Valentine's Day: Past, Present, Future

Happy Valentine's Day!

The past few years I've spent Valentine's Day getting utterly wasted with a group of bachelors as a couple of my faithful readers can attest. There are a handful of Valentine's Days that I've remembered throughout the years.

One was during kindergarten. It was my first Valentine's Day and the teacher asked us to bring our Valentine's Day cards for our Vday party. This was a daunting task. I didn't have any experience with it. I remember going to Hallmark and picking out 2 or 3 of those "regular sizes" Valentine's Day cards. You know, the ones you get now for someone. The problem is, you didn't get these "regular size" cards when you were in kindergarten. I showed up to class the next day and everyone had those "baseball card" sized Valentine's Day cards and passed it out to everyone! Everyone also brought shoeboxes decorated with hearts and it had these slits on top so you can shove your cards in the box. This presented a few problems for me.

1. I only bought 2 or 3 cards, and at the time, these cards were considered Jumbo sized.

2. I didn't have a decorated Valentine's Day shoebox so everyone just threw the cards on top of my desk.

3. While everyone spent 10 mins passing out their Valentine's Day cards to everyone, it only took me like 2 min and I sat there at my desk while everyone looked at me, wondered why I didn't have a shoebox, and simply dropped the card on top of my desk.

Quite memorable and embarrassing at the same time. As the years have gone by, I learned my lesson. I remember using my "best handwriting" on the Valentine cards that I was giving to my "secret crushes." Sometimes I would insert one of those candy hearts with those sayings on them. Picking one that expressed how I felt was very critical during those times!

Today
This year I was determined not to stay at home. So I treated myself to a nice dinner, visited my local Borders, had my Chi Latte and buried myself in knowledge.
It was definitely "me" time. Something I should appreciate.

Future
I think it will be interesting a year from now what progress I will have in the "dating scene." Hopefully I will still be writing in this thing and can reflect back a year later.

Cabin Fever

This past weekend I stayed in and I felt like Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway. I felt like I was stuck in an island with no human contact. Sometimes I'd blast my music and make weird noises to break the silence. I think I've even decided to name my computer "Wilson." I guess my computer is more entertaining than a volleyball that has a face drawn on it.

Choose your own adventure: Meat or yoga?

I wasn't one to ditch class during my times at university. I felt bad. Although as the years progressed from being a freshman to a senior, I'd find it easier and easier to ditch class. The funny thing about most of this is that I'd go to class only to fall asleep. I never understood it. I would go to my 8:00AM class psyche myself out and stay up for 10 min, only to pass out in the lecture hall. I could have easily just slept through and get that extra hour of sleep, but I felt guilty not going, so I went anyway, even though I knew I would pass out.

So I came to a similar decision this evening. A fellow employee is in town from the States. They had a plan to go out for drinks and dinner. I was committed to only drinking a pint at the pub before dinner, then going to yoga class, but that didn't work out.

As soon as we left the pub, I told everyone that I was going to yoga. Sure enough I was given a hard time.

Choose your own adventure: Go to Yoga class or free dinner at a nice Argentinian steakhouse?

It didn't come easy. I would ditch my first yoga class for a gluttonous dinner.

And I must say, what a great decision. Starters consised of chicken langoniza, spinich and cheese empanadas, and chirizo. Main course I had the ribeye which probably is the best steak I've had to date in London. It was so good. For sides, I had asparagus (that makes my pee smell) and grilled mushrooms. Top that off with a few glasses of red wine and finally, dessert that was a combination of pancakes and ice cream.

Probably the best meal I've had since I've moved here. Helps it was free too. You have to understand how much I appreciate a good steak these days now that I live here in the UK, let alone a good meal. I believe I've made the right decision. And for all the food lovers out there, I know you believe I did too.

Here comes the sun...
Living here for 5 months has made me appreciate the sun so much more. It was a bright sunny day when I woke up and I'll admit, it effects my emotions. Its cloudy most of the time here and when the sun comes out it puts me in such a good mood.

Cocktail Parties and Sequels

So I went back to my stylist on Saturday. He did a good job before so I trust his haircutting skills. The puma on his head is gone because he grew out his hair. Its always weird for me when I get a haircut, even when my aunt use to do it. I'm constantly trying to strike conversation, but it never works. So when he was cutting my hair, I wanted to say..

"Hey you grew out your hair! I can't see the tattoo on your head anymore!"

But then I would play that over and over in my head while he cut my hair and realised how stupid that sounded.

Anyway, so he asks me if I was going out that evening. In hopes to hide my nonexistent social life, I immediately respond like I had these big plans. Little did he know I had no plans at all. =)

To hold some kind of truth to my answer I made the effort to call my other coworker that works in the business side of things. He was invited to a cocktail party by a colleague of his and he didn't know anybody but him. A flat full of people I didn't know, how could I not pass it up.

First off, we walk in and its a table full of people that had just finished dinner. Its one of those awkward moments where you sit there and try to introduce yourself to each and every person where you know you'll probably won't remember their names anyway. While my coworker introduced himself to each person sitting in the dining room table, I took the easy way out. I performed the 'hanging tough' wave.

What's the 'hanging tough' wave? If you were ever a fan of the New Kids on the Block and the song 'Hangin' Tough,' you know what I'm talking about. There's a dance move during the chorus where they move one of their arms up in the air from side to side while they sing. It's a brilliant move. And if you are a true fan, you'll know what I'm talking about. In fact, here's a link for reference. The move is towards the end. (Turn down the volume unless you want to be embarrassed.)

Anyway, I performed the 'hanging tough' wave and at the same time introducing myself. Works wonders I tell ya.

The night was filled with meeting many interesting people. A German guy that works in Zurich who loves Asia (Singapore and China specifically) where studying abroad included: North Carolina and Buenos Aires. A couple of ladies where their studies included a 3 year program studying in the UK, France, and Germany. A Dutch guy that is considering a move to Asia and a couple that have actually been to Chicago and complain how cold it is!

I thought it was interesting fielding different questions including:

What's the difference between NY and Chicago?
Isn't it colder in Chicago than it is in NY?
If you lived in the States, what was the benefit of moving here?

All in all, it was okay. Will I ever see these people again? Who knows. I think I need to fine tune my social skills. I'm a bit too shy.

I get it.. part II
Perhaps I should elaborate more on my previous post on friendships. His quote was coming from my comment to him that I missed the 'instant chemistry' I had back home. You know, the chemistry that comes with not seeing someone for a while and basically 'picking up where you left off' the first time you see them after 'x' amount of months. I miss that here. Meeting up with someone face to face and just 'bonding.' I'm not saying its not going to happen here, it just frustrating that there isn't that 'go to' person that you can grab some 'Starbucks' and BS with.

Educational Sunday Part II
Went to visit the Science Museum. Yay. Saw the special Alien and Iceland exhibits. Did you know that a cockroach can live without its head? (But eventually die due to thirst?) Did you know that 11 percent of Iceland is covered in glaciers? The Iceland exhibit held most of my interest because they had these computers where you can click all these topics and watch videos on each subject.

Superbowl XL
It so weird. It's late night and the Superbowl is on. But without American commercials! Bah! At least they have American broadcasters.

I get it... and Oops.

It feels good to talk to someone that 'gets' you. Someone that understands what you are going through and someone that's not afraid to be 'blunt' at times. I had a realization yesterday drinking with one of my old coworkers. I was explaining to him that its so different here because I'm not surrounded by people I've known all my life or people that I have such close relationships with. He basically came out in so many words and said..

"You won't get that here. You are just about past the point in your life where you make lifelong friends. You are at an age where you are set in your ways and its harder to create long lasting relationships at this point. You just need to get hitched mate!"

I always knew this.. but to hear someone be so up front about it, it really hits home. He can totally relate to me because he in fact lived in the States for a bit before coming back here. Its always nice to talk to someone that 'gets' you. The best part of all of this is that we have the same sense of humour so it was quite refreshing to be around someone to share laughs with.

Oops!
It was bound to happen. We were doing some complex moves in Yoga class. It was a great workout and quite relaxing. We were doing different stretches and I lost my concentration.

You see I had a bowl of cereal before class.. with a lot of milk. I don't know about you but milk gives me gas. I've been so good in making sure not to 'let one go' during class. But I did have a moment of weakness. After doing a complicated stretch, we were supposed to take a neutral stance and then it happened.

At first I was in a state of shock. It wasn't that loud, but I knew it happened. It was one of those situations where I wanted to look around to see if anybody heard what I just did. But I was afraid to. The thing is...I was standing in front of the teacher, and right after it happened.. she said..

"Oops!"

I looked at her and she had a grin on her face. The thing is, I wasn't sure if the "Oops" was for me, or for something else. I didn't think it was that loud, but perhaps she heard it. I guess I'll never know.

The best part of all this is after class she asked me..

"So you feeling okay?"

Maybe she was just being nice and was concerned because I was covered with sweat.
Or perhaps she did hear my gas.