Engineer’s Attempt at Writing

I decided to cut my hair today. It has been probably 3 or 4 months since I last cut my hair and it was just getting too long. I bought a clipper from Target and decided to cut my own hair. I chose to cut it the same length everywhere and should be easy enough such that I can do it myself. However, I was very wrong. It is quite difficult to cut the side and back of the head with the clipper. I looked at the mirror and tried to position to the clipper such that I can run through the back and side of my head. However, there were some patches of hair that I can just not get to. I think the mirror really screws it up. Not really sure how to describe it. At the end, I had to call one of my friend to help me get the remain patches of hair. I don’t think I am going to cut my own hair again. It is just way too hard.

To some people high speed internet may not be consider an utility. However, to me it is a very important utility – I need it as I would need electricity, water, and heat. I need my internet to do work, surf the web, do banking, and etc. Today my internet suddenly did not work and I was wondering why it was not working. However, since it was Qwest and I had issues with the internet previously, I thought it was just some technical problem on their side. It was around 9:30PM and the Internet was still not working. I decided to pick up the phone and call them. But first I needed to find their phone number. Looking through the piles of junk mail I had, I found a mail from Qwest and opened it up to get the technical support number.

The mail was actually a disconnect notice. Crud!! I had forgotten to pay the bill. I did not know what to do. I tried calling customer service but they were not open at this time. I tried paying the bill but I could not because Citibank (out of the blue by the way) decided to ask me for my ATM number which I never received. I tried calling Citibank but they told me I will have to wait 5 to 7 days to get my ATM card to access my online account. I think I am going to cancel my citibank account since there is not even a citibank branch in Portland.

I checked online and found out that Qwest does have a live agent technical support 24 hrs a day. I talked to the agent and he told me to pay the bill through the phone. After I had pay the bill, he was able to reconnect me. Thank goodness I have my internet back.

Another value lesson in life. I need to be more organized or do automatic bill pay.

I realized something over this weekend after talking with some friends during dinner. No one will give you anything if you don’t ask for it or demand it. People should treat you right but unless you tell them what you want, they will not know – they are not psychics and they cannot read your mind. Unfortunately for me, I am still unable to speak up and ask for something. I am not sure why this is the case. Maybe it is because I am afraid that the answer to my request will be NO.

In school, you work hard, study hard, and you will receive the grade you deserve. You never really have to go up to the professor and demand for an A. But it does not work this way in the real world. No one really pay attentions to you unless you bring the attention to  them (does that even make sense?).

This is the probably the second most important thing I have learned or realized.

So far there are two things:

1. Don’t screw others

2. Ask

I have not run in like one and a half week because my feet were hurting. It turned out that my running shoes were getting old and the cushions were just not in such a good shape to absorb the stress of running on the sidewalk. In addition, my work had been a little crazy and I really did not have a lot of free time.

Today, I decided to get a new pair of shoes from a store near my apartment. I left work a little earlier than I usually do and went to pick up a pair of shoes. It had been a week and I was not sure if I could still run – I am not exactly in the greatest shape for my age. I started running and it was not too bad. I was able to go my usual pace and usual distance without huffing and puffing too much. And it felt great afterward – it was good to run again.

“It was good to run again.” These are words that would’ve never come out of my mouth a year ago. I have been such a lazy butt since I can remember, and now after 26 years I am going to try to get in shape.