Australia

Just got back from LA for my mom's birthday, cousin's birthday and my pre-birthday celebration with some panget people (Archinas, I had more chips!).

Guess what, when I thought I would not be traveling during May, here comes one of my co-workers, "Do you want to go to Australia in two weeks?" "Sure!" I have to present a paper in his stead. It’s technical enough to exercise my brain; it’s short enough to learn in a week; and I’m going to an exotic enough place to experience an adventure! Thanks God, you know what I really love doing! You’re the best!

Running forward

I ran around Spring Lake and Howarth Park yesterday - around 4 miles total. I'm rediscovering the freedom of running outside the gym. I may do it again today.

I think I can get close to my birthday goal of 180 lbs, 15% fat. Now I'm at 187 lbs, 15% - 16% body fat depending on the time of day I weigh in. Realistically, I can shoot for 185 lbs, 15% bf, 180lbs by June.

Ah, numbers numbers. On to other goals, I started planning the rest of this year and here's a short list of what I have in store:

1) Take up French and Chinese more seriously. Take French at the JC.
2) Get ready to become a board member of a radio station, donig management and planning.
3) Learn more about wines and fine dining.
4) Continue to be physically fit.
5) Continue writing an hour each day for my "book".
6) Start looking for a new place to buy or rent.
7) Repair and grow my relationship with God.

Sigh, #7 stabs at my heart.

Those Magnets

 

Venezia

I walk past the pianist who passsionately pressed her chords into melody. The violinist, bassist and accordionist joined in one by one, together trumpeting a joyful symphony that hinted of optimism, brisk action, and unbridled youth in its prime. I then pass white-gloved waiters on my way to the busy Piazza San Marco square where people fed hundreds of unwieldy birds. I joined in the chaos for a while. In the middle of the square I still heard the music, which was about to reach its conclusion so I slowly turned myself around full circle, in sync with the distant symphony that lifted my soul with its buoyant chords, as if to suggest that yes, there are a lot of things in store for the future. Then the end; applause; legions of birds fly.

I visited Venice the day after I arrived in Florence. The train from Florence dropped me and my aunt off at one end of Venice. To get to the Piazza San Marco, we had to pay for a water taxi or walk for 30 minutes. Of course we opted for the scenic route. We walked through narrow alleys and countless canals, all filled with confusing directions to the Pza. San Marco. As I passed through numerous stores that sold masks, Murano glass and other souvenirs, I started looking for my own souvenir. I wanted a magnet made up of murano glass that had “Venice” etched on it. The first few stores my aunt and I went to said it was an impossible find. Then by the tenth store, the shopkeepers said they’ve seen them before but somewhere closer to the P. San Marco. So we kept walking. As we neared the square, we’ve probably visited 20-30 stores to no avail. I was about to give up and lower my standards to find more suitable magnets when I realized that it’s the same thing with women. I decided that I won’t lower my standards just to find a woman that could suit me. I didn’t give up on that magnet. After I made that decision to God and to myself, the very next store I visited had a whole selection of these magnets! I lent a sigh of relief, at least my standards weren’t crazy. But after that store, I never found another store that sold anything remotely like what I was looking for. My aunt and I even went to the Murano island itself to look for them! So I realized my own lesson – never lower your standard when it comes to important life matters. Because chances are, those standards were pronounced to you by God, and He has something special in store for you. You know, like your perfect magnet.

We eventually got to the P. San Marco, and it was just bustling with life. Musicians serenaded us and birds were just everywhere! They’re probably the most fed birds in Italy. They’re aggressive too. After that, my aunt and I sailed for Murano island where we watched glass blowing demos. We took lots of pictures at the main island too and had lunch at one of the cafes. On our way back, we stopped by the magnet store and no matter how high they priced it, I was more than willing to pay for it. Just like my future bride. When she comes, I will surely pay dearly for her.

Moulin Rouge

Visited it during my last trip to Paris. 

I'm back!

Wow, that was a great trip. Even if it was work related, I was with younger people all the time so I was always invigorated. I only slept 3-4 hours a day but I surely bonded with the European folks. I love Europe =(. I say that with a pout because I'm having withdrawal syndromes right now. I feel like I don't belong here like I'm supposed to be at a bar or something.

Oh well... that's why I'm gonna start blogging to let the bad air out. pfft. The first few days, I hung out in Paris, eating crepes, duck, escargots. We went to Montmarte (church on a hill), watched a mime show (picture above) and got my caricature at Sacre Coeur (it didn't look like me at all). I also took a picture of Moulin Rouge.

During the week, we were at Euro Disney about 20 km outside of Paris. Our company couldn't find a hotel big enough to house all our seminars and the whole European team. I didn't really explore Disney since I didn't like the whole kid thing, but I'll give them credit for having a Planet Hollywood and a discotheque on site which we frequented every single night.

The thing I love about Europe is that people love to dance. I even danced with one of our VPs. Also, the whole European field loves to dance. It was deja vu to my high school days when we got all crazy whenever there was a dance night.

Thursday night, we went to Paris for dinner and drinks. My co-worker P and I had several beers on empty stomachs before we left Disney so in the middle of the 40-minute train ride we couldn't hold our bladders anymore. We had to go and our French co-worker X just didn't understand us. At the stop, P and I ran out of the station, found a random street and p'd. We were laughing so hard because we tried to avoid the p from touching our shoes while drawing demarcation lines to mark our territories. We laughed so hard at how ridiculous the whole situation was, to the point where I had cramps while p'ing! So I had this awkward p'ing position holding my thing and my cramping stomach, which of course triggered another laugh. P and I laughed and p'd for a good 2 minutes while X swayed his head in laughing disapproval. P, X and I then took the train back to Paris again, then we went to an Italian resto, had food and shots, then headed to another bar, had more drinks then headed back to Disney. Since it was a ritual now, this p'ing thing, we p'd twice on 2 monuments before we headed home. Our territories were all marked. Once we got back to Disney, P and I headed to the discotheque to meet the other guys, and X headed back to his room since he hasn't slept for 2 days. Around 130am, P left and I went on partying til they closed around 3. A couple hours later, I had to open the conference room at 7, set up and get ready to talk for another 6-8 hours. Long tiring day.

That Friday evening, I went back to Paris again, this time with the local French guys. They took me to a gypsy bar. It was really gypsyish. I missed my train and had to sleep at one of the local's apartment. I woke up the next morning to head to another party in the countryside where we played betanque, badminton, had barbecue and anise. It was such a good time. I had to leave to catch my train back to Disney around midnight. I packed my stuff, woke up at 6am to catch my flight out to Barcelona right when I was getting acclimated and used to speaking French.

The whole trip was so surreal yet now so validated by how much I miss Paris. Someday, I want to live there. Je'm Paris.