I've been at a job for a couple of years now.
The pay is decent. It is more than enough to cover my bills, but significantly less than others who are in close proximity. It is the curse of the upper middle class.
So, naturally, I have been obsessively thinking about moving to another job. Every night, I peruse job listings, think about what skills I can re-learn or gain, but I eventually close the computer feeling more and more stuck.
I guess I have nothing to add today for now.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Grumpy man
We tried to sell a bed today on Craigslist.
After a few emails and phone calls, we carried the bed downstairs, waited for the buyer to arrive, and then brought the bed back upstairs when the buyer never arrived.
Now, I'm grumpy. I feel like being a jerk to everyone around me.
But alas, my wife won't let me. She made me dinner (fish again), and then she made me a fruit smoothie.
I'm left as a grumpy guy without anything to be grumpy about.
After a few emails and phone calls, we carried the bed downstairs, waited for the buyer to arrive, and then brought the bed back upstairs when the buyer never arrived.
Now, I'm grumpy. I feel like being a jerk to everyone around me.
But alas, my wife won't let me. She made me dinner (fish again), and then she made me a fruit smoothie.
I'm left as a grumpy guy without anything to be grumpy about.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Food choices
Before dinner today, I felt like having a nice juicy beef burger. My wife made me fish and rice.
The fish was delicious. Now, after dinner, I feel satisfied and healthy.
I wonder if most of my other natural preferences, based on evolution or socially ingrained behavior, are actually bad for me.
The fish was delicious. Now, after dinner, I feel satisfied and healthy.
I wonder if most of my other natural preferences, based on evolution or socially ingrained behavior, are actually bad for me.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Excercise
I have found the ideal time for me to work out, right after dinner. This time span is good for a few reasons.
First, it helps me eat better. If I know I'm going to work out, then I try not to overeat or else I feel like crap when I go running or shoot hoops or anything else. Since eating right, is something I haven't done in the past, this is a huge win for me already.
Next, it makes me more productive for the rest of the night. Since I have less time before I have to sleep, I am forced to choose what I do carefully. Also, the act of working out makes me feel productive. This feeling inspires me to be even more productive for the rest of the night. This amounts to watching less t.v. and working more on this blog or one of my other side projects.
I haven't really tried working out at other times: before work, during work, right after work, just before sleeping, but this is working for me now.
First, it helps me eat better. If I know I'm going to work out, then I try not to overeat or else I feel like crap when I go running or shoot hoops or anything else. Since eating right, is something I haven't done in the past, this is a huge win for me already.
Next, it makes me more productive for the rest of the night. Since I have less time before I have to sleep, I am forced to choose what I do carefully. Also, the act of working out makes me feel productive. This feeling inspires me to be even more productive for the rest of the night. This amounts to watching less t.v. and working more on this blog or one of my other side projects.
I haven't really tried working out at other times: before work, during work, right after work, just before sleeping, but this is working for me now.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
A mostly positive work day
Today, I left work feeling good.
I spent much of the morning doing general file management stuff: checking in small code changes, moving files to save space, and updating a makefile to improve linking dependencies in libraries and other rather trivial, yet time consuming tasks. This type of work requires careful attention, but no deep thought. At the end of it, you feel productive and can see tangible differences.
I then spent some time working on the early stages of a project. At this point, I'm beginning to design classes and I'm blissfully unaware of how my design choices are limiting and ill-conceived. I'm still at the start of the project life-cycle, so I don't feel any of the time-constraints of an impending deadline. This is one of the times when being a software developer is a pretty good gig.
I finished the day meeting with my intern as he gave a quick presentation of his work to a couple of guys in our group. He still has a way to go before he can give a polished presentation, but I'm glad to know that I might be able to help him get better.
All in all, a stress-free, satisfying day.
I spent much of the morning doing general file management stuff: checking in small code changes, moving files to save space, and updating a makefile to improve linking dependencies in libraries and other rather trivial, yet time consuming tasks. This type of work requires careful attention, but no deep thought. At the end of it, you feel productive and can see tangible differences.
I then spent some time working on the early stages of a project. At this point, I'm beginning to design classes and I'm blissfully unaware of how my design choices are limiting and ill-conceived. I'm still at the start of the project life-cycle, so I don't feel any of the time-constraints of an impending deadline. This is one of the times when being a software developer is a pretty good gig.
I finished the day meeting with my intern as he gave a quick presentation of his work to a couple of guys in our group. He still has a way to go before he can give a polished presentation, but I'm glad to know that I might be able to help him get better.
All in all, a stress-free, satisfying day.
Monday, June 18, 2012
1 percent
Given $100,000, is it possible to earn 1% ($1000) a month?
After a bit of research, it seems like the answer is No. The going rate for a CD is about 1% APY. This means, after a year, I'd get about a 1000 dollars. So, using a CD will earn roughly 12 times less than the goal ...
After a bit of research, it seems like the answer is No. The going rate for a CD is about 1% APY. This means, after a year, I'd get about a 1000 dollars. So, using a CD will earn roughly 12 times less than the goal ...
Last surgery for mom
Today, I took my mom to the hospital to have her chemotherapy port removed. This implanted device was used to deliver Cancer-fighting drugs. Thus, removal of the port signifies her successful battle with Cancer.
In other great Mom-related news, she told me that she has begun volunteering more as a Korean-English translator for those who need help in hospitals, courts, or other government offices like social security offices and DMVs. There are a few aspects of this volunteering that has given my mom a lot of joy. 1) She enjoys helping people. 2) She is utilizing her skills (past experience as a nurse, past experience as a patient). 3) She is gaining opportunities to learn about others experiences.
As I have been evaluating my career path, it's been inspirational to hear about my Mom who has found a new career path at the start of her "retirement".
In other great Mom-related news, she told me that she has begun volunteering more as a Korean-English translator for those who need help in hospitals, courts, or other government offices like social security offices and DMVs. There are a few aspects of this volunteering that has given my mom a lot of joy. 1) She enjoys helping people. 2) She is utilizing her skills (past experience as a nurse, past experience as a patient). 3) She is gaining opportunities to learn about others experiences.
As I have been evaluating my career path, it's been inspirational to hear about my Mom who has found a new career path at the start of her "retirement".
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