Yesterday I said I'll be finished with The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov this Christmas weekend.
Surprise, surprise, I finished it last night!
But this isn't the review yet. Just thought I'd do a shoutout that I've finished the Asimov novel earlier than expected.
My dilemma now is what book (or books) to bring with me to Laguna.
As I've also said, I'm deferring reading the Brent Weeks book until I get the next two installments (otherwise, bitin). It looks like it's going to The Butlerian Jihad that's going to get me occupied for the time-being ... unless of course I score a new interesting read :)
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The death of my rig has put a dent on my other blog, the income-generating one.
Without a ready rig at home, I can't work off-office-hours. And of course, can't do it in the office especially now that work has piled up (my request for an assistant or a subordinate has been denied ... sheesh!). I'll probably be able to do some work on The Gaming Daily this Christmas break ... or not ... it's freaking Christmas!
It's a good thing I wasn't engaged in any project needing power computing (i.e. heavy graphics and designing) when the rig conked out.
My wife and I agreed that while a full computer or laptop might not be feasible any time soon, we need to get a netbook at least if only to get our side-projects running. So, a netbook will most likely be coming in sometime early next year ... only hoping that the bonuses the Desk will give will be generous.
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Speaking of Christmas break ... like I mentioned two posts ago, the family's going to Laguna for Christmas. Hopefully, my sisters would be able to go online that day so we could chat or Skype or whatever if only to do greetings stuff. Wheng, who's in Dubai, I believe is working on that day so it'll be a sort of hit-or-miss to see her online. Will probably need to put the laptop at Laguna online all the time (and pray fervently that the Sky Broadband connection would be good). Rochelle and my neice, Rae, along with my mother's sister, Tita Zarit, will more likely be more in communicado (not incommunicado). Regardless, we're sure we'll get in touch one way or another this holiday season.
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From using the Nokia 3100 (yes, I've devolved from the N6680 -- the N6680 had an electrical problem that it drained and discharged the battery so freaking rapidly), I now using a Sony Ericsson T303. Yes, it's no smartphone (still dreaming of the Samsung Galaxy 5 for that) but at least it's brand new and it gets the basic stuff done like texting and calling.
A quick look on Wikipedia revealed that the slider-type SE T303 was manufactured in 2008. Those looking for the fun stuff in mobile phones will be disappointed. It has limited camera capabilities what with just a 1.3 mp camera, no video capability. It has a built-in 8MB memory but no memory slot so that puts a strain on the number of pictures and mp3s you can file (you can always transfer the content but that could become tedious!). No e-reader, no wi-fi but it allows for WAP browsing.
Ah well, a mobile phone is a mobile phone. If I wanted to do some word processing, watch videos, play games, or edit an mp3, then that's work to be done on a true-blue computer. If I wanted to read a book, I'll read an actual physical book. For whatever limitations it has, I'm starting to like this phone. It's small, fits perfectly into the palm and the pocket, and is a no-fuss and no-frills device. The SE T303 will do for now as it meets my expectations of what a phone should be.
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I'm in another fatherly-moment.
A few hours ago, in betwixt work, my wife and I agreed that we're sending our little Ikai to a new school next year.
And then the lump in my throat -- why?
It's because our Ikai is indeed growing up real fast.
She recently turned 4 and will soon be graduating from the Toddler Sunday School at church to join the older kids.
And next year, amidst hopes that a windfall come along, Ikai will be going to a big school. Yes, she's going to school now (even complaining yesterday why she didn't have classes) but her current school is just a neighborhood school -- a test, an experiment whether she is already mature enough for school. The next logical step is to bring her to the bigger schools and one such institution is conveniently located near our apartment, sort of.
It'll be a big adjustment for our little Ikai but I think she's ready for it. She's even excited about the prospect of going to a big school especially since the big school promises to show her all that they've been studying at her current school. Like I mentioned, her current school is a small one -- just one big space shared by both nursery and preparatory classes. No playground, no libraries, no clinics (although they are taught about these things). But the teaching is great and their focus on the academic is a great foundation for little ones.
But it's time to move up, so to speak, and ante up. A big school will be a surprise for our little Ikai but she'll be brave, she'll take it on, and she'll enjoy it. This early, she's already excited about the notion of going to school via the school bus :)
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And here's the Wishlist for Christmas (and I'm sure many or all of these would not materialize) which has become somewhat a tradition:
A New Laptop would be nice especially if I could use Adobe Suite and CorelDraw with it, had a capacity of up to 8GB memory, a humongous HDD, and a fast-cooling video card for non-stop gaming. Cool Toyz recommends the Asus A42 and I agree. Now, where can I get hold of Php 35K?
16GB Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo for additional games on the PSP (which now entertains my father's afternoons and evenings). Of course, I can always buy another 4GB and stack up one or two games on it but a 16GB would be nice. Nicer if it was 32GB.
Suspension / Shocks for the big red car. Two would be alright (for the front) but four would be most welcome. Anyone want to play Santa and splurge some Php50K for the four shocks?
Other car stuff that I have yet to buy but will need to one of these days: elephant jack that would be capable of lifting an Innova, complete wrench, drivers, and tools for those emergency situations on the road, new mudflaps, an aircon and electrical check-up from a reputable car shop, new hubcaps, a car vacuum so that I don't need to go to the car wash just for that, an MPV car cover, and a new set of wipers.
I'm not going to list all the books and comics I would like to see delivered at my doorstep but a few that I've got a mind on are Elminster Series, Asimov's Foundation and Robot Series, the Batman: Hush graphic novel, the Batman and Robin Series that has Dick Grayson donning the Bat suit with Damian Wayne as his evil-aligned Robin, and others.
Magic-Sing. Whether a WOW Magic Sing or an Extreme Magic Sing, I really care not as long as it can replace the failing Mediacom at home that'll be fine.
Ahem, this is just a short list, there's lots more and I'll probably be enumerating them these coming days.
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In case anyone is wondering how I am able to update this here o' blog of mine ... via email blogging using conventional email means from Desk :)
A post is usually a result of several hours of spurts of writing, in between work stuff.
However, as I've previously lamented, the Desk allows no social networking. Even direct access to Blogger is denied. Good thing Blogger offered posting via email.
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While I list the stuff I wish to receive this Christmas, one item that needs to come to fruition is that I need eyeglasses.
My eyesight, as a result of stress and work and the D, is failing. I still can see clearly but a more accurate check during our last Annual Physical revealed that my left eye is more dominant than my right eye. As a result, I'm now becoming a bit wall-eyed (banlag) because I'm focusing more and more with my left. The eye check also revealed that my vision is no longer a perfect 20/20.
The need to wear eyeglasses has been delayed for too long. Need to include that as one of my definite New Year's resolutions.
