Personal

Modern Does Not Always Mean Better

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If you have read this site before (or you know me) you will know I am into mostly modern and electronic stuff. Would it surprise you if I said that not everything new and electronic was better? Well it isn’t. Allot of the time I do think that modern stuff is better, but there have been (more of them recently) where the “old school” way to do something has become my preferred choice.

What brought on this trend? I think it started when my dad gave me his old Omega Speedmaster. For years I shied away from an old fashioned wind watch. I was happy with my digital, it was easier to use. Then after having the Omega for about a year I started to wear it. I was hooked. I ended up going out and buying a newer Omega that was a hybrid. it was like an old school chronograph but it had some digital elements. But the classic analog watch switched me over from my timex indiglow.

My most recent switch to less modern, is shaving. I have found it more and more of a pain to get a good shave. I have a year old top of the line braun electric razor in my closet that I never use. It never gave me a close shave. It was more of a pain than anything. I currently use a Schick Quatro. It was ok for a while, but now it is just allot of blades (4 of them). Who needs 4 blades? Over the summer I read an article about old guys finding old fashioned shaving to be actually better than this modern crap. I finally got fed up and went surfing for answers. My own research and an MSNBC article got me to Classic Shaving.com. About $100 later I am eagerly awaiting my starter kit to a better shaving experience. A few months ago if you asked me to buy a razor designed 100 years ago I would have laughed at you, but that is exactly what I did. Hopefully I will be happy with my choice.

Next on my list? I have no idea, but I am slowing having a more open mind about tried and true options vs new and modern. Of course I will still pick my PDA phone and laptop over a rotary dial phone and a typewriter any day!

Far Away Friends

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Tonight I got to meet up with my friends Joe & Karen. They live far away (aka a time zone & 1,000+ miles). They were up for the holidays so Jayson, Gretchen, John, Zee, and I met up with them for dinner at a place in little italy that we like to goto. A lot of food and like 4 bottles of the house wine later we had a great dinner. It was nice seeing everyone. The last time I saw Joe & Karen was like July so it was good to catch up.

Joe is trying to get me out to Vegas again this June for another convention. I am all for it. Now I have to convince my boss that he is all for it also!

It was cold tonight, but besides that I had a good time. Now off to bed since I have work again tomorrow!

A Lonely Jew on Christmas, Well Not Really!

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What to do on Christmas day? It is really the only holiday that not being catholic I can’t do anything (since everything is closed) and it is not a holiday for which I celebrate. The typical jewish thing to do is goto the movies. I am not talking about a stereotype. I can recall countless Christmas eve’s or christmas days where my mom has taken me and my sister to a movie. Within the past 10 – 15 years it has been super crowded. When I was like 5-7 my mom took us to Rockerfeller Center for ice skating on Christmas day. That also was very crowded so we stopped going.

The other tradition besides movies was the Christmas day party at my mom’s friend Beverly’s. In recent years that tradition has been brought back but there was a long period where there was no party. I went last year. it was fun. This year the party is on, but I am off to a friend’s little get together. Some other friends are meeting me (any minute now) by my place so we can share a cab over. hopefully it will be fun.

Road Trip

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I took a work road trip today. Had to meet some people in our other office and several other people had other missions up there so we rented a van and drove up. Got allot done, and we tried to avoid the traffic from some storm that was coming up the coast. We didn’t really avoid the traffic. Got stuck in it from the GWB all the way to my house. I assume that everyone was stuck in it past that too.

After work I hopped out of the van by my house but instead of going home I hoped on the subway and went to heartland brewery to meet Jayson and John for dinner and drinks. I had fun. We talked and hung out. We need to schedule another poker night.

Man Shopping

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Today I took the day off and went man shopping with my dad. Man shopping you ask? Well you will get the picture in a minute.

I got up normal time I would for work and headed out to my parents place. My dad picked me up at the end of the 7 line. We headed over to “the dinner” for some breakfast. Nothing says lets go man shopping like eggs, greasy hash browns, sausage, bacon, buttery toast (some whole grain toast, my dads only concession), cheese, and 5 units of insulin (not for me). When we were full we headed out to the mall, Roosevelt Field if you are keeping score at home.

We were actually shopping before 11AM. Even in a holiday time like now, you can expect little or no crowds at 11AM on a Friday. We hit the Verizon store to setup 2 new cell phones for my parents and transfer numbers from their old provider, 20 minutes. I was amazed that when we walked out of the store the numbers where already ported over. It took me a week and 7 phone calls when I did it. Next we hit the Apple store to just look. I didn’t find any cases for my new iPod so we didn’t buy anything. My dad liked the 30″ cinema display.

Next we were off to Best Buy to get a new PDA for my dad. This man shopping trip was for him, not me. We have been planning on doing this for months, so we had a list. He ended up going with the Palm Tungsten E2. Nice color screen but simple since he does not need tons of frills. He loved the screen on it.

After that we went to the La-Z-Boy store. He wanted a recliner. We spent the most time in this store. Most of it was lying in several chairs. We had to test them to make sure he was picking the right one. He found a nice comfy one in black leather. We paid and we were done with everything in under two hours. Now that is what I call man shopping!

I then went back with him to his house to move him to his new “temporary” computer. That took a few hours. Then we went to eat by my sisters to see her and morgan. My mom staid home since she was not feeling well. All in all a productive day (for him). I got not much done for me, but I had fun.

Stupid People

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Why are there so many stupid people that take mass transit in NYC? Today I found my breaking point (aka the point where I stop being quiet and taking all the retarded people and start talking back to or commenting at the morons). It took being forced off the train due to switching issues and waiting for 20 minutes for bus’s that I couldn’t get onto and then forced to walk 20 blocks to the 59th street station to take a different train to work.

While I was waiting for a bus there was a huge line. I was like the 4th or 5th person on line. Not bad, until you factor in bus’s that couldn’t fit 1 extra person on them let alone 5. So when a bus pulls up I was slightly ticked off when this older lady behind me blatantly cuts in front of me and a few other people to try and get on the bus. After being delayed like 30 minutes already I opened my mouth to point out there was in fact a line. The lady played dumb for a while then got back in line. I mean come on. F–king idiots. Then some old guy in front of me started telling me how I should always respect my elders and I should have let the lady in front. I told him to mind his own business. I am all for helping an older person with a walker or someone clearly in need of extra assistance. But I am not going to yield for every “older” person who thinks they are entitled to cutting people waiting for ages just because they have some years on me. I am not trying to be mean, but when dealing with a public system (like the bus) NO ONE is special. Get over it. People are just inconsiderate, and don’t realize they are not the center of the universe. If they did people wouldn’t stop and tie there shoe in a crowded subway stairs, or get off an escalator and stop to look around with 100 people behind them. Also fat people would not push in front of you to get on a crowded subway car and then push there way into the car where it is clear there is not a reasonable amount of room for them. And then the idots standing at the door of the train would actually move further into the car allowing others to get on. The moronic tendencies go on.

I am glad I now know what has to happen for me to finally speak out against stupidity. It actually felt good. A weight lifted off my chest.

I actually got to work only about an hour late, but I felt like I sat in a steam room for that hour. I would like to say the rest of the day went better, but it didn’t.

Insomnia Sucks

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I can’t sleep. I can’t stand that I can’t sleep. I actually am up now (obviously). I usually stay in bed for hours hoping sleep will come. It usually doesn’t and I don’t feel any better so this time I got up and I am trying to do stuff to keep my mind off the fact that it is 5:30 on a monday morning and I don’t have to be up for another 2 1/2 hours but I am up. I have been up since 4:30. Well that was the first time I checked my watch. I have probably been up long before that. I am not sure how I will get through he day with almost no sleep, but I will find out.

Not much to do at 5:30 in the morning. I might watch some stuff I Tivo’d last night. Or just write some more. Not sure yet. What to do with hours of time you didn’t want or expect to have before work…

Yesterday Sucked

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Man did yesterday suck. I was right about not feeling well. I was going to goto the movies with Rich and Amanda but I started spiraling downward in the afternoon. An attempt at a nap didn’t help. By 7PM I had the beginnings of a full blown migraine. It really sucked. I ended up in bed and couldn’t sleep or do anything. It just hurt to lie there. The up side was that I was at home. When I am at home with a bad migraine I try not to take any meds and ride it out with sleep. Probably not the smartest idea, but I don’t like to medicate. I do it without question when I am not at home, so when I am home I just don’t.

I slept like crap last night. I was up at 3AM. The headache mostly gone, but I could feel the remnants of it. I slept or stayed in bed till noon. I am up now, and actually awake. Kristen is supposed to be coming over for me to help her with a school project. If it wasn’t for that I probably would still be lying down. She is running late so I write…

Feels Like No Sleep

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I was up till 1:30 watching a movie last night. When I finally went to bed it felt like I didn’t sleep at all. My head is all fuzzy feeling. My throat hurts from the dry heat in my apartment, and I woke up like 5 times between 8 and now. I have no idea why. I am just glad I have no plans today since I feel like crap. Maybe a shower and lunch will clear my head?

Yet More Cleaning

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I thought my apartment cleaning was over last week, but I was wrong. I ended up spending most of the day today cleaning. I went through a ton of computer junk and threw out allot of stuff I would never need. Why I had 3 iomega internal zip drives (still in original electrostatic bags) I will never know. For some reason I collected 4 cd-rom drives, 3 floppy drives, and 3 zip drives. I also tossed a ton of other useless gear like 10 analog phone cables, etc.

Things are neater now. I just have 2 old computer case shells that I have to find a way to toss.

I also finished more rewiring at my desk. Now it is time to just lie on the couch and watch some movies.