Better...

Im in a better mood already. All it took was a friend in pigtails and a story about a mullet...with highlights! Things are better at work as well, the prep for the new school year is coming to a close, plus Im working on other projects away from the colleagues spewing their frustration to the world.

But alas, still not finished with my project...

Very Busy...

Yes Im alive and yes I lied...a couple days over two weeks. Oh well.

Anyways, things have been very busy lately. Work is getting more and more hectic and I have many things on my plate over the next month. Imaging, setup, spec writing, clean up, and much more. Not going to go into the details since it all should be left at work.

Sher's birthday has come and gone, along with our anniversary. Her party went well and suprisingly there was not much food leftover, just a lot of cake. Three more people were officialy inducted into the circle game and a bunch more now know the rules(kind of funny how fast it can spread liking "yipping").

Han Wei is all setup in RIT already. We got him moved in and Sher took him around to pick up anything else he was missing. He got placed into a double room with triple occupancy on one of the top floors of Ellinson. Should be ok, have to make it a point to head up to RIT more when I get the time to hang out.

Im beginning to realize how short my thoughts have become. Let me explain..."this happened, then this is going to happen, do it go". I feel I have lost enthusiasm lately, especially for the simple things in life. No more deep thoughts, no more verbose descriptions(even if only in my head)...just blah and not the good blah. Occassionally I get brief moments of elation whether its with Sherene, Sharon, and Michele or Weez and everybody, but it seems not enough to improve my overall mood. Not sure if its "End-of-Projectitis" or the cynicism coming from work...it truly makes no difference, I just want to be out of this "funk" I feel.

"The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time." So I shall take it slow and just work at it...till next time.

In 2 weeks...

A lot has happened in the past two weeks as well as a lot will happen in the next two weeks.

Short recap...overtime at work, Toronto, the realization that I have less time than I thought to finish, another Weez dinner, wonderful weekend in Buffalo, Mississauga for Dim Sum and grocery shopping, finally getting my feet under me again with my project and figuring out that I will have no life for the next month, and another great Weez dinner.

We talked for a long...long...really long time the other night. Topics seemed to come full circle a number of times with a dash of stink palming with your left hand and a pinch of nipple tweaking as a flirtation device(kudos if you can figure out who came up with this one). Though to the person's, who shall remain nameless, credit they did not take it as far as Mattieu and I did. Since her kids are not there, we have to actually make the fun ourselves.

The following day was another day crammed with too much to do and little time to do it in. Work is work. I do what I can with the crap that I am given. And then when the clock strikes 3...poof...IM gone. Aren't things are supposed to work...aren't colleagues supposed to be happy? Eh, oh well; work is work. That same evening Weez and I we're invited over to Hye Yon's for dinner. We made pasta and chicken and some not-so garlic bread, each with their own sauce. The conversation meandered around ever corner imaginable. From being self-conscious about one's body parts(did you know that if your feet form a point at your third toe you might be a serial killer?) to bugging people for a rise to our misconceptions of our high school peers. High school was an interesting time for me. It was when I stopped being a pain in the ass and started becoming the chill easy going person I am today. I used to constantly annoy people till they told me to stop and then...when the "Stop!" came I would do something not exactly the same so the stop didnt exactly apply to my new action. Dont know if it was out of boredom or out of some saddistic need to have attention. Thank God I grew out of that phase(*wink* *wink* Sherene).

Ok, enough about the past(also because the past few days have been a blur and I cant remember much else). Tomorrow Ill be heading up to Buffalo and maybe going to the fair to see a friend I havent seen since the last fair came up I believe. Sunday I drive to Rome...under the ocean and across Europe. No, not really. This is Rome, NY and Hye Yon's home. Im helping her move some stuff out of her apartment. But in reality Im just going for the food. She swears that her mother is cooking a dish that should not be missed(noodles in a black sauce...dont know whats in the sauce but supposedly its one of her favorites). Ill try anything once.

My project! If all goes as its supposed and looks like, the project shall be done save for some minor alterations to make it more enjoyable. It has become less of a game and more of a simulation in the field of AI. Probably need to update the website for it as well since its been about 5 months. Additionally, I should be making a decent amount of headway on the paper as well. I plan to hold the defense within the first two weeks of the following quarter. That way it gives me time to prepare and more students/faculty can show up. Should be good fun...I know...presentation and fun dont usually go together, oh well. The only issue is if I can get the extension of the project that I need, otherwise its another $3000 to finish.

In two weeks Paul and Eli will be back. Both were overseas just in different directions; Paul in Spain; Eli in Japan. Someone else is also flying in the same time as the guys. Han Liang's brother, Han Wei will be coming in and starting RIT this fall quarter. Got to see them both when he came here to check out the campus and figure out which program he is going into(speaking of which...which one is it?). Hopefully Ill be able to show him around, not that I know much of RIT outside of Bldg. 70.

In two weeks Sherene will be 24. Her b-day is on the 27th which means I have to make a cake! I made her one a while ago and another one is well overdue. What would you like love? Chocolate? Vanilla? Carrot? Doesnt matter...Ill make anything. The following day is even more special...4 years. 4 years. Thats how long Sherene and I have been together officially. Like I said before, it doesnt seem that long. I have to do something special for her...she deserves it(and I know she's reading this thinking "You're damn right!"). Picnic like we had planned? Go out dancing? A visit to the spot where we first really got together? Hmmm...a picnic at the spot we got together and we'll dance! Thats the ticket! Course theyll be tons of food, both of us "live to eat." Not much else to say other than "I love you, dear =) "

Well thats a short(well, not so short) summary of whats going to be happening in the next two weeks. After that...hopefully the "real world". Still need to find a decent programming job, just have to keep on looking. Oh well, back to my current one, till next time.

And I promise it'll be before two weeks...

Give it time...

Busy. Working overtime. Working on project. Trying to keep up with friends. No time to blog.

But fret not, I shall become a regular when I finally get some free time :)

Exposing myself...

Not literately...but figuratively. Im generaly on the reserved side when it comes talking about myself. Ive always found it more interesting just to listen...you can learn a great deal with an open ear. But this is about me!

Where to begin? In a short time, it'll all be over; school that is. Im probably (or rather hopefully) a month shy of finishing my master's capstone and then onto the "real world." If you want to check out the project, you're more than welcome too here, the website just hasnt been updated in a while, but Ill get to it eventually. When its over, there's a good chance Ill head to the west coast like everyone else I know...I don't think Sherene would mind all too much, though I know she would prefer moving to Austin. The industry just isn't there yet...yet. But, Cali is closer to home for her so it'll be cheaper flights and shorter flights (have you ever been on a plane for over 14 hours while being sleep deprived for 30...it sucks!).

About Sherene...go here!. She's finishing up her PhD in Higher Ed., though she is already ready to quit. Im not going to let her ( you hear me!). Doctor Sherene...I doubt Ill ever get used to that =) Now about us...we've been together for close to 4 years now...it doesn't really seem that long. There are two questions that I continually get asked by my friends and her's: When is the date? and Do you feel you've given up a lot settling down so early?. Ill tackle the first one because thats truly the easiest, cause I will give the same answer I always give...when the time is right(really its just a technicality, but I know Sherene's getting tired of all the questions(read badgering) from her friends). I just want it to be right; the wedding, the honeymoon, and the stuff after and that takes money and time...both of which we do not have presently.

As for the other question...not a single day goes by that I think things couldve been better if I had not met Sherene. Ive changed because of her(I eat seafood now)...I want to be a better person because of her...I want her to be as happy as she made me. I know it sounds cliche, but thats the way it really is. There is no "grass is greener on the other side", only weeds. Now, I would be lying if I said there aren't possibilities(Ive been asked to clarify this...I dont deal in absolutes and it would be naive of me to assume things will always stay the same) but right now and in the foreseeable future...Im happy and I don't see a reason to question it. So I look forward to another 4 years and many more after that =)

What else has happened recently...? Obviously there is my induction into the "Weez Crew". Named after its master of ceremonies. She is by far one of the coolest friends I have ever met. She knows how to express herself in any number of ways, each with their own unique Weezesque flair. Her kids(Aidan, Conner, and Gabriel)...what can you say about them...Energizer bunnies I tell you! But it wouldnt be the same without them, they are as much a part of the crew as anyone. Now onto the brothers: Matieu and Pauly. You would think that there would be a considerable amount of similarities between these two seeing as how they are twins and all, but they are very distinct. Paul's in Spain right now, while Matt is about to take a trip to Africa...they are true world travelers and it shows. They have a true appreciation for...well everything. Every experience they get, everything they eat, everything they see, and every friend they have. Though, this is but the tip of the iceberg for the force known as the Walter Brothers, more of an experience that must be taken in small doses(kidding guys).

Then we have this friend, Eli...he's in Japan right now. A smart and goofy introvert...just a cool guy! Hmmm...I wonder how he'll be when he comes back in about a month. Im not expecting anything drastic, just a new respect for certain things. Overseas travel does that to you. New culture, new traditions, new food(Sherene knows Im all about the food)...new people. The most recent member would have to be Alex. Alex seems to be the most together out of the regulars in the lab, even though he may stress out about everything. He always seems to take on more than most people are able and successfully plan, organize, juggle, and stay on top of everything that he has going. I have a lot of professional respect for what he does and at the same time Im glad I can call him a friend since he is another one of the guys, like Eli, that is just fun to hang out with.

Last but certainly not least (figured I would give her her own section) my newest friend Hye Yon. Fun, just fun. The very first day we met, she insisted that she give me a piggy-back ride. And its been that way ever since. She may seem active and wild on the outside, she's quite different in private. And she's changed quite a bit since Ive met her. She's questioning, always questioning what life has in store for her...what can she do for her friends...how can she help people who need it...its inspiring actually. Her self-reflection rubs off on you and helps you examine your own life from a new perspective...hmmm...
And thats the regular crew...theres some transient visitors here and there: Eric (the 1st Walter brother), Ari, and a few more. They have all taught me how to relax and just enjoy today...take in everything and not worry about tomorrow except for when we can do it again =)

Now I can't finish this entry without talking about the other two ladies in my life...they would be quite angry with me if I didnt, it just wouldnt be the same without them anyways. First and foremost there's Sherene's sister Sharon. Thankfully for everyone, she was able to find a job before her OPT ran out and she gets to stay...yay! She truly has become the sister I never had. She knows Ill be there for her for any advice she needs or just someone to hang out with. Then there's Michele, Sherene's roommate and one of our best friends whom we've known pretty much since our relationship began. And rightfully so, she has become Sher's and mine confidant, and us her's. We can pretty much tell each other anything: relationships, future, friends, family...anything. These ladies are just fun to be around and truly are my best friends...besides I need someone to test out my cooking on =)

I know I said this would be about me and it is. These are the people that help shape my life now. There are others: my parents, my brother, friends that have come and gone and that I still talk to...too numerous to count. And to each I say I wish I could thank each one personally here, but I doubt people want to read this entry much longer. Two weeks ago, one of my friends, Claire, basically said that I looked "calm" and different from the last time she saw me...more easy-going. Even though I think I might have quickly changed her mind about that, she's was actually right. I feel different. I act different. I look at things different. And I know the reason...


...Im happy...