1000 words - Canadian Edition

Alright, its time for another 1000 Words blog!  I can't believe I haven't written one in ages!

Ok... so 1000 words is basically taking a picture (recent or way in the past) and just trying to remember every single detail of the picture and the events.

I think we get caught up in daily life so much... that even when we have moments to look through an album and find pictures, we never really take the time to fully embody everything at that particular moment...

Ok, so here we go...

This picture was taken August 3, 2004.  Thanks to iPhoto, yes I really did not remember the date.. but I did remember many events that led to this particular picture...

First, this was the trip that I met my dad for the first time.  Long story short, I did some private investigating to find him and found three possible addresses, I mailed each one a postcard a little about myself.  Two of the postcards - I received back with return to sender.  One day, I did receive a letter with a copy of my birth certificate in there, and found that my dad was living in Long Beach.  

During this time frame, I was working for Hawaiian Airlines and Mortgage Brokers Consortium and my friends from Canada invited me back, so why not!?  I had flight benefits.  I figured, kill 2 birds with 1 stone - meet my dad for the first time and go on vacation with my best friend Eddie (who was living in San Diego at the time).  So my plan was take an overnight flight to LAX (on Hawaiian), meet with dad for breakfast and then catch a flight to YVR (on Alaska Airlines).

I remember getting off the flight with my heart racing (it was quite early - I would say around 6am) , all the years of not having him in my life... would he know it was me? what if we didn't get along?  There he was in a blue flannel jacket... I'd go into further details (we had Denny's for breakfast!), but i'll save that for another time... Needless to say, for those of you who know me very well, know that I love to laugh - well that's from my dad... 

Love you dad.

The trip was filled with excitement - of course - for those of us who have flown standby know how important timing is - and you guys know neurotic I am about being late - which I got from my mom.

My best friend Eddie was driving from San Diego to LAX to catch a flight with me...  If I recall correctly our flight was at 11:30, so of course, I had my dad drop me back off at the airport at 10:00... I had to check in and of course just to be a bit early.

So why did Eddie not check where to drop off the rental car before coming to LAX... I guess everyone in LA knows that the rental car places aren't actually at LAX... (hence tons of shuttles).  Of course, I'm panicking, losing my mind and Eddie finally shows up to LAX 30 minutes before our flight.  Lucky for us, we were flying on a weekday and there was no one else at security.  We got on the flight just fine and made our way to YVR.

While in YVR, my friends decided to take us hiking at Stawamus Chief in his mini - cooper... no not the new mini Cooper... the Original mini-cooper... quite surprising how roomy it was.  Ok, some random details...  I am not holding onto anything at all... I'm surprised I did this... (so dumb of me), I have some shots that shows exactly how high we were in the air...

Eddie was of course scared of heights and didn't really near to the edge... well sorta, but he was laying down crawling towards it... lol maybe this was my way of saying... look its not scary at all!

There was even a squirrel up there... up almost ate out of my hands, cute little booger.

I remember the air being cold, being crisp, the sky very blue, very peaceful...

On the way down I sprained my ankle. yey.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Before I Die...

I'm not necessarily sure why I felt the need to write this blog at this instant moment, since I'm suppose to be reading or doing something productive in relation to school, but I was inspired after going through my old website and findings this article...

Wired published this article on an artist candy chang, where she posted a huge chalkboard that states, “before i die, i want to...________” (CLICK HERE) and people in the community would write the things they wanted to do.

Funny thing is I made a similar list a while ago and I'm surprised how many of them I've accomplished...

I...
> learned how to swim
> learned how to ride a bike and even participated in a race!
> visited 6 continents (1 more to go!)
> am grateful to have the opportunity to do the things I've done.

I would re-write my list... but I'll be actually doing some cool things in the next 2-3 months...
> I'll be going hang gliding
> I'm taking a kite surfing lesson
> Getting my 4th tattoo

My big fear is deep water... so in the near future... I want to get my scuba certification and dive...  I want to take a month off and baby sit my nephew and my niece... I want to go on across the country bike ride and raise $$$ for a non-profit... I want to have everyone that I love at a big dinner party - where we can all eat and laugh...

I guess, I'm writing this blog to inspire YOU... it doesn't have to be something crazy adventurous, but plan something you've always wanted to do - Write it on a post-it & plan to do it in the next year.  No matter how small or big, or crazy.

Yes - what do you want to do... not your husband or your wife, or your kids, or your friends...

What do you want to do before you die?

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

October - Monthly Challenge!

Alright!  Today is October 1st and I am going to blog about my monthly challenge this month!

This month is probably one of the harder challenges I will be participating in...

Wait for it... Wait for it...

This month - I will get a 6 pack!  Yes - I am going to focus all my excess energy in getting a 6 pack!

I know you guys know that I work out a lot... yes that is true... but then you also know I have no inhibitions when it comes to food (that's pretty much why I work out - to eat everything without guilt).

I think the hardest part of this challenge isn't the physical part of exercising, but changing my habits when it comes to food.

So... what's the first part?!

ha! Show you guys what I had for dinner last night?!?  Yes, I had McD and it was soooo delicious. I ate every single fry and every single nugget and drank every single drop of the powerade (to offset the overdose in salt)

Yes - with 3 dipping sauces (guess which ones!?)

Showing you guys a before picture!!  We're going to need to get a before and after kinda deal going on... so here's a picture (taken on my iMac - 2 minutes ago!)  I'm in generally good shape from doing a lot of cardio - mostly cycling... in the near future - running will be incorporated into my workout and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of ABS...

Ok... well, the major component that I will have to change this month and hopefully a lifestyle change is my LOVE (j'adore) of fried foods and desserts!  Its my Kryptonite... I can eat a half gallon of ice cream for dinner!

This month, I will be sharing recipes to help me lose fat... and if you want to join me... please do so! post in the comments below!

When it comes to anything in life, I don't believe in depriving myself of anything... I call it the binge effect... If you stop ice cream for a month without substituting it for anything, as soon as it is over you will eat ice cream... This is why I think most diets fail, it sets you up for failure... there is no balance...

So... speaking of balance... I will not be denying myself of sweets - merely replacing my appetite for sweet things with a healthier alternative...

My first dessert alternative!?  Jello and whipped cream!  Yes! (don't buy the sugar free one - there isn't a lot of sugar in JELLO) and not having sugar - you'll crave for other sweets!

Yup, pretty easy... I don't think I have to share how to make this... the nutritional value is great - compared to ice cream or cake... Don't skimp on the whipped cream as well - most of these only have little to no fat!

If you're going to make JELL-O make sure you make different flavors... You don't want to be bored!  My favorite are Raspberry, Grape, and Orange!

6 - pack here I come!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

What's new?!

Alright... what is new in my world?!

A couple of things, I'm quite excited about next month's monthly challenge... Stay tuned!  It is going to be one of the most challenging (if not the most challenging - monthly challenge) that I will be challenging myself with.  o_O

Other than that, school is school... presentations, readings and such... Though this semester is really interesting for me, especially my class in Medical Anthropology.  I just feel the class speaking to me and the things I want to do in the future...

Oh yeah... I took the new format of the GRE and though its slightly different than the old version, I don't think it really changes anything.  The new scores will not be released (for about 3 months) just to ensure enough scores are in the database to provide a more accurate "percentile" score.  Yes, I like knowing I am better than a few people. lol

On Tuesday, I watched Lion King 3D - and to be honest, it was great seeing the movie again, but the 3D was really an additional novelty that was NOT needed at all!  Here in Hawaii there is a $4 surcharge for all 3D movies and to be honest, I did not think the 3D effects were utilized to the maximum... or even at 50%.  The commercials in 3D prior to the movie were more interesting.

Have you guys read my research report?! CLICK HERE for 34 pages of nerdy goodness!

Next week, I will start training for the 2011 Honolulu Marathon - WOW - I can't believe this will be my 4th consecutive Honolulu Marathon.

OK, I fell off the bandwagon on posting pictures... Will post more this week!

The rest of the blog is quite a long RAMBLE about mobile plans and phones... (just to warn you!)

Virgin Mobile's monthly plans!

Thinking of also getting a new cell phone!  Yes, as you guys know, I'm quite thrifty when it comes to my mobile plan - I currently have Virgin Mobile, and my plan is grandfathered in at $25 month - before the $10 increase... and its still the best plan around if you don't talk on the mobile that much, unlimited web, SMS and 300 minutes a month... CLICK HERE for more info on Virgin Mobile.

SIMPLE Mobile's monthly plans!

However, there is a new game in town... There are many unlimited phone, SMS, web plans out there the best being Boost Mobile (at $50/month - and every 6 months you are with them, your bill decreases by $5)... Well Boost was the best... until NOW... I am a BIG FAN of a new pre-paid mobile company called SIMPLE Mobile... Why? Check out the monthly plan! CLICK HERE for more info on SIMPLE Mobile.

Ok, besides the cheap unlimited plan - the best part is UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL SMS!  WOW!  So all my friend's overseas... If it does not cost you to receive an SMS, you will be receiving a lot more from ME in the near future!  I am quite excited about this really... I'm debating on an Android phone or a Windows 7 phone.  You guys know me and my tech, I like to get my grubby hands on technology, but also dip my hands in different cookie jars.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

2011 Honolulu Century Ride

Wow... its finally over... I'm still in disbelief.  The longest I've cycled this training session was 65.54 miles (Click me for this run's stats) and with the accident last week Sunday (which is still not healed) I wasn't sure how I would do.

A special thank you for those who have supported me in this event.  Particularly the individuals who donated to my cause - Leukemia and Lymphoma affects so many people and with the rising costs of healthcare - you have helped make people's lives a lot easier.

I've been asked - aren't the events you train for hard?? - in short, they are... but having to deal with chemotherapy is a lot harder - not having control of your future.

Another special thanks to individuals who helped me carb load yesterday.  Eating a Manager's special (half Mizithra cheese and half meat sauce - the larger portion OF COURSE!) really helped me gain the fuel to help me with the race.

So... How did I do?!  The event was more than I ask for.  I went over my goal today.  I was originally only expecting to do 75 miles and I went 82ish.  =D

Please click here for the same data, but you can play around with the map and see mile per mile how I went about the race...  (You'll be able to tell when I stopped by 7.11 - and if you're familiar with the map - you can tell me which one I stopped at!)

What did I learn from the race?

I learned many things...

First, I am truly blessed to have my health, I was surprised how fast, how far I've gone today.  They said roughly 75% did the 25 and 50 miles - out of approximately 2,000 cyclists.

Group B

I learned a lot of technicalities of the race... the race was divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D)... I went to the B group because I figured I was planning to do 75 miles.  I should have done group A... I started the Runkeeper program when the shot went off - but it was only for Group A - Group B left the starting line about 15 minutes later (you'll see on the link that I took 15 minute pace for the 1st mile!)

One particular aspect of racing that people who don't race don't exactly understand the race day preparation.  Two days before, I made sure all the equipment on my bike was up to par and also the supplemental gels, extra tube, CO2 cartridges, things to fix the bike with - etc).

The night before I lay out all of the equipment I will need - cycling gear, shoes, socks, ipod, phone, wallet...

Day off - today I woke up at 0355 - I hit the snooze once - then at 0405, I was up and ready to go... I had to make breakfast (eating breakfast at this time is not easy - my stomach no likey) - good for the road, gatorade mix... put on my gear and run out the door... I arrived at Kapiolani park around 0445 - which was perfect.  I would free parking, I had time to check my bike (make sure the tires had the proper pressure, double check the gears, the aero bars - I had to tighten those)

2011 Honolulu Century Ride Certificate

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.