Just going through my Gmail account, which had (ahem) 850 unread messages --mind over a LONG TIME!!!--, and besides realizing that I don't really read many of my parent's emails, I started this account in 2005 and it's tracked FOUR relationships, in various stages--"Great meeting you" stage, "let's hang out" stage, "I like you" stage, all the way to the sometimes bitter end.
if I had the time, I'd read each email in succession, and I'm bound to start seeing patterns in my relationships. (I did this for my ex-Jessa, and I caught several "DUH" moments where I should've seen that she really wanted me to be there for something, and tried to subtly tell me, and i totally missed it).
..it's weird having a log of your life, and I found myself sentimental, not wanting to ditch certain emails from loved ones, "just in case" years from now i'd want to read them (it's morbid, but i even thought i'd read my parent's emails when they've passed).
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
2009 RESOLUTIONS: Review
Ok, I can't avoid this, so i'll face up to my fears and tighten my cheeks and see the results:
Here's what I posted last year:
RESOLUTIONS FOR 2009
1) I will make $80,000 in 2009. I will have fun doing it.
I haven't done my taxes, but not close. But I had fun working at Paulette's Macarons and the Gelato shop in SF and starting a new business in December in LA! 1/2 point for the fun factor.
2) I will find a great girlfriend, or many.
WIN! My Amanda is ze best. We met in February and are still together, a personal record btw. 1 point and a half out of 1!!
3) I will be ripped like Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace. I will do it with a 99% vegetarian diet.
Heh. heh heh.AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Ok, so I'm no ripped like, well, anyone, but i'm not an ounce fatter than one year ago, and a year of off/on running races, some rugby has made me fitter with better endurance. but the vegeterian diet?? What was I *thinking*?? 1/2 point.
4) I will buy a sailboat to take my girlfriend(s) on.
No, but, looke here, I work in the boating industry and can take people sailing. 1/2 point.
5) I will not share a bedroom with my brother again. I will have as many rooms as girlfriends.
WIN! Except in December I moved to LA where I am staying (as part payment for work done, mind you), at my parents and I have less than a room. (I told you I had to be honest). 1/2 points.
6) I will indulge in no less than trips to Brazil, Argentina, Greece and India. In case of civil wars, the country next to it will suffice.
Dream big, right? Well I worked all year long and didn't take one damn vacation. ahh, well. 0 Points.
7) I will take my One-A-Day vitamins, once a day.
I stopped taking my vitamins right around...August. 1/2 point for 1/2 the year?
8) I will score ten (10) “Tries” at rugby.
Not close, i hurt my head and neck at practice in February and didn't rejoin the team. However I am now a proud coach for a an Under-13 rugby team, and play touch rugby at the beach on Sundays. Much safer. No points, but not sorry either. I ran my first 1/2 marathon, for one thing. 1/2 point.
9) I will end the year being able to prove wrong the Obama nay-sayers.
??? Well I can safe that he has had a very very busy first year, that he has launched many an initiative, but I can't say that I feel more confident, or as confident, but maybe 1/2 as confident in our new President as I did then. However he's far and away far better than Bush. 1/2 point.
10) I will enjoy this year in peace and happiness, whether or not these resolutions come true.
I really did enjoy the year (Thank you San Francisco!!), even if it wasn't in total peace or happiness, but it was truly a better year than the last, just as each year has been since I started counting. 1 Point.
Ok, I'm giving myself a 6/10 on the resolutions. What can I make of this? I think that besides the rosy outlook I gave myself, i can do much, much better. My financial situation is pretty much the same as then, didn't get any better, not worse. I could be exercizing more often, I could DEFINITELY travel more, and my neck injuries are still being felt, so health wise I have improvements to go. I don't have my own apartment--that would be a major WIN for 2010. I have not finished my degree, a total utter fail and i should have put it on my resolutions.
So, I can
Here's what I posted last year:
RESOLUTIONS FOR 2009
1) I will make $80,000 in 2009. I will have fun doing it.
I haven't done my taxes, but not close. But I had fun working at Paulette's Macarons and the Gelato shop in SF and starting a new business in December in LA! 1/2 point for the fun factor.
2) I will find a great girlfriend, or many.
WIN! My Amanda is ze best. We met in February and are still together, a personal record btw. 1 point and a half out of 1!!
3) I will be ripped like Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace. I will do it with a 99% vegetarian diet.
Heh. heh heh.AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Ok, so I'm no ripped like, well, anyone, but i'm not an ounce fatter than one year ago, and a year of off/on running races, some rugby has made me fitter with better endurance. but the vegeterian diet?? What was I *thinking*?? 1/2 point.
4) I will buy a sailboat to take my girlfriend(s) on.
No, but, looke here, I work in the boating industry and can take people sailing. 1/2 point.
5) I will not share a bedroom with my brother again. I will have as many rooms as girlfriends.
WIN! Except in December I moved to LA where I am staying (as part payment for work done, mind you), at my parents and I have less than a room. (I told you I had to be honest). 1/2 points.
6) I will indulge in no less than trips to Brazil, Argentina, Greece and India. In case of civil wars, the country next to it will suffice.
Dream big, right? Well I worked all year long and didn't take one damn vacation. ahh, well. 0 Points.
7) I will take my One-A-Day vitamins, once a day.
I stopped taking my vitamins right around...August. 1/2 point for 1/2 the year?
8) I will score ten (10) “Tries” at rugby.
Not close, i hurt my head and neck at practice in February and didn't rejoin the team. However I am now a proud coach for a an Under-13 rugby team, and play touch rugby at the beach on Sundays. Much safer. No points, but not sorry either. I ran my first 1/2 marathon, for one thing. 1/2 point.
9) I will end the year being able to prove wrong the Obama nay-sayers.
??? Well I can safe that he has had a very very busy first year, that he has launched many an initiative, but I can't say that I feel more confident, or as confident, but maybe 1/2 as confident in our new President as I did then. However he's far and away far better than Bush. 1/2 point.
10) I will enjoy this year in peace and happiness, whether or not these resolutions come true.
I really did enjoy the year (Thank you San Francisco!!), even if it wasn't in total peace or happiness, but it was truly a better year than the last, just as each year has been since I started counting. 1 Point.
Ok, I'm giving myself a 6/10 on the resolutions. What can I make of this? I think that besides the rosy outlook I gave myself, i can do much, much better. My financial situation is pretty much the same as then, didn't get any better, not worse. I could be exercizing more often, I could DEFINITELY travel more, and my neck injuries are still being felt, so health wise I have improvements to go. I don't have my own apartment--that would be a major WIN for 2010. I have not finished my degree, a total utter fail and i should have put it on my resolutions.
So, I can
Wow...my last update was....one year ago?
OK i'm back, to share my thoughts!
First thing I want to say is Thank You for the privilege of working in the boating industry, and I mean it. It's more fun than flooring or floor heating or audiobooks (but not, in the short-term, as much fun as macarons or gelato!).
I'm talking about work...why? because it's so much of my life right now, and It's where I want to grow. I love learning from my jobs, and this is yet another sweet opportunity.
....y'know, my friends Fabrice and Linda asked me the other day if I had decided what I would be doing (as a career, was the implication), and I really was at first set back by the question, not because I have never thought about a "career", but because they obviously expect me to have an answer by now. They are both about three years older than I, but pretty much for some years have known they'd be scientists. Me? The best answer I came up with was that I wanted to be an "entrepreneur", which is incredibly vague.
My answer was basically, "THIS", to work in the sailboat industry, sell boats, manage a yacht brokerage, take sailboat delivery trips and become captain and broker in the process, have my own business and make lots of mulah.
So, i'm writing this down, so I can laugh when I look at this again in five years. laugh because I was right, or because I can't predict the future.
[My basic philosophy regarding Career Things is that opportunities present themselves just as others drop, and you take them. Thus i've had 6-7 jobs in ten years, pretty much in different fields (see first paragraph)].
First thing I want to say is Thank You for the privilege of working in the boating industry, and I mean it. It's more fun than flooring or floor heating or audiobooks (but not, in the short-term, as much fun as macarons or gelato!).
I'm talking about work...why? because it's so much of my life right now, and It's where I want to grow. I love learning from my jobs, and this is yet another sweet opportunity.
....y'know, my friends Fabrice and Linda asked me the other day if I had decided what I would be doing (as a career, was the implication), and I really was at first set back by the question, not because I have never thought about a "career", but because they obviously expect me to have an answer by now. They are both about three years older than I, but pretty much for some years have known they'd be scientists. Me? The best answer I came up with was that I wanted to be an "entrepreneur", which is incredibly vague.
My answer was basically, "THIS", to work in the sailboat industry, sell boats, manage a yacht brokerage, take sailboat delivery trips and become captain and broker in the process, have my own business and make lots of mulah.
So, i'm writing this down, so I can laugh when I look at this again in five years. laugh because I was right, or because I can't predict the future.
[My basic philosophy regarding Career Things is that opportunities present themselves just as others drop, and you take them. Thus i've had 6-7 jobs in ten years, pretty much in different fields (see first paragraph)].
Monday, February 16, 2009
I'm Just Not That Into You..tonight.
Just saw the "chick-flick", "ultimate date movie" He's Just Not That Into You. It's based on a book that's based on real-life observations, and even through the distortions of Hollywood, the basic relationship issues are pretty much right on. I thought the guy's parts where on ON, and my date thought the girl's stuff was right on. And here's the thing: this movie BUGGED me, because in the end it didn't provide enlightenment or any answers, it made my slightly depressed and feel pretty lost.
You see, "He's Just Not That Into You' is a movie for girls about why boys don't return their calls, but I feel that way, often. I am nice and sincere and I pay attention, but really, I just get into a big circle that leads to a few kisses, lot's of hugs and plenty of frustrations. Sure, I am dating someone right now with whom it's fun, and pretty casual, even a bit romantic, but I couldn't commit to her. And that's where I start to also sound like the guys in this movie, because it's all about how we can't stay with one girl, we have to move from one to another. We are the torturers of love, and we make beautiful women sad and lonely. (Who knew Scarlett Johansson would have such a hard time finding a good date? Or the cute wife from HBO's 'Big Love', one of the leads here?)
I, for one, always say I want a relationship relationship like my twin brother always gets into, yet my last serious one ended, oh, almost a year ago. How come it doesn't happen? For one, I can't commit, because I am always looking over my shoulder (or my date's) to see if there is a better one. I meet one girl, I'm enamored, but then sometimes I can't seem to get myself to be anything else than silly and baffling, and soon I move on. I am so often afraid, and so I end up dating girls that have little urges to have boyfriends. They are more like dudes who just want to have a good time and tease.
When will I figure it out? I think that deep down I am just waiting for the 'right girl' to fall in to my lap, to wave her flag, the so-called 'great girl' who'll be my long-time girlfriend. So this story is to be continued....
..now, if I can just focus on the economy and the sorry state of my finances.
You see, "He's Just Not That Into You' is a movie for girls about why boys don't return their calls, but I feel that way, often. I am nice and sincere and I pay attention, but really, I just get into a big circle that leads to a few kisses, lot's of hugs and plenty of frustrations. Sure, I am dating someone right now with whom it's fun, and pretty casual, even a bit romantic, but I couldn't commit to her. And that's where I start to also sound like the guys in this movie, because it's all about how we can't stay with one girl, we have to move from one to another. We are the torturers of love, and we make beautiful women sad and lonely. (Who knew Scarlett Johansson would have such a hard time finding a good date? Or the cute wife from HBO's 'Big Love', one of the leads here?)
I, for one, always say I want a relationship relationship like my twin brother always gets into, yet my last serious one ended, oh, almost a year ago. How come it doesn't happen? For one, I can't commit, because I am always looking over my shoulder (or my date's) to see if there is a better one. I meet one girl, I'm enamored, but then sometimes I can't seem to get myself to be anything else than silly and baffling, and soon I move on. I am so often afraid, and so I end up dating girls that have little urges to have boyfriends. They are more like dudes who just want to have a good time and tease.
When will I figure it out? I think that deep down I am just waiting for the 'right girl' to fall in to my lap, to wave her flag, the so-called 'great girl' who'll be my long-time girlfriend. So this story is to be continued....
..now, if I can just focus on the economy and the sorry state of my finances.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
TWENTY-FIVE THINGS ABOUT MYSELF
25 Things about Byron Shirley
(I have done this before on MySpace, I am going to do it again blind and see what differences I get in what I share about myself...)
Rules: you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.
I feel like an exhibitionist here...
1. Whereas I used to read only Fiction novels, now I read mostly non-fiction.
1b. I love Sociology--the study of humans in society, and read all the time about it, the latest being Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
2. Since November I have been exchanging long, handwritten letters with Texas inmate #1306208, Son Tran, a 27 years-old Vietnamese American who is serving a life sentence for a murder. He has been there for ten years already, and is one of the nicest, most positive person I have ever encountered. Here is his account: http://boingboing.net/son_tran.pdf )
3. As you might know already, I can be considered a metrosexual, which means " heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, and/or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically attributed to gay men."--otherwise known as an "L.A. Guy".
4. I play rugby three times a week (Games are on Saturdays, come out to Treasure Island to see them!); I am winger for the San Francisco Golden Gate Colts, and took up the sport in late '07 after seeing my 12 year old brother join the youth team and biting my nails on the sideline. It's a terrific sport that keep me mentally and--duh--physically agile.
(TWENTY-FIVE things?? Wow, I better make these shorter, I'm gonna be at this all night long)
5. I am in denial about my BlackBerry addiction, yet when I wake up in the morning I can reach for it without opening my eyes.
6. I LOVE dancing. As Roberto told me at French Tuesday this week, "Man, every time I see you, you are dancing!".
7. I am also a huge foodie, but you may not want to invite me to your dinner, as I have always had an enormous appetite to boot. (And that was before I started to try and gain weight for rugby..)
8. I have never weighted more than 175 lbs and am 6 foot, and I very intent on keeping myself in great shape throughout my life. You won't see me get fat!
9. If this entrepreneurial work in California doesn't pan out, I am fully considering moving to India, Hong Kong, or Brazil, and take my chances there.
10. I considered myself an entrepreneur, and am currently involved in three different business, and love to give advice to others around me. I love having my hands in many different pies....
11. I have never been in a relationship for more than 9 months, although I would love to find the one to stay with, I am in no rush to.
12. I used to be a huge Marilyn Manson fan and wore black boots, pants, shirts and spiked hair. I used to think I could hate my twin brother, I used to get huge amounts of parking tickets and not pay for them, I used to not study at school, and I think i'm ready to move on from all those things.
13. I am mostly drug-free, I don't smoke regularly, and can do without alcohol or pot or uppers or downers to have fun.
14. I am practicing to do two marathons this year.
15. I have learned to keep my emotions in check when dealing with difficult work situations--no task too big, but still get flustered and panic on first dates.
16. I love that my brother Julian doesn't give a damn and admire him for it, yet I wish he would give a damn.
17. I love whatever my brother Taddeo does.
18. I have recently lived with my twin brother Perry, and we became friends again. One of the keys to that success was that I told myself I had to stop trying to tell him what to do.
19. I love self-expression, and I wonder if America is not a repressed country where little by little I am taught to be quieter and not speak up.
20. I am known as a "Peter Pan", who loves children and often can seem naive and green.
21. I love "up" music--that is, music that makes me happy, not sad. (Example: "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone. Exception: "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" by Belle and Sebastian)
22. There is no "great tragedy" in my life.
23. I have seen "Slumdog Millionaire" six times. That is most definitely an "up" movie.
24. I can attribute most of my successes in my life to taking opportunities when they came up.
25. I am a great big ol' OBAMA supporter! :)
Rules: you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.
I feel like an exhibitionist here...
1. Whereas I used to read only Fiction novels, now I read mostly non-fiction.
1b. I love Sociology--the study of humans in society, and read all the time about it, the latest being Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
2. Since November I have been exchanging long, handwritten letters with Texas inmate #1306208, Son Tran, a 27 years-old Vietnamese American who is serving a life sentence for a murder. He has been there for ten years already, and is one of the nicest, most positive person I have ever encountered. Here is his account: http://boingboing.net/son_
3. As you might know already, I can be considered a metrosexual, which means " heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, and/or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically attributed to gay men."--otherwise known as an "L.A. Guy".
4. I play rugby three times a week (Games are on Saturdays, come out to Treasure Island to see them!); I am winger for the San Francisco Golden Gate Colts, and took up the sport in late '07 after seeing my 12 year old brother join the youth team and biting my nails on the sideline. It's a terrific sport that keep me mentally and--duh--physically agile.
(TWENTY-FIVE things?? Wow, I better make these shorter, I'm gonna be at this all night long)
5. I am in denial about my BlackBerry addiction, yet when I wake up in the morning I can reach for it without opening my eyes.
6. I LOVE dancing. As Roberto told me at French Tuesday this week, "Man, every time I see you, you are dancing!".
7. I am also a huge foodie, but you may not want to invite me to your dinner, as I have always had an enormous appetite to boot. (And that was before I started to try and gain weight for rugby..)
8. I have never weighted more than 175 lbs and am 6 foot, and I very intent on keeping myself in great shape throughout my life. You won't see me get fat!
9. If this entrepreneurial work in California doesn't pan out, I am fully considering moving to India, Hong Kong, or Brazil, and take my chances there.
10. I considered myself an entrepreneur, and am currently involved in three different business, and love to give advice to others around me. I love having my hands in many different pies....
11. I have never been in a relationship for more than 9 months, although I would love to find the one to stay with, I am in no rush to.
12. I used to be a huge Marilyn Manson fan and wore black boots, pants, shirts and spiked hair. I used to think I could hate my twin brother, I used to get huge amounts of parking tickets and not pay for them, I used to not study at school, and I think i'm ready to move on from all those things.
13. I am mostly drug-free, I don't smoke regularly, and can do without alcohol or pot or uppers or downers to have fun.
14. I am practicing to do two marathons this year.
15. I have learned to keep my emotions in check when dealing with difficult work situations--no task too big, but still get flustered and panic on first dates.
16. I love that my brother Julian doesn't give a damn and admire him for it, yet I wish he would give a damn.
17. I love whatever my brother Taddeo does.
18. I have recently lived with my twin brother Perry, and we became friends again. One of the keys to that success was that I told myself I had to stop trying to tell him what to do.
19. I love self-expression, and I wonder if America is not a repressed country where little by little I am taught to be quieter and not speak up.
20. I am known as a "Peter Pan", who loves children and often can seem naive and green.
21. I love "up" music--that is, music that makes me happy, not sad. (Example: "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone. Exception: "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" by Belle and Sebastian)
22. There is no "great tragedy" in my life.
23. I have seen "Slumdog Millionaire" six times. That is most definitely an "up" movie.
24. I can attribute most of my successes in my life to taking opportunities when they came up.
25. I am a great big ol' OBAMA supporter! :)
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