Anthony's Stolen Three =)

So... I've gone onto my blogger multiple times within the past week or so, but I couldn't find anything to write about. I still don't have much, but I guess I'll do a "stolen three" post. The Stolen Three is my friend B's blog and she posts the three things that made her happy that day or within the past few days. Here are my stolen three...

1) Hanging out with the roommates in our backyard. We spent about two hours outside enjoying the cool water. We always come up with the most harebrained (is that it? hair-brained? what does that mean?Just looked it up, it works) schemes and they're pretty ridiculous. Last weekend we tried to set a static rope (these are climbing ropes that have some, or in this case, a lot of stretch to them) from our tree house to the chimney so we could use Colin's ascenders to get up to the treehouse and then zipline back down. We were able to get it to what we thought was taut enough, but then I took another rope and pulled down at the midpoint of the line and it sagged too much. 45 minutes of prep all gone to waste, but it was fun to think about it. Yesterday, we set up a slackline across our pool. It wasn't high off of the water, but we thought we might still be able to make it across. For those of you who don't know what slacklining is, it is basically tightrope walking, but instead of a tight rope, it's a slackline, usually a one-inch wide line of webbing. It started out with climbers, finding this as fun thing to do while camping, and also helps the balance. So yea, I got the furthest, and I made it to the center of the pool, but my feet were in the water, and water does not help stabilize you, it makes you feel like your balancing in quicksand. But yea, we're definitely going to do it again.



2)Penelope- She's such a good dog, really... with the exception to her getting out and running all around the neighborhood. She can sit, lay down, shake, five, high five, roll-over, bang bang(play dead) and other tricks. Yesterday we brought her into the pool and we had her riding all over on the boogie board.

3) Work- It's air-conditioned.. enough said!

Happy Friday!

Oh yes, there is nothing better than the feeling of coming to work on Friday morning, knowing that once that clock hits 4:30pm, you’re out of there and you don’t have to be there for two full days. This week has gone by pretty slowly. It hasn’t been crazy slow like when you look at the clock at 10:00 and then you think a few hours have passed and when you look again it’s only 10:38. It’s funny how I look forward to going home everyday, only to get there and leave for somewhere else half an hour later. Let’s see what I did this week… Monday, well, I stayed home and relaxed with Penelope (the pup). Tuesday I went to culinary class where we learned how to poach, got out early and then headed to the velodrome to drink a little and watch the races with the homies. Wednesday I went to the (Ye Olde) bike shop and hung out there for a bit looking for a 53-54 cm road frame to build a bike up for Rachel. After that I went to the gym for a little bit and then went home and hung out with the roomies. We went to Bennigan’s as we traditionally do now for Burger Wednesdays. You can get one of their delicious burgers for five bucks! Last night I came home and hung out for a bit and then headed to the East Village (Eighth and Market) and rode with the E.Vill Doers. This is the primary “fixed” crew I roll with. We went through Little Italy and Old Town to get to Fashion Valley and hung out there for a bit. We hung out and just loitered around different parking structures and then headed back. A few of us went to ramen afterwards, which was really tasty. Tonight I’m going on the Velo Cult ride, where we’re probably going up to UCSD and then riding through La Jolla Shores and Birdrock. So yea, it’s a non-stop party for this kid. Haha, maybe that’s why I still haven’t beaten this cold. This weekend I’m staying home, though. Well, maybe on Saturday. Sunday’s Earth Day at Balboa park.

Really disappointing

I went over to my parents' house this Sunday after church and everything is going just like normal. Until my mom asks me about the job I applied for. I broke the news to her, and she asks me what I'm going to do now. I told her I wasn't sure, which was the truth. I told her I really wanted to work within student affairs and then she went off asking how I was going to do that if there were no jobs. She offered to pay my way through the credential program then. Very enticing, but it's just not something I want to do right now. I like student affairs and I love culinary school. And then my parents, who I thought were at least a little bit supporting of me and my dreams basically told me I was going nowhere with culinary school and I needed to think about how I'm going to live my life and think about a practical job, put my education to use and blah blah blah. By that point my anger pretty much muted anything else they said to me on the subject. I fully understand what they were saying underneath; they don't want me to struggle, they want me to have a secure job. When I talked to my dad (who I thought would try to understand at least a littl bit), he basically told me I needed to "stop dicking around". That hit hard, so I went inside, hugged my grandma and mom, then Rachel and I left. It's funny, that as a little kid, your parents would say you could do anything you wanted, and then how many years later, would they seem so different from what you remembered. At what point do you stop trying to please your parents and start listening to yourself and what you want to do.

Inspiring Words

Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!—Og Mandino

Self-realization

So I applied for a different job on campus, as an academic advisor/ peer advising counselor, and I called in the other day to see where they were in the process.  They said if I hadn't heard from them yet, then unfortunately, I wasn't getting the job.  It's pretty depressing, I'm not gonna lie.  I would have been great at the job.  I love doing student services work.  My job now was really just something to pay the bills, maybe get my foot in the door somewhere.  I do love my job, well, the people that I deal with (students) and (most of) the people that I work with.  My position, however, is mostly clerical.  Basically, my professional position title, would be "Paper Pusher".  I know I am destined for more, and that is what is making my job a little less desireable to me.  It isn't really keeping me happy, and to me, that is a big big problem.  To my parents' dismay, I told them that I want to find something that I want to do, not something I have to do to survive.  My dad, I think understands me.  But my mom, she's just worried about me being good financially. I understand the deeper meaning, she doesn't want me to struggle like she  and my dad did when they were young, but I am okay with working hard, especially if it's what I love doing.  One thing that I really do love doing these days, is cooking.  Culinary arts.  I watch FoodTV all of the time, and my favorite show is Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  If I were ever to own a restaurant, it would be a diner.  I like talking to people, the connection that food makes with people.  I want to be like the bartender, the one who talks to people, hears them out, and even shells out advice.  When I'm bored, I cook.  It's fun to me, and I think I can dedicate myself enough to gain the skills to go somewhere in the industry.  I think I may become a substitute teacher in the Fall and then work at REI or a restaurant a few nights a week.  It'd be more work than where I'm at now, but I really feel like I want to pursue this.  This is my life, and I want to be able to choose my journey, difficult or not.  

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

saw this online

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition,

There are still untapped possibilities within us

and new beauty waiting to be born.

- Dale Turner

Rollin with the homies

So I picked up some sweet cycling rollers yesterday from Ye Olde Bike Shop on University. Older Dave hooked me up for 75 bucks!

Bicycle rollers are a type of bicycle trainer which makes it possible to ride a bicycle indoors without moving forward. However, unlike other types of bicycle trainers, rollers do not attach to the bicycle frame, and the rider must balance him or herself on the rollers while training. Bicycle rollers normally consist of three cylinders, drums, or "rollers" (two for the rear wheel and one for the front), on top of which the bicycle rides. A belt connects one of the rear rollers to the front roller, causing the front wheel of the bicycle to spin when the bicycle is pedaled. The spacing of bicycle rollers can usually be adjusted to match the bicycle's wheelbase. Generally, the front roller is adjusted to be slightly ahead of the hub of the front wheel.
-Taken from Wikipedia

I've tried rollers a few times, and they are incredibly hard, but my friends say that once you get it down, it really helps your cycling. What's cool about these rollers is that I can adjust the resistance. So I got home and I move my couch to the side bit and lay my beer pong table down on the carpet( the rollers can't be on the carpet because the drums will rub on the ground). I set the rollers on the wood and adjusted the front roller to fit good on my wheel. I set the bike on and grab onto the couch for stability and start pedaling. First thought, my pedaling is way off, I need to work on my cadence. After a minute or so I decide to speed up, because they say the faster you go the better your balance. So I pedal faster until I get a good even cadence and let go for a second. DON'T LOOK AT THE HUB OR THE ROLLERS! I grab onto the couch again. I decide to look a few feet in front of me on the ground. This feels better. So I let go and I'm actually riding the rollers! Keep your eyes in front of you, and OOPS I looked down! I tried to slow down, and then was able to stop, but I was further away from the couch to grab it. Like a redwood falling in the forest, I tipped over and fell to the ground. I'm not giving up on rollers though, I just need to keep practicing.

OOOOHHH!!

Forgot something.... So, I've been thinking about getting a tattoo very recently, and I think I foudn what I would like to get.  I'm really into Traditional(sailor style stuff) and traditional Asian tattoos, and I think I would like my first tattoo would be of a fu dog.  A fu dog is also known by many names, such as a shishi, or and imperial lion.  Basically, they are protectors, usually in pairs.  I think I will only get one for now, maybe the other later.  Here is an imperial lion statue

The paintings of these Imperial lions are really not too appealing to me. I have the idea to have it being a statue that is coming to life, little chunks of rock breaking off, and it sort of changing positions from where it's at.  I want the swirling clouds around the lion and (at least) six lotus or cherry blossoms around it, symbolizing my parents, grandmother, sister, brother, and myself.  I am not super close to my other grandparents, but I just thought about them and I have decided I will not get (at least) eight blossoms around it.  I think I want the tattoo t be placed around my ribs (I know it will hurt a lot), my lower left front abdomen area, or my back left shoulder blade.  I don't know why, but I do want it on my left side.  This idea is coming together more than any other idea

.Blossoms and shadows/clouds like this

WOO!  I like it!

Stranger than Fiction

So I'm watching Stranger Than Fiction on the DVR and I just wondered what it may be like to have your whole life narrated by some strange person, maybe an English woman, like in the movie.  Moreover, I wondered if I had my life narrated, would my life seem as boring as Mr. Harold Crick.  Thinking about it, my life wouldn't be like Harold Crick, because my life is pretty erratic.  By choice, of course... I like not planning out my whole week, although the idea does seem appealing.  On one hand I want to have a schedule, I want to plan out what I'm doing after work, who I'm hanging out with in the evening, etc. etc.  But then on the other hand, I like being open to doing other things, mostly depending on my mood.  I guess my narrator would say something to the point of Mr. Aranico was tested for ADD multiple times when he was younger, but never diagnosed with it.  The doctors said that he was just bored...  Through his childhood and into his current adulthood, he has always found something new to do, something else to see...  I think I would freak out like Harold did in the movie.    Random post, eh?  I think I'm done.

Gettin E.Vill tonight!

Really stoked for the E.Vill doers ride tonight, it's always a good time. The E.Vill doers ride out of East Village (downtown, 8th and Market) and we typically ride at least 15 miles in a night. No, this isn't your typical easy flatland ride either. We take on hills with pretty wicked inclines, mashing our legs down into the cranks to get to the top of the hill and then bomb down the other side of it. The other week, we took 1st St, which is a crazy huge rolling hill up to Presidio Park and rode that all the way down to Old Town. That road is pretty crazy in the dark. But yea, it's gonna be a good night.

Blog!!

After a series of failed blog attempts, I am yet again making an attempt to do so.  Anyway,  I think I may have ADD.  Here is a list of my current hobbies/interests.  Bikes(specifically fixed gear/track), climbing, photography (I have recently acquired lots of free darkroom equipment and am planning on going to a photo supply store in Little Italy this week to get everything else I need to start out), food/culinary arts, classic cars/trucks... that's all I think of right now, I was hopped up on RedBull just a little bit ago, but I think it' wearing off.  Those are probably what the majority of my posts will be about, with more to come, I'm sure.  

Some pictures of trucks I would like to buy/ restored (these are obviously already restored)