1. Started on retagging all the past post. It’s going to take awhile to get through close to 200 posts. I love the Tag of Popularity cloud. So neat to see what my writing is focused on.
2. Removed calendar widget and added a Flickr Badge and a Live Update via Twitter widget.
3. Upgraded my Flickr account to Pro so I can add and create previous albums.
4. Removed the Comment RSS feed. Kind of silly if you ask me.
5. Installed a cool plug-in so that I can display photos on my post easier with my Flickr photos.

Here’s one for the road!

I like Flocks of Seagull. And no. That’s NOT a wig!

• Albums and Pictures
• Ad banners
• Header images (those are not my pictures but rather part of the cool theme)

I even hired a guy to help me migrate my old content over from the previous blog to this one so that I still have a good archive. I’ll be spending the next few days/weeks/months adding images to my Flickr account so that I can get all the images on here. I’ll be creating my own header images as well. Finally, I’m going to implement some way to put some Ad Sense stuff in as well as affiliates banners (not that I’m even close to capitalizing on that).

I also need to start tagging my posts so that I can get my tag map working right. Let me know what you think so far. I encourage you to come back when the dust settles or while everything is under construction.

I became a charter member and and officer for my company’s Toastmasters club (first one on the list). Sorry guys, this is only opened to employees of the company. I’m actually really excited about this one. For awhile now, I’ve been to join Toastmasters but with this opportunity, I can hone my public speaking skills. That’s one area I feel I need the most improvement on. Hopefully this will instill the skills I need.

I’m still settling in at my new home. Worked out a weekly routine now in which I pick a day to visit the folks and spend the rest of the week riding into work (if weather permits). I have my laundry day and my grocery shopping day on the bike. I’m definitely been car-lite. Only filling up twice a month. Riding about 50+ miles a week to work and running errands. I had a roommate who stayed for 3 months and moved out at the end of March. Although she was cool, it is definitely nice to have the whole place to myself. I am able to leave stuff all over the place as I choose. It is certainly one of those benefits where you couldn’t put any amount of money on.

My file-server died recently. I had to rebuild and recover the machine this past week. Upgraded to Slackware 12.2 for 10.0. Not much difference. I finally switched from a Dual Celeron computer to a P3 500Mhz . Yes very impressive. If you haven’t already realize, I don’t buy the latest and greatest when it comes to my computers. Heck, the computer I’m typing on was given to me by a co-worker who decided to buy a laptop when her hard drive died. It’s a P4 3Ghz w/HT Dell Dimension 4700. Decided to put Ubuntu 8.10. Main reason to see what the hype was all about. I have to tell you, I like it alot. I am able to do everything I can on a Windows or Mac system. I’m able to use virtual machines to run Windows for free using VirtualBox. I haven’t tossed my other systems away. Still using the laptops to portable access and the Mac for my home theater system. It’s nice to see how Linux has finally evolved to something that is useful and can compete with the likes of Microsoft and Apple.

Another thing I want to mention is that I’m thinking about doing 2 things that are going to be life changers. No, not get hitched! I’m thinking about going car-free. I read, “How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life” and got me thinking about a car free life. It is very doable considering I’ve already being car-lite. Even if I have to rent cars twice a month, I am not paying more than I am on car related expenses every year. I’ll be sure I’ll post up when that happens. The second big thing I am going to do is cut my hair. Not just cut it for my own selfish need. I am planning to donate my hair for a good cause.

See even guys can donate their hair. I’m thinking about giving it to this cause. I may or may not make a video like this guy but definitely some pictures will be required. Again, I’ll make sure to post up here. For more information on hair donation, check this page out.

A beautiful film which not only advertises the Hutchinson brand but inspires myself to get out there and just ride. Most folks like the messenger riding through aggressive NYC but I enjoy the girl’s casual stroll on a Schwinn Sid. I’m so glad I’m riding today!

We arrived on Saturday afternoon and was immediately welcomed by our friends who had food ready for us to eat. Talk about getting the royal treatment. After the quick meal, we scoped out our site and I setup our make-shift shelter for the night. It was an easy setup and I was done withing 15 minutes.

The temperature dipped down to the low 30s when we hit the sack around 10:30PM. Thank goodness for the mummy sleeping bag we each had. It kept us warm the whole night. Only the part that was exposed suffered through the cold night which was mainly our nose.

In the morning, we indulged in more food. We practically ate all day and night. After breakfast, we ended up driving into the park and visit the Hidden Valley area for a quick hike to Barker Dam. There, we scaled rocks and boulders and witnessed a dried out dam. Saw lots of natural desert vegetation including the famous Joshua Trees of the area. After the hike we had a brief lunch and made our way to a beautiful look-out of the Joshua Tree valley. The temperature fell 11 degrees as we proceeded up. Snow lined the side of the road as we approach the look-out point. It was an amazing view, but the cold got the best of us so we quickly hauled ass out of there and back to our campsite.

Looking like it might rain, everybody opted to go home that night after a quick dinner and gathering around the camp fire. When that was said and done, we left around 8PM. I didn’t get back home till about 10:30. I was exhausted but was satisfied with the escape to nature. Can’t wait to camp again this year!

So the last 2 weeks came and went rather quick. I had the opportunity to spend almost all my time here at my home. Can’t believe it’s almost 2 months living here. I have a tenant / roommate living at the other room. It’s the gf’s sister who was looking for a place to stay since her job was relocated to Studio City from WeHo. It’s nice to have someone looking after the place when you’re not here. Except she works almost similar hours as I do.

The place still needs furniture. I haven’t had the chance to dive into my woodworking ambitions. Not sure if its because I’m lazy or I don’t have time. Maybe because I know that this new hobby is going to cost me some dough to buy tools, I’m just holding off on it for now. I do need some furniture so I’ll save up for it. I did get to do my first major upgrade to the kitchen sink. Not really something I absolutely needed to do but the old sink was leaking pretty bad and I was going to just change out the parts of the old sink. Unfortunately, the bolt on the handle would not budge and the allen wrench I used kept on rounding off corners in the hole. I just gave up after trying for about an hour. Ran over to good ole Home Depot and picked me up a Moen faucet. The job took me another hour and I was done installing. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The hardest part was ripping the old one out and getting wet as well as having rusted metal fall over my head because the bolt underneath the old faucet was corroded pretty bad. I couldn’t unscrew the bolt but rather ripped it out from the top of the sink. Here’s a few shots of the old faucet and the corroded bolt

Here’s a nice picture of the end results of the new faucet.

I have to say I’m pretty proud of my work. I celebrated by making dinner for everyone.

Last weekend I had the chance to attend a wedding of a very good friend of mine. We were friends since 6th grade. She’s finally getting married. This gave me the chance to reconnect with people in past. One notable figure was my 8th grade history teacher. He looked the same except more white hair. Also got to see some college buddies and their kid. It was good to see everyone again. I contributed to the wedding by helping them build their website and creating their slideshow. Fortunately it turned out great with their multiple day visit and feedback. My gf said their attention to detail made my slideshow better and made me look good. Hopefully we’ll get that thing on YouTube soon.

I also had a chance to get in a good ride on the same day as the wedding. It was a good 20 mile ride around Burbank, Glendale, Los Feliz, and Griffith Park. I found another route that leads me up the Verdugo Mountains and San Gabriel mountain area. It’s a 30 miler through Sun Valley, Sunland, Glendale, and finally Burbank. Haven’t done it yet but will be doing it soon when I’m feeling ambitious and adventurous. In the mean-time, my daily commute to work every Tuesday to Friday will keep me happy.

Shoulder Dolly

With my Amazon credit I ordered one and finally had the opportunity to use it today. There was a bit of skepticism in the part the moving party but I was able to convince a friend of my sister to help me move the refrigerator down a flight of stairs. Lifting the thing was a amazing. But when it came time to bring it downstairs, we struggled a bit. The person going down the stairs had the bulk of the weigh on him. We then continued moving both washer and dryer which was much more successful. Especially the dryer since that was light. We easily moved it down the stairs without any struggles. It was a matter of adjusting the straps properly so that item was evenly distributed and high enough off the ground so it doesn’t interfere with the steps. My dad even asked for it when we were moving the heavy items out of the truck! Unfortunately, I didn’t bring it because we had a heavy duty dolly and the place we moved to had no stairs.

Check out their website for more information. This will certainly come in handy when I get into woodworking (hopefully). And now an instructional video to go over how to really use the thing.

I think the main reason for this lack of “feeling” is that I didn’t get to go Christmas shopping this year. Just alot of shopping for the new home. I didn’t feel I took part of the giving. I even tried to replicate by participating in volunteer events every weekend this December but still nothing.

I’m not the only one who’s feeling this way. My sister, who is also in the midst of her home remodeling is bitten by the scrooge bug. Gone is our annual Christmas tree. Gone is the presents under the tree. Gone is the annual tradition of staying up until Christmas morning to open our presents.

I’m hoping this is only a temporary setback only for this year. I’m hoping the same time next year, we both will be situated and will be fighting to have our traditions restored. Maybe then 2009 will give me back that “feeling” of the holiday season. But for now, here are some pictures from recent events in my life.

Anyway, I still wanted to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas. And if I don’t post again before the new year begins, Happy New Year!