Remember when people blogged?

April 10, 2012 – 7:30 pm

Those were some crazy times. Crazy, I tell you.

No Comments / Posted in: pointless

The “Machattan”

September 5, 2011 – 9:52 pm

My grandfather, Thomas MacCollum, who is 92 years young has been drinking at least one Manhattan almost every day since he was at least my age. Except when he makes them they’re called a “Machattan”. There are plenty of Manhattan drink recipes, both traditional and modified, on the Internet but you won’t find the “Machattan” recipe anywhere. Until now!

2 shots Ten High bourbon
1 shot Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
1 shake of aromatic bitters
1 maraschino cherry with a little bit of cherry juice
Ice

No Comments / Posted in: Food & Drink

Well, this is awkward

July 15, 2011 – 2:38 pm

I certainly have some explaining to do.

It was almost exactly two years ago that I posted my break up letter blog post with California. I don’t think that I’ve read through that post again until now. It’s very interesting to look back through my own words and see what my mindset was two years ago when I about to make a pretty significant life change. It’s pretty clear now that I was just a young, uncertain lad still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I’m not claiming that I’m all that different today, but I’m pretty sure that I’m two years older and two years wiser now.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in the past two years is that you need to take opportunities when they are presented to you, otherwise there’s a very good chance you might not get another shot. I had the opportunity to move to New York City two years ago and I took it because I knew the older I got the more difficult it would be to make that drastic of a change. New York City is a wonderfully unique, lively, surprising and beautiful city. I wanted to experience that kind of energy before I got old and crotchety and desired a lawn so I could yell at kids for being on it.

Okay, maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself but you see what I’m getting at.

The point is I got to live in the greatest city on Earth for a substantial amount of time. How many people get to say that? But all good things must come to an end. I will be moving back to California to take on a new role at Google. I’ll be joining the Google News team as UI Designer. My last day in NYC and first day back in California will be July 24.

Would I have preferred to stick around NYC a couple more years? Absolutely. I love it here. My original plan was to live in NYC for at least three years, preferably four or five. I feel like you could live here your entire life and still barely scratch the surface of everything this city can offer. I knew I couldn’t live here forever, though, and when a really good career opportunity became available that happened to be back in California, I felt that if I didn’t take it I might miss out.

I know that I may have been a teeny bit vocal about my dissatisfaction with living in California the last time, but I honestly feel the situation is significantly different this time. For one, my financial situation is much better now. I can afford to live on my own, do some traveling and enjoy more of the nifty things that California has to offer. I also feel like I’ve grown up quite a bit in the past two years. I’m no longer in the post-college panic, constantly wondering what the hell I’m doing with my life and worried that I’m wasting precious time. I’m much more content with taking things one day at a time now and enjoying life as it comes. I’m optimistic that my second stint in California will turn out much better than my first.

I’m also not going to put any self-imposed duration goals on my second stay in California. If I have a reason to leave at some point in the future then I’ll leave again. And if I have a reason to stay then maybe I’ll even stay forever (gasp!).

One thing’s for sure, using “One thing’s for sure” is a great way to end a introspective piece of writing like this one.

No Comments / Posted in: life

Happy Chromebook box is happy

May 15, 2011 – 5:18 pm

I received a Cr-48 Chromebook this week. I was about to take the box outside for recycling when I noticed something very interesting from across the room.

No Comments / Posted in: Cool, pointless, Tech

My elbow is dumb

May 13, 2011 – 7:46 pm

When I was in high school I had severe shoulder instability in my left arm. My shoulder would anteriorly dislocate with even the slightest bit of agitation. It started with a hockey injury and then eventually reached the point where it would come out in my sleep or any time I lifted my arm above my head. A violent sneeze could even dislodge the stupid thing. I lost count at around 30 dislocations and estimate that it probably dislocated at least 60 times.

After an especially painful dislocation, I eventually had my shoulder operated on. It’s been problem free ever since. While consulting with the surgeon prior to surgery, I mentioned that I also had an elbow problem in both my elbows but significantly worse in my left elbow. Turns out I had ulnar nerve sublaxation which is when the ulnar nerve that runs along the elbow will snap out out of place, essentially dislocate, when the arm is moved. This is the same nerve that causes the “funny bone” sensation so it’s not a pleasant disorder to say the least.

But no worries! The surgeon said he’d give me the 2 for 1 deal (not really, I’m sure it cost my parents’ insurance quite a bit) and fix both the shoulder and elbow at the same time. He batted .500 that day; the elbow problem was never corrected. I’ve managed to live with it since then, but recently, in the past few months, it’s become progressively painful and annoying. I was getting concerned that I might be doing some permanent damage if I didn’t do something about it. I figured it was about time to get it looked at again.

I found an NYU orthopedist online with good reviews (yay internet!) who specializes in elbow and shoulder disorders. He basically said that the surgery failed because my previous surgeon wasn’t experienced (and possibly wasn’t skilled) enough to do the required procedure. Regardless, surgery is the only way to correct the problem so it looks like I will need to have the same operation again sometime in the future. Luckily, he said I’m probably not doing any irreversible damage by prolonging the operation so I can safely wait a bit longer.

He gave me the name of the best elbow surgeon in the area for this procedure, so now I just need to figure out the best time. I’d rather not spend six weeks of summer in a sling so maybe fall or winter.

There’s never really a convenient time to have only one useable arm. I have enough trouble dressing myself as it is.

2 Comments / Posted in: life