Aug
29
Just came home from Salt. Can anyone say Bourne Identity?
But, in all honesty, I did enjoy the movie. It wasn’t the newest idea in terms of how a spy infiltrates the top secret levels of USA and blah blah blah but it was interesting the depth and plot. I enjoyed Jolie’s acting (errr, fighting and the McGyver ingenuity). What else is there to say? It was enjoyable but doesn’t make the list of favorite all time movies. Although I will go see part 2 as the ending here begs for more action.
What was also interesting to me was the casting of Daniel Olbrychski. I’m not super familiar with this actor but it was nice to see a Polish actor getting a huge part in such a huge film (even though he was playing a Russian spy.)
Aug
26
I went on a trip with the wife and a few friends to Zakopane and to visit the Tatra mountains. We had a blast. Even bought telescopic trekking poles (highly recommend them). Weather was near perfect but my knee and ankle (the one that was in a cast not too long ago) weren’t, but I had fun none-the-less.
We hiked up some mountains and trails and enjoyed the beautiful sites and I tried to take as many pictures as possible. All together there was 1100 or so photos taken. But of course only 400 were really any good.
The photo above is from our visit to Poprad on the Slovakian side. They seem to have a very nice panorama of the High Tatras without any impeding smaller hills or forests. It was quite nice but the more take into account the difference the more I like the diversity of the Polish side.
Aug
2
See, this is a good lesson of ‘two birds, one stone.’ I didn’t visit the cathedral earlier as I planned to on Sunday. And it just so happens that there are also masses on Sunday. See where I’m going with this? ;)
St. Nick’s was built in 1320 and looks kinda cool inside. The priest that said the mass had this typical Irish accent (think Peter Griffin’s father when he came to live with them. The Pope’s in that episode as well). Not too many people were there praising the good Lord but I assume that’s becuase it’s summer time.
The weather is still cold. Amazing how the Irish manage. Maybe that’s why they drink so much? My throat hurt yesterday and I’ve been having a semi-blocked nose now but this morning it felt all better after a night out to town. I came home extremely late and woke up at 8am or so. I must be on a caffeine rush from the coffee I had at 3am :)
Jul
31
I went on a walk with my sister today to Bothar na Tra (Salthill, duh! Don’t speak Gaelic? ;) ). We never made it all the way. I took this picture there and uploaded it straight from camera. Not the greatest shot as I’m away from my usual work station, wanted to get it up and show you peeps what’s happenin’.
The weather hasn’t been very nice with cloudy gloomy skies ever since we got here (as opposed to Toronto’s latest heat waves. I wonder who’s the luckier). Planning to go tomorrow early morning, if I wake up that is, and make take some shots of those hills in the background. You can see it starting to rain off in the distance. We watched those rain clouds pass us by and then walked back home. Ate some chicken nuggets and watched a bit of Dexter.
I’m hooked on Dexter at the moment.
Jul
30
I’m here tw/o days and this is the picture I chose to share with you guys. Why? Because 1. I’ve seen more of this than anything else 2. This is best representative of my night-life experience of Ireland (save for the awesome band FYC at The Quay’s the other night).
Supermac’s is an Irish version of McDonald’s. Yet it’s so much more. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was a super cool club that EVERYBODY is invited into. A super cool club where you can buy a cheese burger and fries. And while you’re at it, get into a fight, fall over drunk, walk out (or be escorted out by security) with a broken nose or bloodied dress shirt, watch other drunk idiots trying to get in, etc, etc.
It’s crazy at night with business from opening until 6am! People seem to be sort of drunk zombies (yes, imagine zombies, then imagine them drunk, and now with burgers) mindlessly pushing and shoving their way to the counter. Then they go outside eat and drop their garbage anywhere.
Anyways, I’m rambling now. Maybe I’ll post something more interesting tomorrow, or at least a follow up post. It’s 4:26am at the moment, I just got home. Time to sleep. Goodnight (or morning to some). Tomorrow is another beautiful day in Ireland!
(Don’t get me wrong though, there are nice sights as well. I’ll get to those pictures eventually, or visit them on my Flickr, link is somewhere on this page)
Jul
25
PARIS (AP)—Lance Armstrong and his RadioShack team have been forced to change unofficial jerseys honoring cancer patients before starting the final stage of the Tour de France.
The start of Sunday’s stage was held up while Armstrong and his teammates took off the black jerseys with the number “28” on the back. The figure was selected to honor the 28 million people fighting cancer, the focus of the Texan’s Livestrong Foundation.
TV images showed the RadioShack riders on the side of the road taking off the black jerseys and putting their regular red ones on and pinning their numbers to the backs.
The rest of the pack pedaled slowly as race officials delayed the start.
The 63.6-mile course from Longjumeau to Paris is expected to be largely ceremonial—with Alberto Contador set to win his third Tour.
So it seems that the Tour de France committee would rather have Radio Shack wear Radio Shack jersey’s than something that would promote cancer research and funding. I don’t know where I stand on this as it’s a weird situation. Lance wanted to do something awesome and symbolic yet the TdeF committee didn’t see it that way. Then again, there are rules and they’re not meant to be broken.
Reading the comments on the Yahoo page though sure gives a small chuckle. Lot’s of comments ranging from praise to childish namecalling and bashing of entire nations. Good job guys, real pro.
Jul
21
When I think about it, running total sounds a little stupid considering this is biking. So next post, it’ll be biking total. And the grand number so far is 68km. Today’s trip was a grilling 30.6km at an average speed of 20.8km in a time of 1h28min. Grilling because it was up and down a few (semi-little) hills and my third time out on a serious ride on the bike. But it felt great none-the-less.
I’ve also noticed that after biking I have mad cravings for fruit. Not chocolate, beer, sweet juice,etc. I literally want a bucket of fruit and maybe a bottle of water.
Jul
21
I maxed my speed today at 51km/h, of course going downhill, crouched low, and pedaling for my dear life. Lasted a whole 10 seconds maybe. My average throughout my mini journey was 21km/h and my ride lasted 57minutes. My journey today (actually, a few days ago) was basically 20km. Tomorrow I’m planning something a tiny bit longer.
Can you tell I love cycle computers? ;)
Jul
16
I blew a tube not too long ago (Actually, July 2nd, man time flies extremely quickly) and yesterday I replaced it. Would have been sooner but my wife through out a yellow rim band I was planning to put on because she thought it was old packaging material (the kind used to secure boxes). And I just couldn’t find time to get to a store to buy one and all the stores that we visited that were on the way didn’t have any. But eventually I got this 4 dollar made in Japan transparent green thing. I have to admit that I liked the previous rim band more, it was yellow and reminded me of the Tour de France.
So after today’s ride to J’s dental place I’m at a grand total of 18.2km and today’s trip amounted to 12.6km according to my A-Tech Cycle Computer. I’m having doubts whether the thing is properly calibrated so I mapped out my trip today on Google Maps which gave me 12.0km. So that’s essentially 4% error if I’m calculating right. Doesn’t seem so bad.
Jul
14
I’m really enjoying watching reading and keeping up with the Tour de France 2010. It’s a great race and an incredible test of power, strength, endurance, and a person’s psychological state. But then again, it’s the best of the best that take part, so it should be no surprise that these men live and breathe challenge.
One particular rider (Lance, duh) is currently my favourite. You’re probably thinking that he’s everybody’s favorite, he’s Lance Armstrong, winner of le Tour seven consecutive times. It’s true, people have a natural tendency to state that their favourite rider/sportsmen is usually also the winner or takes high places. And I’m no different. I like him because he’s a winner.
But lately he’s amazed me becaus he’s not winning, at least not in the Maillot Jaune sense. He’s currently in 31st place (after stage 9, stage 10 results still being calculated) with 15′54″ behind Andy Schleck (I wonder how many people will pick him as their new favourite now). A day or so ago Lance was in 39. He doesn’t seem to stand a chance of winning the Tour but he’s still in it and in the interviews I’ve watched, he conveys a sense of hope and determination to finish the race and do all he can. He’s not giving up and at the same time he’s losing (although I wouldn’t say it’s losing in the strictest sense) with dignity and honour.
At first I thought that it would be a great shame if he didn’t place 1st but now the more I think about it, it really doesn’t matter. He’s shown the world he was once the best…7 times in a row, and now the priorities are different. Of course everyone would want to win, but Lance also is putting out the message of hope and fighting to the last breath. Maybe now after dropping so far back in the race (even though 31 isn’t that bad considering over 180 riders are in the race) he can concentrate even more on getting the message across.
I’m also quite enjoying his tweets @lancearmstrong, check them out!
Jul
13
Since a friend bought a camera I’ve gotten a little jealous. It seems that beginner togs have this urge to take pictures, and lots of them and at many different angles that make things look good even when they’re boring.
And so this friend made me a little jealous because he’s been producing some really nice shots of rather simple things but also inspired me to start looking at simple things again but with a twist; a small angle change, maybe colour conversion.
And so I present you my attempt: Rocks
Jul
2
I’m really late to the party with getting my bicycle out. I would have done it earlier but excuses (like exams and laziness) got in the way. I kinda regret not doing it earlier because it’s so damn fun to ride a bike.
I took the girl out today, oiled her up and tightened anything that needed to be tightened. I checked break pads, alignment, seat height, ball bearings. I then pumped up the tires to the appropriate pressure, changed into my cycling shorts, put on a helmet, and went off to see J, who’s still currently at her dental office.
I get there and everything seems fine. But once I leave I notice my rear tire isn’t acting the way it should. I stop and take a look. FLAT. The first flat of the season and it’s only been 2km!!! I take off the tire, patch it up (it went flat on old patch), and continue on my way.…AND AGAIN A FLAT! I don’t know the cause of this second one, could have been a recurrence or something. I gave up and walked the bike home. Going to buy some inner tubes tomorrow…around 6 or so because for some reason I feel as if I’m going to need them.
But it was fun to ride a bike none-the-less.
Jun
9
A friend from Norway came down and we took a photo walk. Went up to some train tracks saw these things growing. I’m also out of my cast which made this walk 1000x easier ;)
I do still feel a bit of pain when going too far but it’s bearable. The weather lately has been beautiful save for a few misplaced thunderstorms, but it’s better we get them then South of Poland as they’re being flooded right now. Poor guys.
May
16
We were out at Harry Cup, just like all the previous years and were playing this Polish team. One the members of that team decided to fall directly on my ankle as I was goalie for our side.
I ended up with a posterior tibial avulsion fracture. Hurts a little. Cast is quite heavy. 2-3wks of cast therapy and LMWH ;)
Apr
23
So I come home from wherever I was today only to hear from my wife that she had to…flush one of my angelfish down the toilet. Seemed to have died. I didn’t see the body so I can’t confirm, but it does seem a little fishy, if you know what I mean.
But then again, the other fish have been acting a little wierd as well the last few days. Some have been hiding under the filters and the other angelfish seems to be chillin’ a lot within the plants. Don’t know what’s wrong.
As for some background, that angelfish was one of the ‘elders’ of the tank that made it from the beginning all the way until now and outlived quite a few other fish. Oh well. Ultimately maybe it was for the better as slowly I can put in other fish into the tank.
Man this post was wierd.
Apr
12
I love being in the hospital ‘after hours’. Duties past the usual academic hours seem to bring out the mystique in the hospital. Any hospital really. Taking a walk at 2am down the hallways and seeing the ambulances (whether they’re running on lights or not) coming in is always interesting. It’s a surreal sort of situation when you compare it with the bustling nature of the place that was it was just a few hours earlier.
And not to mention that sometimes you have a moment to think. To really become one with your mortality so to speak.
Apr
10
Lech Kaczynski, the president of Poland, died today, April 10, 2010, after his plane crashed on route to Katyn, in western Russia, where he was due to commemorate the murder 70 years ago of thousands of Polish officers, according to the Polish foreign ministry. He was 61 years old.
Rest In Peace
