As we go into the New Year…no, the New Decade, I wanted to just wish everyone a safe and happy night. There was so much that happened in 2009, that I must say I am excited for 2010. As I began 2009, this time last year, I had a post that spoke to my excitement for the New Year. But, its not just any new year but we are entering a new decade. I remember 1999 as being a time of beginnings as well, but for some reason I have to say we ALL haven’t seen/experienced anything yet. 2010…mark it down everyone; I certainly will be with my blog.
I will know this year as the year of DOING IT RIGHT!
December 31, 2009
November 7, 2009
Lebron vs Knicks
November 6th 2009 was a pretty good day in NYC. Android has landed on the Verizon network...something I have been waiting for, for a VERY long time. No, I did not get the Motorola Droid or the HTC Eris. I am waiting to see if the Eris gets Android 2.0 before making the dive, but I have to say I am very excited about getting on the android OS.
Other than that, Lebron has landed on the Knicks. His only trip to MSG this season and I was in attendance (thanks to my brother Glen) to watch the man do his thing. I was there with my brother and it was one star-studded event. Since the Yankees won the World Series just a few days before, the big stars were in attendance to get their just desserts. This was along with Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Larry Johnson and other big name people to see what “could” be after the summer of 2010.
There is much discussion of whether Lebron will come to New York, which I think will be great for him and the Knicks. The Knicks will pay him whatever he wants, players will want to come to the Knicks not only for Lebron, but because it is New York and Lebron will be able to grow his brand. The Knicks return to their dominance and all will be right in the world once again! Well Ill let you ponder such things, but enjoy the view (taken with a crappy phone) and video (also from a crappy camera phone). Android, soon enough!
Other than that, Lebron has landed on the Knicks. His only trip to MSG this season and I was in attendance (thanks to my brother Glen) to watch the man do his thing. I was there with my brother and it was one star-studded event. Since the Yankees won the World Series just a few days before, the big stars were in attendance to get their just desserts. This was along with Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Larry Johnson and other big name people to see what “could” be after the summer of 2010.
There is much discussion of whether Lebron will come to New York, which I think will be great for him and the Knicks. The Knicks will pay him whatever he wants, players will want to come to the Knicks not only for Lebron, but because it is New York and Lebron will be able to grow his brand. The Knicks return to their dominance and all will be right in the world once again! Well Ill let you ponder such things, but enjoy the view (taken with a crappy phone) and video (also from a crappy camera phone). Android, soon enough!
October 26, 2009
Fifa 10 Going Against The World
As the title of the blog mentions, this is Random Lives coming at you 24x7! My post today is of a personal nature. One of my favorite teams in the world is Chelsea (I got hooked on them for two reasons: Didier Yves Drogba Tébily & José Mourinho). Moreno (loved how he was always in a long black coat and his team could be up 20 nil and is expressionless -classic) is no longer there, but I have loved the team ever since.
Anyway, I recently got the game Fifa 10 and even though my friends don’t seem to love it (I play online all alone now, since they all have kept their Fifa 09 games for PS3) as much as I do, I have to say I enjoy the game much more this year. A feature, not new, I am beginning to explore more is the online integration. Up to the game release I was watching fifa earth and EVERYONE around the globe was talking about it. Now that it is out, people are still talking about it. What is even cooler is Fifa Earth -- no words, just check it out!
Below are two of the goals I uploaded from my gameplay, one in Fifa 10 (Chelsea game My Live Season –redemption for the game they lost to Aston Villa recently) and one from Fifa 09 (Brasil – enough said). If you love football (I know which one I am talking about), have a PS3 and purchased Fifa 10 – I am ready anytime…to WIN!
Anyway, I recently got the game Fifa 10 and even though my friends don’t seem to love it (I play online all alone now, since they all have kept their Fifa 09 games for PS3) as much as I do, I have to say I enjoy the game much more this year. A feature, not new, I am beginning to explore more is the online integration. Up to the game release I was watching fifa earth and EVERYONE around the globe was talking about it. Now that it is out, people are still talking about it. What is even cooler is Fifa Earth -- no words, just check it out!
Below are two of the goals I uploaded from my gameplay, one in Fifa 10 (Chelsea game My Live Season –redemption for the game they lost to Aston Villa recently) and one from Fifa 09 (Brasil – enough said). If you love football (I know which one I am talking about), have a PS3 and purchased Fifa 10 – I am ready anytime…to WIN!
October 3, 2009
Distinguished Wisdom
“So what I tend to do is to think of today as the past,
It's funny when you comin' in first but you hope that you last,
You just hope that it lasts…” – Drake, Lust For Life (So Far Gone)
It's funny when you comin' in first but you hope that you last,
You just hope that it lasts…” – Drake, Lust For Life (So Far Gone)
I will be turning a ripe age of 28 this November…2 years till the date that most look at as being a milestone. I have yet to turn 30, so I can only speak of how it is to turn 28, of course while I am still 27! As I have gotten older time has been playing tricks on me, years turn into what feel like hours…it is as though today is the past. But, I do not say this to say that it is over by any means. If today is the past then we are always having a new beginning.
I previously had a post on my blog: No Excuses… which featured a video from Michael Jordon (MJ). Michael Jordan was recently inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. In an interview he did with Michael Wilbom on ESPN, MJ was asked why was this induction, that for anyone else would be symbolic, something he wouldn’t want to have. His response was that he felt as though it was something so finite, the end of something. As we go from summer to fall and inevitably into winter, we must remember that there will be a spring (Global Warming is for another discussion). Would the dream of immortality lose its luster if there were never an end?
I have watched movies where the main character feels as though he can write his life better than “the higher power”. But, what ends up happening is he rewrites his life by filling it with only pleasure, no pain. In the end he is worse off, having gone through no struggle, no opportunity to appreciate the life he was granted. Could you make the choice for you to lose a father at a young age or watch your child suffer through leukemia? There are a number of terrible things that can and do happen in people’s lives, but I believe it is that will to conquer that is innate in everyone that truly helps us all grow.
In youth we learn; In age we understand ~ Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
August 11, 2009
It's a Bike?
Could this be the prowler of the motorcycle world? Its a question I pose for anyone who may know...
May 10, 2009
Citi Field - A True Experience
The last time I blogged about the Mets it was at Shea Stadium. Now I am talking exclusively about Citi Field, where the Mets play baseball, who knew! I had pretty good seats at Citi Field, but honestly every seat looks like a great seat. Finally, sports venues are realizing they need a more modern approach to their architecture that accommodates the patrons a lot more (Red Bull Stadium – I CANNOT WAIT). Well Citi Field accomplishes that and then some.
The grounds are extraordinary; from the Jackie Robinson rotunda to the sweet smells of delicious eats everywhere (except where you are sitting of course). I believe the smells are reflective of the ethnic diversity of queens. I smelt all types of foods while walking around this amazing place. One thing I would seriously not like to overlook was the abundance of Citibank ATMs. Now, of course you would imagine this being an obvious place for a bank named Baseball Park but take a moment to think about it. You are sitting down at the game, wishing for an ice-cold brew but you didn’t take out any money because you were rushing for the 1st inning. Would you want to pay the surcharge in most baseball fields to get cash or just take cash right out of your CITIBANK account…wait for it….brilliant!
Another item I would like to mention was how Citi field has done a great job of making ever patron feel as though they are special. There was a location to relax, mingle and enjoy a brew with friends and family, for each “type” of ticket holder. This is a change from most stadiums where places to kick back in a lounge setting is usually reserved for those who have paid top bill on their tickets. The Mets have done a great job to realize that all the patrons of baseball have paid, in some way, top bill for their tickets and the Mets have welcomed said ticket holder with a small, but very awesome, perk.
Unfortunately, the game today went by so quickly I really didn’t get a chance to explore as many nooks as I had wanted as well as sample all the different options of eateries available. Below are the shots I took from my Citi Field experience, one I hope is share by all those who venture out of the City to get a taste of Citi…I know, give me a break…GO M E T S!
The grounds are extraordinary; from the Jackie Robinson rotunda to the sweet smells of delicious eats everywhere (except where you are sitting of course). I believe the smells are reflective of the ethnic diversity of queens. I smelt all types of foods while walking around this amazing place. One thing I would seriously not like to overlook was the abundance of Citibank ATMs. Now, of course you would imagine this being an obvious place for a bank named Baseball Park but take a moment to think about it. You are sitting down at the game, wishing for an ice-cold brew but you didn’t take out any money because you were rushing for the 1st inning. Would you want to pay the surcharge in most baseball fields to get cash or just take cash right out of your CITIBANK account…wait for it….brilliant!
Another item I would like to mention was how Citi field has done a great job of making ever patron feel as though they are special. There was a location to relax, mingle and enjoy a brew with friends and family, for each “type” of ticket holder. This is a change from most stadiums where places to kick back in a lounge setting is usually reserved for those who have paid top bill on their tickets. The Mets have done a great job to realize that all the patrons of baseball have paid, in some way, top bill for their tickets and the Mets have welcomed said ticket holder with a small, but very awesome, perk.
Unfortunately, the game today went by so quickly I really didn’t get a chance to explore as many nooks as I had wanted as well as sample all the different options of eateries available. Below are the shots I took from my Citi Field experience, one I hope is share by all those who venture out of the City to get a taste of Citi…I know, give me a break…GO M E T S!
May 8, 2009
All Natural Snapple - Free
*Note: I got the last rasberry tea!!
April 12, 2009
Change of Seasons
The seasons are changing right before our eyes…and no I am not referring to President Obama’s ability to change the perception of America abroad. I have not written to you in some time, but this hiatus has only lead to one of the best events in my life. I had to go into silence for some time because of something I was planning to execute, for well over a year.
My girlfriend and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary on February 20th, 2009. And I planned to make this day more memorable than the 1st day we committed to each other (@ 17 years old). Now for someone who has shared a life with you already, how can that even be possible? This was my mission!
Right before the new year of 2008, I had decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. So, what does one do when they have this epiphany? Unfortunately, throughout our relationship, I had always told my girlfriend that “if” I were to propose, my proposal would knock her off her feet. And as the years past, the conversation would come up in passing (she in no way pressured me, it was honestly natural conversation) of how would I do it? I being the on the feet creator I am, would come up with ideas, that once I shared it with her she would love it, but obviously now I couldn’t use it.
One idea I had was where we would be going to a bank (@ the time she was working for Citibank), to make a deposit. While standing in line I would casually show that I was going to deposit a sizeable amount of money. This would then lead to a conversation, where I would talk about the importance of life, building one’s future is important and putting this money into the bank helps to place stability around that idea. When we get to the teller and I deposit the money, she would hand us back the slip, where it has both of our names on the account. It is at that time I would get down on 1 knee and propose. While all this time, our family would be patrons of the bank, kept out of her direct line of sight but there to share in the moment. She loved it, but *snap I couldn’t use it!
Now, I wont go through all the ideas I had, but with 10 years under my belt and her standing by my side, never pressuring me to propose, she deserved all I had in the creative tank. I went to the calendar to plan when I was going to execute and being that our 9-year anniversary was coming up soon, it would be easy to fulfill my excitement and do it on that day. But my excitement took a back seat to her fantasies. She always told me that she never cared how we got married or ended up together, but what she felt was more special than anything was how she was proposed to. Challenge accepted!
February 20th, 2008 fell on a Thursday, which would not be conducive to adequate celebrations being that we both work. February 20th, 2009 falls on a Friday and is our 10-year anniversary. This then became the focus of my plan. Center her proposal around a day we have always held special in our hearts. After deciding that I will propose in over year, this allowed me just enough time to prepare the most unique moment I have ever been a part of.
To give you an idea of some of the planning that was involved. Other than keeping this secret from everyone in my life (no one knew, because my plan was predicated on complete surprise – engagements that are surprises have always been a favorite), I had to coordinate all the pieces myself, determining exactly how I wanted each moment to play out. I only informed people who needed to know (exactly a list of 10) and only when they needed to know. My mother knew approximately 4-6 months prior to the event. I had her ring designed to my specifications, chose the venues and items involved…everything was on my shoulders to not disappoint.
My girlfriend loves these small (3”) string dolls made by Kamibashi. I contacted the manufacturer and with her guidance, designed a large (12”) version – never before sold doll. This was custom made for me and I had it shipped directly from Thailand. I also coordinated with the W Court – Hotel (we love this hotel, stay many times throughout the year and have only received the best service) to my plans and what I needed them to do.
Flash back to mid-2008, when I gave my girlfriend a Tiffany charm bracelet for her birthday/law graduation. I used this as a base for subsequent charms to come that would then lead to the mother of all charms. I followed the titanium heart, with a pink sapphire heart charm for Christmas. And then for our anniversary, I gave her a Tiffany 1837 Padlock watch charm that I set to 10o’clock to represent our 10 years together (this was to throw her off to any suspicion, if she had one).
Fast-forward to February 20th, 2009 and we are walking into the W Court Hotel. The person, who is checking us in, tells us that our room is not ready but because of the delay on our anniversary, they can upgrade us to a suite for the inconvenience. The only caveat is that, the suite wont be ready for 1 hour. Sounds like a sweet deal, all we have to do is keep busy for an hour…how about a walk around Manhattan while I take pictures (something I love to do, not out of the ordinary). We happen to walk to Madison Square Park, where NYU students approach us about a game show called Street Smarts…
The box in the video had within it the last charm in this plan, a Tiffany Blue Box. The card in the video was a save the date card (designed online) for our wedding February 20th, 2010 (this is our actual planned date) and on the back I wrote my speech.
Anything is possible if you have a plan, enough patience and the determination to see it through to your goal. To see her expression and have this memory (photos) for the rest of our lives makes the past 10 years worth it!
My girlfriend and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary on February 20th, 2009. And I planned to make this day more memorable than the 1st day we committed to each other (@ 17 years old). Now for someone who has shared a life with you already, how can that even be possible? This was my mission!
Right before the new year of 2008, I had decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. So, what does one do when they have this epiphany? Unfortunately, throughout our relationship, I had always told my girlfriend that “if” I were to propose, my proposal would knock her off her feet. And as the years past, the conversation would come up in passing (she in no way pressured me, it was honestly natural conversation) of how would I do it? I being the on the feet creator I am, would come up with ideas, that once I shared it with her she would love it, but obviously now I couldn’t use it.
One idea I had was where we would be going to a bank (@ the time she was working for Citibank), to make a deposit. While standing in line I would casually show that I was going to deposit a sizeable amount of money. This would then lead to a conversation, where I would talk about the importance of life, building one’s future is important and putting this money into the bank helps to place stability around that idea. When we get to the teller and I deposit the money, she would hand us back the slip, where it has both of our names on the account. It is at that time I would get down on 1 knee and propose. While all this time, our family would be patrons of the bank, kept out of her direct line of sight but there to share in the moment. She loved it, but *snap I couldn’t use it!
Now, I wont go through all the ideas I had, but with 10 years under my belt and her standing by my side, never pressuring me to propose, she deserved all I had in the creative tank. I went to the calendar to plan when I was going to execute and being that our 9-year anniversary was coming up soon, it would be easy to fulfill my excitement and do it on that day. But my excitement took a back seat to her fantasies. She always told me that she never cared how we got married or ended up together, but what she felt was more special than anything was how she was proposed to. Challenge accepted!
February 20th, 2008 fell on a Thursday, which would not be conducive to adequate celebrations being that we both work. February 20th, 2009 falls on a Friday and is our 10-year anniversary. This then became the focus of my plan. Center her proposal around a day we have always held special in our hearts. After deciding that I will propose in over year, this allowed me just enough time to prepare the most unique moment I have ever been a part of.
To give you an idea of some of the planning that was involved. Other than keeping this secret from everyone in my life (no one knew, because my plan was predicated on complete surprise – engagements that are surprises have always been a favorite), I had to coordinate all the pieces myself, determining exactly how I wanted each moment to play out. I only informed people who needed to know (exactly a list of 10) and only when they needed to know. My mother knew approximately 4-6 months prior to the event. I had her ring designed to my specifications, chose the venues and items involved…everything was on my shoulders to not disappoint.
My girlfriend loves these small (3”) string dolls made by Kamibashi. I contacted the manufacturer and with her guidance, designed a large (12”) version – never before sold doll. This was custom made for me and I had it shipped directly from Thailand. I also coordinated with the W Court – Hotel (we love this hotel, stay many times throughout the year and have only received the best service) to my plans and what I needed them to do.
Flash back to mid-2008, when I gave my girlfriend a Tiffany charm bracelet for her birthday/law graduation. I used this as a base for subsequent charms to come that would then lead to the mother of all charms. I followed the titanium heart, with a pink sapphire heart charm for Christmas. And then for our anniversary, I gave her a Tiffany 1837 Padlock watch charm that I set to 10o’clock to represent our 10 years together (this was to throw her off to any suspicion, if she had one).
Fast-forward to February 20th, 2009 and we are walking into the W Court Hotel. The person, who is checking us in, tells us that our room is not ready but because of the delay on our anniversary, they can upgrade us to a suite for the inconvenience. The only caveat is that, the suite wont be ready for 1 hour. Sounds like a sweet deal, all we have to do is keep busy for an hour…how about a walk around Manhattan while I take pictures (something I love to do, not out of the ordinary). We happen to walk to Madison Square Park, where NYU students approach us about a game show called Street Smarts…
The box in the video had within it the last charm in this plan, a Tiffany Blue Box. The card in the video was a save the date card (designed online) for our wedding February 20th, 2010 (this is our actual planned date) and on the back I wrote my speech.
Anything is possible if you have a plan, enough patience and the determination to see it through to your goal. To see her expression and have this memory (photos) for the rest of our lives makes the past 10 years worth it!
January 16, 2009
Beginning of New…
Happy New Year to All! The turn of the New Year has come via the road of tumultuous travels. Our economy is not where it once was and some may even believe it may never get to that point ever again. To take an excerpt from Kayne West’s song Good Life, “Having' money's not everything, not having' it is”. But I do believe Obama will do his best, with the countries best interest in mind. A new world has welcomed us and we will see who is up for the challenge.
President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address from White House on Vimeo.
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