Ittish my Birthday... Yay!

The week in Ohio passed without much excitment.. A coupla trip to the Chiropractor.. din think he was that good.. after I've seen the master.. oh my god.. the rest are mediocore.. Met this kid Brian.. that sails... and he hooked me up with the University's sailing team.. I went to their meeting.. more like and informatory session than anything else.. nothing came out of it..

Came saturday.. I have signed up for the First Aid and CPR Course in Hamilton Christian Church.. Frances dropped me off... and in there.. laid a surprise for me.. Apparently she told them during registration that it is gonna be my birthday that day.. and wondered if they could sing me a song.. Thanks Fran.. It was kinda embarassing.. but it was very sweet of her.. bless her heart... so.. the session went by like a breeze.. mostly it is things that i've learnt before in life saving.. so. its not abig deal... And we went back home.. and i lazed the afternoon.. and she busied with preparing dinner for the dinner later.. we had some house guest over.. and of course.. when I told her not to say anything about it behing my birthday.. guess wot.. Its too late! oh well..so.. Dan and Kelly came first.. and they brought me a present.. my goodness.. am i embarassed again or wot.. I mean... it was a nice guesture.. but I don't even know them! I'm homely.. shy..... docile..?? watever. haha.. and Jane and another guy I can't remember his name.. My bad.. we had a lovely dinner of Potato salad.. Portabello Mushroom with Baslamic vinegar and garlic.. Ribs with garlic sauce... and a wonderful dessert.. now.. is that 2 s's or just 1 s? bleah.. anyway.. it was good.

At about 9. we had to leave.. because we were doing the Rid Along with the Cops.. I'm gonna play cops for a night.. It is this program where citizens can opt to ride with the cop and see what they go thru.. with approval from the lieutenant... the 2nd biggest fart in town.. other than the chief.. and that lieutenant.. happens to have dined with us that nite.. right.. it was Dan.. SO.. I'm riding with Dave King.. pretty much the king.. really nice guy.. 28 years old.. his wife just got pregnant.. soft spoken.. we made a few bookings of speeding..checked out some complaints.. and the most interesting one was this.. There was call about some fella messing arnd with the cars in the backlane carpark.. so we went to check it out.. when we reached there.. there was this lady with a phone in her hand.. and she said her husband is trying to follow the guy who messed up the cars.. we din see the damage..and went after her husband trying to see if we can get the guy.. well.. apparently the guy gave the slip.. and we went back to the scene.. there were a few other fellas arnd the area then... a guy.. without a t-shirt.. and a coupla other girls.. they knew the girl who owns the car.. and one girl went to get her... we went to talk to the guy.. and he was just cursing and swearing.. and he told me.. God damnit.. that mother fucker..he just had to do it.. I was in the middle of a damn good blow job man. and he had to fucking spoil it. I almost burst out laughing.. ahhaa. it was so farnee!!! Anyway.. that was the big story of the night. haha. the most hilarious.. I got to do a coupla car chases.. when teh speeding car try to get away.. ahha.. but the town is so small.. and traffic is in abundon.. so.. its kinda hard. got to floor it a coupla time. it was cool..

It was a pretty memorable birthday I must say..

In Ohio

So I got to Ohio.. safe and sound.. on a pretty cheap air ticket.. all 50 bucks of it.. drats.. and the flight experienced some major turbulent.. and for the very first time in my godforsaken life... I felt afraid... on an air plane.. and a little nauseaus. But all is well ends well.. I landed.. saw Fran sitting down with a coffee in her hand.. talking to some stranger.. as usual.. and.. yep! Home sweet home! Din change a damn bit.. ahha.. but she has aged.. but.. still the same chatty self..

My blooming plates that I brought for her from singapore.. broke.. because it toppled while I was checking-in in Baltimore... due to my carelessness.. my 30 hrs of hand carrying that plastic bag.. was in vain.. cos that was my fav plate.. good thing there was anotehr 2 more pieces.. but still.. oh well.. she's gonna try and epoxy it back again.. god knows when thou.. ahha... other than that.. it was all good..

Round the Island Race..

Well.. I woke up in the morning.. feeling terribly tired.. which is not a good sign.. had some cereals and waffles for breakfast... showered.. and went down to the sailing centre.. 2 hrs before time.. Sam was asking me why so early? and if I need an hour n a half to rig up my laser.. I waved him off.. and told him that i'll explain it later.

Anyway.. took a nice slow bike ride over there.. there isn't a whole lot of wind along the way.. it was chilly.. but boy.. when i go there.. it was blowing.. registered.. and got my boat set up.. nice and slow.. taped my feet.. cos of the hiking strap.. it was so horrible.. but it came right off the minute i started hiking.. haha.. so.. not much use.. oh well..

Anyway... we started the race.. I started on the boat... had a decent start.. not as nice as I've hoped.. it was cautious.. nobody wants to OCS.. its gonna be a long distance race.. so.. catching up is possible.. anyway.. I rounded the first mark 2nd.. behind Dave.. and had 2 boats ride over me at the 2nd mark.. I round the 2nd mark with 1 cm to spare.. it was that close.. it was awesome.. by the time I rounded the mark.. I was at least 2 boat lengths upwind of the boat infront of me.. it was awesome.. Anyway.. I took the lead about 10 minutes later.. against a faster Thistle.. they made some weird choices of where to go.. and I had the lead until 3/w of the race.. when we were on the run for half n hour.. the other boat came by with a spinnaker.. and slowly over took me.. I got stucked in the wind shadow after i rounded the island to go on the beat back to the finish line.. and i am so pissed with myself.. the other boat infront of me thou.. had built an insurmountable lead.. i finished 5 mins behind him.. on correct time.. cos we are of a different class of boat.. I beat him by a good 8 minutes.. which means I had 13 minutes to spare over him.. it felt good.. I would have liked to beat him over the line thou.. so.. for prize.. i get a take home trophy.. and I get my name engraved on a plaque or how u spell it.. and it hangs on the sailing centre's wall.. and my name will be there forever!! hahaha. leaving my mark all over the place.. anyway..

dave pulled me aside and talked abt me coming back again next year.. Several parents were asking about me.. if i'm coming back next year to be the laser coach.. never knew i'll be popular.. I don't really mind.. but it'll be only for 6 weeks of wokr.. and airfare wouldn't make sense.. oh well.. shall see how it goes.. Anyway... dats all for today.. I'm dead beat.. whole body is sore... and aching.. got a nice hug from Terry.. cos I won't see her until I come back again.. hehe.. she's a nice lady.. so.. cheers! It feels good to win something.

Camp Fire Burning..

This.. is a price less picture.. check out the two guy's expression..

and we are the surfing dudes!

Here's Chrissi! concusseD still!

Lonely horse..

The SUn.. doing a Peek-A-Boo

Sunrise at Assateague.. thats Sam.. pondering abt his life..

Well.. thats me... getting fed.. and getting fat!

Back from NYC

Ok dokes.. Now I'm back from NYC... Lindsey din get her treat like she was supposed to.. cos we were tryin to beat the rush hour traffic.. gees.. it was horrible.. now i totally understand why she wanted to try and beat it..

The Musick's (one of my opti kid's parents) invited me over to their place for dinner on saturday.. and I had the best crunchies corn ever.. it was goot stuff.. they have a lovely house in the middle of nowhere... and from the way she describes it.. it is beautiful in winter.. She invited me over for winter.. something which i wouldnt' mind.. but paiseh lah ya know.. hehe.. and boy.. do they get lotsa toys or wot.. paintball markers (guns.. but they dun like the word guy), a pool.. a whole forest that belongs to them to ride dirt bike and play paintball in.. a 1975 austin martin.. hot tub.. dirt bikes... snow board.. blah.. and blah and blah.. too many toys.. oh well.. in a way.. singapore kids are lacking..

Went to church on sunday.. the beautiful dark hair girl was there again.. she has the deepest darkest eyes every... (make up perhaps) but man.. I'm in love. hahaa.. anyway.. thats gonna be pretty much the last time i'll ever see her.. Bye!! Went over the Steve's mum's place later.. for the birthday of one of the kids.. had tacos.. plenty of ice cream.. and then back home..

Come monday.. we drove over to virginia for a bridal fitting.. Suzanne's sister is getting married.. and they are all getting fitted into tux and dresses.. and boy.. is their house big or wot.. they have 2 huge jacuzzi... every possible place or excuse to have a wide screen digital tv.. they hvae it.. completed with a BOSE sound system. a pool table.. dartboard... fully stocked bar.. and blah adn blah and blah.. and its all on 6 acres of land.. man.. that place is awesome.. tooo rich.. too fucking rich. And she have a nice that looks like Renee Zellwenger.. damn.. where is my camera.. it is sorely missed.. I thrashed everybody at pool... did i mention that they couldn't play for nuts??

Tuesday.. i can't remember what I did.. oh. laze arnd the house. feeling miserable.. and went to help out with the high school program.. i was to be sparing partner.. i won the 2 race that i skippered.. and steve took over.. and got 3rd. 1st and 2nd..

Wednesday.. big boat.. i was disappointed.. some miscommunications.. the boat sailed well.. was pinched quite abit.. I din really know wat to call for some.. i really feel redundent as a tactician..
Went to the chiropractor in the morniing.. quite a joker that guy.. name is Keen Blaker... he is a non-crack-chiropractor.. according to him.. my hip is out.. shoulder blades out.. back out.. jawbone out.. everywhere out.. total disaster.. and he doesn't wear a seatbelt.. ahha.. funny guy..

thursday.. stonned out.. high sch program.. sailed with a guy called Mark.. suppose to teach him.. he was a lil overwhelmed.. cos of the wind.. its kinda strong.. Rode arnd on Sam's dirt bike in the evening..

Friday.. woke up.. sailed arnd the island.. mainsheetblock broke.. and i fell into the water.. climbed back up in a jiffy.. and after 5 minutes of shivering.. i realised i wasn't wearing a life jacket.. tsk.. how smart.. i was exactly in the halfway mark of the island.. decided to go all the way.. took me 2 hrs and maybe 20 mins.. not too bad.. Chrissy came by.. I was supppose to meet her at 3.. but she got there early.. and was told that i'm down by the centre.. chuck my bike into her car..and went back.. she looks really nice today in her denim skirt and white halter.. should have complimented her.. oh well.. next time.. haha.. my harddisk failed on her.. and she took it back to use it.. oh well.. hehe.. shall see her again for the round the island race..
rode arnd on sam's bike again.. it was good fun..

Sent out a few job applications again.. din receive any replies on the rest.. hopefully this one work out..

cheers.. peace out!

And this is my other cousin I'm talking about!

The last picture taken by my camera before it mysteriously froze up.. sigh.. may he rest in peace.

Here's my cousin!! Checking her shopping list!

It is the Republican mice!!!

See the Helicopter behind the flag pole? It is trained, fixed, hovering over madison Square Garden

Fire in the hole!!

Some chiobu from CNN.. Droooool haha

Hey Mister Policemen...

Me.. with my packs.. in the NYC Subway

Ittish me! and my Vamoose bus to NYC!! Whee!

My Packs.. Small.. Medium.. LarGe!

In New York City

Well.. the whole world was crazy for a while.. Going to the beach.. coming back.. that mad 3 hrs drive.. spending the whole afternoon packing for NYC.. trying to reduce the size of my final load back to Singapore.. I ended up with a fifty pounder backpack..and a smaller pack.. and a sling bag.. quite a humorous sight.. machiam a tourist..and i'm only going to NYC for 4 days.. sigh.. haha.. overpack? not quite.. See.. I'm meeting my Karchngz.. who is a "Ahem".. Flight Attendent.. cos god forbid we call them air stewardess.. and I'm going there to be a freeloader!! haha.. as usual.. tsktsk... so.. Lindsey got me to her place on that sunday.. to stay over at her place.. cos she is going into DC on the monday for lunch.. and so.. its kinda on the way.. I manage to get a bus.. two way.. for 35 bucks.. from DC to NYC.. pretty good deal.. but problem is.. i saw a mail the very last minute.. that my cousin.. will be staying in a hotel in New Jersey instead of NYC!!! Doh!! Cos of the republican convention.. Mr Bush.. is coming to NYC to give a speech.. darnit.. that monkey face.. ANyway... I manage to find my way alright to her hotel.. given some difficulties and some uncertainties.... But life has been good to me.. once again.. showing me the light.. or rather.. God...

See.. To get to New jersey.. or rather her hotel.. calling her hotel twice.. talking to the receptionist.. have proven absolutely pointless... they just direct you to some silly machine.. I need to talk to somebody LIVE!! damnit.. LIVE!! and I saw on their website that they are only 2 miles off a train station.. cool.. now if only i can get to the train station... I can prolly walk there somehow or hitch hike.. dat sounds pretty exciting to me.. My fIRst Hitch hike!! So I booked a train ticket from AMTRAK for 27 bucks.. ONE WAY.. thank goodness i bought one way.. I figured I will be able to find a cheaper way to get back to NYC once i reach there.. but as fate.. or rather.. god has it.. I am able to find it way sooner.. read on..

I reach the AMTRAK station... ok.. wait.. backtrek abit.. here's the cool part.. I reach NYC.. via Holland TUnnel.. took a train.. No. 1 to 34th STreet.. and then when I walked to the surface.. this is where it all became like hollywood movie.. The WHOLE PLACE is BUSTLING.. FUll of CopS.. Helicopters flying over head.. at least 4 of them.. one of them is trained at MAdison Sq.. another 3 circling arnd.. one junction.. U'll see at least 40 Policemen.. no kidding.. There are Sirens blaring every 10 seconds.. cracking of the walkie talkies of the policemen is louder than people talking arnd you.. Bus load of people will be shuffled thru the streets... Ambulances rushing arnd.. Police cars screeching all over.... People giving out flyers.. giving out pins.. Smoke gushing out of the manhole.. People holding cameras flashing all arnd.. Man.. I feel like I'm in a Hollywood set. Ok.. enuff of the description.. any more and you guys will prolly think that i'm bullshitting.... so .. I found my exit to the train station.. and a totally different sight.. greeted me..

Not entirely different.. but there are people bustling all over the place.. rushin from trains to trains.. Policemen over here don a different attire... U see policement in FUll Body Armour.. full body plate.. Helmets and Mp5 machine guns. and some other rifles i dun recognise.. Boy.. they have more armoury and weaponry than those guys upstairs.. i'm afraid to take a picture of them.. if i take a picture.. i might have secret police pouncing on me any moment.. so.. i just kept on walking towards AMTRAK customer service to pick up my ticket.. ok.. now the story can continue..

The girl behind the counter took one look at my ticket and say... U going metropak? why buy an AMTRAk ticket? its so expensive!! there's a New Jersey Transit leaving for metropak right now on track 1. U can go catch it and buy a ticket onboard. I'll refund your money back to your visa.. COOL! Awesome stuff!! save me some money.. and it turned out that it cost only 15 dollars 2 ways.. instead of the 54 that i would have to spend.. it would have only cost me 10 dollars if i haven't bought it on board.. but what the heck.. im saving quite abit already! so.. I took the train.. and made my way to new jersey.. the ticketing master forgot to tell me that i have to change a train.. and i overshot by a station. haha.. so he got me off. and gave me a free ticket.. and send me in the right direction.. its all good.. I finally reach Metro Pak.. now.. to get to the Hotel.. I din take the hotel no. down. so i couldn't call them and ask them to come pick me up. I ask the counter. and they din know which direction to point me towards my hotel.. damnit.. its only 2 miles for christ sake.. and thank god..they have taxi services over there.. it'll cost me 5 bucks.. its all good..

Got to the hotel.. got my cousin's room no..... and Wala.. some family.. some familiar face!!! finally!! haha and for the next few days.. we shop.. and we shop.. and we shop.. so much so that her bags are full.. she had to sit on the luggage bag to fit the stuff in.. haha..

Then came thursday.. where she have to leave.. and I have no place to stay.. and I din get myself a hostel.. and all the hostel are like packed cos of the convention.. I had to call my cousin.. which i haven't spoke to in a long long time.. hahaha.. paiseh man.. but it was good.. she was very gracious.. and she invited me for dinner with two of her friends.. Steven and Karen.. we ate at this nice cosy french restaurant.. half the words on the menu dun make sense to me.. and they have the world best concealed toilet ever. u couldn't tell that it is a toilet. it is flushed in together with the wall.. without any signs that says that it is the heads.. awesome stuff.. i had Pork Niman.. some high class pork.. very tastefully done.. = very small portion. but it was nice.

After that very exquisite dinner.. we went back to her L-cove apartment. it is right beside Times Square.. couldn't get any better than that. and it was cosy.. I saw her Canon S410.. and mentioned that mine is spoilt.. and she said that hers is too... i din quite believe..and took and play arnd with it..and it actually work! haha... her memory card is full thou.. so.. I kinda helped her kinda fix her camera.. transferred her pictures out of it.. and got it set up so that she can just send in the card for processing.. pics of her parents during their visit.. how sweet...

She woke up really early in the morning.. went downstairs.. buy coffee from starbucks.. and bagels.... for breakfast..a nd she packed me a little something for me to eat along the way... and 3 peaches... oh darn.. am i touched or wot.. zheng Gam Dong.. anyway.. it was all good..

Thou I din get to see much of new york city.. I got to know two cousins better.... what a way to catch up huh? outta singapore.. Life is good..

The Death of my Camera - Aug 31 2004

Today marks the end of my time with my camera.. (or at least until I try to get it repaired)

The last picture that it took is one of me and the background filled with flowers. I guess my horrible face must have marred the beautiful picture of the flowers so much so that my camera couldn't take it.

THIS MEANS NEW TOY!!!!

Deciding between a Minolta 8080.. that has under water capabilities.. but only 5 x zoom.. and I won't have the swivel panel of my G2.. sigh.. I'll definitely miss that.. Or.. a Canon Powershot S1. that has a 7 x zoom. but no underwater capabilities.. sigh.. very torned.. somebody help me!!!!