The Cleveland Show is really happening?

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Joel

I can’t believe The Cleveland Show is really happening.  Is this going to be good?

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I’m in Delaware this week

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Joel

I’m working in Delaware this week.  First time, ever.  Delaware isn’t even all that far from home — 90 mins each way, which is just 15 mins more than it takes for me to get to my office in NJ! I don’t want to drive 160 miles found trip every day, so I’m doing a mix of staying overnight and driving home.  One of those on-off-on-off deals.  This way, two nights I can work late, and two nights where I can see my family. I was glad that I had the flexibility to do what was best for me and the family, and balancing what work I had to do. Makes life easier.

Delaware looks the same as the rest of America, though I still don’t understand why their automotive license plates are so weird.  You know what I’m talking about — the dark blue plates with a with just a “4” on it.  What’s up with that? It must be a popular place — the hotel is booked solid, and I’m stuck in a smoking room. Listen, I don’t care how much the staff says they cleaned the room.  They put an air ionizer in here as well, and I’ve got it running nonstop.  The room still stinks.  Strangely enough, I’m in the mood for a cigar. 🙂

After work, we did have a very nice team lunch, which is always a plus when travelling on company business with your colleagues.  If it’s a good group like this one, then it’s a good experience. I can’t remember the last time, if ever, that I had a bad trip because of the group dynamic.  Basically everyone is fine to travel and work with.  I guess I’ve been lucky, or people in general are not that bad, you know?

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This weekend’s outdoor and indoor picnics

Posted on May 17, 2009 by Joel

What’s up with the crazy weather this year?  It’s hot. It’s cold.  It’s beautifu.  It’s rainy and cold.  This year has been odd. It doesn’t help that the weekends go by so fast these days. We’re trying to enjoy our weekends more, and be less stressed out.  Stressed out? Yes, by trying to keep commitments to attend 101 events over 48 hours between Fridays and Mondays.

On Saturday afternoon, my sister and her husband held their annual “Spring Swing” BBQ party at their place.   We didn’t actually make it to the softball game, as most of the family took afternoon naps. By the time we made it there, it was close to 6pm.  Of course, we made it in time for the food, which is all that mattered to me.  By the time we finished cleaning up afterwards and got home, it was after midnight.  Always the sign of a good party.

On Sunday afternoon, we were supposed to picnic with friends over at Liberty State Park, but the weather didn’t cooperate.  Who wants to sit in the park on a windy day in 50 degree weather?  We moved the “picnic” to our friend Reeba’s nearby apartment. 

Last note on the weather — Memorial Day weekend is coming up, and the weather is slowly trending to good weather.  I hope the weather cooperates.  Saturday is the start of my week-long vacation, and I’m really looking forward to it!

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Star Trek (2009)

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Joel

Our date night this month was to see Star Trek, the movie reboot for the Star Trek franchise.  I’m a huge, long-time Trekker.  In the past year, so many Trekkies/Trekkers have been going nuts on each other about the upcoming movie.  Those who were livid about the changes to the established canon, and those happy to see any kind of Star Trek on the big screen.  I did the (easy) math, and it’s been a long time since a new Star Trek film was on the big screen. 7 years since the last Star Trek movie (Star Trek: Nemesis), and 13 years since the last good movie (Star Trek: First Contact.)

My take?  Listen, I grew up on the original series, the TOS movies of the 80’s, The Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine.  I also watched (with much disappointment) Voyager and Enterprise.  I may not like all the perceived differences, but if they can get people to like Star Trek again, to understand what’s so great about it, then it can’t be so bad.

Date night almost didn’t happen.  Our babysitting service / plans were cancelled on us at the last minute, and we seemingly didn’t have any other options.  At the last second, a Hail Mary pass came our way.  Our friends Sona and Pradeesh offered to watch the kids for us.  I still can’t believe it.  Being so thankful, and in a hurry, we dropped off the kids, and tried to get to the theater in New Brunswick.  I had purchased tickets through Fandango, but we weren’t going to make it, so we went to a closer theater. I’m wondering if I can get a credit or my money back, since I never claimed the tickets.

The movie used time travel, but the writers were able to successfully bridge the original stories and this new movie.  Basically, a la Back to the Future Part II, unintended visitors from the future have altered the original timeline, and sent us into an alternate future. Is it different?  Yes, but the movie was well-done.  Heck, my wife liked a Star Trek movie.  Even better?  There were lots of women in the theater, and my female friends liked the movie a lot. 

Yes, the movie was different, and changed some key aspects of what I knew and loved.  It’s made a lot of people appreciate Star Trek, so it’s worth it for me.  Now if they can work in some actual thought-provoking stories (besides the big explosive action), I’d be pleased.

Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek (2009)

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The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Joel

I finished watching The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Thursday night. It’s the second movie in the recent Chronicles of Narnia movie trilogy. The premise of the movie was the return of the Pevensies (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) after having been gone for 1,300 years, to find Narnia invaded and changed. 

The movie was a little darker than the first movie in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They were both PG movies, but I suppose the violence in this movie was more directed towards people (and not…. evil badgers.)  It wasn’t gruesome violence at all, but more than I as probably expecting in a movie aimed at children. Preteens? Maybe. Eh, what do I know anyway?

Overall, the movie was alright, but not the most riveting movie.  There was a bit of similarity between this movie and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, but more kiddie. The special effects were decent, but I thought the movie was good for a lazy Saturday afternoon.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

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Why are Sci-Fi Channel movies so stupid?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Joel

Gosh, I’ve seen some promos for some bad lookin’ movies on Sci-Fi Channel in the past few years, but this takes the cake: Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus.  I think it’s even sadder that this movie stars Lorenzo Lamas and Deborah friggin’ Gibson.  Yes, that Debbie Gibson.

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Bride Wars (2009)

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Joel

Ugh, we watched Bride Wars this weekend. It’s one of those chick-flick movies where the entire movie is summarized within the movie trailer. There’s not much I can tell you about the movie that you couldn’t figure it out.  I have to say it was utterly cliched, including the girly music that played at key moments.

Bride Wars (2009)

Bride Wars (2009)

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11 hours later, I am home.

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Joel

I have some real complaints about Continental Airlines.  I tell ya, it’s always something on Fridays when you are trying to get home.  I’ve had some crazy travelling stories in my day, but this one was tiring. We spent a 6.5 hours  waiting at the Toronto airport gate, but our flight was repeatedly delayed, due to thunderstorms (we heard) in the Newark NJ area.

Our flights have been handled by one of Continental’s partner carriers named Colgan Air.  I’ve experienced a few inaccuracies so far related to their actual status and why they were delayed.  Inaccuracies such as “delays related to late arriving aircraft” yet the aircraft has been sitting at the gate in front of us, passengers long since departed, and the gate attendant stating it was a mechanical issue.  This time, our flight status was on-time (on the board), yet also delayed over 4 hours (ticket check-in counter.)  Even better, I was told that partner carriers are not required to provide updated status timely.  Why?

Eventually, the board reported varying times on the departure board, but we later found out that these were just times to receive the next time estimates. Why Colgan Air / Continental couldn’t inform everyone sitting at the gate once, instead of waiting to tell angry passengers only when they came to the gate’s counter.  Mindless.

They boarded us at 6:3opm, but then taxied us to a lonely spot, and informed us that we’d be sitting for another hour.  We eventually got to Newark around 8:30pm, but I still had to pick up my luggage, take the bus to the economy lot, find my car, get gas, and get home.  Oh, and pick up dinner.  By the time I got home with the last two pizza slices from the pizza place, it was 11pm.

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Engadget: Ten years of Tivo

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Joel

Seriously, Tivo has been around for 10 years now.  Of course, I’ve only had Tivo since May 2004.  I liked our original Series 2 Tivo back in 2004, because it was so different and advanced (compared to my VCR.)   Two tuners would have been nice though!  A couple of years later, the Tivo died, and we picked up a dual-tuner version.  Dual tuners?  Great.  However, it was incrementally better, nothing more.  I know they tried to roll out the Series 3 (for an obscene what-were-they-thinking? price), and other HD Tivos.  However, nothing would really impress you.  I was impressed by the Series 3, but there was no way I was going to spend $800 on that, plus subscription fees.

Turns out I’m not the only one out there wondering what the hell the Tivo folks are doing.  Engadget sorta celebrated Tivo’s 10 year anniversary by thinking out loud about all the cool things Tivo should have, and needs to have to survive.  I agree on all the points, especially the need to innovate.  Maybe it’s because the old competition (ReplayTV of yesteryear)  is gone, but there’s plenty of competition from other vendors, including the cable and telecom companies.

Engadget: Ten years of TiVo: how far we haven’t come

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I’m really 33

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Joel

I’m really 33 years old now?

I know it’s been a week since my birthday, but I still don’t even know what to make of it.  Is it no big deal?  Is it “Wow”? Is it scary? For many years, I’d traditionally go take a walk around 1am, think about my life.  It was my big tradition to think my life through.  A few years ago, I stopped doing it, and I don’t quite remember why.  I think I just got too busy.

So I’m 33.  That’s the official age of “30-something”, isn’t it?  It feels like just a number to me, much like turning 31 and 32.  Is every year older you turn in your 30’s supposed to bother you?  It’s not bothering me.  I’m actually pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.

Life is good.  I’ve got a loving wife, two great kids, a home of our own, a helpful extended family, friends to hang out with, and jobs to support our extravagant jet-setting lifestyle. 🙂 

All joking aside, I have a lot to be thankful for.  Of course, being a Taurus, there are a million material possessions that I lust after, like the big TV, fixing up the backyard, painting the house, fancy cars, lavish trips to Guam.  You know what though? 

There’s all the career stuff that my ambitious side yearns for.  I’ve always been pretty ambitious, but the sheer effort of raising two kids has taken a lot of the energy out of me.  The only reason I’m alive is the awesome teamwork my wife and I have between us.  And by teamwork, I mean she does all the heavy lifting, and I do whatever she directs me to do.  I want to get back to achieving my certifications, giving 110% at the office, and go back to climbing the ladder.

That stuff will come in time, and I have to fight my natural urges to try to get it all now. Maybe each year you turn older isn’t supposed to be this momentous “What is up with my life?” occasion.  I should be happy with every day that I get to spend with my family and friends, doing new things, learning new stuff, and helping others.

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