Getting Back into the Writing Game

Hey there.  I would like to take this minute to say, I'm sorry.  Sorry for the short posts and sorry for the lack of more personal, "in depth" kind of stuff that I mean to post from time to time.  Sorry to the many sites that I SHOULD be contributing, but simply could not because I didn't have the means.  Well, let's rephrase that.  I had the means, but only during certain times of the day and for short period of times.  It sucks to have to squeeze out content within a few minutes and when it's rushed, it's not of good quality.  So instead of churning out crap, I decided to take a step back, regroup, and make sure that when I contribute to a site, it will be of some value instead of filler.  So again, I'm sorry if I have gone MIA the last few weeks/months but it's not because I did not want to contribute, it's because I respect your site enough to bow out in order to keep the content quality high.

The Color Run 2012

Hey there.  Guess who just signed up to do The Color Run in the city of Irvine this April?!?!  That's right!  This guy!  I told myself that I wanted to do some more running this year.  I started the year well by doing a good 5 mile run about 3 times a week but have kind of ventured off from that pass.  It's OK, though.  I'm still staying in shape and am squeezing a workout here and there.  But when I made that commitment to be in more shape this year, I told myself that running a 5K would be a goal.  That goal is now going to happen on April 22nd!!

If you guys haven't head of The Color Run, it's pretty damn cool.  It's not so much about speed but more about enjoying yourself.  You start off with a white colored shirt and at the 1K mark, you'll be splattered with paint.  By the time you reach the end, you'll be covered in colors!  Check out the video below of how much fun it can be!

Reducing the Glare From Your Glasses

Great picture of my son and I...  but it would
 have been better if that glare was gone!

Hey there.  I wear my glasses all the time.   And I mean, ALL THE TIME.  lol  I only take them off when I shower and sleep.  I just can't see without them and when I can't see, it frustrates me.  So I simply will keep them on to avoid that.  But because I keep them on all the time, especially during sports activities, they end up breaking more often than not.  At one point in my life, I must have been going at a rate of 2 pairs of glasses a year.  Anyways, because I always have em them on, I tend to have plenty of pictures with glares on them.  Annoying, right?  I know that there have been more than a few pictures where everything was perfect except for those bright lights where my eyes should be.  It can be quite annoying to take several pictures to avoid that dreaded "glasses glare" in pictures.  What I need to look into are these new oleophobic lenses that will reduce glares on lenses!

Starting the New Year with Fitness

We're doing what now?!

Hey there. 2012 is upon us and while many people have decided to start some new resolutions, I've decided to continue one that I've been working on for a few years now. I know that many new year's resolutions die by the end of the month so you need to see them as what they are, goals. I plan on kick starting my exercise routine and the wife actually provided the jump start tonight. As of last night, 5 mile walks will be taken nightly.

My wife has been taking walks while I'm at work but I need to get off my butt and get as active as she is. Last night's 5 mile walk kicked my ass. Lol. I haven't been to the gym in months but I've managed to do some push ups here and there but it's simply not enough. I think I was at about 180 lbs for a short time but thinking back, I don't think it was a healthy 180 lbs.  While walking (and really it's more like a slow run), I began to feel the burn in my legs after 15 mins! Wow! That's some real bad cardio on my part. I'm really looking forward to these walks. Aside from the health benefits, I'm looking forward to spending some alone time with the wife. It's tough to find time to ourselves with a full house. Yeah, you parents out there know what I'm talking about.

So what are you guys planning to do differently this year? What resolutions have you tried? Did you succeed or fail? Let's hear it, friends. Later!

My Christmas Story - Banjo Kazooie, N64, and a Snitch

With Christmas being literally around corner, we all have our christmas stories. Whether it'd be getting that special gift, giving that special gift or just remembering the times you've had with your family and friends. I got my own Christmas stories to tell, maybe too many, to be honest. There's one I remember the most, its the one that makes me laugh and it reminds me of how much the memories of family means to me.

Getting Ready for a Young Lady

Hey there. Last weekend, I was drawing with the kids. Well, actually with the girls. They drew something for me and I would do my interpretation of that drawing. I figured that it was a little something that they may remember many years from now. What I didn't realize at the time is that those years are flying by a little too quickly for my liking. My oldest daughter is 10.  That is only a few years away from her quinceñera.  For those of you not in the know, it's a party thrown on the 15th birthday of a young lady to usher her in to womanhood.  Now... 15 does not make you a woman... but I guess the significance is that she is no longer a "child".  It's the moment that fathers everywhere dread.  It's the moment that you come to face the fact that daddy's little girl is growing up.

So why the revelation?  It's this drawing.  She drew herself and I did my version of her.  My drawing gave me a glimpse of what she could become in a few short years.  Well, I knew that it was coming.  I've even joked with her and said that I will embarrass her as much as possible before she won't find me "funny" anymore.  I've already declared that I will do the robot during our quinceñera dance.  lmao!  And I already see some of that luster come off.  My jokes aren't as funny, my mannerisms aren't as witty, and, to her, they're coming off as embarrassing or stupid.  It's ok, though.  That's not going to stop me from trying.  *sigh*  

Where's that parent instruction manual?  lol  Later!

Making Hickory Farms a Family Tradition

Hey there.  No matter what goes down in your daily life, at the end of the day, you come home to your family.  Always inviting, always waiting there for.  It's the best time of day, actually.  Well, at least for me it is.  After working hard all day, it's great to be able to spend some time with the wife and kids and dinner time is a great way to open up with each other and share the day's experiences.  It's a welcome change from the stresses of being a working parent.  And nothing makes the conversation better than an awesome meal from the wife.  But not just any meal, but a meal prepared using some Hickory Farms products.

Getting Screwed by Bank of America... Again

Hey there.  I have strong disdain towards Bank of America.  Throughout my years, they have managed to screw me over with my checking account, a credit card, and now my home.  Or should I say, previous home.  That's right, the bastards took my house.  It's a long story, one that starts about 2 years ago, but the stress didn't amp up until March of this year.  So here's the story...

Metallman is Now a Part of the Joystick Division Team

Hey there.  I want to expand.  I want to have my name across all sorts of sites.  The problem that I came across was I was unorganized.  I didn't know how to cut up my time to be able to write for more than one site. Now, I'm come across a system that is working for me.  And because this system is now in place, I should be more active across all the sites that I currently write for.  And with that, I am glad to announce that I am now a part of the Joystick Division team!  Here's the story.

My Blind Eyes Define My Look

Glasses?  What glasses?

Hey there.  I wear glasses.  As far I can remember, I've worn glasses.  If I had to put a time frame as to when I got them, I would probably say I got them somewhere around kindergarten so I've worn specs for most of my life.  And you know what, I don't mind a single bit.  I love my glasses.  I like how I look.  Sure, I got the whole "four eyes" thing as a child, but let's be real here, kids can be cruel and there's always going to be that one jerk that will pic on the kid with glasses.  The thing is to encourage a positive attitude and to create an identity.  At an early age, I learned that my eyesight was not the best that I would wear eyeglasses for life.  And you know what, I'm completely fine with it.

I've Been MIA

Hey there.  Just to give you guys a quick heads up as to what is going on.  My wife has been in and out of the hospital and clinic for the past few weeks.  The docs discovered a tumor that needed to be removed and all my focus has been shifted to her.  I'll give a more detailed post as to our experiences, thoughts, and fears.

Thanks to all that sent well wishes our way.  Trust me, they are very much appreciated and it definitely opened up our eyes to see that so many people had us in their thoughts and prayers.  Thanks again!

Breaking Out of This Writing Lull

Hey there. One of the worst things that can happen to a blogger is taking a few days off from writing. I did just that. I try to post something every day just to keep it fresh but I have not written a post since Saturday.  Blame it on the DTK loss, blame it on laziness, blame it on Final Fantasy XIII, or blame it on whatever you want.  I made it clear to myself that I needed to get on the ball and create more quality articles as opposed to small snippets of stuff because I don't have time.  I used to be able to get work done at night with the laptop, but since that's out of commission at the time, I'm regulated to work on the desktop computer and I'm not really feeling that.  Well, it's time to snap out of it.  I have plenty of great ideas that I'm working on and I have a few awesome reviews that are coming this way.  The giveaways are also a huge success and I have a few winners posts that need to go live.  I've been invited to events and would like to get those up as well.  Things are happening, people, and I need to let you guys know what's up!!!

It's happening, friends.  I'm evolving.  It's time to shed this skin and break out into bigger better things.  Stay tuned!  Later!

Food 4 Less and Customer Service 4 None

Hey there.  I have a bone to pick with you, Food 4 Less!  I have been a steady customer of yours for quite some time now.  You're no more than a few blocks away from our home and it seems that we make a trip there every other day for whatever is needed for dinner.  Sometimes... we'll go just to pick up a few munchies.  That's the kind of relationship we had with you.  That's right... WE HAD!!!

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income for June 2011

Hey there.  June is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:

Mylikes - $1.44
CMFAds - $1.88
Sponsored Tweets - $30.01
DragonBlogger - $19.12
Dad Central - $100.00
Blogsvertise - $89.00
SocialSpark - $66.50
PayPerPost - $31.00
Total for June - $338.95
YTD Total - $1271.36 (+$421.36 ahead of pace)

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty: America Weeps

What?  My daughter's dead. Noooooooooo... I didn't do it.

Hey there.  I'll admit that I haven't been as captivated by this case as much as I should have been.  As a matter of fact, I first heard about the case from my wife, when she decided to purchase a magazine with Casey on the cover.  I naturally asked her who's that and she explained the case to me.  I then asked if she was famous since she was on the magazine, she said no.  With that right there... I should have known that this was big.  Since then, I started asking my wife to fill me in on the court proceedings, since my wife has the luxury to watch it at home.  Night after night, the evidence compiled against Casey made it seem like she was going to be found guilty for murdering her daughter.  I was curious to see if they would give her the death penalty and even the "experts" on TV were saying that anything but the death sentence would be a victory for Casey.  The "experts" were saying she was as good as guilty.  Then... the American Justice system did what it does best.  It set this child murdering woman free.  That's right, the jury found Casey Anthony NOT GUILTY!

Women That Rock Weekend

Hey there.  We need a night out.  The wife and I have semi-survived the first week of summer vacation and we already need to reward ourselves with a night on the town.  Before we can start planning what we should do, the comadre sends us this:

The Rise of American Soccer in the United States

Hey there. I love sports. I'm also Mexican American. So when both countries end up going against each other, who should I root for? It's a common dilemma for many Mexican Americans out there. My parents were born in Mexico and I in the US.  I'm a first gen American in our family.  You want to root for both countries. You want to go show pride and acknowledge your roots but you also want to show pride for the country of opportunity. Why the question? Soccer. Yup. Soccer. lol

Taking Up a New Hobby

And it's gone!

Hey there.  I am in need of a hobby.  Not just something where I can lounge around at home and do, but something that will get me outdoors and move around some.  I am still on a mission to be more fit, but I'll be honest and my workouts have been sporadic.  There is no routine, no consistency, and quite frankly, little to no motivation.  But you wanna know something that does motivate me?  COMPETITION!

Family Trip to SeaWorld

Hey there.  I haven't had a chance to catch up with you guys over what went down this Memorial Day weekend.  I decided long ago that we were not going to stay home this weekend and we were going to have ourselves a good time.  I toyed with the idea of taking the family to Las Vegas, Disneyland, and LegoLand, among many other places but due to high entry prices and/or road trip time, I crossed many of those places out.  In the end, I managed to grab a great deal (buy 1 get 1 free) on SeaWorld admission.  BAM!  We were soooo there.

My Experience with an Online School

Hey there. You know, many years ago, I attempted to complete my degree in business with an online school. I figured that I wouldn't have time to go to a brick and mortar building for school so online studies would be perfect. Especially since I'm a night owl and I stay up late anyways. Win-win situation for me, right?  In theory, yes.  In practicality, no...  My problem was that I didn't have the drive to finish school.  Not at that time, at least. I always told myself that I would go back to school when I am good and ready.  To not only get that degree but to set an example to the kids that higher learning can be achieved at any age.  Now, I believe that I am ready.