California Games

Back in the day there was this cheesy stupid video game called "California Games". It wasn't really that great, but it was one of those compilation video games that have a bunch of little activities. Like skateboarding, and.. *looks it up in wikipedia*.. roller skating, and other "Cali" games....

Anyway, the point is that one of the great perks of living in California is all the outdoor activities i couldn't do in Georgia or Texas. For example, in my first 3 months in California, i went to the beach to go surfing, went to a few mountains to go snowboarding a few times, and rode ATVs with my cousins and uncle. So much activities! So i've been looking into getting a mountain bike and new snowboard.

Wait, what was the point of this post? It's late and i've got physics on the brain.... Anyway, i've gotta buckle down for the sprint to the end of the quarter. It's sad that the only class i'm doing well in is a stinking humanities class and all my science classes are not so awesome. Next quarter is supposed to be worse since i'll be in 3 sciences with 3 labs and i'll have to be studying for my DATs too. i've realized that we HAVE time. Or at least i do. i mean, i don't work so there's all that time right there, but i don't use what time i have to study. Why!?! i can spend hours reading about some old book about a guy's ruminations about being a 20-something, but i can't sit and read my text book for 15 mins. Hrmm... i wonder. i guess it's good that i don't have a beta key to Starcraft 2...

Meandering... i hope i read these posts in 10 years as a successful dentist driving a Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited (or 2020 equivalent vehicle) with a bike and snowboard rack for my Specialized Stumpjumper FSR and Burton Custom V-Rocker. Anyway, who's to say i'm not happy just because i want other things. Happiness does not mean your wants go away. It just means you're happy. They're not mutually exclusive. For me it just means i'm bored. i need diversions. i should study.

Photog/Snow Blog

i like hobbies that i can analyze with science. i mean, not to say i get all super technical and geeked out, but let me spotlight how i view two of my more favorite activities. Snowboarding and photography.

So there's snowboarding: i look at snowboarding with my very rudimentary knowledge of physics. i try to plot jumps based on trajectory to ease the downward force of landing. i carve the mountain while thinking of what motions and movements i can and can't do to fall on my face. i use my observations about the surface (powder, slush, or the dreaded ice..) to figure out what i should and definitely shouldn't do to avoid destroying myself. i calculate the time of runs and estimate lift times to find out how many runs i can get in before closing time. i can't say i process all these factors like some super computer tracking weather patterns of the world, but more like a LeapFrog computer teaches math to grade schoolers.

Well, not quite THAT dumb, but closer to that than the supercomputer unfortunately. And it's more entertaining that way. The subtle improvements i can make with my mind and current body far outweigh any of the improvements i am willing to make by toning my body for snowboarding. Or i'm just lazy.

And with photography. i wish i wish i wish that i could view that hobby with more artistic flare, but alas that is not how i view it. i like sharp pictures. i like clarity and manipulating bokeh. i suppose i'm working on my angles and point of view, but mostly it's the science of the camera that draws me in. The technology at minimizing noise at higher ISO. The image stabilization of the better lenses along with a beautifully fast, low aperture... those are what i like. The movie capabilities of newer digital SLRs. Perhaps it's akin to a fan of NASCAR marveling at the power of the cars instead of actually caring about driving the car or winning the race... or i'm reaching for loose analogies. But yeah, i like to say i'm more a documentary-style picture taker. A very straightforward "this is what happened" and "this is what people looked like". So yeah, i'd be a crappy wedding photographer. Plus i get super sweaty for some reason when i'm under pressure and taking photos. It's gross.

So, yeah, i wish i could view these hobbies with a more even methodology. A way to mix the art with the science; but i guess that's just not the way it works (fragment + semi-colon = awesome). In a lot of ways, it's ok though. i like looking at other peoples' great pictures and enjoying them for what they are. Sure, i can think of the technical aspects (PHOTOSHOP!) about a person's pictures or the mechanics of a snowboard trick, but in the end.. they did what i couldn't do and i can honestly say i'm glad for it. The world would be a crappy place if it were based on my limitations.

p.s. not to say i'm crappy, because i'm totally awesome. just saying that i'd have no room to grow because i'd be the king! mwah ah hahaha. Time to catch up on the Office!

Stuffers

I'm sorry, but a gourmet burger is still just a burger. i don't know who came up with that idea, but they should be commended and shot. i mean, good job... i guess you make your burger sound more fancy, but i know the reality. You're adding like 3 dollars worth of ingredients and garlic salt and charging 7 dollars more.

Oh well, i'm over that. Also on the list of overpriced food... Olive Garden. How can pasta ever cost 12 bucks? The pasta probably costs 50 cents and their sauce doesn't even have much meat or anything (maybe it's laced with gold or drugs... then maybe i'd understand). That's just wrong. And what's with their ever-decreasing portions? The Tour of Italy used to be a force to be reckoned with.. and now it's basically a "generic Italian food" sampler.

Anyway, i have to write a paper, hence i'm blogging.

i don't know what it is about times like these... but i've been reflecting a lot on the past and i remember cutting a lot of people out of my life. Mostly unintentionally because i'm a crappy friend, but it's like.. there's no time to stay connected! Everyone's everywhere and it's impossible to stay in contact. i suppose i should try more. i feel like i could go years without talking to somebody and, as long as i was still on good terms with them, i would have no problem chatting it up. i recently spoke to someone i haven't spoken to in a while and a veritable.. tidal wave of past memories came sweeping over me. i remember why we slowly stopped talking and it was in my own shame that i kept from trying to stay in contact. So no more! Not exactly a New Year's resolution, but just one of those resolutions i don't ever want to forget.

School, work, school/work, school.

Why does it feel like i only have two options in my life?

i can either work or i can go to school.

That's it!!!! AHHH!

i suppose it's a bit unreasonable to expect to get paid to do something i enjoy. Like getting paid to sleep and watch favorite TV shows... or snowboarding.. or taking pictures. Yeah, yeah, there's professional sports and photography, but i'm no Shaun White or... Ansel Adams. i just enjoy doing that stuff. So prove me wrong by paying me to crash and burn on mini-jumps or to take blurry pictures of your cat.

Similar concepts: Everything that tastes good isn't particularly good for you. Flying to space will cost you 20 million dollars.

Imagining everything going well with all my future plans, my happiness wouldn't be in my completion of dent school. It would be in the relationships and friendships i've made. Seriously, i mean, why would anyone say anything different? Maybe robots. Not saying i'm all hyper-emotional, but i've gotten all kinds of trinkets and gadgets for myself and it doesn't make me all that happy. i would say i feel temporarily... sated. Should i find happiness in personal accomplishments though? Would thinking that way motivate me to accomplish my goals with more gusto? Probably, but that's kind of against my personal statement. What is my personal statement? (echo.. echo....) Well, i know it's not finding satisfaction in personal accomplishments. In fact, i find that the more acknowledgement and rewards i received in the AF, the less and less i did. Sure, i felt a subtle pride on occasion, but this only made me feel worse about myself when i'd evaluate my emotions. So please don't compliment me. It leads me onto a path of self-destruction. i'm emo.

So what's the point....?

But yeah, the root of all this is money. Evil! i don't mind school except the fact i have to pay for it and all the other things i have to pay for while there's less income than if i were working. And working isn't so bad, but it's kind of the anti-school... You make money, but you don't learn too much. Except how all the people in your office are annoying or how mundane your life has become with all conversation revolving around American Idol, weather, and/or traffic.

Anyway, i'm just bummed because i find that i'd rather blog about pointless things than study. i've got my DATs coming up soon and if i want to get my app in early i've gotta take it earlier... so i'm aiming for late June. Yay. Only 5-6 years til i can transition from this school thing to the work thing again. At least i can theoretically get more money so i can buy myself more expensive things. Yay.....