My Lego Universe

The first toy I ever owned as far back as I can remember were Legos. All the pieces then were mainly square or rectangle blocks in red, blue, yellow and white. I grew up playing Legos with my childhood friend Goff. I recall recreating aircraft carriers and battle scenes from our favorite movie, Midway. Then after 1977, we really had to use our imagination to make X-Wings and Tie Fighters as Star Wars hit the screen. Man, how I loved Star Wars and Legos!

Fast forward 35 years and I still love Star Wars and I still love my Legos. Maybe even more so because now I have the ability to buy any set I want, plus I share that love with my children. With so many to choose from every year, I really have to practice restraint whenever I'm shopping at Amazon. A typical Amazon shopping trip will go like this: First I'll place a $15-20 item in the cart, then I'll add a $40 Lego set to qualify for free shipping. Totally justifiable right?

I did not start collecting Legos until about six years ago when my boys started developing a deep interest in them. Since then, I've spent several hundred dollars every year buying Legos. Some we give away for gifts, some we buy used, and some are hidden away that no one will uncover until I'm dead. Make no mistake, these are my Legos. But don't feel sorry for my kids, they still get plenty with their birthdays and Christmas gifts, and certain sets I open just to get the minifigures. Together, it adds up to quite a bit. We have more Legos than anyone I know. The only problem that keeps coming up is where to display them.

After researching some ideas online, I purchased a 16x20 shadow box from Michael's on sale for $15. Using black foam core, I assembled a shelf for my minifigures. I glued in some 2x12 baseplates and voilà—instant storage display for my most prized characters. Inside the case they'll never get dusty, never taken apart, and never molested by curious, filthy fingers. I value my Legos.

Believe me, I could easily fill the entire case with minifigures, but my boys were already complaining that I confiscated way too many characters. Oh boohoo, Qui-gon Jinn me a river! So being the gracious and merciful father that I am, I limited myself to just 60 minifigures. To fill the extra space on top, I created a grid for the mini-ships from the Advent Calendars. And below I created a snow scene to display the holiday and Hoth characters. All in all, only 95 elements are represented.

You may question how I can spend so much on Legos. It's just a toy! Well, all normal guys have some sort of hobby, some sort of collection. Just like women, guys spend money on things they personally value, regardless of what others think. I see it this way: I don't buy new cars, I don't go to games or concerts, I don't ski, I don't do Starbucks or Quickly, I don't buy fashion sunglasses or shoes, I don't buy video games or Blurays, and I don't have monthly cable or cell phone bills. If you think about your monthly budget for those items, it comes out to a lot of money, and a lot of Legos! Plus, you know I'll never pay full prices.

In this noisy day and age of video games, social media and ADHD, Lego is a quiet welcome alternative that not only spurs creativity, but also encourages problem-solving skills. You can play both on your own and with a friend. But to me, the absolute number one best thing about playing with Legos: Lego-time is time with my kids.

Time flies, and I'm already dreading that day when I'll have to pack all the Legos away. It will be a sad moment for me. Hopefully when they have kids of their own, they'll look back at this time and cherish the things we built together. I hope they'll realize how lucky they were having an awesome, nutty Lego-fanatic dad such as me. And if I'm still alive to play with my grandchildren, maybe, just maybe, I'll unearth those extra-special sets I've been saving...

We'll see.

Free 500mb data with FreedomPop

I've been on the T-Mobile no-contract prepaid plan for eight years now. $100 for 1000 minutes/year just cannot be beat. I purchased the original $100, then just topped off $50 every year after. The unused minutes rollover and never expires as long as I top up before the year is up. With the availability of a land line and wi-fi all day at my desk, I only average about 40 minutes a month, using it mainly on the road and on weekends. I'm sure I've saved into the thousands compared to a monthly plan.

Two things I miss most about my prepaid plan are:

1. Cannot buy $199 iPhone 5. I have to either buy a $649 unlocked version, or buy a used iPhone 4/4S for around $200
2. No data plan. Hotspots are available at many places like McDonalds, Starbucks, library, City of Milpitas, JCPenney, but not when I need it: in my car, at the park, in a restaurant, etc. 

To address the first problem, I have reliable germ-free friends that always sell me their used iPhones when they upgrade. They always want the best, and I'll gladly settle for second best. Thanks to them, I've owned every previous generation of the iPhone.

To address problem number two, I ordered the FreedomPop Photon Hotspot.

For the last two weeks, I've been using the Photon for my daily commute and weekends. It supports up to eight devices on it—enough for both our iPhones, iPad and Macbook. And being in San Jose, the speeds are incredibly fast on Clearwire's 4G Wimax. So far, I've been quite pleased. I reply to email quicker, text message, and use maps for traffic and navigation.

Note: In other places, like along I-880 traveling through Hayward, speeds will drop 50-75%. Also, each speed test eats up 10mb of data, so use sparingly.

500mb for FREE!

With the purchase of the Photon hotspot, you get 500mb for free every month. No strings. The cost of the Photon is $99 + $6.99 shipping and takes two weeks to arrive. They call the $99 a "deposit" because you can return it within a year and get your money back (you pay shipping). What they are hoping is that you will enjoy the service so much, you will just keep the Photon, forfeiting your deposit after a year.

The free 500mb should last about a month if you do moderate levels of email, Facebook and photo uploads. 500mb averages to about 16mb/day. Below is my usage on Friday sitting in a doctor's waiting room, and Saturday at a restaurant. 1mb for checking email, 2-6mb for Facebook updates and light surfing, and 17mb for taking pictures which I set to automatically upload to my photo stream. As demonstrated, it is about 16mb per day, and good enough for me.

If you go over your 500mb, you will be charged 2¢ per mb. Fortunately upon sign up, you are given an extra 1gb to cover any overages. This is a nice perk to relieve any anxiety you might have incurring any surprise charges. If you avoid Netflix, YouTube and other streaming sites, 500mb should be enough.

Earn More Data

You can also pay $10 for 1gb/month, or complete offers to earn additional data. But the easiest way is to just link your friends. If you sign up and find me in your address book, we both get an extra 50mb/month. Additionally, you'll get another 50mb for every friend you connect with, up to 1gb. Unlike Facebook, on FreedomPop there ain't no shame being a friend collector. This is how they try to lock you up after a year. Let's say, upon the 12th month, you have 10 friend getting you an extra 500mb/month free. You won't want to cancel the plan just to get your $99 back. It's better to just stay on for free.

So hurry up and get your FreedomPop Photon, because I just can't wait to be your friend! Yep, you and I can be buddies in the 50/50 club! Please consider it. I even penned a poem to encourage you:

All through the city I walk it alone

searching for wi-fi I can't call my own.

Discovering the Photon is such a cool treat

Too bad for me it's not all-you-can-eat.

 Now searching again for friends to connect

to build up my data, that's all I expect.

 We link up online, rewarded with fifty

Can life be this good, while being so thrifty?

Checking in everywhere, and replying to mail
Post pics from a meal, before it gets stale.
 Maps for directions, news of weather and crime
How'd we live without data for such a long time?

You long for the day to thank me face to face

But now with my hotspot, I'm never in one place.

You think of me often, but please don't lose sight

'Cause I only needed you for fifty megabytes.

-WFP

External links/reviews:

http://www.freedompop.com/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanshapiro/2013/02/23/freedompop-hands-on-and-unplugged-at-home/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2410839,00.asp

http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/freedompop-review-free-4g-wireless-internet-access-can-help-you-save-on-your-cell-phone-bill/

My 5/40 Club

On Wednesday I attended the funeral of my dear friend's mom. In the photo above, I am pictured in the company of my longest lasting friendships. Hard to believe, but I have been friends with each of these guys for over 40 years. The only guy missing is Chris (the original Fongpay), whom I see every week. All in all, I still keep in touch with five friends that I've grown up with since kindergarten. I am in the 5/40 Club.

No one actually enjoys a funeral, but to put a positive on it, you'll get to reunite with distant friends/relatives all in one place and relive those cherished memories you share with them. Seeing dear friends during the most depressing times really help take the sting out of the mourning—if even for only an hour. When I got the email Friday for the funeral, I'm sure I did exactly what these other guys did, I moved my schedule around to be sure I would be there. There was no way I was going to miss it. That's what best friends do.

As one of their wives mentioned to me, friendships like these are extremely rare, and to have five of them, that's practically unheard of. People move, switch churches, and generally have a tendency to just move on with no looking back. Sure we keep tabs on each other via Facebook, but making occasional online comments will never replace face to face interaction. Whenever one of them are in town, we make it a priority to get together.

Unlike today, 40 years ago, all our families stayed put. First generation immigrants have fewer job opportunities so they rarely get out of Oakland. The result is a cohesive group of children that grew up together for 12 years. Throw in Sunday School and Friday fellowships, then you'll also get the spiritual influence and moral accountability that comes with it. It's no accident that three of them are in full-time ministry. I won't tell you how many times I've been faced with decisions to do something bad only to decline because of my accountability and reputation to my church friends. Having experienced temptation, I cannot stress the importance of a steady biblical influence throughout your entire childhood and life. I think our only transgressions growing up were driving without a license and shooting off illegal fireworks.

My oldest is in seventh grade. Already he has at least six Christian friends he has known since kindergarten. My hope is as my children grow, they too will someday be in their own 5/40 clubs. For that to happen, we need to stay put, and our friends have to stay put. We all invest time in each other which hopefully eliminates any desire to leave. If you choose to leave, wherever you go, it would probably take a decade to nurture and replace the relationships you're leaving behind. I mean honestly, you ain't never gonna find another friend like me! Haha!

Right now we are really blessed with our young families group. I think it is the best it has ever been! We have about 15 consistent families with most parents being here 10-40 years. We meet weekly for lunch, monthly for small and large groups, and annually for vacations. Because of these consistent events, our kids have developed deep, lasting friendships, rooted in biblical teachings. I'm sure someday when my children are facing trials, they'll be glad to have these friendships to lean upon.

"A friend's a friend forever if the Lord's a Lord of them." - Michael W. Smith

Valentine's Renewal

Has it really been seven months since my last blog entry?? That's what my number-one fan stated to me last week in a blunt email titled, "You still alive?" Well I don't know how much juice I have left in the tank, but okay, I will attempt to give this blog a quick kick-start for the few of you still around. So fittingly, I will renew this blog with a story of renewal.

Yesterday on Valentine's Day, the company hosted a ceremony for the above couple to renew their wedding vows. This year was their 60th anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than to do it on a rail car that is even older than them!

This whole wedding hoohah was a last minute PR stunt of the GM. After months of bad press with robberies, crashes, and lack of ridership, he wanted to improve the negative perception of our transit system with a feel-good campaign. You know, like "The Ride is So Great, You'll Forget You are Late" or safety messages like "Travel in a Pack and You Won't Get Attacked." At the same time, it was his chance to showcase the trolley and shoot back at the media, saying, "Ah ha! You were wrong! Not every one of our cars are covered with graffiti and foul smells!"

We originally wanted an actual wedding, but since the promotion did not start until late January, we really limited our candidates to mainly promiscuous partygirls whose EPT stick turned positive within the last month. If you think about it: instant wedding (before you start showing), two nights at Fairmont Hotel, steakhouse dinner, gift certificates, and only 10 guests allowed... It truly is the perfect wedding of desperation!

It was shocking to us that even though our buses are filled with dropouts, gang bangers and teen moms, not one applied. Maybe because the application required a 150-word essay about their story. So first, they need to have some sort of education. And I guess if the essay starts with, "Um, we met at a party..." and ends with "or else my dad gonna kill us..." it doesn't make for good storytelling. It also required a photo, so if you have tattoos across your face and neck, you may have already disqualified yourself.

As February approached with zero applicants, all the managers were freaking out. They even tried frantically to matchmake their own nerdy children. Then for one hour, they relented and opened the firewall to allowed everyone to log onto their Facebook accounts to spread the word. They were thinking: surely, all our employees must have non-planning, no-budget, fly-by-seat-of-their-pants friends that would want to get married on ten days notice, right?

In the end, they wisely opened it up to anyone wanting to renew their wedding vows. Four entries were submitted and this couple was picked (six days prior to the 14th).

Depending on the feedback we get, we intend to do this again next year. So come January, be sure to check up on your single friends in case they get knocked up on New Year's Eve. But seriously, this is every guy's dream wedding. No coordinating, no rehearsal, no relatives. Flowers/cake/drinks/photographer/minister all free. Just show up. Even winning a game show doesn't get this good!

VTA, where were you 17 years ago??!!

 

 

34% off at JCPenny

Right now you can save 34% shopping online at JCPenny. Here's how:

1. Purchase a giftcard from Cardpool. Currently, JCPenny giftcards are at a whopping 28% off! You can choose to have the physical card mailed free to you (for use both instore and online), but that will take a few days. Or you can buy an electronic giftcard (online orders only) and the code will be emailed to you within 24 hours. For me, it took 5 hours.
2. Create an account on Ebates. Right now they are offering 6% cashback if you use their JCPenny link to start shopping. The 6% may last a day or two, but it's possible it may drop back to 3% tomorrow, so don't wait too long.
3. Go to jcpenney.com and start shopping! Use code "JCPSHIP" to get free shipping for orders over $50 (before tax). If your order is less than $50, most items are available for free store pickup. Combine the two steps and you will save 34% without leaving the comfort of your desk!

Note: To doubly make sure you are getting your Ebates, what I like to do is just load up the shopping cart with my final order. Then before checkout, open another browser window. Go to Ebates and link back to JCPenny. Your items should still be in your cart. Check out with your giftcard, and within a day, Ebates will send you a confirmation of your 6% cashback amount. Easy! The funds will be available to you in three months in case you return any items.

A few notable items for sale:

Nike Slide Sandal

Almost as comfy as Crocs, but no way as ugly.

Normally $20, now on sale for $15. $10 after discount.

Adult Rashguard Swimshirt

Why do only kids have swimshirts? I want one to keep me warm and eliminate the forgetful habit of applying sunblock. Plus, it'll hide my farmer's tan and hairy armpits.

Normally $15, now on sale for $12. $8 after discount.

Captain America T-shirt

Yeah! What's not to love? Other TV/Movie designs also available.

Normally $10, now on sale for $7. $4.62 after discount.

I am sure you will find lots of other items suitable for your taste and budget. 34% instantly turns sale items into clearance items. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting to $50. Happy shopping!

SlurpFree Today, May 23

Woohoo! Don't have to wait until July 11.

"Participating 7-Eleven stores, while supplies last

Summer's here and so is FREE Slurpee. Swing by 7-Eleven on May 23rd between 11a-7p and grab yourself 7.11 ounces of cool, refreshing glory juice. Our treat! And don't miss our new Slurpee Lite™ Fanta Sugar-free Mango - 50% fewer calories. Same big Slurpee taste."

https://www.facebook.com/events/412724578757341

The world is coming to an end: Kidvantage ends June 1

I can't believe it, but Sears Kidvantage's Wear-out guarantee is ending June 1. Oh the horror!!!

From their website (http://www.mysears.com/kidvantage/details.html):
"This guarantee will be eliminated for purchases made on June 1, 2012 and thereafter."

That means now is the time to load up on shoes and other clothing. I'm guessing that when you make your first exchange after June 1, you won't be able to make a second exchange unless you retain the original receipt, which the cashier may take from you. The gravy train is over. I am so bummed.

We've saved a ton of money over the last five years. I estimated that we've exchanged well over 20 pairs of shoes and 10 pairs of pants. That's like $800! It will be painful to start buying shoes every three months for each kid (like my rich friends do––how do they do it??). Maybe now we'll just have to keep the kids indoors at all times, or start duct taping the holes, or make them wear flip-flops year round... Actually now that summer is around the corner, we'll send them to the pool more often just to preserve their shoes. Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Guess we'll just have to find other ways to save money. Speaking of which...

Here's a tip to save money shopping online at Sears (or Home Depot, etc):

• Go buy a gift card at Gift Card Rescue where they sell Sears giftcards at 8.5%* off. Cardpool also sells giftcards but currently Sears is only 7% off.
• Create an account at Ebates (or Fatwallet). Once logged in, from Ebates or Fatwallet, search Sears and click to go to Sears website. You then will get an additional 3 or 4%* cashback for your entire purchase. 

Combine both and you'll get 12.5% off. Select store pick up to avoid shipping cost. That 12% can be quite a big savings if you are buying large items like a tv or an appliance. Hey, it's free money if you want to make the effort.

*Note: The percentage rates fluctuate so everyday may be different. At Ebates and Fatwallet it's usually between 1 and 4% but occasionally it is double so you can get up to 8% back.

Lake Tahoe Snow Trip

Last month we went to Lake Tahoe for our annual snow retreat. The cabin was much nicer than the one at Twain Harte, complete with pool table, xbox and wifi. The best thing about it was the big hill directly behind it so we didn't have to travel anywhere. Cost was only $10 more per family versus Twain Harte, but the drive was definitely longer (200 miles vs. 120 miles).

The last time I went to Lake Tahoe was to go mountain biking in the early 90s. The last time I went to Lake Tahoe to play in the snow was with YTF in the early 80s. I guess after hearing countless horror stories of being stuck on the road 9 hours, or rolling your minivan down an embankment, or the recent death at China Peak... made me want to completely avoid any adult "fun" snow activities. I am alive today not because I moved out of Oakland, but because I resisted skiing and snowboarding.

I'm amazed at those of you who frequently risk your lives on the road and on the slopes just to catch some fresh powder. You blatantly post your reckless pics on Facebook not thinking about your worrisome family at home. You even trick yourself to believe that installing chains is just a minor inconvenience. I pray for your safety and I pray for your family as you spit into the face of death.

Below are some photos that chronicle the weekend activities:

First day, not much snow. But the big storm was just around the corner.

Growing up in Oakland, I've experienced hail, heard gunshots, and seen dead bodies, but I've never witnessed falling snow. It was neat at first, but it quickly became not so neat. Instead of getting the kids back to the house, I made them pose in the storm as I tried to capture the moment.

The next morning I dared the kids to go out barefoot (Note to self: never dare them anything.) I told them they could go out only if they didn't tell their parents it was my idea.

Here's a sugar-free, fat-free, natural and healthy treat – icicles. I used a broom to knock them off the roof. They loved it!

Trying to gather all the kids to come pose for picture is like trying to gather a scattering bag of marbles that broke on the floor.

We ain't going nowhere! Seriously, my battery was dead.

The safer alternative: sledding in the fresh powder after the storm. No helmet required.

He can now tell his friends how he sledded head-first into a tree and survived.

Sure, you can play in the middle of the street. Just don't tell mom.

After a long exhausting day in the snow, pure sugar is the best way to replenish the body!

Sledding got kinda boring the next day. Let's go body-sliding instead. Just don't tell mom how you messed up your clothes.

Join me and I will complete your training. It is your destiny. Join me and we can rule the galaxy as father and son. 
Needless to say, those two underestimated the young Padawan.

Our Shrek-like creation. It would have been nice to somehow make him green, but our only color option was yellow.

Four families, three nights, and two showers, make for one memorable trip!

Free Onion Rings this weekend at Burger King

http://www.bk.com

It's alive! It's my creation!

If you're in the south bay or Fremont, you may have spotted some new buses invading the streets and highway. They have a bold, menacing design, that makes all other buses look downright impotent. Our secret code name for it was UBT, which stood for "Urban Bloodbath Transport." So look out, my latest creation is crashing a neighborhood near you!

My initial designs were mostly black with just a slight splattering of blood color. I think it reflected the mood outside my cell. Here it's mainly dark with threatening shadows from the flickering torches along the galley way. And the blackness is complemented with sounds of agony as fellow prisoners are beaten on an hourly basis. I wanted my design to depict that same pain and hopelessness as you spiral down the black hole of despair.

The Major asked me to "tone it down" on the evilness and add more color to spruce it up. She explained that not everyone appreciates our depressive culture as much as we do. She said to make it look fast. I asked, "you mean like a flaming arrow just as it's about to pierce the body cavity with glorious after effects-fast?" She responded, "Yes, think more embers and less ash." Okay, I guess I could live with that.

We bypassed Captain Insano because she'll only slow down the approval process. Besides, she already has a full plate with that world destruction plan she's brewing. We went straight to the top and got it done fast. Godfather Merciless was especially pleased with the design, as I knew he would be. I told him I recommended removing the rear door so the further back you go, the more trapped you'll feel. With an affirming grin he said, "You're starting to think like me."

Godfather Merciless wept as he detailed how the colors resurrected childhood memories of their vacation home. As a junior deatheater, his bedroom tower overlooked several meandering lava flows intertwined throughout the barren valley. Across the midsection laid a scorched path littered with bones and smoldering remains. That path is where he scampered daily with his beloved pet Balrog. All the rivers converged and spilled into the giant Lake of Fire where his father once taught him to swim. "That is why my body has no hair," he exposed to my burning eyes.

There was a recent article about our January media event. To soften the image for public consumption, they described the color to be "candy-apple" red. I guess "hematoma" red may be a bit too violent.

In the near future when the weather improves, I'll have more photos of the UBT in action,  terrorizing transit centers and consuming passengers whole. Until then, look out!

The armada preparing for the onslaught.