
Recently, I've been introduced to some business opportunities that definitely seem to be lucrative ventures, but am just not interested. For one thing, I think my mindset is in a completely different place, I just wanna work and play and work and play, plus all the other things I like to do...like read and chat and blog, he he he. So I'm just not "business" minded right now I guess. Secondly, I've been to one of these meeting things before where everyone talks about how many millions they are making, will make, or can make...and how they can pursue things that they never dreamed of...how you get all this freedom. But one thing that stuck out in my mind was that all these people were talking about more time, time to spend w/ kids(my suggestion from the crowd when asked what we would do w/ extra income), but every single story I heard was about the new H2 someone bought, or the new house, diamond, dadadada. One of the first things I remember being written on the board... SUCCESS=$$U¢¢E$$ and that about did it for me right there...I knew I wasn't interested. I'm sorry but I just don't define my success that way. It might be naive, but I stand by it. I mean, of course, if I won the lotto or something, of course I'd buy a freakin h2 or something, but that's not what I'm striving for in my life...I am striving to be proud of the work I do, proud of the decisions I have made and will make, and just feel good about myself. And as far as time is concerned, yes, if I was completely financially free, yeah, I could have more time w/ kids(if I had them), travel, but the thing is...I don't have them...not yet, again leading to that my mind is just not in that state. One other thing they touched upon was being your own boss...which I did like. But they also mentioned how you can just walk up to your boss one day and say, I'm outta here...or if they said there was a meeting I could say, no, I'm not goin. I don't wanna be a dickhead...I mean what does that say about me if I were to do that type of thing to someone? Just leave them in the dust...again...accountability. And I like being a part of a team, I like the work atmosphere. Not everyone does, but I do, and that's what matters. I was just personally turned off and I realized at this point that I don't really care to make hands over fist in feds, I just wanna have enough to be comfortable and provide...that's all. Oh and some new shoes and dvd's wouldn't hurt either.

"Something that works for one individual may not work for another..."

I am label on a beer bottle under running water...

Mindless meanderings
Of all the places that have to peel because of being in the sun this whole weekend, my body decided on my nose. Damn, it's so gross when your face peels...blech.

It was freakin pouring over herea little while ago...I am in complete disbelief over this weather. Oh well, I always complain how hot it is, and when it gets hot, smog and air quality just intensify...and rain always cleanses things...in a manner of speaking. And now, it's sunny...

It is now 2:15 and I am not as tired as I thought I would be, considering I didn't get to bed until about 3:30. I haven't even gotten sleepy all day, maybe it's the workin out? But I haven't worked out since monday...so maybe not. Anyway, I need to stop staying up so damn late all the time, especially when I'm having to wake up an hour earlier and leave work an hour later than I've grown accustomed to over the past 3 months(time really flies man, I swear) As if my mild-insomnia wasn't bad enough, I still stay up...I swear the internet and AIM is evil...ha ha ha

"Every face you encounter is just another branch...."

I am a highly pressurized vessel...

Yay, I'm getting a laptop for my new position at work. Better for field testing and for travel...this job gets better and better by the hour. I bet I won't be so happy about this when I'm talking about taking a trip to like West Phungsatanee or something...

Shocked
A boy got struck by lightning last night during all the lightning...I'm not sure if it was in California, but I think that's what they were saying. That is so freakin crazy...they said there's a little hole where the lightning entered his body and all the clothes he was wearing were totally scorched around that area. He should buy a lotto ticket. I wonder how one's life is afftected after being struck by lightning...is it a miracle to survive? I would think it was...and I think I would cease to be afraid of so many things...I'd be like, "Shiyet...that's nothing, try getting struck by lightning!"

I am a cranberry, apply, pumpkin, health muffin...

This is an excerpt from Cic's blog because I'm too lazy to do it myself:

"DOOD. me and jay got carwashes yesterday. and guess what. today it RAINED. just right now, a little bit. it wasn't one of the kinds where it washes your car all over again. it was the kind where ---

ok. we just saw a flash of lightning right now. and heard thunder. oh there it goes again. "fuck." seriously what the hell is up with the weather?? it's the middle of summer. i thought it was "april showers," "may flowers," "june gloom," and "july hot and sunny all the time." not cool."

And now the news...
It feels good to be finally workin out again. 2 Days in a row I've gone to the gym. And I'm not tryin to go all hard core right away...I'm slowly workin myself into it. Today was just cardio and abs...never did just those before. So tomorrow or maybe thursday I'll hit the weights again, I'm still a little sore from yesterday anyway.

Well, it's finally official. I am now the newest Navigation Evaluation Engineer for Alpine...I signed my offer letter today and my benefits package will be sent to me via hand delivery this week and will take effect starting monday! I've never had benefits before in my life!!! I can say this in no other way than my valley accent...so....I'm soooooooooo excited!!! Good bye 30-hour flexible workweek, hello benefits, vacation time, 40 + hour workweek and possibly holidays, sleeping earlier, waking up earlier...wait a second...what did I get myself IN TO?!?!?!?!

"With every deed you are sowing a seed, thuogh the harvest may not be yet seen."

I am a recently imported bunch of grapes...

Tada!
I did it...I am part of the clan. I have contributed to the loss of thousands of jobs in the film processing industry. Yes friends, I am now the proud owner of a digital camera. That 3.2 Megapixel deal I saw a few weeks ago was in stock. A little more expensive than it was previously(10 dollars) so I jumped on it and seized. I was assertive...mind that this is NOT the field in which I had wanted to be more assertive in...but I still got myself a camera. Matter of fact, I can stand to be a lot LESS assertive when it comes to purchasing stuff...no self control, I swear. Now, I have my Olympus point and shoot and my canon powershot....yeah!

dum dee dum...
I was supposed to work on a project for some of the other guys in Eval today, but there was a snag w/ our system...so now, I'm sitting, waiting for my manager to come back from wherever he went so that I can get workin on somethin... Is this really possible? Me? Wanting to work? Somebody look outside and check if there are some winged pigs out there...

Whilst I was waiting, I figured I might as well do SOMETHING with my time...and here is what I was able to come up w/:

I few weeks back, I sent out this lil questionnaire to most of my friends...some forward I got and decided to send out as a time killer. Anyway, I started creating a spreadsheet w/ everyone's answers so that I could compare and see what different people wrote and find out what funny things people said, or what most people said, or what most people don't know, dadadada...I think it'll be pretty cool to see the results. It's taking longer than expected, so I might have to continue it at home tonight...but at least I've got myself a project.

I am a sirlion steak, burnt to a crisp...

Taking a long word-walk...
Note to self: I am in desperate need of some Aloe vera, I am so badly burnt from spending all day at the beach on Saturday. And I mean all day, in and out of the water and forgetting to reapply...serves me right I guess, for being so arrogant about not really being the type to burn. Joke was on me. Damn, and now I'm paying for it...with my skin. Everyone that has seen me since after the beach has not hesitated to tell me how much I look like a lobster...and mind you, I'm quite dark, so that's quite an achievement. It hurts when people give me a hug and pat me on the back...it hurts when I wash my face, it really hurts when I'm putting lotion on my.....arms. I hate sunburn...it's torture. But the beach was an awesome time, nevertheless. Good company and just being in the water and playing around was fun enough for me.

I also went to my bff's birthday party afterward. That was fun too. A little more on the chill side though, I was expectin a Kid 'n Play House Party type environment, because that was what I was told. Ended up that we were just hangin out in the back(before going back inside) and recounting old stories w/ old friends, and basically shootin the shit til the wee hours.

But today, ahhhh today was a lot of fun. I started out by finally going back to the gym again for a light workout(about 15 minutes on the elliptical, some weights, and some abs) and then getting a carwash with Cic. Then, it was on the way home so that I could get ready to go to the Obon festival in J-Town and see V's group perform there. I was burnt, and what do I do? Spend the very next day in the nice hot sun....I'm a freakin genius sometimes, I don't understand why they haven't accepted me for jeopardy already. But the festival was awesome. After the performances, we got to dance all these cultural dances...almost like learning line dances at a pilipino party, but not really. Everyone was teasing me that I looked like I was totally just eating it all up and having the time of my life and that they're expecting me to be an Obon festival-hopper with my own Happee(sp?) and everything. I wouldn't be surprised if I did either...I seriously had a great time. And afterward, we went to this little spot in Chinatown called Grandstar....where they have a live jazz band and our friend Jenny sang. I was kinda tired when we first arrived there, but that really energized me and I was okay til I got home. If homegirl was single, I'd totally be on her jock. Her voice is phenomenal and she was just totally dazzling the crowd...us mainly, but the other crowd as well. Man, girls that can sing are totally hot...but drunk and out of control girls are not. There were some other girls there that were totally attention needy on the dance floor and really just being obnoxious. I actually thought one of them was pretty good-looking. Turns out that she only happened to be pretty good looking when she was sober and saw her all stanktified on the floor. Blech. Anyway, I don't know why I mentioned that, I guess it just bothered me alot. But aside from all that...I would have to say that it was another very fruitful weekend...thank goodness for the work week! HA HA HA!

A good look in the mirror...
Being a big observer of the goings on around me, I thought I'd take a few moments to observe myself throughout this weekend...particularly in the manner of "playing the field." Well here it is...I don't know how to do it, play the field that is. I really could stand to be a little...dude, a lot more ballzy when it comes to approaching and just talking to girls I don't really know. I guess I've just been so accustomed w/ hanging out w/ someone I've already kinda known for a while and then really just feeling that "chemistry" and stuff and then things just moving on from there that I never really deemed it necessary to have to talk to people I hardly knew or didn't even know at all. For example, I saw this one girl at that Obon festival today...she had sunglasses, and for some reason, she looked really good in them. When she put them up...she didn't look AS cute, but she still looked cute. I think we made eye contact on one or more occasions, but I just kept making up excuses to not go talk to her. "What if she turns her nose at me?" "What if it turns out she's like 20 or worse, even younger?" all types of excuses, saving me from mustering up the nads to just go and say hi. Seriously, there is nothing to lose, and Lord knows SHE's not gonna walk up and say anything...that's just not how it works. So here's to shedding the timidness and being more assertive. Seems that this whole "Be more assertive" attitude is like this viscious cycle thingy...I realize this, say that, and don't do anything about it....well, here's to doing something about it!

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist..."

I am an itching forehead...

Why thank you
I always seem to underestimate the power of compliments... especially when I am on the receiving end of one. Before, it had a big part to do w/ not knowing how to graciously accept one, but I've matured since then(at least I think I have) and can take one every now and then. Today, everyone has complimented me on my shirt...this blue shirt with a yellow middle thing on it(Robinsons-May baby...on sale!). One person said it looks like a two piece, but it's not. Another, nice and dressy but not. I don't know, I'm no good at describing my own clothes...damn again that I still don't have a digicam. I normally think that my style of dress isn't what most people would consider "cool" or "stylish" or whatever...but after hearing a few people mention how they liked my shirt, it makes me think that THEY think that, "Hey, this guy knows what he's doin!" Ahhhhhh....

I am going bowling with the coworkes today . It'll be fun, getting to know all those people that I always pass in the hall, or run into at the "water cooler" and stuff. Look at me, hangin out w/ coworkers, who woulda thunk?

"Life is not for the weak of heart..."

I am a french-english dictionary...

Weightwatchers
This whole diet craze amazes me. The girls downstairs are on this 7 day diet. V and his brother are going on this Atkins or close-to-it diet, another friend is on Atkins til Hawaii, another perpetual Atkins, every diet you can think of, I can find at least one person I know who'll be on it. I think these people don't need such a hard-core diet but it's their prerogative. Diets are a pretty wierd thing...to me, one has to look at the bigger picture. Why? Because if someone just stopped eating carbs, they'd definitely lose weight, especially if they work out as well...but once they return back to a regular diet, then the weight comes back on. So short-term weight loss would be cool I guess. Or, one can totally overshoot their target weight, lose some extra pounds, and then when the regular eating methods are resumed then the little initial weight gain will be accounted for. But personally, I think the most effective diet would be to just burn off more than one takes in on a normal basis and cutting out the EXTRAS. Like not drinking so much soda...running once or twice a week...even walking. That way, a drastic change in diet would not have to be taken or anything like that. I guess I'm just a diet-hater :)

Work has been real busy this past week, the day has been flying by, not to mention cute girl walks back and forth like once every hour, which makes for a nice nice mini-break(My workstation is in a prime location...I hope they don't move me when I start FT). I can't believe I used part of my lunch hour to write this earlier....

I AM a geek

"...Don't use seven words when four will do..."
-Russ

I am a glass of house wine...

I saw Bad Boys II last night...pretty good, but much more graphic...AND longer than I had expected it to be. Lucky for me, I don't start work early in the morning like some of my other friends. Speaking of friends, I hung out w/ an old friend last night. I love hanging out w/ people, catching up, and getting to know them better...it's one of those things in life that I never get tired of...learning about people, what makes them tick, what they could be thinking, dadadadada... Ah, the wonders and rewards of knowledge...

A thing of the past
Like 4500 hundred people are gonna lose their jobs at Kodak in the coming weeks...and of course, it's due to the growing trend in the use of digital cameras. This is the second wave of layoffs for Kodak, the first time was 7k...which is really sad. The more and more electronic and digital we get, the less people have jobs. I mean, I myself fought making the switch for the longest time, arguing that I liked having pictures to put in albums and dadadadada, but I've seen the convenience of sharing digital photos with friends and family via the internet or instant viewing of a pic you just took. I hate to admit it, but it IS nicer. I guess it was the same way with CD's. I know, laugh it up, but I seriously thought that CD's were never gonna get popular enough because they just weren't convenient. I thought that cassette tapes (remember those singles?) were the standard and that it would just stay that way....HA! What an idiot I turned out to be! I guess I have a little of that "can't teach an old dog new tricks" thing in me. Not that I'm hesitant or apprehensive about change, just that what change something that's already good? Because it's better, that's why... I guess another reason is because I AM a little apprehensive about people getting too complacent and becoming lazy or something...I don't know. I think it just sucks that all those people are gonna lose their jobs. But times must change, and change we must!

Nerves of s....paghetti
I have to interview w/ the VP in a short while and I'm starting to get nervous...I have absolutely no idea what he's gonna ask, and just knowing he has veto power is pretty scary...I don't mean like freaky scary, I mean like pee in my pants I wanna cry scary because he could be mean. But I know he's not, it's just the nerves talkin....maybe I'll just go to the bathroom right now...juuuuust in case!

There really aren't enough hours in a day...dammit...I gotta get up in like 5 hours and do this all over again...Freeze Frame(That's my superhero), where are you?

I am a 24-hour Claritin...

I gotta say it was a good days...
I said I was gonna write about my weekend at work, but never got the chance to because I was workin on a system away from my desk the entire day, only got to do some e-mail checks here and there, but here it goes...

Friday, I went to my friend Lori's going away party in Garden Grove. Nothin like good bbq, old friends getting reaquainted, caught up, and just telling old stories. It was awesome, and sad at the same time, saying good-bye to yet another friend. But as friends always do, we tried to keep the mood lively by inserting our sarcasms and wittiness here and there. Went home at midnight so that I could get some rest for the long day that was to come on Saturday.

Saturday...I went to my friends Nikki and Joe's wedding. I wish I had a digicam already because I would just post up pics right here...because words really couldn't describe the beauty of this wedding...but I'm gonna try. The ceremony...St. Edwards Catholic Church in Dana Point. The place overlooks the beach and when you're in the pews you can see the marina right behind the altar...it was incredible. That was also the church that Kobe Bryant got married at. Absolutely gorgeous....wow. It went w/o a hitch, the cantors sang beautifully, and they even did their own extra vow thingies...very intimate. After the ceremony, it was on to the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel...yes yes, I know. Again, the place overlooked the beyotch. It was an open bar all night w/ a separate martini bar(also open all night) and there were people walking around in tuxes w/ trays of Hors D'oeuvres everywhere. I had never been to such a wedding. I swear, there should've been a string section out on the patio playing classical music. Dinner was exquisite....Lobster tail and Filet Mignon. Dancing and games were to follow and drinks drinks and more drinks. I can't wait to get the pics of the event. But that was the wedding, I had the time of my life. And that's probably the closest I'll come to an incredible wedding ever.

Sunday...played in my weekly basketball game in thate league and...PULLED MY HAMSTRING. It's never happened to me before, but it really hurts. I feel so weird walkin around. Hopefully it's not thaaaat major of a pull and I can heal up in a few days and get on my workout itinerary. Afterwards, my sister and London picked me up to head to our friend Lena's b-day pool party in Fontana. There were also lots of drinks at this event, and I ended up becoming quite inebriated by 6 o'clock. When I got home at 8, I passed out on my bed for about 5 hours and woke up w/ a nasty headache, had to stay up for a few more hours, drinking lots and lots of water, and headed back to bed.

Today...worked all day on setting up this Jaguar system for one of the database chicks. They also hired this brand-new LAN network chick for the IT department, and she is QUITE cute...her name is Jemelie, and I made sure I introduced myself to her. I think things at work went rather well today, being that I GOT THE FULL-TIME POSITION BABYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! I am the MAN! Ha ha ha, they asked me into the office this morning and told me. I was so excited, I just kept saying, "This is awesome!" over and over and over again. I shook hands w/ them and practically floated back to my desk. I have one final interview w/ the VP of the company, to make sure he's okay with me I guess, and then we can get the ball rolling. I am so excited and I still can barely contain myself. Anyway, I'm not trying to gloat or anything, but I really feel that I did something good, I achieved something, I've reached the next step. It feels like life is starting to settle down a bit...and that's something to really look forward to.

And that was the weekend....and Monday recap.

"Look not to the heavens for answers, but for inspiration."

I so wanted to blog about the wedding I went to yesterday and my day today, but no thoughts come to mind...damn, here's where a dig-cam would be perfect, I wouldn't have to say anything at all. I guess that's what happens when you drink a lot before 6 PM and fry your brain in the sun all that time...maybe tomorrow, I always have better thoughts at work...maybe I'm still in sloth mode, yeah hopefully that's it....

The world's unluckiest boy...
...would have to be me. It never fails, I am one truly unlucky person. I usually bring lunch everyday and eat in the lunch room and catch the second half of All My Chil...I mean, the 12 o'clock news...yeah. Well so far, every single day this week, there was some sort of meeting and we have some clients in from Germany and Japan, and there has been food. Loads of it, pizza, chicken, salad, samiches, that was monday-thurs. Unfortunately, I had already heated up my lunch and had been halfway through it by the time they brought it in from the conference room. I was only got to get a small slice of pizza because they were about to throw it away, but I didn't really enjoy it, cuz I was already full. Anyway, in my haste of trying to get out of the house this morning, I forgot to pack a lunch. Thinking this would be okay, I went down expecting there to be food...well the title of this entry IS fitting. No lunch today, Damn...so I just read. I am so hungry...driving through traffic later on today is gonna be pure torture...how I loathe myself...

I am a disoriented bat...

Summer Nights...
If I had any opportunity to go out to a club and party my ass off last night, knowing damn well that I had work today, I might as well have taken it. Why? Because last night must have been the worst case of not being able to sleep in a while, I just laid there...on my bed...til almost 5 AM. Maybe it was because it was hot, maybe because I had coffee(but much much earlier), either way, I just could not sleep. There was nothing I could do, I tried imagining nothing but blackness, counting sheep, stars on my ceiling(I have that glow in the dark solar system thang in my room), reading, not using a blanket, using one, just my feet, everything. I could not figure out what was wrong. And so I just laid there...thinking, thinking, thinking. I don't know how I finally fell asleep, but I did. I woke up at 8:15 and ended up being a little late for work...and here I am...already on my 2nd cup of coffee...which usually never happens, and it's not even lunch time yet. Top it all off, I have to finish a project before I leave today, meaning I can't leave early, as I had originally planned to, but alas, such is the curse of he who does not sleep.

I am a spindle...

Tit for tat...
So I've been taking my allergy medication the past couple of days, and I have been ALLERGY-symptom free. Notice, ALLERGY-symptom free, because now that I'm not suffering from allergies, I'm suffering from the side effects of the medication. I am not totally tired, but there is a noticeable decrease in my energy throughout the day, I fall asleep much earlier than usual, and I haven't even gotten ready for bed yet. Like last night, I just sat on my bed for a sec, I think to just breathe(it was quite a day for me yesterday), and next thing I know, it is 7:45 and my alarm is going off. I also almost always feel thirsty now. I mean, I usually drink 2 of my little 1/2 gallon water bottle thingies, but lately, I've noticed I've been drinking way more than that lately...I have this constant dry-mouth feeling, and I havent' even smoked out...sucks. I wish there were no such things as side effects...they should rename it to consequences..."This WILL happen because you don't want THIS to happen...enjoy!" So I'm happy that I am no longer sneezing, but hating these ill borne side effects...

Role Reversal...
There are times when I feel like I'm 50 around here...like I'm the parent taking care of his kids. I know that that is what eventually happens as we get older, but I had never figured it to happen so soon. Anyway, it isn't as much as I'm purporting it to be, but nonetheless this is how I feel...frustrated and just exhausted. I need a vacation...a real one...it's been over a year and a half since I actually even had the opportunity to go on one, and even this year, when I had planned for another one, my attempts at saving money only resulted in a $600 traffic ticket ordeal...I have to admit that this of those times I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs saying, "WHY ME? WHAT DID I DO?" If I hadn't left my pack of cigarettes in my desk at work(for emergencies only), I would definitely be lighting up one of those bad boys right now. Matter of fact, I'm fighting a strong conviction to go out and get another pack. But alas, this is my story, and in time it shall all abate...and as always, this is my avenue of letting out what frustrations and perplexities plague my mind...

On a good note, I saw my friend H's news segment that she did for La City View(channel 35, for those in LA) and it was AWESOME. She rocks...she's doin it, livin the dream, dadadadada. I was so in shock to see her doin her thang...made me really proud. My friends are actually doin it out there...it's OUR turn to be up in the everything, and people's dreams are materializing right on front of my eyes...I hold nothing but the deepest respect and most profound admiration for my friends...their happiness mine also.

Whistling while...
I'm doing some database checklists and there are some really creative POI's(Points of Interest) out there. Here are a few I particularly liked...or thought were not so interesting but still stood out:

A Paw-fect world(pet store)
Hurry Curry
Curry in a Hurry
Scissor's Palace(Hair Cutting)
Rolph's Supermarket
Oodles of Noodles
That's Shoe-biz
Porn Wear
Clothes Minded
Monkey Butt

There are a lot more, but I'm not about to list every single one. It gets a little tedious though, I took a break and closed my eyes for a sec and my coworker nudged me and said I was starting to snore, he he he, how embarassing.

I am a sponge...

Nerves of Steel?
I definitely think that interviewing internally, with people you already know, is far more difficult than interviewing with complete strangers. With complete strangers you have give them a first impression, to dazzle them with your charm. However, internally, with people you've already BEEN working with, they already have had their impression, the charm has probably by now already worn off, and you just have to show them something, that you're the right candidate for the position. That interview was damn hard, and it took a long time too. I don't think I've been as nervous as that...armpits? Yeah...thank God for deodorant...well, I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed, and I'll tell everyone else to do the same. But all I gotta say now is, "WHEW," it's over...

"Don't cry over spilled milk."

I wish I was still young...
I came to an epiphany as I had my arms crossed in front of my computer and started to drift into a soft slumber...it sucks being an adult because you need $$$ to be an adult. Taking adult as a general definition, being out on one's own, making one's own decisions, dadadadadada...then it means to be able to do all these things, it takes moola...lots and lotsa moola(sound familiar? he he he). Anyway, when we're kids, we STILL need the "feds," but it is provided for us. Once childhood has ended and we've begun to walk the path on our own...we gotta get the "papers"(btw, I'm getting all these other terms for money from some article I read on Gary Payton, he uses all these...pretty cool I thought) ourselves. And then, we're supposed to plan well so that when we CAN'T earn money anymore, we'll have saved enough...too much thinking. I'd rather go outside and play kickball with my friends...

I am a chinese mini-pug...

The air up there
I heard today that recently, there has been an increase in the number of hazardous air condition(i.e very smoggy) days, meaning that, despite recent attempts at alternative automobile fuels and hybrids and all that...there is still something out there contributing to the bad quality of air. I remember back when I was in one of my Air Pollution Control classes way back in the day when we were learning about pollution emission, that jets, especially the Concord(no longer in flight) were the biggest contributers to facilitating the increase in the amount of ozone in the atmostphere. Which leads me to believe that we should not only concentrate our efforts on regulating automobile emission, but more stringent restrictions should be placed on the aircraft industry as well...I know I know....G-E-E-K...but at least I'm a environmentally conscious geek, he he he..well, not totally..but I try to be.

Oddities
Funny how long you can know people and constantly learn totally new things about them, things you never would have imagined in a thousand years. But I think that's what makes relationships so great...and not just romantic relationships, being that I'm not part of one, but friendships or family...there is an oaktree of knowledge when it comes to getting to know your friends, and always there are new branches to be explored and learned about...and I just find it fascinating.

I woke up again this morning, giggling to myself at yet another bizarre series of dreams ranging from Harry Potter, to my Uncle Ben being a priest at my old church to being yet, another cartoon character. I kinda look forward to going to sleep because I'm always curious as to what I might dream about...they're like lil tv adventure shows, which I think is rather cool. Mind you, I have no control really in these dreams, I just like to see what happens. Too bad there wasn't a way to record them so that you could show them to your friends...especially the ones w/ hot chicks.

"A smile can leave quite a lasting impression"

I am a top at the end of it's spin...

Words of wisdom...
If you ever have an inkling that while you're shopping, you might walk into a shoe store and try on some shoes, make sure you're wearing socks. As it was, yesterday, I went into Steve Madden to check out some shoes whilst shopping and I was in my usual summer garb...shorts, button-up short sleeve...and flip-flops. I find some shoes that I wanna try on and I realize that I'm not wearing any socks...assuming they'd have some, I go and ask, and the girl(my best friend wasn't there today) tells me that they don't have socks, but they have this...and she shows me a lil nylon sock. I had just told my company that if I were to be caught wearing nylons ever, aside from maybe a halloween costume or something, I'd have to kick my own ass...sure enough, next thing I knew, I had to try on the darn sock in order to wear the shoes. Fortunately, I did not kick my own ass...but note to self: always have socks with you...they're quite useful.

It's hot outside
I always complain that I hate summer and that I would rather be in the snow. I mean, I love sunlight and getting darker and swimming and the beach and stuff...but I just hate when it's Africa hot outside, the feeling of being hot, and sweating from it, and getting burned by the metal part of the seatbelt in my car, having to air the car out for about 2 min before I can even get in...it's just not fun. I'd rather be bundled up. But here's the kicker...I hate summer most because of my allergies. They have really been kickin in high gear lately and now I need to go to the pharmacy to pick up some allergy medication, and as it is, I loathe taking medicine...but at this point, I'm ready to chop off my nose and gouge out my eyes...so maybe medicine will be a better alternative than that. But yeah, I hate summer...

Yo ho ho ho
Saw Pirates of the Caribbean last night...two words...great movie. I saw a pretty late showing last night w/ the boys, and I am really suffering for it right now, but I feel that it was well worth it. I didn't realize so many people go see movies on Sunday evenings, but then again, it's summer...there's more people out and about because all the kids still in school are currently on break. But that movie, very imaginative and they did an awesome job w/ the plot, not even counting the great performances by the cast...I really am taken aback by performers who have such range in playing different roles. I am gonna recommend this one to all my friends

Booked
It seems like I was doing something like every hour of this weekend, from billiards, to drinks to clubs to company picnics, to staying up til 4 am to movies to basketball games, to going out for coffee....SHEESH! And I'm glad to say it is finally over and I can return to the normalcy of work. Ironic that during those weekends that are so eventful, I'm just longing for it to be over...and that seems to be the case over the next few weekends...lots of stuff goin on, birthday-wise, special occasion-wise, everything...I think I actually get more rest and relaxation during the workweek than I do on the weekends...am I backwards or what?

"Nice and easy, easy and slow, that's the way to always go."

FRIENDSTER was on NDR(National Public Radio)...it's crazy, everyone at work was talking about it today.

I am a flittering june bug...

Do-over
Most peculiar experience, this morning. I went out of the house to go to work and I noticed the weather and thought to myself, man, it's cloudy, kinda sucks...the sun is usually out to this time. Then, I realized that I had forgotten my water bottle back on the kitchen table, so I went back into the house to get it. So when I went BACK outside, it was totally sunny, and it totally felt so weird. It was like I replayed the last minute, and made a few changes for the better. So my day already started out a little better on that note...

It completes me
I forgot my cell phone in my friend's car last night after bible study. Maaaaaaaan, I feel so naked. And yes, my cell phone is that important to me. My family always laughs and teases me on how I'm always on my cell phone, but it's true...I can't live w/o it. It may have me on a leash, but it's my connection to all those I love and care about. If I was going to get stranded on a desert island destined to be alone forever, I would ask for a never-need-to-be-charged cell phone and I would die a happy man. But yeah, I feel so weird walking around w/o it...it's like even if I'm not using, it, I know it's missing. I can't wait til the end of work and my friend is done w/ class so we can meet up and I can get it back.

Same time, same place...once...
I was thinking this morning after listening to the news about how we think about what famous people we went to school with, well at least I do, and what feats will be accomplished by people I was around, or on the same campus with. But the thought occurred to me, what about how many of these same people that I see, run into, am in class with, etc., how many of them will go the WRONG way or do something crazy and bad. I mention this because I heard something about that Brian Danz(sp?) dude that went to Irvine and raped and beat that 15 year old chick a few years back. Homeboy was convicted on 4 counts of sexual assault, and some other stuff...I mean the guy lost it, he carved a freakin swastica on her forehead and arms!!! So they were saying he supposedly will get life in prison for this. A lot of my friends and I were on the same campus with this guy, he was in someone's dorm, he was someone's roomate...W-O-A-H. Crazy to think that in a world where there is so much potential for people to succeed, and we wonder who those are, there is an equally strong potential to go the other way. We always see what good peopel can do, and not wonder about how bad they could be...but I think that's good...shows that we are generally more optimistic. Life is so chaotic sometimes...and this is just the tip of the iceberg...I didn't even know him personally...but I wonder who I do know personally that could have gone this way...

To teach, or not to teach...
Some people are gifted with the ability to teach, and others, well...not-so-much. So does that mean that the not-so-much people shouldn't even try at all? I mean, what if on one hand you had a person who was the laziest person on earth but was one of the most naturally gifted teachers in all creation, and on the other hand, the most driven person on earth that had no natural ability to teach at all? At which point is one better than the other? Does drive outmatch pure talent? Or do you settle for the more talented, yet less driven? I guess I would take the driven person, because it's the thought that counts......right? And I wonder how many situations there are in the world where you would actually take the less skilled but had-more-heart type of person. Par example, the greatest basketball player on earth was on a team, but he was the absolute worst person to get along with, and I mean WORST...and then, Mark Madsen, not-so-skilled, but the heart of a lion. I may be a fool, but I'd choose the latter...

I am a tiny little paper sailboat...

Factoid of the Day
"Geniuses and criminals may not seem to have much in common but they both do their best work in their 30s -- and mainly to impress the opposite sex."
That was quoted from some news article I was reading today...Man, I can't WAIT til I'm 30...he he he

Work-related
It's pretty cool to actually see the stuff your friends have worked on...or at least their company has worked on. Last night, me and Chris went to see off our friend that's moving to San Jose for a job, and the entire area water-feature-wise, was designed and laid out by his company...and I thought, wow, that is way cool. Pretty soon, I'm gonna actually get to see stuff HE'S worked on, and that'll be way cooler. And it also made me think about when the navigation units come out next year, the aftermarket ones, cuz that's what I worked on. I guess there's just a sense of truimphant accomplishment, that, "I'm the king of the world!!!!" feeling that Leonardo had in Titanic after he knew he had Kate eating out of the palm of his hand.

It's funny how there's such a thing as a perma-frown and a perma-smile. Well, I just now realized that there's this one dude here that has a perma-scowl, always walkin hella fast, never says hello...maybe I just feel spited cuz I don't get greeted, I don't know...but seriously, perma-SCOWL. Homeboy looks like he's always mad. And thinking about that, I was wondering what my perma-look was...and how if I had a perma-frown or whatever, there would be nothing for me to do to remedy that situation...that sucks. This is going absolutely nowhere...because all I have established is that some people look one way and others, another. I really need to hit thirty so that my brain can function better.

"There is a difference between hearing and listening, looking and seeing."

I just found out that Zzyzx is a city...going through some database checklist today...HA! That's new news...I always thought it was just a road, like one of those just landmark type things you see on your way to vegas, like the giant thermometer...I've been trying to find out how to pronounce it, but no luck thus far...

All this talk about GP and Malone signing w/ the lakers and hype about possibly the greatest starting lineup in history, I get butterflies in my stomach...L-A-K-E-R-S!

I am a sky rocket...

Out of first gear...
Just finished my interview w/ the acting Hr Dept Manager dude(our usual dept manager is out because she just had a baby, yay) and I would have to say that the interview went rather well. I'm not too keen on exactly how internal job application procedures work, but this is only stage one...probably to get a feel for me and my personality, as the questions were very non-technical. The tech questions will come next week, and I wonder what they will ask, being that I haven't done very much as far as hardwiring and assembly is concerned. I haven't seen much either, other than wiring a harness and such, which I feel I am quite adept at doing now. So, I'm gonna try and ask around what kind of stuff I need to know for my tech interview, w/o sounding too kiss-assy. And hopefully things will go well. As long as I really pushed hard and tried my best, then it'll be okay...that's what I'll tell myself if I don't get it, he he he. But all kidding aside, I really really want this position, I want to stay w/ this company, and even from talking to the HR guy, he really liked it here too and says there aren't many companies like this one...so pleeeeeeeeeease....if you're listening, hook me up! he he he

Words...
Funny how when we were younger we used to say things like, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me." I think that that statement couldn't be further from the truth some of the time. Not ALL the time, but some of the time, I think that words can really hurt...and conversely, make one feel better. It's amazing the power a few words of encouragement can have on a person...it really is. How you can say something and make someone's day...how you can say something to people and they open a door, and let you in...simply amazing. Words have more power than we think, sometimes...

not so nervous time
I have just received the latest installment of equipment for my "Ergenomically Correct" workstation, a paper-holder thingy that I'm supposed to use when transcribing from a document to the computer, or something like that...a document holder, yeah, that's better. Anyway, it goes under my monitor, and it slides out and tilts up and down and all that jazz, it was really cool for about 5 minutes... Crazy how this whole correct positions thing is all up in the air...we all feel so strange because we're not used to sitting correctly or having our hands on our keyboards such that we reduce injury to ourselves...people back then had it bad, man, they really did.

Dangit, my interview got postponed til tomorrow...well, not so dangit, but I was kinda mentally set for having it today...at least I get my wish and can be a dressed a tad bit nicer manana....

Nervous time...
Work decided to interview me today for that FT position...hm, I'm wearing jeans and a polo...I wish they would have contacted me yesterday so that I could at least have been a little more dressed for the occasion. I guess this is how they want to do it, relaxed and comfortable...3 o'clock...yikes, I'm gettin nervous. I remember that on the job description it said all this stuff, stuff which I've barely learned over the past 6 or so weeks, but I feel comfortable with everything I've learned so far and I also feel like I've learned relatively quickly. Well, I'll just give it my all and we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I am a bug that flies into a car and gets out like 15 miles away from its original location...

Uh oh, spaghettio
I feel like I am caught inbetween a weird dream and just waking up. I made the cataclysmal mistake of falling asleep at 7:30 today...and eventually woke up to the sound of my uncle chatting with his wife. He said, "It's okay, just go back to sleep..." Ummm...yeah right. I was awake anyway, and had gone to bed already 5 hours earlier than usual...so now I have all this energy as if it was morning time, but work is still another 7 hours away, at least I'm going to play ball w/ the fellas before work...I guess I could use a little extra rest. But all my plans from when I first laid down are obviously out the window. I had planned, after my stomach digested my Costco Chile Lime chicken and rice, to take a 1/2 trip to the gym...I've decided to really ease myself into it, as to avoid any super soreness. After that, I had then planned to proceed to Target where I was going to paruse around and probably buy nothing like I did yesterday w/ Juandog and Ai at Bestbuy. After that, I had planned to watch a DVD perhaps, read a little and then fall asleep...and apparently, 'twas not meant to be so. And thus, here I sit...I'm starting to get hungry...but I'm trying to keep in mind what Ai told me about getting sleepy and hungry...but being only the latter, I'm still trying to keep it in mind...basically, not to eat this late.

One last blast
Sitting here, staring at my computer with my lil night light on, I have realized partly why I am so embittered by this whole "family guy" business. Well first thing, as I have said before is all about the approach...I can't stand people ASSUMING I'll do shit for them, I'm big on tact, I guess, although I lack some if it myself one one occasion or another. Another reason, is that I feel that regardless of the fact that mom and pop also are here, it is I who feels the brunt of his actions, because I am the only one who has to drive him around, find him info on this and that, dadadadada. I'm frustrated, but at the same time, I feel guilty as well. I don't wanna make him feel like he's not welcome, because deep down, he is, and it's just me partly being selfish and stuff...but nonetheless, you can't really CONTROL how you feel, only how you deal with it. Another thing is that having to abide by someone else's timetable infringes on my "freespiritedness," so to speak. I have found myself to be one of those people who likes to be able to do things on a whim, to be able to leave and say, go to the bookstore and just chill for a while, w/o having to rearrange an entire schedule. Having to squeeze it in whilst keeping a tight schedule is quite the opposite of spontanaeity. He got a job around here(How long it is going to be for, I haven't the foggiest), and unfortunately, he has to take the bus there because i will already be at work...I really do feel bad about that, but there's nothing I can do as far as rides are concerned, his work being the opposite direction as mine. I am tired of bitching and complaining about this whole thing, as I'm sure my friends are too, so this will be the last of my emotional diatribes concerning this subject. I may insert a funny moment here and there...but that's it...I think I just get even more frustrated by reminding myself of it.

There is no one to chat with and it is pretty lonely just sitting here...so I will make another vain attempt to enter the world that is sleep...

Tomato, tomahtoe-I don't think so
I was e-mailing about a minute ago and I mentioned something about getting a feet transplant. Which made me think about breast implants for some reason. Because most people say "boob job." Even the term "breast" implant. Why is it referred to in the singular? Because aren't BOTH boobs operated on? Or is it just one? Last I checked, most people like to enhance symetrically, yet it is still a "boob" job. Hmmm, yet another wonder of the English language.

Chinese Water Torture
It is rather an arduous task to be present at a company meeting, knowing that right before, you had planned to relieve yourself. And so it was my plight to sit through our one hour monthly company meeting...fidgeting around, wanting to get up, closing my eyes in anguish, for the full length of one hour...so right when the meeting ended, I tried to head everyone off and get out in front, so as to get to the restroom first, because I knew that's where everyone was headed...I finally got there, but I was too late, it(the bathroom) was completely full, and I had to wait ANOTHER 10 minutes....man, that was torture...but after the 10 minutes, absolute euphoria...

On the brighter side
Contrary to popular(my) belief, I was able to finish Order of the Pheonix last night...great book. Now I can go back to the task of rereading the entire series and then go back to Silmarillion and the LOTR series...after that, I plan on going through my classics, my Ray Bradbury's and my Maya Angelou's and such...I'm such a reading whore...

I finally know what it is to observe me. Funny as this may sound, it's true...I was walking by a few cubicles just now as I got back from running a few company errands, I saw a dude staring, unmoving at his computer, with his arms folded...and he was ASLEEP!!! Just like how I do it! I almost woke him up laughing, but rather, hurried out of there and sat back at my own cube, giggling like a madman...so THAT's what I look like...it's pretty entertaining.

I am back to work...

I have not been so reluctant to go to work as I was this morning...after an extended break like this past weekend...how else am I supposed to feel? But here, I am...."working"

Airing out
It is such a personal struggle for me lately in being patient w/ my visiting relative. I dont' know if I'm just being whiny or what, but I feel like I am going to go insane sometimes, what with all the things I've had to do and feel as though I am going to do in the near future. My latest request comes in the form of retrieving a DMV booklet so as to assist him in acquiring a driver's license(btw, you don't have to be a california native, or even a citizen to obtain one, I just realized). But I believe that I have told him about 3 or 4 times now that mom will have to go get it because the hours that I am at work are usually during DMV's own hours of operation, meaning that it would be rather difficult for me to go get it, but mom doesn't work til the afternoon, and it would be easier. Yet he proceeds to ask me again, on my way out, and I said, very curtly, "Oh, I told you, mom had to get it," and headed off to work. I know it was a little rude, but I was in a hurry and did not have time to deal with explaining myself again. I wonder how it is that some people don't realize they could be annoying someone, when they are SHOWING signs of irritability. Maybe it's just that he doesn't know me as well as my close friends who would know instantly if something was different about me. I have realized, from our interactions, just how different our perspectives are, as far as me doing things for him is concerned. Crazy thing is, he might get a job around la/compton area...yay...

I am a headache...and it's THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS big...

There are moments in my life sometimes, after a long long night, when relive the even in my head, and I wonder at what particular point did everything go arye(spelling, I know, sue me I can't remember). Almost as if the entire night can be divided into two distinct segments...the dream turned nightmare... And then I wonder if I had gone left instead of right, if everything would have happened completely differently...and of course the answer is yes...but I guess I wish I could go back and see how it would have turned out.

This is an obvious segue to my rant about my holiday experience. But I'm too tired to rant anymore...nonetheless, I need to at least put a synopsis of my evening...for memory's sake. It was at first one of the funnest nights, then was just absolutely abysmal after the"moment" here is a rough sketch of the night's events(my mind is pretty shaky on lots of the details, one, because I was pretty drunk, and two, I just don't remember anymore):

-Went to newport for the 4th, started drinking at about 2PM
-was pretty smashed by 7 PM
-Feelin very happy and very....drunk at 9PM
-Tides changed at about 10 and things were dismal until I got home
-Oh, got pulled over on my way home from one of the longest days ever...just for good measure

I'm not even sure if I'm feelin up to gettin out of the house today, but I must make a few stops here and there...

Somebody please, remove this stake in my temple....

"Don't listen to what other people tell you to do, listen to what I tell you to do"

What can be more demoralizing than when you're trying to point out something gross to your friend, say, for example, on your hand, and they say, "ILL!!!", and you soon both realize that this friend was not looking at what you were pointing out, but something else. Meaning, you have other "grotesque-ities" on your person ASIDE from the ones you already know exist. How sad is THAT? I think I shall leap off of this bridge now...

On a rare occasion, I ate lunch w/ a friend in my area. Went out to lunch today w/ Cic(gracias buddy) to Mitsuwa, and ran into a couple people there...I ALWAYS get excited when I see a familiar face in places where I don't expect to see them. I love surprises. Anyway, it made me miss when I worked back in OC or in Santa Fe Springs and I almost always had lunch w/ friends...man, those were the days. Pretty soon Cic won't be working around here, and it'll be back to eating lunch in the lunch room w/ my copy of "Order of the Pheonix" or whatever book I may be fancying at that particular juncture of time, and watching Soaps in the lunch room. I guess I could go out w/ the other coworkers, but it's just not the same...

Me, Myself, and ummm....that's it...
Before I forget...I needed to jot this down...
When I was eating lunch at Shakeys(mm mm good, btw) today on my Road Eval while Kim was at her appt, I had one of the most bizarre experiences...well, the experience was not mine, I was just there to see it. So this dude walks in, scraggly long hair, wearing a hat, kinda big, with a backpack...that doesn't really ahve anything to do with this story other than the fact that this is what he looked like. After he paid, all of the sudden he kinda started cursing, not at the cashier lady, but kinda off to the side...and I thought quietly to myself, hmmm, how peculiar. And the girl accross the room, raised her eyebrows at me and we both smiled, letting the weird moment pass. So homeboy proceeds to sit at the table directly behind me...and now, I can hear him clearer than before...he was DEFINITELY cursing. I know what most of my friends would say, I should've sat down with him since we both have excessive cursing in common, har dee har har.... ANYWAYS, I could hear him distinctly now, cursing about some lady who didn't give him the correct change when he was at Target. I mean, the man was talking to himself, and loud, so I the anxiety wells up a little in the pit of my stomach, since he is right behind me and I can't see him. So I put my sunglasses in front of me so that I could see his reflection behind me(yeah yeah, I know, I'm paranoid, but hey, I just read that thing about Samurai Captain Insano in the Albertsons the otherday...sue me). Then all of the sudden, his voice changed...calmer, and deeper...he was saying that it was the lady's first day and defending her...and THEN, this voice was interrupted by the cusser guy again...he was having an ARGUMENT...WITH HIMSELF! and obviously at this point the lady accross the room raised her eyebrows in more than just wonderment...it was absolute shock. So I quietly proceeded to finish the rest of my orange bang and hi-tail my little hiney of there...I don't know how the argument ended, but I did not really care to either. I think that would be the first contact I've had with a split personality....W-O-A-H...