Sorry to interrupt

We are far too polite. We're taught that it's rude to interrupt people and to wait our turn. I'm sure that many of you, like me, are tired of watching debates that are anything but....debates. No matter whom you support in this election, I'm sure you'll agree that no one is consistently answering the questions directly and rarely are directly addressing and countering on a point-by-point basis claims and arguments by their opponent. Isn't that what a "debate" is supposed to be?

I put the blame squarely on the moderator. Too much emphasis is placed upon them asking clever questions (which by the way are always the same easily predictable questions) and barely any emphasis on actually moderating. I want to see them interrupt the candidates and same "no, you may not change the topic...you did not answer the question...please respond to your opponents claims...and beat them over the head until they do so!

I don't need another opportunity to hear them tell me their positions, which we're already acquanited with!

Repatriation - 1 step at a time

I just completed an important step in becoming an American again: I bought a car!

It's interesting, I've only been out of the country for two years. But, it was surprising how much I forgot about the car buying process, logistics of getting insurance and how much, the little things of taking care of a car. These are some of the things that are unique to life in America; or at least life outside of Hong Kong. Life as an expat in Hong Kong can be...too easy in some ways. You don't have a car to take care of, wash on a regular basis. Labor is cheap, so you pay people to wash your clothes, clean your house, drive you from point A to point B. It makes you a bit lazy in many ways. Although, I recognize that there were many unique chores and hardships to that lifestyle as well.

On to the next steps: 1) start my new job as Business Systems Analyst on Monday 2) Find and move into a new apartment! I'm strongly leaning towards West Seattle and have a couple places there I really like.

500 Miles

Thanks to the power of spreadsheets, I know that I have just passed 500 miles run! I started my new life of running at the end of April, last year. I am planning on a long run of 9 miles this Saturday. The weather is supposed to be great, high 60's! I'm progressing well on my plan towards running the North Olympic Discovery 1/2 marathon in early June!

Wish me luck!

In America

Yes, I'm in America now...visiting the family for Christmas. I had special incentive to see my niece, Juliana. She is as cute as her pictures portrayed her...still quite small for her age. She makes the funniest faces when she's falling asleep!

I always wonder what will "be different" when I go back to the US, new trends, new styles I wasn't aware of living overseas. Generally there isn't much I miss, I stay well on top of the news with CNN and MSNBC.COM, even check the local seattletimes.com page for local news....but was unaware of the fact that pomegranate is now all the rage...totally missed that one. It's now got it's own 7-up, saw it as a margarita flavor at Olive Garden and am told that it has worked it's way into other products....crazy americans...

Riddle

What "part of me" did I see yesterday that I haven't see in nearly 2 years? No, it's not my feet...I hadn't gotten that fat. I am down to about 180 now, though, a total of over 35lbs lost. I bought a size 32 jeans today, down from a 34 a month ago, which was down from 36 at my biggest.

Back to the riddle...the answer has to do with where I currently am...or more importantly, where I am not...

8k

My history with running goes back to the 6th grade. For some strange reason, I decided to join the track team. On the team we could choose whatever event we wanted to compete in. I chose the 100 meter dash because it involved the least amount of running. I was, however, not very fast and always came well in last place. I didn't stay on the track team very long and didn't do much running after that point.

Fast forward to Jr. High. As I'm sure most of you can relate, one of the painful transitions from elementary school to Jr. High was gym. From what I can recall, elementary school gym class pretty much consisted of lifting up and running underneath that giant parachute thingy and the occasional kickball. I think we all got more exercise at recess than at gym. Jr. High gym, however, was a different story: Fun runs on Monday and lines on Friday. "Fun Runs" were less than a mile long, but felt like hell. I was hardly ever able to run the entire thing. In the 9th grade, tired of never completing the entire run, non-stop, I decided to get serious about it and try harder. I was eventually able to run the entire thing, and felt great about my accomplishment.

The summer after 9th grade (or maybe 10th... my memory is fuzzy), I decided to take on running as a challenge. I easily worked my way up to 2 miles, then 3, averaging out a typical run at 4 miles. I competed in a 5k and eventually ran a 10k as well. I was truly "into" running. I generally looked forward to my runs, enjoyed a bit of runner's high, subscribed to Runner's World, the works. My Junior year in high school, I joined the Cross Country team. I was, without a doubt, the slowest guy on the team...and probably slower than half the girls. Racing all out on these 2.5 - 3 mile courses through the woods was killer, but I tried my best... probably tried too hard. I easily got shin splints and and at the end of one of my races, I noticed a sharp pain in my lower right leg. I told my coach, who gave me the brilliant advice all coaches give: "walk it off." The next day or two, still in pain I went to the doctor who diagnosed a stress fracture.

The result of over-training, a stress fracture is not a complete break, but a hairline fracture in the bone. I was ordered on crutches for the next several weeks, and of course running was out of the question for quite a while. This was tough because I really did like running, as bad as I was at it. I was out of running for the rest of the cross country season. I was determined to get back on the road, though, as I had already committed myself to running the Seattle Half Marathon in November of that year. I didn't really have the appropriate time to train properly, but I gave it my best. The pain in my leg was somewhat reoccurring. I never really did the leg rehabilitation exercises the doctor gave me to do, so one leg was a little weaker than the other. Come race day, however, I was ready to go. It was tough, but I was able to run the entire 13.1 miles, slower than I planned, but completed it, nevertheless. It still stands out as own of my proudest accomplishments. However, my running pretty much stopped after crossing that finish line.

My first couple of attempts at running again just ended in frustration with pain in my leg. I put away my running shoes for many years, as I got involved in other hobbies. Years passed, the pounds slowly added on and I made several half-assed efforts to get back into running. I was usually not able to get over 20-25 minutes of running and quickly gave up.

The funny thing is, for the past 3 or 4 years, I've been a fairly regular gym-goer, sticking to walking on the treadmill or cross-trainer and doing a few weights...and, of course, seeing no progress in weight loss as I generally continued eating whatever I wanted, with a couple of diets thrown in the mix here and there. I realize it sometimes surprising for people to hear that I'm trying to lose weight. I generally wear my weight well...in clothes at least. With my shirt off, there's no argument that I could stand to lose a few lbs.

Earlier this year, Beth, in her own battle against the bulge, decided to take up running. Whenever I hear about someone taking up running, I instantly become the expert: "I know all about that; I've read the books; I know how it's done; I've run a half marathon!" It's been 10 years since I've done any running to speak of and yet I was still living off of accomplishments I wasn't even close to being able to repeat. With Beth's running efforts I was quickly amazed at how fast she progressed, easily breaking through barriers in distance and speed that had kept my previous come-back attempts at bay. I realized that I needed to get back in the game and not be such a pussy about putting in the necessary effort. It worked. It was tough, but I was able to increase my running time past previous efforts. I was generally conservative about increases in running times, but always pushed through to complete what I had planned for myself.

As this took place mostly over the late spring and summertime...and this is Hong Kong, my runs took place all at the gym on the treadmill. It is quite hot and humid in Hong Kong and generally difficult to find easily accessible running routes. In late July we had a trip to Seattle planned and Beth and I thought it would be a fun idea to run in a local race while there. We set our sights on the Seafair Torchlight 8k run. I focused my training on being able to run that distance...on the treadmill. I didn't quite achieve that, but I came close, figured it wouldn't be too difficult to eek out the extra distance required. I was wrong. Running only on the treadmill poorly prepared me for the realities of running outdoors. I was only able to run about half the distance. And that wasn't even non-stop. I ran about the first 20 minutes and then a couple short runs over the rest of the race. It was a discouraging reflection that perhaps I hadn't made as much progress as I had thought.

I took a couple of weeks off of running when we got back to Hong Kong. I decided to start over with my training. I had previously been running fairly slowing, about 8.3 km/h on treadmill (I'll let you do the math on that). I was determined that I was going to run 10 minute miles. I started over at that speed and slowly worked my mileage up. As the weather was starting to improve, I decided I had to start doing some of my runs outdoors. As mentioned previously, I was recently able to do about 4 miles outdoors. I told myself I was going to run outside every Saturday, with treadmill runs during the week at the gym. Last weekend was a little too busy, so I didn't get out during the daylight, so just did a late night run at the gym. Yesterday, I was determined to get back on track. I decided to run at Bowen Road, Hong Kong's most famous running route. It starts in the mid-levels area and is popular with HK's generally wealthy expats. It's closed to cars and offers great views of the island and is mostly well-shaded by trees. It's 4k each way and has distance markers along the route. Although it was difficult towards the end and I did get slightly turned around at one point, I was able to complete the entire 8k (4.96 miles) in 50 minutes, 13 seconds. I think I'll now be able to handle that Seafair 8k next year if I'm in town! :)

I'm no longer resting on the pride of my previous accomplishments. I'll take that half-marathon and double it to a full marathon, one year from now. (more or less, subject to race availability!)

I lost 17 pounds to become a XXL

As Beth mentioned on her blog, we are both getting serious about getting in shape.  This morning at the gym, I found out that I stand on the precipice of a new milestone: the 200lb mark.  Once I lost 1 more pound (or technically half a pound), I will officially be sub-200lbs!  This will be big for me as it's been several years since I've been on that side of the scale.

Last Saturday also marked a big achievement for me: I ran 40min OUTSIDE.  And at a 10:04 minute mile no less (or so reports my Nike+ Ipod sensor, I hope it's right).  Due to the harsh HK summer and general lack of good running routes close enough to our home, I've been primarily running at the gym on the treadmill.  I had ventured outdoors for a run on two other occasions, managing to eek out 7 minutes the first time and 25 the next.  Any peception that running on a treadmill and outdoors were of equal effort were shattered when we attempted to run an 8k during our trip back to Seattle.  I had run almost that distance on the treadmill, so thought I could eek out the entire 8k no problem.  I probably only ran 3 miles, tops.  And that was in bits and pieces as it was.  So, to manage the same distance outdoors as I am now running on the treadmill was a big achievement for me.  I'm sure it helped that the weather is darn near perfect right now.

So, on my lunch break I decide I need a new running shirt.  I wanted something a bit more stylish as well as light and breathable.  I find a cool looking orange and grey tank-top at Nike.  I assume an XL will fit me just fine.  I try it on and it fits fine...mostly.  It's a little short, though, so I opt for the XXL.  I just had to laugh as this is probably the biggest "size" clothing I've ever owned, purchased at my smallest size in years.  I'm telling myself it's due to my bulging pecs and ripped abs.

I'm an Uncle!

Say hello to Juliana Joyce Stone! My baby sister, Bethany gave birth on Tuesday to a healthy, 5 lb, 15.6 oz baby girl! Congratulations to the new parents! :) For more pictures, you can check out Cam's Blog

Seen Today

At the gym:

1. T-shirt with a guy listening to an mp3 player while sitting on the toilet. The caption?...ipood
2. A Japanese show that featured strange athletic competitions such as rowing what looked like a giant teacup through an obstacle course pool. The teacup was very sensitive to being tipped over, that's why it was difficult. Another competition was walking on stilts through another bizarre obstacle course. The competitor had to walk over a pile of logs, avoid large swinging mallets, walk on a very skinny curved beam, etc..

On the way home from the gym:

1. Old man with a pink shirt. Caption read: Playboy Club
   

Hong Kong's Own Wedding Crasher

I know I'll catch some flak from Beth about reposting a story instead of coming up with my own original material, but I couldn't help in on this one:

"Wedding bells prove too much for Tsang

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Hong Kong's very own wedding crasher has said sorry.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen yesterday apologized for stealing the spotlight from a couple by sneaking into their wedding ceremony as an uninvited guest.

Evidently, Tsang was entranced by the Gothic-style church in Jilin City, Jilin province, where he spent part of his summer holiday with wife Selina.

The 63-year-old devout Catholic said in his blog it was the first time he was able to witness a church wedding in the mainland so he sneaked in.

"But as soon as I took a seat, I was recognized by a guest. Then more and more people came over to greet us and asked for my signature. In order not to create a further nuisance, I quickly left the scene," he said.

A happy ending then."

What I find most interesting is....Donald Tsang has his own blog??

Uncharacteristic

Today Beth and I did something out of the ordinary for us. We went hiking. As part of my newly revamped desire to lose weight, I decided that the key to lifelong fitness is for us to become "outdoor people" We'll see how long this lasts (starting the timer ....now!) I've long known that Hong Kong is supposed to be great for hiking, lots of great trails, views, all within close distance to the city. Hong Kong loves to surprise people that think it's just a sprawling, polluted metropolis (it's that too), by stating that 40% of the territory is country parks.

So, I set about to do a little research on where to hike and settled on one called "the Dragon's Back." It's ranked as "the Best Urban Hike in Asia" by Time Magazine. (It wouldn't be very Hong Kong-ish if it didn't top some sort of list) So, this morning we packed our backpacks, grabbed the dog and hailed a cab to our hike. Getting there was difficult by taxi. By MTR and bus, it would have been simple, but having the dog required using a taxi. After a few wrong turns we arrived.

The hike starts off relatively easy, fairly cool due to being shaded by trees. Just as we're remarking on this, we turn onto the actual "Dragon's Back" part of the trail. It's called the dragon's back because it involves a lot of going up and down hills that vaguely look like a dragon's back. On the plus side, this presents some really great views.

The hardest part was dealing with Zoe. I don't know if this is her finally getting old, if it was just too hot and long for her to handle, or if she was just being a drama queen (probably all of the above) But she did get quite tired and hot requiring several stops and we near ran out of water for the 3 of us. Zoe even whined when lying down whether on the trail or in the taxi and so we'll probably leave her out of the next hike. Perhaps she can handle another track in the fall or winter, when the heat dies down.

Here's a couple pictures:

One of the steep climbs on the Dragon's Back (is steeper than it looks)



View from the highest peak of the dragon's back:


And the obligatory 'proof that we actually did this hike' picture:


I would like to point out it is very Hong Kong to have the umbrella with 24/7. Rain or shine, people here like to be protected from the elements above. Though regardless of Beth's use of the umbrella we both finished with quite bad sunburns.

8 Things You Don't Know About Me

I've been tagged to post a list of 8 things you don't know about me. Here goes:

1. I repeated kindergarten. Yep, that's right, I failed a class that consisted mostly of coloring and trying not to wet your pants.
2. For a brief time in the 80's I had the back of my hair grown out and permed...and no, I wasn't in an 80's pop band.
3. I have owned a pair of "Michael Jackson" parachute pants with zippers all over them.
4. I have never had a broken bone.
5. For the longest time, I thought spinning classes consisted of people spinning around...wouldn't that make them dizzy?
   
6. I have never read any of the Harry Potter books nor seen any of the movies. I know, I know...I'm missing out, so sue me
7. I used to have the entire script to "It's Christmas Time Charlie Brown" and "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" memorized. I wholly blame my obsessive little sister over that. She probably still has it memorized.
8. I wish I had an eyesight problem, so I'd have an excuse to wear glasses. I think they look good on me.
   

The Modern Equivalent of Posting on the Refrigerator

"Hi Beth,

Comments on your oral exam - speech on 10 July 2007:

Beth has demonstrated persistence and great effort in learning Putonghua.
Beth is very interested in learning Chinese culture and pratice the language
when she travelling to China. She is a keen learner and try very best to
attend the class, she also actively participate class activities. Her oral
exam was excellent in organizing thoughts/ideas and put them into menaingful
Chinese expression. She exceeded my expectaion as an English speaker at this
level. Overall, she is very hardworking and committed student. I really
appeciate her effort and learning attitude.

Warm regards"

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, yesterday was my birthday.  I am 29 now and have begun the dreaded countown to 30.  How can I be almost that old?  You know how in 1999 all those know-it-alls loved to state that the millenium doesn't start until 2001, not 2000?  Well, I'm going to claim that I'm not in my thirties until I'm 31.  30 will be my "transitional year."  No longer a young punk, not quite a mature adult.

Beth did a great job helping me feel special on my day.  Sorry, we don't have any pictures to share.  We forgot to bring the camera along on our celebrations.  We both worked yesterday and went out to Outback Steakhouse for dinner.  Despite the fact that we knew there were several Outback's in Hong Kong, we have never been to one here, so that made it a more special treat.  We gorged ourselves with Aussie Cheese fries, a Bloomin' Onion, a 14oz steak (me) and caeser salad (beth) and of course several tropical drinks.  Somehow, we managed to squeeze ourselves out of the booth and roll towards a taxi to get home.  I say, it's not your birthday unless you eat 'till it hurts!

We get home to discover that Beth had come home in the middle of the day to bring in birthday balloons, Godiva truffles, champagne and other decorations.  She outdid me once again!

For my present, my lovely wife bought me a nice watch from amazon.com  It's a solar-powered watch that you can use scuba diving.  Water resistant to 200 meters and has a depth sensor to record how deep under water you are.  I don't have it yet, because we had it shipped to my parent's house.  We'll pick it up when we visit washington in a couple of weeks.

Thanks Beth!

No fireworks here

No, we don't get off work for the 4th of July in Hong Kong. I'd imagine we'll get this as soon as Chinese-americans get a week off for Chinese New Year!

But, most importantly...Happy Birthday, Bethany! :)

If you need to bail me out of jail, I'll be the one with the blood soaked umbrella

Be forewarned, this is the time of year that I start to get pissy. If it's not the humidity drenching you in sweat in a too-crowded, poorly ventilated elevator....before you've even left your apartment....then it's pouring down rain every where you go.

Lately it's the rain that's the culprit. In my best effort to survive the elements, I have a large golf umbrella that I use when I think it's going to rain. A regular umbrella is an absolute joke here...it does no good. Even the golf umbrella isn't as effective as you'd think. For one, rain rarely falls straight down...it is usually accompanied by wind which blows it every which way. Secondly, walking with an oversized umbrella in Hong Kong is like driving a semi on a sidewalk. It's too crowded with other umbrella users, forcing one of us to raise or lower our umbrella to avoid collision; trying not to hit it against the ubiquitous low-hanging signs and ever-present bamboo scaffolding.

What the umbrella does do, however, is a good job of mimicking a sword or a baseball bat...that is, when I'm not using it in a feeble attempt to keep rain off. As I struggle through the streets, fighting for a taxi or trying to get to the gym on my lunch break I have to fight off the urge to whack people with my umbrella. And I mean whack in the Soprano's sense of the word, not just a light slap on the tush. And I'm not just talking about the old, slow people whom you have to navigate around (who always insist on walking side by side and taking up more room). No, I'm talking about fellow pedestrians, likely as frustrated as I am. What's their great crime?

Existing.

I have but one request, don't just die on the street...that would certainly cause more of a stir...and more traffic. Perhaps even lasting until my commute home...doubling the length of my taxi trip. No, no....if you want to do me a favor my departing this earth, you can fall off of the next ferry you happen to be on. Don't make a special trip to do so...that will only add to the ferry wait. And make sure no one sees you...the last thing I need is a search & rescue team jamming things up further.

Really...I'm not a bad person. I view all human life as precious...even those who seem most unlovable. And I have no problem reconciling that high-minded value with my morning commute, murderous tendencies...perfectly rational in my book.

They should really have a warning label on these umbrellas.

Eye in the Sky

Beth and I saw our first Hong Kong movie yesterday.  We saw "Eye in the Sky" (cantonese, with english subtitiles) which was filmed entirely in Hong Kong, most of it on the island in places we are regularly around.  As we've mentioned before, we often see movies being filmed here, so we were interested in seeing the end result of one of them.  On one of our first days out after arriving in HK, we witnessed a jewlery store robbery, which turned out to be a filming of a movie.  Beth wrote about it here.  About a month later, we also happened upon another movie being filmed.  Well...it turns out that these were both scenes from Eye in the Sky!  What's interesting, is that when both these scenes were being filmed, they appeared to be from a fairly low-budget, small film.  The crew was fairly small, the roads generally weren't closed off, etc.  Eye in the Sky was a fairly well produced movie and got a fair amount of publicity in HK.  I don't think it will be coming soon to a theatre near you or win an Oscar, but it was entertaining.  If you want to get a good picture of HK and get the chance to see it, I do recommend it.

What's it actually about?  Good question!  It's about the "Survelience Unit" (i don't know if this actually exists) whose job it is to track and follow suspected criminals.  They utilize a network of CCTV feeds, fancy spy equipment and good old fashioned stalking.  They are the people who are just hanging around on the streets: young kids, a beggar, a business man...all covertly operating as spys on the street.

Warning...may not be suitable for all viewers

Believe it or not, I haven't seen Passion of the Christ, yet. I picked up a VCD copy at the mall here in KL this evening. Very interesting warning label, wouldn't you say?:


When The Passion opened in theaters, the government only allowed it to be viewed by Christians. Tickets could only be purchased through churches.

Interesting article...

to read while in Malaysia. In case you haven't read Beth's blog, I have been going to Malaysia a lot lately for business. While I knew it was a Muslim country (meaning that Islam is the official religion), I also heard that there was a fair amount of religious tolerance. I guess that tolerance only exists if you're the 'right' ethnicity.

Here's a link to the article:

"Malaysia rejects bid for Christian convert to remove Islam ID tag

Ian MacKinnon, south-east Asia correspondent
Thursday May 31, 2007
The Guardian

The highest court in Malaysia yesterday rejected a Muslim-born woman's appeal to be recognised as a Christian, ending a six-year legal battle that will heighten concerns over discrimination of the country's religious minorities.

Lina Joy, 42, had fought the decisions of Malaysia's lower courts in an effort to have the word "Islam" removed from her identity card, arguing that the constitution guaranteed her religious freedom.

But the panel of three judges decided, in a majority verdict, that it had no power to intervene in cases of apostasy. These cases fall under the jurisdiction of Malaysia's Sharia courts, which run in tandem with the country's civil courts.

However, it has never been made clear which branch of the court takes precedence. The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of worship, but ethnic Malays must be Muslim by law. "She cannot simply, at her own whim, enter or leave her religion," Judge Ahmad Fairuz said during yesterday's ruling. "She must follow rules."

But Judge Richard Malanjum, the only non-Muslim on the panel, said it was "unreasonable" to ask Ms Joy to turn to the Sharia court as she could face criminal prosecution because abandoning Islam is punishable by a fine or jail. Critics of the verdict expressed dismay and said it failed to uphold the legal rights of Malaysians.

Two-hundred Muslim protesters who gathered in a prayer vigil outside the court yesterday greeted the verdict with cries of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great).

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia, where 60% of the country's 27 million people are ethnic Malay.

The woman, born Azlina Jailani, started attending church in 1990 and was baptised eight years later. She was given permission to change her name, but "Islam" remained as her religion on her identity card."

This is too funny!