A Rant About A Bad Driver in Northern California

So we were trying to do our usual weekend rounds of going to church and buying groceries and supplies for the week. 

Stay away from this guy!!

While we are at 99 Ranch Market in Dublin, CA. I dropped off my wife in front of the market. As I was turning slowly towards the parking area, this asian person following us on a Volvo SUV decided to blow his horn on me. It was loud that our sleeping toddler on his car seat on the back seat woke up and cried. He then decided to drive past me speeding. But little did he know, I was actually slowing down for a minivan trying to back out of the parking. 

So this asian guy, as he was speeding trying to drive past me, almost hit this minivan and another car coming. 

I was so furious because he woke up our toddler and stupid drivers like this just makes my blood boil. 

And just as soon as I parked (same spot as the minivan), I saw this same guy driving fast on the other side of the parking. I was staring at him till he got off his car. Then this clueless guy threw a bad finger at me. I got off our car and almost rushed to confront him. I just then realized that our little one will be left alone in the car so I let him be.

Then this idiot of a guy thought he's a tough one and so rushed to confront me while I was standing next to our car. He asked me if I had a problem. I then firmly said, "Yes, I do have a problem because him blowing his horn was unnecessary and that he woke up our toddler". And with an annoying tone, he said "so I woke up your baby" and that he is in a free country and that he can do whatever he wants. So I thought, this arrogant stupid idiot is totally clueless. So I replied to him that he's f*&^g stupid. And that made him even more angry saying that he chose not to wait and blew his horn and that he's free to choose what he wants. So I exclaimed, standing my ground face to face with him, "then I chose to be safe and waited for the minivan to back out of the parking and repeated that he really is stupid, so what's his point?" He then pushed me trying to prove he's a better and stronger man. I then said, "do you know that I can sue you for that". He said, now in a more cautious tone, "what for?". I replied, "Assault, you stupid!". For which he said, I assaulted him first. But he did not know, I was waiting for him to make the first move. I was trying hard to restrain myself because I am smarter than him, that I know he's on the losing side if he kept on. At some point, I was waiting for him to hit me, even. It would have been a sure win case and I'd sue his arrogant ass. 

I guess the bottom-line here is that there are still people having the idea that freedom means doing whatever they want to choose to do. But one's freedom ends where another's rights begin. 

He totally ignored basic road courtesy and endangered other people around him. Just for that, he does not deserve having a driver license, a privilege on its own. Then he assaulted me as if he's a caveman trying to prove he's a stronger man. 

He drives a new Volvo SUV. So is he entitled to drive the way he did (or does) or behave the way he did? Totally clueless, this guy.

I have nothing against someone's race, color, gender or social standing. If he emigrated to the US and got his papers approved, then I very well know that there are more deserving people than him. If he was born here, then I think it was a failure on his parents that they did not teach him the value of his status, that there are people risking their lives to keep the freedom that he so claims to have without realizing what it truly means. If you were a soldier, would you go to war for this guy? If you were a parent of a soldier, would you allow your child to fight for freedom, the same kind of freedom that this guy was talking about?

California Scenes: The Golden Gate Bridge

I just realized that I haven't posted anything about this most famous bridge in San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge. I tried to find a photo that I have on my iPhone but somehow all the ones that I have does not do justice to the beauty of this bridge.

It's a magnificent sight from every angle, though I have yet to view it from all possible angles.

This year, this magnificent landmark will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Who would have thought that this magnificent structure is that old. And yet it never fails to leave anyone seeing it the first time in awe and amazement.

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary Celebration will be held in many different parts of the city even before the day itself. But primarily, the culmination and the major events will be held on the 27th of May, 2012. From the Marina Green to Crissy Field, to the Bridge and across the bay in Sausalito, celebrations will be held during the entire Memorial Day Weekend. Musical Concerts and shows, all sorts of food and lots of fun are promised by the organizers.

It makes me feel to blessed to be here in Northern California to witness this event. Check out their Schedule of Events and other information at http://www.goldengatebridge75.org/

The Recipe for Success

I took this photo using my iPhone 4 at a shop in Carmel Valley Ranch.

Interesting Cloud Formation

I saw this yesterday afternoon while I was at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

It made me wonder. Is it asking a question, in a deeper more profound sense, what is life all about or what have I done so far to have a more meaningful life for myself and the people around me.. But then again, maybe it's a message from the Riddler.

What do you think?




To the Bat Cave!! :)

 

View from my First Walk in 2012

 



A View of San Ramon, CA from the Canyon Lakes Golf Course 



As the year 2012 starts, so is my wish to walk and eventually run on a regular basis. I'm not getting any younger and now that we now have a newborn son, I intend to live longer and healthier.

Welcome 2012! May you be kinder to us than 2011!! (though 2011 was still a great year, considering)

What is this?

I'm just curious what this insect is. It looks like the biggest mosquito I've ever seen.. It's about 2 inches long (including its legs)..

Amazing or What?

A friend of mine sent this to me. It was taken from Google Earth and it shows these Philippine Airlines planes parked so close together. Is this organized chaos or is this part of the reason why PAL is always delayed.. It makes you wonder how safe it is to ride in these planes..

Thoughts..

a very good friend passed away last weekend
someone i grew up with, wasn't that close to me
but a dear one, indeed

it's sad not just because he's gone
it's also sad to realize that we have now reached
a stage in our lives that we hear sad news like this

before, we hear about someone much older passing
for which you know was inevitable and forthcoming, someone old, someone ill
and for which you are ready for... more or less
it made me realize how short life is
and made me wonder what i have done so far
not only for myself and loved ones

more importantly to make other people's lives more liveable
because isn't that what life is really about
it's about living and making a difference for others

life is too short to be spent working
to be stuck in your cubicle trying to please someone trying to please another
in the end, would it matter
if you made the deadline by trying to kill yourself by working extra hours

would it make someone's life any easier or more liveable
if you come to work everyday just for the sake of working
perhaps it does, more likely it does not

because life is more than working
and goes so much beyond trying to earning as much money as you can
at what price do we pay
if we waste life a minimum of eight hours a day, day by day

don't get me wrong, we need to work
it's hard work indeed to live
but more often we end up doing the opposite
living to work more than working to live
we can't slack around and yet we also can't work to death

how do we strike that balance
between living life and living to pay your credit card balance
between working hard to give your loved ones the best life can offer
and spending more time with them instead of with your computer

some travel far and wide, abroad or otherwise
spending more time on the road, away from family and friends
before they realize that the chase for more money is never going to end
at what price do we pay when no amount of riches could compare to time spent with loved ones
more money does not always equate to a happy life

a friend once said everyone needs to make sacrifices
true enough, they sacrifice living far apart so that they can provide a good future for their children

i am not here to provide answers
even i am struggling to make sense of everything
what is life all about and what's right or wrong
everyday is a challenge, everyday i wake up thinking
this again.. there has to be a better way to live!

but then again, still we get up each day
we push on and we move on
because that is also what life is about
to live, love and survive and when we fail and fall, which we do quite often
we get up and do it all over again

stubborn as an ass, we all are, it may seem
all we can do is hope and pray that God is taking us where we should be
and that He guides us to do what we need to do in His time..

Manila Bay Sunset 092710

Here's one of the many shots that I took (using my iPhone 3Gs) of the sunset on Manila Bay during my last visit to the Philippines.

This beautiful scene in Manila never ceases to amaze me, even more now that I am older and have been away from home for a better part of the last decade.

Massachusetts Drivers

Coming to work this morning, we came across this guy driving a Grey Civic Hybrid with front driver side tire flat. He was driving pretty fast along Speen St. in Natick. Then he stopped at the traffic lights turning left onto Cochituate Rd. So I thought he would stop at Mobil station. But instead he headed to I-90 East and headed for Boston.

It surprises me sometimes why there are so many drivers here in MA that, in my opinion, should not drive at all. This particular example, with a blown tire like that, he can easily cause some major accident and may not only harm himself but worse, other unsuspecting responsible drivers. Worse even if he hurts an innocent by-stander.

MA RMV, from my experience, is typically strict on giving driving licenses. So, is this guy just irresponsible, unqualified to drive or just plain dumb and reckless..

Well, stay alert everyone and stay away from drivers like this guy.

To sell or not to sell.. that is the question

The decision to sell my condo or not remains... Today I spoke with the realtor again. It think it's best to sell... the realtor said that it would affect my credit history for two years... I guess that won't be too bad since I no longer can afford to keep it anyhow..

Ok, what if we sell... this brings us to yet another problem. Where would I stay? Last Saturday, we went apartment hunting and we found a couple of nice ones, but they're expensive. Am I going to save more by renting or am I better off just staying put with my condo?

We'll keep looking for apartments and see if we can find an acceptable one that will not cost more than keeping my condo...

All About Retirement, 401(K)s, IRAs, etc.

Merrill Lynch or Fidelity? Stay with my previous company's plan or move to a rollover IRA? Which company, which plan?


I just came from the Fidelity office nearby and I spoke with an agent named Angela. She mentioned about a possibility to open my own plan where my own company can also match my personal contributions.


The other day I talked to an agent named Nick with Merrill Lynch and advised me of their products and (again) the many options I have for the meager amount of savings that I made while I was with LCC.


I need to talk to an accountant to discuss these many options. Too many options, too little money to work with.. there has to be something else that can be done to increase positive cashflow before I reach 40.. not a lot of time left, I'm afraid..

Lazy Sunday

Great weather outside, it seems... but too lazy to do anything.. so i just stayed indoors and created this blogger account...

But come to think of it, i should be out enjoying the weather.. while it lasts...

Fall is coming, i'm beginning to see the leaves changing color.. i'm not sure if i can survive another winter in new england..

And thinking we're not going back this year to take a break from the harsh winter weather like last year..

Oh well, let's see how it goes...