Looking back at 25, Looking ahead at 26

So I've been thinking about turning 26 for the past few days but tried not to spend too much time dwelling on it. I think I'm relatively positive about turning a year older. Yes, it's over the 'hump,' one year closer to 30, and my next quarter-century of life. Does that mean I'm over a quarter-life crisis? Meeebbbeee.

25 is a pretty cool age. It was one of the first years I've felt like a true adult. I'd been living on my own, post-college, for a few years, and had been in my career life for 6 or so years.

Looking back at 25

• It was the first time I was surprised on my birthday. In a work conference room at dinner, no less. Thanks Ty, Nai, and the rest of you who were in on it.
• I traveled to NYC with Ty and Paul and learned a lot from them in the process.
• I switched jobs at work, moving from Google in Mountain View to YouTube in San Bruno. I had to get used to working in a small office with the size of a team I could count on one hand. I also was part of a product launch team.
• I moved to San Francisco (with the moving help of Nai), after kicking and screaming about doing so for years. It was a good move, but there are elements of the Silicon Valley that I miss.
• I bought my first Mac. It was a 15" MacBook Pro, in case you were wondering. After years of being a PC guy, I decided to make the switch. I'm relatively happy with it.
• I worked at MacWorld, representing Google's Picasa for Mac.
• I got rejected from a love interest, who later became one of my best friends. I couldn't ask for a better Bestie.
• I kept 120 lbs off, for the 2nd year in a row.
• I fought hard at opposing Prop 8 passing in California. I traveled to many demonstrations in the Bay Area and Sacramento to protest.
• I saw Madonna for the first time in concert. Just my fate to get a flat tire on the way there. I'm thankful for BART.
• I saw New Kids on the Block in concert. It was my favorite concert last year.
• I donated 8 bags of my fat clothes to good will.
• It was the first year I participated in SF's Dine About Town (Universal Cafe, Choquets, Ruth's Chris).
• I went to Folsom Street Fair for the first time with my besties from UC Riverside.
• I went with Ty to spontaneously get his ear pierced.
• I traveled for the first time outside North America. I went to Europe (London, Rome, Venice, Berlin, Paris).
• It was the first time I held dinner parties at my apartment.
• I volunteered at Edna Brewer Middle School to help restore a mural.
• I participated for the 3rd year in Google's SF Pride contingent and getting a page on SFist.com.
• I met the B-52's Fred Schneider at the Mix during Pride Weekend. I had the balls to go up to him. We hung out for a little bit.
• I was a mentor for Google's BOLD (Building Opportunity Through Leadership) Internship Program.
• It was the first year I started to take photography as a hobby seriously.
• It was the first year I invested in the stock market. I've learned a lot.
• I learned that I had a passion for running outside. I've been running on the Embarcadero ever since.
• Living in SF had a positive impact on my dating life. I dated a few people, all of whom I could see with myself long term in one way or another.

Of course this list isn't comprehensive.

Looking Ahead at 26

I'm a pretty excited for what's ahead. I have a lot of goals and unanswered questions.

• Where will I travel next?
• What's the next step in my career?
• Will I continue my formal education?
• Which passions will I foster?
• Which passions did I not know I have?
• Who will I make an impact on?
• Who will make an impact on me?
• Will I be in a Long Term Relationship?

Only time will tell. The mystery is what's intriguing...

Runners High

I love watching KQED. There's always something interesting to watch. I do DVR a few series, one being 'Truly CA.'

The latest episode, Runners High, is a truly inspiring story about an organization called Students Run Oakland (SRO) in which High School kids are trained to run in the Los Angeles Marathon. They get free running shoes to start off in their journey. However the ultimate goal is completing the marathon in Los Angeles. These kids aren't given many opportunities and at the end of the episode you get to see how several of the students progressed beyond High School.

The interesting thing is seeing the diversity of students - both physically and mentally - and how they approached the training. Some were larger, some were smaller. Most were out of shape to begin with. Many people bitched and moaned but were ultimately surprised with how much strain they could put on their body. It's a mental game. The documentary isn't so much about the Marathon as it is an analogy for life. You're gonna be faced with challenges, road blocks and other things in life. It's really about how you handle them, set goals and train your mind to get through them.

I definitely want to train to run a marathon, but start slow.

I know I can run a 5K (a little over 3 miles) in a little over 30 minutes. Next goal will be a 10K. I'll practice on the treadmill. :D

The Trailer

Intense Break

I've had a good week off work during the holidays, but it's been really intense in many respects, both mentally and physically. I'll write a more detailed entry later, but in short:

• Amanda pulled through. My friend who got into a terrible car accident with little chance of survival from her doctors came back strong. She just recently blogged live from the Hospital Room. I knew she'd pull through because she is one tough cookie!
• It's a small world. Good people know good people. Having many worlds from different time periods of my life collide at once is highly entertaining to say the least.
  
• Communication is key. I'm thrilled that I have good friends who can be really honest with me, even when they know I'll be hurt. I've had to have conversations that I'm not quite used to, but I'm glad I did in the end. My whole outlook has changed for the better.
• Captain obvious is usually right. No matter how much you're in denial, the obvious will always end up being true. One's intuition can be ignored, but in most cases is spot on.
  
• Sleep is lacking. I had a surprisingly hard time sleeping in LA. I got around 4-5 hours a night, and not very good sleep at that. Not quite sure what it was, but something felt off.
• Shopping is hard. Especially when it's an all day excursion. I think I'm much more of a get in get out kinda guy... most of the time. Although, finding good deals amongst piles of crap is always fun!

I'm ready for a fresh start in 2009. It'll get off to a bang in New York City! Yay! I'll post some goals that I want to focus on in the coming year later this week. Details, pictures, etc. will be coming soon (aka. when i get some sleep)

All I want for Christmas...

So it's that time of year. Last minute Holiday shopping as well as getting and receiving gifts from famiy, friends and loved ones.

I think you hit a certain age where "things" start to not matter. Material possessions, while nice, aren't what's most important. Of course, retailers don't want us to think this way, eh? Especially in this economy.

So it's inevitable you get the 'So what do you want for Christmas?' question from family and friends. Sure, I'd be nice to own a couple of more DVDs or a new digital toy.

But really, what do I really want?:

• A true relationship; Boyfriend if you will.
• To travel outside North America for the first time. Experience cultures I've never thought I would.
• New memories and experiences with my friends.
• More time with my immediate family. I never get to see them, since I live in Northern California and they live in Southern California.
• More adventures with friends that are not in the Bay Area. I'd love to spend a lot more time with my High School friends, my College Friends, friends I met while living in Ann Arbor and Washington DC and other Travel Adventures.
  
• TIME in general - Time to read a book. Time to explore new hobbies. Time to actually watch DVDs. Time to work out. Time to have dinner with friends. Time to date. Time to myself. etc. etc.

I start to realize that what I really want revolves around: Relationships, Time and Happiness. Money can't buy you any of those.

Video My Vote

Now that I work at YouTube, I thought it would be appropriate to video my vote. I don't really do that much in terms of videos, mainly still photography. Maybe I'll beef up my video editing skills one day.

Anywho, I woke up at 6:30am so I could vote before going to work. I got to the polling place, Sunnyvale's Crosswalk Community Church, around 7:10am, already arriving to a line. It took about 50 minutes from beginning to end. Of course I voted No on Prop 4 & 8 and Mr. Obama for President!

Here is a video of my experience, running a little over 3 minutes long.

An Untapped Market: Birthday Cards for Ex's

So It's one of my ex's birthday's next week. He was my longest relationship, which isn't saying much... about 3 and a half months --- and mostly long distance. It was a little over a year ago when we first met.

Of course, to be amicable, I want to send him a birthday card. I go to the store and check out what they have. I particularly like the stuff from Papyrus, cause it's higher quality and more interesting visually.

So there are usually sections like 'For Him, For Her, Friend, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, etc.'

You know what they're missing? Ex's! Loving cards don't quite work. Friendship cards don't quite work. There has to be something in between. Of course, you can always send a bitchy ecard from someecards.com. But that takes no effort.

I swear, I need to tap into all of my ideas one day and put my Business Administration skills together.

Opening Up

So there's someone that I particularly care about and would like to get to know even better. We met online a while ago but randomly ran into each other in person back in June this year while I was visiting home in LA. We celebrated his 25th birthday together and had a fun time at LA pride... all in the same weekend. Since then, he's moved up to San Jose for Grad School. We've hung out about once a week, unless we've been out of town.

The problem? He doesn't doesn't talk. :/

I know it's hard for people to open up. It's usually really hard for me too. But it's been over 5 months and I really want to help him during his transition period. If something is on his mind, he usually doesn't want to talk about it.

If we do talk about anything, his responses tend to be super short.

I think he's adorable, very attractive, funny, smart, caring and just a fun guy to be around. We have things in common, too.

I just need to find the key to his lock...

Is silence really golden?

While vacationing in Hawaii, It's not uncommon to see a lot of couples. I mean... a lot of couples. Couples that are dating, married, on honeymoons, getting married... you get the whole bit in one place.

Over the past week, I've done a lot of observing. I'm noticing something I really didn't care too much to think about in the past.

What you ask? Silence

Can you hear it? Neither can I.

I've always assumed that most couples spend their time being chatty. Oh no. They're really not. We're talking a lot of time is spent being eerily silent.

I guess I've gone through life assuming silence is boring or the other person is uninterested if both people are quiet.

I mean, I know you have to be ultra comfortable with someone to get to the point of silence being golden, but I don't think I've quite been there yet.

I'll let ya know if I ever do...

Why YOU should Vote NO on Prop 8? (If you live in California, that is)

Okay, I've made a conscience effort in the past to not be so preachy on political things on my blog. I used to be back when Bush was up for president... and we all know how that turned out. Anyways, if my company can write an official blog entry on why to defeat Prop 8 in California, I sure as hell can!

I should first start off by saying that I donated a sum of money to No on Prop 8 last week. I should have done it sooner. If you can't donate, but live in California, you can also donate your time by volunteering at a local phone bank.

Here is what you need to know:

What is Prop 8?
Dispelling the lies: Fact vs. Fiction
Why Vote No On 8?
Who Opposes Prop 8? (We're talking hella people and organizations!)

My Opinion:

Prop 8 discriminates based on sexual orientation. Just as interracial marriage laws were defeated in the past based on not discriminating against a group, gays and lesbians must not be discriminated against when it comes to the basic right of marriage.

Even when you think of this purely from an economics standpoint, Gay Marriage will help the California Economy. Think of all the new fabulous weddings you'll get to attend or plan. In all seriousness, this will help boost the economy by stimulating spending.

Just Listen to Ellen for a moment, why don't you?

Clothed

I admire the older generation being able to be so damn comfortable with their bodies.

As I lay tanning by my hotel pool in Kaanapali, I can't help but notice how comfortable the older generation is with their bodies. Of course, they've grown older together with a significant other in many cases. My assumption is by this point in their life, they have a 'i don't really care what others think' 'tude. I truly admire that.

Here I am, really uncomfortable with my body --- due mainly to the effects of major weight loss -- cringing inside when I have to remove my shirt to get rid of my farmers tan.

I do realize I won't see any of these people around me ever again, so I really shouldn't care what they think.

It's just so damn hard.

Fall begins

Thanks GOOG for reminding me why I love the fall. It's about change... and I smell it in the air...

A surprising drunk call

I was chilling with Howie at his cousins (Kathleen and My Le) place in San Francisco when I got a series of phone calls from my sister.

I didn't pick up originally because I'm not a fan of talking to people in front of others. After the fourth or fifth call, I decided to pick up.

The conversation went something like this:

[picks up phone - drunk sister starts talking]

Sister: Hiiiii. What the fuck? I've been calling you.

Me: I know. I didn't pick up earlier. You got me now. What's up? Are you Drunk?

Sister: Yes. Two Things. Number 1... Shoot me an email with what you want for your birthday.

Me: Okay. Will do.

Sister: Number 2... I'm with Chris. You know how I told you I would never go to a gay bar? So he's totally cool with gay guys. [Chris' voice faint in the background: 'Ya. They're cool.'] I decided I'm going to go with you. Mom told me you're coming home soon. We're going. He's [Chris] going to be my buffer just in case anything happens.

Me: Wow. Okay...

Sister: What's that place you told me is cool?

Me: The Abbey.

Sister: We can go there. Or this gay bar in Ventura County. Paddy's.

Me: Why would I go to Ventura County? Let's go to the Abbey.

Sister: Ok. I have Halloween at Six Flags on that Friday. Saturday we're going out.

Me: Okay. Sounds good. See you later.

That was sorta random. But I'm actually really happy my sister made the effort to (1) Call Me and (2) Offer to be taken out of her comfort zone.

I never really thought I'd see the day when I'd go out with my sister to a gay bar...

Now I'm nervous...

The Big Two-Five

The older I get the more I realize how un-important physical possessions are. My family keeps asking me what I want for my 25th birthday, which is coming up on Tuesday. To be quite honest, the only thing I really crave are time and memories.

I crave time because I'm starting to realize I want more free time to pursue interests I'm really passion about, in addition to discovering ones I'm unaware of.

I crave memories because I really want to spend more time with my good friends and family. I've realized the smallest things make awesome memories. From working out with my buddy to spending more time with a loved one at home, they all stick in my memory more than a physical possession. I will remember 'red shorts' (a gym reference) moreso than that last DVD I bought. Although physical possessions can create memories, they only happen when loved ones are around.

I'd rather have awesome photos with loved ones than a new car.

I think once you realize this, you've truly grown up.

Taking Risks: The Next Chapter Begins

In my 20's, I've become quite the risk taker. I dunno, I used to be 'Mr. Safe.' To some extent, much of my life is safe. I've saved money, lived in Suburbia, etc.

A few examples of risks I've taken in my 20's:

• Interning in Washington, D.C., having never lived outside of California
• 'Coming Out' to family, friends and co-workers in full force
  
• Moving to Northern California from Southern California for a temp job, in the hopes of landing a full-hire position
• Beginning a weight-loss journey, having no idea where I'd end up

What I see as my next risk in life started a few weeks back. I was intrigued by a position that caught my eye at YouTube. (FYI - Google owns YouTube.)

I approached some friends, co-workers, ex-managers and my current manager on advice on whether I should pursue the position. I got mixed messages. Some folks thought the position would be taking a step back career-wise. Others thought I would be really good move and it was a good fit to develop my skill-set.

Ultimately, I decided to pursue the opportunity - setting my expectations really low. If anything, I would take the pursuit of the position as an opportunity to learn about internal transfers amongst departments.

The first interview was a video-conference screen with a YouTube director. I passed the screen and moved onto round 2. At this point, I was competing with a few others for the position. Round 2 was a series of 3 interviews - two with Product Managers and one with a Product Specialist. The first two interviews were in San Bruno starting at 9:15am, where YouTube is headquartered. The last one was in Mountain View at 3pm that same day. So there was a lot of driving involved. I also took the YouTube office visit as an opportunity to catch up with my friend Kenji, who's worked in that office for a while. Here is what the day of 9/5/08 looked like:

• Interview 1: Tom R. (9:15am) - I thought I rocked this interview. I was a bit nervous at first. But Tom made me feel really comfy. I thought I was able to articulate myself pretty well, given the fact I woke up early.
• Interview 2: Lane S. (10:00am) - This wasn't really an interview so much as a conversation and Q+A. I worked with Lane in AdWords, so I thought this went well.
• Lunch Break with Kenji (12pm) - Kenji used to be a temp manager in AdWords. He interviewed me way back in December of '05. It feels like forever. Kenji had a daughter recently, so he was sharing some funny stories with me. He definitely calmed me down and made me feel at ease.
• Drive to Mountain View around 1:00pm
• Interview 3: Matt L. (3pm) - Matt is a nice guy but I could tell he the down to business type. Luckily I got to gauge his personality because we had to wait a few minutes before the interview because the people in the conference room we booked went over their time. Honestly, I thought I blew this interview. Matt is a difficult interviewer. He asked a lot of hard product and process questions. He also had a lot of managerial type of questions.

After the 3rd interview I ran into Ben Ling, who recently started to work at Google again (he used to work here previously) after a short stint at Facebook. I was dressed up in a collared shirt and tie when it was like 95 degrees outside. He was like 'What you doing all dressed up?' I was like 'Ohh... I just had an interview.' I told him it was with YouTube. We parted ways after a brief convo and I tried to go find my friend Ty so we could work out. I went inside a building on main campus and funny enough... I ran into Ben again. He was squatting in an office. I found Ty and we worked out around 4:00pm.

I got home around 6:00pm or so to meet my friend Danny at my apartment. We were going to go bowling for Elizabeth and Kyle's goodbye party. After having a fun chat, I decided to open my work email around 7:30pm. I got an email from the director, Tom, stating I got the YouTube position and he needed to know if I could take the position ASAP. He even left me his cell # because it was apparently very urgent. I just about fainted. I thought I had no shot, especially after my last interview with Matt!

I was in a state of total shock and mental numbness for the next few days. To be honest, it still hasn't really hit me. I'm going to really miss my team, of which I spent nearly 3 years with. I'm especially going to miss my cubemates --- Brittany and Elizabeth.

The next few weeks will be that of transition. I'll have to get used to commuting from Sunnyvale to San Bruno (about a 35 minute drive). Thankfully I can take a shuttle from work if I choose not to drive. If I don't like the commute, I'll consider looking into apartments in San Francisco. I'll have to learn a new product, form new relationships, and make sure I foster and keep my current friendships with friends in Mountain View.

Wish me luck with my next life adventure...!

Here's a video what it's like to work at YouTube in San Bruno:

Running

I was running outside this afternoon around my work, just thinking and absorbing the sun. I haven't run outside since my time spent along the Sea Wall in Vancouver, BC.

As I was running today, I couldn't help think about my time there, and more specifically, about how my hostel roomie Jim is doing. I was thinking of shooting him an email just to see how he was doing since it's been a few weeks since my trip. As I got home and checked my email, low and behold I have an email from Jim entitled 'Saying Hi.' I guess we really do think alike, because he beat me to it!

Jim & I in Vancouver, BC

My First Table Massage

So one of the perks at my work is the Massage Program. It's subsidized heavily. They give you a table massage when you start, as well as one on your birthday. My massage 'coupons' have been building up over the years as I got the guts to finally pursue setting one up for myself.

Before I left for Vancouver, my cubemate Elizabeth helped me set up a session on our calendar system. She recommended I go for the masseuse Angela. This was a few weeks ago and yesterday was the day I was finally going to let a stranger rub me all over my body. Lol.

It was 6pm and I head over to 1600 Plymouth. I walk up to the massage room and greet Angela. She asked me how I was doing. I said 'I'm nervous. It's my first time.' She was totally sweet trying to make me comfortable at every moment she could. She explained the process and what to expect during my hour with her. She then left the room.

I then had to undress. I decided to keep my underwear on, but next time, I'd probably be OK with taking it off. I guess I was just nervous about what to expect. Once you're ready, you press a button letting the masseuse you're ready.

She started off fairly slow and then started to massage me in long deep strokes. It was pretty amazing. I'm usually ticklish, but I didn't have a problem. The massage cream she used also smelled amazing. The room had fountains and relaxing music to help set a relaxing atmosphere.

After a bit of chit chat, I pretty much became silent for a while. I think Angela had a good balance of talk and silence. She moved from Texas about a year and a half ago and still has a house there. She moved to Noe Valley in the city. I'm totally jealous!

After about an hour I was totally in heaven. Angela let me know it was time. I got dressed and we chatted a bit more. She let me know a few areas I have some issues, but overall, my muscles were pretty relaxed. So much for me not liking strangers touch me all over my body. Bring it on!

The power of positivity during a quarterlife crisis

Over the past week, I've realized how negative I've become in 2008. You could say I've become a Negative Nancy. Except without the vagina...

No more.

I've been really attracted to positive upbeat people as of late. I used to be one, but a lot of external factors caused a downturn in my mood. I've tried to pinpoint it. Whether it be the economy, my job, my apartment, love life, friends, the future... all of it became really uncertain.

Traveling to Vancouver, Canada really helped me put things into perspective. It wasn't the mere act of traveling, but also who I met. I've also have absorbed a good chunk of information from the book 20 Something Manifesto: Quarterlifers Speak Out About Who They Are, What they Want and How to Get it.

Basically, I'm in quarterlife crisis mode. You know what? It's normal. Everyone goes through it, just not all at the same age.

At this point, the best solution is creating short term goals and worrying less about the long term. I've also learned I can't compare myself to others. There will always be someone better, faster, stronger, more attractive, intelligent, wealthier, etc.

I've got to focus on what makes me unique as a human. After all, I was put on this earth for a reason.

Today is the day I focus less on the bad and focus more on the good. It's not Thanksgiving quite yet, and it's okay because I don't need the calories. ;)

Random Day Off

You know, I took a semi-planned random day off of work today. No real reason.

It's what I call a sanity check day. I have a ton of vacation time, but need to get some random stuff done. Like Target runs, cleaning, relaxing and catching up on TV, etc.

For lunch, I went to Baja Fresh and got some grilled Mahi Mahi fish tacos. Those were pretty tasty! Plus, when did Baja Fresh get mango salsa? It's fantastic! I miss these things because I rarely go out to eat. (Thanks GOOG!)

When I went to the Baja Fresh, I realized there is a Nizario's Pizza in the same shopping plaza. The same Nizario's Pizza in the Castro in SF! I had no idea they had multiple locations (3 in total). It's nice to know drunken comfort food isn't too far away from my apartment, should I choose to have it (or get drunk... cause I never really drink). I have had the Castro Special (Spinach, Feta, Pesto and Chicken)... and it's tasty.

I worked out in the evening and made a quick dinner from random ingredients. Just so you know, Frank's Red Hot Sauce, Grilled Chicken Breast, Brown Rice and a small sprinkle of Blue Cheese totally work! Super tasty! If only I had celery around, it would have been complete...

Back to the daily grind tomorrow. Good news is I'm going to the Giants vs. Nationals baseball game in the evening. Sweet!

Getting back into routines; Developing Interests

Sometimes I feel like I've lost my most passionate routines. I'm not really sure what's gone on the past 7 or so months in 2008.

I personally and professionally haven't accomplished very much (relative to 2007). It's like the feeling you have when you get a paycheck, spend it, and have nothing to show for it. Being that it's half way through 2008, it's a bit disturbing.

I think my daily and weekly routines changed when I left for Ann Arbor back in Q4 of 2007. (Which by the way, was an amazing experience)

In Ann Arbor my daily weekday routine was:

• Waking up at 8 am or so, if I didn't have a Personal Training session with Jimmy... otherwise It would be closer to 6:30am. I would leave with Kevin, my roomie, to go to work between 8:40am and 9am.
  
• Get to work, make breakfast, chat with Brit and John for a bit, then tackle my email inbox.
• My day was usually scattered with scheduled and impromptu meetings.
• Lunch was usually around noon. Brit and I would usually make our usual salads and either have a desk lunch or take out some time to have lunch with each other or Ann Arbor folk.
• I'd usually ping Kevin to ask when he'd be ready to leave work... usually around 6pm or so. If he had plans, I'd usually stay a bit later or run errands.
• If it was a 'work out day,' I'd head over to Gold's Gym off of Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
• I'd stay for about an hour, doing cardio and some machine/weights. I'd occasionally run into co-workers or familiar faces at the gym. If I was up for it, I'd end my workout in the Sauna and occasionally chat with someone new. It might be a professor at U of M or a local.
• After a workout, I'd decide whether or not to make dinner (if I had something) or grab something nearby. Working in a regional office was a bit different because Google usually doesn't serve dinner.
• I'd end my weekday evening watching TV with Kev, read a magazine or catch up on personal email. I watched less TV because I didn't have a DVR.
  
• I usually liked to fall asleep watching local news because it was something different and I got to learn about Michigan.

On A Weekly or Semi-Weekly Basis in Ann Arbor:

• I'd explore Downtown Ann Arbor or a different part of Michigan.
• I'd try a new restaurant or frequent a regular favorite.
• I'd go on a weekend trip (Chicago, Toronto, DC, etc.) or meet with friends in A2.
• I'd go out clubbing to a new place.
• I'd try to make a local Google(r) thrown event such as a pub crawl, activity or birthday party.
• I'd make a shopping trip to Meijer, Trader Joes or Whole Foods. (I LOVED MEIJER!)
• I'd watch Desperate Housewives with Kevin on Sundays.
• I'd get to work late on Wednesday just so I could chat with the housekeeper Carol. She usually arrived at 9am on the spot. Chatting with her for 15 minutes made my week. She was an amazing woman!
• I'd BLOG! (and edit photos)
• I'd clean up, even though I had a housekeeper.

Now my daily routine in the Bay Area is sorta out of whack. I haven't worked out as regularly with Nai as I once did. I'm letting my DVR fill-up. I'm leaving magazines un-read. I'm not uploading photos nearly as much. I'm not blogging.

What I can say is that I'm trying to get back on focusing on myself again (my original 2008 manta). I want to develop some sort of interests and extra-curricular activities.

Thoughts on current and new interests:

• I'm gonna start limiting clubbing to once a month or special occasions. (birthdays, etc.) Once I got back to the Bay Area, clubbing was pretty much the only consistent thing I did on a weekend --- at least one day a week. It wasn't uncommon for me to be in SF 3 days in a row (Fri-Sun). The good things is that I meant new friends and acquaintances this way. It was also how I figured I'd meet guys for dates.
• I want to start reading... books. Whether they be self-help, fiction, non-fiction, etc. I bought a bunch of books on Amazon last month. I got through a couple, but I want to read more... and consistently.
• I want to explore the outdoors a bit more. Whether it be hiking, biking, running, etc. I have started to run outside on occasion and went on a hike last weekend.
• Attend more things 'arts related.' Whether it be dance, theater, concerts, etc. I bought some concert tickets and have been to a few dance performances recently.
• Want to spend time with friends I really care about. Playing 'Cranium' with Nai and Audrey last weekend reminded me how doing simple things, with those you love and care about, is more gratifying than looking at eye-candy at a club in SF.
• Take up a sport. I really think Tennis is high up on my list. Also, after meeting with Shiun a few weeks ago, he reminded me how team sports, like Softball, help you build another base of close friends.
• I want to start watching movies again. This is where I get to experience things outside my comfort zone and have my eyes opened to new experiences. Being from LA, I used to watch movies all the time. I have a ton of un-opened movies and TV DVDs waiting to be watched!
• Get out and learn how to use my camera... and how to edit photos properly. I've been really good about bringing my DSLR out on excursions, but the more I do it, the better practice I'll get!
• Continue to work out... regularly.
• Start volunteering. I'm a mentor at work... but I want to do more. Volunteering at Alemany Farms through Google Serve opened my eyes on how much out there you can do for others.
• Travel! Explore! Taking a nice hiking excursion with Peter in Saratoga last weekend reminded me how much of the Bay Area I have yet to experience. Weekend trips in the Bay are a must!

It's a start... now I must execute!

The US Government Needs A Proof Reader

So I got both my federal and state refund checks in the mail today. I won't complain about how paltry they are (bitch... is that all?), anywho...

As I was opening up the envelope from the federal government I couldn't help but notice a HUGE spelling error on the back of the envelope.

Can you find it?