Yay Rainy Days

Mug of Yerba Mate Tea - Check.
Macbook Pro - Check.
Warm Fuzzy Sweater - Check.
Favorite iTunes Playlist - Check.

Time to chill and code! =)

Good to be with friends and family

I'm a lot better now. If things aren't meant to be, then they're not meant to be. She's a great person and I wish her the best. I understand why she wants to move and I hope she finds everything she's looking for and more in New York.

Oddly, this reminds me of a situation of when Diego and I were in Canoa, Ecuador. As we strolled through the narrow dirt streets, Diego would constantly recognize people and say, "I know that guy, he owes me $20". ($20 over in Canoa has the same buying power as $100 here in the States)

After this happened a few times, I was finally perplexed enough to ask, "Why would you keep lending people money?"

He replied, "I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. If people tell me they need a $20 loan for an emergency, I trust them. Some people pay me back and some don't. If I don't see them again, I'll be glad I only lost $20" It was a quick way of figuring out who was worth his time.

I think this concept of taking a positive perspective on a negative situation applies to relationships as well. When I left my job at the homeless agency, my plan was to travel for a year around South America. When I met her, my plans changed. I hoped there was something and was willing to take a chance. That was my priority.

Now she has the chance to stay or give the long distance relationship a shot. Neither seems a priority for her. I don't want to be in a relationship where someone's my priority and I'm only their convenience.

It sucks that this situation came up, but there is some good that came out of it. It's better to figure out that you're not looking for the same things in a relationship after only a few months instead of later.

:(

I feel like shit. My head is pounding. My nose is runny. I have puffy red eyes. My body is filled with a dull ache and I'm drained of energy.

I'm bad with breakups. When I think about her, I start to break down and cry uncontrollably. I'm not as emotionally strong as I thought or hoped to be.

She made me genuinely happy. She had an energy that I loved. She made me laugh and smile with her wit.

I guess she didn't see things the same as I did, or at least didn't feel the same way. It hurts. I thought we had a stronger connection.

I'm reminded why people put up emotional walls. When you fall in love and it doesn't work out, you hit the ground hard.

I know things will be okay later. Eventually I'll accept that we weren't meant to be and move on. Right now it's difficult to imagine not seeing her tomorrow.

Before this, I was setting goals of what I wanted to do in the upcoming month. Now I'm just trying to function and get by the hour without sobbing.

This hurts like hell. I didn't think it would be this bad. I don't even know why. It feels wrong. I'm supposed to be a grown man, but all I can do is curl up and hope I wake up from a bad dream.

Ecuador 2010 Pictures

Ecuador 2010

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Currently in the Galapagos Islands. Finished reading Ishmael, a really interesting view on the world and how mankind plays its role. This book along with the trip to the Galapagos Islands and Canoa, Ecuador has changed my views on the environment.

Met so many great people and have had so many adventures. Will update more once I get back. So far Ive been on a peace march, caught great waves surfing in Canoa, had fresh seafood everyday, learned some Spanish, tried a scorpion/centipide liquor shot, and met locals/travelers alike.

Snorkeling here is amazing. Been swimming in the wild and within inches of sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, stingrays, manta rays, etc.

As much as I love this, I also can´t wait to get back home to be with friends, family, and an amazing girlfriend for the Holidays! Life is great =)

I'm not B-sian, I'm Asian! :)

Data Analysis - Politics

I love how raw data can be converted into an easy to understand, informative, and interactive chart. With elections coming up tomorrow, I found this neat infographic regarding the shift of political priorities over time.

http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1010/political-climate-chart/interactive.html

Last Android Class Notes

Additional Information Available on:
Cal Poly Web Site with Android material: https://sites.google.com/site/androidappcourse/home
code.google.com/android
anddev.org
Look through Lunar Lander example for sprite manipulation and physics engine

Should know more java (basic concepts like):
Inner class, polymorphism
Note to self: look up Josh Block book - Intermediate & Advanced Java concepts

Adding Audio:
Add song.mp3 to res/raw/song.mp3 folder
Warning: filenames must be all lowercase! To solve, refactor all filenames.

For Video Viewing:
Use android.widget.VideoView
Play videos in mp4, etc.

Bringing up a web browser (Sample Code)
case 0:
Uri uri = Uri.prase("http://developer.android.com");
Intent inetnt = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, uri);
startActivity(intent);
break;

Use Content Providers for Text Messages

Content Providers for Cameras and Camcorders
Always access via 'content://'
Needs a unique string identifying the content provider
Optional to have more than one data type
Optional to have instances of a given data type

Steps to create a Content Provider
1.) Create Provider Class (Includie a static final that defines your content uri)
2.) Create Properties
3.) Update Manifest

Underlying system is Linux based - use same formatting for locations (i.e. use all undercase)
To get external storage - from android.os
Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirector()

I also might be collaborating with some of my fellow classmates on projects outside of class!

End of October

I had my physical yesterday. I'm red and green colorblind; this was confirmed when I was looking at a book of images containing colorful numbers and my reply to one of the pictures was, "Is that a butterfly?". I used to be 20/20 vision, but now I have a little bit of trouble seeing out of my right eye. I see better out of my left eye than my right. I blame my deteriorating eyesight on all the time I've spent on computers. (Been thinking about picking up a new monitor)

Speaking of which, I have one more Android class on Saturday. We've covered so much in a small amount of time (6 weeks?). The class sparked my interest in creating a startup programming company. Since my new job is only 32 hours, I'll be able to invest more time in other interesting projects. Right now I gotta resolve another "The application () has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again". Debugging sucks :(

My trip to Ecuador is coming up soon. I need to pick up snorkels and stock up on surf wax and sunscreen. Also need to review Spanish.

Halloween is just around the corner. This year I think I'll be a glow stick man.

Life is good! =)

Lately the weather's been terrible for surfing so I've been programming and studying.

Studying for the GRE is sometimes depressing as shit. Its simply rote memorization. I don't think its a good measure of determining intelligence; I think it emphasizes a little too much on a person's command of the English language and how much time they can afford to invest. I haven't been to school in over 5 years, but I've gone from scoring in the 1000's to the 1300's in the practice tests simply by putting in time. However, not everyone can afford to quit their job and study for a month.

Anyways, during one of my study sessions, I started wondering about what I could do with a Masters in Public Health. I started browsing for jobs around the area and found a position at Rady Children's Hospital as a Business Analyst. The position would analyze databases to do statistical analysis of health issues, demographics, etc. Hmmm.. I thought to myself, I might be able to do this job (other than the "minor" issue of not knowing any medical terminology). I applied anyway.

A week and a half later (on a Monday), I was surprised to get a call from Rady Children's Hospital. We talked briefly and they asked if I could come in the next day (Tuesday) for an interview. Shit, I didn't think I was going to get an interview; I don't even own a suit (with the exception of two wetsuits). I asked if we could schedule it for Wednesday. They agree.

I buy my suit the next day and come in Wednesday morning. During the interview, I find that the methodology for homeless data analysis is strikingly similar to medical data analysis (with the exception of the terminology and with one set of data lacking addresses). The interview lasted about an hour and by the end, I felt pretty confident. I was told that they would have their decision in the next week or two. As I leave, I see the next applicant entering in a suit. I'm glad I went and got a suit!

An hour later I get a call from Rady's. They want me back for a second interview... in a few hours later that day. I agree (and I'm really relieved because I don't have to buy another nice dress shirt). This time I'm interviewed by a whole staff of 7 people. They were a great group and seemed really passionate about their jobs, which in turn sparked my enthusiasm further. I simply love working with a group that wants to make a positive difference in society.

I'm surprised yet again because right after the interview, I get the job offer. It was so surreal. I think about it for a minute and accept. It was too nice of a learning opportunity to pass up so I'm deciding not to apply for graduate school yet (though I will take that GRE test in the upcoming months). Getting an interview, a second interview, and a job offer all on the same day (in this economy and for a position that I'm really interested in) must be a sign.

So other than studying (or lack of), I've been spending my time programming. My Android Development class has been going great. The instructor is very talented, especially in balancing academic theory alongside real world applications. I feel fairly confident in searching through reference code and applying it. I've been looking through Google's resource list and the amount of information is incredible, but time consuming. I find myself losing hours or days at a time sitting in front of my computer. I forgot how meticulously demanding programming can be.

My goal is to have a good, clean, and polished app out in the Market before Christmas.

Other than that, my friend James and I have our trip to Ecuador soon. I'll be gone from November 17th to December 7th. We'll spend 10 of those days on the Galapagos Islands! I'm very excited about the trip. We're pretty much going to bring a carry on bag with a few board shorts, a few shirts, a sweater, and a couple of towels. We'll buy surfboards there and sell them once we're leaving. I would like to brush up on my Spanish and learn some Salsa dancing before then.

Last, and certainly not least, I've been seeing an incredible person that makes me light up every time I see her.

Simply put, life is good =)

Class 4 -Layouts

Concept: Tips on Layouts within Layouts
Tip: Make one change at a time, then check if it make sense? Does it do what I think it'll do?

Use background colors to check if layouts are acting appropriately with its properties; fill_parent, wrap_content.
The image on the left is two LinearLayouts (each with two buttons) within one LinearLayout (with vertical orientation). Notice Outline setup.

My thoughts on Android vs. iPhone vs Windows platforms:

There's currently three 'new' platforms for smart phone development; the iPhone, Windows, and Android.

• The iPhone market is popular, but already saturated. As an indie developer, I wouldn't have the manpower to compete against thousands of experienced full time programmers.
• Windows has a history of failure. There was a rumor that went around class that during the unveiling of the new Windows smart phones, the presenter attempted dialing a number only to have the 'blue screen of death' appear.
• Google looks promising and has been gaining market share very rapidly, yet the Android Market is not (currently) saturated. It's also Google; you know a company's made it big when the name is being used as a common verb. I'm going to put my money on Android.

Class 3 -Moarrr Android!

Learned to create/navigate across multiple Activities, the Activity lifecycle, how to modify the XML using the GUI, and how to interact with the user.

Multiple Activities - The different 'pages' of the program. Each time a new page appears, its a new activity.

Modifying the XML using the GUI - Simple drag and drop interface.

Activity lifecycle - Need to read the state of the program. For example, if the program is still running while onPause(), the phone's battery will needlessly drain very quickly.

Interesting tidbit, the whole program re-renders itself every time the landscape is changed. We figured this out by setting up a count on our emulator, rotating the screen, and the count returned back to 0.

I like the humor of some of the Android creators. There's a public static int wtf(string, string) function, which stands for "What a Terrible Failure" and is used to report for an exception that should never occur.

Class 2 - Terminal Commands and my first App!

Learned some useful terminal commands, got into the basic GUI layout, created my first app, and uploaded it onto my phone. I'm picking up on concepts much quicker than I thought I would thanks to a very talented professor.

Terminal Commands:

• android - Opens Android Standard Development Kit (SDK) and Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager
• emulator - Run emulator for devices
• adb - Android Debug Bridge allows debugging, view logs, and shell commands

Flashlight App:

(I improved on the code by calling the screenBrightness function to increase the phone's brightness to max in case it's not. I've been browsing around the reference materials on developer.android.com and through stackoverflow.com; there is so much information/code. I'm just starting to realize the vastness and potential of open source)

package com.demo.android.flashlight;

import android.app.Activity;

import android.graphics.Color;

import android.os.Bundle;

import android.view.View;

import android.view.Window;

import android.view.WindowManager;

public class FlashLightActivity extends Activity {

//Tag testing: private static final String TAG = "Flashlight";

/** Called when the activity is first created. */

@Override

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

View view = new View(this);

view.setBackgroundColor(Color.WHITE);

// Get rid of title bar

this.requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);

this.getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN, WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);

//New - Added to increase phone's brightness levels to max brightness

WindowManager.LayoutParams lp = getWindow().getAttributes();

lp.screenBrightness = 1;

getWindow().setAttributes(lp);

setContentView(view);

}

}

Class 1 - Intro to Android

I finally found the classroom. Taped across the door was a plain white paper sheet with the word "Android" typed in small black font.

The class started at 9:00 am. I glanced at my phone's clock and reminiscent of my college days, I arrived 40 minutes late. Punctuality was never one of my strengths. As I entered the room, I was relieved to see that the class was still in the middle of introductions.

The course itself is a quick introduction to the mobile platform Android, an open source project popularly used in many of today's "smart phones". It attracted the crowd that you would typically expect when you hear terms like 'modified Linux kernels' or 'debugging'. With the exception of a 13 year old programming prodigy, the class was predominately middle aged software engineers working with big technology companies.

One of my concerns with the class is whether I can keep up; I haven't really programmed in years and the course recommended that I know Java. Also as pitiful as it sounds, I'm really hoping to make some new friends! (I feel like I'm in high school again hoping people will like me) I dread working alone, but I'm also really picky about the people that I spend my time with. I'd love to find someone that's on the same wavelength, that I can code with and bounce ideas off of.

Today we setup our programming environments. It's a tedious setup process. We did the following:

• Download and install the latest Sun Java Release
• Download and install the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment with the Android Development Tools plugin
• Download and install Android Software Development Kit (SDK)

:)

<3

Mix CD

Had a fun time making a mixed cd for someone. Here's the song list with some of my comments in italics.

1.) 'Little Boxes' song by Death Cab for Cutie (Intro from Weeds)

I can't believe Malvina Reynolds made this in 1962 and how the social commentary is still (or even more) relevant in 2010. The TV show 'Weeds' did a lot of variations on this song and while there's better covers, I think Death Cab's version really changed the song into their style.

2.) 'Single Ladies' cover by Pomplamoose from their 'Tribute to Famouse People' album

Pomplamoose actually modifies part of the song and sings "Don't make me sing this part of the song, the lyrics are so bad, so I'm gonna skip ahead to the Single Ladies part instead". I like this version more than Beyonce's.

3.) 'My Freeze Ray' by Neil Patrick Harris from the 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog' soundtrack

Neil Patrick Harris + Sing Along = Awesome.

4.) 'Home' by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

Right on fellow hippies! "Home is wherever I'm with you"

5.) 'The World at Large' by Modest Mouse from their 'Good News for People Who Love Bad News' album

6.) 'Marching Bands of Manhattan' by Death Cab for Cutie

7.) 'Californication' by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Thought this was a witty line, "Cobain can you hear the Spears singing station to station"

8.) 'Lawyers, Guns and Money' by Warren Zevon

9.) 'Fake Plastic Trees' by Radiohead

10.) 'Angel' by Jack Johnson

I listened to this song after a bad breakup and it gave me hope. "She gives me presents with her presence alone" I know it may sound a little cheesy, but it sounds more like genuine love.

11.) 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I want' by The Smiths

12.) 'Might Have Ben Hur' by Switchfoot

Used to listen to this song when I had my first crush on a girl back during middle school

13.) 'Streets of Philadelphia' by Bruce Springsteen

14.) 'Heart of Gold' by Neil Young

15.) 'Neon Bible' by Arcade Fire

16.) 'Be Yourself' by Audioslave

Like the message that we could only be ourselves, including our mistakes. Also has rad effects on the guitar.

17.) 'The Authority Song' by Jimmy Eat World

Used to listen to Jimmy Eat World during college and it brought back good memories.

18.) 'I'd Rather Dance with You' by Kings of Convenience

19.) 'Moondance' by Van Morrison

They don't make music like they used to. Probably one of my top songs that I'd love to hear live.

20.) 'I'm Hoping You'll Stay Around' by Flight of the Conchords

Girlfriends from the Past: "He doesn't cook or clean, he's not good boyfriend material...."

Boyfriend: "Oooooh, we can eat cereal"

Heard it somewhere...

Old men speak about what they did, young men speak about what they're currently doing, and foolish men speak about what they're going to do.

HTML5

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

Arcade Fire's 'interactive' music video; content that changes based on your hometown (location). Neat.

Soccer

Since we lost a majority of our soccer players (and I'm not sure where I'll be in the next few months), our co-ed soccer team didn't attempt a third season at the YMCA. Instead, I started looking online for random pickup games. Yesterday was my first pickup soccer game and there were striking differences from the organized games that I've grown accustomed to. Instead of a sport ladened by nugatory rules and regulations, it felt like futbol the way it was meant to be played.

On Monday night, a friend and I went to the designated spot and approached a motley group, asking if it was the same meetup group that posted online. A terse "Yes" was all that was said from one of the players.

The group of random people consisted of all age groups, genders, and ability. They gathered for the sole purpose of playing a good game; there were no introductions of names, rules, or even a single referee. Almost instinctively, teams formed with dark shirts vs. light shirts and the game began instantly.

What I found most interesting was that there were no limits on 'ball touches' based on gender. In most of my past co-ed games, guys were usually limited to three to four 'touches' of the ball before someone else needed to touch the ball. This forced limited ball control with guys while girls had unlimited touches. The rule implied that all guys were more proficient than all girls. I found it to be an antiquated concept that could easily be seen by certain girls who could dribble endlessly around talented guy players.

It felt incredible playing without the imposed handicap. It was mentally and physically rewarding in that I didn't have to count each touch. If a ball came high, I wouldn't have to worry about using my chest to stop the ball (first touch), kneeing the ball to gain control (second touch), and begin dribbling (third touch), before I needed to pass the ball (fourth touch). Throughout the night, I was able to use my speed to catch up to attackers or to pass defenders, and I had unlimited touches to control the ball!

For the majority of the game, I played defense with a random stranger that happened to hang out back with me. With no goalie, we were able to defend with 2 defenders versus 2-5 attackers. Although I had never met this person before, we were able to read each other's moves and cohesively defend against the odds. Without a word, one of us would cut off the pass while the other would rush the ball. For the first hour, they hadn't scored at all while we scored over 3 goals.

It was bizarre how few words were communicated throughout the night. There were a few shouts of "Man on", "You have help on your back", or "Across". It was just pure soccer. We started playing with sunlight and left at night, with cars flashing their high beams onto the otherwise unlit field.

Everyone played clean and we finally called it a night (promptly after someone was accidentally kicked from the lack of visibility). We all exchanged concise "good game" goodbyes and left as quickly as the game had started.

Ethical Relativism

Currently studying at a local coffee shop (LeStats) and stumbled onto some text regarding ethical relativism by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. He states that judging a particular action is dependent on the circumstances of the time and culture in which it occurs.

It'd be interesting to juxtapose 'fundamental' precepts across different cultures. How do Western ideas of sexism, racism, and genocide compare to Eastern? It's ironic how this human concoction of morality has no absolute right or wrong.

New Surf Board!

I finally replaced my fiberglass longboard with an epoxy shortboard. I bought the used board at a local shop, and I normally make a big effort to buy local, but was a little disheartened to see the prices on the wet suits. I quickly googled the $200 wet suit that I was interested in and found it for half the price online. That's not even competitive :(

Oh well. I'm so psyched, I can't wait to take out the board tomorrow, but I need to wait for my wetsuit to arrive first. I've long acclimated to this constant perfect weather and now I find 70 degree F water teeth chattering cold. To my cred, I didn't factor in wind chill...

Another Chapter

I'm officially unemployed! My last day at the RTFH was last Friday. A new chapter of my life begins!

Right now, I feel a wide mix of emotions. For the most part, I'm genuinely happy and optimistic; I look forward to the new challenges and adventures that await. I feel like I have a new found purpose (although I'm not entirely sure what it is yet)! Another part of me is relieved that I still had the courage to listen to my heart and to change things up.

For a fleeting moment, I worried whether this was the right choice. Logically speaking, it seemed so easy to stick with the job; I'd be volunteering to quit a comfortable career in the middle of a recession. I was never one to stick with 'sensible' though; flashbacks of deciding between Law School and Peace Corps came back. I listened to my heart then and I never regretted it since.

That isn't to say that I haven't had unexpected emotions come up. I didn't know the extent of how much I would miss the camaraderie of the office and how engrained I was with a whole community during my almost three year stint there. It's only been a few days and I already miss everyone I worked with (albeit some more so than others).

New paths always seem so lonely; I wonder if the negative reinforcements of leaving familiar faces will someday catch up to me.

On a happier note, this afternoon I took a friend out for his first time surfing and happened to catch some gnar gnar waves.

I'm going to revisit some of my New Year's Resolutions and see if I can catch up on some of those items, as well as add a few new "to do's". For some strange reason, I really want to try out swing dancing.

Odd Feeling

I always wondered why 'rich' people worried about their millions. I always assumed that they shouldn't miss much if they lost a small % of their fortune.

And now I find it oddly peculiar; the more money I have, the more I'm concerned about my money. I worried about money when I only had 2 to 3 digits in my savings account. When I had four digits, I didn't really worry about anything. Now I'm worried again after hitting the 5 digits range. Strange.

Perspectives

When I first heard of Father Joe's Village (FJV), a local homeless non-profit, the descriptions ranged widely between scores of praise and simply unflattering comments. While I didn't have any first hand experience, the negative rumors hinted that the large agency was pushing its weight across the homeless community.

FJV undoubtedly had a substantially larger operating budget than any other program, which it used with great efficiency in serving the homeless. However, since it was an agency competing against the same funding sources as those of the smaller (and usually less efficient) programs, the organization made a few enemies. The method of rewarding funds seemed like a self perpetuating cycle where grants with money get more money and a Catch 22 for those that don't have money. Anyways, that's another topic entirely.

Before I go further, let me give some background information. I work for a homeless non-profit agency (RTFH) that felt the pressure of competing with FJV for the same funding source. We had a homeless management information system (ServicePoint) that was in competition with their database (CSTAR). The problem was that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) only wanted one report (which would require only one database or a lot of work merging data between multiple databases).

When I first worked at RTFH, I avoided the politics as much as I could simply because I knew I didn't have the stomach for it. I'm not sure exactly what transpired, but whenever my agency would meet with FJV, it seemed physically and emotionally draining on everyone involved. Even though I had never dealt with any of the staff at FJV, I felt for my coworkers, whom looked so exhausted after each meeting. I continued to hear more rumors and a part of me began to build resentment against the giant agency.

My first encounter with some of the FJV staff was at Atlanta, Georgia. After a day of HUD conferences, we happened to run into each other at a bar. I sat down and had my first opportunity to talk with them. I was genuinely surprised. They seemed like very nice people and it dispelled many of the rumors that I initially heard. It's easy to talk about a stranger behind their back, but it's difficult to do when you have a face to a name.

As time passed by and large staff turnover happened, I inevitably worked more and more with FJV's staff. After a couple years of working together, and from what I've personally seen, their staff were always professional, kind, patient, and good natured.

An exemplary example of their character was at a committee hearing that questioned the capabilities of RTFH to complete its contracts in a timely and accurate manner. We had no executive director, a part-time (although very amazing and knowledgable) associate director, and three full time IT staff (with only one that had an IT degree and whom no one had more than two years experience). One of our the IT staff was just hired. Our reports in the past did not have a good reputation. The situation looked very grim.

The smart business move would have been to capitalize on your opponents when they're down on the ground. Without our small agency, FJV's CSTAR database could have taken over all of our city/state/federal grants, received a lot more money, and it would have been a lot less work for them (since no data merging between systems would be required).

However, FJV and their staff did just the opposite; in the spirit of cooperation, they offered to fill in the technical expertise that RTFH lacked, handed over the work that they tediously created, and trained RTFH staff on how to use/modify their reports. At that point, I worked with them long enough to understand that they were genuinely good people, yet I was still slightly shocked at the kindness of their actions.

I'm not here to promote an agency or a program. What does this mean to me personally? When I look back, I can't believe that I believed some of the things I heard. I feel a bit of shame buying into the rumors. Rumors seem to start and usually have just enough of a hint of truthfulness that it becomes dangerous.

I sometimes forget that life is just so different. This isn't the movies. There's no black and white, no good and bad. It's more complicated than that. There's just different perspectives, and sometimes, our perspectives are wrong. I guess that's what makes us human. We all make mistakes and we all try to learn from them.

An amazing week

Sometimes you have that perfect day. Sometimes you have that perfect week. This was one of those memorable weeks.

My younger brother and his girlfriend visited from Nebraska last Friday/Saturday, the beginning of my weeklong break. They had my truck and returned it intact after a cross country trip; that was already a great start. As usual, I found their good humor refreshing. Hours after my brother left, I saw some Peace Corps friends who have been living as dorm parents in Shanghai. They were such amazing company and I got to show them around a little of San Diego.

Monday through Wednesday I went to visit my parents and some high school friends up in Reedley. It happened to be one of my cousin's birthdays so there was a lot of good food. Wednesday night I happened to come back in time to meet up with some other coworkers in my building for happy hour. Thursday I drove up to Vegas with a friend; he had an annual gaming convention up there, though I honestly went for the open bar and pool party. We stayed there until Saturday. Sunday I recovered by playing a lot of Starcraft 2.

After much thought, on Monday I put in my two weeks notice to leave my company. I've had a job offer from another company hours after my notice was sent and I haven't even sent out my resume yet. However, I don't plan on taking it. I plan on taking time out to study for the GRE for graduate school; I'm hoping to get into a Public Health and Policy program. Sometimes life shouldn't be planned. Sometimes life should have that free fall moment, where things should just happen for that moment and nothing else.

Life is looking good. I have a lot in savings and hope to make the most use out of my newfound free time. I hope that my application to be a janitor in Antarctica gets approved. My lease for my apartment is up in January and I want to travel or do something new by next year, whatever that may be.

Altitude Sickness

I took a few more languid steps, then stopped again to catch my breath. At 11,000 ft of elevation, my head felt swollen and each additional movement felt like a hammer pounding against my skull. With only 500 ft. of elevation gain left, we would summit the mountain. After 5 arduous hours of steadily climbing uphill, I didn't want to turn around when we were so close.

However, I couldn't physically keep going either. For the past mile, I felt dizzy and nauseous. As I kept pushing myself, my chest started feeling pains. It was shortly followed with some dry heaving. I finally asked my partner to hike up ahead so she could summit while I would wait in the cool shade. She declined, insisting that we head back down immediately. I reluctantly agreed and we started the 8 mile journey downhill.

I've been on hikes up to 10,000 ft elevation before and would consistently get headaches. However, whenever I started the descent, I would immediately feel better. Any signs of altitude sickness would pass by the time I descended a few thousand feet. This wasn't the case.

Going down, my body still felt so depleted of oxygen that I would need breaks to catch my breath. To make matters worse, the dry heaving and headache didn't stop. My stomach started to knot up in pain. It wasn't an easy descent, but we finally made it to the car. The headache and shortness of breath lingered even when I was sitting in the car.

After a hot meal and a good nights rest, I still felt the effects of altitude sickness. My mind felt slow and I had trouble thinking. I made a visit to the doctor and took the remaining part of the day off work.

As I laid on my couch drinking gatorade, I watched "North Face", a movie about two German climbers and their daring ascent of the north face of the Swiss massif - The Eiger. It was a gripping story.

I look at the climbing gear in 1932, with no synthetic materials to wick away sweat, no carbon fiber ice picks, and no climbing helmets. Climbing has come a long way since then. Despite the advances in technology, Mother Nature is still as fierce and real as ever.

Neat quote

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Dr. Howard Thurman

Fridge Life

Found this neat article on fridge life. I really should be cooking more now that I have a home.


http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/storing-produce-07072010/

Apples
Store on the counter. Move any uneaten apples to the refrigerator after seven days. In the fridge or out, don’t store near most other uncovered fruits or vegetables — the ethylene gases produced by apples can ruin them (making carrots bitter, for example). The exception: if you want to ripen plums, pears and other fruits quickly, put an apple nearby for a day or so.

Artichoke
Refrigerate whole for up to two weeks.

Asparagus
Store upright in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with either an inch of water or with a damp towel wrapped around the base, just like you would have flowers in a vase. They’ll last three to four days that way.

Avocados
Ripen on the counter. Can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days once ripe.

Bananas
Store on the counter. Refrigerate only when ripe — they’ll last for another two days or so.

Beets
Remove green tops an inch or two above the crown. Refrigerate beets in a plastic bag to prevent moisture loss, which leads to wilting. (They’ll last seven to 10 days.) Refrigerate greens separately, also in a plastic bag.

Berries
Grower Driscoll’s recommends refrigerating berries, unwashed and in their original container. Blueberries and strawberries should keep for five to seven days; more fragile raspberries and blackberries up to two days.

Broccoli
Refrigerate in a sealed plastic bag. It’ll keep for three to five days.

Carrots
Refrigerate in a sealed plastic bag for up to three weeks.

Cauliflower
Refrigerate, stem side down, in a sealed plastic bag. It’ll last three to five days.

Celery
Refrigerate one to two weeks in a sealed bag. Keep in the front of the refrigerator, where it’s less apt to freeze.

Citrus fruits
Store oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit on the counter. They can last up to two weeks.

Corn
Refrigerate ears still in the husk. They’ll last up to two days.

Cucumbers
Refrigerate, either in the crisper or in a plastic bag elsewhere in the fridge. They’ll last four to five days.

Garlic
Store in the pantry, or any similar location away from heat and light. It’ll last up to four months.

Green beans
Refrigerate in a plastic bag for three to four days.

Green onions
Refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Herbs
Fresh herbs can last seven to 10 days in the refrigerator. “When I use fresh herbs and store them in my refrigerator at home, I keep them in air-tight containers with a damp paper towel on the top and bottom,” says Raymond Southern, the executive chef at The Back Bay Hotel in Boston. “This keeps them fresh.”

Leafy greens
Refrigerate unwashed. Full heads will last five to seven days that way, instead of three to four days for a thoroughly drained one. Avoid storing in the same drawer as apples, pears or bananas, which release ethylene gases that act as a natural ripening agent.

Mushrooms
Take out of the package and store in a paper bag in the refrigerator, or place on a tray and cover with a wet paper towel. They’ll last two to three days.

Onions
Stored in the pantry, away from light and heat, they’ll last three to four weeks.

Peaches
Ripen on the counter in a paper bag punched with holes, away from sunlight. Keep peaches (as well as plums and nectarines) on the counter until ripe, and then refrigerate. They’ll last another three to four days.

Pears
Store on the counter, ideally, in a bowl with bananas and apples, and then refrigerate after ripening. They’ll last another three to four days.

Peas
Refrigerated in a plastic bag perforated with holes, they’ll last three to five days.

Peppers
Refrigerated, they’ll last four to five days.

Potatoes
Store them in the pantry away from sunlight and heat, and they’ll last two to three months.

Radishes
Refrigerate. They’ll last 10 to 14 days.

Summer squash
Refrigerate in a perforated plastic bag. They’ll last four to five days.

Tomatoes
Spread them out on the counter out of direct sunlight for even ripening. After ripening, store stem side down in the refrigerator and they’ll last two to three days.

Tropical fruit
Mangoes, papayas, pineapples and kiwifruit should be ripened on the counter. Kat Bretcher of Cottonwood, Ariz., ripens mangos in a paper bag in a cool place, and then refrigerates them for another two to five days.

Watermelon
Kept at room temperature on the counter, it’ll last up to two weeks, Bretcher says.

Winter squashes
Store on the counter for up to two weeks.

Believing in Fate

Tomorrow's an important day. I have an interview for the Technical Manager position at my non-profit. If I get the job, I switch to management and we hire someone to replace me as one of the data analyst / database administrator. I would step far outside my comfort zone both in my current abilities and ideology.

Society seems to place a high status on managers, though I never really understood the reasons why. While I don't think of managers as the grossly inept people commonly portrayed in the mass media, I did think that a small professional staff could easily write off a manager as unnecessary overhead. Plus, I thought middle management was an antediluvian concept.

A couple events recently changed my mind. First, my boss went on vacation for a week. It was the end of the quarter/fiscal year so our staff should have all been busy. Without getting into the details, the office instantly turned into a wreck. I guess you don't appreciate someone for what they do until they're gone. Up until this point, I hadn't yet realized that my boss was the glue holding us together. After she came back, she was able to quickly bring the team back into a cohesive unit.

I also recently read "It's Your Ship" by D. Michael Abrashoff, a recommendation by my roommate, and it's helped change my perspective on what management means. I think the term management has a negative stigma associated with it; I think people still think of it as the "We do this because I'm the boss and I said so" mentality. As I read the book, I noticed the subtle, yet powerful messages that a manager can send to those around him/her. If I hadn't just seen my boss' invisible hand fix our company, my pessimistic self would have written it off as 'management bullshit'.

If you asked me a couple weeks ago whether I would hire an intelligent programmer or a competent manager, I would have easily chosen the programmer. They produce tangible results that you can see. Now, after seeing the crippling effects that even one negative employee can have on staff (and its negative effects on productivity), I would have to pick the competent, down to earth manager.

Although I believe in the company's mission, I'm still a selfish person. If I don't get this position, I think my time with this company would be closely approaching an end. I would want to stay around long enough so that the company can hire new employees, have them become proficiently trained, and then I really would wish them the best. I feel like I haven't challenged myself recently and I owe it to myself to do so, whether it's this new position or by facing the unknown again. I think fate will decide whether I get this position and where my life will go from there.

Good Feeling

I have a really good feeling about the rest of this year. I'm not only happy where I am, I'm also looking forward to where I'm going and what I'll be doing.

Movie List

I've been such a couch potato. Not only have I been watching almost every match of the World Cup, I've also been hitting up my movie list as another form of procrastination.

What I recently watched/re-watched:
Match Point
The Princess Bride
Avatar
Hannah and Her Sisters
Annie Hall
City of Gods
Stardust
500 Days of Summer
180 Degrees South
Stander

Future movie list:
Casablanca
Goodfellas
Dr. Strangelove - Updated 7/4/10 - Just finished
North by Northwest
Bus 147 - Updated 7/4/2010 - Just finished

My Dream Car

My roommate and I purchased cable this month so we could watch the World Cup. After the World Cup is over, we'll cancel our subscription. Until that moment, we're taking advantage of the extra channels.

I walked into the living room while my roommate was watching 'Top Gear', a car show where they review some of the fastest, most luxurious, and subsequently unattainable cars engineered. The last car ran at a maximum speed of 250 mph, faster than some small planes.

I don't get it. I don't get why people want cars that can go X times past the speed limit when in the United States, we still have a speed limit. I've been on the German autobahn, a place where they have an advisory speed limit, but no cap (except for certain types of vehicles and certain dense areas). I can understand why some people would want a very fast car there; the engine can roar to life... legally. I don't get it here.

So when people ask me what my dream car is, I don't have the typical answer. For me, cars get me from Point A to Point B. Don't get me wrong; I marvel at the genius of whoever created the internal combustion engine. Perfecting the firing time of pistons to generate movement sounds like magic to me. However, I don't see the real worth of accelerating from 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds instead of 9. I'm in no hurry.

Instead, I thought about what was important to me in a vehicle. I did a little research and came to the conclusion that my dream car is 'The California' made by Volkswagen. The vehicle is technically a campervan with all the accessories that would make any outdoor enthusiast envious. It has a pop-up roof (for sleeping), 4 seats (front two that swivel), a worktable, a two burner stove, sink, and a reclining bench. With it, I would cram in all my climbing and hiking gear. Ironically, it's only available in Europe.

Anyways, it's always nice to fantasize. I guess we all just have different fantasies. I could see how living out of a car, hiking in the woods, and moving constantly might not be appealing; kinda like a 3 second car.

Many interpretations

Just finished watching "Hannah and Her Sisters". Great movie; they don't make them like they used to. I loved this Leo Tolstoy quote that they used: "The only absolute knowledge attainable by man is that life is meaningless"

Another fast weekend

Friday Night:
Been having insomnia lately; by Friday night I hadn't slept for over 24 hours straight. After work I went to hang out with a friend. We went to an art fundraiser for a local nonprofit, then had wine and dinner since we were downtown.

Wine makes me sleepy. I should drink more so I can sleep easier. I agreed with friend in doing an "8000 meter challenge" (where you run up and down 3 mountains in 24 hours). Some say the challenge is tougher than a marathon. It should be in September so we don't have much time to train. My little brother called; he wanted to borrow my truck for a month. I agreed to that too. Maybe I shouldn't agree to things while drinking. Got home 'early', fell asleep immediately.

Saturday:
Woke up early. Packed my gear in preparation for a day hike up Mount Baldy; it's one of the three mountains that's part of the 8000 meter challenge. This is part of our training and we're not wasting any time. Picked up friend, drove to LA. I decide to try this hike in beach flip flops just to see if I can.

Made the hike up and down in 4 1/2 hours including breaks. We're both out of shape (at least relatively). Hiked up to 10,084 feet elevation. Saw snow on top. Neat.

The US vs Ghana soccer game was recorded. Coming back, we avoided looking at our text messages/calls. I had 3 missed text messages and friend had 6. We're tempted to ask a random stranger to look at our text messages to screen for world cup comments. Friend buys whiskey before watching the game; good for celebration or for numbing the pain of a loss. We do burritos and whiskey. Yum.

My little brother shows up. We finish watching the game and then watch new Futurama episodes. Such a disappointment on both fronts; we continue drinking.

Sunday:
Woke up. Started to watch Germany vs. England recording. Shitty refereeing. Again. What's with this World Cup? Too early to start drinking? My older brother visits. I don't remember when all my brothers got together. It feels surreal seeing everyone; I feel like we're in middle school. We grab pizza and watch the Argentina vs Mexico game. Even more shitty refereeing. Ok, now I can grab a beer.

I clean out my truck and move my gear into my younger brother's vehicle. I find cleats, shin guards, climbing shoes & harness, soccer ball, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, ski jacket, frisbee golf discs, and other misc. items in my truck. My brothers leave and I hurry to play on my co-ed soccer team at the YMCA. Then I grab beers with the other team after our game. I arrive back home and do laundry. Now it's time to read and write.

Tomorrow's Monday again. Where does the time go?

Currently...

Listening to Frank Sinatra Christmas Classics at the start of a San Diego summer on a random 3:00 am.

Barefoot Running

I've always been terrible about taking things slow. When I get an idea, I might do a little initial research, but I usually start running before I fully comprehend walking. Switching to barefoot running was no exception.

My first barefoot 'test' run was over 3 miles on concrete and blacktop. To my credit, I started at a very slow jog, getting used to my first steps without the protection of cushioned soles. Almost immediately, my surroundings seemed to come alive.

On a normal run, I could drown out all my thoughts. My body simply placed one foot in front of the other ad infinitum. Although barefoot running is still essentially the same as running with shoes, it was also slightly different; I became conscious of a new layer of thoughts and feelings.

Now my actions needed to be very deliberate; my mind and eyes had to race through each individual step, calculating where it was safest to land. If I stepped on what I previously considered even the most minuscule of rocks, I could find myself flinching in pain. I'm far from a sadist though. If there were only pain involved, I would have quit easily.

However, where there's bad there's also good. The positive aspects was being able to feel everything from the gritty dirt on the road to the blades of grass passing through my feet with each stride.

Aside from what I was stepping on, it was more important focusing on how I stepped. Running barefoot naturally forces your feet to land on your soles first instead of the heels. Initially it felt slightly awkward; for lack of a better description, it was like tip toe running.

As I picked up speed, I noticed how light my feet felt (and it wasn't simply the missing weight of some absent shoes). My feet felt lighter because I used less force when landing.

When wearing shoes, I would strike the ground without being keen on how much pressure was placed. (I wonder if this is why many runners have bad knees.) By not wearing shoes, I instantly felt the jolt of my first few misguided and harsh steps. I learned very quickly to only use the bare minimum force between strides. Not only did I expend less energy, my knees were also grateful.

I completed my run quicker than usual. Once again, there's a positive and negative side. I looked at my feet, finding that I had a few blisters. I probably should have built up my callouses by walking barefoot first. Even with the blisters, I found it interesting. My right foot is more dominant and had more blisters. Hmm, that makes sense, but I wouldn't have thought about it like that.

Some people say that I shouldn't run barefoot for a number of reasons, safety being one of them. Like with anything in life, I take the precautions I think are necessary and then leave the rest up to fate. (If we all lived sheltered lives, we wouldn't have things like motorcycles - which I have my license and think is far more dangerous than barefoot running)

While I can't say that barefoot running is better or worse, I can say that it is a unique experience. I'm glad that this instance of "running before walking" didn't turn out disastrous.

Chris Sharma

He looked taller in the videos and pictures. Chris Sharma, arguably the world's best rock climber, was giving a presentation at my local climbing gym. He talked about his experiences traveling and climbing around the world and how it sculpted his life.

Interestingly enough, it was his time spent not climbing that I found most fascinating. Chris seemed candid in his self-reflection during the moments he took breaks from climbing; he mentioned how it wasn't about the climbing itself, but what was really important in life were the relationships he formed with the people he was climbing with. That's a tough thing to say, especially when you're speaking through a mic that resonates your voice throughout a gym full of climbing addicts and more importantly, all your climbing sponsors. Maybe that's what made it seem genuine.

Chris and Robert

I sat down at a local bar and Chris bought me a drink.  He told me how much he loved visiting Louisiana.  I thought to myself, Louisiana, that sounds like a nice place to visit.  We talked a bit about traveling. That's the first and probably last I'll see Chris.  He was a random stranger that did a nice thing for a random person.  Whenever something nice like this happens, I try to pay it forward.

I was on the way back from work when I saw Robert standing on the side of the road.  He was in his late 30's, Hispanic with tattooed forearms, a lip ring, a black shaggy beard, and dressed in grungy black t-shirt/shorts.  Robert held up a small brown cardboard sign that had "Hungry" written boldly across with a black sharpie.

"Hey, if you're hungry, I'll buy you dinner at In-N-Out."

Robert gave me an incredulous look, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, grab your stuff," I replied.

Robert snatched his skateboard and backpack just in time to jump into my truck before the traffic light turned green.  We drove down half a block to the In-N-Out and we each ordered double-double burgers with drinks.

I didn't ask, but Robert seemed compelled to share his story.  He told me he was kicked out by his roommates for not paying rent.  He used to work construction for 10 years and described to me in detail some of his previous projects.  He was born in LA, raised in San Diego, had a stint in jail (where he got his tattoos), is trying to clear his criminal record so he could find some work, and found it irritating when his parents compared him to his more successful brother.  He also loves gardening.

Today's panhandling earned him a few dollar bills, half a roast beef sandwich, and a hit of chronic.  He offered me the hit, but I had to politely refuse. He's now off to visit his girlfriend, whom he cheated on before with some other girl named Tammy. He felt ashamed that he's homeless and didn't want to admit this to his girl.

At least that's the story that he told me. I didn't offer any money (only the meal) and just waved goodbye to Robert after we finished eating. It was simple; we both came in hungry and left delightfully full. Most likely, we will never meet again.

I like to think that Chris just fed Robert.

Tuesday 4/20

I don’t know who the mailman is, but we should leave him a note thanking him for all the hard work that he does.

Warm, fuzzy, vibrating feel, and slight, constant pressure centered on my chest (feels like slightly above the solar plexus); I can feel the vibrations pulse like radar when I breathe in and breathe out deeply.

My roommate and I both look at each other. I say, “Dude, I want some chips”. He replies, “Dude! I was just thinking that!”

Tingling feel in arms as I type. Senses seem heightened (in taste) and admittedly worse at thinking and hand eye coordination. Psshh... hand eye coordination is overrated when you're sitting on the couch.

Ate probably 50 sour patch kids since I started typing. They taste sooo sour!!!

I can control my senses!!! If my mind moves to a different part of my body, I can feel the different sensations. For example, if I think about my head, I see a picture in the back of my mind. This ‘picture’, it has a black backdrop, looks like an x-ray where my skeleton is outlined in white. The image it zooms in and focuses dead center on my head. I feel a high / floating feeling on the top of my head, feels like my head is pulsing in and out.

Eyes strained. Eyelids pounding head, eyes squinting, may be because of bright light in the living room. Light switch is about 10 feet away... I decide it's too far.

I blink and it feels like I only blink 2/3 for each full blink. Not X X X where each X = 1 blink, but more like X X X where each blink is only 2/3 of a normal blink. Adjusting rate of blink to compensate. Rate of blink for normal blink =1 and Rate of blink for blinking while high is =1.25 x (rate of blink while normal), wait… 1.5 x…

Right leg just twitched; there was a quick jerk on my upper thigh / hip. Tickling sensation in my wrists. Whole body feels warm and tingly, like being on morphine. Was laughing at something on tv, snorted out loud.

Concentrating my senses to ‘point’ to my nose and I feel my nose ‘high’; it feels more like a pinch on the bridge of my nose (similar to stopping a bleeding nose). I’m exploring all these new senses! I concentrate on my chin; it feels like a vibration on the tip of my chin. Slowly moving my concentration 'beam' towards my lips; I feel the 'high' concentrated on my lower lip.

My mouth is open, hanging somewhere between a smile and a grin. Right foot just involuntarily twitched about 45 degrees upward. I’m half sitting (top) and half lying (bottom) on the couch. My butt and spine feel slightly numb. Mouth still sour and now dry/thirsty from earlier sour patch kids.

I’m closing my eyes for a little bit in order to rest. Opening eyes to see Mitch Hedberg playing, how appropriate. “You have to sleep on the floor. Damn gravity”. “You happen to be a king? Well you won’t guess what I have in store for you. A King sized bed! It’s made to your exact specifications.”

Show’s topic is now focused on food; I’m hungry. Nuked up some hot dogs, don’t have any buns, so really just eating half a pack of kosher hot dogs from Costco. Sandwiches. Yummm… Subway. They have triangular cheese slices, can tessellate across entire bread. Why do they stack the cheese over each other so they overlap instead? Finished all three hot dogs now.

Eyes feel slightly blurry; eyelids feel like I’ve been reading for hours by candlelight. Who uses candles still? Sleepy. Sleeping.

Note to Future Self - Deep Fried Oreos

Dear Future Will,

Here is the recipe for 'Deep Fried Oreos'.

Makes 30 cookies:

* 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
* 1 large egg
* 1 cup milk
* 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
* 1 cup pancake mix
* 1 (18 ounce) package Oreos

You are welcome.

Sincerely,

Past Will

A New Year

New Years is the time of reflections and resolutions. It's January 5th and although I'm almost a week late, I figure it's better now than never.

They say all you need in life is something to do, something to hope for, and someone to love. At the end of 2008, I believe I had all of it. I had a glimpse of hope when I made it to an in-person interview for the international nonprofit 'Doctors Without Borders'. I was working with a great group of people at my homeless database job. I felt genuinely loved by my girlfriend and she simply meant the world to me. Well, that was before 'shit happened', more aptly known to me as the year of 2009.

2009 reaffirmed that stability in any form is simply an illusion. I didn't get the logistics job with Doctors Without Borders, most of my coworkers left because of convoluted work politics, and my girlfriend and I had a really messed up breakup. I know things could have easily been worse, but I didn't cope well.

I tried to get back on my feet. I have such a great support network, I shouldn't have had any excuse not to recover, but for some reason I just couldn't. My mind kept wandering, I half assed everything, all except probably the drinking. My bar tabs would regularly reach the three digits per week. I became jaded with the idea of love and I don't remember the names of the last three girls I kissed. I'd meet some new and fun people, get numbers, but I ignored them since I knew I was an emotional train-wreck. Despite making more at my job, I stopped saving money to travel. I couldn't even study for the GREs; the idea of it just reaffirmed my own uncertainty of what I wanted to do with my life. I even applied for a temporary janitor position (in Antarctica) for a quarter of my salary, only to be wait listed. I found myself depressed.

My New Year started off at a local bar with a kiss to another random cute girl. After waking up, I thought I faintly remembered her name. A few days later, I finally decided to make a huge leap (for me at least) and call her. Luckily I got her voicemail so I was able to confirm the name. She called back later admitting to a recent breakup and still having issues with the ex. We won't be seeing each other, but I'm glad I made the attempt. I'm improving (albeit slightly) and I'm slowly writing again, which I find to be therapeutic.

Here's some of my New Years resolutions:

Try not to become a raging alcoholic
Climb a v5
Develop an iPhone application
Write a novel
Save money to travel ($1000 per month goal)
Travel somewhere out of the country
Don't buy shit I don't need
Continue to be genuine with myself and my friends
Meet more people, be more open minded
I want to get rid of anger as a feeling; I want to understand people and although I might not agree with everyone, I want to do a better job of getting in their shoes
Play my first game of rugby
Take a photography course