To have that person walk away from the shared time, seemingly with little regret or indecision, brings with it such a variety of emotions.

Betrayal, for sure, but also gratitude and nostaglia for those joyful times.

I never thought I would be here, both in the sense that I never thought I would face separation and its presumed grief – but now, having reached it, I never thought I would realize that beyond grief was something so much greater.

I have come to realize that in the battle of unrequited love, the indefatigable shield of disinterest cannot be overcome, and yet my weapons of affection, compassion, and sacrifice continue to fire, never ceasing.

After 23 years of prioritizing someone else, it is time to redefine myself.

Details at puppies.nick.org.

Your mom and I are permanently separating.

We are still a family, but your parents are no longer married.

Your mom is moving to Japan after Jerry's Birthday.

We are still a family.

Our love in our family hasn't changed.

It's just that your mom and I are free from the bond of marriage.

You can visit your mom any time you want.

She's giving up her green card, but she can visit too.

I know you don't think this, but to be clear, this isn't your fault or related
to you kids at all.

The proof that our marriage mattered in the world, and our love was real, is
you - our children.

Jerry, the boy who surprised us - and Momo, a "gift of love", from your
mother to me.

Your mom wants to find herself, and we can all support her in that.

API

POST /plans - Create a new training plan:

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curl -X POST https://training.twenty-four.life/plans \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Spring Half Marathon",
    "race_name": "Seattle Half Marathon",
    "race_date": "2026-03-07",
    "race_distance": 13.1,
    "sport": "Run",
    "start_date": "2026-01-01",
    "import_icu_workouts": true
  }'

Response (202 Accepted):

I built an AI training plan generator that understands your actual constraints - and now it’s available for anyone with an Intervals.icu account.

Getting started

Sign in with Intervals.icu - The service uses OAuth to connect to your Intervals.icu account. No separate registration needed. Your training data stays in your ICU account; we just help you build better plans.

Here’s how it all works.

The Architecture

What It Does

The system automates everything around fitness tracking, calendar management, and meal planning:

Fitness tracking:

• Scrapes gym website, auto-reserves classes
• Processes Strava activities (adds emojis, detects commutes, assigns gear)
• Generates structured workout plans using AI
• Creates personalized stretching routines
• Builds multi-sport training plans for races

Calendar sync:

Training Plan Generator

The big one: AI-powered training plan generation for endurance events.

What it does:

Give it a race (distance, date, sport) and it generates a complete training plan:

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POST /training-plan
{
  "race_date": "2026-03-07",
  "race_distance": 13.1,
  "race_name": "Half Marathon",
  "sport": "Run",
  "start_date": "2026-01-01"
}

The service:

1. Fetches your current fitness metrics from Intervals.icu (CTL, ATL, recent training)
2. Checks your calendar for holidays and time off
3. Sends everything to Claude with instructions
4. Gets back a week-by-week plan
5. Creates structured workouts in Intervals.icu

Holiday awareness:

The Problem

Every Strava activity needs housekeeping:

• Add emoji to activity name (🏃 Run, 🚴 Ride, 💪 Strength, etc.)
• Tag commutes (home ↔ work, home ↔ dojo)
• Assign the correct gear (roadie, gravel, trainer, running shoes)
• Mute short walks from the feed (< 2km)
• Hide activities that shouldn’t be public

This is tedious when you upload 15+ activities a week.

Fewer pods, less complexity, same functionality.

The Before State

October 11, 2025:

• calendar - Go service (ICU ↔ Google Calendar sync, gym reservation sync)
• gym - Python service (Selenium web scraper, Chrome sidecar)
• strava - Python service (activity processing)
• workouts - Go service (workout plan generator)

Four services. Three different languages/runtimes. Separate deployments, separate LoadBalancers, separate health checks.

Both personalize based on training load, recent activities, and upcoming workouts.

The Dining Service

Daily meal recommendations generated at 4am PT. Uses Claude to plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks based on:

• Current fitness metrics (CTL, ATL, form)
• Recent activities (last 7 days)
• Upcoming workouts (next 24 hours)
• Training intensity trends

The prompt:

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prompt := fmt.Sprintf(`Generate personalized meal recommendations for today.

Current fitness metrics:
- CTL (fitness): %.1f
- ATL (fatigue): %.1f
- Form: %.1f
- Training load ramp rate: %.1f%%

Recent activities (last 7 days):
%s

Upcoming workouts (next 24 hours):
%s

Provide meal recommendations for:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks

Focus on:
1. Recovery nutrition if fatigued (high ATL)
2. Fuel for upcoming hard workouts
3. Lighter meals on rest days
4. Practical, simple meals

Format as markdown with sections.`,
    wellness.CTL,
    wellness.ATL,
    wellness.Form,
    wellness.Ramp,
    formatRecentActivities(recentActivities),
    formatUpcomingWorkouts(upcomingWorkouts),
)

Context extraction:

Uses the Claude API to generate plans dynamically. No templates, no static rules - just context and inference.

Using the Claude API

The service is simple:

1. Fetch workouts from Intervals.icu that don’t have plans
2. For each workout, send context to Claude API
3. Claude generates a structured plan
4. Apply it to the workout

The API call:

It’s ugly, fragile, and works perfectly.

The Problem

My gym has a website where you can reserve classes up to 22 days in advance. Popular classes fill up within minutes of the window opening.

Manual process:

1. Check website daily for new classes
2. Reserve the ones you want before they fill
3. Check back to see if you got off the waitlist
4. Hope you didn’t miss anything

This is tedious and error-prone. I wanted automation, but the gym doesn’t have an API.

Written in Go. Runs at calendar.twenty-four.home. Does way too much, but does it well.

The Problem

I track workouts in Intervals.icu. My life lives in Google Calendar. These two systems need to stay in sync, but they don’t talk to each other.

What I needed:

The result is a set of services I call twenty-four (because there are only so many hours in a day, and I’d rather not spend them on administrative bullshit).

The Cluster

k3s on a mix of hardware that was lying around:

Control plane:

• master - Ubuntu 22.04, x86_64, handles scheduling

Workers:

• arm1, arm2, arm3 - Fedora Asahi Remix on Apple Silicon (M1/M2 Mac Minis)
• lab - Ubuntu 24.04, x86_64, old desktop turned compute node
• brain - Ubuntu 24.04, x86_64, currently offline (it’ll be back)

The ARM nodes do most of the work. They’re fast, quiet, and sip power. The x86 box handles anything that doesn’t have ARM builds yet.

I miss you, Dad.

Even though my perception of hearing continues to decline, and I’m starting to feel a few facial ticks, the tumor is unchanged in terms of visual assessment via MRI.

The symptoms are making it clear that imaging can’t tell the full story, but it’s the best outcome - since it’s benign, if I can wait to treat it for as long as possible, I can maximize the remaining hearing in my left ear and prolong the unknown treatment and recovery time.

I still have a LOT to learn about building my plan, but for now I’m excited for the opportunity to dial things in for my life and schedule - and to automate it where I can.

I fear for many, but in particular, for my immigrant wife and non-white children.

America elected the first convicted felon to serve as president of the United
States. Trump - the twice-impeached, multiply indicted, once-defeated former
president overcame 34 felony convictions, 88 criminal charges, accusations of
insurrection as part of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, civil
lawsuit judgments totaling more than a half-billion dollars, allegations by his
entire first-term cabinet that he's unfit to serve, his openly fascist
intentions, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, his failed response to the Covid-19
pandemic that led to more than 400,000 deaths from a virus he repeatedly
claimed was going to disappear, his repeated overt acts of racism, at least 26
public accusations of rape, kissing, and groping without consent, his promises
to prosecute his political opponents, and the threats encapsulated by the
Project 2025 agenda - to become the nation's 47th president. Trump is the
second president - and the first since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century -
to retake the White House after a reelection defeat. And, at the age of 78,
Trump is the oldest man ever elected president - breaking a record held by
Biden, whose mental competence Trump repeatedly savaged.

Source: https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2024/11/06/day-1387

I signed up for Ironman Canada at the end of 2023. I had big plans for getting there.

Alas, it was not meant to be, and I focused myself on Ironman California in October.

In September, I attempted to resume running but quickly ran into persistent challenges, including tweaking my knee when standing up from my desk at work.

I had little choice but to stop running, focus on the other sports, and hope for the best day of. I continued to attend Taekwondo, which may not be the most helpful for recovery, and I did a lot of walking.

I had torn the medial part of my left meniscus. The doctor said it wasn’t from a particular moment per-se, but rather just wear & tear given my activity level and age.

It is the most common form of knee injury for athletes.

So after three months of PT and two months of rest, an X-ray, and an MRI, the fix took less than two hours - and supposedly the entire procedure was only 20 minutes for the doctor.

I felt completely at ease as I lined up at 5th and Harrison to start the 2023 Seattle Marathon: my only expectation was to have a good time.

Two weeks prior I had strained my right calf while hustling down a steep section of Discovery Park’s loop trail; I blame it on the two would-be Arizona Iron wo/man at my heels.

I hadn’t run in two weeks and had no idea what my calf would do; I had not “tested it” (although I lightly jogged from the car to the Westin to pickup my packet, and felt great.)

Ultimately, I never took advantage of any of Firebase’s capabilities, and now it’s easier for me to lean in on what I use regularly then have an odd ball.

https://www.nick.org and https://www.kirsch.org/ are both CloudFront’d again.

Why am I talking at all? Who are these words for?

One clear beneficiary is my future self. My older self. Will you find me naive or prescient? How many other things will you wish I had talked about?

My children. They certainly don’t look at this now, but perhaps someday they’ll have questions about me that this could answer?

Two years later, and … he’s back!

It’s not quite the same, as they will be living in Woodenville and not three blocks away - but it’s still thrilling to have the opportunity to see each other more than 2-3 times a year.

• Get the kids together
• Attend the recitals and the big games
• Celebrate moments together
• Sneak out for a few nights on the town
• Meet up for a rainy, muddy run
• Family camping

The list is endless.

That was hard.

My body wasn’t quite prepared for the descents. I was in good spirits and all else was a go.

I look forward to training up to this being easier, and pushing past.

Another trip around the sun. I had fun explaining to my niece this morning our system of time tracking tied to celestial bodies. It all started with: “I have a question. How many Christmases in a year?”

This was the first full year of triathlon training, and there were many ups and downs. I entered the year having completed my first 70.3 tri and nervous for my second (in March). I exited this year with full confidence in my ability to finish, but growing desire and curiosity in my ability to compete.

Between Teresa using Training Peaks to prescribe my workouts, reserved gym classes I attend at SSP, the pool schedules at QA / Ballard, Taekwondo with the family, and finally, work - not to mention the ad-hoc - this takes some juggling.

Over eight years later - starting out with only six habits to focus on, then 12, and now up to 18 - I’m still a daily Streaks user and determined to keep improving.

My sister Katrina often asks me about my habits, so this is dedicated to her.

If it does someone else good, that’s awesome, otherwise I’m happy with the time capsule to myself.

This blog entry satisifies Journal and Finish, as I consider my blog to be a public journal entry, and I have a recurring monthly todo I can check off.

I had a great time completing my first half Ironman in 6:08:04.

(That’s my brother on the far left - my #1 fan.)

Splits: 46:19, 07:35, 3:05:50, 04:43, and 2:03:39

Wow.

I know that, due to the marvels of modern life, he’s but a call away - and yet, I also know those interactions are likely a poor substitute for what we’ve had.

On May 1st, 2006, I got the call. Eriko said it was time, and so - it was time! I asked my brother to drive me home, a less than 10 minute jaunt up Queen Anne hill, and then Eriko and I were off to the hospital. She had selected a midwife who worked out of Evergreen in Kirkland, which left me with daily nightmares of being stuck in rush-hour traffic. Luckily, this was early afternoon and the 405 was free.

Me.

Excited to see our game-changing mission to bring an economical path to healthier agriculture become known to the world.

This is only the first step!

When Momo was first born, at first glance … I thought I had a George!

Our midwife corrected me, and tears of joy streamed down my face.

Happy Birthday to the young lady who regularly brings me to tears! 😂

I’m excited to run the software team at Carbon.

It’s bittersweet to see your startup fail: the willingness to embark, the thrill and uncertainty of unbridled creativity, all juxtaposed against the outcome.

My deepest takeaway is that I loved it, despite my shortcomings, and I must remind myself that “there is no reason my first race should be my best (or last).”

2019 ended with a tough break.

That said, there is a large hill between them and me, and hence, I’m still afforded the luxury of my independence. ;)

I will also not be visiting Nagoya, and I haven’t missed a chance to see おばあちゃん and おじいちゃん since my sabbatical in 2013. 😭

(Don’t worry, Jerry will be close behind.)

I had a pretty good year though... a few highlights:

In January, I started atsu, and over the next few months found some amazing co-founders. 🔥

In February, Momo turned 8 and had her first sleepover birthday party. 🥰👩🏻

In March, we flew to Boise for a Taekwondo tournament, and had a fun mini-vacation as well. 🛫🥋

I had this thought as I was riding my bike and noticed an attractive woman.

I didn’t foresee it, but it isn’t surprising. The new venture has definitely had impact on my habits and my fitness. I chalk that up to a few reasons: less schedule flexibility, higher workload, and injuries. Now, this is also on the back of a more erratic schedule due to kids’ summer vacation and Japan-trip induced jet lag, so don’t be too hard on me.

(Re-displayed here for convenience, with annotations.)

• Spend more time with Eriko and Jerry
• UW Professional Master's Program
• Get back into mathematics
• Kernel development
• JLPT Level 3
• Swimming - lap swim twice a week
• Buy a house
• Get in shape - lose the waist
• Fix/sell the MG
• Read more

There are only two items left on this list that I have put little to no effort into: mathematics and Japanese. It’s interesting to note that while I’ve thought of both of them as requiring a dedicated effort to achieve, had I put in a little time each day/week/month, I would be much closer. Instead, I’m likely worse at both...  

The embarrassment.

It’s there.

It’s RIGHT there.

But that’s only if you care that they are looking.

And to be honest, why do they have time to look?

Shouldn’t they be busy with their own thing?

Shouldn’t you be busy?

Damn it, Nick. Get back to work.

😉

always feels like i’m missing on something... 😅

Why?

I’m very lucky! Eriko, Jerry, and Momo; family in the neighborhood (thanks, Katie and Zack!); and an amazing network of friends and advisors in the best city (and best state!) in the nation. 

I found a problem I want to solve for customers I love, at the intersection of technology (machine learning and systems) that I want to excel in. I can imagine delighting users and providing significant benefit to their businesses.

A lot, but there is always more to do!

My habit hit rate was roughly 80%. This was dragged down by, unsurprisingly, the new habits of Wake and Stretch (50% and 45%, respectively.) That said, I’m adjusting to the earlier start time and making time to limber up. These numbers are going up in February!

The only habits I managed to nail completely were Vitamins and Meet, but many others came close: Core (93%), Cardio (93%), Cook (90%) and Swim (85%).

As James is oft to mention, it is intention which sets apart those who make their commitments and those who don’t. That seems more apropos than ever as a theme for this year, so INTENTION it is. (My pal Shawn also often talks of living an “intentioned life”.)

Resolutions? Not really. Goals? Meh.

Daily habits? Strangely, I resonate.

So in rough chronological order, my daily “intention”:

Motivational Quotes - every day

Way back in 2013, I discovered a young entrepreneur with views and expressions on the power of habit formation. For the last several years - with the help of a simple tool like Coach.me - I’ve been able to focus on habit formation as a method to self improvement and development. 

Let’s talk about the former and catch things up to today.

After one last year of awesome with this guy, I left Isilon (EMC) at the end of Q3′15, with no specific plans other than to grow. Over the next six months, I made some new friends, and learned a lot, while spending time at Madrona, UW, and Dato. I spent the next three months falling in (and out of) love with Turi, before my once-in-a-lifetime month down in Emeryville. 

I have a date for the demo. 
I saw my friends Nate, Zack, Charlie, Shawn, Dan, and Neal.
I worked towards my Purple Stripe.
I had the luxury of having my teeth cleaned.

I rode my motorcycle ... and Eriko rescued me.
I spent time with Momo and Mr. McGregor.
I ran, I swam, and I biked.
I tweeted.

I nailed down the visit and agenda.
I learned about 6th and 2nd grade curriculum.
I read some good books. 
I spent quality time with Jerry and Momo - and Eriko. 😍

👨🏻‍🔧

A rare golden moment.

I'm very fortunate that a few folks have looked past my lack of commitment and let me participate, investing in the hope of mutual benefit.

Of course, I feel the visceral and conflicting tensions: the need for an all-encompassing mission, the desire to create that mission for myself, and yet, the realization that I don't know what it takes, nor where it will take me.

Reality hits.

“What’s your plan?!”, I am often asked.

I have many plans, but ironically, no specific one when it comes to my career. I’m super grateful that I have the flexibility I do; I’m going to take advantage of it while I can. In the short term, I will continue to spend time exploring a number of different options while simultaneously earning some income. In my spare time, I’m very focused on fitness, being active in the home, and (just starting) to push myself on continuing education.

I’ve been doing a great job on many habits with the help of Coach.me, but the simple truth is that the flexibility of the platform enables me to over-commit - and being over-committed impacts everything, not just the superfluous things.

This lonely blog is at an empty crossroads… (hint: time for a makeover!)

The internship is on.

Eriko is singing O Holy Night (which is one of my favorite seasonal songs), the kids are jamming out with Japanese pop music from Eriko's childhood (on MD) - not to mention dancing and talking - and I'm ever aware of the gentle machine hum and the click of the keyboard.

What an awesome fall morning.

The news of my father’s diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia was the first time when I really felt as if my parents were aging. I had a lengthy seven weeks off Isilon, and I ultimately came to grips with the realization that it wasn’t work fulfillment that I was missing, but something else. In September, Zack’s first son, Cody, was born - happy and healthy, and Melissa and Kevin decided to move their large and loving family of 7+ to Oregon. Now my mother has been diagnosed with acute hypertension thyroid, which is further slowing down my parents ability to travel.

Family is more than genetics. Family can be your best friends and best friends can be your family.

My father was recently diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), an identity stealing degenerative brain condition. While his body may remain healthy for some time, it will rob me of my father, my role model, and the person I have spent my life emulating. I have always been proud to be called "his clone" (although it isn't always intended as a compliment.)

My 2012 theme was balance and while I didn't always achieve it, it has become a mindset.

This year is about renewal.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-08-18-photo-post.html Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:58:21 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-08-18-photo-post.html

Eriko’s first produce - I hope for much more!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-07-29-photo-post.html Sun, 29 Jul 2012 20:07:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-07-29-photo-post.html

Thanks to this site (http://soccergoalplans.com) and the neighbor for inspiration … I need to get a net and Jerry will have a backyard soccer goal!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-07-20-think-of-yourself.html Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:47:16 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-07-20-think-of-yourself.html I was in Nagoya last week, on our last night, in the 8th floor of a commercial building at some kind of pasta restaraunt. Momo was scarving down pizza, Jerry was laying on my lap, and I was chatting with Eriko's mom about my career.

I told her I had four "things" I wanted to accomplish:

1) Be a father

2) Hold a leadership role

3) Start a company

4) "Retire" a professor

Through broken Japanese, broken English, and Eriko, I explained that my milestones were at different points in life - first learn from others, than do yourself, then teach others. But constant through all of these was my responsibility to be a father - and without intending to, I conveyed my concern that I could not balance these things.

She told me (via Eriko) something that has stuck with me - "think of yourself." As you consider your career, your next move, what you want in life - put your family aside for the moment. Don't let concern cloud your vision - think freely. Perhaps it wasn't so much that her mother said things to me, but that Eriko agreed and encouraged me.

What will I be, when I grow up?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-07-02-photo-post.html Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:10:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-07-02-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-06-25-photo-post.html Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:20:25 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-06-25-photo-post.html

Riding on the bus!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-06-16-photo-post.html Sat, 16 Jun 2012 22:56:13 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-06-16-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-06-11-photo-post.html Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:11:39 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-06-11-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-06-07-photo-post.html Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:55:06 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-06-07-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-06-03-photo-post.html Sun, 03 Jun 2012 23:09:19 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-06-03-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-30-photo-post.html Wed, 30 May 2012 03:25:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-30-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-30-photo-post-2.html Wed, 30 May 2012 03:22:52 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-30-photo-post-2.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28-photo-post.html Mon, 28 May 2012 22:24:19 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28-photo-post-2.html Mon, 28 May 2012 22:18:28 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28-photo-post-2.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28.html Mon, 28 May 2012 19:47:53 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-28.html I’m trying out Path for the first time… so far, I like the interface, the cross posting, and the mobile focus…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-25-photo-post.html Fri, 25 May 2012 01:48:20 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-25-photo-post.html

Drink along to get along - lemonade for both.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-19-photo-post.html Sat, 19 May 2012 15:23:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-19-photo-post.html

Jerry the Jymnist (way back there)…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-18-photo-post.html Fri, 18 May 2012 22:44:40 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-18-photo-post.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-18-photo-post-2.html Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:09 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-18-photo-post-2.html

In the workshop!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-17-photo-post.html Thu, 17 May 2012 13:13:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-17-photo-post.html

Sunny Seattle

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post.html Sun, 13 May 2012 22:53:26 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post.html

Multi-sport athlete…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-2.html Sun, 13 May 2012 21:25:03 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-2.html

Inside or out?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-3.html Sun, 13 May 2012 21:19:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-3.html

Operation Bamboo Relocation - 2/5 complete.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-4.html Sun, 13 May 2012 20:09:35 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-4.html

Wow! Look at him go… (note: 6-yr old, first mowing…)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-5.html Sun, 13 May 2012 19:48:45 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-05-13-photo-post-5.html

Happy Mother’s Day!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2012-02-09-the-clock.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:14:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2012-02-09-the-clock.html It is a rare moment that I sit alone with my thoughts. A fire burns gently beside me, powered by invisible gas - warmth that continues indefinitely, effortlessly enabled by the push of a button. 

I sit in a magnificent home - one which exceeds my expectations, and feels foreign. My family rests above me in the bedroom, presumably gaining strength and enjoying their dreams. For the moment, they feel foreign - in the land of sleep, while I remain awake. 

My own moments are far and few between. I wake to the gentle nudge or grating shrill of an alarm, faced immediately with the pressure of the clock. On days when the office isn’t demanding my attention, a child will be tugging and grasping for it. 

I move from one moment of responsibility to another - always on the clock.

This is truly a rare gift - a fleeting sense of freedom, of control. 

As quickly as it emerged, it dissipates. I may control these words - but not the timeline in which they are created. The clock constantly reminds me that I’m on borrowed time; this freedom tonight is only stolen from tomorrow’s responsibility. 

Back on the clock.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2011-11-27-balancing-2012.html Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:59:04 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2011-11-27-balancing-2012.html My last resolution post was way back in January of 2010 and highlighted a few areas of focus:

• Swimming
• Reading (books)
• Writing (on the blog)
• Health
• Japanese

I didn't stay focused on most of these things in 2010 or 2011; a few events pre-empted my wonderfully scripted world:

• Momoko's birth on February 21st, 2010
• Isilon's acquisition on December 21st, 2010
• The purchase and remodel of our soon to be home (completed on January 21st, 2012?)

I did take swimming lessons, bought a kindle, read over ten books, and began a running program - so I made progress!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2011-03-20-erikos-family-is-safe.html Sun, 20 Mar 2011 05:29:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2011-03-20-erikos-family-is-safe.html I've received many inquiries about Eriko's family - from far and wide. Old friends, distant family, and far away co-workers - some of whom I haven't talked with in years - reached out to make sure that Eriko and her family were doing well.

The good news is that Eriko's immediate family is in Nagoya and most of her relatives and friends are in Nagoya. Nagoya was not impacted much by the quake/tsunami nor is it near the reactors.

The bad news is she does have relatives that are closer to Tokyo. All are safe, but some did have some fairly significant damage to their homes and/or businesses. Her Aunt and Uncle are still without running water, even though we're ten days from the onset of the tremors. They also don't have any natural gas, but that is of little consequence to them in particular. Amazingly, a neighbor in the area has well water and is supplying neighbors who don't. Her Aunt and Uncle cannot function in their jobs (as a dentist and researcher) either due to lack of water/electricity or because of damage to instruments - so what do they do? They volunteer their time for those who are in shelters.

These are some very strong people.

 

]]> https://www.nick.org/2011-03-08-old-house-vs-new-home.html Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:23:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2011-03-08-old-house-vs-new-home.html Here is a picture of our home as it currently stands:

Here is a rendition of where we are heading:

The tenants move out at the end of April and then construction starts.

Wheee!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2011-02-16-the-remodel.html Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:54:01 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2011-02-16-the-remodel.html It has started. After the acquisition of the company I’m working for, I’m now in a position to move faster on the remodel of our home rather than slower. We are excited.

We’re working with a build/design firm called Build, LLC who just continue to live up to their reputation as being principled, cost-conscious and having good aptitude for modern design. We’re not yet into the build phase, but if you spend some time on this site you should have complete confidence in their abilities: http://www.ahousebythepark.com/journal/. It is a complete step-by-step look at the building of a modern home and is fantastically done. Not only do I have a random web reference, but a close co-worker and the SVP of my department both used Build for their remodels.

Our house, and some of the accompanying design challenges it presents, was recently featured on Build’s Blog: http://blog.buildllc.com/2011/02/the-conundrum-of-gables/. 

Don’t expect to see regular updates on here, but maybe I’ll get around to posting a picture of the design or progress…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-12-07-the-house-hunting-adventure.html Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:39:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-12-07-the-house-hunting-adventure.html

Plan A - ask neighboring office if they'll sell and allow us to expand our condo by a single room.

Plan B - low-bid for an OK home on a decent lot.

Plan C - reasonable bid for a wonderful home in a decent spot. No yard, busy street.

Plan D - remodel existing home. Cost prohibitive.

Plan E - buy multi-tenant home on nice lot with current rental income. Potential for later...

Plan E won. I'd love to write more, but between exciting things at work, getting a little time for fun, and playing with the kids, this is the most time I've had in weeks.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-10-08-more-love.html Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:55:04 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-10-08-more-love.html This is a previously unpublished blog entry that I wrote before Momoko's birth. It touches me to publish it, unaltered, now that she is almost eight months old.

The clock ticks towards the arrival of our second. We don't know if a little boy or a little girl is kicking their legs inside of Eriko's ever expanding belly. We don't know what this child will look like, sound like, or act like.

I don't remember what I was thinking with Jerry - fear, apprehension, excitement? That is almost four years ago - which is amazing to comprehend. I don't remember each detail of Jerry growing up, but I do know that I feel intense fondness whenever I think of him.

Now I worry - when there is a second - do I have to share my love? Does Jerry get less of me? Surely less of my time, less of my attention, less of my patience. These things just must be - I am finite; Eriko is finite. Is my love finite - does Jerry get less of me?

There is no doubt that Jerry has brought tremendous joy to Eriko and I - but he also changed our lives. We don't have the same time for each other, the same attention in each other, the same patience for each other. Yet, Jerry's love more than replaces what we give to him. I have to share Eriko with him and yet, our love for each other isn't diminished - changed, for sure - but no less.

Amidst my apprhension, there is sadness - I will miss these days. Jerry is my only son, my only child. In some ways, it is the sadness that occurs in the passing of time - the fear that things just couldn't possibly get better. I hope, and deep down I know, that despite what we will all invest, this child will bring out even more from us all.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-06-02-whats-an-angel-daddy.html Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:10:36 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-06-02-whats-an-angel-daddy.html Me: Mama, we have two angels in our house. 

Jerry: What’s an angel, Daddy? 

Me: An angel is a special person … 

Jerry: Then I’m an angel to you and you’re an angel to me. Because I love you and you love me. 

Me: That’s right, Jerry. 

Jerry: We have four angels, Daddy. Mama loves you and Mama loves Momo too. 

Love - pass it on!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-05-24-early-morning.html Mon, 24 May 2010 13:08:14 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-05-24-early-morning.html When my mind wanders to the subject of this blog, it quickly tries to fill the hole in my submission record with a dramatic tale - me, live-blogging daily as the world around me collapses. Why such dark images are conjured up when I consider writing my thoughts down is still a mystery - left for another entry.

I love early mornings - the quiet, the sunrise, the independence. I walk to work and the air is cool and crisp: enough to make your hands numb but not enough to seep into your core. Today I’m at work at 6:07 and (once I finish this) ready to jump-start what I hope will be a productive day.

Early mornings have a downside though, a double-edged sword. It is leaving the house before the three people I care most about wake up. Jerry, in particular, is especially distraught when I leave early. Two out of three mornings it will drive him to tears to find me missing. If I don’t leave the house before he wakes up, then I’m committed to spending at least thirty minutes with him and more  likely an hour. It is just as difficult for me to separate myself from him.

He’s so good at waking up soon after me that I have to wake up at five AM if I’m to get an early start. Last night before bed he stated plainly, “Daddy, I wake up when you do."

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-04-04-humility-creed.html Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:45:57 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-04-04-humility-creed.html For those of us of who do not know, who question, or dare to contemplate the world - may our lives be filled with wonder. Force us to ask - How did I deserve this?

For those of us who know, who understand every facet, and who cannot conceive a different world - may our lives be filled with doubt. Force us to ask - How did I deserve this?

For it is only in the insatiable pursuit of truth, in the unbridled search for meaning among chaos, and the constant revaluation of ourselves that our lives are truly enriched.

Complacency is death - let us all remain humble.

Happy Easter, Happy Sunday, Happiness to all.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-03-09-gentle-moment.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:33:27 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-03-09-gentle-moment.html Eriko wonderfully captured one of my first gentle moments with Momoko and Jerry.

To fall asleep together, free of worry, is such a luxury - for old and young alike.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-03-07-seeds.html Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:58:18 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-03-07-seeds.html I held Momoko for a few minutes after Eriko went to bed tonight and marveled at where life is. I can’t remember exactly what it felt like to hold Jerry, only that he’s always way out in front of me and I suspect that isn’t ever going to change. Realizing this, perhaps I can remember more of these early details - but I suspect that is wishful thinking.

As I look around our small home, I see seeds - an avocado tree which will eventually outgrow its 19" pot, a piano which is far too large for a home this size, a motorcycle balloon hanging from the ceiling, and a table that clearly needs a larger kitchen. Those might all say “you need a bigger house”, but only the first one did in my mind - the other images I see are Eriko’s music career, Jerry becoming a man, and our family growing.

At work, I’ve recently been promoted “back” to a Director - but in a completely different role, in Product Management (vs Engineering). I can’t help but feel wiser and more prepared now versus two years ago - but like this tiny home, my small team is littered with the seeds of the future. The company is littered with the seeds of the future - ideas, markets, and people.

In four years from now, where will be? Which seeds will grow - and in what direction?

PS Just finishing watching the first two seasons of Entourage - great series. 

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-02-24-welcome-momoko.html Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:13:55 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-02-24-welcome-momoko.html I will write more, as Momoko’s birth was both touching and exciting. For now, I just want the world to know that I have a new daughter - Momoko Kirsch - born on Sunday, February 21st at 17:18 PM PST. Momoko weighed 5 lbs, 12 oz and was approximately 19" in length.

Of course, Momoko now has her own website at http://momoko.kirsch.org/ and here is a beautiful picture of her:

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-02-07-player-piano-play-no-more.html Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:05:07 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-02-07-player-piano-play-no-more.html After a previous failed attempt with G-Daddy, I had an epiphany the other day. Removing the player piano wasn’t complicated at all - in fact, it was glaringly simple!

 

All I needed to do was remove four simple screws (two on each side):

 

 With some help from Nate, Zack and Jerry … Wala!

 

Now the player action rests on top of the piano, a reminder of a project destined for a later date:

 

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-02-03-feeling-the-crunch.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:17:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-02-03-feeling-the-crunch.html The first month of 2010 is past us. It was a good month, filled with activity and fun. As February begins I am beginning to fill a little overwhelmed. I have agreed to take on a LOT of items at work and as I look at my list I see 9 major deliverable this month alone.

When I say major, I mean that they are all goin to be either highly visible, strategic, or both. 

To top all that off, the baby is coming.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-01-16-pointer-finger-scratch.html Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:44:49 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-01-16-pointer-finger-scratch.html It all started as an innocent foot rub when I began to put Jerry to sleep in place of Eriko. She had been nursing him at night, but that wasn't working as effectively and I wanted to give her a break. Before long, I added the back scratch to the foot rub, as the foot rub wasn't quite enough to keep him pacified.

Almost overnight (pun intended), the list grew extensively (in no particular order):

• Back scratch
• Foot rub
• Booty scratch
• Under-the-arm scratch
• Leg scratch
• Foot scratch
• Side scratch
• Nipple scratch
• Head scratch
• Chin scratch
• Ear scratch
• Shoulder scratch
• Neck scratch
• Chest scratch
• Arm scratch
• Elbow scratch
• In-between-the-toes scratch

Not only does Jerry request a particular area to be scratched, but he also provides specific directions as well: "left", "right", "up", "hard", "harder", "super-duper hard", "not suuuuper duper hard." He also switches very rapidly between locations, giving instructions faster than one can comply.

When I heard "pointer-finger scratch", I knew I had to record this - finally it dawned on me that this had become ridiculous. On a good day, this ritual lasts about 10 minutes - but on a bad night it can not only occur several times but also last up to 45 minutes. Let the weaning begin.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2010-01-01-2010-diligence.html Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2010-01-01-2010-diligence.html My goals page has been relatively unchanged for several years. As I reflect on it, these goals continue to be the most relevant near-term objectives that I have. I do tweak them slightly at times as my specific interests wax and wane. The ones that I tweak tend to be less specific and more theme-oriented, such as “stay technical” or “get back into science and mathematics.” Those should be more specific - but for now, just consider them placeholders.

All this said, a goal is only a destination - and dreams are cheap. The real task is conceiving measurable steps which advance oneself, continuously, towards that destination. These steps have to be flexible enough to deal with the vagaries of life, but rewarding enough that the mere completion encourages diligence - a virtuous cycle of progress.

Diligence - this is my theme for 2010.

Diligence at home, diligence at work, and diligence with myself.

2010 will be yet another fast-paced year - perhaps the most I have experienced yet.

The responsibilities and demands at work should continue to increase, congruent with our success (which I can only hope exceeds my wildest expectations.) Needless to say (and I won’t blog much about work here) I consider myself currently involved in the opportunity of a lifetime.

My second child should arrive late February (hopefully healthy and happy.) Everyone that I have spoken to says that the second child is more than double the effort of the first. Jerry keeps us on our toes so much that is difficult to imagine being pushed even harder - but “a burden of one’s choice is not felt." 

Through all of this, I cannot lose sight of myself. This certainly happened, or nearly happened, for the first year or two with Jerry. I am only beginning to understand how to put all the appropriate emotional and mental boundaries that give the best that I can to my family and work while still leaving time for myself - and not feeling guilty about it. In the absence of these boundaries, my efforts begin to have diminishing returns. If taking 5 minutes to relax means that I can play with Jerry for an extra hour, that is 5 minutes well spent.

In the last 3 months of 2009 I adopted Remember the Milk, which is a task management system. I clearly have much more to improve upon, but developing a system for getting things done has paid off tremendously - I accomplish more, in a shorter period of time, and feel better doing it - all of which leaves more time for me and my priorities. This is yet another virtuous cycle, where I’m driven to higher levels of productivity and efficiency for the greater amount of time it affords me to do what I prefer.

As with each New Year, I am flush with the promise and possibility of change and hope is strong. I must now factor in diligence - the year will move quickly - I must strive for constant progress, no matter how incremental. 

My goals for 2010 are:

Swimming - I have wanted to learn to lap swim (not just doggie-paddle) for a lonnnng time. In 2009 I started running but quickly found that this was very hard on my knees. I had custom orthotics made (and perhaps they will help) but long-term, the sustainable exercise will be swimming. I signed myself up for lessons at Queen Anne Pool starting in January (and signed up Jerry for another round of lessons as well.)

Reading - 2009 was a wonderful year for reading blogs. I follow over 50 blogs on a weekly basis and read hundreds of posts; as Zack said, I read “too much.” I would alter that statement slightly and say that I don’t read enough compelling/relevant material and I’m not selective enough with my time. Bloggers are great - but there is a lot of chaff with the wheat. I will read one good book every three months.

Writing - this blog did not see a lot of love in 2009. I found it very difficult, between the chaos at home and at work (and more accurately, inside myself) to be diligent about personal introspection. I think that reflecting upon oneself and the world is the only thing that takes us out of the routine, allows us to see ourselves more clearly, and improve. I did more blogging for my company’s site than I did for my own! I will generate a good blog post once every two weeks.

Health - I did a good job losing weight and eating better in 2009 - but there is still much room for improvement. While my weekly running campaign was a good start, if Zach is busy or I’ve had a long night I will typically skip the exercise. I need to find some way to make this more consistent. I would like to move beyond just cardiovascular and into strength training as well. I will exercise at least twice a week, once which will include some form of strength training.

Japanese - Of course, Eriko continues to speak to Jerry in Japanese - and this helps my listening comprehension. That said, my speaking, my writing, my vocabulary, and my reading have all dropped off precipitously. There is no good excuse for this - I want Jerry to learn to write and read and I can certainly put in at least that much effort. I found a great iPhone app, iKanji, and I have wanted a mobile study platform for a long time - this may help. I will learn at least one new Kanji per month.

Some of these steps are more aggressive than others - and rightfully so. As I grow more confident in a particular area, more efficient in others, I hope that new opportunities for accelerating my progress will emerge. At times, I will fail - but “the real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere."

Diligence.

Happy New Year!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-12-27-jerry-loves-his-new-remote-controlled-race-car.html Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:21:25 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-12-27-jerry-loves-his-new-remote-controlled-race-car.html

Look at him go!

Look at those doughnuts!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-12-23-7-heavenly-virtues.html Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:31:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-12-23-7-heavenly-virtues.html The theme of diligence has been strong for me. I consider it key to our company’s success and key to my own personal success. As I created my 2010 “New Year” post and clarified my specific goals, I looked at the definition of Diligence per Wikipedia. The definition affirmed my understanding and I proceeded with my post.

What caught my eye, however, was the reference to the 7 heavenly virtues in Catholic catechism - and thus I wanted to revisit the topic. Disclosure: I am a baptized, confirmed Catholic who has, for all practical intents and purposes, rejected the Church. That said, I have always identified with many of the philosophical and moral values that many religions preach, even if I utterly reject the apparent hypocrisy and corruption that undoubtedly exists in any formal institution. 

It is these moral and philosophical points that I wish to consider.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-12-20-2009-year-in-review.html Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:37:59 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-12-20-2009-year-in-review.html 2009 was a great year for me. 

I don’t know that it started out that way - I came into this year struggling with my new career - while I was enjoying myself to some degree, I didn’t feel as if I was excelling or accelerating. Some of that was likely due to my newfound distraction/obsession - the economic crisis. Some of it was due to my beloved Jerry growing up and demanding more of my time and attention, not less - and that was a struggle too.

Right around mid-year, things began to change. I started a running program with my co-worker, Zach. In retrospect, that helped a lot - not only did I lose about 7 pounds (and thus it helped my self-esteem) but I feel healthier too. I also went to my boss and asked for more - more clarity on the role, more clarity on what I needed to do to exceed, and most of all - more responsibility. With Jerry, I resolved myself to spend as much time with him as possible - which firmed up my priorities.

At work, the change has been very clear. I became an active blogger on our corporate website, an active spokesperson at conferences, headed up a new horizontal push, and spent more time on the road helping sales and customers. These things snowballed and I became more involved, it became more enjoyable, and I became more involved. Of course, then my co-worker’s told me I was working too much. I thought things were balanced, but I’ll take that into consideration.

Jerry has also begun to mature - around mid-year, he began to play constructively. Instead of destroying everything, we could build things together. That sort of play makes it so much easier for me to stay engaged (and not get distracted by silly things, like our economy.) I did find a better way to stay engaged in the news and I got myself an iPhone - both of which made my walk to and from work more productive and allowed me to claw-back a few moments of the day for myself.

It might not be coincidental that mid-year Eriko announced that she was pregnant. The expectant joy of another child will do wonders for snapping one out of a funk. 

The last two weeks here are a vacation for me and although we won’t be spending time with Kevin and Melissa’s family this year, I will get to spend it with my parents, my brother, and my sister. That’s as good of a consolation prize as one can get it.

Enough rambling - Jerry is up and ready to play. 

Happy Holidays to All!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-12-12-macjournal-post.html Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:11:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-12-12-macjournal-post.html Always on a quest to improve Dad’s journalling life, I’m testing out a “new” tool for the Mac - MacJournal. To be fair, this has apparently been around for many years (and is on version 5.0) so it is only new to me.

I discovered it on my quest to solve my receipts problem - specifically, that there are to many of them and they are impossible to search! I am currently evaluating Paperless and would love to try out Neat Receipts but they don’t seem to provide trial licenses. :( I also need to purchase a scanner; Paperless recommends any TWAIN compliant scanner or Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M, Fujitsu ScanSnap S300M or Pentax DS mobile 600. Neatco has their own scanner but I don’t know if it is any good.

Update: Posting didn’t keep my paragraph breaks. Hopefully that is easy to fix…  

Update: Lots of little issues. Not a slam dunk, I’m going to have to keep looking…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-12-01-google-reader-my-news-source.html Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:51:36 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-12-01-google-reader-my-news-source.html Anybody else have any cool RSS feeds I should be following?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-11-26-movable-type-upgrade.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:30:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-11-26-movable-type-upgrade.html I just upgraded to Movable Type 4.32 and accomplished a long standing goal... the entire Kirsch family (of bloggers) is now unified under a single instance of Movable Type.

This is the obligatory test post.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-11-25-to-donate-or-to-sell-that-is-the-question.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:03:22 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-11-25-to-donate-or-to-sell-that-is-the-question.html I have two vehicles that I no longer need. One I had hoped to keep until Jerry was old enough to work on it with me, but since it is now occupying our only indoor parking spot (the condo garage) it may be costing more in opportunity cost than its worth.

That would be the 1967 MGB GT (scroll to view).

The other is a 1994 Jetta III GL - originally purchased for the price of an alternator, this vehicle has done very well for us. We outgrew it and recently purchased a 1999 Nissan Quest mini-van. The Jetta has ~160,000 miles on it. I’ve put several ads on craigslist but haven’t received a bite yet.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-11-23-keep-calm-and-carry-on.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:13:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-11-23-keep-calm-and-carry-on.html

(HT CalculatedRisk)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-11-18-the-intervention.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:36:18 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-11-18-the-intervention.html Tonight after a fabulous steak dinner at RingSide, I was given an intervention by my
co-workers.

You're working too much.

You need to stop working when you're on vacation.

Don't burn out.

I thought I had established a good work/life balance - but they are right; I was on vacation last week and I never quite "left" work. Technically, what I have is a work/Jerry balance - which is perhaps part of the problem - no time for "me", no time for me and Eriko. 

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-10-30-erikos-take.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:11:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-10-30-erikos-take.html Being the calm, sensible mother, she suggests that Jerry was just shy.

That certainly does take some of the worry away. :)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-10-29-jerrys-first-sing-a-long.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:41:25 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-10-29-jerrys-first-sing-a-long.html I have to admit, I had high expectations. Jerry had been singing the “Jack-O-Lattern” song as we played together over the weekend - and I knew how much he enjoyed the ending (Boo!)

Eriko and I showed up just on time (3:45), sat in our little chairs, and waited for the children to come out. The first four filed out one after another and sat in their places.

Then came Jerry. He sauntered in, tried to give me a hug, and eventually (after some coaxing by the teachers) sat near the others - but immediately it was obvious that his body language was quite different. To be fair, he did yawn - so he may be tired - but all of the other children are engaged, focused on the teacher, participating. Jerry is none of these things.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-10-29-the-interconnected-interwebs.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:21:55 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-10-29-the-interconnected-interwebs.html I'm still slowly breaking out of my "I must do it all" model and finding out what is out there.

Look at my information flow:

I’m just getting started!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-09-29-shameless-self-promotion.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:36:16 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-09-29-shameless-self-promotion.html OK, my blog is in desperate need of a rework and between family and work I have approximately 10 minutes of free time a week - in which I’m either trying to learn more about twitter or reading Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys.

That said, I have had some things published into the giant information space in the cloud:

• A talk I gave at Intel's booth at VMworld: Isilon Systems, Scale-Out Storage for Large Scale Server Virtualization
• An article I wrote for Virtualization Journal: Understanding the Role Storage Plays in Virtual Environments

Since these are both techno wonkish and probably not interesting to most, the true nature of this post is to add new content to my blog and to self-promote. Mission accomplished.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-06-10-temper-tantrums.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:34:36 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-06-10-temper-tantrums.html Last night was tough. Not only was Eriko completely drained by the time I arrived home, which thankfully, was earlier than usual, but Jerry had a poor night sleeping.

He woke up once, was upset, couldn’t talk about it, and it eventually escalated to me removing him from the bedroom. This turned into a full blown tantrum, kicking, screaming, hitting, throwing, spitting… you name it. I sat on the couch and was minimally engaged - I would put him back on the floor if he ran over and tried to hit me and I talked to him - I kept explaining that he needed to talk about what he wanted.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-05-22-things-that-get-in-the-way.html Fri, 22 May 2009 18:13:41 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-05-22-things-that-get-in-the-way.html Let’s not mince words - Jerry is what (and who) I get excited about most. Yet, when we play I am often distracted and find it difficult to let go of things outside my control (at least for the moment).

Those things?

Work. As confused as I am about whether I’m doing the right thing, I spend a lot of energy on work.

Money. This never used to be an obsession. Unfortunately, seeing stock at 27 a share gave me hope that I could somehow “get rich quick.” I haven’t shaken that. Last year’s market crash and my alternative investments have made me that much more obsessed. I read hundreds of blogs and news articles a week - but these people are no different - the future is still unknown.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-05-22-lost.html Fri, 22 May 2009 09:34:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-05-22-lost.html I have lost my way. While my current position is fun (at times) and is providing me with new experiences, I don’t feel as if I’m moving towards anything.

Why am I still at work?

Good salary. Convenient. Comfortable. Big investment. Lack of alternatives.

I work hard, long and most days I am excited to head into the office.

Honestly, I seem to be operating off of hope more than reality - most of what I do I tend to feel unsatisfied with.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-05-02-jerry-hits-3-years.html Sat, 02 May 2009 04:08:43 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-05-02-jerry-hits-3-years.html I am amazed to see Jerry grow - tomorrow he hits a big milestone.

We’ll have a little play date - if the weather holds up. ’ll post pictures. :)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-03-15-jerrys-sleeping-schedule-aka-the-6-pm-nap.html Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:37:12 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-03-15-jerrys-sleeping-schedule-aka-the-6-pm-nap.html Recently Jerry has begun taking late naps in the evening. This hasn’t happened every day of the week, but it has happened the majority. It seems that he isn’t tired enough for a mid-day nap, but just can’t make it through the entire day.

Today he woke up at 7 AM and fell asleep at 6 PM. He’s still sleeping soundly, but if this is anything like his other naps he could be up any minute now. I’m hoping he’ll sleep the night through so Eriko and I can enjoy an evening with each other for once…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-03-03-two-boys-eriko-is-embarrassed-to-hang-out-with.html Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:11:31 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-03-03-two-boys-eriko-is-embarrassed-to-hang-out-with.html --> ]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-02-27-too-busy-doing-not-much.html Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:13:26 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-02-27-too-busy-doing-not-much.html Work has been keeping me pretty darn busy as of late (which isn’t a bad thing, considering that I still have a job…)

The rest of my time is occupied by my favorite guy - Jerry!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-01-26-upgraded-to-mt-423-en.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:28:44 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-01-26-upgraded-to-mt-423-en.html Very smooth. The new interface allows you to insert an image directly, so this is something dad will need for his journal.

I don’t have time to see what’s changed write now (as Jerry is calling) but I was using 4.0.1, so I’m sure puh-lenty has.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-01-26-amazing.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:11:40 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-01-26-amazing.html I just found an iPhone application for editing for Movable Type.

This technology is evolving rapidly…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-01-24-failed-banks-and-the-economic-crisis.html Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:20:24 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-01-24-failed-banks-and-the-economic-crisis.html This is just in its infancy, but I wanted a visual picture of the economic crisis and the affected banks. Using the Google Maps API and the FDIC’s failed bank list, I created this:

Right now, it is very basic - it just shows the points where the failed banks exist. As I learn how to manipulate this, the markers will each show the name of the failed bank and the date which they failed. My next step will be to add all of the banks which accepted money from the TARP and all the banks which refused money from the TARP.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2009-01-23-google-reader.html Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:17:32 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2009-01-23-google-reader.html I’m going to throw in a plug for Google Reader. For the past several years I have been using rss2email, which is a wonderful tool but not perfect. I love the fact that I can get feeds in my email - to a point. I now am watching over 20 financial feeds (what can I say, I’m hooked) - which is cool, but overwhelming my email box. I can easily see 50+ emails a day - and I don’t have time to process them all.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-12-12-buoyed-by-my-early-success.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:40:44 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-12-12-buoyed-by-my-early-success.html I have now mastered the art of buying high and selling low!

I have also noted several observations:

• The leveraged funds lose value over time due to high expense ratios and the simple math that 10% and 10% up doesn't mean you're in the same position. These need to be day-traded, not held - and you need a stomach for big market moves.
• Futures tend to overreact; while they may predict the outcome for the day, buying pre-market or post-market exacerbates the sentiment. I think this can be taken advantage of by being "anti-sentiment".
• Don't count your chickens before they've hatched. If you feel that giddy about your position, take the profit now.

I’ve also learned that my experiment with day-trading has reduced my average amount of sleep from 8 to 5 hours a night. It has very quickly become an obsession with very little (if any) personal gain. While there is an unrealized (!) potential for monetary gain, a different obsession would be a better investment of my time. Nontheless, I am not abandoning this obsession just yet…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-11-28-holiday-spirit.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:20:32 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-11-28-holiday-spirit.html This is a sick perversion of the holiday spirit.

A man died because people were so desperate to save a few percentage points on the latest imported junk. No one even bothered to help him.

I’m disgusted.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-11-27-how-i-spend-my-time-these-days.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:08:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-11-27-how-i-spend-my-time-these-days.html Isilon and Jerry… I’ve been on several trips recently - to Atlanta, Austin, and soon Los Angeles. Jerry keeps me really busy, from the moment I get home until the moment I leave the next door. We’ve been having a ball.

He made two verbal slips that were pretty funny recently - we were talking about fruits and donuts and he accidentally said “banut” (banana donut). As soon as the word came out, we both started laughing. There was a look of surprise on his face. Today, the same thing happened - he wanted to watch Bee Movie and instead said “Boomie”. He’s has become a very effective communicator, very fast.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-11-21-is-this-what-were-in-for.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:46:18 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-11-21-is-this-what-were-in-for.html

Courtesy of dshort.com

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-11-09-capital-weekly-for-the-rich-and-powerful.html Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:09:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-11-09-capital-weekly-for-the-rich-and-powerful.html What kind of people appear in this magazine?

People like me, of course! ;P

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-10-16-the-financial-crisis-provides-for-individual-opportunity.html Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:00:59 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-10-16-the-financial-crisis-provides-for-individual-opportunity.html I’ve obviously been spending a lot of time learning about what’s going on with the financial markets, the economy, etc. I am certainly no expert, but far more informed then I was a few months ago. I have yet to take the same strong interest in politics…

Flashback to 2002, when I quit my job at InsynQ as a beautiful love interest (Eriko) forced me to realize that it was going nowhere. In doing so, I spent several months unemployed and it has completely impacted and changed my spending habits. Before the unemployment, I spent money like I would always have money - not necessarily in debt, but very little savings.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-10-16-mortgage-rates-increasing.html Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:43:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-10-16-mortgage-rates-increasing.html This can’t be good for home owners:

Mortgage Type	Current	1 month ago
15-YEAR	6.07	5.37
30-YEAR	6.38	5.72
1-YEAR ARM	6.28	5.88

Source Bloomberg.

Certainly isn't good for my prospects of purchasing a home.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-10-09-were-broke.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:26:32 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-10-09-were-broke.html National Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits

We should all be dissapointed that we’ve allowed our government to run up a 10 trillion dollar debt. That’s roughly $33k for each US citizen.

Boy, Jerry can’t afford that. On closer thought, neither can I…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-10-06-ah-tarp-yet-another-sad-move-by-a-sad-president.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:55:57 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-10-06-ah-tarp-yet-another-sad-move-by-a-sad-president.html I’ll just say “I told you so” in advance. Here’s another opinion.

That said, maybe I can move onto something else less controversial… like politics!

I’m slowing coming to accept that politics is really a popularity contest. Democracy (at least in the US) is an extension of playground rules - say whatever you want, make as many promises as you can, because when the popularity vote happens the winner will get his/her day in the sun. It doesn’t matter how far you stretch the truth, or how much you sell your soul to get those votes - the only potential accountability is that you won’t win the contest again.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-10-03-the-campaign-continues.html Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:39:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-10-03-the-campaign-continues.html Today, I faxed the House Republicans who originally voted NO, urging them to stand their ground. Sadly, the Senate bill includes pathetic amounts of pork targeted specifically at those representatives….

I’ve also begun faxing the Blue Dog Coalition. Mish lined up the fax numbers in a nice easy format for my faxing program, but coincidentally I discovered the Blue Dogs yesterday before his post (how about them apples?)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-30-bill-is-rejected-but-its-not-over-yet.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:17:30 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-30-bill-is-rejected-but-its-not-over-yet.html I hope that Congress will put this awful Paulson bill behind them and focus on creating a better plan. By this time, there have been many alternatives created and there are many other models to follow.

I’d like to get back to regular blogging about Jerry, my lack of discipline, … but until we have a reasonable way forward, I’ve got to stay diligent!

More faxes going out tonight. A thank you note to the 228 house members who voted against the bill and more opposition to the 205 who didn’t, along with the Senate.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-dont-vote-no-vote-hell-no.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:59:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-dont-vote-no-vote-hell-no.html Here’s a great article that just reinforces the stupidity and immorality of the current bill. You can read the full text here.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-a-disgrace-take-15-minutes-and-tell-congress.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:15:14 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-a-disgrace-take-15-minutes-and-tell-congress.html The Treasury plan also does not explicitly include an HOLC-style program to reduce across the board the debt burden of the distressed household sector; without such a component the debt overhang of the household sector will continue to depress consumption spending and will exacerbate the current economic recession. Thus, the Treasury plan is a disgrace: a bailout of reckless bankers, lenders and investors that provides little direct debt relief to borrowers and financially stressed households and that will come at a very high cost to the US taxpayer. And the plan does nothing to resolve the severe stress in money markets and interbank markets that are now close to a systemic meltdown. It is pathetic that Congress did not consult any of the many professional economists that have presented - many on the RGE Monitor Finance blog forum - alternative plans that were more fair and efficient and less costly ways to resolve this crisis. This is again a case of privatizing the gains and socializing the losses; a bailout and socialism for the rich, the well-connected and Wall Street. And it is a scandal that even Congressional Democrats have fallen for this Treasury scam that does little to resolve the debt burden of millions of distressed home owners.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-stop.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:47:45 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-28-stop.html STOP!

THIS BAILOUT IS WRONG!

“Is Purchasing $700 billion of Toxic Assets the Best Way to Recapitalize the Financial System? No! It is Rather a Disgrace and Rip-Off Benefitting only the Shareholders and Unsecured Creditors of Banks”

Nouriel Roubini

YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR FUTURE WITH YOUR RECKLESS RUSH TO PASS A FLAWED BILL!

I WILL VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS BILL AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-26-if-this-is-a-liquidity-problem-why-is-the-funds-rate-at-2.html Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:25:16 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-26-if-this-is-a-liquidity-problem-why-is-the-funds-rate-at-2.html “The Effective Fed Funds rate has been trading 50 basis points or more below the 2% target for five straight days now, and for the last two days, it has traded 75 basis points under.” (Don’t take Karl’s word for it, here’s the official data.)

What is Ben Bernanke doing?

Why did WAMU fail on a Thursday instead of a Friday (like the other 6 banks?)

Hank Paulson was the CEO of Goldman Sach’s. Do you think he has the best interests of Main Street or Wall Street in mind?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-26-403-fax-pages-sent-more-to-come.html Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:12:07 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-26-403-fax-pages-sent-more-to-come.html I even called my two senators (Murray and Cantwell) today. Most of the faxes were campaigns thanks to Mish, but I’ve also been urged on by Jesse, Karl, and others - and I’ve even authored a few originals.

It helps that I was able to script the delivery of a single letter to multiple senators using some Python and MetroFax.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-24-haste-makes-waste.html Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:51:37 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-24-haste-makes-waste.html Admittedly, sending faxes from your house isn’t much work for political activism. Nontheless, few things have compelled me to action as much as the recent fear mongering and insanity aimed at bailing out the rich few on the backs of the ordinary.

Senator,

Haste Makes Waste.

The American economy is strong and resilient. The key to that strength is the creativity, flexibility, and hard labor of American citizens. The key to that strength is the belief that tomorrow is a new opportunity to improve and prosper and that opportunity is unburdened by the sins of the past.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-24-senators-block-this-bill.html Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:51:13 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-24-senators-block-this-bill.html The following text was reproduced with permission from Mish. If this compels you, this should also. Act now!

This was the fastest way to spread the word. I have faxed my senators (and those below). I encourage you to do the same.

Fate May Rest With Shelby CNBC is reporting Fate of Bailout May Rest With Republican Sen. Shelby.

Many members of the U.S. Senate blasted the Bush administration's Wall Street bailout plan Tuesday, but no senator has come forward so far with an explicit pledge to kill the $700 billion proposal.

The rules of the Senate, unlike the House, give individual lawmakers substantial power to delay or halt legislation, but three Senate aides said there were no clear signs yet of that power being exercised.

As the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on the plan put forward by the Treasury Department, aides said much would depend on Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the committee's top Republican, who was sharply critical at the hearing.

The outlook for Treasury's plan would dim greatly if Shelby were to move to block the bill that is expected to emerge soon from congressional debate over the plan, the aides said.

Other senators, including Republicans Jim Bunning of Kentucky and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, have expressed strong concerns.

But the aides said these lawmakers also have stopped short of warning they would work to block the bill.

Another Fax Needed

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-20-on-tour.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:22:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-20-on-tour.html My co-worker Chris and I just finished our 3-country press and analyst tour. We were in Hong Kong for 5 days, Tokyo for 2 and Seoul for 2. It was my first press tour and a good experience. The last day was especially interesting as I went on a customer visit to some Korean scientific agencies and then they took me out for sushi. It was a lot of fun to build a personal relationship with people from a different culture.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-06-really-confused-about-work-buyers-remorse.html Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:33:31 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-06-really-confused-about-work-buyers-remorse.html There’s no doubt that I feel quite a bit of buyer’s remorse. It goes up and down - on some days I’m flush with pride and confidence in my move to product management and other days I feel foolish, jealous, angry, and very insecure.

In general, I have to admit, I’m feeling insecure about a lot of things. I don’t know if it is a natural biological time (i.e. just turned 30) or if I’ve been socially conditioned to be reflective and introspective - or finally, if there are simply too many unsettled changes going on in my life.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-09-02-looming-financial-catastrophe.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:34:06 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-09-02-looming-financial-catastrophe.html Somehow, I happened on the blog of Michael “Mish” Shedlock - everything must be taken with a grain of salt, of course, but I think a lot of his analysis is spot on. I’ve also started following some articles on http://seekingalpha.com/ as I try to make sense of the current investment climate.

Being in the middle-class, capital preservation is very important in volatile times - otherwise there will be nothing to invest when the market rebounds.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-08-22-picture-and-biography-proposed.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:09:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-08-22-picture-and-biography-proposed.html This is for the Hong Kong press and analysts:

Nick Kirsch has over 9 years experience designing and building distributed systems. Nick joined Isilon in 2002 as an engineer and participated in the development of version 1.0 of the Isilon OneFS operating system. Nick spent 2003-2006 designing the infrastructure and building a team dedicated to system configuration and management as a Development Lead and Engineering Manager. In 2007, Nick built a team of 15 engineers focused on Isilon’s SyncIQ disaster recovery product before leading the Software Engineering organization as the Director of Software. In April of 2008, Nick moved to Isilon’s Product Management group to focus on maintaining and extending Isilon’s technology and product lead in clustered storage. Before Isilon, Nick spent 3 years at InsynQ, Inc. as Director of Development. Nick holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Puget Sound and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Washington.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-08-13-china-becoming-the-preeminent-global-manufacturer.html Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:50:53 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-08-13-china-becoming-the-preeminent-global-manufacturer.html My dad complained for years that everything was made in China. Sadly, it is becoming a reality.

Click on the picture to read the entire article.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-07-30-senator-murray-responds.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:21:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-07-30-senator-murray-responds.html Dear Mr. Kirsch:

Thank you for writing me about the current downturn in the housing market and the federal government’s role in responding. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you know, growing losses in subprime mortgage markets have recently had a negative effect on the United States economy. Thousands of people are on the brink of losing their homes to foreclosure, and as a result many financial institutions have been faced with bankruptcy as consumer confidence in mortgage-backed securities has decreased. I share many of your concerns regarding the appropriate manner for Congress and the Administration to respond to this situation.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-07-12-dear-politicans.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:26:25 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-07-12-dear-politicans.html I am very concerned with the way Congress is rushing to fix the housing mess without taking the time to understand what the root causes are and the potential ramifications of policy on the future.

My faith in politics hinges on our leaders’ ability to look past their own re-election and towards the decisions which will have the most benefit to their constituents and the American people - not in the short-term, but in the long-term.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-06-14-the-turmoil-of-change.html Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:11:25 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-06-14-the-turmoil-of-change.html At this moment, I feel very uncertain about the future of my career. I have visions of where I want it to go, but no definitive plans. Quite honestly, I don’t even know if that vision is what I want or just want I think I want. In the meantime, the clock continues to tick…

In March of this year, I stepped outside of engineering at Isilon. Moving into product management has been a very enlightening and enjoyable experience in general, but its also been very difficult - I’m in completely uncharted waters. As an engineer, I wrote code. As a manager, I made sure others wrote code. Code makes things work. When code doesn’t work, you point at the code. You can point at that code and say, look - I made that happen.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-06-06-my-ukulele-player.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:22:44 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-06-06-my-ukulele-player.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-06-05-my-baseball-star.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:45:06 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-06-05-my-baseball-star.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-05-21-wil-wheaton-just-a-geek.html Wed, 21 May 2008 12:56:19 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-05-21-wil-wheaton-just-a-geek.html

Zack had been prompting me to read this for some time, so I took it with on my trip to Texas last week. It turned out to be very easy and engaging reading and I finished it on the flight down. Reading Wil’s blog entries and then his own commentary on the blogs was interesting. I have found a very similiar duality or “show” which occurs in my own writing.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-05-14-my-stuff-going-going-gone.html Wed, 14 May 2008 04:57:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-05-14-my-stuff-going-going-gone.html Less than 3 years ago, I was the proud owner of a fully populated entertainment center/bookshelf. This is not one of those small pieces of furniture, mind you, but at least 10 feet in length and 8 feet tall.

I love information - I'm essentially an information pack rat, although as you'll see, that is changing. I've kept most of my books from college - especially my math and computer science books. I really (read never) have time to read them, but just seeing them on the shelves takes me back to a time where I was younger, smarter, and more in control. =)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-05-14-nickorg-down.html Wed, 14 May 2008 04:50:32 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-05-14-nickorg-down.html nick.org - down!

After almost four years of no unscheduled downtime, nick.org came to a screeching halt Sunday. I noticed an email from my brother, Kevin, indicating that I had farked something up. “That’s weird”, I thought, “it was working fine last night.” I went to the website and found it very unavailable, with nothing but a strange Apache directory listing. I attempted to ssh and found that it was unavailable too. Uh oh. I happened to be talking to my parents via Skype at the time (it was Mother’s day) and juggling Jerry on my knee.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-05-02-happy-birthday-jerry.html Fri, 02 May 2008 21:30:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-05-02-happy-birthday-jerry.html Jerry turned two today. Eriko and I are both amazed at how quickly the time has passed and how much he has grown. I’ll post some pictures as soon as I upload them.

• The happy family.
• The cake eater!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-04-04-im-on-twitter.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:42:22 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-04-04-im-on-twitter.html http://twitter.com/nkirsch

(I’m recording this for posterities sake, not due to excitement.)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-03-15-gmailcommaybe.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:43:35 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-03-15-gmailcommaybe.html I took a big step today… I’m in the process of uploading about 500MB of mail to gmail. I will use it as my primary email client/storage repository.

I’m changing two things at the same time - my email client (mutt) and the server. Up to this point, all my mail has been stored exclusively on my own servers. My reluctance to put it elsewhere has been a matter of control - loss of privacy, loss of flexibility. At the moment, my email address will forward both to Google and store a copy locally. Longer term, I will have a short-term backup queue combined with a complete synchronization of Google’s store.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-03-08-moving-on.html Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:06:18 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-03-08-moving-on.html After a long period of deliberation, ups and downs, excitement and confusion, I’ve decided to move into a new position. The things that I enjoy most about being a director of software engineering are the things that could have made me great at the position but not destined to stay there - the ability to be involved in all aspects of the product, to comment on virtually every specification and product decision, to help set direction and provide vision, to be hands-on and technical, and to be patient yet firm.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-02-08-jake-shimabukuro.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:44:18 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-02-08-jake-shimabukuro.html Eriko and I went to see Jake at the Jazz Alley on Monday. I had absolutely no idea what to expect and I was blown away by what Jake can do with a ukulele.

Check these out:

• while my guitar weeps gently
• crazy g
• me and shirley t
• going to california

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-02-02-inspirational.html Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:48:28 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-02-02-inspirational.html This man was able to accomplish this in just 200 days.

It is amazing to see what he accomplished in his first four months.

Could I do this (the weight loss part) too? My 30th birthday is this year and thus, a new goal has been born.

From here: If you are a beginner, start out slowly. Exercise at a moderate pace for about 15 minutes, no more than three times per week. Keep your heart rate around 130-140 beats per minute. Eventually your goal will be to work up to 30-45 minutes of moderate-high intensity cardio 3-4 times per week. … Diet

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-01-28-american-standard-4083-tank-anyone.html Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:09:32 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-01-28-american-standard-4083-tank-anyone.html I woke up this morning with Jerry, used the toilet, and a few minutes later heard the ominous sound of water splashing on the floor.

The root cause of this catastrophe is as of yet unexplained.

Luckily we have a bathroom across the hall (the condo’s) which we can use. Unfortunately, the toilet cut-off valve doesn’t work completely so I had to hack this up:

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-01-12-2008-the-year-ahead.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:26:48 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-01-12-2008-the-year-ahead.html How can I get ahead? I have so many dreams and goals - I’m unwilling to abandon them, but unable to pursue them. Recently (since returning from vacation), Jerry has begun going to sleep by about 8 PM. This is pretty amazing as it gives Eriko and me time to work on our hobbies, relax, etc. We both know how to entertain ourselves - we’ll spend an entire evening in silence, completely enthralled with what we’re doing. Her presence brings out that inner peace in me.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2008-01-12-2007-the-year-behind.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:15:22 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2008-01-12-2007-the-year-behind.html 2007 ended wonderfully, with ~10 days of candy, crying, and spending quality time with the family. 2007 was an interesting year.

It started with:

• Jerry learning to crawl
• Isilon stock @ 27
• Vying for a director’s position at work
• A list of goals

It ended with:

• Jerry learning to talk
• Isilon stock @ 5
• Sole director of development
• Having accomplished none of those goals

2007 was a lot of adjusting - adjusting to Jerry’s ever growing demands of my heart and attention; adjusting to the thought of not retiring in the next ten years; adjusting to the reality that between Isilon and Jerry, I can’t seem to get anything else done.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-11-29-cant-sleep.html Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-11-29-cant-sleep.html Here I am in the bathroom on my blackberry. I’ve just finished writing seven emails, some of which were long, most of which may cause consternation - but all of which had me so excited that I couldn’t sleep.

I didn’t realize how invigorating the ownership of the development group would be. I think this goes along with my “decision” about my next move - I find it very difficult to focus on today if I don’t know about tomorrow. I’ve got focus - I don’t need to worry about when I’m going to learn Japanese or how I will figure out what to research - I know when I’ll tackle those problems and several years to develop my approach.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-11-26-me-and-jerry-x.html Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:32:37 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-11-26-me-and-jerry-x.html https://www.nick.org/2007-11-26-nagoya-in-2010.html Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:58:41 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-11-26-nagoya-in-2010.html Thoughts of Isilon skyrocketing to a glorious future have turned out to be premature - but that future is still very much a possibility.

It is worth pointing out that not only is Isilon still facing a great opportunity, but so am I; it is unlikely I will have the energy, time, nor fortune to follow a company from an early-stage startup through its transition to a (prosperous) public company while being in a position of leadership - the position I will soon be given (in the next week) may be temporary or it may be permanent, but in either case it is a great opportunity.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-11-23-jerrys-words.html Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:01:46 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-11-23-jerrys-words.html This is an update from Jerry’s Language. These are all words that Jerry is using regulary - is pronunciation isn’t perfect, of course. =)

“i want” car truck cheese wheel daddy mama bus feet boy toy mixer fire truck backhoe phone call popcorn ambulance big small go nose “up high” down orange juice video おしまい だっこ もっと ない おもい みず とり どうぞ かく がいこつ まる ひこき 大きい バビーカー いたい あし みみ かお ぼし め て

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-29-a-week-with-jerry-fun-games-and-limits.html Mon, 29 Oct 2007 05:33:39 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-29-a-week-with-jerry-fun-games-and-limits.html I took the last week off from Isilon to spend it with my family. My brother-in-law and sister were in town for the week with their three boys, Andrey, Matthew, and Nathan. Katrina came in for two days, mom & dad were here for the week, and Zack took a few days off work. It was a great week of reunion and fun.

The highlight was having lots of time to spend with Jerry. Jerry has bonded strongly with me and I found myself being pulled in one direction or another - he is really beginning to assert himself and exercise his power over me. As expected, this leads to a natural clash of wills. I’ve had some great examples of that:

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-26-douglas-adamsrestaraunt-at-the-end-of-the-universe.html Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:49:41 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-26-douglas-adamsrestaraunt-at-the-end-of-the-universe.html

The quartet continues in the zany tradition!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-16-new-blog-software.html Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:54:19 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-16-new-blog-software.html On a whim, I upgraded to MT 4.x. It is quite a bit more spiffy but it also seems a little slower… more to come, after work. ;)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-16-6-tips-for-technical-presentations.html Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:17:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-16-6-tips-for-technical-presentations.html Admittedly, I haven’t done one in a while, but in retrospect these tips are very helpful.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-15-burn-the-boats.html Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:35:50 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-15-burn-the-boats.html This is a great post: http://willprice.blogspot.com/2007/10/burn-boats.html

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-14-pacifier.html Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:59:54 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-14-pacifier.html I spent four hours on Thursday with Jerry at his new pre-school, Nadeshiko Kids, which is run out of the home of our former mid-wife. Jerry consistently put toys in his mouth - which resulted in the toys being gently removed and washed. Sachiko recommend that we consider giving Jerry a pacifier so that he can fulfill his need to chew and learn that the toys themselves are not appropriate for chewing on.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-10-13-right-sizing-expectations.html Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:50:41 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-10-13-right-sizing-expectations.html As I continue to adjust to life as a married man, as a father, and as an employee with signficant responsibility (all of which have happened in the last two years) I find myself slowly making peace with the new definition of “my time.”

In light of my recent realization, I’ve set some new, reasonable goals for myself:

• maximize play-time with Jerry
• one new Kanji per week
• one hour of dedicated exercise per month
• one book per month

Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.

• Samuel Smiles

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-09-27-monoblog.html Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:29:47 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-09-27-monoblog.html I find myself often engaged in thought, creating a blog entry in my head - far more often than not, that entry never sees the light of day. When I discover how to turn thoughts into actions, I will be SO much more productive…

Which brings me to another topic I’ve been thinking quite a bit about lately (or on and off for the last 5 years, if you check out the history…) - how to make more time for the things I consider important. As I become more aware of my own actions and how certain choices lead to others, I am starting to narrow in on the simple fact that I haven’t clearly defined what is important. There is a long litany of items that I “want” to do, or “need” to do, and I end up making time for little of them and feeling frustrated by it - because there are simply too many.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-09-15-sleep-deprived.html Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:19:19 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-09-15-sleep-deprived.html This has been a bad week for sleeping. Jerry had a fever last weekend, so he didn’t sleep well on Saturday night. That led to Eriko and I sleeping poorly and being a little short with each other. I had Jerry for the day, so he had lots of time to share his cold with me.

Then comes Sunday night - Jerry couldn’t sleep well and neither could I. I spent most of the night holding him in one position or another and probably got about 2 hours of sleep, at best. There has only been one night this week where I had 6 hours of sleep (and they weren’t interrupted, of course.) The average has probably been more like 4.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-09-04-my-isilon-story.html Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:36:24 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-09-04-my-isilon-story.html “what’s the key to success?” - “two words: good decisions.” “what’s the key to good decisions?” - “one word: experience.” “how do i get experience?” - “two words: bad decisions.”

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-09-02-jerry-the-baseball-player.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 05:36:03 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-09-02-jerry-the-baseball-player.html On Tuesday, I was watching a Mariner’s game and Jerry happened to come sit on my lap. He watched a bit before something caught his eye. He stared for a bit longer and then it dawned on him - “poi!” he said. (Poi is Japanese for throw.)

Jerry had realized that the pitcher was throwing the ball to the catcher. We spent the next 10 minutes watching the game - with Jerry and I both noting when “poi” happened. Then Jerry hopped up, ran over to where my baseball mitt and ball were (on the shelf) and pointed at it - “boh boh” (ball).

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-08-27-jerrys-language.html Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:51:44 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-08-27-jerrys-language.html Conversations with Jerry are becoming more and more rich.

verbal words:

da da - dako (carry me) ba - bus oppai/pai - oppai (breast milk) bo - poi (throw) da - daddy (me!) bo bo - baru (ball) bo bo - boshi (hat) bu - book bon - zubon (pants) itai - itai (ouch) uh oh - uh oh babi - baby tsee - cheese gepu/upu - gepu (burp) ba ba - blanket pa pa - pan (bread) nen ne - neru (sleep)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-08-25-douglas-adamshitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy.html Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:10:38 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-08-25-douglas-adamshitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy.html The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything: Forty-two.

Now what was the actual question, again?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-08-17-interesting-fellow.html Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:04:39 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-08-17-interesting-fellow.html Joseph Palmer - Hi Joe! ;)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-08-12-wisdom-in-any-language.html Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:55:03 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-08-12-wisdom-in-any-language.html (Found randomly from http://pk-kirsch.de/)

Glück ist, das meiste aus dem zu machen, was man ist.

Reichtum ist, das meiste aus dem zu machen, was man hat.

(Translated by Google)

Luck is, to make most from, what one is.

Wealth is, to make most from, what one has.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-07-22-william-langewiesche-atomic-bazaar-the-rise-of-the-nuclear-poor.html Sun, 22 Jul 2007 06:20:55 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-22-william-langewiesche-atomic-bazaar-the-rise-of-the-nuclear-poor.html Eriko, Jerry, and I went to Vancouver, BC on Saturday. We spent about 8 hours in the car in exchange for about 8 hours in Canada - most of which were spent with Naofumi, Eriko’s cousin. We went to Stanley park, the aquarium, walked around downtown, and hung out at the Oakridge Mail (unfortunately it was raining.)

I finally had an opportunity to listen to some of the longer podcasts; I found this one particularly interesting. In it William talks about his new book and fields questions regarding the problem of inevitable nuclear proliferation. I haven’t exactly done research on this subject, but William was very unbiased and rational in his approach towards analyzing the problem. I recommend it for anyone tired of one-sided media coverage of this issue.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-07-20-jerrys-sign-language.html Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:04:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-20-jerrys-sign-language.html Jerry demonstrated the first use of his new sign language word - “more”, which he does by bringing his hands together (after making a cone with each hand.)

I think this is quite noteworthy because it is the first use of an action or feeling rather than just a noun.

Jerry does have signs for plane, gorilla, bird, and hat: plane is where he holds his hand up high over his head; for gorilla he beats his hands on his chest (or more typically, his stomach); for bird he moves his pointer and thumb together (like beak); for hat he hits his head with his hand.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-07-14-did-you-know-20.html Sat, 14 Jul 2007 23:13:09 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-14-did-you-know-20.html This should really make you think…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-07-08-seven-blunders-of-the-world.html Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:54:15 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-08-seven-blunders-of-the-world.html From this wikipedia article:

The Seven Blunders of the World is a list that Mahatma Gandhi gave to his grandson Arun Gandhi during his last days. The seven blunders are:

* Wealth without work
* Pleasure without conscience
* Knowledge without character
* Commerce without morality
* Science without humanity
* Worship without sacrifice
* Politics without principle

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-07-08-gopnik-meltzoff-kuhl-the-scientist-in-the-crib-minds-brains-and-how-children-learn.html Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:51:36 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-08-gopnik-meltzoff-kuhl-the-scientist-in-the-crib-minds-brains-and-how-children-learn.html https://www.nick.org/2007-07-02-what-now.html Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:56:23 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-07-02-what-now.html My tenure at Isilon is starting to be a real struggle. It isn’t that the job has become significantly more difficult or that the hours are more pressing. In a lot of ways, I’m doing less actual work - but the additional responsibility weighs on me throughout the day (and evening… and night.)

I think I’m affected by a few things - career direction, a desire to spend time with my family, and general wear-out. More and more I feel like the management direction is not what I should be in at this time. It isn’t that I’m not learning a great deal; I am - how to govern my time, set goals, plan for the future, be accountable, and interact people. When I describe that, it seems obvious that I should be into my job. That leads me down the path of ownership, lack of focus, etc. While I love Isilon’s technology and think it is a game-changer in the marketplace, in my management position I am becoming more and more removed from that technology. I’m about people and process and growing the organization - but I don’t particularly care for big companies. So while I seem to be a natural leader, perhaps I need to be closer to the technology than I am.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-06-19-babies-are-cute.html Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-06-19-babies-are-cute.html said Eriko as we were drifting to sleep… I might want to have one sooner than I thought. Not now, but maybe in a year…

Her original timeline was 4 years. The doctor (for Jerry’s 1-year checkup) said the “ideal” time had been rumored to be 3 years. Predictions?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-06-17-finally-photos-of-jerry.html Sun, 17 Jun 2007 05:15:16 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-06-17-finally-photos-of-jerry.html We just received our new camera (DSC-W55) to replace our old one that I lost.

I like it - the small and compact nature makes it very easy to carry around and whip out for a timely picture. The previous camera had much better optical zoom, which I will miss - but most of the pictures are of Jerry and they tend to be from close up.

Without further adieu, here are the new pictures of Jerry!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-06-15-ian-fleming-casino-royale.html Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:43:26 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-06-15-ian-fleming-casino-royale.html The recent movie inspired me to read Fleming’s original Bond classic. Unfortunately, I was a bit tainted as I had already watched the movie. The book was reasonable, but I didn’t particularly care for the French that was used often to describe the places and for fancy quips between characters.

The movie stay relatively true to the book but there were some subtle yet significant twists. It was also slightly modernized to reflect the current world political situation as one would expect. The wikipedia list of differences is here.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-06-10-kaye-a-thomas-consider-your-options.html Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:39:24 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-06-10-kaye-a-thomas-consider-your-options.html I read the 2000 edition from the library, but there is a 2007 edition available. The book provides an overview of ISOs, NQOs, ESPP, and ATM (along with a few other topics.) There is enough here to cause any interested individual to feel a strong need to call a competent tax accountant.

I will be giving my dad’s accountant, Jeffery Bowles, a call very soon.

A quick rant about AMT - what a mess. From here, “Because the AMT was not indexed for inflation, its reach has expanded annually, delivering a significant tax increase this spring to an estimated 4 million households. The AMT would have spread even more rapidly after President Bush’s tax cuts reduced taxpayers’ normal bills, but Congress enacted yearly “patches” to restrain its growth. The most recent patch expired in December, and unless Congress acts, the tax is projected to strike more than 23 million households next spring, many of them earning as little as $50,000 a year.”

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-06-02-missing-camera.html Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:38:07 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-06-02-missing-camera.html Like a dolt, I left my camera on the plane while passing through Atlanta. On the other hand, I managed to successfully carry the bag of Cheerios all the way to Seattle!

This has turned into a fiasco - I’ve contacted Delta lost and found and they claim that something which roughly matches the description of my camera is in the lost and found in Atlanta. They also have sent the lost and found a note with my phone number as well as providing me with the number for lost and found. I’ve not heard from the lost and found department nor been unable to contact them, despite trying all week. I’ve looked for back doors, alternate numbers, anything so that I can speak to the individual who can tell me whether they have my camera - and how to get it back!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-05-29-busy-month.html Tue, 29 May 2007 04:08:46 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-05-29-busy-month.html I’ve wanted to write about Jerry, some successes at work, my trip to Moscow, my ideas for turning the MG into an electric car, and our recent trip to Norfolk… but I haven’t had any time!

Instead of content, here’s a cool slideshow:

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-05-06-orson-scott-card-shadow-puppets.html Sun, 06 May 2007 17:11:13 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-05-06-orson-scott-card-shadow-puppets.html This is the 3rd book in the Ender Shadow series, which centers around Bean. I still struggle to bond with Bean, the genetically manipulated child genius - and I was not at all moved by the romance that occurred between him and Petra.

I have one book left in this series to finish. Card’s books are light and easily readable but I haven’t enjoyed them enough to want to read them again.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-05-02-happy-birthday-jerry.html Wed, 02 May 2007 21:50:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-05-02-happy-birthday-jerry.html Jerry Youkoh Kirsch, born May 2nd, 2006 at 14:50, is officially 1 year old.

Happy Birthday, Jerry!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-27-officially-walking.html Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:30:22 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-27-officially-walking.html I previously stated that Jerry could walk - but now there is proof!

This is getting exciting!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-21-out-of-balance.html Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:09:26 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-21-out-of-balance.html I’ve “decided” that I simply cannot read The Economist from cover-to-cover. While I’m interested in doing so, I cannot keep up with the volume of material and haven’t been willing to dedicate the time. I still enjoy the magazine and will continue to skim as well as keep them for later reference.

I continue to find myself spending a too much time working; even though I’ve worked hard to keep my physical presence at work down to 40-50 hours a week, I find myself thinking about work, using my crackberry, emailing from my home PC or firing up my corporate laptop.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-21-he-can-walk.html Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:29:07 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-21-he-can-walk.html Eriko and I witnessed Jerry take several steps on his own today.

I came home early from work and caught Eriko and Jerry in time before they headed to the QA community center for some time in the playroom. I joined them and it was a lot of fun. Jerry is loads of fun to be around. He is demanding - if I don’t pay attention to him he’ll come up and bite my leg!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-18-dishes-and-lions.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 04:02:46 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-18-dishes-and-lions.html Jerry said his first word - kinda. Almost. Eriko says it doesn’t count if he doesn’t know what he’s saying. In addition, it probably doesn’t count if it one can only recognize it as a word because they heard what I said first. Even then, “da” “su” sounds a lot like “dishes” if “dishes” is what you want to hear. =)

We have this picture book of zoo animals that Jerry likes. With each animal, I like to make a sound. For example, a cow goes “moo” (actually, cows aren’t in the book, but you get the point). Lately Jerry has been mimicking my lion roar. Today Eriko informed me (and I subsequently observed several times) that if I say “lion”, Jerry will “roar”.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-12-435-days-of-uptime.html Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:12:24 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-12-435-days-of-uptime.html I just rebooted spike and belle for the first time in 435 days. I upgraded the kernel and operating system.

Here’s hoping for another 435 day run…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-08-george-orwell-1984.html Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:38:40 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-08-george-orwell-1984.html

This is the classic tale of a totalitarian regime, taken to the utmost extreme. At times it was hard to get through, but strangely fascinating.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-04-03-happy-11th-month-birthday-jerry.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:30:24 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-04-03-happy-11th-month-birthday-jerry.html Today, Jerry turned 11 months old. Check out his exciting eleventh month!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-21-in-confidence.html Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:15:35 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-21-in-confidence.html I let someone down yesterday. He asked me to keep something to myself and I didn’t. There was a problem associated with the topic and he credited my leak with the cause - then he called me on leaking the information.

I am fascinated to watch myself go through the 5 stages of grief, both because my emotions seem to map so well to this theory and because I am able to observe my own behavior so clearly. (That being said, my observation is not inline per-se.)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-20-zack-and-katie-sitting-in-a-tree.html Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:04:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-20-zack-and-katie-sitting-in-a-tree.html Since Zack no longer maintains his blog, I figured I would make a post for him. After two years of humming and hawing, Zack and Katie are officially boyfriend and girlfriend (again).

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-19-jerry-can-stand.html Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:00:35 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-19-jerry-can-stand.html I was talking to Eriko via Skype when Jerry promptly pushed himself to a standing position (using a plastic box) and then released his hands!

He stood there for a good 5 seconds before sitting down. Eriko said that he did the same thing the night before.

Wow.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-19-the-economist-february-24th-march-2nd-2007.html Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:47:57 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-19-the-economist-february-24th-march-2nd-2007.html

I finished reading this while on the plane(s) from Seattle to Moscow.

There was a 10-page (or so) feature section on off-shore banking centers. Wow - there’s a lot of people with a lot of money. Speaking people with money, politics is so mixed up with money today that even Mr. Smith would be crooked.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-08-presentation-at-uw.html Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:13:51 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-08-presentation-at-uw.html Today I gave a presentation at a UW systems research seminar, due to invitation from Hank Levy (the current chair of the UW CSE department!).

I had been nervous a few weeks before, but when I started talking today I was very smooth - in fact, I was surprised at how easy it was. Of course, there were some slides which were less relevant, I could have had a more smooth delivery at times, and my body language was a bit off (I fiddled with my hands quite a bit, said umm, etc.) Overall, however, I’m pleased.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-07-jerry-kissed-me.html Wed, 07 Mar 2007 03:52:36 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-07-jerry-kissed-me.html I opened the door to the condo. “Tadaima”, I said - as usual. I heard the pitter patter of hands and feet as Jerry crawled towards me. I quickly opened the gate and stepped through, just as he came around the corner.

He crawled up to my legs and then started to pull himself up - clearly indicating that he wanted to be held. I put my bag down, picked him up, and asked him about his day - showering him with kisses - as usual.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-03-03-the-economist-february-17th-23rd-2007.html Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-03-the-economist-february-17th-23rd-2007.html https://www.nick.org/2007-03-02-a-rough-week.html Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:33:17 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-03-02-a-rough-week.html On Sunday, Eriko attended

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-02-24-the-economist-february-10th-16th-2007.html Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-24-the-economist-february-10th-16th-2007.html https://www.nick.org/2007-02-24-work-home-and-health.html Sat, 24 Feb 2007 04:44:52 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-24-work-home-and-health.html Well… I’ve had very little time for anything but work and home these days. My new position is stretching me at both ends, since I need to be up early to address the needs of Moscow and at work late to address the needs of Seattle.

Jerry is more active than ever, crawling on all fours, standing (with assistance) and starting to babble. He’s a lot of fun to watch and interact with. Eriko’s doing well, but needs me to take over Jerry-duty as soon as I return home.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-02-17-sumi-jo-fuzjko.html Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:48:42 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-17-sumi-jo-fuzjko.html Thanks to Awesome Uncle Zack, Eriko and I were able to attend the Seattle Symphony last night. The first half was Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #5 with Fuzjko. Fuzjko is a wonderful piano player and we were treated to two encore performances of Chopin and Frances List. Eriko thinks Fuzjko is a little rough, but I can’t tell the difference.

The star of the show, though, was the second half - Sumi Jo. She is a Soprano singer with an amazing voice. Her songs were mainly French, so I couldn’t understand the words but I was blown away by the quality. In one song, she was matching the notes and timing of flute players. She also wore two stunning dresses and looked very pretty. Eriko is a big fan of Sumi Jo.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-02-05-moscow.html Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:02:29 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-05-moscow.html Finally - pictures of my trip to Moscow in January are available.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-02-05-jerrys-photos.html Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:49:04 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-05-jerrys-photos.html New photos of Jerry are up, at http://photos.kirsch.org/jerry09?page=39 and http://photos.kirsch.org/jerry10.

Boy, is he cute.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-02-03-a-recent-day.html Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:49:21 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-02-03-a-recent-day.html Recently, my day looks something like this:

I’m awoken about 4 AM by Jerry. Eriko has fed him, but he’s still restless so she asks me to hold him. I bounce him for a bit and then lay in bed holding him. I can’t really fall asleep like this, but it is better than sitting on the couch. Eventually I start to doze, which causes me to shift my body position and Jerry wakes up. This repeats for an hour or more until Eriko feeds Jerry again. I sleep for maybe an hour before the alarm goes off - recently at 6:45 (although I’m aiming for 6).

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-22-no-sleep.html Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:59:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-22-no-sleep.html Since our return from Nagoya, Jerry has been on a radically different clock. To make matters worse, Eriko is on a slightly different clock. The net result is that Jerry wakes up several times during the night and Eriko is often too tired to take care of him without my support.

The net net is that I’m averaging less than 6 hours of sleep (probably more like 4). I’ve done my best not to take any naps so that my schedule stays on Seattle time. I’ll probably have to throw that goal out the window, although I’m not very good at taking naps. Right now, there’s a lump in my throat the size of a marble and I have aches and pains all over. Oh no!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-20-nagoya-seattle.html Sat, 20 Jan 2007 08:00:26 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-20-nagoya-seattle.html We returned from Nagoya on Wednesday. The flight was long - we woke up in Nagoya about 7 AM, arrived at the airport about 10:20, and boarded our first flight about 11:30. We went first to Narita, where we changed planes and had about 30 minutes before boarding our next flight. Narita is a real pain to travel through these days - you have to go through an additional security checkpoint whenever you transfer between flights and it is always crowded. The flight from Narita lasted about 9 hours. We had expected Jerry to have a poor flight (as the way over he had some trouble) but he actually did quite wonderful. He fell asleep right after take-off and slept for a few hours. Then he woke up and we had to dedicate some attention to him, but he didn’t get upset and we were able to keep him happy. The airline baby food meal was actually quite good and Jerry ate a lot. He fell asleep again for a few hours, although this sleep was a little more restless as he was getting quite hot.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-13-leaving-moscow.html Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:09:54 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-13-leaving-moscow.html I am sitting in the hotel room, which I will soon leave. My ride to the airport doesn't happen until 4 PM and I have to check out of the hotel at noon. I'll ask the staff if they'll keep my luggage so I can walk around downtown, but failing that I'll just wait in the hotel lounge.

This was the best trip to Moscow I've had so far. There were several factors:

1. Eriko was in Nagoya, where she had the full support of her family.
2. I was able to see Eriko & Jerry every day using video Skype.
3. I came here alone. That gave me lots of personal time (mainly spent working on my own computer projects in the hotel room - I facilitated a dramatic increase in the amount of spam the family receives.) I typically went to bed on a relatively light stomach (instead of being stuffed) and not drunk. Riding the metro by myself was a nice feeling of accomplishment.
4. Dmitry dedicated lots of time to me. He picked me up at the airport, we spent the Monday touring, we had lunch together every day, he gave me rides to the hotel several times, and we went out to dinner on Thursday.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-08-nagoya-moscow.html Mon, 08 Jan 2007 06:26:01 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-08-nagoya-moscow.html It started at 5 AM. All my items were downstairs in the entrance, so Eriko and I spent some quiet time together before heading down. The "airport limousine" (shuttle van) was right on time - 5:30. It picked up three other passengers, although I wasn't awake for the last one. We arrived at Japan's Central Airport about 6:30 - plenty of time to make my 8 AM flight. I waited for about 15 minutes in the check-in line for ANA. After I arrived at the counter, I found out my flight had been cancelled! The airline refunded the ticket and gave me instructions for taking the shinkansen to Narita. Of course, those instructions had me boarding a train that left in 10 minutes! I hurried to find the train station and bought myself a ticket to Nagoya Station. That was no problem. The instructions, however, said that I should take the shinkansen which left at 7:58 - but the first train didn't arrive at Nagoya until 7:49. Alas, I could have purchased the entire trip at the CentralAir station but did not - so despite rushing through Nagoya Station at high speed (with my luggage), I missed the desired shinkansen since I had to wait in line to buy tickets.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-06-new-years-resolutions.html Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:42:11 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-06-new-years-resolutions.html This year’s resolutions are focused on health - emotion, mental, and physical. Hopefully these resolutions are all measured and attainable.

• JLPT: Level 3 (1409 words, 284 kanji)
• Smaller waist (awaiting initial measurement)
• Running and/or swimming at least twice per week
• At least two hours of exercise per week
• One diary entry per week.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2007-01-03-tom-clancy-red-storm-rising.html Wed, 03 Jan 2007 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2007-01-03-tom-clancy-red-storm-rising.html https://www.nick.org/2006-12-27-orson-scott-card-the-shadow-of-the-hegemon.html Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-12-27-orson-scott-card-the-shadow-of-the-hegemon.html https://www.nick.org/2006-12-15-ipo.html Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:39:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-12-15-ipo.html Isilon will be trading tomorrow using the ticker symbol ISLN. Very cool.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-12-14-finished.html Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:49:37 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-12-14-finished.html I just took my last final for the UW Professional Master’s Program. Provided that I passed, I will have my master’s degree. Woo hoo! In other news, Jerry is now clearly indicating when he’s hungry - and he can clap!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-12-05-c-northcote-parkinson-parkinsons-law.html Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-12-05-c-northcote-parkinson-parkinsons-law.html https://www.nick.org/2006-12-04-jerrys-achivements.html Mon, 04 Dec 2006 06:02:01 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-12-04-jerrys-achivements.html In the last few days, Jerry has:

1. Started rolling a ball
   
2. Sat in the high-chair for th first time
   
3. Started to play peek-a-boo (he’s good)
   
4. Sat in the shopping cart seat
   
5. Has visibily demonstrated wanting to be picked up
   
   
   Wow!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-11-28-jerrys-noises.html Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:03:10 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-28-jerrys-noises.html Lately, Jerry has been making squealing noises which sound like a pig! It is very amazing to see how much he is growing. He has turned from a quiet baby who didn’t open his eyes or move into a babbling, banging, moving boy - all in a period of 6 months!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-11-25-jerrys-keyboard.html Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:33:51 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-25-jerrys-keyboard.html Jerry now has his own keyboard! It is an SGI-made dual Japanese/American keyboard. The youngest kernel hacker I know!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-11-24-orson-scott-card-enders-shadow.html Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-24-orson-scott-card-enders-shadow.html https://www.nick.org/2006-11-22-orson-scott-card-children-of-the-mind.html Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-22-orson-scott-card-children-of-the-mind.html https://www.nick.org/2006-11-20-a-brief-history-of-me.html Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:52:03 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-20-a-brief-history-of-me.html My old grade-school classmate, Ben, recently made contact with me. Since we haven't seen each other since I was 13, I sent him (albiet, 3 months later) a brief history of my life since high school. I enjoy seeing how much has happened in 10 years...

In late 1995 I departed Alaska to Seattle, chasing after my girlfriend in high school who had recently moved to Seattle. Naturally, we broke up after about two months but since I had used college as an excuse (to leave home) it was a good result.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-11-19-sleeping.html Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:14:23 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-19-sleeping.html We haven’t figured out Jerry’s sleeping schedule yet. The last few nights he has gone to bed about 11. We spent about 2 hours from the point when he first displayed sleepiness to actual sleep. We’re still physically holding him and bouncing (on the bouncey) for him to slip into sleep…

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-11-05-jerrys-diary.html Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:24:30 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-11-05-jerrys-diary.html Eriko has been doing an amazing job recording Jerry’s life up to this point. She tracks his sleeping and eating habits, along with notes about big items for the day. It would be a cool task to translate those into English and post them on Jerry’s website.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-10-29-another-week-in-moscow.html Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:19:38 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-10-29-another-week-in-moscow.html I just spent a week in Moscow, Russia.

I don't like that a majority of the Moscovites smoke - it makes everything smell and all the restaurants bother my nose and eyes. I don't like that I can't understand very much - it can be very frustrating. I don't like how crowded the subways are and how pushy the people are. I don't like where the office is; it's a 30 minute commute and the compound is very tightly secured. I don't like the fact that the Internet connection to Seattle is slow and I have to use my laptop; my wrists hurt quickly. I don't like that Moscovites don't tend to smile. I don't like the coffee at the office. I didn't like how much free time I had during the day (too much). I don't like the way people drive - I get car-sick.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-10-26-bill-byrson-a-short-history-of-nearly-everything.html Thu, 26 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-10-26-bill-byrson-a-short-history-of-nearly-everything.html https://www.nick.org/2006-10-19-teeth.html Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:37:55 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-10-19-teeth.html Jerry has two perfect little teeth protruding from his bottom gums. Wow!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-10-09-no-schedule.html Mon, 09 Oct 2006 02:30:23 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-10-09-no-schedule.html Until our beloved Jerry can find a sleeping schedule, I’m finding it very hard to have any kind of routine. Some nights he’s in bed by midnight, other nights he’s in bed by 9 (and in all cases, he’ll certainly wake up several times.) My evenings are completely uncertain - I’m essentially at Eriko and Jerry’s disposal. Couple that with my own lack of internal discipline (i.e. 30 mins of TV vs 30 mins of reading) and I’m losing ground on Japanese and CS GRE study… and let’s not enough mention the complete and utter lack of exercise, especially since (in an effort to have more time at home) I drove to work every day last week.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-10-06-orson-scott-card-speaker-for-the-dead.html Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-10-06-orson-scott-card-speaker-for-the-dead.html https://www.nick.org/2006-09-26-more-thoughts-on-academia.html Tue, 26 Sep 2006 05:19:04 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-09-26-more-thoughts-on-academia.html I spoke with two professors yesterday and I was relatively convinced that I was going to transition to academia… but then I came in and talked it over with my boss. After that conversation, I had an epiphany… this situation is very similar to the time I broke up with Eriko, slept on it, and woke up to realize that no - I didn’t want to break up… I just needed to be patient, figure out a way to get through our troubles, and learn to love her - because it was what I wanted.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-09-05-isilons-s-1.html Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:33:07 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-09-05-isilons-s-1.html Isilon has now officially registered for an IPO. How exciting. =)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-08-25-better-start-reading.html Fri, 25 Aug 2006 03:54:40 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-08-25-better-start-reading.html 100 “cool” books.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-08-19-perfectionism.html Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:05:11 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-08-19-perfectionism.html I guess I was just in the right frame of mind, but somehow I managed to find my way to this paper on perfectionism. It really hit home. I do think of myself as gifted - but in recent times that faith has been shaken. Quite honestly, it has been somewhat of a roller coaster - affected largely by events around me. As I mature physically, emotionally, and spiritually, my quest to understand myself gains more importance. Believing that this quest is worth it, despite the pain of effort, is my first step towards peace.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-08-19-pressure-i-need-pressure.html Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:31:22 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-08-19-pressure-i-need-pressure.html I woke up at 5 AM to review some design documents in preparation for a 7 AM online discussion. Why? Because I had agreed to do so, and I couldn’t let others down. Is that because I fear for my job or because I have some deeper sense of responsibility. I think it is most likely the former. How can I use this to motivate and drive me to do other things I want? Mathematics, Japanese - there is no pressure to learn these subjects; no clear consequences. I don’t yet have the internal disipline to act without external pressure. I am able to study when I am enrolled in a course at UW. Granted, I do only what I need to do to get a good grade; there is certainly additional material I could read or projects I could work on if I was truly interested in knowing more - but I stop once I think I have a 4.0 (or a good shot at it.) I have seemingly high expectations for myself but lower follow-through - I set many goals, most of which are likely unrealistic. I’ve learned to fail so many of my goals that I don’t know how to set attainable ones; yet my ambition and capacity for dreaming has never really slowed. The result is that I still don’t know how to set and keep reasonable goals for myself; instead I make too many and keep too few. Granted, I achieve many things - but the satisifaction of the success is dulled by the failures - even if the failures were unavoidable. I know I have to specialize, I have to focus, I have to choose just a few things to build goals and ambitions around - but what?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-08-18-orson-scott-card-enders-game.html Fri, 18 Aug 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-08-18-orson-scott-card-enders-game.html https://www.nick.org/2006-08-12-behind-the-8-ball.html Sat, 12 Aug 2006 05:41:10 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-08-12-behind-the-8-ball.html I’ve spent the last 4 years at Isilon without being fully committed to doing my best. With my decision to finally take the position seriously, I find myself woefully inadequate. Perhaps I’m being too hard on myself or perhaps my expectations are too high, but I know that I’m not as technically saavy as my peers, nor am I as socially saavy. Some of this may be due to lack of experience or lack of competition - ironically, I reached a local maxima too quickly and my rate of growth slowed tremendously. I got lazy, I took shortcuts. The end result is that I’m weak.

The big question is, what am I going to do about it?

It seems like there is a point of life where you take stock and decide to either get back in the running or let yourself go. I can’t imagine doing the latter (even though that’s clearly the path I’ve been on) and am unsure if or how I can do the former.

This isn’t just a work thing - I’m physically out-of-shape, I’m mentally out-of-shape, and I’m probably emotionally out-of-shape as well.

I’m a horse that has been led to water. Will I drink?

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-07-16-mitch-albom-the-five-people-you-meet-in-heaven.html Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-07-16-mitch-albom-the-five-people-you-meet-in-heaven.html https://www.nick.org/2006-07-13-confused-about-my-career.html Thu, 13 Jul 2006 05:08:52 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-07-13-confused-about-my-career.html I don’t feel fulfilled at Isilon. I haven’t quite figured it out - I have fantasies of being in Japan, fantasies of being in graduate school, fantasies of being involved with Mathematics - but I don’t know if those are just tools to escape the present or real dreams. I don’t know if I would be at Isilon if I wasn’t worried about finances. What if I had all the money in the world? What would I do? This is something very serious to think about.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-07-12-mitch-albom-tuesdays-with-morrie.html Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-07-12-mitch-albom-tuesdays-with-morrie.html https://www.nick.org/2006-07-12-thomas-l-friedman-the-world-is-flat.html Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-07-12-thomas-l-friedman-the-world-is-flat.html https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-pictures-from-moscow.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:58:08 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-pictures-from-moscow.html Look at these studs!

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06242006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:52:01 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06242006.html We woke up at 5:30. I spent some time reading/writing email from the blackberry. It’s

nice to stay in touch, but boy is that inefficient. Hopefully in the future we can get

some wireless access from the apartment – if we intend for our off-hours to be productive.

Otherwise, I want to find some interesting places – seeing Dave walk around in his

underwear is only amusing the first time. ;)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06232006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:51:51 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06232006.html Up at 6 and over to Caffee Manya for a hot breakfast. I ordered an omlet (which

is scrambled eggs unless you specific something else), potatoes, sausages, and

a latte. Dave and I talked about the previous days events and enjoyed watching

the people.

We arrived at Isilon about 9:30 – the first to arrive. We had a 10 AM

interview with Denis, who is a kernel programmer at SWSoft. Andrey considered

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06222006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:51:40 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06222006.html The alarm rang at 7, but I didn’t get out of bed until 8:15. The jet lag, lack

of sleep, and absythne all caught up with me. I spoke with Eriko while Dave

showered. We decided to take a different route to the metro. It wasn’t faster

(and possibly was just a tad longer) but it was in the shade - which was nice.

We stopped by a bookstore, but it was closed.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06212006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:51:28 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06212006.html Dave woke up at 5 and I woke up at 6. In the morning we goofed off and I called

Eriko. She was doing well and Zack visits were very helpful. Dave was superbly

pissed as he ruined his shirts in the laundry - or thought so until washed them

again. We left the apartment 8:15.

We headed towards Aravaskaya which was close to a pedestrian only shopping

street that Alex had told us about. We got a little turned around and had no

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06202006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:51:20 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06202006.html I woke up at 4:30. Moscow is quite north, so there is a lot of daylight. It

reminds me of Anchorage as well as that movie ‘Insomnia.’ Dave and I spent some

time emailing from our blackberries and talking smack about our Seattle-based

co-workers. I ate cereal, yogurt, and a banana for breakfast. We walked to the

store to buy some more breakfast food. This was quite painful as my shoes and

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06192006.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:51:10 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06192006.html The morning started about 4:30 AM with Dave wandering around in his underwear.

Desperate to return back to dreamland, I dozed off until about 7:30. I spent

the next 30 minutes or so surfing for free wireless and ran across ‘City-Net’

which offered free wireless in 30 minute increments. Dave was unable to receive

a signal on his laptop and my signal was very poor. Maybe our next apartment

will have better access to what could be a very nice service. We ate breakfast

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06172006-seattle-06182006-moscow.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:50:39 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-30-06172006-seattle-06182006-moscow.html Arrived at SeaTac at 5:30 AM. The international line had only 3 clerks, which

handled various needs (ticket purchase, changes, etc.) so movement was slow.

Security was quick and we arrived at the gate about 6. Dave and I rested,

boarding the flight at approximately 7:30. The flight, as Dave says, “was not

the best in the world” – there were reports of turbulence, so we were confined

to our seats for much of the flight and they didn’t serve any meals.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-17-vandalism-everywhere.html Sat, 17 Jun 2006 05:25:10 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-17-vandalism-everywhere.html While uploading photos today, I noticed there was a new comment. Excited, I listed all the new comments and began to read… but much to my dismay, I found that 5 out of 6 of them were very lewd and written by people who both didn’t know nor respect my family. That’s a very bad feeling, to realize there are strangers who are thinking such inappropriate thoughts about things which have only beautiful meanings (pictures of Jerry and Eriko). I restricted comments to just family members. Hopefully I can continue to allow the album to be seen by all, but at this point, I’m not sure.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-11-choices.html Sun, 11 Jun 2006 06:01:59 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-11-choices.html I am currently going through an exercise of building out a comprehensive todo list with items lasting through the end of the year (most are study related). Examples include reading three books, learning 500 kanji, making measured progress on my UW colloquia, exercising, etc. Assuming I am able to complete some items on schedule, the big questions I have are: how many things can I complete, which things do I focus on, and at what rate do I accomplish them? For example, I can read one chapter every two weeks from two books, or one chapter every week from one book. I don’t want to overload myself (as I tend to do) as I will then become dissapointed by failure.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-06-04-not-so-organized-not-so-disciplined.html Sun, 04 Jun 2006 05:33:43 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-06-04-not-so-organized-not-so-disciplined.html If it isn’t obvious by the fact that I haven’t made many diary entries, haven’t updated my weight or exercise (not to mention lack of) charts, and haven’t made much progress with my reading list… I’ve been busy! The problem is, as I see it, that I’m not always busy doing something that I deem important. For example, today I was to work on my term paper for my CS class. Naturally, I procrastined in a variety of different ways, including leaving the TV on for The Matrix and Matrix Reloaded movies (which, of course, resulted in me being less than efficient.)

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-24-late-nights.html Wed, 24 May 2006 06:17:33 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-24-late-nights.html Well, due to some poor planning, I have spent the last three nights staying up late in order to start (Sunday) and finish (today) a two-phase commit protocol for my distributed systems class. I’m not done yet, but the light is at the end of the tunnel.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-18-lunch-is-a-little-lonely.html Thu, 18 May 2006 19:27:11 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-18-lunch-is-a-little-lonely.html I really got to enjoy seeing Eriko every day at lunch time. The last few weeks of her pregnancy, when she was meeting me at my office for lunch, were especially nice. Now, lunch is a little lonely. Eriko’s mom has been packing me a lunch, so I don’t have any reason to go out with my co-workers. Even the two weeks I was eating out (when grandma was here), it still wasn’t the same. If I extend my lunch hour by 15 minutes, I might be able to casually take the bus home – but even then, Eriko probably won’t be awake regular hours (until Jerry is sleeping through the night), so it could be sometime before we have a family lunch again.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-17-babys-life.html Wed, 17 May 2006 05:30:59 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-17-babys-life.html Jerry eats, Jerry sleeps, Jerry poops. Some small but subtle changes – Jerry isn’t falling asleep as rapidly as he did last week. He also appears to have a bit of a rash on his face, which sure makes for a poor sight. Today is his two-week birthday and his mom & dad couldn’t be happier.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-13-what-a-cutie.html Sat, 13 May 2006 03:51:01 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-13-what-a-cutie.html is just a wonderful boy. He’s sleeping well, he’s eating well, and he’s very pleasant for mom and dad.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-07-sleeping-trends.html Sun, 07 May 2006 19:53:34 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-07-sleeping-trends.html I don’t have much choice but to take a break from tracking my sleeping trends… at least in the computer. Jerry is a good sleeper, but naturally wakes up at least every couple of hours. =) He’s been sleeping for the last two, which is very impressive.

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-03-jerry.html Wed, 03 May 2006 15:42:31 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-03-jerry.html Jerry

]]> https://www.nick.org/2006-05-02-a-proverb-for-a-competitive-world.html Tue, 02 May 2006 11:38:56 +0000 Nick https://www.nick.org/2006-05-02-a-proverb-for-a-competitive-world.html Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle.
When the sun comes up, you better start running.
 - African Proverb

• Monday - we spent 2 hours at the social security office where we found out that we would have to wait 4 weeks for Eriko's SSN. Then we went to uwajimaya on the (round-about) way home and in the eveing I brought Bailey to Aaron's house.
• Tuesday - we went to uwajimaya and the japanese bookstore and then we waited around the house for our new mattress. After that, we walked around QA and ate some ice cream.
• Wednesday - a very hectic day; we went to Bainbridge Island via bus/ferry and then found out the trip was more exciting than the island. We went to my favorite Indian restaraunt in the evening to celebrate my birthday.
• Thursday - we went to the Woodland Zoo but Eriko wasn't feeling well and so we came home early and she took a nap until some things arrived from her mother. In the evening we jogged around QA and then walked our route, it was quite pleasant and nice exercise.
• Friday - the exercise must have tired us out, as we had a late morning. I went to work for about 3 hours (leadership training program) and then we checked out the library in the internation district (Eriko rented two books) and bought some things at uwajimaya.

In the evenings, Eriko usually reads her book on the couch. I either read a book with her, play on the computer, or watch TV. The nightly shower starts about 9; Eriko spends about an hour in the bathroom before it is my turn.

i appear to be fighting the throat cold off, but i am certainly feeling all the symptoms and am currently losing my voice…

• met some old co-workers/friends for breakfast
• cleaned house
• transferred Sun Tzu's Art of War (audio book) to MD
• installed a new Mazda battery in the Miata
• went grocery shopping
• installed a florescent light above the kitchen sink (after measuring and drilling)
• practiced Kanji
• started internationalizing the diary/journal/blog application for Eriko
• re-watched a movie, Playing God
• cooked some pork
• sat very still, with Bailey sleeping peacfully on my lap

• started level 3 in my Japanese class
• drank too much wine while babbling with Lisa
• had a fun picnic at work and played bocci ball
• continued to make good progress on my work stuff
• got less exercise than i should have
• received the final proof for my article, due Monday

1. my life has a beneveolent organizer
2. my spirit exists, if only for a moment, before my body is born

• i am 100% accountable for every facet of my life

• i saw Eriko three times
• Eriko met my family and the love was mutual
• i took a course at UW and received an A
• i was promoted twice and now i'm a dev-lead
• i am living on my own for the first time in my life
• i took swimming lessons
• Bailey is able to come and go freely again
• I became an Uncle

• i was denied admission to the UW master's program
• i failed to increase my GRE math scores (they went down)
• Eriko and i had some rocky times
• i was unable to communicate in Japanese with Eriko's family

• i will be leading a team that (hopefully) will grow by 2+ people
• i will apply to UW with improved stats (and hopefully accepted)
• i will (hopefully) begin exercising regularly and get in shape
• Eriko will (hopefully) visit me in my new place
• i will (hopefully) aggressively improve my Japanese skills
• i will (hopefully) find and purchase a condominium of my own
• i will (hopefully) continue to apply downward pressure on my expenses
• i will (hopefully) find more time to work on my lathing and computer projects
• i will (hopefully) find more pleasure in reading and learning

i’m so busy!