Moving Parks

I’ve been observing a very strange behaviour in people and I’m doing everything I can to not do the same.

Those who are happily “coupled up” are very often trying very hard to have their single friends hook up. As strange as it sounds, even those who used to respond to the same “kindness” by their friends with, “No, I’m happy as I am and I’m way too picky anyway” have forgotten their singlehood default responses and have become the worst offenders.

To a single person receiving this kindness out of no where, it’s not always a pleasant experience. I’ve been there at the receiving side and now, I think I can behave myself so that I do not become one of the unending supply of match makers.

Asking if they would be interested in getting setup first should be written down somewhere as a rule. If the answer to this question is a short “No” or anything that contains the word “no” then don’t metion of it ever again. If the answer happens to be a “yes” or something near that meaning, you can proceed to set up a pleasant get together environment where there is no expectations from either side. Last thing that you want is a situation where the ever so familiar uncomfortable silence will force silly comments that will later come back to haunt you, the match maker, in a form of “what were you thinking that he/she would be right for me?”

Anyways.. Currently, I’m sticking to the safe route. My wife and I will not player a match maker role unless you explicitly ask us or it becomes a matter of life and death.

As I spend more and more time working with many different people on different situations, I realize that the ability to pay attention to the smallest detail is the skill majority of people lack. Actually, I’m not sure if they lack the ability or lack the care to give a second thought to what’s perceived as a trivial details.

Funny how it’s these “trivial” details that always gets missed and over looked. In the end, people actually can make a career out of pointing out and police these details.

I’ve always been known as an early adopter when it comes to latest and greatest technology or toys. I don’t know how I have gained that reputation but I somehow have.

Latest gadget I have gotten my hands on isn’t really all that leading edge. It’s not even something that was released recently. My Treo 650 has been out in the market for more than a year. There is a confirmed release date for the next model Treo. But even still with the unusual lateness in my giving into my need for the gadget, others view my Treo with certain amount of cool factor.

Anyways.. that’s not the point of today’s post.. It’s about the reason for the Treo… otherwise known as the Killer App. One application that totally justifies the purchase and the continued use of this device I would like to refer to as “my new toy”. My wife also seems to believe it is a toy since she has told me to stop playing with it and put it down. Before I get completely off track again.. let me stop myself and explain what I mean by Killer App of Treo.

Actually.. For me, it’s a two fold. (I know.. I said “One application” up there.. but hear me out..) First out of the box experience was crazy simple! I took the phone out of the box, plugged it into the power after installing the battery. Went straight into the HotSync app and proceeded to synchronize it to my computer. I synchronized using my already existing profile that I used with my old Sony Clie. It was the first time I have changed my cellphone and never had to sit and enter in all of my contacts. I know that seems like a simple concept but really.. the simplicity and convinience cannot be understood unless personally experienced it.

So here I was 20 mintues (the first time sync actually took a while) after taking it out of the box and with three taps on the screen of the Treo, I was already up and running. Ahhh..

Second part for my usage is how it has completely changed the way I use email. I have been using e-mail since 1993. So I’m not new to the whole wonders of cyberspace and the often overlooked convinience of e-mail. Not only has it replaced the old fashioned snail mail but it also have become primary mass communication amongst my friends although this blog concept has been taking away that duty for some time now. With my Treo and an idea of “push” mail (well.. ok.. so it’s not a true push like the blackberry.. but close enough), I have started using my e-mail in place of phone calls and IM. SMS messages were cool.. but it would only be useful if the other side had to have a cellphone and some even with a cellphone would not even answer my original text but just proceed to call me.

Treo and e-mail in combination, although quite similar in usage to SMS and not really a brand new technology, have become something quite different for me. And add gmail to the mix where I can filter messages I really want to get on my handheld before forwarding to my IMAP account.. it is thing of a .. well.. umm… very well used toy.

So… wanna contact me and make sure you get a response right away?? Don’t bother calling my cell because chances are I’m stuck in a meeting. But e-mail me.. and I will respond even if I’m in a meeting. No wonder blackberry has been dubbed crackberry.

I have no theme for this post.. so these are true random thoughts going through my mind at this moment…

- 2006 is here but I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

- 2005 was a very good year for me with many exciting changes and many rewards for hard work.

- Local Gyms must be super busy with all these people signing up for membership. I wonder I should go against the flow and cancel mine.

- Treo.. Wireless handheld.. Awesome… Using e-mail like a IM seriously is strange. Don’t call me.. e-mail me.. you will get a better chance of answers from me.

- Why do I have to work so much?

- The concept of Jan. 1st is pretty much man made. Who decided to pick a specific day to be the “start” of a year? Why not middle of the Summer?? or even Winter for that matter?

- What crazy change will I have to make to top 2005 (to sum it up: proposal for marriage, wedding, buying a condo, and changing phone number I’ve had for more than 5 years). What to do next? Don’t say have a baby…

- US$ is at all time low in comparison to CDN$. What deals can I find?

hmm.. must be lunch hour ’cause my tummy seems smaller…

I’ve been a long user of Colgate and my wife the long loyal customer of Crest. So when the first tooth paste shopping ended up being going to the Costco, the friendly bout of persuation started. Loser of this will end up having to use the other tooth paste for a very long time.

In the end… I lost… I certainly hope this is not the story of my life to come…

- written by: Loser of the Tooth paste battle. (aka Crest Tooth Paste user) -