TempusCast

TITLE: What’s up doc?
DATE: 02/02/2008 10:49:50 PM

So by now you have maybe picked up on a theme that I have had some struggles with my health over the past few years. It started about four years back, when I had what I thought was a heart attack while at a Buddha tooth exposition in Singapore. Nothing like seeing your life pass before your eyes with monks in robes rolling by. Make it seem more real than calming trust me. Too much like I was part of a John Woo flick. You must understand I had just lost a ton of weight in a very small amount of time, pushing my body to it’s limit, and in this moment I thought beyond.

After a visit to a local Singapore hospital, which quickly taught me that I didn’t have a heart attack and just how sucky the US health system has become. At that time they were sure I had a panic attack, but I felt none of the things I thought came with such a thing so I chalked it up to over-training and exhaustion.

That is until the next day, when I had a second but less severe attack. At that time, Lisa insisted I visit her doctor who proceeded to diagnose me with viral neuritis, which had all the symptoms I was having. He gave me some medicine, and it did work. Soon the attacks were under control and passed.

The problem is the attacks have continued a few times a year for the past four years. The medicine does still work, but it always is slow and takes a while. A new doctor, again in Singapore, not the US, did I mention our medical system here sucks, gave me a new type of medicine. It worked like magic.

Just one problem. This medicine wouldn’t work on Neuritis, it works on, you got it, panic attacks. This lead my clueless US doctors to figure it all out. Granted both my Western and Chinese Singapore doctors had already done all the hard work.

Okay, so after four years of thinking I had one thing, I have another. Turns out I’m having silent panic attacks. What this means is my fight or flee part of my nervous is going into over-drive but I don’t even know or feel it. For most people it effects their breathing and they get that heart-attack feeling. But after so much re-training my body to deal with Neuritis, it doesn’t effect me that way, but the body is a funny thing, it has learned a new tricks.

During Thanksgiving I woke to cook the meal, and after the shower noticed I couldn’t feel my own body. I know it sounds weird, but imagine you can touch your hand to your face and you barely feel it. So when you try and do things with blades like shave or cook it becomes so tough. Add the fact you almost feel out of your body and your spatial sense it completely off. The only way to do something is do not think about it but just let your hands work on their own. Trust me, a VERY disturbing feeling.

So anyway, the good news is I have found a solution from two types of medicine, and either works. One is lighter, but only removes about 80-90% and the other is heavy but works completely. The issue is, I don’t want to use either. So that leaves me to the recommended course, which is a combination of mind and body re-training.

This makes total sense as the best thought on how I got this was due to the 150lb weight loss or it may be related to family history. The amazing thing is science doesn’t yet know. To spite it being four years, my body is still going through changes as I have continued to travel and in general do not have what would be a scheduled life. Also anyone who knows me can understand that I have been told time and again from all the doctors that I’m over-using my mind and senses.

So I just started a four week training course for the mind, I’m also in progress this week in signing up for the physical training. Finally, I have left my arms as the final part of my body to really rebuild the muscle as lost so much losing weight, but whenever I try and build muscle it stops my weight loss. So kept putting this off but I’m ready to get pumped up while I still can as old-age is making that each day more difficult!

So that’s what’s up folks. So for once I have a slight excuse for the erratic entries. Please bear with me, as I will do my best to keep you updated on my progress. I appreciate the kind thoughts of support already from many of you. In the scheme of things, this is just a small challenge compared to what most people face, so I’m not in any pity. Instead, I view this as a perfect challenge to get me back into the groove for the many challenges I want to make happen this year.

All my best. Namste.

COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Tony
EMAIL: hcvegas2002@yahoo.com
IP: 68.108.30.230
URL:
DATE: 02/04/2008 09:48:26 PM

Wanted to say wadup! I see you are always keeping busy. Time is flying by and age is starting to creep up on us all. I’m back in Vegas and stuck here for three years. Come visit Vegas after I’m off house arrest. Long story.

TITLE: A future big business: Tattoo removal at retirement homes…
DATE: 07/29/2006 09:02:02 AM

I’m sitting in my local Dutch cafe an there is a large group of people here with tattoo bodies, covered head to toe, and where there’s no ink, there’s peircings. Imagine what I can’t see and trust me, never want to see, given the looks of this motley group.

I have never liked tattoos, and I must say I would find it hard to date a girl who had one, but I have always strived to seperate my own likes for myself and a partner away from judging anyone else who has one. Many of my favorite friends have them and I have ended up dating woman who had them once or twice, but kinda just ignored them best I could.

As a buddhist, I really feel I can understand the power of symbols and art. I just guess I can’t imagine any symbol being on my body that I wouldn’t grow bored with or want to changed.

I’m sure there’s some woman really bummed that her Holly Hobby tat on her ankle seemed like such a good idea at sixteen, but now makes her PTA meetings a bit tough.

I guess what really bugs me about this increased trend in body art is most people don’t realize the symbols they are wearing. Many of them are specific and powerful symbols of other cultures who find it quite offensive to have their hard earned warrior symbols tattooed to the fat ass of some pub owner from Bristol. New Zealand must be the most robbed of this. with all of Asia next in line. While I can see the wisdom of using these symbols versus having Pluto or any other Disney character smacked onto your left breastt. If just think if you are going to put this symbol on your body, you better have the blessing and respect of it’s source.

In a bit of karmatic revenge, I love all the people that have gotten Asian letters and symbols put onto their body without knowing their meaning. So some idiot from Hollywood is walking around with their supposed tat of serenity, but in reality it means potato dumpling or annoying customer who complained while I did their tattoo.

Have to ask my Singapore friends the symbols for small penis next time I wan’t to play a bit of a prank on a friend who wants to follow this trend.

So in the not so far future, when some old man at 65 realizes the prince albert is the only thing that now works on his unit and he can no longer remember why he has the tat Godsmack on his forehead, will be looking to some serious removal services. So while the current baby boomers want a longer and healthier life at any cost, generation X, Y, and Z will simple want the hardware and now droopy ink removed from their shriveled skin for nothing more than to keep their grandchilderen from laughing at them.

So sorry to my ink covered friends, no offense meant directly, because most of you at least have tried to avoid most of the mentioned pitfalls including the WORST one, putting your current boy/girl friends name on you. This is the one hundred percent way to ensure the worst breakup in history.

Well it’s a nice day here in Amsterdam and I’m waisting time ranting about really nothing, so will call it a day, and people watch. Until next time, peace, comfort and joy minus the ink of course 😉

COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jan van de Poll
EMAIL: taxidotcom@alice.nl
IP: 92.254.16.15
URL:
DATE: 12/30/2009 11:51:53 AM

Hi Michael,I just send you an email, but somehow my friends get my mail repeated for several times, after outlook express says the message could not be sended….Please let me know if you received anything…!Anyway it’s ofcourse about a prosperous new year…Greetings, Jan van de Poll (Amsterdam).

TITLE: Life in a small city like our President’s small brain…
DATE: 07/22/2006 07:55:57 AM

I hate to think of myself as a typical American. Don’t get me wrong I love my country right up until when George Bush Jr. showed up. Now I’m pretty much trying to bluff my way into saying I’m a Canadian.

The irony is one of my favorite places on the planet is Singapore, a small island, by any measurement, and yet such a wonderful and special place. Most Americans would only think of Singapore as the place where they caned that ang moh – white kid, and a punk at that. Trust me, learn the full details of the story, he deserved what he got and should have gotten more.

In today’s world, I can tell you, the US makes the Singapore government look like the local city government of San Francisco, gay pride parade and all

The US is now headed by guys if they were born in a third world country, would end up in the world court for crimes against humanity, but with all their money, crimes, and countless ‘SINS’ to use the presidents favorite church term, they have dragged all the US stood for into something I wonder we can return from. Just leave the US and go anywhere else and see if this is true. Sorry the whole world isn’t Fox news.

They Bush people surely have a front seat waiting in the very hell they seem to tell people they are protecting us from. That said, I was reminded of how amazing the US can be.

I was looking for something so simple. A Japanese Chef’s knife as a gift for a friend here in Singapore. In the US, even for an item non-US, this would have been a two minute exercise. But here on the small island of Singapore, it would be easier to find the underground gambling place than a simple knfie in a town full of chefs.

This is what America still has, and I don’t mean just good shopping, it has scale and reach, of course, it’s at risk. In a world where two thirds of the country wants stem cell research, Bush will allow one fourth the power to say no, thus ensuring we will fall behind in our medical abilities maybe for a long time, worst yet, maybe forever. So expect the next release of the Disney Pirates movie franchise to have Jesus swinging from a rope cutting off the heads of liberals, instead of Johnny and Orlando. Maybe Mel can direct.

Come to think of it, maybe being small isn’t bad. It has charm. Considering the small size of Bushes brain it’s ashame he doesn’t have more ‘charm’m as that now is truly small. Until later, peace, comfort, and joy…

TITLE: Never take on a chef in drinking, they are well trained and know how to use a sharp knife…
DATE: 07/20/2006 04:18:34 AM

Yesterday I went by to check in on my friend Chef Julien. I had guessed correctly that it would be his final day of food photo-shooting, and I knew he would be at his limit.

The chef, always being nice told be to drop by, and when I came in I found him dropped into one of his lobby chairs with a nice french bottle of red wine, opened for him and I to enjoy.

Life is good. After making that bottle history, the chef had the kitchen make some small bites to eat, and another nice bottle of wine was opened. At this point looking at the Chef, he seemed to have this almost prisoner of war look.

Now a chef’s life is always hard, and Julien can take a lot, but fifteen days of full service, morning to night is enough to kill anyone, but that’s normal life for him. Now add him spending his small break time and early mornings to doing the cooking for the dishes to be photographed and you have one very burnt out Chef. To quote him, he wasn’t sure what daylight looked like anymore.

I observed the photo process, and I can tell you, it’s stressful. He’s doing these amazing dishes in his style, and then one of the crew spends 20 minutes twisting a mushroom around until it looks just right, forcing the Chef on occasion to have to re-do the dish yet again. All around the photo area now cold and now spoiled dishes, dead soldiers all at the chef’s costs and time. Again, Chef’s, sharp knives, upseting them, not a good idea.

So once I realized the restaurant is in full swing, and Chef and I are still enjoying wine and nibbles, I can tell he needs to get the hell out of there. That and the fact that he’s still in his chef’s whites and all the restaurant guests are getting that look that people on a long-haul flight would, if they saw the captain sitting in 1st class and enjoying a few Jim Beams with his in-flight movies.

Well, then only one choice, raw fish, and large amounts of sake, and of course the best place in the world to get it, Shiraishi. Anothony Bourdain says Chef’s love sushi because of it’s pure taste but also they can get it right from the counter, no need to be around anymore serving staff, and maybe he has something there.

So Edith, Chef’s wife and co-owner dropped us off at the Ritz-Carlton via their catering truck, yep, the only way to make an enterance. There was just one problem.

We were late, very late. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but tonight Shiraishi’s staff had their staff dinner. So myself and Chef were treated to what could be called fast-food sushi. Don’t get me wrong, it was all the best quality and premium product that restaurant can deliver, but just sped up and served at such a rate, I’m not sure I actually chewed once. More or less, it was lots of sake and swallowing of wonderful food.

So making our late, but still timely enough exit we retired to the Ritz lounge, where speed is a dirty four letter word. I won’t waste space here about why the design and management of this lounge has been so bad for years, but actually as of late, getting your drink isn’t as hard as it once was, getting a good one, priceless, but not possible there.

The chef was fully ready to put his brain into neutral, and I was more than happy to follow, as my clutch tends to slip into that gear quite easy.

So four martinis later, each, none well done, but at least the last two containing Below 42, a new zealand vodka I was introduced to by Kat, thanks Kat, was something new for the Chef. Always fun to teach him something since he has taught me so much more.

By the time Edith came and eat her sushi that had been done for her, she called the night, and the Chef and I had somehow now almost shut down three different places, and considering he had to be up for lunch service, that was enough.

I can’t imagine spending a much longer night when the Chef doesn’t have to work, how much he can bring it on. But I think I could lose a kidney or liver trying to find out.

So my friends, that was my adventure, and I’m luckily no worse for the wear So until next time. Peace, comfort, and joy.

TITLE: Bugs and animal parts make you strong…
DATE: 07/15/2006 05:59:42 AM

I’m a believer in Chinese medicine, I have been helped many times by a Chinese doctor, when a western doctor could do little. Most people in the US would have a freak out in the Chinese doctors office just checking out the acupuncture chart. As my friend Byron says, he will not be a human pin cushion.

So a couple of days ago, my friend Maria and I went to a place called Imperial Herbal. This is a semi-famous restaurant in Singapore that focuses on Chinese herbal food and medicine. They have a full-time doctor than can do a quick check out of your health and then send the herbs you need to be cooked into your food, as well as tell you which foods to pick.

On the day we went, which is a Sunday, the doctor is off, most likely collecting his bet from the world cup, and drinking his own special wines. but just a guess, as I saw him once before, and I think I’m spot on.

So I had seen Anthony Bourdain a personal favorite of mine on his TV show go to this place. As the doctor was out, I figured, might as well do as Tony does.

So just to give some simple highlights, my meal started with some deer penis wine. From that point I had a beef tallow. Then some alligator soup, and the real star on this place, scorpion.

Before you ask, doesn’t taste like chicken it tastes like a potato chip.

So the concept of eating this style of food is that the combination of broths, herbs, meats, and berries will combine to bring you a healthy result.

In woman it’s always the promise of slimming, smooth skin, health, and youth.

In men, it’s always the sale of that it will make you strong. Before there was the Internet the Chinese had created the whole viagra, make your penis bigger scam.

So the concept is, you eat this food, and suddenly your fabio without the silly hair or gross over-sized pecks, but pretty much the rest of the package. Come to think of it, any man that gets smacked in the face by a bird while on a rollercoster may have a very small package indeed.

While I have no partner to testify to whether this food had it’s proper effect, I would say to try it for the flavor and history, even if you don’t need that extra shot of power but maybe it’s not the best 1st date fair, that’s for sure.

So until next time, may your wolfenberries and ginseng hang free.

TITLE: If you are friends with a chef, good, if you are friends with a great chef, even better.
DATE: 07/07/2006 04:40:28 AM

Today I was lucky enough to be invited to my friend, who is the best chef in Singapore by my opinion, and many others to the photo shoot for his first cookbook.

It was such an honor. Now I’m very used to him being able to send out lots of dishes, but today I got to see him cook alone, in this special little area he made in his restaurant, as he just made dish after dish in real-time for the shoot.

In the US, they would instead be using a team of food people, including food stylist who would make everything look perfect, even if it wasn’t cooked or real. Instead, my friend did finished dishes, one after another.

The book team he is working with have done some really good cookbooks, and I was really impressed how their small crew worked together.

So not only did I get the honor of sitting right next to the chef as he did this, but he and his co-owner wife who runs the front of house and more, and has won an award for doing so two years in the row, asked me to write the forward to the book. I was shocked and honored. The chef and her know many famous people in the food business, but they thought it would be fun to have a customer and friend write about how they have quickly just opened a couple years ago to becoming a leading player in the hard to crack Singapore food scene.

So my work is really cut out for me. As well they asked me to maybe appear in some of the photos. Oh my, any one who knows me, knows this is the thing I hate the most, but for friends, it is a must do.

So if you can hang with a chef, it’s fun. They work VERY hard, but they do get their perks like wine tastings, events, access to powerful and famous people, and most of all they hang out with other chefs in the business, so the fun often just starts at one am with them

Well, off in fact to the restaurant for a friends Bon Voyage party. Until later, peace, comfort, and joy.

TITLE: Blondes do have more fun but may be too dumb to remember…
DATE: 07/06/2006 05:06:19 AM

After 6 months of not being in Singapore, my hair had returned to it’s normal color, dark brown with just a few grey hairs. I also grew back my old beard, somehow it seems to go better with my darker hair.

Well after five hours in the chair, my hair is now back to blonde. Now of course I could have done this at home, but no way. I only trust Diana from Singapore.

I found her by total luck. I had never dyed my hair before I started my travel. The idea was a combination of a dare and the fact that in Asia, everyone has black hair, so they are far better at doing it than the American or Europeans.

The first time I tried was in Hong Kong. The result was typical of the bad dye jobs of America. Also instead of blonde highlights, I ended up with the typical red that so many local local Asia citizens like.

Well it was Diana that I walked into, and asked to fix it, which she did, without making my hair fall out and my loyalty has been with her ever since.

So many times in US I get asked who does my hair, and people are quite bummed at the idea of taking a plane for an appoinment.

I do have to say there is something about blonde hair that changes you. But more about that later, time to run, until then peace, comfort, and joy.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: The pleasures and pain of brunch…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 07/03/2006 04:28:50 AM

BODY:

I’m not sure I have written about this before, but after a long brunch, infused with blood marys and champagne, you tend not to remember it all.

For those who know me, I’m not a breakfast person. Never have been and never will be. So the concept of starting your breakfast at the earliest 12pm really appeals to me. Yesterday’s brunch started at 1:30pm, so even better!

The brunch occurred at the Four Seasons Hotel, which up until recently had the best brunch in town. It was a last days of Rome style feast. It wasn’t so much that it’s all gone wrong, but that extra WOW factor has been removed to streamline the experience a bit and make room for more tables.

What they do have going for them is a martini and bloody mary bar, right where you walk in. Brilliant if not a blurry idea. They also offer a Krug instead of Cliquot option at a very good price. Better than the Fullerton hotel Also good is the grill area, even though that has been somewhat changed, it still offers a decent grill to chose from including foie gras. The real hidden gem is the risotto station where you can get some real nice dishes including risotto with foie gras.

Now the bad. They removed the Chinese and Indian food area! This is Singapore, shouldn’t that be a crime? I mean come on their hand chopped pork was worth coming for alone.

What replaced it? Mexican, a really BAD version, Taco Bell would be better and Korean food. Now I would normally be doing backflips about Korean food, but they somehow picked some lame grilled pork soup and their kim chee was gummy, sandy, and hardly had a kick or flavor except for cheap vinegar.

Let me tell you one big tip that could save you from a nice case of food poisoning or worse. NEVER, and I mean EVER enjoy one of those chocolate dipping fountains.

I was sitting in close proximity to the one for this brunch, and I saw half a dozen children lick their hands and then plunge it back under the chocolate. I saw the same from adults including a woman who dropped her stick which she had cleaned a few times with her mouth into the main bowl that feeds the device.

Since the chocolate is warmed in order to keep in flowing, it should actually be classified as a biological weapon of mass destruction instead of a dessert. The combo of heat, sugar, and bacteria makes for a really nasty combo. Maybe I should check which country they were made in, maybe Iraq, and that was the reason for us going in, Yep that’s it.

So when I begin to think about it Brunch sucks, as the food tends never to be that great and other people touch it, you have kids running everywhere, and standing in lines is a pain.

I wonder why I thought I liked it, oh wait did I mention the martini and bloody mary bar at the front and the free flow champagne. I think I’m begging to understand why. Until later, peace, comfort, and joy.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Maybe we should keep all our money buried in the back yard…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
CATEGORY: Current Affairs

DATE: 07/02/2006 09:03:51 PM

BODY:

I mentioned I was lucky enough to go to a wine event that was run by a local, but global bank. What struck me was just how insanely rich most of the people were.

I’m not talking about tellers or the other hard working people on the front line. I’m talking about the investment bankers and other upper staff.

I have never been invited to a event for VIP bank customers, but if you wonder why you’re paying all these bank extra fees, I have the answer. Caviar and Fine Wine doesn’t come cheap.

I felt like it was the last days of Rome. Of course I loved every minute of it, but so did the many people who enjoyed all those great Enron and Tyco parties.

So the next time your accountant tells you that your performance on your investments this year weren’t as good as expected, check out the car he’s leaving in, I’m betting you at least helped buy the wheels and a lovely bottle of champagne to go with it.

Until next time, peace, comfort, and joy.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: I’m not a real chef, but I play one on TV…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
CATEGORY: Food and Drink

DATE: 06/30/2006 09:09:23 PM

BODY:

If you read my public blog, you know I’m in a bit of a rush, but I wanted to share a cool gift I got with you. My friend Julien, is a very acclaimed Chef. When I did my 3 day cooking event, he was a huge help, even being nice enough to give me his own original recipes. Yesterday he invited me to a private wine tasting by a local bank that featured some of the worlds best wines, over 150 of them.

When I arrived in Singapore I was shocked to find he had sent a really nice bottle of Jarvis wine, a personal favorite, and a chef’s jacket with my name on it. If maybe I did life again, I think I would take a shot at being a chef, but I’m now a little too old for it. While I haven’t earned the right to wear the whites, I must say I just love this gift. I have included two pics to show you the jacket. I will have to maybe do some cooking for friends when I’m home, so I have an excuse to wear it. Thanks Julien, at least while I’ll never be a real chef, I can play one at home

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Truth is your own choice…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
CATEGORY: Current Affairs

DATE: 06/13/2006 11:43:50 PM

BODY:

If you read my personal blog you know I’m alive and kicking. I’m soon to travel, and happy about that, as it’s been way too long, and I miss so many friends and key people. Before I leave I have been mixing my time with finishing various projects, doing chores around the house, and spending some quality time with my Mom and friends.

Today, my Mom and I went to see “An Inconvenient Truth”, the Al Gore film. Makes you informed and angry on so many levels! What is the elections had gone differently, wait click here to see what would have happened. Search for the Al Gore or Parallel video

Okay, evil little weasel they call the commander in chief is still in control, but overall, please check out http://www.climatecrisis.net/ and tell your friends. I’m far from an “eco-freak” but COME ON! Wake up.

Really, if you are a strong Bush person, truly ask yourself, is your life better than it was a few years ago, BE HONEST.

Supposedly the left is what controls all media, wait a minute tune into Fox News, the top US news network, anyway what I’m saying is something is very wrong. Left or right, it’s time to really take a hard look at where you want your future for you and the people you care about.

Please take a hard look at the planet, where we are, and where we want to be. Here’s a hint, any religion than calls themselves fundamental should maybe retire and leave the vast majority of us to live in stability.

Until the next time, peace, comfort, and joy.

TITLE: Why Woman Should Run The World
DATE: 11/28/2006 01:57:31 AM

Actually the main reason is men are too hard to buy gifts for, but trust me there are better reasons. Like woman are smarter, kinder, would make less war, would focus more on the future for all of us, and on and on. But for today, I’m all about how much men suck to buy a gift for.

In the past I must admit I was always annoyed when someone would say your so hard to buy for. Now I totally understand. Apologies to all. I suck, just like the rest of us difficult men.

This is all coming from the fact that I’m getting ready for my 13th annual Christmas party in Amsterdam. Now after these many years, I’m at a total loss on what to buy the men. The woman, no problem, in fact I have so many choices, if I wasn’t a trained shopper, thanks Mom, I would also be at a loss.

But it turns on men only have around five things another man can buy them without then becoming their future husband except in the US where such things are illegal, but of course marriage is “so” sacred. Just watch Jerry Springer or Maury to see how sacred we treat marriage, but let me return to the main focus of men and gifts.

Last year, I broke down and did cross the line with the metro-sexual offering of a skin and shaving set, as I was in the same dilemma. Lucky it was in very macho-euro packages so my friends accepted it without a major scene, but I’m sure not a single amount of skin product has ever been used.

So now, once again I’m screwed. This leaves only two choices. One is I re-buy the earliest gifts I got them in the hopes the old ones are broken, lost, or re-gifted or look for divine intervention, and as a Buddhist, this isn’t a usual strategy.

Well lo’and’behold as the necon-US-religious right love to say, I figured it out! Turns out I had brought this item along which was a gift from my friend Maria. Turns out, my friend Camilla gave me the same gift last night, and I love both of them. It’s actually something I can use as a man, but will hint that it doesn’t work in all parts of the world, but still a solid choice for this year.

SO, very excited, but now I worry will my man gifts eclipse my woman gifts which are always the hit of the party. Damn, guess I should have re-titled this entry as why woman are so hard to buy for. Oh well for let your shopping bags unfurl and get ready to sit on the fat mans red-pantsed lap, it’s the holidays, and I’m wishing you and all others the best possible start.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive

TITLE: Yet another change of plans…

DATE: 12/15/2005 09:32:05 AM

BODY:

Over the 3 years of travel, myself and my friend Byron has mastered the art of ticket kung-fu. We can change any ticket against all odds to fit our wills and destinies.

Once again we somehow found a way to make it all work, and we are now getting a few extra days in Singapore at the expense of Tokyo. Now this isn’t an easy call, but sometimes comfort takes precedent over Kobe beef, a rare bottle of Suntory whiskey, and other Japanese treats.

The gain is weirdly simple. Time. Yep big shock, but sometimes the most primitive and simple decadence is the most basic motivator.

This final trip of the year, as well as final other elements comes down to these base elements. So after many years of Lost in Translation pre-Christmas visits to Japan, I finally and near shockingly surrendered to comfort and will stay in Singapore right up to my Christmas journey home.

So upside, tomorrow’s blog should be able to capture all the missing enteries. Until then peace, comfort, and joy. —– EXCERPT:

Over the 3 years of travel, myself and my friend Byron has mastered the art of ticket kung-fu. We can change any ticket against all odds to fit our wills and destinies.

The gain is weirdly simple. Time. Yep big shock, but sometimes the most primitive and simple decadence is the most basic motivator.

So upside, tomorrow’s blog should be able to capture all the missing enteries. Until then peace, comfort, and joy. —–

COMMENT: AUTHOR: princessjulz

EMAIL: sa_julya@yahoo.com IP: 203.117.41.86 URL:

http://princessjulz.blogspot.com

DATE: 12/28/2005 07:45:13 AM

hey mr latham! I didnt get a chance to wish u a merry xmas, but i’ll wish u an advance Happy New Year… Just in case I missed my chance on it too. I’m jus wondering where you are right now.I’m so glad that I caught u in the PostBar; Heard it was your last day in Singapore. Wished I’d bump into you again someday. Do text me a HELLO when you dropped by in s’pore again. (90033951)Take care now! Enjoy the hols!

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive

TITLE: Sure Buddha wanted more time under the bodhi tree.

DATE: 12/14/2005 07:20:42 AM

BODY:

Hard to believe it all started with a world cruise.

Of course when I started this travel, it seemed so simple. Take one world cruise, and hence, everything would be seen and done. 3 1/2 years later, I feel like I’m still planning for that trip as I feel like it’s just beginning, and far from ending.

Yet, so much has been seen and done but so little really finished.

So how to end something that in some ways hasn’t yet begun, a true Buddhist koan if ever heard one.

Well for this short meditation, I will serve temporarily as your imperfect shifu guide, but not tonight as all good or bad things depending on your karmatic view, take their proper time, and tonight, isn’t such a night, but it will come.

As they say, I wish you peace, comfort, and joy, until next time Namstè..

So for tonight peace, comfort, and joy…and for all I hope each of you have a chance to travel and find your lost relatives as well…

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive

TITLE: Old dogs should never shake their groove thing… DATE: 10/30/2005 08:17:57 AM

BODY:

As the old rule goes you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I have never believed this concept until this trip. It was when I saw a 68 year old business man try and convert from waltzing to Nelly’s “It’s getting hot in here” to attempting something between old-school break-dancing and major defib-heart-recharge operation with his questionable 21 year old or could be criminaly younger dance partner, it was then I realized the power of sex and desperation.

Trust me no judgement comes from this, but the limit of my human ability not to judge is truly tested only for the men who make it impossible for any woman in the future to trust them.

Sure, I would be the first in line to give special circumstances of how love makes you cross lines you never thought you would cross assuming I actually believe or get this whole love concept, but regardless this entry isn’t about this.

Instead it’s more about hotels bars and the weird world they embody. I’m sure I’m missing the obvious, but with Sex in the City and countless series I don’t think TV or Film has really focused on a hotel bar except Barfly which wasn’t that exact environment.

So I’m far from an expert to write a book, but somehow, I know there is one about this. So tomorrow, Halloween won’t be shocked to see some uncle (old man) doing his rendition of Flash Dance in the Post Bar, but until this horrible moment, tidings of peace, comfort, and joy.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: A summary in miniature of course carmel coated…. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/29/2005 10:22:41 AM —– BODY:

So what have I been up to? Well of course this is a complex question, as no blog entry can fill you in on the rare mix of excitement and boredom that comes with travel. Lucky for me I’m rarely bored, hence the rare chance to catch on this blog.

Okay in total there has been birthdays, doctor visits, trapped for no reason in weird corporate parties, lame Halloween celebrations, failing to respond quick enough to friends startups needs, yet to read all the papers that come to my room, yet to read all the books I brought to read, not enough time for local food, too much time for over-the-top food, trying to keep Ronny one of my brothers happy as he is the only one that read this blog, too much late night time at the Post bar, but yet know too many people with the effect of having no time to write, still working on the planning of my 13th annual Amsterdam Christmas party, and most of all planning the end of my sabbatical travel while of course trying to create my future, as is my friend Camilla doing so in her same way which reminds me to worry to check in on countless friends and love ones.

Of course each could be a chapter and then some in my blog, sadly tonight is not such a night, but you have micro version, hope soon to add more.

Alas we are a day away from the Halloween holiday of “trick or treat”, so for tonight consider yourself tricked with a big treat to come by this entry

Until tomorrow peace, comfort, and namstè…. —– EXCERPT:

Of course each could be a chapter and then some in my blog, sadly tonight is not such a night, but you have micro version, hope soon to add more.

Alas we are a day away from the Halloween holiday of “trick or treat”, so for tonight consider yourself tricked with a big treat to come by this entry

Until tomorrow peace, comfort, and namstè…. —– COMMENT: AUTHOR: princessjulz EMAIL: sa_julya@yahoo.com IP: 203.117.52.75 URL: http://princessjulz.blogspot.com DATE: 10/29/2005 05:23:04 PM G’day Mr. Latham.I love what you posted on ur blog.. Pretty interesting and makes me hungry!You can be sure that ur brother, Ronny, is not the only who will be reading ur private blog from now onwards.I hope to see u again in Postbar.

Love,Julz —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Life in the eye… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/22/2005 10:00:36 AM —– BODY:

Okay, like yesterday I was way too quick and yet I can’t complete the subject I wanted to cover.

Instead I will bore you on this one, as my subject tonight is simple, I have come to a weird understanding that I for the past three years have been living in the eye of a hurricane. Tonight some weird stranger asked me what I was doing, a more complex question at the time, but it made me realize that I was abstracted out of most peoples normal reality. I would be the lead character in “Wicked” for those Broadway inclined, but male without the pointed hat.

For those who don’t know, this eye or center of a storm supplies the ultimate calm, from what is yet to come. Tonight for what ever reason, I had the vision that this calm would shortly end, and now I will truly feel a storm that I have avoided for a long time.

Of course here lies the true challenge, so let the winds begin…

So in some way it’s an exciting adventure, but in another it’s a huge unknown that I realize at the cost of comfort has built into some gail force that I realize I will regret. Of course in some ways I always embrace the greatest challenges, so bring it on.

For me nothing could be better than the feeling of that first gust from the eye, just hope that I’m still the man that is worthy of the long and hard endings I haven’t seen for so long but have been so defined by as a person

So Namste until tomorrow… —– EXCERPT:

Okay, like yesterday I was way too quick and yet I can’t complete the subject I wanted to cover.

Of course here lies the true challenge, so let the winds begin…

So Namste until tomorrow… —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Living between staff and real-life… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/22/2005 06:12:50 AM —– BODY:

Okay this is a pure teaser as I don’t have the energy to flesh this out tonight. But as a preview, my well-too-long extended sabbatical has afforded me a unique view of staying in a place where I’m in the world of being friends with staff and yet trapped from really ever being part of it.

So tomorrow a more in depth coverage of this subject, but for now, my only depth is that matter of feet and inches to my room and pillow. Until tomorrow runs yet out of time… —– EXCERPT:

So tomorrow a more in depth coverage of this subject, but for now, my only depth is that matter of feet and inches to my room and pillow. Until tomorrow runs yet out of time… —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Living between staff and real-life… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/21/2005 11:17:18 AM —– BODY:

So tomorrow a more in depth coverage of this subject, but for now, my only depth is that matter of feet and inches to my room and pillow. Until tomorrow runs yet out of time… —– EXCERPT:

So tomorrow a more in depth coverage of this subject, but for now, my only depth is that matter of feet and inches to my room and pillow. Until tomorrow runs yet out of time… —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: When Gin Meets Tonic and suddenly its a foursome… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/20/2005 09:45:28 AM —– BODY:

Okay, I just typed a massive email to you all, only to have it eaten up by a memory crash on my windows 5 handphone. Trust me my most witty, funny, and talented writing of my life. Okay actually not, but you can’t be 100 percent sure that isn’t the case, so I’m going with it.

The bottom line was this, invented a new twist on an old drink, and it’s a hit. At least one hotel if not two are adding it to their drink list.

Okay, first start with the classic gin and tonic, which I love but I’m no huge fan of the lemon. Then combine with the concept of the Latin rum and mint drinks, minus the rum.

So take a small amount of crushed ice, put in a full half or two quarters of lime. Then add mint to desired taste, and muddle but push and secure to the lime. Once done, cover with a thick layer crushed ice, and pour over gin Swirl to cool, and pour over ice cold tonic to level. Add a small mint leaf and lime peel to top for flair.

Trust me a massive winner. The hotel at first was calling it a MMG or Mr. Michael Gin, hated that, but they now call it a MG, for Minted Gin, and that works for me.

So hope you all enjoy, and if I can, the first round is on me… —– EXCERPT:

The bottom line was this, invented a new twist on an old drink, and it’s a hit. At least one hotel if not two are adding it to their drink list.

Okay, first start with the classic gin and tonic, which I love but I’m no huge fan of the lemon. Then combine with the concept of the Latin rum and mint drinks, minus the rum.

Trust me a massive winner. The hotel at first was calling it a MMG or Mr. Michael Gin, hated that, but they now call it a MG, for Minted Gin, and that works for me.

So hope you all enjoy, and if I can, the first round is on me… —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Stick a fork in me and eat the rest… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/19/2005 08:44:43 AM —– BODY:

Ahh The good life…, but how do you define?

I have a way, truffles, and no, not those chocolate things that shouldn’t be allowed to bear a similar name, I’m talking the prized white and black treasures beloved by chefs all over the world.

Tonight was dinner at the OSO Ristorante in Singapore, check out www.oso.sg for details. Tonight was the first arrival of the this seasons white truffles. It is simply little shavings of sex, pleasure, joy, and love put onto any complimentry object, even an old shoe would be good.

So here was tonights menu.

Oso’s white truffle menu:

Shared table starters: Beef Capriccio with shaved truffles Home-made mozzarella cheese with shaved truffles

Mains for table: White truffle risotto with shaved truffles Beef Fillet with shaved white truffles

Dessert Truffled Milk Panacotta with shaved white truffles Gellato with vanilla and white truffle

Okay now to top this with a bottle of Tiganallelo 1985 red Italian wine, considered one of the better Italian wines of the last 30yrs.

So this meal reached near Nirvana, of course all things come to too quick of an end and you wish you could share this moment with everyone special in you life, but much like the season for truffles is so fleeting, so are evenings like this to share, its limited to the lucky few.

So until next time, peace, comfort, and joy…and if you can have a little shaved white truffles on that, even better. —– EXCERPT:

Ahh The good life…, but how do you define?

I have a way, truffles, and no, not those chocolate things that shouldn’t be allowed to bear a similar name, I’m talking the prized white and black treasures beloved by chefs all over the world.

So here was tonights menu.

Oso’s white truffle menu:

Shared table starters: Beef Capriccio with shaved truffles Home-made mozzarella cheese with shaved truffles

Mains for table: White truffle risotto with shaved truffles Beef Fillet with shaved white truffles

Dessert Truffled Milk Panacotta with shaved white truffles Gellato with vanilla and white truffle

Okay now to top this with a bottle of Tiganallelo 1985 red Italian wine, considered one of the better Italian wines of the last 30yrs.

So until next time, peace, comfort, and joy…and if you can have a little shaved white truffles on that, even better. —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Just in case you check here first… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CATEGORY: Travel DATE: 10/11/2006 04:22:52 AM —– BODY:

I thought I better put a quick note in my private blog, just in case you would check it before the personal blog. Basically, due to an upcoming hotel change I’m finding it hard to keep up my blogging duties, yes I suck Ronny. But hopefully within another 48hrs, I can be blogging daily and finally update my main-site. Finally, did I mention the Ritz Carlton Singapore sucks, good, just wanted to make sure.

So until I’m not in this dump of a hotel, but instead looking back at it, I bid you goodnight. —– EXCERPT:

So until I’m not in this dump of a hotel, but instead looking back at it, I bid you goodnight. —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: My semi-PR experience STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/17/2005 09:15:32 AM —– BODY:

So if you really pay attention to my travel, at this point you saw me remove visits to Venice and Amsterdam, which is like losing a limb as well as a chance to visit Porto with a friend who has spent countless weeks and days there.

So why a month in Singapore. Well I’m in the final days of this long sabbatical, and I had to choose between bouncing between so many places or spending time like a local.

In Singapore when you want permanent citizenship , it’s refered to as a PR, or permanent residence. So this is my trail run at that. I was lucky enough to spend a month straight in Amsterdam which really made me feel local.

So that’s the deal with my current choice, or as the local say, Okay Lah? —– EXCERPT:

So why a month in Singapore. Well I’m in the final days of this long sabbatical, and I had to choose between bouncing between so many places or spending time like a local.

So that’s the deal with my current choice, or as the local say, Okay Lah? —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Opening night jitters.. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/16/2005 06:32:13 AM —– BODY:

Okay so that doesn’t serve as an excuse for my delay in updating the blog, but I’m sticking to it.

Okay much like my personal entry let’s explain the photographs from my prior blog entry. From there tomorrow will start more local updates of what I’m doing now.

Okay the first picture is of my friend Camilla at the Mint Club in London (http://www.fluidstyle.co.uk/venuedetails.aspx?venueID=18466). Camilla, my brothers, and myself had a nice time that night, and while you can’t see the rest of the Mint Club that night, be assured that Camilla was truly the best looking and most posh one there, making me and my brothers feel like we should be serving drinks, rather than drinking them with her.

Okay the next three pictures are of Camilla’s and my adventure into the London country-side to eat at the best rated restaurant in the UK, as well as stay at an amazing property as well. We each stayed at the Cliveden House (http://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/default.asp) after our meal at the restaurant that met all expectations but will be covered in future posts, this was the perfect place to rest and recover.

If you note on the final picture, they have custom door markers for each room. Only my Italian grandmother use to call me Mr. Latham Esq. and it brought back many sweet and bitter-sweet memories.

Okay so that doesn’t serve as an excuse for my delay in updating the blog, but I’m sticking to it.

Okay much like my personal entry let’s explain the photographs from my prior blog entry. From there tomorrow will start more local updates of what I’m doing now.

If you note on the final picture, they have custom door markers for each room. Only my Italian grandmother use to call me Mr. Latham Esq. and it brought back many sweet and bitter-sweet memories.

Okay, much like the personal blog entry, duty done, and much more to come. You can check out (http://www.tempusfugitive.com/menu.html) to see my latest interests, and for now, it’s over and yet not quite out. —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Come on throw your brother a bone… STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/15/2005 09:31:11 AM —– BODY:

To quote my brother Ronny, you lied and suck, okay my Dutch isn’t great but sure that’s what he meant, actually he wrote it in English, so sure he meant that. By the way this is in relation to my blog. I guess this comes from a two fork problem. First I can never break my promise to a living creature, but an inanimate thing like a blog, sorry all bets are off.

Second, lets face it Ronny is about my only reader, so maybe sending him an email directly would work better. Regardless, I will push through my lack of readership, and use some old-fashioned narcissism to drive this mother home as they say.

So tomorrow is the first full “me” day which will include the aforementioned site and blog update. Until then peace out and white truffles dreams for the foodies out there, explanation on this front to come. —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: A quick station break before the big show…. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 DATE: 10/14/2005 08:54:40 AM —– BODY:

Hey Kids, Kiddies, and less mature forms just like me,

Once again I over-promised my first major blog entry in both the private and public areas, but yet again promise it’s coming or my brother Ronny will fly here and kick my ass.

So an early Friday night in so I can less than amaze you with my razor wit come Saturday night.

Until then tiddings of peace and joy… —– EXCERPT:

Hey Kids, Kiddies, and less mature forms just like me,

Once again I over-promised my first major blog entry in both the private and public areas, but yet again promise it’s coming or my brother Ronny will fly here and kick my ass.

So an early Friday night in so I can less than amaze you with my razor wit come Saturday night.

Until then tiddings of peace and joy… —– ——– AUTHOR: tempusfugitive TITLE: Like all Grand Re-Openings: A coming attraction…. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CATEGORY: Travel DATE: 10/11/2005 07:00:53 AM —– BODY:

Here are some random images to preview what is yet to come…more in the public area…More info about these pictures yet to come…

Until the 13th, peace out… —– EXCERPT:

Here are some random images to preview what is yet to come…more in the public area…More info about these pictures yet to come…

Until the 13th, peace out…

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Grand Re-Opening October 13th, 2005
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 10/10/2005 09:22:18 AM

BODY:

Well not only did I fall down on the job or blog entries during my last trip, but I’m also late on this trip. I promise I have a good excuse for at least the London part of this trip, I was just having way too much fun. Details to follow.

So the day after tomorrow the site will be re-open, and you can read my daily rant from a month-long visit in Singapore, either in the public or private areas.

Hope this finally updated entry finds you all healthy and happy.

EXCERPT:

So the day after tomorrow the site will be re-open, and you can read my daily rant from a month-long visit in Singapore, either in the public or private areas.

Hope this finally updated entry finds you all healthy and happy.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Why I’m the master of symmetrical failure
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/28/2005 08:09:19 AM

BODY:

The symmetry of failure is something I seem to always have some inside track on.

By this I can look at my last personal entry being an already late entry of last weeks brunch, and yet here I sit the following Sunday, once again failing to give you a proper follow up from the first event, let along from todays event.

So in a sense an example of symmetry via failed successive brunch enteries. Yes, I suck!

But you must understand I’m beating a serious clock problem here. Imagine you have been given one week to see all your friends all over the world. Well lucky for me, that hasn’t been the case, and I have been SO lucky to have been not given one but a few reprives from returning the most amazing journey one can take, but as they would say the fat lady is singing, in fact she and the whole chorus is screaming as their dinner is long over-due and she already ate half the chorus.

So before I turn back into a pumpkin, or hopefully a skinny squash for those who get that reference, every moment of this final journey is key to me. New Years has never been so hated, feared or looked forward to for new challenges.

As such, I’m struggling to keep up, so please hang on, the interesting effect of symmetry is balance, and as such, hope to have enough down time to tackly my missing communications soon…

EXCERPT:

The symmetry of failure is something I seem to always have some inside track on.

So in a sense an example of symmetry via failed successive brunch enteries. Yes, I suck!

As such, I’m struggling to keep up, so please hang on, the interesting effect of symmetry is balance, and as such, hope to have enough down time to tackly my missing communications soon…

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: It always starts with all you can drink champagne…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/25/2005 01:16:13 AM

BODY:

The much promised rant about brunch. I will be honest that today was a down day, for some reason felt really horrible, but I promised on the ether of the internet to write this. Won’t bore you with the details, but had the second major migraine of my life which led to a less than full day.

So cut to Singapore two plus years ago. I hated brunch. But then came SARS. Yes it took a deadly disease to make me wake up in time to eat food before midnight. At that time my friend and I were the only Ang Moh – (non-locals) left in town. Everyone fled home. We were more worried about our love ones than direct flights home and waited to ensure we weren’t infected.

So during not one but two lockdowns to ensure there was no virus that could kill our friends, family, and others we stayed in town.

Okay, yes I know I promised this full story but I can can’t take it any more. Have I ever mentioned how I truly dislike most western men. Yep, in fact it be on most of my blogs, but maybe I should say, I really hate most Western men in Asia.

One of the dangers of writing this blog from the Post Bar is running into complete idiots from most western cultures. Tonight I find myself in shock that the American of the group next to me is the most polite of the group. Instead the worst is an Aussie sadly as normal it should have been American or a German.

Where in the male lexicon does it say the best way to a woman’s heart is through being rude, over-bearing, and most of all poorly dressed and ugly in soul, and in tonight’s case all apply. Clearly this some how works for most woman more than not but let’s hope this is some statistical fluke and nice guys do win at some point.

Okay, over the shock of what is in my left ear, will ignore. During the SARS crisis was the first time I had a brunch since youth. It should be noted I always afraid to eat anything before dinner should sun-light strike me, and then I’m pretty sure I would burst into flames.

Normally not my scene, I was shocked at an unplanned brunch with the GM of the Ritz of Singapore at that time.

It was so unlike the experiences of my history for brunch. Brunch in the US is an ugly event. People are all but arm-wrestling for the last slice of bacon or some other bad to eat for you item. Most brunches in the US is akin going to compete in a Southern NASCAR event.

This instead was a much more European, and slow way of dining, a true west coast meal.

Well since then it has become a Singaporean visit tradition to brunch, and for the most part we are so lucky to have a nice group of friends that always join us. It is by far one of the true highlights of our trip.

That said, this past week took a bit of a dark side…but of course like any tease, will hold off and fill you in on that tomorrow, with a deep moral question…Stand ready to decide what you would have done.

Over and out from the Post Bar and know tomorrow is a rare dinner at St. Juliens, which most like means a 24hr gap in between my next post.

Until then, know I’m working on a both public and private picture of a day and a trip gallery area for the final week of this trip, and the remaining others.

EXCERPT:

So during not one but two lockdowns to ensure there was no virus that could kill our friends, family, and others we stayed in town.

Normally not my scene, I was shocked at an unplanned brunch with the GM of the Ritz of Singapore at that time.

This instead was a much more European, and slow way of dining, a true west coast meal.

Over and out from the Post Bar and know tomorrow is a rare dinner at St. Juliens, which most like means a 24hr gap in between my next post.

Until then, know I’m working on a both public and private picture of a day and a trip gallery area for the final week of this trip, and the remaining others.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Your brunch will now be served two days later, okay?…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/23/2005 10:37:41 AM

BODY:

Sorry for the brunch blog delay, but as you see I did actually post the pictures to the public blog and the weather attempted a near New Zealand attempt to kill me.

Today was a true lost day. Note sure if you had this happen to you. You make all these plans and suddenly you are writing this silly blog at 1:21am that no one really wants to read.

That said, my ego would usually force me to post the blog, but I have way too many things to say on the subject of brunch, so my hamster driven mind has all but fallen of the wheel, or to put it another way, my Iraqi governing document isn’t quite complete, as that sounds like a more modern comparision.

So hope to better fulfill my duties tomorrow.

EXCERPT:

Sorry for the brunch blog delay, but as you see I did actually post the pictures to the public blog and the weather attempted a near New Zealand attempt to kill me.

Today was a true lost day. Note sure if you had this happen to you. You make all these plans and suddenly you are writing this silly blog at 1:21am that no one really wants to read.

So hope to better fulfill my duties tomorrow.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: My name is Stephen King, I can sign your book or write you an original if you have fifteen minutes…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/22/2005 09:56:03 AM

BODY:

I hate to be a bit of a tease, okay, actually not, but to be totally honest I’m rarely a tease, and if I am, I would blame it more on a lack of skill rather than an event of planned intellect.

That’s said, I have already explained tomorrow is a real push day to get a lot of travel booking done.

But I promise tomorrow to fully give you a real in-depth write up about my on and off again love of the art of the brunch with a special unique twist. While it will not be the Davinici Code, it’s at will be least as good as any Stephen King story, as he only takes around 15 minutes to write each book.

So hope this gets you to check back tomorrow. Promise to blog at you then.

EXCERPT:

I hate to be a bit of a tease, okay, actually not, but to be totally honest I’m rarely a tease, and if I am, I would blame it more on a lack of skill rather than an event of planned intellect.

That’s said, I have already explained tomorrow is a real push day to get a lot of travel booking done.

So hope this gets you to check back tomorrow. Promise to blog at you then.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Now a word from our sponsor Amstel…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 09/04/2006 10:25:17 AM

BODY:

If you read my public blog you know, I’m short on time, and most likely about to drink too much beer. So this will be a quick one.

Yes, I know I owe the second half of my Greece lessons, but yet again, my mojo says no. And no means no Ronny.

I will instead enjoy my very short visit with my brothers, as my next time in Amsterdam is December for the annual Christmas party.

On a quick side note, if you invest in any stock that is associated with diving or water based vacations sell! The following news will do more damage for underwater exploring than the movie Jaws ever did. At the airport I was watching that Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray. WHAT THE FUCK!

Wow does the universe have a sick sense of humor or what. That’s like being killed by a dolphin! Okay, not quite, but think how many times you see underwater scenes on TV or in movies with people petting a stingray and part of the beauty of the undersea world. For godsake the last person killed this way in Austalia was in the 1940’s

I mean this guy dealt with some of the most deadliest creatures on earth, and he dies a death that is more statistically rare than slipping and dying in your bath tub or having a plane crash on your house.

If this isn’t proof to go out and enjoy your life, I don’t know what is. I imagine his final thoughts were a mix of his concerns for his family and friends, and as the blackness closed, he thought, a fucking stingray, are you kidding me!

Until tomorrow, or at least lets hope as I don’t plan to hang out with any live seafood tonight, may your am be stel lar.

EXCERPT:

If you read my public blog you know, I’m short on time, and most likely about to drink too much beer. So this will be a quick one.

Yes, I know I owe the second half of my Greece lessons, but yet again, my mojo says no. And no means no Ronny.

I will instead enjoy my very short visit with my brothers, as my next time in Amsterdam is December for the annual Christmas party.

Until tomorrow, or at least lets hope as I don’t plan to hang out with any live seafood tonight, may your am be stel lar.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Thank god for the English …
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/20/2005 05:46:47 AM

BODY:

I’m sending this as an experiment. But I truly hope you can see this picture. While I’m the last thing from being an ugly American, I’m also once in a while not always the perfect buddhist center of Zen I should be.

These two sleepy brits are a classic example of travelers behaving badly. More to come about them and others, but for now enjoy the picture, and thank god for the English to make us American’s still look good…okay not good, but just not that bad….

EXCERPT:

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Thank god Wal-Mart doesn’t yet sell time travel devices…yet…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/19/2005 09:34:39 AM

BODY:

Hello from seat 1a of the Post Bar of the Singapore hotel. This is my secret writing location when I’m in Singapore. It’s an endless source of stories and interesting things to write about.

I could tell your about the Shanghai businessman and local Singapore woman that nearly procreated in my lap, or the ugly Ang Moh with a Chinese girl across from me that make for quite long entries, but I feel a need to keep my promise of talking about the budget airlines, and how they destroyed travel.

There are many days of steamy gossip yet to come.

So, without a doubt if I invent a time machine, the first target is the creator of Easy Jet and Southwest Airlines. Yes, I know Hitler and countless others come first, but hell if my small hamster mind can operate a time machine, countless smarter others will take out those guys before me.

As a long term global traveler I remember the first time I heard of Southwest airlines, and also Wal-Mart, might as well be the same. Well, I have no issue with saving money, but the concept of you just screw the customer in volume has never been a favorite. Make no mistake, when all your best local vendors have given way to a single stand alone store or airline, you will truly see the face of evil. Clearly realizing that this effect would simply amplify to the mindless, i.e.. look at both elections of George Bush Jr., I knew it was going to lead to quick trouble.

Jump into the future, and now fly an airline called British Midlands, who had a prior position of not being bastards like British Air. Their position was British business, coach, and discount travelers all deserved the best possible customer service possible.

Sadly, not only have the sank below British Air in position, they have decided their new position is among the Easy Jet, Ryan Airs, and countless others that fly drunk UK citizens for ten pounds and a bus pass via their lovely no frills service. Did I mention this trip was the second time they misplaced my luggage but lucky United and Singapore Air at different dates were able to rescue me, albeit I got my luggage around a day later.

Now of course there should always be a low cost service, but the term low cost comes from the concept of having an other than low cost option so every traveler has their needs met. Sadly British Midlands, and countless others to come have taken this concept to it’s logical end.

This means one class of service, think a Viking ship where you row, then every item, from oxygen to the silly hat the flight attendant wears, you pay extra for. There was some poor 90 year old man who ordered coffee in the seat in front of me because he didn?t understand this screwed up new idea of customer service, and when he had no money, they took the now poured cup out of his hand, chided him for the work they had to do to remove it from their spent inventory. Needless to say I expressed a cup full of screw you to them, and wanted to pay for the older gentleman but as he was from a much better and stronger generation, he would have none of it.

So it’s just a matter of parts, and bending the laws of physics, and once that time machine is built the budget airlines and Wal-marts of the world can simply be removed from history. Trust me all the others smarter than me will take out the really bad guys using the same technology and could make it a better world, but maybe sadly as humans we are destined to only learn by our mistakes, well after maybe many,many,many, and many mistakes. With any luck our current president is among the last of them.

Let’s hope at some time we evolve beyond our sub-chimp instincts, of course that applies for me, as I would really like a banana and to swing in a rubber tire right now so clearly don’t trust my insight or views 🙂

EXCERPT:

Hello from seat 1a of the Post Bar of the Singapore hotel. This is my secret writing location when I’m in Singapore. It’s an endless source of stories and interesting things to write about.

There are many days of steamy gossip yet to come.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: 3,2,1…prepare for landing and ranting….
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/15/2005 03:49:27 PM

BODY:

Morning everyone from seat 1B, of the soon to land Singapore Airline flight, to Singapore. As noted in the public blog I’m using the new and super cool high-speed internet service that Boeing created.

Now, flying Singapore airlines is one of the great life moments of travel if you can do it. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say, short of a Mom’s or a Pet’s love, nothing will treat you nicer, than a SIA staff.

So it’s with this in mind, that you can look forward to tonight’s rant about how the low cost airlines are ruining the entire world. The Wall-Marting of customer service is the grim future we all face.

Well so tonight look for my full rant on this subject entitled, once I build a time machine, what would I do with it. Let’s just hint that there is no lofty goals like stop Hitler, all though that sounds good as well, but no, it will center more on taking out the likes of the founder of Easy Jet and SouthWest airlines. Yes, a sad use of power, but hold and read on later, and maybe you will see my drift.

So until then, when a bar-stool replaces my airline seat, peace out, from the clouds and above.

EXCERPT:

So until then, when a bar-stool replaces my airline seat, peace out, from the clouds and above.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Sushi + a stick = EVIL
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/13/2005 12:32:02 PM

BODY:

There was a time where knowing what to eat use to be easy. Since being in Copenhagen, each night, been eating at the same Japanese restaurant in the hotel. Now, normally I don’t do the hotel thing, but since our hotel is in the nose bleed section of town, the long walk into the center isn’t worth it for tourist food.

Now I have never eaten tons of food, but I did eat my fair share of junk food. But not now. A strict no junk food policy is in full effect, so when left to eat by myself, Japanese restaurants are my friend. Editors note: This has always been the case, even before dating someone who works in a Japanese restaurant. Left to only eat one thing in the world it would come down to raw fish or cheese for me.

Of course, Byron is along on this trip, and as a Texan, must eat beef guy, he normally would begin to rebel with this plan. But after three nights of stuffing him full of beef done in various ways he is passed out in his room. Then again, with Byron, maybe something else knocked him out, as he tends to keep his secrets well. So I’m left to fend for myself.

So here are my choices. The room service in the hotel comes in only two forms. One is sushi on a stick from an outside vendor. Truly a concept that could get me to eat a Big Mac again. The other, Dominos pizza. Note to future self, never trust a hotel that has no room service but out-sources it to others.

So yikes would be the word that comes to mind. Now of course I could sneak down to the Japanese restaurant, but after three days in the row, I think I just can’t do it, based mainly on the fact that I’m two days away from my favorite Japanese restaurant in the world.

So that leaves the hotel diner which even the least discriminating American’s seem to complain about or the Blue Elephant. The Blue Elephant is by far the Macdonald’s of Thai food. It’s the Hard-Rock caf? of Thailand, minus the T-shirt.

Well not really sure what to do. I want the old days of guilt free eating. Where you just ate whatever was there, and you liked it.

I could do the Byron approach, which is you drink all your flood calories, but with a 5:30am wake up call, that would seem unwise.

So maybe the best thing is to eat my body-weight in popcorn, that’s healthy right?

I will spare you the stunning conclusion to my whimpering ending of my Copenhagen trip, and talk to you soon from around 30,000 feet. Wait that makes me think of airplane food, but that’s for another time and blog entry.

EXCERPT:

Well not really sure what to do. I want the old days of guilt free eating. Where you just ate whatever was there, and you liked it.

I could do the Byron approach, which is you drink all your flood calories, but with a 5:30am wake up call, that would seem unwise.

So maybe the best thing is to eat my body-weight in popcorn, that’s healthy right?

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Being fat was bad enough, but now short!
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/13/2005 09:36:16 AM

BODY:

So, much like my public blog, this will be a somewhat boring one. Sorry. But I promise my usual rants once I’m all settled into my Singapore visit.

Beyond my London visit which was very eventful as I finally got to have a long-postponed dinner with a friend, that was just wonderful, not much else to report.

Somewhat feels like my travel mojo is a bit off this trip. Maybe it’s been too long and I have gotten rusty.

I think also it’s due to feeling rushed. Only 3 days in Africa, and really 4 in Amsterdam, and 3 in Copenhagen doesn’t leave a lot of free time.

Also Amsterdam and Copenhagen both were having their gay parades during my visits, which should have thrilled Byron, but he seems more annoyed than having fun. I even played bait for him in a few gay bars, and you can tell his heart just isn’t into it. I must say I did find this one bar with all it’s staff dressed up like police, to really be funny.

By the way, note for straight men, you would assume if you came to town during a gay parade you would stand a better chance with the local girls. Nope, your knee deep in good looking men, who dress better and work out hard, that of course like other men, but regardless they make you look like such a loser, the local girls all just wait until the confusion clears and chose to “wash their hair” for a while.

On top of that the Danish, like the Dutch ride bikes every where, eat healthy, and smoke like chimneys, and clearly work out A LOT. My hotel gym here is one of the most modern and best I have seen. I should love it, but hate it. Why, evidently every local model has a membership there. So not only am I fat in comparison, but I’m short as well!

So I’m so ready for the Singapore Fullerton gym which is mainly filled with over-weight brits and aussies, to help restore my already low self image.

One more day in that gym and I would feel the need to by fat man clothes from the local big and tall shop.

So that’s it, as noted, not an exciting entry, but at least an updated one. Expect another 3 day delay, with flights, and the bounce through Amsterdam, but I have a feeling, plenty of material for me to write on is only a couple of flights away. Peace out until the other side.

EXCERPT:

So, much like my public blog, this will be a somewhat boring one. Sorry. But I promise my usual rants once I’m all settled into my Singapore visit.

Beyond my London visit which was very eventful as I finally got to have a long-postponed dinner with a friend, that was just wonderful, not much else to report.

Somewhat feels like my travel mojo is a bit off this trip. Maybe it’s been too long and I have gotten rusty.

I think also it’s due to feeling rushed. Only 3 days in Africa, and really 4 in Amsterdam, and 3 in Copenhagen doesn’t leave a lot of free time.

So I’m so ready for the Singapore Fullerton gym which is mainly filled with over-weight brits and aussies, to help restore my already low self image.

One more day in that gym and I would feel the need to by fat man clothes from the local big and tall shop.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Carol-Anne don’t go into the light…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/05/2005 09:50:31 PM

BODY:

A quick update from seat 2k. I’m writing you once again from the blinding glare of my neighbors reading light. At this point I should have a tan from the damn thing. Oops we are about to land, so will write soon assuming Im not blind from the German speaking spotlight next to me. More later.

EXCERPT:

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: My teeth and me feel dirty
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/03/2005 09:32:12 AM

BODY:

I didn’t realize people in the dental surgery business have groupies. In fact I once read Dentist have the highest suicide rate, due to people not liking them and they have horrible job satisfaction. First let me set you a quick scene. I’m flying over to London, and I’m happy because the two seats across from me are empty. Now don’t get me wrong, these seats are plenty away from me, but I’m excited as I have some curse that no matter where I am on the plane, I’m always next to the one guy that has every light turned on, even when he is sleeping.

Well just as I was about to go to sleep, and the purser brings up someone from business class, and pops them right next to me, and on goes the lights. Turns out their seat had a lighting problem! Clearly someone in my family or me pissed off a gypsie and got a serious curse placed on me. This same curse always means my flight leaves and arrives at the furthest possible gate from the entrance or exlt.

So I’m not a happy camper but what can you do. Well then one of the flight attendents comes to take the newly sat lighthouses order, and the guy says he I recognize your teeth. Is your dentist Tony Hong. Why yes says the quite senior flight attendent, as almost all the United flight attendents left have been doing twenty years plus. Well it turns out this guy owns the lab where the teeth are made, in fact he runs around the planet bringing people their teeth, like some modern day tooth-farie, or given the amount of light he’s seat is producing more like damn tinklebell.

So I do my best to go to sleep. I hate using those things that cover your eyes, but try, and stil, instead of darkness I still see something akin to a vanilla milkshake coming through my eyelids. So I take that off and just hope exhaustion will do it’s duty and take me. For some random amount of time it does, and I’m off to sleep.

When I awaken, I’m frightened to look up at the underside of that senior flight attendents bottom. She has apprently taken a seat on my arm-rest and this is the first line I hear from her to the dentist guy. “Wow it’s nice to finally meet the man inside my mouth”. I swear it! I was waiting for the 70’s porn music to start playing.

So for the next five minutes they talk in various dental/sexual induendo that no comedy writer could come up with. Ending with, “you should come by the hotel, I have samples of our new new-generation ones that when your ready to replace the current ones. Of course your super sexy smile is fine for now, but I have a tool at the hotel that can help judge when that replacement is due.”

Yep, I bet he has a tool for her. Trust me I’m cleaning up some of the statements. So they keep going on and on, and I’m screaming in my head, as I can’t sleep or see as the light has blinded me except for the partial eclipse of the flight attendents behind, which I really want out of my face.

I keep moving around like I’m tossing in my sleep, and yet she still doesnt get the hint. I’m thinking maybe I should fake talking in my sleep and say something like “Grandma is that you?”. Lucky before the idea of bitting pops into my head she gets up to go get dentist boy her contact details and for all I know put away the free toothbrush and dental floss that comes with every dental visit.

So somewhere in London, if you walked just at the right time past a certain room, I’m sure you would hear, “Oh doctor, floss me baby, that’s right rinse it, rinse it hard.”

So after hearing this I’m sure your next trip to the dentist will be even more distrurbing that the norm. Welcome to the club.

EXCERPT:

So somewhere in London, if you walked just at the right time past a certain room, I’m sure you would hear, “Oh doctor, floss me baby, that’s right rinse it, rinse it hard.”

So after hearing this I’m sure your next trip to the dentist will be even more distrurbing that the norm. Welcome to the club.

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: Subject
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 08/01/2005 12:01:01 PM

BODY:

If you are reading this it means you have access to my private blog sadly not a badge of honor but more of a curse. Yes I know the entry before this is full of mistakes, trust me it’s a miracle I write that well. I promise to try and raise the standard this trip but then again I seem to make this same promise everytime, but this time I mean it, no really, okay, yeah I don’t even believe myself, bad self. Well lets hope for the best that I have learned the lessons of the past.

Next stop, yes London, no worries, it appears London can actually hunt down the attackers, a novel concept by US standards. Bye for now. Oh one quick thing, remind me if I forget to tell you about weirdest conversation I overheard on the plane between a dental cosmetic company owner and a flight attendant. A classic. Talk at you soon.

EXCERPT:

AUTHOR: tempusfugitive
TITLE: We are the worlds best exporter of evil, bare none…
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1

DATE: 03/21/2005 08:08:04 AM

BODY:

Evil is a concept that normally is a hard thing to nail down on a global scale. One persons terrorist is another freedom fighter.

So I for a long time was of the mindset that all fast food or chemically processed food was evil. Now as a kid of the 70’s, this was fighting words, as I grew up eating Swanson Hungry Man dinners, Macaroni and Cheese, Stouffers Pizza and so on.

Now this didn?t come without some hard earned personal data, with me being a personal test dummy.

Fast food was at some point my best friend maybe even would have girlfriend status in those sad days. Granted I never was a more than a once a day eater, but at 12am on my journey home, it went down oh so well.

If you ever saw Super Size me, it would help you understand the real risks of it all. For me now, McDonalds can only be the name of an organic farmer or I don?t want anything to do with it.

This leads me to one of the three great mysteries of Americana, and these are Krispy Kreme, Wall-Mart, and Hooters.

All 3 can be compared to the Ebola virus of retail fronts. They all infect the world with the worst and most vile parts of America.

Once under protest I ate a Krispy Cr?me, wondering with each bite who anyone could fall in love with this concept. Okay granted if you fried my shoe, well odds are I would eat it with a nice curry mayonaise, but wasting my time with these chemical time bombs.

So it was a sad day when I discovered that my adopted second home of Singapore had let in the first Hooters in Asia.

So I kept struggling with the concept that it must not just be the artificial concept of sex they sell, as the government would have never allowed that.

Now don?t get me wrong, Singapore like every city in the world, has an underground scene of any vice, but this is a place that JUST legalized dancing on the bar, so clearly Kevin Bacon in Footloose would still stand 50-50 odds here for survial.

So Hooters has been an enigma, walked past it a million times without a second thought. Yet I have chuckled at the Sing version they created here. Gone is some girl who splits shift at the local gentlemans club, and these are fresh faced college girls really believing that short of Miss Singapore, they hold a major beauty title.

Okay add to mix my gay friend has eaten a few times at this place and now I’m really confused, how does this work.

Could it be I’m being too much of a snob? I mean McDonalds Fries are a true guilty if albeit life-ending pleasure.

So I finally said to my gay friend were going over and trying to see just how bad it could be. I waited enough time until the Navy had left town, which had really made the locals once again hate the US, well on many levels.

Well we entered in and took a quite public window seat, much too my horror but in for a penny in for a pound, and given the latest weakness of the dollar that would be quite a lot.

So quickly 2 sets of the houses chicken wings and an on special american size of beer.

It took one bite, and everything good I have found in my last 3 years, every memory or taste was replace by what tasted like a deep fried bone, covered in a crispy cr?me coating, and fried in WallMart gasolione, regular or diesel of course.

I was once again reminded why I lost touch with the US, or at least George Bushes US a very long time ago.

Needless we did something never seen before in Singapore, we left all our food and drink un-consumed, fully paid for and even tipped for, and ran for it.

So if you see my hot-sauce chicken wing stained wanted poster in a post office near you, now you will know why.