Inspired by Mike, I just added my current Google Latitude location to my site: http://www.nelsonbradley.com/location/

There’s also a small version on my about page if you’re interested. I’m not sure if I’ll keep it around forever, but it was really easy to add using the embed code from here. I used to be paranoid about people knowing exactly where I was using Latitude, and I still am to some degree. But, I think it’s too cool not to have. Plus, there’s no reason to stalk me when it is just as easy to stalk Mike Leotta!

Last Friday was my 25th birthday. Yay. Three days earlier though, Gmail introduced a new labs feature that two of my friends quickly put to good use:

The extra emoji are great!

On the subject of Gmail labs, if you’re not using them yet, you should click the * in Gmail, wade through, and add a bunch — they can make a huge difference in your email productivity and enjoyment. I use 23 of them right now. My current favorite is Search Autocomplete, which will finish a lot of the searches you make within Gmail. If you’re like me and your memory is only as good as your ability to search your inbox, it’s really useful. It comes in especially handy while searching your email for those sent from a friend whose username you always blank on or when you don’t know the exact search operator to use. Autocomplete is also great when you’re just too lazy to type everything out!

*note: if you don’t have labs enabled, you might have to go enable them in settings first before you’ll see the green flask ()

My grandparents say a lot of funny things. Recently, my sister went to Israel with them for our cousin Meira’s wedding. While she was there, she kept a notepad to write down some of the gems.

On Grandpa closing his eyes mid-conversation (a very regular occurrence):

Grandma: I think he indulges himself too much.

Grandpa (eyes closed): What do you mean, indulge myself? With what?

Grandma: Closing your eyes.

Grandpa: I’m just resting.

Grandma: What do you mean, resting? Give it about ten years and you’ll be in a perpetual state of rest.

Grandpa: I can hear everything.

Grandma: I don’t care if you can hear – PARTICIPATE!

——-

On birthday gifts:

Grandma: He once gave me a broom so I don’t have to bend down. I gave it back to him in the head.

——

On pastimes in Florida:

Grandma: I used to play bridge but I don’t have a partner and he won’t play with me.

Grandpa: I don’t like bridge. You have to concentrate.

Grandma: That’s the POINT!

Grandpa: If I concentrate too smartly, I get a headache.

——

During an argument about Grandma getting lost on a walk from the hotel when Grandpa had given her clear directions:

Grandma: Manny, most people go from A to B and have a boring life. I don’t do that.

——

My Favorite:

Grandpa (to Grandma): You’ll be alive when the martians come to earth because only the good die young.

——

Speaking about a waiter who was shelving some bottles of wine and not responding to her while she was trying to ask for a to-go container for the breakfast buffet (which, of course, isn’t allowed):

Grandma: He’s one of those one-thing-at-a-time kind of people.

——

On feeling badly when I (my sister) wouldn’t accept money:

Grandma: It’s one of my pleasures — that and worrying.

——

Discussing the long trip to/from Israel:

Sister: Does Grandpa sleep on the airplane?
Grandma: He says no. I say yes.

——

On noticing Grandpa’s complexion:

Sister: Grandpa, your skin looks so nice, you have a really nice tan.

Grandpa: Smiles.

Grandma: Of course he has a tan. I made him sit outside for awhile before we left Florida. You can’t come from Florida and not have a tan.

Grandpa: Stops smiling.

——

I love them so much.

Koklynn went on a 3-day backpacking trip along the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail in the Santa Cruz mountains this weekend. It turns out this was not the best weekend to go, since it’s raining now. For those that are interested in her progress/survival, here’s the transcript of our conversation over text messages:

1:08 AM Koklynn: You there?
1:12 AM me: yup
1:12 AM Koklynn: I’m wet :(
1:15 AM me: I know :(…just remember that you’re waterproof
1:15 AM Koklynn: Are you in Los Gatos?
1:17 AM me: Cupertino. I can come pick you up if you want.
1:24 AM me: Surviving?
1:28 AM Koklynn: Maybe. We’re trying to figure out what to do. We might be able to make it through the night.
1:30 AM me: Forecast says rain tomorrow and cloudy but no rain Sunday.
1:42 AM Koklynn: Hmm think we figured out a temp solution. It’s just that the girl’s tent is leaking everywhere. :)
1:47 AM me: Enough time for twitter i see :)
1:48 AM Koklynn: Hard to sleep when you’re half wet :)
….
8:13 AM Koklynn: Um if you’re awake. You think you can pick us up today? If you’re busy that’s ok! It would take all day :( No one else has their phone to call people.
8:15 AM me: sure
8:18 AM Koklynn: Are you sure? You’d have to pick us up at a campsite in the middle of the park and take us to our car in Santa Cruz. 3 girls
8:21 AM me: Haha that’s fine. Where to go?
8:27 AM Koklynn: We are at Waterman camp in the Santa Cruz mountains. Our trail is called skyline to the sea. Let me know if you can find it.
8:31 AM Koklynn: Have it handy. We’re still deciding if we should tough it out. Sorry! And thank you!
8:32 AM me: K, well I found the camp on Google maps
9:10 AM Koklynn: Ok. We’re gonna try toughing it out. Thanks!
9:12 AM me: Ok good luck

That’s it for now…. I’ll update if I hear more.

*Update* In case you were wondering, she made it back sore, but alive. Pictures here.

Also tweeted this, but I haven’t posted about Henri in a while, so I wanted to let everyone know he’s doing well. I’m putting him on a little bit of a diet to recover from my parents’ overfeeding of him while I was in India. I think this might be making him a little aggressive. Right after our prolonged battle (I won), he went to his food bowl and moved it across the living room floor. Don’t worry, I gave him more food.

Rotofugi, a really cool Chicago toy store that I frequent, recently created this great advertisement that everyone should watch. It tells the story of toys who collect various types of humans and even features the Wee Ninjas that you’ll find around my desk at work. Watch it, and collect something.

Inspired by this post, here’s the packaging redesign for Kinley water. For those who didn’t know (I didn’t until a couple weeks ago), Kinley basically has a monopoly of the Hyderabad bottled water market. Recently, the bottle design changed — the label lowered, the shape got more curvy (easier to hold), and the cap changed to blue. I like the changes. Also, everyone I asked prefers the new version too. I even overheard people discussing the benefits of the new design in the elevator at work.

I went to see the Taj Mahal this weekend. It was amazing. However, aside from the Taj, there’s not much to see/do in Agra. There is a movie theater though, so I decided to go see a Hindi movie – my first ever. I settled on Phoonk – said to be the ultimate Indian horror movie; it turned out to be entertaining, but not scary. Also, there was no singing or dancing. My ticket:

Some things to note if you ever plan to go see a movie in India:

• They have different pricing levels for tickets based on the seats: silver, gold, and ebony. Not wanting to be stuck with a bad seat and also not wanting to watch from a sofa, I settled on gold. This is a mistake. Go with the silver.
• Be prepared to stand up for the National anthem before the film. (though I’m told this only occurs in small towns) I was given curious stares when I stood up noticeably later than the crowd as the music started.
• There will be an intermission. Do not fret. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the masala peanuts.
• There will be a happy ending. :)