Classics V. Technology

Hey there.  You know, I was thinking about nature and what not and have decided that I want to start hiking.  Maybe even write about what I see and do while out and about with the family.  The problem?  If you don't have tough, rugged equipment, you will find your stuff torn by the elements.  Rocks, branches, brush... they will all nip and tear at your bags and what not.  I was telling myself that if I were to play a Henry David Thoreau type person, I would need my laptop to write about nature.  Hey, it's the 21th century.  lol  While Mr. Thoreau may have used ink and quills, I'm using a laptop.  Just at a glance, I would need a laptop messenger bag that is built for the elements. Something that will stand against nature or at least give my laptop a fighting chance of surviving.  How else am I going to write the next Walden without my laptop?

I've been on a mission recently to read more literary classics.  So far, I've read Catcher in the Rye and Siddhartha.  While more books are coming my way, I started to think how these classics would be written today.  Going back to Thoreau's Walden, I don't think we would be able to create such a masterpiece of solitude today.  There is technology everywhere.  Cell phones, laptops, smartphones, tablets...  Pen and paper have been replaced with keyboards and software.  Would Sheldon be so full of angst if he could take it out on a game of Angry Birds?  Would Siddhartha use GPS tracking to navigate through the jungles to find himself and total bliss? 

It's awesome that tales from the past rely heavily on the art of story telling.  So while I'm trekking across rugged terrain, I can stop, look at my kindle and read up on some classics.  What books do you recommend?  There are still a few that I would like to own, like Billy Budd.  It's a short story but a good one nonetheless.  Later!

Find Your Dream Car with TheCarConnection.com

Hey there.  You know... I've never really been a car guy.  I always figured that as long as I had a vehicle that can get me from point A to point B, I would be happy.  I don't need a big, flashy car to show off.  But boy, wouldn't it be nice to have one.  lol  I stumbled across this site that will not only show you pictures of the cars, but will give an estimated market value and a little history behind the car.  That's pretty impressive.

I checked out the Mitsubishi Eclipse Gt, to get a glimpse of something with speed. My brother in law has an Evo and he's constantly raving about how awesome it is, so I had to check out the Mitsubishi family to see what the fuss was about. Then I checked out something that screams American, the Chevrolet Corvette.  I can definitely see myself in one of these bad boys but I don't see myself coming with a $50K windfall anytime soon.  lol  After clicking a few links, the Gmc Sierra Sle came up. I don't see myself in a truck... It's simply not my style. And that's when I realized that a Mercedes-Benz Cls550 would be luxury sedan for me.  Stylish and classy, a car that looks sleek, but not over flashy.  Kind of like me.  lol 

ll in all, it was cool to read up on today's cars and their history.  It's new and definitely informative.  Once I'm at the age (and have the cash) I know I'll be able to compare cars and make a wise decision the one that will take me to destinations in my wonder years.  *sigh*  A guy can dream, no?  Later.

I need a Vacation

Hey there.  I didn't come in to work yesterday.  And no, friends, it wasn't a kick back, I'm not going to do anything, kind of day.  lol  Both of my daughters were going to perform in their school's annual Christmas Program and I wanted to be there.  And... the school was going to honor both of my daughters for making honor roll.  Yay for my girls!  So the schedule looked something like this... 

7:00   Take girls to school
8:30   Have breakfast
10:30 Christmas Performance
12:30 After school party
2:30   Get son from JR High
4:00   Honor Roll Assembly
5:30   Honor Roll Assembly
6:00   Go home

As you can see, school related activities were nothing but planned that day and you know how well things turn out when you plan out your day.  Here's what really went down.

7:00   Take girls to school
8:30   Have breakfast
10:00 Go to Target to get MiniDV recording tape
10:35 Run to school auditorium
10:40 Realize that stupid camcorder is not working
10:50 Said screw it and took video with my phone
12:30 Made it to after school party
2:15   Take my youngest to get her hair cut
3:05   Speed off to get my son from JR High
3:35   Experience LA traffic jam
4:10   Run to school auditrium
4:30   Get text invitation to my cuz's b day thing for that night
5:00   Have small "lunch"
5:30   Honor Roll Assembly
6:15   Go to my aunt's for b day thing
10:00 Go home

Yeah...  that' didn't go as originally planned.  lmao  Needless to say, I need a vacation...  But like a real one.  Where the day is not used for home projects, shopping expeditions, or school related activities.  But like, a real vacation.  Yeah... that would be nice.  lol 

I came into work and for being out for a single day, it seems as if hell on Earth rained down on me.  More than 250 Emails sitting in my inbox, more than 10 voice mails waiting to be answered, boss saying there were complaints because I wasn't there...  It's like... man, can't have a day to myself without my work world going down in chaos???  *sigh*

A Vacation in Kissimmee Florida

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. The more I read about Kissimmee, Florida, the more I am compelled to take a trip there. When you think about it, who doesn't want to take a trip to an American paradise? It has awesome weather, sandy beaches, and with those of us with kids (or at least a kid at heart), Disneyworld is just a short drive away.  This is definitely an ideal travel destination for those of us looking for a get away from the daily grind of our work lives.

For those of us looking for a little bit of nature, there is a heritage trail, hiking, boating,  kayaking, fishing, and they just recently added a zip line to their great outdoors so you can zoom through the sky and take in the beautiful scenery from above!  For the kid in us, we have the theme parks that usually garner all the attention of central Florida, and with good reason.  With Disneywold being minutes away, who wouldn't want to spend an afternoon with the beloved Disney charaters?  And for those of us just wanting a relaxing time.  Bird watching, beaches, , lakes, parks and golf courses are in abundance and should provide you with the "me time" that we all desperately need from time to time.

I wouldn't mind taking a trip there to check out the outdoors.  Maybe book a room at the Super 8 Kissimmee Suites.  I'll have to admit that price would determine where we stay since we're pretty much just use the place to sleep.  lol  So much to do that we wouldn't be spending much time in the room.  I would definitely want to do the zip line and maybe a little kayaking. I think there's enough shopping here in Los Angeles so I wouldn't want to spend my vacation time in stores, but there is a nightlife there that my wife and I would like to check out.  The Saturday Nite Cruise®, featuring over 300 classic cars sounds like an awesome way to spend an evening!

I don't see why anyone would NOT want to spend a weekend (or a week) in Kissimmee, Florida.  I'm from the west coast of the US and I wouldn't mind checking out the south east coast for a change!  With all that it has to offer, you have to consider Kissimmee, Florida as a top choice vacation spot.  Later!

Win a Free Weekend Stay at any Hampton Hotel

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine. 

Hey there friends.  I recently had the pleasure of taking a week off from work.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the resources to take off on a leisure vacation with the family and see something outside the norm.  I'm pretty sure that with this slowly recovering economy, any accommodations that we can get for free will be a blessing.  Our good friends at the Hampton Hotels know this and are giving away free weekend stays!   

The Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes is definitely one to take part in.  It's not simply a hotel room for you and your friends or family.  No, the Hampton Hotel is offering 100 rooms for 2 nights for the grand prize winner.  Let that sink in!!!  100 rooms!  That's practically the whole hotel for you and your guests.  You can finally spend some time with those friends of yours that you haven't seen in years or invite your distant family members for free weekend stay to catch up and relax.  With 100 rooms at your disposal, I'm not even sure that you will fill them all!  They are also offering 100 First Prizes with is a free hotel stay for the winner and three of his or her friends.  That's still a great time waiting to happen.  To enter, you fill out a simple form with your contact information.  That's it!  Make sure you enter for you chance to win.  The contest ends on 9/4/10 so there's only a week or so left to enter.

It's important to get away from the stresses of work and if you can get that weekend stay for free, why not enter for that free hotel room?  It's great to bond with friends and family.  It builds for a better relationship and it stronger bonds that last a lifetime.  I already told myself that the next chance I get, we'll be taking a vacation as family.  I already have my eye on the Hampton Inn south of the Disneyland Hotel in Orlando Florida.  Yeah, we have a Disneyland in California, but this is Disneyworld that we're talking about here.  I'm sure that friends and family would have a grand time hanging out at Disneyland and hanging out in Florida.  Hopefully, I'll get that call or Email stating that I'm a winner.  Hmmm...  if I do get to be a winner...  should I give out a stay to one of my readers???  I'll have to think about that one for a minute.  lol  Until then, later!

Find a NMEDA Dealer Near You

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. As many of us age, our bodies are simply not as strong and healthy as before. We may very well find ourselves at the mercy of a wheelchair due to an accident or an illness. Throughout all this, we should be able to be as independent as we possibly can. That's why taking your vehicle to a NMEDA dealer is the way to go.

No two persons have the same disability so NMEDA will do a personalized "in person" evaluation to assure you that they can customize your vehicle to fit your needs. Or maybe you don't want to customize your car, going straight to the dealer is your best bet in getting the best deal on a wheel chair adjusted vehicle.

Now for those of you that feel a little uneasy on getting your vehicle modified, all NMEDA dealers are the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. That's some pretty high standards.

Just think about it for a second. Maybe you're not the one in need of a modification, but if you're a caregiver, it would definitely be a huge help. Instead of going through the tough task of helping someone off and then on their wheelchair, you can have a much more comfortable time for both you and the disabled if your vehicle is a modified vehicle done by a NMEDA dealer. And, god forbid, they would need to be rushed to a hospital, the last thing you would want to struggle with getting the disabled person in your car. It just makes more sense to have a ready and able vehicle to suit their needs. And let's not forget that it also grant them some of their independence back. They may be confined to a wheelchair but they should be able to get on the road and live as close to normal lives as possible.

I was able to locate 4 NMEDA dealers within 25 miles of where I live. I'm sure that you would be able to find one close to your home as well. Check it out and let me know how close is your local dealer. Happy driving and be safe! Until then, later!

I'm Back From Boston

Hey there.  I'm back home!  My trip to Boston was a short one, but certainly an eventful one.  Here's what went down...

My alarm did NOT go off on Thursday morning.  That's right.  It decided to mess with me and simply not go off, even with the stupid thing CLEARLY saying that the alarm is on.  It's 6:30 AM and my flight is set to take off at 7:15 AM!  I grab my stuff, put on some clothes, kiss my wife good bye and speed off to LAX.  I manage to get there at around 7:00AM.  I got and punch in my confirmation code into the kiosk to get my boarding pass.  I sigh a sigh of relief since I don't see anyone in line at security should it should be a breeze to get in.  "Confirmation code not recognized"  What the...  I try it again.  "Confirmation code not recognized"  Oh man...

I head over to the desk while valuable seconds tick away and give the clerk my confirmation number.  The guy punches it in the computer and says that I missed my flight.  I point to the huge clock behind the guy and say, "It's 7:05.  If you give me my pass now, I can still make my 7:15 flight."  The dude persisted that I missed my flight, all the while getting me upset.  After arguing with him, and the manager, I decided that I'm just wasting energy here and decided to get a standby pass on the next flight...  4+ hours later.  I'm going to miss my appointment with our client!  Ugh...

My flight taking off without me

I grab the pass, go through security, and when I reach the terminal of my flight, I hear "last call for flight blah blah blah from LAX to BOS"  Damn it!!!  If that guy would have given my pass when I asked for it, I would have sooooo made my flight!  I see them shut the doors and minutes later, watch as my flight takes off without me.  *Sigh*  I go over to the attendant at the desk and ask her what are my chances on getting on the next flight since it is a standby ticket.  She punches in the info...  "It's 50/50 right now.  There are only 2 seats available."  Ugh...  She sees my dejected look and assures me that I'll probably get on since there's always cancellations and people being late.  I thank her and decide to have breakfast at the airport.  I also called our client to let him know that I won't be able to make it and would have to be pushed to Friday.  The meeting was rescheduled but it was a huge bummer for me since I wanted to use Friday afternoon as a means to check out the sites of the city.

Afterward, I continue to check in on my chances.  "1 seat left"  Oh man... I'm getting nervous at this point.  I ask her, what if I don't get on this one?  She then told me that the next flight to Boston is the red eye... Ugh!  Not a good way to start the day.  The plane pulls in and I ask again what are my chances.  "Better than before," she says, "there are now 3 available seats."  YES!  I watch as passengers board the plane still waiting for them to give me a "confirmed" boarding pass.  After just about everyone is on, they call my name.  YES!  I get my ticket and hop on the plane.  Relieved.  7+ hour flight...  COMMENCE!

Nothing too eventful on the plane.  A lot of the "Boston vs Cleveland" game that could have been LeBron's last game as a Cavalier.  I arrive at Boston close to 7 PM... oh man... The group that I was meeting was scheduled to have dinner at 7 PM!  By the time I get in a cab, check in my hotel and start looking for the place, it's already closer to 8PM.  I get to the restaurant and feel weird walking in while everybody else is enjoying their dinner.  I go ahead and advise the head of the group that I made it and said my hellos to some familiar faces.  I sit in an empty seat and menu and a wine glass is handed to me.  No kidding... that was ONE EXPENSIVE MENU!!!!  Nothing on there was under $40!  Before the waiter decides to take off to "give me some time" I asked him what he recommended.  He pointed to a prime rib steak and he claims is the best in the world.  I don't believe it, since the restaurant's specialty seems to be seafood.  I was starving, so I asked to be served the steak and wow... what a steak it was.  It was one of the better tasting steaks I've ever had... and in case you don't know what a $40 steak looks like... here it is.

After a couple more glasses of wine (I needed them after the morning I had...)  I went back to the room to catch the Boston - Cleveland game.  I texted my bro while watching the game, giving our opinions on James' looking rather lethargic and once the game was over, I called my wife to chat for a bit.  After we said our goodnights I tried to sleep.  Not happening...  Stupid time change really messed with my head.  Clock said 1 AM but it's 10PM in LA.  I don't usually go to sleep until midnight or so...  3AM...  Still up, but managed to drift asleep.  5AM... I'm up... it's light out and I don't feel all that sleepy anymore.  Hell with it.  I got up and showered and went for a walk. 

I took a stroll down the "Freedom Walk" path.  It's basically a red line on the sidewalk that takes you to several of Boston's points of interest.  That's a neat idea.  So I walk and catch several glimpses of the city's statues and monuments.  I snap some pictures and take a few videos.  Boston definitely has some unique sights to see.  Being one of America's first settlements definitely resounds across many of the cemeteries and buildings that are littered with plaques stating their historical importance.  I missed out on seeing the Constitution (a ship... not the document.  lol) and Paul Revere's statue.  But here are some of the stuff I did get to see.

Once 7:30 AM rolls around, I head back to the hotel for my meeting.  During our lunch break, I notice that the cemetery across from the hotel seems like a pretty lively place.  I see several children storming in and even caught a glimpse of some people dressed as patriots...  I need to see this.  I excuse myself from the table and head over there.  I managed to snap a pic of the patriot but he wasn't too happy that I did.  I walked the other way and then saw another guy dressed up as Ben Franklin (I think) and listened in as he gave the small crowd some historical facts on John Hancock's grave.  He then snapped at me for taking a pic of him and asked me if I knew that this was a paid tour.  I smartly responded that I didn't know since I just walked up to him no more than 2 minutes ago.  He didn't seem to happy so I decided that I best better go.  Dude was carrying a gun (or replica... I didn't want to find out) so I told him that I'd just be "on my merry way".  lol  I was too upset to look for Paul Revere at this time so I headed back to the hotel.

We finished up our credit conference and I moved on to my meeting with our client.  It being close to 2:30PM really set a damper on me since I would have had all this time (flight leaves at 8:25 PM) to check out the city, but instead I decide to walk to my meeting, a mere 1.5 miles away.  Nothing too eventful on my way there other than I got to walk on a bridge.  I had my meeting, discussed some business, made a good impression and I was off to the airport... all at around 5:30 PM...

Three hours from my flight.  I could have gone back... But I was too tired to walk.  I get to the airport and looked for food.  I then grabbed some coffee and sat in a chair where I got to see planes come and go.  I kicked off my shoes and enjoyed the view.  Soon after, I'm on a plane, heading home.  I get to LAX close to midnight and I'm not home, in bed, until about 1 AM.

Yup... condensed trip indeed.  lol  Later!

Mentally Preparing for Boston

Hey there.  No, I'm talking about the Celtics, I'm talking about my trip to Boston.  I'm off to a credit conference later in the week and am meeting with a client of ours.  My schedule looks pretty brutal so I'm getting mentally prepared for it.  Trip (so far) is as follows:

Leave LAX @ 7am
Arrive at BOS @ 3:40
Rush over to downtown Boston and meet with our customer
Rush over to check into the hotel
Rush to the group meeting at 6 PM
Probably leave dinner close to 10 PM<
Sleep...
7:30 am Credit Conference
Conference is over at 5 PM
Find something to do before heading to the airport for my 8 PM flight
Arrive at LAX @ 11:55 PM


Yup... I would say that's a condensed trip if I do say so myself.  I was hoping to be able to fly in on Wednesday evening.  That would allow me to check out the city and meet with our client during the morning and not be so rushed right out of the airport.  Well...  that's how it rolls sometimes.  Later!

I'm Heading Over to Bean Town

Hey there. I got word from my boss that I am heading over to Boston for a credit conference. Just last month, he sent me to Phoenix to attend the meeting there. The hotel in Phoenix was in an awesome location with a beautiful view. I've never been to Boston so I'm curious as to how the scenery is there. The trip is not happening until May so there's plenty of time to check out the city and see if there is anything to do while there. During my trip to Phoenix, I was literally stuck on a cliff. The hotel was built on the side of a mountain and I couldn't walk anywhere and was regulated to roaming the property. For dinner, I literally had to climb the mountain to reach the restaurant where the group scheduled dinner. Considering that it was part of the resort I didn't think it would going to be a long climb. lol

As for Boston, I believe the hotel (Nine Zero Something, I think) will be located in Downtown Boston so I'll have the opportunity to roam around the city and check it out. I've asked for suggestions and the only thing I've gotten back is to check out the pubs. Other than that, what else is there to do in Boston, MA? Until I figure it out... Later.

I'm Heading to Phoenix

Hey there. I'm off to Phoenix, AZ for a credit conference later this week. I'll be in the Phoenix area most of Thursday and Friday, coming back home on Friday evening. I've never been to Phoenix so I'm excited about visiting a new city. One of the perks of my job (Sr. Credit Analyst/Credit Manager) is that I've been asked to attend credit conferences/meetings. I've been fortunate to be sent to New Orleans, New York City, and San Diego. San Diego shouldn't count, since that's just a car drive away, but still, it make me feel somewhat important to represent our company at these meetings.

I was hoping to catch some sight seeing, as I did in New York and New Orleans, but to be quite honest with you, I'm not exactly sure what I can see or do in Phoenix. My brother suggested seeing the "Shaqtus". lol I would if I could find it, but if I remember correctly, only Shaq knows where it is and I doubt I'll be running into Shaq on the streets of Phoenix. lol

I don't know any people in the area and I don't believe any one that I know have visited the area. I'll try to spend some time later to day to find a good restaurant or something to check out. If you guys are from the area, let me know what's good out in Phoenix. Local knowledge is a lot better than online information.  Later!