My plans for the night are set. Melinda is working the night shift so it's just the three kids and I. Just us, Dick Clark, the ball dropping at NY Times Square and ... :-) ... and THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, 2ND SEASON DVD SET !!! Oh yeeaaaahh! Just bought it this afternoon at Costco.
What could be a better way to spend the turn of the new year?!
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(Hey! I heard you, bud! Did you just answer 'hot monkey sex'? Well, screw you. The question was rhetorical, y'know. Vipers, Cylons and a six pack are still a killer combo celebration! I'm making my own good time! See ya! :-)
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Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Winter surfing
I had a way kuuul yesterday. I went snowboarding!
It was my first time ever. Just my brother and I surfing the white stuff at Mountain Creek (formerly, Action Park) in northern New Jersey. Although all the slopes are spread over three peaks, we spent our time just at the bottom of Vernon Peak, with a 90 minute snowboarding lesson followed by numerous trips down the beginner slope--short but steep-- trying out our learned skills.
I rented all my equipment there--board, bindings and boots. It cost me $86 with the lesson included. Geez, if I had brought the three kids and Melinda...wow!...that'd be $ times 5 equals $$$$$!
The afternoon/night was perfect. Just under 40 degrees F and no crowd, even with the lesson--just the instructor, my brother and I. And what an awesome teacher the dude was. Because of the low crowd, he diverted from his usual basic lesson by bringing us away from the 'school' slope and onto the much steeper 'beginner' slope (about a 25% grade, I think), taking more time to teach us some advanced techniques.
I certainly was scared sh*tless but the lesson truly paid off. When all was said and done, we covered the 10 steps of snowboarding, from bindings to 'heelside slides' to 'falling leaf' to the 'linked turns'. (Yeah baby, I'm hip on the lingo.) We certainly took our share of hard falls, but my brother and I were pretty proud of how well we progressed.
And now it's the next day and here I am--battered, bruised and sore-- typing away after some heavy net cruising for some snowboard sales online. Yup, I'm already addicted. I gotta get a board. I just have to! After all, I can't let that snowboard lesson go all for naught.
Can't wait for my next downhill run. I'm stoked!
It was my first time ever. Just my brother and I surfing the white stuff at Mountain Creek (formerly, Action Park) in northern New Jersey. Although all the slopes are spread over three peaks, we spent our time just at the bottom of Vernon Peak, with a 90 minute snowboarding lesson followed by numerous trips down the beginner slope--short but steep-- trying out our learned skills.
I rented all my equipment there--board, bindings and boots. It cost me $86 with the lesson included. Geez, if I had brought the three kids and Melinda...wow!...that'd be $ times 5 equals $$$$$!
The afternoon/night was perfect. Just under 40 degrees F and no crowd, even with the lesson--just the instructor, my brother and I. And what an awesome teacher the dude was. Because of the low crowd, he diverted from his usual basic lesson by bringing us away from the 'school' slope and onto the much steeper 'beginner' slope (about a 25% grade, I think), taking more time to teach us some advanced techniques.
I certainly was scared sh*tless but the lesson truly paid off. When all was said and done, we covered the 10 steps of snowboarding, from bindings to 'heelside slides' to 'falling leaf' to the 'linked turns'. (Yeah baby, I'm hip on the lingo.) We certainly took our share of hard falls, but my brother and I were pretty proud of how well we progressed.
And now it's the next day and here I am--battered, bruised and sore-- typing away after some heavy net cruising for some snowboard sales online. Yup, I'm already addicted. I gotta get a board. I just have to! After all, I can't let that snowboard lesson go all for naught.
Can't wait for my next downhill run. I'm stoked!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Personal collegiate facts
Here are five things almost no one knows about me regarding my old college days. These, in particular, I reflect on often:
1. I took Italian in highschool for the primary reason that I thought it would help me understand the lyrics to Italian opera. I took French in college because it really was the coolest language to learn, and studied my ass off just so I could get more French talk time with my teacher (Claire), with whom I was greatly infatuated. That motivation got me straight A's.
2. I once told my Advanced Differential Equations professor, after not showing up for the midterm, that I was dropping her class because I simply didn't study for the test and didn't want to get anything less than an A. (That was, in fact, the plain truth. And I was actually surprised at myself for bluntly saying it.) She then refused to drop me and rescheduled a makeup for a week later. I was so touched at her gesture that I studied my heart out and got a 100% on it as well as all A's on the remaining quizzes and final. I've since forgotten her name, but have never forgotten her.
3. I got into college on a whim. I scheduled a casual interview with the director of admissions to learn more about the university's School of Music while he was visiting locally to audition applicants. At the end of our short chat, he surprised me by asking that I play something on the piano. I sincerely had nothing prepared; I f*cked up bigtime trying to play a piece by memory and didn't even finish. Finally, he said to just go home and rerecord my performance on cassette tape and mail it to him along with an application, which was already way past the deadline. A few weeks later I got my admittance letter.
4. I failed out of college primarily for being stubborn, among other things (like thinking I could be both a party madman and brainer). I was the last out of several students in my double major program to insist on sticking with the intense curriculum even against the advice of one of the directors, mainly out of foolish pride. But in the end, I was really biting off more than I could chew and caused the inevitable heave ho to happen. My chest seemed so hefty on the final car ride back home; it must've weighed at least a ton. I really felt that I was that close to dying of a heavy heart. The lack of a degree has never stopped eating at me since.
5. I did not snap a single photo in all my dorm years at school. It's one of my biggest regrets of college.
1. I took Italian in highschool for the primary reason that I thought it would help me understand the lyrics to Italian opera. I took French in college because it really was the coolest language to learn, and studied my ass off just so I could get more French talk time with my teacher (Claire), with whom I was greatly infatuated. That motivation got me straight A's.
2. I once told my Advanced Differential Equations professor, after not showing up for the midterm, that I was dropping her class because I simply didn't study for the test and didn't want to get anything less than an A. (That was, in fact, the plain truth. And I was actually surprised at myself for bluntly saying it.) She then refused to drop me and rescheduled a makeup for a week later. I was so touched at her gesture that I studied my heart out and got a 100% on it as well as all A's on the remaining quizzes and final. I've since forgotten her name, but have never forgotten her.
3. I got into college on a whim. I scheduled a casual interview with the director of admissions to learn more about the university's School of Music while he was visiting locally to audition applicants. At the end of our short chat, he surprised me by asking that I play something on the piano. I sincerely had nothing prepared; I f*cked up bigtime trying to play a piece by memory and didn't even finish. Finally, he said to just go home and rerecord my performance on cassette tape and mail it to him along with an application, which was already way past the deadline. A few weeks later I got my admittance letter.
4. I failed out of college primarily for being stubborn, among other things (like thinking I could be both a party madman and brainer). I was the last out of several students in my double major program to insist on sticking with the intense curriculum even against the advice of one of the directors, mainly out of foolish pride. But in the end, I was really biting off more than I could chew and caused the inevitable heave ho to happen. My chest seemed so hefty on the final car ride back home; it must've weighed at least a ton. I really felt that I was that close to dying of a heavy heart. The lack of a degree has never stopped eating at me since.
5. I did not snap a single photo in all my dorm years at school. It's one of my biggest regrets of college.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Holiday spirit
Just twelve days before Christmas and already a Secret Santa has begun raising the kids' anticipation of the holiday. This morning, there was a package on our front porch with some goodies inside and a little note:
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
But I have no partridge bird
And no pear tree.
So how about some M&M Mini's
For you Tina, Mindy and Miguel --
For all of you three.
Love,
Secret Santa
Geez, the kids were all yelling and delighted. I couldn't help but smile at their excitement in something they feel is magical. Something I know I could learn from. Tomorrow, on the second day of Christmas, we'll see what other magic comes knocking at the door.
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
But I have no partridge bird
And no pear tree.
So how about some M&M Mini's
For you Tina, Mindy and Miguel --
For all of you three.
Love,
Secret Santa
Geez, the kids were all yelling and delighted. I couldn't help but smile at their excitement in something they feel is magical. Something I know I could learn from. Tomorrow, on the second day of Christmas, we'll see what other magic comes knocking at the door.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Battlestar Galactica (BSG-75)
I know I'm late to it, but I'm hooked. You see, my friend Jay had recently lent me his Battlestar Galactica (First Season 2004) DVD set, which also included the 2003 feature BG miniseries. And well, this morning and then tonight, I saw the feature and the pilot episode '33' for the very first time.
Wow!
I think I've been steeped in Nickelodeon, PBS and Noggin for far too long. (Damn you, Dora the Explorer!) I have got to add the Sci-Fi channel to my weekly viewing lineup. The new Battlestar Galactica series really rocks!
Alright now, my blogging break is over. Time to crack open the DVD box and watch the next episode. Yeah yeah, I know it's past midnight and tomorrow is a school day. But hey, y'know what? I don't have school. Thank the Lords of Kobol.
Wow!
I think I've been steeped in Nickelodeon, PBS and Noggin for far too long. (Damn you, Dora the Explorer!) I have got to add the Sci-Fi channel to my weekly viewing lineup. The new Battlestar Galactica series really rocks!
Alright now, my blogging break is over. Time to crack open the DVD box and watch the next episode. Yeah yeah, I know it's past midnight and tomorrow is a school day. But hey, y'know what? I don't have school. Thank the Lords of Kobol.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Maybe last ride and upping the ante
Brrrrr, it was cold today out on the road.
I biked early this morning for a couple of hours. The temperature was about 38 degrees F but not too windy. I wore double socks, long tights, a polypropelene turtleneck, gloves and a skullcap all on top of my usual wear. I think this may be my last outdoor ride of the year, unless the weather stays above freezing conditions for the next few weeks. Otherwise, I don't think I'd enjoy the frostbite.
I already started thinking about next year's triathlons: I'm considering raising the bar from sprint distances to half ironmans--from .25mi swim/15mi bike/3mi run to 1.2mi swim/56mi bike/13.1mi run increase. Quite daunting. I thought about my very first triathlon and how gruelling it was to simply try and finish. That's all I wanted to do. However, from that period on all the way up to this year, I had no doubt of completing the courses and was just trying to better my times. Next year, if I up the ante in distances, I'd be putting myself back to square one; to the "maybe I'll get through it or maybe I won't" mentality. I think it'd give me that original first race high if I were to succeed--a way cool incredible feeling that sparked an 'I can do anything' attitude, which I dearly miss and can certainly use these days.
For now, I'll just wait and see what I decide in 2006.
I biked early this morning for a couple of hours. The temperature was about 38 degrees F but not too windy. I wore double socks, long tights, a polypropelene turtleneck, gloves and a skullcap all on top of my usual wear. I think this may be my last outdoor ride of the year, unless the weather stays above freezing conditions for the next few weeks. Otherwise, I don't think I'd enjoy the frostbite.
I already started thinking about next year's triathlons: I'm considering raising the bar from sprint distances to half ironmans--from .25mi swim/15mi bike/3mi run to 1.2mi swim/56mi bike/13.1mi run increase. Quite daunting. I thought about my very first triathlon and how gruelling it was to simply try and finish. That's all I wanted to do. However, from that period on all the way up to this year, I had no doubt of completing the courses and was just trying to better my times. Next year, if I up the ante in distances, I'd be putting myself back to square one; to the "maybe I'll get through it or maybe I won't" mentality. I think it'd give me that original first race high if I were to succeed--a way cool incredible feeling that sparked an 'I can do anything' attitude, which I dearly miss and can certainly use these days.
For now, I'll just wait and see what I decide in 2006.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
I have high cholesterol: 227
I had my blood tested last week. Today, my copy of the results arrived in the mail. Some of the numbers were a bit high. Here are the major players:
Cholesterol: 227 (high). It should be < 200. I think this is the reference everyone talks about. It's really the sum of the bad cholesterol LDL + the good cholesterol HDL.
LDL: 151 (high). It should be < 100. This is the bad cholesterol and stands for Low Density Lipoprotein. I've certainly been eating lots of fatty stuff and been using a lot of butter in my foods for a while. It sure shows.
HDL: 75 (high, but a good high). Normally between 32 to 72. Stands for High Density Lipoprotein. I think the aerobic exercise had helped a lot with bringing this number up.
Triglyceride: 82 (good). Should be < 150.
Weird thing, but the high level of HDL good cholesterol offsets the other bad numbers and still puts me in the 'lowest risk' group, according to the results summary. My risk for heart disease is determined by the following formula:
CHOL / HDL = 227 / 75 = 3.0
A chol/hdl ratio of less than 3.5 is considered 'lowest risk'. Still, I'd say my overall cholesterol level is unhealthy, especially the LDL level. I guess it's best that I try to better my diet and exercise. The results were certainly motivating.
Cholesterol: 227 (high). It should be < 200. I think this is the reference everyone talks about. It's really the sum of the bad cholesterol LDL + the good cholesterol HDL.
LDL: 151 (high). It should be < 100. This is the bad cholesterol and stands for Low Density Lipoprotein. I've certainly been eating lots of fatty stuff and been using a lot of butter in my foods for a while. It sure shows.
HDL: 75 (high, but a good high). Normally between 32 to 72. Stands for High Density Lipoprotein. I think the aerobic exercise had helped a lot with bringing this number up.
Triglyceride: 82 (good). Should be < 150.
Weird thing, but the high level of HDL good cholesterol offsets the other bad numbers and still puts me in the 'lowest risk' group, according to the results summary. My risk for heart disease is determined by the following formula:
CHOL / HDL = 227 / 75 = 3.0
A chol/hdl ratio of less than 3.5 is considered 'lowest risk'. Still, I'd say my overall cholesterol level is unhealthy, especially the LDL level. I guess it's best that I try to better my diet and exercise. The results were certainly motivating.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Winnie Cooper wrote me back.
Danica McKellar replied to an email I sent her months ago. (*smile beaming*head spinning*) Aside from praise, I asked what other branches of mathematics she has yet to study. And she mainly replied:
. . .
Thanks for your kind words. There are lots of topics I haven’t learned much about- for instance, PDQ’s (partial differential equations), Manifold Theory, and many others. Math is a whole big world that would take a lifetime to master completely, I think. Even professors have their specialties, they would not understand many other math professors’ research. :)
...
Good luck!
-Danica
"Good luck!" she said! And then my heart went googly gah gah. She truly is one hip problem solver. Now who would think math could be such a cool and sexy thing? Ooops, silly me. Danica did.
Inspired again. Gotta calc!
. . .
Thanks for your kind words. There are lots of topics I haven’t learned much about- for instance, PDQ’s (partial differential equations), Manifold Theory, and many others. Math is a whole big world that would take a lifetime to master completely, I think. Even professors have their specialties, they would not understand many other math professors’ research. :)
...
Good luck!
-Danica
"Good luck!" she said! And then my heart went googly gah gah. She truly is one hip problem solver. Now who would think math could be such a cool and sexy thing? Ooops, silly me. Danica did.
Inspired again. Gotta calc!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Trick or treat!
"Mommy, I had the best day of my life! I had candy, chips and soda!"
--Tina
It seemed that Halloween this year was a 4 day festival. Starting last Friday, all the kids visited their "pumpkin patches" at school to pick out their little handheld pumpkins. Saturday had a dress up party at the YMCA. Sunday had a huge town costume celebration at the local university campus (the kids played "Frankenstein Says" and other games). And Monday was the big treat-or-treat deal to cap it all off. On all the days, Tina dressed as a princess, Mindy as a fairy and Miguel as a ladybug or Teletubby Dipsy (he had two costumes).
No doubt the kids'll have their daily sugar rush for the next three months.
Happy Halloween!
--Tina
It seemed that Halloween this year was a 4 day festival. Starting last Friday, all the kids visited their "pumpkin patches" at school to pick out their little handheld pumpkins. Saturday had a dress up party at the YMCA. Sunday had a huge town costume celebration at the local university campus (the kids played "Frankenstein Says" and other games). And Monday was the big treat-or-treat deal to cap it all off. On all the days, Tina dressed as a princess, Mindy as a fairy and Miguel as a ladybug or Teletubby Dipsy (he had two costumes).
No doubt the kids'll have their daily sugar rush for the next three months.
Happy Halloween!
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