This Halloween we took it easy, no big party this year. My brother, in from Reno, and mother joined me at my house to hand out candy and watch some scary movies. Here are some pictures from our evening.

BOO!

Here we are out on the town again. No one got too drunk they couldnt walk home. All and all a great night. Chris meet a nice Redhead, Chuck found love on a street corner and me, well I slept alone, better yet not in a stair well.

Flickr

My b-day was last week and in case you missed it and are looking to get me an over due gift. I know just what will make it right. It’s not like I want a car, just another computer.

Thanks to the kids for taking this young man out on the town. I really lived it up, my liver thanks you. So will the doctors some day when they have to remove it.

Yes, I will take this one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope this year is full of joy and happiness! May this year be as good as the last. Looking forward to spending time with all my family and friends this year, 2006!

New Year

As some of you might know last year was my last Christmas. One of my goals for 2005 was to convert to Judaism. Unfortunately, due to my hectic schedule, I never made it to Synagogue.

Keeping with my original commitment, I am not celebrating Christmas this year. Amazingly enough it is surprisingly refreshing. Not that I was too big on the whole Christ born thing anyhow, more of the commercial Santa side of things. Not having to decorate the house or buy gifts, best of all not put the lights up is a big plus. I defiantly don’t miss that part of the Holiday season.

I will admit, I do like the music, I was thinking in the shower this morning why that is? I decided it has to be because I know all the words? Or maybe it’s because it reminds me of Christmas past and reminds me of when I was a kid. Who doesn’t want to be reminded of that, well I guess there are those of you who were beaten or something worse?

So Happy Hanukkah and what not! Have a great Holiday season! In 2006 maybe we will think about doing X-mas again, but who knows?

Christmas
Hanukkah

I am home now after just a short 20 some hours of travel. I am definitely feeling the effects of the time change, more than I did when I was in Singapore. It has been hard sleeping and I found myself up reading though the early morning hours.

Singapore was fun, clean and safe with great food and friendly people and very western. Almost too western with all its McDonald’s and 7-11 and did I mention they love KFC. But really who doesn’t love KFC?

People have been asking me today what was the best thing I did, or what my lasting impression was. I would have to say the beauty of the place. It is so green and lush and clean, which is a plus to someone like me. Germs, well I have some issues. Let’s not go into it, no Howard Hughes jokes Pop. I enjoyed the mix of culture, something that is lacking here in whitey land. The food and tastes from all over the world were fantastic. I was surprised to see my Father eat fish, or crab. You know it is good if he is eating anything from the ocean. What really stands out is service. I am huge fan of great service, but who isn’t. No Chuck not that kind of service? It didn’t matter where we went, from the small home run restaurant to up scale upper priced, the service was great. I have not been waited on like that since that time Chris and I were in that flop house in Vietnam. But that is a story for another day. One of the best things about Singapore dinning is the hot towel. Ever place you eat you are given a hot towel for your face and hands. What a joy! I wish that was something that happened here more often. In one Japanese restaurant every time you used one towel the replaced it, needless to say I went through a few. Poor girl just kept running back and forth fetching towels. Did I mention no tipping! There is a tax, but still less than 10%. They are working that hard and not getting tipped. Can you imagine what eating out in this country would be like with no tipping? Everything would be self serve.

What a wonderful time I had though! It is an experience I will never forget. It has opened my eyes to a part of the world I wasn’t sure I would see. It is funny how being away from your life allows you to refocus when you return. I feel anew again and energized, although being back at work with the lag is no fun. Being able to go somewhere with out my cell phone was a much needed break for me. It’s funny how little I missed it, although it was pretty lonely in bed. It is the vacation I have been talking about taking for the last few years. Being removed from my everyday was the break I needed!

Thanks Mom and Dad, you have proven your worth again and I swear if I ever have kids I will tell them how great you are. If you get the chance to travel to this part of the world, a part of the world without SUV’s, you should. I think every American would benefit from seeing the world outside his or her bubble. I love this country, America, but I can see leaving for another place would have its upside.

In the next couple of days I will post all of the pictures from the trip. I also have another blog I want to write, but we will see if it gets done.

Singapore

PS

Hot women with really cool cell phones, big plus on this trip, big plus! I thought how one of my friends, and you know who you are, would have a hard time coming home because of all the hot Asian women.

As many of you know I am spending my Thanksgiving holiday in Singapore with my parents. I am sure there are those of you thinking, Jim what an interesting choice of location to spend an American holiday. But, I assure you for a guy who doesn’t eat turkey and loathes football it is fantastic.

I have been having a relaxing time here so far. My mother and I have been hanging together these first few days. Which if you know my mother, which some of you do, it is a real treat. My father has been working, which consists of just about 12 hours a day. Making him a tired middle aged man when he gets home. Being the trooper he is, he has taken us out at night, which is very cool, even if it does cost $12 S a beer. (more on that latter)

The biggest problem has been my mother’s legs and feet. Being a woman of mature age her body was not happy with her long plane ride. It seems her feet and legs in a show of revolution have swelled a bit. Not anything to serious but it is now day three and they are still not happy. Today we will be hanging around the apartment as we attempt to get them back in order. Poor kid.

Have seen many amazing things in this last couple of days. I know that my friends Chuck and Ash, maybe more Ash, would be falling over themselves about the women. For me though the best part, other than the McDonalds on every corner, is the fact I am 5 inches talker than everyone else. Having the ability to look down the street and see everything for miles, I feel like a basketball player. Be that a white no talent basketball player.

Going to go down to the pool now, it is a bomby 85 with 100% humidity. More to come just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Also wanted to send a shout out to all my Indian friends (feathers not dots) thanks for the food. In hindsight though, sort of the beginning of the end?

Thanksgiving

Look for something to do on October 29th. Want to dress up and party with some really sweet people? Check it out!

I know some of you out there are probably wondering why I wrote Chuck a Blog for his b-day and not my Mother. It’s funny; I was thinking the same thing. Not really, what I was thinking was? Wait, what I was thinking? Is that proper? I don’t think so?

Thinking like I do, I needed more time to come up with just the right thing to say to the number one women. Let’s face it, your Mother, yes yours, is the Women you are looking for, for life. I have found that women, but my Father keeps telling me I can’t Mary her?

Mom, how many times can a son praise his Mother before the cops show up? Five? Anyway, I know you had a great b-day. You drank and were Mary? For everything that you are and that you will still be, Happy Birthday. May you live to be 55!

July 31 on the Wiki!

Today a young man who the world adores turns 27 years old. No, I am not talking about the kid from the Six Sense. I am talking about Chris, no wait Charlie. Chris you wish you were turning 27 again. I know when I told Matt how old Chuck was going to be he sighed, saying “Wish I was that young, again”

My Birthday message to you Chuck is this: DON’T FUCK IT UP! Go out there in the next year and live it up. Let nothing stand in your way, woman or man. Show the “man” what it is about. Trample your enemies keep watch of your friends and make love to many a woman! The time for you is NOW! I declare this the YEAR of CHARLIE!

Ok, maybe that last paragraph was a little robust? Charlie, I hope as you wind down these last few years of your 20’s. You will make the most of your experience. You are a great young lad with so much to give. I am glad you are my friend and brother. All the best on this the day of your birth!

Chuck and the 28th!