Would you expect any less??

-Thursday-
rock climbing with R and A
jiu jitsu class

-Friday-
mountain biking all day at Vail Lake with friends
go out for dinner?

-Saturday-
shooting clay pigeons with the guys
watching the WEC fights with friends

Splender in the....astroturf? ezturf? "grass?" synthetic fantastic?

Reading Viet Nam

With my recent vacation that included time in Viet Nam I realized I wanted to know a little more about its recent history.

Many of the books at Borders seemed to be just glorified if not outright embellished accounts of SF guys there. I was a bit skeptical of most of the books I saw.

Trying to be a little more open I picked the only comprehensive English language biography of Ho Chi Minh, 'An Enormous Crime' which is about the holding back of American POWs and 'Bury Me Upside Down' a pilot's account of interdiction on the HCM Trail and in Laos.

So now I have about 2,000 pages of reading on top of the medical books I pulled off that shelf at home last night to just refresh myself.

Hmmm.... reading in bed from 10 till midnight I guess for the next month.

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!

Here is an email I received from a friend today:

well as a attention whore you should be pretty happy. bunch of pics of you on my new site. plus i think you're on nicoles site, or her brochure. oh and pics of you are published in a moto mag, page 18:
http://content.yudu.com/Atwiy/Riders/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridersreview.com%2F

Am I really that obvious of an attention whore? Just cause I have been a photo model on a jiu jitsu site, an acupuncture clinic's advertisements, a learn to ride motorcycles website and in a few articles as well.

Oh, and I was on hotornot.com for like 5 years too(rated as a 9.2 out of 10). Ok ok ok, I like myself. Is that so wrong?

I think it all stems from my childhood. Don't laugh! I was an athletic kid, tough and not small. Then 6th grade hit and with it a year long fight of illness that eventually turned into hospitalization for Crohns disease. And that killed my growth and development right when it should have been starting.

At one time I was told I would be about 5' 2" and 99lbs most likely as an adult. No offense to any guy that size, but it crushed my ego and personality to be the big kid, the tough kid who won fights to being the sickly kid who couldn't do anything for years.

In PE in school I was always last in running around the track. My steroids gave me horrible acne as a teen. I couldn't do a single pull up until my 20's. While a Boy Scout I had to be rescued from the 100 meter swim test.

Constant illness, hospitalizations and multiple surgeries just killed me. I was 5' 6" and 123lbs when I got out of high school. I did go on two dates the day I turned 16 and was always able to make friends with girls, but just the image of being a strong, virile, tough attractive male never was in me.

Something changed sometime though in my 20's...... I started to mountain bike and rock climb. Girls actually started to let me know they thought I was attractive. My ability to flirt and such improved.

So to go from being almost always described as "a red headed Ethiopian" from 6th grade to 12th grade, when I finally got some muscles, some confidence and some attention..... Well, I just like it. Probably I actually crave it.

I love attention.
I love showing off.
I love being active and athletic in 'extreme' sports.
I love it when I get "checked out".
I love it when my jokes are laughed at.
I love it when I get 100 visits to my blog in a day, rather than 20.

I feel happy, healthy and relaxed. If being an "attention whore" (I know you were mostly joking) is part of it, I'm at peace with it.

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!

$700 doesn't seem like so much now...

As you know, I am getting artificial grass on Monday. This was first a water saving step, then for aesthetics and finally maintenance.

The quote for the whole job is almost $10 a square foot. Not cheap. The companies quote for preparing my yard for the install was $700. Seven hundred dollars to dig up my sod, remove dirt and dispose of the sod (i bet they resell it). This seemed like quite a bit of money to me!

Well yesterday after spending 6 straight hours working at it with only hand tools, with another person helping the whole 6 hours and two other people in for an hour or two as well....

I think I should have just paid them the $700.....

Corral Canyon OHV ride

So me and some friends took our mountain bikes to Corral Canyon OHV on Friday to do some downhill runs on our mountain bikes. We took enough people and cars so that we could shuttle runs, rather than having to do much climbing.

It looked like it had rained recently so the dust was down and it wasn't nearly as loose as it normally would have been.

No one wrecked. I saw a tarantula up close. Only one person had a flat tire. M brought food and drinks for everyone. I almost ran out of gas in the truck cause I didn't pay attention to the fuel level in spite of a reminder before I left in the morning. And I think the girl who was riding with us has much more confidence now in faster downhill stuff. (I went 30mph as a top speed, with there being no real open spots on the trail)

And of course now, the pictures.

Revenge of the Pink Bike of Death.

So mi madre was at mi casa to watch after it and K while I was on vacation in SE Asia. My mom likes to ride her pedal bike back at her house so she thought she would like riding a bike here as well.

Little did she know she was getting on "the pink bike of death" as D likes to call it. I mean, she only has 4 or 5 scars and one concussion from riding mnt bikes, what could it do to my mom on a casual ride around Lake Murray?

This is what:

ps-I called the correct bone as broken when I did a quick trauma assessment when I first saw her when I returned home. Yeah for good EMT training.

Here the PBOD rests between kills:

November already?

I know I have not posted any of the 'regular' pictures from my vacation. But when I have over 400 ones left after deleting over 200 photos, I just can't think of a good way to put up that many photos and then provide some sort of context for them.

Now I think I could post up 10 photos each day in the following catergories, Malaysia, MotoGP race, Vietnam, Rowdy, Traveling, Other. So that would get you 60 photos with captions. Does that seem worthwhile to you dear readers? Let me know......

This morning I didn't wake up till almost 10am. That is amazing for me, Nyquil induced or not. No nightmares and continious sleep is a very rare thing with me. Either way, I'll take it. Earlier in the week I was sooo sleep deprived I could hardly walk, keep score in a board game or even remember the conversation I was in.

I enjoy certain older classic sci-fi movies. A great example would be "Forbidden Planet", while a horrible example would be "King Kong Escapes", both of which I have seen in the past week and their fresh viewings only reinforce my opinions of them. I still have a special place in my movie viewing heart for black and white monster movies from Universal. Dracula, Frankenstien, Wolf Man, Invisible Man, Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon and so on.

I need to eat less. I am happy with the type of food I am eating, but I think I just eat too much. I have seen some people who when I originally met them they were thin, but now they aren't. I don't want that to happen to me. So I am shutting my face hole a little earlier in the shoveling. So yes, my goal is to be back to 135lbs from the 139 I am right now. This is a good weight for the clothes I own, my body's frame, my bjj competition weight class and my general Crohns health.

Which says fall holiday more to you, a pine cone, red leaves or nuts in the shell? I bought a bunch of mixed nuts still in the shell and put them out in a bowl with a nut cracker and pick. It feels like fall and reminds me of my maternal grandmother (RIP).

My brother and his family are coming to visit me here in San Diego for Thanksgiving. They will get to go to Disneyland while they are here and then have T-Day dinner at my place. I can't wait. My brother and I were close, then fell apart, then were close again and now just 'life' keeps us apart. Thankfully I have never been overly rommantic about family and such and living away from everybody has never been a big deal to me. Just call me Mr. Independent.

Tomorrow, Friday, I am going on a big downhill based mountain bike ride with 8 other people. It will be great fun! The hardest part will be organizing all the shuttle driving and such.

Monday the artificial yard is getting put in. Doing the calculations for savings in water and gardener fees this will pay for itself in about 18 months. Take that solar power! Why would I wait 20 years for something to pay off??

While in Malaysia I got to use my EMT skills on someone. A guy lost consciousness for a moment on a bus and fell forward giving himself a nice crescent shaped gash on the top of his head. So I did a rapid trauma assesment, got back to the hotel and then did a quick field dressing. In the morning I checked him again and that was that. But on the bus when the call went out, "does anyone have any medical training here?", and I was able to raise my hand and say "I'm an EMT", it felt really good. Confidence. Action. Service.

I am sorry I haven't written anything of note in a while. I promise I'll be better and back to my "Rowdy" ways soon. (unless I am dealing with a reader who also works at at Rubios, where they seem to call my order out for a Rowny, Randy, Rauri or Raudie)

funny vacation pics and Engrish also

san diego, famous world wide.
ah yes, the hustie and bustie of a modern asian city
a welcome mat at the infamous 'hanoi hilton'?? cruel irony anyone?
ladies, buy 'em here.
i vant to drink your... vater? count aquala?
what if i don't want to hold onto the rape?
pandas smoke?
new chewing technology?? sign me up!
no wonder i hate soccer...
you said 'one million dong' hehehe
asleep on the job again...
it's a hat
fanny=ice cream? really?
this garbage can really likes its work!
is this advertising or a warning?(as seen outside a hanoi clinic)
nothing shocks me any more. oh wait....
this is as close as hayate will ever get to rossi
this park is no fun! no wonder i saw no one there.
meals on wheels in malaysia is wayyyy different
dang, sooo many freaking rules here!
what lies? that she isn't a good roll model for muslim girls?

Saw this in Asia........

I think it is pretty funny!!!!!!!!

Books I Read On Vacation

Fire on the Mountain-The story of the 13 firefighters killed in Colorado due to a horrible chain of mistakes.

Wishful Drinking-Carrie Fisher aka Princess Lea talking about her crazy Hollywood life. And being a drunk.

Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters-A funny send up. The gimmick plays well for about half the book, then it wears a little.

Opium-A history of the plant and the drugs derived from it. A little dated in that it is about 6 years old but I still learned a few things.

Some crappy Anne Rice vampire book-I'm soo ashamed. I was desperate.

Krakatoa-I actually finished this right before vacation, but going to Malaysia and being soo close to it made it seem a very recent read. It was a history about the eruption and its effects on society in the 1900s.

Various magazines.

Quick Hits #5

Flying Business class or above is the only way to fly international. Trust me!

I've seen more people picking their noses in public in 4 days here than I have in a year in San Diego.

I bought a badminton racquet and I am going to start playing! I think I could be good! (watch out James from my old SD County job)

No adult male in VN wears a t-shirt. Only collared shirts.

In the space of one hour I ate banana flower, snail soup and sauteed pumpkin stem.

The girl at the internet cafe asked which festival Halloween celebrated. "Just for fun and because we like candy!" was the answer.

Only the USA can make a good hamburger. No country I have been to has been able to translate hamburger well at all.

Last night I took a big Cipro dose to stave off what might happen from eating said example from above^^^^^^^.

I was kicked out trying to sneak into Rossi's pit, I was kicked out for trying to walk past the barricade to HCM's mausoleum and then I was kicked out of Li Thai Tho's park for playing badminton before 5pm. So naughty!

I am now in the Business class lounge waiting for my flight to Taipei. Can't wait!!

QH #4

The lassitude and permissiveness of the European parents I have seen makes me soooo disgusted!

Fashion is king in Ha Noi and they are fierce with it.

Two badminton racquets and a tube of ten birdies was $17 USD!!

The Ho Chi Minh mausoluem has been closed due to the Indoor Asia Games. And the traffic police here mean it! You can't even get close.

Pizza in Viet Nam is wayyyy better than Chinese food in Rome!! For sure.

I took a cooking class and am excited to try some new things. Part of the class they gave me supplies too with the recipes, so I have no excuse not to try.

Some of the horns here have a effect that sounds like an amplified Doppler effect in how it falls off.

I have not seen one person begging here.

The girl at the pho shop recognizes me now.

I had a dream last night where it was if I was a priest and I found out I was married to a witch, with all the repercussions.

When they say "old quarter" of Ha Noi, they mean it!

I have taken over 800 pictures!!

Quick Hits #3

Ha Noi has about 6 million people and i think i've seen most of them! hahaha. it is a busy place!

Last night I had pho on the street that was the best ever for about 2USD!! Amazing.

The quickie Vietmanese lesson I had before leaving has been soooo helpful. Awesome, thank you M.!!!

At the GP race I traded my Fox hat to a security guard for his hat. So I now have a security hat from the Sepang circuit. hahaha.

I played badmitton this morning in a square with a Vietmanese girl. It was fun and everyone laughed and laughed.

My red hair and being the only American in most of the places I have been attracts a lot of staring. It is funny and I dont mind.

Last night I took A MILLION VN Dong out of the ATM. So yeah, let the jokes commence about "a million dong"....

Found the souvineirs I wanna buy, gonna visit the infamous Hanoi Hilton and today is a cooking class. fun fun!

QH 2

Vietnam is a world apart from where I just was, in Malaysia. It is louder, faster, busier, bigger, older, dustier. Crazy. And I really like it.

The hotel is super POSH. The nicest I have ever been in. (reading the biggest hit to the bank account in history as well)

Overheard, "I'm feeling as rough as a badger's backside" in a thick Scottish accent.

The flight from KL to HCMC and Hanoi went great! Very easy. I did need to eat at a BK in the HCMC airport to kinda 'reset' myself.

I now feel like going home will feel odd and that this is normal.

Tomorrow I am taking a half day cooking class. Fun. Today is wandering around Hanoi and shopping.

See ya in 5 days!

Vacation Quick Hits

-If you are lucky, you can be in the international terminal at LAX in 2 hours exactly, from San Diego

-Who in their right mind thinks they can check 8 bags for one person on an international flight and not have it be an issue. When half of them are cardboard boxes? Why it is Dr. Abdul Radjaman who was in front of me, that's who!

-First class on EVA is very nice. Food is so-so, but the seat was very very comfortable.

-Never ever go to a line manned by a female at immigration. Never.

-Malaysia is pretty laid back. Very Muslim. Lots of green. Food is so-so.

-Rossi won!! VIP at the track was very nice to have. The easiest big motorcycle race I have been to.

-Most of the guys and girls I saw in Malaysia were not that attractive. South Dakota you might have a challenge...

-I got lost in Putrajaya walking around at night to find a place to eat.

-ATMs are very rare here. Get cash at the airport or you will never ever get a chance again.

I take off for Hanoi Vietnam in a few hours. The weather is no concern and everythign has worked great. Even my cell phone. Only one tummy issue with food and that has resolved.

Taiwan was just dark and rainy, getting the edge of the typhoon that hit the Philippine Islands.

See ya in a week with lots of pics!!

Please excuse Rowdy from blogging......

Dear Readers,

Please excuse Rowdy from blogging from October 21st through November 1st. He will be in Taipei Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur & Sepang in Malaysia and then Hanoi Vietnam. Because of this he will not be able to blog daily as you expect him to.

He will be able to make up the blogging he missed when he returns. Thank you for your understanding.

Rowdystyle AKA "I'm gonna need a new passport soon, this one is almost full!"