Success! Traveling and Presenting

I had posted last week that I had purchased a pair of noise canceling headphones. During my flight to Chicago they turned out to be a blessing. My flight was delayed about 4 hours, so I sat in the airport and read the Kite Runner while having the noise canceling activated. It allowed me to concentrate better, and I think prevented me from being as fatigued because I didn't have to constantly hear all of the airport noise. So I highly recommend noise canceling headphones!

Of course, the transition from Chicago to St. Louis was a little hectic. We landed at 10:20 and my flight out to St. Louis was supposed to depart at 10:50. Once we landed I rushed out to my plane, running through the terminal as fast as I could. I had my backpack and carry-on bag with me, and got tired pretty quickly. But, when I turned the corner and saw the terminal lined with cots and people already getting ready to sleep, resigned to the fact that they would be spending the night there, I decided that there would be no way that I would spend the night in Chicago. So I ran and caught my plane - but of course, it wouldn't leave for another 45 minutes due to additional boarding of late passengers and bad weather.

Christmas was the first time our family had been together since June, and the first time I had been home to St. Louis since last December. Plenty of things had changed - the roads, the things in my home. Nonetheless, it was nice to catch up. My family loved the Google gear I got them =) So it was a successful holiday! And back to work on Thurdsay.

<3 my new headphones

Oh hell yes. I finally got noise canceling headphones. This was something I've wanted for many years, especially after taking countless plane rides during college from Stanford to St. Louis, and getting off the plane really grumpy because some baby was crying and because the plane engine is just so noisy! I guess it really does drive me a little nuts when a middle school group traveling to China runs up and down the aisles while you're trying to rest. So, in preparation for my next trip home, I finally pulled the trigger and bought some Audio-Technica noise canceling headphones:


And already after one day of work, I can tell they make a huge difference. At work I felt more productive, and less distracted from the noise around me. I think it was really good, because I sit right next to a busy meeting room, where the constant in and out of people causes me to always look up and see what's going on. It's my instinct to look around to see what's happening, but now that there's no noise to cue me, I can pay attention to my work. Flying is never something I enjoy, but I know it will be 10 times better now that I don't have to listen to lots of background noise when I fly back to St. Louis.

Of course, my manager had to wave for a few seconds to get my attention at the end of the day. I expect to get hit a few times for people to get my attention. =)

My cover has been blown

My fellow employees have found this blog. There goes my freedom of expression =(

Cool countdown

When Jenny's gone...

I become very bored and lonely.

For a little background info, Jenny has left for a trip to Asia, where she will work in the Google Tokyo office for a few days before hopping over to Qingdao to see her Grandparents. I, in the meantime, am continuing the work thing in Mountain View, and attempting amuse myself while she's gone.

Some things I've done:

- Played video games: Probably about 24 hours worth during the weekend. I got a game called "Just Cause" for Xbox 360, which is just like the Grand Theft Auto series. You fly around a gorgeous island, completing missions to overthrow the government and grabbing territory from drug lords and corrupt government officials. While the quest for 1000 Xbox achievements points continues on that game, I have only left the house to do the following...

- Eat - at Google...three of my four meals were there. Well, I only drove their twice. On Saturday I got enough chipotle BBQ pork loin to last through dinner. And Saturday was some thai chicken. Very very good!

- Gym - I'm proud to say I went. Made me feel worthwhile.

- Shop - took my butt out to get some clothes I really didn't need. I went to Express Men at Valley Fair and bought two pairs of jeans and a t-shirt. I also stopped by Old Navy and got some socks and boxers. That made the trip worth it.

So what will I do the rest of this week? I've done all my Christmas shopping, so it will be more of the same. Work, gym, video games. Gotta get it all out of my system before Jenny comes back!

Xbox obsessed

The best thing about Xbox 360 is that there are achievement points associated with each title. 1000 points can be obtained for each game, based on completing certain objectives. For me, I've always been obsessed with completely beating a game - getting 100% completition in GTA Vice City or beating Farcry/Fear/HalfLife2 on the hardest setting.

But now Xbox live records a gamer score, with all of the points associated with the games you've played. It totally makes me keep playing games just with the point of getting achievements to have a higher score. I'm around 5000 points, but people online are as high as 50000. Maybe one day I'll reach that much!

Thanksgiving Recap

Awesome things I did in Hawaii:

- Attended the Triple Crown Surfing competition in the North Shore of Haleiwa. The waves were killer - 10-15 feet high.

- Ate at Kua'aina burger. 1/3 burger with 1/2 an avocado on top. And fries. Best. Burger. Ever.

- Ate at Alan Wong's. Menu included:

• Baked Lobster Mousse Wrapped in Nori with Crab Avocado Stuffing
• Steamed Clams with Kalua Pig, Shiitake Mushrooms in a Foil Bag
• Hamakua Springs Whole Tomato Salad with Li Hing Mui Ume Vinaigrette
• Maui Cattle Company “Garlic Steak” - Pipikaula Potato Gratin, Boursin Goat Cheese, Roasted Vegetables, Red Wine and Shallot Glaze
• Waialua Chocolate Sampler

- Shave ice at Wailoa Shave Ice. Green tea and strawberry. Yum!

- Watched Kicking and Screaming and Blades of Glory.

- And spent time with family :)