Tacquets and Bikes

At Sports Authority today, I was thinking "tennis racquets" when I approached a curly haired teen-sales rep but what actually came out was: "Where do I get my tacquet restrung?". I was so embarrassed but at the same time I was too miserable in my allergy-induced congested state to really care.

Last night I was having coffee with Stelly Belly, Haoy Maoy, and Kamen. S.B. and H.M. brought up a couple of bike-related stories that I archived (curse their memories!). It also reminded me how absolutely retarded I am. It's a wonder that I am pursuing an M.B.A.! I thought you could use a few good laughs at my expense (how utterly selfless of me!):

Bike Story #1
I make plans with H.M. and S.B. to go bike riding. Hao says that I have to be at his place at 6:30p.m. sharp! I get home and race madly from my bedroom for my helmet to the basement for the front wheel and then to the garage for the body of my bike and toss all in the back of my car. I'm battling through rush hour traffic and I arrive at Hao's house late anyway. He's outside, all suited up and ready to go. Since he's the bike pro, I let him start putting on the front wheel while I get my stuff together. Then as he's almost done with it, I look at the bike, thinking something is missing...I look at the back of the trunk. Then, it hits me -- I forgot my bike SEAT!!! Doh! Hao smiles knowingly, shakes his head, and precedes to dismantle the bike to go back in the car. He goes riding off and I am left to drive to the dinner meeting place...

Bike Story #2
At the Bike the Drive event during the summers, organizers shut down LSD so that bikers can peddle to their hearts content. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Only LSD has numerous and enormous potholes that just aren't friendly to certain body parts! Oooowwie! Anyway, I'm peddling along but something is wrong...or is it some weird dream? Everyone, and I mean literally grandmas and little kids, are passing me left and right. Hao and friends are miles away. Miss Mia was kind enough to stop once in awhile for me to catch up. OK, I can't be that out of shape that I can't at least beat the grandmas and ten-year olds!?! I peddle harder and harder but to no avail =( I am not going anywhere! Then we figure out that my bike tires were flat!! So the morale of the story is to pump air in the tires of your bike before you go biking 15 miles in the blustery wind!

Note: Are we in the Twilight Zone?? Last night we talk about the Bike the Drive event and just as I finish typing the story, I get an e-mail about BTD this year! FYI - It is Sunday, May 29th.

The End of the Mushroom Hair Era

I received my brand spanking new passport!!! Aw yeah!!! I was also sent back my invalidated passport that documented my international travels for the past 10 years. I was elated to finally put an end to the horrid picture of me with an awful mushroom haircut but I was also sad that an era is over. I've had this passport since I was 18 and I've experienced amazing things!!! My last trip to Hong Kong and China; a whirlwind European backpacking tour; an eye-opening Peruvian adventure; a wonderful Costa Rican getaway that culminated in some drama (nuff said); a pseudo bachelorette party in Cancun; Espana during a turbulent time; beautiful Cayman Islands for a wedding; a "Girls Gone Wild" Brazilian holiday; Espana to visit schools; and then, finally....the breathtaking U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

I've been very fortunate to have taken these trips...as are the friends who not just request but demand souvenirs from me. I won't name any names here (Ethan Hao Tran and Irene Kim). After laying to rest the mushroom haircut-passport, I flip through the empty pages of the new passport (yes, I took the pains to take a Glamour Shots-worthy picture) and I am more than enthusiastic and hopeful about where the next 10 years will take me.

Or shall we say.... Mr. Bar?

"Wok's Up?!" (seriously, a name of a Chinese restaurant I stumbled upon last night!)

I did this "Fun Run" yesterday that turned out to be a "Oh So Much Fun Run". A 3.5 miler sponsored by a running store with the theme of "Free Martha". The store went all out - putting up pictures of Martha Stewart, setting up people on the course that hand you cards that say "Your souflee deflated - 10 points" or "Your tea party was a success +25 points", and at the end 3 people tied for the most points and had to battle it out in a cake decorating contest. Two women and one guy. Ironically, the guy won! Not only did we get to eat the winning cake, but there were corn dogs, 7-layer dip, dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, beer, wine, gatorade.....wow!

So I asked Nga (since I freakin owe her money all the time), "How much do I owe you for this?" and she said "It's free...that's why they call it a fun run". Amazing!

And there's more! A raffle! The Clif Bar representative promised that EVERYONE will win. Oh, goody! Just like in AYSO soccer league where everyone gets a trophy! As the guy called out number after number and handed out prize after prize, I got more hopeful and excited. First, Keth (Beth but with a 'K') finally gets a prize...then Nga gets one...then the last prize to give out (Here's my chance!)...doh! Not me!! Nga and this old guy pitied me and then gave me their mesh running hats. Sad! On our way out we scream out "Thanks, Clif! Or shall we say...Mr. Bar?". Probably unfunny to you normal people but we burst into laughter.

I'm all about these "Oh so much Fun Runs" -- 2 in the next 2 Thursdays with a Cinco de Mayo run...yey...I realized I should run with a group because I have never really liked running and so, don't push myself to run very fast. I stretched myself physcially yesterday and it felt great keeping up with these marathon running people. It reminded me to continue to challenge myself in all areas of my life, not just with running.

Huevos Perros

I admit that I am addicted to blogging. My excuses are that work is less then thrilling and the usual IM suspects have been unavailable lately to help pass the day. An action packed blog today -- announcement, a weekend blurbette, and pictures!

I found a roommate for Espana! I met her when I was visiting the school in January and we have been keeping in touch. She is really cool and I am sure we will get along well! She is an Indian Muslim girl from the U.K. so I can learn and then report to you all the funny slangs they have. I told my good friend, Yasmeen, who is also Indian and Muslim that Noshaba is the "Barcelona You". If you are a faithful Seinfeld fan, you would have caught the reference to an episode in which Jerry had a "Summer George" growing up. When George met this guy, George pointed to him accusingly and exclaimed, "The Summer Me!".

In following the Spanish theme, at a birthday brunch last Saturday, our hilarious friend who is a "Stand Up Girl" (salute!), a.k.a. Gracie, refers to the Huevos Locos (Crazy Eggs) dish on the menu as Huevos Perros, which means.......Dog Eggs. ewwwwwwwww!

Check out pictures of the school I will be attending (IESE Business School in Barcelona). I am getting REALLY excited!!! Click on the link below:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Uc=4c3njgb.4kq33c1j&Uy=qgf5x&Ux=0

"Lookable"

The other night I attended a Chinese-Russian Jewish wedding and got completely sloshed! A wedding is a wedding is a wedding with the same old blah blah traditions EXCEPT when there is an excellent open bar!! Yey! Plus, the music was fun - oldies and did that Jewish dance in a circle. So much fun! One good thing about attending weddings is getting ideas for if/when I ever get married. So if you are reading this blog, there's a great chance you will be invited & I promise to make it as fun as possible.....with an open bar of course! ;)

So at the wedding, I was a little tipsy. I playfully ask one of my quirkier friends, "How do I look?" and he responds, "You look OK...all right...lookable". I sneer, "Lookable?!?" I am not one to normally fish for compliments but it would have been nice if he had thrown me a bone! I suppose it's better than being un-lookable but still...Whimper, whimper...

Miami Musings

"Welcome to Miami". What a wonderful place! I had an awesome time partying til the wee hours of the morning, having goofy fun, and laying out on wonderful South Beach. The ultimate question: "Why do I not live in Miami?". Rhetorical, of course, since my parents immigrated to Chicago, job prospects are nil, and it would be a little unsettling to live in a tropical place all year round! In no particular order, here are some memorable moments and random discoveries:

1. Latino men are really into Asian women (e.g. Mexican, Puerto Rican, Argentinian)
2. Meeting 10 men in one night...gotta love this place cuz Chi-town certainly isn't like this
3. Sugarfox's ever-so-endearing "Hotty McHodden...Fatty McFadden..."
4. So out of it at IHOP at 5 in the morning that I poured coffee on my french toast, thinking it was syrup. Then confessing to everyone.
5. The Persians thinking that "Naughty" appears to be lesbian while I am outwardly straight. Hah.
6. Nga being offered the hook-up connection with a cute Korean chick named Libby
7. "Pole" with a heavy Long Island accent text messenging me with phrases like, "Hey, shortstop" "I did dumblaps looking for you" "Holla'atchaboyz" and my favorite "Twerd".
8. The Bloody Foot (see #9 and #10)
9. Me: "These flip flops hurt my feet" Nga: "I think your foot is bleeding" Me (looking down, surprised): "You're right..."
10. I take out band-aids from the cabinet, take a shower, and then sit down to put the band-aid on. It's in a funny butterfly shape - too small for my cut. Walk back to the bathroom and actually read the band-aid and start CRACKING UP and then pass to Nga who starts CRACKING UP as well. It says "Breathe Right strips" - I wanted to put Breathe Right strips on my foot!!?!! Jeez...
11. Me (with a contorted face): "How do these earrings look?" Nga: "Stop making that face"
12. Security bitch at the gate: "The resident has to call the security booth or be at home" Us: "Well, what's the number for him to call?" Security bitch: "He should know the number" Us: "He doesn't know the number. Can you talk to him?" Security bitch "No" Us: "You are sooooo stoooooooooopid."
13. The Garbage Belt - I bought a shiny belt; left at a bar; went back frantically; guy had to dig thru the garbage for my belt.
14. Nga failing The Dumb Test (however, I am not so sure about that. She might be too dumb to realize that she actually aced The Dumb Test).
15. Nga: "What's a typical Cuban dish?" Me (silence) Nga: "OK, I am going to get the fajitas" Me: "FAJITAS?!?"

The Nagging Little Things

What a sense of accomplishment! I ran 3 miles, finished my taxes a WHOLE hour and a half before the deadline, and sent off my passport renewal application. I get mild anxiety attacks when I feel overwhelmed with all the little, nagging things I have to do. Next time I'll just call in sick and get it all done!! Another pet peeve is being stuck in traffic. I all but had a nervous breakdown driving home from the post office. The older I get, the more neurotic and crazy I realize I am! Hah! Now I am more relaxed =) Man this blogger does not have fun icons and faces?