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Happy Halloween! Emily and I had a great time Saturday night at Mike's Halloween party. Tonight, we'll be passing out candy to trick or treaters at home, which should be fun. Not something we've been able to do before, what with being in apartments and all.
Most checking my site regularly probably already know the following, but since I just made it official by giving my notice, I feel as though it's now appropriate to mention this news here:
I'm leaving UCLA (where I've been a Program Representative with the Public Policy Extension Program since July) to start with the City of Los Angeles as a Management Assistant. More specifically, I'll be with the Department of Public Works - Bureau of Engineering - Recreation and Cultural Facilities Program, also known as the LA for Kids / Prop K program. More info about the program can be found here, but the lowdown is I'll be doing analysis, budgeting, report writing, and the like in an office that handles parks and recreation projects for kids. Heartwarmin', eh?
Not only that, but there's an immediate big fat raise, which will get even fatter automatically after my six month probation period is over. Overall, I'm talking raise. Plus, there's a lot of room to grow up the career ladder.
This is what I went to grad school for...
I am posting this from home, where we have finally gotten our wireless network set up. For whatever reason, the first cards we got didn't work (even though they're the same brand as the router, and we spent much time on the phone with tech support). But after trying another card brand, we have a super-strong, stable, fast wireless connection. Odd, but at least it's resolved.
Yay, Wi-Fi!
Yeah, so, I guess the Astros didn't get my memo. Oh well, at least now it's officially the offseason and the hot stove action can begin!
Over the weekend, I finished Robert Jordan's newest Wheel of Time novel, Knife of Dreams. I'd been disappointed by the last few books, which - given that he takes two to three years between books- meant I'd been soured on Jordan for quite a while. Bogged down in side plots and minor characters, it just seemed like foooooooreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever since anything interesting and/or important had happened.
So, when KoD came out two weeks ago, I was hoping he'd get back to the real story and characters I care about, plus begin wrapping things up, since there's supposedly only one book left after KoD.
I was not disappointed in Jordan's latest effort this time. About 80-90% of the book was focused on the major players - Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Elayne. That alone was a huge improvement. On top of that, some of these characters finally accomplished goals that took them many books (and in some cases almost a real-life decade) to reach. Plus, in addition to some character developement and plot closure, there was a good amount of creative smackdown included, which always livens things up, and should serve as a precursor to next book's promised Last Battle.
If you've been disappointed by books (and years) of nothing happening in The Wheel of Time, give KoD a chance. Jordan (with the re-addition of a real editor, the lack of which many blame for his previous poor stretch) has recaptured the excitement he created earlier in the series, and delivers a great book in Knife of Dreams. Finally, I'm looking forward to his next book not because the one I just finished was unsatisfying, but because it was indeed so engaging I can't wait to see where things go next.
So, in review, if you've started Jordan's epic series, don't stop now, and if you're looking for some good fantasy, I can once again in good conscience recommend you go out and pick up The Eye of the World and start this great series.
I've added a new link to the right menu: Vegan Lunch Box. It's a fun site wherein a mother takes pictures of the vegan lunch she packs for her son each day, describes the menu, and follows up with her son's review of the food. It's amazing what she comes up with, and how much her son seems to love the vegan fare she makes him.
I wish I put that much effort into my lunch...
Congratulations to the 2005 National League Champion Houston Astros, who remind me a lot of the 2002 Angels. 40+ year old franchises that had never made it to the World Series, but ride a Wild Card berth all the way there. There's even veterans and career Astros Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell parallelling the Angels' Tim Salmon.
Astros-White Sox is the type of series I hope for (other than the Angels, of course). Two teams who haven't been there ever/in a long time, where either one winning is an interesting story... the Astros as described above, or the Sox who haven't been to the Series since 1959, and haven't won it since 1917, "cursed" since the 1919 Black Sox scandal.
That said, I hope the 'Stros kick the crap out of the Sox. Sorry, but you beat the Angels, I want to see you go down. That's the way it is.
So I got back yesterday from being up at Arrowhead for our conference. Let me tell you, staging a work conference isn't nearly as much fun as being an attendee at one.
Plus, the vegetarian food at the conference center, as described by one of my tablemates, was "A.B.M - All But Meat." Basically, instead of a real meal, the vegetarian entree was just the boring sides and veggies of the meat entree in slightly larger portions. Not good.
High Holy Days are now over. I can finally have Emily back. Yay!
In other news, I'm heading up to Arrowhead to put on a conference for work. From what I hear, it's a pretty cool experience. I'm leaving Saturday afternoon, and won't be back till Tuesday afternoon, so there'll be a bit of a lull here at garyh.net, but I assure you I'll be back to my rejuvenated frequently-posting self once I get back. See you then!
So, I've been posting a lot more recently, largely due to topics such as our house and my birthday. Hopefully, my faithful reader(s) enjoy it. Now, I'm wondering about what those of you who swing by garyh.net are looking for, and who you are.
Are you friends and family south of the Orange Curtain keeping up with me? Are you past acquaintances, seeing what I'm up to? Did you find me from a mutual friend's site, or a messageboard I post to? Are you perhaps random people who happened onto this site somehow?
Are you interested more in what I'm doing day to day? Would you prefer to see my take on current events? Are you more interested in cool stuff I come across and want to share? Something else entirely?
This is more of a "Mike" post, I know, asking for reader feedback, but please, indulge me. I've enjoyed getting back to blogging after some long periods of inactivity, and would appreciate the response as I consider what to post about in the future.
I'm also looking for something to make my site "fresher." Features, columns, graphics, whatever. Fire away.
My co-workers rock. Not only did they take me out to lunch at CPK, but they got me a chocolate cake, a $50 Whole Foods gift card (there's a Whole Foods here in Westwood we pick up lunch at often), and a red Swingline stapler.
Happy birthday indeed!
It's my birthday today. I'm older!
Also, huzzah for the Angels, who beat the Yankees last night to face the White Sox tonight in the American League Championship Series.
The party was a great time Saturday night. Great turnout, good company, fun games, and plenty of schmoozing and boozing. Thanks to all who attended! I look forward to hosting future events at our new place.
I'm felling better today, thankfully. Still a little sick, but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. By tomorrow's party, I should be mostly recovered (and hopefully for my friends, no longer contagious).
PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARTY!
Sick... so... sick...
I have a miserable cold right now. The same cold Emily had last week, oddly enough. Can't breath through my nose, keep sneezing, sore through and a cough, so achey...
Blargh...
Must... get... better... in time for.... party... Saturday!
Another busy weekend gone by. Strato, a visit from my folks, lots and LOTS of time assembling IKEA furniture, hauling stuff for High Holy Days...
Tonight the High Holy Days begin with Erev Rosh Hashanah ("erev" mean "eve"), and continue tomorrow into Rosh Hashanah day. Things pick up again next Wednesday night and Thursday day with Yom Kippur, the really depressing holiday.
I'm looking forward to High Holy Days being over, since Emily is HHD Chair this year. She's been putting so much time and energy into planning everything. I can't wait till the HHD's are done so Emily can finally catch her breath (and I can get my wife back).