oh hell...

I've started seeing what I need to bring for my upcoming trip, and I'm disturbed to report that I need to bring 5 pairs of shoes... sigh....

1. Merrell Jungle Mocs - General shoes for everything - UPA conference, wandering Montreal, light hiking, wandering Japan. Not going to substitute another shoe since I know these rock. I overpaid for these shoes, but I'm still getting my money's worth.
   
2. Timberland hiking boots - Crystal Lakes Trail, maybe some other trails in Olympic NP, climbing Mt. Fuji. Can't use the Jungle Mocs for some of these since there'll be severe wet spots. I overpaid for these shoes too, but I may break even if I destroy them on Mt. Fuji.
3. Rockport casual shoes - Another thing to bring for the one night I'll be at a fancy restaurant in Montreal. What do you mean I can't wear my two year old treadless Jungle Mocs? I like these shoes and they're comfy, but they aren't waterproof like the Jungle Mocs. Not as comfy either. And no, I didn't overpay for these shoes. :-)
4. Nike sandals - Almost decided against it, but if I'm going to be taking a dip in the Pacific they'll certainly come in handy. Depending on the weather I may wear them in Montreal too, but they aren't going to Japan. And no, I didn't overpay for these shoes.
5. Running shoes - Some of my best travel experiences involve running... usually along a river (um... usually cities are built along rivers). Did this in London, Paris, and Minneapolis. Something to attempt in Montreal. Probably not worth the weight to take them to Hiroshima, but maybe?

To offset the shoe dilemma, I am happy about my light coldweather and rain gear. Funny part is that aside from my tights (from my superhero days), my best cold weather gear comes from this Hong Kong company, Giordano. That could explain why my grandma got it for me. She loves picking up deals. My guess is that cold weather gear isn't a hot seller in sub-tropical Hong Kong.

closure

So I finally closed my account with Ohio Savings Bank. Pain in the ass. I've been intending to do it for about two months now and finally got the winning combination of remembering about it on a Friday and being able to leave work early.

Funny thing is that closing my account was incredibly easy. Easier than updating my address! Something isn't right there.

Some consolation is that the teller I was dealing with was pretty nice, and we got into an interesting conversation about why I was closing my account. During this chat, I explained how my other bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, is awesome because I get interest checking and I get reimbursed $6 in ATM fees each month - essentially enabling me to use whichever ATM I wanted anywhere in the country. Pretty nice, eh? She thought so. She wrote down the address for their web site as I was talking to her.

presentation...

So how did it go? It went pretty well. Good thing I had a spare 2-3 hours. I used it all up and finished on time. Yay. So yes, overall it went well, but not without a few challenges...

• I had gas. You all wanted to know that, I'm sure.
• Time somehow became an issue...
• On this one slide I had the phrase "click tracking." Because of the how the slide was scaled, I though it said "dick tracking," so I apologized for the typo. I paused for a moment trying to figure out what the heck I tried to write there, finally realizing that this is what happens when the 'c' and the 'l' are written too close together. Thanks to my sketchy handwriting, I then realized it wasn't a typo, and it just looked like a typo. So I said, "Wait, it's not a typo, but it looks like a typo." People looked confused. Then some people in the back started laughing hysterically. I composed myself and pretended that nothing happened. Still funny though. The highlight for sure. ;-)
  

presentation

So I'm supposed to do this day-long training course for my group, the managers, and their manager. 40 slides is enough, right?

Nah. No worries. I have a ton of examples to go through. So long as I don't lose my voice halfway through.... Wish me luck!

if there is a hell it will be a party

http://www.bitterfilms.com/hell.html

bs

Excerpts from an IM conversation.... slightly edited for coherence...

>i clearly don't bullshit enough

>if I adopted BS-speak, I'd be able to sound all fancy, and people would think that I'm good because I must be... the things I say would use large words that they aren't familiar with, so I must know something they don't

>"by tilting the schema of communication, I could effecively emote the spirit of my abiliity..."

>"...allowing a fluid progression towards career goals"

>but apparently, I think it's a waste of time to talk like that. i'm too pragmatic

>insert buzzword every 10 syllables

>with occassional dash of poor grammar and making up words

>like "strategery"

lists

Playlist: Stone Temple Pilots

*A* list: People I work with named Smith (two of them at least)

Shit list: ac4lt (even though I don't know the person at all), bn, Ohio Savings Bank

almost queen

So I'm writing this post in my underwear, because I just woke up and it's already warm out Good thing, right?

So on Friday, I went with Greg to see Almost Queen at the House of Blues. If you couldn't guess by the name, they're a Queen cover band. I didn't expect too much. After all, I never really expect anything too great from a cover band, especially when they cover bands that have fanatical followings. But we went, and I have to say that I was impressed.

They put on a good show. I'm not even sure where to begin. Singer Russo not only looked a lot like Freddie Mercury, but was also able to pull off the vocals (including all the highs and lows), the piano playing, and also the... um... the way he carried himself. He didn't just do it all. He did it all well.

That isn't to say that the other members of the band didn't stand out. They were all into it, which is great to see and it adds a lot of energy to the show. The drums were awesome, and so was the guitar and bass. I give it the thumbs up.

studs

Cleveland Summer League 2005

Looks like we have ourselves a team. We'll be ready to rock starting next Thursday.

Kelly Green (a shade off from last year's Jade):
Derek Arnold
Samuel Barker
Brianna Blair
Jimmy Dunn*^
Tricia Fairman
Greg Ferreri^
David Feuer*
David Gelehrter^
Michelle Holko
Andrew Hunt
Paul Ip*^
Brandon Jones
Jeff Lazarus^
Jason Parris*
Bill Scanlon^
Sarah Schumacher
Brooke Smith
James Urban

*veterans from last year's team Paul
^Shaker squad

draft tomorrow

Summer league draft is tomorrow. Yep, I'm captaining for the second year in a row. Speaking of... it's time for me to flop down with the laptop and get a draft board set up. Good times...

pic of the day

Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge Trail

As Arnold would say, "I'll be back." To return July, 2005 for more fun, and pics that don't have screwed up exposure.

geobloggers

I got tired of mappr's incredibly slow uptake system, so I've started aiming for geobloggers instead. Honestly, I like the interfact a lot better anyway. Plus, it can take photos in the UK, which is a definite plus. Adding China, Japan, and Europe would be even better.

Also, apparently I can dominate the service too. Of the last 30 pics, 90% of them are mine... Plus, after a couple of hours I'm already on the top geobloggers list with ~69 photos. Heh... and I've barely scratched the surface of my photo collection. ;-D

china 2004 done

Finally finished uploading all the pics from our China trip in 2004...

Next up, pics from Seattle, Mt. Rainier NP, and Olympic NP...

huh???

I'm reading this article about how Ford is buying back some parts plants.

...Ford would take back 24 ailing work sites and pay $550 million in restructuring costs as part of a deal that could eventually save the automaker millions on parts.

Is it just me? Or did it just say that Ford will spend half a *billion* dollars to save a few *million*? Maybe the reporter is just using millions as an expression of "a lot of money" and not literally a few million dollars.

Further down...

Ford said the agreement could save it $600 million to $700 million by the end of the decade. But it expects to incur charges of $450 million to $650 million this year and $300 million to $500 million between 2005 and 2009...

Um... so optimistically, Ford will spend only $750 million. Also optimistically, they will save $700 million. Eh... so in the best case scenario they still lose $50 million? What the hell?

Merrill Lynch analyst John Casesa said in a research note Wednesday that when Ford spun off Visteon it forced the supplier to try to compete with wage levels that were too high. Casesa said the deal is a positive for Visteon but a negative for Ford.

OK. It's beginning to make sense now. Visteon didn't want Ford's baggage, so they're asking Ford to take back all the crap so they can actually be competitive. Nice one.

pic of the day

View from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

ohio savings

The Ohio Savings saga is about to end (I hope)...

May, 1999
Account opened as my primary checking account for when I was in Cleveland. Meaning... when I made money, it went to them.

Fall, 2000
Account demoted (First Internet Bank won out with the free checking with interest). Account balance reduced to $100.

May, 2002
I moved. I was able to change my address online! That's what I expect from online banking.

Fall, 2002
They "upgrade" their online banking system. Sure, the old system wasn't broken, but the new one featured more weirder workflows, tons of waiting, and less functionality. A step in the wrong direction.

May, 2003
Apparently a piece of functionality they removed from the web site was the ability to change your address. Changed my address over the phone. Sure, I'd rather do it online, but at least I could still call in and do it whenever I want.

May, 2004
I move again. Still can't change my address online. Now I can't do it on the phone either. I must go to the branch and change it.

June, 2004
I leave work early one day to get to the bank that's literally down my street. I like the convenience. They don't have an address change form, but the teller asked me to write down my new address and sign a slip of paper so she has a record of what to change it to. Sure, seems strange, but this is Cleveland Heights. Besides, they never screwed up anything like this before.

August, 2004?
I'm still getting statements sent to my old place. I leave work early and head over to the branch again. I ask to change my address. This time I get a form to fill out. Phew. Finally...

March, 2005
I randomly check my account online and I notice that I got charged a random $10 fee. I call in and the rep explains to me that the check I deposited recently bounced and that was the fee for a bounced check. I explain that the check didn't bounce and that I had already taken out the money. He said he would look into it. I leave him my work number.

April, 2005
After a few weeks of hearing nothing back from them, I check my account online. Looks like I got charged another $10. This time they really did do an overdraft fee (of $35 or so) because for some reason when I withdraw my money their system did it twice! They then gave me two overdraft fees which they removed. Good. Only $20 in fees instead of $90. Makes me feel loved. The rep doesn't have any resolution for the $10 fee, but be did say that he would clear out my old address and update my phone number.

May, 2005
Still nothing. I check online. YET ANOTHER $10 FEE. This is really pissing me off, as if it wasn't before. I call them again. No resolution. However, he does point out that my phone number isn't right. Didn't the last guy update it? Apparently not. This person updates it again. They'll get back to me. Sure....

A week later, still nothing. I call back in. This time the rep tells me that the $10 fee is a returned mail fee that I'm getting because my address is wrong. Why didn't anyone tell me this earlier??? She asks me to have it changed by going to the branch. I explain how I already tried twice and there is no way I'm going to keep trying to test my luck. She then suggests that I go to the branch where I opened my account to do this. She also says that if I tell my story I can get back the $30 that were taken from me. I'd better... On a side note, my phone number is finally up to date.

So on Friday, I'm going to try to head out of work early and get this crap straightened out. After I get my $30 back, I'm closing my account. I don't actually need the account. I more or less let them sit on my $100 out of goodwill. So much for being the only local back that I liked.

pic of the day

Dali, China
Three pagodas

Looking back at the temple through the gate entrance. One of my favs.
Originally uploaded by paulip88.

Since I'm spending most of my free time uploading photos, this is what you get.

In other news, I've been busy as hell. Combination of work, more work, broken drainage pipes, and after work events. Tomorrow I get a chance to buy groceries. Wee!

finally

Hong Kong - view from Grandma's apartment - looking North
Originally uploaded by paulip88.

Finally got around to uploading pics to flickr...
Finally got around to stitching some of these pics together...
Finally putting it here for all y'all to see...

sunday

Another day, another day to upload more photos onto flickr, listen to more music, and get some work done. Yes! Work!

Not my usual weekend thing, but hell, I need to get this stuff done. Besides, looking forward to my three week trip definitely makes it a lot more tolerable. And sorry if I can't shut up about my trip. I can't help it. I haven't taken any time off since the week before Chrissmas, and that's entirely too long.

flickr

Yes, I've had a flickr account for several months (actually forgot I had it). Well, I finally uploaded some photos.

Thanks to Carol for randomly reminding me that I should be on the thing a bit more actively. ;-)