... that's my life.

More "101 List" Items Strike Out

2011-03-28T17:53:00.004-05:00

I knocked out several items on my 101 Things I Want To Do List. Say, "hasta la vista" to:

1. Get married
2. Own a cutting-edge bicycle
3. Own a premium luxury car
4. See an NBA game
5. Go to Las Vegas
6. Go to Africa

1963

2010-03-05T13:50:00.002-05:00

Here's a photo of dad when he was a senior in high school. It's crazy how much we look alike...

Fashion is Cyclical ... So Is My Weight Loss

2009-11-20T12:20:00.003-05:00

My fiance and I decided it was time we started making an effort to eat healthier. We've got the wedding coming up in October of next year, and we both want to feel and look great.

I know what has worked for me in the past (portion control, lots of veggies and no late night snacking). It took me about a month and a half to lose the weight I wanted (15lbs) .

A little over a year ago I went through a similar scenario, however, I think I used NutriSystem to shed the weight. This time around, I am preparing all of my own meals. It's worked out really well, and I still get to eat the super yummy stuff--just in moderation now.

My goal is 174lbs (which I met this past Sunday after sweating out the weight from a soccer game -- probably water weight is why I'm currently 176), and as long as I keep it within two pounds of this goal weight for the rest of the year, I will be happy. I'm still planning t0 hit the gym soon and get in a routine of strengthening my core like I did two years ago. Pretty sure Heather (fiance) wouldn't mind some six pack abs to run her hands over on our honeymoon. :)

A Little City Called Rome and Something Shiny

2009-07-15T19:07:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend Heather found out she would be headed to Rome, Italy for work. Knowing that my birthday was on the 11th of July, she invited me to come along with her. The plan was that we’d be able to spend time together when she wasn’t working during the day, and also tack on a couple of extra vacation days at the end of her trip.

When I realized the trip was actually going to happen, I knew it was my chance to do something really big. I mean, really BIG!

You see, Rome is Heather’s favorite place in the world. The architecture, the people, the food ... it is all amazing ... While living in Rome as an undergraduate, Heather learned Italian and fell in love with the Eternal City. I figured there would be no better place to surprise her.

Earlier in the week, we had visited Villa Borghese (Rome’s Central Park). We happened upon the most romantic restaurant I have ever encountered. Nestled away in the park, overlooking Rome and the Vatican City from it’s terrace, the Casina Valadier provides the most breathtaking view from your table (and amazing food!) “This will be perfect.” I thought to myself.

Since we were absolutely exhausted from spending the 11th at a Mediterranean beach (I know, tough life, right?), we decided to switch our reservations for the evening of the 12th for the celebratory dinner.

I must have checked my suit jacket one hundred times on the way over to the restaurant that evening, making sure my "gift" was secure.

We arrived at the restaurant just as the sun was setting behind the Roman skyline. Beautiful.

I made extra effort to make Heather think that my reason for ordering champagne once we were seated was to celebrate my birthday. Shortly after toasting my 32nd birthday, I took Heather’s hand into mine. I looked into her beautiful, blue eyes, and began telling her how much she meant to me …

Shortly thereafter, I was on bended knee, ring extended; my heart open.

Yes.

We’re engaged!

We spent the rest of the dinner taking in the view and talking about the rest of our lives together.

After dinner, we walked over to the Spanish Steps. There in the Piazza di Spagna, a horse and carriage awaited us for a tour of Rome under the moonlight.

We tossed coins into the Trevi fountain, vowing to return to our favorite place in the world, which now has a deeper, stronger meaning to both of us.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-21T15:44:00.019-05:00

The day began at 7 o’clock in a friend’s apartment in Washington, DC. I awoke to subfreezing temperatures, but a sunny dawn. After bundling up, packing some food and locking the door behind us, my girlfriend Heather and I joined hands and began walking down Mt. Pleasant Street, working our way over to the Columbia Heights Metro.

The station was already abuzz with folks from all over the world, making their way to the National Mall. The Metro cars were packed tightly, but everyone was in good spirits. People were looking out for one another. The feeling of being a part of something bigger than anything I have ever experienced in my life was growing.

We arrived at L’Enfant Metro Station and made a slow progression out of the station. We walked down Independence Avenue with hundreds of thousands of others towards the Mall.
Heather and I entered the Mall at 14th Street and worked our way through the crowd towards the Capitol, section by section. We found a spot right in the middle of the Mall, directly across from the Carousel.As we stood there for a few hours, waiting for the swearing in ceremony to begin, we made friends with others standing next to us. We talked about our families, commented on the arrival of celebrities and politicians gracing the JumboTrons and took in the estimated crowd of 1.8 million.Before we knew it, the moment was upon us and the ceremony began.

My grandparents Curtis and Helen Morris passed away several years ago. They lived the majority of their lives in a very different America; an America with less opportunity and equality; an America that judged you not by the content of your character, but by the color of your skin. They didn’t let that stop them from seizing the day, seeing the world and leaving it a little bit better than when they entered it.

My grandfather was a civil service professional assigned to the US Army Ordnance Corps as one of the first munitions surveillance experts. He retired as one of the program's senior executives and a pioneer in his field only after making valuable contributions through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His achievements didn't just ensure the safety of Americans--they blazed trails of equality as he was the first African-American to hold such a post.

My grandmother is a pillar of motivation and inspiration. Together with my grandfather, she raised three boys all the while moving over a dozen times (Yokohama, Japan included). All three of her sons attended college and obtained advanced degrees. Two became Colonels in the United States military. One became a stellar educator and author.

Of everyone I have known and love, no one shines brighter in my heart than my grandparents. I wanted to make sure that as they looked down from Heaven on such a historic moment, they knew I was thinking of them. For that reason, I brought a picture of them with me to the ceremony.
When President Obama finished the last words of the oath of office, the crowd erupted. I looked down at the photograph in my hand and said to it, “We’re here. We’ve made it.” My eyes welled up with tears of joy. I shook hands with others around me and I kissed my girlfriend. “This is AWESOME!” I said to her. She looked back at me with her beautiful, blue, tear filled eyes and nodded her head in agreement. Complete elation took over the sea of people.

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

- President Barack Obama

Uncle Lee

2008-12-02T13:17:00.002-05:00

Lee Whitlock is my great uncle. He taught my sisters and I how to ride horses when we were children, 25+ years ago. Stories about him within our family are numerous and grand. A true cowboy and model of "work ethic."

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Remarks From My Oldest Sis, And The Enthusiasm of Youth

2008-11-06T13:25:00.003-05:00

I received an e-mail earlier this morning from my oldest sister who is stationed in Germany this morning. Her e-mail is in response to the letter my father wrote on Election Day.

Well, Dad said it very well... I can't really add anything eloquent at this point... my brain has turned to mush after 5 years of being a stay-at-home Mom.

However, I'll share a really great experience I had yesterday. I was in one of our local hardware stores shopping with Zibby when a German boy of about 10 yrs old and his mother overheard me speaking in English. He ran up to me and shook my hand and said "you are American?" When I said, "yes", he pumped his fist in the air and said "President, Neu President ... OBAMA!". His mother was grinning from ear-to-ear. I felt very proud to be an American and and it made me feel as if the great tension between the two countries was being lifted in these small little exchanges.

So, it was nice to share that triumph with my German neighbors since a lot of my military friends were McCain supporters....

We Made It

2008-11-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

We made it grandma.

We made it.

An Election Day Experience in Virginia

2008-11-04T13:25:00.005-05:00

When asked about 9/11, most Americans will be able to give you a vivid recollection about what they were doing when they found out the World Trade Center and Pentagon had been hit. Such tragedy will stay fixed in the American psyche for decades to come as it was a traumatizing event.

I'm realizing that today, November 4, 2008 is having the same pyschological effect on me as that gloomy day in United States history. The difference though, is that my recollection of today won't contain memories of a horrific display of terror, but of the truest illustration of the feeling of "hope."

My father wrote a great letter today to all of the members of my family. It made my eyes well up. He senses that "hope" too and feels "vindicated and affirmed of service proudly" given that more Americans than ever are exercising their right to vote ...

Well, Nov 4 was a day full of rain and wind. Mom and I hit the polls at Nansemond River Baptist Church on Highway 17 at 0530 before dawn's break properly attired in sailor foul weather gear. Fortunately, we got into the building at the end of a lengthy serpentine line that would make any football game queue look small.

The Obama-McCain contest clearly generated more voter participation than any other American political contests that I have seen in my life time. Voters arriving 15 minutes later found themselves outside in the downpour in a line stretching from the poll door to highway 17. There were more cars in the parking lot than on Sunday. The voting finally started at 0600. The voting crowd was in good spirits and very patient. No wonder, most of us were still half a sleep. Before you know it we were done and out the door by around 0730. All in all the anticipation of voting malfunctions as in images of Florida in 2000 did not happen.

Personally, I feel good. I believe this election is a singularly significant moment in American history to select a President and representatives to successfully lead us into the future while working to deliver us from the crises confronting this great nation.

This said, election comparisons are difficult to make, and imperfect at best, but this Presidential election is not unlike that of FDR in the early moments of the Great Depression. It has generated excitement not seen since the election of John Kennedy. It is even more noteworthy in that Barack Obama is the first minority individual ever to be a major candidate. If he is not elected his candidacy will still have been a remarkable accomplishment a scant 44 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

However, if the polls are right, Barack Obama will be the first minority President in our history. If this watershed event does happen the world will take note, and we Americans are likely to see an improvement in our global image if not our relationships with friends, allies, and much of the rest of world. The words in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution will take on greater significance in the perceptions of many around the globe. Just as important for us citizens will be the symbolic crossing of the often unspoken bar of race and inequality that has always lurked at various depths of American life.

Clearly, the Obama campaign has been acclaimed by many as nothing short of brilliant in ideas, strategic focus and discipline. Comments of many of his critics also echo agreement. John McCain's campaign efforts have taken a different, more strident approach and style, but they have been no less dedicated. In a few short hours all of us will know whether Obama, or McCain has been successful. Regardless of whom each American voted for, the fact that we can hold a free election even with its imperfections is a continuing testament to the American experiment begun over two hundred years ago. As a veteran who has been in harms way for this country it is also a vindication and affirmation of service proudly given.

After today the victor of this Presidential contest will be the heir apparent to the toughest job in the free world. And, with this new found responsibility comes the great expectations of citizens that our President lead, unify, and deliver. I wish him Godspeed, every success, and blessing.

Dad

Obama Will Win in November ...

2008-08-04T14:36:00.003-05:00

... That is, if GoogleTrends is an accurate predictor. I thought I'd enter the terms "Obama" and "McCain" to see what the results would be. Maybe the results are so overwhelming because McCain supporters are older and don't turn to the Web for information on their election day hopeful?

Check out the full results here.

Soccer, Football, Joga Bonito.

2008-06-28T16:01:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is going to be a heavy soccer-focused day. I'm going to watch David Beckham play at RFK at noon, followed by the Euro final with a special someone at the Austrian Embassy. I like both Spain and Germany, so it should be a really good match. The fact that the Euro is being hosted in Austria makes this viewing party all the more exciting. I think I'll have to wear my German national team jersey to this one since all of the Austrians will be supporting the German squad.

I wonder if there will be schnitzel and pretzel bread? So excited!

The Bitter End ...

2008-05-23T22:19:00.001-05:00

“The last thing on my 100-point checklist in getting ready for this trip was not to return that movie,” my father barked to my mother as he dropped the red Netflix envelope onto the settee.

Hour 10 of our four day family cruise and I think my old man’s gasket has shown symptoms of rupturing. “So dramatic,” I thought to myself … but then again, I guess that’s just par for the course whenever I have visited my folks the last 10 years. It’s not like they are going to kill each other, they always just sound like they are about to. You can tell there is a lot of love between them-- 40 years so far—But I digress …

It took us a little under six hours to sail --ahem, motor-- to our main destination for the Memorial Day weekend: the quaint, Eastern Shore town of Cape Charles.

It’s just my luck that after taking a multi-day course at the Annapolis Sailing School there was no wind for me to show off my new skills to my parents.

The wind was so light and directly on our nose each time we tacked, that even if you had a spinnaker and a massive Formula 1 wind tunnel fan you would probably still feel like you weren’t going anywhere. That’s sailing though, and if you don’t have any patience you quickly learn to develop some. Everything happens very slowly (sure, when you’re going 7 knots in your boat you later brag about how you were “hauling ass” across the bay) and there is nothing else you can do to make the boat go faster, short of dropping the sails and turning on the iron genoa (that’s the engine for you land lubbers).

It’s kind of weird that my father is such a tenured salt himself as he has to be one of the most impatient people I know. Nevertheless, put him out on the water in his vessel and he gets sorted out quickly, easing into an “island time” mentality, often taking his watch off and not putting it back on for days (something I picked up years ago from him and love to practice when out on the water.)
I hope our next leg of the journey provides more wind and the same sunshine we had today. Fingers crossed …

Oh, and if you are wondering what the title is all about, it’s a nautical term. Way back when (think 1600s, maybe even earlier), deck hands would shout to the captain “She’s at the bitter end!” when there was no more line to spare on a tied off cleat.

Tony Little Was Right: It's Technique!

2008-04-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

I tend to eat "comfort food" over the winter, so all of my hard work of losing 32 lbs last year was completely ransacked by my pizza and ice cream habit. That's changing for good.

For the last five weeks I've been paying attention to what I eat, the amount I eat and the time I eat. Basically, I've made a lifestyle change that won't require a ridiculous diet or some type of shake. Diets don't work anyways ... not in the long run.

Coupling these eating habits with physical activity has proven itself not just manageable, but easy to follow for the rest of my life. Here are my results so far:

I've got about 7 more pounds to lose to reach my ideal weight. If my calculations are correct, I've been losing (on average) .45 lbs per day. Sports science nutritionists recommend you shoot for 2-3 lbs of weight loss per week, otherwise you run the risk of losing lean mass (muscle). So, I'm right on target with the amount I am losing.

Once I hit my ideal weight, I'll have to slightly increase my caloric intake so that I don't lose any more weight. Having 8% body fat was OK when I was cycling 400 -600 miles per week on my collegiate cycling team, but it totally isn't necessary for me any more. There have been numerous studies which show a healthier amount of body fat in men ranges between 12 - 18%. These studies indicate that cholesterol levels are ideal and heart health is optimized during this percentage.

I Mean, We Don't Know If We're the Best ...

2008-04-10T00:36:00.000-05:00

Looking through my digital scrapbook, I came across this photo I took on a recent trip to Czech Republic.

Video Break: User Generated Video

2008-04-07T13:46:00.002-05:00

My friend Jeff who is from SE VA sent this to me. My folks now live down where the rappers shot this. Visiting my folks has a whole new meaning.

Enjoy.

My 101 List is Getting Shorter

2008-03-27T16:42:00.003-05:00

I'm now able to cross off several items on my 101 List.

#18 Own a home.

#31 Own a motorcycle.

#39 Go to an English pro soccer match.

#64 Go to Czech Republic

#71 Go to England.

Over the last several months I have been busy with Traveling (I went to Europe last month for a REAL vacation), designing (Home & Garden Television has nothing on my interior design skillz), playing soccer, getting lost on my motorcycle, playing uncle (my niece and nephew are so cute!) and of course working -- gotta do something to pay for all of this!

Next month I'm taking an advanced sailing course at the Annapolis Sailing School. After I complete the course I plan on buying my first yacht. Perhaps this one will do?

From Gainesville to Hollywood!

2007-05-31T14:09:00.001-05:00

One of my best friends from college keeps showing up on my television. Check out some of DJ's acting in these clips. I'm so proud of him!!!

Blogged with Flock

The Twins Are Baptised!

2007-05-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

Hey folks, since most of you reading this are family, follow this link to check out all of the baptism photos from this past weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/g8rmni/show/

The Newest Addition to the Family

2006-12-29T23:25:00.000-05:00

My sister Carmen gave birth to twins today. Here are some photos of Bryce and Colby:

Above Photo: Uncle Ryan and Bryce.

Above Photo: Uncle Ryan holds Colby while Daddy Matt holds Bryce.

Another Christmas, Another Photo of A Christmas Tree

2006-12-24T23:43:00.000-05:00

I spent some time today putting a few digital photo albums together as a supplement to a Christmas gift for my parents (if you must know I bought them one of these, and then filled it with tons of photos; some photos are really old and were recently digitized by yours truely).

Anyway, in my pursuit of finding "family friendly" portrait and landscape photos, I came across several snapshots from Christmas past ...

It seems that each year I always -- without fail -- take a photo of the family tree. The tree isn't anything special: Just your average 7-foot plastic Douglas Fir, adorned with Target Store ornaments and random Christmas-y knick knacks from the past 30+ years. Wow, some tree.

Two Items On My 101 List Can Be Crossed Off

2006-12-23T15:38:00.000-05:00

I just realized that I am able to cross off two items on my "101 Life List."

Help me by saying "syanora" to: #50 Watch a professional sport from an executive box and #44 See an NFL game.

A couple of weeks ago I went with my girlfriend to see the Washington Redskins play against the Atlanta Falcons at FedEx Field. We watched the game from an executive suite -- catered with tons of beer, chips, dips, chilli dogs, cheese steaks, cookies and other fatty, but yummy, foods.

An E-Mail From My Mother

2006-09-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Written in her typical tangent thought trail, here is an e-mail from my mother about an entry I made on 9/11:

"I had the same thought yesterday about your calling me on that fateful day because I too had not had my tv on that morning. And you were right, it was the one time Dad had not left me his itinerary so I didn’t know his airline or flight #. I remember making frantic phone calls after you and I hung up to Alicia and Carmen. Alicia is like her Mom so at first she panicked and got tears in her voice. But Carmen remained cool and collected and said she would do some research because I did remember that Dad was connecting through Amsterdam (not Prague). She called me back about a ½ hour later and said there were two flights coming from Amsterdam, so he was probably on one of them. Later that afternoon, he called to say his plane had been turned around and returned to Amsterdam and when they all got off the plane, that’s when they were told the truth. That’s where he had to stay for the extra 5 days until he could get another plane home. I remember leaving you voice mails because the cell phone lines were down/overloaded and hoped you knew he was all right. Scary time I hope no one has to repeat. Have you watched any of the tv specials? Dad did watch the controversial ABC docu drama and thought it was pretty good in the sense it portrayed the amount of territorial egos, pc that ruled the day instead of putting the good of the country first, and the general bureaucracy that hinders real action and decisions from taking place. I didn’t watch it as I find reliving the horror too emotionally draining. I watched a CNN report that Christiane Amanpour did on how we got to where we are. She included the life and rise to power of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. She interviewed boyhood friends and others that worked with him and then distanced themselves from him as he became more and more extremist. She tied in how the Taliban was involved, and other interesting connections."

09.11.01

2006-09-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

I spent most of my day with 9/11 on my mind.

Driving into work, I listened to the Howard Stern show on Sirius. Instead of treating today like any other day, Howard decided to rebroadcast the recordings of his show from five years ago on this day.

The show brought back vivid memories of where I was when the planes hit the Trade Center and the Pentagon.

It made me feel numb again.

I spent the whole day at my desk listening to the show while working -- six hours of archived recording.

Right now I am at home watching President Bush address the nation about today's meaning ... what we're still doing in Iraq ...

Every once in a while I feel like I did five years ago -- a temporary feeling of not feeling safe; scared.

It can all still happen again. I think that is what makes me scared the most.

A Smattering of Photos

2006-07-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

Click on a photo to get a closer look.

Moonlight Blog Entry

2006-07-02T21:12:00.000-05:00

Right now I am sitting on the deck of my parent's sailboat under a moon lit sky. So far the July Fourth weekend has been a hot familial one.

My sister Carmen and her husband Matt drove down from Jersey to spend the weekend with us. They are having twins.

My dad and I continue to butt our heads with one another ... over simple, meaningless crap ... I think this has a lot to do with our strong personalities -- not the best way to communicate between the two of us.

Sailing on the York River

2006-06-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

Self Portrait at Sail
Originally uploaded by ryanmorrisc.

I went sailing this past weekend with my parents. I took this photo of myself on Father's Day.

Memorial Weekend Sail

2006-05-30T21:52:00.000-05:00

I went sailing this weekend with my parents. I've been trying to take advantage of my free time and spend it with them. They aren't retired yet, but they soon will be. They aren't elderly either, but time flies and I want to spend as much time with them as I can.

My folks have an LCD television with built-in DVD player on their boat, so I was able to watch Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.

It is revolting what the executives and Arthur Andersen did to the Enron employees. To sum it up, one employee had worked at Enron and was ready to retire with just over $300,000 in his retirement fund. A few months before the employee was going to retire, the company folded. He was left with a $1200 check.

Disgusting.

In a better light, I used the sailing trip to start reading a book that has been on my shelf for quite some time; Winning, by Jack Welch (you know, the guy that breathed new life into GE). So far it is pretty good.

... About Those Bugs

2006-05-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention the movie binge I went on in my previous post.

Because I was stuck at home in bed riding out a stomache virus, I was able to keep the local Hollywood Video store in business. Here is the movie debauchery:

Downfall Hitler and half his cabinent blow their brains out. His secretary gets giddy when she's around him.
The Weather Man Nicholas Cage proves that my life is way cooler than that of a weather man.
Two For the Money Picking who is going to win the Superbowl is way cooler than actually betting on it.
The Transporter BMW 745i takes on human traffickers.
The Transporter II Audi A8 takes on kidnappers. Double pistols rule.
A Murder of Crows Cuba Gooding needed a quick pay check -- I'm pretty sure that is why he did this movie. Not a bad flick, but he was much better in Jerry Macguire. Unfortunately the movie will haunt me since I bought it a year ago at a truck stop for six bucks.
Lord of War Guns don't kill people; People kill people.
Torque Worse than a Vin Diesel movie. The bikes are hott.
Sideways Pretty funny. The main characters remind me of some friends of mine.
The New World Horrible. Very slooooow. Watching Colin Farrell get drunk at his local pub would have made a better plot.
Ladder 49 Joaquin Phoenix reflects on his life as a firefighter while trapped in a burning building. Pony ending.
A Few Good Men The truth? You can't handle the truth!
North Country Tag line: All She Wanted Was To Make A Living. Instead She Made History.

Bugs and Traveling

2006-05-21T01:25:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while ... I know-- not the proper way to "build an audience."

I've got a good reason for my absence; I got some weird stomach bug and was out of town.

1-2, punch.

Purpose

2006-05-13T10:38:00.000-05:00

I guess the reason I am writing all of these stories down ... the reason I am trying to recollect everything that has happened in my life, is because grandma isn't around anymore.

Grandma Morris was the reason I know who I am -- who my family is.

Helen Morris recorded the Morris family history through scrapbooks. Every time we visited her (my family) in Waveland, Mississippi, I looked forward to an evening where everyone would pull out a scrapbook and take in almost 100 years of history. Fourteen volumes of Black history. Our family history.

She would tell stories about my dad's cousins, and who his childhood friends were; why she was dressed to the nines in one photo and smiling ear to ear in another.

I miss her.

She passed away several years ago when I was still in college.

I remember the last time I saw her. I remember talking to my dad's uncle Andrew.

I remember thinking, "I am so blessed to have such a strong and beautiful family."

It is those memories of family gatherings that make me feel a responsibility to stay strong ... to accomplish great things ... to be a rock for my (God willing) future children.

Grandma is gone, but the recording of our family history has not passed with her.

My fingers are the new orator. My blog, the family griot.

I invite you to share in my life's achievements. My failures. My moments of joy, and times of sadness.

A Correction to My Last Post ...

2006-05-12T00:16:00.000-05:00

... I now have a del.icio.us account.

My username is 'morrisryanc'. Now I just need some people to give me some tags.

Random Technology Observations

2006-05-11T23:54:00.000-05:00

I think I am obsessed with my laptop -- and everything that it ~~can~~ can't do.

I just spent four hours screwing around with an OS shell called Litestep. I still haven't figured out how to get the fricken thing to allow me to use my shortcut keys.

Two confessions:

I am addicted to RSS feeds.
I don't have a del.icio.us account.

My Dad Is the Reason I Love the Internet

2006-05-09T19:50:00.000-05:00

“No, no. You go like this,” my dad said as he demonstrated how to properly close a telescoping radio antenna.

“You start at the bottom and gently pull straight down. Once the sleeve is all the way down, you move up to the next section of the antenna and do the same thing … and so on and so forth.”

Everything I have learned about electronics and my curiosity for everything technological I credit to my dad.

Before the Internet, cell phones and digital surround sound, my dad was “early adopting” and “pioneering” at as quick of a rate as his generation’s scientists could muster.

You see, my dad was a ham. No, not a goofy prankster, but rather an amateur radio operator, or “ham” as operators are still known today.

He was just 13-years old when he earned his novice amateur radio license. It wasn’t long before he worked his way up the ranks to be able to talk to entirely different countries through the analog form of communication.

I assume his passion for amateur radio growing up was much like my passion for computers and gadgets.

As a military family, we moved to several different houses. Whenever it came time to look at a house to move into, one of my dad’s concerns was always “Where will the amateur radio antenna be mounted in this place?”

In Sacramento, CA my dad had what was called a Yagi antenna. It was a huge monstrosity of a thing that dwarfed our modest three bedroom – ahem, actually four bedroom – home (dad took one of the bedrooms as his own radio shack and made my two sisters share a room – a decision that still to this day during family gatherings is not left to die by my adult sisters).

When we moved to Fairfax, VA he mounted a single pole antenna in-between several tall trees that were in the front of our house.

We moved three times in Fairfax.

In the second house – just two blocks down the street – he ran a long wire that made what is called a dipole antenna. Picture a piece of cable split into a “Y” shape and then mounted up in the canopy of a forest; At least it was hidden this time.

In the third Fairfax home, (this time my parents purchased the house since they got tired of the Air Force telling them it would only be another 18 months till we PCS’d somewhere new) dad decided to mount a pole to the garage and attach a long piece of cable to it. I think that cable must have stretched 70 or 80 feet into the forest behind our house. Like the home before, this was a dipole antenna.

In the final Fairfax home (not really a home per se, but more of a temporary place for my parents to lay their head down while their dream home was built three hours away) or should I say, apartment, there were no antennas to speak of. I know my mom was relieved by this.

What does all of this talk about antennas have to do with me? It simply points out that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

As I said before, I believe I get all of my technology interests from my father. As a perfect example, I currently run four Blogs and three Web sites. Did I mention I have switched cell phone carriers every year for the last three years (and sometimes twice in a year), just because one of the carriers had a cooler phone or better data rate plan?

As I said, the apple doesn’t fall that far from the tree.

Sacramento: My First Set of Stitches

2006-05-08T19:38:00.000-05:00

I would be lying if I said I remembered the accident in its entirety. When I was around four years old, I obtained my first set of stitches from an accident, which involved a glass of orange juice, a vacuum and friendly competition.

I wonder if I do not really remember the event at all -- perhaps after being told the story so many times by my parents, I created my own "memory" of the event; like a schema of sorts.

My family and I were stationed in Sacramento, California. It was around 1980 or 1981 when the accident happened; because I think, I was either three or four years old.

I was at my best friend Matthew Grove's house for the afternoon. My mother was out running errands and she asked Matthew's mom to look after me for a few hours. I probably would have spent time over at the Grove's house anyways as Matthew and his brother Jeremy and I spent most of our free time together -- which when you are not in kindergarten yet is a LOT of time.

The story goes like this: Matt and I were in his family room and his mom shouted from the adjacent kitchen for Matthew to retrieve the dirty glass his father had left on the coffee table the previous night.

In the spirit of friendly competition, one of us challenged each other to race to the glass. Yeah, I know, not that smart.

We tore across the family room rug and before you know it, I tripped over a vacuum cord and put the back of my head squarely into the juice glass and wood coffee table.

Smash!

Legend has it that because my head is rumored to be plated in iron, the oak coffee table cracked from the blow it took from my noggin.

Luckily, Mrs. Grove had been a nurse, so she knew exactly what to do to deal with the bleeding from my head.

I do not remember going to the hospital, who took me (I think it was my mother, but not sure), or if I passed out or not.

I do however remember getting the stitches out. We always went to McClellan Air Force Base for my family's healthcare needs, and the removal of stitches was no exception. I remember being nervous and very concerned that removing the stitches would hurt.

My mother took me to see the doctor and from what I can remember, I did not cry. I remember the blue sterile paper that the doctor's implements were laid on, and him saying that I did just fine. I don't remember his face though; just his conclusion that I did a "good job" and am a "very brave boy."

If you look at the center of the back of my head, you can see a perfectly round scar above a vertical scar. Sometimes when people ask me how I got the scars, I pull their leg and say it was from a time when five muggers with knives jumped me. "I was the lucky one," I'd tell them ...

Uruguay: Getting There

2006-05-07T20:08:00.000-05:00

I was 12 years old when I moved to Uruguay. My dad was a colonel in the Air Force at the time and to this day, I think he still believes the Uruguay tour was the best assignment he ever had.

When I was around 8 years old, my dad left my mom, sisters and I to head to the Presidio of Monterey, California for several months to master the Spanish language. The Presidio of Monterey is the ‘Home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center’. It is renowned as the United States' best foreign language school.

Dad always had a fascination with all things "Latino." A quick look through his vinyl collection and you could tell that his curiosity to learn about Latino culture wasn't just a phase. Some of his records are from his undergrad college days at the University of Utah as an ROTC student. I think my mom and he took dancing lessons when they were undergrads. A little tango, a little mambo, and some Polish polka -- that's a whole other story.

OK, so Uruguay. I remember my mom and I had to wake up early and be at the Dulles International Airport four hours before our flight to New York was supposed to take off. We were bringing our family dog, Buttons -- a mindless yet adorable Poodle Terrier -- so that meant we had to be at the airport and additional two more hours on top of the four required for international flights.

I don't remember much about what I did to bide my time while waiting to board the Pan Am 747 for six hours, but I do remember an incident involving my mother's purse, and consequently the first time I realized I was more mature than I knew.

As I walked down the Jetway with my mother, carry-on luggage in tow, I remember thinking, "So, at what time am I actually going to say goodbye to America? I mean, at what point do I fully accept that I won't be coming back to the U.S. for three years? Is it when the wheels of the plane are no longer touching the tarmac in New York? Is it when I first see the Atlantic Ocean 30,000 feet below?"

Such a question boggled my 12-year old mind.

It wasn't until we were all settled in our seats – co-pilot side of the Boeing 747 with me in the window seat-- that I saw a panicked look on my mother's face.

I remember we were looking out the window watching the baggage handlers load Buttons’ kennel into the belly of the craft.

"Oh, no! Oh my God!," my mother said.

"What? What's wrong?," I said.

"Where's my purse? Is it in my carry-on?" she said frantically as she tore through her bags.

"Mom, calm down!" I said. "See if the stewardess can do anything. Do you think you left it at the gate?"

"I don't know. I might have. Yes, maybe."

She was able to get a flight attendant's attention and inquire about her purse.

"It had everything in it; our passports, cash, credit cards, everything."

The attendant said she would see what info she could find out. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't able to run back to the gate to look for it as we were in the final stages of pre-flight check.

I think it wasn't until we were taxiing down the runway that the attendant leaned over to my mom and assured her it would be waiting for us at the gate in New York.

It wasn't until then that she completely calmed down and was able to enjoy the flight. We had a good chuckle about it too, and how her pre-teen son told her to, “Chill!” and get a grip.

“The situation could be a lot worse,” I reminded her.

She looked into my eyes and said, “You’re right, it could be.”

My 101 List

2006-05-05T20:49:00.005-05:00

1 ~~Fall in love~~
2 ~~Get married~~
3 Take care of mother/father
4 Have children
5 Have children become individuals and self-actualized staying loving within the family
6 Have grandchildren
7 Leave all financial matters in great shape for family members upon passing on
8
9
10
11
12 ~~Pay off college debt~~
13 Net worth of one million dollars, after taxes
14 Net worth of ten million dollars, after taxes
15 Net worth of fifty million dollars, after taxes
16 Zero personal debt for family
17 Make five hundred thousand dollars on an outside investment
18 ~~Own my own home~~
19 Start a company and sell it
20
21
22 Drive a car on a race track
23 Own a beach home that stays in family
24 ~~Own a cutting-edge bicycle~~
25 Own a sailboat
26 Own a great personal collection of fine tailored suits
27 Design my own modern home
28 Own a great personal collection of watches
29 Own or drive a Ferrari
30 Own or drive a Lamborghini
31 ~~Own a motorcycle~~
32 Own and design a custom home theater/media room
33 Own a premium luxury car.
34 Donate a significant amount of money to an African-American focused cause
35
36
37
38
39 ~~Go to an English pro soccer match~~
40 Go to a Tour de France
41 Go skydiving
42 ~~See an NHL game~~
43 See an NBA game
44 ~~See an NFL game~~
45 Go to the FIFA World Cup
46 Break 100 in golf
47 Break 90 in golf
48
49 Go to a University of Florida Homecoming post graduation
50 ~~Watch a professional sport from an executive box~~
51 Go to a Formula 1 or Supersport race
52 Sail to the Carribean
53 Take a motorcycle racing course
54
55
56
57 Take my kids camping
58
59
60
61
62
63
64 ~~Go to Czech Republic~~
65 ~~Go to Las Vegas~~
66 ~~Go to Germany~~
67 ~~Go to Italy~~
68 ~~Live in a foreign country~~
69 Go to Hawaii
70 ~~Go to Africa~~
71 ~~Go to England~~
72 ~~Go to France~~
73 Go to Australia
74 ~~Go to Spain~~
75 Go to the Caribbean
76 ~~Go to Brazil~~
77 ~~Go to Austria~~
78 ~~Go to Argentina~~
79 Visit Uruguay
80 Visit the chapel of Madonna del Ghisallo
81 ~~Visit and pay respects to a WWII memorial concentration camp~~
82 ~~Shake hands with the President~~
83 ~~Tour Air Force One~~
84 Fly or ride along in a fighter Jet
85 Write a book
86 ~~Learn Spanish~~
87 Learn Italian
88 Learn Portuguese
89 ~~Tour the White House~~
90 See U2
91 See Coldplay
92 ~~See Dave Matthews Band~~
93 Take a year sabbatical
94 Learn to play the blues on the guitar
95 Restore/Refurbish an automobile or motorcycle
96 ~~See Ray Charles in concert~~
97 See B.B. King in Concert
98 Take my wife to Paris, France
99
100
101

Prelude to a 101 List

2006-05-05T20:43:00.000-05:00

I recently subscribed to Ted Leonsis' blog, Ted's Take. That guy amazes me.

His blog isn't anything to write home about for the most part, but every once in a while he'll post a real gem.

Most of the time he punches in quick updates about the Washington Capitals (he's the principal owner) and other sports (Nationals, Wizards, etc.)

I'm not much of a "mainstream" sports guy, so I usually just glance over his sport-related blogs.

About those gems: His "101 List" is astounding. I mean, the type of things he put on there are big. Really BIG.

It inspired me to create my own. It seems that whenever I create a list, I am able to usually accomplish everything on it. Why don't I apply that same principal to my life goals?

So, without further delay, I present my "101 List."

... and now that i made my first post

2006-05-05T20:37:00.000-05:00

I've been designing lately. Architecture. Floorplans. Dreams.

I bought a proper sketch book two weeks ago and began doodling again.

I want to design and build my own house. Soon.

I always thought I'd just move into a condo since property is so expensive in the DC area, but a few weeks ago I came across some land online in the Washington Post Real Estate guide.

$100 grand gets me a 100' x 23' lot in the same ZIP code I currently reside in.

Sounds too good to be true, I know.

Ever since then, I've dropped all desire to search for a reasonably priced condo that is more than 500 square feet.

It could be worse I guess; I could be living in a box.

Start Now

2006-05-05T19:34:00.000-05:00

I've been dealing with blogs a lot lately and feel compelled to create another one; on a more personal level.

I have no idea how long this blog will exist, what topics will be covered, or who will read this thing. Since there are so many blogs out there (700,000 are created per day) I doubt anyone will regularly read mine ... unless I make it interesting and follow all of the rules to "build an audience."

I hope this thing gives me new ideas, serves as a method of therapy and improves my blog writing skills.