Edwin Soto’s Blog

These videos are from November 2009 aka “The day I got my first bowling ball.”

The guys and I had a great time. As you will note:

I’ve been bowling in a league in Philly since the summer. A beginner’s league. While I can assure you that I’m awful, I really enjoy it.  It has really become a Tuesday night therapy event, that I look forward to. Firstly, it’s at a non profit org, PEP or People Employing People. Secondly, the image you see in this post is the whole shebang. Six lanes that are dedicated to us, a ragtag team of nerds and geeks.

I’ve learned so much about the sport – too much to go into detail in one post. But I’m very grateful for the fun I’ve had from doing this every week.

So I will share a few quick tips to help you get started if you’re interested in being a casual bowler.

1. Get your own damn ball
   For way too long I bowled with house balls. These balls are NO GOOD if you want to be any good. Balls are cheap, I got my custom made for $120. It’s a decent ball.  Better balls go for about 175 and up, but stick to a cheap ball that isn’t synthetic plastic.
2. Get your own damn shoes
   Besides using shoes that have been worn by hundreds of people, there are advantages of getting some shoes. Such as a good fit, cool look and bottoms that aren’t worn. The bottoms are designed to really give you a good slip and grip on the lanes (who knew?).
3. Don’t try and be a pro
   Have fun and focus on just being accurate. Don’t try and get too fancy and don’t get intimidated. Don’t try and hook the ball immediately. Accuracy is more important for beginners, so try and roll it over the same spot every time and just move left or right to adjust.
4. Celebrate
   Every time you roll a spare or strike. Jump up. High five. DO SOMETHING!! Have fun, be merry.

Hope this gets beginners off to a start.

I’ve often used the phrase “Jack of all Trades, Master of None” to describe myself. I got the phrase from my uncle Jose, who really thinks this applies to him. While that is true, I’ve really embraced this title. I’ve really thought myself to break into new things, activities, technologies, interests with the greatest of ease. Sometimes, I find myself understanding something that takes others years to attempt. I digress. What I’m really saying here is: It’s time to start a revolution for myself.

I’m shortchanging my potential by leaving so many projects unfinished. So instead I’ve decided to list all of these projects and truly make an effort to do something spectacular and complete as many as I can in a short time period. That is the challenge I’ve given myself.

As I sit here a bit on the drunk side after half a bottle of wine, I’ll try and list some of the things I’d like to accomplish in 6-12 Months.

Music

• Finish a real R&B EP (A digital ‘Unplugged’ style album)
• Finish a kids album (inspired by They Might Be Giants genius)
• Start my epic journey of “Digital Opus” (something that I feel could be my greatest musical achievement)
• Practice trombone and voice more than once a week.

Geek

• Put out good, solid weekly comics on We’ve Been Framed
• Maintain this blog with content as close to daily as possible
• Complete at least one personal iPhone/BlackBerry application

Work

• Learn to grow and become a great leader.
• Learn more about upcoming technologies
• Become diligent with projects and deadlines
• Innovate

Family and Home

• Become not just involved, but immersed with my son’s activities
• Complete activities every week as a family
• Devote time for my lovely wife
• Be healthier

I have a vision for this list to become a lot more beefier and robust as time goes on. I know it won’t be easy. Just writing it down is a form of therapy for me. Looking at it and reading it has got me thinking “and when am I going to have for all this?” There in lies the challenge. I have lot of resources at my finger tips: Calendars, task lists, agendas… I intend to fully harness the power of these technologies while sprinkling in a little will, dedication, and hard work. Wish me luck. Help me keep focused. Let’s do this.

Ever since I got some new equipment, I’ve been toying around with the idea of covers. There were many others ahead of this, but I wanted something fun. I tried to apply a unique take to it. Without further ado:

Paparazzi by Lady Gaga (cover)

Yes I know I mispelled it in the video…

(Sigh, story of my life)

Without furher digression, here’s a movie made with iMovie in, I kid you not, 2 minutes.

So thanks to The Conk, who bought me a pro account to Remember the Milk for Xmas, I’ve become very task oriented. I don’t know how I lived before without truly being task oriented before, but if you are one of those people that think that they can remember everything – you’re wrong!

So this post is me telling you how to live your life (but I wont tell you how to organize your tasks). When Andrew bought me the Pro Account (25/yr), I felt obligated to use it. I highly recommend you check out their site and sign up. Also, I’m glad to have paid it forward and have given an account to a friend. Now I can cross off “Write blog post” as a task. only 114 more tasks to go.

Read More | Remember the Milk
Read More | Remember the Milk Blog

Thank you Grace, for making sure that we finally get those long awaited answers.

I’ve started to write a children’s album (one of my goals). Below are the lyrics for the first completed track, The Kiwi Fruit Blues.  There is music already composed for this but I haven’t recorded it yet.  In case your wondering – it’s 12 Bar Blues in G.

The Kiwifruit Blues

Verse
I don’t wanna be a kiwi because I’m fuzzy and brown
No, I don’t wanna be a kiwi because I’m fuzzy and brown
No one wants to eat me
and that’s what’s got me down

I tried to make some friends with some bananas and pears
Yeah, I tried to make some friends with some bananas and pears
But then someone got hungry
and then they weren’t there

Why am I so squishy? That just ain’t right!
I said, Why am I so squishy? That just ain’t right!
Be real careful when you hold me
Don’t squeeze me too tight!

Chorus
I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
I said, I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
So if you want a ballad
chop me up in a fruit salad
This is the kiwi fruit blues

Verse
I was named after a small bird that can’t even fly
Yeah, I was named after a small bird that can’t even fly
Although the bird is from New Zealand
they imported me from Italy last night!

They put me in this cold box with some dude named Grape
I said they put me in this cold box with some dude named Grape
He turned to me and told me
From here there’s no escape

Chorus
I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
I said, I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
So if you want a ballad
chop me up in a fruit salad
I’ve got the kiwi fruit blues

I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
I said, I’m singing the kiwifruit blues.
If I end up forgotten
Then I’ll feel really rotten
This is the kiwi fruit blues

In a conversation with Tru about an inappropriate comic he placed on my desk:

Tru Huynh says:
excuse me sir
Tru Huynh says:
have you seen a webcomic of mine around somewhere?
Edwin Soto says:
yes, i saw your offering
Edwin Soto says:
it has been processed, cleaned, smelled, vomited, accepted then rejected
Tru Huynh says:
hmm both acceptance and rejection
Edwin Soto says:
no — read it again — accepatance THEN rejection
Edwin Soto says:
it’s a slippery slope
Tru Huynh says:
well i used and to indicate they both happened =P
Tru Huynh says:
slippery slope indeed

In case you were unaware of some awesome comic goodness being created by me, Andrew, Daniel, and Tru — it’s all up there on www.wevebeenframed.com. So far, so good. I like where it’s headed and hopefully we can post just about every day. GOOD TIMES!