Slow Down The Weekdays

Many people say they want the week to end quickly on Mondays. They want Saturday tomorrow. Many people change their desire on Saturday. They want the weekend to end slowly. They want another Saturday tomorrow. These people must change their desire from quickly to slowly on Monday.

Today's Information Age life is too fast. There is too much every day. We want more time. We need more time. More time is impossible. There is always 24 hours a day. No more. No less. Planet Earth can't rotate slower.

People must say they want the week to flow slowly. Take a deep breath. Be patient. Take your time. Do everything one at a time. No need to run to complete one responsibility. Walk to complete all responsibilities. Repeat on weekends. If people slow down and choose their responsibilities wisely, then stress levels decrease.

I Dislike Going With The Flow

One of my top priorities is physical fitness. I take advantage of my long-term unemployed status to workout four days a week. Two days of jogging. Two days of lifting weights. I feel weak missing a week of workouts. I feel failure missing a week of workouts. I feel unhealthy. I falsely feel gaining weight. All of these feelings should be nothing. I have been sick in the past. I have been injured in the past. I eventually get back to health like professional athletes. There is nothing to worry about.

The week of Mon Jul 21, 2025 I hated going with the flow. Going with the flow reduced stress; on the other hand, stress increased missing physical workouts. Physical fitness decreases stress. The increase and decrease didn't cancel each other. There were events, instances, and circumstances beyond my control. My sister in-law and my nephew stayed overnight on Mon Jul 21. The household didn't have groceries. My brother, older nephew, and niece visited on Tue Jul 22. I cleaned the household on Wed Jul 23 to take advantage of the below average temperatures. I drove a family member to the hospital for multiple appointments on Thur Jul 24. I also experienced multiple stomach aches. The explanations were a poor breakfast and an inadequate lunch. My sister's dog stayed overnight on Fri Jul 25.

The entire week I adjusted my routines. I delayed routines. There were one-time priority tasks. The week of Mon Jul 21, 2025 was a crappy week. Acknowledge the crappy week. Everybody experiences crappy days. Everybody experiences crappy weeks. Nobody plans a crappy week. Unemployed people rarely experience crappy weeks due to fewer responsibilities and fewer obligations. Life happens. Move forward. Fighting the flow can be worse than going with the flow. Sleep well at the end of the day.

Update On A Past Blog

I convinced myself go with the flow on Mar 16, 2022 from the blog Consciously Aware My Mind Is Focused On The Flow. I wrote today's blog to reinforce go with the flow. There were no penalties, fines, and reprimands for the Mon Jul 21, 2025 week. Moreover, my right hip is sore for which I mentioned in the blog. Perhaps, no workout for the week may speed up the healing.

Star Wars Episodes IV-VI On Wait And Patience

Here are selected dialogue quotes from Star Wars IV, V, and VI with "wait" or "patience" from iMDB Internet Movie Database. A common life wisdom is patience. Star Wars can teach waiting.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Darth Vader: [as Obi-Wan finds him and ignites lightsaber] I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Only a master of evil, Darth.
[fights Vader]
Darth Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
[fights more]
Darth Vader: You should not have come back.
[fights more]
Luke: [Obi-Wan spots him and allows himself to be killed] NO!
[stormtroopers shoot at him]

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

[Luke has just encountered Yoda. Yoda is pretending to be senile to test Luke's patience; R2-D2 watches as Yoda plays with a little flashlight-like lamp. Already impatient, Luke tries to take the lamp away from Yoda]
Yoda: Mine! Or I'll help you not.
Luke: I don't want your help. I want my lamp back. I need it to get out of this slimy mudhole.
Yoda: [insulted; as he speaks, R2-D2 opens a side door and extends a pair of pinchers and grabs hold of the lamp and tries to pull the lamp away from Yoda] Mudhole? Slimy? MY home, is this!
Yoda: [startled] Wha?
Luke: [Yoda and R2-D2 start a tug-of-war with the lamp; R2 beeping and humming protestingly] R2, let him have it. [Yoda grabs his cane and starts whacking R2-D2 repeatedly with it]
Yoda: [as he is whacking R2] Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!
Luke: [firmly] *R2!* [R2 relents, sinking his pinchers into his metallic body. Yoda uses his cane to close the side door for R2-D2's pinchers]

Luke: How far away is Yoda? Will it take us long to get there?
Yoda: Not far. Yoda not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him.

Yoda: Why wish you become Jedi?
Luke: Well, mostly because of my father, I guess.
Yoda: Ahh . . . father. Powerful Jedi was he. Powerful Jedi.
Luke: [suspicious] Oh, come on! How can you know my father? You don't even know who I am. Oh, I don't even know what I'm doing here! We're wasting our time!
Yoda: [Looking away from Luke] I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.
Obi-Wan: [voice-over] He will learn patience.
Yoda: Much anger in him . . . like his father.
Obi-Wan: [voice] Was I any different when you taught me?

Yoda: Stopped they must be; on this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now - if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did - you will become an agent of evil.
Obi-Wan: Patience.
Luke: And sacrifice Han and Leia?
Yoda: If you honor what they fight for? Yes.
Obi-Wan: If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere.
Luke: I understand. R2? Fire up the converters.
Obi-Wan: Luke! Don't give in to hate. That leads to the Dark Side.
Yoda: Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.
Luke: I will. And I'll return, I promise.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi

[Aboard the Death Star, The Emperor's shuttle is greeted by hundreds of Imperial troops and officers. As the last of six red-robed Royal Guards exit the shuttle, both Darth Vader and Moff Jerjerrod kneel in reverence at the foot of the boarding ramp as the Emperor himself emerges]
The Emperor: Rise, my friend.
Darth Vader: The Death Star will be completed on schedule.
The Emperor: You've done well, Lord Vader. And now I sense you wish to continue your search for young Skywalker.
Darth Vader: Yes, my Master.
The Emperor: Patience, my friend. In time, he will seek you out, and when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the Dark Side of the Force.
Darth Vader: As you wish.
The Emperor: Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

Top Ten Plus Fourteen Equals Top Twenty Four Favorite Black & White Movies

The classic movies. The black & white classic movies. The best movies established today's movies we see today. Take a break from the fast pace Information Age life. Do something different. Slow down. Watch the classics. They're true today. Here are my top ten plus fourteen equals top twenty four favorite black & white movies. There is no restriction on the release year.

24. Why Worry? (1923). A Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston classic.

23. Some Like It Hot (1959). Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon are the names. A comedy and a musical.

22. Modern Times (1936). My only Charlie Champlin movie I watched. No need for green screens. The rush society in the 1930s was a turtle compared to today's rush society.

21. Psycho (1960). An Alfred Hitchcock classic. The ending twist is fantastic.

20. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939). My second James Stewart movie. The politics in the 1930s were the same today.

19. It Happened One Night (1934). Clark Gable stood his ground. You may not laugh out loud during the comedy scenes. A funny romantic comedy a family enjoys.

18. Harvey (1950). James Stewart could do comedy.

17. The Grapes Of Wrath (1940). The movie about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl did a good job adapting 67% of the book written by John Steinbeck. The ending in the movie was not the ending in the book.

16. Schindler's List (1993). It's bad timing Liam Neeson who played Oskar Schindler lost to Tom Hanks from Philadelphia for best actor. The movie should have double best supporting actor nominations Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth and Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern.

15. Raging Bull (1980). A movie where a person is the best at something and the best at being a terrible person. Robert DeNiro won an Oscar for best actor.

14. The Philadelphia Story (1940). My first Cary Grant movie. The movie included one of the greatest of all time actor James Stewart and actress Katharine Hepburn. It should be a movie all student actors and student actresses watch.

13. All About Eve (1950). A movie about a fictional biography of a successful Broadway star. The movie watchers realize she's ruthless.

12. Seven Samurai (1954). A poor village hires samurais without pay to protect them from bandits. I watched the movie in two days.

11. Roman Holiday (1953). My critical opinion is Gregory Peck didn't have enough charism. Audrey Hepburn won Best Actress.

10. Metropolis (1927). A science fiction classic with no time boundaries. The futuristic city with dividing social classes. A four star movie.

9. The Apartment (1960). It's all about affairs and adultery in a comedy and romantic way. They existed in the 1960s. They exist today.

8. Citizen Kane (1941). Rosebud.

7. Young Frankenstein (1974). I read the book by Mary Shelley and the 1931 movie before watching Young Frankenstein. Hilarious.

6. Rebecca (1940). A classic psychological thriller. Maybe horror. An early black and white mind twist movie. The only Alfred Hitchcock movie to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

5. Sunset Blvd. (1950). I heard students majoring in film watch the movie in their undergraduate classes.

4. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962). There is a reason why Gregory Peck portraying Atticus Finch won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Finch was a model strong man and strong father.

3. Paper Moon (1973). Father Ryan O'Neal and daughter Tatum O'Neal are the lead actors. Tatum won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 10. She's the youngest to win an Oscar as of today.

2. 12 Angry Men (1957). If your date says 12 angry men is about a movie about 12 angry men, then end the date immediately.

1. Casablanca (1942). Too many movie quotes: Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship; Here's looking at you, kid; Play it once, Sam; We'll always have Paris.

Throwback Blog: A Second Look At 2010

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled A Second Look At 2010 written on May 13, 2011. Today's blog started A Second Look blogs for which the title is somewhat self-explanatory. I looked at the previous year's blogs. They were not year-end reviews. I commented myself. I provided feedback to myself.

I second looked at my 2010, 2011, and 2012 blog years six months later in its next year. The six months later was changed to 12 months later thereafter. My year-end reviews started with the blog A Brief 2005 Year In Review And Not Jinxing 2006 written on Dec 23, 2005. I brought them back starting with Moment Of The Years written on Jan 14, 2016 which briefly reviewed years 1998-2015. The previous individual year-end reviews were written two or three months on its next year which started with 2016 Year In Review. Is 2016 or 2007 The Worst Year Of My Life? written on Feb 5, 2017. There are no new year's resolutions blogs.

Today's throwback blog is my second A Second Look. My first throwback blog A Second Look was Throwback Blog: A Second Look At 2015 written on Apr 28, 2024. Today's throwback blog is different. I take a third look at the nine blogs. I write my Second Feedback below the Link. I edit when appropriate.

A Second Look At 2010
Friday May 13, 2011

I'm taking a second look at my 2010 blogs to provide comments and feedback. Was I correct? Was I wrong? OMG, I wrote that--what was I thinking? Was it true? Did it happen? For the record, this blog is not a 2010 review. I don't believe in [year-end] reviews and new [year's] resolutions. I believe a person should evaluate and critique their lives daily and make changes immediately.

My goal is to learn from my mistakes, reinforce my lessons, remind myself my moments, and rethink again. I gathered all my 2010 blogs including my weekly De Anza blogs, read them, and posted my self-evaluation. I included the title, date, blog summary, and feedback. The link is provided to read the original blog entry.

Blog title: The State Of My Life
Date: Feb 25
Summary: I wrote there was a moment I felt depressed and out of control. Regardless, life continues day by day. There is no time to sulk. Do anything to regain control of your life and get out of being depressed.
Feedback: OMG, I wrote that! I must have been depressed to blog something depressing and sad in Feb. I remember from 2000-2004, March had always been my depressing month. I hope my Feb 2011 is not depressing. Given it's May 2011, March 2011 was a bad month. Hence, I continue to experience depressing days. We're human.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/state-of-my-life.html
Second Feedback: It's normal to feel depressed. Don't use depression as an excuse to stop living life. If you feel better, then solve problems.

Blog title: De Anza Week Mar 22 2010
Date: Mar 26
Summary: I wrote my highlights for Winter '10 quarter at De Anza. I blogged my mistakes which were I didn't drop singing class and I should have stopped attending free salsa lessons.
Feedback: Continuing singing class was the worse choice I made in De Anza to date. The class failed to meet my expectations. The instructor lost her voice for three weeks. We had classes the instructor didn't feel like teaching.

I attended free salsa lessons too many times. It took too much time away for other important activities. There were times when one must stop his/her obligations. I had to stop attending the salsa lessons. Too much to do and, yes, gym was important to stay in shape.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/de-anza-week-mar-22-2010.html
Second Feedback: Two life lessons worth reminding. First lesson: Quit when something is not working out. Second lesson: prioritize. It's okay to keep the foot on the accelerator. There are times the foot must be let go; otherwise, the engine overheats.

Blog title: How to Build a Lasting Relationship
Date: Apr 15
Summary: Zig Ziglar wrote an article how to build long term relationships. The point was, "Compromise is not denying right and wrong; it's admitting that both sides can have some right and both sides can have some wrong."
Feedback: Reading the article made me think about my guilty conscious indirectly related to the article. I fear that one mistake jeopardizes my relationship with my family and friends. The little mistakes are not a problem. I should know that we're human and we make mistakes big and small. I should also know that almost all mistakes don't lead to an immediate break up. I never experienced any breakup from a mistake I made.

On second thought, yes, I experienced a breakup. I was in 8th grade. It was the summer before I started my freshmen year in high school. I went on a date with my friend's ex-girlfriend. My friend and I started high school. He never spoke to me throughout our four years. I was in 8th grade and I was immature for a 13 year kid.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-build-lasting-relationship.html
Second Feedback: Compromise is required for strong human relationships. On the other hand, don't be taken advantaged. Some humans don't get along with other humans. Nobody gets along with everybody.

Blog title: The Year Was 2007
Date: May 17
Summary: I blogged how 2007 is the worse year in my life. I wrote [a] Q&A as if I was interviewed by 60 minutes.
Feedback: Lol, I wrote a similar blog titled "2007 Was Actually A Bad Year" on Mon Oct 13, 2008. Click to read it: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/2007-was-actually-bad-year.html.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/year-was-2007.html
Second Feedback: 2016 is the worst year of my life. Read the blog 2016 Year In Review. Is 2016 or 2007 The Worst Year Of My Life? written on Feb 5, 2017.

Blog title: Bruce Lee Is The Man
Date: Oct 8
Summary: I paralleled Bruce Lee's philosophy with some of my top 30 blogs.
Feedback: I posted this blog to review Bruce Lee's famous quotes and how they match my top 30 blogs. Lee quoted he never reach achievement and "learning is boundless." I posted blogs reiterating that quote.

Side note: To view my top 30 blogs, click to read it: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/300.html.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/bruce-lee-is-man.html
Second Feedback: I wrote more Bruce Lee quotes in the Bruce Lee Was The Man Revisited blog on Nov 4, 2019. These quotes are from the movie Enter The Dragon.

Blog title: De Anza Week Oct 25, 2010
Date: Oct 28
Summary: I mentioned many students eat out instead of eating at home to save time and save money (arguable, eating out is cheaper).
Feedback: I looked at the nutrition information for a McDonald's Big Mac. That burger is fattening a frozen pizza is healthier. I promised myself I never eat a Big Mac for the rest of my life.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/de-anza-week-oct-25-2010.html
Second Feedback: I broke the promise in 2011.

Blog title: Why I Think The San Francisco Giants Won The World Series
Date: Nov 5
Summary: I shared my thoughts why the San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series. It was all action.
Feedback: Manager Bud Black from the San Diego Padres won manager of the year which he deserved. Bruce Bochy outmanaged Texas Rangers' Ron Washington. Good luck to the 2011 San Francisco Giants defending their world championship. The team must seek better actions to win the World Series.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-i-think-san-francisco-giants-won.html
Second Feedback: The Giants won two more championships in 2012 and 2014.

Blog title: De Anza Week Dec 6, 2010
Date: Dec 15
Summary: I wrote Fall '10 quarter was a bad quarter.
Feedback: Fall '10 really wasn't a bad quarter. Winter '10 was worse than Fall '10. Winter '11 is now the worse quarter.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/de-anza-week-dec-6-2010.html
Second Feedback: I change the feedback. The Fall 2010 and the Winter 2010 quarters were good.

Blog title: Happy Life
Date: Dec 21
Summary: Happy people earn their happiness working hard, doing better, innovating and improving indefinitely, and living life. The happiness becomes real. Innovate infinitely for a happy life.
Feedback: If there are awards for best blogs, Happy Life blog is a final nominee. The blog reminds me never take life for granted. Happy life is not for people who sit on the sofa watching TV. Happy life is not for people who play video games 24/7 and given shelter, food, and clothing from someone else.
Link: http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-life.html
Second Feedback: Happy Life is an all-time top blog. It's still true today.

I Prove Myself Ignorance Is Bliss

Nobody called out my faults throughout my childhood and most of my adulthood. The people accepted my weaknesses. My weaknesses became my normal. The people believed I'm happy being ignorant. The people believed I'm happier being naive. I wasn't going to succeed. Don't waste time correcting me. Don't waste time teaching me. Keep quiet. I was judged let me be. I accepted my weaknesses ignorantly.

Times have changed. I'm on the other side. I identify younger people and older people who used to be me with faults. I make a judgement choice do I call out their weaknesses? Do I call out their mistakes? Can they handle the solution? Can they handle the truth? I understand the teachers, grown-ups, co-workers, and managers when they identified my faults. They made a judgement choice do they call out my weaknesses? All of them were quiet withholding the solutions. All of them were quiet withholding the truths. All is forgiven. The top reason is . . .

Update On A Past Blog

. . . I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. My life changed forever. I welcome maturity, strength, professionalism, courage, and wisdom. I'm lucky. I'm fortunate. There are adults older than me who didn't grow up.

I wrote Growing Up Too Late Was Not My Fault on Nov 14, 2015 not blaming myself I grew up later than a typical adult. My parents were slow raising me. My parents never finished nurturing me. I fell through the cracks in the school systems. My life was too easy.

Thanks No Thanks Processed Foods

Some people have extra free time. Extra free time. Extra free time is rare for many people in today's Information Age. The extra free time is used to watch TV, to work, to raise the family, to read books, to check email, to play video games, to screentime on the smart phone, or do something brainless. These people eat more processed foods. These people may be eating too much processed foods including restaurants, frozen foods, and prepackaged meals. There is more time doing something else. There is less time cooking in the kitchen.

The extra free time cooking less is great in the short-run. The extra free time cooking less is terrible in the long-run. Is eating more fast food worth it to watch more TV series? Is eating more restaurant take-out worth it to finish the reports? Is eating more frozen pizza worth it to sit around doing nothing? Is skipping a meal worth more shopping?

Cooking is a life skill. Cooking is a stress relief. Cook the correct way.

George Costanza Is A Winner Today

Seinfeld fans know George Costanza is a loser. There were episodes George was unemployed and lived with his parents. George was a loser yesterday. Maybe George is a winner today. I speculate. There may be a growing trend adults question their price of freedom. The adults are thinking again the cost of independence. The prices to pay for living on their own are increasing such as rent or mortgage, gas, groceries, bare necessities, leisure, clothing, and maintaining relationships. Dead-end careers. Underpaid jobs. A weak relationship. Dragged-down friends. Too much stress. Little sleep. Worsening health. A solution is quit the job, say good-bye to friends, sell everything, and move back home. The chances living a happier life is increased living with the parents. There are fewer people. People drama is reduced. Minimize eating processed foods; for example, restaurant prices are increasing. There are more hours to sleep. Learn something new.

Don't take your parents for granted. Do your share maintaining the residence. There is a new way of being a winner.

Update On A Past Blog

I blogged Homeless Encampment Eviction Day Real Story on Mar 23, 2024 for which I linked a KTVU Fox 2 News reported on a homeless encampment eviction in Oakland, CA Eviction day for Oakland's Wood Street homeless encampment aired on Apr 10, 2023. I posted 24 YouTube comments and opinions.

There is another story missed from the 24 comments and opinions. The parents and/or the families of the homeless. Abusive parents, alcoholic parents, violent grandparents, mental instability parents, criminal parents, incest, siblings bullying, and more. No loving upbring while the homeless were children and teenagers. Childhood trauma without intervention resulted in drug abuse and homelessness.

There are some homeless who are former military experiencing mental problems and PTSD. It's unfortunate these homeless military didn't have family support or slipped through the cracks needing treatment.

Is forcing institutional rehabilitation a top solution? The involuntary homeless needing treatment must be told to get treatment to recover. The result is some of these involuntary homeless actually recovered. Tough question. Tough solution. Multiple opinions.

Do You Really Care About Other People?

The answer to the question is counterintuitive. You must care about yourself to prove you care about other people. Don't sacrifice yourself to care for other people. If you're not well in all capacities, then you can't care for other people. The capacities are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial. Both parties are negatively affected. Never expect greater than or equal to appreciation in return every time. There are jerks who take advantage of someone's kindness. There is less supply of kindness available for a greater demand requesting help.

Be simple, be effective, and be mindful for good timed caring actions. Motivation or desire is more important than knowledge. Further, a little knowledge is better than a lot of ignorance. Exercise well. Sleep plenty. Eat healthy.

Update On A Past Blog

I remind myself I never fully understand anything in life. I never fully understand *insert noun* or *insert adjective* or *insert verb* or *insert adverb*. I wrote I Never Fully And Truly Understand Someone Else's Feelings on Oct 7, 2006. Anytime I say, "I understand . . .", or another person tells me, "I understand . . .", I or the other person don't fully understand.

I reiterate an action on the day I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. The action was "I forgave everything and everyone. . . ." I wrote blogs on the day I grew up. I choose Five Years Ago Today I Grew Up on Oct 4, 2013 as the update blog. Forgiving or forgiveness is like the weight I carried on my back lighten. Forgiving or forgiveness crumbles personal walls. Forgiving or forgiveness makes breathing easier. I also reiterate "the most important lesson I learned is never taking life for granted."

I Correct Be Patient And Go For The Long Run

I thought of the "be patient and go for the long run" when I was a student at San Jose State University. The wisdom was correct. The attitude was correct. The adaption was incorrect. The execution was incorrect. I did it wrong. College life was too much fun and too little learning. Obviously, any student read the book, attended the lectures, and passed the exams to graduate. I took life for granted. Outside the classroom was unproductive growth.

I'm doing the "be patient and go for the long run" correctly decades later. Work. Give everything time. Take everything one day at a time. Build a little every day. Add the little accomplishments for the big goals. My job training approaches the endgame. I learn investing following WallstreetBets since Jan 2021. I'm training for a 10k marathon since 2021. I'm close to the 6.2 miles. My longest distance is 6 miles. It took me six months to read Harry Potter from Sep 2019 to Mar 2020. I researched two hours every Sun from Jul 2019 to Nov 2019 to build a new desktop. Furthermore, medical scientists continue to research the COVID-19 virus since 2020.

I was irresponsible then. I'm responsible now. It's okay for immediate fun and leisure. Work for most of the week. Take a break for a few. I did none of these as a college student. Perhaps, my biggest regret was being a naive person in my 20s. The regret is forgiven. My life catching up continues.

Half-Ass Vacation Or Half-Ass Job Training

I approved Dec 2022. It was justified. Something was better than nothing legitimately. I job trained half-ass last month. Or I took a half-ass vacation last month. In other words, I combined job training and vacation. Some days there were more job training and less vacation. Some days there were more vacation and less job training. Either perspective the goals were accomplished.

I thought of the half vacation and half job training when I cleaned the house on Mon Nov 28, 2022 and Tue Nov 29, 2022. There is more to life than work. Or there is more to work than fun. Dec 2022 was catch up during the vacation time. I caught up outstanding life knowledge, lessons, and skills to learn. I couldn't have too much fun. There were mature responsibilities. Distractions were minimized. Lower priorities not finished one day were completed another day. There were no emergencies. All last minute new priorities were minor. One last minute and once in a blue moon event took an entire day.

Injured Reserve

Furthermore, I went with the flow. My physical workouts were half-ass because my left knee strained. I benefited being on 50% injured reserve since Nov. No jogging resulted in at least two free hours each week. Weight lifting continued. I started jogging again on Fri Jan 27, 2023.

Update On A Past Blog

A reminder blog Some People Need A Ferris Bueller's Day Off written on Jun 6, 2021. I accomplished the Ferris Buller.

Are We Doing Too Much?

Time is unchanged since time was discovered. There are 60 minutes in one hour. There are 24 hours in one day. There are seven days a week. What is changed? We do more per day. There is more to do. There is too much to do.

Add everything up. We see the results. We experience the results. We witness other people's results. Stress. Overwhelm. Frustration. Mental health is affected such as memory problems and confusion. Physical health is affected such as fatigue and increased sickness. Emotional health is affected such as impatience, more haste, and rudeness. Spiritual health is affected such as less sleep. Financial health is affected spending more money to solve more problems which could have been prevented.

Welcome to today's Information Age life. We are expected to do more with less. We must complete responsibility one. We must complete responsibility two. We must complete responsibility three. We must complete responsibility n. There is a fear of missing out. There is a fear of falling back. There is a fear of being behind. There is a fear of missed opportunities.

There is no right or wrong. Be prepared to accept the sacrifices doing too much. Be prepared to reject the alternatives doing too much. More people are doing too much the bad way. Few people are doing too much the good way.

A Reminder

We forget maintenance. We forget personal checkups. We forget self-care. We forget priorities for which some responsibilities assigned a priority is not a priority. We forget ourselves.

Here is a reminder for those who forgot. Sleep. Eat healthy--avoid the processed foods. Read a book. Breathe. Clean the residence. Listen to music. There is no need to accomplish these every day except meals, breathe, and sleep. These reminders are old school which still works.

Update On A Past Blog

Everyone did everything correctly. Dot the i's. Cross the t's. Triple checked. Support staff proofread. Passed the trials. Unsuccessful at the end. The 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers did everything correctly. The 2021 San Francisco Giants did everything correctly. The start of the second half of the 2021 Major League Baseball season the Dodgers were one game behind the Giants for first place in the National League West Division. The second place Dodgers went 48-21 (.696). The first place San Francisco Giants went 49-22 (.690). The Dodgers gained zero games against the Giants. The Giants prevented the Dodgers from being tied or becoming the second place team winning one more game than the Dodgers. The Dodgers were 100% successful. The Giants were 100% successful. I could switch the order mentioning the Giants first and the Dodgers second. The switch or the reverse is logically correct. I elaborate the teams on Oct 16, 2021 in the blog The 2021 San Francisco Giants 107 Wins Plus 2 Equals 109 Wins. I also mention a counterintuitive decision Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts started a weaker pitcher instead of a stronger pitcher for Game 5 in the National League Division Series because if the Dodgers gave up runs to the Giants, then it's better to give up runs earlier in the game instead of later in the game. There are more innings for the Dodgers to catch up.

Power Outage For 14 Hours

A power outage started on Tue Jan 10, 2023 at 2:30am in the West San Jose area. Power was restored in my neighborhood at 4:30pm totaling 14 hours. The bomb cyclone-driven rains driven by multiple atmospheric rivers arrived in CA since Fri Dec 30, 2022.

I didn't get mad there was no electricity for most of the day. I was glad. I was upbeat. No electricity. No internet. No computer. No TV. I could have used my cell phone to access the internet. I used the cell phone to access PG&E's power outage map only. Otherwise, my cell phone was for emergency use only. The household listened to the emergency radio for the first time in a weather related emergency and the second time overall. Both uses were power outage related. The radio was off most of the day. The news was the same throughout the day including power outage locations, traffic accidents, weather updates, property damages, and injuries.

I read Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman book. I practiced rope knots as a life skill. I ate a granola bar, a nut bar, cereal, and a Belvita. The household kept the refrigerator closed throughout the day. I remained calm. I minimized expending my calories. My parents spent the day not involving computers and TVs.

I went back to my normal daily routine after 4:30pm. The refrigerator kept all foods cold. I reset clocks plugged in to the electricity outlets. I job searched. I ate an early dinner. I trained in Python which was today's job skill. I wrote today's blog. The weather forecast is more atmospheric rivers continuing to next week.

14 hours is the longest power outage I experienced. The last time a multiple hour power outage related to heavy rains and strong winds I was in second grade in my grandparent's house.

A Melancholy 2022 Thanksgiving Holiday

Chances are many people experienced a rusty 2022 Thanksgiving weekend. The expectations were high. The holiday was an underachievement. People wanted a Thanksgiving miracle all is better. Many people forgot how to behave. Many people either forgot what Thanksgiving meant or thought about something else.

There was too much on many people's minds they couldn't stop thinking. There were too many worries. There were too many problems. They thought there was not enough time. There was not enough time to relax. Break time was too little. The holiday went by too fast. The time feeling didn't slow down. People needed more time to take a breath.

People felt unsatisfactory during the final hours of Sun Nov 27, 2022. The holiday failed to meet expectations. There were disappointments. A minority of people shopped successfully on Black Friday. Learn from the mistakes for the 2022 Christmas holiday. Make adjustments for the 2022 Christmas holiday. Don't take the next holiday for granted.

Update On A Past Blog

I remember my first week of the Winter 2010 Quarter at De Anza College. I wrote, "Many students and even my teachers were tired and continued to be in adjust mode after the holidays" from De Anza Week Jan 4, 2010 written on Jan 7, 2010. I remember many students including myself and many teachers were unsatisfied with the 2009 Christmas holiday. 2009 was a year during the Great Recession. Nobody wanted to be at school.

I Went To An Amusement Park During The Global Pandemic

I exited my comfort zone. I deactivated the COVID-19 risk-adverse shield. I was with groups of people including families, couples, and friends. I don't recall the last time I was present with groups of people pre-pandemic. I attended an amusement park yesterday. Mar 2020 was the last time I participated in any gathering before California shutdown on Mar 17, 2020.

I went to the Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA. My brother invited my dad and I because his wife and his son couldn't attend. It was a last minute invite. I rushed preparation. I brought sunscreen. I wore my hiking clothes. Obviously, I brought my mask. I assured myself and my family I minimize my chances of getting COVID-19.

I did my best to social distance. I initiated social distancing when I walked around the park. I wore my mask except eating.

My observations are plenty. Few people wore masks. I saw one Gilroy Gardens employee wearing a mask. People were in groups without social distancing. I saw no groups initiating social distancing. People waited in line without social distancing. People ate in groups were closer than social distancing. People are tired of the global pandemic adjustments. People desire pre-pandemic normal life.

Headlines state omicron BA.5 is contagious and immune to present vaccines. I fear more people contract COVID-19 from Gilroy Gardens. I hope I don't contract COVID. Masks are not 100% protection.

It Was A Life Break

I admit I felt relaxed at the end of yesterday. Yesterday was a break from job training. Yesterday was a break from staying indoors throughout the day. Yesterday was a break from eating healthy. I cancelled my planned physical workout. I ate a vanilla chocolate chip ice cream inside two chocolate chip cookies for which I ate the ice cream at the car instead of inside the park. Yesterday was a change being outside San Jose throughout the day.

Am I going to spend more time outdoors with groups of people? It depends on my comfort feeling. It depends on the COVID-19 case numbers. It's case by case. It's a judgement call. Gilroy Gardens is a small amusement park. There was room for me to social distance when I walked; although, I couldn't control other people walking towards me when I'm either waiting in the shade or other people walking behind me. Did I smell good?

A final observation. I saw more obese children.

Allergies And Coughs April 2022

I got sick in April 2022. The last time I got sick was in Nov 2018 Allergies And Coughs November 2018. I was sick free for a personal record 1,236 days or approximately 41 months from Nov 24, 2018 to Apr 13, 2022. I blog how I treated myself and the likely causes because I want to reference my treatment the next time I get sick. No panic. Obvious symptoms. Minimal pain. Quick recovery.

Wed Apr 13, 2022. Sore throat developing. My mom told me her sore throat started three days ago. Allergies were possible. Air was dry. Humidity at 40%.

Thur Apr 14. Full sore throat. Runny nose. My initial diagnosis is allergies. Ear thermometer 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit. No fever. If I experienced a fever, then I took a COVID-19 test. I wore a Breathe Right nasal strip while I slept.

Fri Apr 15. I took a Zyrtec at 10:50am. I craved for food. My ears popped open a little.

Sat Apr 16. I took a Zyrtec at 12:30pm. Congestion, mucus flowed down my throat, and minimal coughing. I applied skin lotion on my dried skin nose before I went to sleep. I continued Breathe Right nasal strips throughout my sickness.

Sun Apr 17. I took a Zyrtec at 1:00pm. I continued cold showers. I ate chocolate to control my cough. Sore throat improved with minimal pain when I swallowed. If I didn't drink Coke for lunch and dinner, then my throat acted up with mucus and coughing.

Mon Apr 18. I took a Zyrtec at 2:10pm. Best sleep last night. I coughed briefly when I ate breakfast. I coughed out one phlegm. I drank Coke for lunch only. I ate chocolate throughout the day. I applied skin lotion on my dried skin nose for the third consecutive night.

Tue Apr 19. I took a Zyrtec at 4:15pm. Ears still plugged up. The morning mucus down my throat was the worse throughout my sickness. I felt optimistic recovery was quick as long as I slept well. Most of the rare and inconsistent coughs were in the afternoon and early evenings. Ears improved significantly in the afternoon. The night was warm 57 degrees at 9:41pm. The low was forecasted at 49 degrees.

Wed Apr 20. I took a Zyrtec at 4:15pm. Cold morning. Throat most active during my sickness phlegm flowed down my throat causing coughs. I woke up the earliest because I might feel cold. Daytime high 70 degrees. Coughs subsided as the day progressed.

Thur Apr 21. I took a Zyrtec at 4:30pm. Coughed two times for the entire day. There was a big ear pop in the early afternoon which opened my ears. I slept quickly.

Fri Apr 22. I took my last Zyrtec at 4:30pm. My throat felt like a second sore throat. No coughing. Lower amount of phlegm down my throat More times my ears popped out.

How Did I Get Sick?

My mom. My mom was sick three days before I got sick. Probability: 90%.

In the air. The air felt funny when I breathe in and breathe out during my last jog before I got sick. Probability: 25%.

Update On A Past Blog

I want to mention the specific day I wrote Seven Thousand Dollars 1998 Mentality In 2022 on May 31, 2022. I wrote the blog on Tue Apr 19, 2022 and posted on Tue May 31, 2022. My sickness inspired me to write the blog because 2022 year-to-date has the year 2008 and year 2009 feelings. In addition, I took a two week break from job training and I took one and a half week break from physical training.

The sickness was an opportunity for a distraction. I wrote The Best Life Time Out Or Distraction Is Being Sick on Nov 15, 2012. It was a time out. My body told me to recover.

Consciously Aware My Mind Is Focused On The Flow

I played the go with the flow card on Tue Mar 15, 2022. Going with the flow is a common life wisdom. Don't fight the flow. Don't go against the flow. I explain what happened. I woke up two times late Mon night and early Tue morning because my body was either too hot or too cold. My body fails adapting rapid changes in temperatures colder or warmer. I woke up one hour late. A webscraping Python program I wrote months ago stopped working in the afternoon. I rewrote the program successfully which took longer than I anticipated. If the program worked, then I spent the time practicing and reviewing Excel, PowerPoint, and Dashboards planned for the day.

Household errands laundry, dishes, garbage, and cooking were completed. I job searched. I checked most of my emails. On the other hand, I ate lunch and dinner late because I rewrote the Python code. I didn't exercise because I was too tired; moreover, my right hip was sore for which I planned a modified exercise routine. Timing was perfect if I exercised last night since I spent less time. I didn't read my book. I mention the spills, drops, and bumps for the blog. All of the above is ancient history today. The world doesn't care. The reader doesn't care. There is no reason to be angry. There is no reason to carry a Tue Mar 15, 2022 grudge. I didn't count the number of bad lucks.

Going with the flow was the correct call. One thing led to another. Live and let live. There were no emergencies. There were no priorities. There were no penalties. I didn't get fined. I didn't get a reprimand. Sometimes the flow stinks. Accept the day being crappy. Move on.

Update On A Past Blog

Today's blog is a reminder and a refresher of recent blogs going with the flow. The blogs are Paradise Lowered written on Feb 27, 2022 and I Corrected My Retail Rotation written on Dec 13, 2021.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law giving universities more time to consider the environmental impact when adding more students on Mon Mar 14, 2022. The law means the blog I wrote on Mar 6, 2022 3,050 High School Seniors Lose the same 3,050 students attend classes at U.C. Berkeley for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Walmart Is Good At Being Walmart

I shopped at a Walmart Neighborhood Market store for the first time earlier today. I shopped at Wal-Mart Supercenters at least five times given my memory. The first time was Dec 2000. The only purchased I remember was an air toy rifle for which you cock the rifle and pull the trigger the rifle gives off a shot fired sound with vibration. The second time was an unknown month and year I purchased supplies for wet shaving. Jun 2006 was the third time I drove a friend who needed supplies when we attended an anime convention in Orange County. I purchased metal color duct tape on Jun 2009 for which I returned the tape in Jul 2009. The fifth time was in late 2011 I purchased nothing.

It has been at least a decade since I entered a Walmart. Walmart is still Walmart regardless of Supercenter or Neighborhood Market. I felt the past Walmart feelings today. There is no other retail store with the Walmart feeling. There were big crowds for a Thursday noon hour. The inventory was a mix of brand names and off brand names. Some inventory items I didn't see at a Costco or a Safeway. The center aisle included inventory for which some were on pallets. All cosmetic makeups, high-end over the counter nasal drugs, razor blades for shaving, and Tide detergent were glass secured locked. Most of the in-store music were 1980s. The employees were diverse ages young and old; all races including whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians; all body sizes tall, short, thin, and fat; likewise, all the customers. All the employees did an honest job. It's retail. On the one hand, there's no purpose slacking off. On the other hand, there's no purpose going above and beyond their responsibilities.

The Walmart prices are Walmart prices. Items can be cheaper elsewhere if they are on sale. I figure some customers primarily shop at Walmart Neighborhood Market because they don't want to pay for the Costco annual membership, don't want to shop at Costco or Trader Joe's due to selected inventory brands, and/or don't want to spend time looking at retail ads to buy groceries on sale. I purchased no name brand one gallon of white vinegar and one bottle of Kinder's mild barbeque sauce. I shop at any Walmart if I'm desperate.

Summer Sabbatical October 2021

I was tired in Oct 2021. I was tired watching other people living their lives better than me. I was tired living the same routine. I was tired learning. I was tired reviewing. I was tired training. I was tired maintaining me. I was losing my motivation to be stronger. I was tired taking care of me.

I choose to take a break. I choose to relax. I choose to take a staycation. I realized it was a sabbatical while I planned my staycation which was primarily completing less priority obligations and responsibilities. I said to myself, "I correct my 2007 Summer Sabbatical. I do a sabbatical correctly. I don't make the mistakes back in 2007." I detailed 2007 in two blogs 2007 Was Actually A Bad Year admitting 2007 was a bad year and not a good year written on Oct 13, 2008, and The Year Was 2007 mentioning the failed summer sabbatical written on May 17, 2010.

I don't know what I call my second sabbatical as of the blog entry honestly speaking. It can be Sabbatical October 2021, Sabbatical 2.0, or Summer Sabbatical October 2021 to remind myself Summer from the failed Summer Sabbatical 2007 even though October is in the fall season. I detail the highlights I successfully corrected myself a productive, responsible, and mature sabbatical.

Wed Oct 13. I assisted my dad bleeding his truck's breaks. I checked my car's tires air pressure. I watched part of the National League Division Series Game 4 San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers.

Thur Oct 14. Shopped for groceries at Costco. I filled up my car with gas. I drove at maximum speed 65 miles per hour on the freeways because gas is expensive. I watched the last innings National League Division Series Game 5 Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants

Fri Oct 15. I watched documentaries on YouTube.

Sat Oct 16. I watched a little college football Purdue Boilermakers upset the Iowa Hawkeyes. I continued watching more documentaries on YouTube.

Sun Oct 17. I watched the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos while I ate lunch. I cleaned my bathroom.

Mon Oct 18. I roasted a boneless pork loin for the first time.

Tue Oct 19. I jogged 4.5 miles which was my longest jog. I finished reading Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling for the third time.

Wed Oct 20 and Thur Oct 21. Read a backlog of articles.

Fri Oct 22. Restored the household cars' headlights. I realized the polish is the more important step than applying the cleaning paste to verify a clean shine. I listened to the American League Championship Series Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox on the radio. I watched the National League Championship Series Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers on TV in the ninth inning. I finished reading Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling for the third time. I uploaded music on my phone to listen while I fall asleep.

Sat Oct 23. I uploaded more music on my phone for jogging and for falling asleep.

Sun Oct 24. Rained all day non-stop. I watched part of the Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers Sunday Night football game.

Wed Oct 27. An day of errands. My windshield crack was repaired. My car was smog checked. I shopped for groceries at Costco. I ordered a quick lunch hot dog and soda from the food court kiosk for the first time. I mailed letters at the post office. I finished reading Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling for the third time.

Thur Oct 28. I jogged a new 4.0 mile route. My dad and I prepared new ropes for his truck. I learned new knots.

Sat Oct 30. I finished reading The Big Book Of Beatrix Potter. I watched the last five minutes of the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans football game. I watched Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978). I researched lighters to purchase for everyday carry. Purchasing a lighter was possible for Black Friday 2021.

Sun Oct 31. I watched partial football games San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears, New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints.

Mon Nov 1. I cleaned the kitchen sink. I completed monthly maintenances new bedsheets and new towels. I replaced the dining tablecloth which is changed every two months.

Tue Nov 2. I watched The World Series Game 6 Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros ninth inning.

Wed Nov 3. I got a haircut.

Thur Nov 4. I uploaded new profile pics for all my social media accounts.

What about my daily responsibilities? All of them were completed sincerely. They were checking emails, exercising, job searching, cooking for the household, and listening to podcasts. The biggest difference during the sabbatical was no job training. I used the job training time to catch up. I rested my body, mind, and soul inside and outside even though I was still active body, mind, and soul inside and outside.

I officially dated the sabbatical Wed Oct 13 to Sun Oct 31 even though my highlights included early Nov. I felt refreshed. I felt refocused. The transition was easing. I eased slowly back to my working hard to earn freedom routine. I stared on Mon Nov 1 with the job skill Excel, Tue Nov 2 SQL, Wed Nov 3 Python, Thur Nov 4 Power Query, Fri Nov 5 PowerPoint and Access, and Sat Nov 6 R-Studio. The next week was Mon Nov 8 Power Pivot; Tue Nov 9 Python; Wed Nov 10 routine day off for other responsibilities and commitments; Thur Nov 11 Sublime Text, Linux, and Git; Fri Nov 12 Power BI; and Sat Nov 13 R-Studio. I completed the Access review on Tue Nov 16. I don't have a replacement skill as of the blog entry.

I also ease transition learning and reviewing life skills. The life skills are the following: making paper airplanes, tying knots, pioneering or lashings, sewing a button, sewing using an awl, and shuffling cards. I'm always open to learn new life skills. I don't have any new books to read as of the blog entry.

At The End

The inbox is never empty. The job training never stops. Life skills learning continues indefinitely. Everyone needs to sleep. Spread out intelligently. Don't be too focused. There are stupid people who posts on social meeting for fake self-esteem boost from likes and comments. I spend 30 minutes on all my social media accounts to keep in touch and be informed. The world doesn't come to an end.

Update On A Past Blog

I understand better why some people eat junk food as comfort food. I wrote about eating junk food as comfort food for the first time at 2018 Christmas Holiday Firsts: Stress, Cowardness, Comfort Food on Jan 13, 2019. The junk food as comfort food was an anti-depress, anti-stress, and forget-all-worries.

Eating too much junk food can be a call for help. Eating too much junk food can communicate I'm tired of my life. I'm tired of the routine. I'm tired of boredom. Life is the same old, same old. Eating too much junk food is not a replacement for action to change.

Ten Random Blogs Aug 2021

Here are ten random blogs in order of randomly chosen. Today's blog is the second random blogs. Duplicate blogs are allowed for which blog number seven and blog number eight appeared again from Ten Random Blogs Jul 2020 on Jul 31, 2020.

1. I'm Sneaking Junior Mints Next Time I Watch A Movie (Mar 25, 2009). It was the first time I snuck food inside a movie theater. I was inspired from an article every young adult must do the nickel and dime petty crimes.

Update remark: I'm not sneaking in food for the rest of my life. Too childish for an adult. Immature.

2. Growing Up Part 2 (Dec 06, 2012). I experienced another grown up moment on Nov 7, 2012 after a job interview.

Update remark: I wrote two follow-up blogs. The first blog is a correction The Correct Growing Up Part 2 written on Oct 28, 2013. The second blog is I took the moment back The Correction To The Correct Growing Up Part 2 written on Oct 7, 2020.

3. The beer test. You have friends, co-workers, someone you just met. Who do you feel most comfortable with? The person(s) you want to have a beer is your answer. (Nov 15, 2009).

Update remark: There is nothing more to add. The blog is clear. The test is still valid today.

4. A Favor To Slow Down Everyone (Jul 04, 2007). I blogged asking people to slow down. Be patient.

Update remark: Fast forward to Aug 2021. I thought the COVID-19 global pandemic is a blessing in disguise for the world to slow down. It was short lived if anyone slowed down. The slow down pace might not have been slow enough.

5. De Anza Journal Week June 15, 2009 (Jun 25, 2009). I took a weightlifting class and a social dancing class. It was the last week of instruction before finals.

Update remark: I continue lifting weights two times a week.

6. Information And Trivia (May 29, 2018). May 2018 was a month posting pictures from my smart phone.

Update remark: Click the link to read the two quizzes on wisdom.

7. I Live To Reach The 90 Club (Jul 21, 2011). The blog appears for the second time. The indefinite goal continues today. Never stop learning. Exercise four days a week. Sleep eight hours a day. Minimize eating processed foods.

Update remark: Don't be an old fuck.

8. Go Get My Life (Jan 31, 2015). The blog appears for the second time. I wrote about a moment in my high school senior year. I talked to a classmate in her junior year. She tried to cheer me up telling me to go get a life.

Update remark: I must earn my successes.

9. I Made The Fewest Mistakes And Succeeded (Jul 27, 2007). I blogged one key to success is making the fewest mistakes. The Allies won World War II making fewer mistakes than the Axis. A baseball player is in the hall of fame averaging one extra hit a week during a season. The one extra hit or one less mistake hitting into an out is the difference between a .300 hitter and a .250 hitter.

Update remark: Make many mistakes when learning. Make fewer mistakes after learning.

10. It's Okay To Live At Home (Apr 28, 2013). There are more sons and daughters living with their parents or fathers and mothers living with their children. No problem. Times continue to be tough today from at least eight years ago. More people are unemployed. More people experience bad luck, bad timing, and bad fortunes. There are not enough pieces of pie for everyone.

Update remark: I repeat the last sentence in the blog: It's okay to live at home. Don't take the generous offer for granted. Second remark: Life is paused or life is slowed down at best. Accept it. Hope for the best.