penn

Seeing the Future

It's always nice to have a friend in a similar life spot, so it's with joy that I often find April and I have a lot in common.

One particular post recently has resonated with me. My life decisions are truly going to be my own life decisions. Also, I am a big dreamer, and I constantly look forward to the future. I agree with April that my future is not at all what I thought it would be, but for entirely different reasons.

Ten years ago, I was 13 and just embarking on the teenage years. I still played with dolls sometimes, but I also babysat for kids in my church. I didn't have a lot of friends, as I had moved to Seattle the previous year. I was having some difficulties with math, but I loved my language arts class and thought about becoming a writer. Science was boring because the teacher talked down to us.

Many friends have left my life in the past few years, but several wonderful friends have also emerged. I'm not a big diary writer, so the me of 10 years ago would probably scoff at the idea of actually maintaining the blog. I'm relearning my love of physical activity, and I'm actually becoming slightly more coordinated thanks to the racketball. I'm not a high school teacher, which is what I always thought I'd be. The idea of going to grad school had never occurred to me. The idea of being nervous about moving cross country was not a thought that would have ever crossed my brain during the teenage years; only in its reality has it become worrisome (even though it will ultimately happen). Moving abroad still maintains allure; I wonder if it will continue to be a sparkling gem as a potential day for that change may also near.

I wonder where I'll be in another ten years? Right now, I envision myself married, perhaps with a new baby. I imagine I'll be a professor at some university. Funny to think that those things might not happen when I am working so hard toward these ultimate goals right now.

Really Loving the Y

I'm learning how to play racketball, and that's pretty darn exciting. I'm not really coordinated, so I tend to swing and miss the ball a lot. However, racketball seems to be easier to master than, say, basketball. Baby steps to this team sports thing.

I got set up on the Fitlinxx system at the Y. Basically, it's a computerized personal trainer. It's awesome, and it comes for free with a Y membership. I had a consultation last week with a trainer, and he set me up on 8 different weight lifting exercise plus 30 minutes of cardio a day. The weightlifting part is particularly wonderful. You log into a little screen on each piece of equipment, and it tells you how to set the machine (seat height, etc) and what weight you lifted last time and for how many reps. The goal is to make somewhere between 8 and 12 reps each time I lift. Each time I meet the 12 rep goal, the machine asks me if I want to increase my weight, and it will keep track of that weight for next time. So much easier than writing everything down in a notebook.

It gets even cooler. When you start lifting, the machine shows your stack of weights moving, and it tells you when you're at your far end of your range of motion (the real life trainer set this range). So, I don't have to worry about hyperextending, because the machine lets me know when I'm done. It also times each rep to remind me to go slow on the weights.

This week, I've been to the Y four times already, and today will make five. I'm trying to make it my goal to get to the Y more than five times each week (the luxury of not having a job). So far, in two weeks of going to the Y, I haven't seen any body/weight changes. However, I remain hopeful that my continued attendence will eventually result in better fitness and a trimmer body.

The Christmas Toy

I'm quite sad to discover that my favorite Christmas movie seems only to be available on VHS. I've got an old VHS off the TV somewhere around here, so I'll just have to be not lazy and convert it to DVD.

I'd forgotten about it until just recently, and I thought I'd look for it tonight. What could be more entertaining than a Christmas movie billed for those three and up that is synopsized like this:

Kermit the Frog as Santa Claus narrates this delightful holiday tale. Rugby the Tiger is Jaime's favorite Christmas toy from last year. Rugby is convinced that he will be wrapped up and placed under the tree again this year. When it's Christmas Eve and all the other toys try to explain to him that that is not going to happen, Rugby decides to take matters into his own paws and place himself under the tree. He makes the dangerous trip from the playroom to the living room trying not to be seen, for if a toy's secret of being able to move when humans aren't around is discovered, it becomes frozen forever. Now all his friends from the toy room must get him back before it's too late. This sweet story about friendship and loyalty is delightful. The songs, including "Try the Impossible" and "Old Friends," are darling. This 50-minute video is great family viewing and an excellent addition to your Christmas collection.

So, about them Seahawks

The energy at the game yesterday was unbelievable, and I can't believe that anyone there truly thought the Panthers stood a shot. Especially after the first quarter, it seemed like an ever forward Seahawks push to victory.

My ears are still ringing from all the noise. Seattle is known as a loud sports city (which is surprising, actually), but this was beyond what I usually hear. The stadium was absolutely filled to capacity plus by the time the game started. The Seahawks put up bleacher seats and sold standing room only tickets, which allotted fans to small, yellow squares on the floor with a taped in number.

In Seattle, a tradition at every game is to thank the fans by raising the 12th man flag. At least for the past year -- and probably more -- the team has referred to the fans as the "12th man" and saluted them with a special flag. Different figures get to raise the flag at each game. When we played the Redskins, Ken Hammond (a player injured in a bar brawl near the stadium) raised the flag to support his team. This time, it was Paul Allen. The 12th man intro said started, "His father took him to Huskies Games." It detailed his investment in the team, and the fact that he was the one who kept football in Seattle. Definitely a tear jerker speech before Allen raised the flag.

It was so loud and boisterous that I couldn't sell for the first 15 minutes of the game (5 minutes of play time). In fact, I mostly sold during about half the game in between bouts of squatting on the stairs trying to peek at the field between standing fans. Many people spent the whole game on their feet; Seattle would have made tons of money by removing the seats to pack more people in (side note: it was so crowded that they showed emergency exit plans on the big screen TVs before the game. Did anyone listen? No. They were too busy screaming for the entire hour before the game, plus for the whole game).

I cut out before the end and enjoyed the empty streets of Seattle before I got on my bus just as the Seahawks sealed their ticket to the Superbowl.

Still, it was an amazing game, and I'm proud to say that I was one of the elite few who not only didn't pay to attend but earned money while going to the game. I'm excited to see how we fare in the Superbowl.

For those instances where grammar is important

I understand some people just aren't grammar sticklers. That's alright; I try not to say anything about it. (My secret confession is that I don't always proofread or remember every rule either.)

However, for those times when grammar is important, I've found a really nifty reference: Dr. Grammar's FAQ. Loads of little segments answering those ever-pressing grammar questions, like accept versus except (important distinction there!).

I have a feeling it'll come in handy, which is why I'm blogging about it. My blog: personal filing drawer for Leah's brain.

Saying No To Walmart from a Manufacturer's Perspective

As found via Kottke, a manufacturer said no to Walmart. He used to carry his Snapper line of lawn equipment at Walmart, but he withdrew his goods due to the falling price point and a request for lower quality.

This article is especially telling when it looks at Walmart's business practices. For those who prefer durability and ease of use over a low price point, the following is troubling:

If you know nothing about maintaining a mower, Wal-Mart has helped make that ignorance irrelevant: At even $138, the lawn mowers at Wal-Mart are cheap enough to be disposable. Use one for a season, and if you can't start it the next spring (Wal-Mart won't help you out with that), put it at the curb and buy another one.

I completely agree with the philosophy of purchasing a better product at a higher price. Sure, I don't drink coffee, so the analogy doesn't perfectly fit me, but I will purchase more expensive shoes or clothing to get a good, long-term, quality deal. It's cheaper to buy one nice pair of running shoes per year than buy two crappy pairs and later pay for foot therapy due to poor fit. The below example is why I purchase my cameras at camera stores and my outdoor gear from REI.

Wier doesn't really think that a $99 lawn mower from Wal-Mart and Snapper's lawn mowers are the same product any more than a cup of 50-cent vending-machine coffee is the same as a Starbucks nonfat venti latte. "We're not obsessed with volume," says Wier. "We're obsessed with having differentiated, high-end, quality products." Wier wants them sold--he thinks they must be sold--at a store where the staff is eager to explain the virtues of various models, where they understand the equipment, can teach customers how to use a mower, can service it when something goes wrong. Wier wants customers who want that kind of help--customers who are unlikely to be happy buying a lawn mower at Wal-Mart, and who might connect a bum experience doing so not with Wal-Mart but with Snapper.

Buy more, or buy better? I choose the latter.

Gmail confusing AND excitement

Gmail confusion: they've switch the menus. Now, instead of using the menu to delete (which used to say "send to trash" or something similar), here's a special button for it. Gmail is messing with me.

Excitement:
I've been asked to interview at the University of Pittsburgh. They're flying me out there in mid-February for a big potential grad student weekend. I'm quite excited. The graduation committee unanimously recommended me for the interview, and the chair of graduate admissions contacted me himself. Apparently, they are very impressed. It is nice to have affirmation that my work is as good as I have always believed it is (makes me seem a little more justified in my ego).

I was babysitting for an adorable four year old today when I got the phone call from the chair of grad admissions. I got off the phone, and I had tears in my eyes. Sweet little Curtis came up and gave me a hug. So nice to feel wanted :-)

Occasionally Disturbing on an Audio Front

I've got speakers on my desk, so I don't usually use my computer speakers. It's easier to listen to movies and music this way.

Sometimes, it is disconcerting when I pick up or move my laptop and the sound doesn't move at all. Even weirder is when I watch movies but prop my feet on my bed. In that position, the speakers are directly behind me. Nothing like watching something in front of you but getting the sound like the people are standing at your back.

Lacking Inspiration

Normally, I love a grey and dreary day. However, we've had far too many of these recently in Seattle. Don't get me wrong; I'm not begging for summer. I'd just like to ask for some sunshine in my room.

The decluttering goes in fits and starts. I can't seem to make it stick. All my music is boring. Could I be any more pouty?

Not much to blog about because not much is happening. I'm in a holding pattern, really. I've got to get this room cleaned up so I can take pictures and blog about that.

Ebay Woes

or the strange issue of purchasing something from Canada -- is it really that hard?