I can't thank yoopie enough for introducing me to the Zen Habits site couple of months ago. From time to time, I check the site for useful insights and words of wisdom, and this morning I found myself floored after reading a very timely and relevant article, The Top 20 Ways to Come Up With Amazing Ideas (which the author posted on another site). Reading ( Read more... )

It's only Tuesday evening and I feel like I have aged several years during this week. Work has been extremely hellish, and it is taking all of my efforts not to take stress home with me. The work ickiness is further compounded by other non-work ickiness. But I am definitely grateful for friends and situations in my life that provide other options, ( Read more... )

The weekend came and went by rather quickly. Saturday afternoon was spent in the wonderful company of firepile and her husband, as we checked out the sights and quirks of the Division Clinton Street Fair. Some of the interesting things that we witnessed included a pizza eating contest for kids at Hammy's Pizza, an awesome record store on Division (Q Is ( Read more... )

Tonight shall be a low-key Friday night. I shall be spending the hot evening in the comforting confines of the March Wellness fitness center. Now that the Night Ride event is in my rear-view mirror, I am keeping myself in shape for the Portland Century (50-mile) ride, which is only six weeks away. I was able to cruise through the Night Ride last ( Read more... )

I am quite amazed at some of the serendipitous moments at work. Within a matter of ten minutes, I received a gem of inspirational reading from my senior boss, and spoke with a customer who is in the process of coordinating the workplace Bike Commuter Challenge 2007 event. It looks like there will be prizes and other goodies involved with ( Read more... )

Holy vegetarian cow. According to the Willamette Week's Best of Portland 2007 reader survey, the term "StarBuck" refers to "the Buckman side of SE Stark Street." And I live on the Buckman side of SE Stark street! I suppose that makes me a bona fide StarBucker ( Read more... )

Tonight was a plebian, run-of-the-mill laundry evening (which was necessitated by the fact that all of my workout clothes needed to be laundered before additional workout sessions could take place). But since the evening weather was invitingly warm, I decided to take an extended bike ride through North Portland while waiting for the dryer to finish ( Read more... )

I am definitely convinced that spending the day doing the best that I can to travel on the high road actually has its rewards, karmic or otherwise. I got a call from G earlier this evening, and it turns out that the surprise birthday gift* that I had ordered few weeks ago had finally arrived at her door. She sounded so surprised and happy. That ( Read more... )

The feeling of both mind and body feeling extremely relaxed and inspired is an exquisite experience. I felt exactly just that yesterday evening, as I was walking in the dusk around the neighborhood. The feeling was triggered after a weekend of numerous discoveries, spending time with familiar friends in comfortable surroundings, and the joys of ( Read more... )

The original plan for the past weekend was the following:

Friday evening: Work out at March Wellness, make big fish dinner afterwards.

Saturday: Make an iPhoto picture book (and submit it online), go on a bike/hike adventure to Forest Park trails, enjoy yummy food and beer at a nearby brewpub afterwards, practice piano, go watch a Railer show.

( Read more... )