Monday, December 01, 2008

Mucho

Again,... no posts for a while.
Just lazy I guess.
Much has happened since my last post.

We're pregnant! Well, my wife is. We're super stoked. Since there is no word to describe how stoked I actually am, "super" will do.
Yes we don't mess around. She's got the newlywed playbook and we're running it step-by-step. Wedding? Check. Honeymoon? Check. Pregnant? Check. Baby? WIP. Motorcycle? Not even visible on the list anymore. No Check.

We elected Barack Obama to the office of the most powerful person in the Universe-universe-universe.
I believe it reaffirms hope in America. We can be a progressive forward-leaning people. America is a melting pot. Obama is living proof. Be proud of diversity. Diversity keeps Americans thinking broadly; to use an overused cliché, "out-of-the-box." It's the ticket.
Look forward to Obama's inauguration day! Or "Good Riddance Day" as it is otherwise known.

Other hobbies: Still playing poker. Not as much though. I think most the the players who were losing money, gradually quit playing. Eventually, the guys who were just in it to be social, they quit showing up, because essentially they were just tossing their money in the pot, for us to grab. Other guys in my poker circle refuse to play with some other dudes, so getting a full table together is near impossible. Social politics is a bitch.
Anyhow, I still play online, though at the baby stakes. And I try and get in any live game I can, when time allows. Overall I'm still a winning player. However lately, only barely above break-even.
Tip to self: go back to basics.

Still shooting as much as possible. My cousin Evan started shooting with me, so we try and go out every chance we get, as budget allows. My shotguns skills are still pretty strong. I'm averaging 22-23ish in trap (out of 25) and maybe 19-21 in skeet. I'm sure a bit more practice would help. But again... budget allowing.
My target shooting is also improving. My groups with the 10/22 rifle are decent. My skills with the .45 are very good. At least they are with stationary targets. Decently tight groups. Problem is, it's so fun to shoot, but ammo costs are exorbitant.
Heads-up: Walmart's prices on ammo is unbeatable. If anyone finds 12 gauge, 9mm or .45ACP cheaper than Walmart (after tax and shipping) please let me know. I'd love to give someone other than the Walton's my hard earned cashish.

I miss the hell out of my dog Otis. Lately we've been talking about getting another one. But with a bun in the oven, either it's a good idea, to get a dog, break-it-in in time for the baby; or get the baby first, break-IT-in and then get the dog.
Not sure yet.
Problem for me is, I want Odog. Not some random dog. I think my heart is just still broken. Yeah, it may take some time.

We bought a sick-ass hugmongous sofa. Sofa Outlet did a great job. We are totally satisfied with our monstrous, wonderful, 3 piece sectional.

Be back soon.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Sunset Gili Air


Sunset Gili Air, originally uploaded by Joe_13.

Got married.
This is from our honeymoon... about day six or so.
It's been the best three weeks of my life.

The best part is,... I know it's only going to get better.



Here's a bunch more pics: Honeymoon PIcs

And here's some from the wedding rehearsal dinner by my buddy Dan:
Rehearsal dinner

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Watchmen

The dude who made 300 is making the screen adaptation of the famous graphic novel The Watchmen.
The preview looks to be an exact page-for-page translation of the graphic novel. As a huge fan of Alan Moore's masterpiece, I can't tell you how excited I am to see this movie. Especially if they stay true to his vision, which it looks like they have.
Take a look at the preview.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

R.I.P. Otis


R.I.P. Otis, originally uploaded by Joe_13.

Otis passed away yesterday.
We picked him up 14 years ago at the Santa Clara Humane Society. A spry 2-year-old, he was filled with energy and mischief.
He was spoiled rotten by the ATO brothers at SJSU, where he was house dog from 1994-95. He got to know students as well as faculty on his frequent visits to campus and was famous for not listening to anyone but me. He had an appetite. Boy he had an appetite. He'd eat just about anything. But his favorite food was bacon and strangely, oranges.
Otis was as rambuctious as dogs get. He maintained that energy even in his later years.
In the end, it was his body that failed him, never his spirit.

Otis. My Best Friend. I'll never forget you and the good times we've together.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

New Toy


I was given the green light to add a piece to the arsenal.
I picked up a Ruger 10/22 the other day. After shooting Henry's modified 10/22, I was hooked. I pretty much decided right then, I had to have one. And at $219, it is not a totally unaffordable weapon to own. Of course, the 10/22 is literally the most modifiable gun on the planet. So the $219 gun can quickly double, or triple after some mods.
I went ahead and bought Henry's old aluminum trigger housing. The new one's have polymer trigger housing, and even though the jury's still out on the durability of polymer, I wanted a metal one. Then after much research, I decided a trigger job would be necessary. I looked into all kinds of aftermarket products and services: Volquartsen trigger assemblies, Hornet Product's pre-built trigger groups, Clark Customs trigger jobs, Chase Mountain Customs and Power Custom parts.
In the end, I opted for the Power Custom adjustable hammer/sear/trigger kit. After fiddling with the trigger group, it seemed me to be pretty easy to do a trigger job on these things. So, why pay some dude to do it, when I can do it myself? After receiving the parts from HawkTechArms, I immediately installed the pieces, which dropped-in with no extra work. The change in trigger-pull was drastic.
Next on the agenda: New barrel, and stock, followed by a scope upgrade.
I finally took it out to the range yesterday. It shoots great. With a janky 2.5x scope i ripped off one of my old softairs, I was able to make .5" groups at 25 yards. It leaves some room from improvement, but some new optics should straighten that right out.
The goal is for that gun to shoot .5 groups at 100 yards. I have no doubt the 10/22 can be capable of that.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Belt Buckles


Belt Buckles, originally uploaded by Joe_13.

Just got these in the mail the other day.
They are advertised as belt buckles, which is how I was able to mail order for them here in California. They actually came with a notch in the side for a belt hole, but it screws off easily. In fact, it didn't quite work as a belt buckle anyway. I wish it did, because they'd be cool belt buckles.
Well, I saw it online, and had to have it.

"Why?" you ask.

The reason is because I've always wanted some. It's the same reason I own a samurai sword and a pair of nunchucks.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Joe.Hu.Bungee.Acapulco.08


Joe.Hu.Bungee.Acapulco.08, originally uploaded by optikal.

Me Bungee-ing

Monday, March 31, 2008

Flowergirl


Diya, originally uploaded by Joe_13.

Here is my good pal David's daughter Diya.
She'll be one of our flowergirls for my wedding.

www.amyandjoegetmarried.com

Friday, March 28, 2008

Magnum

One picture in particular inspired my to pursue photography.
James Nachtwey's image of a Rwandan genocide survivor invokes the truest sense of terror. It insists that questions be asked. It makes demands.
It proves that photography has potential to be a positive force. To be significant.
Or at least to preserve a story that should not be forgotten.




Magnum Photo Agency (of which Nachtwey was once a member) is featuring riveting photo essays entitiled WAR. It's brutal, insightful and fascinating. I especially enjoy hearing the photographers tell about their experiences.
Check out the rest of their website too. It's time worth spending on the web. Edu-taining as hell. And the pictures are awe inspiring.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

History of cancer

My fiance has cancer in her family. Her mother's side was pretty much decimated by colon cancer. Her half sister is a suvivor. Another relative in Australia was also a cancer survivor. Recently Amy received a letter, the results of that aunt's genetic test, determining which gene mutation caused the cancer.
Today, Amy got the results of her own genetic test to see if that gene was mutated in her. Her chances of having the gene mutation were 50/50. If she has the mutation, she'd have 80-90% of getting colon cancer. Survivable, but a future hysterecomy would be inevitable.
The results:
No gene mutation was found!

Celebrate life! My angel's gonna live!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Life is good

Much is going on.
Living in the new house is killer. Livermore is treating me right. There is at least one of most types of cuisine for me to eat. Which is just enough to keep me sane.
The weather, often unbearably hot in the summer, is kept in check by our powerful Air conditioning. Which I love.
The commute. Not so bad. I reduced my hours in the office, so I don't have to make the rush hour commute but a couple times a week. Any more than that and I couldn't handle it.
I finally sold the old Pathfinder. And not a moment too soon. The extra dough from the sale allowed me to make some major camera gear purchases. So I have almost everything I need (equipment-wise) to shoot any type of event. Now I just need to purchase some ballz to start marketing myself.
On the poker tip, not so good. No major losses, but since the beginning of the year, I've been making a slow downward slide. I think I'm bored of the game. I've been playing very loose, overplaying shit hands like J10, and Ajunk suited. I have yet to go broke, but at this rate that may happen.
The wedding planning is going well. Most of the big decisions have been made. We have our venue, the DJ, the photographer, Invites are in process, flowers have been booked, and Amy has her dress picked out. A couple small details and we are a go.
But, first things are first... The bachelor party is in effect y'all. Next week I leave for Acapulco. Next week it will be know as Joecapulco. Ten dudes and a villa. ... and tons of booze. Stoked beyond words.

Tattoos...
I'm already planning my next one. Randomly I emailed the sickeningly talented tattooist/artist Jeff Gogue. His website says he isn't taking new clients, and suggests he is booked indefinitely. So, to plant the seed, I sent a probing email to him which included a link to an image of a "Foo Dog" also known as Chinese Imperial Lion Guardians. A couple days later he replied saying he is interested in doing the piece and that we should get in contact when my timeline gets closer. Something else to look forward to.

I'm reluctant to admit, my life is awesome. Too good.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Airborne is BS!

Turns out it was all bullshit afterall.
Airborne settles
Placebo effect is a muthaf*cker.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Marrow

I was approached by phone the other day by a national organization who matches anemia patients with possible bone marrow donors. I might match a two-year old kid with Aplastic Anemia. Apparently I submitted my blood sample back in '98, and now my numbers come up.
Why couldn't it be the Lotto instead? Just kidding... Sort of.
Anyway, I answered a bunch of questions about my medical history which I assume will conclude me to be clean. Now it's my turn. I gotta do some research about donating marrow. So far it seems, the risks are fairly low. Obviously it'd be a commitment on my part. Time, pain, risk of fluke death?.
The upside is I might save a kid. Upside for me personally is negative.

Here lies the moral dilemma.
Is it wrong for me to be selfish about this? Asking "What do I get out of this?" is clearly a selfish question. What if to save a stranger's life? Is it worth me losing a couple day's wages, risk at the very least some discomfort?

I have to admit. It was easy to WANT to help a stranger. But when I saw the picture of them drilling a hole into a donor's pelvic bone to extract bone marrow, it suddenly didn't seem so easy to say yes.

I'll move forward to see if I am in fact a match.

But at the risk of sounding cowardly.
I reserve the right to back out at any time.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Chrysanthemums


Chrysanthemum, originally uploaded by Joe_13.

Here's a pretty flower.
A little change from the death skulls theme.