Lifeinthekeyofme

No one could ever blame me for lacking social skills, I was socially awkward when I was younger (pre-2o’s), but still made relevant relationships in the ladders of my society (high school, etc). I hit my peak in my mid-20′s and since then I’ve been coasting on irrelevant commentary that makes me seem borderline idiotic at times (IMO).

But I know how to throw a great party and I can make most people smile, even the ex-girlfriends’ I cheated on. Because I feel I have to “maintain” some form of social pulse, I have been overexerting myself recently in NYC. It’s acceptable since I need to make new friends and socialize in hopes of finding a job, right? Yeah, not sure if it is. I’m a little socialized out, and am starting to think that I may be on the brink of a nervous breakdown. For God’s sake, I’m listening to Beth Orton while writing this…

I need a damn job, because then I’d at least be paid to socialize and be witty.

Thunderstorms rock.

My last day at the office was this past Friday.  After nearly 6 year working for eBay, I was laid off  2 weeks ago. I was only 12 days away from my 6 year anniversary. I don’t really have any hard feelings, (well, white lie), but I’m ready to move on.  So what lies ahead? Not really sure, though I am going to be extremely selfish in these next few weeks and months. I’m not going to settle for anything, even in this economy. I want to  do things that I’m passionate about, period.

So to all my past colleagues, I will miss fighting over bagels on Wed, or sharing stories about who “dropped bombs” in the bathroom.

My only regret is that I wasn’t able to say goodbye to everyone, or to go all postal on people

(thanks to Chrissy for the suggested manner)

Is for a reason that I’m not ready to discuss yet. I’m trying to remain positive about the whole situation but for sake of keeping sane, I’ve told some people. I am looking to get inspired to do something radical and “not me like”. I’m organizing some trips and events:

• Road trip down Highway 1 and end up in San Diego/Tijuana
• Go to Opening Day at AT&T Park (April 7th) 1:05pm
• Visit family in Texas
• Go to Phoenix to attend the Subway 500 with my friends at the Jimmie Johnson Foundation
• Fly to NYC to see the new Yankee Stadium and visit my friend (and occasional therapist)

I’ll post more information on March 4th.

I guess I deserve it, or perhaps I should just be lucky that nothing harmful happened to me. I’ve been so pre-occupied with myself, that I’ve been ignoring others (not deliberately).

So while at home, my roommate’s cat (Gizmo) was in my room while I was occupied, probably on one of my many social networking profiles. The being in my room is not so much a problem, but this would have been a really great time for a him to speak (if  he could). Because I closed the door behind me and Gizmo was there for about an hour. And from the looks of it, Gizmo had to take a shit.

The picture is not mean to endorse Arm & Hammer products; but let’s just say I hope it works. Sigh

I was too lazy to cook, even lazier to eat “good”, so I picked up Chinese food and watched 90210. I substituted 90210 for dumplings, less fat

So this whole time I thought Chinese fortune cookies told fortunes (and lotto numbers), they’re not suppose to state facts:

My last contact is torn (WTF?) and now I will be a serious one eye willy watching the biggest game of the year. Of all the times that I could have a torn, non-wearable contact, it had to be this week. I’m one of those statistics guys, the “one in a 400 million possibility” that something might go wrong with your lasik surgery. I had lasik 5 years ago, and within one year, my right eye went from 20/15 (after surgery) to 20/400 (which is legally blind in most states).

So I have to wear a special contact called synergeyes in my right eye, so I can get to about 20/40 (which is fine for mostly everything except commercial/military flying or surgery).

So back to the pity rant, so I had no more contacts left except this one SUPER FRESH OUT OF THE BOX one and I take it out and put it on and it has a tear on it. WTF? I don’t really have nails (yes, I have the King James syndrome), so what else could it have been? No clue, but now I have to be watching the game with one eye open.

Anyone have a patch? GO CARDS!

I really should have watched more TV during my sabbatical, I’m such a loser. I tend to watch a movie once, and then never watch again unless it’s on cable or something like that. I think I own 4 dvds, and High Fidelity has been with me for like 7 years.

So for the last 29 minutes I’ve had this temporary memory loss where I couldn’t figure out who I saw Juno with, driving me  nuts. Because I known I had seen it in the theater. And then it HIT ME. Funny how life brings you hundreds of people to you, and then they just disappear.

So watching this movie brings some weird memories and emotions, and I love this quote: “I bought another Sonic Youth album and it just sucks, it’s just noise”. I never really got into Sonic Youth, but I wish I would have seen them at least once (live) in the 90s.

back in Silicon land…

I am in love with Carol Bartz, I’ve confessed it on Facebook. She’s all killer no filler and the best thing that could possibly happen to Yahoo; aside from them getting a bigger share of that advertising pie that is cemented at an Ihop in Mountain View.

The 4th QTR earnings were slightly less horrific than eBay’s, but the market’s reaction seems to be much tamer. Perhaps Y! is turning the corner, at least with the suits.

Some highlights (yes, I’m a geek)

• The company is not providing full year guidance due to economic uncertainty
• No shares repurchased in the quarter (I forgot to listen to the eBay one, did they?)
• Yahoo News set traffic record on inauguration day (wonder what the paid search/ad revenue was that day)

I’m meeting up with one of my favorite colleagues (and friend) for dinner & drinks tonight. And though we have imposed a “no work talk” clause in past gatherings, I just don’t think I can bring myself to do that tonight. The company announced earnings today, and I have to say my favorite (and most applicable) article title was this ONE. It pains me to read all the articles/blog posts, etc (and yes, I’ve read practically all of them today). I’m a few short weeks away fron my return and not exactly sure of what I’m returning to.  I’d love to say the rest of my life is so fabulous that nothing can possibly (at work) bring me down, but that would just be bullshit.

Sure, I feel accomplished and proud of what I do (and the team that I’m part of), but right now, I keep asking myself if that holds any value or stock (no pun intended) when I wake up everyday.

I feel like an old television who’s just waiting for the transition to a digital signal…, which will render me obsolete. For once though I’m not scared of the future, but I wish it would just hurry up and get here.

I’m also filled with stressful situations right now, even the associated ones. I have friends who have to deal with flaky lovers, a sick kitty, no method of logic and one really annoying car alarm that is pissing me off (and will likely cost me a few hundred to fix).

P.S

Not that anyone reads this, but my views have absolutely nothing to do with the views/expressions or press releases of my employer.

I am enjoying this “not working” thing like no other. I’m catching up on episodes of HIMYM.

I know this is just TV, but god, I really am having way too many flashbacks of what Barney is going through (with being in love with Robin). I know it’s random, but I remember falling for someone in high school and it basically derailing the rest of my year because everything and anything was for her.

So why do people do this to themselves? I wonder if it’s because it’s the safe thing to do. Safe–you may ask? Well it never works out, right? Who DO YOU KNOW who fell in love with their friend, their mate, the one girl who is always there for you when you need someone to:

1) Go to the movies

2) Take that extra concert ticket you bought (months before, hoping you’d be dating someone by the time the show date)

3) Listen to you damn all the other girls who don’t want to see you

The list goes on and on. So yeah, it kinda sunk in that I know what you’re feeling Barney, and to that, we can bump.

I didn’t want to end my last night in Peru with a bitch blog post, so instead I loaded up 3 that were in the queue. But now that I’m in Ecuador, I’m going to happily tell:

So being in Machu Picchu was the most amazing thing in the world. It was an experience of a lifetime and I highly recommend you go. Though a few words of advice (based on real life/recent experience):

*If you are scared of heights, do not try to climb up to Machu Picchu. You will surely shit your pants and probably have a panic attack
*If you are scared of heights, and take my advice above, then make sure you sit on the aisle for the bus ride up to MP and DO NOT LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.
*If your driver of that said bus (bullet point 2) looks OLD, GET THE F@$#$ OFF THE BUS

I am/have always been scared of heights and you would think that flying on a plane would get you pass that fear (yeah, kinda). But nothing will prepare you for Machu Picchu, especially the bus ride. There were a few times where I looked out the window and couldn’t actually see the road that the wheels were supposedly on and there is absolutely no guard rail.

Oh, If it rains (which it usually does), you’re likely going to be even more scared of the trip up/down from the mountain and your train ride will likely be delayed by hours.

Oh shit, it's flooding!

On to the second part of the advice:

You need a tour guide and agency to do the Inca Trail or Machu Picchu. I suggest you hire an ex-pat rather than a local. I know that seems outrageous but a lot of the locals are shady. I was suppose to have a ride back (with one other passenger) from the train station to Cusco, I ended up on a ride back with 19 other people (on a 14 passenger van). Yes, 19 people. The asshole tour guide decided to sell off spots on the bus to pocket some extra change. Now I’m not going to give the guy shit for creating his own stimulus package on the spot, but there were only 11 seats available (if you mins the 2 plus himself).

He didn’t care, and it was the longest ride since Noah’s Ark. I did the “American thing” (and I usually don’t) and bitched his ass out in Spanish after we finally got back into town. I’m expecting a refund.

Ok, I’m done