3 weeks later...

There are a few occasions in my life where I can completely and totally connect with someone. I've gotten to know a lot of women in my life that have come and gone. Some have made an impact in my life; others would be best left forgotten. =)

There are a small number, and you know who you are, that I have had a total connection with and still keep in touch to this day.

With each connection, this sometimes leads to some kind of relationship. It could be the best of friends, or perhaps something more intimate such as a serious relationship, and sometimes it just doesn't work out.

As human nature would have it, there's a tendency to compare your new current relationship to your previous ones. And as a check, there always this idea that you would want something better than you did in the past. You take what you've learned from the past and apply it to the present. With that it mind, it can only get better.

There's always this yearn to experience a feeling that you haven't felt before in the past. Or perhaps you have, and you just don't know how it feels like anymore because it has been so long.

You eventually want to work it up to the "higher level." You want to meet someone that you can completely and utterly connect with. Sometimes you meet someone that, in a matter of seconds have an instant care and admiration for. You can't explain why or how, but it just happens. This person completely "gets" you. They can look at you and read what you are thinking and hear a lot of the words that are left unspoken. They just feel what you are thinking. They finish your sentences. They get your humour. And there is nothing in the back of your mind that makes you worry about what they will think of you. Because its easy. You are not afraid to hold back and be yourself. You get into this natural high with them, and its this excitement that you feel that makes life so much worth living.

Sometimes this understanding, this connection, may take months, even years to establish as you get to know one another. Sometimes people may not even get to experience this at all and the relationship doesn't work out. But magically, others get lucky and this is established with just one day of meeting. For reasons that cannot be explained its like both of you somehow knew each other in a past life and it almost seems like you two were soul mates right from the beginning.

This feeling is a complete endorphin rush. Almost intoxicating. Euphoric.. It's Addicting and you never want it to stop.

But then things get complicated. The reality of life and its uncontrollable circumstances take over. Frustration surfaces. You begin to question why fate is such a tease.

Then you realise..it was simply a taste.

A taste I want to experience again, but not sure when or how or if I'll get a chance again.

Its very rare and hard to find and I appreciated every single moment of it. It's a level of connection that I didn't know could exist so quickly and so easily.. until now.

This was 3 weeks ago... and the buzz still hasn't left me. I need another fix soon... but not sure how long I'll have to wait.. or if it will happen again.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo - This day commemorates the victory of Mexican forces over the French in 1862.

In Chicago, if I remember correctly, this is one of those days were proud Mexicans drive around waving their Mexican flags. (The other day being Sept 16 when the Mexican's claimed independence from the spanish) Sometimes you'll see flags taped to the hood of their cars as they drive up and down the street, honking their car horns. It's also another reason to party as various bars hold Cinco de Mayo parties!

Unfortunately, I really don't think I'm going to see proud Mexicans driving up and down the street with their flags taped onto their hoods. Why? Mainly because I believe there is a direct relationship between the number of Mexican food restaurants and the size of the Mexican population in London.

Since I haven't exactly come across any good burrito places, nor many Mexican restaurants for that matter, I'm pretty sure coming across a car with a Mexican flag pinned to its hood wouldn't be very likely. Nothing like I would see "West of Western" back home that's for sure.

Oooo.. Maybe someone will tape a flag to the train in the tube. That would be awesome.

I wonder how India Independence Day (from the UK) is celebrated here in London? (Aug 15) With the large amount of Indians in London, that would be a party. I can see it now. Flags taped to the hoods, horns honking up and down the streets of London, playing Beware of the Boys by Panjabi MC and Jay-Z. Brilliant.
That would be one hell of a sight, and one hell of a party. I almost can't wait.

Keswick, Cumbria, England

I didn't know anything about this little town until my coworker said he was going to spend the weekend there. Nor did I know anything about the "Lake District." It was going to be a three day weekend, and there was no chance that I'd be staying in London.


We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Bagsend. It was my first time so I didn't know what to expect. It's really strange because you literally are living in someone's house. It's the strangest feeling. But the breakfast was good and the bed was perfect. Not only that but there was a shower in my room! How convenient, but weird at the same time! I guess it would be similar to living in a studio but it was just strange just having a shower right next to my bed!

We spent the first day taking a "walking tour" around the area. I bought a map for 60p at the tourist center and it gave me this "Lonely Planet" type walking tour around the area. This tour ended with a view that looked over Lake Derwentwater.




The second day we spent most of the day mountain biking. We left around 11AM and what was frustrating was that for the next four hours there wasn't any food/water along the way that we could buy! I was so tired, thirsty, and hungry. But we made it. It was probably the most technical ride I've done. Not that I'm all hard core about mountain biking, but there were 45 degree climbs and we had to ride over crags. Crags you ask? I had no idea what they were either until I tried riding over them.

It was funny sometimes because we'd get passed by hard core mountain bikers. We tried to look all hard core but it didn't help we were wearing jeans while they had their proper biking shorts, cool helmets, etc.

At the end of it all, even with the hard physical work I had put in, we were rewarded with awesome views of the country and made me appreciate England a little bit more.

I leave you with one of my favourite images:

Sunglasses

I wore my sunglasses this morning because it was sunny. But now its not. Even when its super sunny, not a lot of people here wear sunglasses. I believe that not many people even own a pair. Except for maybe the cool fashionable people. Like me. Even though mine were only $10. But they look cool.

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day. And to celebrate, I'm not going to work! Actually it was a bank holiday today and have just gotten back from another trip! Gotta love the 3 day weekends.

Instead of hitting a popular European city, this time I went into the country!
Destination: Keswick, Cumbria, in what is known as the "Lake District" in England, north of Leeds but still south of Edinburgh.

I spent the weekend with another coworker enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking. Pics to come soon. It was a nice change of pace to enjoy nature and the weather rather than hitting museums, churches and other historical landmarks. I've never been outside of London for a holiday and it was long overdue. It was also my first time staying at a Bed and Breakfast and I would definitely do it again!