But I digress. Happy new year to my few readers out there! The holidays came and went without much fanfare. As I grow older I realize I don’t want as much “stuff” as I once did. I’ve been on a consumption diet as of late. Leo Babauta of ZenHabits wrote a post entitled, “The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents” which I am very much in agreement with his views on what Christmas has become and why I don’t view it innocently like I once did. On my time off (compliments of my new employer) I spent time to reflect on myself. What really matters to me these days. I don’t want stuff to matter. I want experiences and relationships to matter more. Therefore, I’ve told folks I would rather spend money on an experience to enrich a person’s life rather than on something that can eventually break or be forgotten. If you’re reading this and you know me personally, please do not give me any more “stuff”. I would rather you take the money and donate to a fund-raising effort. I’ll take this time to pimp those out: 1. Tour de Cure which is a ride to cure diabetes. 2. CCC ride for the Arthritis Foundation. This will be my second year. The first year was AWESOME!

I’ve also been reading another blog called The Path Less Pedaled which documents the journey of a Long Beach couple, Russ & Laura, who decided to sell all their personal belongings and go on an epic bike ride in 2009. I have been reading their past posts non-stop on my in and out of work. This was when I ride the bus this week. So far I’m at August 2009 where they made it up to Portland, OR and have been cruising around there and are at the state of Washington. Both authors can write so I enjoy reading their recollection and Russ is a photographer so his pictures are amazing! Some are taken from his iPhone and edited on the fly. As I poured through their entries, I am constantly reflecting on my own situation. I don’t think I own as much stuff as they did but it is a considerable amount. I need to start going through my crap and throwing things away. Even though I’m not going anywhere (yet), I’d like to lighten up the possessions. I guess I’m striving for a more simple life. I’ve been striving for a few years now. To try to minimize as much as I can.

Another interesting point in one of Laura’s post mentioned the critical mass of stuff that needed to make a home feel like a home. To fill it up with the right things so that it was more inviting. Since they had to go through this mass cleansing, they found themselves torn apart by their stuff and their overall goal to get out on the road. I have similar sentiments about my current home of 2 years. I’ve be reluctant to furnish the place fully. My bedroom just has a bed and a side table that was given to me by a friend. My living consist of a lounge chair given to me by a friend of my dad and a futon bed given to me by a buddy of mine. Coffee table is something my uncle gave me that was sitting in his garage collecting dust. My rug was bartered for some work I did for a carpet company. I got my tv stand as a present for the gf. I did splurge on the TV. I’m slowly regretting that purchase but can’t bring myself to admit it because everytime I turn it on to watch sports, I am reminded why I “had to have it”. I’m being owned! On the other hand, I’m feeling the pressure to “feather my nest” so that it feels more inviting. I’m so torn.

On another note, I am going to be getting a new bike! The one thing I don’t feel guilty about buying for myself is this custom built Surly Cross Check built by the Flying Pigeon LA guys.

Isn’t she beautiful? Build details will come later when I go pick it up this weekend. It’s missing some lights and a chainguard in this picture.

I made plans on Twitter earlier in the week to meet up with a few folks. @FunctionalCycle and @LACycleChic showed up with their daughter around 5:30PM. A few minutes later, JHarv from the Bike Oven showed up and we began our ride through the light display.

It was nice to cruise through the lit displays with Christmas music blaring from speakers that was strategically placed throughout the course. The music certainly helped bring out the feeling of Christmas! One of my favorite display was an animated sequence that resembled LAX airport with a plane taking off from a blue landing strip. Our other favorite thing was riding through the 2 huge tunnel of lights. Here are a few shots of the tunnel.

It was a very short ride to the other side where we ran into more folks from Twitter, @dudeonabike and later @danceralamode joined us when we rode through the displays the second time around. People really got into it by decorating their bikes with lights and colorful props and outfits.

Besides the evening being very chilly, we were dodging wobbly bicycle riders and people scattered all over the street. Not really the best situation when you mix pedestrian and bicycle in an area. Everyone seemed to handle it very well. I wished it was ALL bikes and no foot traffic. I have to say I don’t know how people can see this through their cars? Sitting in long lines of traffic stretching out to the 5 freeway every year. Sucking in carbon monoxide while people are rolling through display to display at snail pace. On bikes, folks can still stop and enjoy each display without ever impeding traffic and smell nothing but maybe your occasion funk from the skunk. If you haven’t been through this I encourage you to go but the remaining nights are car free w/pedestrian and shuttle until December 17th. The rest of the month after that will require you to drive.

Enjoy the 6 minute video I shot with my digital camera while riding my bike. Not the best quality but you get the idea.

LADWP Festival of Light Ride from Johnny Lam on Vimeo.

I’ve only been there by car in previous years and never by bike so this will be an exciting experience. I think out of the 3 choices, this would be the best way to see the display since you dictate the pace and can stop and go as you please without impeding traffic. It’s ironic how LADWP is touting that they are going green when they only have one night dedicated to bicycle traffic and 13 nights for cars. Having car free nights with the shuttle is a good step but it could be better. Perhaps powering each light display like how folks at Copenhagen is doing it for their Christmas tree might be better?

Photo provided by sgroi on Flickr

I think the main reason for this lack of “feeling” is that I didn’t get to go Christmas shopping this year. Just alot of shopping for the new home. I didn’t feel I took part of the giving. I even tried to replicate by participating in volunteer events every weekend this December but still nothing.

I’m not the only one who’s feeling this way. My sister, who is also in the midst of her home remodeling is bitten by the scrooge bug. Gone is our annual Christmas tree. Gone is the presents under the tree. Gone is the annual tradition of staying up until Christmas morning to open our presents.

I’m hoping this is only a temporary setback only for this year. I’m hoping the same time next year, we both will be situated and will be fighting to have our traditions restored. Maybe then 2009 will give me back that “feeling” of the holiday season. But for now, here are some pictures from recent events in my life.

Anyway, I still wanted to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas. And if I don’t post again before the new year begins, Happy New Year!

2008 is quickly approaching after 1 more week. I’m looking forward to the new year but hopefully 2008 will continue to be good to me as 2007 was. I’ve been thinking about what is going to happen in 2008 that may be significant to me. It’s a 90% chance that I will be buying my first home. Whether it being with or without the folks, I have yet decided. I’m also going to have major work done on my teeth. Yes oral hygiene has been a big priority to me recently. After seeing the Dentist for the first time in 13 years, I’ve decided to make the whole next year dedicated to taking care of my teeth. I’ll also be taking a trip to Boston and NYC at the end of April and beginning of May for a friend’s wedding. Who knows, I might even have a new car or bike. Most likely not brand new but it will definitely be an upgrade to what I have now. Of course, this won’t happen until I have my own place. That will always be priority 1 until it’s been taken care of.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On December 12, was Richie’s birthday. We celebrated by taking him out to King’s Fish House in Long Beach. Had a very nice lobster dinner and awesome cheesecake with chocolate dipped strawberries. The meal was delicious and the company was good. I’m sure he had a great time. He couldn’t stop raving about the cake.

On Saturday, we went over to Sun City for our 5th Annual Holiday Party. We had a huge selection of food! We were entertained by a very thorough and fun trivia game that Sophorn came up with. We also had a couple of intense games of Jenga and our world famous White Elephant gift exchange. This year was probably one of the most funniest exchange. Good times good times.

This past Saturday I spent my entire day at the Long Beach Convention Center gawking at motorcycles from various manufacturers. I also bought some custom molded earphones for my listening pleasure. We probably walked the whole show 3 times waiting for the earphones to be completed. Some highlights of the show included getting autographs from MotoGP’s Colin Edwards and AMA Superbike riders Bostrom Brothers and Josh Herrin. I also got to see both MotoGP bikes of Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner. Not to mention 2007 AMA Superstock Champ, Ben Spies’ Suzuki.

To close out the rest of the evening, I spent some time with friends eating at Seafood Village in Monterey Park. The meal was delicious and the company was good. On Sunday, San and I went to volunteer as facilitators of a silent auction. We basically collected the auction sheets once the bidding ends. Nothing to exciting but got to learn a bit on how auction and silent auctions are executed. All-in-all, a very productive weekend.

I received some great gifts this year! I received a set of Memory Foam Contour Pillows, which by the way eliminated all the shoulder pain I’ve been experiencing with my old pillow. I received a pair of Converse All-Star shoes, a GPS, and some motorcycle and car related toys. It’s amazing but I didn’t get any gift cards this year. I did however received alot of picture cards from friends.

Christmas day was spent with the parents eating Hot Pot and hanging out at Billy and Jen’s watching movies and eating at a buffet. The day after Christmas and the Wednesday afterwards was spent at the Harrah’s Casino in Rincon, San Diego. Played some poker and lost about $130. Still on that losing streak. Thanks Drew for setting all that up.

Here I am today with nothing to do. It’s a great feeling and I’m glad I do this every year. Gives me a chance to reflect the events of this year and usher in the new year. I’d have to say 2006 was one of the better years in my life. I became debt free, went to new places, continue to challenge myself at work, began investing, and just enjoyed life. There really isn’t anything else to complain about. Except maybe living on my own, but I have feeling I may be able to make that happen in the coming year or 2. Hope everyone have a safe and happy holiday. Let’s make this new year a good one too.

You can first find me at Johnny’s Photoblog. He’s getting pretty good at his craft. We were just hanging out with Ann during Thanksgiving weekend.

You’ll also find me on Jamie‘s Picasa album for her first social event @ Jillians for our APAF organization.

Finally, I was volunteering at the Olive Crest Christmas event on the CBS lot. I think I’m going to make this an annual volunteering event that I’m going to attend every year.

$750 – Valve adjustments and tune-up for motorcycle
$800 – Replace my car’s struts
$500 – Motorcycle insurance
$70 – Motorcycle registration
$400-$800 – New motorcycle helmet since my helmet is “expired”

This doesn’t even include my Christmas shopping that I need to do. It looks like I won’t be saving any money until the new year.