Snow Day!

From the BBC website:

The worst snowfalls to affect Britain in 18 years has led to school and road closures, disrupted rail services and hundreds of flight cancellations.

I've been here for almost 4 years and I've never seen snow like this in London. Ironically, this wouldn't be that bad in Chicago. The big difference between Chicago and London? No infrastructure!

Typically when I experienced this much snow in Chicago, my ears are usually graced with the sound of shovels grinding against the pavement, snow blowers running up and down residential driveways, and snow plow trucks trudging through the streets. The roads and sidewalks are eventually cleaned and salted, and things get back to normal.

But here, complete silence. Not much shoveling. No snow plow trucks. The street and sidewalks are an utter mess.

The closest thing to a shovel I saw this morning was a man using a sweeper upside down to scrape off snow on the sidewalk. Speaking of sidewalks, nothing is shoveled. Pedestrian feet create a beaten path to take the place of a snow blower.

The city completely shuts down. No buses, the trains are suspended, and no one can fly in and out. London is completely paralyzed.

But this didn't stop the cyclists! I was walking to work this morning and I spied multiple people crazy enough to ride their bikes in the snow, including a fellow colleague. Now that's something you wouldn't see in Chicago!

The best part of all this? I got to go home early!

Obama!

Finally the Obama years have begun.

Its so amazing how much enthusiasm there is for a President. But I guess, its now down to business. Hopefully he'll fulfill his promises. But with all politicians, I'd like to see what they actually do, rather than what they actually say.

So here's a nice website that is keeping track:
Obameter

So as January is coming close to an end, how about those resolutions?

To compare from last year, I didn't too bad.

• Golf - epic fail. Didn't even go once. I blame the fact that I don't have any golf buddies, nor a car. I did get to play on a couple simulators, but no 9 or 18 hole action.


• Ride my bike - success! Got it fixed. Had a couple of weekends during the summer when its all I did!


• Read more - success! Read 7 books as promised. It came close to where I thought I wasn't going to finish. I think the best book that I really enjoyed was Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. The classic, 1984, by George Orwell was pretty good as well.


• New Skill - Salsa and French. And in fact, continuing with it this year. Taking level 2 French currently, and went Salsa dancing this past weekend!

As for this year, its going to be hard to top last year. But here it goes:

• Continue to read - Let's push the limit and bump up the goal to 8 books. I know that's lame, but I have to leave time to study French!


• Be culturally aware. What does this mean? I think just trying to go to exhibitions, plays, shows, and "experience what London has to offer" type of thing. I started this with a membership to the Tate Modern. We'll see how often I take advantage of this.


• Be Financially disciplined - explains itself


• Sleep earlier - I stay up late all the time, I need more Z's!

As the month is coming to an end, its been a very busy month. A couple of surprises this month that were very memorable. A visit from my sister, and a surprise birthday bash! And now this weekend, a childhood friend and family are coming to visit for the first time, so its been a great start to the year so far.

Hopefully it will continue and I'll have may more things to write about.

Congrats again to Obama and hopefully he'll steer America in the right direction once again.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009!

Ringing in 2009 was a unique experience. I think almost symbolic. This is the first year I rang in the new year with people in my life that do not have any connection to my hometown Chicago.

I can't say it was strange, but it was definitely out of the norm. I'm usually surrounded by old friends I've known for ages, or close family members. But this time around, I spent it with people that are important in my life here in London.

The past 3 years since I've moved, I'd come back to Chicago to celebrate the new year and it was just like old times. But this time I spent it here. At "home." It was unique, unforgettable, and different, in a good way.

What was also different was my visit to Chicago. Perhaps it was the hectic schedule with my recent visit in September, maybe it was the arctic temperatures I was experiencing, but this visit, I took time for myself and specifically my family.

I usually run around and schedule lunches weeks in advance, dinners, coffee's with as many people as I can, trying to sync up with old friends and family. But this time around I took the opportunity to just chill. I still went to a couple Christmas parties, and I did catch up with old friends when I got the chance. But I didn't constantly go out as much as I use to when I come to visit. Instead, I spent time with the parents and sister, and had family dinners as much as possible. Its weird, but as I grow older, I'm really realizing how important it is to spend as much time as possible with your family.

So what's in store for 2009? I think the new year's resolution post should be coming up soon. It will be interesting to see how I did from last year. For this year, I have a few, but I think my top one is to see if I can beat my post count of "30" from 2008, especially since I found out over the holidays that I still have avid readers! You know who you are. =)

Rodizio Rico vs. Fogo de Chao and Texas de Brazil

Hmmm.. all you can eat meat. For all the meat eaters out there, there's the heaven of a nice steak, cooked the right way at a place like Morton's, and then there's a Churrascaria

We finally hit up Rodizio Rico for a nice Christmas dinner. Rodizio Rico has been recommended by a few people and it was time to find out what the fuss was all about. And would it even compare to my experiences in the good ol' States such as the fine establishments of Fogo and de Chao and Texas de Brazil?

First, the atmosphere had a nice rustic feel. It felt like going to someone house. Nice cedar wood ceilings wooden furniture, and the kitchen where all the grilling was taking place was part of the main dining room. It wasn't as elegant as Fogo or Texas de Brazil, and was a lot more informal.

Second, the service. To begin, in general, food service in London doesn't compare to the States. I think overall, you'll find that the food service in the States has a lot more emphasis on quality than it does in Europe. That said, being an all you can eat Churrascaria, I was hoping that the service would be top notch. And when I mean service, I mean, keep the meat coming! In Fogo and TdB you have this little paper coaster that on each side indicates: Green - keep the meat coming, and Red - okay stop, I'm full!

We entered the restaurant and the first thing I was looking for were these "give me meat indicators." And none were to be found!

Typically, at Fogo and TbB, I have to keep up with the waiters and my plate slowly fills up with all this meat! But you know what, the waiters had to keep up with me! My mates in Chicago would be proud! I was literally sitting there, waiting for these guys to come around! I guess I was use to be spoiled with a bunch of these waiters running around with all these cuts of meat and you just get so overwhelmed! But to be honest, there were only a couple guys running around. And to honest, grill oven wasn't that huge. I could see about 10-15 skewers going at a time?

So that said, what about the meat? If you had to compare the cuts of beef they had to offer, it doesn't compare to Fogo and TdB. The variety of choice of cuts wasn't impressive, but that said, it was still tasty! They had the typical cuts of beef and pork ribs, garlic steak, pork, leg of lamb, chicken wrapped in bacon, Chicken wings, and even chicken hearts! The critical cut that I absolutely miss were the lamb chops! The salad bar was decent, it wasn't as big as what I'm use to, but it still had a nice selection including cous cous which goes great with lamb! Overall, I thought there was going to be more choices for cuts but overall it was OK. I was still satisfied and excited about the whole experience mainly because it has been a while since I was in a Churrascaria.

I think its hard for London to compete in food experiences versus the States. Of course I'm a bit biased with my past experiences with Fogo and TdB but I would still recommend Rodizio anyday! I think the funny part of the night was when the waitress kept asking to take our plates, when in fact, we were patiently waiting for more cuts of meat! I think she asked 3-4 times! That's what happens when they don't have those "give me meat indicators!" I wonder how its really like in a true Churrascaria in Brazil! Maybe next year? =)

Ramble ramble.. cryptic.. cryptic..

Its funny sometimes how life works.

I think no matter how much you plan life, or try to anticipate it, it doesn't always turn out the way you want, or even, turns out better than you expect.

Either way, if everything always went to plan, wouldn't it be pretty boring?

As 2008 is slowly coming to a close, this has been a very significant year.

I think this is one of the years where from a personal point of view, I've accomplished a lot. And more importantly, I've learned a lot about myself.

I think the first year I moved here I was learning a lot, adjusting, and getting use to the London "grind." Then, I think I got into a groove and things just started "settling" in. Things became more "routine."

But I think the past year, I've gotten into the "mix of things." I've experienced a bit of "change" from a personal and professional perspective.

I've made time for things I normally wouldn't, and I've taken on new challenges that I didn't think would be possible in my first year here.

I've realized a lot of things about myself that I didn't know about. You know when you are happily cruising in life, without giving into too much introspection, and you just go with the flow? You think to yourself, life is good. But then what happens when things go bad? What if the routine is disturbed?

At least for me, I start "thinking." Being an analytical person, this whole "go with the flow" routine is thrown out of the window. A lot of introspection takes place and you start to think about how to resolve the problem, or make the situation better.

Do I just do nothing and complain or do I take "action." Do I admit my mistake and correct the problem, or do I wait until it goes away by itself?

I'd like to say this year, I did take "action." I'd like to say that I've made some mistakes, and will do everything I can to resolve the problem. I have in some cases, and am continuing to work on others.

I don't want to "go with the flow" as I've done, because sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes you just have to be proactive and not be "stagnant." Sometimes you have to look within yourself and do what you can to make things better.

With this in mind, I came to a realization the other day that, in some respects, I don't know a part of me as well as I should. Its weird. Its like when you are studying something, and you overlook something because you think you know it, but when someone actually quizzed you on it, you don't know that answer? It's like that.

"Oh, I know I'm like this or that." But then when you are "tested" on it, you don't turn out that way? But I guess the fact that I've recognized that is a good thing. And its something that I should work on.

I know, I'm confusing.

Blog, I miss you. Sorry I haven't been as faithful as I should. =)