Here is the first set of pictures from Italy. I am guessing we will be seeing many more sets from across the pond. We all know how Chris loves to snap, snap snap. Right now it looks as though there are only 56, anyone want to put some money on the total pictures taken between Chris and his mother?
A wise man said, sometimes it is ok to just stop and look.
Over this past weekend I went to the California for an Expo, for a Podcasting Expo. Got some great pictures while at the above mentioned Expo, wow, how many times can Jim say Expo?
Anyway, I have included the picture links for both the Expo and the time we spent with our good friend D-Glock.
Enjoy!
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.
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.
Looks as though a fella who was trying to bring a little fun through the Singapore Airport in 2002 got himself in some trouble. Singapore has hung 420 people since 1991 for drug related charges.
I was just having this conversation with my father a couple of days ago. He told me if you have drugs in this country, you die. I thought it was a little harsh and kind of shrugged it off. Look s as thought this poor fella will not be so lucky.
Heroin does kill.
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As we walked about today you could hear X-mas music and everything is decorated for the season. Now, I know that it is late November and less than a month till Christmas, but it 90F and 100% humidity. It feels nothing like Christmas here and every time I hear Bing Crosby belt out “White Christmasâ€, I laugh out loud.
Best part of the day was hearing Feliz Navidad on the bus to do some mid-day shopping. Nothing like listing to Spanish Christmas tunes in South Asia; it reminds you just how small a world we live in.
Hope you all have a wonderful Monday. This is my last day here in Singapore and I am sleeping, drinking, shopping and swimming, not in that order.
PS
I can’t wait to get home, all this time with my parents. I think I am starting to form thoughts like they do! I can here them in my head!!! Love you guys!
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Looking for something to eat this morning? Its times like this I wish I was eating meat!
We arrived here last evening at around 11:30 pm. It was an incredibly fun time! If you ever have the chance to spend some 20 hours on airplane, in coach, take it. Never have my legs been so happy with me. I have a nice numbing pain I feel all over my body but it is worth it, it is incredible here! Dealing with a bit of jet lag so I will keep it short, check out the first set of photos.
Here is a link to some of the first pictures from the Sing
Photos
This blog was written in the heat of it last week. I originally posted the blog after meeting my brother’s girlfriend. I think my reaction whereas founded, maybe could have been left out of the blogging world. Over the last couple of days, I have had some calls on a repost. So, here is the blog, posted last week with a few minor corrections. If you are reading this, and you know who you are, I am really a good guy.
Over the last couple of months my dear brother has been dating a new woman. Everything I have heard about her has been nothing but great! She is smart and good looking and has been taking care of my little bro. Last week my mother had come to Reno to visit and had giving this new lady rave reviews. My mother, who can be as critical as I, wonder where I got it, said she was great! Now, given that, I came into meeting her with nothing but high expectations. Even though she and my bro had been having a little tiff, I thought nothing but roses for this girl.
Today, I had the pleasure of meeting her in person. She is exactly the kind of women my brother has been bringing home his entire life, strong, big boned and pretty. The initial meet went well, then I opened my mouth and started to talk and it all went downhill. I am not going to lie to you; I can be the biggest jerk in the world. My comment to her, whereas it was well within Jim, was taken seriously and right to heart. Two things about people that I find problematic are, one; week willed and two; low confidence in themselves. Both of which she seems to have! What a combo, sad.
Needless to say, my 20 min visits with her did not go well. At one point she attacked me personally, yes personally, she doesn’t even know me. She felt, I guess that a personal attack would make her bigger than me. To quote my 8th grade teacher, “the only reason you put someone down, is to make yourself feel betterâ€. She was mean, really mean.
If my behavior was to over the top, I apologize to her, which I did in person. She has a predetermined idea of me, that is not who I really am. Her loss is my gain. She has reminded me again how important it is not to be too quick to judge. This is something, I have been trying hard to change in my life and she has given me a perfect example of how not to be. Who says the youth of American can’t teach us new tricks.
Phill, I am truly sorry to have put you through this day. I know this girl means a lot to you and for that I respect your choice. Please, except my apology and know I love you BRO!
Letting everyone know I had a wonderful time here in Reno. I think this is the best vacation I have had in years. I need to remember to take more vacations with me. You know what the best part of taking a vacation with you is; you can do whatever you want.
I am rested and new, ready to get back to the business of what ever it is I do. One thing to keep in mind, next time you are looking to get me something nice. How about two weeks in a nice hotel, maybe by the beach next time. Note, it must have the following, big bed, good curtains to keep the light out and of course the internet.
Now the summer is done and we are moving towards Autumn. Take a moment today to look back on the summer. For some of us it means rebuilding after some girl for other a new roof maybe even a new job and then there is always your next Europe trip to plan. What do you say we do it again next year?
Thanks everyone who kept me company by phone and to my brother for being, well my brother. The next time I am in Reno I will have to venture out of my hotel, maybe?!?
Oh, I won in the Casino so that is a plus!
Reno (Phill read this!! kept telling me there were 500,000 people-smoking crack)
Think I learned an important lesson yesterday. What exactly it is, or when it will reveal its self to me is still unclear. What I know at this moment is, don’t blog angry. For those of you who had the chance to read yesterdays blog, lucky.
I just need to remember that when I have a showdown with the opposite sex it is just best to run away. Which if and when that happens to me, I will be running, next time. Not blogging about it, lesson learned?
