I really love this song... called The Funeral by Band of Horses. It's used on a current Ford Edge commercial where a girl starts gazing into the panoramic roof and loses track of what she's doing or where she's at.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Crystal Mountain - Let the season begin!
What a great day on the mountain. 19 new inches. Small crowd. Soft landings for when I crashed. A Seahawks win. And good friends. All for only $35.
And our timing couldn't have been better, because as we drove home, the weather got warmer and it started raining non stop (and ended up flooding absolutely everywhere). I believe about 10 inches were knocked off the bases at most ski areas.
So no one seems to know when the ski areas will open up next. But I don't mind too much, since I'm still recovering from Sunday.
BTW, breaking in new boots has always been a chore, but I've never had my feet hurt SO much. I got this new pair of Vans Encore BOAs. BOA boots are the kind with the 'dial' lacing system, that gets your boot really tight.
I've always liked my boots really tight, so I don't go breaking any ankles or anything. But these were too tight, and in all the wrong places. I may go back to my trusty Salomons.
See you on the mountain!
And our timing couldn't have been better, because as we drove home, the weather got warmer and it started raining non stop (and ended up flooding absolutely everywhere). I believe about 10 inches were knocked off the bases at most ski areas.
So no one seems to know when the ski areas will open up next. But I don't mind too much, since I'm still recovering from Sunday.
BTW, breaking in new boots has always been a chore, but I've never had my feet hurt SO much. I got this new pair of Vans Encore BOAs. BOA boots are the kind with the 'dial' lacing system, that gets your boot really tight.
I've always liked my boots really tight, so I don't go breaking any ankles or anything. But these were too tight, and in all the wrong places. I may go back to my trusty Salomons.
See you on the mountain!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
First Hawks game at Qwest Field
Thanks to the Stevens' and their generosity, I finally got a chance to watch a Seahawks game live. And I decided to take Scotty, one of my friends from way back (middle school).
First a 'first time', I was pretty spoiled. We sat in Section 234, 6 rows back. Great seats. With Wells Fargo Club access, not bad either. We got to enjoy some free food, some hard liquor, and hung out with some local celebs (like MLB pitcher Jeff Nelson).
It's LOUD there. Louder than I could have imagined. And it's like a switch flips on when the Hawks go on defense. And hearing everyone else scream definitely makes you want to scream as well. Which is why I still have no voice left.
It was also cool that it was a Monday Night Football game. So it was nationally televised, and people like Steve Young and Emmitt Smith were roaming the sidelines.
People are always comparing baseball games to football games... but there's really no comparison, it's like apples vs oranges. If you want a hyped up atmosphere, with crazy costumes and people screaming their lungs out, go to a football game. If you want to relax, enjoy some food and talk to your friends while watching professional athletes, then go to a baseball game.
The one sport I really can't attend is basketball. I don't mind watching basketball on TV, but when I see it live, I "always" feel like, "Hmm... it's the 4th quarter and it's tied. Did I REALLY need to watch the first 3 quarters?"
The funniest moment for me was when we were in the Coach's Loft, I noticed a #24 Deon Grant jersey. It's a jersey I've been looking for everywhere, since he happens to live a few homes down from me and has become one of my favorite players to watch.
Scotty (a little tipsy) goes up to the guy wearing the jersey, who was on his cell phone. Scotty says, "Hey man, where'd you get that jersey from? That's Grant's neighbor (pointing to me) and he can't find it anywhere!"
The guy says into his cell, "Hold on a sec, I'm talking to Deon Grant's neighbor," as if I'm some celebrity.
Alas, I'm now known as 'Deon Grant's Neighbor."
First a 'first time', I was pretty spoiled. We sat in Section 234, 6 rows back. Great seats. With Wells Fargo Club access, not bad either. We got to enjoy some free food, some hard liquor, and hung out with some local celebs (like MLB pitcher Jeff Nelson).
It's LOUD there. Louder than I could have imagined. And it's like a switch flips on when the Hawks go on defense. And hearing everyone else scream definitely makes you want to scream as well. Which is why I still have no voice left.
It was also cool that it was a Monday Night Football game. So it was nationally televised, and people like Steve Young and Emmitt Smith were roaming the sidelines.
People are always comparing baseball games to football games... but there's really no comparison, it's like apples vs oranges. If you want a hyped up atmosphere, with crazy costumes and people screaming their lungs out, go to a football game. If you want to relax, enjoy some food and talk to your friends while watching professional athletes, then go to a baseball game.
The one sport I really can't attend is basketball. I don't mind watching basketball on TV, but when I see it live, I "always" feel like, "Hmm... it's the 4th quarter and it's tied. Did I REALLY need to watch the first 3 quarters?"
The funniest moment for me was when we were in the Coach's Loft, I noticed a #24 Deon Grant jersey. It's a jersey I've been looking for everywhere, since he happens to live a few homes down from me and has become one of my favorite players to watch.
Scotty (a little tipsy) goes up to the guy wearing the jersey, who was on his cell phone. Scotty says, "Hey man, where'd you get that jersey from? That's Grant's neighbor (pointing to me) and he can't find it anywhere!"
The guy says into his cell, "Hold on a sec, I'm talking to Deon Grant's neighbor," as if I'm some celebrity.
Alas, I'm now known as 'Deon Grant's Neighbor."
Saturday, September 29, 2007
End of September Gossip on the Eastside
Club Vertigo in Bellevue, Washington- delayed... again.
But have no fear, it's pretty much ready to go. What it's waiting for are extra sprinklers to be installed. After receiving a private tour of the club, I'll have to warn all my friends... dress nicely and don't expect this to be "Club Venom of the Eastside." It's aiming for an older demographic and is more like a really upscale lounge with a dance floor. Don't expect loud techno or rap music to be playing. I think it'll be great for those of us who are getting a little older, but are tired of the same old bar scene. I can't wait.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Kirkland, Washington... again.
So rumor has it that Ty Pennington has been out and about in downtown Kirkland. Which makes sense since they're working on the house at 10203 - 116th Ave NE in Kirkland this week. Go check it out! Maybe you'll get on TV. It would be interesting to watch a house go up in 7 days.
Jones Soda
I love Jones Soda. It's no secret. Any spare money I have, I use it to buy shares of Jones Soda (JSDA). And the stock has always been good to me. This week, they came out with flavors to honor the Seattle Seahawks. Those flavors include Dirt, Perspiration, Sports Cream, Natural Field Turf, and Sweet Victory Soda. They're available in limited quantities. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I'll probably find it at QFC.
Joeys in Bellevue - No more
Over the past 2 months, I've been going to Joeys Restaurant in Bellevue quite a bit (just check out all the pictures on FlickR). But, thanks to a combination of things, I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
It sucks when a company doesn't understand their clientèle. Joeys obviously has several things going for them. The location there on 8th and Bellevue Way just cannot be beat. Everyone knows where it is, and is always willing to "at least" meet up there, before we go elsewhere. The ambiance is good, not too loud, not boring... and the drinks are good. And, having gone there so much, my friends and I had become regulars there so the service was always the best it could be.
But come on... the food, quite frankly, is very bad for the price you pay. The prices are ridiculous; for everything. The "drink special" on a Corona is $3.75. I have no idea what it normally is. And there's absolutely no Happy Hour (well, there sorta is, but it's not advertised and it's like a $1.00 off a $9 drink). Any other bar in the area has better specials. I looked past all this before... but lately, it's been their management that's been bugging the hell out of me.
You would think they'd offer more incentives (happy hour, new items on the menu, and otherwise)... especially since it looks like their popularity is dwindling. I remember it used to be standing room only in the lounge there (this was over a year ago now). Now, friends would rather go elsewhere in Bellevue and I can't really blame them. And with Vertigo opening soon, I think we'll spend a lot more time at the new club.
And here are two specific reasons why their management really gets to me.
1st. We get people to go there on a Sunday, to watch some football in the lounge. During week 1 of this season, they turned the sound on for us and everyone had a good time watching the game, having lunch, and having a beer. However, the following 2 weeks, they refused to turn on the sound for the game. Even though the lounge was pretty full of people in "Seahawks" jerseys and OBVIOUSLY we all showed up to watch the game.
We find out from a server that the management wants the sound turned off because, "We're not a sports bar," they said.
Well, Joeys. I've got news for you. When 20 to 30 people show up at 1 PM on a Sunday in football jerseys, you ARE a sports bar for those 3 hours. Figure it out. How difficult is it to turn SOUND on for 3 hours? Come on!!! We're going to the Taphouse instead.
And 2nd, I don't know what's happening to their "really good" servers, but I don't see them anymore. Either the turnover is ridiculous, or the good servers are scheduled for lunch. Rumor has it that (when I went in on Thursday), one of our favorite servers was fired. If this is indeed the case... well, then there's ABSOLUTELY no reason for us to go back. She treated us as close friends and we always had fun being served by her. And we didn't mind paying $300 / $400 tabs on overpriced drinks because we were always having a great time there with all our friends. Often times with 20 to 30 people showing up.
So if this is indeed the case, Joeys, then please consider myself, Scotty, Stephen, Dustin, Lynette, Trisha, Mitch, Bethany, Min, Bec, Nate, Leigh, Jay, Vorun, Bob, Tony, Hyun, Mike, Fanny, Jeff, Annie, Jim, Grace, Taylor, and all our friends who have been coming in several times a week for the past couple months... "former" customers of yours. We may come in, get maybe one drink... but we certainly won't be gathering there en masse, having meals there, and won't be going in for Sunday game days either... unless something changes significantly.
BTW, what the heck happened to Sherman? He was great.
Anyway, there's my gossip and rant for the month.
But have no fear, it's pretty much ready to go. What it's waiting for are extra sprinklers to be installed. After receiving a private tour of the club, I'll have to warn all my friends... dress nicely and don't expect this to be "Club Venom of the Eastside." It's aiming for an older demographic and is more like a really upscale lounge with a dance floor. Don't expect loud techno or rap music to be playing. I think it'll be great for those of us who are getting a little older, but are tired of the same old bar scene. I can't wait.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Kirkland, Washington... again.
So rumor has it that Ty Pennington has been out and about in downtown Kirkland. Which makes sense since they're working on the house at 10203 - 116th Ave NE in Kirkland this week. Go check it out! Maybe you'll get on TV. It would be interesting to watch a house go up in 7 days.
Jones Soda
I love Jones Soda. It's no secret. Any spare money I have, I use it to buy shares of Jones Soda (JSDA). And the stock has always been good to me. This week, they came out with flavors to honor the Seattle Seahawks. Those flavors include Dirt, Perspiration, Sports Cream, Natural Field Turf, and Sweet Victory Soda. They're available in limited quantities. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I'll probably find it at QFC.
Joeys in Bellevue - No more
Over the past 2 months, I've been going to Joeys Restaurant in Bellevue quite a bit (just check out all the pictures on FlickR). But, thanks to a combination of things, I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
It sucks when a company doesn't understand their clientèle. Joeys obviously has several things going for them. The location there on 8th and Bellevue Way just cannot be beat. Everyone knows where it is, and is always willing to "at least" meet up there, before we go elsewhere. The ambiance is good, not too loud, not boring... and the drinks are good. And, having gone there so much, my friends and I had become regulars there so the service was always the best it could be.
But come on... the food, quite frankly, is very bad for the price you pay. The prices are ridiculous; for everything. The "drink special" on a Corona is $3.75. I have no idea what it normally is. And there's absolutely no Happy Hour (well, there sorta is, but it's not advertised and it's like a $1.00 off a $9 drink). Any other bar in the area has better specials. I looked past all this before... but lately, it's been their management that's been bugging the hell out of me.
You would think they'd offer more incentives (happy hour, new items on the menu, and otherwise)... especially since it looks like their popularity is dwindling. I remember it used to be standing room only in the lounge there (this was over a year ago now). Now, friends would rather go elsewhere in Bellevue and I can't really blame them. And with Vertigo opening soon, I think we'll spend a lot more time at the new club.
And here are two specific reasons why their management really gets to me.
1st. We get people to go there on a Sunday, to watch some football in the lounge. During week 1 of this season, they turned the sound on for us and everyone had a good time watching the game, having lunch, and having a beer. However, the following 2 weeks, they refused to turn on the sound for the game. Even though the lounge was pretty full of people in "Seahawks" jerseys and OBVIOUSLY we all showed up to watch the game.
We find out from a server that the management wants the sound turned off because, "We're not a sports bar," they said.
Well, Joeys. I've got news for you. When 20 to 30 people show up at 1 PM on a Sunday in football jerseys, you ARE a sports bar for those 3 hours. Figure it out. How difficult is it to turn SOUND on for 3 hours? Come on!!! We're going to the Taphouse instead.
And 2nd, I don't know what's happening to their "really good" servers, but I don't see them anymore. Either the turnover is ridiculous, or the good servers are scheduled for lunch. Rumor has it that (when I went in on Thursday), one of our favorite servers was fired. If this is indeed the case... well, then there's ABSOLUTELY no reason for us to go back. She treated us as close friends and we always had fun being served by her. And we didn't mind paying $300 / $400 tabs on overpriced drinks because we were always having a great time there with all our friends. Often times with 20 to 30 people showing up.
So if this is indeed the case, Joeys, then please consider myself, Scotty, Stephen, Dustin, Lynette, Trisha, Mitch, Bethany, Min, Bec, Nate, Leigh, Jay, Vorun, Bob, Tony, Hyun, Mike, Fanny, Jeff, Annie, Jim, Grace, Taylor, and all our friends who have been coming in several times a week for the past couple months... "former" customers of yours. We may come in, get maybe one drink... but we certainly won't be gathering there en masse, having meals there, and won't be going in for Sunday game days either... unless something changes significantly.
BTW, what the heck happened to Sherman? He was great.
Anyway, there's my gossip and rant for the month.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Newest acquisition - The Lodge At Mt Rainier
Recently, I purchased the Lodge at Mt Rainier, located in Ashford, Washington. I thought it'd be a great opportunity for my dad to run a business in a setting that he loves (he loves being outdoors, camping, and being close to Mt Rainier). It's best described at a resort or hotel, although not in the traditional sense.
The 16+ acre property includes various cabins and lodges that can be rented out for various occasions. Typically, the smaller buildings are rented out by couples or families on a nightly basis. However, there have been occasions where wedding parties and corporations have rented out the entire complex for a period of time. The larger lodges can accommodate up to 20-25 people in each building.
The website for the Lodge is www.rainierlodge.com.
The 16+ acre property includes various cabins and lodges that can be rented out for various occasions. Typically, the smaller buildings are rented out by couples or families on a nightly basis. However, there have been occasions where wedding parties and corporations have rented out the entire complex for a period of time. The larger lodges can accommodate up to 20-25 people in each building.
The website for the Lodge is www.rainierlodge.com.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
FINALLY!! REI is coming to Issaquah!
The other day, Reichersamer and I drove by the old Long's Drugs location in Issaquah (the one next door to Safeway on Gilman Blvd). It's been vacant for a while now. But this time, there was a lot of remodeling going on... even the face of the building was being torn down and being rebuilt. We wondered, "What kind of tenant would go through that much renovation?"
But now we know, there's probably going to be a rock wall there. Because REI is coming, yeah!
I've always thought that Issaquah (especially in the 98027 / lowlands) tends to lack a few things... a Pizza Hut or Papa John's, a big chain restaurant like Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, or Claim Jumpers (Red Robin and Chili's are 'ok'), and an upper end sporting goods store (right now, it's Big 5 Sporting Goods, Joe's Outdoors, or Costco for our goods). Thankfully, one of those wishes of mine will be fulfilled when the REI opens up.
But now we know, there's probably going to be a rock wall there. Because REI is coming, yeah!
I've always thought that Issaquah (especially in the 98027 / lowlands) tends to lack a few things... a Pizza Hut or Papa John's, a big chain restaurant like Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, or Claim Jumpers (Red Robin and Chili's are 'ok'), and an upper end sporting goods store (right now, it's Big 5 Sporting Goods, Joe's Outdoors, or Costco for our goods). Thankfully, one of those wishes of mine will be fulfilled when the REI opens up.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Introducing Michael and Fanny Tomlinson
So Jim and Annie Scurlock's wedding from 2006 is a tough one to beat. We partied until the band stopped playing and they pretty much had to kick us out. There were a ton of long-time friends, and lots of new people to meet. I always think of the fun I had at their wedding when going to other weddings.
But Michael and Fanny's wedding was just as entertaining. Since I knew both the bride and groom and most of their friends, there weren't as many new people to meet, but we still partied all night long until the DJ stopped playing music. And watching 2 semi-pro dancers getting married was a real treat. Especially when Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" started playing and they got their routine on. Lynette even got the DJ to play Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" so we could treat the crowd with a silly little dance we came up with (ok, long story).
I really liked that this wedding did not have assigned seating and was buffet style. That way, we were free to move around and mingle. Plus, the actual wedding ceremony literally took about 5 minutes and the rest was just a huge party.
Next up... the Daniel Horowitz / Janet wedding. Can't wait! Then it's the Joe Galante / Francie wedding!!
But Michael and Fanny's wedding was just as entertaining. Since I knew both the bride and groom and most of their friends, there weren't as many new people to meet, but we still partied all night long until the DJ stopped playing music. And watching 2 semi-pro dancers getting married was a real treat. Especially when Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" started playing and they got their routine on. Lynette even got the DJ to play Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" so we could treat the crowd with a silly little dance we came up with (ok, long story).
I really liked that this wedding did not have assigned seating and was buffet style. That way, we were free to move around and mingle. Plus, the actual wedding ceremony literally took about 5 minutes and the rest was just a huge party.
Next up... the Daniel Horowitz / Janet wedding. Can't wait! Then it's the Joe Galante / Francie wedding!!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Habitat for Humanity
Here's Nikki's pic from her Flickr account. The company she works for, Avanade, spent a Saturday helping out Habitat for Humanity and I was invited to tag along.
I remember volunteering once back while I was in high school, but that time, we were building a home from scratch. This time, we were remodeling an existing home.
The surprising thing about Habitat is always seeing the way some people live, and the conditions of some of these neighborhoods and homes (so close to your own). And realizing how many things you may take for granted.
So Nikki, thanks for the invite. I'm glad I could part of this organization once again.
I remember volunteering once back while I was in high school, but that time, we were building a home from scratch. This time, we were remodeling an existing home.
The surprising thing about Habitat is always seeing the way some people live, and the conditions of some of these neighborhoods and homes (so close to your own). And realizing how many things you may take for granted.
So Nikki, thanks for the invite. I'm glad I could part of this organization once again.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Vertigo Nightclub - Bellevue, WA
Everyone, be on the lookout for Vertigo Nightclub opening up in Bellevue, Washington at 989 112th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at the 989 Elements building. Will post pictures as soon as they're available.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Keep Your Friends Close
On one hand, it's gotta be exciting to be able to get up, leave everything you have, and start over somewhere new. Not knowing anybody and having a clean slate.
But for me, it's the most fun when I can send out a quick email in the morning... and by 5 PM, more than 20 friends are gathered at a local hangout having fun and causing mischief. And for no special occasion either (although we did cheers someone's new pair of pants).
Just some food, baseball game in the background, and 20 unique friends to talk to. Not much to complain about there.
But for me, it's the most fun when I can send out a quick email in the morning... and by 5 PM, more than 20 friends are gathered at a local hangout having fun and causing mischief. And for no special occasion either (although we did cheers someone's new pair of pants).
Just some food, baseball game in the background, and 20 unique friends to talk to. Not much to complain about there.
2007 Seafair Up Close
For the first time in my life, I went out of my way to try and enjoy Seafair and all the activities going on... good times. Thanks to Mitch's place on Lake Washington and Craig's boat, and Leigh's view from Leschi, and the Boston Red Sox being in town... there was a ton of fun stuff to do. Makes me appreciate Seattle just a little bit more.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
08.02.2007 - Friday vs Red Sox
And finally, there's the Red Sox game from Friday. Pretty decent seats, but I didn't expect great seats to such a high-demand game. I was pretty surprised to see the game sold out too. Mitch really wanted to go while he was in town so I found these seats in the 141 section.
The crowds at Red Sox games are always fun. And the Mariners won, so that makes it even better.
After the past 3 games, my voice is done (trying to outcheer Red Sox fans is pretty much impossible). So no more games for a while. Plus, it's exhausting getting home so late and being out in Seattle every evening (dealing with traffic, parking and so on). Besides, sometimes, I'd rather just watch at a local bar instead.
The crowds at Red Sox games are always fun. And the Mariners won, so that makes it even better.
After the past 3 games, my voice is done (trying to outcheer Red Sox fans is pretty much impossible). So no more games for a while. Plus, it's exhausting getting home so late and being out in Seattle every evening (dealing with traffic, parking and so on). Besides, sometimes, I'd rather just watch at a local bar instead.
08.01.2007 - Wednesday vs Angels
Then, the next day, Jay gets these tickets from his boss as a 'thank-you'. I'm like, "Eh, I usually don't like sitting in section 129, since it's behind home plate and I like being on third base, but I'll go with you since you've never ever been to a Mariners game."
Well, I guess when the seats are in row 11, you can see a lot more of the action. Plus, these 4 scouts were seated next to us and obviously had their eyes on King Felix. One of them had a huge 'red' Championship ring on, but I couldn't tell from which team (I'll assume Red Sox or Cardinals).
This game was as exciting as they get. Both teams needed to win this game, since they're in the same division and only a couple games apart.
And, this game had everything... from the playoff atmosphere, to the David vs Goliath aspect (Anaheim had a couple home runs, Seattle had nothing)... it even had a blown save by JJ Putz and a blown squeeze play by the Mariners.
Around 9:25 PM, we all got up on our feet, expecting the last out by JJ, and next thing you know, we're going into extra innings.
The game eventually ended in the 12th, around 11:30 PM. It's one of the most exciting games I've ever been to. The only other exciting game that comes to mind is the one where I saw tons of people get kicked out in our section, saw Charles Gibson (ABC News Anchor I think), Jay Buhner, and there was a ton of extra activity going on during the game.
Well, I guess when the seats are in row 11, you can see a lot more of the action. Plus, these 4 scouts were seated next to us and obviously had their eyes on King Felix. One of them had a huge 'red' Championship ring on, but I couldn't tell from which team (I'll assume Red Sox or Cardinals).
This game was as exciting as they get. Both teams needed to win this game, since they're in the same division and only a couple games apart.
And, this game had everything... from the playoff atmosphere, to the David vs Goliath aspect (Anaheim had a couple home runs, Seattle had nothing)... it even had a blown save by JJ Putz and a blown squeeze play by the Mariners.
Around 9:25 PM, we all got up on our feet, expecting the last out by JJ, and next thing you know, we're going into extra innings.
The game eventually ended in the 12th, around 11:30 PM. It's one of the most exciting games I've ever been to. The only other exciting game that comes to mind is the one where I saw tons of people get kicked out in our section, saw Charles Gibson (ABC News Anchor I think), Jay Buhner, and there was a ton of extra activity going on during the game.
07.31.2007 - Tuesday vs Angels
So there's a little debate running around in my head, as to where to sit at Safeco Field.
I share season tickets with a friend, but those seats are soooo good, we usually sell them for over face value.
But I get this other hook up on Tuesday. It's guys night out... 5 tickets at 3rd base, 3rd row... SWEET seats. I thought seats couldn't get any better. And we were playing division rivals (LA Angels).
We go down 0-6 in the 3rd inning, and eventually lose 0 to 8. It was a total bummer.
The highlights of the game were the prefunking Scotty and all of us did, and meeting the Beckham / Posh Spice look-alike couple with their cute baby Damien (as pictured).
PS, the rally caps did not work that night.
So, great seats, great company, but crappy game. And over $300 spent on tickets, not a good deal for that night...
I share season tickets with a friend, but those seats are soooo good, we usually sell them for over face value.
But I get this other hook up on Tuesday. It's guys night out... 5 tickets at 3rd base, 3rd row... SWEET seats. I thought seats couldn't get any better. And we were playing division rivals (LA Angels).
We go down 0-6 in the 3rd inning, and eventually lose 0 to 8. It was a total bummer.
The highlights of the game were the prefunking Scotty and all of us did, and meeting the Beckham / Posh Spice look-alike couple with their cute baby Damien (as pictured).
PS, the rally caps did not work that night.
So, great seats, great company, but crappy game. And over $300 spent on tickets, not a good deal for that night...
Racing Simulator in Bellevue
So... one of the events for Mike's bachelor party was doing a NASCAR simulator in Bellevue. Everything was going okay, until the software crashed and the Windows screen popped up as I was driving down a race track. It was painful to sit through having all the computers restart. I probably wouldn't recommend this event for a bachelor party. Maybe a children's birthday.
Morning After...
So what happens the morning after a night out at Club Venom?... Everyone needs time to recover. Which is why there were like 20 familiar faces at Pho Hoa on Gilman in Issaquah. Here are Scotty and Mindy.
Venom isn't usually where I hang out... but special circumstances and "reasons to celebrate" meant that's where all my friends would be.
But being "27" and all, I may never go back unless I want to be one of those creepy older guys who hangs out at dance clubs.
Venom isn't usually where I hang out... but special circumstances and "reasons to celebrate" meant that's where all my friends would be.
But being "27" and all, I may never go back unless I want to be one of those creepy older guys who hangs out at dance clubs.
Congratulations Ryan!
Ryan!
Natalie Michelle Erickson is officially the youngest person I've ever held in my arms. She's beautiful. And has hair.
Congratulations. I'm glad she's healthy and I'm glad I could be there with you guys.
Natalie Michelle Erickson is officially the youngest person I've ever held in my arms. She's beautiful. And has hair.
Congratulations. I'm glad she's healthy and I'm glad I could be there with you guys.
2007 Street of Dreams
Even though I screwed this picture up (the bus ride was bumpy), it's easy to make Joe and Francie look good together.
This year's Seattle Street of Dreams wasn't as impressive as the past few years... but they had an admirable theme, "Keep it under $2 million." The most expensive home was just under $2 mil, and most were around $1.6 mil. Seeing how ones in the past were so 'over the top', it was nice to see what could be done with much less money. I didn't take as many pics this year... maybe I'm officially spoiled now with my newer house and all, but a lot of the fixtures and final touches were similar to the ones in my house. So I didn't feel the need to take pictures of things that I'm used to everyday.
Anyway, the company was great though. Francie, Joe and gang know how to have a good time.
This year's Seattle Street of Dreams wasn't as impressive as the past few years... but they had an admirable theme, "Keep it under $2 million." The most expensive home was just under $2 mil, and most were around $1.6 mil. Seeing how ones in the past were so 'over the top', it was nice to see what could be done with much less money. I didn't take as many pics this year... maybe I'm officially spoiled now with my newer house and all, but a lot of the fixtures and final touches were similar to the ones in my house. So I didn't feel the need to take pictures of things that I'm used to everyday.
Anyway, the company was great though. Francie, Joe and gang know how to have a good time.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Reaction Snowboards on Wikipedia!
My former pride and joy, the company I helped start, is now on Wikipedia!
Here's a copy of it, in case major changes are made to it. I kinda like being described as "semi-retired"
==Origin==
Reaction Snowboards, Inc. was started by a group of University of Washington students in 1999. They were originally based in Issaquah, Washington. This group was led by Jin Lee and Alex Gilman. Originally, they called themselves Team Reaction Snowriders due to the fact that a few members of the group were skiers and skateboarders who did not snowboard. The team entered contests and gained local recognition, leading to sponsorship requests from companies such as Blankboard, Nice Bindings, HelmetsRUs, Silence, Avalanche, and other industry-related companies.
However, none of the original members of Team Reaction were interested in being sponsored and none wanted to snowboard competitively for a living. As a result, the group decided to design, manufacture, and market their own line of snowboards and accessories, and changed their name. In 2001, Reaction Snowboards, Inc. was born as a corporation in Washington State. Jin was named President / Treasurer, with Loren Anderson as Vice President.
==Factory-Direct==
Determined to keep friends involved in the company, Jin hired designers and friends Leigh Caplan (who designed the original Blue Pill / Red Pill snowboards), Nathan Young (who designed the first website) and Alex Gilman (who designed the Glow snowboard and the Butterfly women's snowboard). In keeping with the friendly spirit, the company motto was, "Go Big or Go Home... Dan," named after Daniel Horowitz who refused to go on some of the riskier terrain. The first Reaction Snowboards were built by Blankboard in Stanwood, Washington. After a falling out, the factory was moved to the Monson Snowboard plant in California.
Much of the success of the company was based on the fact that Reaction Snowboards cut out the middleman and were Made in the USA. The snowboards were "made-to-order" and were shipped directly to the consumer. Soon after, companies such as Illuminati Snowboards, Monument Snowboards, and other "direct-to-consumer" brands started appearing in the industry. Other companies began adding online ordering systems as well.
==Made in the USA==
Due to increasing production costs in the United States, there was huge pressure to move factories overseas to countries such as China.
However, Reaction decided to keep production in California, during a time when larger companies such as Burton, K2, Ride and Salomon were moving overseas. This helped Reaction find a loyal base of consumers and riders, and helped solidify their popularity.
==Addition of Acid Helmets==
Later in 2001, after witnessing an increase in head injuries at the mountain, Acid Helmets was created on a whim by Jin. Acid Helmets was made popular because their helmets were more affordable than many other brands, such as Giro and Boeri, yet offered the same safety features and safety ratings as those helmets that were much more expensive.
The success of Reaction Snowboards and Acid Helmets spawned copycat brands and companies, including counterfeit Reaction Snowboards that were sold at Target locations around the United States, and similar looking helmets that were not branded Acid Helmets. However, this helped increase the popularity of Reaction Snowboards and Acid Helmets.
==Ownership Change==
In 2004, Reaction Snowboards, I
nc. and Acid Helmets (along with all related websites, inventories, and intellectual properties) were sold to a group of investors in the mid-west for an undisclosed amount. As of July, 2007, Monument Snowboards has gained control of all assets related to Reaction Snowboards, Inc.
==Original Members==
Jin Lee remained with the company until it was sold in 2004, and now lives in his home in Issaquah, Washington is semi-retired. Alex Gilman, Leigh Caplan, and Nathan Young still work as website designers / artists. Loren Anderson went on to play for a professional paintball team that competes around the Northwest.
Here's a copy of it, in case major changes are made to it. I kinda like being described as "semi-retired"
==Origin==
Reaction Snowboards, Inc. was started by a group of University of Washington students in 1999. They were originally based in Issaquah, Washington. This group was led by Jin Lee and Alex Gilman. Originally, they called themselves Team Reaction Snowriders due to the fact that a few members of the group were skiers and skateboarders who did not snowboard. The team entered contests and gained local recognition, leading to sponsorship requests from companies such as Blankboard, Nice Bindings, HelmetsRUs, Silence, Avalanche, and other industry-related companies.
However, none of the original members of Team Reaction were interested in being sponsored and none wanted to snowboard competitively for a living. As a result, the group decided to design, manufacture, and market their own line of snowboards and accessories, and changed their name. In 2001, Reaction Snowboards, Inc. was born as a corporation in Washington State. Jin was named President / Treasurer, with Loren Anderson as Vice President.
==Factory-Direct==
Determined to keep friends involved in the company, Jin hired designers and friends Leigh Caplan (who designed the original Blue Pill / Red Pill snowboards), Nathan Young (who designed the first website) and Alex Gilman (who designed the Glow snowboard and the Butterfly women's snowboard). In keeping with the friendly spirit, the company motto was, "Go Big or Go Home... Dan," named after Daniel Horowitz who refused to go on some of the riskier terrain. The first Reaction Snowboards were built by Blankboard in Stanwood, Washington. After a falling out, the factory was moved to the Monson Snowboard plant in California.
Much of the success of the company was based on the fact that Reaction Snowboards cut out the middleman and were Made in the USA. The snowboards were "made-to-order" and were shipped directly to the consumer. Soon after, companies such as Illuminati Snowboards, Monument Snowboards, and other "direct-to-consumer" brands started appearing in the industry. Other companies began adding online ordering systems as well.
==Made in the USA==
Due to increasing production costs in the United States, there was huge pressure to move factories overseas to countries such as China.
However, Reaction decided to keep production in California, during a time when larger companies such as Burton, K2, Ride and Salomon were moving overseas. This helped Reaction find a loyal base of consumers and riders, and helped solidify their popularity.
==Addition of Acid Helmets==
Later in 2001, after witnessing an increase in head injuries at the mountain, Acid Helmets was created on a whim by Jin. Acid Helmets was made popular because their helmets were more affordable than many other brands, such as Giro and Boeri, yet offered the same safety features and safety ratings as those helmets that were much more expensive.
The success of Reaction Snowboards and Acid Helmets spawned copycat brands and companies, including counterfeit Reaction Snowboards that were sold at Target locations around the United States, and similar looking helmets that were not branded Acid Helmets. However, this helped increase the popularity of Reaction Snowboards and Acid Helmets.
==Ownership Change==
In 2004, Reaction Snowboards, I
nc. and Acid Helmets (along with all related websites, inventories, and intellectual properties) were sold to a group of investors in the mid-west for an undisclosed amount. As of July, 2007, Monument Snowboards has gained control of all assets related to Reaction Snowboards, Inc.==Original Members==
Jin Lee remained with the company until it was sold in 2004, and now lives in his home in Issaquah, Washington is semi-retired. Alex Gilman, Leigh Caplan, and Nathan Young still work as website designers / artists. Loren Anderson went on to play for a professional paintball team that competes around the Northwest.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Product Review - Tmobile Dash vs Apple iPhone
Okay, so being some what of a gadget nut (although not always an "early adopter"), I had to get my hands on an Apple iPhone, especially after all this hype. And especially after being in Korea last month, and seeing how superior their cell phones are compared to ours, I just had to see if an American product will be able to compete on a global level.
After purchasing a 4 GB iPhone ($499), going through the activation process and using the phone for a little while... I'd have to say that I'm just fine sticking with my Tmobile Dash (and Tmobile service).
It's clear that the iPhone is a superior device. It does everything the Dash does, only a little bit better. The screen looks better, the video looks better, the internet looks better, the music interface looks great, and the external speakers are better. Both use EDGE wireless for internet content (and yes, both are fairly slow at connecting to the internet). And both syncronize with Microsoft Outlook just fine (the Dash through Microsoft ActiveSync and the iPhone through iTunes). Both offer features such as wi-fi and Bluetooth.
However, the whole process left me a little bitter towards AT&T and Apple. Usually when you buy a phone with a 2-year contract, you get a significant discount. My $350 Dash cost $150 after rebates and contract. The iPhone is $499 (4 GB) or $599 (8 GB), with no rebates, and there's no getting around that, for now. Even on an existing AT&T plan, they make you sign a "new" 2-year agreement just to continue on the same plan you've been using when you activate the iPhone. So in a way, they're really screwing over loyal AT&T / Cingular customers, and not giving other wireless users enough of an incentive to switch wireless companies (it's hard to drop $600 on a cell phone when I can buy a new laptop for that amount, or 5 or 6 'basic' cell phones).
And with most phones, I can pop my SIM card into the new phone and at least have "phone" functionality (not necessarily voicemail or internet access right away). With the iPhone, I think every single one must be activated separately. When sticking in a SIM card from another active AT&T phone, it asks for a valid SIM card.
And you would think that the iPhone would at least work as an iPod "out of the box". But nope. It's a brick until it's activated with a new 2-year contract. When you plug it in and turn it on, it asks for a valid SIM card and only allows 911-emergency access. You can't go to the main menu or anything. It won't sync with iTunes either, until you activate it... get what I'm saying? My main problem with the 2-year contract is that I feel like, come December, there's going to be a new improved iPhone out on the market. And perhaps they'll even offer a discount or rebate.
But still, it's a tempting package. I don't ever want people looking over my shoulder while writing a text message, or have strangers asking me if they can check out my phone, but you should expect that if you get the iPhone. It's definitely an attention getter.
So for a quick rundown...
Price : Tmobile Dash
Functionality : It's a tie. Both do what busy self-employed people want them to do
Screen : Hands down, Apple iPhone, no contest
Typing : Slightly easier on the Dash since they're physical buttons you have to push. Although after practicing on the iPhone, it became easier.
After purchasing a 4 GB iPhone ($499), going through the activation process and using the phone for a little while... I'd have to say that I'm just fine sticking with my Tmobile Dash (and Tmobile service).
It's clear that the iPhone is a superior device. It does everything the Dash does, only a little bit better. The screen looks better, the video looks better, the internet looks better, the music interface looks great, and the external speakers are better. Both use EDGE wireless for internet content (and yes, both are fairly slow at connecting to the internet). And both syncronize with Microsoft Outlook just fine (the Dash through Microsoft ActiveSync and the iPhone through iTunes). Both offer features such as wi-fi and Bluetooth.
However, the whole process left me a little bitter towards AT&T and Apple. Usually when you buy a phone with a 2-year contract, you get a significant discount. My $350 Dash cost $150 after rebates and contract. The iPhone is $499 (4 GB) or $599 (8 GB), with no rebates, and there's no getting around that, for now. Even on an existing AT&T plan, they make you sign a "new" 2-year agreement just to continue on the same plan you've been using when you activate the iPhone. So in a way, they're really screwing over loyal AT&T / Cingular customers, and not giving other wireless users enough of an incentive to switch wireless companies (it's hard to drop $600 on a cell phone when I can buy a new laptop for that amount, or 5 or 6 'basic' cell phones).
And with most phones, I can pop my SIM card into the new phone and at least have "phone" functionality (not necessarily voicemail or internet access right away). With the iPhone, I think every single one must be activated separately. When sticking in a SIM card from another active AT&T phone, it asks for a valid SIM card.
And you would think that the iPhone would at least work as an iPod "out of the box". But nope. It's a brick until it's activated with a new 2-year contract. When you plug it in and turn it on, it asks for a valid SIM card and only allows 911-emergency access. You can't go to the main menu or anything. It won't sync with iTunes either, until you activate it... get what I'm saying? My main problem with the 2-year contract is that I feel like, come December, there's going to be a new improved iPhone out on the market. And perhaps they'll even offer a discount or rebate.
But still, it's a tempting package. I don't ever want people looking over my shoulder while writing a text message, or have strangers asking me if they can check out my phone, but you should expect that if you get the iPhone. It's definitely an attention getter.
So for a quick rundown...
Price : Tmobile Dash
Functionality : It's a tie. Both do what busy self-employed people want them to do
Screen : Hands down, Apple iPhone, no contest
Typing : Slightly easier on the Dash since they're physical buttons you have to push. Although after practicing on the iPhone, it became easier.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
South Korea - The Trip - June 2007
To be honest, I wasn't at all excited about going to Korea. I had a lot of business to take care of back home and thought 12 days over there would be just too long. Plus, I didn't think any of my relatives would remember me. But, I went... knowing that the first cousin in our generation was getting married. I had no idea what to expect.
But it turned out that 12 days was maybe a week too short. It was my first time back in over 13 years. I think I was there last when I was 13 or 14 years old.
There was a lot of nostalgia, reflection, and priority reorganizing while seeing my family again for the first time in over a decade. It was, without a doubt, a life-changing experience. It also made me feel I had a lot more responsibility all of a sudden, when before, I thought my only family was my mom, dad, and sister.
I was amazed at how much Korea has developed. It was like reading every economic book from college and seeing it come to life before my eyes. Areas that were farms and dirt roads before were paved and industrial now.
While I was there, I was forwarded a news article from a friend that showed Seoul, Korea as the 3rd most expensive place to live in the world. I was shocked.
Mainly because all I saw at first were the cheap bus fares, cheap food (As long as you weren't buying beef. Beef is extremely expensive there.), and cheap clothing at places like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. And I could run down to a little grocery store and pickup junk food for around 50 cents (or 500 won) a piece.
Of course, I don't drive there (both gas prices and automobile prices are pretty high) and don't own any real estate there... and those are major expenses. Combined with the fact that most of my cousins admit to making the equivalent of $2,000 to $3,000 a month at "slightly above-average" paying jobs. And that's just among those who were able to actually find a job. The rest will have to continue to look.
There are so many people looking for work, that they're using "english speaking ability" as a way to weed people out. Even if the job they're applying for won't require them to know english at all.
Once I started comparing items straight up (items like electronics, clothing, and European cars)... I realized Korea just isn't that cheap. Ferragamo, 7 Jeans, Burberry and other "brand name" items are at least double what they are here in the states. 7 Jeans for about $500 US (500,000 won) is just a crazy price to pay for pants. I almost wanted to take mine off to sell on the streets. Okay, not really.
Another thing that struck me about Korea is that, as well off as my extended family is, they live very comfortable, conservative lives structured around the family. One uncle who is a doctor rides the bus to work, even though he lives in a neighborhood called Dogok, which I guess is either #1 or #2 when it comes to the highest real estate prices in Seoul. Another owns a huge house but doesn't fill it with random stuff. Most of the rooms at the places I visited were simple and wide open.
And I say "conservative" because I've heard a lot of stereotypes about Koreans being a certain way (hot tempered, smokers, drinkers, cheaters and so on)... but I didn't see it at all while I was there. At least not among my cousins. None smoke and none of them drink. None of them swore, and they all treated their parents with respect. Maybe this is just our family, and I know that I can't speak for the few cousins who didn't show up for the wedding, but it was a little surprising.
However, the thing that struck me the most is the gap between rich and poor there. There is absolutely no middle class. And it looked like it would stay that way too. Poorer people stuck with the run down, affordable restaurants while the people with money went to the fancy overpriced places. The food (to me anyway) all tasted the same... like authentic Korean food. It's hard to explain exactly what I mean by "no middle class" in a blog that summarizes my trip, but I hope this makes some sense.
And it seemed like every industry there was monopolized by 1 or 2 companies. How Hyundai owns most of the auto industry (they own Kia, while GM now owns Daewoo). But since Hyundai has a lot of money, they go into other industries like construction, real estate, gas stations, and so on. It makes it pretty much impossible for entreprenuers to thrive when large companies are allowed to enter any industry they want like that.
Lotte is a beverage company there (like Coca-Cola is here), but you see them on a lot of other business entities as well. Not to mention LG and Samsung. Not only do they make cell phones and LCD TVs (which is what we see in the U.S.)... in Korea, they make most of the computers that people use, clothing, suits, shoes, furniture, construction companies, windows, millwork and door manufacturing, kitchen and bath fixtures, and all the appliances that are used by most families. As a business student, it was mindblowing to me.
I imagined what it would be like, if Microsoft decided to buy up vacant land, bribe the government for some high-rise permits, and started building massive apartment complexes. Not only that... but what if Microsoft owned the construction company that built those highrises, and all the materials that went into those buildings? The United States Government and the general public would never allow it.
I'll try keep this short for now and will end with this... but I also noticed how small this world has become. Thanks to the internet, and shipping companies like DHL, it's so easy to communicate with my cousins now. Before, I would have to write letters and wait over a week or pay for expensive long distance phone calls. Now, those are my 4th or 5th options.
But I only bring this up because things that were popular in Korea (junk food for example) were things that I could already buy at places like Paldo World in Bellevue, Washington. And vice versa... my aunts would be like, "Try this, you'll like it"... and my dad would say, "He's had that before, I bought it for him a couple months ago." The relatives were pretty surprised by it.
You could really see supply and demand working there. Cars like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW are more common than I expected. And if there's a fashion trend or new gadget on the market, it seemed like most people were fairly aware of them (although my cousin who is into fashion was unaware of brands like True Religion Jeans and Rock & Republic Jeans... so I told her to keep an eye out for them).
But anyway, I'll try to add more updates and thoughts to my blog... still trying to get back into the swing of things and adjust to the time difference. Although I do miss my cousins already. I'll have to make more time to go see them frequently.
I mentioned "priority reorganizing" early in this post, only because all of a sudden, I'm not saving up for anything, except for plane tickets to Korea.
I'll leave you with my favorite picture from the trip... it's reminiscent of an old one where we're all standing together in a similar fashion.
But it turned out that 12 days was maybe a week too short. It was my first time back in over 13 years. I think I was there last when I was 13 or 14 years old.
There was a lot of nostalgia, reflection, and priority reorganizing while seeing my family again for the first time in over a decade. It was, without a doubt, a life-changing experience. It also made me feel I had a lot more responsibility all of a sudden, when before, I thought my only family was my mom, dad, and sister.
I was amazed at how much Korea has developed. It was like reading every economic book from college and seeing it come to life before my eyes. Areas that were farms and dirt roads before were paved and industrial now.
While I was there, I was forwarded a news article from a friend that showed Seoul, Korea as the 3rd most expensive place to live in the world. I was shocked.
Mainly because all I saw at first were the cheap bus fares, cheap food (As long as you weren't buying beef. Beef is extremely expensive there.), and cheap clothing at places like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. And I could run down to a little grocery store and pickup junk food for around 50 cents (or 500 won) a piece.
Of course, I don't drive there (both gas prices and automobile prices are pretty high) and don't own any real estate there... and those are major expenses. Combined with the fact that most of my cousins admit to making the equivalent of $2,000 to $3,000 a month at "slightly above-average" paying jobs. And that's just among those who were able to actually find a job. The rest will have to continue to look.
There are so many people looking for work, that they're using "english speaking ability" as a way to weed people out. Even if the job they're applying for won't require them to know english at all.
Once I started comparing items straight up (items like electronics, clothing, and European cars)... I realized Korea just isn't that cheap. Ferragamo, 7 Jeans, Burberry and other "brand name" items are at least double what they are here in the states. 7 Jeans for about $500 US (500,000 won) is just a crazy price to pay for pants. I almost wanted to take mine off to sell on the streets. Okay, not really.
Another thing that struck me about Korea is that, as well off as my extended family is, they live very comfortable, conservative lives structured around the family. One uncle who is a doctor rides the bus to work, even though he lives in a neighborhood called Dogok, which I guess is either #1 or #2 when it comes to the highest real estate prices in Seoul. Another owns a huge house but doesn't fill it with random stuff. Most of the rooms at the places I visited were simple and wide open.
And I say "conservative" because I've heard a lot of stereotypes about Koreans being a certain way (hot tempered, smokers, drinkers, cheaters and so on)... but I didn't see it at all while I was there. At least not among my cousins. None smoke and none of them drink. None of them swore, and they all treated their parents with respect. Maybe this is just our family, and I know that I can't speak for the few cousins who didn't show up for the wedding, but it was a little surprising.
However, the thing that struck me the most is the gap between rich and poor there. There is absolutely no middle class. And it looked like it would stay that way too. Poorer people stuck with the run down, affordable restaurants while the people with money went to the fancy overpriced places. The food (to me anyway) all tasted the same... like authentic Korean food. It's hard to explain exactly what I mean by "no middle class" in a blog that summarizes my trip, but I hope this makes some sense.
And it seemed like every industry there was monopolized by 1 or 2 companies. How Hyundai owns most of the auto industry (they own Kia, while GM now owns Daewoo). But since Hyundai has a lot of money, they go into other industries like construction, real estate, gas stations, and so on. It makes it pretty much impossible for entreprenuers to thrive when large companies are allowed to enter any industry they want like that.
Lotte is a beverage company there (like Coca-Cola is here), but you see them on a lot of other business entities as well. Not to mention LG and Samsung. Not only do they make cell phones and LCD TVs (which is what we see in the U.S.)... in Korea, they make most of the computers that people use, clothing, suits, shoes, furniture, construction companies, windows, millwork and door manufacturing, kitchen and bath fixtures, and all the appliances that are used by most families. As a business student, it was mindblowing to me.
I imagined what it would be like, if Microsoft decided to buy up vacant land, bribe the government for some high-rise permits, and started building massive apartment complexes. Not only that... but what if Microsoft owned the construction company that built those highrises, and all the materials that went into those buildings? The United States Government and the general public would never allow it.
I'll try keep this short for now and will end with this... but I also noticed how small this world has become. Thanks to the internet, and shipping companies like DHL, it's so easy to communicate with my cousins now. Before, I would have to write letters and wait over a week or pay for expensive long distance phone calls. Now, those are my 4th or 5th options.
But I only bring this up because things that were popular in Korea (junk food for example) were things that I could already buy at places like Paldo World in Bellevue, Washington. And vice versa... my aunts would be like, "Try this, you'll like it"... and my dad would say, "He's had that before, I bought it for him a couple months ago." The relatives were pretty surprised by it.
You could really see supply and demand working there. Cars like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW are more common than I expected. And if there's a fashion trend or new gadget on the market, it seemed like most people were fairly aware of them (although my cousin who is into fashion was unaware of brands like True Religion Jeans and Rock & Republic Jeans... so I told her to keep an eye out for them).
But anyway, I'll try to add more updates and thoughts to my blog... still trying to get back into the swing of things and adjust to the time difference. Although I do miss my cousins already. I'll have to make more time to go see them frequently.
I mentioned "priority reorganizing" early in this post, only because all of a sudden, I'm not saving up for anything, except for plane tickets to Korea.
I'll leave you with my favorite picture from the trip... it's reminiscent of an old one where we're all standing together in a similar fashion.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Condo for Sale! - Renton Ridge
My friend Jeff is selling his beloved 2 bedroom condo that's about 20 minutes from downtown Issaquah.
It's located in the Renton Ridge community at 975 Aberdeen Ave NE in Renton, Washington. Great location that's close to 405 and Boeing. Not to mention Frys, and "soon-to-be" Target just down the street. At $214,950, it seems like a great chance to make some equity in the coming years. Especially being so close to Issaquah, where it's getting more and more difficult to find a 2-bedroom for under $300K.
In the meantime though, the house in Cedar Grove Issaquah is still up for sale. It's had a tough time getting financed ever since banks have made it more difficult to get a loan. We've had 2 offers rescinded because those buyers were unable to get financing.
And lastly, I've sold my Suzuki SV650s motorcycle :( It was a fun toy, but one that I didn't use nearly enough.
It's located in the Renton Ridge community at 975 Aberdeen Ave NE in Renton, Washington. Great location that's close to 405 and Boeing. Not to mention Frys, and "soon-to-be" Target just down the street. At $214,950, it seems like a great chance to make some equity in the coming years. Especially being so close to Issaquah, where it's getting more and more difficult to find a 2-bedroom for under $300K.
In the meantime though, the house in Cedar Grove Issaquah is still up for sale. It's had a tough time getting financed ever since banks have made it more difficult to get a loan. We've had 2 offers rescinded because those buyers were unable to get financing.
And lastly, I've sold my Suzuki SV650s motorcycle :( It was a fun toy, but one that I didn't use nearly enough.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Lets Go Mariners!
Yeah, so the Seattle Mariners are 2-1 so far, good enough to get my hopes up about the 2007 season. Unfortunately, their last 4 games in Cleveland have been postponed because of SNOW! Who knows how the season will turn out, but hopefully the division is weak and we'll do well.
But anyway, section 139 at Safeco Field is my favorite section to sit in. Here are some pics from our seats. Hopefully we'll be at a lot more games this season.
But anyway, section 139 at Safeco Field is my favorite section to sit in. Here are some pics from our seats. Hopefully we'll be at a lot more games this season.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Month of March 2007
Hey friends, it's been a while since writing in my blog. It's not that I've been lazy... there are many factors actually.
I took my first vacation in a while, and finally got a chance to go to Las Vegas with some friends. Some memorable moments occurred there, ones that I'll be sharing for a while. I won't go into too much detail here however, since I think my clients read this blog... We stayed at the Imperial Palace hotel on the strip, which is a decent place, but if I ever go again, I'll probably stay somewhere nicer. However, the location of the Imperial can't be beat (right across from Caesars). We saw the KA - Cirque Du Soleil show at MGM Grand, as well as the Blue Man Group show at the Venetian. Both were worth their lofty ticket prices (over $100 per ticket, each).
We tried lots of buffets, the best one being the Carnival World at the Rio Hotel. There were other good buffets, but the Carnival buffet offered the best value. We also went to a couple clubs, Pure at Caesars and Tao at the Venetian. It's a crazy scene there. Like nothing Seattle has to offer.
In other news, I'm studying for the LSATs. It's a time consuming process, but the test is in June so it's pretty much crunch time right now. I'm still not positive when (if ever) I'll end up going to law school... however, I didn't want to be in my 30s and wondering, "I wonder how I would have done on my LSATs." And after receiving my Bachelors from the University of Washington, and Masters from Northwest University, I feel like getting a law degree is the logical next step. Especially since I'm interested in, and already relatively knowledgeable, when it comes to real estate law. However, I'm not sure what area of law I would want to practice.
March of 2007 was also a bittersweet month; two high school friends of mine passed away. Although I hadn't seen one of them (Kim Evanger) since high school, I feel both left the world too soon. Brad Stevens, you will be greatly missed. I will never forget your influence in my life; the tennis we played together all those years and the advice you gave me when it came to cars (specifically when I bought my Audi S4). I was hoping one day you'd build my future house, you know, once you became an architect. I miss you.
On another note, I want to publicly congratulate Daniel Horowitz, Jordan Valente, Greg Ward and Michael Tomlinson; each of them having purchased new properties in the past couple months. It's quite an achievement guys... I couldn't be more proud of you.
Wow, this is beginning to sound like a yearbook signing.
Other goals for 2007; Write a book, purchase some businesses, get into law school, become one of Skyline Properties top 10% agents, and maybe flip 2 more homes lets say.
And note to self... don't let your friends have your car keys on the day before April Fools Day... otherwise this is what might happen (thanks to Jim Scurlock and Jeff Reichersamer, you asses).
That's just shredded paper by the way. And to think, I "almost" had my car detailed, washed, and vacuumed the day before. (yo Jay, that's your Texas Longhorns cap I'm wearing).
Be good everyone. Best of luck, and I'll try to keep up with this blogging thing. Nikki, I know you tend to read these, hit me up when your at the Issaquah Campus. Can't wait.
I took my first vacation in a while, and finally got a chance to go to Las Vegas with some friends. Some memorable moments occurred there, ones that I'll be sharing for a while. I won't go into too much detail here however, since I think my clients read this blog... We stayed at the Imperial Palace hotel on the strip, which is a decent place, but if I ever go again, I'll probably stay somewhere nicer. However, the location of the Imperial can't be beat (right across from Caesars). We saw the KA - Cirque Du Soleil show at MGM Grand, as well as the Blue Man Group show at the Venetian. Both were worth their lofty ticket prices (over $100 per ticket, each).
We tried lots of buffets, the best one being the Carnival World at the Rio Hotel. There were other good buffets, but the Carnival buffet offered the best value. We also went to a couple clubs, Pure at Caesars and Tao at the Venetian. It's a crazy scene there. Like nothing Seattle has to offer.
In other news, I'm studying for the LSATs. It's a time consuming process, but the test is in June so it's pretty much crunch time right now. I'm still not positive when (if ever) I'll end up going to law school... however, I didn't want to be in my 30s and wondering, "I wonder how I would have done on my LSATs." And after receiving my Bachelors from the University of Washington, and Masters from Northwest University, I feel like getting a law degree is the logical next step. Especially since I'm interested in, and already relatively knowledgeable, when it comes to real estate law. However, I'm not sure what area of law I would want to practice.
March of 2007 was also a bittersweet month; two high school friends of mine passed away. Although I hadn't seen one of them (Kim Evanger) since high school, I feel both left the world too soon. Brad Stevens, you will be greatly missed. I will never forget your influence in my life; the tennis we played together all those years and the advice you gave me when it came to cars (specifically when I bought my Audi S4). I was hoping one day you'd build my future house, you know, once you became an architect. I miss you.
On another note, I want to publicly congratulate Daniel Horowitz, Jordan Valente, Greg Ward and Michael Tomlinson; each of them having purchased new properties in the past couple months. It's quite an achievement guys... I couldn't be more proud of you.
Wow, this is beginning to sound like a yearbook signing.
Other goals for 2007; Write a book, purchase some businesses, get into law school, become one of Skyline Properties top 10% agents, and maybe flip 2 more homes lets say.
And note to self... don't let your friends have your car keys on the day before April Fools Day... otherwise this is what might happen (thanks to Jim Scurlock and Jeff Reichersamer, you asses).That's just shredded paper by the way. And to think, I "almost" had my car detailed, washed, and vacuumed the day before. (yo Jay, that's your Texas Longhorns cap I'm wearing).
Be good everyone. Best of luck, and I'll try to keep up with this blogging thing. Nikki, I know you tend to read these, hit me up when your at the Issaquah Campus. Can't wait.
Friday, March 02, 2007
About Me - Part 2 (the rest)
EIGHT things I want to do before I die:
01. Build a planned community from scratch
02. See my family back in Korea
03. Direct a movie or music video
04. Entertain and / or consult people for a living
05. Put Issaquah on the map
06. Build a community of green homes (sorta goes with #1 I guess)
07. Race around Pacific Raceways on my motorcycle
08. Climb Mount Rainier
SEVEN things that annoy me:
01. When you count on people, and they let you down.
02. When you count on technology, and it lets you down.
03. Waiting for other people to do something when you know you can do it faster.
04. The fact that I can't swim.
05. Unreliable cars.
06. Chronic channel flippers (radio or TV).
07. Poor service at a restaurant. It's worth paying more most of the time to go to a nice place.
SIX things I believe in:
01. Being a perfectionist.
02. Friends and family.
03. The L word
04. That everyone has the ability to do something great and that I may have an impact on helping that ability come out.
05. Going all out, 100%, no matter what you're doing.
06. Fate.
FIVE things I’m afraid of:
01. Losing everything I've worked hard for, whether that's friends or career success.
02. People with bad tempers.
03. Drunk people.
04. Lately, fear of "failure" is creeping into my head. Which is probably why I'm scared to jump into a new business venture.
05. Mice
FOUR of my favorite items in my room:
01. My pathetic room has nothing in it but clothes, a bed, nightstand, and a table full of crap.
02. Oh, and an LCD TV.
03. Well, my dog comes in sometimes, so I'll put him down; Brian.
04. The really expensive mirror I had to special order from Dania.
THREE things I do everyday:
01. Build furniture from scratch.
02. Write a chapter of a novel.
03. Develop a business model or a plan.
Yeah, I wish all this were true. But it's more like, "brush teeth, eat, and sleep."
TWO things I want to do right now:
01. Go through the terrain park at Stevens Pass. Or Whistler.
02. Hug someone. Or ride a motorcycle, it's a tie.
ONE person I want to see right now:
01. Jeff Reichersamer, because I know this will make him uncomfortable.
01. Build a planned community from scratch
02. See my family back in Korea
03. Direct a movie or music video
04. Entertain and / or consult people for a living
05. Put Issaquah on the map
06. Build a community of green homes (sorta goes with #1 I guess)
07. Race around Pacific Raceways on my motorcycle
08. Climb Mount Rainier
SEVEN things that annoy me:
01. When you count on people, and they let you down.
02. When you count on technology, and it lets you down.
03. Waiting for other people to do something when you know you can do it faster.
04. The fact that I can't swim.
05. Unreliable cars.
06. Chronic channel flippers (radio or TV).
07. Poor service at a restaurant. It's worth paying more most of the time to go to a nice place.
SIX things I believe in:
01. Being a perfectionist.
02. Friends and family.
03. The L word
04. That everyone has the ability to do something great and that I may have an impact on helping that ability come out.
05. Going all out, 100%, no matter what you're doing.
06. Fate.
FIVE things I’m afraid of:
01. Losing everything I've worked hard for, whether that's friends or career success.
02. People with bad tempers.
03. Drunk people.
04. Lately, fear of "failure" is creeping into my head. Which is probably why I'm scared to jump into a new business venture.
05. Mice
FOUR of my favorite items in my room:
01. My pathetic room has nothing in it but clothes, a bed, nightstand, and a table full of crap.
02. Oh, and an LCD TV.
03. Well, my dog comes in sometimes, so I'll put him down; Brian.
04. The really expensive mirror I had to special order from Dania.
THREE things I do everyday:
01. Build furniture from scratch.
02. Write a chapter of a novel.
03. Develop a business model or a plan.
Yeah, I wish all this were true. But it's more like, "brush teeth, eat, and sleep."
TWO things I want to do right now:
01. Go through the terrain park at Stevens Pass. Or Whistler.
02. Hug someone. Or ride a motorcycle, it's a tie.
ONE person I want to see right now:
01. Jeff Reichersamer, because I know this will make him uncomfortable.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Day 88 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $10,749.50
Total $ spent - $26,570.56
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Oh boy... So all the big expenses have been paid off and it ended up being close to $8K for all the materials used in the home and the labor to get those items installed. And the total ($26K+) includes 3 monthly mortgage payments (totally over $9K).
The home has been on the market 21 days now, and we seem to have a couple people interested in it. However, nothing in writing yet, so we'll continue to search for a buyer.
Total $ spent - $26,570.56
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Oh boy... So all the big expenses have been paid off and it ended up being close to $8K for all the materials used in the home and the labor to get those items installed. And the total ($26K+) includes 3 monthly mortgage payments (totally over $9K).
The home has been on the market 21 days now, and we seem to have a couple people interested in it. However, nothing in writing yet, so we'll continue to search for a buyer.
About Me - Part 1
I know I haven't written in a while, mainly due to busy-ness, but here's a cool little survey I found and thought I'd share with the public. Haha, maybe it'll help win over some new real estate clients... but most likely it'll make my friends think, "Jin's such a loser."
TEN random things about me:
01. I want to carry on my grandpa's legacy.
02. I feel like life has followed the perfect path, leading to where I am right now at this moment.
03. I watch way too much TV, but somehow manage to get other stuff done throughout the day.
04. I tend to be accident prone.
05. I constantly contradict myself... (Am I a saver, or a spender? Healthy or a junk food addict? and so on.)
06. I'm not a pushy person.
07. I'm totally fine with making fun of myself.
08. My friends and family think I'm way too nice / naive to everybody and fear I'll get screwed over by somebody. But I think that comes from me being young, and not being so jaded just yet.
09. I tend to follow less traditional sports, instead of the big 3 (football, basketball, baseball, although I'm a fairweather fan), I like sports like snowboarding, rock climbing, tennis, rollerblading and so on.
10. I love wearing black socks with every outfit (gets expensive though).
NINE ways to win my heart:
01. Go 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. Okay, not really, just thought of this as the "typical guy response".
02. Laugh laugh laugh.
03. Smile smile smile.
04. Get along with my vast array of friends.
05. Get along with my family.
06. "Must Love Dogs" is the name of a movie.
07. Ambition. A must have.
08. Amphibious. Wait, that's not the word I'm looking for. What's the word for someone who is adept at changing and goes with the flow?
09. Now that I think about it. "9 ways to win my heart" is a silly concept. There just has to be a connection; an unspoken, undescribable reason you want to be with someone. But all of the above sure help.
To Be Continued!... back to work for me.
TEN random things about me:
01. I want to carry on my grandpa's legacy.
02. I feel like life has followed the perfect path, leading to where I am right now at this moment.
03. I watch way too much TV, but somehow manage to get other stuff done throughout the day.
04. I tend to be accident prone.
05. I constantly contradict myself... (Am I a saver, or a spender? Healthy or a junk food addict? and so on.)
06. I'm not a pushy person.
07. I'm totally fine with making fun of myself.
08. My friends and family think I'm way too nice / naive to everybody and fear I'll get screwed over by somebody. But I think that comes from me being young, and not being so jaded just yet.
09. I tend to follow less traditional sports, instead of the big 3 (football, basketball, baseball, although I'm a fairweather fan), I like sports like snowboarding, rock climbing, tennis, rollerblading and so on.
10. I love wearing black socks with every outfit (gets expensive though).
NINE ways to win my heart:
01. Go 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. Okay, not really, just thought of this as the "typical guy response".
02. Laugh laugh laugh.
03. Smile smile smile.
04. Get along with my vast array of friends.
05. Get along with my family.
06. "Must Love Dogs" is the name of a movie.
07. Ambition. A must have.
08. Amphibious. Wait, that's not the word I'm looking for. What's the word for someone who is adept at changing and goes with the flow?
09. Now that I think about it. "9 ways to win my heart" is a silly concept. There just has to be a connection; an unspoken, undescribable reason you want to be with someone. But all of the above sure help.
To Be Continued!... back to work for me.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Day 67 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $3,139.35
Total $ spent - $15,821.06
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
We have completed the project. Hallelujah! Of course, until the house sells, we'll continue to work on the little things, and will continue to clean, clean, clean! Tomorrow, I'll have to rent another Uhaul to get all the garbage out of the garage.
But it's ready to be put on the MLS. I was really impressed by how it all came together at the end. It kind of reminded me of my sister's room, all it needed was a good hour of cleaning to get everything looking normal.
The kitchen looks great, the floors and doors and paint and lights... everything looks great. One thing we have left to do is to get all the bathrooms completely ready to go (and by that, I mean shower curtains, rods, toilet paper, washing out the sinks and bathtubs and so on). As of now, it's not 100%.
Thanks everyone!
Here's the Video Tour which was just uploaded onto Youtube...
Total $ spent - $15,821.06
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
We have completed the project. Hallelujah! Of course, until the house sells, we'll continue to work on the little things, and will continue to clean, clean, clean! Tomorrow, I'll have to rent another Uhaul to get all the garbage out of the garage.
But it's ready to be put on the MLS. I was really impressed by how it all came together at the end. It kind of reminded me of my sister's room, all it needed was a good hour of cleaning to get everything looking normal.
The kitchen looks great, the floors and doors and paint and lights... everything looks great. One thing we have left to do is to get all the bathrooms completely ready to go (and by that, I mean shower curtains, rods, toilet paper, washing out the sinks and bathtubs and so on). As of now, it's not 100%.
Thanks everyone!
Here's the Video Tour which was just uploaded onto Youtube...
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Day 61 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $2,151.68
Total $ spent - $12,681.71
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Check out the Updated Photos Here!
We now officially have 5 days to do the "little stuff". I just spent $426.98 at Home Depot buying faucets, towel bars, toilet bowl wax rings, tub / shower kits and putty for the walls and flooring. It's easy stuff, but tedious work which will take a couple days. Not to mention, we still need to get rid of all the garbage and vacuum the new carpet.
I still need to pay for the millwork and flooring... however, all the labor has been paid for (just not the materials).
Although we currently have over $7,000 left in our budget, $3K+ of that will go towards another monthly payment, $4K+ of that will go towards flooring, and I think about $2500 will go towards the millwork, putting us a couple grand over budget.
Total $ spent - $12,681.71
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Check out the Updated Photos Here!
We now officially have 5 days to do the "little stuff". I just spent $426.98 at Home Depot buying faucets, towel bars, toilet bowl wax rings, tub / shower kits and putty for the walls and flooring. It's easy stuff, but tedious work which will take a couple days. Not to mention, we still need to get rid of all the garbage and vacuum the new carpet.
I still need to pay for the millwork and flooring... however, all the labor has been paid for (just not the materials).
Although we currently have over $7,000 left in our budget, $3K+ of that will go towards another monthly payment, $4K+ of that will go towards flooring, and I think about $2500 will go towards the millwork, putting us a couple grand over budget.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Business versus Pleasure
I remember talking to a friend one time, and she said to me, "Jin, if I had your mind, I would constantly have a headache. Seems like you're always thinking of something to do or something to create." It came off as kind of an insult, but hey, I'd rather be thinking than letting my brain rot.
So here are two ideas that show how "focused" my mind is at any given moment (okay, so my mind's all over the place).
McDonalds Saving the Environment?
IF I had any say in how McDonalds operated, I would open up Biodiesel Gas Stations with the McDonalds brand name. I could see it now "McD's BioD". Why? Because they're probably throwing away TONS and TONS of used vegetable oil daily, when they could convert that into biodiesel gasoline that anybody with a diesel engine could use. They could even open up a gas station in the corner of some of their restaurant locations. I think it could be huge, and would help McDonalds change their image a little bit (although I admit, they've cleaned up their image quite a bit, especially since their ArchDeluxe / McRib days).
My 15 Minutes of Fame?
IF I'm ever on American Idol, I would sing this song to show off my vocal range (and I don't think anyone has yet to sing it on that show)
... mainly because I know I can't sing, so I might as well make a fool of myself, right? Of course it wouldn't help Seattle's reputation as the city with the worst singers in the country.
So here are two ideas that show how "focused" my mind is at any given moment (okay, so my mind's all over the place).
McDonalds Saving the Environment?
IF I had any say in how McDonalds operated, I would open up Biodiesel Gas Stations with the McDonalds brand name. I could see it now "McD's BioD". Why? Because they're probably throwing away TONS and TONS of used vegetable oil daily, when they could convert that into biodiesel gasoline that anybody with a diesel engine could use. They could even open up a gas station in the corner of some of their restaurant locations. I think it could be huge, and would help McDonalds change their image a little bit (although I admit, they've cleaned up their image quite a bit, especially since their ArchDeluxe / McRib days).
My 15 Minutes of Fame?
IF I'm ever on American Idol, I would sing this song to show off my vocal range (and I don't think anyone has yet to sing it on that show)
... mainly because I know I can't sing, so I might as well make a fool of myself, right? Of course it wouldn't help Seattle's reputation as the city with the worst singers in the country.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Day 56 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $0.00
Total $ spent - $10,530.03
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Woohoo! Finally, all the base trim and doors have been installed. The millwork guys went ahead and installed door handles too (not the really nice ones I bought, so I'll have to return those to Home Depot).
I haven't been billed for the millwork materials nor installation yet so it's not reflected in the running total. On Monday, carpet gets installed, and on Wednesday, the countertops will be done.
Soon after that, we'll put the house on the market while we finish little things (like mirrors, towel bars, bathroom shower curtain and so on). Oh yeah, we have to attach the appliances as well, which we haven't done yet.
More to come real soon, I hope. I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate here and come up with a "worst case scenario", but I can't imagine anything going awry at this point.
Total $ spent - $10,530.03
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Woohoo! Finally, all the base trim and doors have been installed. The millwork guys went ahead and installed door handles too (not the really nice ones I bought, so I'll have to return those to Home Depot).
I haven't been billed for the millwork materials nor installation yet so it's not reflected in the running total. On Monday, carpet gets installed, and on Wednesday, the countertops will be done.
Soon after that, we'll put the house on the market while we finish little things (like mirrors, towel bars, bathroom shower curtain and so on). Oh yeah, we have to attach the appliances as well, which we haven't done yet.
More to come real soon, I hope. I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate here and come up with a "worst case scenario", but I can't imagine anything going awry at this point.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Condos are where it's at in King County
Wow, looking at sales statistics available to agents through a service called "Realist", I'm surprised. In King County, there have been 12,551 condos sold in 2006 (NOT including December), compared to 10,709 in 2005. So with more condos being sold, maybe that means prices have leveled off or gone down?
No! The median price has gone from $217,000 in 2005 to $260,000 in 2006 YTD. That's almost a 20% increase.
It's no wonder that so many condo conversions are happening. Seems like every decent apartment complex is converting into an upscale condominium with stainless steel, granite, and all the fixins.
And condo sales are probably taking away from the sales of single family residences. Especially as people downsize their homes and look to get rid of yard work and excess space. In King County, there were 36,089 homes sold in 2005, versus 32,742 in the first 11 months of 2006. Unless 4,000 homes sold in December (which likely won't happen since December tends to be a slower month), 2006 will be a down year.
However, median prices for single family homes have gone from $360,000 in 2005 to $414,950 in 2006 YTD. Still, it's a respectable 15% increase.
Again, the source for this information is a real estate service called Realist. I'm not sure if it's available to the public, but I can access it from NWMLS.
No! The median price has gone from $217,000 in 2005 to $260,000 in 2006 YTD. That's almost a 20% increase.
It's no wonder that so many condo conversions are happening. Seems like every decent apartment complex is converting into an upscale condominium with stainless steel, granite, and all the fixins.
And condo sales are probably taking away from the sales of single family residences. Especially as people downsize their homes and look to get rid of yard work and excess space. In King County, there were 36,089 homes sold in 2005, versus 32,742 in the first 11 months of 2006. Unless 4,000 homes sold in December (which likely won't happen since December tends to be a slower month), 2006 will be a down year.
However, median prices for single family homes have gone from $360,000 in 2005 to $414,950 in 2006 YTD. Still, it's a respectable 15% increase.
Again, the source for this information is a real estate service called Realist. I'm not sure if it's available to the public, but I can access it from NWMLS.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Heroes on NBC : Zzzzzzz
Heroes on NBC has to be the most well thought out marketing plan by NBC. People love X-Men and comic book characters in general, why not make a TV show about them as everyday people? And it looks like it has worked. When the show first came out, Heroes is all people would talk about (when it came to discussing TV shows). The premise of the show is a great idea, but I feel like the episodes I've seen so far could have been summed up in a 2 hour movie.
Unfortunately, it's one of those shows that moves sooo slowly, that I'd rather just hear about it from other people instead of investing a hour each week by watching it myself. And I think others feel the same way. And most of the characters are so corrupt and unethical that I wonder if parents let their kids watch these "superheroes."
A guy who can fly cheats on his crippled wife. A mom / wife with a split personality is an internet stripper, while the other personality frames people for murder. The asian guy who can travel through time decides to cheat at a casino. A dad erases people's memory. A mind-controlling female steals a car and gets out of speeding tickets. One guy chops off heads and eats brains? I think? And the strangest to me... one guy can only tell the future when he's got heroin in his system.
The only characters I really find interesting are the mind-reading cop and the waitress at the restaurant (who, by the way, stars in "Epic Movie"). Peter Petrelli and the cheerleader aren't necessarily unethical either, but their storylines are slow moving and a little boring as a result.
My main fear is that the show will become like Lost on ABC, and I just won't care at all anymore. I just read on NBC that another "hero" will be introduced on the latest episode. I'll probably hear about the character from my friend Jay, but I can't imagine what that character could possibly do that hasn't been covered yet.... I'll take a stab at it and say the new hero has an impenetrable layer to his skin that makes him virtually invincible so he can attack Syler or whoever it is that chops off heads.
Speaking of Jay, I remember when this show first started. We thought the first two episodes were great. But after that, I would get text messages from him during the show that said, "Worst episode ever." Or "This episode is pointless." Or "Another pointless episode."
So, although NBC execs aren't going to be reading any of this, and are going to milk this show for all they can... I hope there's an end in sight and they don't drag it on for 1 season too long.
Unfortunately, it's one of those shows that moves sooo slowly, that I'd rather just hear about it from other people instead of investing a hour each week by watching it myself. And I think others feel the same way. And most of the characters are so corrupt and unethical that I wonder if parents let their kids watch these "superheroes."
A guy who can fly cheats on his crippled wife. A mom / wife with a split personality is an internet stripper, while the other personality frames people for murder. The asian guy who can travel through time decides to cheat at a casino. A dad erases people's memory. A mind-controlling female steals a car and gets out of speeding tickets. One guy chops off heads and eats brains? I think? And the strangest to me... one guy can only tell the future when he's got heroin in his system.
The only characters I really find interesting are the mind-reading cop and the waitress at the restaurant (who, by the way, stars in "Epic Movie"). Peter Petrelli and the cheerleader aren't necessarily unethical either, but their storylines are slow moving and a little boring as a result.
My main fear is that the show will become like Lost on ABC, and I just won't care at all anymore. I just read on NBC that another "hero" will be introduced on the latest episode. I'll probably hear about the character from my friend Jay, but I can't imagine what that character could possibly do that hasn't been covered yet.... I'll take a stab at it and say the new hero has an impenetrable layer to his skin that makes him virtually invincible so he can attack Syler or whoever it is that chops off heads.
Speaking of Jay, I remember when this show first started. We thought the first two episodes were great. But after that, I would get text messages from him during the show that said, "Worst episode ever." Or "This episode is pointless." Or "Another pointless episode."
So, although NBC execs aren't going to be reading any of this, and are going to milk this show for all they can... I hope there's an end in sight and they don't drag it on for 1 season too long.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
It's been One Week - Barenaked Ladies
Well, it's been one week since we had a "threat" of snow. I remember thinking last Wednesday morning that maybe we got away with one and that all the weathermen might have been exaggerating. Then around 4 PM, the snow hit. And it hit HARD. It took me 4 hours to eventually get home, after being stuck on Mercer Island for over 2 hours.This picture is what our neighborhood looked like yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. There are still people getting stuck on this part of the hill. Luckily, nobody lives below us yet (new neighborhood). But people checking out the houses for sale have gotten stuck, and my car has been stuck in the street for the past week now.
I feel bad for students who will have to make up all these missed snow days IN JULY. At least, that's what I'm starting to hear now from parents in the Issaquah School District. I don't think I've seen a winter like this since the early 90s. And even though I'm used to driving in snow after all those trips up to the mountain, it's not my own snow driving ability I'm scared of. It's these guys... (to be honest though, this video was shot in Portland, Oregon)
WARNING : The nasty side of house flipping
Okay, so this isn't really an "update" to the house flipping blog, but just thought I'd mention a little bit about what really goes on "behind the scenes."
The few people who have written me about house flipping, remodeling homes and doing all that work all seem to think "it's a piece of cake." And compared to other things in life, it is. However, there are things you must do that some people won't do. Replacing toilets isn't just unbolting a few screws. Snap-in flooring doesn't really "snap together effortlessly." Walls don't paint themselves. Anytime you're replacing light fixtures or anything electrical, something could go "terribly" wrong if you're not paying attention. Anytime you're dealing with a wall (removal, addition, modification or repair), you're dealing with the potential for dust, mold, dead rodents, insects, and other nasty things that could be behind that wall.
So with that said, the two pics above show what I found in the pipes below the sinks. Now, don't be alarmed, it's just HAIR. But it's not my hair. It's some strangers hair (and I think that's what really grosses me out). And some of it's probably been in that sink since the house was built, so approaching 10 years now.
Right after dealing with this "hair", I had to go meet clients in Bellevue for dinner. Hey, maybe looking at these pics will help out my diet, because that night, I didn't want anything to eat. I kept smelling the smell from those pipes.
But anyway, those of you thinking about remodeling a house, take a looong look at these pictures. After I undid all the plumbing, the pipes refused to come apart. The reason? They were being held together with hair. Just imagine what's clogging up those sinks in your bathroom right now.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Day 47 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $690.52Total $ spent - $10,530.03
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
I figured it's about time for another update. Unfortunately, the snow over the past week hasn't helped much. In parts of Issaquah, it's only beginning to melt.
However, the house is coming along nicely. Over the past 2 weeks, we've had the garage door openers installed. After installing light bulbs and programming all the remotes, it's all set to go. No more worrying about the garage. GarageTech, who installed the openers, did such a good job, it's hard to imagine that I'll ever try to do them myself again. I've tried installing garage doors and openers at 2 other homes before, and it was comedic.
We decided to do away with the parquet floors in the kitchen and entry, so we went and bought laminate wood floors that gave the home a really nice, clean, and bright look.
Luckily for us, the wood floors were on sale, and we saved a ton over regular price. I've personally installed laminate wood in 5 homes, so this one was relatively easy since we were only covering about 300 square feet of living space.
So far, we've been lucky enough to get both flooring, various installation, and appliances at a major discount.
We got our millwork delivered and is ready to be installed. As soon as all the snow melts, we'll have some workers out at the house. Carpets and laminate countertops have been ordered. Now we're just waiting for people to install them.
One thing I'll have to do on my own (with Jordan's help) is install vinyl flooring in the bathrooms. And we'll have to do that before the millwork guys put in the base trim.
I'll try to update with more pics soon.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Day 33 - Flip Project - Cedar Grove
$ spent since last update - $3376.73Total $ spent - $9839.51
Budget $20,000
Target Finish Date - 2/5/2006
Okay, so the garbage is back... sort of. Last time I wrote, I had just rented a UHaul to take all the carpet, baseboard trim and old doors to the dump. And I thought that would be the end of the garbage. However, I forgot that whenever you buy a new item, it usually comes in packaging of some sort.
So now I have a garage full of empty boxes, from things like the microwave, new light fixtures, shower curtain packaging, and so on. I'm surprised at how fast this stuff ads up.The money in this update was spent on the mortgage payment, and cabinet hardware / light bulbs from the Home Depot. Also, I got light fixtures from Fred Meyer that retailed for $19.95 each. However, this week they were 25% off.
All the light fixtures are now finished except for the one I can't reach in the entryway. Some of the cabinet knobs have been installed (need longer screws to finish the rest). All the electrical outlets / light switches / light fixtures are ready to go and look great. For the next day or two, I'm going to be removing the old laminate wood floor (which is going to be a pain because it's glued down), removing old staples from the floor (the staples were holding down the carpet pad) and removing miscellaneous nails from around the floor and walls (from where baseboard trim used to be). I'm really just prepping it for the flooring and millwork guys.
It's easy work, just really really tedious. Next after that, garage door opener installation on Friday, countertops for the kitchen and bath after that, then flooring and millwork. Feels like I'm saying the same thing time after time, but I'm just trying to remind myself.
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