JohnA lifeBlog

NOTE: My computer crashed while writing the previous version of this post, so this one will be more concise than I originally intended, as I can’t stand doing things twice.

First, I have placed day 2 pictures online. Click here to see the gallery!

Anyway, this is our busiest time of year, and we have all been working non-stop, and I decided that I needed a break. So, I planned a trip down to Anaheim to go to Disneyland, a place I’ve not visited since I was a toddler (Actually, I was born in The O.C., but that’s a story for another day)

Moving on… we begin on Saturday morning, where I boarded an Amtrak train to begin my trip. Here’s how Amtrak works out here. Basically, you take a train from Merced to Bakersfield. Once in Bakersfield, you take a bus to the next big hub. In my case, the target hub was Union Station in Los Angeles. After I arrived in LA, I took the train to Anaheim.

I made reservations at the Hampton Inn Garden Grove, which was not a bad hotel (though I did have issues… I’ll post the letter I wrote to their corporate offices later). The great thing about the hotel was that it was located right on the Anaheim Resort Transit bus line, so I was able to visit any place in Anaheim without needing to call a taxi.

Since I didn’t arrive until around 3:30pm, I decided to take a nap and not visit a park. At around 6:30pm, I caught the bus to Downtown Disney to see what was happening.

It was a Saturday night, so it was completely impossible for me to actually find a place to have dinner, so I decided to simply walk around. I went into Marceline’s Confectionary, and bought myself a pound of Goofy’s Taffy. Go me.

Anyhoo, I watched some bands, and when I got hungry, I chose to visit a non-Disney restaurant right outside of my hotel, where I enjoyed the best Chicken Parmesan I have ever eaten… good times.

I went to bed feeing refreshed and excited. It was what I needed for a travel day.

Tomorrow, I’ll post about my first day in the park.

I had the distinct pleasure to take some time off and completely abandon work. While there is much to be done, I have uploaded a preliminary gallery to my website at

http://johna.org/photos/wdl2006Day1/

Tomorrow, I’ll share day 2 photos, as well as the stories behind them.Oh, and as a last comment, I was sincerely pissed that the Main Street Electrical Parade was turned into a second-class citizen performed only during summer.

The happiest place in the world? Only if you chose not to deviate from a single statistical norm, thanks.

That’s right. Our reluctant hero has booked a little mini-vacation.

On Saturday Morning, I’m taking the train down to Anaheim, for a 4 day, 3 night vacation to Disneyland / California Adventures. I might also go to Knott’s Berry Farm, a place I apparently used to love when I was a kid.  I’ll return on the following Tuesday.

I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures, get Mickey’s autograph, as well as acquire one of those Mickey Mouse hats with my name embroidered on the back.  Jealous much?

You know, despite all the crap I am dealing with, I try my best to look at the bright side of life. But the truth is… were you to browse MySpace for this town, you would realize that there isn’t a single intelligent woman with goals anywhere. When I browse, I find these delightful women:

EDIT: Yes, I know, I am picky. But the truth is that I would never be able to interact with a woman who wasn’t in possession of at least a MENSA level IQ. Not to be a snob, but if your IQ is under 140, please, move along. Anyway, back to the show.

EDIT 2: I made this post private because I felt it was far too harsh. But in retrospect, I realize that it is the truth, harsh or not.

Olivia, whose goal this year is to “FIND A NEW JOB & GET MY ASS BACK TO SCHOOL”
Angelina, who brags as follows… “Hello,Let begin by saying I am a SWEET n SOUR TYPE OF LADY, cUZ WEN im SWEET im VERY ooohhh SO sweet BUT WHEN AND IF YOU get me SOUR,I am really Pucker your lips foul TART-SOURY taste! SO LETS BE ON MY GOODSIDE SO SOME OF YOU GUYS/GaLs DON’T JUST THINK IM JUST A STRAIGHT BYTCH…lol”
And who can forget Shannon, who shares this wisdom: “They call me Betty BAng *** Bang ‘em Betty ** Black Betty or Betty Bang Bang…what ever you do do not call me UNREMARKABLE!!!!!! i AM A MIXTURE OF SHERRI MOON HEHEHEHEHE* bETTY pAIGE 9pin me UP!!0″

No wonder Merced County is among the nation’s top 10 least educated counties.

Maybe I should seek a lobotomy from a qualified professional… at least it will keep me from realizing what a horrible place I live in.

Although MySpace really isn’t the world’s greatest place to meet interesting and intelligent career women…

Tonight’s post is kind of a rant. And no, it’s not a rant about how Netflix has yet to “receive” the 6 DVDs I sent last Wednesday.

No, tonight’s rant is about the true benefits of trying to succeed. To argue my point, we’ll need some backstory.

In 2003, my super-cool friend Jonathan called me and asked how I was doing. The usual smalltalk followed, then he asked if I would move to California with him.

Mind you, I had never heard of Merced, but, being the nice guy I am, I agreed.

When we first arrived, I had NOTHING. I was living off of around $3,500 cash I had managed to accumulate.

Fast forward to today. We have a growing business with lots of new employees. I am doing great financially, and respect what I have.

I have been required to work for what I have, plain & simple. I struggled through months on end where I had nothing. There were times where my friends had to coax me into taking $100 from them. Today, I’m on the other side of that coin.

But tonight’s post is about karma and balance. I am not that person anymore. Indeed, I am the one offering the help, rather than the one receiving it.

So how do you balance such a past with today’s present? I don’t know, and I wish I did…

EDIT:  No, I’m not rich.  I’m making far less than I did during the consulting heydey, but I still think it’s important to help, in a little or a lot.

Another day, another year.

Actually, the run up to this year’s birthday was much worse than the actual birthday itself.

It started out with getting a card from my co-workers during our morning team meeting. They bought me two books, Everyday Italian by the GORGEOUS Giada De Laurentiis, and a copy of Classic 30 Minute Meals by the absolutely adorable and talented Rachael Ray. They also got me a great set of pots and pans from Costco.

Work went well, with a number of our merchants wishing me happy birthday.

Later on that evening, we all had dinner at Bubba’s. Jonathan’s son Noah was (naturally) the highlight of the evening, but we all had a good time. And, thankfully, there are pictures!

Suddenly this birthday doesn’t seem as ominous… the next one is the worst, or so I hear.

Thank you, everyone, for helping me see past the bad and enjoy the good.

It seems like I am always the last person to know about these things.

My über-classy friend Anne recently posted on her blog that she adores Studio 60 beyond all of her expectations. Which, when I originally read that comment, I thought, “Yeah right. I mean this is a woman who loves Gilmore Girls”

Anyhoo, I downloaded the first 3 episodes, and just finished watching the first one (the pilot). And, as much as I hate to admit it, she was wrong. It doesn’t simply exceed all expectations. Studio 60 is an instant classic, a show that fires on every single cylinder. The writing is brilliant, the emotions real, and the casting absolutely perfect. I instantly knew this would be a new favorite show, and apparently, as noted by Anne in a later post, we’re not the only ones to notice.

Simply put, this is television done right. I now have so much more to look forward to on Monday nights.

The 6.0 release of IDEA, one of the most popular Java IDEs, is now available for download. Check out some of the great new features, including integrated GWT support.

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