Personal Archive

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First Sign of Christmas in Ventura County

By
john
– August 4, 2011Posted in: Oxnard, Personal

I went to Oxnard Costco and saw this – Christmas ribbons!   (Today is August 4, 2011).  I also saw a lot of toys.

Santa Clause is a busy man. He hires people to come to Oxnard and buy toys for him, you see.

At the toy isle, I heard people saying “Here we go…” or “Oh, Christmas stuff…”

Anyway, I think this is officially the first sign of Christmas in Ventura County.   From this point, you may start seeing seasonal items at other stores in Ventura County.

After Oxnard Costco, I went to Bed Bath and Beyond at Oxnard promenade and found a Yankee Candle (Macintosh Spice) on clearance bin.  I like to burn candles when I do web design work.

I often work all night when I do web design work.  At work, we use the term “burning the midnight oil” a lot.  Somehow, that started me to burn candle when I do web design.  I have more than a dozen scented candles.  My favorite smell is anything that smells like Christmas.

Wow, Christmas time is near.  I feel distracted.

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Happy Fathers Day 2011

By
john
– June 20, 2011Posted in: Personal

Happy Fathers Day 2011.  Enjoy the magic moment when you have time.

God bless those without fathers.

My father is old, weak, and retired.  But he has more money than I do.  So my father pays when I visit him. :oops:
He took us to Claim Jumpers on Saturday, a day before Fathers Day.  If you truly love your father, don’t go out to eat on Fathers Day.  It’s really busy at some restaurants that eating is not enjoyable.

How I like my steak.

 

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Google Website Logo – Les Paul’s Birthday

By
john
– June 10, 2011Posted in: Personal

Did you see today’s google website logo?   They had a logo to celebrate 96th birthday of Les Paul.  Les Paul, of course, is a pioneer of electric guitar.  The logo on the website was a flash element that you can play tune on the website.

Google Website Logo

Les Paul passed away August 2009 (94 yrs old).

Les Paul is a significant person in my life.  I grew up listening to soothing sounds of Les Paul and Mary.  When I was young (and poor) I used to own a fake Les Paul.  I wanted to own a real Les Paul for-ever.  Then when Mr. Les Paul passed away, I finally decided to buy a real Les Paul.  Below is a picture of my Les Paul, delivered to work 2 years ago.

Playing Guitar when Developing Websites (at home)
At my place, I have 2 guitars standing behind my computer chair.  So, when I want to take a break from long web design project, I would simply rotate my chair 180 degrees.  Then I will be looking at 2 guitars, music stand, and speaker systems.  I play guitar for 10-20 minutes to free my soul, then I go back to web design and programming.  I often stay up all night for website development project.  Playing guitar helps me to get through long nights.  Les Paul is the best guitar out of 4 that I own.  It feels very good in my hands.

Below is a video of me playing Crossroads by Lynyrd Skynyrd.  It’s from a live album.  I learned it by listening to it very slowly, many times.   It took me about 6 months to learn that far.  I also play classic music.   I have an acoustic guitar as well.   Oh, sorry about the tank-top (I never wear tank top outside).  I shot the video when it was very hot in Camarillo.

*Let me make something very clear.   I know I am not a good player.  I am a web designer, a computer geek.  I do not play good.  This video is here to share, not to show-case.

 

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Camarillo Farmers Market

By
john
– May 28, 2011Posted in: Camarillo, Personal

I go to Camarillo Farmers Market* every early Saturday morning.  I get fresh fruits, vegetables, and bread.  And I always buy one lemon.  I like to put a slice of lemon in my water.

I go to Camarillo Farmers Market as early as possible, around 8am, to beat the crowd (parking lot gets full).  I wear the same shirt I wore last night in the bed.  I splash some water on my face… and I am out.   I hope I don’t meet anyone at Camarillo Farmers Market because I don’t look clean.  I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.

I often see some good looking people at Camarillo Farmers Market.  They look like they just woke up, but their hair is perfect and their sweat pants are immaculate.  And they always seem to carry coffee mugs in their hands.  You know it’s not practical to carry a coffee mug at farmers market.   I guess they enjoy looking hip and trendy.  More power to them for looking beautiful and living healthy lives.

But I think coffee mug is a little too phony.  But, it’s still cute.  I enjoy seeing them.   :)

We always have some kind of live music at Camarillo Farmers Market.  Local musicians around Camarillo & Ventura County make appearance.   I often see one-man-band with keyboard and Karaoke machine.   Sometimes I see a cowboy with a guitar singing Country songs.  I saw Camarillo High School Jazz Band once.  They were pretty good.  I try to tip them if I can.

I don’t spend too much time shopping.   I come back home in about 30 minutes.  Then I take shower and get ready for a glorious Saturday.

As I drink my favorite coffee* with my favorite mug, I check to see if there a

re any new ticket items from my web design customers.  I check to see if all my client websites were up and running all night.  I check to see if SEO reports are running OK.  I would work on some websites right away if they are high priority.  I would leave some web design projects for Monday if they are on schedule (no hurry).

*Camarillo Farmers Market:
Every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.
2220 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town, Camarillo

*My Favorite Coffee:
Ruta Maya Organic Cubita Coffee Dark Roast.
$40.00 for two 2.2lb bags from Costco (available through mail order only).