Wednesday, April 30, 2008
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
So yesterday, I registered for my first marathon.
October 26th, the Marine Corps Marathon. So I have 6 months to get ready.
Ethan and Vu and I all went to sign up together. I was interviewed on camera and I made sure I pointed out that Ethan was the one who got me to do this, so there's a record in case anything goes wrong and we need someone to blame.
I can do this. I know I can. If there's one thing I'm able to do in this world it's set a goal and meet it.
In grad school everyone said you don't have to be smart to get a PhD, you just have to be persistent. I often told people that it was like running a marathon instead of a 100-meter race. I guess I'll find out if it was really like running a marathon.
Today at work I was talking with a younger person whom I mentor. She ran the Marathon last year but wasn't planning to this year. But after I told her about signing up and she saw how excited I was, she got excited too, went online, and signed up. So if she ruins her body getting ready for this, I guess it's MY fault.
October 26th, the Marine Corps Marathon. So I have 6 months to get ready.
Ethan and Vu and I all went to sign up together. I was interviewed on camera and I made sure I pointed out that Ethan was the one who got me to do this, so there's a record in case anything goes wrong and we need someone to blame.
I can do this. I know I can. If there's one thing I'm able to do in this world it's set a goal and meet it.
In grad school everyone said you don't have to be smart to get a PhD, you just have to be persistent. I often told people that it was like running a marathon instead of a 100-meter race. I guess I'll find out if it was really like running a marathon.
Today at work I was talking with a younger person whom I mentor. She ran the Marathon last year but wasn't planning to this year. But after I told her about signing up and she saw how excited I was, she got excited too, went online, and signed up. So if she ruins her body getting ready for this, I guess it's MY fault.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
That New Car Smell
I am now completely, totally, utterly the owner of a paid-off Honda Element. All I need to do is put the license plates on and then I can start driving the vehicle I've been driving for the past 6 months, with one new thing:
Now I get to name it.
I'm pretty sure he's a boy car because I can see his exhaust pipe.
Oh, and speaking of names, does anyone else think "Saturn is Dead" would be a great name for a band, or is it just me?
Now I get to name it.
I'm pretty sure he's a boy car because I can see his exhaust pipe.
Oh, and speaking of names, does anyone else think "Saturn is Dead" would be a great name for a band, or is it just me?
Labels: Stuff, Wandering Mind
Monday, April 21, 2008
Hiya
So, what's been happening during the week I've been too busy to blog? Well...
Tuesday I had dinner with a friend who lives here and is originally from Penang, who also lived in Boston and New York before coming here. I helped him shop for a new mattress, we had Afghan food, and he gave me advice for a friend of mine in Penang who wants to come study here (hi, Azhan!!). He was thrilled to be riding in my Beetle (frankly, I was thrilled it was working) because he used to have one in Boston. It was from him that I learned that I can raise the front seats. It totally changed my driving experience.
Wednesday night my friend Doug was in town. Ah, Doug, who when I met him was a college student living in a (admittedly nice) trailer in Colorado, and who now lives in Germany with his hot German boyfriend. How times have changed. We had a nice long talk on the way into DC for dinner about all the stuff going on here at home...he'd read the basics from my blog but seeing as we've known each other for about 13 years he was getting concerned about my change in tone over the last couple years and he wanted to make sure I'm cool. And for that, I am appreciative. Also in the outing was Arlington Michael (who now lives in DC but once I give you a nickname, it sticks) who, in an odd twist of fate, dated Doug after Doug moved to DC a few years ago. Michael's boyfriend Mike (whom I have not yet graced with a Michael-nickname, though Hottie Michael would be appropriate) was also there, which means that for a while before Adrian joined us, Arlington Michael was sitting with a tableful of people who had ALL SLEPT WITH HIM. That had to be totally hot. For him.
Thursday night Stan came over and I fixed dinner and we watched Super Troopers. I thought this was going to be some sort of a Reno 911 kind of thing but it was actually really good. Oh, and my pasta was all right, though the bread I'd gotten the night before from Safeway had mold on it so BOO for Safeway.
Incidentally, people have been asking me who Stan is, so here's a pic:
We met at Josh and Angelo's Halloween party and had some professional things in common. We got to talking, met up for lunch a couple times, and over the past few months have turned into really good friends. He's a lot of fun to hang out with and we share interests but also are up for new things so it's never boring. I won't talk much about what a great guy he is because he reads this and it might embarrass him, but I will say he likes to drink for free on Thursday nights and leave it at that (the DC boys know what that means).
Friday night Justin came over, I fixed up a little dinner, and we watched the Miss USA pageant, which I'd TIVO'd. Justin is a big fan of pageants going back to his younger days, and I have to admit I got really caught up in it as the evening went on. I was very impressed with the young lady who won and who will be representing the US at Miss Universe in Vietnam this summer.
Saturday was a good day. I met Stan and we ran 3 miles in the morning...it was a beautiful day so getting out was a must. Then I spent a few hours doing some errands and working on a project I'm trying to get off the ground. My favorite line of the day came from Ethan, who called around mid-afternoon:
So I ran again, 5 miles this time, and it was all good, even my knee.
Sunday was dragon boat practice and naturally it started raining while we were on the river. Just a light rain at first but then it REALLY came down hard.
Today I was going to run on the machines in the gym because it was still raining but when I stepped outside it had stopped. So I decided to run outside and hadn't gone more than 100 meters before the rain started coming down again. i thought about going back to the gym but everyone had seen me leave and I didn't want to look like a wuss. After all, it's only water, right? So yeah, it came down hard and I was pretty soaked after 3 miles, but at least I had the running trail to myself.
And now it's late and definitely time for sleeping!!
Tuesday I had dinner with a friend who lives here and is originally from Penang, who also lived in Boston and New York before coming here. I helped him shop for a new mattress, we had Afghan food, and he gave me advice for a friend of mine in Penang who wants to come study here (hi, Azhan!!). He was thrilled to be riding in my Beetle (frankly, I was thrilled it was working) because he used to have one in Boston. It was from him that I learned that I can raise the front seats. It totally changed my driving experience.
Wednesday night my friend Doug was in town. Ah, Doug, who when I met him was a college student living in a (admittedly nice) trailer in Colorado, and who now lives in Germany with his hot German boyfriend. How times have changed. We had a nice long talk on the way into DC for dinner about all the stuff going on here at home...he'd read the basics from my blog but seeing as we've known each other for about 13 years he was getting concerned about my change in tone over the last couple years and he wanted to make sure I'm cool. And for that, I am appreciative. Also in the outing was Arlington Michael (who now lives in DC but once I give you a nickname, it sticks) who, in an odd twist of fate, dated Doug after Doug moved to DC a few years ago. Michael's boyfriend Mike (whom I have not yet graced with a Michael-nickname, though Hottie Michael would be appropriate) was also there, which means that for a while before Adrian joined us, Arlington Michael was sitting with a tableful of people who had ALL SLEPT WITH HIM. That had to be totally hot. For him.
Thursday night Stan came over and I fixed dinner and we watched Super Troopers. I thought this was going to be some sort of a Reno 911 kind of thing but it was actually really good. Oh, and my pasta was all right, though the bread I'd gotten the night before from Safeway had mold on it so BOO for Safeway.
Incidentally, people have been asking me who Stan is, so here's a pic:
We met at Josh and Angelo's Halloween party and had some professional things in common. We got to talking, met up for lunch a couple times, and over the past few months have turned into really good friends. He's a lot of fun to hang out with and we share interests but also are up for new things so it's never boring. I won't talk much about what a great guy he is because he reads this and it might embarrass him, but I will say he likes to drink for free on Thursday nights and leave it at that (the DC boys know what that means).
Friday night Justin came over, I fixed up a little dinner, and we watched the Miss USA pageant, which I'd TIVO'd. Justin is a big fan of pageants going back to his younger days, and I have to admit I got really caught up in it as the evening went on. I was very impressed with the young lady who won and who will be representing the US at Miss Universe in Vietnam this summer.
Saturday was a good day. I met Stan and we ran 3 miles in the morning...it was a beautiful day so getting out was a must. Then I spent a few hours doing some errands and working on a project I'm trying to get off the ground. My favorite line of the day came from Ethan, who called around mid-afternoon:
Ethan: We're going running this evening, you want to go?
Me; I already ran once today.
Ethan: So? You can eat in the morning and evening, why can't you run twice?
Me: I have no good response to that.
So I ran again, 5 miles this time, and it was all good, even my knee.
Sunday was dragon boat practice and naturally it started raining while we were on the river. Just a light rain at first but then it REALLY came down hard.
Me: My hair's going to be a mess for Happy Hour.
Guy behind me: I'm more concerned about that lightning, and the fact we're in a metal boat in the middle of a river.
Me: I have no good response to that.
Today I was going to run on the machines in the gym because it was still raining but when I stepped outside it had stopped. So I decided to run outside and hadn't gone more than 100 meters before the rain started coming down again. i thought about going back to the gym but everyone had seen me leave and I didn't want to look like a wuss. After all, it's only water, right? So yeah, it came down hard and I was pretty soaked after 3 miles, but at least I had the running trail to myself.
And now it's late and definitely time for sleeping!!
Labels: Friends, Life, Relationships
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tiring, But Good, Weekend
I had a nice visit with my uncle this weekend. We went to Mount vernon on Saturday (George Washington's estate, for those who don't know) and on Sunday visited the National Building Museum and then went to the national Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. All very cool touristy stuff suitable for a history major from the University of Virginia (which he was).
Saturday night he and Adrian and I went to dinner and Sunday night Adrian made dinner. Good food was had both times, but unlike my wonderful Malaysian friends, I will neither describe it in great detail nor post photos of it.
Sunday morning out dragon boat team had our first practice!! I had fun and discovered that I don't totally suck at this. At least, no one told me I did. We have a men's team and there's also a co-ed team, both sponsored by AQUA (I think "stroking for the gay asian community" should be our slogan, or something close to that anyway).
Please note: some of these people are straight so inclusion in this photo does not imply anything about a team member's sexual orientation
Tonight was a "chill out with Chinese food and TV" night because the weekend was a little tiring, what with all the running around and the constant attention my uncle needed. And even though my social calendar is filling up for this week, I do intend to get caught up on e-mails and such, on which I'm totally behind.
Saturday night he and Adrian and I went to dinner and Sunday night Adrian made dinner. Good food was had both times, but unlike my wonderful Malaysian friends, I will neither describe it in great detail nor post photos of it.
Sunday morning out dragon boat team had our first practice!! I had fun and discovered that I don't totally suck at this. At least, no one told me I did. We have a men's team and there's also a co-ed team, both sponsored by AQUA (I think "stroking for the gay asian community" should be our slogan, or something close to that anyway).
Please note: some of these people are straight so inclusion in this photo does not imply anything about a team member's sexual orientation
Tonight was a "chill out with Chinese food and TV" night because the weekend was a little tiring, what with all the running around and the constant attention my uncle needed. And even though my social calendar is filling up for this week, I do intend to get caught up on e-mails and such, on which I'm totally behind.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Family Visit
My uncle, whom I haven't seen in 22 years, is visiting this weekend. It's cool, because we have a lot to catch up on, but it's a little draining...because we have a lot to catch up on. Also, we are doing museums and such and my legs are getting tired. (but my knees are fine, thank you to those who were about to ask)
Anyway, I bailed out of work Friday morning to pick him up and then spent the day together, then today we were touring all day. Sunday I have dragon boat practice in the morning and then we will be hitting museums all afternoon and then Monday I will send him on his way toward my parents.
It's great to see him. It's unfortunate that there was some confusion about whether he was coming and as a result I made commitments to other people for things on Friday night that I had to bail out on (I didn't think taking my 64-year old uncle to a gaysian party at a new club was a good idea). But I am still going to dragon boat practice Sunday because...well, just because.
This weekend has been a vortex of confusion for some time. First I was supposed to be flying to Bahrain this weekend for work, but I got out of that. Then I was supposed to be in Bangkok this weekend, then going to KL on Sunday, as part of a work trip, but that fell through. Then this visit...I tell you, there has just been something weird about this weekend.
I don't know what it is. Could it be because this is yet another Lunar New Year? In any event, Happy Songkran (Sawasdee Bpee Mai!) to all my Thai friends and Happy Bpee Mai (Souksan Vahn Bpee Mai!) to everyone from Laos!!!
Anyway, I bailed out of work Friday morning to pick him up and then spent the day together, then today we were touring all day. Sunday I have dragon boat practice in the morning and then we will be hitting museums all afternoon and then Monday I will send him on his way toward my parents.
It's great to see him. It's unfortunate that there was some confusion about whether he was coming and as a result I made commitments to other people for things on Friday night that I had to bail out on (I didn't think taking my 64-year old uncle to a gaysian party at a new club was a good idea). But I am still going to dragon boat practice Sunday because...well, just because.
This weekend has been a vortex of confusion for some time. First I was supposed to be flying to Bahrain this weekend for work, but I got out of that. Then I was supposed to be in Bangkok this weekend, then going to KL on Sunday, as part of a work trip, but that fell through. Then this visit...I tell you, there has just been something weird about this weekend.
I don't know what it is. Could it be because this is yet another Lunar New Year? In any event, Happy Songkran (Sawasdee Bpee Mai!) to all my Thai friends and Happy Bpee Mai (Souksan Vahn Bpee Mai!) to everyone from Laos!!!
Labels: Life
Friday, April 11, 2008
Bad Karma, Good Karma
Bad: driving out to work Tuesday I noticed that the parking lot where my non-functioning Beetle was parked was going to be closed on Wednesday and I would have to figure out how to move it.
Good: it got me off my ass and forced me to get the car fixed.
Bad: I was waiting for the driver from the car repair place to pick me up, and I didn't see him until he was driving away.
Good: As I tried to figure out what to do, Ethan walked by on his way to his car and was able to give me a ride, the first time I'd seen him since last Sunday's race.
Bad: the car repairs were VERY expensive.
Good: I realized that since the car is paid for, I might as well keep it for a while and have fun with it (while getting my money's worth from the repairs! :P)
Bad: this morning, as I got downstairs in my building to catch our private bus to the train station, I realized I forgot something and had to come back up, which meant I would miss the bus and be late to work.
Good: a lady from my building saw me running late and got the bus driver to wait until I came back down.
Bad: my train was delayed coming home and I missed our private bus back to the condo.
Good: there was a public bus leaving 30 seconds after I arrived and I managed to get on it.
Bad: I went running today and about 3.5 miles into it my left knee started hurting so bad I had to walk.
Good: I still finished 5 miles, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day outside.
Some people say I am too optimistic. Maybe so. I try to see the good in everything, something I am getting better at lately. When people try to decide how they feel, if "the glass is half full" or "the glass is half empty," I'm just happy to have a glass.
Most people think I'm on drugs.
Good: it got me off my ass and forced me to get the car fixed.
Bad: I was waiting for the driver from the car repair place to pick me up, and I didn't see him until he was driving away.
Good: As I tried to figure out what to do, Ethan walked by on his way to his car and was able to give me a ride, the first time I'd seen him since last Sunday's race.
Bad: the car repairs were VERY expensive.
Good: I realized that since the car is paid for, I might as well keep it for a while and have fun with it (while getting my money's worth from the repairs! :P)
Bad: this morning, as I got downstairs in my building to catch our private bus to the train station, I realized I forgot something and had to come back up, which meant I would miss the bus and be late to work.
Good: a lady from my building saw me running late and got the bus driver to wait until I came back down.
Bad: my train was delayed coming home and I missed our private bus back to the condo.
Good: there was a public bus leaving 30 seconds after I arrived and I managed to get on it.
Bad: I went running today and about 3.5 miles into it my left knee started hurting so bad I had to walk.
Good: I still finished 5 miles, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day outside.
Some people say I am too optimistic. Maybe so. I try to see the good in everything, something I am getting better at lately. When people try to decide how they feel, if "the glass is half full" or "the glass is half empty," I'm just happy to have a glass.
Most people think I'm on drugs.
Labels: Life
Sunday, April 06, 2008
The Results Are In
Place (Overall): 4,685 out of 12,249
Place (Men's Division): 3,162 out of 5,865
Place (Men 40-49): 441 out of 763
@5 Mile: 46m 04s
Pace: 9:13/mile
@10KM: 56m 28s
Pace: 9:06/mile
Finish Line: 1h 28m 59s
Overall Pace: 8:54/mile
I came in only 1 minute behind Ethan, who has been my inspiration for this. I am catching up to him! (fortunately for me he has been sick all week -- I'm sure that helped!) Sorry, no pics of Ethan for those people who wanted to see some -- the rain was bad for cameras.
My knee still hurts, though not as bad as before. Adrian suggested I should ice it when we got home, but I had trouble deciding between vanilla and chocolate icing. Anyway, it helped.
Place (Men's Division): 3,162 out of 5,865
Place (Men 40-49): 441 out of 763
@5 Mile: 46m 04s
Pace: 9:13/mile
@10KM: 56m 28s
Pace: 9:06/mile
Finish Line: 1h 28m 59s
Overall Pace: 8:54/mile
I came in only 1 minute behind Ethan, who has been my inspiration for this. I am catching up to him! (fortunately for me he has been sick all week -- I'm sure that helped!) Sorry, no pics of Ethan for those people who wanted to see some -- the rain was bad for cameras.
My knee still hurts, though not as bad as before. Adrian suggested I should ice it when we got home, but I had trouble deciding between vanilla and chocolate icing. Anyway, it helped.
Across the Finish Line
I completed the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile race today. This was my first 10-miler, so YAY for that. Official results haven't been posted yet, but my tonight I should know how I did. I think I finished right around 90 minutes and my hope is that I was below that time. We only had light rain as I started but almost right after I crossed the finish line it really started coming down.
In a related story, my left knee hurts!!
In a related story, my left knee hurts!!
Labels: Life
Saturday, April 05, 2008
All Good
In case you're wondering, no, I haven't been kidnapped by a roving band of hot guys (dammit). After getting back from San Francisco last Sunday life got VERY busy. We had some stuff going on at work, plus I'm taking on a new project that requires some work in the evenings, so I've just been very busy. Up late, too much time in front of the computer, not enough sleep.
Right now I'm going to crash for 6 hours because of course I'm running a race in the morning. 10 miles. And of course, it's going to be raining.
Tales to follow.
Right now I'm going to crash for 6 hours because of course I'm running a race in the morning. 10 miles. And of course, it's going to be raining.
Tales to follow.
Labels: Life
