Otherwise known as doing some laps at the local park and then looking at the ducks.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Sarasota - Early Morning
Communing with Nature
Otherwise known as doing some laps at the local park and then looking at the ducks.
Otherwise known as doing some laps at the local park and then looking at the ducks.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sarasota - Different Kind of Wildlife
Say Hello to My Little Friend
He has an inexplicable affinity for the deck chairs.
He has an inexplicable affinity for the deck chairs.
Sarasota - Mah Jong American Style
Rather, How America Ruined a Great Game
Jean and I were curious. It simply didn't make sense what Dad was saying about the American version of Mah Jong. We decided to try out his local parlor, which is in a strip mall a few miles away. We went for a one hour lesson and received it from the owner herself. Dad was right - the American game is loopy.
Jean and I were curious. It simply didn't make sense what Dad was saying about the American version of Mah Jong. We decided to try out his local parlor, which is in a strip mall a few miles away. We went for a one hour lesson and received it from the owner herself. Dad was right - the American game is loopy.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sarasota - Grasp Bird's Tail
Learning Tai Chi Moves One to Six
Jean and I went over to the local Tai Chi spot with Dad for a beginner's class. It was the second in the series but thankfully they started over from the beginning. It's harder than I thought it would be and I enjoyed the depth of focus required to master the moves. The hour and fifteen minutes went by quickly,
Jean and I went over to the local Tai Chi spot with Dad for a beginner's class. It was the second in the series but thankfully they started over from the beginning. It's harder than I thought it would be and I enjoyed the depth of focus required to master the moves. The hour and fifteen minutes went by quickly,
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Singapore - Diving
Someone's Officially Documented Now....
Building on her love for snorkeling in the Maldives, Dodo started working towards her diving certificate. First step, reading a 300 pg book then taking and passing a written test. Step two, swimming test consisting of many laps, treading in water for ten minutes, swimming with the tank, etc. Finally, this past weekend, she traveled to Malaysia for the real final dive test and passed. Her only comment to me: "Babe, snorkeling in the Maldives is better than diving in Malaysia." Lol, that about says it all.
Building on her love for snorkeling in the Maldives, Dodo started working towards her diving certificate. First step, reading a 300 pg book then taking and passing a written test. Step two, swimming test consisting of many laps, treading in water for ten minutes, swimming with the tank, etc. Finally, this past weekend, she traveled to Malaysia for the real final dive test and passed. Her only comment to me: "Babe, snorkeling in the Maldives is better than diving in Malaysia." Lol, that about says it all.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Paris - More Night Photos
Taking Advantage of the Weather
Took me a while to get over the jetlag this week. It sure helps that it was 75 and sunny today. Made me want to get out there and take some night shots.
Took me a while to get over the jetlag this week. It sure helps that it was 75 and sunny today. Made me want to get out there and take some night shots.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Singapore - Condo Update
Glass Staircase to Roof is Done
Dodo snapped this shot today, fresh off her return from India. There's still scaffolding along the northern edge of the building but the glass-enclosed staircase to the roof is done. I'm glad to see there are windows that can be opened and shut in thatstaircase - I was worried it would turn into a sauna in there.
Dodo snapped this shot today, fresh off her return from India. There's still scaffolding along the northern edge of the building but the glass-enclosed staircase to the roof is done. I'm glad to see there are windows that can be opened and shut in thatstaircase - I was worried it would turn into a sauna in there.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Brooklyn - Sending Flowers Across the World
Dodo's Birthday in Mumbai
Why anyone would knowingly go to India during their birthday is a mystery to me. Dodo is crazy like that. As the boyfriend of a crazy girl I now had to figure out how to send birthday flowers to Mumbai. Seemed like it would be simple. I called the hotel, explained that my girlfriend was staying there and wanted flowers delivered to her room. "Can you send us an email, sir?" Email? I'd just explained the whole thing on the phone. Ok, no problem. I send the email. Next day, I get an email back requesting a xerox of the front and back of my credit card, a xerox of my passport and a form to be filled in. Send that to India? Are they crazy?
Why anyone would knowingly go to India during their birthday is a mystery to me. Dodo is crazy like that. As the boyfriend of a crazy girl I now had to figure out how to send birthday flowers to Mumbai. Seemed like it would be simple. I called the hotel, explained that my girlfriend was staying there and wanted flowers delivered to her room. "Can you send us an email, sir?" Email? I'd just explained the whole thing on the phone. Ok, no problem. I send the email. Next day, I get an email back requesting a xerox of the front and back of my credit card, a xerox of my passport and a form to be filled in. Send that to India? Are they crazy?
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Brooklyn - Chinese
Starting All Over Again
Spending time in Taiwan rekindled by desire to learn Mandarin. I went back to my Rosetta Stone and started fresh from the beginning. This time however I've added a wrinkle that is making the learning both harder but better. I've added software to my tablet that allows writing Mandarin using Pinyin. This requires a bit of explanation. Each Mandarin symbol has a sound that can be expressed using a roman alphabet. Expressing Mandarin sounds with the roman alphabet is called "pinyin." So, to create symbols on the screen, you begin to type the pinyin and potential matches are shown on screen. You then select one of many matches.
Spending time in Taiwan rekindled by desire to learn Mandarin. I went back to my Rosetta Stone and started fresh from the beginning. This time however I've added a wrinkle that is making the learning both harder but better. I've added software to my tablet that allows writing Mandarin using Pinyin. This requires a bit of explanation. Each Mandarin symbol has a sound that can be expressed using a roman alphabet. Expressing Mandarin sounds with the roman alphabet is called "pinyin." So, to create symbols on the screen, you begin to type the pinyin and potential matches are shown on screen. You then select one of many matches.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Syracuse - Life's Simpler Pleasures
Hanging with the Salster
I had a great time at home waking up early for eats with the Breakfast Crew, running on the treadmill in the basement, spending time with Sal and Geppie and doing simple things like visiting Wegmans for grocery shopping.
I had a great time at home waking up early for eats with the Breakfast Crew, running on the treadmill in the basement, spending time with Sal and Geppie and doing simple things like visiting Wegmans for grocery shopping.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Paris - the Winds of Change
Now All the Ass Kissers Have to Start Over
Out of the blue we got a new project manager. He's Belgian and hails most recently from Price Waterhouse consulting and guess what? He seems to like logic and he seems to like me. In less than three weeks on the job he plucked me out of obscurity and handed me a major chunk of the project. Finally, I get some respect. Unfortunately, now I have a stressful job again.
Best of all, the ass kissers have to start anew. All the people who treated me like an also-ran have been marginalized, humbled and silenced - their power is gone. I'm enjoying it but strangely, I feel for them. I won't take revenge, I won't dance on their graves. I am giggling inside though.
Out of the blue we got a new project manager. He's Belgian and hails most recently from Price Waterhouse consulting and guess what? He seems to like logic and he seems to like me. In less than three weeks on the job he plucked me out of obscurity and handed me a major chunk of the project. Finally, I get some respect. Unfortunately, now I have a stressful job again.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Singapore - Drinking Christmas
A Slightly Fictionalized Remembrance
Before I had a chance to say no, Jean blurted out the address and hung up. I was to meet her at a downtown bar near the river. She and her colleagues were celebrating the end of the year over drinks. It was a hot, swampy day and I didn’t feel like making the effort to get there - especially to have drinks. Singaporeans cannot handle their alcohol - one, maybe two drinks in they’re bright red, sick to their stomachs and shutting it down for the evening.
I took a shower, threw on an outfit and left the house. Luckily I got a seat on the train. The A/C was blasting, turning my neck sweat into an icy sheen. I got off at the wrong stop and was facing a mile walk. It was ok - maybe they’d be done drinking by the time I arrived. No such luck. When I finally found the place, I walked to the patio to find them huddled around their appetizers, drinks untouched.
Before I had a chance to say no, Jean blurted out the address and hung up. I was to meet her at a downtown bar near the river. She and her colleagues were celebrating the end of the year over drinks. It was a hot, swampy day and I didn’t feel like making the effort to get there - especially to have drinks. Singaporeans cannot handle their alcohol - one, maybe two drinks in they’re bright red, sick to their stomachs and shutting it down for the evening.
I took a shower, threw on an outfit and left the house. Luckily I got a seat on the train. The A/C was blasting, turning my neck sweat into an icy sheen. I got off at the wrong stop and was facing a mile walk. It was ok - maybe they’d be done drinking by the time I arrived. No such luck. When I finally found the place, I walked to the patio to find them huddled around their appetizers, drinks untouched.
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