Story Archive - September 2007

Making it to the Top (09/29/2007)

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results. - Michael Jordan

The afternoon sun is moving down in the sky and she smiles at me, "want to get up and go for a run?" We've been lounging away most of the afternoon on the couch enjoying each other's company. I sigh a bit, "I can't really run. My knees will give out. I could go for a walk." She smiles at the idea, "Sure, but we have to take the steep hill."

We start wandering the back streets in the hills of Saratoga and finally reach one that has a big sign, "Warning: Steep Incline." I'm thankful that I don't have me wheels in and we start the hike up the road. About half way up she points out a pomegranate tree and grabs one of the low hanging fruits. I stare at the tree for a while. None of the low hanging fruit is ripe. She complains the one she has picked is sour.

I stretch, take a few steps back and then make a running jump up for the tree. I miss. After a few attempts the spirit of Michael Jordan (my namesake!) enters my soul and I make it four feet off the ground to grab one of the ripest fruits on the tree.

We enjoy it together at the side of the road, red juice dripping down our fingers and our faces. Delicious.

Eight Things (09/19/2007)

Never use a firearm when you can use a cocktail. - Doctor Tiki

Guten Tagged! There was a goal to this excersize that involved listing out eight random things people don't know and then tagging eight other people to do it.

I intend to break the rules. I assume Spookee has come to the conclusion I would never do this. I did fifty random things one a few years back, so instead of thinking up eight new ones I will just provide updates to the items that have changed.

2. The DMV still does not require me to wear glasses when I drive. I have not taken a vision test since I was fifteen and a half, well before I had my bionic eye put in.

8. I have had seven girlfriends so far and declined two (old) offers to get back together.

10. I have lived in the same apartment for about two years now, but in the same complex for almost three.

12. I have been to fourteen countries.

13. I have been to twenty one states.

15. I am now 5'7".

24. I have thrown the goat with Wil Wheaton.

25. My black nail polish dried up and I threw it out.

26. I will respond to J-Man and often "boss."

28. I don't go to the library.

36. I no longer use the cane when I get bone ache.

45. I have cable and a 50" 1080p plasma TV in my home and it makes me sad.

49. I have almost three hundred dollars in rolled coins on my night stand.

Dynamite Roll (09/16/2007)

The thought that one can do great things is a reasonable thought. - Dal LaMagna

Can you do me a favor and not tell anyone it's a quiet Sunday morning for me? I went to bed at a reasonable hour without partying and woke up this morning with the sun. After a quick shower I ran out the door while the rest of the house was sleeping and headed to my coffee house downtown.

There's one place I like to go to that is a ways from the main street in Palo Alto. School is back in session and that means downtown is over run with the Stanford kids. As I grow more crotchety in my old age I have less and less patience for the majority of them. Here, at my little place, you get more locals who are willing to be removed from the true downtown to enjoy the quiet.

I was suppose to meet up with a friend in PA for bunch on Saturday. She gave me the name of the place and told me to meet her there in about twenty minutes. Knowing she always runs late, I played around at the Apple Store for twenty minutes and then decided to find her. I hadn't heard of the place before, but no problem, I did a search for it on the computers in the Apple Store. No results. I tried a few other spellings. No results. I called her and it went straight to voicemail. Crap. I asked the person next to me and he hadn't heard of it. Double crap. I went ask another few people and finally one said, "Ohh I think that isn't downtown. That's about three miles south of here." Crap. I just back into the car and head to the area of town she had told me. I keep trying to call, but straight to voicemail. I ask around in the new area and gets shrugs of ignorance. My soul hurts. My phone rings from a work number and the Imperial March (ringtone) blacks out. It's my CTO. I answer.

He invited me out for chats about life so I sigh about missing the lunch date and roll out. We headed to sushi and work talk was off limits. You bring it, you take a shot of sake. That's how we roll. I take a lot of interesting in understanding the other folks at my office who work with the level of dedication and diligence that I do. What drives us? Why are we not at the forty-hour a week jobs that we all pine for? What's the drive? I can't tell you. Neither can he.

Yep... Party... (09/11/2007)

As much as your time and attention are finite, the demands on your time and attention are infinite. There's no end to how much people can ask of you. - Merlin Mann

I've really been back in the country for the past two and a half weeks? It hardly feels like it.

All my friends just want a piece of me. It's ironic really that all I'm looking for at work is a bit of relaxation, but my free time isn't spent relaxing. I am driven to rule the office and to rule the living room. All labor day weekend I was forced by my friends to party. All last weekend: yep, party.