First, let me speak a bit about 2010. 2010 was an interesting year. I label it a year of transition because there was quite a bit of that. If 2010 had an overall theme, it was definitely “transition.” I transitioned in many areas:

• Professionally, in deciding that if I had my way about it, I’ll never work with Windows again.
• Personally, in discovering that I’ve been doing a terrible job at taking care of myself.
• Spiritually, but not in the classical sense. By this I mean learning more about myself and others.

This is a personal blog and so therefore I’m only covering areas that are personal. Those of you who know me know that there have been multiple transitions in the family as well, albeit standard. (“My how the kids have grown!” “Wow, will that two year old ever stop talking!?”)

All of this being said I present to you… my 2011 New Year’s Resolutions. I’m going to do my best to make sure that I cover only the goals that I feel are attainable.

Create More

I used to create all the time. Something, and I’m not sure what, got me out of that habit. I want to get back. I miss it. I miss theater too, but I don’t think that goal is attainable until the kids grow a little more and I have a job that isn’t 24/7. Therefore, one of my goals is to create more. This can be writing, photography (oh how I miss photography!), video, programming or whatever. I must create more.

Read More

I’ve been doing a lot more reading of late, so this needs to continue.

Learn More

This plugs into the spiritual thing and 2010′s transitions. I want to continue to learn more about Chinese language and culture and Mac/UNIX/Linux/Web technologies.

Focus Better

You might think that with the first goal of creating more that this might be difficult. Focus has become very difficult for me and I’m not sure why. This needs to change.

Stop Idling

I idle on the computer too much. This is killing me.

Take Better Care of Myself

Eat better. Move around more. I have the tools, I just need to remember to do that. Stop eating so much garbage. I’ve been doing much better on that in 2010. I need to continue to do that.

Be a Better Father

I think I’m a pretty terrible father. I need to change that. Really, I do.

Be a Better Husband

My wife is a good woman. I consistently remind myself that she gave up so much to move here and have a new life. She entrusted me with her life and well being. I need to remember that and honor her. I need to help out more.

I think that about covers it. There will be some changes on this blog over the coming months. It’s gotten quite cobwebby and I think there is a place for this site after all. I let it grow stale after opening so many other blogs (which will be linked here) and using Twitter and Facebook. While I’ve met many awesome people on Twitter, I want to share a little more in an extended format. Twitter is for light, hilarious conversations. Ultimately, if you want to know more about just me, this is the place to come. If you want to learn more about my family or technology that I’m working on, there are other places to go. If you don’t know where they are you will soon.

2011 will be another year for transition and it is already offering new opportunities. On the last week of 2010 we discovered that we lost our massive contract supporting the government agency I work for. I’m not sure where that is going to take me but I’m definitely excited about the possibilities. I’m very optimistic that this will allow me to grow in areas that I need/want to grow.

Notice I didn’t call out “be more optimistic” in my goals for 2011. Optimism is a very personal thing for me. In general, I’ve always been hopeful that things work out for the better and have always looked for the silver lining. A lot of people see my negativity on the outside but they may not realize that in general it’s a facade. Negativity is funny. I like to make people laugh. I deal with stress by laughing. It comes off as negativity. That’s fine if you don’t understand. But deep down I know it will work out in the end, whatever and however that is. It’s quite optimistic.

If that surprises you, then congratulations – you learned something about me. Great way to start the new year, right?

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I have a dual trip to California coming up in June – first to CalConnect to represent NASA on the standards body board there in Redwood Shores, then WWDC 2009.  I combined both trips into one, which left me with an empty weekend.

My wife chose to fill it.

I suppose to she was tipped off by my exploration into the idea of driving out to Las Vegas for the weekend.  After I investigated it, it just didn’t seem like a very good idea.  The drive from Redwood Shores is about 4.5 hours and I would have had little time to play there in Vegas.  My primary objective was to see more Cirque du Soleil shows in their native habitat.

So, she must’ve gotten the idea from there.

She rallied the family together and consequently put together a package for me to fly out of SFO over to Vegas and spend the weekend in Hotel New York New York.  Not only that, but she hooked me up with tickets to “O” and “Ka” already.  She also contacted a friend of mine to see about landing a ticket to “Mystere.”  Absolutely incredible.

Oh yeah… and if you look up pictures for Hotel New York New York, it has a gigantic rollercoaster.  Anyone who knows me well will know what I plan on doing with that on that fine Saturday morning

I cannot thank you enough, taitai… nor my family… for a wonderful present to look forward to in June!

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• See Cirque du Soleil – Mystere in Las Vegas (jerichooncbs.blogspot.com)

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Just a quick post to point out that I’m radically happy my family is nowhere near this f-ed up.

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My son has written his first story.  He wanted to share it with everyone on the video camera, so here away we went.  I think my son may have a future in vlogging.

This is the same video that is posted on the family site and podcast, www.porkbuns.org.

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Image by skagitrenee via Flickr

What a wily month.

Not only did I have a new baby girl… I quit my job, signed on for a new job, got coaxed back to the old job, started the old job again and completely fell off the wagon with the gym.  Now here it is a month later and I’ve been working from home when I’ve not been playing Mr. Mom and I’m about to go back to the office for the first time since all of the drama.

I intended to take the month of October off to help the wife around the house and play Mr. Mom to our son while she did the cultural Chinese thing of laying in bed and eating her special diet as she was sequestered away with our new daughter.  As I expected, she couldn’t stay in bed even while in the hospital and her diet lasted maybe 1.75 weeks.  Nevertheless, she did stay home and I played Mr. Mom anyway, running our son all over town to his school and various activities.  It was fun, but… okie, now I’m ready to refocus on the job thing I think.

Speaking of the son, his interest in Star Wars has grown astronomically (pun intended).  Unfortunately, he’s obsessed with the NEW Star Wars, not the good stuff.  I gotta work on that.  His new thing is Lego Star Wars, which is quite fun despite the fact I have to reboot to Vista to play it.

Not a whole lot else going on really, but I am looking forward to getting back to my office for some peace and quiet.

Huh?

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I’ve also taken the month of October off from work – well, all of it except for the last week.  There’s more to come on that though.

So anyway, yeah, I’m still alive, but we’re in newborn baby bliss right now.  Shh.  Don’t wake her.

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On Youtube.

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I am nervous but then I am not. If the interviews are all about how I function under pressure, that’s fine I guess. We shall see.

Should I keep you up to date with how the interview goes tomorrow?

Sleep now. Study in the morning.

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For me, it’s a time to reflect. I love my kids dearly, but I don’t think I’m a great dad. I hope to change that someday. I think a lot of it needs to change with my health, which I am addressing very soon.

Maybe I’ll get better then.

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