vishal.duggal

Life with a MacBook

2006-10-21T13:08:00.000-04:00

How do I begin to count the ways. Life is good. Coffee is good. MacBook is better. Lisa is always best. Life is good with a MacBook I think. I am truly getting to experience the joys of owning a Mac. Can I be considered one of the many Mac user's out there? Do I belong within their community. That I cannot say for now as I still feel like the wolf in sheeps clothing since I still enjoy the fortitude, the cement, the ground for which my computing life has been with a Sony VAIO.

First order of business, learn as much about it as I can. Then learn some more with a beer.

Coffee is my cocaine

2006-10-19T20:53:00.000-04:00

With all this buz in the news media about an energy drink called cocaine and throwing all of the law-makers into a tizzy, I'd like to add that coffee is my cocaine. I'd like one venti caramel macchiato, iced, with extra caramel; from Starbucks of course. No matter where I go, the drink will give me a buzz. A good buzz none-the-less. Some Starbucks tend to make their drinks slightly different. The one in Nasau, Bahamas makes theirs really well. They seperate the cream from the coffee and pour on the caramel. Allowing me to either mix it up, or drink the cream first, or drink it little by little by moving the straw around to various regions in the cup. Whipcream is a nice touch, if they remember to put it on that is.

So today involved waking up of the brain. Here are the ingredients if you'd like to make it yourself.

1qt hemorage
4lb of beaten brain
2lb of smacked in the head asprin

Although none of that did the trick so after I had managed to throw my legs off the bed and stand up, I took a step (maybe it was two steps) over to the fridge where a black Senseo one-cup pod coffee machine sits. In an E.T. sort of way I greet the Senseo with my extended index finger "...friend." It gurgles away, boiling the water contained within it's belly contently. The minute or so it takes to do it's churning, gives me the chance to throw some water on my face, brush my teeth, and do the needful. Ah, the little fella has stopped blinking it's one and only eye at me and is starring me down. Lifting the latch upon it's head, I replace it's brain with one of a Columbian Supremo blend. It makes me wonder if the thing had a mouth, yet even a voice, would it have a Columbian accent? Would it be in the drug cartel? Would it be high on cocaine?

Ah, I had almost forgotten the creamer, which is white, like cocaine, but with a taste that of vanilla. Not the sky kind, the caramel kind. After preparing my adeptly labeled "No I will not fix your computer!" mug, I poke at the thing to make just one cup. Ahh, satisfaction guaranteed. Cocaine in a cup. Off to the next point in the business: get ready for work and do some work.

11:30 p.m. rolls on by and I realize that we're in Key West, Florida today. What could be in Key West that could possibly peak my interest? Perhaps it is those shops that are perculating around town dotted with on lookers sitting in window seats and starring out at the local ruffians walking by. Perhaps it's the tourists thinking what a marvelous thing to have on such an island as this. It's almost like having a McDonnald's in Japan. What a concept. A Starbucks in Key West. Must be for all the drunkeness that goes on during the night. Those ruffians do need a pick-me-up to get going where ever it is they're going to.

Never once in my travels have I ever seen a biker go into Starbucks and order a Green Chai Latte. What would his buddies think? Whatever. In my civilian clothes, camo shorts, tank, snake-eyes casino leather cap, and iPod, I make my way to the local ruffian stop that is known simply as Starbucks around town. Ahh, satesfaction guaranteed. I got my cocaine. I'd like one venti caramel macchiato, iced, with extra caramel. No matter where I go, the drink will give me a buzz. A good buzz none-the-less.

**BUZZ** Ah, there is my dinner and there is the end of this post.

Touchscreen iPod

2006-10-19T20:25:00.000-04:00

Was surfing today and came across this photo of the new touchscreen iPods (widescreen video iPod maybe)? While I cannot confirm, nor the site which this image was taken from, that this is the real deal, but it is quite intriguing. I especially like the retro look on the white one at the bottom of the image.

Think of all the possibilities and applications that can be put onto this. iLinux perhaps would be the most intriguing if it can be done. Aside from that, maybe some cool skins can be downloaded to customize the look and feel of the iPod.

iLinux. iLike it.

Enron Founder's Conviction Tossed!

2006-10-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it, Enron founder's conviction was tossed by a Federal Judge. Ken Lay, the founder, died from a coronary artery disease and because he cannot complete his court dates, the case was thrown out.

I have a beef with Ken Lay and those of the Enron scandal. They've made my life at work more of a hastle than a job which used to be desirable. There are so many controls that I have to follow as set forth by Sarbane's Oxley that it's rediculous. Transfer me to the head office. I'd rather be there. The best part of that move: spending every day and moment with my wife.

Wireless video iPod; coming soon?

2006-10-18T16:59:00.000-04:00

There seems to be a lot of rumors floating about on the Internet regarding Apples next generation iPod and I want one; at least for Christmas-hint-hint.

It'll be a tossup between this and the next-gen console: PS3 which is rumored to have Yellow Dog Linux as it's operating system.

Also out in the rumor mill is that the PSP v3.0 update will be released via UMD disc instead of being downloaded and may perhaps have support for PSOne games via an emulator.

New Domains

2006-10-18T16:29:00.000-04:00

While working yesterday I decided to update my domain name http://www.vishalduggal.com/ and see what else was available. So I forwarded my account to here, my blog. I bought http://www.lisamodlesky.com/ for Lisa's MySpace page. And I bought http://www.vishalandlisa.com/ for when we have our homepage made for the both of us. In addition to these, I also back-ordered http://www.duggal.com/ in hopes that perhaps something happens and it becomes available, I can snatch it up.

A new e-mail address @mac.com

2006-10-18T10:46:00.000-04:00

Greetings and salutations, family people,

Wouldn't you know it! After 31 some odd years, I have befuddled myself and bought an Apple. It was a green one; was quite delishous I might add. So I thought to myself, 'I wonder what the forbidden red fruit tasted like?' So I reached up and plucked it right off the Apple tree and took a bite. After tasting the Apple I felt naughty. It had been a taste of which I have never experienced before. Desired before. Nor salivated before. It was both a heavenly moment and a devlish feel. That taste. So desireable. So remarkable.

Did you know? If you throw a Window at an Apple, the Window breaks. If you throw an Apple through a Window, it breaks yet again. But you can peer through the Window at the Apple from either side and both can be happy.
~Vishal

Apple Store Shipment Notification W23430821

2006-10-18T10:42:00.000-04:00

Hello Vishal Duggal,
We wanted to let you know that your order has been shipped.

MB 13/2.0 CTO BLACK

Z0DG

$1,599.00

With the following configuration:

Processor 0656466 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
Memory 0656233 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM 2x512
Hard Drive 0656227 80GB Serial ATA drive
Optical Drive 0656231 SuperDrive (DVD/RW/CDRW)
Modem 0656513 No Modem
Apple Software Solutions 0656200 No Optional Software
Adapter 0656515 No Optional Adapter
Keyboard/Mac OS Language 0656464 Keyboard/Mac OS
Country Kit/AEX 0656313 Airport Extreme Card andBT

Best regards,
The Apple Store Team.

Wow, I am so very excited about getting this. The only downside is that I have to wait another week before I can get it.
~Vishal

A Monday

2006-10-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

So yet another cruise begins for passengers onboard this ship. The old passengers get off. The new passengers get on. And we start all over again. Mondays is a day that I rarely enjoy, especially considering that I have to be up by 4:00 a.m. just so that I can perform routine checks and resets on all of the computer systems that I need to monitor and maintain.

Not only is it a day in which Miami (yes, we on the cruise ship refer to our head-office as just 'Miami') is open for business but it begins the onslaught of emails being sent from shoreside to shipboard. They like to fill our inboxes with a lot of red colored unmarked emails. Weekends are so much more desired. They don't work on weekends. I do. Infact, I work 7 days a week, average about 8-12 hours a day. And am on call 24/7. Although I do get something they don't, 2 months of fully paid vacation to spend at home.

So been working away, spoke to lisa, spoke to mum, had lunch with Lou, spoke with Mark (whom began his first day in the office), and been watching the news. Conspiracies. Scandals. Blockades. Interdictions. Sanctions. The times that we live in now; more things have happened now than in past history. Makes for an interesting time wouldn't you say? What time is it for you?

I've also been keeping up with ( RED ) and reading their blog and began thinking 'how cool would it be to have a ( RED ) Macbook?' Although I'd be a little upset about it since I just bought one of the new black Macbooks but still. A ( RED ) Macbook. I'd probably call it ( RED ) Book. I'm still waiting for the person to have their entire house painted red and everything inside it. Speaking of ( RED ), receiving the confirmations of Lisa's ( RED ) iPod Nano and my Mighty Mouse, I'm very excited about getting my first Macbook. Not sure what I'll do with it first; I think I'll edit some photos and post them online. Maybe make my own gallery.
~Vishal

Shipment notification for order # 7044049326

2006-10-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Apple Customer,
Apple is pleased to report that a shipment for the following order is on it's way to you.
PA725LL/A IPOD NANO 4G RED PERSONAL-2ND GEN-USA 1 $199.00
Thank you for shopping at Apple!
Sincerely,
The Apple Store Team

Yup! That's the ( RED ) iPod Nano, laser engraved, for Lisa's Christmas present. She already knows she's getting this which is why it's no secret. Now I just need to wrap it up for her.
~Vishal

Apple Store Shipment Notification W23430821

2006-10-15T23:33:00.000-04:00

Hello Vishal Duggal,

We wanted to let you know that your order has shipped.

Woot! My newly ordered Mighty Mouse Wireless kit for my new mac should arrive Oct 18. The bad: I won't get to see it until Friday. The worse: I won't get to use it on account that my newly ordered Macbook (black) won't arrive until a later date.

Yup! You got it, I've ordered and bought my very first mac. You must think what the hell is he thinking. He's a PC guy. He's that PC guy in the brown box. The brown box that has other brown boxes to go with the first brown box before you can use it. I've always advised people to get a PC when they ask me "err what do you think I should get?" For the last year I've been asking them what they need it for and then tell them what they want. I want a mac. I bought a mac. Not just a mac. An Intel Core-Duo Macbook (black) 2.0GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, DVD-Burner, 13.1" of prettiness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, i-Sight, and the world's first mag-lock power adapter. And it runs Windows XP.

This doesn't mean I'm getting rid of my Sony VAIO. I love it. I cherish it. I adore it. I'd say it in French but I can't spell in French. But you get the idea. It'll go well with my VAIO. I can do my work on the VAIO and my sound and video editing on the Mac.

How cool.

Wonder what I'll do next.

Surgeon General's warning: The adoring and liking mentioned here within, no way means that I prefer these over Lisa.

~Vishal

Processing Album Artwork: Getting 8247 of 20889 songs

2006-10-15T23:20:00.000-04:00

Processing Album Artwork: Getting 8247 of 20889 songs
That's actually 21322 songs, 61.2 days, 102.1GB

( RED )

2006-10-15T20:05:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted anything to this blog. Seems like it has been forever. So here I go again and try to keep up with these posts as I once used to.

Many changes have occured in my life and my lifestyle. Lisa and I are closer to one another, more so now than before; she makes me happy. I'm on another ship. I've switched to a mac (still waiting for it to arrive). Did I mention Lisa makes me happy?

This has to be one of the most brightest ideas that I have ever seen. Everyone buys things. Can't be avoided. North Korea buys plutonium. I buy Oakleys. You might buy cigarets. We need to buy things, just can't be avoided. Whether it is a NEED or a WANT or a DESIRE you will spend money on anything and everything that falls into these categories. ( RED ) should be another category; or at least a WANT that YOU want to participate in. You should buy ( RED ) things. You should help others. Surely you must think, 'phwa, piss off man! i can spend my ka-ching on something else.' You should be ( RED ) in the face for thinking of such a thing when in fact if you can read this I am SURE you can waste money. Why, because $10.00 USD goes towards fighting AIDS in Africa. THAT my friend is the bright idea. Taking some of the money that would normaly go back to the manufacturer of the product and using it to fight the good fight. To fight AIDS. OK off the box now.

Did I mention Lisa makes me happy!? Bought her a ( RED ) Apple iPod Nano 4GB for X-mas, but don't tell her!

I feel like Tony Soprano

2005-10-07T09:39:00.000-04:00

My life just seems to be spinning out of control and I have no say in it. The harder I try the worse it seems sometimes. I've been doing a lot and a lot and a lot of thinking lately and "what the phuck am I still doing on a cruise ship???" I've also been thinking about settling down in New York (wish I could get a place in Manhattan). Perhaps it's all this alternative rock I've been listening to ... Foo Fighters, The Killers, Ok No, Frank Ferdenand, etc.

Or perhaps its that I'm tired of all the phucking shite that goes on around me at work and I want to get away from it. Sometimes it just seem so daunting that I don't know how.

At the end of the day, I still have my wits, humor, a glass of wine (albiet without the cigar), and Lisa. I have nothing better going than that.

~Vishal

Buddy's Mama, the Runner

2005-10-07T09:26:00.000-04:00

Wow, I'm impressed. Shalu, my sister, created her own Blog! Go check it out, she's a runner.

~Vishal

STAY COOL

2005-09-28T18:25:00.000-04:00

STAY COOL!
[Signed] Henry Winkler.

That's what he wrote on my leather jacket on the inside. Now come on, who is going to pass up the chance of a lifetime to meet the coolest famous person of all time! Let alone to have their leather jacket signed!? I got him to autograph my leather jacket on the inside (I'll post the picture later). He has got to be one of the nicest people I've ever met, very smooth ... no wonder he's the Fonz. And OMFG the girls were all over him and me and Tyler were like doing the thumbs up and going HEEYYY! The Fonz still has it, black leather or not ... he is one cool person.

So another day goes by and oh look, we're in San Diego today with two other ships (the Zandaam and one other). Quite crowded today. Should take a pic ... but nah. Ended up having lunch at the Emerald Sandwich Deli. Had a sandwich wrap. Was good. Needed a drink so off I went to Jamba Juice at Horton Plaza and got a Mango Mantra.

Did I mention I got a 10 minute massage just outside the mall which was just ... bliss. Was just great. Nothing more I could ask for. Walked around the mall for the rest of the time I had off, drinking my Jamba Juice and talking to a few people here and there.

Some new tunes I picked up:
- Coldplay XGY
- Ok Go ~ Oh No
- Killers Hot Fuss Limited Edition (has 3 extra tracks)
- Foo Fighters One by One Limited Edition (has bonus disc of B-sides and live tracks)
- Foo Fighters In Your Honor
- Staind Chapter V
- Jewel Spirit

Listening to Foo Fighters One by One - Overdrive.

Injecting venom into a Firebird

2005-09-23T13:38:00.000-04:00

Ok, so another ho hum day begins and I'm already stressed. Had a Brand Quality inspector onboard this past cruise and one little thing in my department got written up. Well not just written up, it was a repeat finding. So that pissed me off. Called Lisa to talk to her and it calmed me down a little.

Then I did something that I've been wanting to do for a while now, I called Ron Wang who works on custom Vipers and Trans AMs. Lets just say that after that phone call, my day immediately became better. We spoke about what I wanted to do about my car... about putting a Viper engine and transmission into a Firebird body to say the least. Before all of that can be done, I need a complete donar Viper to rip parts out of. Yeah I know, it sounds crazy and many people have already told me 'why don't you just get a Viper?'

Here's the jist:
- 2002 Pontiac Firebird V6 body (not Trans AM)
- front clip and rear clip cut down the center and widened
- k-member's put into the engine bay for support
- entire subframe strengthened for increased torque
- V10 8.3L Viper Engine inserted
- 6-speed Viper Transmission inserted and converted to Sequential Manual Transmission
- Titanium front and rear axels (for reduced weight and for power increase)
- custom headers and cat back
- custom intake

If you can imagine it, driving down the road and stopping at a light next to you. You look it over and notice some subtle changes, body is wide. Car is long. Low to the ground and hugging the road. Wide and low-profile tires wrapped around 18"'s of titanium rims. Paint is matte flat black with glossy wet black flames coming up from the hood and side quarters with ghosted skulls painted in. You'll think 'it's only a firebird, not even a V8'.

Think again motha-phucka, this isn't your grandpa's Firebird, it's a highly tuned monster.

coffeebean.TA

2005-09-23T00:17:00.000-04:00

coffeebean.TA

Does anyone read this mindless banter?

Anyway, Lisa's got her new laptop.
I'm done for the day.
Had sushi for dinner.
Already had my vodka in the bar.
Watching The Chronicles of Riddick in my cabin.
Going to bed as soon as this movie's over.
Set my timer for 4:44 AM PST.

Night.

~Vishal

Pod-like pooch - the idog

2005-09-22T17:40:00.000-04:00

» Blog Archive » Pod-like pooch

I so want one! Have you guys seen this thing before, I saw it at Sharper Image the other day and I only glanced at it and tossed it to the back of my head as I wandered away looking at the other things in the store, drinking my vanilla latte from Starbucks. I think I was too wowed by the die-cast model of the new Batmobile which I so would love to have as an my ride of choice ... can I buy it?

So anyway, was looking for iPod toys online and came across the idog again and so I did the 'ok I'll take a look' thing and it seems pretty cool. Just to have on my desk in my cabin.

It's only $27.99 on Amazon ... hmmm. Me want.

~Vishal

Sample This!

2005-09-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

Ok... Too much Matrix cannot be good for your health. End up going blind and seeing the world in technicolored alphabet.

I just finished hooking up my laptop to my entertainment system so I can watch Top Gear instead. That show has to be pretty amazing. Just wish their magazine would come in digital form via Zinio.com.

So Lisa should have gotten her new laptop today sometime. Bought her the super duper 17" HP with Dual-Layer DVDR and Dual PVR ... it's also a Pentium 4 2.8GHz HT processor ... oh yeah and has a dedicated 128MB DDR2 memory just for graphics. I'm jealous. I guess I have to suffer with my 17" Sony VAIO (VGN-A290).

mE

Pool Party

2005-09-22T15:16:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to point out that today there's a Pool Party for the crew at some hotel in Ensenada, Mexico and I can't go! Well I could, but I shouldn't.

Why?

1. Not allowed to expose my new tattoos to the sun (not that there is much sun out today ... where's that fog horn at)
2. Not allowed to swim in a pool, especially salt-water or chlorinated water.
3. My assistant went off the ship for lunch for an hour.

So woe is me, stuck on board the Monarch, doomed to watch re-runs of the Matrix, Matrix 2, and Matrix 3.

mE

jamba juice

2005-09-22T14:34:00.000-04:00

Oh my phucking gawd is this stuff amazing! If you haven't already tried this stuff, you HAVE to go to this place and try it out. There are lots lots lots of locations everywhere. Just go to the website, pluck in your address or zip and hit go. You'll be amazed of how good this stuff is. It's got lots of goodies and they'll add other things to it as well.

So far I've tried Mango-A-Go-Go, Strawberries Wild, and this week was Berry Fulfilling...I'm going down the list of juices to try every week. I think I have to get two per week or else I'll never finish the menu off.

So anyway, I'm going home for vacation December 15th and I'm not returning to the Monarch! I'm so glad that I don't have to return to this tub. Spent too much phucking time here and I'm getting over it. Heading to the Majesty of the Seas February 26th, 2006 for two months (which btw goes to Key West and don't really know where else) and I'll spend another two months after that on another ship (not sure which one yet).

Hey, gotta jet, my cabin attendant wants in to clean my room, make my bed, clean any glasses that were left over from last night, throw out the trash, and clean the tables.

All out of my jamba juice for now ... so I'll go get something to eat.

Lates

3 Crew Members Dead onboard Monarch of the Seas

2005-09-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry that I have not posted much here lately. I just have not felt like posting or have been in the mood to post. This ship has been through a lot these past few days and the crew is still in a somber mood, but life still goes on and everyone gets back to work as normal.

What am I talking about? It's been all over the news about the three Crew Members that died in the Engine Room while replacing pipes. They were overtaken by lethal gases. Others were also felled but were immediately rescued. When the rescue team went back to recover the original three workers, it was too late for them. I won't give you more details here in respect for those that died as one of them was a friend of mine who I often drank with in the Crew Bar onboard.

Yesterday we held a memorial service or rather mass lead by a Father from Ensenada, Mexico. I wanted to be there to pay my respects and to show face for all the other crew members that could make it. I felt that the Managers (myself included) and other senior officers should attend it to respect those that had fallen. We're a family onboard here and if we loose one, it's like loosing a brother or a sister. Some of course were more closer to them than I but still. I wanted to be there. I can't remember the last time I attended mass, I must have been in grade 5.

So another cruise begins today. My office here is a complete disaster, it looks as though hurricane Katrina blew right through here. Luckily my house in South Florida was ok but I feel bad for those in New Orleans.

As for my tattoo, it's looking really good. It's peeling and it's almost off now. The color is nice and black underneath still which is great. I've been applying Tattoo Goo every day at least 3-5 times.

Naked juice ... wonder if there's naked coffee?

2005-08-31T14:01:00.000-04:00

Last night I had a really nice coffee. It was mixed with burbon and topped off with whip cream. Was pretty nice, it's definately not a morning drink though, more of an evening after dinner drink.

So yeah, sorry I didn't get a chance to post anything yesterday, was so damn busy onboard and with other issues I was dealing with. Also had to rush off to Super Fly Tattoos to do some more work. Got three pieces colored in and they look pretty sweet. I can't wait to have them all filled in and my older ones redone by Chris. Anyway, we took a break in the middle of the tattoo to go grab some food and I found these bottles that say "Naked Juice!" I had the Antioxidant Mighty Mango and OMFG! It was awesome. I'm sorry but when you work onboard a cruise ship, travel the world, you see lots of things, but you don't notice others or get the chance to experience them. If you haven't tried it I really recomend trying it. I wonder if there is such a thing as Naked Coffee. And I wonder what it would taste like.

Hmmm... maybe I should open up an Internet Cafe / Coffee House / Tattoo parlour?

2 + 2 = 5

2005-08-29T20:36:00.000-04:00

I totally believe in the concept of deriving pleasure from pain. At least it puts me in this euphoric like state when ever I get my tattoos worked on and I feel so relaxed. Yet the pain that I endure from the passengers onboard doesn't do it for me. In one full day, you are bombarded with complaints and questions from guests getting off the ship and then from those boarding the ship for the next cruise.

"Why can't I leave now?"
--Because the gaggle of people lined up in front of you are waiting first to get off. Then there's the line on the pier to go through Customs & Immigration. And don't forget the other line at Customs & Immigration. Sorry this line is closed, come back next time.

"What time am I supposed to leave?"
--What? You haven't left yet? Read above.

"Where do I get off the ship from?"
--See the bright light in front of the line that is in front of you? Well that's not the pearly white gates, that's the shell-gate to which you depart from and go over the gangway. Basically the same way you came on you get off.

And the list goes on and on and for those boarding the ship for the next cruise, I'm like, why even bother coming onboard if you need someone to tell you what to do? I'm going to go to McDonald's tomorrow and stand in line for an order. Then move to another line that's longer until it's my turn and ask the girl behind the counter "what do I do now?"

"What do I do now?"
"Where do I go now?"
"Am I on the ship now?
--You're onboard a cruise ship, go where ever the phuck you want to go! The closest bar is the Schooner Bar up one floor. Go check out the shops onboard. Visit the Rock Wall. I mean this is one of the most annoying things for me. Do you go to Disney and as soon as you pass the gates you look for someone that works there and ask them what to do now? Come on people! You're there to have fun, do what you want and when you want.

"Where's the bar?"
"Where's the casino?"
--Now if you come onboard and can't find one bar onboard during the entire cruise; A) you're lame; B) you were passed out when you came onboard; C) you don't get out much; or D) you belong to the AA and have successfully avoided all bars but just need to know in case you accidentally run into one.

"What level/floor are we on?"
"How do I get off the ship?"
--I usually look over at the big Deck 4 sign by the elevators and inform them that they're Deck 5. The quickest way to get off the ship is to use the gang-plank on Deck 7. Now if you really want to spend the energy in pressing a button to call an elevator, wait for it, and then go down to Deck 1 where the gangway will be in all the ports of call, sure you can go that way.

"Where's the Guest Relations Desk?"
"Where's my cabin?"
-- See the big golden letters that spell out DUH? No? Perhaps they read Guest Relations Desk! What's up with people asking where their cabin is. Ok granted they're not the brightest and not really sure where they're going but still. I'm standing on Deck 4 by the main gangway where the guests will board the ship from and welcome them onboard and check their info and tell them how to get to their cabins. But the ones that throw me for a loop are the ones that will ask "How do I get there?" or "How do I get to Deck 2?" Lets see ... we're here on Deck 4 now ... cabin is on Deck 2 ... two Decks down. They must be thinking that this is some strange form of a floating hotel where we have our floors numbered from top to bottom because they're called decks. So the first floor would be on the very top right? Morons.

1 Floor = 1 Deck. ergo Deck 4 - 2 Floors = Deck 2.

2 + 2 = 5

Basic math people! No offense though, the majority of the guests that sail have tons of fun and thouroughly enjoy their cruise. It's just a select few of you people out there that have to be demented enough to be that annoying.

Please don't take my ramblings the wrong way but if you've never taken a crusie in your life, I would recommend it to anyone in my family and circle of friends to go. It's a great experience and a lot of fun. It's also one of the most safest ways to travel in the world.

Already late for work...

2005-08-29T09:25:00.000-04:00

Good morning, I'm Mr. Grumpy and I'll be your host for today. Just please do not speak, talk, page, or call me until after I have my coffee. We have quite an eventful day planned for you, just you wait and see. We get to disembark the herd today off the gangway and board the new herd that will sail with us. Won't that be just a bundle of joy?

Phuck I can't believe I'm already late for work this morning. I just could not get up and out of bed today. You ever have one of those mornings when you know you're getting up early in the morning but don't go to bed early enough? And yet you still wake up to your alarm clock, only to reset it to a later time. It was set for 4:35 AM and I changed it to 5:00 AM and ended up leaving my cabin at 5:55 AM. Should have already been in my office at 5:00 AM! At least I don't have to endure the 9-5 mind jobs where you commute to work--even the little drive to work. No HONK HONK here onboard. Just the loud bells ringing--and no it's not just in my head although sometimes I think it is. It's just the occational watertight door alarm sounding and it reminds you ... oh yeah we're an hour away from port, they're closing all watertight doors on Deck 1.

So yeah, I couldn't get to sleep so I watched Troy on TV and then put in my Kill Bill DVD and watched 40 minutes of it before I dozed off. That's probably why I'm sitting here, feeling naked without my coffee, and yawning.

Mmm... coffee. Seriously considering putting on a fresh pot but then I look down at my checksheets and hey, I'm almost done here. Perhaps I can go back to my bed and lay down for another hour until 8:00 AM.

2005-08-28T12:29:00.000-04:00

Update: Chief Purser took my vanilla latte.

How to swear in French, Merovingian-style: "Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d'enculé de ta mère."

2005-08-28T10:26:00.000-04:00

So yet another hum dinger of a day begins. Lovely. Just absolutely phuckingly lovely. I woke up this morning and did my little routine (save for the coffee since I'll get my vanilla latte during my 8:30 AM breakfast meeting) and there were no emails from anyone. How rude!!!!! You know who you are!!

Yesterday, wow, the meeting was so boring and ran so late. I couldn't help but stare outside of the windows in the conference room. I never sit with my back to the windows. Can you imagine if another day the meeting was long and mind numbingly boring (as if today wasn't) and all you could do is stare at the person across from the table or the wall just behind them. I think I would rather shove my finger up through my eye socket, past some of the squishy stuff there, and into my cranium. Then just swirl my finger around a bit in my brain. I think that would be far more interesting than what went on in the meeting.

Apparently during our next meeting on Saturday, I am presenting my departments finanials. Oh great! Yay! More happy phucking joy to add to my life. I think you would go stir crazy too if you were there and had to endure the extrenuous pain of having to sit through the meeting and all that you could do is stare out the window to the port outside where all you can see is the other side of the harbor where the ships do their loading. At least my serenety of a view is momentarily interrupted by the occational passer-bys who are walking on the outer promenade deck, waving their dirty hands (those hands... those hands are what make all the crew sick and other guests onboard... touching evertying... you see it on the news every now and then about how many guests were sick onboard and complain complain complain when they're the ones that brought it onboard)... oh yeah, hands... waving their hands or sticking their faces up against the windows to peer inside as if we're zoo animals. There should be a sign outside that says "don't feed the crew!".

Itching for some coffee... where's the aroma? Oh yeah, I didn't make any coffee today on the acount of getting my latte during the morning meeting. Damn.

Went to the Internet Café downtown yesterday where all the other crew members go. The guy that runs the place got some something for me and so I rushed off with the Marketing & Revenue Manager to grab some lunch outside. Well I dropped off the blanks before we had lunch. All I'll say is Tiger X x86. Apparently it doesn't work! That or I can't figure out how to burn the RAW file to a DVD (not used to that format). Perhaps I need a mac (cough cough) to burn it. Sorry nothing against mac users, I actually like it, it's pretty. Runs smooth. Is stable. No daily Windows Updates or Security Patches to apply. I just feel that I can't do on a mac that I can do on Windows (like make my Windows look like a mac... what's the fun if it already is a mac?)

Last night was actually fun, I went to the dining room with a few people as it was the Fitness Director's birthday. We all sat at the Captain's Table. Well it was second seating and I was already late to it which perhaps added to the "anoyness" of it all because I started to get pissed. Why? Well because the waiters didn't do this, forgot that, didn't ask certain things, and the list just went on and on. But we still managed to have fun. There were a few other people at the table too which made it interesting.

Mmm 7:50 AM. Stomach is grumbling at me wanting food. But then I begin to think about yesterday and the sign ... "don't feed the crew!" How rude would that be if the only food the crew members onboard could eat were the scraps that the herd would leave us (and when I say herd, I am refering to the 2600+ passengers onboard).

Well I need to get back to my hum dinger of a day and actually attempt to do some work.

2005-08-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

Today is another busy day for me and I so do not want to do anything but sleep today. Forcing myself out of bed at 6:00 AM, I come into my offcie after getting ready and put some music on. Ben Liebrand, mmm nice. Print out my daily procedures. Put on a fresh pot of hazel nut coffee. Start the procedures (write my name, the date, the ticket, and start wacking away at the keyboard and clicking the mouse). Halfway through I check my emails then I check my corporate emails. Flip open Firefox and check my site for any new comments. Check to see who else is online that I can perhaps have a decent conversation with in the early morning other than the hum drum of "moring."

"Morning."

"How's it there?"

"Good good, you?"

"Good good."

Shoot me now. At least Lisa is online and I can talk to her. MMmm and then I think to myself as the aroma of the fresh pot comes wafting over me in minutes... 'I haven't had coffee yet!'

Ok I have my, what I like to call, 'half coffee half milk and half sugar', and I'm ready for the day. Bring it on. Just don't page or call me. That and I so hope to God that I don't spill my coffee all over my laptop. That would be a serious drag after already having it fixed twice. Which reminds me, I think I need to get one of those coffee mugs everyone carries around, what do you think? Mmph ... thinking ... that hurts! It's too damn early in the morning for that right now. Right checksheets, mindless numbness that I just follow 1, 2, 3, ... 97 and I don't have to think.

Great, gotta rush off this morning to meet all the new signing on crew members and returning crew. They'll regret it.

They'll enjoy it.

They'll cry about it.

"Hi welcome to the beautiful Monarch of the Seas (mind: should be of the Desease) and my name is Vishal and I am the Geek (mind: yes. Hello. I'm Vishal. And I'm a Geek. I need help) onboard well rather the Systems Manager or IT Manager onboard. I take care of all the Satelite equipment, Workstations, Internet Cafe, Point of Sale terminals, and much more onboard. If anyone connects a personal laptop, I'll take it and trade it for chiklets (that's the write spelling btw) in Ensenada, Mexico. Welcome and have fun."