Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Whew!
I am racing to get this done before Blogger goes down for maintenance in 12 minutes. Wish me luck.
Last weekend I was at my parents' home which has always provided an excuse for not posting, seeing as they live out in the country and only had dial up access and anyway I'd be leaving "footprints" on their computer if I tried to update my blog. But now they have DSL, and with their new computer they have Safari, which of course has private browsing, which of COURSE means I could watch all the Northern European snuff films and view all the leopard bestiality sites I want to without them knowing about it, so surely I could post too. So that excuse has gone right out the window.
Guess I just need to pause and figure out what's going on.
Of course, "pausing" isn't something I've done much of lately, I suppose.
You know, I thought running would offer me some time to just get out and clear my mind, but all it did tonight was give me a chance to reorganize my "to do" list. And it took me all 13 miles to do that.
Yeah, 13 miles. Half a marathon. I maintained a pretty consistent 10-minute pace so I'm happy with that. If i could keep that pace during the whole marathon (in 12 days, I might add) I'd be thrilled, but I have a feeling I'l slow down a tiny bit after the halfway point. Then again, from all I've been told the marathon is a lot different from training because this time there will be people along the road cheering you on, as opposed to people passing you on bicycles yelling "Left. LEFT!!!" So the motivation factor (also known as the "I don't want to puke on myself in front of all these people" factor) tends to be higher.
OK, I'm not going to get this done before Blogger goes down. So I'll go write some e-mails or check the Nigerian scam ads for a while and hope it returns in about 10 minutes like they promised.
...
...
...
We back? Cool.
Speaking of the Marathon I told my folks about it this weekend. My dad, a marathon runner in a past life, looked at me and said "are you sure you want to do that?" Good thing I never expect supportive statements from him or I'd be awfully disappointed. I decided not to tell them about the Singapore Marathon.
The Singapore trip is coming together. My Employment Pass paperwork went in last week. On Wednesday I'll submit my syllabus and also send in the lease paperwork for my apartment. I'm starting to make a list of what I need to take, and I already have some friends there who are ready to show me around as well as some friends from Malaysia who are planning trips down there. I am EXCITED!!! Of course, it wouldn't be a "Will trip" without some hassles. For instance, even though my boss (a US ambassador, mind you) has approved my trip, I still need approval from two Human Resources offices AND a lawyer, and I am still waiting on those. Hey, why should they rush, i don't leave for, oh, 3 weeks. Plenty of time!
There are a few people here I want to spend some good quality time with before I go. The evenings and weekends are filling up. This week alone I get to celebrate 3 different birthdays (Stan's is Thursday!!). There's nothing scheduled yet for this weekend, though I think this might be the chance for Stan and I to go to the Richard Avedon photography exhibit, and I'm hoping to see Linh, too. The following weekend is Andy and Terry's Halloween party on Saturday and then the Marathon on Sunday (and yeah, the rest of that day will be shot...after going for pho, that is). The following weekend we have Josh and Angelo's Halloween party Friday night. And then the next Wednesday, I leave. Wow, this is coming up fast.
In other travel news, Olympics tickets have gone on sale for Vancouver 2010. And yes, I'm planning to go. I don't think I'll do the package deal like I did for Salt Lake City 2002, because the prices for the hotel/ticket combos have gotten insane. My plan is to request tickets, and then get lodging on my own (which will still be spendy, but not as much). I want to go, but I'm going to have to do it a little differently this time, and that will probably mean I get to stay longer and see more events. For the record, I'm getting two tickets to each event...later, we'll figure out who wants the second one.
And now, it's bedtime. After watching some Northern European snuff films and looking for new leopard bestiality sites, that is.
Last weekend I was at my parents' home which has always provided an excuse for not posting, seeing as they live out in the country and only had dial up access and anyway I'd be leaving "footprints" on their computer if I tried to update my blog. But now they have DSL, and with their new computer they have Safari, which of course has private browsing, which of COURSE means I could watch all the Northern European snuff films and view all the leopard bestiality sites I want to without them knowing about it, so surely I could post too. So that excuse has gone right out the window.
Guess I just need to pause and figure out what's going on.
Of course, "pausing" isn't something I've done much of lately, I suppose.
You know, I thought running would offer me some time to just get out and clear my mind, but all it did tonight was give me a chance to reorganize my "to do" list. And it took me all 13 miles to do that.
Yeah, 13 miles. Half a marathon. I maintained a pretty consistent 10-minute pace so I'm happy with that. If i could keep that pace during the whole marathon (in 12 days, I might add) I'd be thrilled, but I have a feeling I'l slow down a tiny bit after the halfway point. Then again, from all I've been told the marathon is a lot different from training because this time there will be people along the road cheering you on, as opposed to people passing you on bicycles yelling "Left. LEFT!!!" So the motivation factor (also known as the "I don't want to puke on myself in front of all these people" factor) tends to be higher.
OK, I'm not going to get this done before Blogger goes down. So I'll go write some e-mails or check the Nigerian scam ads for a while and hope it returns in about 10 minutes like they promised.
...
...
...
We back? Cool.
Speaking of the Marathon I told my folks about it this weekend. My dad, a marathon runner in a past life, looked at me and said "are you sure you want to do that?" Good thing I never expect supportive statements from him or I'd be awfully disappointed. I decided not to tell them about the Singapore Marathon.
The Singapore trip is coming together. My Employment Pass paperwork went in last week. On Wednesday I'll submit my syllabus and also send in the lease paperwork for my apartment. I'm starting to make a list of what I need to take, and I already have some friends there who are ready to show me around as well as some friends from Malaysia who are planning trips down there. I am EXCITED!!! Of course, it wouldn't be a "Will trip" without some hassles. For instance, even though my boss (a US ambassador, mind you) has approved my trip, I still need approval from two Human Resources offices AND a lawyer, and I am still waiting on those. Hey, why should they rush, i don't leave for, oh, 3 weeks. Plenty of time!
There are a few people here I want to spend some good quality time with before I go. The evenings and weekends are filling up. This week alone I get to celebrate 3 different birthdays (Stan's is Thursday!!). There's nothing scheduled yet for this weekend, though I think this might be the chance for Stan and I to go to the Richard Avedon photography exhibit, and I'm hoping to see Linh, too. The following weekend is Andy and Terry's Halloween party on Saturday and then the Marathon on Sunday (and yeah, the rest of that day will be shot...after going for pho, that is). The following weekend we have Josh and Angelo's Halloween party Friday night. And then the next Wednesday, I leave. Wow, this is coming up fast.
In other travel news, Olympics tickets have gone on sale for Vancouver 2010. And yes, I'm planning to go. I don't think I'll do the package deal like I did for Salt Lake City 2002, because the prices for the hotel/ticket combos have gotten insane. My plan is to request tickets, and then get lodging on my own (which will still be spendy, but not as much). I want to go, but I'm going to have to do it a little differently this time, and that will probably mean I get to stay longer and see more events. For the record, I'm getting two tickets to each event...later, we'll figure out who wants the second one.
And now, it's bedtime. After watching some Northern European snuff films and looking for new leopard bestiality sites, that is.
Labels: Friends, Life, Olympics, Running
Thursday, September 04, 2008
What a Great Summer It Was
Hanging out with Stan Monday (we visited the Newseum) I realized just how much had happened over the summer. Sure, according to the calendar we still have some summertime left, but really, the 101 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are what really count. Thinking back to where I was, where we were, back on Memorial Day, it's wild to think about how much has happened.
In terms of trips alone, it's been busy:
- two beach trips, one to start off the summer and one in July
- Gay Disney
- a New York City weekend with Stan
- and of course, the three weeks running around Asia back in June and July (when, I should add, I finally visited the fabled Babylon in Bangkok for the first time...but only to look around!).
So, overall, about a month was spent somewhere else. But still, some good stuff happened while I was home, like enjoying the Olympics. And I finally got to compete in the dragon boat race. Oh, and before Memorial Day the farthest I'd run was 10 miles, but even after dealing with an injury and not running seriously for about 6 weeks, I'm up to 21 miles as my farthest so far (and 23 miles are scheduled for this weekend, if the hurricane stays away!).
Some scary stuff happened too, like the three weeks of my cancer scare. But that turned out OK, and I've been medically cleared to head off to Singapore in November, so yay that. And I sold my Bug, which was not scary, but felt a little weird.
Obviously, the most important thing for me is time with friends. Some of my local friends were gone for the summer (but I managed to see Linh during my 2 days in Bangkok). But during my travels I got to see my KL friends, and my Singapore friends (and meet some new people, too!), and see Tony in Hong Kong and finally meet his wonderful boyfriend Max. I got to reconnect with Eddie, get to know David better, and meet up with some Fridae friends I hadn't met before. Here at home, of course, Stan and I have seen our friendship grow into something very cool (and it's only getting better!).
So it's been a good summer, and a full one. It still surprises me a bit when I think about all that's happened in only 3 months.
The scary thing is...the next 3 months seem even busier!!
In terms of trips alone, it's been busy:
- two beach trips, one to start off the summer and one in July
- Gay Disney
- a New York City weekend with Stan
- and of course, the three weeks running around Asia back in June and July (when, I should add, I finally visited the fabled Babylon in Bangkok for the first time...but only to look around!).
So, overall, about a month was spent somewhere else. But still, some good stuff happened while I was home, like enjoying the Olympics. And I finally got to compete in the dragon boat race. Oh, and before Memorial Day the farthest I'd run was 10 miles, but even after dealing with an injury and not running seriously for about 6 weeks, I'm up to 21 miles as my farthest so far (and 23 miles are scheduled for this weekend, if the hurricane stays away!).
Some scary stuff happened too, like the three weeks of my cancer scare. But that turned out OK, and I've been medically cleared to head off to Singapore in November, so yay that. And I sold my Bug, which was not scary, but felt a little weird.
Obviously, the most important thing for me is time with friends. Some of my local friends were gone for the summer (but I managed to see Linh during my 2 days in Bangkok). But during my travels I got to see my KL friends, and my Singapore friends (and meet some new people, too!), and see Tony in Hong Kong and finally meet his wonderful boyfriend Max. I got to reconnect with Eddie, get to know David better, and meet up with some Fridae friends I hadn't met before. Here at home, of course, Stan and I have seen our friendship grow into something very cool (and it's only getting better!).
So it's been a good summer, and a full one. It still surprises me a bit when I think about all that's happened in only 3 months.
The scary thing is...the next 3 months seem even busier!!
Labels: Friends, Health, Life, Olympics, Relationships, Running, Travel
Monday, August 25, 2008
All Done
I enjoyed the Closing Ceremonies from Beijing tonight, though the Opening Ceremonies were far more impressive. But of course, the Closing Ceremonies featured the British, and let's face it, they aren't going to be able to do anything as impressive as what Beijing did. Their Opening ceremonies are probably going to be all Eliza Doolittle this and Monty Python that. Which isn't bad, but still isn't as impressive as thousands of drummers and great fireworks.
Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love the Olympic Games. I've published academic research on them, visited the US Olympic Training Center way too many times while I lived in Colorado Springs, invited an Olympic figure skater out to dinner in a fan letter (he didn't respond, though I did later run into him at a shopping center) and of course, went to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. I love the ideals, even if the Wall Street Journal wants to turn it into nothing but dollars and cents. I love people having the chance to represent their country on the world stage. I love seeing a country win a medal for the first time, like Afghanistan's first medal that came in the Tae Kwan Do event. I also love the chance to see Jackie Chan sing (OK, not really) It's just cool. Which is why I was recording about 27 hours of this stuff a day and wearing out the fast forward button on the remote.
So I'm sorry to see the Games end, but it'll be good to have a life again instead of watching TV every night.
I'm already getting ready to get my tickets to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. And a trip to London in 2012 isn't out of the question.
Let me just say "bravo" to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and all the people and places that hosted these Games. Despite all the problems China has -- and I think there are plenty -- they do put on one hell of a show. It's amazing what a dictatorship is capable of forcing people to do. And the Games themselves were just all around great.
U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!!
Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love the Olympic Games. I've published academic research on them, visited the US Olympic Training Center way too many times while I lived in Colorado Springs, invited an Olympic figure skater out to dinner in a fan letter (he didn't respond, though I did later run into him at a shopping center) and of course, went to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. I love the ideals, even if the Wall Street Journal wants to turn it into nothing but dollars and cents. I love people having the chance to represent their country on the world stage. I love seeing a country win a medal for the first time, like Afghanistan's first medal that came in the Tae Kwan Do event. I also love the chance to see Jackie Chan sing (OK, not really) It's just cool. Which is why I was recording about 27 hours of this stuff a day and wearing out the fast forward button on the remote.
So I'm sorry to see the Games end, but it'll be good to have a life again instead of watching TV every night.
I'm already getting ready to get my tickets to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. And a trip to London in 2012 isn't out of the question.
Let me just say "bravo" to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and all the people and places that hosted these Games. Despite all the problems China has -- and I think there are plenty -- they do put on one hell of a show. It's amazing what a dictatorship is capable of forcing people to do. And the Games themselves were just all around great.
U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!!
Labels: Olympics
Thursday, August 14, 2008
One World One Dream
Anyone who knows me really well knows I love the Olympics. In the past I've kept an Olympics page on my website but it was out of date as the Beijing Games approached and I didn't have time to update it, with everything going that's been going on here.
The only time I've been there was the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. I wanted to go to Beijing but I didn't know if I was going to get the teaching position in Singapore or when I'd go if I did, so I couldn't take the chance on getting all those nonrefundable tickets.
I'm loving the Games so far. And I'm cheering for Team USA. But is it wrong of me to think Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei is cute?
The only time I've been there was the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. I wanted to go to Beijing but I didn't know if I was going to get the teaching position in Singapore or when I'd go if I did, so I couldn't take the chance on getting all those nonrefundable tickets.
I'm loving the Games so far. And I'm cheering for Team USA. But is it wrong of me to think Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei is cute?
Labels: Olympics
