Celebrity Look-a-like

I did a celebrity look-a-like photo analyzer on myheritage.com. I had some very mixed results:

• 76% like Amerie - where I get my great singing voice.
  
• 74% like Terrence Howard - why my mustache is so bad.
  
• 73% like Beyonce Knowles - why i'm such a good dancer.
  
• 71% like Timothy Dalton - why I would be an awesomely bad spy.
  
• 68% like Ron Livingston - why my life feels so much like Office Space.
  
• 67% like Hugh Jackman - why I'd be an awesome superhero.
  
• 64% like Dean Cain - why I'd be an even more awesomer superhero.
• Other honorable mentions are Queen Latifah, Kate Winslet, a whole slew of unknown Asian actors/models.
  

I'm a Sun Devil

Its official. I'm a Sun Devil at ASU. I'm sent in my acceptance. And come February 2008... my life is over and buried in books.

Decisions Decisions

I have to decide by thursday at the latest, whether I want to go to ASU's W.P. Carey MBA program or the University of Arizona's Eller MBA program. I've been accepted into both, and both are reputable programs with Pros and Cons.

ASU

• 2 nights a week for 4 hours each night - more class time means more learning time, but also less studying time. Probably a better learning experience overall though.
  
• Allows areas of emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship. I can take one of these emphases, the entrepreneurship sounds like a good bet for me since I gravitate to small businesses and eventually want to start my own business.
• Its closer to my apartment.

U of A

• 1 night a week for 6 hours and includes dinner. May be a lot to absorb in one day and left to fend for myself the rest of the week.
  
• Includes an international trip which seems like it would be awesome.
• General global focus on management, seems like it is more geared for big business. Which has its perks for a small business guy like me to break the small business mindset.

The funny thing is, this decision comes at the same time as the big ASU vs UA rivalry football game. I have to decide before the game, like the football match up, I'm favoring ASU right now... but UA has been a spoiler.

Maui Honeymoon

Maui was an absolute blast. I've never had such a fun-filled vacation I've ever had. Check out some pics!

Here Today... Gone to Maui

Belated Honeymoon in Maui has been a blast so far. We've been here since Thursday, 11/15. So far we've gone snorkeling at Honolua Bay, went to a luau, went ziplining over Kaanapali mountainside, parasailing,
and snorkeling at mile marker 14. So far its been fantastic.

Technology's Downfall

We talk about how efficient technology makes us. US, meaning society as a whole. But I think technology has really slowed me down. And it sure as hell has my productivity shot. And I grow more and more inpatient. I blame the internet. But the internet is only a vast assembly of interlinked computers. So I blame computers.

Shopping is supposed to be made faster thanks to computers. But I find myself spending so much more time researching what I'm going to buy now, even though it doesn't matter that much. And then most of the time I still go to a regular store to actually try and buy the product.

I don't really talk to my friends anymore. I just IM them. Or message them on Friendster, Myspace, or Facebook. I already know I have a total of about 27 friends, give or take. Now, I don't bother IMing friends that much, because I can find out about it on their respective social networking pages or blogs.

I remember when I used to play fantasy football pre-internet. Mike would call everyone the night before the game to get the starting rosters and we'd check the stats on Monday morning's newspaper. Do some math, and then start talking smack. Now I'm in 3 leagues, some with people I barely know anymore if ever, and I'm checking my roster for injuries and matchups several times a week. I know it makes no difference checking my team on Tuesday, knowing full well I'll be doing the same on Wednesday and Friday, and maybe Sunday morning.

Sure, computers make some things easier, like writing a 30 page paper, spreadsheets, and graphic design. But then you are also spending an enormous amount of time getting proficient at these applications, and then a new version is released that we always complain about how the old one was better until we get acclimated to it. Then we need to help all the late adopters that can't figure out anything. That has created a whole new job segment called IT and Helpdesk.

I can keep going on with my random rant. But the fact of the matter is. I know full well that nobody reads my blogs, yet I still take 20 minutes out of my day to write my thoughts and waste my time, knowing i have more important things to do... like work.

Working at work increases productivity 100%.

Going Gray

Friday night, Tracy was playing with my hair and noticed a couple gray hairs. It makes me sad and feel old. Sure these were just a couple of strays. I even have a few random red and blonde hairs on my chin. So I guess I shouldn't be too alarmed. So what if a couple hairs lacked pigmentation. I'm not old. NOT Old I SAY!

Which Family GUy Character Are You?

	You are Peter. You are fat and dumb. You probably spend a lot of time watching TV and drinking, but that isn't a bad thing.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

"I'm a Sun Devil, Man!"

Just found out today that I got accepted to Arizona State University's W.P. Carey MBA Program. Just got a phone call from admissions to let me know. Formal acceptance letter is on the way.

Co-Workers

These are my coworkers. We had a holiday card design contest at work. This was my submission. But this is pretty much everyone that is currently here.

Bottom Row: Jay, Bob (Mgr), Bossman, Steve, Jenn (my team-mate).
Middle Row: Marcus, Ray (Me), Andrew, Tiffs.
Top Row: Kevin, Peter, Robert, Natalie.

Unfortunately this card design did not win, but another one that I worked on with Bossman's concept was the winner.

RED SOX WIN!!! .... and nobody cares.

I tried real hard this year to pay attention to the Baseball playoffs. And after watching a lot more baseball than i have since the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim won the pennant in 2002 over the San Francisco Giants of San Francisco. With the Redsox sweeping the series, i was watching, not realizing it was Game 4, and in the 8th inning, I decided it would be more entertaining to play xbox than watch the BoSox win again. None the less, I have again come to the conclusion... Baseball sucks and is boring and unwatchable.


Things I remember from this year's baseball season:

• Barry Bonds ties record, then breaks it. Then gets shown the door.
• Diamond Backs win the Division.
• Rockies make a huge run and then beat Padres in sudden death play-off game.
  
• Arizona fans are so uninterested in baseball that they struggled to sell out the first game against the Rockies. This results in a lot of advertising and promotion to let us know there are still 4000 tickets available for Game 1. Sad. They did eventually sell out, but half the fans showed up late.
• Rockies sweep the D-backs.
• Lots of bugs in Cleveland. This leads me to believe that contrary to Drew Carrey, that Cleveland does NOT rock. Oh. And the Injuns blow a 3-1 series lead.
• Game 1 of the world series, I opted to watch Kid Nation and Bionic Woman.
  
• Red Sox win.
  

Transformer Costume

A few months ago, I wanted to be a transformer for Halloween. But that would be way too much work. Look at how creative some of these guys are. They actually Transform.

Halloween Ideas

I was thinking of my next Halloween Costume. I did Wolverine for a couple years, and then I was Luigi for 2 years. So while I don't actually have anywhere to go this Halloween, it is still my second favorite faux-holiday of the year next to flag day.

So. not wanting to invest much time and/or effort, my last minute costume is going to be the McLovin Fake ID. I'm going to blow this card up and paste it onto cardboard or foam-core, cut out a square where the picture should be, then walk around holding the card.

It is really inspired by the National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation movie, where Rusty gets his fake ID as Nick Papageorgio.

Welcome Baby Katie

My Newest Cousin-in-Law, Katie, with her sisters Samantha and Madeline.

Operation Ice Hockey = Success

Tuesday nights I play Ice Hockey. It was my second time playing ice hockey.... ever. Now granted I do have experience with roller hockey, Ice Hockey is a lot faster... for everyone else anyway. Tuesday nights is a Hockey Skills practice. Since I'm not quite ready for a league yet.

Anyway, In our main drill, we had 1 player dig a puck out of the corner and taking it behind the net. He then passes it to the high center point who takes a hard shot. And there is a low player essentially screening the goalie and then getting the rebound. I was happy that I was able to score from all 3 positions. The easiest for me was deflecting a shot into the net from the low screen position. Thats where I'm most comfortable (ballmonsters can attest to that in soccer). I scored a nice snap shot from the high point driving in. And I also put back a nice rebound after passing the puck to the shooter. Also scored 2 goals during the scrimmage game.

I know... why am I stroking my own ego on menial accomplishments... because these are big steps for me in my second time out. And its my blog!

Go-To Guy... No More.

I've learned my lesson about being the smart know it all at work. While it is in my nature to know how to do everything, I resist being the helpful guy that fixes stupid computer problems. There's this other guy here that already kinda plays that role w/ computers, and we have an office manager/receptionist that thus far seems capable and speaks english.

The positive spin... i get fewer interruptions, and can be more productive at what I'm supposed to do. Who would've thought its smart to play dumb.

WARNING - The RayArea Has Moved

The infamous RayArea has moved from the Bay Area to toasty desert oasis known as Phoenix.

This new iteration of RayArea, with the first post in nearly 2 years, will attempt to be slightly more upbeat and look at the positive side of things. Instead of only ranting about the usual injustices that life presents, I'll be making an attempt to put a positive spin on these. There's enough negative energy in the world.

So onto the happenings of life. I started a new job. A 9-mile, 15-20 minute surface street commute. Which is far better than my old 32 mile, 40 minute commute in the Bay. I'm heading up and creating the marketing department. There was not a marketing department previously, and I was hired on to help guide them through their growth stage. Oh, what do they do? Its a commercial appraisal company. But no, I don't do the actual appraisals.

So welcome to the new and hopefully improved RayArea. Enjoy your stay.