Mega Update, September Edition

Welcome to another Mega Update!  A little something for everyone…

Steph and I went seakayaking at the beginning of the month in Monterey, in search of sea otters, baby seals, and other marine critters.  And boy did we find them!  I don’t know if it was the time of day or the tasty otter snacks we brought with us (okay, we didn’t really bring any), but the water was just TEEMING with life!

Otters lazily floated on their backs as they shucked shellfish, and playful seals swam right up to the kayak!  The kayak rental guy warned us not to allow the seals to climb aboard, and I was pretty skeptical at first about the possibility of such a ridiculous thing.  But I must admit I had a somewhat nasty scare the first time I heard the distinctive snort of a seal getting REALLY close to us, and I definitely started beating the side of the kayak in unexpected panic!  Overall, it was a fun and eventful trip that made Steph say, “Why have I never done this in my life until now?!”  I think it helped that this time we didn’t capsize nor did she get all woozy and seasick.  Highly recommended.  =]

This pic is totally old now, but I did want to mention what a cool little device the Magic Bullet (TM) personal blender has been for me and Steph.  Thanks, Kim!  Jeremy came over to E’ville a while ago so that we could have Smoothies and Pirate Movies Night.  The nice thing about the personal blender concept is that you don’t have to feel as bad about wasting ingredients if your concoction of Absolut Vanilla, Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Trader Joe’s OJ concentrate doesn’t work out so well, since the portions are just a lot smaller.  Apparently, you can also just give it to me and I’ll drink it anyway.

The other day, I was having lunch with Minho in Manzanita Dining, and I don’t really know why, but I felt compelled to add some bacon bits to my spinach and pasta salad.   Sadly, the cap was a little too loose on the bacon bits container, and before I knew it, my lunch resembled the bottom of a tropical fish tank.  (You can see how I know absolutely nothing about fish tanks.)  My heart broke for those little artificial bacon bits, and I would’ve ate them all if I could’ve, but in the end it really was just too much and my teeth hurt terribly from all of the crunching.  Seriously, it was just tiring, and I’m sad to report that I did not finish all of the bacon bits.  Sorry, guys.

We went to visit Brian at his office and somehow he managed to convince both me and Steph to play NBA Live 07 on the Playstation 3.  To understand the sheer irony of this, you have to understand that I hardly ever play sports games, and don’t actually think I have EVER played a basketball video game.  This totally also applies to Steph, who pretty much doesn’t play video games at all with maybe the exception of Karaoke Revolution.  (It was nearly like pulling teeth to get her to play Katamari Damacy the first time.)  I was pretty enamored by the awesome 1080p graphics, and I think once we all figured out (some of) the buttons, everyone got into it.  I had a good time dominating in the drills mini-games, but then Steph and Brian teamed up and creamed me during an actual game.  In summary, Brian has a cool workplace.

My 8-year-old $100 bike from Target finally died about two weeks ago.  After faithfully serving me on Stanford campus for the past 8 years, it finally bit the dust.  Or more precisely, I think someone ran their golf cart into my back wheel while the bike was parked.  Lame.  Anyway, I got myself a new bike after sorta-secretly hoping for the past, oh, 3 years that someone would steal or mess up my already junky, beat-up, rusted-over $100 bike from Target so I would have an excuse to get a new bike.  This time, I got myself a $140 Target bike, the 26″ Schwinn Ranger.  Maybe I’ll get this one to last me 40% longer.  Okay, fine, but what’s any of this got to do with the photo?  I dunno.  There are just a whopping number of bikes on campus.  It’s totally a jungle in there.  And it reminded me that I too have a new bike.  =]

Ah, another wedding!  Steph and I went to Belinda and Mark’s wedding last weekend.  They had not one, not two, but FIVE (or was it six?) flower girls in the processional.  The last one in line was this little baby girl, who just took her sweet time wandering down the aisle with big, curious eyes.

This was right after the baby girl suddenly ran toward one of the pews, pointed at the Asian man with the camera, and shouted with delight, “DADDY!”  Everyone thought it was the cutest and funniest thing ever.  Eventually, the real daddy had to wave her little blankie up at the front to get her attention so she could finish the walk.  Good job!

Amazingly random connection of the day: If you can figure out how Steph and I, Lisa and Justin, and Belinda and Mark connect, I’ll give you a prize!  (No fair spoiling the challenge, Justin, Lisa, and Steph!)

And finally, here’s the Home of Christ crowd.  Some of the kids I remember from 8-10 years ago have really grown up!

Anyway, that’s all for now.  Thanks for reading!  Please feel free to leave a comment so I know that I haven’t lost you on account of that miserable last post… (Heck, feel free to give me your best theory on why that decidedly did NOT work, hehe.)

Social Networking Horror Stories

I’m writing an article on Social Networking, and I need your help!  I’m on a hunt for your best Social Networking Horror Stories.  I’d like to hear about your funniest, most original, or most disturbing (true) experiences in the online world.  Did the hot blind date you picked up on Friendster turn out to be your best friend’s mom?  Did you get turned down for a job because your Facebook profile was a little TOO informative?   Did a random dorm visitor steal your AIM identity and fool all of your friends (or make a fool out of you)?  Please tell me more!

Of course, feel free to change names to protect the innocent (I’ll probably change it again, just in case), or start it off with, “Okay, this didn’t happen to ME, but I heard it from a friend-of-a-friend…”  Finally, I’d appreciate if you could end your story with some words of wisdom on Social Networking based on your own experiences.  (They don’t necessarily have to relate to the story.)  For example, my tips might be:

1) It’s okay to admit that you don’t recognize someone online who claims to be your friend.  It’s okay to ask, “Umm… sorry, how do I know you?”  And it’s also okay to not make them your friend.  It’s OKAY.

2) Snickering and big toothy grins are a dead giveaway that you’re chatting on your laptop instead of paying attention at the meeting.

3) No, IM’ing somebody even though they’re sitting right next to you doesn’t make you a loser.

The best stories will get incorporated into the Guide to Social Networking at Stanford (a work in progress), my blog (if we get enough stories, maybe we’ll turn the idea into a weekly column), and maybe even get reenacted in video or other multimedia formats.  This is all for the purpose of learning from each other about how to safely and enjoyably coexist in the online world.

Feel free to either tell your story directly on this blog as a comment or email it to me if you prefer not to have your identity associated with it (though I can’t guarantee what will happen if I get kidnapped by ninjas and they make me talk).

Got more than one story?  I’m listening!  Thanks so much for sharing!

[Today’s photos courtesy of Adobe Stock Photos.  Thanks!]

Karaoke Night

Had another successful dinner and Karaoke Revolution night last weekend at our place in Emeryville.  We don’t really have any photos from the festivities, so I’ll take this opportunity to go back in time and post some pics from the first Karaoke Revolution night that Steph and I hosted way back in, um, May 2007, for the ladies of Berkeley Optometry (with a special guest appearance!), in celebration of the completion of their 3rd year.   Good job!  =]

Dinner consisted of some Steph and Kenneth classics, like melt-in-your-mouth Swiss Chicken Casserole, as well as some new experiments, like grilled mystery fish à la George Foreman.  We served our guests picnic-style due to a lack of chairs.

Here was the open bar serving a variety of muscats, something-red, and Martinelli’s for dessert.  Check out the very chic square tumblers that elegantly state, “Wow, we apparently never drink alcohol in this household.”

If you put your ear up to a square glass of Martinelli, it sounds like the ocean.  Try two for a stereo effect!

Our in-house expert in Public Health does a final inspection to make sure nobody spiked the Equally-Attractive Non-Alcoholic Beverages (EANABS).

Okay, it’s time to sing!  This is a roughly 90-inch projected display that essentially covers our entire living room wall, which is the only way to play Karaoke Revolution.   In case you haven’t tried it, the American Idol edition of KR is the one where you can sing and have Simon Cowell, Randy, and “Laura” (who looks an awful lot like someone called “Paula”) judge your performance.  Simon is his usually insulting tell-it-like-it-is self, Randy calls everyone “Yo dawg” regardless of gender and skillfulness, and “Laura” is something of a pushover, in my opinion.

This event was proudly sponsored by Logitech, makers of the USB Microphone for the Playstation 2.  Unfortunately, their proud sponsorship didn’t cover the cost of these mics.  In fact, I’m still trying to sell off the two extra mics I bought in my hasty and panicked preparations for this momentous event.  Anyone?

Mic check?  Hmm, maybe this would’ve made more sense if we were playing Charades.  But we’re not, so please turn around so we can start the game!

Okay, let’s start this side of the room with a few easy listening pop favorites: Breakaway, Piano Man, Unwritten, and You and Me (and All Other People).

This photo must’ve taken place before they attempted to conquer Nelly’s rap in “Dilemma”.  Can’t Help Falling in Love?  Heartbreaker?  She Bangs?  I honestly don’t remember.

And… this must be the After-Rapping-in-Dilemma shot.  Yeah, there were a lot of syllables in there… Simon was none too pleased.

We break for strawberry-topped cheesecake and chocolate parfaits before checking out Karaoke Revolution Party and SingStar Pop.  As you may have guessed, karaoke games were the main reason Steph let me get a Playstation 2.

This 1-to-6 male-to-female ratio really brings back memories…  Anyway, that’s all for now!  For the complete collection, feel free to check out Karaoke Night in my gallery.  And don’t forget to reserve your place for the next Karaoke Night at Watergate.  Spots are filling fast!  =]

Church in the Park

Warning: This post seems unusually silly.  It must be on account of the soy fudge bar that I am about to eat.  Please don’t take anything too seriously here, except maybe the first and last lines, which constitute The Main Point.

Our Baylight Church Community has been taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather by having church in the park one Sunday a month.

Here’s Pastor Mike, the great orator, preaching the Good News.  Here you also witness the natural absence of listeners sitting directly in front of Mike.  This perhaps not only protects the listener from projectiles which may protrudeth from said orator’s mouth (which surely never happens), but follows in line with the hope of not being within direct line of sight to be called on should said orator decide to employ the Socratic method.

Here proudly stands (in a manner of speaking) the pastor’s son, who will no doubt one day carry on in his father’s footsteps, delivering powerful and timely words that pierce the heart with the searing force of conviction.  Fearless in the face of great evils in the world, he will be a testament to the Lord’s strength.

After our spirits have been fed, it is time to feed the stomach.  In this photo, I mainly see chips and soda, the sustenance of children of all ages.  Good work with the hot links there, Grillmaster!

Here the father demonstrates his mastery of the stance known as “Using the Force”.  Ah yes, a fine Jedi your son will grow up to be.

Of course, Church in the Park would be incomplete without Dogs in the Park.  Here Steph presents a fine specimen indeed of the dignified Husky breed, just 10 weeks old!  She had simply stunning blue eyes.  No, the pronoun here is not actually ambiguous.  Assuming the photo actually loaded for you, simple inspection will reveal that only one of the subjects here have blue eyes, even though I’m sure both Steph and Coco have eyes of a stunning nature.

The Royal Cake Tester can be seen here testing the balloons on the cake for that perfect balloon-y consistency necessary to pass the royal standards.  Yes, your balloon may be slightly dimpled by the time you receive a slice, but better safe than sorry, I always say.  Surely, the Queen Mother smiles to express her approval of the Royal Cake Tester’s faithful service.

It looks like the Husky pup has had her share of romping good play today.  Look at those widdle paws!  Aww, so cute.

Puppies are certainly not the only ones emanating cuteness at this park.  See how they dote on her as she contemplates chucking the baseball.

“Why, no, I did not just eat this entire bag of Reduced Fat Ruffles by myself.”

Our master storyteller tells the tale of the big fish he caught to whomever would lend him an ear.

This precious child puts on her sweetest “May I have a cookie, pretty please?” look.  It of course tends to work without fail.

“Aww, how cute.  She’s sitting on his head!”  The lesson here is: Give her a cookie when she asks sweetly the first time.

“Okay, show’s over.  All of the Capri Suns have been consumed.  Nothing to see here.”

If you’d like to join us next time for Church in the Park, please just ask!  We’re coming to a park near you!

What Else Does Xanga Do?

Feel like I spent most of today just mucking around in Xanga and trying to figure out all the little things I can do with it, in order to help me decide whether or not I really want to take the plunge and become a Lifetime Member.  Some of the tinkering process was very frustrating, and for about an hour, I wonder I had seriously messed up my blog’s layout.  But I did learn a few things, and in the end, I think I’m happier having spent the time with the tools.  The question is, did anyone even notice ANY of the changes?  Please let me know!

Xanga Premium Lifetime members: Why did you decide to get it, and has it been worth it?

So far, this was probably pretty boring to some readers, so…

In other news, I finally finished and delivered Wendy and Aidan’s wedding DVDs!  After dragging on the project for months and months, I managed to at least get it to them a month before their one-year anniversary.  (Phew!)  This DVD marks many “firsts” for me, including the first time I put together a wedding DVD from start to finish.  Filming the special day with three cameras was kind of crazy and stressful, but editing it in Final Cut and designing the final DVD package was a lot of fun!  I’m so grateful for the experience!

On my quest to discover what else Xanga can do, I decided to try the Xanga Videos component so you can check out the short video montages that were included on the DVD.  Does anyone know whether Xanga uses a similar Flash video compression scheme as YouTube?  Is there a way to optimize video quality?  The Xanga help files are pretty sparse on this topic…

Here’s the Ceremony Montage, which shows the highlights of the event.  Please click DIRECTLY on the green Play button if you want it to play right on this page.  If you want a QuickTime 7 version (H.264) version of the clip, you’ll also find it here: Ceremony Montage H.264.mov

And here’s the Reception Montage.  Please click DIRECTLY on the green Play button if you want it to play right on this page.  The QuickTime 7 version is here: Reception_Montage_H.264.mov
Next DVD project in the works: The Kenneth & Stephanie Wedding!  =]