it's all just
work. eat. sleep.
or is it?
pt. 2 coming soon...
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
37 random lessons from University.
University is finally behind me. There are way too many mixed feelings I have moving on, but it has DEFINITELY been the most amazing time of my life thus far. True Story.
Yes, I've finally departed from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors & Masters in Accounting. See ya later, Nerd Derek!
(I don't actually look like that in school)
Being in the workforce now is a crazy change, but I thought I'd sit down and spend a little bit of time putting together just a random list of things that come to mind when I think about my University life. Don't ask why there's 37 of them. I just like the number, I guess.
Not everything may apply to you, but hopefully it will bring back some great memories for you oldies or give you youngins some excitement for what's still to come in your remaining years! Cheers.
1. Smile. It’s the best time of your life.
2. Doing bad on a course isn’t the end of the world. (I somehow made it!!!) - Oddly enough, barely getting just above a passing grade can often feel more victorious than hitting 90’s
3. Never be afraid to be you.
4. Hardcore study schedules don’t work. There is no way a human can study for 14 hours straight, 4 days in a row. I’ve tried.
5. Exercise. The health, discipline & body you leave university with will likely be the one you have for life.
6. Be adventurous. Don’t always just stick to some strict sleep schedule. Go out and have fun. You’re not going to look back 10 years down the road and remember that night you slept on time.
7. Sleeping on the floor is not comfy. Using phonebooks as pillows helps a bit... but you’ll still probably wake up feeling pretty crappy.
8. Try to have ten minutes each week to just sit by yourself and reflect on the past week.
9. Step out of the house at least once a day. Even if it’s just one step out the door then back in. It’s quite sad how many times I actually had to force myself to do this.
10. Don’t overdo #6. You might not finish University.
11. Spend the time to make really, really-really; really good friends. These are the people your kids will call ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle’
12. Learn how to cook. 'Making' instant noodles is not cooking.
13. You need hobbies. Studying is not a hobby.
14. Treat your classmates as friends, not competition. Even if you’re in Accounting & Financial Management.
15. Feel free to act immature at times. It’s somewhat still expected at the University level, and often amusing. Doesn’t really apply after you enter the workforce.
16. Take some time to think about religion and life. Conformity into popular-culture driven society can swallow you up the older you get without any foundation.
17. If your housemate plays their music too loud, then just tell them. nicely.
18. Talk to your program friends about things other than school. You’ll probably find they’re not just studying machines, despite your impression of them.
19. Be interested in other people’s lives. Why they’re studying their program, what’s important to them, why they do what they do. You’ll have a better understanding of the world.
20. You don’t have to get drunk, do drugs or sleep around to ‘be cool’.
21. Get involved in things outside of your classes. Friends outside of your program are crucial.
22. Take pictures. If you have a memory like mine, you’re going to want to be able to look back and reminisce (aka remember anything at all).
23.Remind yourself what you’re working towards. Think about what you want in life, at least once, at the start of every term.
24. Smile, yell and give high fives when something good happens in your life/your friend’s lives.
25. A lot of the time, the courses we thought were bird courses… we end up doing worse on because we never really put in any effort.
26. Cherish all the spare time you’ll have in University. You may not think it’s much... but just wait till work.
27. Ask the stupid questions. You wouldn’t want to be friends with the people who think you’re stupid because of it, anyways
28. You’ll never know who you’ll meet and where. Do your best to bring your A-game, ladies & gents, always ;)
29. Be humble.
30. Hospitality. Embrace it. University for those who moved away from home is the first place you’re going to learn the concept of hospitality. I have profound respect for those who let me eat their food, drink their dranks, crash on their couches., etc.
31. Do a little research on the books you have to buy each term. Take that extra bit of time to check the used book store or online (new – amazon, etc; used-craigslist, etc.) You can seriously save hundreds. Use that to upgrade your mac&cheese meals to steak for a week!
32. Wear clothes you like/are comfy in. Work clothes everyday isn’t nearly as great as PJ’s in class
33. Introduce yourself to people you’ve yet to meet but start seeing on a regular basis. Otherwise, you’ll reach this awkward period of knowing each other by name, but still never really ‘meeting’ each other yet. It can drag on for a... long... time.
34. Keep no record of wrongs. People will probably give you the shaft at times. You probably will to others too. Don’t let it get to your head.
35. Try learning. Remember that University is meant to educate, not just hand out credentials. You’ll realize that a piece of paper is the craziest thing to devote 4-5 years of your life to.
36. Write down assignment dates at the start of the term. It really sucks finding you missed the deadline for a major assignment. like. really.
37. Believe in awesomeness. Not in a cocky way. But know that you are definitely capable of bringing something unique, exciting and refreshing into this world. Just be you(awesome).
(how could I not end a list with awesomeness?)
DQOTD: Any of the random madness apply to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Yes, I've finally departed from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors & Masters in Accounting. See ya later, Nerd Derek!
(I don't actually look like that in school)
Being in the workforce now is a crazy change, but I thought I'd sit down and spend a little bit of time putting together just a random list of things that come to mind when I think about my University life. Don't ask why there's 37 of them. I just like the number, I guess.
Not everything may apply to you, but hopefully it will bring back some great memories for you oldies or give you youngins some excitement for what's still to come in your remaining years! Cheers.
1. Smile. It’s the best time of your life.
2. Doing bad on a course isn’t the end of the world. (I somehow made it!!!) - Oddly enough, barely getting just above a passing grade can often feel more victorious than hitting 90’s
3. Never be afraid to be you.
4. Hardcore study schedules don’t work. There is no way a human can study for 14 hours straight, 4 days in a row. I’ve tried.
5. Exercise. The health, discipline & body you leave university with will likely be the one you have for life.
6. Be adventurous. Don’t always just stick to some strict sleep schedule. Go out and have fun. You’re not going to look back 10 years down the road and remember that night you slept on time.
7. Sleeping on the floor is not comfy. Using phonebooks as pillows helps a bit... but you’ll still probably wake up feeling pretty crappy.
8. Try to have ten minutes each week to just sit by yourself and reflect on the past week.
9. Step out of the house at least once a day. Even if it’s just one step out the door then back in. It’s quite sad how many times I actually had to force myself to do this.
10. Don’t overdo #6. You might not finish University.
11. Spend the time to make really, really-really; really good friends. These are the people your kids will call ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle’
12. Learn how to cook. 'Making' instant noodles is not cooking.
13. You need hobbies. Studying is not a hobby.
14. Treat your classmates as friends, not competition. Even if you’re in Accounting & Financial Management.
15. Feel free to act immature at times. It’s somewhat still expected at the University level, and often amusing. Doesn’t really apply after you enter the workforce.
16. Take some time to think about religion and life. Conformity into popular-culture driven society can swallow you up the older you get without any foundation.
17. If your housemate plays their music too loud, then just tell them. nicely.
18. Talk to your program friends about things other than school. You’ll probably find they’re not just studying machines, despite your impression of them.
19. Be interested in other people’s lives. Why they’re studying their program, what’s important to them, why they do what they do. You’ll have a better understanding of the world.
20. You don’t have to get drunk, do drugs or sleep around to ‘be cool’.
21. Get involved in things outside of your classes. Friends outside of your program are crucial.
22. Take pictures. If you have a memory like mine, you’re going to want to be able to look back and reminisce (aka remember anything at all).
23.Remind yourself what you’re working towards. Think about what you want in life, at least once, at the start of every term.
24. Smile, yell and give high fives when something good happens in your life/your friend’s lives.
25. A lot of the time, the courses we thought were bird courses… we end up doing worse on because we never really put in any effort.
26. Cherish all the spare time you’ll have in University. You may not think it’s much... but just wait till work.
27. Ask the stupid questions. You wouldn’t want to be friends with the people who think you’re stupid because of it, anyways
28. You’ll never know who you’ll meet and where. Do your best to bring your A-game, ladies & gents, always ;)
29. Be humble.
30. Hospitality. Embrace it. University for those who moved away from home is the first place you’re going to learn the concept of hospitality. I have profound respect for those who let me eat their food, drink their dranks, crash on their couches., etc.
31. Do a little research on the books you have to buy each term. Take that extra bit of time to check the used book store or online (new – amazon, etc; used-craigslist, etc.) You can seriously save hundreds. Use that to upgrade your mac&cheese meals to steak for a week!
32. Wear clothes you like/are comfy in. Work clothes everyday isn’t nearly as great as PJ’s in class
33. Introduce yourself to people you’ve yet to meet but start seeing on a regular basis. Otherwise, you’ll reach this awkward period of knowing each other by name, but still never really ‘meeting’ each other yet. It can drag on for a... long... time.
34. Keep no record of wrongs. People will probably give you the shaft at times. You probably will to others too. Don’t let it get to your head.
35. Try learning. Remember that University is meant to educate, not just hand out credentials. You’ll realize that a piece of paper is the craziest thing to devote 4-5 years of your life to.
36. Write down assignment dates at the start of the term. It really sucks finding you missed the deadline for a major assignment. like. really.
37. Believe in awesomeness. Not in a cocky way. But know that you are definitely capable of bringing something unique, exciting and refreshing into this world. Just be you(awesome).
(how could I not end a list with awesomeness?)
DQOTD: Any of the random madness apply to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
blissedit4.png
download: right click, save image as
once downloaded:
Right click screen; display properties (personalize - win7), desktop, set background as: [browse] blissedit4
once downloaded:
Right click screen; display properties (personalize - win7), desktop, set background as: [browse] blissedit4
Thursday, September 16, 2010
BRB - AFK
UFE over!
Dominican for a week! flight leaves tomorrow!
Full time work after that! gulp*
No blog/facebook/msn/gtalk/emails for a week... amazing. haha.
p.s. why do people always click the stupid button on my blog?
Dominican for a week! flight leaves tomorrow!
Full time work after that! gulp*
No blog/facebook/msn/gtalk/emails for a week... amazing. haha.
p.s. why do people always click the stupid button on my blog?
Monday, September 13, 2010
UFE > MCAT & losing my 407 virginity.
Alrighties ladies and gents.
UFE is just about 12 hours away. In light of that, I thought I'd finally get around to posting my UFE vs. MCAT post. =D (all in good fun. don't be offended, healthy people =p)
Time:
UFE: 13 hours over 3 days. no breaks during each sitting (5hours / 4hours / 4hours)
MCAT: 5 hours & 20 mins. AND 4x 10 minute breaks?
Subjects:
UFE: 7 total - Performance measurement & reporting; Assurance; Taxation; Finance; Management Decision Making; Pervasive Qualities; Governance, strategy and risk management
MCAT: 4 total - Biological sciences; physical sciences; verbal reasoning & writing
Pass/Fail:
UFE: Straight up Pass or Fail. There's actually THREE different ways to fail on the UFE (see image)
MCAT: You just get a scale 'rating' & a number back...
Marking:
UFE: 3 month marking period
MCAT: 1 month marking period
Results:
UFE: Determines whether you'll get a professional designation or not
MCAT: just something you need to get into SOME schools (you don't even need MCAT to get into some med schools!!!!)
Haha. No hate to science people =p. Just wanted to have some fun. UFE and MCAT are completely different exams for different purposes, I know =p. haha. But in all honesty, UFE has definitely been a pretty intense prep period... but I'm super excited just to get it out of the way and move on in life... assuming I pass =|. oh dear.
Losing my 407 virginity
UFE is tomorrow and the writing center is the International center in Sauga.. which I've never even heard of/been to, so I decided to wake up early today and find out where it is so that I'm not wasting time being lost tomorrow. Just took a few pics along the way. Definitely a nice morning drive.
Bright morning sunshine:
FIRST 407 DRIVE EVVVAAAAAARRRRR
How about I take a picture of YOU. how do you like it... HUH?
Just... long... open.. road... *drool*
Where dreams are made... (who am I kidding. no one dreams of being an accountant =p)
I think it said there was a Revlon/Johnson&Johnson sale in the room beside us.
The parking lot was so big and empty... so I did a mini autocross to take advantage of it =D.
It was nice and crisp outside so decided to take a quick pic of my car.
Since last time I took photos on the road people starting reminding me of the no handheld law... let's just pretend I had a passenger documenting the trip for me. yah? awesome.
weeeeee in any case - That's it for tonight. UFE countdown - 12 hours.
Good luck to all my fellow UFE writers. put on your game face andddd yeah. see y'all on the flip side.
UFE is just about 12 hours away. In light of that, I thought I'd finally get around to posting my UFE vs. MCAT post. =D (all in good fun. don't be offended, healthy people =p)
Time:
UFE: 13 hours over 3 days. no breaks during each sitting (5hours / 4hours / 4hours)
MCAT: 5 hours & 20 mins. AND 4x 10 minute breaks?
Subjects:
UFE: 7 total - Performance measurement & reporting; Assurance; Taxation; Finance; Management Decision Making; Pervasive Qualities; Governance, strategy and risk management
MCAT: 4 total - Biological sciences; physical sciences; verbal reasoning & writing
Pass/Fail:
UFE: Straight up Pass or Fail. There's actually THREE different ways to fail on the UFE (see image)
MCAT: You just get a scale 'rating' & a number back...
Marking:
UFE: 3 month marking period
MCAT: 1 month marking period
Results:
UFE: Determines whether you'll get a professional designation or not
MCAT: just something you need to get into SOME schools (you don't even need MCAT to get into some med schools!!!!)
Haha. No hate to science people =p. Just wanted to have some fun. UFE and MCAT are completely different exams for different purposes, I know =p. haha. But in all honesty, UFE has definitely been a pretty intense prep period... but I'm super excited just to get it out of the way and move on in life... assuming I pass =|. oh dear.
Losing my 407 virginity
UFE is tomorrow and the writing center is the International center in Sauga.. which I've never even heard of/been to, so I decided to wake up early today and find out where it is so that I'm not wasting time being lost tomorrow. Just took a few pics along the way. Definitely a nice morning drive.
Bright morning sunshine:
FIRST 407 DRIVE EVVVAAAAAARRRRR
How about I take a picture of YOU. how do you like it... HUH?
Just... long... open.. road... *drool*
Where dreams are made... (who am I kidding. no one dreams of being an accountant =p)
I think it said there was a Revlon/Johnson&Johnson sale in the room beside us.
The parking lot was so big and empty... so I did a mini autocross to take advantage of it =D.
It was nice and crisp outside so decided to take a quick pic of my car.
Since last time I took photos on the road people starting reminding me of the no handheld law... let's just pretend I had a passenger documenting the trip for me. yah? awesome.
weeeeee in any case - That's it for tonight. UFE countdown - 12 hours.
Good luck to all my fellow UFE writers. put on your game face andddd yeah. see y'all on the flip side.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
details of my last month: detailing.
So I clearly have not existed on my blog. Studying for the UFE is more mentally draining than I could have imagined so blogging wasn't at the top of my priority list.
UFE is coming up on Tuesday (and Wednesday... and Thursday...) but I thought I'd take a change of pace and get back on the blog for a bit. In my spare time, I've attempted to be as physically active as possible. Add in good weather... the only natural choice is to detail cars.
Detailing is a passion of mine. Many people keep telling me to do this as a side business... which I've considered. Next summer I'll probably start booking/charging for family/friends/referral details.
In any case, this summer has been all about detailing as many friend's cars so I can continue testing new products and seeing what I like.
The goal of my details: Bring the car's cleanliness back up to (and majority of the time, beyond) the condition it was in, brand new. Because I use top quality products and always finish off with a good wax/sealant, it's pretty easy to top new car quality.
Just thought I'd share some of the work I've done this past month:
To show some of the awesomeness that goes into detailing:
Leonard hit my car in the middle of summer leaving this:
After polishing and doing some quick touchups, leaves this:
Its not perfect, but not even noticeable unless close up. If i really cared, I would sand my touch-ups and polish/blend it in... but I don't care enough. lol. Tofu (my car) is going to be gone after winter!!!
Okay. onto some client cars.
2010 BMW 3.28 sedan - Metallic Black
look at that shinneeee. love black cars
signature reflection shot
2010 Subaru Imprezza SE 5dr - Pearl Black (it's just a gloss black =p)
pics on this at the end weren't that great since it was gloomy/raining when we finished.
signature reflection... but of the owner.. not me =p
only cool thing about raining on a finish is seeing the beading take place
2010 BMW 3.28 coupe Sport Package - Metallic Black
the rims on this car took like 50% of the detail time. lmao. so sexy.
signature
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Premium Package- Nordschleife Grey
too bad it wasn't in kimchi red or bulgogi brown.
hawt.
I got this thing 1.5 weeks old. It was fun seeing how much NICER I could make it than when it was picked up. the test drive after the detail was fun ^^. the thing goes like nothing.
Ford GT
j/k. I wish I could detail this monster. =(
Also detailed the pop's CL500 and the mum's CRV... but no pics.
Of course, my car gets to get in on the action.
2003 Mazda Protege 5 - Pure White
with modssssssssssssssssssssss worth absolutely nothing on tradein =(.
mmmm fresh wax with perfect beading
my car also does a light show at night.
Detailing is also a transferable skill!
Wanted to take some scratches off my watch.
50:50 on the buckle. left side polished (not washed yet) and right side untouched.
So that's a month of detailing. The season is pretttty much over... especially since I'll be on vacation for a week after UFE. Have a few more cars to do as favours to friends... but if you want a detail, be sure to book an appointment for next year early!
Okay. enough with my obsession for clean cars. More normal posts coming up soon!
UFE is coming up on Tuesday (and Wednesday... and Thursday...) but I thought I'd take a change of pace and get back on the blog for a bit. In my spare time, I've attempted to be as physically active as possible. Add in good weather... the only natural choice is to detail cars.
Detailing is a passion of mine. Many people keep telling me to do this as a side business... which I've considered. Next summer I'll probably start booking/charging for family/friends/referral details.
In any case, this summer has been all about detailing as many friend's cars so I can continue testing new products and seeing what I like.
The goal of my details: Bring the car's cleanliness back up to (and majority of the time, beyond) the condition it was in, brand new. Because I use top quality products and always finish off with a good wax/sealant, it's pretty easy to top new car quality.
Just thought I'd share some of the work I've done this past month:
To show some of the awesomeness that goes into detailing:
Leonard hit my car in the middle of summer leaving this:
After polishing and doing some quick touchups, leaves this:
Its not perfect, but not even noticeable unless close up. If i really cared, I would sand my touch-ups and polish/blend it in... but I don't care enough. lol. Tofu (my car) is going to be gone after winter!!!
Okay. onto some client cars.
2010 BMW 3.28 sedan - Metallic Black
look at that shinneeee. love black cars
signature reflection shot
2010 Subaru Imprezza SE 5dr - Pearl Black (it's just a gloss black =p)
pics on this at the end weren't that great since it was gloomy/raining when we finished.
signature reflection... but of the owner.. not me =p
only cool thing about raining on a finish is seeing the beading take place
2010 BMW 3.28 coupe Sport Package - Metallic Black
the rims on this car took like 50% of the detail time. lmao. so sexy.
signature
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Premium Package- Nordschleife Grey
too bad it wasn't in kimchi red or bulgogi brown.
hawt.
I got this thing 1.5 weeks old. It was fun seeing how much NICER I could make it than when it was picked up. the test drive after the detail was fun ^^. the thing goes like nothing.
Ford GT
j/k. I wish I could detail this monster. =(
Also detailed the pop's CL500 and the mum's CRV... but no pics.
Of course, my car gets to get in on the action.
2003 Mazda Protege 5 - Pure White
with modssssssssssssssssssssss worth absolutely nothing on tradein =(.
mmmm fresh wax with perfect beading
my car also does a light show at night.
Detailing is also a transferable skill!
Wanted to take some scratches off my watch.
50:50 on the buckle. left side polished (not washed yet) and right side untouched.
So that's a month of detailing. The season is pretttty much over... especially since I'll be on vacation for a week after UFE. Have a few more cars to do as favours to friends... but if you want a detail, be sure to book an appointment for next year early!
Okay. enough with my obsession for clean cars. More normal posts coming up soon!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
ka-ra-tay skills & detailer's purgatory.
Allo!
Slowly going to be back on this thing called a blog. Two quick updates!
Was preparing a vid for what I shared on Friday for my last CCF and stumbled upon another vid from a bit ago I thought everyone might enjoy... =|.
I'm not sure how many of you knew, but I used to be pretty involved at the Karate Dojo. For your enjoyment, here is how Len & I handle plates of steel.
KA RA TAYYYYY!
Also, i'm DONE SCHOOLLLL!!!. But that just means studying in Waterloo during the weekdays to prep for UFE =S. But back to Toronto for the weekends!
And being back in Toronto most weekends now means DETAILING. Detailing = utmost perfection of car cleaning and making it look amaazzzzinnng. It's been a hobby of mine for a few years now and I've been building up my collection of stuffs.
I can't quite say I reached detailer 'heaven' yet... since there are still a few things on my list still to get. Foam gun, some brushes, and it would be nice to not have all my stuff stored in boxes and a nice brightly lit garage to keep it all in... that would be nice. BUT, since that is yet to be, I shall remain in detailer's purgatory for a while. It's alright.
In any case, here's my collection of stuffs to date! Just picked up the rotary polisher recently. muahahaha.
Those are my two quick little updates. I'm off to London Ontario for a week for UFE training! Be back in a week, world!
Slowly going to be back on this thing called a blog. Two quick updates!
Was preparing a vid for what I shared on Friday for my last CCF and stumbled upon another vid from a bit ago I thought everyone might enjoy... =|.
I'm not sure how many of you knew, but I used to be pretty involved at the Karate Dojo. For your enjoyment, here is how Len & I handle plates of steel.
KA RA TAYYYYY!
Also, i'm DONE SCHOOLLLL!!!. But that just means studying in Waterloo during the weekdays to prep for UFE =S. But back to Toronto for the weekends!
And being back in Toronto most weekends now means DETAILING. Detailing = utmost perfection of car cleaning and making it look amaazzzzinnng. It's been a hobby of mine for a few years now and I've been building up my collection of stuffs.
I can't quite say I reached detailer 'heaven' yet... since there are still a few things on my list still to get. Foam gun, some brushes, and it would be nice to not have all my stuff stored in boxes and a nice brightly lit garage to keep it all in... that would be nice. BUT, since that is yet to be, I shall remain in detailer's purgatory for a while. It's alright.
In any case, here's my collection of stuffs to date! Just picked up the rotary polisher recently. muahahaha.
Those are my two quick little updates. I'm off to London Ontario for a week for UFE training! Be back in a week, world!
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