Those nifty time tellers.

 I don't know when I started getting interested in watches.  It was definitely within the last few years, probably two years back.  It all started with a picture of a Grand Seiko SBGR023.  It's a very simple, classic look.  A watch that can withstand the test of time.  A design like this was in style 25 years ago, is in style now, and will be in style 25 years in the future.  It's beautifully crafted, 100% hand made.  Put simply, it is a beautiful time piece, one that I would love to own and pass down to one of my children.

It's late, I'll continue this tomorrow.

God I love my music.  I've been listening to Matchbox Twenty all night and they are awesome.

The past 2 years have been very good for me with regards to music.  I openned up and allowed myself to try music outside of my usual (used to be rock, rap, and chinese pop) and I've enjoyed almost everything.  Everything means country and euro dance are included.

One genre I'm glad I've found is contemporary vocal jazz, especially female vocal jazz.  I swear I don't know what I'd listen to most of the time if I didn't have some of the CDs I do.  Katie Melua, Susan Wong, Lauren White, Erin Boheme... they are just so awesome.  I've also been trying to get into non vocal jazz, but that's proven to be much harder for me.  I just rarely enjoy music that doesn't have lyrics, though there are some exceptions.  The Jenny Scheinman album 12 Songs is VERY GOOD.  About as relaxing as anything can be.  It gets alot of play from me when I'm on the LIRR going to and home from work.

There's definitely something about female vocals that just puts me in a trance.  The soothing sound, the texture of their voices, it must be a combination of it all.  I'd say overall, my playlist consists of at least 75% females.  The only time I prefer to listen to male voices are rock and rap.  I'm sorry, but I just can't listen to female rappers (of course there are exceptions), and I rarely listen to r&b.  It's just not my thing as of right now.  As for rock, it's impossible to not enjoy Metallica, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, Matchbox Twenty, and so many more.  90's music is the besttttttttttttttt.

And music is all that much more enjoyable on great speakers, great amplification, and a great source.  I'm having an awesome time listening.  I've been putting in at least an hour a night just listening to music and doing nothing else.  It's so relaxing everyone should try.

Back in the Game

A little under 2 years back, I got into a little hobby called photography.  I like to take pictures, but at the same time, I'm very lazy.  Sometimes, I'll bring my whole camera setup and not take a single picture.  It's a bad habit, and one I'm trying to fix.  It's such a waste to lug a heavy backpack and not use it at all.

At the beginning of summer, I took a decent amount of pictures.  By the end of summer, I wasn't taking any.  I think I got a bit burned out as there were just too many events.  So many opportunities and I was getting tired of not being in the action, sidelined with the camera.

This past weekend got me back in the game.  A few months back, Alvin told me to sign up for a photography workshop called Digital Days.  I was a bit hesitant at first, but then thought, hey, why not.  It was this past Saturday and Sunday, and I found it pretty fun.  Saturday was a 4 hour seminar that taught me nothing, but Sunday had a few models for us to try and get a few good pictures.  It was fun, but very hectic.  It's not fun competing with a ton of other people (some had real bad B.O.), and only having a 70-200mm and 85mm didn't help either.  I'd have to stand pretty far back, so people kept walking right in front of me.  I know they saw me with my camera held up, so I'm not going to take any excuses like, "I didn't know you were taking a picture", from anyone.  Also, Sunday's workshop introduced me to Adobe Lightroom 2.  It's a pretty nifty program.

Today, Alvin and I went to the Bronx Zoo.  I thought we were going to go earlier in the morning, but something went wrong on his end and we didn't head out from my house until 12:45 or so.  By the time we got there, we only had a little over 3 hours.  I would have prefered to see a few more animals, but overall, it was good enough.  It was fucking cold today.

The snow owl had Alvin and myself laughing for a good few minutes.  He was HILARIOUS!!

O rly?
Ya rly!
Juggernaut helmet!

And another chapter is about to begin.

The past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions for me.  I've had my fair share of ups and downs and for the most part, those feelings were new to me.  Everyone who knows me knows that I'm an emotionless person.  But I've been anything but emotionless, I don't think any of my friends can argue with that.  So thanks to those of you who've been/are there when I needed to talk to someone.

Now on to other news.  Since then, I've been trying to get in shape (more in shape actually as I don't have a set goal).  For the most part, I hit the gym 3 times a week, use the elliptical/jog a few days a week, and try to keep to better eating habits.  I think it's paid off decently.  I'm not worried about losing x pounds per week.  I'm fine as long as I feel good.  I'm enjoying it for now, but I have a feeling this feeling won't last long.

As for work, I'm currently programming at a small finance firm (not for long, two more days).  The experience cannot be compared to my previous job.  Sitting on the trade floor (the view is amazing), hearing the commotion about our current market, and most importantly, no cubicle, has been nothing short of awesome.  Sadly, things come to an end and it's time to move forward.

In comes my good friend Pat.  He's always been there for me, always looked out for me.  He tried to hook me up with a job last year when my previous employment went poof (bankrupt), but that didn't work out due to circumstances.  This year, an opportunity arose and he asked if I was interested.  I figured I had nothing to lose so I passed my resume over.  Two weeks later, I'm on the phone discussing a start date.

A few weeks back, Pat and I were talking and he brought up something I've thought about before.  He said that I was a lucky guy when it comes to my career and how things tend to fall into place.  I can't argue with that.  Finding a job has been smooth for me.  Keeping the job... well, that on the other hand has been VERY difficult for me, lol.  I suppose it's out of my control, but I'd like to stay at the same company for more than a year for once.

No more business casual.  Hello jeans and a t-shirt.  That's a very welcome change.  =]