11 "Don't-Tell-the-Wife" Secrets All Men Keep

I was having sushi at a local hotspot and overheard a customer whisper to the cashier, "Don't tell my wife that I ordered from you guys already this week." His wife shortly came over and the cashier smiled at her and gave her the receipt. The humor of that the phrase "Don't tell my wife..." became apparent and instantly became part of my excuses repertoire. I haven't been able to use it yet, but will be overjoyed when the opportunity presents itself.

This comes up (somewhat relatedly) because I just read the list of 11 "Don't-Tell-the-Wife" Secrets All Men Keep. I cannot confirm or deny whether all or some of these apply to me. Enjoy the holidays.

w00t! I rock!

I don't consider myself to be a hardcore gamer or a computer hacker. But when Merriam Webster chooses w00t as their word of the year, I have to pay homage to my 733t brothers and sisters out there.

Anyway...I haven't been blogging that much because I've been rockin' out on Guitar Hero 3. I was hesitant to get it because it was $100. But even after logging over 1o hours of it over the weekend, I'm still loving it. Aside from derailing my real world guitar skills, it has been a riot. I've noticed that I make the same dumb ass guitar face that I have when playing a real guitar. But now, I'm getting my poses, kicks and jumps down. \m/ \m/ Word up.

I've also fallen into the hole that is called Facebook. So sad. I keep it minimal but I can see the potential of it taking over a good portion of my day. Pray for me. Sorry for this lame ass post, but I'm at work and should be doing some.

Val and Albert are my brothers

This is probably not new to many of you, but my co-worker just came in here cracking up about doing this all weekend.

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Blue Steel! I am a hottie!

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Taking showers in the dark

This is definitely going to be a TMI entry. You can stop now.

Or go on. You've been warned.

My last "tweet" was "about to take a shower in the dark." I thought it was worthy of explanation. About a month ago, when I was about to take a shower, I noticed that the sun was reflecting off the skylight alley of my bathroom window. The light was bright enough to light the bathroom but just dim enough that reading would be difficult. The electric light was already on, by habit. I decided, then, to turn off the light and take a shower in the reflected sunlight.

Interestingly, the shower had a different feel. It could have been because my sense of sight was dulled and I took more notice of my sense of touch. Or it could have been that the muted natural light was calming. Whatever it was, it just felt good. I was refreshed in a new way.

Since then, I've done it whenever there is any sign of light in the alley. There have been times in the morning when I can barely see what I'm doing. I highly recommend trying it at least one time. If you do, please make a comment and tell me how it was.

Hyphy FC 5-2 Inter (or: I skinned my knee playing video games)

It was a crazy match this morning before work. I had to sign a new physio doctor because the contract of my previous one ran out, and I couldn't get a new contract card. The match opened up with a Park Ji-Sung header, that gave us a 1-0 lead. Gilardino scored quickly after. By halftime Park scored another. 3-0 into the second half, I was pretty psyched.

Morale got low with two successive Inter goals. Another goal to Gilardino. Then in the last 5 minutes Park scored his hat-trick and I jumped from the couch in excitement skinning my knee on the wicker coffee table.

7 points away from the Golden Ticket. And I got an achievement unlocked - 4 goals in a Professional match. Go Dork! Go Dork! Go Dork! *running man*

RBNY v. DCU update
La won the first leg of our MLS bet with a 4-2 DCU victory. Those 2 away goals can help pull the Red Bulls out of the hole. I did the dishes that day. *sigh* Next match 22 July. Oh shit! There's another one after that?!? I'll have to talk to La about that. We might have to renegotiate the bet.

Addendum to Last Post

I've got a fever...

Dorodango, anyone?

I so want to do this! I apologize for my enthusiasm to those who are already familiar with Dorodango. This is the coolest thing ever! It is a traditional pastime of Japanese children. It is simply a ball of mud shaped by hand, dried and polished to shine.

There is a simple process that a Japanese Developmental Psychologist outlines (as part of his research) to create these shiny balls of mud. I'm a bit skeptical, but would be willing to try. All you need is dirt, water, plastic bag (optional) and most importantly, time.

There is another site with a tutorial that includes videos. I will post my creations when I have time to do this. If you decide to do this please send me your work.

LibraryThing v. GoodReads

***Edit***
As I finish writing this entry, I've realized that it is more a promotion of LibraryThing, than a comparative review of LibraryThing and GoodReads. I guess I didn't realize that I had already made a decision!

One of my latest obsessions is comparing LibraryThing and GoodReads. These are two sites that are used to track and catalogue your personal library. That's where the similarities end. There are unique features that set each one apart. I registered at both sites and still am testing them. The cons for each site is mostly the features that the other site has. Here's my assessment, so far.

GoodReads
Definitely has the social networking thing down. It lets you add a profile picture. You can add friends and explore friends's friends myspace-style. It lists your friends on a sidebar. When you first log on, the opening page shows new friend book reviews and/or additions to their library.

LibraryThing
Definitely has the bibliophile thing down. It's for people who really want to catalog their books (specific down to the isbn and edition and cover). It supports tagging, which for me is almost a decision maker.

The "zeitgeist" tab is an amazing collection of lists like the standard "25 most reviewed books," and "top 25 books (by star rating)." But also cool ones like "50 'completists' authors" (avg number of different books held by people who have any books by the author), and "50 lowest-rated authors."

As for social networking LT has support for groups and message boards (especially cool if you want to have a discussion about a particular book with other readers). The book view also has (editable) links to online bookstores, including my fav bookfinder.com.

The best feature, though, is the "Suggestions" tab. There are 3 ways that LT suggests books. First is called "LibrarySuggester" and is based on your own personal library. It's most similar to Amazon.com's "people who bought this also bought..." It even has "most popular books you don't have." Second is called "BookSuggester." You put in a book that you like and it spits out (among other things) suggestions from other people who liked that book, Amazon.com suggestions, books with similar tags, and books with similar library subjects & classifications. The last one is called "BookUnsuggester." Similar to the previous one but takes the book that you don't like and spits out similar books that you are more likely to enjoy!!! (it also lists other books that you will definitely not like. Hilarious!)

I'm in geek heaven.

Well, you can see that LT definitely has the features. I wish it had the social networking that GR has. The biggest con of LT is that it's free only until 200 books are cataloged. Then it's either $10/yr or $25/lifetime. Brilliant marketing, LT!

Last note:
Originally, I was only going to log in the books that I'm currently reading, on my "to read" list, as well as the ones that I've read since I had registered on LT. But now I think I'm going to log in all my favs to get more accurate suggestions. This could take awhile. I could buy a bar code scanner! Oooh la la! Gadget! LT sells a cheap one for $15. yeee haw!

I am a WINNER!

I finally won an online soccer match on the Xbox 360!!! I am a golden god!

I haven't owned a gaming console since Nintendo 64, back in undergrad. I bought the 360 while I was acting out during the moving-in-with-the-girlfriend process, in October. So I'm a bit rusty.

I got FIFA 07 a little before Thanksgiving (the greatest game in the world), and then my future brother-in-law *shiver* got me an Xbox Live year membership for Christmas. Since then, I've been rocked by better opponents; destroyed by sedentary snot-nosed kids who live in Xbox world.

Tonight, all that has changed. And...2-0 on top of that! You should have seen the last minutes of the match. Eyes wide open, tearing so that I wouldn't miss a beat. Girlfriend comes in to say goodnight. HOLD ON! DON'T DO ANYTHING! At the final whistle, I was a little schoolboy jumping up and down in ecstasy and disbelief. I wanted to scream out loud, but it was already late...and it would only make me look and feel cooler. So I resorted to controlled heavy breathing and violent arm thrusts in the air. Winner!

Once again, I'm hip but don't even know it

Well, as hip as the technogeeks at the latest SXSWi Festival. As the C|Net Article titled "To Twitter or Dodgeball at SXSW" begins:

AUSTIN, Texas--One question heard more than any other this week at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi), "Are you on Twitter?"

I've been trying to get people to join Twitter for the longest. At the time of this writing, I have 9 Twitter friends. Some of which haven't posted in awhile. *nudge* And some who haven't made their first entry, yet. *nudgenudge* I've checked out Dodgeball, but it seems too complicated and too much like Friendster and MySpace. I'm sticking with good 'ol Twitter.

Status Update and Grasswatch!

* Twitter status: Alvin... first cup of coffee on a lazy Saturday morning (3 minutes ago)
* On repeat: Ang Huling El Bimbo by The Eraserheads
* Reading: Still...It by Stephen King (page 859 of 1090!)
* Current Obsession: growing grass and Dance Dance Revolution
* My mood as a a song from DDR: Saturday Night by Ozomatli
* Last unnecessary purchase: Grass seed, potting soil, and a pot

Pictures taken this morning. Up to 4 inches! (Click for larger picture)

It's like watching grass grow

As requested by A1, I took pictures of my grass, yesterday. The pictures came out unexpectedly amazing! There's something about growing something from a seed that seems to be dead, into something green and alive. I can understand the passion people have for growing flowers or planting a garden.

I've been a little kid all week, checking up on its progress. Every morning I've gone to the living room, have lain down on my stomach to examine its growth. I've watched the seeds sprout fine white roots and new green blades emerge. I've easily spent 10 minutes exploring an 8x5 piece of soil. It's fascinating!

The pictures below are from yesterday. I took about 20 pictures, but these are the best 8. The grass has since grown half an inch in the last 24 hours. I'll give another picture update next week. I'm so proud at how much they've grown. *tear*

Click on each to see full sized picture:

Growing Grass

Last week, my coworkers and I took a mental health break from the office. Our office was recently flooded by a blown water heater. What used to be a claustrophobic, windowless workplace was transformed to a moist, dank claustrophobic and windowless basement (not to mention the discovery that the walls were filled with asbestos).

All of us were shared the boxed-in feeling of death and dying. We decided to go to Home Depot.

One of my coworkers was intent in buying something alive and green. We're both outdoorsy people and I understood how she missed being out in the wilderness. I also thought it would be a good idea to buy a plant to remind me of the outdoors. But instead of buying a simple houseplant, my dorky ass decides to grow a pot of grass. I buy a planter, two bags of potting soil, and some grass seeds. Brilliant!

I got home and researched growing grass indoors (here are two articles). Apparently, it's not as dorky as I thought. Some people grow it for the sheer pleasure of bringing the outdoors in, but I also learned that others use it for their cats. Who knew I shared interests with cat people!

I am proud (as a kindergartner) to report that the seeds have sprouted! I beginning to see some green blades coming out of the soil. I'm sure you're as excited as I am, so I'll make sure to update you on it's progress. Yes, I'm dork.

5 things I learned playing DDR for the first time that are similar to sex

1. It might be more fun with a group (but solo is fun)
2. I can drink beer while doing it
3. I look like a spaz while doing it
4. Practice makes perfect
5. Playing a few rounds before work is fun

StorySquared

Those who know me know that I consist of four core components:

• I am a dork (especially when it comes to anything digital)
• I am social
  
• I like to write
• I am a procrastinator
  

What better way to combine all 4 by joining me on some collaborative writing at StorySquared. I haven't figured out fully how to work it. I think it's by invite only, which is bull. The more that I write about it here the more that I think that this could be done right here on this blog, sans StorySquared. The benefit on doing it on that site is that it manages contributions in a more efficient manner than I ever could.

If you're down, let me know. I'll invite you to my next story.

My first story on StorySquared:

Not Burnt Umber

Time and time again, Lisa has been told not to do crossword puzzles in the bathroom. She was feeling particularly skittish this rainy Monday morning and tiptoed into the bathroom with a Pilot gel pen (red) and the whole morning paper.