Recap of weekend...(nonMBA)

The entire previous week was engaged in last minute prep work for my good friends wedding. Yet another wedding. Ughh~... I'm a grooms man this time, no free time for wedding pictures in this post. Maybe no wedding pictures turned out to be good this time.

Friday (Calm b4 Storm); Finished last of wedding errands, so I took the groom out for a condemn mans' last drink. So it's only the groom (my child hood friend) and grooms man (me), so it's not a bachelor party, just too dear childhood friends savory his last precious hours of freedom. Being both snowboarders and surfers, freedom is best enjoyed after a pint of good beer, good music and the wind in our face and hairs. So after a good beer, we jumped in my truck, windows rolled down, blasted the music and cruised PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Newport Beach to Seal Beach. The smell of the salty ocean air adding to the flavor, I looped the drive ? times. We started around 11pm, I finally pulled back home around 2 am. We've known each other since seven years old, no words were spoken during that cruise.


Saturday (The STORM); OK, so I woke up a a little late, but no worries. We were still early for the ceremony at the church. Reception was Vietnamese/Chinese style (eight course meal) and the wedding party going to each table to greet, thank, toast the guests and pick up the money gifts. While each table gives the groom and bride the most foul, alcohol rich beverage to consume. Since the groom can't handle his liquor (cheap date), and I being the only grooms man that can consume alcohol, guess who drank for him?? I wonder how the dinner was, because I didn't get more then two bites. Hmm...Alcohol consumption on a empty stomach. Wonder what that produces? A very, VEERRY DRUNK grooms man.

TIP 1; when late meeting the bride's sister to pick up flowers, just smile and don't answer any questions. Just smile. Normally bring flowers helps smooth things out. Since we're meeting at the florist, that was not an option.
TIP 2; when "tipsy" and flirting..I mean talking to the ladies at a wedding reception...make sure....MAKE CERTAIN...that the two ladies don't know each other and they are not friends with each other and the bride.


Sunday (The Aftermath); lost cell phone (my black book is gone. Took me years to develop that phone list), lost rental bow tie (had to pay lost items fee), needed ride back in morning to pick up truck, because -tvu was too drunk to drive himself. Yes, I went home a lone. Wonder why? And there's the bee hive that -tvu stirred up last night. The bride gave -tvu an earful. The groom was having a good laugh. Thanks buddy. Glad I could provide you w/ entertainment. hehe...

Side note, I met up w/ another high school friend (back visiting) for lunch. I hadn't seen him since two years ago and his baby daughter was only a few months. Back in the high school and part of college years before he met his girlfriend and now his wife, he was quite the ladies man. He is a tall good looking guy with a good mind. That was then, now he's still the ladies man, but only limited down to two women this time....the wife and daughter.






The other lady in his life








Sorry, ladies. Mr model-bachelor is taken and she's got him wrapped around her tiny adorable fingers







Daddy's little girl








These little hands are able to wrap daddy around








Wrapped around her fingers

Three diplomas and one more to go...

Earlier this week, I received my second diploma (Business Analyst certificate) from UCI Extension. Including my first one (IT Management) and my undergraduate degree from University of California, Santa Barbara, that makes it three. Of course there is the big ole' MBA from a B-school in Europe that I'm aiming for, but that is a goal I'm applying for and hope to start progress in fall of '07. Three down and one more to go.

Side note; I was reminiscing my time (several best years of my life) while in UCSB.

• Put myself through college
• Second person in family to graduate from college
  
• Learned that the world is larger then Southern California and USA
• Traveled to Mexico city (DF) and Japan
  
• Learned to surf and snowboard
• Co-Founded a multicultural fraternity: Sigma Chi Omega
• Had our 10 year anniversary in 03' (Where's -tvu in the pictures?)
• Made some life long friends

What I hope to accomplish/gain from B-school (next best years of my life) in Europe?

• Finish the program; Graduate (MBA) diploma]
• Greater insight into entrepreneurship, management, marketing, business language
  
• strengthen/develop my soft skills, leadership, management, business skills
  
• Change career
  
• Summer internship in the industry (Strategy/International Business/Consulting ) I am aiming for post MBA
  
• Exchange program to a B-school in Asia [Hong Kong, Keio (Japan), Melbourne, Singapore, etc]
  
• Work in Europe postMBA
• 6 weeks vacation
• experience European lifestyle in urban setting
  
• Time permitting while in B-school; travel/surf/snowboard in Europe, Asia, etc
  
• Make additional life long friends and develop business contacts for future entrepreneurial projects

That's the battle plan for now, but we'll see how it holds up once it starts.

Strategic planning is worthless, unless there is a strategic vision. -John Naisbitt

Got married in SF...(nonMBA) part 3

Boys trying to be cool, but the ladies always know style


Ring Bearer and Flower Girl almost stole the show.



Grooms-men



Bridesmaid


Connected by hands, held together by love


This moment, two hearts become one



Poor guy, a life sentence


Two husbands; "Nice wedding where's the drinks?"
Two wives; "Ha ha, another one slave for our sisterhood."



After wedding cheers


After three glasses of wine


After ??? more wine and cocktails

Got married in SF...(nonMBA) part 2

OK, I've figured out the problem w/ blogger. It does not like uploading six pictures at once. So I have been uploading three photos at a time. Grrrrhhhh...


Haight-Ashbury Street; Former hot spot for SF's hippie counter culture movement




Protection (The Healthy Way) and for his/her pleasure, depending on which team you're batting for.



Brother, sometimes I feel like you...





Heart on the Rock; Found my heart! After all the girls have done to it. hehe...





From my biker consultant buddy's' (Brain) window; Golden Gate Bridge @ sunset. Nice...




From Brian's apartment window; San Francisco sky line @ sunset. Very Nice...





Port of San Francisco; Like a lot of major city it developed around a port





My kind of bar, surfboards close by to catch the next set of waves




Peace in the concrete jungle




Practice your Tai Chi




China Towns' street musician; A lot of history behind that musical instrument




Contrast; Little old, lot of new




Guardians of Chinatown gate

Got married in SF...(nonMBA)

Went to San Francisco earlier this month (7/7 - 7/9) for my surfing buddie's wedding. I took Friday off so I could fly up early to goof around one of my favorite cities.



Had lunch w/ my biker consulant buddy. After reading the book, "The Namesake", I was craving Indian food so we found this Indian restaurant close by. Very good price.








Where did I leave my heart?











Union Square










Gates to China Town






Trying to post more photos but blogger is not cooperating. Will have to do another posting. Same bat channel, different bat posting.

Collateral effects of my exercise regime...(nonMBA)

It has been a little over one month since I've restarted my exercise regime. After three and half years hiatus from working out, getting back into a healthy lifestyle is an uphill battle. I've gone through this before (dropped 30 lbs and maintained back in 99') , but this does not ease the pain of laying the foundation.

Key is developing this routine into an habit. My secret it doing it for one month, then it becomes habitual for me. I work out every weekday (M-Thr) , and surf Friday after work. Try to squeeze in a surf session during weekends, but family chores and personal errans usually get in way.

I fight the 30 minutes commute to get home, greet mom, do the various items/chores she ask me to do. Mentally I'm beaten. The couch, television, all beckon to me. Every day I fight it. Everyday I grind it out. Ten or sixteen mile bike ride, one mile run, then do the weights. My reward is a bowl of salad and one chicken breast. Sometimes I cheat and grab a bowl of rice w/ that day's meat. Results so far, I've droped five to six lbs and maintained it off. Hey, it's only been one month. Side benefits, my back problem is gone, I have more energy now so I'm not as tired while working on the essays and scheduling my time to apply for several B-schools.

My family (nieces and nephew) are starting to eat salads for dinner. I encourage my mom to walk down the street and back home and she's doing it. A good leader must be able to walk your talk while you're asking them to walk also.

Potential post MBA commute?

Found this article on BBC News. Do you think your commute to work is far? Well, consider working in city A (London) and living in city B (Barcelona, i.e. "fill in inexpensive cost of living city"). WOW...Talk about the jetsetting lifestyle. hehe... The article points out that due to high cost of living in major business cities (i.e. London), the emergence of mobile computers, broadband, cheaper airfares and importance of quality of life, some people are living in internationally affordable cities and commuting to work via airplanes. There are several comments to the article by readers that actually are doing it. How cool is that?

"If you book in advance you can get one-way flights from London to Barcelona for £15.99 plus charges. The standard day single by train from Basingstoke to London Waterloo is £15.40."

My master plan is; post MBA work in Europe for a couple of years (consulting) and afterwards head back to Cali, most likely San Francisco. I have traveled to many international cities [Amsterdam, Barcelona, Budapest, Hanoi, Krakow, Madrid, Munich, Mexico City (DF) Prague, Paris, Saigon, Tokyo, Yokohama, Vancouver, etc], and SF (in my humble opinion) ranks up there amoung the many great international cities. It has culture, ethnic diversity, nice people, conductive for active life styles (i.e. surf, snowboarding). I've had another master plan once but that didn't work out and I'm better for it. But I digress.

In addition to being able to work in Europe, how fabulous would it be to say in a conversation, "Oh me? I work in London but I live in (insert affordable city)." Very cool. hehe...

B-school application advice...

As posted by AngelAngie, very good advice on applying for B-schools and for LBS. There are many helpful MBA resources, i.e. Business Week B-school Forum, Clear Admit, Beat the GMAT to list a few. If you know of additional resources, comment it to me and I will add it to my list.

Since LBS has released it's application deadlines, I've taken myself out of study break. There goes my plan of no studying through August. No worries. I was getting bored with all the free time I've had. For the last 2.5 years I have been taking night courses for two certificates (Business Analyst and IT Management) at UCI, so my nights were never really free. Before my studies, I spent my free time after work in the gym, usually arriving home at 7-8pm, again, my weeknights were never really free. I was actually training to get my pilot license (private visual flight rules certificate), before my sister-n-law passed and the title of God Father gained true significance. My pilots' certificate is on indefinite postponement, so I can help raise my God Son. I am use to having my weeknights limited. If I have too much free time, then I usually get myself into trouble, in one way or another. Call it an over developed sense of goal, I like to focus on aspirations.

Action items checked off...

It's technically Monday morning now, thanks to a bout of insomnia. So this passed weekend was busy and productive.

Friday

• Work - CHECK
• Surf - CHECK (Surfed a few waves before rushing to dinner)
  
• Dinner with bachelor boy at Shin Sen Gumi - HALF CHECK
• Bachelor boy was too from work, so he canceled. No worries, still met up with friends at Shin Sen Gumi to celebrate friends' wife birthday. Feet still sandy from surf session.
  
• Afterwards ?? - CHECK (went to Dave n Buster for drinks and enternainment)
  

Saturday

• Dawn patrol - NON CHECK (Got back way too late to wake up at 6am)
  
• Clean up house - HALF CHECK (woke up late, so help around house half way)
  
• Beach volleyball - NON CHECK (Needed to clean house and pray. Not enought time for Beach Volleyball)
• After prayer session and eating, went on 6 mile bike ride)
  
• Drive God Son - CHECK
• Rest - DOUBLE CHECK!!
  
• Take mom to church - CHECK (Sister drove mom)
• Took bachelor boy to late afternoon surfing session
  
• Dinner - CHECK
  
• Bachelor party - (Private) CHECK hehe...
  

Sunday

• Find aspirin - NON CHECK
  
• No time, woke up by brother and had to drive to LAX to pick up nephew flying from Florida. Vietnamese ice coffee keep me up
  
• Take mom and nephew/nieces to visit Dad and Sister at cemetery - CHECK (Sister drove)
• Drove nephew to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate grand niece (my nieces' daughter) 5 year birthday
• Much needed nap
• Went on 14 mile bike ride to clear head
  
• Celebrate God Son's birthday - CHECK
  
• Work on LBS essay questions - CHECK (rough, very rought draft full of bullet notes)

Huntington Beach; Main Street, directly across the HB pier.








Landmark; Huntington Beach Pier. Previous wooden versions where broken and torn apart from past major storms. Like a phoniex, it arises from its ashes. This current version is made of concrete and has survived a couple of major storms.







Bike path and sidewalk along the beach.









Surf's up!

Plans, plans, plans... (non MBA)

Today (Friday)

• Work
• Surf
• Dinner with bachelor boy at Shin Sen Gumi
• Afterwards ??

Saturday

• Dawn patrol (early morning surf session)
• Clean up house, setup for Dad's 100 day pray session (Vietnamese Tradition to honor dead after 100 th day)
• Beach volleyball
• Take God Son (nephew) to "The Block" so he can celebrate his birthday w/ his friends
  
• Rest
• Take mom to church
  
• Dinner w/ boys
• Bachelor party w/ boys

Sunday

• Find aspirin
• Take mom and nephew/nieces to visit Dad and Sister at cemetery
• Work on LBS essay questions
• Celebrate God Son's birthday

Just reviewing my action items for this weekend is making me tired!
Hopefully I'll have pictures (non self incriminating) to post...

End of World Cup, realization how international UCI is...

Since the start of the world cup, I had been watching the games during lunch at the University's grilll by the Science buildings. I work for the University of California, Irvine. Since it was summer time and no classes, I had presumed that I would be watching it with a few graduate students. How wrong I was. I forget that UCI is a major research university and has graduate students and professor through out the world. I was extremely impressed with the amount of people watching the games and how international these people were. Each were cheering for their country, their region of the world, and/or their favorite team. It was particularly cheerful (loud) during the Mexico match. Us So Cal (southern californians) cheered for Mexico, because eventually Californians will breed into CaliforniMexicans. Funny but true.

While watching these matches amongst the diverse audience, it gave me inspiration for my potential future in Business School in Europe. Where ever I end up, I look forward to being amongst a group of intelligent, international group of people I hope to call dear friends. Here's to my international future!

Improve your communication skills...

I am of the mind set that a person should always improve in areas they are weak. Simply put, self improvement. One of the organizations I am actively involved (VP of membership) with is Toastmaster. Improving your communication skills. An article was sent from a club member. It list some goods points that can be implemented in everyday conversation, especially in business meetings. I've seen improvements within myself on the business and personal side of my conversations

LBS deadlines for 06-07 now finalized

As reported by blogger, daveformba, LBS just announced their application deadline for 06-07. R1 ends on Oct 20. That leaves only about 2.5 months for me (not including July) to get my act together. Good thing I was in the process of getting my applications/recommendations for the various European B-schools together for 2006, back in Jan/Feb, before I decided to delay for 2007 to be w/ my father for his cancer and eventual passing. Gotta get back on the GMAT study train once more. Yippee~...Not. Kiss my weeknights goodbye once again.

It is not a sudden lost. My mother has been mentioning, therefore making me feel guilty (a power I suspect all mothers have), that she is getting very tired daily. So I've been gradually slowing down my weekday social excursions to stay home for her reassurance. Elderly couples generally pass within a few years to one another. I hope/pray this will not be the case for my mother. I already feel guilty for applying for B-school in Europe.

My new routine will be, M-F;

• Work
• Excercise: 1-2 mile run, 30-45 minutes weights,
• Dinner
• MBA related activities: Kaplan GMAT review course, GMAT studies, application essays
• Surfing (Fridays after work, Saturday mornings)
  

I will have to reactivate my GMAT review course w/ Kaplan. So depending on the schedule, I will have class twice a week once again.

Added Note;

• Sunday mornings (indefinitely) : Take mom & nephew/nieces to visit Dad & Sister-n-Law @ cemetery
• Thursday nights (8 weeks) : Review course for GMAT (hopefully they reactivate my account in time so I can begin studying again)

Non-MBA Note: Work out regime is starting to show some progress. After 4 weeks of almost daily exercise, I'm starting to put a dent in the 10 lbs I've gained from countless hours in hospital (bedside and overnight stay) with dad and 3 weeks of family prayer/dinner sessions and funeral proceedings. Usually takes a few weeks of excercise to show healthy weight lost. Two pounds lost to start and hopefully more on the way. Ideally, I want to return to my peak six pack form of 155-160 lbs, but that is not realistic, because of B-school applications and living at parents home, watching mother and raising god-son. I will be satisfied with dropping weight to 165-170. Something to strive for. Everyone's gotta have goals.