15 things about this weekend

surf's up!

it's busy-busy around here. so busy i will stop using complete sentences and post in bullets. this weekend i:

1. learned the monchichi knows the words to katy perry's song, "i kissed a girl". how hilarious is that?!
   
   
2. feasted on an assortment of grilled meats, courtesy of my brother the chef: rib eye, 2 kinds of pork chops, quartered chicken, leg of lamb. animals are tasty.
   
   
3. also dined on authentic southern fried chicken. (without sg)
   
   
4. bought a huge flat of strawberries and bricks of 2 kinds of chocolate: old dutch and french vanilla dark.
   
   
5. cringed when the monchichi sadly called out for me as i left to meet sg and his friends.
   
   
6. made friends with a new toddler.
   
   
7. drank beer and got beat by a calculus teacher at ping pong. i guess being asian doesn't automatically make you good at ping pong.
   
   
8. got up the next morning and ran for 45 minutes AND did my pushups.
   
   
9. and felt like a total show off.
   
   
10. met some cool new people.
    
    
11. participated in major pda in front of sg's friends.
    
    
12. ate 2 kinds of cake.
    
    
13. introduced sg to my brother, sil, cousin, mom, and dad.
    
    
14. survived the whole ordeal.
    
    
15. was pleasantly surprised at how it all went, actually.

as for my parents' reactions to sg, my mom says she hopes he can "tame" me, whatever the hell that means. last time i checked i wasn't a shrew.

this week holds tons more activity. i have a friend in from out of town and sg has planned an early birthday extravaganza weekend! and it's a SURPRISE! wheeeeeeeeee!

until then, i've got laundry, homework, and running to do. lots of running!

one day i will stop posting pictures of the two of us. today is not that day.

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in running news, i got an easy 2 miler in, followed by some lower body in the weight room.

weighing the options

things keeping me from running:

1. facebook
2. daydreaming (of the boy)
3. facebook
4. facebook

reasons i need to run

1. i ate two doughnuts last night with the excuse that i was going to run today.
2. i want to run a strong half mary, not just survive it.
3. i'd like to lose another 6 pounds before my vegas trip on labor day.

that's it...i'm logging off and running....peace out!

******UPDATE******
6 mile lr on the books. totally smooth sailing. so smooth i wasn't paying attention to mile markers and hit my split button too late on every mile. (14:18, 12:38, 13:06, 12:19, 14:55) i had tocut the 6 miler down to 5 after developing a hip twinge at 4.5 miles. i've felt this twinge before when training for santa cruz. and i was NOT going to push it. i walked the last half mile and stretched like a mo fo. tomorrow i had planned to get in an easy 5 miles, but i think i'll be in the pool, pulling for my life, and getting some yoga done tonight!

let's hope the monchichi doesn't have any strenuous exercise on the books, though!

some spontaneity

kids, i skipped school today. and i skipped my speed workout. i was missing the boy way too much and friday seemed too far off. confident that the 102 on my last test solidified my A in stats, i didn't feel too guilty as i breezed past the college on the way to the bay.

i was greeted with hugs. and kisses. and he smelled so good. it was exactly what i missed. exactly what i needed.

we headed to dinner at memphis minnie's to get our fill of what he considers the most authentic southern barbecue in the city. and while the sweet tea left much to be desired, the ribs were spot on.

from there we drove to the beach, not missing robin william's huge mansion overlooking china beach. we climbed up some rocks to find a little spot to watch the sun set. and then when the sun touched down on the horizon, we spotted a large school of dolphins splashing and swimming in the water. we soaked in the fresh air, watched the waves crash, and collected rocks in the sand to commemorate our third date.

i don't know what i ever did to get this lucky. but i honestly have been thanking my lucky stars every day. i never knew it could be this good. i never know i could be this happy.

too much fun for one

busy busy weekend here, kids. so busy i totally overslept this morning. but never fear, a post-work nap led to a great evening workout: easy 2 miler, some time in the weight room working on lower body, and day one of week one in the push ups challenge. my second initial test yielded 13 pushups, so averaged my first test of 10 with 13 and settled on the middle level. if i was hardcore i'd really push myself, but this is the summer of type b, remember? so my pushup sets went 7, 7, 5, 4, 7 for a total of 30! i was taking less than the 60 second break in between. but i'm sure as time progresses i'll need em!

as for the weekend, i spent the saturday afternoon with the fam in bodega bay. it was a great day for the beach. overcast, but warm and breezy. perfect for playing in the sand, getting dirty, and eating bbq! i am overjoyed that my nephew loves the beach. i was afraid he might be like his dad and be grossed out by sand and sea water. but nope, we chased waves, buried each other in sand, and raced up and down the beach chasing birds. i'll spare you the pictures of my brothers totally smoking me in a sprint down the beach. at least i've got them in the endurance department.

we're going to bodega bay!

ooh! the water is cold!

lots of pretty dogs to pet!

boys can hula hoop too!

carting the monchichi on my back counts as cross-training, right?

what scheme is he plotting next? (i need to photoshop that grill out of the picture if i'm ever going to get it printed)

organic brick oven french bread! and homemade scones! biscotti! sticky buns!

cute lily pond in occidental, ca

ack! BIRDS!

that night, i drove up to sf to have dinner with sg. and help him with grocery shopping. lucky for him i like that kind of stuff. plus, what better way to get to know someone than to see firsthand their food habits? it is very apparent that i will be in charge of nutrition in the relationship. but he seems very amenable to it. sg rewarded my help with his errands by taking me on a walk up to a park that overlooked the bay, spanning from bridge to bridge. we sat, drank our beer, talked, cuddled while the fog rolled in. san francisco couldn't be a more perfect place to fall in love.

the next morning, we went to aids walk sf. he was volunteering with ws. so i smiled and made polite talk with the coworkers and while he schmoozed i took off with my camera to take in the sights:

i was so tempted to steal these dogs! first order of business after getting my own place is getting a boston terrier!

children's playground, golden gate park

some of them told me it can take up to 3 hours for them to get all dolled up!

www.fatchancebellydance.com

sg at the grill. thankfully, god did not ignore my prayer about wanting my boy to have a great ass. ws puts out a phenomenal spread for its team of walkers. i had my fill of grilled portabellas, asparagus, and salmon.

the real san francisco treat

are you sick of us yet? i'm not.

after our philanthropic efforts we trekked home and napped before dinner. we rode the cable car downtown, sipped on soup, and waited with the masses to watch batman. but the wait was totally worth it!

then sadly, i had to make the trek home and another pefect weekend came to an end. next weeked should be interesting though. i'm meeting some of his friends. and he's meeting the 'rents!

summertime lsd

first long run of training and i made a dumb rookie mistake. i let my enthusiasm get the better of me. check out my splits: 12:21, 11:31, 12:41, 13:16, 14:30, 12:37 for a total time of 1:17 for a 6 miler. i tried to recapture my "speed" from thursday and got my ass handed to me instead. but it's all good, i finished. though i do attribute my slowness to not enough hydration, woman issues, and possibly not enough food yesterday. i didn't remember i was running my lsd today until dinner. and i ate light pretty all day.

which explains my new weight: 165! so that means i'm down 6 pounds in 18 days. not bad. not bad.

i was also rewarded at the end of my run when i looked up at the tv and saw the new kids' video playing! did i tell you i'm seeing them in concert in october! WOOT! my love for jordan knight still lives! here's a clip of their video. i'm off to bodega bay with the fam bam and i'm bringing my hula hoop!

it just keeps getting better

55:33.

that's how fast i ran my 5-miler this morning.

*blink* *blink*

you read that right. 55:33. um hello, that's like my fastest time EVER for a 5 miler. and i wasn't even trying. and i'm only in the zygote stage of training. holy shite.

the schedule called for a tempo run, but since i'm still in a run/walk phase, i stuck with intervals. i started off at a walk: 10:30 pace, then after awhile increased the walk to a 12:00 trot, then after awhile increased the running pace to 10:00, then finally took out the slow trot altogether and ran the last mile at a 10:00 pace, kicking it up to 7.2 mph to finish. WHEW!

it was altogether exhilirating. and empowering. getting this 5 miler under my belt, with energy to spare gives me hope that a half mary pr is in my future. it's also a lesson that pizza, rice, and goobers in moderate amounts makes me a faster runner.

i have also tinkered around the 100 pushups challenge site. i haven't read it in depth so i haven't yet officially started. i tried it out today and did 10. i probably had 2 more in me, but was afraid i'd smash my face into the floor if i tried. i think i'll try a solid attempt tonight or tomorrow.

party on, kids!

life. is. good.

first things first. i'm registered and paid to run the rock n roll half marathon in san jose october 5. WOOT! i am beyond excited. and beyond happy to be running again. i was worried that the runner in me had died over the last 6 months, but no. she was just carboloading...

i have a race in mind for me and the monchichi next month. it's the same race i broke my 5k pr. i'm not deluded enough to think i can get another pr at this race, but it will please me to no end to see my little nephew run across the finish line and receive his first medal. the little guy can run like a champ and it is my goal to train him to be my running partner.

today i did another run/walk, this time at a 1:2 interval, with my running pace increased to a 10:30 pace. felt very good. i got in 2.25 miles and called it a day. i have to start eating more carbs. i've cut way, way back, trying not to eat anything but fruits, veggies, beer, and the occasional chocolate treat, but it looks like i can start adding cereal back into my morning regimen. i did have a chocolate soy milk afterwards though. yum.

now onto the news you've all been waiting for. check out the cuteness that is me and sg:
seriously, don't you just want to eat us up with a spoon?!

i drove up saturday after spending the morning with the nephew and the first thing i got when i got out of my car was a kiss and a hug. the weak knees started then. he showed me his ridiculously immaculate apartment. i met his roommate who stashes scientology propaganda in the bathroom, then we headed out into the sunshine. from his apartment in russian hill, we trekked to coit tower then made our way to north beach for lunch al fresco. from there we made it to the wharf to take a boat 'round the bay, then walked along the marina where he showed me his office (williams sonoma headquarters). we walked up to pier 39 to have dinner before taking another long walk home.

i spent the night at my grandma's house and the next morning dished the dirt to my aunt and cousin. i met him in the morning for breakfast where we planned a day of shopping. we trekked to union square and he took me through the williams sonoma flagship store. it was absolutely adorable watching him geek out about housewares. and he got to watch me geek out about the entire third floor filled with beautiful gourmet goodies! we went to niketown, tried on jeans at old navy, attempted to get into the apple store, but decided to go eat instead. we walked to the ferry building for a late lunch and shared burgers and garlic fries. by then we were about beat but still had to walk back to the car in union square. we got home, napped, then he made me dinner before sending me on my way back home.

doesn't that all just sound like a dream? we held hands the entire time and walked around with giddy grins the entire time. we talked and talked and talked and laughed and laughed like we were the only 2 people on earth. we couldn't stop remarking at just how similar we were, stopping every so often to exclaim "ME TOO!" when one of us would bring up some random topic. there were moments during this weekend we just looked at each other and said, "where the hell have you been the last 30 years?!"

both of us revealed that we had been praying to find someone like each other. and i dare say sg is more than i ever could have hoped for. he is more than what i was too scared to hope for because i never thought it would be possible. and after the shock had worn off that this was indeed real, together we offered up a prayer of thanksgiving to the GOD we knew had orchestrated this from the beginning.

i know that this all sounds so sudden, so crazy, so far fetched. i KNOW! i could barely believe it myself in the beginning. but i think i knew from the first phone conversation with him that he was different. that i was in the for ride of my life with him.

this is it kids. he is it. life. is. good.

on strike

blogger is not letting me post pictures. and until it will let me post the cuteness that is me and sg, you'll have to wait on deets of our weekend.

and i'm telling you, it was fa-bu-lous.

xoxo

in less than 24 hours, i will be kissing this boy all over san francisco. go ahead, be a hater. i'll be too busy being weak in the knees.

and i know you were all DYING to know what he looks like!

did i mention he called me today just to hear my voice? because he missed me.

*sigh*

oh, the fun!

yesterday, while i was in the store to buy a tent for my upcoming 30th birthday camping extravaganza, i came across a rack of things shiny and bright. HULA HOOPS! that light up! holy crap why do i not have one?!

i yanked one off the shelf and tested it out. and boy did i work up a sweat. mainly from laughing at myself. i was pretty good with a hula hoop back in the day! i grabbed a smaller one for the nephew and proceeded to hula hoop my way around the store up to the check out.

and i've been practicing ever since. this thing rocks! if i keep this up, i'll have some awesome abs in no time!

on another note, i just got off the phone with the gent. seriously, it's absolutely ridiculous the grin he leaves on my face all day. i find i can't sleep after talking to him. dudes, you are in for a sickly sweet date update after this weekend. he asked if he could hold my hand! like hel-lo sweetest question ever! it's ridiculous, i tell ya. ri-diculous!

*sigh* is it saturday yet?

type b is a-ok

last night i got to the gym only to realize i didn't pack my shoes! argh! ah well, shit happens.

this morning i made up for it with a glorious 3 mile run. actually i should say run/walk. i never wanted to do a run/walk program, deeming it only for sissies, but it worked for my marathon, so i figure it'll work now. it'll help build me back up because a run/walk is much more enjoyable than a short run filled with cursing and wheezing. the 3 miles flew by. right now i'm on a 1:1 ratio and running at a good 11:00 clip during the running portions. i'm looking to increase the running ratio while maintaining that pace. who knows, maybe this will make me the faster runner i always wanted to be! for now, i'm a happy runner.

i'm changing plans to run the rnr san jose half marathon in october, with an eye on running CIM in december. i'll see how i feel, see how hectic life is at that point and decide if i can continue on for a marathon. i'm trying to be realistic, but i can't hide the fact that i am ITCHING to run another marathon. i would like to get another one under my belt before grad school starts when i know for sure i won't have time.

sg and i talked last night and we're hatching plans for a fun filled day in sf on saturday. the boy makes me giddy people. giddy. can it really be possible that everything is finally falling into place?

i'm scared to jinx it!

girls on the run

so hm training got off to a rip roaring start yesterday. NOT. i totally missed my workout. but i have my gym bag packed and am hitting the treadmill after class tonight.

in other running news, i just started work on a pro-bono freelance project for the sf chapter of girls on the run. on their website they describe themselves thusly:

Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls ages 8 to 13. The programs combine training for a 5K or 1-mile community running event with healthy living education. Our curriculum-based programs instill self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training.

We offer 10-week programs during the fall and spring seasons. Volunteer coaches engage the girls in games and running-based workouts that encourage emotional, social, psychological and physical development. The girls meet twice each week after school for a total of 20 one-hour sessions.

pretty cool, huh? i am working on some marketing materials for a campaign to culminate at an event at the bridge to bridge race in the fall. dean karnazes and his daughter are apparently very involved with the group, and he sits on their board! i'm super excited about working with them. i was hesitant to become a coach, but if i can marry my two passions, design and running, towards the cause of female empowerment and fitness, then that's even better!

girls on the run has chapters all through the u.s. if you're interested in getting involved. there are a million and one ways to contribute time, energy, or resources.

i have a good feeling about this

the title says it all. first date with southern gent went very well. but i knew that it would. i knew from our phone conversations that i'd really like him in person. it's hard for me to say exactly why, i just did. there's a whole bunch more going through my head right now but i don't think it's quite synthesized to a point where it would make sense on paper. i just have a good feeling about him. sorry for the lack of juicy details folks. but if things progress the way i would like them to, then we're all in for juicy stories later.

in other news, i bought my first 2 gmat prep books today. i'm scared shitless and excited all at the same time. i had a total geek out moment at work on thursday in our marketing meeting where i felt totally smart and inspired. so b-school felt all the more appealing to me then. i'm looking at 2 programs: sac state and sf state. for both programs, i need to take a core of fundmental business classes that i never took in undergrad, crap like accounting and finance. ugh. if i go full time it will take me a year. part time most likely a year and a half. then i can take the graduate level classes and i plan to do that full time to get it done in 2 years. so my next steps are studying for gmats, finding ways to fund my education, either through working for someone with education benefits or sucking it up and taking out loans. it's enough to make my head spin, but i think it will all fall into place.

also in other news, half marathon training begins tomorrow. i'm pretty stoaked about it. it feels good to be running again. i even weighed myself after my run on friday and i'm down 2 pounds! of course 4th of july weekend ruined al that i'm sure, but i'm back on the wagon and it feels good :)

hope y'all had a great holiday weekend. it's back to work tomorrow! boooooo!

kicking ass and taking names

before i was a runner, i was a kickboxer. and i was in the best shape of my life. it's the perfect workout cardiovascularly and you can shape some nice muscles and abs all without lifting a weight. this morning i took the best kickboxing class i've taken in like 8 years. this class will totally replace any speed workout, fill your quota of plyometrics, open up your hips, and make your glutes beg for mercy.

i now have a girl crush on rhoda, the turbo kickbox instructor at 24hour fitness. i love you. and your abs. and i worship at the altar of your sidekick!

should you judge a dude by his blog?

so. southern gent and i have been talking all week. the little girl in me has just about fallen in love with him, what with his oh-so cute accent and deep, deep voice. accents are my kryptonite. part of me knows these feelings of giddiness might come crashing down once i meet him in person on sunday. but for the meantime, it's fun to get swept up. he might very well be an ogre in real life, but for the time being i'm flirting on the phone with what sounds like a very intelligent, nerdy in a sexy way, dude who calls me beautiful every other word and makes me laugh. i know, i'm such a school girl.

but i'm not entirely hopeless. i, of course, googled him. when i googled his name, all i found was a review he and his friend wrote about some hotels they stayed at in japan and his corporate giving page for the AIDS walk coming up. normal enough stuff that says his story checks out.

then i googled his match user name. and came up with 2 blogs. one he wrote in college and another he wrote about 4 years ago. is it fair to judge someone based on what they wrote in their journal back in college? even 4 years ago? how would i feel if he somehow found my blog and read it?

there wasn't anything on there to send up red flags (except his admitting to a very large pron collection EW! which i have mixed feelings about) during these times he dated a lot. which i guess is normal for most people. i had a much different experience because i went to a college with nearly all gay men and i dated only the ex after college for 5 years. but it was interesting to read him fall in and out of love. mainly his blogs were a space to just vent and write, so a lot of it was pretty emo. which i guess is to be expected of one's journal.

i thought that by googling him i'd find out whether his story checks out or not. all signs point to not a pyscho killer, so that's good. but i think knowing too much has killed the mood, so to speak. do i let him know i've been reading up on him? how much of what i read should i let cloud my judgement about him? would i want someone to judge me in the same way?

my instincts tell me to just file all that data in the back of my mind and let him present himself the way he is today. heaven knows i grew up a ton in my late 20s. no one wants to be judged by who they were when they were 21-25. which i guess is indicative of why i never got married in my 20s.

so it's with a hopeful heart, an open mind, and a watchful eye that i go into our first meet on sunday. i'll keep y'all posted. have a safe and happy fourth! it's my own personal independence day and granny's 92nd birthday party. time to celebrate some girl power, don't you think?

mum's the word

i don't want to jinx it.