HNY 2006

Washed Away

Ever had your hopes and dreams washed away??? It happend to me today when I received a letter form the School of Engineering stating that my application was denied. Which means that I can't re-apply to the school and that all the engineering credits I've taken thus far doesn't apply to any other program AND the money I've spent in the past semesters have been wasted. Put a knife in my heart and twist why don't ya!!!

Now, I don't know what to do. Do I transfer to another school and hope again that I'll get in. Do I change my major to something I'm not really interested in ... just like the other 70% of the student population. Do I go back to working full time .... NO! What to do?? Today was not a good day!

Happy Holidays

To all friends and family ... Happy Holidays!!!

Truth Serum

Its amazing what you can find out when you add a little alcohol to a group of asians. After a crazy long night at the OP, everyone starting drinking. As I expected, the hispanics held their liquor (duh!). On the other hand, the asians did not. 1/2 a beer later, they're dancing and screaming karaoke!!! What is it with asians and karaoke??? She bang, she bang!! Good thing I didn't bring my Michael collection!

Minutes later, I found out that one of my co-workers was a stripper at the Bus Stop (OMG!). Not pretty ... and no, I didn't have any dollar bills (at least that's what I said). "Let me see your sesame chicken and I'll show you mine!" DOH! Mylanta take me away!!!

What is Creative Gift?

Creative gift is a gift in which you use your creativity in making, creating, or in some people's case ... buying. Creative, creative, creative ... did I mention creative?! It without a doubt made this year's holiday event much more fun and added to our laughter and cheer. All the creative gifts were spectacular. I commend everyone for doing a great job. My creative gift was the scaled drawing of a dream house. It took me about 16 hours to draw, which I did during finals week ... talk about added pressure. I thought about turning it in as a final project in my engineering drawing class ... but then I thought ... "That's not challenging enough!" "I can do better!"

The actual drawing is scaled ... please do not try to put a ruler to your moniter to check out dimensions. If you want a copy, I'd be more than happy to send it to you. I'm pretty sure an Architect would say its boring ... very boxy and plain. But I'm practical. Space utilization is important ... and in this house there's plenty of it. Approximately 12,000 sq ft of livable space, 3 bedrooms, his and her bath, his and her closet, spa/jacuzzi in master bedroom, great room, 2 living rooms, 3 car garage, game/entertainment room, elevator, and an office. For those of us that love to eat, I put in a 8 range stove top ... handy for those days you need to cook for the whole fam! These days, 4 cooking surfaces isn't enough ... we love the fat!!!

Zen and the Art of Gift Giving

This year's Boulder Christmas was exquisite ... to say the least. You can check out the details of the night cataloged on Brown and Choke's blog. Thank you to my homeboys and homegirls for making my 2005 Boulder Christmas experience a success!!! Cheers!

DUETS - THE FINAL CHAPTER

My two favorite tracks of the album are Spit Your Game, featuring Twista and Bone Thugs ... and Hold Ya Head featuring Bob Marley. You can listen to both on the home page of Duets (give it a couple seconds to load). The beats are tight and crisp. BIG sounds better than ever! What I love most is that listed for Executive Producers .. Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G. For a man that's dead, he's accomplished more after his death than I have in my living years! Much respect to the King of New York!!!

Rolled Up Aces Over Kings

Its been a while since I've been in Vegas. Since I've been gambling in Vegas, I've never arrived home a winner. I've partied hard and played hard with nothing to show for it ... not even a t-shirt. I believe the time has come for change. I plan to be in Vegas for Super Bowl XL, thanks to Southwest Airlines ($137 roundtrip). Hopefully, I'll be able to roll with a few hundo (thank you student aid) and come home with a stack or two of high society. Just have to be disciplined enough not to count my chickens before they hatch. Its just so damm exciting knowing that I'll be in Vegas within a few months. So exciting, I can't get to bed. I just finished watching "Rounders" for the 40th time. Truly an inspiring movie to watch before heading to Vegas. One of my favorite scenes of the movie is the heads up match with McDermott against Teddy KGB. Starts with $10k and leaves with over sixty. It ain't no kids game fo' sho!

Last night, I played a couple $20 tournaments. Single table at the Attic. 5 players ... $100 prize money. Finished 3rd the first game and 2nd the next. The second game ran me down ... good beats at the wrong time. Everytime I do get run down, I recall this scene ...

- You know what cheers me up when I'm feelin' shitty?
- What?
- Rolled up aces over kings.
- That right?
- Yeah.
- Check raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots off 'em.
- Yeah? - Stacks and towers of checks I can't even see over.
- Playin' all night, high-limit Hold' Em at the Taj. Where the sand turns to gold.
- Fuck it, let's go.
- Don't tease me.
- Let's play some fuckin' cards.

The poker room at the Mirage in Vegas is the center of the poker universe. Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Helmuth, the legends consider it their office. Every couple of days a new millionaire shows up wanting to beat a world champion. Usually they go home with nothing but a story.

In Stores Dec 20th ...

... Biggie Duets - THE FINAL CHAPTER ... I just listened to the entire album. One word ... sick! The album features Nas, Eminem, Bob Marley, Big Pun, 2Pac to name a few. After listening to the album, I was convinced that Biggie, 2Pac and Big Pun are on an island somewhere in the world (I refer to this place as Hip Hop heaven) producing dope @ss tracks. Don't hesitate ... Dec 20th ... B-I-G returns ... once again representin' NYC ... Holla!

The Tour

Yummm! Then to finish it off .... voila!

Jack Is Back

24 is more than a great TV show ... its outstanding! I can never get enough. I day dream about working at CTU. Not sure that I have what it takes to be an agent. But I would love to be an analyst. I don't think I could take Chloe seriously. She's way out there! I think idealy I would want to work in parallel with Edgar ... although he can be just as strange as Chloe!

After a few minutes thinking about how cool it would be to work at CTU, I then come to the realization that their jobs are far from easy. Their mission ... save the country from terrorist attacks. Hmmmm ... can't be chatting on IM during work. Can't be shopping on eBay! A quick smoke break could be the difference between a nuclear bomb denonating or a prime suspect getting away. "Sorry sir, I really needed a break. I'm confident that Bauer will catch them ... at least within the next few hours!" Don't think that would fly at CTU. 8 hours and a one hour lunch break ... think again! You're working 24 hours straight ... and you'll like it. Is this the job that I really want? Nah ... government work is over-rated!

I was wondering what it was like on a normal day (contrary to the days we see during a season) at CTU. Is it just a crazy shift from 8 am to 5 pm and as they approach the afternoon things start slowing down. Probably not! But what if it was like a normal job. And they have the standard 8 to 5 job. I thought about a scene between Jack, Michelle and Tony around 5:30 pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Jack and Michelle are at happy hour waiting for Tony to arrive.

Jack: So how are things with you and Tony?
Michelle: I don't know Jack. Tony's been real distant. He doesn't want to talk about anything. Last year was a rough year for us. I'm sure you remember.
Jack: I remember. I'm just glad that Kim decided to resign.
Michelle: How is Kim? She's still with Chase?
Jack: Yea. She's doing well. Last I heard, Chase got a job working for a private security firm.
Michelle: How are you holding up Jack? Are you still going to rehab?
Jack: I finished my last session a few weeks ago. Didn't you get the memo?
Michelle: No! I've been so busy working at division I haven't had time catch up on the internals.
Jack: Well, I'm done. I had some rough times. I'm thinking about heading out to DC. Secretary Heller may have a position for me. Its time I move on.
Michelle: That's great Jack! Good luck with that.
... A brief silence at the table ...
Michelle: I wonder what's holding up Tony?
Jack: He said he would be a few minutes late.
... Tony approaches to table ...
Tony: Sorry guys! The interview went longer than I expected.
Jack: How did it go?
Tony: I can't do this. Everytime they find out that I've been to federal prison, they treat me like I'm a criminal.
Jack: Can you blame them?
Tony: F*ck you Jack! Mr. Cool! Listen .. Thanks for getting me out and all .. but I didn't ask for this. I'll never find a job. They consider me a traitor to this country. What am I suppose to do?
Michelle: Sweetie, its OK! We'll find something. We'll make it work!
Tony: No! It won't be OK! Its not OK!
... Tony storms up and leaves the bar ...
... Michelle looks at Jack with tears in her eyes ...
Jack: Hey ... it'll be fine. He just needs time. He's been through a lot.
Michelle: I know! I just ... I just want him to be happy again.
Jack: I know! Listen, I got to go. I'm suppose to meet Kim for dinner. Tell Tony to give me a call tomorrow. Keep you're head up. You got to be strong for him.
Michelle: Thanks Jack! Tell Kim I said hi.
Jack: I got to go! WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!!!!

1 Down ..

4 exams to go ... shortly following, 5 weeks of freedom. Last week, I thought I would never get to this day. Somehow I managed to finish 2 projects, 3 assignments and study for my surveying final, which was yesterday. Whew! The plan for tonight is to allocate at least 3 hours of 24 viewing. Jack Bauer is my hero!!!