I got into work a little late, and wrote some e-mails, worked on some probs. Then at around 12, Avi and I had, what had turned into, our weekly lunch at Alibaba’s. I came back to work and pretty much worked until 7, Although Avi sent me an invite to oink, a private music download site, which I promptly took advantage of.

While I was pulling out of work in my bug, I noticed it was acting funny, like it needed gas. The only gas station on the way to Jessica’s was ARCO, and I was already supposed to be there so I didn’t have time for a detour. I stopped, and being very paranoid used the automated keypad to enter my pin, fake pressing a bunch of numbers as to confuse any would be pin thieves. I gassed up and I was out of there.

So today was Jessica’s birthday, and we were going to meet to have dinner, then celebrate further at the bars.The night was rather enjoyable, except for Kate was there and she was not happy with me. To understand why I’m going to have to give you all a little background.

Kate and I began flirting with each other back in the summer of 2004. It escalated until December, when we finally decided to get together and try having a relationship. It was good times for about a month or so until I broke it off. I won’t get into the reasoning, but suffice it to say that I’m a stupid boy. Anyway, we still harbored some feelings for each other, and after about a year I realized what a mistake I had made in letting Kate go. I realized how much I missed her, and how great we were together. I even thought about the possibility of a real future with her, continuing after college and possibly longer.

In November 2005, I convinced Kate to give us another chance, and we began our second relationship. This time was even better than the first. I felt like I had really found someone I could be myself with, and who I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with. Things were going great. After a few months, as winter quarter began to start getting crazy, I became really busy. I enjoyed spending time with Kate, but it become more and more of a chore, as I had so many things I needed to get done, with little down time. It also seemed like something was missing. After a long day, I should want to go to my girlfriend’s place and hang out for a while, but I didn’t. I simply wanted to stay home, relax for a bit and sleep. This didn’t seem right to me, and I knew this isn’t how a relationship should be. I decided that I was too busy for a serious relationship at this point in my life, and explained this to Kate.

She wasn’t happy about it, but she was very understanding and told me that she felt a serious relationship wasn’t the right thing for her then either. We decided to simply stay friends. However, anyone that has to go back to being friends after being in a relationship knows, its not easy. After trying to deal with the awkwardness that ensues when trying to hang out with an ex, we came to an agreement that we could still have a non-serious hybrid relationship that would fill each others needs as best it could.

This experiment went well for little while, but It quickly became apparent to me that is was not working for me. It didn’t feel right to be in this middle stage, not moving forward or backward. I slowly began to realize that while I still enjoyed spending time with Kate, I was beginning to lose my attraction for her. I to make it work for a while, but I decided this past weekend that it wasn’t working, and that it wasn’t fair to either of us to continue.
So once again, the stupid boy broke it off. We decided to try to still be friends, even though we both knew it would be awkward and difficult.

So this brings me to Kate not being to happy with me. While I’m sure she wasn’t too happy with me for reasons explained previously here, there is a bit more….

Recently Kate’s roommate Brianne purchased a used laptop from a friend and needed some help transferring files and fixing a few things. Because I like helping people, especially with computer problems, I agreed to help her. We spent a few hours on Saturday and Monday working on her computer, and pretty much hanging out while her files transferred and I worked on getting her laptop running right. Now Brianne and I, I’ve been told (by Kate), flirt alot. It doesn’t really mean anything, it’s just our personalities. We also have this rivalry going on, she is pretty much my new Nemesis, or was anyway. We just try to “get” each other, practical jokes, arguments, pretty much anything, kinda like siblings.

Saturday, when I came over to help Brianne out, I left a box of Girl Scout Cookies at their house. I came back on Sunday to talk to Kate about our relationship, she told me I had the cookies there, and that they were in the Kitchen. I grabbed the box, not thinking anything of it ,and went home. When I got home, I felt like eating some cookies, only to realize the cookies in the box had been replaced with a bag of flour, and a note saying, “Gottem” (notice Gotem was misspelled). Of course that was an ego hit and I had to get her (Brianne) back, I just didn’t know how. An opportunity presented itself when Brianne demanded a copy of the Unicorns CD in exchange for my cookies. I decided to produce a fake CD, with nothing but my roommates and I saying, “Got’em.” I was able to successfully make the trade, which shocked and infuriated Brianne who still wanted her CD.

At this point, I was done with my projects and things for the quarter, so I had a little more time on my hands. Probably a little too much time. Since Brianne and I have different schedules, I decided to leave the CD in a book at the Library for her to pick up. I realized the opportunity to make Brianne work a little for her CD, and I thought it would be fun to hide a few notes in different books, making her run all around the library in one big “Gotem!” I told her to meet me in one of the computer labs, where I could simply send her a message telling her what the first book was, and leaving her follow the trail to the CD. In the end she found the CD, and ended up checking out one of the books I hid it in.

Ok so back to Kate not being happy with me again. She pretty much thinks I have a crush on Brianne. I think Brianne is cool, but I don’t feel that way about her, she is just fun to be around. The whole flirting thing got Kate thinking that I had a crush on Brianne, and then the “scavenger hunt” thing just made her think it more. So she feels jealous, or mad or whatever. I’m not sure if it’s just toward me, or if it’s toward Brianne too. In retrospect, I should have considered her feelings more when planning the “scavenger hunt.” It was a bit much, and I can see how she could think something was going on, but nothing was. If anything I needed a place to channel my energy away from thinking about the breakup. I was told her roommate wasn’t the best choice, but I wasn’t channeling it towards her roommate, just toward an activity, hiding clues in library books.

So Kate was unhappy with me the whole evening. She wasn’t exactly ignoring me, as she would answer any questions I asked, but she definitely didn’t seem interested in talking to me. Also, as the evening wore on and her and Jessica drank a little more, Kate began to tell Jessica her side of the story. This led to many dirty looks and name calling from Jessica, who is just trying be a good friend. It doesn’t bother me so much though, because I know Jessica means well, and after I talked to her for a while she lighten up and simply confessed she wanted Kate and I to be together. But that just doesn’t seem like its going happen, at least at this point in our lives.

I walk outside to the ATM wondering If I have any money left in my account. I decide I’m feeling lucky and I don’t attempt to check my balance, but jump right into taking out $20, “Fast Cash.” “This Card Cannot Be Used.” Wait, what? No, “Sorry you only have $.12 in your account.” No, “thank you here is your money.” This is weird. I decide to call the back, although secretly relieved that I’m probably not broke, but this is some kind of bank error.

I try to call the back from my cell, but reception sucks on campus. I decide to tell the Taco Bell guy that I wont be coming back, because I can’t get cash. Again he asks if I have another card, and I’m like sorry man, this is my only one. I start walking away, but he stops me and gives me my food. “It’s cool man, we already made it.” So I get a free lunch, sort of….that was nice of them. But I’m not thinking too much about that, I’m thinking what the heck is up with my card?

I head back to work, and check my online banking. “Sorry there are no active accounts with that ID.” What is going on? I call customer service. They helpfully inform me that there have been some unauthorized transactions on my account, and that my account has been frozen.  After talking with several different people, and giving my account number and security info about 5 times, they tell me that they will credit the money back to my account, pending an investigation, and they will mail me a new card, which will be delivered to my permanent address within 5 to 7  business days. I look at my statement, about $300 in $20 withdrawals were made to my account yesterday, in Miami, Florida! Those bastards.

I’m not out of the academic woods for the quarter yet. I still have to complete the write-up for the CATS project, which will be due Wednesday, and another smaller project with my partner in crime Kim, which is due on Tuesday. After that it will be time to study for all two of my finals which unfortunately will both be taking place next Wednesday the 22nd. The quarter is nearly over though, and I can spend my extended (5 day) spring break back home.

Our group, Kim, Andrew, Michael, and I are creating an application that will allow anyone with a computer, or more specifically a wireless enabled laptop to share files with any other user using our application…..without the need for a access point.

I really feel this will be a useful tool for many people. Many times, while working on out project, we’ve realized how useful it would be to have a tool like this in a group project. Instead of trying to setup file sharing with everyone in the room, which can be clunky and time consuming, you simply open the program, select the files you want to share, and your good to go.

I’m probably boring some of you, but It’s really cool to be working on something that I actually feel is useful, instead of some lame calendar program, or router simulation, which wouldn’t have been used 20 years ago, let alone today. I can totally see myself using this program, and It’s exciting to be a part of creating something useful.

I have so much to work to get done for this project by Friday, and then I need to get started on my other project, which will be due a few days after. Its a busy week, but I like to think I thrive on pressure. Time to get back to work.

It was a very eventful trip, beginning with the huge line of cars trying to find a parking space. While Ikea had a good idea hiring staff to park the thousands of patrons as economically as possible, I feel I could have found a space much quicker, and closer, without them. After following the trail all the way around the parking lot and back out again, we were finally parked in a nearby industrial complex, and were forced to walk half a mile to the store entrance.

Once inside, there were no lack of people. I was much like navigating through a crowded theme park. People everywhere, and going in all directions without regard to courtesy or protocol. After “shopping” for over 2 hours, Raymond and I finally came to the final stretch. We could see the checkout lines, and we had but one more stop to make. I needed to grab a desk chair from the warehouse area. We parked out now full cart at the end of the aisle, as it was a little crowded. We looked for the right parts, only to find that one of the essential parts were out of stock. We turn around and notice……our cart is gone! I run toward the checkout stand to see if someone has mistakenly taken it, to no avail. Raymond runs the opposite direction to see if he can spot it. Finally, we ask one of the Ikea staff if they pick up abandoned carts. They told us they had taken our cart to the back to restock the stuff in it. This is after we left it at the end of the isle, for no more than 1 minute! He tryed to retrieve it, but most of the items were removed from it.

So now we have half the things we were shopping for, and we go back to try and fill it again. We only get about a quarter of the way, when Ikea staff stops us and tells us the store is closing. We explain our situation, and one of the staff very reluctantly agrees to allow me to get a few key items. She follows me to grab dish towels, and a couple of glasses, not allowing me to grab the slippers I had seen.

Finally, we make it to line, which takes about 20 minutes to check out. Then we line up for the 50 cent hot dogs, only to be told to leave when we sit down to eat them. I fill out a comment card on the way out, just to let them know how I feel, and that their lasso berry soda is amazing! Now, we walk outside and the huge parking lot, which we could not get a spot in earlier is COMPLETELY EMPTY. We walk the half mile through an empty parking lot to my car was out in the cuts.All in all a pretty negative experience, but I feel it was a rather uniquely bad experience that I’m not likely to have to go through again. Just an unfortunate series of events.

Ikea opened a new store in Sacramento this week, and my roommate Raymond and I took a trip over there to check it out at pick up a few things.

It was a very eventful trip, beginning with the huge line of cars trying to find a parking space. While Ikea had a good idea hiring staff to park the thousands of patrons as economically as possible, I feel I could have found a space much quicker, and closer, without them. After following the trail all the way around the parking lot and back out again, we were finally parked in a nearby industrial complex, and were forced to walk half a mile to the store entrance.

Once inside, there were no lack of people. I was much like navigating through a crowded theme park. People everywhere, and going in all directions without regard to courtesy or protocol. After “shopping” for over 2 hours, Raymond and I finally came to the final stretch. We could see the checkout lines, and we had but one more stop to make. I needed to grab a desk chair from the warehouse area. We parked out now full cart at the end of the aisle, as it was a little crowded. We looked for the right parts, only to find that one of the essential parts were out of stock. We turn around and notice……our cart is gone! I run toward the checkout stand to see if someone has mistakenly taken it, to no avail. Raymond runs the opposite direction to see if he can spot it. Finally, we ask one of the Ikea staff if they pick up abandoned carts. They told us they had taken our cart to the back to restock the stuff in it. This is after we left it at the end of the isle, for no more than 1 minute! He tryed to retrieve it, but most of the items were removed from it.

So now we have half the things we were shopping for, and we go back to try and fill it again. We only get about a quarter of the way, when Ikea staff stops us and tells us the store is closing. We explain our situation, and one of the staff very reluctantly agrees to allow me to get a few key items. She follows me to grab dish towels, and a couple of glasses, not allowing me to grab the slippers I had seen.

Finally, we make it to line, which takes about 20 minutes to check out. Then we line up for the 50 cent hot dogs, only to be told to leave when we sit down to eat them. I fill out a comment card on the way out, just to let them know how I feel, and that their lasso berry soda is amazing! Now, we walk outside and the huge parking lot, which we could not get a spot in earlier is COMPLETELY EMPTY. We walk the half mile through an empty parking lot to my car was out in the cuts.

All in all a pretty negative experience, but I feel it was a rather uniquely bad experience that I’m not likely to have to go through again. Just an unfortunate series of events.
I’m really torn on how exactly I feel about Ikea. Part of me respects them for some of the environmentally friendly things they do, like pushing energy saving light bulbs, and offering reusable shopping bags. The other part of me hates them for some of the cheap crap they make, and the rampant consumerism that goes on there. Seriously though, I couldn’t help but be disgusted as I was fighting the masses of people hearding through the maze of product displays like a mouse trying to get to the cheese. To spend money. Everyone there flocked to Ikea because it was a new place to spend, spend, spend. It’s coded into us as a society. We love to spend money, and Ikea is just another place we can do it, and assemble it ourselves. It’s like Disneyland for these people. The only thing that disgusted me more was the fact that I was there for the very same reason. I flocked there just like everyone else, and I’m probably going back tomorrow. Society made me do it.

So I get home and I figure I’ve got maybe a quarter tank of gas left in the tank, so I leave the car running, lock the transmission in neutral, and ask my roommate Alan to pull the keys out of it when he leaves for class. I was certain all the gas would have been used up by the time he left for class 3 hours later. So I go to work.

Work is cool, and I meet up with Alan for lunch. Afterwards, we decide to just pull the gas tank out, and let whats left (which I figured was less than a quarter of a tank, if that) drain into a bucket. Not the greatest idea. We pull it out, and I cut the main fuel line to free the tank from the car. It was like delivering a baby, we had to pull, and pull, and pull, finally it pops out, then we cut it free.

At this point we have what we now realize is over a half a tank of gas (about 5 gallons) spilling out into the bucket / onto the driveway. Its a mess. We try our best to get all the gas into the bucket which is filling much quicker than the tank is draining. All the while we are getting phone calls, and fearing the slightest spark could kill us all in a very explosive, and fiery death.

3 buckets later, we are soaked in gasoline, and the tank has finally reached a level which allows us to set it down without it spilling all over the driveway. We decide we’ve had enough gas for time being, as we are starting to lose our sense of smell, and ability to keep our eyes open. We head for Fry’s to buy a case for Alan’s computer.

We get back around 7 p.m. and Alan has to go to work, but he drops me off at Kragen so I can pick up and extra hose to replace the one I cut (the umbilical cord). I walk halfway back, and catch the bus the rest of the way.

Now its time to get to work. I set the mood with a little Rancid, and dive in head first. 45 minutes later, the tank is in, and I’m on my way to the gas station. Of course I’m nervous that I didn’t fix the problem, and that I’m going to run out of gas any minute. Every time my car breaks down and I get it fixed, whether I fix it myself or I take it in, I’m always skeptical the problem is fixed, I’m not sure why. Logically, I know the problem was fixed, but I still worry it’s not. So of course I’m checking under the car and watching the tank as I fill it up, but it takes 11 gallons and I’m on my way home, no leaks. Finally I have my mobility back, my Independence from Unitrans. No longer at the mercy of my roommates generosity to give me a ride. I’m back, on the road again.

Anyway, I ordered a gas tank, and got it about a month ago, but I was waiting to open it until I was ready to install it. When I finally got fed up this weekend with not having a car and attempted to install it, I realized I ordered the wrong tank.

Luckily the guys at Wolfsburg West were pretty cool, and told me I could just send it back, and they would ship out the right one. So this morning I got the correct tank. I decided to try and install it tonight. I unplugged all the hoses, and was attempting to pull the old tank out of the trunk when my roomate noticed that my gas tank had gas in it. About half a tank of gas, to be exact.
So I asked myself, as my roommate Simon asked me aloud. If your tank is leaking gas, and had been sitting for two months, how come it still has gas in it. My guess is, the leak is near the middle of the tank so it only leaks halfway out, but I’m no mechanic so who knows.

So the plan? I’m going to charge my dead battery tonight, then run the gas out of my car tomorrow, and hopefully install the new tank tomorrow night. Then Ill put 20 bucks in, and my tank will be half full.

Flippin’ Awesome!

While it isn’t official yet, this is great news. Arrested Development is the best show on the air today (or was, and could be again).  While I don’t have Showtime, I may consider getting it next year. If not there is always Bitmetv.

If anyone hasn’t seen the show and would like to see what you’re missing, let me know, Ive got the first two seasons you could borrow. Trust me its AMAZING.

There is one problem though…

My acceptance into the minor is contingent upon my completion of the prerequisites which includes statistics, by fall 2006. Currently, I’m not doing so well in stats. Most likely I will not get the required C in order to satisfactorily pass the class. There is hope though. Statistics is offered this summer. So in the likely event that I fail stats 131, I can take stats 120 this summer to satisfy my requirement. And in the mean time I am able to start taking classes for the minor, so I will still be on track.

Its kind of cool to actually see my future before me, and feel like things are within reach.