Favorite Asian Girl Comment Today

I was in a store today where the girls compliment you a lot and tell you you're skinny so you'll buy their really expensive clothes. And, as usual, they only had sizes 0, 2 & 4 on the rack. So I had to once again ask if they had my size in the back. I used what is now my signature joke that always gets a reaction:

"Do you have this in the back in, you know...big, fat, American girl sizes?" (I puff out my cheeks and move from side-to-side acting like I'm the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.)

That usually results in a little hand-to-mouth-hee-hee but the reply from the girl today was classic. She lit up and started knodding her head and said:

"Oh yes! This clothes from Germany so they big and fit you."

I haven't felt that beastly in quite awhile. Ahhhhh, yeahhhh. Asia's awesome.

Old Guy = Done

I had felt bad about just emailing Old Guy Tony back instead of giving him the respect of a call back. Fuck it though. I haven't known him that long and he was being Mr. Obsessive. So I suppose that makes his name now Obsessive Old Guy Tony. Glad I don't have to type about him much anymore because that's a goddamn long name.

He sent a sweet email and all is well now. So glad that's over with.

It's a little scary how so many moments in my life involving men have a "Sex & the City" reference (And I mean scary because it's the only show I reference. Did I not watch anything else from '98-'04?) but I kept thinking about the time Samantha had an old guy after her...bought her jewelry...was upfront about everything. So she thought, "Hell yeah!"

And then she saw his ass.

I can't have sex with an ass like that either. [shudder]

Not that mine is perfection but my man's gotta have a good ass.

Like this:


Not that you needed a photo, but....well....sure you did.


















On another note...terrible story in the news about a little girl that was murdered in Texas. Very, very sad story. But, was anyone else disturbed by this rendering of her?




It looks like a fucked up version of Michelle Tanner from "Full House" with neanderthal teeth and a swollen tongue.

Vietnam Photos

I believe I sent this link to everyone who reads this thing but just in case...here's a link to my Vietnam photos. I'll be posting more photos here as soon as my friggin' camera is fixed (hopefully this week).

Note to self: Do NOT drop camera on concrete. Concrete hurts camera. Bad.

Saturday night

It took everything in me to make it to dinner with Grace Saturday night. But I made it. We've been trying to get together for 2 months and I didn't want to bail on her.

She took me to this Vietnamese restaurant that felt sort of like a cafeteria but really good food. Then we went to a new club. Her friend is part owner. Rooftop. Very cool. I met this girl, Han, that's from Hanoi so we talked about Vietnam, etc. She was one of the most beautiful women I've ever met. And what was crazy is that she looks EXACTLY like my friend Adria in NY. I texted Adria that I found her Asian doppleganger.

I love how travel opens you up to meeting that many more people. If I hadn't gone to Vietnam then I wouldn't have had as much to talk about with this girl.

A bunch of Grace's friends came to celebrate a birthday. It was all these Asian women that, like Grace, grew up in England or Scotland or Australia. So they're the odd ones out being Asian but having accents. Several short caucasian men accompanied them. That was an epiphany. Short men would have a FIELD day in Asia. SO many more choices. I had heels on so was probably 5'8" and I was towering over everyone except one guy. Cracked me up.

Grace is interesting. The most blunt person I've ever met. Which I like. But she's a little fucked up b/c her mom is fucked up and has a bit of a chip on her shoulder but I enjoyed hanging out with her and she'll be a fun girl to hang out with occassionally here. She knows very hip, rich, cool people so could be fun. Also, she knows the out of the way restaurants that are more local which will be GREAT to learn about.

I had two drinks at the rooftop bar and had to call it a night. They all went to see Boy George DJ (although they weren't 100% sure he was going to make it due to his recent incident) but I couldn't do it. Damnit. How random/cool would it be to see him DJ? Oh well...

I'll just have to go watch Benjamin :) sidebar: my favorite moment was when we woke up in the morning and we faced each other and he said, "Hello" in his French accent and smiled. I was a goner....

5:01 Club - 11/23/07

This was the 2nd time I'd been out with the 5:01 Club and I'm a bit scared. It was Sara, myself and a bunch of guys. These guys remind me SOOOOOO much of the guys I hung out with in LA. There's a guy that's very social, smart, charming and is the ringleader named Jonathan. He's just like Chip. Then there's a guy that's reeeally into drinking, is totally loveable and likes to do stupid stuff when he's drunk like drink a shot of Sambuca and light his mouth on fire, named Matt. He's like Skids.

Then there were some other guys. One - totally cute but only 25. Then another one - 21 yrs old - that looked so classicly British with his eyes that drooped at the corners named ???. Can't remember.

I got the same peer pressure shit from them that I used to get from Chip, et. al. Tried to get me to do a Jager bomb but I got out of that one. Finally succombed to a lemon/vodka shooter while they did something much more heinous.

Sara and I had a pact that we weren't going to let each other get drunk. Her boyfriend was coming in town the next day and she didn't want to be a corpse for him (he lives in London and she's contemplating moving there. I hope that happens so she can be my friend there) and I wanted to work out the next day and well...just not be hungover.

I made her stick to the pact. I.....did not.

Sara went home and me and the boys and two girls they picked up went to a small dance club called Gecko. HK is cool in that during the day you'll pass by these tiny alleyways and not think anything of them. Then at night all of a sudden there's a bar or club down there. The discovery is fun.

On the way there I had a good chat with the cute 25-year old. He's Aussie. I'm lovin' these accents. I started to think, "Well, 25 isn't thaaaaat young is it?"

I was barely buzzed at this point and not in the mood for a oon-chuh-oon-chuh dance club scene. I walked in. It was crowded as hell. I couldn't find the 25-year old. Turned around and left.

Was going to head home and then I saw Jonathan chowin' down on a hot dog. He said something that made me change my mind (can't remember at this point) and I turned around and headed back inside.

Went to the bar with the 21-year Brit guy and this HOT guy chatted us up. He bought our drinks. His name is Benjamin. I'm in love with Benjamin. He's 27, French, former model but finance guy now and has lived in HK for about 15 years.

I no longer hate French accents :)

He and I chatted all night. The 5:01 clubbers left. I didn't notice. Except for one time when the 21-year old was sitting behind us and he lit my fucking hair on fire. I smelled it but never thought it'd be me and thank GOD Benjamin saw it and put it out. The 21-year old was trying desperately to hook up with - anyone - and I suppose was annoyed I wasn't giving him attention.

Benjamin DJ's at Gecko so we talked about DJ'ing. I surprise myself sometimes at how I can talk about a subject I know nothing about for a really long time.

Benjamin brought me to this other dance club that reminded me of NY. We walked right past all the suckers waiting in line. Love when that happens. It's so pathetic but I felt very cool hanging out with him because he knows everybody.

We were there until about...ohhhhh, 5am. Then went BACK to Gecko and ran into more people that he knows. Then finally we left and I thought we would just go our separate ways because he had just broken up with his girfriend 4 days earlier. They dated for 2 years. But he wanted to come back to my place to hang out some more.

At this point I was exhausted but wanted to get the most time with him that I could. He's just a really gentle-natured person. Smart. And I couldn't stop staring at him. SO beautiful! PERFECT physique too. Of COURSE he just broke up with someone. I swear...

He spent the night and we fooled around a bit but nothing major. We didn't go to bed until about 6:30am/7am. He left around 2:30pm on Saturday.

I was so fucked up. Stayed in bed the rest of the day. Then had to meet up with this girl Grace that my friend Brett hooked me up with....

Old Guy

I didn't know how to respond to Tony's email. Plus, I was really busy with work and had social engagements at night so I didn't have time to sit and compose a thoughtful reply.

So I let 2 days go by without responding which isn't THAT long and I get this email from him:

I'm not sure whether you have received this email (see bottom), as I have been anxiously awaiting your reply. You have occupied my fancy and my soul. I know that you have probably been very busy with plans for London and your immediate work there... When are you returning to Atlanta and for how long?

I'm like, "Back OFF! Jesus."

Given that this is my reaction tells me that I'm no longer interested in him at all. I went out that night with the 5:01 club (another story for the next post) and was hungover the whole next day, then went straight to dinner with someone and out again. Then Sunday morning I get a call. Caller ID says "Anonymous" which is does a LOT on this phone (which I hate).

It's Tony.

I forgot I had given all of them my number so they could get in touch with me when they were in HK. It was 11am and I had been sleeping (rough weekend) so I was out of it. I said I was sorry I hadn't returned his email but it overwhelmed me a bit and I've been busy the past few days and didn't want to just send a quick reply. I asked if I could call him back. Got his number.

And then sent him an email.

I'm such a coward but he's just turned me off SO much that I don't even want to talk with him. I sent the following reply:

I did get your email but I was truly busy with work and had evening plans for a few days in a row. So I've been going non-stop and haven't had a chance to respond. I suppose I also put it off a bit because I didn't know how to respond.

This is such a wonderful email you sent me. But I must admit it did scare me off and overwhelm me. I don't know if you really heard me in my first email but friendship is all I can offer at this point. I'm not comfortable with anything else. In these long-distance situations I have to listen to my instincts and my heart. If you were consuming my thoughts then I would have to listen to that, and I suspect I would've had a different reaction to your email. But that's not what's happening on my end. I'm so sorry to say this because I don't want to hurt you but I just want to be honest. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your openness and sincerity. Unfortunately, I don't come across too many men that are able to reveal themselves like you are. But again, like I said in my first email, I'm not up for just having fun and I don't want to get involved with someone that doesn't live near me. In the days since you left I've only grown more certain of this.

I'm sorry I took the coward's way out and emailed you vs. calling you back. You deserve more than that.

Hopefully I wasn't too harsh but I'm not going to string this guy along when I really don't want to see him again. Hopefully he'll get it now and stop pursuing me.

HK Story #1

Figured I'd change the title of these blog posts since I'm back in HK now.

So I meet up with the three Canadians - Tony, Mina and Bud - for dinner (Hee hee..."Bud"). We had a GREAT time. About 6 hours long. Went to a Turkish restaurant and ate decent food, sucked a bunch of apple tobacco out of a hookah, etc. Tony sat across from me and everytime our eyes would meet it was very intense. It was hard to look away.

At the end of the night I descended into the subway and thought, "I wonder if he's going to come after me." I sent he and Mina a link to my Vietnam photos and got the following response from Tony (edited to just good parts):

I had a premonition to want to come after you as soon as I was in the hotel, feeling that you were still close by. My regret, not having done so!!!

Strange as it may seem, my feelings for you are incredibly strong, I felt it the first time I made eye contact with you on that first plane ride to Ho Yan. Am I really a fool given our age difference? I've never dated anyone with a wide age gap. What are your feelings? Is it just me? Anyway, I hope to continue communicating with you, of course only if you are comfortable with that.

You seem to be a most beautiful individual!!

With affection,
Tony

The age difference he's referring to?

Yeah.

He's proooobably about 65-years old. I never found out the exact number.

I've NEVER been attracted to a man that old before but there's a first time for everything. Given that I had just had drama with Pascal in Hanoi and a year earlier had long-distance drama with Toronto Joe that dragged on and on...and given the fact that he's...like....OLD....and I want to find a guy to settle down with and maybe have a baby or two...this ain't gonna work.

I replied with a very honest email basically saying that his age and location were big factors and if I thought I could just "have fun" with him then I'd say, "Let's do this." But I know I'd get attached to him as it's a pretty intense connection. And I don't need that heartache. Been there, done that. So I asked that we just remain friends for now but said I definitely wanted to keep in touch.

In the days b/n sending that email to him and his reply my feelings have pretty much dissolved completely. It was a fleeting connection in my mind.

Then I get THIS email from him last night:

My thanks to you for being so candid in your assessment of your feelings. I so wish that I had run to you when we parted and you were there alone on the platform. I would have put my arms around you and held you so tight and laughed together.

I am sorry that your 2 recent relationships have not worked out and you are at a fragile state at this time. Please be secure that I don't make it a desire to ever hurt or injure minds or body. Like you, I don't take my feelings lightly or those of others, It has been very rare, as a matter of fact you are only the second person that I've fallen for with total confidence. When I met you and our eyes made contact it wasn't just a casual encounter, my heart felt it, no words were exchanged.

I believe in destiny, in a Higher Being, in One that is capable of making things happen given circumstances, personal faith and love for mankind. When I was with you, a mere couple of times and in the company of others, I didn't see a 32 year old, after all what is age? I saw a mature intelligent individual that I can have conversations with, be proud to have at my side in any setting, and enjoy the ultimate human experience of the sense of touch in a most delicate, soft and romantic manner where we are both at ease with full confidence that the other cares, loves and their world is totally entwined, to taste, smell and be fulfilled in the other's joys and accomplishments, support failures and ill health. We do live a world apart, take it slow? Meet somewhere in between Atlanta and Toronto? In Europe? I am willing. I understand that you want to settle down. A life fulfilled as prescribed by nature is something we all yearn for, why shouldn't you have it? I support your goals.

This connection is a great gift, for me it transcends age, race, nationality, religious differences and distances. The world is so finite, nothing becomes a barrier. If just friendship is what all this will turn out to be, at least I can say that it is the most special with a sense of purity and dedicated love for the other.

On the other hand, if just some fun is what you'd like to try for now, with someone you'd trust and meet so often, I am open too, I just don't want to end it before we've had a chance to meet again.

I hope I didn't scare you off with my rambling!! For now, I look at your picture with admiration!

With warm feelings,
Tony

Uhhhhh. Wow.

"you are only the second person that I've fallen for with total confidence."

???? Holy shit!

"I hope I didn't scare you off with my rambling!!"

Gee, you think?!

"On the other hand, if just some fun is what you'd like to try for now..."

I said the exact OPPOSITE in my email to him. That that's not what I want.

And I so feel like Carrie Bradshaw right now in the episode where she thinks she's too bitter for romance. That email did nothing but creep me out. Of course, if it were a guy I was really into then maybe it would be different but this guy. No. There was a "connection" and I was very attracted to him but the age thing just stops it cold. Even though he's a good looking guy and looks really damn good for his age. Eh... If he hadn't left the next day I probably would've tried it out but since he's gone I need to say good riddance.

So now I have to write him again and tell this guy that I'm not interested.

HELP!

Oh yeah, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Vietnam Story #5

Hoi An is a wonderful town. It's one of the few spots in Vietnam that during the war both sides agreed to leave it alone. So the buildings are just great. And unlike Hanoi, they don't allow cars in certain areas so it's much less hectic.

I had a kick ass room right on China Beach. Couldn't get over the fact that I was laying out on China Beach. I kept looking for Dana Delaney and Marg Helgenberger. Waited for helicopters that never came.

I explored a lot of the old houses and a couple museums. Bought some art. GREAT art there. Took some pretty decent pictures.

Back up to the flight from Hanoi to Hoi An. There was a man on my flight. He and I locked eyes very intensely. He said something to me but I didn't hear him and just laughed and looked away. And that was it.

So my 2nd night in Hoi An I pick a restaurant out of a long list...get a table...and he's sitting right next to me. We looked at each other and just smiled. He was traveling with a married couple and they're all neighbors back in Toronto. So we proceed to have a great dinner. Tony - the guy - is hitting on me and that became the overlying theme of the evening. They're all very nice, sassy, fun people. Found out they were going to be traveling to Hong Kong the next week so we exchanged information and promised to have dinner when they were there.

Meanwhile, during this trip I was texting with Pascal. We tried doing dirty texts (I started it and he was more than enthused) but then I lost cell service...damnit. Haha...

As I'm on my way back to Hong Kong I have a layover in Hanoi. I'm sitting in the Hanoi airport in some crappy restaurant eating a crappy burger. They're playing the most random American songs. At one point I was singing along to "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar". I laughed out loud to no one.

I emailed Pascal from there and he said to let him know the weather report in Hong Kong because he thinks he needs to visit me...

I was so excited! I got much more attached to him than I planned on though. Which worried me as he's such a playboy. But I was trying to keep it cool in my head.

Didn't hear from him by Thursday re: any definite plans. So I thought, "Shit, he's bailing." I emailed him a link to some article as a ploy to get info out of him. He replied but didn't mention anything about coming to HK.

So I called him out on it. Said I felt like a big idiot because he said he was coming and now he's obviously not. I said "maybe you're not as over your ex-girlfriend as I thought?" Asked him to mail me my watch, etc.

He replied saying that he was so sorry and to please forgive him but he thought he could handle everything but he's now figured out that he can't and he's stuck and he's sorry. I said that was okay and I understood.

Then I proceeded to go out that night and get SHITFACED. Had a great time though with my new friend Sara (not as cool as the first Sarah). I sent Pascal a drunk email blasting him out. Said that if he knew he was bailing on me he should've let me know. That's fucked up and fuck him and blah, blah. Told him that he's 40 years old and need to be a man. I'm a nice person and I don't deserve this shit. I don't care who you are in your home country. You can't treat people this way.

Now most men my age would run screaming for the hills after an email like that. But Pascal had done the same thing as me - gone out and got shitfaced - and replied saying that he really likes me, more and more, especially after this email...it's good to let it out...blah, blah. He suggested we see each other in December.

After much hazy-hungover reflection the following day AND after having a VERY enlightening conversation with his friend Martin over IM I decided to make up with him and we could be friends. After a few email exchanges that was the end result and he said, "You'll never be alone as I humbly think you've found a soulmate in me."

Love the conclusion.

So then the Hoi An guy comes into town and I'm having dinner with he and the other 2 Canadians that night. My head/heart were still spinning from the Pascal drama....

Vietnam Story #4

I went to Halong Bay for 2 days. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place. The beauty is indescribable. That word looks misspelled. "Indescribeable"? "Indescribeable"? I hate the English language sometimes.

After two days on the boat with me and 3 other couples and a handful of Vietnamese help that slept on the floor in the dining room...I was feeling a bit lonely.

I was back in Hanoi and it was my last night there before I was leaving for Hoi An. I was eating dinner by myself and decided to send Pascal an email. I told him that I had a wonderful time in Halong Bay and although I would love to get together for a drink that night I wanted it to be as friends because I thought our sexual styles were just too different.

He sent an immediate reply (older men are good about that) saying that it was "cool babe" and that he was having a "laid back drinks meeting with the Canadian Trade Commissioner". Right. Me too actually...but my meeting is with the Ambassador to China. Jesus. He wanted me to join them. Martin was going to be there too.

So I did. It was a crazy location. Right on Ho Tay Lake (they call it West Lake). Basically the Beverly Hills of Hanoi. Gorgeous. Although the cab driver got lost on the way there and we ended up in a PRETTY SCARY area...but I made it eventually and when I arrived Pascal was immediately all over me.

Mentioned about 5 times how he knew I'd find the place on my own without any help even though it was really tough to find. I met the Canandian dude, said hi to Martin and met the owner of the club. It was brand new. I must say, I felt very hip and cool.

The Canadian guy left and the rest of us decided that we needed food. We went to Vines which is a really good restaurant. Great atmosphere. Pascal kept insisting on knowing what I thought was so different about our sexual styles. I had to keep putting him off. But of course I was getting the ego boost of a lifetime.

We got drunk. Went back to Pascal's place. Martin and I walked one block to Ho Tay Lake and he showed me the exact spot where John McCain was shot down. We were standing there at about 2am. Drunk. It's pitch black and we're at the edge of the lake. Peace and quiet in this absolutely beautiful area. And I was trying to envision it being a war zone where the worst moment in John McCain's life was about to begin.

Continued to hang out at Pascal's. He went on and on about how he wanted me to meet his mother. His mother is picky about women but would love me. Finally Martin passed out and Pascal and I had a very honest conversation and I told him I didn't like the way he kissed. He asked me how I liked to be kissed and changed for me and it was great!

So we had a WOOOOOONDERFUL night! GOD I needed that. He's a male slut but I put that thought out of my mind because he was so good. It was an emotional evening too. Not just sex. Great experience.

I left in a hurry the next morning as we were counting the minutes until I had to leave to catch my flight. I left my watch and some jewelry there. He texted me saying as much and said I could either pick it up during my connection on my way back to HK in a few days or he could bring it to HK himself. I opted for the latter.

Vietnam Story #3

Martin and Pascal introduce themselves to me and look like they're in their 40's and seem nice enough so I chat them up.

Pascal's face was just lit up when he was talking with me. After about 10 minutes Pascal starts in with the compliments.

"Stacey's a cool babe."
"Martin, isn't she beautiful?" (Martin is forced to reply)
"You've got a nice ass."
"You're down to earth. I like that."
"Stacey is a cool babe." (he likes to repeat himself when he's been drinking)

What's funny is that his delivery just made me laugh. They told me I had NO IDEA what I had walked into with the two of them. Pascal is basically a huge stud in Switzerland (where he's from) and grew up with tons of money, etc. He didn't reveal these things in an obnoxious way and only after we knew each other better.

Pascal makes us switch seats so that I'm in the middle. He makes me kiss him on the cheek. This is after about 30 minutes maximum from the first hello. And what's funny is that it seemed sort of natural.

I was enjoying all of the attention. Martin said I remind him of Natalie Wood. I'll take that! We were all talking about newspapers and I commented on my disappointment that Rupert Murdoch has taken over the WSJ and Pascal now thinks I'm a genius. Meanwhile, I hardly read the WSJ. I just throw that comment out there to seem smart. Guess it works.

Martin went to the bathroom and I knew I was in trouble. Alone with Pascal. He tried to kiss me but I said no. I just met the guy. I really, really planned on not spending the night with him because it was that time of the month and I just wasn't all prepared down there. Plus, he was just SO sure of himself and SO blunt about it all that my stubborn ass didn't want to give him the satisfaction of another easy score.

Cut to 2 hours later and my stubborn ass is getting spanked by a guy named Pascal.

Going back to the bar though...I finally let him kiss me and I hated the way he kissed. Jackhammer tongue. Yuck. So invasive and not intimate at all. The man is 40 years old so I figure he's probably set in his ways so I was disappointed as I was really attracted to him. And since he was such an interesting guy and I wanted to hook up I decided "what the hell".

He came back to my hotel which was a $20/night hotel. This guy grew up with a rich father, private jet, the whole bit. Has been a very successful investment banker himself, virtually saving two European nations' economies from collapsing...and he's in my $20/night room and loved it "because he was with me".

I've never been complimented so much in my life. Toronto Joe is a close 2nd. He loves everything about me, including my body, and the way he says it cracks me up. It's like I'm a medical specimen and he's evaluating my body:

"Nice ass"
"Great tits"
"Great pussy"
"I like your body. You're a woman. Not some skinny ass model."
"You have graceful hands"

For some reason with this guy it doesn't bother me. Although I was uncomfortable the entire night because I hated his kissing. I would literally pull my head back everytime he went in to kiss me. The rest was fine. He's the best cuddler in the world. So I just layed there trying to enjoy his petting my head, etc. but really was just praying for the sun to come up.

Because he's so freaking brilliant, fun, interesting, worldly and adores me I thought I'd ask him to breakfast. So we do that and when we part ways he asks me to please call him when I'm back in town as I was heading out the next day to Halong Bay for 2 days.

I didn't plan on calling him...

My favorite picture of Hanoi

 

Vietnam Story #2

My first night in Hanoi I went to a restaurant near Hoan Kiem Lake called Bobby Chinn's. I happened to walk in behind a group of 5 men in their 50's/60's. They were boisterous and having a good time. The hostess looked at them and me and said, "5?" One of the men said, "Join us! Come on!"

I thought, "What the hell?" and decided to join them. As we were seated at the table I found out that 3 of the men were Vietnam War vets and were visiting Vietnam for the first time since the war. They were shooting a documentary. One of the producers is Edward Tick, PhD who wrote the book "War and the Soul" and is one of the foremost authorities on PTSD.

The man that invited me to join them tells me that the day before he had visited the exact spot where he had been shot down. Said it was quite a heavy experience.

Then the man next to me leans over and says very sweetly that if it's alright with me they might have to ask me to excuse myself because they had reserved that night for the really deep, tough talk about their Vietnam War experience. I couldn't believe how sensitive they were being to MY feelings. I'm just some random girl.

They decided to switch tables to get better shooting angles and I pulled the producers aside and said that I'd feel more comfortable letting them do their thing. I don't need to be involved. This is their time to work through everything and I didn't want to do anything that would impede that progress.

They were so sweet and talked with me for about 5 minutes making sure I was okay about it. They said the one guy that had invited me to join them and kept talking with me was using me as a distraction because he was afraid to really delve in. The wives weren't even allowed that night. I felt so bad for him because I'll never be able to imagine how hard that night was going to be for him. But hopefully equally as therapeutic as well.

Oy. So I went to sit at the bar and that's when I met Pascal and Martin.

Vietnam Story #1

My tour guide on the boat in Halong Bay was a sweet guy. I could tell he didn't know how to react to a woman traveling alone. He tried to get different couples on the boat to sit with me and I had to explain to him that I was fine by myself. Especially since the other couples didn't speak English.

He chatted me up the 2nd day. Asked if I had a boyfriend. Then said I looked like the girl from "Knocked Up". Haha...

Asked me what my job was and I told him. He said, "Ah, you be Chief Executive Officer someday. Impossible is nothing!"

Impossible is nothing, indeed, Mike.

I'm home

Finally. After lugging my 66 lbs. suitcase up 66 stairs to my apartment. It feels good to be home. My bed is still unmade just as I left it. I can crawl right in and go to sleep. So excited to get settled. The picture above was supposed to be a picture of me looking relieved to be home and not traveling but then it turned into "How hot can I look?"

I'm so vain...

Vietnam Trip

My last night in Vietnam. I've had such a wonderful time. I love the people here. The weather has been pretty much perfect the entire time. I met a 40-year old Swiss man, Pascal, my first night in Hanoi that adores me. We spent two nights together and he's going to visit me in HK next week ;) He's absolutely fascinating to talk to. Not the most attractive man I've been with but that all goes away just talking with him. There's much more to tell about him but he's the real deal. Also met some Canadian folks last night that are going to be in HK in a couple weeks and we're going to get together.

I shopped WAY too much. Had a dress made for me in Hoi An in less than 24 hours and it's HOT! Rode a motorbike for 3 hours today in the more rural parts between Hoi An and Danang. Decided to go off the main road to see what a small village looks like. Met several kids and their mothers. They helped me with my leg as I burned it on the pipe of another motorbike at the gas station. That scar will be on my leg for at least a year. They were so sweet. Made the pain go away :)

The kids ran and got their English language book and I helped them with their English pronounciation for about 20 minutes. That was the best part of my trip. We had the best time and I got the BEST picture with two of them. One of the little kids took it and he could barely hold up the camera. Somehow he framed it perfectly! Will put up my favorite pictures when I get back home. I also got one of the girl's email addresses although she forgot to add the part that comes after the @ sign. So I'm hoping the email I sent her goes through because I want to send her the picture. She'll get a kick out of it.

Oh - and then I dropped my camera. My brand new $1,300 camera. The lens is broken but I think the body of the camera is okay. I swear. This is why I don't own anything nice. And before that I bought a painting for $120. Left it leaning on a fence and jumped in a cab. I realized it 60 seconds later and by the time the cab took me back to the same spot it was gone. Went back today and bought a similar painting for a little bit less (she took pity on me). Didn't leave it out of my sight until I went to pick up my new hot dress. Propped it up against the desk when I paid and left it there. Realized it 60 seconds later (are you seeing a pattern here...?) and by the time I got back...it was still there. Thank God!

I can be SUCH a space cadet sometimes.

Right now I'm sitting in bed listening to the waves on China Beach. I can't believe I'm on China Beach. I keep looking for Dana Delaney.

Pictures coming soon...

Vietnam

I'm off to Vietnam tomorrow morning. I'm so excited!

2 days in Hanoi
2 days in Halong Bay
3.5 days in Hoi An

Although I just checked the weather and the part of the trip that I was looking forward to most - laying out on the beach in Hoi An - might not happen as it's supposed to thunderstorm the entire time I'm there. Typical. Oh well. At least I can relax and read a book.

And shop!

I got a webcam for my apartment. It's so much fun! I had no idea what the possibilities were with this stuff. You can add facial accessories. So I'll be adding annoying photos like this:
















From time to time...