BlaringSmelly

O-M-G! Check out that credits I earned!

I’m currently in full swing addiction to PackRat. The game play is high in retention and low on learning curve. Just when I thought I did all the tricks there was in the game. A fellow Facebook friend let me into something she learned about the game and bamm, I’m right back to playing nonstop.

The game’s reward system also is well-balanced. I get rewarded frequently in modest amount, and in rare occasions I hit a jackpot like this. I could not believe my eyes when that happened.

It’s so sad to watch videos taken by ktula during our 2nd soccer game of this season. I suck!!

This trance group spun a good show last night. The energy was good; people were high from the music not some crazy stuff. The venue had just the right amount of crowd so we can actually dance and not being trampled.

Good time.

Record-breaking day in my short cycling history. Today we started from Seattle, Gas Work Park near Fremont to be exact. We started after a late lunch, I didn’t think we’d have enough time to reach Woodinville then with remaining strength still make it back before the day turned dark. But once we started, I was determined to make it all the way.

Getting there was fairly easy, today was no exception. Thinking I will probably stop for breaks in the returning journey, I asked to get a head start. Paddling and breathing took more efforts, the gear was adjusted so I can conserve energy. I was making progress surly and steadily. I didn’t make any stop to rest except one time I stop to wait for ktula. After a while I got tired of waiting so I hopped back on the road.

I got pretty hungry when I reached UW. Likely Ivar’s Salmon House was just off the trail. Fish and Chips were the kind of hearty grub I was looking for. Docked my bike at the rack, I joined group of hungry people in the chaotic scene of ordering and picking up food at the fish bar.

As I was enjoying my satisfying meal, I saw a mini van pulled into the parking lot, trying to squeeze into the space in front of the bicycle rack. Two people came out of the van to guide the van getting as close to our bikes as possible. Pardon my French, what were these fuckers thinking? By parking there, the van was blocking the bikes from getting out and other cyclists to use the rack.

That was clearly not a parking space for cars, still the mini van tenaciously inched its way in. I threw down a half-eaten fish piece to rescue my bike. I stopped the van before it physically about to touch my bike. I told them I’m moving my bike before they blocked me in. I didn’t hide my disapproval of what they were doing. I told them this is not a parking space.

The woman came out of the van agreed but sounded like there’s nothing she can do about it. I checked out the driver, an older man was behind the wheel. Probably stressed out from having to drive the family around unfamiliar city. Still, that was no excuse to be disregard of others. If you ever see this Oregon plate green van on the street, don’t forget to wave at it with your middle finger.

On a brighter note, my returning time was about the same as getting there. At first I thought I came back in a much shorter time. Turned out it was just a human error.

I’m bored.
Everyday is the same-old-thing.
Automatic…Repetitive…Predictable everything.

Is this just the weather talking? I hope.

(photo taken by Photo Booth)

On Wednesday’s TC511 Visual Media, instructor Tom brought a case of wines to the classroom. This is the final week for this quarter.

For me it was a hefty 10 weeks of classes, readings, assignments, and presentations. I got a lot out of the class, It’s time well worth spending. But it became such a big part of my life I felt I hardly have time for fun anymore. So despite an excellent course will be taught this summer quarter, I decided to take a break from school. Summer is too short in Seattle. I feel I owe it to myself to slack a bit during my favorite time of the year.

Once a while, some random encounters give me new perspectives on how far alone technology has advanced. I stumbled into MyHeritage.com and had some fun playing with its face recognition tool.

First, upload your photos for scanning. In less than 30 seconds, detected human faces are highlighted from uploaded photos. They are cropped and ready for further analysis.

There are couple things you can do with your photos on My Heritage:

Look-alike Meter

Ever wonder if you are a mama’s boy or daddy’s little girl? Look-alike Meter tells it all. I’ve got both mom and dad’s facial features, but a little something more from mama.

Celebrity Look-alike

It generates a list of celebrities you might or might not agree that look like you. At best it’s cheap entertainment and ego boost. I uploaded 2 photos and one came out I’m 80% Jada Smith look-alike. The other one I was more Caucasian than Asian. I like how the process of matching for resemblance goes beyond ethnic boundaries.

The Allium Rosenbachianum bulbs I planted last fall are now in full bloom. I didn’t think they were going to do well when slugs chewed the leaves up just last month. Looks like they are going to be just fine.

This afternoon was sunny and warm, the kind of weather perfect for gardening. I planted the 3 tomato plants Tab gave me last week. Another new addition to ktula’s backyard is a good number of ants. They don’t seem to be harmful to plants. But their sheer gigantic size alone is quite an eye sore.

I wanted to try Burke-Gilman Trail again ever since we did our first ride few months ago. Last time we ran short on time and had to head back half way. This time I pushed to bring our bicycles to lunch. So when we are done eating, we can go straight to cycling.

Lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant Aqua Verde, which is conveniently located not far from Sand Point, our starting point. We changed and unloaded the bikes at ktula’s workplace. Just half-block from there we hopped on the trail route.

This stretch of ride from Sand Point to Woodinville is quite scenic and pleasant. We rode mostly on cyclists and pedestrians only roads. There were only 2 busy traffic lights in the Lake City area. We got a little confused when Burke-Gilman Trail turned into Sammamish River Trail. Eventually we figured it out and all went well.

The trail ended at Woodinville’s luxurious Willows Lodge spa and resort, also home of the fine dinning Barking Frog Restaurant. Herbfarm’s charming garden is just across the street. My first impression of Woodinville was Napa valley like green field, fine dinning, premier spa services, and yes, tasty beverages.

Ktula was dying for a cold drink and he wanted to get his refreshment at Chateau Ste Michelle. His iPhone couldn’t pinpoint the exact location. A fellow cyclist told us we weren’t far but sadly the winery closed at 5pm. We were 10 minutes too late. Before Ktula attempted to consult his iPhone to another search, I stop him and told him we should just ride around and we’ll find it. Surely enough, Red Hook Ale was next to Herbfarm, behind a tall tree hedge.

Men, must they explore the world through the rose-colored glasses of techy gadgets?

Red Hook is traditionally where cyclists stop after a long and hot ride to Woodinville. Strangely it may sound, a glass of cold beer is a perfect match with cycling. Upon our arrival, already there were dozen bicycles on the bike rack outside Red Hook.

We came out Red Hook tipsy and ready to head back. Going back took longer time and required us pushing our limits. As much as I tried to pace ourselves to reserve strength for the returning journey, we were still struggling to keep up with each other.

29.8 miles total in less than 3 hours, I’m quite happy with the result. Although we ‘cheated’ by starting at Sand Point instead of the trail starting point in Ballard, it was challenging but not unreasonable for us. And we had lots of fun doing it.

Last Friday I was heading to Post Alley to meet up with some coworkers. Halfway there a guy stopped me, he wore a clean blue tshirt, friendly face, nice biceps, looks normal.

“Excuse me miss, may I ask you a question?”

I nodded.

“How old are you?”

How odd, that’s the second time in two consecutive weeks a random guy asked me this question! The first time was last Wednesday. A black kid walked by, stopped me and popped the same question.

This time I got curious, I said to him, “You know, I’ve being getting this question a lot lately. What’s up with this?”

Of course he didn’t have an answer for me. I have to wonder why and how it came about that asking a woman’s age became the icebreaker.

I can’t speak for everyone, I know I’m flattered when someone checks my ID or acts surprised when I reveal my real age. But for a stranger on the street to ask me how old I am, I immediately associate this person with illegal activities. Criminally offending an underage is a big no no. People go to the big ass pounding jail when they cross that line. And that’s why he is checking my age.

What about other women? Would they be intrigued by random guy’s out of nowhere age survey? What kind of responses would the guy get? Is there study to show the success rate of guys scoring any woman this way? In my head, I can’t simulate an outcome that’s to the guy’s advantage.