Sunday, January 13, 2008
Bern Baker Helmet
I bought a helmet for snowboarding the other day.... and there it is. It's a Bern Baker in black matte. It's got a built-in visor design and sorta resembles a military helmet. I wanted to get green, but since my size is hard to find, and so is that color, I ended up with black, with the 8-Tracks Audio add-on.I guess I also bought a Yakima car rack and the FatCat 6 ski/snowboard accessory. That should come in the mail soon.... and I'm sorta looking for a new jacket. This snow sports activity is a very very expensive hobby.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
25 Most Baffling Toys from Around the World
http://www.cracked.com/article_15670_25-most-baffling-toys-from-around-world.htmlthis is hilarious - digg it!
Snow Fun
I've been going snowboarding at a greater pace than previous years. I've had 6 powder days already and hopefully 2 more by this time next week, which already is more than I went last season.It's definitely helping out too. I've improved dramatically over the past 2 times up and also have gained more confidence in myself on more challenging runs.
On New Year's Eve, I went up with Ted, Don, and some others to Alpental and worked on some simple stuff that I needed improvement on, then built some confidence going on Chair 2 to International and Snake Dance. Then Ted ended up pushing me pretty hard (for me anyway) on the last run at Ingrid's Inspiration and I was mostly able to keep up with him, even landing a few lips and whatnot on the way, which usually i botch up :)
On Friday, I went to Steven's with my cousins and sister, and my cousin Alex (aka Babe) left my sister and Lan on some beginner tracks and went to the backside on Tyme Mill, which I never had done before at Stevens. That was a whole lot of fun, with tons of powder. I think I really improved and refined my abilities a bit there. It was so much fun! yay.
I need to go buy a helmet though, really should have gotten one of those a while ago, but I think I really need one now. Any sort of fall.... it could be bad news.
Labels: snowboarding, sports
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Jan 1, 2008 and Beyond!
I wrapped up the 2007 year and kicked off 2008 at sort of a random house party in Issaquah on the shores of Lake Sammamish lats night. It was a pretty fun time.... but regardless, here's a list of my new year's goals and resolutions.
1. Become a first-time home buyer.
I've set this goal for 2 years now and haven't gone through on it. People ask "what's up?" and all I can say is that there's no rush. And there really isn't. This is a huge life and financial choice that I don't want to do it with regrets. That said, with the market the way it is, I hope I'll be concluding this goal in the next few months.
2. Apply and begin Graduate School.
This has also been on my list but I've been really busy at work, and have been afraid of the outcome if I have to balance all of it out. I've got all the pre-requisites to go to start applying, its the matter of actually bucking down and doing it.
3. Community Service.
I want to get more involved than I already am. My friends and I have been developing some plans for educational improvements within our respective professional societies, and I'd like to continue to work and finally implement these. I'd also like to continue mentorship work for kids and whatnot. I dont think this has ever been on my list of personal goals, but this year I'd like to put it on and take it into action.
4. Healthier Lifestyle.
I've made some great strides to eat better, and eat more diversely. I was not a big seafood eater, or actually never ate seafood, until recently. Now I can eat it just fine, amongst other things I always took a pass on. I've also been striving to try to eat healthier and am going to continue to do this into the next year.
5. Cook more foods.
Learn to cook foods butter. I can cook some things, but I am always interested in trying new things. Plus I like throwing spices into foods. :)
6. Self-Confidence and that sorta thing.
Always need to improve on this item in certain situations.
7. Stop spending money on random gadgets, gizmos, and techie stuff.
This will be very challenging... in fact, I'll probably fail miserably.
8. Improve on snowboarding.
I finally am a season pass holder this year and so I should have no excuse but to get better. I have steadily improved, I think, over the past 3 weeks the few times I've gone up, so this isn't that unrealistic of a goal.
9. Finally watch the Seahawks hold up a Super Bowl trophy
this is the year.... this is the year....
i hope.
10. Travel the world some more.
I went to alot of neat places in 2007, and want to do more in 2008.
France, Spain, UK, Prague, Amsterdam (again) - are my main goals. I also want to visit Australia, Iceland, Hong Kong, Vietnam (again), and Whistler. :)
11. F ind A Girl
so back in college, a few of us had a make-believe 'secret society' called FIND A GIRL. Sure, we've had graduated fine citizens and many that left the club and rejoined it soon-after. This year, I will strive to graduate the club.. hahaha. (much sarcasm involved here, but there's a little truth to every joke)
1. Become a first-time home buyer.
I've set this goal for 2 years now and haven't gone through on it. People ask "what's up?" and all I can say is that there's no rush. And there really isn't. This is a huge life and financial choice that I don't want to do it with regrets. That said, with the market the way it is, I hope I'll be concluding this goal in the next few months.
2. Apply and begin Graduate School.
This has also been on my list but I've been really busy at work, and have been afraid of the outcome if I have to balance all of it out. I've got all the pre-requisites to go to start applying, its the matter of actually bucking down and doing it.
3. Community Service.
I want to get more involved than I already am. My friends and I have been developing some plans for educational improvements within our respective professional societies, and I'd like to continue to work and finally implement these. I'd also like to continue mentorship work for kids and whatnot. I dont think this has ever been on my list of personal goals, but this year I'd like to put it on and take it into action.
4. Healthier Lifestyle.
I've made some great strides to eat better, and eat more diversely. I was not a big seafood eater, or actually never ate seafood, until recently. Now I can eat it just fine, amongst other things I always took a pass on. I've also been striving to try to eat healthier and am going to continue to do this into the next year.
5. Cook more foods.
Learn to cook foods butter. I can cook some things, but I am always interested in trying new things. Plus I like throwing spices into foods. :)
6. Self-Confidence and that sorta thing.
Always need to improve on this item in certain situations.
7. Stop spending money on random gadgets, gizmos, and techie stuff.
This will be very challenging... in fact, I'll probably fail miserably.
8. Improve on snowboarding.
I finally am a season pass holder this year and so I should have no excuse but to get better. I have steadily improved, I think, over the past 3 weeks the few times I've gone up, so this isn't that unrealistic of a goal.
9. Finally watch the Seahawks hold up a Super Bowl trophy
this is the year.... this is the year....
i hope.
10. Travel the world some more.
I went to alot of neat places in 2007, and want to do more in 2008.
France, Spain, UK, Prague, Amsterdam (again) - are my main goals. I also want to visit Australia, Iceland, Hong Kong, Vietnam (again), and Whistler. :)
11. F ind A Girl
so back in college, a few of us had a make-believe 'secret society' called FIND A GIRL. Sure, we've had graduated fine citizens and many that left the club and rejoined it soon-after. This year, I will strive to graduate the club.. hahaha. (much sarcasm involved here, but there's a little truth to every joke)
Another look back on 2007
My 2007 Goals & Resolutions:
1. My biggest goal this year - buy real estate!
I'm not sure whether this will be a house or a condo at this point but I am setting myself up to hopefully make a purchase in the summer or early fall time this year. This will be big, and expensive. ;)
This didn't work out, as the market price grew and grew and interest grew and grew until summer, and then it stabilized a bit, and now its dropping. Hopefully I'll be more prospective in the very near term.
2. Get promoted at work
I'm currently an entry level (1) engineer at Boeing and I think I've set myself up to earn a "level upgrade" to Level 2. This would supposedly give me a bit more responsibility (though I think I already do above level 2 work), and of course, a significant pay raise, on top of the "good" one I hopefully will get in February... ;)
I got promoted and a very nice raise in March actually... :)
3. Continuing Education
I want to take at least one or two classes this year and start applying to graduate school. I may even consider taking the GMAT for business school, even though I already did pretty decent on the GRE this past summer.
Well, I didnt do any of these things. But here's to next year!
4. Believing in myself and Taking Chances
I am not always consistent on this. There's things where I am real certain about and there's many more, important, things that I play it safe, or just let it be. I need to be more self-confident, and self-motivated on these issues and adjust myself to make myself more well-rounded in these aspects.
Still need work on this one.
5. Seeing the Seahawks win a Super Bowl
This isn't totally my goal, but it's a dream of mine.
stupid bears.
6. Health and Wellness
I want to better myself in this aspect in all ways.
yea better.
7. Expression of the mind, body, and... this sounds like a book title or catch phrase.
This goes hand and hand with Number FOUR, but I have alot of stuff on my chest that just needs to be let out. Hopefully some of that will this year.
sure.
8. Meeting people is NOT easy
whatever Radiohead may say, it isn't easy, especially when you're spending 50+ hours of your week in an office space, and then much of the rest of the time in your home. I want to branch out and network socially, and professionally, but more socially. Opportunities are out there and I want to be able to reach them.
I met alot of good people this year, and continue to... good good.
9. Visit Scott in Japan
I want to visit him and I want to see the country, or shall I say megatropolis that is Tokyo. I also want to go backpacking in Europe, but I'll take one or the other.
Go to wander around Germany and Amsterdam (and luxembourg right before this original post), and I did end up visiting Scott in Japan right before he moved back home, so this was way better than expected.
10. Go to Whistler
Another trip I've been wanting to go on... this season!! hopefully...
Failed... I went to Mt Hood a couple weeks ago though.
1. My biggest goal this year - buy real estate!
I'm not sure whether this will be a house or a condo at this point but I am setting myself up to hopefully make a purchase in the summer or early fall time this year. This will be big, and expensive. ;)
This didn't work out, as the market price grew and grew and interest grew and grew until summer, and then it stabilized a bit, and now its dropping. Hopefully I'll be more prospective in the very near term.
2. Get promoted at work
I'm currently an entry level (1) engineer at Boeing and I think I've set myself up to earn a "level upgrade" to Level 2. This would supposedly give me a bit more responsibility (though I think I already do above level 2 work), and of course, a significant pay raise, on top of the "good" one I hopefully will get in February... ;)
I got promoted and a very nice raise in March actually... :)
3. Continuing Education
I want to take at least one or two classes this year and start applying to graduate school. I may even consider taking the GMAT for business school, even though I already did pretty decent on the GRE this past summer.
Well, I didnt do any of these things. But here's to next year!
4. Believing in myself and Taking Chances
I am not always consistent on this. There's things where I am real certain about and there's many more, important, things that I play it safe, or just let it be. I need to be more self-confident, and self-motivated on these issues and adjust myself to make myself more well-rounded in these aspects.
Still need work on this one.
5. Seeing the Seahawks win a Super Bowl
This isn't totally my goal, but it's a dream of mine.
stupid bears.
6. Health and Wellness
I want to better myself in this aspect in all ways.
yea better.
7. Expression of the mind, body, and... this sounds like a book title or catch phrase.
This goes hand and hand with Number FOUR, but I have alot of stuff on my chest that just needs to be let out. Hopefully some of that will this year.
sure.
8. Meeting people is NOT easy
whatever Radiohead may say, it isn't easy, especially when you're spending 50+ hours of your week in an office space, and then much of the rest of the time in your home. I want to branch out and network socially, and professionally, but more socially. Opportunities are out there and I want to be able to reach them.
I met alot of good people this year, and continue to... good good.
9. Visit Scott in Japan
I want to visit him and I want to see the country, or shall I say megatropolis that is Tokyo. I also want to go backpacking in Europe, but I'll take one or the other.
Go to wander around Germany and Amsterdam (and luxembourg right before this original post), and I did end up visiting Scott in Japan right before he moved back home, so this was way better than expected.
10. Go to Whistler
Another trip I've been wanting to go on... this season!! hopefully...
Failed... I went to Mt Hood a couple weeks ago though.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]