Procrastination

Blog #3 procrastination

I am keen, astute, and keen witted (at times). I have strength within myself that the average person would kill for. I have accomplished so much in my life and yet there is one thing that has always triumphed over me. Procrastination (you little minx) has crossed my path countless times. Even as I write this my heart starts to thump and my hands start to shake at think of the pain that procrastination has caused. The feeling is similar to being chewed up and spit out like old gum.  

Over the past several years it always seems to be the same with me and procrastination. Whether it is writing a college paper, preparing for an interview, or sending an application I find myself busy with procrastination until the last day or two. As far back as I can remember procrastination’s pulchritude has had me in its grips on me and I held out my hand out for a taste of whenever I could.

I met procrastination in high school one day when I decided to spend the day with friends instead of attending classes. After hitting if off there were countless days spent together not going to class and doing other things. We lost touch but found each other again in community college.

I spent 4 years in community college fighting with procrastination mostly because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. Finally I had enough; I told procrastination to get the hell out of my life and pointed to the door.  My life was great then.  

I met someone and fell in love. I had a baby and started a family, but when I least suspected it the overtaking Jezebel comes knocking on my door again. Enveloped and overwhelmed by the initial gaze I couldn't help to be taken back to years prior. Looking at the good times and the bad I wanted to slam the door but I couldn't. Stepping into my household procrastination entered my life again.

I laid back and stared at the ceiling one day thinking of procrastination.  Taking the ease off of my problems procrastination made me feel good, but then came the moment that I had feared. A strong feeling of anxiety raced down my spine. Inundated by my thoughts I wondered where the last 6 months had gone. I knew procrastination was bad and I knew I had to get it out of my system. Like a drug, procrastination went into went into my blood one last time.

I awoke the following morning after only a few hours of sleep. Blood shot eyes and a nebulousness to my eye-sight like I had just awoken from a coma. As I stepped outside in the early hours of the morning I went for a walk and saw the sun rise in the distance. I thought to myself this is a moment that I will remember when I am wrinkled and hoary. This was a new day with new opportunities for a new life. 

Ray Ray restaurant/ r2restaurant review

Wow blog #2 feels pretty nice. Hope to get better at this real soon. So since I am very hungry I am going to let my stomach tell you about this place that I love.

            Through the eclectic of Vietnamese and Mexican cuisine in the Rosemead/El Monte, CA area there is one place that stands out to me. An American-Chinese fusion (fusion is the rage right?) place named Ray Rays stuck between a e-cigarette shop and badminton training facility. It opened in 2011 and has a new technology feel to it (including social media screens, plasma-TVs and free Wi-Fi). There is no wait to be seated in a medium sized room that sits 50-70 people. The place is fairly laid back and is nice place to snack while you work on your laptop. 

            My first experience here was a pleasant one. I always feel the need to get the most popular dish and was recommended by the server to try the filet mignon cubes with rice. The cubes come with small mushrooms bathed in a sauce that is almost like gravy. Also comes with a side of red rice. Priced at $9.95 it’s a great price for some high quality meat.

            My second experience was rocky at first. After chatting the place up to my girlfriend for a week she was also eager to try the eatery. She ordered the shrimp fried rice ($6.95) and I ordered the beef chow mein ($6.95). Once my girlfriend and I returned home we found out we were missing a part of our order. The people at the restaurant were more than apologetic and even threw in a free order of filet mignon cubes for the confusion. What makes the chow mein different from others I've had is the noodles are fried to the point where they are hard, almost like a cup of noodles. Then you add hot gravy on top that has the meat and vegetables. The shrimp fried rice from what my girlfriend said was one of the best she’s had. The food portions are also very generous.         

            There is a large section of cold/hot teas, boba, fruit slush, and fruit drinks. My two year old fell in love with the watermelon/strawberry juice (I can still hear him saying más, más, más which means more in Spanish). The food, drinks and ambiance are above average but there are some things I would improve.

            The restaurant is fairly new and has no nutrition/ingredient or allergy information posted on their website. The smoking area is located directly in front of the only entrance which makes it particularly difficult on weekends when there are many people out front. 

            In conclusion this has good food at a low price with excellent service. 
Price: $1/2
Food: $$$
Drinks:$$1/2
Ambiance:$$1/2
Service:$$$$
www.r2restaurant.com

<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/1629270/restaurant/LA/Ray-Ray-R2-Restaurant-El-Monte"><img alt="Ray-Ray R2 Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1629270/biglogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:34px" /></a>

A new year and a new me... this time hopefully it sticks

A new year but a new me?

Every January 1^st I go through the same short lived transformation as many other Americans. I attempt to transform myself or reach a new level in life. After a few weeks I realize that a thought is very hard to put into something palpable.  Perhaps it’s the fact that I don’t tweet my idea enough or tell enough people about it (sarcasm), but something holds me back each and every year and I can quite put my finger on it.

                January 1^st, 2012 was a great year for me. My son was born just weeks prior and although I had the new father jitters, I’m sure many other fathers face, I was quite content with everything. I was determined to be the best father in the history of creation. My resolution this year was to read to my son each and every night, start a college fund, and do all the work I could to ease the burden on my girlfriend. Of course the backlash of not working for two weeks, unpaid paternity time, put a strain on my wallet which pushed back the college fund. Having a baby that awoke to the sound of any noise put a damper on the reading and working the extra hours made me very tired and I slacked on helping with the baby. It’s safe to say the superman father I thought I would be found his kryptonite in 2012.

                January 1^st, 2013 was the new career year for me. After getting out of college I took the first job I could in order to save money for the baby on the way, a tele-marketing job. After a year of letting the household finances settle I felt I was in a good place to test the waters on what other jobs where out there. I applied to several Probation Officer jobs in the state and went through some interviews but did not land a job. Finally I gave up, the energy I exhausted in applying and preparing for these jobs was too much to take. I looked on to the following year in hopes that a future-me would bring me fulfillment and a better life.

                Seven days ago, December 31^st, 2013, I realized I had gained a lot of weight over the holidays. Of course I made the resolution to lose some weight, we've all been there right? Now in writing about it I realize that I in no way can live up to the high expectations I set for myself and it leaves me feeling depleted and defeated. So this year I am setting a resolution that I can live with and be happy with. Be happy being me, be happy for everything, bottom line just be happy.  There will always be problems and obstacles but with the right mindset 2014 doesn't stand a chance.