I bought two books about woman fertility and health issues. Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women’s Health Book made me open my eyes about own system. It’s excellent to explain why I’ve got such longer periods (or longer luteal phase). Things that I consider not normal, actually answered lots questions. How eggs develops, what problems may occur and solution to do. Ah yea…I did not recall to have depth sex education. Well, this might biology actually. So I decided to buy myself body thermometer to record wakening temperature. Not difficult and cheap way.

At first I did not tell mum that I tried for baby. She sort of in manic when we talked this matter. Sounded wise though by saying that I am getting old (yea..yea my body clock ticking). But then I felt to say these for sake her mind. It’s been 1.5 month since I let her know, I wondered that give me magic spell.

We did the screening test in Singapore on January. The result was staggeringly surprised me. I have to re-take urine sample for ‘contaminated contents’. I managed to get result three days after that but again came the same. My doctor suggest me to do another test in UK. She wasn’t sure either because most of my physical parameters was great. I am fit, ready as a baby machine.

So I took the result back to Weymouth, asked my local GP to test again. She was exciting reading paperwork from Singapore Hospital. She said, “Wow! they did in international unit”. Short story, two more tests and I came clean.

I was in situation that biting my nails. I thought something was wrong on me. I thought that my body refused to do one of the most incredible thing is mammals life.

We’ve done screening health test as part preparation to start family. The test called Pre Marital Screening. I found it amusing as we’ve been married 3 years. There’s a rule about it that we have fasting for food and drink intake 8 hours prior the test and no sex intercourse for 3 days. The later was not clear enough, then we realized it (with a big grin of course!) we got to comeback another two days for seminal analysis.

The hospital was bit like production line of human being on laboratory. Registration, been called, enter the room and wait. For about 3 hours constantly. Measure all physical signs : height, weight, blood pressure, fat, BMI etc. Being taken of nearly full tube of blood was unpleasant, as I don’t like syringe. Indeed it was painless which I felt grateful about. Pap smear always scary for me. I had experience one which have to retaken. I never comfortable to show of my V to other people (including nurses and docs). Anyway I have to get used it, for the sake of firstkid.

Ultrasound pelvis even more complicated. It’s required full bladder, means I have to drink lots of plain water. The first trial failed because there was no sufficient water. I have to wait another 15 minutes (on cold Air Conditioning -damn that’s must be another aim put on low temperature there). Go to frontdesk telling I can not stand it anymore. Jump around little bit, then dashed to toilet with small bottle to gather urine.

M was silent when I asked about seminal test. I volunteered to come with him. He was only been given the bottle but nothing else. No porn magazine, or dirty film. Not even allow me to go with him since it has to be done in public toilets. It took 20-25 minutes to fulfill his duty. Done and out.

He kept it on his own experience.

We’ve been teasing each other about kid. The issue came on and off, in particular ways. I was thinking about it since back from Everest Trek. So many happens there that suddenly occur on my head. Mark started talk about it when we were move in Taipei.

I don’t understand man. Sometimes he looks so adorable with kids but then try to look tough. So when he gave me right signal I’m put bombshell telling that, yes I do want a kid. We talked about hours why we want it. He thought that because a society expects for ‘normal’ couple. Do we normal or because we are changing now?

My mum and Mark’s mum told me if we have a baby they willing to take care of it. Oh yes we are heavy flier, busy couple who can not manage our own kid. Or me turned become a ‘baby machine’ ? I am thinking about being parent will involves big responsibility. The reason to have kid because we want something inherited our legacy. Our path in this world. We don’t want our DNA wasted on the ground, eaten by worms.

Location : Lake Chabot
Distance : 11.2 miles (18km)
Duration : 2-2.5 hrs
Difficulty : Moderate strenuous, mildly technical
Elevation 600′ gain/loss
Ride Type : Loop on fire roads
Parking : $3.50 (we parked outside the parks so it’s free!)
Maps : download here
Comments : long ride but little bit flat than the 2nd attempt. Nice view of the lakes.

We did this loop on Saturday 18th Nov started at 11pm. To reach Lake Chabot was not so far from Sunnyvale, we only drove about 30minutes or so. The track quite popular for any stages of cycling, but heading off the beaten path through the bike loop which expanded to nearly Redwood Regional Park was rewarding.

It was gentle ride at the paved road east Shore by the lake then climbing hill to the Live Oak Trail. The we heading down to Brandon and Gordonrod Trail then back to the lake at Bass Cove Trail through the dam.

The route not so technical, it just little bit hard work for climbing up the hills (hoaaa….). I am still struggling to keep my ankle works as my breath could cope with the incline of the road. On the way up at Live Oak I spotted little animal crossed the path. Curious I reported to Mark then we abandoned our bikes to search those little thing. It turned out like cicadas but bigger, sat quietly hidden beneath the rocks.

We also spot the small gully that represent erosion on the ground with lovely pattern. I just like a little valley in grand canyon ! It was really quite that day, may be because we were off the walkers path but also the cycling route actually close to the shooting range. When we heading down Brandon Trail through eucalyptus trees we heard big bang many times. Fortunately we were safe.

We decided back to Sunnyvale at 4pm to the Oakland Marina. It was a peaceful sunset looking to the Oakland International Airport. Beautiful red sunset that we never seen before. Here’s the pictures with a plane ready to landing on the runway.

This posting dedicated to Ima

I have been using Lightroom a free software from Adobe in the past year since they launched first beta version. Now with 4.0 Beta in Windows and Mac platform they are creeping to gain market from photographers. I came across with this software when we try to find a cheap alternative for Aperture -an apple based pro editing photos in raw. Since I am taking pictures in RAW I found Lightroom a beautiful tool to play with.

The good stuff:

1. Originally designed for Apple user now Lightroom ready for the Windows.

2. As editing photos Lighroom DO not destructive to all the changes you made. You can simply restore it with “recovery” or “reset”
3. It integrated nicely with Photoshop CS and even merged the editing you’ve made before in Lightroom and create another copy. Vice Versa.

4. The “Develop” toolbars is really powerful for correcting color baldness based from level, tones, curves, and histogram. Even they have Camera Calibration and Lens Corrections for the effect of lens/filters you’ve using.

5. It has several default developing that you can use directly for gray scale, sepia, direct positive (enhance the contrast) without playing much on the bar. You also can set up your own default editing when working in batch photos taken from the same locations.

6. I love the “export and import” batching that let you transfer your pictures direct to the locations you want including batch naming, reduced size, color calibration etc.

7. The “Web” tools is really powerful to create a slideshow for photographer portfolio website. I haven’t try it yet but soon I will.

8. The “sync” tool on the develop really helpful to edit many photos in just one click. Once you edit a photo that make as a default editing, you can sync to many pictures to edit exactly the same as the sample. Great hah..

Things to improves :

1. As Adobe’s other programs, Lightroom will take all power of your processor and memory. I urges you to have lots of memory (built-in or external HD) and faster processor

2. Importing files was great but I found a little bit tricky to rename in right order.

3. Lightroom couldn’t erase pictures from your CF directly, you have to delete it from your camera on the folder menu.

4. When import from CF, Lightroom keep checking thumbnail on your system. It make longer to import and also did not inform you when it finished. In this v4.0 Beta Adobe fixed the bugs and now has the progress bar on top left when all the tasks being done.
Good news is Lightroom seems to deal with many tasks, but the more tasks you play will slower your comp.

5. I heard that Lightroom will sell to public if the Beta version achieve level that Adobe need to get money from users (February next year?). I reckons the price will be no more that $299 -the price from the rival Aperture. So yes…..before they sell it, you’ve better download and have a try now.

Suggestion : for your ergonomics reason I suggest you to invest bigger screen computer. The 17′ is minimum and if you can afford 30′ posh cinema screen from apple it will better….

I praised Lightroom because the way of software works is intuitive for photographer rather than Photoshop CS. All the photography basic rules can easy been tweak compared with Photoshop that suit better to design/images editing. That’s why I love it so much because as a vivid amateur photographer is important to have a software that understand your needs.

Systems :
Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8GHz,
MacBook 1.6GHz Intel Core Duo 14′ Black, Dell Monitor 20′
Digital Cameras Nikon Dseries with Kingston CF

Related posting :
Aperture : Bermain Dengan Raw

Sent to Yahoo ! Messanger

1. I can not change status as I do on the previous version. I used to put note as my own status and YM seems remember it, but now I even can not change it !

2. The “New Instant Message” blue button did not respond if I highlight the contact who I want to send message. It supposed to be related at least works together in sync.

3. I love to have an options that let the contacts sort by it’s status. I was hoping the online contacts will be on the top while the ‘idle’ contacts will be displayed underneath

4. When I tried delete a contact, it did not do anything !

5. The iTunes show status did not respond for “busy status”. It always show available even I want to say that I am busy while listening of iTunes. Any alternative?

6. For the head-shot picture for the contacts seems take while to uploading. I had to wait about 10-15 minutes to see pictures of my friends

7. I noticed there is no facility to save the conversation, even from the previous chat. I need these facility since my conversation need a documentation. Please put this back !

Addition :

8. Sending file was OK, with download box status show the situation.
9. Webcam works great, but window user complain about the size of the interfaces. I set as small and highest quality.
10. I haven’t try the conference yet. But I loved the interface, it’s clean, nice and integrated with Y! Mail through notification.

Trail : Harkins Fire Trail to Whittmore Gulch
Location : Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Distance : 6.8 miles
Difficulty : strenuous, somewhat technical
Duration : 3.5-4 hours
Elevation : 1,400′ gain/loss ; begin/end 400′ ; highest point 1,800′
Ride type : Loop on fire road and singletrack
Map : available on site (recommended)
Date : 4 November 2006, Time 1300-1640
Comments : helmet required ! start in really steep then top onto near Skyline Blv. Stop for amazing view of Half Moon Bay, then lovely technical down through muddy forest. No water availabe on the path, so bring lots !
Overall : 7 from 10 point (definitely really good one)

We thought that we need a camel bag -designed for cyclist that allow you drink without stopping, so we decide to looking for outdoors shop somewhere near. We spotted REI at Mountain View which someone told the biggest store. The REI was great for such bargain stuff. They have backdoor room for things that been used or slightly damaged in crashing price. I was tempting to buy rucksack since I forgot where I put those bulky LoweAlpine. Anyway we bought camel bag and a light for Mark’s bike. He thought he is going to cycle to work to keep him fit. And me ? hmmm I am polishing my basketball shoots !

We also find Sports Basement which give lots lots discount. I only bought Backpacker Magazine for their nice new walking routes in California. We were heading Purisima Creek Redwoods. We decided that the lower start will be best so we took highway 92 then 1 then left to Higgins Purisima Creek Rd about 1 mile from Half Moon Bay.

After a fast lunch we were straight to the business. The map for the cycling path was on the entrance. We choose Harkins Fire Trail as a start. The Guidebook said that it will a hard work to go up hill and I have to admit IT IS a hard work. My acid stomach complained with late lunch and soda drink created not really nice mixing. I was struggling for first mile. Mark even offered me to go back since I felt dizzy. I said that I want to keep going.

The next 2 miles was a grueling cycling up. I managed to keep my breath in pace, I am kind a slow starter. It worked ! Take it easy and just keep paddling…. On top near Skyline Blvd we had great view. It was worth to come up here. We sat watching the pines and Douglas fir. The Half moon bay clearly seen from here. Also I amazed with banana slug (Ariolimax) . They are second biggest in the world.

When we were starting the Jeep Trail Mark had to remind me about brakes. This would be quite daunting as we down the hill in several sharp bends. The path itself little bit muddy with tree roots might make your bike off the track. I found the right turn was my weakness, so I had to train several times where and when I turn wheel and swing my body away. It was so focus to keep going even in long dark forest. The hill was on the shade part, so when we were down we barely get the sunshine on the road. The Whittemore Gulch Trail was tricky as I had problem with sight.

We enjoyed the trail ! I would not recommended this route to totally beginner biker. The route was too technical and if you’re not careful you will end up several feet down the hill. Anyway I had my muscles aching until today.

You can download cycling map here www.openspace.org