Leaving

After a couple weeks of looking into things and trying to get all the details sorted out (got stressful), I think everything's finally packed and taken care of. Few more hours and I'll be out of here for a couple months.

X-ray

At the dentist this morning I got X-rays. They put a lead thing over my chest (for safety I assume). Ummm... you're shooting X-rays into my head, somehow I don't think protecting my torso is my top concern...

Award

In the mail today I got some kind of award. It said "Outstanding Balance!" I hadn't really thought it was that special, but I guess as a dragonboat steersman my balance must be decent. But get this. They actually wanted me to PAY them to TAKE AWAY my outstanding balance! Some people have some pretty crazy ideas I tell ya.

Property assessment

I disputed my property assessment. After several months, the hearing finally came. Apparently after I submitted my evidence, the city assessor tried to "plea bargain" me down to a lower assessment (but still higher than what my evidence showed). I turned down the offer. Went in, presented, answered some questions, and walked out of there victorious. My case was rock solid. It was kindof fun. Not going to make much actual financial difference.

Asia trip

Since work is sending me to Malaysia for work at the end of november (remember my annoyance about the schedule?) I've decided to have work send me there sooner, and spend some time touring beforehand. I'd be interested in other parts of the world, but if I'm already in the area, avoiding international airfare makes asia the most worthwhile. Other places can wait till later.

Decided to do GAP adventures stuff. Should be far more fun traveling in a small group compared to by myself, and people I know have been pretty satisfied with GAP. Since I left plans kindof late, my choices became a bit limited... I'd been considering bali+lombok but bali was sold out. I also wanted to try some less common places... everyone does Thailand, and Vietnam, so I've chosen one through Cambodia (admitedly that's become pretty common) and a continuation of it that goes back through Laos. Would have also been interested in some of the other places like Burma, Bhutan, Bangladesh, but none of them seemed to fit well.

Of course, I'd love for someone I know to join me!

Anyways just need to finalize how I'll get there and back from our work office, get visas etc (hopefully not a pain in the butt), and should be off to a few weeks of fun!

fakeProcessor

I was making some software, and since I was playing around with it, learning how to use java, make a gui, etc, I just called it fakeProcessor. Well, the software finally reached a useful essentially complete state, but I didn't bother to rename it until I got some feedback from some software guys and users. Just read a semi-official document about an upcoming project, and saw "using the fakeProcessor software" show up! I think it's hilarious!

San Fran

Don't have much to say about the races themselves... We came in the middle of the pack for all our races. Overall I wasn't too impressed with the venue, it's essentially a parking lot, with industrious background scenery. Some decent organizing at least, like having a host team help us out, and nice shuttles from chinatown. It was a bit chilly, as the wind is nonstop there.

The best time was the team dinner sunday evening... didn't care much about the food, but was awesome fun hanging out and laughing with everyone. Went out for a while afterwards too. Other top times were times with teammates, regardless of activity.

I also quite liked being at chinatown. Walked around there when I was by myself before the team showed up, and wandered around with teammates on a couple occasions. Good inexpensive food, and a mango slushie when I craved one.

Hanging out with a few people for my extra few days had its ups and downs. Discovered how inefficient it can be, I got way less done than I had planned. But those things I did do were way more fun with people than they would have been alone. With those particular people though, it was interesting watching people get a bit stressed and frustrated with each other.

Other things I saw/did: Asian art museum, took cable cars, dined at pier 39, ate at Ghirardelli's, went up coit tower, biked across golden gate bridge, walked and biked lombard st, went to prison (alcatraz), and visited the california academy of sciences and golden gate park. Went on a little public transit adventure too.

Don't think I'd like to live in san fran though. Feels a little too dense. Also the incessant wind would really bother me. but it was a good place to visit once.

Outrigging

The week was beautiful, I was glad to get out on the reservoir. One day went in a two-man with Eric and joined Arnold and Char for a trip around the reservoir. Another, went in a one-man and ventured out and about till sunset. I'm surprised that it doesn't feel tippy, I don't expect to tip, but we'll see how it feels when in "performance" mode instead of "stability" mode. Looking forward to paddling more in these, but with the weather failing, it might be next year.