Cracks me up

Okay, this picture is in my slideshow from the rugby 7's but I had to put it on here because it cracks me up.

This guy was obsessed with riding Matt and having me take pictures of it. We were on the dance floor in the tent after the games were over. This guy didn't want me to email him the pictures. Just wanted me to take some with my camera. Matt was like, "Get this guy OFF me!"

Took pics with my Blackberry so they're blurry but I love the laser lights and how you can make out Matt's expression.

Low/High

I was at such a low point this past Thursday and Friday after the whole Joe thing. I'm just so tired of not having anything in my life going on that matters on any real level. This job sucks and feels so pointless. It's not pointless because I'm paying off debt but I can't believe I have to do this for another 1 1/2 years. Poor me, whatever, but to not have a career I care about or a relationship or even many friends to see...it's just tough.

But then my friend Brigitte emailed me to say, "Welcome back to HK!" That made my day. Someone gave a shit that I was here. Sweet! We went shopping for our Rugby 7's costumes Friday evening and had a ball picking them out. We went with slutty nurses. Nice!

Then I headed to the tournament but she couldn't go so I met up with Cameron who was wasted but it was perfect. I got the lay of the land so I knew what to do the next day.

Brigitte and I had a BLAST yesterday at the tournament! Here's some pictures that she took.

She waited in line for over 2 1/2 hours to get us into the South Stand which is the "cool" area. All the costumed drunkards hang out there and it's totally crazy. I only waited in line for 1 1/2 hours because I forgot my ticket and had to go home to get it.

We actually had fun waiting in line and of course Brigitte had met some guys while waiting in line. Funny how men want to talk with slutty nurses.

We finally got in and then 10 minutes later they closed access to the South Stand for the night. We were so lucky! Then another 10 minutes later I look up and about 5 rows away is Matt the Brit in his horse costume. He looked so cute. I hung out with him for a lot of the day and then also hung out with Brigitte towards the front of the section.

It was quite the experience. Fans from all the different teams sitting next to each other and having a great time. Beer pitchers flying everywhere. Crazy costumes. Getting our picture taken with random people. Eating my first beef pie (My first of many I suspect after I move to London).

There was a huge tent that everyone went to after the games were over and it was so well-organized. Tons of clean bathrooms...hardly had to wait in line at all for alcohol and food. And the food was pretty good! We kept seeing the same people all night long and would just yell, "Hey! Elephant Guy!" or whatever their costume was. Brigitte had found a couple guy friends of hers and I wanted to get as much Matt time in as I could so we ended up separating.

Matt and I had the great time we always do. Talked a lot, drank a lot, danced a lot. Then he came back to my place and I finally got to be with him. It felt really good but when he left this morning I was immediately a bit sad. He had to fly to Japan today and is going to be gone for 3-4 weeks. He said that he's tired of doing so much traveling so his company is going to hire a few people that can live in the major cities he travels to and will be based there so he doesn't have to physically go anymore.

But by the time he hires them and they get settled and he doesn't have to travel as much anymore...I'll be moving to London. It's perfectly bad timing and pisses me off.

Here's a picture of us from the rugby tournament.





















Why do I look like I'm 5 months pregnant? Fuck.

Toronto Joe - again

Toronto Joe called me again. This is the second time in about a month. Which is strange to me. I thought I was over him enough to be friends with him. But I'm not. He was drunk and at one point in the conversation said, "You want to have my baby?"

I was like, "Huh?"

When I said no he called me a liar and laughed at me and was staring into his webcam at me saying that he could see me blushing. I got pissed off. Here's this guy that dumped me and I've felt vulnerable with him ever since and he says THAT to me?

I got upset and yelled at him and we drudged up all the shit from when I visited him for NYE 2 years ago. I guess I just never got to yell at him for the way he treated me and needed to get it out of my system.

But I also realized that I can't be friends with him right now. I've been so lonely and needy and fragile while in HK so talking with him - someone who hurt me - isn't a good idea. It puts me in too vulnerable of a position and I need to self preserve right now.

So I emailed him this and I could tell in his reply that he's not happy with my decision but understands enough about my reason for it.

I feel good about it.

Kathryn's Wedding

I had a great time while I was home for my sister's wedding. It was so much fun to be able to help her out in any way I could and do little arts and crafts projects. I love doing that stuff!

I got to go to a shower that some ladies from our neighborhood threw for her. They were so nice. Really went all out. The rehearsal dinner and actual wedding were so much fun. It was a huge family reunion and a little chaotic as there's never time to talk long enough with anyone.

My friend Aaron was my date at the wedding. He was the PERFECT date. Always made sure I had enough wine to drink. Didn't get annoyed when I'd have to dash off to bustle Kathryn's dress or something. All the women LOVED him. Kept saying, "Well, well aren't YOU handsome?" and would make him blush. It was really cute.

My sister looked amazing and had a great time. It was such a special thing to stand up there next to her while she got married and to watch my parents watching her say her vows. And I couldn't love her husband Andrew anymore. He's such a great guy and really loves her.

After the reception we all went back to a hotel and Aaron came with me and stayed the night so that was much-needed fun ;) We were gettin' it on in the morning and RIGHT at the CRUTIAL moment we heard a knock on the door and "Housekeeping!" We just froze because we couldn't believe their bad timing and she knocked again and I finally managed to utter, "We're fine, thanks!" Totally forgot to put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. Will never make that mistake again. Of course Aaron and I just busted out laughing and now it's a great inside joke between us.

It was tough to say goodbye to him. He's so good to me and I like him. :_(

It was tough to say goodbye to my family too after such a huge event. And knowing that I might not see them until the holidays isn't easy.

I try...

I was supposed to start eating really healthy this weekend and work out more than usual to begin the process of shedding more weight than is humanly possible in order for me to fit into my bridesmaid dress in two weeks.

As I would walk around the 7-Eleven zero-ing in on the oreos I would do the math in my head, "Wellllllllll, if I eat these oreos then I can do spinning tomorrow instead of yoga to burn more calories and then I'll be fine."

Only the working out didn't actually....like....happen.

Saturday I fully intended on going to either a yoga or a spinning class but as I described in the last post it became a busy day that ended with me inhaling two massive, life-threateningly large chicken enchiladas. And washing them down with a glucose-intensive margarita of course. I couldn't order water. That would be embarassing.

"No worries," I thought. I'll just do an hour on the eliptical tomorrow. Right. I'm still okay.

I woke up late this morning. Went back to my same breakfast place as the day before. Sat in the same seat. Ate the same thing (minus the potatoes, plus the bacon because that was somehow better in my warped mind) then decided to check out Victoria Park so I could continue reading my Economist while sitting on a bench and relaxing in the shade.

Here's what I saw at the park:



















All of the domestic workers don't have their own homes and instead live with their employers during the week. Sunday is their day off. So they hang out at the park. Naturally.

Lesson learned there. Avoid the only large park in Hong Kong on Sundays. The......main day I'll always want to go. Reason #157 why I miss NYC. Although I'm reminded of a Central Park post from my time there that describes an equally painful park experience.

After walking around Victoria Park for about 15 minutes - getting stares from all the Phillippino girls that enflamed my condescending "white guilt" - I decided to go to the movies.

"Hey! You could've worked out then, Stacey," one might say.

True. BUT I really wanted to see "Love in the Time of Cholera" before I go home to Atlanta because I don't know if it'll be showing there and it'll certainly be gone by the time I get back to HK. This was the rationalle I was going with anyway.

Movie sucked. For a couple reasons but the most annoying was all of the hot sex forced upon my eyes which took me to the "When am IIIIII going to get fucked, huh?" place in my brain which is no fun. After the Toronto Joe conversation and getting the text from Matt the Brit.... I'm hurtin' people.

I met up with Brigitte after the movie at a HEALTHY restaurant and had grilled veggies and lentils. VERY HEALTHY AND YUMMY. Then Brigitte smartly suggested we bypass the escalator and instead walk up the stairs to our apartment so I could call that my workout for the day. The girl is a good friend. She had biked for 3 hours, had a long run and a yoga class in the past 48 hours.

After about 30 minutes at home my stomach was growling because aparently I've expanded it to the size of a watermelon so a plate of grilled veggies just doesn't cut it for dinner anymore. I have NOTHING to eat in my apartment so I went to the fruit stand guy downstairs to grab something to eat. Did I buy a banana? No. I tried, but they weren't ripe yet. So I bought a can of Pringles and a Diet Coke and ate the entire can while watching TV.

I seriously triiiiiiiied but you heard me. The bananas weren't ripe yet.

Didn't make it to Lamma Island today with Cameron either for the 1 1/2 hour hike to the fresh seafood restaurant. I was too busy watching a 72-year old version of Javier Bardem have sex on a big screen.

Men

Story #1: Toronto Joe called me out of the blue on Thursday. I haven't spoken to him on the phone in over a year. We've kept in touch over email but only every month or two and almost always at my initiation. (did that phrasing make sense? eh, i don't care - it's 1am).

He downloaded Skype and we talked via webcam for over 3 hours. The last time I saw his face was in a trailer he sent me that he filmed. And before that was 2 NYE's ago when I was in Toronto visiting him.

It was a great conversation but torture at the same time. To have his face taking up my entire computer screen...and mine his...it's like we could reach out and grab each other. It was tough at the end to say goodbye. We didn't know how to do it. We get along so well. Talk about everything. Laugh at each other. Then just stare at each other for what seems like forever.

He's pitching a TV show idea to his cousin who's a big wig at HBO so I told him to let me know how it goes. Said that about 4 times trying to end the conversation.

He finally said, "Alright, let's say goodbye before I ask you to take your top off or something."

Yes, let's.

I miss so many things about him but I don't wonder what would happen if we ever lived in the same city. At least not at this point in his life. He's too emotionally unstable for me. I need a solid man. But I DO wish Joe and I could spend a few days together every once in awhile just drinking, laughing, having sex, etc.

Story #2: Matt the Brit texted me. We squished 3 dates into 2 days about 5-6 weeks ago. He's the closest to the whole package that I've ever experienced. REALLY like him. He said in the text:

Hi Stacey, long time no speak! I am in Shanghai right now. It seems that I am not in Hong Kong a lot these days. Just wanted to say that I would have asked you on another date but it just didn't work out with all this travel. Hope no hard feelings, but did not want to just leave it hanging! I'm sure I'll see you in LKF. Take care, Matt.

Fucking BUMMER OF ALL BUMMERS! He's so great! But never here. I really appreciated his text. Hopefully I'll see him at the end of March at the rugby 7's tournament. We both have tickets. And I'll be here for a few more months so maybe we can catch each other a few times here and there. [Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Am so over everything! WHEN is it going to work out?????????!!!!!!!!!

Story #3: Hung out with my friend Cameron all weekend so far. He's so sweet. Met him for drinks last night and then today I ate at my favorite breakfast place, read my magazine, took the ferry to Kowloon, went to the HK Museum of Art, then met up with Cameron again as he wanted to go to Lamma Island for good, inexpensive seafood. Sounded like a great idea but he was stuck in traffic and we missed the ferry. So we went to my fav mexican place and chowed down. I'm SO not fitting into my bridesmaid's dress in 2 weeks. Seriously...I'm going to have to STARVE myself for 14 days. Awesome.

We're going to Lamma Island tomorrow. He said you can take the ferry to one end of the island then hike for 1 1/2 hours and end up at the seafood place on the beach. I'm so excited! I love stuff like this. Am so glad Cameron's here! But of course I'm not attracted to him. So typical.

David Cook

MUST give a shout out to David Cook's performance of Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" on American Idol tonight.

BRILLIANT! I loved it!

He rocks.

THIS....is AaaaMERican Idol!

I love how Ryan Seacrest has to change up his routine each season. He tried and failed miserably with the whole "Seacrest: Out!" debacle and this season he has the huge dramatic pause and syllable emphasis in his introduction. I wonder how many different combinations he had to try. I still love him. He's really good at his job.

Am LOVING David Archeleta. My FAV!

My new friend Brigitte called and we grabbed dinner and drinks tonight. I'm SO excited she's come into my life. She and I have the same sensibilities but she's the much sweeter, nicer version.

AND - I was planning on volunteering in Vietnam building a house for a couple of weeks in June since I won't be that busy with work BUT she said that she and a few girl friends of hers were talking about going to Bali for an all-women's surfing trip.

Let's compare and contrast shall we:

Vietnam
Hot as hell
Physical labor
Mosquitos
Public shower
Indoor plumbing?
No guarantee of cute guys

Bali
Hot but with a breeze
Physical labor
Mosquitos?
Private shower
Indoor plumbing + ocean (whatever, you all do it too)
Hot surfers, Alcohol and high probability of vacation sex (a "lay-cation" as my friend Sarah would put it)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

I'm still on the fence. Maybe a visual comparison will help?













Bali.....



















ooooorrrrrrr Vietnam?

Yeah. I think you're right.

Weekend Update

Friday night was good. Hung out with my neighbor, Brigitte, who lives 2 floors below me in my apartment building. We're both SO excited that we met. She's great.

I had a glass of wine and we ordered food then I left her (she was getting up at 5am to bike with 17 guys) and met up with Joce (my cousin's trainer) and some of her friends. We were supposed to go to the movies but she got screwed out of the tickets somehow so we ended up drinking instead. I triiiiied to be good!

I talked with a reeeeeeally cute Australian guy, Andrew, for most of the night and he walked me home. Very gentlemanly. Told me on the way home that he has a girlfriend.

Of course.

Fun night though.

Saturday night I saw the Michelle Pfeiffer/Paul Rudd movie. Can't remember the name. Totally forgettable movie. Figured it would be but I saw it anyway.

Took my yoga class. 3rd one. It's SO HARD but I love it! The two instructors at my gym are both Indian guys which makes me feel like I'm getting the real deal. Not that someone from Atlanta, Georgia can't become a wonderful yoga teacher but I'd rather get my yoga from the Indian guy and my Coca-Cola from the Atlanta people, ya know?

I'm watching "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" as I type this post. It's only 3 questions into the episode and very clear that I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader.