Current mood: Feeling a million bucks

It’s amazing how getting back into the sports momentum makes one feels so refreshed and awake (the fatigue aside). After getting back from Vancouver, mm and I started the jogging regime and working out in gym.

Had my first golf and tennis lessons today. Not bad for a first lesson in golf, it got me all hyped up for the gentleman sport. As for tennis, I’m quite glad I haven’t touched the tennis racquet for quite a while (With the Pittsburgh weather, I don’t really have the choice…). I’ll have to re-learn all my strokes once again, while forgetting how I played last year. We’ll see how it works out. Bring on the good weather!!!

Lori Grunin has a very good writeup about the 15 most common photo-taking pitfalls, complete with examples and ways to correct them if any. Sadly, I fall prey to a number of these flubs, such as “It’s a complete blur!!” and “So far away“.

Scratch one up for a decent tripod.

Finally back at Pitt! We had a fantastic trip to Vancouver. Food and more food. At last we found a place to contend with Toronto for the best Chinese food place in North America…

Watch out for the photos…

Two more months to graduation, and I will step foot into the working world for the next 40 years of life. How exciting does that sound! Honestly, after spending the last 20 years in schools, I somehow feel a tinge of excitement thinking that I’m going to start working finally. It’s like finally I’m able to see what I can do with what I have gotten from the school so far. It’s not so much I’m sick of learning, but rather, I’m sick of studying, preparing for exams and all. This will be one refreshing point in my life I’m sure.

As a usual routine, DSTA (the organization to which I’m immensely grateful for sponsoring my education) needs the returning scholars to update them regarding our interests so that they know where to deploy us. They sent me a document (aptly named ‘ADRIAN.doc’) and asked me to update that CV. There I go, updating the little nuggets of details. Thank god they let us update my photo as well. For the ’short description of your interest area/areas’ section, here’s what I wrote:

My primary interest is in the field of network and info-comm security. Being trained in the methodologies of Human-Computer Interaction, I also believe that human factors and the way people interact with the security systems play a significant role in the successful deployment of security. I hope to be able to research, design and develop systems, both secure and usable to users. An ideal workplace for me is one that provides a good mix of research and deployment opportunities.

In short, I want to do security and HCI. I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into…

No, no blood samples needed! Haha- that was my reaction when I first saw the word “dna”. I am usually not a fan of online personality tests, but this personalDna survey is really interesting. Apart from the usual yes/no, true/false questions, they have (spoiler alert!) these slider bars for questions and questions where you interactively place your response on a 2D grid. And then you get your own unique DNA color strip along with some cool advice if you want to be different.

Have fun with your self-relevation here.

For the interested folks, here’s mine.

“You are an encouraging leader. Your solid grounding in the practicalities of life, along with your self-assuredness and your willingness to appreciate new things make you a LEADER….”

I am so in a splurging mood today! All the stuff I’ve contemplated to buy, I decided to get them all at one shot. Somebody, stop me!! With a whooping half a k, I’m all peace now! Peace.

1. Case-Mate 5G iPod Case. This Case-Mate premium form-fit leather case is one of the best looking cases I’ve seen for the iPod. Some say it’s pretty much a rip-off from the all-sacred god-pricey Vaja cases, but I think its cool Baha Orange skin is simply to die for.
2. Kingston 1Gb SD Card. Especially for item 4.
3. Crucial USB2.0 SD/MMC Card Reader. I’m trying to use this as a bridge for my ipod and my camera. If all work well, I could survive a long trip with just my ipod and digicam.
4. Canon Powershot S80 Digicam. It just pains me to be unable to take wide shots. I can never comfortably fit everyone in my camera view when the party becomes bigger than 10. This 8.0-megapixel Canon S80 epitomizes the very two things I look for in a point-and-shoot cam - small form and wide-angle-shot capability.

In last week’s ski, I did my first ever major jump, and also had my first major ski fall ever. It was really just a blue slope, but I didn’t know how to complete the jump. I fell on my back and butt. The skis hit my pelvic. Strangely my chest also hurts. It’s time I see a doctor today just to make sure.

SSA is organizing an ice-skating trip on this Friday. There is another super-duper cheap (the cheapest in the season at $28 for everything) ski trip on Saturday. I wish I could go, but I know I shouldn’t. This should really be the least of my concern now.

Maybe I should keep to sports where my feet are on the ground for now. For quite a while I guess.

A Johari Window is a metaphorical tool intended to help people better understand their interpersonal communiation and relationships. It is used primarily in self-help groups and corporate settings as a heuristic device to encourage people to open up to another in self-disclosure.

Help me understand myself better here. Thanks!

All along mm and I assumed Spring Break is in the 2nd week of March. Off we went, confirming reservations for flights and hotels. One fine day, we realized that Spring Break is in fact in the 3rd week! Ugh! Called up Travelocity and paid a whole bunch of reservation change fees of $300!

No more assuming in future!

Thank you so much dear for this wonderful gift!! You really gave me quite a surprise! And of course nothing beats the eternal engraving on the ipod. You can be sure of this! Muak

Baobei, Happy V Day

(LOL u can’t resell it now)