The title should actually read “Hello 2014!”. Can’t believe that January is almost over and that this is my first post of the year. For 2014 I was really hoping to be more active on this blog. Still am.
Anyway, I am excited since I uploaded my first mtb video!
In the past I’ve recorded a few rides but those were my first going mtb and they just seemed a little dull. The video that was uploaded is nothing fancy; edited with Youtube’s editor and using Youtube’s music. However I’m just happy that I was able to accomplish a simple post to my Youtube channel that also motivated me to do a blog post about it.
Here’s the video below:
This was the first time at Joaquin Miller Park for my brother, so we took it easy. JMP is a hidden gem in the hills of Oakland. The trails are short, fun, and a little challenging. Since I’m still honing my skills, this park seems like it’s the perfect skill level for me.
If you have any questions about the park, what I’m riding, my gear, why the sky is blue, or have suggestions, or anything just ping me.
Cheers and ride safe for you folks on two wheels (thats both motos and pedal power).
Well, it appears that I am making some progress with html.
Early this year my brother and I obtained the domain michaelmatthewdesign.com where the site appeared like the image below until last night.
Michael Matthew Design: Under Construction
Last night I spent a few hours getting Michael Matthew Design on its feet. The work done on MMD is nothing to brag about, the site now has some text and an image on it. What I am celebrating however is the fact that, after having the site for nearly a year, we finally have content on the site! Not much but some. It’s a start.
There are a ton of templates that I could had used for putting the site together, which would had made my life easier, but I decided to use my new basic knowledge of HTML and put it to use. Future plans to MMD includes: more quality content, images, portfolio work, a questionnaire form, better fix sized control, and a more sophisticated look that doesn’t scream “basic”.
Hopefully I’ll have some time this weekend to touch up the site, if not I know that it will not take a better part of 2014 to touch the site again. And hopefully by spring, MMD will look presentable that the site will do it’s job and lure clients in for work. Check out Michael Matthew Design, it’ll only take 30 seconds, and let me know what you think about the site so far.
For those of you that don’t know, I am spending this year’s holiday season in SoCal with the first trip of the leg in Santa Barbara and the second half in San Diego. Before opening into some presents I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Don’t know if it’s my bipolar disorder that has my mind wandering or not, but I decided to get myself better acquainted with HTML/XHTML/CSS. Sigh….
Well I’m burning through HTML & CSS – Design And Build Website since I do know a bit of HTML, not a lot and not very proficient at HTML, but enough to go through the book fairly quickly. The problem with self taught books and online classes is that I never really apply what I learn to real life projects. This time around I’ll try and make a website from scratch, just hope that the site doesn’t end up looking like a Geocities website from the 90’s.
Come back by the end of the year and see whether I made a new site or lost interest in HTML.
P.S. In case you decide not to come back to my blog, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I’m not going to lie and write that I’ve been busy with work and projects as the reason why I haven’t posted anything new on this blog. I just have been busy. Wait, I just wrote that I wouldn’t write that but I just did. Well I have been busy, just not productive.
Right before my birthday (which is in September for those wanting to steal my identity) I discovered mountain biking. Actually it is more like rediscovered mountain biking (mtb). When I was small and 100 pounds lighter, I went on a few mtb trips to Lake Chabot but never really got into mtbing. Playing Gran Turismo peaked my interest more than going out and climbing 800 ft of elevation in the heat. Somehow I got hit with the mtb bug, and that bug has hit me hard.
Why has the mtb bug hit me so hard?
Maybe because I’m having a second round of mid life crisis. No, I am having my second mid life crisis. All of a sudden there is a need to feel alive by feeling physical exhaustion, pain, soreness, and fear. All that physical abuse and negativity reminds me that there is more to life than grinding the working man’s nightmare, that I need to go out there and live! There wont always be a tomorrow so I need to go out there and seize the moment! And for now that moment is mtbing.
Some may view mtbing as an easy task enjoying scenic views and riding through gorgeous forest and parks (which is not a fault) but for myself it is challenging oneself: pedaling up 100’s of feet, staring down a rocky path, overcoming obstacles,and letting go of the brakes to ride down a dirt path over 25 miles per hour.
So even though I haven’t been busy (productive) with: projects, designs, looking for a new job, vlogging, etc. I have been feeling more alive, am lot happier, and less stress. Did I mention that I am also ten pounds lighter, eating healthier, and in better shape? Well I am 🙂
Here are some Instagram pics from a few of my rides. In the future there will be some videos. Enjoy.
On the #SinawikTrailAt #LakeChabot before my chain broke.A #Quick and #EarlyRide before I start my #GrindCatching the #Sunset7.4 mile #mtb ride at #LakeChabot done!#mtb at #JaquinMillerParkHaving a #CaseOfTheMondays 🙂
Now to figure out how to have my girlfriend go on more rides with me 🙂
Full disclaimer. Even though my life isn’t perfect, I do appreciate what I have: friends, family, girlfriend, job, and life.
We are less than a week away till the NFL regular season is here! With that said, do you have your fantasy football team drafted and ready?!?
In my latest vlog post I talk about this year’s draft for my league: how I am unprepared for the draft, who I drafted, why drafted certain players, and my overall thoughts and feelings of my drafted team.
This year, Yahoo Sports grades how well you did on your draft. I believe the draft grade is something new for Yahoo since I don’t recall being graded last year. Anyway, my grade for this year’s draft is a D. Ouch.
My Draft Report Card from Yahoo
The report card also includes several graphs that illustrate strength of schedule per week, the ADP (Average Draft Position ranking where a player would get drafted) of my pick per round, players points by bye week, and average points by position versus the league.
Graphs that help you understand why I was graded a D for my draft.
Do you like criticism, especially on how well you think your draft went? Well the report card does that, it criticizes your top 5 picks, whether your decision to pick that player was good or bad.
Getting some healthy criticism from a bot
Well, here’s my team: The Vermillion Group. Kinda hard to tell how good (or bad) this group is when you can’t see my competition and their team. And to be honest I can’t blame Yahoo for giving me a D when I drafted an unknown rookie tight end, by the name of Zach Sudfeld, in the 10th round before drafting a QB. Eh…
The Vermillion Group
P.S. If any of you are looking for a fantasy football league to join, I got a friendly fantasy football league with a little money involved, $20. With money involved, people play with a bit more seriousness, creating a funner experience.
In the past month the marine layer has had San Francisco under a blanket of fog. However on Tuesday the City had a reprieve from the fog that created the most beautiful summer day that San Francisco has had all year.
With no fog or cloud insight, I took the opportunity to capture a time lapse of sunset. Sadly the sun had begun its descent into the Pacific by the time I arrived at Ocean Beach, leaving about an hour of sunlight left.
Iit’s August! The first of August is here which to me that we are 10 days away from seeing the last episodes of Breaking Bad and days away from the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game!
We are just a couple weekends away to the end of a wonderful tv series, Breaking Bad. The mid season finale left us with many questions to what will happen between Walt and Hank, is Jesse back in the game, who’s going to die, and how will it all end? I have so much anxiety built up just from having to wait for the show to begin and as the days grow close, the anxiety level just goes up every day!
As for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, it may just be a preseason game, but it kicks off the start of football! I’m not just excited for the preseason being here but also for college football and the SEC Division dominance and fantasy football drafts happening all over the world. Another reason that I love football because it brings us entertainment, tail gatings, bar b ques, an excuse to drink heavily, fantasy football, camaraderie, betting, and above all thrash talking bragging rights. Can you smell it, the freshly cut of grass? I can!
Are you excited as I am for August? And if you’re not, why?
Well I was up late Tuesday night, so I decided to play around with my GoPro and film a time lapse video of the sunrise. Sadly the weather wasn’t cooperating so the time lapse didn’t look to spectacular. And to be honest the view from where I was filming wasn’t so great.
I’ve been wanting to do more time lapse with the GoPro but still need to figure out the best formula for capturing good content and getting the right framing of the subject. The best way that I’m going to learn is from experience which means that I need to get out more and go shooting.
johnydecali 