Personal

Sun - November 23, 2008

Weight Status

Of of the concerns I had when I was leaving the nursery job mid 207 was that I'd start gaining a lot of weight. For 10 years I had 5 acres to run around in, carry heavy items and stay pretty active. The new job requires a lot of sitting and thinking. Just how would my body react to that dramatic shift?

When I left back in May I started weighing myself to see what was happening. I started off at 146 pounds...and I pretty much stayed there. I fluctuated ± 2 pounds, but nothing as bad as I had feared. And after a few weeks I stopped doing the daily weigh in.

Then in May 2008 I picked up the Wii Fit to see what I could do there. I wasn't expecting magic, but I thought it would be fun. When I started I was 147 pounds. I slowly started dropping a couple pounds over the next few weeks much to my surprise. I really didn't change much else in my daily habits. Eating the same foods, maybe not as much but I didn't stay away from my favorites. Which as you all know, are not the best in terms of weight loss foods.

I was doing the Fit routine everyday until early July and we had a certain event in the store which took all of everyone's spare energy. I still did the daily body test (weigh in and little balance tests) I just stopped the full 30 minute training sessions. And to my surprise I kept dropping weight.

It was about this time that I I got below 140 for the first time in a long time, which (according to the Fit) is my ideal body weight. I wanted to get down to 135 (somehow that's what my drivers license has) so I still have a goal to shoot for.

So now, 6 months in, I haven't missed a daily test and I'm hovering right around my 135 goal. I've dipped underneath it a few times, but it pops back up. I've found that the weekends are when the trend is in the up direction. I've got to watch my snacking when cleaning up or just relaxing around.

I still go climbing once in a while. Not as much as I want to, and once holidays kick in I doubt I'll go much at all. The weather and short days are also conspiring against going out on the loop much either. I'm going to make an effort to start back on the Fit training sessions and see how that changes things.

So overall. In 6 months I dropped a little over 10 pounds. Not too bad.

Posted at 09:16 AM | | |

Sun - August 3, 2008

Bad Questions

I was setting up an account and they had the worst security questions ever.

Here's question #1

Here's question #2

These have to be questions about facts that don't change. The only one that works is the spouse one, which doesn't work for me.

Posted at 12:50 PM | | |

Sat - May 31, 2008

New Way To Follow Me

Since I'm not updating the blog very regularly at the moment I thought 'd give you another way to stay up to date on what's going on with me.

You can follow me on Twitter. My name there is Bobvious.

It's free and I update there much more regularly since my phone is nearly always with me.

Posted at 05:17 PM | | |

Tue - May 20, 2008

One Year

It was one year ago today that I left the nursery for my current gig. In some ways it feels much longer than a year. And sometimes I can't believe that a year has passed already.

I do miss it from time to time, but I'm extremely happy where I am now and what I'm doing. Though it would be nice to drive the New Holland and forklift around again. That was a lot of fun. I don't miss the super heat waves because there's nothing you can to do to escape it.

Posted at 09:48 PM | | |

Thu - April 24, 2008

Conversation

I went to a co-worker's art gallery opening today and he asked me to bring my new D300 to take some photos of the installation for him. While I was there I was switching lenses someone asked if I was a photographer. I said, "No. I just like to take pictures of things. I take a lot of my dog." He responded, "That's an expensive camera to not be a photographer." I replied, "I love my dog."

Posted at 08:00 PM | | |

Sun - April 6, 2008

Reptile!

I don't know how it got in there, but this was in my bedroom. It then came into my bathroom where I trapped it and set it free outside.

To give you an idea of scale, the lid is the top of a CD cakebox stack.

Posted at 02:37 PM | | |

Sat - March 8, 2008

Shot While In My Car

I know. It's a misleading title.

These are photos I took while in my car.

You need Google Earth to try it out.

It starts on photo 2479. Follow the path. Nothing too exciting. I'm just trying out a new piece of software that geocodes my images. I had the GPS alongside me and it puts the location on the image based on the time stamp. So far it works pretty well.

It knew which lane I was in for 2483. But off 3 lanes for 2494.

Mar8.zip

Posted at 08:06 PM | | |

Sat - January 19, 2008

Photographic Evidence

I was organizing my photo library earlier this week and it's fun to look at how the numbers grow.

YEAR TOTAL
<1997 1
1998 852
1999 46
2000 103
2001 528
2002 131
2003 553
2004 780
2005 2353
2006 4293
2007 2275

1998 was almost all plants
2001 was Oscar and Felix
2005 I got my new camera
2006 I went to Alaska for a week (2200 photos)

Posted at 10:38 AM | | |

Sun - January 6, 2008

My Day

Today I worked on a spreadsheet...all day.

It's for work, and this is the most complicated spreadsheet I've ever done.

Here's the main formula I came up with.

=IF(Data :: E20=0,"OFF 0",IF(HOUR(Data :: E19)=9,HOUR(Data :: D19)&"-"&9&" "&Data :: E20,IF(HOUR(Data :: E19)=10,HOUR(Data :: D19)&"-"&10&" "&Data :: E20,IF(HOUR(Data :: E19)=11,HOUR(Data :: D19)&"-"&11&" "&Data :: E20,IF(HOUR(Data :: E19)=12,HOUR(Data :: D19)&"-"&12&" "&Data :: E20,IF(HOUR(Data :: D19)=13,1&"-"&HOUR(Data :: D19)+(Data :: D20-12)&" "&Data :: E20,IF(Data :: E20>0,HOUR(Data :: D19)&"-"&HOUR(Data :: D19)+(Data :: D20-12)&" "&Data :: E20)))))))

Posted at 08:42 PM | | |

Thu - January 3, 2008

Big Work Changes

Things at work are changing a lot...in a good way. We're getting a lot more people to help and those people helping out are getting trained before they start. Even better, I'll be one of the people doing the training.

I just got back from an all day group session on how to facilitate the training and I'm really excited for the new people to go through this. I think it's going to make their job easier and get the customer even better, more consistent results.

As usual with work talk, I've already said too much. Just know that I'm very much looking forward to next week and seeing how this whole thing goes.

Posted at 11:07 PM | | |

Tue - January 1, 2008

New Years Eve

This is what I did.

Posted at 07:39 PM | | |

Tue - August 7, 2007

Now's The Time To Say Goodbye....

Today marks 1000 days in a row for posting to this blog. I've also decided that I'm stopping the every day posting to the blog. I'll still be posting, but now it'll only when I find something I feel is worth sharing.

Lately I've been feeling that I've been filling posts just to fill them. In the old job at the nursery there was a lot of time for reflection while watering or doing some other fairly repetitive task. With the job change I lost a lot of the time I used to have to think about life in general. And I really don't want to write about the new job since I want to keep it.

I started every day on November 12, 2004. It was at one of the store meetings that I found out that quite a few people were reading the blog so I felt an obligation to give them something to read. 1000 days is a milestone I didn't expect to get to, so I'm proud of getting this far.

I will keep up the Friday Felix Blogging. That was a regular feature before I went every day.

The best way to stay current would be to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Posted at 07:28 AM | | |

Fri - August 3, 2007

I'm So Happy

It's about time.

Posted at 10:56 PM | | |

Thu - August 2, 2007

Better

Happy to report that I'm feeling much better today. I had a bit of a Nyquil foggy morning, but I came out of it just fine.

Posted at 11:27 PM | | |

Wed - August 1, 2007

Sick

I'm sick. ugh

I haven't been sick in a few years, and really, this isn't too bad. I feel lousy and all, but things could be much much worse.

Luckily today was a semi-short day for me. I got out at 3 to make up for a meeting we had on Sunday night. So I came home and sauntered off into bed for a couple hours.

I've got my Nyquil to keep me company for sleep, but I'm hoping I'm all better tomorrow. I only have one dose left.

Posted at 10:23 PM | | |

Tue - July 31, 2007

Reset

I went to see "Transformers" the other night. THe last movie I saw in the theatre before that was in summer 2005, "Batman Begins". I should be able to get out to some movies a bit more often now that I have just the one job. Now it's just dealing with the price aspect of it. I'm going to be very sure I want to see something for $10.50.

Posted at 11:52 PM | | |

Sun - July 29, 2007

Slighty Sad

Now that I have my new phone I miss out on the joy of sitting down at my computer when I get home and seeing who sent me email during the day.

It's a small thing, but I feel it every day.

Posted at 11:56 PM | | |

Sat - July 28, 2007

Redheads

Posted at 10:30 AM | | |

Fri - July 27, 2007

Pro Shops

I went out to that new hugigantous Bass Pro Shops tonight. I knew the place was big, but stepping in there I just wasn't prepared to get overwhelmed as much as I did. Lots of displays, a pretty cool aquarium with glass that appears to be 4" thick, and according to the map a pistol and archery range.

I didn't really care for it though. Lots of things for sale, but it had a WalMart feel to it. REI (just down the street) just seems to have a better feel to it. REI isn't know for their incredible prices, but the service and product quality are more than worth it.

I might occasionally get somethings at the BPS, but I think my major purchases will still be at REI.

Posted at 11:16 PM | | |

Thu - July 26, 2007

An Old Favorite

Today I found an old t-shirt I had back in my college days. It was by far the shirt that got the most positive comments. It's a "Far Side" shirt with the title of "Know Your Insects". And it still fits!

And this is on the bottom left....

Posted at 10:27 PM | | |

2 Months To Go

Only 2 months till the best day of the year.

Posted at 09:56 PM | | |

Wed - July 25, 2007

Bump

Today at work I ran into someone that used to work at the nursery back about 8 years ago. She left to teach Pilates. I saw her once in Pasadena around 2001/2002. It was when I was still with Barbara, but not too long before the end.

I'm happy that I recognized her right away. I didn't have to try and remember her name, it just popped in there when I saw her. Usually I'm bad with names and faces. I still don't know everyone at work.

She's doing good. Still teaching Pilates. Got married (she might have been last time I saw her, I don't remember for sure). Still lives up in Baldy.

I gave he my card with email address and website. Maybe she's reading this right now?!?!?! Anyway, hopefully she'll write (or drop in the store) and we can catch up. We didn't hang out a lot after hours, but I remember going to see The Iron Giant with her back when it was released in 1999.

Posted at 11:10 PM | | |

Tue - July 24, 2007

From The Archives

I found the first video I ever did (in modern times) today. I decided to convert it to play on my new device. The sound and picture quality show that I really did have my new machine for just a few days. But it's still fun to see a 1 year old Felix and a year and a half year old Oscar run around like crazy in my parent's backyard.

If you see me around, ask me and I'll show you the footage.

Posted at 11:54 PM | | |

Thu - July 19, 2007

You Need A Backup Plan

If you are in a parking lot and you put the car into reverse, you should plan on exiting the space soon.

I was in a parking lot, car started. The car directly behind me had his/her backup lights on so I waited politely since he/she had his/her backup lights on first.

And I waited....

and waited....

and waited.....

I didn't time how long it was, but the song that started when I turned the car on finished before they got out of their space.

That's just rude!

Grrrr.

Posted at 12:00 AM | | |

Wed - July 18, 2007

Just Like Old Times

I had today off because I worked Sunday for someone else. I used to have wednesdays and thursdays off at the nursery. It was nice doing my errands when the stores weren't nearly as busy as the weekends. This upcoming weekend I'm off and I'll be heading down to San Diego for a family outing since Audrey is down for a couple weeks. Should be fun.

Posted at 06:36 PM | | |

Tue - July 17, 2007

Kaylee

My friend Shaye just gave birth to a daughter, Kaylee.

Awwwww.

Posted at 10:28 PM | | |

Mon - July 16, 2007

Jury Summons

I got a jury duty summons! This is my first on in San Bernardino county. It's set for mid August, but I'm pushing for a two week postponement since I have a work even the 21st. Chances are I won't miss it, but I'd hate to miss out on it when I could push back my justice league session by just a few days.

Posted at 11:49 PM | | |

Sun - July 15, 2007

$7

I was coming home today and I found $7 in singles blowing down my parking area. Nobody was around so I parked, and picked up lunch for tomorrow.

Posted at 11:55 PM | | |

Thu - July 12, 2007

From The Past

I was having lunch today and I saw someone that looked very familiar. She was just sitting a few seats down so I had all hour to think about it. When it was time to head back I decided to give it a shot and ask if she was who I thought she was. She was. Lori W from elementary school. I saw her once about a decade ago (97 or 98) but it wasn't for very long.

I wasn't extremely close, but I knew of her, and she knew of me. Always nice to see people from the old country.

Posted at 10:21 PM | | |

Tue - July 10, 2007

Reputation

It seems that I'm makes a name at work. People coming to me for a session telling me that they've heard a lot about me. I didn't think there was that much to tell, but from what I hear from them I'm wrong.

I guess I can see how it happens. I talk up the other people on the team because we all have our own specialties. So I bet that they get the same experience that I do with new people that have heard stories.

It's still a nice feeling when it happens. Just make sure you earn the reputation. It's important to remember the Lincoln quote, "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Posted at 11:57 PM | | |

Small Talk

I Won A Game Of Chess