Sunday, February 28, 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

De Anza Week Feb 22, 2010

Mon Feb 22, 2010

I crammed my Payroll mid-term Sat and Sun. The mid-term was open book; however, I read the chapters to understand where the concepts are in the book. Knowing where the concepts are located help me look up information to answer the multiple choice. I used Excel to learn and understand how to complete the problems. Open book mid-terms are useless to solve the written problems. Excel helped me apply formulas and save time from hand writing.

The cramming made me sleepy Sun night I woke up at 10:30am Monday. I arrived at 12:25pm in time for my Acct 1B class. The instructor forgot her PowerPoint lecture she downloaded them. My project classmates gave me a cupcake. "Who's birthday is it?"

Speaking of the project, I found more information. The project consists of problems in the textbook. Each problem must be solved by each person. For example, for problem #1, all three of us must answer problem #1 together and handwritten. We must meet, share our solved problems, and write the solutions on a master sheet.

We got our second mid-terms. I got an A. 35% of the class "did a bad job." I anticipate more students drop on Wednesday. The second mid-term was a surprise because most of the questions including the written portion were straight from the homework.

Since I got sick on Mon Feb 15, I lost interest in school. Being sick made me fall behind. Fortunately going with the flow kept my sanity. I continue to push forward.

I continued cramming between Acct 1B and Payroll. I scanned the chapters to memorize where the concepts are. I reviewed the problems in Excel. I took the mid-term. It's similar to the first mid-term. The problems were straight for the homework. Hopefully I did the problem in Excel correctly because I did exactly the same way I solved the problem on the mid-term. The multiple choice was time consuming because I looked up the answers to most of the questions. There were some questions one must look up because it's not worth memorizing the different tax forms.

Tue Feb 23, 2010

The instructor's voice was still weak. She sang minimally and ended class early. She didn't feel well. The warm ups were brief and we sang a few songs together.

I didn't feel like singing. I still had the allergies and sickness from last week. Other students experienced similar symptoms when they sang.

I asked the instructor a question how singers handle sickness such as mucus, stuffy noses, and sore throats. Her answer was the singers cancel their performances. Singers wear scarves to keep their throats warm. On the other hand, rock bands singers depend on microphones to sing well. One student went to a Placido Domingo concert. He sat on second level. He heard Domingo's voice and his voice from the speakers. There's no way a rocker's voice is strong as Domingo's voice.

Wed Feb 24, 2010

I had trouble waking up early. I went to bed at 1am and I wanted to wake up at 7:15am. Nope. I woke up at 9:30am. I finished a homework assignment for Acct 1B. I didn't eat breakfast. I arrived at 11:30am, submitted my Peachtree homework, and ate lunch in the campus center.

Acct 1B Chap 16 quiz was delayed to Monday. The instructor covered lots of material. And the class had the fewest students in attendance. I'm sure some students dropped for respectable reasons such as working full time and spending little time studying. Even though I got A's for my first two-mid-terms, my opinion is she's a below average instructor.

In dance class, we reviewed the West Coast Swing. I think the instructor spend more time on the West Coast Swing as we get closer to our performance. Then we reviewed the Cha Cha Cha. The rest of the class we danced the Waltz. We learned a new move that is new to me. I don't know the name. It's a zig zag pattern. I forgot the promenade. Most of the female students are having trouble dancing the Waltz.

I talked to a student who is a De Anza student counselor. I asked questions regarding transferring and she gave me useful information. She takes the class for recreation.

Follow Up. I mentioned in The State Of My Life blog I wanted to finish my car maintenance. I looked up my car maintenance records. The tire rotation, tire balance, and alignment check should have been completed in April or May, not February. I was too early. Perhaps, it's a good idea I completed the three early. And I have a concern with the driver side front tire. It needed additional air when I checked the tires. I keep an eye on that tire.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The State Of My Life

My life in 2010 has been going well. Recently, my life has not been going well. Since Mon Feb 15, I feel bored. I feel my life is repetitive. I feel my life is the usual. School is not the problem. I'm satisfied with school even though I'm behind. It's my life outside school that's messed up.

The past two weeks my life is out of whack. I was sick with allergies. I cut my singing class last week. I went to the gym once a week for the last three weeks. I feel everyday is the same. I want to take a break and find something different. I think and do something else and then get back to my normal routine and schedule.

The next four days I'm going to do different activities including activities I never did in a long time. My suggested activities include watching DVDs, playing TF2, practicing social dance between homework and studying, researching San Jose State transfer, and preparing my taxes. I need to do laundry. I skip gym because I want to recover from my sickness and allergies. My allergies are improving. I watch anime when I eat breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. I want to finish my car maintenance. I completed tire rotation, tire balance, alignment check, and coolant flush. I need transmission fluid flush and oil change I complete in the next four days.

There are millions of people who are in a similar situation. There are students in De Anza in a similar situation. We continue to live one day at a time. We're human. It's one step forward, two steps back. I'm getting stuff done. These negative feelings are temporary. I experienced boredom and dullness in the past. I pull through in time.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Accutane Day 383


I was sick last week. It was hard concentrating on mid-terms and homework. Accutane and Atralin were on the back of my mind.

I started applying Atralin on my nose and my cheeks last night. Atralin is a soft gel. The gel treats my whiteheads on my nose disappear. The gel also treats the blackheads on my cheeks. I apply a small amount of Atralin before I sleep. Applying a larger amount has no affect faster treatment and can cause redness, peeling, and pain.

I take Accutane twice a week. I took a pill before I ate breakfast.

I have eczema on my lower left of my face. I apply Cultivate to treat. I continue to monitor for more eczema.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Thursday, February 18, 2010

De Anza Week Feb 15, 2010

Mon Feb 15, 2010

The campus was closed for President's Day. The timing was good because on Sun Feb 14 I got allergies that included a sore throat, congestions, stuffy nose, and runny nose. The weather was unseasonable warm that I was not prepared.

I used the holiday to study for my Financial Accounting mid-term on Wed. I wanted to study for my Payroll Accounting. Couldn't do it. I concentrate on the Wed mid-term and focus on payroll afterwards.

Tue Feb 16, 2010

I cut singing class. Too much congestion and coughing. How do professional singers cope with sickness and their voices? I emailed my classmate telling him I didn't attend class and if there was anything new.

Wed Feb 17, 2010

My allergies have improved. I arrived on campus at noon. There were plenty of parking at Stelling parking garage. I went to Peachtree to submit Project I. I got a 93. The 20 minutes I stayed in the lab I checked my email. It seems other students experienced allergies. I saw a few students with the sniffles. I hope rain comes back soon.

The second mid-term for Financial Acct was better than the first. More questions were straightforward compared to the first. The written portion was straight from the homework. Any student who questions their low scores is going to have a tough time because of the improvements.

I think I did well. There was two or three multiple choice I had no idea. The written portion I made a last minute change because the journal entry looked weird. I'm glad I did. I looked at my notes. The change was the correct answer. Trust my gut feeling. I repeat. Trust my gut feeling.

I believed I studied too much. The third mid-term I stop studying and wait one day if I'm bored. I didn't study earlier today. Waste of time. It's either you know it or you don't.

Tomorrow I look at the group project. I traded contact information for the third student in my group. I email them and share my thoughts how to complete it.

Dance class the instructor's grandmother past away. The instructor's assistant taught the class. We reviewed the West Coast Swing, Cha Cha Cha, and Waltz. I'm glad I attended class despite my allergies.

This week I went to campus one day. It turns out this week is the fastest week in the quarter. I'm going to say the fastest ever in my life.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Accutane Day 376


I received lots of information from my dermatologist. First, the common fact food such as pizza, potato chips, chocolate, and french fries doesn't cause acne is false. For almost everybody, these foods don't cause acne. For the few, yes, acne flares up eating these foods. Similarity, its being allergic to nuts. In short, it's all genetics.

Second, Accutane doesn't fully remove blackheads and whiteheads. He said I can squeeze the whiteheads on my nose. Interesting. I remember squeezing is bad. There is little improvement on the blackheads and whiteheads. I'm OK with blackheads on my cheeks. I hate whiteheads on my nose.

Third, my dermatologist determines when my treatment ends by the number of acne on the face and back. Anywhere else is disregarded. I got a pimple on my lower right leg and lower back. My dermatologist said the two pimples are not a factor. He said I got some kind of bacteria that caused the so-called pimples. He looked at the pimple on my lower right leg. It was not acne.

The third information leads me to good news. I had no acne on my face since my last appointment. My dermatologist changed my schedule. I take Accutane two times a week. I hope I don't get pimples on my face anymore. My next appointment is in August.

The bad news is got Eczema again. My dermatologist gave me samples of Cultivate for treatment. I stop taking Accutane for the rest of the week for my face to heal. Also, my skin on my forehead is pealing. I went to the gym on Sat Feb 6. My forehead was stinging and burning. My dermatologist looked at my forehead and said it's dry skin. I use Vanicream to treat the dry skin.

My dermatologist gave me Atralin for my blackhead and whiteheads. Atralin is a gel I apply on my cheeks for the blackheads and the whiteheads on my nose before I sleep.

If there is a major outbreak of Eczema and/or dry skin, I call for an emergency appointment.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Monday, February 15, 2010

I Am A Tiger

The 2010 Chinese Horoscope is the Year Of The Tiger. I vow I'm going to be a tiger. My goal is to learn more about myself, find new abilities, find hidden attributes, and become a better good guy.

Tigers are courageous, dynamic, attractive, alert, enthusiastic, and fight bravely. We are optimistic, social, and full of energy. I must improve those key attribute except being enthusiastic. I have the habit being too enthusiastic. I'm working on my attractiveness. And Tigers are lucky.

Tigers are volatile, impulsiveness, impatient, and disobedient. I have the volatility and impulsiveness. However, I'm patient. I need to be more disobedient.

Tigers hate bull sh** and I rarely bull sh**. I'm terrible at lying. When events and plans go wrong, we become depressed. That's something I have been dealing with. In January, I realized I must go with the flow. Tigers love challenges. I must seek more challenges. We are natural leaders. Throughout my life I never held a leadership or management position. No more holding back. If we are ordinary workers or being in a rank and file position, we get stubborn.

2010 is the year I'm going to be a tiger.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Friday, February 12, 2010

De Anza Week Feb 8, 2010

Mon Feb 8, 2010

Great Super Bowl XLIV. Congrats to the Saints! I read Chap 14 for Financial Accounting afterwards. I felt like reviewing my dancing which I did after studying. I went to bed at 2am.

I couldn't wake up at 7:15am. Terrible. I got six hours of sleep when I worked at Cisco and while I was at San Jose State. I arrived at De Anza at 11:20am. Like the Saints gambling with the onside kick for the second half kickoff, I gambled parking at Stelling garage guessing there were no spaces. I guessed wrong. There were plenty of spaces.

I went to Peachtree for 50 minutes to work on Chap 9 due Wed. Then I went to Financial Accounting. The instructor delayed the Chap 14 quiz to Wed and the second mid-term to Wed Feb 17.

We're going really fast in Payroll class. Today's class meeting the instructor quickly reviewed the homework problems and gave us the answers for us to study. There was one student who arrived late. I scanned the Chap 3 notes and I email the student. The next class meeting is our second mid-term. It's open book.

Tue Feb 9, 2010

I sang with a classmate in front of the class for the mid term. The instructor lost her voice and she talked very little. It seemed the advanced students sang last and the beginners sang first. The instructor was kind to sit in the back and guide some students when they sang. She even helped my classmate and I. I hope her voice recovers soon. I don't know how she's going to teach with her sick voice.

There was one student who amazed the entire class, the instructor, and the piano player. She picked a fast song. The singer had to stop two times to request the piano player to play faster. After she finished singing, myself, some students, the instructor, and the piano player talked with her. It turned out the singer had prior lessons and participated in competitions. She had a great voice. And she sight read the song. Wow! Sight reading is a skill for at least the intermediate level.

I'm happy that I didn't have mucus going down my throat today. Last week I had difficulty singing.

Wed Feb 10, 2010

Last night was good. I slept at 1:30am. That's OK because I didn't sleep after 2am. I had a productive late night. I woke up at 7:45am. That's OK. I wanted to wake up at 7:15am. I had trouble sleeping. I estimate I slept around 2:15am. My total sleep time was 5.5 hours. That's good because I'm trying to reduce my sleep to 6-7 hours. I arrived at De Anza at 9:35am.

I got a 9 out of 10 on the Chap 14 quiz for Financial Acct. The first question was not clear cut. The mid-term is next Wed. The instructor announced the project. Three students per project. The good news is the project is problems from the book. The bad news is the project must be handwritten. No Word and no Excel. Huh?!? That handwritten requirement convinced me she's not a good instructor and I tell fellow accounting students to avoid her classes.

The beginning of dance class there was a major traffic jam. Students were coming in late. However, the class turnout was small again. What's happening? We started to learn the waltz. The instructor's grandmother is sick and she might be absent next Wed. A substitute takes over next Wed's class meeting.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV Reminded Me Of Nov 1, 2009

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for winning Super Bowl XLIV. I credit head coach Sean Payton for the gutsy call for the second half onside kickoff. Wow, what a play!

Four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning was the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Manning also earned the Super Bowl XLI MVP when the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in 2007. Manning is a smart, athletic, and experienced quarterback with leadership skills. He has the ability to lead comebacks in the fourth quarter, sustain productive drives, and outsmart defenses. He's a great quarterback. I watch Manning specifically when the Colts were on TV.

Super Bowl XLIV and Peyton Manning reminded me of a lesson I learned on Nov 1, 2009. We're human. We're not perfect. We make mistakes. We're breakable. Nobody is invulnerable to mistakes, errors, and bad judgments. We experience victories and disappointments.

Experts predicted the Colts win because of Manning. Manning is human. He throws touchdowns and he throws interceptions. He threw a critical interception in the late fourth quarter that sealed the Saints' championship victory. He made a mistake. He's going to correct his mistakes. He's going to find new ways to win next season.

Manning is human. I'm human. You're human.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Thursday, February 04, 2010

De Anza Week Feb 1, 2010

Mon Feb 1, 2010

How can people survive without breakfast? I can't, especially on days I attend classes.

Today, again I experienced problems waking up. Also, I didn't finish my Acct homework. I'm behind in almost everything. No worries. I'm going with the flow. I don't fight it. I don't like being behind. However, I do like not being stressed. I have fun here and there, and fun is important. I think of my current situation as being busy. Being busy is better than being bored.

I digress. I didn't have time to shave and eat breakfast. I went to school at 9:30am and arrive at 9:50am. I parked at Flint Center garage. I'm trying to cut expenses; unfortunately, I had to buy orange juice for Peachtree and a burger and apple pie for Acct. For me, I must eat breakfast.

We took the Chap 13 quiz. I scored 80% on the quiz. Like past quizzes, I misread a quiz question. Oh, well. The Chap 13 was better written and more straight forward. Then we got our first mid-term results. I got a 93%. The instructor was disappointed with the overall performance. 9 students got an A, 7 got a B, 6 got a C, and 15 got a D or F. I expect students to drop out after the second mid-term. The instructor drops the lowest mid-term grade. The second mid-term is scheduled for Wed Feb 10. That's fast!

I scored an 87% for my Payroll Accounting mid-term. Lots of students made dumb mistakes including me. One problem I followed the procedure correctly; unfortunately, I calculated the numbers incorrectly. The instructor said lots of students got an A. I don't know. The students I talked none of them got an A. The mid-term was straightforward. No tricks.

Tue Feb 2, 2010

I had mucus in my throat hours before singing class. I hope I don't get sick. My Acct instructor was sick. A classmate and I sing one song for the mid-term. I begin to memorize the short song tomorrow.

Wed Feb 3, 2010

I kinda rushed the morning. I gave myself extra sleep to make sure I don't fatigue. So far, so good I'm not sick and it seemed my congestion was getting better. I didn't have time to shave. I did eat a good breakfast. I arrived at Stelling parking garage at 9:40am. Plenty of spaces.

I turned in my Peachtree Chaps 7 and 8 homework. I always read the green sheet to make sure I complete the correct next week's homework assignment. I started Chap 9. It's long. Acct was a straightforward class.

Dance class was a full turnout. What happened the last two weeks? Nothing new for the West Coast Swing. We learned new moves for the Cha Cha Cha.

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

A Lesson Learned Tonight

Conan O'Brien agreed to a $45 million settlement to leave "The Tonight Show," with $33 million to O'Brien and the staff receiving $12 million. O'Brien's last show was Fri Jan 22. Jay Leno returns to host "The Tonight Show" on Mar 1. In 2004, NBC announced Jay Leno leaves "The Tonight Show" and Conan O'Brien takes over. There were plans years ago for the transition.

The Leno and O'Brien event is a reminder to a common life lesson. There are no guarantees in life. Nobody in the history of mankind ever had a life went 100% his or her way. Nobody. Action must be taken to correct a mistake, to get back on schedule, to start over, to acquire more information to get it done, to recover from a sorrow moment, to bounce back from a defeat.

The ratings for "The Jay Leno Show" and "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" were low. Both shows failed. Mistakes happened. NBC needed action to correct including settling with O'Brien because NBC breeched the contract. The mistake cost $45 million.

There are no guarantees in life.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34970662/ns/entertainment-television/

I Continue To Find Myself Finding Raymond Mar

Monday, February 01, 2010

You have a pathetic life when you drop a penny somewhere and pick it up later hoping for good luck. You control your life. Stop hoping and start creating action