I am.

A lot has happened in my life since I've updated last.  I'll briefly cover a few.

First and foremost, I'm going to have another child.  He'll be due in August.  Suhweeeeeet!!  If you have a kid, then you know what I mean.  If you don't have a kid, well plan for at least one in the future because you'll be missing out on one of the best things that can happen to you in your life. It takes a lot of time and effort to nurture and teach them, but all the experiences are worth it.  Just make sure you have a good handle on the rest of your life responsibilities before or as you become a parent.  I'm talking about your personal finances, time management, and career.

I now coach my daughter's soccer team. It's mostly awesome.  Sometimes the kids don't listen.  "But Efrain, that's how kids are" you might say to me.  It's just that I pride myself on keeping the kids attention; it seems like it's slowly slipping.  Anyway, they crack me up 90% of the time.  They never fail to make my day though.  They are 4 & 5 year olds.

Hello 2008.

I'd like to start this year with a brief look back at 2007 by answering some questions that I took from CAD. Note to self: Next time do this before the years is actually over.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
   
   Did some long term life planning for myself and family.
   
   
   
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
   
   Yep. I maintained my general health. I'm not perfect, but could be a lot worse. I focus on conditioning my heart through cardio exercise. I've had a few soccer injuries, but nothing to keep me down. I've already made more resolutions for this 2008 year.
   
   
   
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
   
   Of course
   
   
   
4. Did anyone close to you die?
   
   (Sigh) Yes.
   
   
   
5. What countries did you visit?
   
   Nada
   
   
   
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
   
   A dedicated backup external hard drive with a 500GB to 1 Terabyte capacity.
   
   
   
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
   
   New Year's Eve. My daughter and I just got off my car at my mom's house and she saw fireworks in the sky. Then she asked me in a confused tone, "Daddy, it's not my birthday is it?" She was born on the 4th of July and knows it's her birthday when fireworks are being popped.
   
   
   
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
   
   Finding more balance in life between family, work, and my individual time.
   
   
   
9. What was your biggest failure?
   
   The depletion of so much of my savings during the holidays
   
   
   
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    
    My lower back gave out on my during a soccer game and had to practiclly crawl off the field. I've since seen a chiropractor and am rehabing.
    
    
    
11. What was the best thing you bought?
    
    Time, by being more effecient at other things.
    
    
    
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
    
    Daughter's for learning and experiencing many new thnigs.
    
    
    
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
    
    ?
    
    
    
14. Where did most of your money go?
    
    In the bank and towards presents.
    
    
    
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    
    John Doerr's talk at TED
    
    
    
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
    
    Thula Mama by Vusi Mahlasela
    
    
    
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    
    i. happier or sadder? happier
    ii. richer or poorer? richer(and not nessesarily monetarily)
    
    
    
    
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    
    Knock out a certain debt
    
    
    
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    
    Eat unhealthy foods
    
    
    
20. How did you spend Christmas?
    
    Good, with my family.
    
    
    
21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2007?
    
    Eh...I'd have to ask my better half because I don't get embarrased easily or much. I'll try to be more conciencous of these moments.
    
    
    
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
    
    Nope
    
    
    
23. How many one-night stands?
    
    Zero. But whay are they called "stands"? I understand the "one-night" part.
    
    
    
24. What was your favorite TV program?
    
    Srubs. I know it's been out for a while already, but I had never seen it till this year. It's one of the few things on television that puts a smile on my face.
    
    
    
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
    
    Don't think so.
    
    
    
26. What was the best book you read?
    
    There are 2. Career Intensity by David Lorenzo. It's actually a re-read. I love this book though. I gets me motivated. The other is Why We Want You to Get Rich by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Donald Trump.
    
    
    
27. What did you want and get?
    
    Emergency fund built, but it's still got more to go.
    
    
    
28. What did you want and not get?
    
    I have a wishlist that I'll post later.
    
    
    
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
    
    300
    
    
    
30. What did you do on your birthday?
    
    Reflect.
    
    
    
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    
    36 hours in a day
    
    
    
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
    
    Jeans and a Polo OR a soccer uniform. Either way, it's not what you wear, but how you wear it.
    
    
    
33. What kept you sane?
    
    My personal time to think
    
    
    
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    
    Noone really
    
    
    
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
    
    Not really a political issue, but a world issue...Alternative Energy and the whole Going Green and how it's going to be bigger than the internet.
    
    
    
36. Who did you miss?
    
    Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt and Uncle
    
    
    
37. Who was the best new person you met?
    
    Mike
    
    
    
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
    
    Everyone is going to have problems. Why not look at them as challenges and focus on the solution rather than the problem. And just be successful, no matter what.
    
    
    
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
    
    I don’t wanna forget the present is a gift
    And I don’t wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me
    ‘Cause Lord only knows another day is not really guaranteed
    
    - Like You'll Never See Me Again by Alicia Keys