Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Human’s Most Precious Possession

What is a human being’s most important thing? My answer is memories. Who am I without my memories? I feel paralyze, helpless, and dependent on others forgetting who I am. In addition, I’m a nobody without my experiences, my adventures, my emotions, my feelings, my family, my friends, my interests, my hobbies, my knowledge, my mistakes, my lessons, my pains, my victories, my defeats . . . my life is gone for better and for worse.

It’s a nightmare if I live one day with no memory of all my people in my life, my favorite anime, my trips to Las Vegas, my webpage, recognizing police cars from which city, and where I was when the San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series. It’s a nightmare forgetting what I learned at San Jose State and De Anza, forgetting my jobs from Blockbuster Video to Cisco, forgetting my favorite moments, and forgetting my biggest lessons in life. These are nightmares that belong when I sleep.

Live life and make memories everyday. Make good memories. Make life changing memories. Keep your brain active absorbing life: see it, smell it, feel it, taste it, and hear it. The more active you are, the less likely you have Alzheimer’s Disease. Do something, anything new for a new memory tomorrow.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

I felt fatigued last week. I was just tired. I was at the edge of being ill. I’m okay physically such that I went to the gym yesterday and on Mon.

I realized my fatigue was more than just being tired and needing more sleep. My life was boring and routine. The very few in the world who reads my blogs consistently know I never get bored. I always have activities every day. I needed to do something different. I needed to add variety, even if it’s temporary as if I was on vacation. Here are some of what I did differently last week:

*I slept more hours a night. I needed more sleep. I feel better today.

*I played Team Fortress 2. It was nice playing a video game once in a few months. My cousin and I played on the same team. We chatted afterwards.

*Browsed the web. Discover and learn something new. Have a little fun on the internet.

*Took a break from the gym. It’s okay to skip a workout. Just get back next week.

*Took a break from job searching. There are always job openings.

*Took a break relearning SQL and Crystal Reports. I’m relearning those skills for my next job.

* Took a break watching anime. It’s okay to skip. Just get back next week. There is no rush finishing a series.

*Edited my friends cosplay pics. It’s second priority. It’s good working with Photoshop again.

*Watched movies. I watched Serenity on DVD and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington in the movie theater.

*Painted inside a house. I hate painting; however, I admit it was something different.

I called time out last week. The timing was perfect I needed a variety in my reality. The next time I lose focus on my life, lose interest in my daily activities, and feel boring, I take a time out and find something to distract myself. There is always something to do primarily, secondary, or way back in my mind.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I Must Declare Bankruptcy If I Was 15 Trillion Dollars In Debt

The United States of America is $15.04 trillion in debt according to multiple sources on the web. The special congressional panel supercommittee failed to reach a deal to balance the government’s budget. By law, automatic spending cuts are enabled including military, education, and health care starting in Fall 2012.

I’m thinking simple. If I was in debt, say, $25,000, then I must declare bankruptcy. My life is a daily nightmare receiving calls from collectors. I can’t live in debt forever. I wonder how some people live life in debt?

In time, the US debt is going to affect the world in negative ways. The inevitable economic global disaster is coming, and the US leads the way. If a person or family loses their home because of debt, then how can the US government survive in debt indefinitely? The government can’t. There is no magic solving the debt crisis. I don’t think it’s complicated. It is common sense for a person or family to avoid bad debt: don’t spend more than earning income or avoid expenses exceeding revenues. Can the government do the same?

I hear economic headlines daily. I remember the US debt when I hear positive economic news such as unemployment going down, GDP increasing last quarter, or a blue chip company reporting profits. It’s good to hear happy economic news. My happiness turns to fear when I remember the US debt.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

Thursday, November 17, 2011

SOMT: My Job Search

Blogger’s Note: SOMT stands for Sign Of My Times, an occasional blog sharing my thoughts how time changes life from when I was young to today.

I remember searching for my first job after graduating San Jose State. I searched for open job positions at job websites. Two of the websites I browsed were San Jose State’s online career center and I believe careerbuilder.com. I printed my resume and cover letter hardcopy and mail them to positions I’m interested. I wrote the addresses on the envelope by hand.

I received three interviews between Feb and June 1998. The first interview was in Foster City. I forgot the name of the company. I didn’t get the job because I was overqualified. The second interview was in San Jose near the San Jose Airport. I don’t know why I didn’t get the job because they never contacted me. The third interview was also near the San Jose Airport. I got the job working as a Research Analyst at Grubb & Ellis.

Today, after graduating with an AA degree in Accounting from De Anza College, I search online at Monster, Careerbuilder, and San Jose State’s career center. I create job profiles in big companies throughout Silicon Valley to search for their open jobs. I email my resume and cover letter or complete their online application instead of mailing my resume and cover letter.

Sometimes I receive a call for an opening and sometimes I receive an email for an opening. If a company seriously wants to interview you, they call you instead of emailing you from my experience. However, my friends say an email requesting you to reply back with your resume is considered a legitimate job opening.

Timing and luck have not changed since 1998. My jobs at Colliers and Cisco involved timing, and Cisco involved luck. My Colliers job was an example of networking. The manager who hired me at Grubb also hired me at Colliers. We kept in touch during the months we separated.

The economy remains weak. Finding jobs is the hardest for me ever. I continue to find open jobs and email my resume and cover letter for positions I’m qualified. I’m confident I find a job. I succeeded in the past and I succeed again. I need favorable timing and good luck.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Two Blogs In One

There were two events yesterday I want to share. The two blogs are short and simple. It’s nothing complicated, yet it’s important for me. Here we go.

I Just Remembered

I search for jobs daily. The job market is tough. When I’m not online finding employment, I’m reading Access SQL and Crystal Reports books to relearn and refresh.

The past two weeks I have been stressing myself to finish reading the books as soon as possible. I’m a person who likes to do it and finish it now. I was reminded yesterday to take it easy, be patient, don’t rush, take your time, and relax. Breath. Relax and learn slowly. I’m unemployed. Take advantage of the free time and enjoy life. Take life one day at a time.

Yummy Yogurt

I have been eating yogurt two or three times a week since Oct. I was reminded yesterday yogurt has health benefits including calcium, protein, pro-biotic cultures build immunity, and good bacteria.

There are many yogurt places in the San Francisco Bay Area. There should be a yogurt place in your neighborhood. I know Baskin Robbins serves yogurt. Eat a cup for dessert.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

Monday, November 07, 2011

My Best Investment For Happy Days

Every morning I feel good. I don’t need coffee to start my day on a positive note. I don’t even need coffee to wake me up. I don’t take medications for depression and to make me feel good. My attitude is life is good. Life is worth smiling. There is always optimism. Control what you can control and don’t control what you can’t control.

How do I consistently maintain a positive outlook without coffee, drugs, and even alcohol, binge eating, and smoking? My answer is a good mattress. I believe having a good night sleep is one of the best ways to have a good day. Some of us pop pills to have a good mood, drink alcohol, eat lots of food, and/or complain and whine to people making the complainer a person to avoid.

Invest in a good mattress. You feel strong, fresh, energized, in a good mood, and in a positive mood ready to handle to struggles and daily life moments. A good sleep lowers the chances of needing drugs to feel good. A good sleep saves money from drinking. A good sleep saves money from a person needing possessions to escape from daily living. Life, in my opinion, is not really bad.

Ask yourself the question, “When was the last time I purchased a new mattress?” My knowledge is if the answer is eight years or greater, then it’s time to purchase a new mattress. Shop around and do research. Buying a mattress is like buying a car. Feel free to negotiate. The mattress market is competitive. Sweet dreams.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar