| Wow, that was quick |
[Jan. 14th, 2010|11:58 pm] |
January 14, and I had some potato chips today. Didn't even notice until after I had the bag open. Well, 13 out of 14 days ain't bad for keeping a resolution... right?
As for the other resolutions, I'm doing OK. I even started reading "A Study in Scarlet" (the first Sherlock Holmes novel) on my iPhone (public domain ebook via Project Gutenberg). |
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| Happy New Year! and Resolutions |
[Jan. 4th, 2010|04:06 pm] |
Happy New Year! I just received my copy of Final Fantasy 13 in the mail today, so before I go jump in on that, I thought I'd write up my 2010 thoughts and resolutions. Otherwise I won't get around to it for at least another week.
I haven't been blogging much lately, due to throwing my random thoughts onto Twitter instead. I've been averaging more than two "tweets" a day there, including replies to others.
2009, in a word, was a mulligan. I'd like a do-over, please. About the only good thing was that I ended up not losing money in the stock trading, which was relatively easy to do since the US stock market was up almost 30% in calendar 2009. Well, I also got to go back to Japan in early September, and that was fun.
The defining event of 2009 was my mom's lengthy hospitalization starting in February, but my aunt also had a heart attack and spent time in the hospital in late September.
I also let myself go a bit, due partially to stress but also due to being kind of sedentary.
So with that in mind, here are my three resolutions for 2010.
1. Get more exercise. Specifically, at least 15-30 minutes a day of walking or similar exercise (i.e. Wii Fit or the like), and 30 minutes of cardio exercise 3-5 times a week. So far, so good.
2. Eat healthier. Specifically, no potato chips. I have more on this, but I can't implement all of this until I'm cooking for myself more often, so I'll keep this simple for now. So far, so good.
3. Read more. I was surprised that I only read one book in 2009, and I didn't think it was very good. That's probably my lowest number since I learned how to read. So, my goal is at least two in 2010. (If I re-read a book, it only counts as half.) Gotta set reachable goals, right?
Anyway, may 2010 be safe, happy, and healthy for all. |
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| Leaving on a jet plane... |
[Sep. 11th, 2009|04:38 pm] |
...this time I'm leaving from Narita Airport. Should be back in the USA in a matter of about 11 hours. No need to leave the lights on for me. Posted via LiveJournal.app. |
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| Me versus Schedules |
[Aug. 27th, 2009|10:51 am] |
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So I planned my Japan trip so that I would at least get back in time for the September 12 Cal game. I'll miss the 9/5 home opener. But, it turns out that I probably picked the wrong game to miss. The day I head back to San Francisco is the day of another school festival I was invited to. Sigh, can't make it, bummer. |
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| Me versus August |
[Aug. 15th, 2009|07:27 pm] |
Haven't written for a while. I've been fighting a lingering cough for the better part of a month. That's just the way it is with me and coughs, especially after a cold.
Because of this, I have barely left the house this whole month. I feel OK, but if I do anything more strenuous than walking a couple of flights of stairs I start coughing more.
Anyway, I also bought a ticket to return to Japan next month for vacation. I'll be leaving Sept. 3 and coming back Sept. 11. Part of the reason is so that I can finally close out my bank accounts; the other reason is so that I can visit my last school's festival, which will be Sept. 9 and 10 (I'm planning on just going the first day).
I'll also visit my friend Steve, who since the last time I saw him moved from Fudai, Iwate (200-odd miles northeast of Tokyo) to Dazaifu, Fukuoka (300-odd miles southwest of Tokyo). Quite the scenery change. |
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| Me versus the Streets of San Francisco |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|07:43 pm] |
I am now the proud owner of a brand new bicycle. After much deliberation, I bought it from Warm Planet Bikes, which is right next to the Caltrain station on 4th and Townsend. I also bought a helmet and a lock.
So far so good. Except, since I lost the key to my bike lock in Japan back in... February last year (I think, something like that), I haven't ridden a bicycle for over a year.
Also, Nagoya is a pretty flat city. San Francisco is not.
So I rode around for about half an hour yesterday, and boy are my legs tired. I gave up on the last half mile or so (uphill on Broadway from Embarcadero) and walked the rest of the way.
Let's see if I can get my biking mojo back. |
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| Me versus Jury Duty |
[Jun. 12th, 2009|11:11 pm] |
I was called for jury duty this week. Or rather, I wasn't called.
They have a system where they call a bunch of people in for a particular week, and these people are separated into groups. Then, the night before, you're supposed to call in (they have a website, too) to see if your group needs to show up the next day.
So each day this week I called in (or checked the website, it even works from my phone) and they told me my presence was not required. 5-for-5, whoo hoo! In fact, this week, only about 1/3 of the groups were required to show up.
The last time I had jury duty, I actually was picked for and served on the jury. This was back in 2004, and it was a car accident case. The best thing about it was three paid days off from work.
No such luck for me this time. Oh well. |
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| Me versus Street Fairs |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|08:46 pm] |
So I've been slacking on blogging. So sue me.
My days have been pretty slacktastic: day trading and taking care of my mom (giving her medicine, making sure she's hydrated) during the day. Video games and TV at night. Boring.
But it's June already, and in San Francisco that means it's street fair season. From now on through the summer, most if not every weekend there will be a street fair somewhere.
I've mentioned this before, but I hate parades, street fairs, marathons, and anything that blocks up the streets and makes it harder for me to get where I want to go. Now, since I haven't really been going anywhere lately, this hasn't been much of a problem. But this weekend is different.
That's right, the street fair is coming to my block.
Hate, hate, hate. |
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| Two weeks? |
[Apr. 18th, 2009|05:48 pm] |
It's been two weeks since I wrote here last? Yeesh. Well, I haven't actually done that much to write about. Mom's home from the hospital, so the daily routine requires a lot less travel. Other than that, nothing to write home about, so to speak.
Not much news about me, so I'll pass on some interesting stuff I've picked up over the last couple of weeks:
Giant spider leaving SF. We'll miss him. Or her. It. Whatever.
Giants are having a Star Trek Night on April 27. I'm sorely tempted.
Dustin Pedroia is a jerk.
The Brewers' RF is named Corey Hart.
(If you followed me on Twitter, you'd have read all this already. :) It's much easier for me to type out a line or two on the phone every once in a while than write up a few paragraphs a couple of times a week.) |
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| Safe at home |
[Apr. 3rd, 2009|10:59 pm] |
Mom made it home safely this afternoon. Yesterday the bed was delivered (the air pump was defective, so a new one was delivered this morning).
She's not out of the woods yet, she still has a fair amount of healing left and she's still mostly bedridden, but still it's great to have her home. |
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| I was right the first time |
[Apr. 1st, 2009|01:53 pm] |
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I was right the first time, mom is coming home on Friday. Yesterday they said it was going to be Thursday (tomorrow), but they changed it due to the delivery of the bed and other equipment; that's coming tomorrow. |
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| Homeward bound...? |
[Mar. 31st, 2009|11:45 am] |
This last week my mom was cleared to start physical therapy. She's quite weak due to being bedridden for the last 7 weeks or so, so even just sitting in a wheelchair for an hour gets her tired out. Talked to the doctor today, he said mom is medically cleared to leave the nursing facility. She still needs to work on getting stronger, but everything has healed nicely. The release date is this Friday, assuming we get all the preparations done. So now we have 3 days to remodel her and my dad's bedroom, and get all the equipment ready. But that's ok, I'll live with that. Posted via LiveJournal.app. |
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| Change comes from within |
[Mar. 14th, 2009|04:00 pm] |
Hmm, haven't written in over a week. Probably because not much has changed in the last week. Still feeding my mom breakfast every day, still spending hours each day at the nursing facility.
Because she's healing from a bedsore, the nurse has to shift her position every two hours. Pretty much impossible for her to get an extended period of rest.
Me, I picked up some manga at Kinokuniya to pass the time. Been a while since I've read Japanese, so I'm taking it slowly. |
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| More Miscellany |
[Mar. 5th, 2009|10:14 pm] |
Mom is recovering from the latest surgery, which was to close up the wounds. Talked to the doctor today, he said things are healing well and things are on track to get her home before the end of the month.
She's back on solid foods now, too. It's a little surreal for me to feed my mom breakfast, but that's what I did this morning. My dad gets lunch and dinner duty.
Otherwise, I've been semi-passively watching the market crash. Yesterday there was a "sucker's rally" where prices went up a bit, then resumed going down hard today. Sigh. So hard to be optimistic these days. |
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| Optimism is good |
[Mar. 1st, 2009|06:35 pm] |
Talked to the doctor this evening. He said my mom is doing much better now, and she's strong enough to have surgery to close up the bedsore wound tomorrow morning. She's going to need general anesthetic and a breathing tube again. Last time it took almost a week to get the breathing tube out, since my mom's trachea is a bit constricted due to a past tracheotomy. So I joked with her, "If you have anything to say, say it today." She made a face at me. Optimistic case is that if recovery goes as planned, she'll be home in about 2 weeks. I can live with that. Optimism is good. Can't say I'm glad this is happening, but I am kinda glad I'm home in SF while it's happening. It would suck being half a world away. Posted via LiveJournal.app. |
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| Misc. trivialities |
[Feb. 26th, 2009|06:41 pm] |
- The 5 most-used apps on my iPhone: 1. New York Times
2. TwitterFon (yes, I do have a Twitter account)
3. Enjoy Sudoku
4. iSports (mainly for the daily trivia questions)
5. Shazam, for those problematic "name that tune" moments on the radio. Honorable mention to Bloomberg, USA Today, and Sportacular. I got some iTunes Store gift cards for my birthday so I'll look into actually getting something nonfree soon. - I found out today that the API Legal Outreach trivia contest is on March 28 this year. I haven't participated since 2005, so this year the Jedi Mind Tricks (team name picked through trial and much error over the years) should be making a comeback. - I tried watching the first episode of Dollhouse on hulu, and I wasn't terribly impressed. Not sure how many more chances I'll give it. Eliza Dushku is easy on the eyes, at least. Posted via LiveJournal.app. |
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| Life needs an update button |
[Feb. 21st, 2009|04:55 pm] |
My mom is out of the hospital, and she's been in a skilled nursing facility since Tuesday. The effect is more or less the same, she's not home yet. But the doctor said she may be able to go home sometime next week after the course of IV antibiotics is done.
I've been at the hospital every day, most of the day. I guess if I didn't have an iphone I could amuse myself in other ways, like by sleeping or playing PSP or DS games or whatever, but I do have one now so I can stay somewhat connected to the outside world.
Hmm, I need a new default icon now that A-Rod has admitted to steroid use. I guess I'll switch to Alexander the Great until I find something else. |
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| hippo, birdy, two miis |
[Feb. 13th, 2009|10:23 pm] |
Yay, birthday. My best present today was my mom getting her breathing tube out, and her first words being "Happy Birthday!" My cousin said, and I agree, that's a very mom-like thing to say.
Then again, I haven't opened any of my other presents yet. I still think this one will win.
I had coffee crunch cake from Eastern Bakery as my birthday cake. Mmm... coffee crunch cake. I don't think I've had that since the last birthday I had in the USA, 4 years ago. My dad said when he went to buy it, another woman was at the bakery, also buying coffee crunch cake. It's as if it were popular. |
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| I love ICUs |
[Feb. 12th, 2009|09:53 pm] |
Using some reverse psychology here. Mom is still in the ICU, and still has the breathing tube in. I'm knocking on wood furiously when I say the plan is to take it out tomorrow morning.
Other than that, she's progressing, the wound is healing and the infection is under control. She's been an amazingly good sport, considering she hasn't been able to talk (with the breathing tube in) since Monday.
This afternoon a VP of the hospital came to visit, I guess he was just walking around visiting random patients. That reminded me of the scene from "Big" where Tom Hanks' character is promoted to VP, and his friend asked, "Does that mean that if the president dies, you become president?" |
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