Exercise today didn’t go exactly as planned. I’m balking at the sprinting and I’m not exactly quite sure how to motivate myself. I had originally thought that game time should be considered, however, my gaming has been virtually eliminated and replaced by my tinkering with C++ coding. How exactly do I “moderate” this when it’s not just entertaining for me but it’s also for my current college course.

Mona and I did end up going to Tae Bo. Oddly enough, as I was working my shoulders last night, tonight’s Tae Bo class was all about the shoulders and the legs. Funny how that works. Last week Thursday I decided to do as many sit-ups as my body would allow, that Friday we do abdominal work … Tuesday I decide to do as many chin-ups as I can do, Wednesday was shoulder work. My muscles are planning a revolt … I can sense it.  All in all, it was a very nice 60 minute workout, regardless of the complaints being made by my shoulders.

So, I still need to figure out my motivation. If I can’t find the discipline now, I’ll be in for a rude awakening when I can’t quit. Tomorrow I need to do 10 push-ups / 10 sit-ups / 5 chin-ups — should be pull-ups, I know, but they’re causing me too much trouble … I really hope my shoulder’s don’t decide to go on strike on me. Friday, I’ll attempt to do the 5 reps of 4 minutes walking/2 minutes running for 30 minutes of activity … and then Saturday I’ll give the sprints an attempt … I just need to figure out where I can do them.

So, I've made the plunge to Windows 7 Pro.  Install of the operating system was, in fact, painless.  It seems like yesterday I was dinking around with Windows 3.11 for Workgroups and coping with the headache that was the config.sys and autoexec.bat files that were necessary to load the correct drivers for the CD-Rom drive, RAM drive (if it was necessary), mouse, joystick, special keyboard, graphics board, and a myriad of other necessary settings to get the most out of the system.  In comparison, these setups are virtually a godsend … but they do feel considerably dumbed down.

What promtpted this change? Curiosity, mostly.  The other major change that this OS install is moving to a 64-bit OS and as odd as it sounds, I want to know first hand any oddities that are brought about by using 32-bit applications in a 64-bit environment.  In the process, I did find a nifty website Ninite.  Ninite allows a user to select from a collection of popular open-source or freeware applications to create a bundle that will be downloaded and installed automatically.  Another, rather painless procedure for a task that would've taken me a better part of the morning to complete.

I'm currently installing all my development apps:  Visual Studio 2008, Code::Blocks w/ MinGW.  Ninite already installed Python and the JDK.  Next on my list will be to install World of Warcraft and the millions of patches that come from that.  To follow will be to transfer back some of my documents so I can finish out this week's worth of schooling.

It’s already day 5 of 2010. This weekend sort of blew past me and Monday continued to be intense with my continued conditioning, tae bo, and my weekly geeky ritual. So what’s now Tuesday has been spent vibrating at the speed of life … fueled by caffeine. About two weeks ago I stopped drinking soda and started to drink a lot more water supplemented with orange juice. If I could stomach it, I’d drink more milk … it’s not that I’m intolerant of milk in the physiological sense … more that I’m intolerant of the taste and texture of the fluid. I know … let it out …

… are you done laughing?

Okay, so yeah … I stopped drinking soda for the most part which also means I’ve cut out caffeine in my daily regimen. So, I woke up tired today which prompted a desire to drink coffee. I make my coffee fairly week – 1/8 cup to 4 cups … but damn. I’m only now recovering from the buzz I got from drinking just four cups of coffee … I sorta felt strung out which prompted a rather anti-social reaction to today’s activities. So, instead of calling and talking to people like I had wanted, I decided to learn how to create logon scripts to map networked drives (admittedly, in an insecure manner). I know, not entirely significant since all systems administrators should know this already, but it was a little win for me since I designed the script to be slightly intelligent in mapping resources to the necessary drives and making sure those drives weren’t already mapped to something else. The more significant revelation is that in my attempt to distract myself from the fact that I felt completely disconnected from the world around me due to my caffeine buzz, I become extraordinarily focused and experimental with tools that I’m not completely confident in using quite yet. I suppose I’m just happy to have been able to learn something through trial and error and actually produce something useful.

So this is it. The last week of 2009. This year marked some key milestones in my life. January, I finally decided to bite the bullet and started my schooling again. This time I’m I decided to chase my dream of becoming a game programmer. February my life turned upside down – in a good way – with the addition of Kandice-Leilani, my beloved daughter. August I came to realize that the family financial situation wasn’t as well managed as I was constantly reassured it was. September I made the decision to join the Army to put myself in a position to be able to allow Mona options and to make sure my wife and daughter are taken care of.

The decision to enlist has also prompted a change in my chosen major – instead of game programming, I’m going to switch to network security. I’ve also become considerably more active though my weight would betray my newfound active lifestyle. I’ve become less interested in gaming overall – though that’s more because I’m trying to spend more time with my family. Family is something that I’ve never been quite used to – seeing as my childhood was one of an only child living with two parents who were wrapped up in their work … so, to accurately portray it – close familial relations is something new to me.

This year has been rife with successes and failures … though I can’t complain too much. Most of the “failures” I’m experiencing is because I didn’t listen to my moral compass and failed to find the backbone to stand up to my father. I still can’t … because I understand yet don’t understand what he’s going through all the same … and he’s unwilling to talk about it in any serious capacity. Because to do so would mean he’d be held accountable for his actions.

The successes, however, have come from this family thing that I’m not entirely used to. I’ve been spending more time with my father – albeit on weekends and sometimes on weeknights watching football and some of the shows he likes to watch (like NCIS). I’ve found that I’m a very lucky man with my wife, Mona … who, really, has taken to motherhood seriously. A bit more seriously than I’ve taken to fatherhood – though I’m trying. I’m thinking of take Mona and Kandie-Lei to the beach this week. And Kandie-Lei is such a good girl and always so happy when she isn’t tired or hungry. She has a sense of boldness that I envy … a type of boldness that comes from being both naive and wonderfully curious about everything.

This year has been marked with some major changes in my life … however, this only marks the beginning of those changes. This coming year I will be leaving the rock and living someplace else doing something entirely different than what I’m doing now. I will share my home with only my wife and daughter later next year. My life feels like it’s only now beginning, after 34 years of living under my parents’ shadow. Tomorrow is looking hopeful, even if I’m a bit anxious about all these changes.

The spirit of celebration has not touched our household this Christmas Eve. This house is silent, more silent than the year we lost mother. This year, we worry about keeping ourselves afloat. I’m waiting to ship off – even looking forward to it since it means that some money can start coming in … some of the family debts can be taken care of. And that’s really the crux of it. Debt looms over our household like a reaper, threatening to steal the life out of my mother’s legacy.

And I know this weighs heavily on my father, such that he’s been going to sleep drunker than the night before. He’s still not over the pain of losing my mother nor the humiliation of that parasite of a woman, Lorraine. I worry that his will to continue has buckled … and I’m clueless as to how to get him back on track. He needs to get back into church … as odd as that may sound, coming from me, but His Word did a world of good for my father. I just don’t want to see him hurt anymore.

Tomorrow Mona and I will be celebrating Christmas with her side of the family. I’m looking forward to it. I wish my pops would join us – if anything to get out of the funk with me, but he’ll be staying home and maybe visiting mom’s resting place. If I had any wish for this Christmas, it would be that all the uneasiness that seems to hang over our family be dispelled and replaced by an unwavering spirit of hope – that the brighter tomorrows become today.

You Are Carefree and Passionate

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You’re always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can’t handle you. You’re very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you’re likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless – and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You’re most comfortable when you’re far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

You are very charming… dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts. You know how what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it. You have the power to rule the world. Let’s hope you’re a benevolent dictator!

You are usually the best at everything … you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic “Type A” personality.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don’t get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

Source: http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Currently waiting to get medical clearance on a couple issues … that’s the only thing holding up my enlistment. At the very least, I think this will allow me to see my daughter’s first birthday. Speaking of which, I’ve finally added a gallery with some pictures of my wife and daughter from earlier this month. You can check it out here: http://www.iocontrol.info/photo/kandice-leilani/

As some of you may already well know, I’m an addict.  I like to play the World of Warcraft.  I’m in three Horde guilds on the Runetotem-US server.  Why three guilds?  Because they each have their advantages … however, I’ll admit that I’ve been feeling the need to consolidate my efforts and time spent on WoW.

Hostility – Horde – Runetotem is a guild aimed at being a 25-man progression guild.  I’m currently a prominent member of their tanking and healing corp with my Paladin, Sylvandria.

I also run with Roll Initiative, which is current a 10-man progression guild.  They’re relatively new and are currently seeking more members so they can upgrade into 25-man content.  They typically run from 10pm – 02am Hawaiian Standard Time or 3am to 7am server time.  My arcane mage, Corihel, has found a home here.

Seething Hatred is the guild that I originally joined on Runetotem.  They used to be a hardcore raiding guild that boasted a member roster well over 300.  I, personally, never had the opportunity to really be a part of their raiding core as the guild was slowing down by the time I returned to Runetotem but I am well aware of their past achievements as one of the oldest and longest running guilds on Runetotem.  You’ll pretty much find the rest of my alts in this guild, including Grimheart (80 BE Hybrid DK), Hexdivinity (28 BE ShPr), Sorefang (22 Tau BalDr), and Zingaric (40 Tr EnhSham).

I still have characters on Bronzebeard-US, Hexcontrol, Bullhex, and Hexdivinity who are all part of another friend’s guild Hellsing Corporation.

Well this weekend sure did fly by.

I have a mixed bag of thoughts concerning the July 10th party.  I thought I had a God awful set, however, my wife was quick to point out that I had the most people dancing up until we had left at a quarter to three in the morning.  I think my troubles stemmed from the fact that I was having a difficult time keeping the beats synced with the CD players enduring so much rumble from the bass.  I think Alter Solum would be a great venue if the location was not so run down.  It’s at the Kalihi edge of Chinatown and the unfortunate truth is that particular area still has a lot of work if it’s to scrub away its seedier reputation. Parking can be difficult if you don’t know the area.  Finding parking where you feel safe leaving your vehicle even more so.  There’s also a lack of optimism in the air at the club – at least on the last couple nights that I’ve been there. While I’m a bit guilty of this myself, I do have the inclination to think that perhaps Alter Solum is a bit under-promoted.

That being said, there is a general malaise consuming Honolulu’s night club scene. People are finding it cheaper to stay at home and throw parties at their leisure. Certain locations are weathering this malaise better than others, but these are locations where the owners have deep pockets and contingencies in place for the inevitable ebb in night life entertainment.  Lack of “proper” promotion, a steady loss of morale, poor economic conditions, and unfavorable elements near the venue all conspire to stymy if not completely halt Alter Solum’s development.

July 11th was UFC’s 100th major event which featured Brock Lesner vs. Frank Mir, George Saint-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves, Micheal Bisping vs. Dan Henderson, and two undercards.  Overall the event was pretty good. I think the hype might’ve been a bit much because the whole thing felt like eating Chinese take-out – it tasted good but I didn’t feel full after eating it all up.  The bout with Lesnar & Mir was stopped due to Mir being unable to defend himself.  GSP won a dominate decision over Alves. Henderson roflstomped Bisping.

Now the Lesnar & GSP victories got me thinking.  There’s an obvious difference in size at fight time which gives the advantage to the guy who can cut weight and then build back up to their natural weight.  Whereas the guy who’s naturally 175 or 260 gets the shaft or has to move down a weight-class.  My thoughts on this is, if we want more fights to be fair, weigh-ins should be the night of.  If a fighter cannot make weight, the fighter is disqualified and if the fighter has the title, the fighter should be forced vacate the title. These contests should be about skill, not about being able to lay on top of somone until someone breaks the other’s will through the sheer force of one’s weight.

My wife and her friend had their birthday celebrations yesterday (Sunday, July 12th, 2009) at Kaakoako Water Park. It was a fun time. A few friends and some family showed up. I was supposed to DJ for it, however, the generator decided about an hour in that it would be a good time to inform us to replace the groumet on the fuel valve.  As disappointing as that was, I had a good time … and it was nice to see my wife be her typical social butterfly self.

So that leaves The Gathering in Las Vegas at the Riviera. I’m really looking forward to this. We’ve got most of our trip planned.  Thursday night we’re going to see Reel Big Fish w/ English Beat.  Friday night is The Gathering.  Saturday is probably going to be devoted to just lounging around and perhaps a bit of shopping. Sunday is the Lake Mead/Hoover Dam boat tour and we leave on Monday.  Somewhere in there I’d like to fit in DEFCON, but seeing as this trip also doubles as a long, long overdue honeymoon, I’d rather not bore my wife to death with super geeky stuff.