The scariest moment in Triathlon...

The start of the swim...always the scarest moment in any triathlon....

you are diving into the dark, unknown waves, not sure what is facing you...

but once you are out. it is a feeling like no other....and there are the joy of biking and test of running awaiting you.

But it all starts here!

Crappy Training Day....

Today is the WORST training day ever. Woke up at 6:00 and wondered where Masterlee is. turned out that MasterLee's back is giving out on him and that he could not make it to our weekly training session. After learning this fact, I decided to taper my training a little bit. instead of diving into the cold cold morning pool, I decided to do a longer bike ride and a longer run to compensate for the lost time....

Well, the day started off great. Without swimming, I was FLYING on my "Red Fox" (for some reason, i like to name my things foxes, my car is Silver Fox and my bike is called "Red Fox"...who knows...Anyway, back to the main point. So I was flying on my bike and reached Hyatt New Porter in no time (10 miles away). Then all of the sudden, I rode mybike into the slid again...and once again, i poped both tires...

My training day was done. so I spent the next 3 HOURS, YES 3 FREAKING HOURS. walking home. there are lots of people offering help along the way. But since my bike is a special tri bike with 650X23 tube, no one can help me....

THREE HOURS DAMN IT!

well, that was my training day....

at least I taped the south part "Butters" episode....It makes me a little bit better...

Seriously. Isn't Butters the coolest ?!?! :P

5th Wheel?!?!

It was a very interesting night indeed last night. For the first time, I played part of a role in trying to introduce two strangers together. One of them, obviously is very attractive. And the other would of course be a nice guy. The night turned out to be quite interesting. I now owe Chewy’s mom BIG TIME, for behaving in such charming and lovely manner yesterday, even tho she is probably pretty pissed off after stuck two hours in the horrible LA traffic. It didn’t help that I could not help her find a gas station when her car is making funny noises. (Ah hummm! If you are still thinking of selling your lovely RR car, let me know, I’ll sell my house for it!) Well, as for the rest of the story…lets just say I owe Chewy’s mom big time. Well, better head to Barnes and nobles and find her that “Best” Damn GRE book in the world before she calls me ho bag for the rest of my life….

Sometimes, I really feel like Leopold “Butters” Scotch….

Favorite Southpark Character

Since I moved down to Irvine, I have been following two shows religously. Called me childish or what not, "Southpark" and "Dragonball Z" are two damn good shows, and I watch it every single day after I am done studying...

In Southpark, my favorite character is definitely Butters. Of all the characters in Southpark, Butters is nicer than the rest, and he is quite gullible and innocent too. He just enjoys minding his own business and help other people in need. After Kenny dies, Butters becomes the 4th friend of the regular gang and he has had many interesting adventures...

here are some great quotes by Butters, and of course, everyone's favorite, Cartman.

http://www.southparkquotes.com/characters/butters-quotes.html

Enjoy...

O' I hope this brings out a chuckle out of a certain pianist :)

My Taste...

Everyone has things they want to have in the short term, mid term, and long term durations. Usually these are material things, because they are usually the best motivators for us to push forward in this material world. I don’t necessarily disagree with this notion, as long as there’s also a proper balance between material growth and spiritual growth.

I thought about the things I want yesterday, and here is what I came up with.
And I definitely thinks I will get all them soon…



The first thing on my list is an IWC Spitfire Mark XV watch. For those that knows me, you will undoubtly know that I appreciates aesthetically pleasing things that are not overly flashy. IWC watch is definitely one of them.
I almost bought this watch in Geneva last year in my Euro trip 2005. But Albert stopped me from it. Well, Albert, I just might fly to Zurich or Geneva to the Bucherler store and get one soon….

the second thing on my wish list is a SLK280. My Audi (Siverfox) has served me well over the past six years. I think it is about time for her to retire into the sunset and enjoy the occassionally leisure rides to the grocery store....

And I've always wanted a convertible, and since Masterlee has taken the previous generation SLK from my and the Real Estate Agent took the Posche Boxter S from me, I guess the new gen SLK will do. This might happen next Apr. or May....depending on my budget by then.

The third thing I wanted is to be a Trojan/or Bruin. I am studying hard for my GMAT so I can one day put a Marshall or Anderson license plate on my SLK. Hopefully I'll be there next Sept.

under the weather...

I have been under the weather the past couple of days. I think since I started to pickup my training a notch, I have lost some body fat. Now I am always cold and have running noise after my morning swim. Maybe I should take a day to just rest and recover.

Four more weeks to go till the Tri and I am very excited. As for my GMAT progress, I am actually getting a bit glittery about it. My co-worker is painting it as a super hard test that requires 100% dedication. We shall find out. But again, he is a Standford MBA with Bain experience…

Lastly, Watched Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle. I love that movie. Espeically the girl Harold kissed in the end. That is the exactly the type of girl I am looking for. Is she Julie Drefus?

Music Review

Today, I will go into details about the first of ten essential songs every music lover should have in their collection. The first song is of course, Al Green's timeless classic, "Lets Stay Together".

If you are a music lover or have watched Pulp Fiction. You have undoubtly heard this song before. This song, simply put it is one of those very rare songs in modern music history that has got "soul" in it. The classic 70s motif; the feeling of despair, love and hopeless desire can be felt thru Al Green's masterful vocal and the smoke feel motif the bass, the drum and the tumba depictded.

this song is best to be heard in the living room with a darken light and a glass of XO and of course a cigarette on your hand...

FULL ON!

It has been a while since my last update to the blog. Work, Tri training, and GMAT amongst other things have really kept me occupied. But alas, on this gorgeous late Sunday evening, with a glass of martini in my hand and Michael Buble's "Home" playing in the background, I would like to share some of the epiphany I had recently.

To borrow a lament term, I think I am finally going in the direction of turning “Full On”! Challenge myself to do more than I have in the past. The laps I have done in the pool, the hours I have spent running around the lake, the pain I feel working uphill on my bike, and the frustration and joy I feel when completing a GMAT question, is all coming into a synergy. There is no greater joy in life by saying to people, to the pool, to the road, the track, the GMAT that “You have got nothing on me!” it is almost a spiritual feeling, one that has been dormant in my life for too long.
Faster, Stronger, Higher, and better are the goals I am trying to reach. And it is so rewarding to see little bits of improvements in all front. The feeling is comforting with humility. But at the same time brings the confidence, conviction, and satisfaction I am enjoying every single minute of it!

Weekends...

It's the weekend once again. This week, At least from Monday thru Friday, I feel that I have utilize 80% of my time effectively. Triathlon training is on the up swing, with more emphasis put on the run portion. As for GMAT, I still have not loaded the online sample tests to my new Sony VAIO VGN-S360P computer (A great price and great buy from DaBull). But will definitely do that this weekend.

As I sit here at the pool side with a martini on my hand and a lap top on the desk feeling the breeze blowing in from the lake, I can't help but feel that this is one of those rare simple moments in life that I cherish (perhaps the only relaxing time I can have all week). It is nice to have this kind of break once in a while. After a quick rest, it is time to face more grueling challenges this weekend. On the agenda tomorrow: 1) Run from my house to Huntington Library (7 mile run) really should start that early in the morning to avoid the heat. 2) 3 hour GMAT crunch with concentration on critical reasoning and problem solving and data sufficiency.

that is Saturday. Then Saturday night, I will be back in Irvine hosting my poker night. I hope enough people will show up so I can win some grocery money for next week. Sunday will be a long training day with MasterLee and Da Bull and Mrs. Bull who is coming down as well...
when are we going to see little calves? I predict with in the next two years. As for little MasterLees, I think it will be within the next 3 years or so as well. And definitely, I will not be surprised if there are little bankers running around there somewhere?

As for yours truly. That part will have to wait :P until I get tired of this sojouring path")

Meaning and Diection of being 20s and 30s (41, 67 days to event!)

For the longest time over the past couple of years, I've been relaxed and not thinking or planning about the "Meaning" of my being as I grow older. Obviously, some of the Taoist literature may have contributed to that. But lately, that sense of urgency is begining to kick in. What is the meaning of my being as I will have leave my 20s behind in two years. What is the purpose for me in the next decade. In today's world, 30 something is a very interesting age. When we were young and even in our college days, 30 something seems so far away. But alas, it is approaching. What will the legacy or the accomplishment I will achieve in the next 10 years of my life? I hope I have not squandered too much time and there is still time and sense of purpose to salvage. But first things is first. lets get this Tri-GMAT party started :P


On a personal note, I think this past year, I have seen my ups and downs in my social life. Lately tho, I feel the current simplicity is the happiest. strange indeed. I am not a recluse. but it sure seems like I can find lots of interesting things to do on my spare time.

Currently reading "Commanding Heights" "The Rule of Three"

and i've been hearing about this book the little prince quite often, wonder what all the fuss is about.

42 Days left till Triathlon and 68 Days till GMAT

Counting down the days to each event is a good thing. It provides that sense of urgency and set timelines for each event. Reading works of John Wooden before sleep also helps. I guess there is no time to do some leisure readings. "Commanding Heights" and "Red Storm Rising" would have to wait.

Over the weekend, Master Lee and I had another good tri training session. We started even earlier this time at 6:00AM so to dodge the unrelenting heat. 1 mile swim (pool) and 20 plus miles bike came easy to me now, either I am not pushing myself hard enough or I am actually in okay shape for these two diciplines. It is the run that worries me. I am still not in the condition to run at a good pace after the swim and the run, so to compensate, i tried to dash the last 500 yards or so...it was painful. but good pain.

The rest of the sunday consists of sleeping to regain some energy for the rest of the week. I will not train today. GMAT will take priority (in about 15 min. or so). I want to do a 2 and 1/2 drill today. hopefully I can keep up my concentration. Mind over body right?

tomorrow will consist of morning swim with the spiderwoman and afterwork run and weight training session with the Banker. Nonethelss, I would need to squeeze in some GMAT time,


on a sidenote. I wonder if my monk like desire will hurt my social life, which has been quite interesting in the past few month. well, I guess it is a sacrafice I am willing to make.


John Wooden is a great consultation for it.