Finally, Eric has come back to ...

Here I am, it's Saturday, September 19, and I'm about four days out from traveling back to Japan.

It's funny, but you would think a trip as big as this would be something I would have kept track of. Yet, I only realized about a week ago that this was really happening! That I was going back to see Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto! Luckily, I planned ahead a little bit and had some $$$ changed into ¥ at my bank so I would already have cash upon landing (it helps to actually have the correct currency if I want to get some snacks at the airport). But this week I've been a whirlwind of activity; getting supplies and medicine, taking care of bills early, preparing my cameras, charging my netbook and psp, and zoning out at work occasionally because I'd rather think about Japan.

So, what am I looking for on this trip? Wherever I go, I always want to experience the culture, people and food. Mmmmmmmmm ... food and drink! Okinomiyaki, yakisoba, ramen, curry, Mos Burger, yakiniku, Asahi Super Dry, sake, tea! I am a huge gamer, so the fact that Intermixi is going to the Tokyo Game Show is Pure Win! Shopping, and this time not just for myself. There's so much I can buy: electronics, games, souvenirs, figures, anime goods/merchandise, clothes, etc. I plan on taking a lot of pictures wherever we go. I've kind of taken up photography as a minor hobby, and I am hoping that I can really capture some memories. Going through the cities, walking in the big intersection in Shibuya, seeing Hachiko, walking through Harajuku, maybe even see some street performers. I also can't wait to meet the other people going on this tour. I've met great people on my previous tours, and I expect that trend to continue.

Ugh, I still have a lot to do. It doesn't help that I will be visiting a friend in Los Angeles, so I need to have everything ready and packed before I fly out tomorrow. But it doesn't matter, this is what a trip is all about!

This is how you sell a video game!

Day of Introspection: Redux

I cannot believe that it has almost been a year, one whole calendar year, since I came back to Florida from California. Going through my posts over time, I noticed that after a year in California I made a kind of progress report. Talked about what I had done and what I was planning to do. I think I'd like to make that a yearly tradition here (the evaluation of life; not the moving cross-country). As a refresher, I'll link to the old posts from July/August of last year.

Day of Introspection: Part 1
Day of Introspection: Part 2
Day of Introspection: Part 3

I started going in to this a little bit in a post about a month ago. I don't know if I'll go into it too deep just now either. But I can give a brief progress report as things stand right now.

Professional Goals: I feel like my time working in California was very productive and helped me to further focus on where I would like to take my career. I was lucky to be able to find a job almost immediately upon returning to Florida, and I have a renewed interest in developing my skills and even mentoring my coworkers. My immediate goal is to renew my CCNA certification, and then work on getting one of the CCNA specializations (most likely CCNA Voice).

Fitness Goals: One problem I've had since coming back to Florida has been letting my overall fitness decline a bit. I didn't work out too much in California, but I walked a lot more both at home and at work. The communities I lived and worked in allowed for walking to stores and restaurants more readily than where I live in Tampa. And I will admit, I let my diet get a little out of control. So, I've begun an exercise program again and I am working on getting my meals down to smaller portions spread out over the course of the day. I may even take up martial arts again, either Kung Fu or Muay Thai.

Relationships: This one has always been a tough one for me. And not one I feel like talking about too much. So, we'll just say this one is a work in progress and leave it at that.

The Venture Bros. Season 4 Preview Is Pure Bliss and Madness

Awesome. That is all.

Can't think of title ... doesn't matter anyway ...

Dammit! I've overslept the last two days and have not made it to the gym. Just started a new workout routine 3 weeks ago and I do not want to relapse into laziness. I need to catch up the rest of this week and get myself back on schedule.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe Will Break Your Heart

Saw this on Topless Robot yesterday.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Languor

Pic grabbed from: http://abanzai.animeblogger.net/2007/05/01/lucky-star-04/

lan·guor
[lang-ger]
–noun
1. lack of energy or vitality; sluggishness.
2. lack of spirit or interest; listlessness; stagnation.


It's been one of those weeks. Hell, feels like it's been one of those months, and I'm only two weeks into it. I had some major projects that I've wanted to work on that I've let lapse. Haven't really done too much, aside from work and ... well, not really doing much at all at home. Just feel like at times recently I've suffered from some mental and physical exhaustion. Just can't put my finger on why, though.

It's not like I haven't been doing things I enjoy. I recently went to the evening practice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. I'm hosting a party tonight, where friends from my normal circle and friends from work will all be in attendance. The Gators are the preseason #1 in the USA Today coaches' poll! And I'm pretty much booked for a nice, two-week vacation at the end of September through the first few days of October. Going to start off in Los Angeles and then head out to Japan for a 10-day tour!

Besides all that, I've restarted my workout regimen with a new plan that will hopefully help me shed some fat. Also joined a friend of mine and started climbing again at Vertical Ventures. I plan on heading out to enjoy the Florida beaches real soon. And I've got all my ongoing projects, like: renewing my CCNA certification, and continuing on to CCNA Voice and CCNP; learning a foreign language; make a serious effort to date and get a girlfriend; train myself to be a better cook; and clean up, reorganize and improve my home.

(o.O)

You know, reading over all of that again maybe that is why I've been lethargic these last two weeks. Maybe I'll just concentrate on that girlfriend part for now ...

Ong-Bak 2

I don't need to tell you, I will be see this when it comes out in theaters.

Conan O'Brien at Bang Zoom Entertainment

Awesome! Just awesome!

Selfless Promotion

I just wanted to point people to some music videos made by a talented friend of mine.


Icarus



Hideaway (222 Version)



Divine Sickness (222 Version)



Hope y'all give him some love!

Wait ... Where did the first half of 2009 go?

Is it really July already?

I was actually working on a new post, but time just seems to be flying by and I have nothing to show for it. I did recently celebrate two birthdays, one for a friend and another one being my niece's. Working on some other activities/projects, but nothing concrete enough to warrant a posting about it.

Let's see what I can come up with later this week.

I give this website the highest rating possible

Someone has taken my personal ratings system for movies and created what may possibly be the greatest website known to mankind. Here it is!

Most Influential Influence

Wait ... you mean I'm supposed to update this thing?

So, yeah, haven't really said or done much of anything in this space in a while. Don't really know why, just haven't. I'm working on something to post, hopefully in the next day or two. Until then, I'll just put up some videos that caught my interest this week.

You trying to be a hero, Watkins? Just trying to kill some bugs, sir.

For a little while now, my roommates and myself have been dealing with an issue in my house. An infestation, really, and it's proved difficult at first to identify. It started in X's room, where he would often find bites consisting of a raised red bump or flat welt somewhere around his hands or near his ankles. They looked like mosquito bites, and that's what we originally attributed them to. But we could not find any mosquitoes anywhere inside the house, and we really did not see evidence of them outside of the house. Weirdest thing, is that he would always find new bites upon waking up from ... bed ... uh oh ...

Bedbugs!

So. Much. Fun. I won't go into the long and gory details about this wonderful pest. You can read the Wikipedia entry I linked to, or if you prefer, this one from Britannica Online. Needless to say, these little critters have been a big nuisance. We tried some home remedies, like home foggers and such, but although I believe we killed many of them it never seemed like we could eliminate them all. What was worse, we would bomb a room and the infestation would disappear for a while only to reappear in another room.

Finally, I got too annoyed with the whole situation and finally decided to call in the professionals. A major treatment was made to my house yesterday. Hopefully, that will eliminate the whole lot of them.

YES! MvC2

I spent so much money playing this in college at our local arcade. I made friends playing this game. I cannot wait until this is released. I'll buy it on both my PS3 and Xbox360.

Family Guy: What God Is Up To

This Is How Intermixi Rolls

Want to go to Japan?

Greatest. Video. Ever!

Taste The Deliciousness

Had to order a piece of California and have it shipped to me. This came from Marini's Candies, which had a location about a block away from where I worked in Santa Cruz.

Chocolate-covered bacon. Nom nom nom.

A coworker of mine had requested I bring some from California when I moved back, but I was unable to do so. I then realized a few days ago that Marini's would ship their candies since it is not summer yet. So, an order was put in and then promptly snatched from my hands!

Does he tempt the awesomeness!?

Hell yes!