We had a late start today, my family and I didn't make it out the door until around 1pm. We first started by picking up my aunt at her work (yeah, she had to work today). We then headed to the Virginia Beach convention center so that I could pick up my running bib and free goodies. My cousin and brother came along and some how my cousin picked up a goodie bag himself.
After the expo, we went back to the house so we could pick up some supplies to go to the beach. The weather wasn't quite helpful or we just got a late start because by the time we got to the beach, winds had picked up and a lot of clouds had rolled in through the area. Even with the winds and clouds, it was still warm enough to have fun in the surf.
Before we left, I decided to do a little run on the beach. My cousin told me to run to this yellow house down the beach, "sure", I replied. I started running towards the yellow house on the beach. I initially thought, this house is pretty close, maybe I'll run a little further. Three minutes of running go by and the house still looks far away. I only wanted run 1 miles or about 10-11 minutes, so I told myself, I'm turning around at 6 minutes no matter what. I finally get to 6 minutes and I never make it to the house. I guess the open area of the beach made the house seems closer than it seemed. I run back to my family and we head back home. Time to carbo load and get ready for the run tomorrow.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Virginia - Day 3
Stayed up later than I should have last night so that we could pick my mom and brother at the airport. Took them back to the house and my aunt started feeding them. I got up earlier today, around 8:00 am because I thought my cousin was going to take us to a waffle house, but not so. My mom didn't feel like going to a waffle house, my brother was indecisive and my cousin was still in bed. We ended up just cooking some traditional breakfast at the house. After breakfast and getting ready, we headed out so that my mom and brother could see some of Virginia.
We first stopped at the Douglas McArthur museum. We then rode the free bus around downtown (the bus driver just gave us a confused look).
We then got on board the USS Wisconsin and got to see the battleship. That thing is huge! Went through the little museum about the navy ships. We then went to Dog-n-Burgers. Hmm, greasy food. Oh crap, I can't eat this and run on Sunday. These last few days is going to be hard on my run on Sunday. Poor diet and all these walking is tiring my legs.
After some food, we went back home. My aunt and uncle came back home from work and they took us for a ride around the area. Including on this ride is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That is one freaking long bridge. Oh, it is also a tunnel. Yes, in the middle of the bay, the bridge just goes down into the water into a tunnel twice. With a quick tour of the area, we... had food again. We went out for some Vietnamese food this time. With dinner done, my cousin and I headed out to Virginia beach.
We went to a club to meet up some of his friends. We ended up at a club that was having a drag show. Yes, we ended up at a gay club. If trying to talk to a girl at a club wasn't hard enough, add in the factors that she might be a he or that she is only into shes - things just got way harder. I had three drinks (should have been zero, I do have a run in just over a day), while my cousin had a little more that he should. I met some of his friends and we had a few good conversations. After the club, we headed to Denny's - oh, just like on the west coast. I tried to eat healthy, but that was just too difficult. Even my whole wheat toast, did not look like whole wheat. I ended up eating mostly carbs and avoided the salt enriched protein.
Oh my god, this run on Sunday should be easy since is almost completely flat, but I'm tired, been having poor diet and my training the last few weeks have been horrible. If my time in this run is more than my first 1/2 marathon, I'll be very unhappy.
We first stopped at the Douglas McArthur museum. We then rode the free bus around downtown (the bus driver just gave us a confused look).
We then got on board the USS Wisconsin and got to see the battleship. That thing is huge! Went through the little museum about the navy ships. We then went to Dog-n-Burgers. Hmm, greasy food. Oh crap, I can't eat this and run on Sunday. These last few days is going to be hard on my run on Sunday. Poor diet and all these walking is tiring my legs.After some food, we went back home. My aunt and uncle came back home from work and they took us for a ride around the area. Including on this ride is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That is one freaking long bridge. Oh, it is also a tunnel. Yes, in the middle of the bay, the bridge just goes down into the water into a tunnel twice. With a quick tour of the area, we... had food again. We went out for some Vietnamese food this time. With dinner done, my cousin and I headed out to Virginia beach.
We went to a club to meet up some of his friends. We ended up at a club that was having a drag show. Yes, we ended up at a gay club. If trying to talk to a girl at a club wasn't hard enough, add in the factors that she might be a he or that she is only into shes - things just got way harder. I had three drinks (should have been zero, I do have a run in just over a day), while my cousin had a little more that he should. I met some of his friends and we had a few good conversations. After the club, we headed to Denny's - oh, just like on the west coast. I tried to eat healthy, but that was just too difficult. Even my whole wheat toast, did not look like whole wheat. I ended up eating mostly carbs and avoided the salt enriched protein.
Oh my god, this run on Sunday should be easy since is almost completely flat, but I'm tired, been having poor diet and my training the last few weeks have been horrible. If my time in this run is more than my first 1/2 marathon, I'll be very unhappy.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Virginia - Day 2
Caught up with my sleep today. My cousin woke me up around 10:30 am this morning. After eating some breakfast, we went over to Starbucks to pick up 10 lbs of coffee beans. Yes, that is a lot of beans. I think it is for my mom, or my aunt like to drink a lot of coffee. My cousin then drove me around for a bit of sight seeing at Virginia Beach. We drove through the strip of VB and we even parked and I got to see the board walk. 
On the drive and walk, I got to see some of the route I'll be running on Sunday. From what I saw, the entire run is flat!
After Virginia Beach, we headed to one of the local malls. I ended up buying a new pair of running shoes (gah! running is expensive). Then we decided to get a run in to help me prepare for the race. We went back to my aunt's house so that I could change into some running clothes. We then go to a place called "Mount Trashmore". I kid you not! My cousin told me the path around the park was 3 miles, but after running it, it felt more like 1.5 miles. I probably missed a few loops. Oh well, after one lap, my cousin walk the path again, so I got my 3 miles for the day.
With my run out of the way, we go get some food at another mall (I was in the mood for some teriyaki and this mall had one). Before we entered the mall, my cousin tells me that this mall has alot of black people. I respond with, "ok" and didn't think much of it. As we enter, I see a few black people, nothing too unusual. Then I start seeing the stores. The window displayed black mannequins and signs were of black people. I just think to myself that maybe these first few stores were just marketing to the black crowd. We walk by more stores and the stores had similar "marketing". Then right by the food court was a barber shop. Interesting, I see stylist everywhere, but I haven't seen a barber shop in years. Except in a movie. Ok, this is a black mall. There I said it! Anyway, we have some teriyaki at the food court and we head out.
Even after having some teriyaki, my cousin has a craving for some burgers - especially white castle burger. He mentions the nearest one is in New Jersey, about "3 hours away".
"Really?!", I reply.
I immediately agree on a 3 hour drive for some White Castle burgers. My cousin gets on his garmin or whatever he has in his car to look up the direction to the nearest White Castle. Well, 3 hours wasn't quite accurate. The nearest one was 307 miles. I realized that a 6 hour drive was NOT worth it for some White Castle burgers. Harold and Kumar we are not.
After the disappointment, my cousin takes me to the Norfolk waterfront for some tourist attractions. We walk around for about an hour, checking out some of the waterfront features. He then takes me to the local college, Old Dominion University. It's a smaller university, but all the features of a college are there - a book store, cute undergrads, bikers, neighborhoods filled with undergrads, some playing fields and did I mention undergrads? We stop over at my cousin's friends house in the area and chat for a bit.
His friend recently had a baby and we got to meet him. Awwww, so cute! It seemed he took a liking to me, stared at me and got all excited. I wish girls had the same reaction to me! But you're just a baby. As it got dark, my cousin then headed home to my aunts for dinner.
My aunt is fattening me up. I get home and she thinks I didn't eat the breakfast she left for me this morning. I tell her I did, but she tells me there were leftovers. Of course there were left overs, she left me enough food for a family of four. As I was eating dinner, she tells me to not be shy about eating and that she cooks a lot and there are will be plenty of food - oh boy. Good thing I lost a bit of weight before coming here, because my aunt will certainly make sure I gain some weight back.
On the drive and walk, I got to see some of the route I'll be running on Sunday. From what I saw, the entire run is flat! After Virginia Beach, we headed to one of the local malls. I ended up buying a new pair of running shoes (gah! running is expensive). Then we decided to get a run in to help me prepare for the race. We went back to my aunt's house so that I could change into some running clothes. We then go to a place called "Mount Trashmore". I kid you not! My cousin told me the path around the park was 3 miles, but after running it, it felt more like 1.5 miles. I probably missed a few loops. Oh well, after one lap, my cousin walk the path again, so I got my 3 miles for the day.
With my run out of the way, we go get some food at another mall (I was in the mood for some teriyaki and this mall had one). Before we entered the mall, my cousin tells me that this mall has alot of black people. I respond with, "ok" and didn't think much of it. As we enter, I see a few black people, nothing too unusual. Then I start seeing the stores. The window displayed black mannequins and signs were of black people. I just think to myself that maybe these first few stores were just marketing to the black crowd. We walk by more stores and the stores had similar "marketing". Then right by the food court was a barber shop. Interesting, I see stylist everywhere, but I haven't seen a barber shop in years. Except in a movie. Ok, this is a black mall. There I said it! Anyway, we have some teriyaki at the food court and we head out.
Even after having some teriyaki, my cousin has a craving for some burgers - especially white castle burger. He mentions the nearest one is in New Jersey, about "3 hours away".
"Really?!", I reply.
I immediately agree on a 3 hour drive for some White Castle burgers. My cousin gets on his garmin or whatever he has in his car to look up the direction to the nearest White Castle. Well, 3 hours wasn't quite accurate. The nearest one was 307 miles. I realized that a 6 hour drive was NOT worth it for some White Castle burgers. Harold and Kumar we are not.
After the disappointment, my cousin takes me to the Norfolk waterfront for some tourist attractions. We walk around for about an hour, checking out some of the waterfront features. He then takes me to the local college, Old Dominion University. It's a smaller university, but all the features of a college are there - a book store, cute undergrads, bikers, neighborhoods filled with undergrads, some playing fields and did I mention undergrads? We stop over at my cousin's friends house in the area and chat for a bit.
His friend recently had a baby and we got to meet him. Awwww, so cute! It seemed he took a liking to me, stared at me and got all excited. I wish girls had the same reaction to me! But you're just a baby. As it got dark, my cousin then headed home to my aunts for dinner.My aunt is fattening me up. I get home and she thinks I didn't eat the breakfast she left for me this morning. I tell her I did, but she tells me there were leftovers. Of course there were left overs, she left me enough food for a family of four. As I was eating dinner, she tells me to not be shy about eating and that she cooks a lot and there are will be plenty of food - oh boy. Good thing I lost a bit of weight before coming here, because my aunt will certainly make sure I gain some weight back.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Virginia - Day 1
I am Joram and I had to be up at 3:00 am to be ready for Shuttle Express coming at 3:35. Fortunately, I did all my packing before I went to bed, so I was ready to go when Shuttle Express showed up a 5 minutes early. I have trouble staying awake on the way to the airport. Being so early in the morning, there was no traffic, so I make it to Sea-Tac airport quickly. I go immediately to my airline, but the kiosks were still close. *Sigh* I had to wait until 4:30 for people to show up to help me and the rest of the passengers check out luggage in. After checking in, I go to my gate to wait to board. I find a seat and start falling asleep again. With a wait of over an hour and a half, the plane finally starts boarding. As I make my way to the gate to check in, I notice my boarding pass has no seat number. My pass does say "Open Seating". Interesting - must find single cute chick to sit next to. I size up the crowd - old, fat, attached, scary looking, seat's taken - bah! I get stuck sitting to some panicking lady about having to check in her over sized carry on.
Well, I don't feel like conversing with her. I take a quick pic of myself before I fall asleep. I wake up every now and then from announcements and some snacks being served.
A few hours later, I land in Chicago. I go to my gate to wait for my transfer plane to load.
Once again, its open seating. Once again I don't find some single girl to sit next to. Instead, I sit next to some guy and a grandmother. I quickly falls asleep after take off. I was so out this time around that I slept throught the flight attendant asking around what we'd like to drink. I did wake up when there were handing out snacks. Being up, the grandmother starts talking to me. Anyone that knows me, know that my brain doesn't function well immediately after waking up. The grandmother was saying a lot, but all I could do was nod in agreement. After a while, I realize that she's on her way to Virginia from Arkansas to visit his son and granddaughter. She continues telling me that her daughter in law doesn't like her and a lot of other stories. After a two hour flight, I have a rough landing at Virginia.
My cousin meets me, I find my bag at baggage claim and we are on our way. I get to my aunt's house and my cousin show me to a room which I'll be staying at for the next week. My aunt and uncle comes home and we have dinner. I thought I could watch my diet before the run, but screw it! I don't get Filipino food like these everyday. Apperantly, my aunt is cooking even more for tomorrow when my mom finally joins me on this trip. After dinner, my cousin and I walk around the neighborhood to talk about running and him planning his job prospects for after school. After the walk, my aunt and uncle talk to me about me about my job prospects. I couldn't lie, I didn't really have one. They start giving me several advice, which all were good. They even offered me a place in Virginia to stay if I want a job here for $0 rent (Broomie, I'll have my stuff shipped over!). Nah, it is a nice offer, but I don't know yet. I will think about their advices, but for now my focus will be getting ready for the run on Sunday.
Well, I don't feel like conversing with her. I take a quick pic of myself before I fall asleep. I wake up every now and then from announcements and some snacks being served. A few hours later, I land in Chicago. I go to my gate to wait for my transfer plane to load.
Once again, its open seating. Once again I don't find some single girl to sit next to. Instead, I sit next to some guy and a grandmother. I quickly falls asleep after take off. I was so out this time around that I slept throught the flight attendant asking around what we'd like to drink. I did wake up when there were handing out snacks. Being up, the grandmother starts talking to me. Anyone that knows me, know that my brain doesn't function well immediately after waking up. The grandmother was saying a lot, but all I could do was nod in agreement. After a while, I realize that she's on her way to Virginia from Arkansas to visit his son and granddaughter. She continues telling me that her daughter in law doesn't like her and a lot of other stories. After a two hour flight, I have a rough landing at Virginia. My cousin meets me, I find my bag at baggage claim and we are on our way. I get to my aunt's house and my cousin show me to a room which I'll be staying at for the next week. My aunt and uncle comes home and we have dinner. I thought I could watch my diet before the run, but screw it! I don't get Filipino food like these everyday. Apperantly, my aunt is cooking even more for tomorrow when my mom finally joins me on this trip. After dinner, my cousin and I walk around the neighborhood to talk about running and him planning his job prospects for after school. After the walk, my aunt and uncle talk to me about me about my job prospects. I couldn't lie, I didn't really have one. They start giving me several advice, which all were good. They even offered me a place in Virginia to stay if I want a job here for $0 rent (Broomie, I'll have my stuff shipped over!). Nah, it is a nice offer, but I don't know yet. I will think about their advices, but for now my focus will be getting ready for the run on Sunday.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Trying to get out
With the summer nearing an end, I feel like I've missed out on the summer. But after some thought, not really. This summer has been one of the most eventful in quite a long time. Here are just some of the things I can remember that I have done;
June 21st - Race for the Cure.
June 29th - Seafair 1/2 marathon with John
July 4th - Fireworks at Boom City with Jerry
July 12th - International District street fair with Melissa
July 19th - Bite of Seattle with Broomie
July 22nd - Went to Shelton, had the first high school reunion committee meeting with Regina and Maria
July 26th - Seafair torchlight 8k race. Got to run the parade route at downtown Seattle.
August 9-10 - Camping at Lake Chelan with Stefani and friends.
August 15-17 - Olympics! Watched a ridiculous amount of Olympics. Had the TV going plus the Internet broadcast.
August 16th - Covey Run 10k with John and friends.
August 23-24 - Hanging out with Susan and friends
Soon - Going to Virgina to visit family, run another 1/2 marathon and possibly see Washington D.C.
After VA - I might head down to Seaside, Oregon for a few nights.
Almost every weekend, I was some where doing something. I'm glad I didn't totally waste another summer.
June 21st - Race for the Cure.
June 29th - Seafair 1/2 marathon with John
July 4th - Fireworks at Boom City with Jerry
July 12th - International District street fair with Melissa
July 19th - Bite of Seattle with Broomie
July 22nd - Went to Shelton, had the first high school reunion committee meeting with Regina and Maria
July 26th - Seafair torchlight 8k race. Got to run the parade route at downtown Seattle.
August 9-10 - Camping at Lake Chelan with Stefani and friends.
August 15-17 - Olympics! Watched a ridiculous amount of Olympics. Had the TV going plus the Internet broadcast.
August 16th - Covey Run 10k with John and friends.
August 23-24 - Hanging out with Susan and friends
Soon - Going to Virgina to visit family, run another 1/2 marathon and possibly see Washington D.C.
After VA - I might head down to Seaside, Oregon for a few nights.
Almost every weekend, I was some where doing something. I'm glad I didn't totally waste another summer.
Over the Last Few Weeks
Wow, I've sucked at updating.
Quick stuff:
Ran two races - Torchlight 8k & Covey Run 10k
Been training too hard, had to cut back a lot.
Getting ready to go to Virginia to do another half marathon.
Work is still annoying
The cat still has a hole in his neck
Went to Susan's over the weekend to meet her Aussie friend.
Drank way too much at Susan's house.
Bought a new laptop.
Watched a lot of the Olympics, but still not enough.
Coworkers are trying to find me a girl (jokingly, maybe, I don't know).
Girl coworkers are as nasty as boys - nuff said.
Umm, that's all I can remember for now.
Quick stuff:
Ran two races - Torchlight 8k & Covey Run 10k
Been training too hard, had to cut back a lot.
Getting ready to go to Virginia to do another half marathon.
Work is still annoying
The cat still has a hole in his neck
Went to Susan's over the weekend to meet her Aussie friend.
Drank way too much at Susan's house.
Bought a new laptop.
Watched a lot of the Olympics, but still not enough.
Coworkers are trying to find me a girl (jokingly, maybe, I don't know).
Girl coworkers are as nasty as boys - nuff said.
Umm, that's all I can remember for now.
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