Home Alone

My 2 Kids are back to college, spring break is over. Nadire though has another week to burn and she's spending her last free week in L.A.

I just did a prank on one of my tech co-worker by sending an email/text that some of our servers are experiencing BSD after he did a patch. After a few emails/text back and forth i finally told him I was just messing up with him. Poor guy had a huge panic attack. Did i mention he just join our team 3 months ago?

After the excitement and being home alone  I feel like taking off the old record off the shelf (Nadire warned me not to do this). or maybe just trash the place like this.

Happy 1st!

236: Women know what men want

Got a chance to watch the Padre's game tonight but instead gave away all my tickets. I'm not a baseball fan but it would have been nice to go out on a friday night, a fitting end of a crazy week.

But it was just one of those days when you just want to go home and lay on the couch. After all, I got to catch up on my DVR viewing. I have not finished watching the Tour De France (even though it was over a week ago and am still in the Pyrenees), 10 episodes of Sienfeld, Curly, Larry and Moe, King of Queens, Big Bang and yes Gilmore Girls.

Of course, I caught a glimpse of my mom on Facebook and a blow by blow stories from my sister on her trip back home.  No thanks to the government (for shifting to the so called e-passport which ironically takes ages to process), I would have been suffering (happily) with the humid weather back home.

Instead I'm laughing silently with Jerry saying"Women know what men want and men know what men want...We want want women. How do we get them? We don't have any idea. Men gets frustrated when they see women reading articles like Where to Meet Men. We are here...we are everywhere".

213: Best Wishes

A former co-work asked me if I met someone interesting in my new job. I said yes but they are all married except for one. Good she said. So do you want to do something about it? she asked. I said no because I just found out she getting married this week.  Instead of taking my shot at her, I shelled out 5 bucks for my share for her gift and sign a "Best Wishes" card.

#209: Brilliant Healers

As I walked into my new office for the first time, I started to use the computer. I noticed my mouse pad and really made my day as I begin to laugh. Who would forget the funny trio of Curly, Larry and Moe. Laughter is really the best medicine.

#197: You make me feel like A Natural (wo)Man

The rain is pouring tonight. It's cold and windy. Tomorrow will not be better according to the weather prediction. As I was driving home from a late late night business meeting, I found myself singing along with  "the queen of soul", Aretha Franklin, singing A Natural Woman.

Weird? Yes, only if you have not heard Rod Stewart's cover of this song changing from Woman to Man. Whew!

#191: Reading materials at Kaiser

It's always a common site when you go to a clinic where reading materials are everywhere. It's a way to tell you that "you're gonna get bored waiting and here's something to read while we let you wait".

Well, here's a interesting reading material at Kaiser while me and my daughter Deirdre were waiting to see a doctor. On the first glance it just another one of those magazines.

But wait take another look.

Yes this magazine is dated August 23, 1988. This is even older that my daughter. So you think Kaiser is High tech?

#172: Dear Santa

This is another one of those email forwards. She's just so cute not to share her thoughts.

Dear Santa, this year, please send clothes for all those poor ladies  in Daddy's computer

#135: It's not you it's me

Here's a tip for you out there. When you're about to get dumped and she/he started to say the "It's not you it's me" routine. Here's a good come back.

This was taken from my favorite sitcom Seinfeld . In this scene, Goerge Constanza was about to get dumped.





Can't View video from facebookf? click here for the original

#133: My plate's full

I'm having a hard time deciding what to write. It's one of those days that I feel like doing nothing after a hard day's work.

As always, my day starts by dropping off Nadire to school at 7:30 AM. My work doesn't start till 9AM so I had all the time to prepare.

My plate is full and projects keep piling up. First order of business in the office on fridays is a teleconference with our developers in implementing ClearHealth in our Clinic. Next is a new project to develop an online survey system based on LimeSurvey to be used by the sdAPI project. Another is a VOIP implementation of Elastix for a small business. Elastix is a tough nut to crack.

Later in the afternoon is another brainstorming session for my SimpleTransactions project which will soon be launched in December.

In between these craziness, I caught a glimpse of a scene from the movie "Erin Brockovich" (fast forward to 6:27)

Ed Masry: What makes you think you can just walk in there and take whatever you want?
Erin Brockovich: They're called boobs, Ed.

By the time I was done, it was 6PM and I have to rush back home to have dinner with the kids. Josh is out watching his school's football game. Nadire's out with her friend. So it was just me and Deirdre. We decided to go for Vietnamese food this time.

So many things to do, so little time. Can't wait for the long thanksgiving break.

#110: First ever blogger?

It suddenly crossed my mind today while thinking what to blog the question about who was the first ever blogger?  After much searching for the answer I ran across some blogs that it was Doogie Howser.


Doogie Howser, MD was family favorite in the 80's.

it was a television comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a brilliant doctor (at the age of 14) who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager.

The best part of every episode is when at the end of each day, he would turn to his Personal Computer and would write a short journal which basically called blogging or twitting nowadays. The only difference is he wasn't doing it online.

Surprisingly, I found this blog that seems to show all Doogies' journal from 1989-1993, the actual dates when this show was on this air.

For those Doogie Howser Fans who wants to relive the show, you can watch every episodes here.


Neil Patrick Harris has recently made a comeback with the mild success of another comedy-sitcom How I met your mother.

#105: A friday night out

What does a single father do on a Friday night? A romantic dinner date? Bar hopping? A good movie perhaps? try again. Well what about a night out with a bunch of 12 year olds.

Tonight I was the designated driver for my daughter Nadire and her friends (kathy, Jenny and Darlene) to visit the haunted trail in Balboa Park. I've never been to this place but I heard it can scare the hell out of you.

We had problem finding the place even with my garmin GPS and the iPhone in hand. But after driving around the park we finally found it. The place is packed, mostly teenagers. Parking was a challenge as well.

I decided not to go in and told them that I'll just wait in the car. Few minutes later, two of Nadire's friends (kathy and Jenny) came back and told me they couldn't take it. It was too scary for them they said. Nadire and Darlene (with much hesitations) went ahead.

Together with her two friends, we probably waited for about 45 minutes. I tried to entertain them both so they won't get bored. Believe me you don't want to get stucked with bored kids on a friday night. Finally, Nadire and her friend finally came out panting and still pumped up with the experienced. She said the place was awesome, really scary at times but all in all it was fun.

later, I decided to treat them for a night cap at iHop. Well it was more of a dinner and even pretended it was Kathy's Birthday to get a a complimentary ice cream.

As I was paying the bill, the waiter smiled and asked if everything was ok. I said it was all good. "Are those  your daughters?", he suddenly asked. Probably wondering about these lovely kids together acting like their sisters. "Yes they are, they are sisters from different mothers", I said as I turned towards the door trying to hold myself from laughing.

He shouted back "you're my hero!".

#85: What if this is as good as it gets?

Another one of my favorite movie is "As good as it gets".

As Good as It Gets stars Jack_Nicholson (Melvin) and Helen Hunt (Carol). Melvin Udall  is a racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic misanthrope who works at home as a best-selling romance novelist in New York. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder which, paired with his misanthropy, puts off the neighbors in his Manhattan apartment building and nearly everyone else with whom he comes into contact.

This movie has some of the most memorable quotes that made this film a classic. Like this excellent monologue of Melvin when he confronted his gay neighbor:

Never, never, interrupt me, okay? Not if there's a fire, not even if you hear the sound of a thud from my home and one week later there's a smell coming from there that can only be a decaying human body and you have to hold a hanky to your face because the stench is so thick that you think you're going to faint. Even then, don't come knocking. Or, if it's election night, and you're excited and you wanna celebrate because some fudgepacker that you date has been elected the first queer president of the United States and he's going to have you down to Camp David, and you want someone to share the moment with. Even then, don't knock. Not on this door. Not for ANY reason. Do you get me, sweetheart?

 Or this excellent compliment of Melvin trying to win the heart of Carol

I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and how you are with Spencer, "Spence," and in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive. And the fact that I get it makes me feel good, about me.

 This is definitely a must see movie.

#84: Stupid and Funny Ads

craigslist is not only home for many scammers, it's also a place for stupid advertisements.

Here's some of these ads that it's either legitimate or not. But who cares they are funny

I have a huge bathroom
"I am a female in my mid 60's and I am looking for a room mate. Times are tight and I need some extra money. I am willing to rent out my bathroom in my 1 bedroom east village home. My bathroom is large. You can easily put a twin air mattress in there. I only ask that when I need to use the bathroom, you or your air mattress are not in it. I do ask that when you are in the apartment, you confine yourself to the bathroom. I do not feel comfortable with a stranger walking around my living room. This might change as I get to know you better."

I took your purse and felt a connection
"Tuesday night around 11:30. On 53rd btw 1st and 2nd. You came out of the subway and I followed you. You looked over your shoulder, saw me and started walking faster. I ran up, grabbed your arm, took your purse and ran away. I've done many a snatch-and-grab but no one has ever stuck in my mind like you. There was a quick moment when our eyes met that I felt something strong. I think you felt it too. If I wasn't so shy (or so committing a crime) I would have asked your name. I, of course, later got your name from your drivers license. So Jennifer if you'd like to get together for a drink sometime get back to me."

Ferocious attack kitten
"This destructive kitty has been trained as a proud warrior and will fiercely defend your house, even against you. Has a very soft and furry belly, like a teddy bear - however he will bite your face if you try to touch it. For the love of God, someone please take this thing out of my house."

 Here's more funny ads.

#53: Words Women and Men Use

I normally don't read forwarded email but today this one caught my attention (due to some circumstances). I'm posting this "9 words women use". Some of you may already have read it but I can't resist sharing to those who have not.

Well instead of posting the email. I found a video version of this:


Now to be politically correct, I have to post "phrases men use"


Here's a bonus video on How men talk to their wives.


Can't see the video? Click here for the original post

#48: Bleed Normally?

I just came back from a 2 day Open Source World conference in San Francisco.

In a nutshell, the conference showcased the next big thing in technology which is Cloud Computing. I did talked about this technology earlier in this post and it looks like a wave of companies are getting into it. Pretty soon, the cloud will most likely dominate the way we do business online.

Anyway, it's always a great experience attending this type of conferences. You got to see emerging trends that could spun a new revolution in the computing world.

It's been two years since I last visited San Francisco and each time I didn't had a chance to see the city. Although, I was surprised to see a Jollibee just across the Moscone Center on 4th and Howard. I quickly snap a picture of it.



The trip is quite hectic. I spent most of the time in the conference center, going in and out of the countless sessions. Information is enormous. It would take me a couple of days to review all the materials I gathered. By mid afternoon on each day, I was struggling to keep up and what made it worse is they stop serving coffee after 10am.

By the time I finally boarded the plane back to San Diego, I was so exhausted that I thought the stewardess said on the intercom "...although we don't expect any change on the cabin pressure, if needed, oxygen masks will drop down. Clobber your mouth and bleed normally" (the correct phrase was actually "Cover your mouth and breath normally").

I let out a short chuckle, closed my eyes and relish the thought that in an hour Ill be arriving in sunny San Diego, back in the comfort of my home...

#44: My top 10 Geeky Pick Up Lines

Ever wonder how Geeky Tech guys pick up girls? Here's my list.

1. It seems you caught a virus, you want me to scan you?

2. You had me at "right click"

3. I lost my email, can I have yours?

4. You're so beautiful, can I use your pic as my screen-saver?

5. I love to add you to my bookmark.

6. Wanna access my new website?

7. You make me want to upgrade my laptop.

8. I guess the search is over because you end up on top of my google search results.

9. I would love to clean your inbox.

10. Wanna download my new apps?

disclaimer: this list is on beta version thus not appropriate for production use. Use at your own risk. Aemes World is not responsible for any heart crash.

#42: Goin' Korean

Today my kids and I went to Zion Market, a korean grocery, a good 16 mile drive from where we live.

Deirdre has been bugging me for weeks to visit the place. She wanted to buy some stuff to make sushi and try some of the Korean food she's been reading about.

You see, Deirdre has been learning the Korean language and their culture on her own. She's so fascinated with it that she want to pursue some studies in Korea before going to medical school.

As we entered the grocery, together with Josh, she immediately disappeared amongst the sea of shoppers. This place is busy.

I was left by myself going around trying to figure out what to buy. Almost all the food labels are in Korean and they all look delicious to me.

I finally catch up with them with some stuff. "What are these?", I asked. "Don't worry about it, it's gonna be good", she smiled. "Well how much are these?", I asked. "Don't worry, it's gonna be good", she repeated. "Hey what about some kimchi", I shouted. "Why don't you grab some fruits they are cheap", she shouted back, as she again disappeared from my site.

Alright, I said to myself, since am here, I might as well pick up some things for myself. I grab some short ribs and rib eye steak, some spices and oh yeah some fruits as she suggested.

They finally came back after a few minutes and said their done. I went straight to the cashier and the girl at the counter smiled and started ringing me up. I looked at Deirdre, and with some protest, "Don't even think about it, dad". I said "What?". She knows that I have the habit of starting small talks. Which of course I did.

I said, "Hi". "Everything ok?", she asked. "Yeah great, this is my first time here", I said. "How'd you like it?, she asked. "Well the Kimchi is a bit expensive, but I guess that's probably because it's made in Korea?", I said as I caught Deirdre's eyes rolling. "It's our specialty, I'm sure you're going to like it", she smiled. "that would be $86.17, sir would that be credit or debit?", she asked.

"Credit please", I said. "Oh one more thing, are you Korean?", I asked. Before she can even answer, Deirdre barked "Oh my God!!!". end of conversation...

#36: Perfect Girlfriend and Boyfriend too

Commercials are part of our daily TV viewing. It's sometimes very annoying. But every now and then, they are entertaining.

Here's a commercial I really like...Perfect Girlfriend



But if there's a Perfect Girlfriend, there's a Perfect Boyfriend too.


Can't see the video? View the original post here.

#34: You''re addicted to facebook if...

You are addicted to facebook if:

5. You begin a conversation with "Eric Bringas is..."

4. You call in sick, can't barely get out of bed but will take time to update your status to let everyone know you're sick.

3. You keep saying "Like this" (with a thumbs up) during meetings when you agree to something.

2. Your friends are the first to knows what's on your mind before your mom.

1. You suddenly want to change career and become a farmer.

are you addicted to facebook? tell me why?

#27: 5 stupid things I should have not said

Did you ever wish you can take back what you said because you realized it was stupid? Well everyone in one way or another had experience such a boo boo. Here's the top 5 stupid things I said to girls (for real).

5. "What's that on your face, that red thingy? Might want to check the mirror" (not realizing it was a blush on, she spent 10 minutes in the restroom trying to retouch her makeup)

4. My co-worker said, "You know my birthday is on monday". I replied, "Already? Didn't you just had your 30th birthday last month?" (she's actually just 22 years old, I mistakenly mixed her up with another much older co-worker)

3. "I see your drinking non-fat milk, is it because you think your fat?"

2. Trying to make a conversation with a hot lady working in a coffee shop. "Maybe we can grab a coffee sometime?" duh she works at a coffee shop

And the number one stupid thing I said,"Hey you think you can brew some coffee and see if you're a wife material?"

Crap!, I just increased my chance of being single forever.