Jonny the Recovering Technophiliac

Sunday morning @ Jamaica…no, not the country, the station.

The idea for this post game from reading a New York Times column with the same title. So I figured I would put my own personal spin on my routine on a typical Sunday. I must warn you in advance, if you’re looking for fireworks, skydiving, or hangouts at the crowded Studio Square…then you’re out of luck.  I do a lot of work and play for the rest of the six days per week.  My Sundays are always my time off from just about everything, my day to re-coup, unwind, and re-charge.  The only time I really go out on a Sunday is when I really need to. Otherwise, I keep it local. Continue reading →

This year for the holidays, I plan on flying with the family abroad for vacation for the first time in three years.  I really wanted to try another state or country as a destination, but my mom insisted on Colombia.  Usually the idea of a trip would be fun to anyone, a chance to escape the city life for a little bit of respite.  But there is something about my family and packing that usually results in chaos.  Either way, I love my family all the same.  So as a break from all the working and packing, I decided to go with my brother Kevin to a limited showing of Up In the Air. Continue reading →

“Take a deep breath, you only got one shot, make it count.” –QoS

Another year has passed…or is about to be in a few hours.  Although 2008 started rather dull and rudimentary, life went on.  Wars where fought, the economy was failing, stability was showing it’s weak side…but for all of us, life went on and we managed.  However, for me the end of the year brought many things to me.

Where it all happened

My college years where nice despite that i spent a majority of my times either in one place studying, eating whatever fatty meal or caffeine-filled energy drink i could to keep me awake.  I’ve met my share of good people and bad.  Despite that college itself was the biggest learning experience of my life…for me it will always be high school that will hold a special place inside me.  Once the summer came i was able to reunite with more high school friends i thought i would never see again.  It just opened my eyes to the notion that to go forward, it’s worth looking back…to see what has changed, to rekindle past bonds.

Adding to the perpetual checklist
There are many goals i have that i know i would like to get accomplished this year, at least by the summer.  Amongst a few “personal” goals, here are the major ones i hope to accomplish:

- i would like to get my driver’s license even though i know i wont be driving any time soon until i own a car.  I don’t mind catching the bus or subway or taxi, and i’ve driven a little during my 1st year of university.  Nevertheless it never hurts to have a license handy just incase.

- i would like to move out and get my own apartment by the summer.  I’ve seen how the experience has changed people…and not just in the sense of being more responsible at the cost of sacrificing a few fringe benefits.  But also in the sense of pure freedom.  It’ll be a learning experience indeed.

- Since the summer, i’ve been very slowly regaining my physical strength back to my “fit” era during high school.  Not only has my weight dropped to a trim 125 lbs, but my chest is tighter, and my muscles are more looser.  College really made me physically-weak, but it was also my fault for not taking the proper initiative for a healthier lifestyle  This year i hope to keep working out diligently so i can look good and feel great.  It’s a goal i know i can accomplish if I put my mind to it.  Besides, it wouldn’t be right if I where to hang out with friends in the city or that girl with the perfect body and “trademark” smile while i look like a disaster area…a balance must be achieved, so time to step up Jonny.

So that’s about it.  Uniquely good moments, people, and opportunities only happen once, so lets make this count.  Happy new year!

For those of you who do not know what festivus is, feel free to read on.  Christmas has always been my favorite holiday amongst others (i.e. Thanksgiving, talk like a pirate day, Easter, etc), but Festivus holds a kind place in my heart.

This year I’m going to spend the holidays at home in NY with my local family.  The plan was for all of us to travel to Colombia this year but I wasn’t too keen on going there.  I had the intention of traveling elsewhere to discover something new.  Either way with our economy, neither choice would be happening any time soon.  In any case, i do look forward to many wonderful things in 2009…i could name them all, but that’ll be for another post.

So putting things in perspective, 2008 was certainly a year to remember as i’ve seen my share of good and bad.  So as it always helps to think positive, in the spirit of Festivus let us reflect on the things that have managed to bother me.  At least by letting this out of my system, i can make room for future good memories…so it’s a win-win for me!  Anyways, on with the airing of grievances:

- Apple, i love you, but when i paid you a ton of $ for an extended warranty plan, i should not have to pay for an extra battery just because you don’t want to accept that the battery i had was defective.

- There’s a pointless program on the iPhone that acts as a virtual glass of beer, yet there is no program that can send picture messages nor do simple copy/paste…what the crap?

- Blackberrys still suck…and the company’s attempt at making a touch-screen Blackberry (the “Storm“) just emphasizes my point even more.

- Corporate america, you essentially screwed a lot of us out of our hard-earned cash simply because you neglected to carry the 7 or add an extra minus in your books as long as your CEO’s earn pocket cash for an extra stripper wife.  I hope she gives you the clap.

- Disgruntled yellow cabbie drivers who do not use their GPS devices and claim they “know the way” when instead, I end up lost in the middle of Woodhaven Blvd at 1am.

- Meaningful conversations that get interrupted by the phone ringing approx 20 times… *carries the 7 while adding an extra minus*

- Bears.

- My laptop still manages to smudge at any and every opportunity no matter how much i clean it.

- The NY Mets…now don’t get me wrong, i am a diehard fan but i felt they really caved in at the last second to blow an opportunity to make it to the playoffs.  C’mon guys, please get your act together…i can only take so much abuse from smug yankee fans.

Well that’s just about it…now with all that bad mojo out of my system, here’s to a future full of wonderful things .