HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Actual update and my new years resolutions to come soon, but you can bet that one of them is going to be about CONSISTENCY in postings?!

Happy New Year!

Witti Thoughts v1

SO, my headphones, one ear stopped working so i called up Sennheiser for a warranty replacement. They're sending me a new one but I think it maybe be a little lower quality than my originals. Regardless, you should ALSO warranty replace your purchases because that is PROACTIVE.

Also, if your gym decides that the broken crosstrainer can be broken for three weeks as long as they hang a notice on it, you should totally take it up with corporate. WHY? because i did just that and I told them that even my SCHOOL did a better job of repairs on gym equipment and their main job is to educate! NYSC's job is to be a GYM. Today, i walked in, the crosstrainer was repaired and they had brought in TWO additional NEW CROSSTRAINERS!...SUPER PROACTIVE. everyone at the gym should thank me.

While using the new crosstrainer, i couldn't help but notice the guy in the elliptical in front of me when he finished up his workout. in his hand he wasn't holding a bottle of water, no. not a bottle of gatorade either. it was a can of SIERRA MIST!?!?!?!? what?! a) who who who brings in a can of sierra mist to a gym and b) WHY WORK OUT AT ALL?!?!?!?! I rank this one as PROACTIVE FAIL.

Happy Holidays!

Well, the holiday season has officially started! Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and are gearing up for December holidays! Thanksgiving was an exciting, yet slightly uneventful, day. This year we didn't actually have any guests over so it was so much less work A) DID NOT have to clean the house and B) DID NOT have to cook lots and lots of stuff! YAY.

Anyways, I know my blog isn't usually about food, but as you can see by the links on the side of my blog, most of the blogs I read are about food, so this section of the post is an ode to their and my love for food!


We all know that the week after thanksgiving, everyone asks the same question " HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND." Well READ MY BLOG>>

The menu for thanksgiving was the following:

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon:
My sister made this. If you recall from my last post, we came into a great supply of bacon recently and so it was added to many of our recent dishes.

Basil-less Caprese Salad:
well as you can see, there is obv no basil. When I went to the grocer, the herb section was EMPTY. Apparently, everyone is making caprese salad...or pesto.

Bacon and Crabmeat Stuffed Shells: This was surprisingly delicious. I made stuffed shells in home ec once and HATED IT. I'm guess it's because they werent stuffed with BACONNNNN <3

Chicken Stringbean Casserole: This is quintessentially american...chicken breast cooked in cream of mushroom soup, topped with stringbeans and fried onions. So easy and so tasty. No bacon here, surprise, surprise.

Turkey of the Sea: The veritable 'pièce de résistance' and my magnum opus of the meal. I went with mother to the grocer and we simply ordered a slab of salmon of which i marinated with lemon and dill and some honey, seasoned it, and topped with orange and lemon slices and baked till my culinary senses told me it was ready for consumption ( approx 40 min). SO DELISH and way easier to cook than turkey. I forgot to take a picture of it and then remembered when it was too late and mostly eaten ;-(

Tempura Soup: mother made this. we have this very often, It was excellent soup nonetheless! Not worth picture taking were the candied yams. i dont think anyone dared to eat it. it's still in the fridge.

Not that great of a photographer as you can see, but I suppose you get the main idea.

Black Friday was so much more exciting. So, we ordered a new washer and dryer set last week but we needed the stacking kit and some other accessories so my brother and I decided to go to home depot to pick some stuff up.

On our way there, my brother, thinking he's so cool driving the nissan Z, decides to breeze pass the red light..only to be pulled over by a COP who was right behind us. Anyways, we get pulled over and the officer asks for the usual paperwork. SIDENOTE: So ever since I've been driving that MANUAL transmission of a car, I've hate hate hate stopping at stop signs since I'd have to put the car into neutral and restart it from the first gear after each stop. ( SRSLY, driving manual is TOO MUCH WORK). So i've realized that I may someday get pulled over for perhaps not stopping fully at a stop sign so I figured I'd just say to the officer that I was just practicing still. Anyways, so i decide to try my excuse, so i says to this officer "Excuse me officer, but I'm actually trying to teach my brother how to drive this manual car and he's still not very sure how to drive it and didn't really know how to react at the light." The officer looks at my brother says to him "Well, it seems like you def need more practice, i'll let you off with a warning". hahahahahha! ironic considering he's the one who had to teach me how to drive the car to begin with!! Of course, after being let off with a warning all i could think of was: OMG I NEED TO POST THIS ON THE BLOG ASAP.

For the last two months I've been hounding my brother about keeping an eye out for good christmas tree deals because the one we have at home is srsly as old as me and the tree just looks like it got hit with the swine flu. I even set it up earlier in the morning and the tree was clearly near the end of its life. So we walk in, and what do i see?!?!?! CHRISTMAS TREES UP THE WAZOO! It was a total black friday deal because the tree which was orinally 150 i got fro 49.99!!!! PRELIT 7 FOOT tree! super. Anyways, we get what we needed and of course I forgot we had driven the rice rocket and there was NO WAY the 7ft tree was going to fit in the trunk. So we had to drive 25 miles below the speed limit with our blinkers on all the way home with the trunk OPEN and half the tree sticking out the back of the car...SUPER CLASSY.

Here's a picture of the new tree:

Here's a picture of the old tree...do you see why why why a new tree was NECESSARY?!

I've never really understood why people buy real trees, they do smell nice, but they are A) the same in cost as a fake tree B) lasts only a couple months and C) drop leaves all over your house! All I have to say is that it is indeed more WITTI to buy a fake tree and just get your ROI on that sucker! And if you really can't live without the wonderful smell of a real christmas tree in your house during the season JUST BUY A GLADE AIR FRESHENER, i'm sure they have pine scents.

So now, it's officially Christmas season in the house because the new tree is all set up and the old one is still set up next to it looking kinda neglected and undecorated. I plan on putting the old one out on the curb sunday night for monday garbage pickup so if you're in the need of a christmas tree, email me for the address and you can come get it. Let me warn you, it is FUGLYYYYY.

Happy Holidays!

update>> i just threw out the tree this morning along with our monday garbage, it's in the oyster bay landfill if you want still and didn't get a chance to tell me.

New Obsessions

WOW...I cannot believe that a month has already passed by since we've last discussed my eventful (not!) life!?! Maybe it's because I have become OBSESSED with farmville. Sad but true. Before i go on, I want to say how AWESOME it is that it's thanksgiving week because not only do i get thursday off, but FRIDAY ALSO!!! free vacay day much?!? ROAD TRIPPPPP!!!!

This year I have so much to be thankful for except for the stove; now that the stove doesn't work after i tried making soup on it the other day. also i'm totally petitioning for a turkey free thanksgiving at the household because a) the stove is not working (i know, you use the oven, but whatever) and b) it takes so much time to make and c) it's not really THAT good. a couple of costco or KFC chickens are just as good, if not better. I was thinking of just getting lobsters, throw them in a pot and just call it a day, but whatever makes mother happy. i really don't care much for turkeys. i could even do with just sloppy joes and stuffing.

well i have much to be thankful for indeed and i'll go over those things when i post about thanksgiving...who knows when that will be!?!?!

Anyways...FARMVILLE. OMG I LOVE ITTTT.

Well, I'm usually hesitant to add new apps to my facebook account because I hate the clutter and they always make you give them permission to like access all your files. OBV not a good idea. But I was practically coerced into joining Farmville and it is like THE BEST FB APP EVER! The premise is pretty simple, you plant crops and then you harvest them for money and it's like farming in heaven. NOTHING EVER GOES WRONG. So now that im totally addict. and i mean addicted. i play farmville ASAP when i get to work, then i spend a good portion of my lunch hour on it, and then when i get home i have to ready it for the next plant cycle...etc etc Even my conversations with my coworks is about farmville! HOW UBER SAD AND LAME, I KNOWWWWW. what can i do.

One thing that totally boggled me was the harvesting of animals. So you can have animals on your farm and whatever they produce you can also collect and sell. These sellables range from the normal: cow produce milk, chicken lay eggs... but then you get a pig on your farm and you begin to wonder what in the world you can collect from a pig. like dont you just kill the pig for its delish delish bacon?! (SIDENOTE: bacon must have been on sale this week because we srsly have like 6 packs of them in the fridge. AMAZINGGGGGG) apparently farmville pigs you collect truffles. Okay, that's fair enough. but then i just got a cat. WHAT WHAT WHAT does one collect from a CAT?!?!?! HAIRBALLS?! ugh and don't even get me started on the cat i had sophomore years ==THE DEVIL INCARNATE. i guess when i harvest the cat, i'll tell you.

ALSO, now that i've reached like a high high level in the game, it has started to become less interesting because the amount you can grow is limited to your farm size and so now i can plant a whole field of crops and have like 100K left over in my account. i think they need to start like the fastoex (Farmville Stock Exchange) because i feel like i could totally be earning some sort of return on this money just sitting there!

P.S. i already sent this request out on FB but just a reminder. DONT SEND ME ANY MORE TREES> i want more chickens!

Well, in other news, my laptop died because its screen kept flashing so i decided to take it apart and see if a cable was loose. well, in the process of pretending to be computer saavy i guess i broke it for real now because there is no longer a screen display at all and when i hook it up to an external monitor, i just get the blue screen OF DOOM. sad times indeed.

In any case, I want to wish you a Happy Happy Thanksgiving and hope that your holiday season is full of joy! I honestly cannot wait for the christmas music to be heard EVERYWHERE. which reminds me... one of the things i'm thankful for is jesus, because without him there would be no CHRISTMAS MUSIC <3 <3 <3

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Developments in Suburban Living

Oh hello dear reader. I know it's been a while, so I'm sorry. I did promise that this blog would have more than one post, and knowing me, since my second post fulfilled that promise, my motivation went elsewhere...ahahah. SORRY SORRY. underachiever much?!

SO, recently, besides being busy with work, I have three new things to fill my time with:

1) Following the markets

2) Interviewing CMU applicants

3) Working out

1) My mother keeps telling me how I should start saving for my future. UM...i thought my plan for my first year of income was to have my expenditures=my income. FOR SERIOUS, i mean, it's the first time i'm gonna file a tax return for more than 50$... Might as well have some fun. Also, let me tell you, once you get a real paycheck, things you used to think were pricey...NOT ANYMORE! Plus, i get rewards on my credit card...OMG sometimes i think i spend money just to get rewards. DUMB AND FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE? SUE ME... at least i got a $20 gift card to J crew from my rewards points. SCORE!!!

Anyways, since the market has recovered insane amounts since march ( i wish wish wish i had invested then because honestly, even the crappiest stock gained like at least 20%) but alas, i was dumb and prolly going out to eat and drinking every night to have such glorious insight. So, i started investing, and the two companies i scope out, i decide to buy because honestly, with their prices STILL at an all time low, how could it get any lower. So i buy some shares. GUESS WHAT HAPPENED THAT SAME DAY. YES, you guess it, UGH... they fall, it's been two weeks and they're still falling.

So , in addition to putting mad charges on the credit card, i watch money leave my hands that i don't even actually spend.

SIDE NOTE: my buddy JTM got an offer from CITI! CONGRATS...

anyways, i had him make sure no more funny business because I cannot see any more of my money go to the cleaners over silly stock value losses!

2) I've done two interviews as an alumni for my alma mater and omg SO MUCH FUN! I recall having to do them and like FREAKING OUT about them, what do i wear, what do i bring, what do i say, do i buy the interviewer the drink?!!? HAHAHAHAHAH. Look how the tables have turned!! I am now the one causing them fear. I get an email for an interview from a prospective student I'll let it sit for a day or two...let the kid steam and worry ( why hasn't he responded? did i mistype something? should i have addressed him mr chou?) MUAHAHAHAHAHA I LOVEEEEEE ITT!!!

The kids i interviewed this week, both of them were presidents of their school's student council and were in ALL AP classes. so either i was a serious underachiever or like it's dam near impossible to get into school now. how things have changed. it's funny listening to the kids rant about themselves, tryna impress me, getting me to smile and laugh at their comments. ALSO i realized that many people consider laughter and smiling as success in a interview. SO NOT TRUE. A) I laugh at anything and B) if i wasn't laughing or smiling, i would have to be frowning and making fun of you. i don't think i'd be allowed to interview many more kids.

So, i have to attend a college fair at a high school this thursday, wish me luck! ALSO, i realized i dont even own a CMU hoodie or a shirt. I think i threw them all out during my move. SAD TIMES. At least the alumni office gave me a CMU table cloth, I guess i could make do.

3)The gym is such a necessary evil. If only I could be one of those skinny peoples who eat dozens upon dozens of donuts and not wreak havoc on my weight, but unfortunately, I was not gifted with such ideal genes. In fact, I am pretty sure I was meant to live in the olden times where fatness is revered as and even considered somewhat sexy.

I've been back at the gym, or else I become the person I was in December 2008: a whopping 210 pounds of holly jolly goodness.To a 16th century frenchperson, I was prolly uber sexy. Too bad, in 21st century America, I'm just considered overweight. How unfair.

My BFFFL, AAMc today told me how fat ppl (200lbs+) are not allowed on the Mule Ride Tours at the grand canyon!!! CAN YOU IMAGINE. if i had gone to the grand canyon in december, they would have totally profiled me as a fatty that needed to WALK that fat off and not break the mule's back! Am i glad that's no longer the case.

Plus, I see kids from high school there and some of them i knew of them but never talked to them, so it's uber awk when we see each other. PS im like so tempted to facebook friend them because i'm a social networking whore but we all know that if i friend you on facebook, there's an increased obligation to chat in person when we meet...NO THANK YOU. I'll stay with the head nods nd hi's when we walk past in the gym.

Anyways, there are some odd, odd people in the gym.

Okay, time to go.

PS i watched V tonight, dunno how i feel about the show yet. it's def different and interesting, but we'll have to see where it goes.

PPS im visiting pittsburgh december 4-6, so if you're there, clear your schedule!a

Islanders v. Hurricanes at the Coliseum

The first and only time I've been to a hockey game was when I was still a sophomore in college.At that time, the Pittsburgh Penguins were still kinda sucky (2006/2007 season) so the game ended in a loss and everyone was pretty bored. Plus, I had never even watched hockey on tv before except for the Disney movie, The Mighty Ducks. Here's proof of how boring that hockey game was.

Yes, I fell asleep during the game because it was that boring.

Being in Pittsburgh the last year has spoiled me greatly. I'm not a huge sports fan, in fact, I'm not usually even a fan, but at the risk of not fitting in with a city full of fanatics, I started watching the important games. When the Steelers wins the Superbowl and then the Penguins win Stanley's Cup ;-), it's actually hard to attend any other game in which the team you went to watch is losing.

Thankfully, the New York Islanders, who were on a unstoppable losing streak finally decided to win the game I went to last night! The firm paid for some sweet seats, we were three rows behind the team bench so I had a good view of the whole game. ALSO did you know one of the player's last names is Biron?!?!?! He is officially my favorite player now because he make $1.5 mil a year, but more importantly, because my name is Byron... Byron ~= Biron!!!!

Here's some pictures of the night:

I suppose there was a time when the Islanders used to be worth watching, but that was before I was even around...

Me with some of the coworks. Also did I mention that we went to Hooter's beforehand? That's another story for another time, but believe you me, I have a few WITTI things to say about that establishment.

It was a good game, the Islanders tied the Hurricanes at 3-3 so they went into an uneventful overtime and then a very very VERY exciting sudden death shoot out. Which brings me to my WITTI point of the day: WHY NOT JUST HAVE HOCKEY GAMES BE SHOOT OUTS FROM THE GET-GO?! Honestly, they spend three hours randomly taking shots, some of which are lucky, most of which are not. If you're a real fan, you're probably having and/or developing ulcers from all the cheering, yelling, and suspense. AND then it ends with a shoot out which srsly is like, the most effective way to end a game yet it completely negates the last three hours of my life. COME ON, I missed a new episode of Glee and Modern Family!

Regardless, it was a fun time, but if this happens the next time, count me out for future games, I am simply going to watch from home (unless it's a Steelers or Penguins and you're giving me free tickets).

Photo Credits:

Courtesy of KA and my cowork SC.

Hello...again

It's nice to be back after a yearlong+ hiatus. As you may know, I started a blog earlier in 2008, but with the financial crisis at an all time high/low, and the economy being pretty bearish, and my major being finance, I felt it more fiscally responsible for me to focus my energies on FINDING A JOB rather than spending time writing about my thoughts, as interesting and valuable as they are.

Alas, with the job found and retirement a mere 45 years away, I decided that it was time to document the things of interest that happen in my life, as there often are many.

I have named this blog 'Why, I Think That's Ingenious' , which cleverly acronymizes to WITTI, as it shall be the vessel upon which my ideas will reach the world [wide web]. So, here's to a new blog, a new found friendship with you, the reader, and hopefully more than just one post! What a waste of domain space that first blog was!