陳培勇的世界

Viva Las Vegas

Going on another roadtrip. Not wasting any free time I have before slaving myself to the future. Cheers to life!

posted by John @ 1:01 AM Comments: 0

New England 28 Miami 29

Now, that is a game worth watching. Phew, what an upset.

Kim is very thoughtful. I don't need a bed anymore. True, I still need a place. But the bed? It's taken care of.

Saw my orthodontist today. Got 8 sets of aligners this time. I usually get 4 but since I will be gone twice was long now, she gave me 8. That's cool with me, skip a visit. I mean, she stresses how important the visits are being a good doctor and all. But I just think, she asks me how they feel. I say fine. She pokes around my teeth a little, gives me 4 more pairs. I set up up an appointment to see her again in 6 week and go home. HO HUM....Zzzzzzz.

Bro got me a Dell Axim X3. That's Pocket PC for those less inclined. That's a Psuedo Palm Pilot to those even less inclined. Plays games good. I'm gonna use it as an mp3 player.

Bought a pair of Dockers for $22. Sure they're "Irregular" but dammit they're more than half off. What a steal! I feel good. Watched a few good movies. Did absolutely nothing. What more can I ask for?

Embarrassed is spelled with 2 r's
Consensus is spelled weird.

Time to look for more ways to waste time. YEAH!

posted by John @ 9:26 PM Comments: 0

Today

I know why I was missing a day. It's because it was after midnight. I had lost all track of time since I have been sleeping on and off the past two days.

Got my grades for school. Did I already write this? Seems like I've been talking about it all the time. Anyway, 4 A's. Although it was expected, I'm still a little overwhelmed. It was the one thing worrying me the past 3 months. I know I can take care of most things and prepare for the transfer and all. But I just don't know if I can stay in school and finish. To have not only done that but excel, wow, that's is amazing to me. It was my only question mark and now the burden has been lifted. I now know if I have a specific goal in my heart and I want to accomplish it. I can do it. Proof is in the pudding. 3 more years to go.

Just downloaded Bejeweled for my Palm Pilot. It's that game Ky and Hau got me hooked on a while back. Well, now I have it portable and it's as addicting as ever. I got a few other yahoo games on it too. Lonely nights, here I come.

I finally finished watching the end of Sailor Moon Live Action. It ended at episode 49. I saved the last few because I had a feeling the ending would suck and I wanted a good memory of the show. But like Nam, my HD was filling up and I better watch these things or I will have no room to download new stuff. I have to say, fairly good ending. They wrote a good story. But I think production and the director got busy or something. They didn't produce the end very well. You could tell it was cut up a lot. Maybe it was intended to be 50 even episodes, but someone messed up and lost some footage or time ran out to shoot more. Whatever, I give the show a B- overall.

I missed Henny's baby's 1st month. I have to go see him before I go to LA.

I've decided what I am going to do now. I am gonna go down to LA with the truck for two weeks. Live at my friends place and in those two weeks, I will find a place to stay and figure out if I need a car. If I do, then I buy it. I can do with the truck for a couple of weeks. I have to come back and see a show with Kim on the second week anyway. So that's my plan. I think it's pretty good. Time to go back to Bejeweled.

posted by John @ 10:59 PM Comments: 0

Thursday

Zoolander is awful. I feel pity for my dvd player to have suffered playing that piece of crap movie. Ack, I just don't understand this Ben Stiller guy. The only good I found in the movie was darling Natalie. That's it. Terrible story and not funny.

They found fraud charges on my credit card. At first I was a little miffed. Stupid fraud alert crap. You are too sensitive, stop freezing my account so many times. And lo and behold, 77 bucks for gas? Man, thats what it costs to feed a large SUV, not a tiny Lancer. So it's all good.

I'm so tired today. Didn't I just come home? How come it's already Thursday? What happened yesterday? I don't remember doing anything on Wednesday. I guess I will just have to ponder how I am missing a day. Maybe I just slept through Wednesday? highly likely. I guess I will just play hearts and watch some more tv. I love vacation.

posted by John @ 1:27 AM Comments: 0

I think just about everything has been taken care of here in San Jose. Is there anything I am missing?

Mr. Powell presented a scorcher of a final exam. I am not sure how I did. I took the entire two hours to complete it. Now I fully understand why he gives 35 points extra credit for a 200 point exam. It's so freakishly hard that "normal" people cannot possibly get a good grade without the boost. I am fairly certain though that at least a B in the class has been achieved. 3 A's and a B, that's a mighty fine GPA. The likes of which I have not seen in years.

I went away for a few days this weekend. It was relaxing.

I think I am beginning to gain more, what's the word? Understanding? Something like that. I am beginning to get more "________" of what Jack was typing to me. Just be bold and do something about your feelings.

posted by John @ 1:00 PM Comments: 3

Completion

I want to start off by saying that the next time you go to Vegas or LA, fill up your gas at Lost Hills exit 46. It's approximately 200 miles away from San Jose. The reason is because the prices there are cheap. It was $2.17 when I passed by versus the $2.59 average elsewhere along highway 5. I don't know why no one has said anything before, I mean that is a big difference. Maybe it just started. Not a lot of cars can make the 350+ mile trek to LA in one tank.

I am the quarterback that just threw a nasty spiral towards a receiver in triple coverage. And while it was underthrown a bit, he was able to lunge forward, catch it, break off tackles and run it into the endzone.

3:00 AM I wake up to my alarm clock and begin preparations to leave. I scrambled too many things in my arms and broke the bowl of fruit my dad prepared. I arrive at the library first to return all my movies that's due. I wonder what people think when they see me driving out of the library at 4 in the morning. I couldn't find a cheap gas station along the way so I decided to just drive on out on half tank. I'll need to fill up along the way anyway, so why bother. The truck is an amazingly comfortable highway cruiser. Its tall bright lights shine their way easily through the rain.

A couple hours in, the gas light came on and I pulled over to gas up. Yikes $2.48 a gallon. It cost me 43 bucks to fill the tank. That's what I get for being lazy. I could have filled up for $2.09 in San Jose. That's like 5 bucks wasted. The sun started to rise and I recall how often I am able to see it come up nowadays. Life is good. I'm healthy and alive and left to my own devices to see the world. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing I can do just about anything I want right now. I mean just 10 hours ago, I was at home pondering if I should go to LA. Now I am here, actually doing it. It's a rush of freedom. The world is my oyster. Hell, I can turn this truck east and blaze a trail towards the Appalacian Mountains.

As I approached the Grapevine I got a phone call from 21st century saying that they will pay for the damage to my corolla. What? She wasn't even driving but you will still cover it? Sweet. I love good news.

LA traffic was rather brisk and I arrived at CalStateLA at about the time I figured I would 9:50AM. The parking information lady told me I could park for free today if I got a pass from the parking enforcement officer because the ticket machine was broken today. CalstateLA looked just like San Jose State. The center is an open space where you see tall buildings in whichever direction you twirl. The weather was cold and dreary contrasting to the rainy windy day in San Jose. A scant number of students bustled here and there but otherwise it was a rather quiet place. I walked into the library and easily made my way to the University Testing Center following the signs. Love it when I have time to explore. I asked the girl at the counter to give me the Chemistry 101 test and I went at it.

OHMIGOSH, this was a freakishly hard test. I failed this one good. How in the world am I supposed to balance equations and work out mols and stuff with 45 minutes. There's 44 questions. Arghhhh... Thank goodness I am smart or Mr. Wilson taught me good. Gotta give a thunmbs up to Ms. Okano for forcing me to take Chem in highschool. I didn't have to according to the requirements, but she forced me to, because I needed 5 classes. And now, I racked my brain for everything that bearded man taught me. A couple minutes later this Asian chick pokes her head through the door and says, John, you have 3 minutes. WTF, 45 minutes vanquished already? Oh on a side not, I sneezed once too and the girl sitting next to me said, "God Bless you." Vert few people say God anymore or pronounce it correctly. Normally, they say "Blessue" I wrote filled in A's on the 1/3 of the test I had left blank. Whelp, one thing I can say about CalstateLA, they sure are quick with the tests. She graded it right it front of me. I remember I had to wait a few days at DeAnza. I sat down with my head bobbed ready to hear her say, "I'm sorry, you didn't pass. You're gonna have to retake the test next quarter." Actually, she said, "John? You passed, you only needed 17 to pass and you got a 28." The heck a 17 to pass, why did they put in so many questions then? Scare me like that. I'm kinda surprised I got a 28 when I filled out A's on so many questions. But whatever, she gives me a slip of paper to take to the Chem department that will allow me to register for Chemistry 101. It was a badly photocopied piece of paper with my Name and student ID and a couple of scribbles. Not very high tech.

I marched on over to the Physical Sciences building to find the Chem department closed. Well, the sign says open but the door is locked and no one is home. I called the number and could barely hear the phone ring. That's just great, I traveled 350 miles to get enrolled in this class and got stopped by a door. I decided to finish my other commitment while this dilemma worked itself out. I headed over to the Math department and showed the young man behind the counter my unofficial transcript. He stared at it blankly for a moment, then either accepted my proof of having taken Calculus or didn't care look further. He asked for my student ID and section number I wanted to register and said, "You're done." Great I traveled 350 miles to show you a cheap unofficial transcript and you barely looked it. But you couldn't accept an email from the school with my unofficial transcript. Not very high tech.

I next headed over to health services to get my measles and rubella shot and TB chest xray. She told me I had to come back at 1 because the technician is not in until that time. So I headed over to the Chem department to see what I can get. Still locked. A sign says they go to lunch M and F 12 - 1:30PM. I was there at 11 and no one was there. M and F? Shouldn't it be M - F? 2 and a half hours lunch? Fine, I guess I'll come back after 1:30. I decided to drive on Valley blvd. which is the north border of CSULA. I saw a lot of apartments and condos. I guess I could possibly find a place within walking distance of the school. I drove back down towards Noodle World and that huge San Grabriel Plaza Long showed me a few months back. I didn't want to go back to the same places I've been so I just got out of the car and walked around the area breathing my future neighborhood. I wasn't hungry after 30 minutes of walking but I figured, what would I do if I didn't eat. I'm still miffed at the Chem department. I saw a little restaurant called JR Cafe. It was fairly packed and the name reminded of where Jack and Ky used to give me cheap food. And yes, this JR gave me cheap food as well. Steak and eggs, frys and eggs and a plate of rice plus milk tea for 8 bucks. MMMMmmmm... I wasn't hungry but I sure was satisfied. Maybe life here won't be so bad.

I called up the Chem department after lunch and a woman asked to put me on hold. BAM, I hung up and started to walk to my car. It's gonna be a bit of a walk, so I called up Nam to see what he was doing. We had a nice conversation and I made it back to CSULA at 3. I marched into the the chem department and handed the woman there my slip of paper and she said, here sign your name on the list and section you want to enroll. She barely glanced at my paper and I don't think she confirmed the name I wrote on the list was the same as on the paper. Not very high tech.

At 3:37 I left CSULA and entered LA traffic. Again I met little resistance, call it luck. Ok fine, you're thinking what about my measle shot. I chickened out alright? Hey, I have to drive 5 hours with my arm possibly sore. No thank you. I'm going home. I'm no longer living in the dorm so it isn't a priority anymore.

Just as the sun set I pulled into Lost Hills exit after seeing all the signs saying cheap gas at this exit. Now I know. I arrived home at 8:45 and immediately went online to register for Chem. Bastards, still no go. I'm gonna have to call tomorrow morning.

Wake up at 8 and took the Corolla in to be looked at. He quoted $225 bucks. Oh gosh, what is going on with the world? Called up the Chem department and she apologized, and bam, I'm in. I called up Professor Aniol of the Physics department. His name was given to me by a secretary who heard the desperateness in my voice and gave me his name and number to possibly get a preliminary schedule going. BAM. CONFIRMATION! I need to take the WPE and NSS101. Don't do Physics 425A. Choose a theme from upper division GE. What the heck is that? Now I know. Take a look at a sample course list. BAM. I'm done. I'm done. Can you believe it? I'm done.

I've got a hella f'ed up schedule especially Monday when I have to come and go 3 times, but I'm done and I got confirmation.

posted by John @ 1:53 PM Comments: 0

College is lonely

I remember when I first got out highschool. I decided, I wanted a break from school. I'll take a quarter off. Everyone was doing it, why not? Winter 98 comes and I still don't know what I should be doing. I continued with the flock and walked into DeAnza. Evergreen was at my doorstep but I decided 40 miles roundtrip was a good decision because I didn't know what I should be doing. I registered online and enrolled in a Physics class. I remember thinking. What am I doing? Is this confirmed? Is this done? God, someone tell me if I am doing this correctly. I walked into class that cold wintry day praying to myself, I hope my name is on the list. I felt so lost. I told myself, if he reads my name, it starts my college life. If he doesn't I go home and start another night at Solectron, maybe try again next quarter. I was so unsure of myself and so unsure of the procedures. He reads off my name finally giving me confirmation.

I find myself in the same predicament now. There is absolutely no one who can help me here at CalstateLA. I guess I'm asking the wrong people. I am unable to get an academic advisement so I don't even know if my classes are the correct ones for my major. I can't register for Calculus or Chemistry. I have to do everything on my own. Which is what an adult does I guess. I just need a little hand-holding is all. I didn't receive it at DeAnza with disastrous results. For now, I am lost again. I think I've taken care of what I have to. But I don't know. And there is no one available to help. I'm all alone again on a cold wintry day.

posted by John @ 9:37 PM Comments: 0

Mini Road Trip

This might be fun. I'm not looking forward to it, but I do like driving long periods time. The rush, the speed, who knows what sick pleasures I get out of it, I just like driving. That's how I was able to survive my job for so long. Anyway, I'm gonna go out to LA in few hours and if all goes as planned, I'll be back by Wednesday night. Not going for long. I'd like to stay the night, but I have nothing planned so why waste the money. I'm just there to take a couple of tests and hopefully get some things straightened out with registration. Wish me luck.

posted by John @ 7:09 PM Comments: 0

Imposing Arrogance

What a day. Days like this is what I live for.

Speech - Last week she said I didn't have to take the final because I'm smart. I already have an A.

Art History - This was the shocker. She handed back results for the third quiz today and I got a 100% making a 95% overall in the class. I don't have to take the final because I'm smart. I already have an A.

Sociology - This one was a little messed up she gave me the wrong grade earlier so I didn't have to do the final paper. I didn't have to do the final because I'm smart. I already have an A, but oh well I did it already.

Political Science - I have to do the final here but I have a 100% in the class already. So all I need is a low B to score an A in the class. Shouldn't be that hard for a cocky guy.

So as the sun hid behind the low strato-cumulus clouds, I breathed a sigh of relief. An expressive grin on my face shadowed my walk to and fro. I bounced from sidewalk to sidewalk as I got to my truck. Today is good, except...

Goodbye Clair, it's been great knowing you
Your warm smile helps to brighten my day
Although you didn't know how I felt
You've been my motivation along the way

It's the suprised expression you have
And the numerous giggles you give to me
I'll cherish them everyday, as I move
To the next road in life to be

Goodbye Clair, I hope you good life
Your happiness will bring you places
I'll always remember you because
We shared a special bond... in our braces

I hope to see you again, Clair Woo
Maybe I might tell you how much I like you

But probably not...

Another bad thing is it's finals week at CalstateLA also this week, so I am unable to get an appointment for an academic advisement. The secretary told me to try calling in tomorrow. Here's hoping... For now relaxation is richly deserved.

posted by John @ 5:37 PM Comments: 6

Natalie Portman

Crap. I've entered into a world of not-doing-anythingness. I even forgot the word to describe it. I know I am supposed to be doing stuff. A lot of stuff, but I don't feel like it. You know why? Because I have so many days to do it. Let me summarize it here. At least writing it down, I will know what I have to do and how.

1. My room is dirty again. Incredible, how messy I am after cleaning it up real nice a couple weeks ago.

2. I need to find a dental insurance. Badly. I need to before I go to LA or I won't have time to see the dentist.

3. I need to find a place in LA.

4. I need to find a car maybe.

5. I need to go to LA now on Tuesday because I tried to enroll in classes and it keeps saying I don't meet the prerequisites. And I don't unless a counselor takes my previous classes into consideration. I don't even know how I can prove this without a transcript.

6. I need to study for Poli-Sci. The only final I have to take.

7. I need to do laundry, I'm out of underwear. This one I will take care of after typing this. It's pretty urgent.

8. I need to transfer money into my chase account because I have a cool 0.99% fixed for the life of the loan balance transfer.

9. I need to pay registration for the WRX. I think I can do this one tomorrow.

10. I need to give the Odyssey registration to my Uncle. I'll give this to dad tomorrow.

11. I should watch some of the stuff on my computer. I can't download anymore stuff because I have no space. At the very least I should burn them onto DVD.

I think that's everything. Let's hope I can check them off quickly. I've wasted these past 3 days doing absolutely nothing. Sure, I've refreshed but this is a critical part of my life. I have to be more diligent or the start of 2005 will be difficult.


What a darling. Hopefully, you guys promoted Natalie by seeing her new movie "Closer" opening up this weekend.

posted by John @ 5:45 PM Comments: 3

Truth Be Told

It is crunch time. 2 minute warning and I am ahead by one score. All I need to do is hang in there and I will prevail.

The bad news department has been quiet lately but recently got its biggest blow. I have been put on the waiting list for the dorm. This sucks balls. So I must recalculate my strategy. I am estimating that I will come home once a month, so that will equal a lot of rental costs. A bike would save me some money over a car but it won't look so affordable after rental is taken in. I don't know what is best. I'm just going to use my sister's advice. Go down there and check out the bulletin boards. I might be able to find someone who I can room with and not have to drive. Could happen you know. For now I will just idle. I don't want to think of what I have to do. I just want to relax. My brain is in flux.

Ying Ying wants to go to Canada. I'm down. I'm always down for traveling when I have so much time. It's odd how our conversation went. At first, there was a scheduling conflict with me. So she goes, "No No No, you go fix it!" After a little more whining I said, "Fine I will fix it." And then she second guesses herself and thinks, maybe she shouldn't go. Back and forth flip-flop... If my sister had not given me so much practice in life, I would be slightly miffed. I'm so used to it that it's just another... blech to me. Anyway, I think it's her restlessness spirit that is prompting the spontaneity. Almost finished with the quarter, prospect of moving out and a boyfriend who isn't cooperating... I have that feeling too. It's like you're entering a new path in life and you just want to do something. Something, anything to commemorate it I suppose. Unfortunately for her, responsibility and faithfulness will hold her back. I'm just tagging along for the ride. And if the ride is not there, I will sit at home and watch Sailor Moon. I have no life. But at this moment, I don't really need one. Priorities negate that luxury.

posted by John @ 7:05 PM Comments: 0

Agree to Disagree Reviews

Kim's iBook

This is a sweet machine. Having gone on two trips with it, I am really getting to like it a lot. It's just so stylish. The slot loading dvd drive is so easy to use. There's no need to wait for the dvd to come out anymore and snap it into place. The power cord is also phenomenal. I like how it lights up when you plug it in. Battery life is impressive. It never once ran out of battery on us and the dvd drive was churning the whole way. The unit is lightweight and small. There are a few cons though. The viewing angle of the screen is poor. So when two people watch it, some of the screen is unwatchable. Also some of the letters on the keyboard labels have been rubbed out. They should have been on a protective layer over it so that wouldn't happen. And the slot loading design albeit cool would make it difficult for library cds that have a sticker on the top. I almost couldn't put in some of my dvds that came from the library. It was too thick to fit in the slot.

Chrysler Sebring

This was a piece of crap car when I rented the convertible version 8 years ago and the recently updated one although improved is still bad. Loud coarse engine, and a bad starter on the previous Sebring forced us to refuel while the car was on because if we stopped the car, who knew if it would start up again. The convertible roof leaked as well. The tires and suspension were so poor that an overheating prelude that had to stop to let the engine cool down still beat us to Reno. I had to open up the hood to believe that this car was indeed V6 powered.
Let's start with the positives shall we? Although subjective, I thought this car was very attractive. The rooflines and headlights formed a very solid looking piece of engineering. I felt proud that people saw me in this machine. When I saw other Sebrings on the road, I thought, "Nice car." The trunk doesn't use hinges but instead uses air shocks, this makes it so that the hinges don't impeed into the trunk space. The 2.7 litre 200 hp V6 engine was certainly very strong, a big improvement over its predecessor. I'm amazed a domestic company was able to squeeze that much power out of that small of a displacement. Of course it gave excellent fuel economy, over 25 mpg.
And we'll do the negatives now. The interior was plastic city. What in the world? You have power seats and you line the dashboard with hard bad fitting plastics? The steering wheel material was awful, my hands sweat on them. And the steering, quite awful. One twitch and the car would lurch in that direction. You have to hold the wheel entirely steady to keep it in a straight line. That kind of micro-management on a long drive is intensely unappealing. The engine and tires were extremely loud and the buzzing was distracting. The HVAC controls has no AC button of recirculate. So you don't know if AC is on and if you get behind a smelly car you have to turn off the fan or turn on AC because it is always on refresh otherwise. Terrible. 3 buttons, 3 dials. That is how it should be done. The breaks were making creaking noises at 10k miles. And to top it off, the car stalled on me. Not since a 1992 Honda Accord with 80k miles on it has a car stalled on me. Brand new? right...
So now I have driven a new GM, Ford, and Chrysler. And it seems only Ford has got the right idea.

Here are a few things I watched:

View From the Top - Thumbs up

It's hard to see Gwyneth Paltrow as white trash but she does such a good job as one. If she wasn't so often stimatized as a glamourous woman, she'd fit the part perfectly. I didn't like the comedy aspect, they wanted to make it screwball-ish at the beginning and then just forgot about it later on like White Dragon or Pleasantville. It turned into a drama in the second half of the movie. Mike Myers was hilarious, how does he do that to his eye.

Drawn Together - Thumbs down

Too vulgar for my tastes. They seem to think disgusting the audience is a good way for a cheap laugh. It works on Ren and Stimpy because it is a kids show. It doesn't work here. The sexual references are totally not for kids. The quality of the animation is also very poor. This is to be expected if the artists have to draw in conformity to what they are satirizing. Just try to compare the songs in Family Guy and Drawn Together and you can hear the difference in lyrics and production. Drawn Together sounds like it was produced out of a garage. The Annie song on Family Guy won an Emmy. I doubt any songs on this "reality" tv show will win anything. The characters are hardly lovable besides Xandir or the Spongebob guy. Everyone else leaves you with a taste of disdain for them.

The Day After Tomorrow - Thumbs up

What a thrilling roller-coaster ride. No deep thoughts here. Just wild special effects and a simple story of father searching for his son. Don't bother with the scientific mumbo jumbo, it doesn't make sense even if you do understand it. If you want a movie that requires little brain cells and something to root for in the end, this movie is for you.

White Dragon - Thumbs up

This stars Cecilia Cheng in another kungfu comedy. But like I said, it's only funny in the beginning and then turns into a drama at the end. The comedy actually detracted from the main theme of the story. Basically, a blind man becomes a bounty hunter so that he can save up money to get an operation to fix his eyes. One of his target's is Cecilia's lover. So she goes to try to kill him before he succeeds in his mission. She fails unfortunately and breaks her leg in the process. He decides to nurse her back to health in his home but as she recovers he falls in love with her. They're interaction is what made the movie so enjoyable. I definitely recommend you check this out.

So I had a good vacation. I saw a trio of good movies and relaxed myself. I love roadtrips. Oh on an anal hindsight. Those two girls have been coming in separately lately. And guess what, no cup of joe in their hands and they are on time.

posted by John @ 9:26 PM Comments: 0