Church Service and Leisure

Our elders quorum president, Peter Carlston, moved out of the ward. I was his second counselor. I told Larisa that I thought Michael Blakemore, the first counselor, would be called as president, which he was. I was called as the second councilor again. Now that we're back on track with permanent callings I feel like we can get back to work. One thing I want to do is help us get organized by setting up a way to electronically share files (among the presidency) such as email lists and hometeaching assignments. Things that require constant updating.

Yesterday I helped with a move. It took about five hours because we loaded, traveled, and unloaded. The work wasn't too hard though. After that I came home and relaxed a little, and then in the evening we went to a fun park with fountains for Lydia to play in. Then last night I went to Will's house to watch "the fight." It was my first experience with Ultimate Fighting Challenge. It was actually pretty cool to watch. None of the fights we saw last night were too gory.

Sunday night recap

I can't believe how long it has been since I wrote last entry. Well things have been going great! Summer is at its end, but I would not mind to prolong it for a while. It seems like I wait for summers for so long, and they just come and go too quickly. Well, I guess time does go fast when you're enjoying it.

Paul has been on my case for a while to motivate me to go exercising. I always talk about how great it would be lose some pounds, but I don't put any effort in actually accomplishing it. Deborah and I go exercising together, but its not as regular as I would like. So in the last 2 weeks I have been to the gym minimum of 4 and maximum of 5 days a week and it has been great. I am actually getting hooked and looking forward to the next time. My first half an hour is spent on elliptical machines where I really try to push myself. I can watch the machine count the calories that I am burning and I have gone from burning 250 calories in 35 minutes to 415 in about 32. When I see that kind of progress, I get really encouraged. Another half an hour I spend doing strengths exercises, some on the exercise ball, some on the weight machines. So far the only thing that has done for me is made me aware of how many muscles there are in my body and they can all be sore at the same time. In all honesty, I can feel the difference, but can't really measure it or explain how. So I am on a roll and hope to stay there.

It has been really fun to watch Lydia discover new things lately. She figures things out so quickly. I showed her how to whistle and next thing I know she's blowing into the whistle in the back seat. We bought her a new toy and it took her about 30 seconds to figure out how to work it. She picks up blocks and throws them into the right opening, and little giraffe toy rewards her with a simple tune. Also Lydia rolls the ball to me and transfers little toys from one container to another. The other day we went to a playground which had fountains and she loved it. That was not any other regular playground, it had fountains that spray out of the ground. Lydia would run around them, afraid to go in, but making as much noise as if she was really getting sprayed. By the end she would actually stick her hands in the fountains.

I just have to mention Lydia's love for food. She loves eating, especially fruit, and especially peach. If she sees one, she gets giddy. She wants to grab it and eat it herself, holding it and biting it like a big girl. We went to a farmer's market with her and she enjoyed it immensely. I even have a cute fruit-stained jumpsuit to prove it. Everywhere we went, merchants offered a free sample of their produce, and Lydia was more than happy to oblige. Like Grandpa would say, what a chow-hound!

Also, I am trying to find the time to learn the Speed Cleaning technique that my friend has introduced me to. It seems like it really saves time and I want to keep the house in good clean order. So maybe this weeks I can actually look over the book, get some supplies and get on it.

Well, its too late on Sunday and my exercise program awaits me bright and early tomorrow morning, so I better get to bed.

Ode to Google

I have been a Google fan ever since a coworker at one of my internships (summer 2002) showed me how to look up a transistor by its part number. I thought Google was a tool for searching a database of electrical components. Little did I now. As I became more familiar I was very quick to break up with Yahoo and jump on the Google bandwagon.

Then, the next year I had a roommate at BYU (Clint Jones) who loved Google. He explained to me that it was a better search engine because the company was a bunch of PhD's. So at this point I understood a little bit more. Google consisted of a group of PhD's sitting in a room, mastering the search engine. That was cool enough.

I think the next encounter I had with Google was their goofy "Job Application" that I found lying all over the place on campus when I started graduate work here at Stanford. They had lots of fun puzzles and silly questions; I can't solve most of the hard ones. I took it as a fun joke that they would take seriously if you would. Since then, it's just gotten better and better: Picassa, Google Earth, Gmail, and their general attitude.

I may not always like Google. Like most companies, it will likely eventually get too fat to walk. It may eventually become the public enemy, another Microsoft. But I do believe Google represents the American dream for several reasons. Let me explain.

Spread the wealth to the masses: Of course Google isn't giving away free money. They're not campaigning for stricter taxes (Robin Hood style taxing). In fact, they're not trying to impose anything on anyone else. They are a company seeking profit. But at the same time they are making incredible tools available to the general public. In my view, Google has maintained an innocent image. When I install a Google product I don't usually have to suspect that they are trying to lure me into using an expensive product, trying to capture my business so that I'm stuck using them in the future, or even trying to make profit off me. I suspect all of these things with other companies, especially Microsoft. Google feels like a young active company that came across instant success and is using some of their power, ambition, and energy to see how they can change the world for the better. Yes, I know that they are a public company, and altruism can only go so far in that setting, but I like to believe that the hacker mentality does have its influence there. Think of all the Linux developers who spend so much effort toward the same goal.

Free enterprise is meant to work this way. When a person (or company) gets rich it is supposed to mean that they are benefiting society in the process. It's not necessary to be bitter and demand pieces of their wealth (proportional taxes). Sometimes it is hard to see where the benefit to society is going, but with Google it's not. Everyone is free to benefit from them.

Entrepreneur's Dream: Google was started as a research project by a couple of Stanford students in 1996. Now, ten years later, it is part of the English language (added to several dictionaries this year). It will always stand out in history as a phenomenon. I hope it will be remembered as the great experimenter. That's what I find so exciting about it. I never know what new great product they are going to try to get out to us. I have a friend who explains it this way: "Google likes to break things." Break the frugality of free email, break the expense of organizational software, break the barriers that hinder research, break Microsoft (Excel).

I read about Google on Wikipedia today. I don't know about you, but I feel a sense of urgency and excitement. I wonder, where was I ten years ago? Google is a success story that everyone, especially around here (Stanford), talks about. It's the story every entrepreneur dreams of.

So there you have it: I'm a Google fan. I hope to always be, but I can't promise you that much.

Summer activities

Lydia is now almost one year old. She already has five teeth, and she is so adorable. She likes to grab my tongue if I stick it out. Then even if I put it back in my mouth she'll reach in my mouth to get it. Today when she poked her finger in my mouth to touch my tongue she kept scratching it pretty hard. I didn't realize that my tongue was so sensitive until this afternoon I noticed that it's got marks all over it and it hurts.

Tonight we watched "The Benchwarmers." Despite some funny parts, it's one of those movies that you don't know who it was made for. Too much crude humor for kids (and for me); too much silliness for adults (and for me). Oh well.

Last week I had thought of a definition for a three-way mutual information that I would like to find meaning for. It's led me to ask several very interesting and difficult questions. Tom Cover, Young-han Kim, and Haim Permuter discussed these with me yesterday. My anticipation is off and on about whether or not this will lead anywhere useful.

Also, we found out that my first conference paper (with Haim) was accepted to the Allerton conference. That means Larisa and I will be able to go to Illinois and visit Matthew and Summer and family. My parents will also go, and we'll go on a church history tour while we're on that side of the country.

I've been on a computer frenzy lately, organizing and updating. I've also been trying to learn to use Linux and Mac OS. I'd like to be more computer savvy. At the same time, I'm concerned with backing up our important content like photos, so I'm working on figuring that out. I hear that Google might be coming out with a system backup utility to back up everything to their servers. Wouldn't that be great. I'm really becoming a fan of Google. The would be the only big company I can think of that I wouldn't mind working for after graduation.

Little things she does

Yesterday Lydia fell in love with a slide, biggest and greenest on our playground. She would slide down and then want to go back up it. Of course, that was too hard for a little 11 months old, so I would help her. Also she crawled through a tunnel. It took her a while, but after I peeked through the other end her progress seemed to speed up.
Also, Mariah and Kirsha with Jane came yesterday. Mariah was going to head our stamping' up party, to which my friends couldn't and did not show up. Kirsha's friends came though. Well, Lydia, when they came would come right up to one of them, either Mariah or Kirsha and try to climb up their legs. They would smile at her, pick her up and hold her for a few minutes while she would study them and hug them. Then she would hold her arms out and lean to the other one of my guests, asking to be held. She did it back and forth, going from one to the other. Mariah and Kirsha were so surprised at lady's friendliness and cuteness. But, we, her parents, of course, know her a little too well to believe that. Just kidding. Really, she is the cutest and has become even more cuddly then she was before. Its adorable when she just wraps her hands around you, sticks her nose right in your neck and just sits there. What more can parents ask for?

Scrapbook party and EQ meeting

Tonight, Larisa had a Stamp-it-up scrapbook party here at the house. She was pretty excited about it, but none of her friends were able to make it. Too bad. She got the house all spick-and-span and prepared some snacks for everyone to enjoy. At least Kirsha came with some friends (her sister is the one selling the stuff).

I was gone at an Elder's Quorum presidency meeting tonight. We're still waiting for a new president to be called now that Peter Carlston moved out of the ward. I think it will be Michael Blakemore (the current first councilor). We'll see.

Today I came up with a new information theory problem. I'm not sure how much consequence this new idea will have, but it seems to me like a nice, fundamental problem. From what I've heard, making an impact in theory is all about asking the right questions.

Yesterday I finally gave the Book of Mormon to Rafael Ulate. I went to his office with the book and a pamphlet about Joseph Smith. He asked me questions about the church and our beliefs for an hour and a half. Being a philosophy and religion major as an undergrad, he had a lot of questions to ask. His questions ranged from the Bible and Book of Mormon to missionaries, church organization, worship services, and the Godhead. We had a lot of fun. I invited him to church but he didn't sound interested in that at the moment.

Random episodes of our lives

Well, I've been coughing up a storm today. I am not sure what is it with me lately, but I have been sick pretty regularly, with all sorts of colds that is. To say the least, its annoying, but life is great in general so I should not complain.

Paul was home with Lydia when I went to the Family History Center to cover a shift for someone who's done the same for me. I am starting to look through all these programs that are available in the Center which makes me realize how clueless I am. But I have been working on some temple-ready files. I hope I can get them done soon, so I can take them to the temple.

One thing that has been sad lately has to do with my uncle. Alyosha is mom's half brother and he has passed away. I do not know the knitty-gritty details yet, but is seems like he sold his appartment and his car, living who knows where. He was found after he had a seazure, although the doctors say that was not his worst problem. What was I am not sure, but he has been drinking heavily for a while and who knows what really happened. So mom and family are hearbroken, of course. I am hoping he's learning the Gospel in the Spirit world and has found peace. It will be great when I can take his name to the temple.

On a lighter note, we've had a fun day playing with Lydia. She loves the keyboard mom and dad got Pual for his birthday. She can sure push buttons and knows not to work it better than we do. Lydia sure is growing up and turning into a little lady (if you overlook her trying to grab and poke all the kids at the playground)

Jazz Festival

Tonight we went to the "all star jam session" at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. It was fun. It was a jam session for the most part, so there was a lot of fast playing that neither Larisa or I have a musical capacity to really appreciate. Larisa made a good observation: Jazz is like poetry that doesn't rhyme. But we did enjoy it. I was very impressed with the abilities of these musician, and a few times they really stuck the right cord for me. It did make me want to get out my saxophone and play a little more.

One of the musicians who played and sang a beautiful ballad was Dena DeRose. We hadn't heard of her before, or any of those guys for that matter, but we're listening to her music on Yahoo! Unlimited right now.

The concert cost us $16 for each ticket (student price). We also split the baby-sitting cost with some friends which ended up being $20 from us. Unbelievable, huh.

Lydia's growing up

Larisa says that she feels like Lydia is understanding more and more every day. That's why I feel guilty that my journal writing hasn't been good over the past year, just when it is most important to keep track of all the details of our changing family. Yet even though she's understanding more she still had a hard time arranging the checker pieces with me on the board the other day when I was trying to teach her.

Lydia started walking and doing most things very early. She was walking with our help by about six or seven months. We just figured since she liked standing up so much we'd have some fun with it. For months she would walk all over the place holding our hands. Even though she could keep her balance fine on her own, she was too cautious. As soon as we would let go (even with only one hand) she would stop and reach her hand up for us. Sometimes I would let go and try to make her stand on her own, but she would only stay for a couple of seconds usually before deciding to sit down. But she slowly progressed, and on July 4th (just after Galina and Alla had left from visiting us) she decided to walk on her own. She's a Yankee Doodle girl.

Lydia also likes to stuff her face. She doing that with pieces of chicken right now in fact. She always gets excited (and impatient) when it comes to food. Maybe it has something to do with us accidentally starving her for her first few days of her life at home. :) When we first fed her pieces of avocado she stuffed so many in her mouth that her cheeks poked out. It was funny.

Sleepy-sleepy

Today I woke up around 7 am to go exercise. Deborah and I went on a walk instead of going to the gym because I was a little under the weather for the last couple of days. Though it's sad to see my rigorous exercising schedule disturbed, at least I can do something. We walked the neighborhoods with beautiful houses, enjoying thickly vegetation-covered streets and amazingly diverse architecture. The walk itself was not so strenuous, but the night before was a bit restless. Lydia woke up in the middle of the night last night, making noise. On top of the fact that we did not go to bed really early; that took its toll. So by the time morning rolled around with me getting up to feed Lydia one more time, I was quite tired.

The surprising thing in all this was when I got home from our walk. It was all quiet at our house and the time was after 8 am. Lydia would usually wake up any minute. Taking advantage of some uninterrupted time, I took a shower, shaved, got dressed, ate. We were supposed to go to Gilroy this morning with Svetlana and Alyce. I kept watching the clock tick and was surprised to find out that it was now after 9 am and still quiet. Lydia is seriously sleeping in this time. She did not wake up until 9:30! That never happened before. Well, I figured before we go I would just close my eyes for a few minutes so I will not get tired driving. As Paul was playing with Lydia, I really zonked. I woke up 2 hours later. In the meantime, Lydia went down for a nap and has already been sleeping for over an hour. She's still asleep. I can not believe it! The two of us are the biggest sleepyheads in town. I just hope she's not sick.

Start of a new era

Larisa and I decided that we would like to keep our journals electronically from now on. I think it will help me write more often because I am on the computer so much anyway. This morning we looked online at a few possible website. It turns out blogging is probably what we are looking for (not so much to share our ideas but to keep track of them), and since I like Google I figured it was a safe bet. Of course, we will only use this if there is an option to download our entries for our own record. That is yet to be determined. Also, it would be nice if we could each have our own journal/blog that are somehow linked together.

Anyway, I think this will be fun. I hope this helps us become better journal writers.