Another fitness checkin, another parade.

Theres only 13 days left and I still have 7 lbls to go....this is going to be difficult. I need to up the cardio and cut down on the chocolate (I had like 3 slices of cake this weekend.....soo bad.....but....mmmmm....sooo soooo good hehe). So now I'm sitting here at lunch eating salmon, veggies and bit of rice. Its good. Its tasty. But....really, I wish veggies were just a bit more filling....sigh. In other news, I went to the Puerto Rican Day Parade on the weekend. It wasnt as entertaining as the Dance Parade (btw I've decided that although I find parades incredibly dull on tv, they are fun in person) it was massively larger. Just massive. Ricky Martin was suppose to be at the parade...maybe he was but I didn't see him. I did however see J. Lo go by on a float. I'll put some pictures up on here later. They are already on facebook for those of you who can't wait.

6 degrees of losing weight in November while in Amsterdam

Fitness Check in ------------------------------------- checkin. I made it to the gym 5 times last week! And did cardio each time! Sometimes only 20mins when I was feeling lazy...but still, its better than nothing! My weight has been fluctuating quite a bit (by 2 pounds or so) But so far I think I'm down at least 0.5 a pound. So not bad, hopefully I can keep this up. Strange Coincidence #1 ------------------------------------- Caitlin, Fausto, Jane, & I are all hanging out. Caitlin to Me: Hey, Fausto's bday is in November too! Fausto to Me: When's your bday? Me: Nov. 2nd F: Thats my brothers bday. Me: Oh yeah? When's yours? F: Nov. 19th Me: Thats my sisters bday! Thats so odd. Strange Coincidence #2 ------------------------------------- My cousin Rasheed & I are in Amsterdam. We decide to go to a comedy show called Boom Chicago. We get there and are seated by the waitress in a large hall that fits 200-400 people (I'm not great at estimating). Not 2 mins later the waitress comes and seats two other right beside us. Its Rohit! One of my friends from University. I knew he was going to Europe as well but didn't know his exact plans. What are the odds that we both go to the the same city in Europe, are in Amsterdam on the same day, go to the same show, at the same time, and seated next to each other? Craziness. Strange Coincidence #3 ------------------------------------- I started to blog. I then came across Sarah's blog. Sarah is from NY which is where I'm currently living (though she's not from NYC...she wishes!). From Sarahs blog I found anon's blog. Anon is from LA and related to my friend Omar. Omar went to my highschool, Erindale, along with another friend of mine Aamir. Sarah and Aamir also friends. Omar just moved to LA for work but he's originally from Canada and went to University of Toronto. At UoT he knew Mezba. Mezba knows Ruby who is from Toronto (as is Squeeky and FU). Ruby went to Waterloo which is where I went! I'm from Mississauga which is where Liya is from. Liya is a teacher (Squeeky is also a teacher) and almost took a teaching job at my old highschool, Erindale. One of my best friends from Erindale is South African and currently studying medicine there (Liya is also South African). SingleGuy is also in medicine and working (maybe studying i forget) in South Africa as are Saaleha, K-Man, and Bilal. Bilal and FU use (maybe still do) to work business tye jobs. Sofi works a business type job (finance) in the UK which is where CellarDoor and Hanna are from. Cellar has a friend named Caitlin as I do. Hanna is friends with Anon. My Grandparents almost settled in the U.K. before deciding on Pakistan instead (coming from India). Pakistan is next to Bengladesh which is where Mezba and Haleem's are from. Though Haleem is now in Mississauga. ABCDLaw is going to Pakistan soon and is also going back to school soon for Law. My cousin Alia is a lawyer living in Hartford, Conneticut which is also where my friend Caitlin lives. Almira is also going to be starting school soon and AKA just moved to Australia to start school. AKA blog is Half a cup of Chai. And Chai can be had with Samosa's. And AKA knows Samosa who knows Ruby. And....I'm not sure how to fit more ppl into this 6 degrees of seperation thing (some of these links are already quite weak) but...it is a small world isn't it?

Reading Challenge

Since I feel like I'm all about challenges lately, which is really just a reflection of me contemplating my short and long term goals and what I want to do in my career and life (which suddenly sounds like to me a much more interesting topic than what this post is about...oh well) I thought I'd list another challenge. This is really just a semi resolution that I made. I just want to read more. I'm not reading nearly as much as use to. I miss it. Books are awesome. And as the NBA commercials say, reading is FUNdamental. So the goal is to read at least one book a month. Thats just 12 books a year. Its like nothing. So yeah. Last month I didn't read much at all, but overall for the year I'm doing ok I think. Although most of the books are old books that I read when I was young and am just felt like reading again now. So far this year I've read: A Handmaids Tale (really good!) The Catcher in the Rye (didn't care for this) For One More Day (I liked Tuesdays with Morrie much better) The Penelopaid (A Handmaids Tale was much better) The Magicians Newphew (I liked this more than I thought I would) And currently I'm reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (so far I like it) I started The Virgins Knot (and stopped very bleh, I doubt I'll touch it again) as well as The Three Musketeers (I'll finish it eventually, its not continously holding my interest and feels like a chore to read at times). And of course, we're all waiting for July to come so we can finally get our hands on.....Harry Potter! :) Ok, thats enough for now, I'm off to read!

The Challenge

I decided I wanted to get back in shape. I'm not fat or anything but I use to be in much better shape than I am now. Its hard to be consistently active when you work long hours and aren't in school anymore. Particularly in New York where eating out for most meals is the norm. But anyhow, I started a contest or challenge with Ruby and then Mezba and Sofi joined in as well. We each have our own specific goals but I feel the sense of competition will help motivate me. The end date of the challenge is June 24th. My basic goal is to lose around ~10lbls or so and just be in better shape. Anyone else want to take part? Now although the challenge technically started maybe 2 weeks ago, Ruby and I have really only been running our mouths trash talking :P . But now its time to get serious. I have just under 6 weeks.... Alright so here's where I stand right now. Now --> Target Weight: 173 --> 163 So the goal is to get to 163...If I don't make it BUT I see myself being more muscular...I'm fine with that. Body Fat: 14% --> um.....12%? Is 12% a good goal? I have no idea. And I really don't trust my scale to be accurate in this...I doubt its right...but hopefully I'll at least be able to track a trend..hopefully a downward trend. Hydration Level 60% --> ??? Ok, not sure how to make use of this value...but I'm going to try and drink more water. Alright, so now I know my starting point. Once a week I'm going to check these things to see how I'm doing and I'll write down how often I went to the gym that week too. I challenge everyone in the contest to do so as well, I know if I see others going to the gym 4+ plus times a week I won't let myself get away with only going twice. Now excercise isn't everything so I'm going to try and eat healthier too...which sucks since right now I'm really craving some Popeyes chicken.....but yeah. I'll eat healthier. No more junk food or chocolate unless: 1) Its free. 2) I'm out with a group of at least 3 people who are also getting dessert. sigh....I'm hungry already.....I need to find some healthy snacks.....

Amazing Race NYC Recap!

Ok, here is the long overdue Amazing Race NYC Recap! Warning, its somewhat long. 8 people, 4 teams take part in a grueling race around the city of New York to win the title of....um...winners! This post summaries the challenges and obstacles faced by 1 of the teams. The race started with the four teams: Team Romana & Aasia Team Romana & Irfan Team Women in black sunglasses aka W.I.B.S (or as pronounced by Darrin and I, Team Wimps) aka Jenn and Caitlin Nguyen. and Team Harold and Kumar aka Darrin and myself. We all met in midtown around 11am. The racing instructions/tasks were then handed out to all teams which were seeing them for the first time. After confirming the rules which each other, the race was on! There were 7 tasks to perform and 1 mandatory 30min rest period. The tasks could be completed in any order except for the final task which well had to be last. Here's the task in the order we did them. Of the 7 tasks we knew exactly where 4-5 of them were. We started running in the direction of the first task thinking we'd figure out the rest as we went along. Though we briefly stopped at the Hilton hotel to get a city map and bug the concierge for the answer of one of the tasks. TASK 1: Find the toy store that was featured in the movie Home Alone 2. Take a picture of a group member standing with the toy soldier that greets you when you enter. Buy a cheap toy for your partner in the $5 - $15 range before leaving. You may use any mode of transport to get there. Its the FAO Schwartz toy store! Darrin standing with the toy solider greeter. Darrin in line to buy the toy. While in line, directly infront of us was Team Romana & Irfan. After overhearing their racing plans (hehehe) they finally noticed us and we decided to form an alliance. Darrin, Irfan, Romana The next task was the Detour! TASK 2: DETOUR Choice 1: Rent a bicycle at Loeb Boathouse inside Central Park (its near The Lake). Ride the bicycle to 110th street and take a picture with the street sign and make sure both a group member and her/his bicycle are in it. Ride the bike back to Loeb Boathouse to return it. You may use any mode of transport to get to Loeb Boathouse. OR Choice 2: Save money by walking/jogging/running ONE FULL LENGTH through Central Park. Start at 59th and take a picture with the street sign, then walk to Loeb Boathouse inside Central Park and take picture while standing a few feet (20 feet away at most) in front of the Boathouse. Finally walk to 110th and take a picture with the street sign. You make go the opposite direction and start at 110th if you want. You may use any mode of transport to get to either 59th or 110th. We decided on task 2. At 59th street, the bottom of Central Park By the Boathouse While walking to the top of the park we planned the rest of the race, particularly the next task. TASK 3: Find the street dedicated to the Latin Jazz legend Tito “El Rey del timbal” Puente after he died of a heart attack in the year 2000, and take a picture of the street sign with a group member standing in front of it. You may use any mode of transport to get there. We thought this was on the left side of the park, so we walked the way across the park and then head up. Unfortunately once at the top we found out it was indeed on the east side and we had to walk all the way across again. For those that don't know.....Central Park is HUGE!!! It probably took us 1.5-2hrs to do all that walking. Fortunately, we did find the street and were able to move onto the next task. At 110th street, the top of Central Park. Tito Puente Way! TASK 4: Find the building, constructed in 1872 on a coast of Welfare Island, to guide boats along the East River. Take picture of a group member standing a few feet (30 feet away at most) in front of the building. You may only use your feet, subway and/or bus to get there. Welfare Island = Roosevelt Island! We made our way to the nearest subway station where we happened to meet Team Romana & Aasia. Romana, Romana, Aasia Once on the subway Romana & Aasia got off 1 station before us to then walk up to the F train station to get to the island. We continued so that we could transfter to the E train. Once at the station E train was arriving so it was a mad dash across the platform, up the stairs, down the hall, down the stairs and onto the platform and into the train before the doors closed. We made it! We sat down and rested our weary feet as we watched our train approach Roosevelt Island.....and then pass Roosevelt Island...and proceed into Queens...we read the map wrong! We needed to take the F train! Trying to figure out why we're suddenly in Queens. Lets check the map at the station... We got off the train switched platforms again to get the same train in the opposite direction, took all the way to where Romana&Aasia originally got off, ran to F train station, got on that train and then finally got to the Island. All in all we probably lost 30-40mins or so. Double checking the maps one more time. Once on the island Romana found out from the Bus driver where the Light house was. Unfortunately the bus was packed so we had to walk. It took us 30-40mins of walking...tiresome as we'd already walked the full park. Finally at the Lighthouse! Fortunately we got a cab back to the station and proceed to the next task. Detour#2! TASK 5: DETOUR Choice 1: Go to either Gem Spa Newsstand or Eisenberg Sandwich Shop. Each person in the group must buy and DRINK 3 full cups of egg cream while in the store (you may buy in any available size). Take a picture of all empty cups. You may use any mode of transport to get there. OR Choice 2: Go to Magnolia Bakery and buy 4 red velvet cupcakes per person in your group. Each person must then EAT all 4 cupcakes while at the store (you may eat it outside the store if its too crowded inside). Take a picture of all the empty wraps. You may use any mode of transport to get there. We choose the Egg Creme b/c Magnolia is more famous and always always has a huge lineup. Eisenberg was more on our route as well. We get there and order 3 cups each, 12 in total. The guy asks if we're sure. We say yes and he laughs and starts filling cups. Disgusting Egg Creme This was the most disgusting thing ever. Its chocolate syrup, milk.....and szelter. Blegh...disgusting. And the cups were huge. And I don't drink carbonated drinks (haven't drank pop in like 15yrs) so I was having a lot of trouble with it. I seriously felt sick and wanted to throw up for at least 30-60mins later. Even much later in the day I felt a bit burby. Gross I know but the drink was that bad. I'm smiling but its cause Darrins telling me to just drink quickly and then throwup after. I finally finish though. And we make our way to the station to head to the next task. On the way we bumped into Team WIMPS that were heading to Eisenbergs. TASK 6: Take a picture standing beside the monument that represents aggressive financial optimism and prosperity. You may only use your feet and subway to get there. This one was easy. The Bull by Wall Street and and Broadway in the Financial district. Unfortunately, my pictures got corrupted here so this picture is from Caitlin and Jenns collection. Jenn by the Bull Now we were off to the mandatory rest period. I don't have the clue for that on me...but basically it stated the restaurant we had to go to. Once there we had to wait 30mins before continuing on with the race. It was really only 10-15mins away from the BUll. Unfortunately, getting there wasn't so simple. We got on the uptown 4 express train, then transferred to the 6 train. But the train wasn't moving. Then due to a medical emergency on the train it wasn't going to move at all until help arrived. So we ran to the N train, took that past our destination (it didn't stop there) got onto a downtown 6 train got off at the stop we wanted and ran to the restaurant. Bare in mind...the egg creme...and running.....ugh... Anojan sends a Sri Lankan restaurant...sorry anojan, i'm still not going to have a dosa. We just chilled outside the restaurant and it was good as the egg creme sickness went away. At the end of the wait, things got interesting. Its the final task. And our alliance with Romana and Irfan was off. The final destination was only 6 blocks away and we both knew it. It was time for a foot race! TASK 7 – FINAL DESTINATION Your last destination will be the Starbucks located @ precisely 13 Astor Pl # 25 between Broadway and Lafayette St. Have a coffee or get a dessert of your choice, find an open table, and solve the puzzle. Darrin got to the starbucks first follwed by myself and then Romana. Darrin and I find a table and ask a stranger for a pen to work on the puzzle. Romana searches for Irfan and then points out to us.......wait this is the wrong starbucks. We're all out the door and running again. We get to the right starbucks (there are 3 in the area!) and get to work. Both teams working on the final puzzle. Place the numbers 1 through 8 in the boxes above so that no consecutive numbers are adjacent or have touching vertices (either horizontall, diagonally, or vertically). The first team to complete the puzzle will win the race! And.....its solved....the winners of Amazing Race NYC 2007 are..... Ahmed and Darrin! The rest of the racers finished in order of Romana & Irfan, Jenn & Caitlin, and then Romana & Aasia (they actually just stopped after we called and told them we won). Here's a rudimentary picture of the course we took. The big green dot is the start, the blue dot the end. The black line the path. And the small red dots the places we stop for tasks. The designer of the race was our friend Anojan. Who was there waiting for us at starbucks. Many thanks to him, it was really a lot of fun. And I can't wait to do it again. In fact....I just booked a flight to visit home Memorial day weekend. I get home the night of Friday May 25th and leave early morning Tuesday May 29th....perhaps its time for Amazing Race Toronto? Hmmm.....stay tuned.... A few of random pictures Team W.I.B.S Aasia & Romana in Central Park Ahmed & Caitlin in the front, Jenn & Darrin in the back Romana & Darrin happy to finish the Central Park leg and find Tito Puento Way Chilling at the end of a long but fun day.

Raptors, weight, visitors, & a contest

I went to the Raptors in New Jersey on Friday. The seats were great. And Bryan Colangelo said "Hey guys" to me and Noah. That was the highlight. As after that, when the game started.....the Nets killed us. Sunday was game 4. I watched from home....for 3 quarters. It was even worse than Friday. Hopefully things improve for game 5.... I bought a scale on Saturday. I'm hoping it will motivate me. I won't disclose my weight here. Its not that bad I suppose.......but its still the heaviest I've been in my life....sigh...I think I hide it quite well. As most people tell me I'm fine and don't need to lose anything. Some people even call me skinny (janet). but there are others that are evil who call me fat or tubby or something (darrin) and thats spreading to two other evil ppl (jenn and caitlin) grrr..... Jane will back in town tonight. My apartment really is like a revolving door with friends coming and going quite frequently the last month or two. I don't remember when I last deflated the air mattress. Its a lot fun though. And not at all a complaint. I just agreed to a contest with Ruby. 8 weeks (~June 24) to lose weight. We both have our own individual goals. But I always do better when there is a competitive factor involved. So my own goal is about 10pounds. So slight more than 1pound a week....shouldn't be too hard right?....Anyone else want to partake in this little contest? Oh and another thing. I'm going to try and spend less time online. I want to stop waisting time doing pointless stuff online. Maybe the time will be spent on better things like reading...or maybe not....I just think I spend too much time online. So I'm going to try and no longer use the internet after........12 (midnight)....and maybe work that done to 11. I may still be online.....or doing something on my computer.....so its somewhat of a loophole....as I could still chat if people message.....but....the main thing is to just not sit there and start conversations or randomly surf the web. Hopefully this wil lead to me reading more (I'm woefully behind on reading my ever increasing stack of books on my window sill) and going to bed early. And hopefully that will in turn lead to me actually waking up early enough to cardio in morning and eating breakfast.