macapinlac.com http://www.macapinlac.com cause geekin' out requires an audience Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:02:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 Too much stuff happening http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/too-much-stuff-happening/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/too-much-stuff-happening/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:38:45 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/?p=427 Wow, there are times that I amaze myself. 2 blog posts in 1 week.

See, I’ve been trying to put some focus on other things besides computer and internet related stuff. I have’t even been putting a lot of focus on work. Lately, it has been all about getting out there and enjoying myself.

Hence the camping and the nature stuff. At the very least, I can say that I tried it.

However, that isn’t quite the whole picture and while I can’t exactly paint the whole story in this blog I will try to show as much as I can.

Rediscovering old loves like swimming has been important. I recently discovered the community pool that is 5 minutes away from the house. So every morning I’ve been swimming. At first, it was embarassing as I quickly discovered that older people are way more fit than I am. At this point, I’ve do around 15 laps in my 30 minutes while everyone around me seems to be doing 30+. *sigh*

Tennis season is back! That means a few very specific things in the new season: new rackets (apparently I am getting out hit by 16 year old kids now), new outfit (any excuse really) and more focused core strength training (which I hate). Am trying to get myself registered into tennis bc again, join a tennis club, and maybe play a few tournaments (time permitting).

A blog redesign. Yes I know that I’ve been saying this for a while now but it’s coming. At least the PSD is getting started already, but I told myself that I’d incorporate some flash component into my redesign so I’ve been trying to learn Flex. Brett help!

As you can see, there are a lot of little things going on but I think I figured out the main issue with the lack of posts on this blog. (1) Relying on twitter too much; so I turned off the weekly updates. (2) Too much self-censoring, which was fine when I got a tonne of traffic but not so much; so no more censoring and more spelling and grammar errors.

So let’s see how these life and management changes make a difference.

]]> http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/too-much-stuff-happening/feed/ 0 The Dreaded Camping Post http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/the-dreaded-camping-post/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/the-dreaded-camping-post/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:59:21 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/?p=422 Last weekend, I went camping. I hate camping. Camping involves doing things in the dirt. I’m not a big fan of dirt. It also involves nature which loosely involves pollen, pollen and Ritchie don’t mix. However, there were a few things and people that made my camping experience less painful.

  1. Queen sized inflatable bed with auto pump. Yes, I know it’s cheating but let me tell you how awesome having an actual bed was. My back never slept on the ground. Ground = hard, hard and sleeping don’t mix.
  2. The food was good. Apparently camping is a good excuse to eat a tonne of meat over the fire. Combined with cheap beer and wine and mix in some smores (it was my very first time making smores). Smores are awesome, especially when you have really good chocolate to go with it.
  3. Jaime, yes. I am thanking my buddy Jaime in this blog. Why? well he practically did all of the work. Not that he minded, he’s the camping type complete with retractable blade but let’s not get his head any bigger. I am only going camping if Jaime goes and agrees to do all of my work.
  4. Steve Jobs for the perfect IPhone OS 3 timing. Let me explain. As you would probably expect that there is no wifi access in camping. The new IPhone OS allows you to  connect to the internet via your phone’s data plan provided that you have a cell signal (and we did).

So that is it. Pictures haven’t been posted yet and apparently there is video of me being awkward with different nature things.

]]> http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/the-dreaded-camping-post/feed/ 1 Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-30/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-30/#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-30/
  • will out nerd all the other camp sites in this campground. #
  • you will never guess where and how I’m updating this from… #
  • nothing makes an instructor more proud than watching his students succeed. #
  • Guess who’s screwing Rogers by tethering their iPhone via 3G! heheh Just in time for camping phew #
  • To do list is 95% complete, but I did start it at 5:30 because the pollen-based sneezing woke me up THAT violently. #
  • Balance between 10 different email addresses is hard, what to use when and what makes sense to use where. ugh! brain exploding! #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-30/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-29/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-29/#comments Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-29/
  • Sunday mornings are my favorite time of day. #
  • this is soooo not worth the headache #
  • *frustrated* REALLY frustrated! ugh, annoyed and ready to stab people #
  • “evaluating” Final Fantasy 4 for the DS. Whoohoo, I know what is going to keep Ritchie occupied during an upcoming camping trip! #
  • Heading out to work, getting my iced coffee, writing stuff, attending meetings, teaching and then dinner with friends. phew! am tired now! #
  • ick, still feeling yucky today #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-29/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-28/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-28/#comments Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-28/
  • Rediscovering ATP tennis. Who are all these kids?! Where’s Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis?! #
  • Wow! RT @ShaynaSkim: A guy single-handedly starts a dance party! MUST WATCH http://bit.ly/wh4cA #
  • so mr project manager. tell me how to compress a 4 week design task into 2. while coming with high accuracy?! #
  • happy that I snuck in the workout time. now off to a meeting filled day. #
  • Is anyone out there in the “real world” still “integrating” things with frames?! jeebus noooooooo! #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/06/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-28/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-27/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-27/#comments Sun, 31 May 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-27/
  • going to work out, do some groceries after and cook breakfast for the wife. good thing she sleeps in pretty late. #
  • #thingsmummysaid its not the stomach flu. you’re just hungry. #
  • Ahh ignoring work today and going to enjoy playing in the sun… yay sun! #
  • can’t believe he skipped his morning workout to go install security updates for windows. damn you microsoft, you’re making me fat! #
  • Tired, very. People too talk much. Ache head much to bare with throbbing. Yet eat none food. *whine-cry-whine* #
  • Been marking assignments since 6am! Lost track of time, must get something to eat before 3rd all day sessions at work (ew) #
  • feeling a bit off as well. me thinks I need the auto spell and grammar checker today. #
  • feeling horrible about sleeping in and skipping the workout. I think my whole schedule will be trown off this week. #
  • nom nom nom I am so full! #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-27/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-26/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-26/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-26/
  • Bring on the food!!!!! I’m going to be at Eat! Vancouver and doing my best Hungry Hungry Hippo impression. #
  • it has been confirmed: archie loves lani #
  • Got hit on the head running into the slow swimmer who refuses to move to the slow lane even when EVERYONE is making the effort to avoid him #
  • self motivation is a complete zero today #
  • Grrrrrr! I can’t stand having to manage meetings! Especially when they’re not even mine! Grrrrr! #
  • craZies at walmart. who wants to return used fruit?! #
  • Mentally drained and tired. Need to not think about work for a second and think about bunnies or something. #
  • sitting at the starbucks organizing my week/month while waiting for a meeting to start. Thinking about my new blog post. #
  • I let laziness get the better of me today. damn holidays! another reason to own your own pool, tennis court and gym. #
  • watching No Reservations makes me wanna eat and cook. #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-26/feed/ 0     Enjoyin’ the sun and experimentin’ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/enjoyin-the-sun-and-experimentin/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/enjoyin-the-sun-and-experimentin/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 05:53:25 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/?p=409 Why can we replace the ‘g’ in words with a single quote? Why do I think I can talk with a cowboy twang?!

    Is it wrong for a nerd to enjoy the sun? I’ve been actively trying to stay away from my computer these days except for work related tasks. It is quite funny/scary the amount of time that I’ve actually gained from not being infront of a computer screen. I’ve also discovered that monitor tan can easily be replaced with an actual tan from the sun quite easily.

    Actually, it’s the start of a small experiment of disconnecting. I’ve discussed this in detail with my friends/family and figured that I should open up the dialog here (if the few of you out there are still reading). The whole context of the experiment is built around one premise: Is it possible for Ritchie (that’s me) to limit phone and Internet usage to the bare necessities?

    Here are some details:

    1. Email is included from the disconnectin’
    2. Complete removal is impossible (as I work primarily through e-mail and with web technologies) so it is all about compartmentalization. Limiting the amount to work and just important work
    3. Switch phones to make texting harder (oh god!) and limiting the Internet and email checking through the phone
    4. More blog fodder, writing on an online blog about what I do online is getting a bit tired. This revelation came about through a draft blog post called “5 things I regularly do on the Internet” lame-o

    I’m still getting things ready and defined. I’ll let you guys know, but for now I’m still on the Internet practically 24×7.

    ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/enjoyin-the-sun-and-experimentin/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-25/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-25/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-25/
  • Watching the last two episodes of Dexter season two. #
  • today is take the transit day for me. have to find my “fuck off, i don’t want to talk to anyone” headphones. #
  • Ok, now that the teaching is done…. on to work. #
  • Is installing development Virtual Machines… (it is as boring as it sounds) *sigh* #
  • getting addicted to infomercials… hummm redi set go!! #
  • omg! what is this bright orb emitting heat and light from the sky? #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-25/feed/ 0     Weekly twitter updates (cause it’s a good excuse to get some content up) http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-24/ http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-24/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 21:55:00 +0000 Ritchie http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-24/
  • is going to go shopping again! heh! #
  • can’t believe how some people can still kareoke without actually hearing themselves. *sigh* #
  • Team Ritchie came through. Now I can get some muuuuch needed rest! #
  • so ummm I guess it’s now (Jon and Kate + 8) – Jon? #
  • what to wear? what to wear… humm #
  • dear ugly… fyi you’re ugly #
  • Contemplating about actually updating my website today. #
    • ]]>     http://www.macapinlac.com/2009/05/weekly-twitter-updates-cause-its-a-good-excuse-to-get-some-content-up-24/feed/ 0