Big up to Rosh Hashanah.  I started my 4 day vacation yesterday.  Tried a new experiment today.  Went grocery shopping today and decided to try something different. As most people know, what you eat is determines your mood, weight, health, etc...I have been fortunate not to "count calories" or ration my portions, and have excellent genes and metabolism.  But recently I have been trying to look closer at what I eat!   Ha Ha.   Let me explain....I had lunch at a Chinese restaurant a week ago with my 42 year old friend.  I ordered the Sesame chicken w/white rice while he ordered some roast pork but SPECIFICALLY asked for no rice.
Me: "What are you on a no-Carb diet or something?"
Him: "Nah, just cut down on my carb intake.  I still eat what I like, just more protein."
Me: "Does it work?"
Him: "It's great.  You see the differences right away.  I hardly have to work out at all!"

* and here you thought only chicks talked about their diets! .

So I'm trying it out.  Not going nuts at all, but here's some stuff  I got today:
    
Whole wheat bread instead of white                      Reduced fat vs.. fat [I guess?]

 
This one was the hardest...less BACON!!!

I actually tried the Veggie sausages today....Not as bad as I thought... Ha Ha.  I'll keep you all updated how long this lasts!  Don't get me wrong, I'll eat a Cheesburger Deluxe on the fly, but I need a mix, I guess...

Normally I don't do this but I just had an interesting first IM conversation with LiLbLuEbUnNy .  Unfortunately I had to be the one to convince her that N'Sync's LANCE BASS IS GAY.  Here's some of what transpired....

FEMISH 9 (6:17:38 PM): first of all....his name is lance
FEMISH 9 (6:17:41 PM): ha ha
LiLOreoBunny (6:17:42 PM): NO
LiLOreoBunny (6:17:45 PM): that's his middle name
FEMISH 9 (6:17:47 PM): frosts his hair
LiLOreoBunny (6:17:48 PM): his first name is James
FEMISH 9 (6:17:50 PM): ha ha
FEMISH 9 (6:17:55 PM): james lance...even better
LiLOreoBunny (6:17:55 PM): HEY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE DID THAT TOO
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:00 PM): grrr
FEMISH 9 (6:18:14 PM): yeah but hed dates britney and cameron
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:23 PM): soooooo?
FEMISH 9 (6:18:29 PM): lance just needs to come out
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:30 PM): lance is waiting for meeeeeee!
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:34 PM): HE IS NOT GAY!!
FEMISH 9 (6:18:48 PM): waiting for you to get a sex change
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:54 PM): O_o
LiLOreoBunny (6:18:58 PM): EW!
FEMISH 9 (6:19:04 PM): ha ha
FEMISH 9 (6:19:10 PM): sorry to break it to you
LiLOreoBunny (6:19:16 PM): i'm cleaning every toilet in central park with ur toothbrush
FEMISH 9 (6:19:32 PM): ummm...okay
(6:20:02 PM)LiLOreoBunny (6:20:24 PM): Lance has a gf right nowww
LiLOreoBunny (6:20:25 PM): grr
FEMISH 9 (6:20:38 PM): thats all fake
FEMISH 9 (6:20:52 PM): he needs to always have one so people won't think hes gay
FEMISH 9 (6:20:58 PM): hes gay on the DL
LiLOreoBunny (6:21:02 PM): *sigh*
LiLOreoBunny (6:21:05 PM): ur just hatin'
FEMISH 9 (6:21:12 PM): its okay....there;s nothing wrong with that
LiLOreoBunny (6:21:12 PM): cuz u can't mack like he can  
FEMISH 9 (6:21:26 PM): i don't want to mack to men like he does
FEMISH 9 (6:21:46 PM): he dates Mac's
LiLOreoBunny (6:21:49 PM): OMG HE IS NOT GAY!
FEMISH 9 (6:21:50 PM): and tom's
FEMISH 9 (6:21:53 PM): and bill's
LiLOreoBunny (6:21:55 PM): omgggggg
FEMISH 9 (6:21:57 PM): and hank's
FEMISH 9 (6:22:14 PM): is that oh my god god god god god god god?
FEMISH 9 (6:22:27 PM): he would date HIM too!
FEMISH 9 (6:22:29 PM): ha ha
LiLOreoBunny (6:22:39 PM): *glare*
LiLOreoBunny (6:22:50 PM): he's not gay!! i'm telling you!!
FEMISH 9 (6:23:13 PM): i don't want to pop your bubble...so
FEMISH 9 (6:23:17 PM): he's not gay
FEMISH 9 (6:23:23 PM): and there IS a santa claus
FEMISH 9 (6:23:28 PM): and tooth fairy
LiLOreoBunny (6:23:28 PM): ARGG
FEMISH 9 (6:23:48 PM): jack and the beanstalk
FEMISH 9 (6:23:54 PM): mother goose
LiLOreoBunny (6:23:57 PM):  
LiLOreoBunny (6:24:05 PM): i'll mother goose uuuu!
FEMISH 9 (6:24:06 PM): humpty dumpty lives next door to me
LiLOreoBunny (6:24:11 PM): i'm sure he does.
FEMISH 9 (6:24:22 PM): i dated lil red riding hood for a bit
LiLOreoBunny (6:24:26 PM): AHHHAHAHHAHA
FEMISH 9 (6:24:32 PM): till this hairy dude toook her from me
LiLOreoBunny (6:24:52 PM): yah, cuz u don't have that kinda game she needs
FEMISH 9 (6:25:30 PM): nah...i was cheating on her with jessica rabbit
LiLOreoBunny (6:25:48 PM): sleeze ball!
FEMISH 9 (6:26:30 PM): ha ha..all she wanted to do was go on picnics and walks in the forrest
FEMISH 9 (6:26:35 PM): boooring
FEMISH 9 (6:26:48 PM): jessica was dangerous....

* At this point, she stopped writing for 5 minutes....thought i really offended her for a bit...

LiLOreoBunny (6:30:41 PM): oh really?
LiLOreoBunny (6:31:01 PM): what could u possibly do with a rabbit
LiLOreoBunny (6:31:08 PM): isn't she a little too young for you?
FEMISH 9 (6:31:34 PM): did you see roger rabbit?  that woman was not young!
LiLOreoBunny (6:31:59 PM): yah but have u looked in the mirror? ur really old.
LiLOreoBunny (6:32:01 PM): HAHAHAHAH
FEMISH 9 (6:32:25 PM): finally...a clever retort!
LiLOreoBunny (6:32:32 PM): psh
FEMISH 9 (6:32:43 PM): the grrr.'s....and arrghhh's were getting lame
FEMISH 9 (6:33:09 PM):  
LiLOreoBunny (6:33:27 PM): UR lame! >_<
FEMISH 9 (6:33:35 PM): good one!
LiLOreoBunny (6:33:38 PM): yah i know
LiLOreoBunny (6:33:50 PM): i'd bring ur mom into this but she's cool.
LiLOreoBunny (6:33:51 PM): hahaha
FEMISH 9 (6:34:09 PM): thanks.

Tsk...tsk...tsk...Crazy teenie boppers...Good sport though.

Well...the first day went surprisingly....Good!    Probably one of the most easiest opening days I have had [granted I only had 2]!  .   I just feel I have everything organized a lot better than I have in the past.  I know what to expect...so its cool.  Thanks to a  little handy dandy work on Saturday...that's right, I said Saturday, I got to clean up my office....Yup it look soooo much better AND got me a new Apple E Mac Computer...Check this out...

           
       Old Computer....                                               New Computer....

It's amazing what a new TOY can do for your outlook on things!      LET THE CHAOS OFFICIALLY BEGIN !

Sometimes in the midst of my own personal life and my own thoughts, I tend to not think about certain days.  2 days in particular come to mind:

1. Veterans Day. 
2. 9/11

But I always have these questions of uncertainty when I do think about these days: 
- Am I trying to ignore what has happened and get it out of mind?
- Am I being disrespectful by not honoring or remembering the fallen the entire day?
- What is an actual good amount of time to mourn on these days?
- Is it wrong to have a "good time" and have fun on these days?
- Is what I'm thinking about insensitive? 
- Am I being selfish?

I guess I can go on and on.  But I have come to MY conclusion about MYself that whatever or however I "handle" things on these days is...Ok. 

2 days....I have been working.  So far its been up and down but its getting a lot better.  This was how my room looked like when I first walked in. 
             
Yea man...That sh*t was crazy.  Actually it was a lot worse since they closed off one of the offices and put the remaining stuff in one room!  Damn son.  I would've taken a picture but I didn't think I had enough room to lift my camera to take a picture.  First day was very nice and we had a chance to see what other teachers had similar traits. 
NORTH: Go get em attitude.  Jumps into things now, thinks about it later.
WEST: Likes to be very detailed oriented.  Wants to know certain specifics b4 starting.
EAST: Sees and speculates about the big picture.
SOUTH: Takes consideration and cares for other people's feelings and ideas b4 doing something.

We were then supposed to see who goes where and how your chosen group helps and hinders the group and what are things other people need to know about your group to work amicably, and what group you have the most trouble with.  Aren't teacher games just so fun?  Ha Ha.  Well I was a Southie and I repped my group by being the spokesperson.  Here are some quotes I had:
" Everyone wants to be asked what they think about things.  You can empower them by doing so."
"Knowlege talks....wisdom listens."
"It's EASY to talk and talk..the HARDER thing to do is sit back and listen."
"If you don't care or give the impression that you don't care about someone, there's no way you can help the kid.  You need that skill as a foundation."

Anyways....the second day was good.  The staff went to dinner at the Outback Steak House.  Although drinks were on us , my steak, garlic mashed potatoes and cheesecake were on the school.   It was a great bonding moment.  Then off to another bar with the real troopers at my school.  Started at 4:40 pm....yada yada yada...I got home at 1:30 am.   Trooper boyee...

Man it really feels like Fall.  Final day playing ball and it was a doozy...Played against Q-Tip [Tribe Called Quest] while Leo Di Caprio was watching one of his boys play.  He eventually subbed in, but didn't impress.  Kinda kept to himself...anyways, heading back to work tommorow.  A little bummed but excited at the same time .  As the last official day of summer ends for me, I will try to look back on my summer vacation....

*Probably my highlight was my trip to Canada.  It was a mini family reunion where the intent was to see cousins I haven't seen in a while, plus to see my grandparents and my aunts and uncle.  Although I was there for only a week, I had a really fun time.
          
               me, Parry, JJ, David, Afro Ken                                            I tower over the CN Tower...roar!    
We bonded over wrestling, freestyling, mixing records, bball and video games! I guess its what guys do.  It was nice to talk to them and my aunts and uncles on a more adult level.
           
   Winning bball team                The losers...ha ha               The men in the fam...        Thats right grandpa, chicks dig bald heads

* After that, I was entered the world of Xanga!  My bro and cousins had it so I experiemented.  It has been a fun ride so far.  5,000 visitors after a month and half to me was considered unfathomable!  Its cool, seeing so many people use it as a form of expression and communication and to see my kids have their own as well! 
* This summer I have learned many things:
- Give me too much time to do nothing, and I will buy a lot of gadgets, clothes and download a lot of music. 
- Not to be a flake or have flakish tendencies.
- Those who are or who do [above], don't hate...just invest less time with them.
- Past relationships can be more painful than I give them credit for.
- Nature and silence are underrated...
- Go into a "bad" situation with a more "positive" outlook, makes things not that bad! 
- I CAN cook....some stuff...
- I would like to go away more during my vacations! 
- I like motorcyles...[sorry mom].  Can't help it. 
- I don't really like any of the presidential nominees.  Just going with the lesser of two evils. 
- My freestlying is not THAT bad....Its a tiny bit better than your average person!
- I am going to talk less about things that I want to do...until I actually do it. 
- There are people there that actually like reading some of my stuff.  Thats cool...  Thanks!

September....Not necessarily my favorite month.  I always get the yucky feeling of school about to start.   Weather changes...It even starts to smell like spiral notebooks, blackboards, Trapper Keepers, desks and chalk!  I guess for as long as I continue to work in the education biz, I will always feel this way.  MY kids who I call the Class of 2004, (ha ha..no real kids yet) have begun their college experiences.  What fun.  Already some have encountered a little bit of trouble but doesn't everybody?  Besides the words of advice that I have already imparted to them when I with them during their H.S. school years, I hope they embrace these next 4 years.  They were the best 4 years of MY life.  I learned so much about myself and my close friends happen to be the ones I met in College.  Without experimenting, trying new things, meeting new people, I feel I would not be as complete or in the search of being complete as I am now.  Here's to MY kids and wishing them all the fun and knowledge that they can acquire in such a quick but life changing 4 years.    Love you all.  [Sorry for the kids who I didn't have pictures of!]

         
   Luca and Deanna                      Jake                          Errrrr-ica              Anne aka Chinese Bad Ass    David, Kenny, Sheng
         
David aka "Larry Duck"               John                               Chaz                             P-Lo                          Moy Moy 
         
          Jordan                             J-Ribs                             Mary                          Lau Chow                      Lisa             
          
        Leslie                   Jacob, Grizzy, P-Lo                     PJ                    President Frankie     Jess, Patricia, Kim Chi, Jordan 
       
          P-Diddy                  Assi and J-Rod                       M-Stew                         Moises                    P-Lo and Deanna
 

FISHKILL.  Yup, thats the name of the place I stayed the past 2 days. But who knew it 
        
the lake @ 6:30 am      squint and u can see deer     ~ 7:30 am [couldn't sleep]        Co-ed cabins!          my principal and teacher

coul be so fun?  Our school decided to have an Outward Bound Trip for our staff.  Surprisingly, ~85% showed up.  Guess they had nothing to do this summer either.  It was a lot of fun.  The first day we did a bunch of ice breaker stuff and got to meet our new teachers...We all participated in Low Rope courses.  Lots of fun.  At around 4 pm, although we weren't really allowed to do so...4 of us jumped into the lake and swam in our underwear....It was maginficently refreshing!  The other 3 got in trouble and got kicked out of the lake. The head person didn't see me though since I was hiding near the dock.  At night, we built this huge campfire, had 2 huge bottles of wine [one of them opened by pusing an Oral-B toothbrush down on the cork ( we didn't bother to ask many people for corkscrews) and drank illegally ( no alcohol on the premises...shhh).  Then 8 of us went for a midnight swim.  Brrrr...But at least the stars were out.  The second day was more fun.  We had a High Ropes day.  Woo Hoo....
             
   on belay                Godshall, my pregnant belayer    1/2 way up                walking across beam          made it...coming down

My 1st activity was fun since I had to balance myself across that tree beam.... Scarier than it looks.
                                              
smiling now....                     getting my belay on....                 the slow ascent up pole...           pretty high up....
                                            
balancing on this was a bi-atch.....           breathe....breathe...breathe....           LEAPING for the... Trapeze!!
                                                       
        Got it!!!                                                  swinging away                                    coming down
They called this the Pooper Pole...Cuz you are crapping your pants while doing it!  What a rush!
                                                        
preparing for the....                                      Flying Squirrel!!!                                                  sweet              
The Flying Squirrel had a bunch of people grab the end of the rope while you run the other way...The result...you end up flying through the air straight up at a fast speed....
The trip was amazing...Be a teacher!!  All the pictures are due to my new Canon Elph camera!  I love it.  Sad thing was I missed Hawaii...the show my friend was on.  Took a harmless pit stop to the Woodbury Commons Outlet Mall on the way back....4 hours and getting lost and making strange stops later...I got back at 10 pm.  We left camp at 3...oops...Sorry Aya... See you next week fo' sho.

Aight y'all.  I'll be out of town for a day so I won't get a chance to update this and I might be too late.  This Wednesday Sept. 1, 2004 on NBC my girl, Aya Sumika will be on the new show HAWAII.  She will be playing a cop named...Linh Tamiya.  I knew her boyfriend back when they were in NYC and Aya was a dancer and knew many of my dancer friends.  Gotta check it out as Parry forgot to mention another Asian-American [Eurasian] as a series regular in his blog  . Funny story about Aya.  Her boyfriend was a big fan of Better Luck Tommorow and got to see a sneak previews thanks to Parry's lil bro.  He and Aya loved it.  Around a year and a half ago, my older bro was basking in his BLT stardom and noticed a young attractive woman approaching him.  As he gets ready to sign this groupie's t-shirt, she goes up to him and says:
Aya: " Hey!  Aren't you...."
Parry [thinking] "Yup, I'm Ben Manibag...Parry Shen...star of......"
Aya: "Felix's Brother? "
Parry: "uh...yeah. "
Ha Ha.  No but for real check out the show.  This girl is wonderful, humble and hardworking.  [She was also in the Loreal commercial with Beyonce and Jewel...]
Check out her bio:
       *Newcomer Aya Sumika enters a room with the beauty of a leading lady, the grace of a dancer (ballerina) and a smile that lights up a room. Perhaps that's part of the reason that her first audition in Los Angeles garnered her a starring role in a hot new series. Starring as Officer Linh Tamiya, Aya will make her television debut in NBC's new drama "Hawaii." Officer Linh is a smart, ambitious police officer whose romantic entanglements complicate her life. 
      Aya, a Seattle native, had an early love for both the dramatic and performing arts. She focused primarily on dance in her childhood years and, after years of study in high school, was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School, where she honed her skills as a contemporary ballet dancer. Never one to rest, Sumika also began acting classes, where she applied the same discipline she had developed with her dance studies. Sumika currently resides in Los Angeles. Her birthday is August 22.

http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Hawaii/index.shtml       

Thank God for the Olympics!  Go USA!  My social life has suffered the past week and a half due to staying home from 8pm - 12 am everyday and watching these athletes.  Sure it didn't hurt to be watching these women perform in their individual sports:

 
mohini bhardwaj [gymnastics]              logan tom [indoor vollyeball]          kerri walsh [beach volleyball]

sue bird [basketball]                         joanna hayes [110 hurdles]                mia hamm [soccer]

brenda taylor [400 hurdles]               jennie finch [softball]                      amanda beard [swimming]

Hey only once every 4 years right?  And here you thought I watching for the pure spirit of International Competition?  rrrrrrrrright.