R.I.P. Tree

The Tucson monsoons hit pretty hard this year and one of the first storms knocked over the mesquite tree in my front yard. :( As you can see in the picture, it didn't fall over completely, but the wind was strong enough to uproot the tree and force it leaning.  Leaning Tower of Treesa let's call it, heh.

Fortunately, the tree wasn't in danger of falling into the house and if it did fall over completely, it'd probably just roll into my neighbors driveway.  I contemplated on what to do with the tree.  Do I save it or just remove it?  The tree doesn't provide enough shade to cool the house down (unlike the two in my backyard that are big enough), so it was there purely for aesthetic value. 

This tree also required the most trimming of any of my trees.  My neighbor would come over to my house and ask me to trim it since it extended over and into his yard.  If not trimmed, it would sometimes blocked vision of his house from the street.  Apparently one day, a car was parked on his driveway and broken into, and he blamed it on the tree being able to "cover" that area and make it easier for criminals to get away without being seen.  So as a result, I would trim the tree at least once a year and haul the branches over to a nearby dumpster.

As you know, I'm all about convenience, and it just didn't seem convenient to save the tree and sign myself up for more annual chores.  One of my friends has a friend in the tree removal service, so they were able to come by and remove the tree for $150.  I thought the asking price was pretty reasonable and they even complied with my request to chop up the tree so that I could have some firewood. :) Thanks to Matt for that idea.

So anyway, R.I.P. tree.  You will be missed but I guess life will go on!

Andy Lin: You're Just Too Nice

I get told a lot that I'm just too nice a person.  It's true, I'm pretty generous and looking in the best interest of others.  And a lot of times I put others in front of myself.  But really, I just can't see another way of living life.  I'm a very fortunate person, blessed with great qualities and I've earned everything I've lived for to this point.  I just haven't got any real issues (definitely compared to some of the shit others have to go through).

I'm nice because I enjoy being nice, it makes me feel like a good person.  Nothing but good feelings are shared when you're nice.  And I just do unto others as I would like others to do unto me.  Life is really simplified for me, and I all I can do is appreciate how lucky I am.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I will always be nice and I will not change who I am.  And if you think I'm too nice, well, what probably should say is "go fuck yourself", but being the Mr. Nice Guy that I am, I'll just try and think of ways to make things better.

You've all heard of "Making It Happen" by now, but I'm embracing a new motto that I heard from my friend Chris's friend Peter: "Do the right thing."  While I can't control the bad decisions others constantly make on a daily basis, I can control mine.

"Do the right thing."