Cover Up Utah-tahs!

Deep into February and I'm back from what is becoming an annual snowboarding trip with Ellvin Kelvin and Amazing Grace. Last year we went to Mammoth, which is where we usually go given that we bunk for free with the Oblong family. Given that the Oblong's place was being renovated, we had to pick a different destination this season.

Boom. Destination: Park City, Utah.

When Ellvin Kelvin suggested it, all I thought was that Bryce Canyon in Utah looks gorgeous covered in snow. So I was excited. I had totally forgotten that the Winter Olympics had taken place in Salt Lake City in 2002.

We went for two whole days on the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort. I hadn't snowboarded in over a year, so I was insistent on taking it easy. Amazing Grace and I kept things casual on the green dot runs. Took me a couple of runs to get comfortable. But by day two, I was carving like the real snowboarders. I still have some anxiety attacks when the paths narrow or when I'm going too fast.

The thing I noticed in Utah is that most everyone skis, which is a change from Mammoth where most snowboard. But the perception seems to remain that only punk kids snowboard and thus you have a mass of dickwad skiers who ride on their high horses.

But other than those shitclogs, the trip was wonderful. Our last two hours were pretty epic. We went pretty high up the mountain and did a marathon of boarding. So great. We were already talking about where we would be going next year. Plan might be to follow the Winter Olympics around, so Vancouver might be it!

In any case, I can't wait to do it again.


Looking like Shaun White hit with a pretty stick,

Ricky

One for One Slash Ten

Where does a whole month go?

Thirty-one days pass and this is my first blog post of two-thousand and ten.

I thought I'd talk about my new year's resolution as I watch Roger Federer dominate this Australian Open Men's Final at two AM.

Since going back and rejoining a gym (Twenty-four Hour Fitness) last November, I've been very good in going just about everyday. With the gym on the way home from the train station after work, I really have no excuse not to go. And I'm in a groove where I'm excited to go and lift weights everyday.

The results have been pretty good in two months time. Weight hasn't been affected much, but only because I'm burning fat and gaining muscle. My shoulders have been responding very well and are becoming broader and thicker. My chest and back have gotten more defined. There's finally some definition in my legs. But my best results have been my arms where I've broken the fifteen inch line and going strong. I've actually gotten the most compliments from friends and coworkers about my arms.

This all relates back to my new year's resolution. I resolve to be more open about my body. Now that may sound vain, but I've always had insecurity issues with being seen without a shirt. Back when I was a kid in gymnastics, even though I had a great six-pack, I didn't want people gawking and staring. But since then, I've lost the six-pack and I had felt that people still expected me to have it, which made the spare tire around my waist even more shameful. It shut me in and made me always shy to go shirtless.

And even though I've been working out and am in good shape at the moment, I still have this spare tire that's hard to shed. But one of my friends helped me out of my shell by telling me that I didn't have to be perfect and that I looked very good just the way I was.

So yeah, this is a big deal for me. Come this summer, I'll probably never put on a shirt if I stick to my resolution.

Part of this played into today where I agreed to model some shots for my good friend Kookie Tee. She needed subjects to further her interest in becoming a professional photographer and so Erico Suave, Smiles McGeeyama, and I were there for her. And it was a lot of fun! Though I have to admit to it being a lot tougher than I thought. In trying to make a sexy looking face, I ended up just frowning. I gotta loosen up, breathe, and be more natural. But I think I did okay for my first time. Can't wait to see the results because I think we did some really cool stuff.



Sans shirt,

Ricky

Best KFC Evar

Christmases these days are very fleeting. They seem to zoom by as quickly as gopher in a rat race. This year's Xmas was no different, though I did get the Pictionary Man game I wanted from my Secret Santa. It was Chello Bellow! Which is funny because I was her Secret Santa! I gave her a neato pastry chef coat from Charm City Cakes. She loved it.

But the main event happened on the day after Xmas when Timotei and I hosted a Kwan Family Cousins get-together. The cousins came over with food in tow. Timotei made spaghetti. I bought Domino's new recipe pizza. The Oblongs brought a ham. K-mart made fudge. Lee-Leman made a salad. We watched (500) Days of Summer and a million episodes of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. We played Beatles Rock Band and Toy Story Mania and Taboo. Then we all slept over and in the morning I cooked up bacon, Rionheart made scrambled eggs, and Chello Bellow baked up potato skins and red velvet cupcakes.

Then we went to Scandia for a fun-filled day of go-karting, miniature golfing, and carnival rides. And for dinner Timotei and I treated our cousins to Famous Dave's and bought three feasts!

It was two solid days of hanging with the cousins and it was really awesome. Took me back to the days when we all just played together at parties. Can't wait to see how we top this one.


Never riding The Hammer again,

Ricky

Ghost of December Passed

Interesting how quickly a month passes. Especially when you're not blogging about it.

In a very mysterious manner, I'm just going to toss out there that I need to always remember December 4, 2009 as a very important date in my life.

Okay now, on to more pressing matters. X-mas! This is actually the first year I'm referring to it at all times as X-mas. You know, cuz it's what we agnosticans do. To me the holiday is all about the gifts. However, speaking of which, I'm not in the mood at all to shop for anything. I'm very whatever about it this year.

Perhaps it's because I got the stomach flu just two weeks ago and was in miserable pain with constant diarrhea and stomach cramps. It was the worst sickness I've ever experienced, so far!

But I was in the mood to buy myself a lot of things. I got a buttload more Threadless tee-shirts. I don't need any more clothes! Especially if I'm thinking of moving to Los Angeles next year.

I think I've brought up a lot of vague topics to discuss in the future. We'll see if I ever get to talking about them.


Ambiguous,

Ricky

Goodbye Asia - Hello Jetlag: Taiwan

I had no idea what to expect from Taiwan; no expectations. So it's no surprise that the trip exceeded my nonexistent expectations. This stay was all about food and I loved it for that.

Let's talk about the hotel. We stayed at the Fullon Hotel in Taipei. This hotel was THE BEST of our entire trip. So swanky and nice. Comfortable beds. Huge bathrooms. And consider this: this hotel was cheaper than any in Japan.

We visited the tallest building in the world (as of the date of this printing). Taipei 101. I was surprised to see the first floors filled with super high end stores. I mean, who could afford any of this stuff?

We ate at a night market, which is an alley with a giant assortment of food vendors. You can get just about anything to eat and boy did we eat. We had some pastries, takuyaki, spring rolls, oyster omelets, noodle soups, everything. And after all was said and done and tummies were full as hell, we spent an average of $6 per person. It's a wonder there weren't more fat people roaming the streets.

We also went to a Pixar exhibit which seemed to be attended by all of Taipei. And after, we ate at a very questionable hole in the wall with a Noodle Nazi woman. It was scary, but at about a buck for a bowl of noodles, worth it!

Then it was off to the tour of Central Taiwan. We jumped on a bright yellow bus with the cutest curtains. We visited plenty of farms (plant and livestock), a Gold Exposition, the coast, lighthouses, the jungle of Yilan, and the 2nd and 3rd highest elevated 7-Eleven stores in the world!

Oh the tour I saw the biggest espidereses that I have ever seen. These things set up giant web camps in the jungle trees and were so big, I didn't know espidereses grew to that size. But as we crept through jungle, they just kept getting bigger and nastier. These things were feasting on giant butterflies. I had to take video of me fleeing from Spider Town, running for my life with hands as blinders. Scariest moment of my life bar none.

The three weeks in Asia really flew by. It actually feels like I never went on vacation, which sucks. But this trip has inspired me to travel the globe! I want to see as much of it as I can. So in marking off one of the three destinations I need to visit before I die, I ended up adding an entire page. Now's the time!


World traveling,

Ricky

Goodbye Asia - Hello Jetlag: Kyoto

After the Disney parks, we took a bullet train to Kyoto for some sightseeing.

We went around and visited the Gold and Silver Pavilions which had really beautiful gardens and landscaping.

We went to the Ryoan-ji Temple to visit the Rock Garden. You're supposed to sit and stare until you gain some enlightening. It was really very neat. We also ate the Yudofu, which they are apparently known for, but it just ended up being really really pricey tofu in water.

We toured the Nijo Castle which was huge. Some very nice gardens and artwork inside. The history of the creaking floorboards was really interesting.

The most popular temple seemed to be the Kiyomizu Temple which is really high up on a hill. You're supposed to lean out over the railing and leave all your troubles behind. We also saw the famous kissing stones. It was really crowded when we went with schools, but had an incredible view and was very refreshing.

We also visited the Heian Shrine which has maybe the most beautiful garden in Kyoto.

Also in Kyoto was the best Ramen I've ever had at Honke Dai-ichi Asahi. There was a long line out the door, so we knew we were in good hands. We also had Burnt Ramen from Gogyo, which is a more trendy ramen place. It was really good, but burned in lard makes for a heavy feeling. Didn't feel well after.

We also had some okonomiyaki from a crazy looking place with a statue of a dog pulling a boy's underwear down. Hilarious.


To be continued...

Goodbye Asia - Hello Jetlag: The Disney Parks

The Asia trip is but a distant memory, but the jetlag remains. But it was such a rockin' trip that it was worth it. Any time spent with the entire family (especially with new sister Amazing Grace) is the best.

First three days were dedicated to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. On our first day we got to the park plenty early and in a typhoon to boot. We were waiting for them to let us in and start our day, but something was wrong. They weren't letting anyone pass. Half hour passed. An hour passed. I tried asking a cast member, but they either did not know what I was asking or didn't know what was going on. Then when 1.5 hours passed, I asked a lady in a blazer and she said in broken English, "Because of the typhoon, we can't open the park. But don't worry. There are two rides open if you go back around to Tomorrowland."

What?

We hurried over there and realized why no one was standing on their Main Street. Because everyone and their mothers were waiting in a 4 hour mob to ride the new Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek attraction. Fearing they would never open the park up and having felt we wasted our entire day waiting, I approached the Guest Relations window and after speaking with a woman on the phone, we were granted a special exception for a full refund. We were escorted out of the park just as Timotei runs up and says "They opened the park."

Pissed off at Disney, we left and went to the subway to take a train to the city to spend the day, but instead found commuters stranded. All subway lines were shut down.

So there we were, stuck at Disneyland. We ate lunch and Timotei and I decided that since we were stuck there, we might as well go back to the park. Anticipating a huge crowd, we hurried to the Winnie the Pooh ride and found a 20 minute wait! In fact, the walkways were pretty clear. It seems that the subways worked to our favor. No one was able to come to Disneyland! Timotei and I did everything we wanted.

The next day was Tokyo DisneySea which is amazing! This park was hit with a beauty stick and born from a swan's cologne scented fart. The rides however could be a little more engaging. They just fall a bit short after immersing you so well in the atmosphere. We also made it an adventure to seek out all the different popcorn flavors they had. We tried curry, strawberry, honey, chocolate, caramel, and (the crown jewel of them all) soy sauce and butter. They also had a plethora of churro flavors; pumpkin, lemon and honey, maple, sesame. Loved hunting for the food almost as much as the park.

Our last day at Disney was spent on a Saturday back at Disneyland. It was so packed we were only able to ride 3 rides. By midday, all lines were at 140 minutes; no joke. During this day we also saw Cirque du Soleil's "Zed" which was very cool.

Glad I completely all I wanted to do at the Tokyo Disney parks. They're truly an experience much different than the stateside parks. But I wish it didn't eat up all our time in Tokyo.

To be continued...

Japan Bound

Oh my gog. In two days we will be headed to Japan and then Taiwan. Gone for three weeks. I have done zero planning for this trip. Really all I know that I want to do in Japan is see the Tokyo Disney Resort and Shibuya. I feel that this will just be a hint of what I want to see in Japan since I don't know what to expect really. Wish we were spending more time there, but I guess I should save some time for next time! This will not be my only visit.

When I was in New York for Ellvin Kelvin and Amazing Grace's wedding, I got a little homesick missing my friends. That was only one week. Three weeks might take its toll on my yearning for friends, but who knows. I look forward to spending time with my family. I know we will have a hugely great time.

Lots of pictures will be taken and I promise to actually post some here. So stay tuned. Will miss you!


Already homesick,

Ricky

Details On My Absence

I haven't forgotten about this blog, but I don't exactly have the time or emotional state to deal with it at this time. I'm working on some heavy stuff right now, but once it's done with I will be back to my normal blogging self.

That's not to say I won't post at all. I've got my trip to Japan and Taiwan coming soon, so I will be posting an update after my return. But other than really big events, you're not going to see many updates.

Apologies! But bear with me. This will all come to pass.


Doin' the hivvy,

Ricky

New York. New Sister.

I'm going to skip formalities and just begin with the wedding.

The wedding was phenomenal. The wedding was gorgeous. The wedding was spectacular. The wedding was amazing. The wedding was everything.

The trip started out with news of Hurricane Danny possibly landing on Long Island on the wedding day. Luckily, the storm never fully developed and remained only a tropical storm. But sure enough, it did hit on the day of the wedding.

On that morning, Ellvin Kelvin treated us groomsmen to breakfast at an amazing place called Maureen's Kitchen. Then it was a hectic day in the rain with pictures and final preparations. But luck of all luck, the rain let up and we were able to get some pictures outside! Best of all, cloudy conditions are ideal for photography lighting. So it was sort of a blessing in disguise.

Then was wedding time or as we called it chaos at the cottage. We were running around trying to get things organized and somehow, with the help of all our cousins, things worked out.

I wish I could say the same about my boutineer. It was first pinned on by my aunt, but at rest position, it was a little tilted outward. Then it was fixed by a family friend. Then it was said that the pin was exposed, so the florist fixed it. But then the officiator of the wedding said it didn't look secure, so she repinned it. Then the florist came back and asked if she had done it and I hesitated and told her someone else tinkered with it, so she repinned it. The officiator saw this happen and questioned if my boutineer was falling and I told her no, but that the florist has final say in how it looks. The officiator snidely remarked, "Well I would have thought secure would be better, but who am I to say?" So I walked away and everyone was asking about my flower because the pin was showing like crazy. Many offered to fix it again, but I would not let anyone touch it because the florist still had final say. Well, that's when the florist came to me and asked again, "Did I do this?"

This time I was ready with my answer, "Yes, you did." She shakes her head with disapproval and removes it and then some random worker from the facility took the flower and said "I'll do it." The random lady tinkers with the flower because it looks like it's dying from being manhandled and suddenly she says "we need another pin. The flower isn't going to stay." That's when I noticed the entire bud was detached from the stem! I was PISSED.

She used my original pin to pin the flower together and then got another pin to attach it to my lapel. And it looked like shit. But at this point, I could not believe everyone trying to help created a fucking disaster. NO ONE TOUCH ME!!!!

Anyway, wedding time. We walked down the aisle and stood by Ellvin Kelvin's side as he said his vows in a beautiful and emotional ceremony. I cried a bit. And as promised, short and sweet, we were back down the aisle and into the cocktail hour.

Let me just comment here about the cocktail hour food. It was just appetizers, but they had 6 or 7 stations of different things! From samosas to fruit to crepes to calamari to a mashed potato bar to open bar! Everyone got full off the hors d'oeuvres.

Wedding party had to leave the cocktail hour early to gather for our grand entrance. We had to quickly think up a dance move as we entered the dining hall. My bridesmaid and I did a little spinning hop thing.

The reception was amazing. We were dancing all throughout and eating so much (they even had an ice cream and flambé bar roll onto the dance floor!). I had a lot of shots of vodka with Ellvin Kelvin's high school and college friends and danced the night away. I was so proud of the family for getting out of their seats and dancing along with us. It was way too much fun. The best part was all of us jumping like crazy to "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas.

The night ended with Ellvin Kelvin and Amazing Grace slow dancing in the center of a giant circle of guests to Coldplay's "Lovers in Japan" while everyone blew bubbles. Completely magical moment to end the breathtaking evening.

Ellvin Kelvin and Amazing Grace sure know how to throw a party. I'm so glad to finally have a sister. Love them sooooooo much!

Pictures to arrive soon.


On cloud nine,

Ricky