NickGailfus.com

A few months ago I upgraded from a Blackberry Storm to the Motorola Droid running Google’s Android mobile operating system.  I would have to say that I am very impressed with the interface that Android has.  The phone itself is fast.  The Blackberry Storm I had would sometimes be unusable for a few minutes after unlocking the device.  The Droid is very quick and responsive.  The web browser loads pages very quickly even on when using the Verizon 3G network.  The phone also has the capability to connect to an 802.11g Wi-Fi network.

My favorite part of using an Android phone is how it integrates with my Google account.  I use a lot of Google’s products such as Gmail and Google Calendar.  Any appointment on my calendar or any email in my inbox is always in sync between the phone and my account.  The Blackberry Storm required a plug-in or order to sync the calendar with Google and would always duplicate or mess up the events on my calendar.  I tell people that if they use Gmail and want a smart phone that they should get an Android phone.  Android can pull email from other sources and will even sync with Microsoft Exchange server.

My Favorite Applications (Apps)

Here are some of the apps I use the most on my phone.

Astrid

Astrid (weloveastrid.com) is a task list manager that I have been using as my to do list.  You can set up reminders, set priorities and even sync with RemembertheMilk.com if you have an account with them.  Right now Astrid hosts my ever growing list of things to get done around the house.

Locale

Locale can change settings on your phone based on conditions you set up.  You tell Locale that when it sees you are at the movies it can silence your ringer.  I also use Locale to turn off alerts and leave on only the ringer at night so that new emails do not wake anyone up.  Ringer volume is not the only setting it can change.  I also have it turn the Wi-Fi on based at home and at work but have it off when I’m away from either location.  Note that this app was free when I first got it as it was in beta.  It is now $9.99.

Google Sky Map

Google Sky Maps uses the camera, GPS and compass in the phone to show you what constellation you are looking at.  I do not use this app a lot.  However, it is an app that I show off the most to people.  The rare times I do use it are when I am trying to see what planet is shining brightly in the night sky.

Twidroid

Twidroid seems to be the most popular Android app for Twitter.  I admit that I have not used any other ones but I find that Twidroid does everything I need for posting to and reading from Twitter.  They have a paid pro version but I find the free version to be more than enough.

DroidLight

DroidLight was made by Motorola for use on the Droid.  It does one thing: turns the LED camera flash on so you can use it as a flash light.  The interface is simple, just turn tap the light bulb to turn the light on and off.  I find this a lot better than the flashlight apps out there that just make your screen all white.

Today I did my weekly weigh in at Weight Watchers and passed a new milestone.  I have lost a total of 51 pounds since joining in August.  Today the meeting leader referred to me as the “results not typical” member given how fast I lost 50 pounds.  I feel so much better than I did back when first joining.  Yesterday I wore pants to work that were 2 sizes smaller than what I used to wear.  Even though they were a little tight I figure that I will “shrink” into them. 

Though I still have a ways to go before I obtain my goal I am looking optimistic and hope to be a lot closer to that goal by my 1 year anniversary with Weight Watchers.

Another year has come and gone.  2009 has had its share of ups and downs but all in all it has been a good year.  Terra and I have been in our new home for a little over a year now and have been making it more and more like home.  The sprinkler and drip system has been fixed so now we have landscaping that is alive.  I am amazed how well the lawn came back without having to seed it.  It is hard to believe that we have been in this house for over a year.

This past year I have finally strived to lose weight.  I have joined a gym and in August joined Weight Watchers.  I have been going every week December 26th I have lost 45 pounds.  I have to say that I also feel 45 times better than I did before starting.  

For 2010 my main goal will be to continue to lose weight and reach my goal of losing over 100 pounds.  This year I should also work more to help Terra as she works towards her master’s degree.  Not necessarily helping with homework but by helping her deal with the stress of work and school.

Here is to a new year and hopefully a good one.

This past week I had to go to training for Microsoft’s Systems Center Configuration Manager.  The training location was at Central Ave and Thomas, right next to a Valley Metro light rail stop.  I decided that I will use the bus and light rail system to get to the training center.  This took a load off of having to deal with traffic and navigating downtown Phoenix.  Having a park and ride center near my house also made this an easy choice.  Valley Metro had an express bus route that ran from that park and ride non-stop to downtown Phoenix.  From there, I would get off the bus near the Central Station at Van Buren and Central Avenue, cross the street and hop onto a light rail train to ride it up Central Avenue.  The whole trip took roughly 45 minutes in the morning and a little longer in the afternoon. 

The experience was something that I would not mind doing everyday to get to work.  I got to see how the light rail works, and got a good impression on using public transportation in order to commute to and from work.  The light rail basically just require you to have a pass to ride but they do not make you go through any turn stalls.  Instead it is more of an honor system.  However, they do perform random checks.  Three times this week I witnessed Phoenix police coming onto the train to perform one of these random checks.  Just today in fact, a police officer stepped into the car I was in, waited for the doors to close and the train to start moving and said, “Ticket check.”  After this week’s experience I would not hesitate to use the buses and light rail to get to downtown Phoenix in the future.

Terra and I are currently in the process of buying a new home.  We recently placed an offer on a bank owned property near Sossaman and Guadalupe in Mesa.  The bank has accepted the offer and the home in now in escrow.  We just had our inspection today and there is not any major issues for us to be concerned with as we move forward.  The downside is that the home is being sold as-is as the bank will not make any repairs.  Luckily for us, there are no major repairs to be made that would cost us a lot of money.  However, the home does need to be treated for termites but that is something that is common in Arizona.  We hope to be into the home by the time our lease is up in September.  We posted some pictures at our website:  http://nickandterra.com/photos

I have not posted to this site in quite some time.  I almost feel guilty neglecting this blog while I work on creating a new one.  That is right, Terra and I have set up a new joint blog.  First a joint apartment, then a joint bank account and now a joint blog.  I ended up purchasing a domain and hosting from GoDaddy.com.  I then used WordPress to set up and publish to the site.  I was quite impressed with the fact that I went from purchasing a domain to having a website up in two days.  The site will mainly be used to post information on our upcoming wedding and anything else that is going on in our lives.  You can find this at http://nickandterra.com

A couple months ago, after getting completely frustrated with trying to find a eye glasses prescription that will correct my double vision, I decided to go ahead with surgery that was recommended by my optometrist.  The surgery consisted of moving the muscles that align my eyes.  Six days ago on Tuesday March 18th, I had that surgery.  It was quite stressful at first.  I was not supposed to wear any glasses with prism and allow my eyes and brain to adjust to the new position of my eyes.  I would periodically have moments of single vision throughout the week but those periods resulted in my eyes becoming fatigued and strained.  However, the periods of single vision would last longer and longer and more frequently as my eyes healed.  Today I had a break through that has be grinning from ear to ear.  Today I returned to work and boy did my eyes have a workout.  I would have much longer periods of single vision then I did sitting around the apartment recovering.  Tonight I must have given them the workout they needed.  I still end up seeing double if I were to completely relax my eyes.  However, not seeing double is a piece of cake right now.  My eyes are currently not straining as they were before.  I’m not taking this as the moment in which my double vision is completely gone.  I’m sure I’ll have moments tomorrow.  I plan on giving my eyes the rest they need when they are strained in order to get through the day.  If my vision has come this far in less than a week, I am excited to see how it turns out after my eyes have completely healed.

I don’t know about everyone else but it is only February and I am starting to get a little politiced out.  With nine months left until the 2008 Presidential Election we on the Democratic side a black man and a crazy lady.  On the Republican side we have an old man who apparently has to move both his arms at the same time in order to stay alive, a Walker Texas Ranger fanatic and a man who’s only supporters are 20 something’s who probably don’t even bother getting off their butts to vote.  I honestly at one time thought the Ron Paul Revolution was a band.  

Now the reason I may be so burned out on politics already could be how divided everyone is.  Before I thought the two party system was a little whack but now it is more than ever.  I live in Arizona which I believe is still a primarily Republican state.  Back when I was 18 and filling out the form to register to vote I decided to choose Democrat as my party.  Now at the time I did not really now what each party stood for.  Honestly, I picked Democrat because at the time Clinton was in office and I thought, "Hey, I like what he’s doing."  As a Democrat, however, I am afraid to speak my mind or even mention I am a registered Democrat.  It is hard to when you work with people who use the word liberal as if it is a swear word.  Republicans hate Democrats, Democrats hate Republicans.  In the mean time this country is going down the tubes. 

This year I actually watched a good part of the President’s State of the Union Address.  I thought I would check out what state of denial he was in.  In watching the speech I started to realize how much of a tool everyone in Congress is to their party.  I seriously thought I heard hooting from the Republicans.  Was I watching Arsenio Hall Show?  I was waiting for them to start pumping their fists in the air.  The division of this country was quite clear during his speech.  It was quite evident in when only half of Congress would stand to applaud while everyone else sat.  All the while he pushes for the party walls to come down and for everyone to work together except he’s the biggest party tool of them all. 

Each party hates each other so much that nothing will pass except maybe bills pushed by lobbyists.  Congress may be made of up two parties bickering but they all seem to be tools of lobbyists.  While bills about stem cell research and child health care get shot down, bills backed by the Motion Picture Association of America pass.  Lobbyists manage get what ever they want slipped into bills.  The latest, requiring colleges and universities to put in place anti-piracy measures or possibly lose federal funding.  All because they are losing so much money to piracy.  Perhaps, the MPAA could stop throwing your money into making crap movies and maybe people will pay to watch them.  Which brings me to the realization that Congress doesn’t make laws, big business makes laws.  Until Senators and Congressmen stop slipping in little revisions for a little kick back, we are doomed. 

Whoever wins this election will have their work cut out for them.  We were once a country who’s currency was the standard for international trade.  Now we are becoming the laughing stock of the world.  The person who takes over as President of the United States come January 2009 will have a lot on their plate.

When looking back on the past year, I cannot help to think about how unique and special 2007 was. First, I should look at the resolutions I posted last January and see if I held up to them.

Lose Weight

I thought this one would be a no brainer. The reason – I wasn’t working for McDonald’s. The problem with that is with my new job I’m sitting down most of the day at a computer. When I worked at McDonald’s I was on my feet all day. However, now Terra and I are working out with a personal trainer so this resolution is being extended into 2008.

Graduate College

Done! I took part in the University of Phoenix commencement ceremony in April and I finally finished all my courses in June. Of course I was set to be on course for graduation when I made this resolution so one can say that I cheated on this one.

Financial Stability

With a new higher paying job this was a simple one as well. I can easily make my student loan payments and have been putting a little more into savings than I was before.

Organization

For 2007 I looked to become more organized.  I tend to not put things away when I should at let clutter build up.  Now I still think I am not as organized as I can be.  However, Terra believes that I am the most organized person she knows.  Of course I believe she is referring to my mad digital organizational skills.  I tag email in Gmail as it comes in, I organize my files and music so I know exactly where it should be.  I just have a hard time keeping physical things organized I guess.

Self-Confidence

Last year I vowed to be more self-confident.  There are still times where I don’t speak my mind when I should.  I believe I am more self-confident than I was one year ago.  One year ago I was 5 months into my new job and my first job as a computer/network tech.  Now I am kicking some tail at this job and know a lot more than I did before.  I suppose one can say that I have become more self-confident, just in a way that I did not intend.

Social Life

My last resolution from last year.  I told myself I was going to have a social life.  I wasn’t going to sit at home and chat online or surf the web on Friday nights.  Lately I have been going out every weekend.  It is usually with Terra and just out for dinner and a movie or what ever we feel like doing.  However, it is something…right?

Resolutions for 2008

Now to lay down the resolutions for 2008.  First, loose weight is going to remain up there on the list.  Second, be closer to possibly purchasing a home.  I’m not necessarily saying that I want to buy a home this year, just want to be on track towards buying one.  Third, convince the higher-ups at my job that 36,000 miles on my personal vehicle in a year and a half is not cool.  Work truck please.  Finally, marry Terra.  That one will be explained in a moment.

2007 – What happened there?

2007 was a unique year and it is hard to believe all these things happened.  The first being that it snowed in Mesa, Arizona.  That’s right, it did.  Don’t believe me?  The proof is in the post, Snow?! In Mesa?!.  It is hard to imagine that it went from snow in January to record number of days that it was 110 degrees or more. 

After seeing that snow, one would think "what else happened in 2007?"  Well, as I mentioned before I graduated college with my bachelors degree in Information Technology.  I took part in the commencement ceremony in April and finally finished in June.

The year 2007 is also the year I met my now future wife Terra.  We met care of eHarmony, are currently living together and are now engaged.  I asked her to marry me shortly after one in the morning on Christmas after returning from my mom’s house.  Christmas also happened to be our nine month anniversary.  We are going to hold out until November to be hitched so that my brother Andrew should be able to attend.  He is currently serving in Iraq until September.

That about sums up 2007 for me in a nutshell.  This also makes the longest blog post I have made.  Even longer than my rant against the towing of my car.

It has been a while since my last blog posting. In fact, I can’t even remember what the subject of my last blog posting was without looking it up. Ah yes, what to do with myself now that I’m done with school. Since then a lot has changed in my life. My former roommate Geoff sold his house prompting me to move on and move in with my girlfriend Terra. Of course this move was the best thing that I could have done. Everything has been great. I tend to be the type of person that fears change. However, this has been the best change I could have made. It is hard to imagine that we have only been together for seven months. We feel like we have been together for a long time and at the same time, feel as if our relationship has just begun. I look forward to what the future holds for me and hope Terra will be along for the ride.