Graduation.
I am now an officially licensed bartender. My official studies in the area of mixology are over. I graduated with a 97% on the written test and a 100% on the pour test. Twelve drinks in a shade under five minutes. Not bad. Now goes the job search. While I am busy scrambling to get caught up in my theological studies this quarter, I will be looking to be hired by a fine eating establishment.
For the millions of people who are getting married this year and want to serve drinks, here's my offer!
Who wants a drink?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
First Day at School... Again
Well, except this time to bartending school. I'm going to one in Mountain View. Two weeks of instruction, Monday to Friday, 10AM-2PM. Started today. It's pretty cool. You can keep on coming to the bartending school without charge until you complete the written exam (recipes) and pour exam (12 random drinks in 7 minutes). It's just two weeks of instruction, unlimited practice until you pass the exams, free refresher courses after graduation, built-in job placement. $450. I think that's better bang for my buck than Cal was. I suppose the same could be said about my real schooling right now... but I don't want that unnamed school's higher ups finding this post and hunting me down.
In one class, I've learned to quick pour with accuracy, memorized 27 drinks, learned how to work behind a bar, and clean up. Not bad I think.
So, there's one other new person this week for the 10-2 class. There are other students, but they're there for either their (that's three different "theres") second week or practice runs for their upcoming exams. The other new person gets to class kinda late so she walks into the classroom while everyone's sitting down listening to the lecture part of the class. And everybody notices her. Not because she's later than everyone else, but because she's noticably better looking than anyone else in the room. Turns out that she's some Filipina model/actress. Yeah... how am I supposed to get a good paying bartending job if there are people like her in the area? I've got no chance. Not surprisingly, I'm having that nostalgic feeling I had when I was in a lecture room full of geniuses in PChem and BioChem.
Well, except this time to bartending school. I'm going to one in Mountain View. Two weeks of instruction, Monday to Friday, 10AM-2PM. Started today. It's pretty cool. You can keep on coming to the bartending school without charge until you complete the written exam (recipes) and pour exam (12 random drinks in 7 minutes). It's just two weeks of instruction, unlimited practice until you pass the exams, free refresher courses after graduation, built-in job placement. $450. I think that's better bang for my buck than Cal was. I suppose the same could be said about my real schooling right now... but I don't want that unnamed school's higher ups finding this post and hunting me down.
In one class, I've learned to quick pour with accuracy, memorized 27 drinks, learned how to work behind a bar, and clean up. Not bad I think.
So, there's one other new person this week for the 10-2 class. There are other students, but they're there for either their (that's three different "theres") second week or practice runs for their upcoming exams. The other new person gets to class kinda late so she walks into the classroom while everyone's sitting down listening to the lecture part of the class. And everybody notices her. Not because she's later than everyone else, but because she's noticably better looking than anyone else in the room. Turns out that she's some Filipina model/actress. Yeah... how am I supposed to get a good paying bartending job if there are people like her in the area? I've got no chance. Not surprisingly, I'm having that nostalgic feeling I had when I was in a lecture room full of geniuses in PChem and BioChem.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Enter the Sudoku
I just entered Sudoku-land. I've heard about people doing Sudokus but I never saw a Sudoku until yesterday. Cruising around, I found a Sudoku widget for the Mac. After installing it, I opened it up and looked at it blankly. What am I supposed to do?
So I did what any ordinary person would do in the third millenium. I looked up the subject on Google. (This sounds surprisingly a lot like my best man speech for Ryan and Karen) There was a really helpful webpage and it was the first entry on the Google search. Good job Google. What did we do in the days of AltaVista?
So now I know how to do them. Sort of. The setting is still at easy. Maybe I'll bump it up a notch later today.
Many thanks to whoever "NETGEAR" is for being the only non-password protected wireless router in the area. Your signal is faint, the internet is a bit slow, but you have eased my anger against SBC. I be an internet pirate. Arrrrr.
I just entered Sudoku-land. I've heard about people doing Sudokus but I never saw a Sudoku until yesterday. Cruising around, I found a Sudoku widget for the Mac. After installing it, I opened it up and looked at it blankly. What am I supposed to do?
So I did what any ordinary person would do in the third millenium. I looked up the subject on Google. (This sounds surprisingly a lot like my best man speech for Ryan and Karen) There was a really helpful webpage and it was the first entry on the Google search. Good job Google. What did we do in the days of AltaVista?
So now I know how to do them. Sort of. The setting is still at easy. Maybe I'll bump it up a notch later today.
Many thanks to whoever "NETGEAR" is for being the only non-password protected wireless router in the area. Your signal is faint, the internet is a bit slow, but you have eased my anger against SBC. I be an internet pirate. Arrrrr.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
The Thorn in My Side Known as SBC
SBC gave me a call yesterday asking me about my phone service. He had no idea what was coming to him. I promptly told the guy that our phone is working great... our internet, however, has been delayed. Yadda yadda yadda. He patches me in to the internet people.
I talk to a person involved with the DSL operations of SBC. I talk to her about how I'm disappointed with the service we've received. I talk to her about how I received a phone bill in the mail a few days ago. I talk to her about how we don't really want the phone service but we got it only because we want the DSL. I ask her if she could credit us the amount billed to us for the phone. DENIED.
Apparently, SBC phone and SBC DSL are to be treated as two different companies. Thus, because it's a phone bill, the internet people can't give me credit.
Hideyo: So, are they two different companies?
SBC Operator: With the regulations they are treated as two different companies.
H: Are there two different sets of shareholders with two different owners?
S: No, but they are to be treated as two different companies.
H: So, you can't give me credit because they are to be treated as two different companies?
S: Yes, that's right.
H: Even though the money all goes to the same man?
S: Sir, they are to be treated as two different companies.
H: I don't think that's right. It all goes to SBC. I'm paying money for a service I don't really want to begin with... all so that I have to wait in line until I can get internet service.
S: Sir, can you hang on for a sec?
*Click* *Click* DIALTONE
The SBC operator hung up on me. I knew I should have gotten her name at the beginning of the conversation! She hung up on me! Arghhhh! I hope that conversation was recorded for quality assurance as they say at the very beginning of every phone call. SBC, the internet better be up and running on February 24th!
SBC gave me a call yesterday asking me about my phone service. He had no idea what was coming to him. I promptly told the guy that our phone is working great... our internet, however, has been delayed. Yadda yadda yadda. He patches me in to the internet people.
I talk to a person involved with the DSL operations of SBC. I talk to her about how I'm disappointed with the service we've received. I talk to her about how I received a phone bill in the mail a few days ago. I talk to her about how we don't really want the phone service but we got it only because we want the DSL. I ask her if she could credit us the amount billed to us for the phone. DENIED.
Apparently, SBC phone and SBC DSL are to be treated as two different companies. Thus, because it's a phone bill, the internet people can't give me credit.
Hideyo: So, are they two different companies?
SBC Operator: With the regulations they are treated as two different companies.
H: Are there two different sets of shareholders with two different owners?
S: No, but they are to be treated as two different companies.
H: So, you can't give me credit because they are to be treated as two different companies?
S: Yes, that's right.
H: Even though the money all goes to the same man?
S: Sir, they are to be treated as two different companies.
H: I don't think that's right. It all goes to SBC. I'm paying money for a service I don't really want to begin with... all so that I have to wait in line until I can get internet service.
S: Sir, can you hang on for a sec?
*Click* *Click* DIALTONE
The SBC operator hung up on me. I knew I should have gotten her name at the beginning of the conversation! She hung up on me! Arghhhh! I hope that conversation was recorded for quality assurance as they say at the very beginning of every phone call. SBC, the internet better be up and running on February 24th!
Friday, February 03, 2006
A Mini-Continuation of the SBC Saga
Just the other day I drove to the bank and to the post office. As I make the right turn onto Hollenbeck (one of the major streets around here), what do I see? The SBC van right in front of me!
I immediately proceed to shout, inside the car mind you with my windows all the way up. "What the heck are you doing here?! You better be making the DSL network bigger! Argggggg! Gimme my internet! Hey, where are you going? You better be turning back! My apartment's back there!"
I don't even know if the driver of the SBC van looked in his rear view mirror, but if he did, he would've just seen a crazy Japanese man, in his car, flailing his arms about, nowhere near the steering wheel. Despite my best efforts, the iMac is still internet-less.
Just the other day I drove to the bank and to the post office. As I make the right turn onto Hollenbeck (one of the major streets around here), what do I see? The SBC van right in front of me!
I immediately proceed to shout, inside the car mind you with my windows all the way up. "What the heck are you doing here?! You better be making the DSL network bigger! Argggggg! Gimme my internet! Hey, where are you going? You better be turning back! My apartment's back there!"
I don't even know if the driver of the SBC van looked in his rear view mirror, but if he did, he would've just seen a crazy Japanese man, in his car, flailing his arms about, nowhere near the steering wheel. Despite my best efforts, the iMac is still internet-less.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
My Bitter Diatribe Against SBC Yahoo DSL
Arggghhhh. I hate you, I hate you. You got my hopes up. You told me DSL is available in my neighborhood. You told me my phone number is good for DSL. So I signed up with you. I gave you money for the equipment. And then you told me it's indefinitely unavailable. You told me the DSL network in my neighborhood is overloaded and can't take any more people. You said I have to wait until somebody in the area cancels. And so, you leave me waiting for internet. I hate you, I hate you. The end.
Note: This is an overexaggeration... maybe.
Arggghhhh. I hate you, I hate you. You got my hopes up. You told me DSL is available in my neighborhood. You told me my phone number is good for DSL. So I signed up with you. I gave you money for the equipment. And then you told me it's indefinitely unavailable. You told me the DSL network in my neighborhood is overloaded and can't take any more people. You said I have to wait until somebody in the area cancels. And so, you leave me waiting for internet. I hate you, I hate you. The end.
Note: This is an overexaggeration... maybe.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Refrigerator Takeover
Every person has their own unique set of "staples". These are must haves, things that are always in stock. Often, they are overstocked. This is fairly common knowledge. Each of my roommates had their own. Jason was rice, juice, cereal, Chinese sausages, and IBC rootbeer. Living with Jason, it was a guarantee that these 5 items were around. Dan was rice, ramen, and Chinese sauces.
As a househusband, I am quickly transforming the kitchen into my domain. My staples are beating out Alinna's. Chunks of meat, onions, potatoes, celery, carrots, and drinks... lots of em from juice to beer to the harder stuff (preparation and training for bartending school). I'm winnning! I'm winning!
Every person has their own unique set of "staples". These are must haves, things that are always in stock. Often, they are overstocked. This is fairly common knowledge. Each of my roommates had their own. Jason was rice, juice, cereal, Chinese sausages, and IBC rootbeer. Living with Jason, it was a guarantee that these 5 items were around. Dan was rice, ramen, and Chinese sauces.
As a househusband, I am quickly transforming the kitchen into my domain. My staples are beating out Alinna's. Chunks of meat, onions, potatoes, celery, carrots, and drinks... lots of em from juice to beer to the harder stuff (preparation and training for bartending school). I'm winnning! I'm winning!
Friday, January 27, 2006
New Pet Peeves
I'm becoming increasingly annoyed by preachers who denounce "post-modernism." Two reasons... 1. It's not something you can denounce because it's already here... in fact, the very preachers who are against post-modernism are more than likely post-modern themselves. 2. The whole thing is being denounced without taking a holistic view of it... that is, it is publicly being deemed as bad because of its relative hold on the idea of truth (what you believe is true for you, what I believe is true for me). Nevermind the contributions it is making in the societal value of community, dialogue, and creativity among others.
Go do your research especially before going up to the pulpit. Don't merely accept what others say. Study for yourself as well.
On a lighter note, my second new pet peeve: Interstate highways that don't run inter-state. I-280 just runs down the peninsula. It doesn't go into Nevada. It doesn't go into Oregon. It doesn't go to Arizona. It's the same thing with I-880.
But the one that really annoys me... I-238. New pet peeves aside, I just hate this stretch of road. Traffic-wise, it can only be rivaled by that horrid highway known as "the 405." But it goes for about 3 miles. And it's an interstate? I don't know if it even goes inter-city. Oyy.
I'm becoming increasingly annoyed by preachers who denounce "post-modernism." Two reasons... 1. It's not something you can denounce because it's already here... in fact, the very preachers who are against post-modernism are more than likely post-modern themselves. 2. The whole thing is being denounced without taking a holistic view of it... that is, it is publicly being deemed as bad because of its relative hold on the idea of truth (what you believe is true for you, what I believe is true for me). Nevermind the contributions it is making in the societal value of community, dialogue, and creativity among others.
Go do your research especially before going up to the pulpit. Don't merely accept what others say. Study for yourself as well.
On a lighter note, my second new pet peeve: Interstate highways that don't run inter-state. I-280 just runs down the peninsula. It doesn't go into Nevada. It doesn't go into Oregon. It doesn't go to Arizona. It's the same thing with I-880.
But the one that really annoys me... I-238. New pet peeves aside, I just hate this stretch of road. Traffic-wise, it can only be rivaled by that horrid highway known as "the 405." But it goes for about 3 miles. And it's an interstate? I don't know if it even goes inter-city. Oyy.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Being home
It's nice to be at "home" again. Granted, I live in Sunnyvale and I've never lived in Sunnyvale before, but it's certainly more "home"-like than a few months ago.
Just this Saturday, Alinna and I had some of my friends from the East Bay over at our place. Much love to Steve, Jeff, Naomi, and Phoebe (oh and Giorgiana) for making the trek down here to the land of suburbia. That was then followed up on Sunday with a trip to East Bay Free Meth for church and lunch with my family. It really is nice to be back here in the Bay Area, living here, seeing friends and family.
I've moved more times since graduating from college than I ever did before. Since May 2001, well, I don't know how many times I've moved. Let's count.
1. Berkeley --> My parents' home in El Sobrante (4 months)
2. El Sobrante --> Kaminoyama, Japan (6 months)
3. Kaminoyama --> Date, Japan (2 years)
4. Date --> El Sobrante, again (5 months)
5. El Sobrante --> Alhambra (1 year, 3 months)
6. Alhambra --> Sunnyvale
It's now January 2006, about 4 1/2 years since that time................. thanks to everybody who's made me feel welcome back home.
It's nice to be at "home" again. Granted, I live in Sunnyvale and I've never lived in Sunnyvale before, but it's certainly more "home"-like than a few months ago.
Just this Saturday, Alinna and I had some of my friends from the East Bay over at our place. Much love to Steve, Jeff, Naomi, and Phoebe (oh and Giorgiana) for making the trek down here to the land of suburbia. That was then followed up on Sunday with a trip to East Bay Free Meth for church and lunch with my family. It really is nice to be back here in the Bay Area, living here, seeing friends and family.
I've moved more times since graduating from college than I ever did before. Since May 2001, well, I don't know how many times I've moved. Let's count.
1. Berkeley --> My parents' home in El Sobrante (4 months)
2. El Sobrante --> Kaminoyama, Japan (6 months)
3. Kaminoyama --> Date, Japan (2 years)
4. Date --> El Sobrante, again (5 months)
5. El Sobrante --> Alhambra (1 year, 3 months)
6. Alhambra --> Sunnyvale
It's now January 2006, about 4 1/2 years since that time................. thanks to everybody who's made me feel welcome back home.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The End of an Era
I caved. I got a Mac. I want to be cool.
Consequently, I got a new printer which now leaves me with three, yes, three printers total. Why did I bother getting a new printer with the new computer you ask? Let's look at the two older printers first, shall we?
Epson 870C. If you're really into Epson printers, you may not recognize this one. Why? Because it's Japanese. I got it in Japan which was great... when I was in Japan. But alas, I am no longer in the land of the rising sun and as a result, I am no longer in the land of Epson 870C ink cartridges.
HP P1100. Won at this past year's Baylight white elephant gift exchange. As I was taking it to the car, I was told, "The ink cartridges on that machine are pretty expensive... and it runs out of ink really fast, especially if you're printing pictures."
So, if you or anybody you know is interested in taking home a Japanese Epson or an American HP printer, you can come on down to Sunnyvale. Our prices can't be beat! They're FREE! And by they way, they're both photo capable!
I caved. I got a Mac. I want to be cool.
Consequently, I got a new printer which now leaves me with three, yes, three printers total. Why did I bother getting a new printer with the new computer you ask? Let's look at the two older printers first, shall we?
Epson 870C. If you're really into Epson printers, you may not recognize this one. Why? Because it's Japanese. I got it in Japan which was great... when I was in Japan. But alas, I am no longer in the land of the rising sun and as a result, I am no longer in the land of Epson 870C ink cartridges.
HP P1100. Won at this past year's Baylight white elephant gift exchange. As I was taking it to the car, I was told, "The ink cartridges on that machine are pretty expensive... and it runs out of ink really fast, especially if you're printing pictures."
So, if you or anybody you know is interested in taking home a Japanese Epson or an American HP printer, you can come on down to Sunnyvale. Our prices can't be beat! They're FREE! And by they way, they're both photo capable!
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