New pages for a new book

I've recently just finished Isabel Losada's Book "For Tibet With Love" which I really enjoyed, it has taken me 2 continents, but I read it and have extracted a few key points to try and incorporate in my life. I'm realizing more and more each day that the serenity prayer that Isabel talks about affects me, and I need to think about it more to fully understand it, to gain the wisdom I need.

Half Way There

Well, it is now reading break here, so that means I'm half way through the semester. So far so good with school. I am really liking the program, met some new people, really just enjoying being back in school. Job is going well too, I just like being around active like-minded people, making some good contacts. Running is great as well! I'm running with a run club here, every Wednesday night and Saturday morning. Got a program made out just for me, in preparation for a half in Vancouver in May. I haven't really done anything else besides school, work and running, but am fine with that. Haven't been drinking at all, I'm eating right, and getting some proper nutrition in me. I really want to see how far I can go if I stick to the program. I blew out my Nike's I bought in Taiwan bout 2 weeks ago, but got my new Mizuno's in yesterday so am anxious to test them out on Saturday, and ya they're the fast ones, they've got speed holes!

Just want to give a shout out to the Taiwan crew, L3 and Ms. Rainbow, as they are in paradise for Chinese new years, eating yummy food and reraxin getting all bronzed and beautifed. I wish I were there to soak up the rays with you gals, enjoy! Watch out for the cwazy buckets. I can't wait to go back there. Miss you guys! especially L and the boy, furry little guy. Till then I will just keep on workin and dreamin.
Laterz!!

A long awaited update

So here I am doing the typing thing again. And all within less than 6 months of the last post woo -hoo! Baby steps.

I have wanted to post more on here, but have always found an excuse not to, strange I know. Maybe it is a bit of laziness so I am going to really make an attempt to write more, not like it's a chore, but because I like to. It's always nice to get some things out, feelings, present issues, and memories, whatever.
I have a few close friends who blog on here. I have become quite repetitive of my net usage as of late, checking to see if any of them have written anything lately on a regular basis.

Sometimes it just doesn't seem to like anything is "blog worthy" but in reality, everything is.
So here goes....I'm going to try to recap my past 6 months while holding the fast forward button and pausing in a few moments to recap.

OK, so my post this summer was from Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. I was there for 6 weeks diving and completing my dive master certification, check, finished it. Had an amazing time to say the least. Met some proper stand up friends whom I hope to stay in contact with and hopefully meet again one day soon. Probably one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. I will never forget it. I could really go on and on about this summer.

K, next......went back to Taiwan, taught for a few more months at a new school teaching kindy kids in the morn and then I was 1 of 3 ESL teachers for the afternoons at a school called Wagor. It was tough leaving Wagor, awesome co-workers, great school, fantastic kids.

Last year, after I came back to Taiwan after going home for Christmas, I began to train for a half marathon in Taiwan. Well I completed it! 99 minutes for my first one, I love the sport and everything associated with it. After the race L, Ang, the Shelbdog and I toured around Takoro Gorge, which is one of the main attraction in Taiwan, which is absolutely breathtaking.

The week before was a different story though. In short, wasn't going out for the Halloween bash, ended up going out, I dressed up as Richard Simmons, was fine at the party, had a few drinky poos...........but as soon as L and I hit the elevator to go home, well.....I don't remember the rest of the night. From L's testimonial, the rest of the night was ugggggly. Oh and how could this get any better you ask? Well what a treat I had waiting for me the next morning...... I had to wake up early the next morning to go for a run with Ang's dad who was visiting from Canada, whom I'd promised that I'd go running with that morning for a week, at 8 I think or was it 9, god I don't remember. Anyways he was buzzing our apartment right on time, I was still completely whacked, and L was furiously trying to get me out the door. Anyways I made it downstairs somehow, met up with the Shelbdog and off we went, I was wearing blue-blockers by the way to hide my eyes which I think were swollen shut, I felt like shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. K, so we made 2 laps around the park off Wen-shin near the TIGER sports complex, and I told the Shelbdog that I needed to stretch out and walk a bit. So I proceeded to find a shaded area and started to stretch. An hour later I woke up! About a minute later, L and the Shelbdog were walking around looking for me hahaaha. I was like whaaaat I was stretching!!! I guess the Shelbdog went back to the apartment to see if I had gone back there, L knew something was up so she old him the story of what occurred the previous night and came looking for my carcass. Let's just say I will never hear the end of it!
Oh and I ran another 10-k race about 2 weeks later, sober.

K, hmmmm next nothing really too much except for the fact that I finally packed my bags, said my good-byes and left the place I had come accustomed to calling HOME, and left back for Canada and a new chapter in this story. Was home for a few weeks, which was good, then I was off again to Kamloops, where I am now. Landed on my feet, I am here going to school, liking the program, and doing my thing. I got a job here at a running store yay! Joined the run club, and got a running coach. That was my priority other than the school bit. I was starting to get into the running scene in Taiwan, and wanted to continue it here. Surrounding myself with people with similar likes. So all is well here. My life is school, work, and running. Simple, yet it's what I wanted.
STOP.

Update complete.
I hope that I covered it all, I mean I could go into so much detail of everything, but hey, baby steps here, baby steps.

Risen from the dead!

Yes I am still alive!!! I just broke out of my coma! Anyhoo, I hope to post soon again. I know for all my die hard readers who check back every 6 months or so are dying in anticipation. I'll try and post soon. Just wanted to post something even if it is simply skjhkjghkslhsfjgkjshfdkgjhld and kjhdfshwsgfkjehhlkefklshsgjhjdhbghkdhkhg

ok that feels better now.
i'll word it up more soon.
and i don't really like my template.
it needs a do-over.
hopefully i'll change it.
so blah bleee blah.

any suggestions??
like a big yellow moon with a wolf howling in the middle of the night, with an astronaut fighting off aliens with a lazer. lazerbeams. doesn't that seem to roll off the tounge easily. all together now.......lazer beams.
anways just rolling now. i'll save it for later.
cheers.

back in the game.

The Gili Islands

Well it has been awhile since I have last posted and I have a few extra moments so I thought I might shoot off a quick entry.

At the moment and for the next 6 weeks I will be here in the Gii Islands just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Three Islands make up the Gii's: Gili Air, Gili Meno, and the one I am on Gili Trawangan. I am here to do my Dive Master course!! Exciting!! I have been diving this past year to get here and have finally arrived.

The previous week leading up to today had been a complete gong show. I needed to get a 60 day visa for Indnesia prior to arriving here, as they only give you 30 day non-extendable visas.

My Dive Master program will take atleast 5 weeks to conplete, so I needed the longer visa. To cut the story short, I was supposed to have had a visa sorted out through a travel agency in Bali. The lady I dealt with sorted everything out for me, supposedly. All I had to do was send her a copy of my passport, easy right? Well I did that and she sent my visa to be processed in Jakarta. A few days later she said it was complete! Yay!N'T. She had the visa office in Jakarta send a cable visa to the Indonesian Visa office in Taipei and all I had to do was pick it up. Last Wednesday I got an email saying I had to go up to Taipei to process everything, it takes 3 business days to process, meanwhile I am suppsed to be leaving on Monday!
Ok long story short again...hehe..Visa wasn't there from Jakarta, thank god I had copies of everything I needed which worked out. Got a rush service on the visa for small fee, picked up my visa Monday morning, then went to the airport. Boarded my flight at 6:30pm and arrived in Denpasar, Bali at 11:30pm Monday night, there isn't a time change from here to Taiwan.

Caught a taxi to the boat pier, not listening to anyone that there wasn't a boat leaving until 6am. Got to the pier at around 1:30am, and found out that the ferry to Lombok runs 24 hours a day and there was a boat leaving at 2:30am, perfect. Took the ferry across(3 1/2 hour ride), trying to catch some sleep between the hagglers trying to sell me peanuts all night. Dozed off for 2 hours and woke up arriving on Lombok at Lembar the port on Lombok. Next, caught a taxi up to Sengigi where boats head to the Gili's from there. Got on the 9am boat, tired......and arrived at my new home for the next 5 1/2 weeks, Gili Trawangan!!Phew. Found the dive shop I had contacted about doing the Dive Master program with, and sorted out some accommodation for the next few weeks.

I started my program today offically, and have been busy reading and diving. The people here are fabulous to say the least. A guy from Calgary finished up his DM program at Manta Dive, where I am at yesterday, so I will be the only slave so far for the summer here. I was also able to take in a graduation ceremony for a dive master at another dive shop where the DM does a snorkel test. Basically, the DM sits in a chair, they put mask and snorkel on him/her and attatch a funnel to the sorkel. If you have ever witnessed a "beer bong" that is basically what it is.

Reading, diving, running around the island, meeting new people everyday, soaking up the sun and the beautiful weather while being on the beach is my life for the next little while. It has only been a few days here so far and I am realy loving it here.

I'll try and post some pics soon.
Thats all for now.
See you later.

Random Thoughts

I was browsing through my pics today and I found an old folder. It was from when I was back in Canada. Reminded me of all the people I left when I came to Taiwan. Sometimes I feel like I've been a bad friend because I haven't tried harder to keep in touch. I mean the phone is always there, the emails are easy, and yet I just don't feel like I have the time.

I feel so out of touch with everyone from back home sometimes. I call home and have the feeling of an outsider, on different wave lengths. Even to my own family. I just really feel like I have found out who I really am as a person. When I was back home I was always trying to find the time to try different things, like yoga, or just something random off the broken record. Here in Taiwan, I have the freedom to do anything I want to, I love it.

And when I do talk to my friends back home, the feeling I get is that of someone who did something bad and avoided others and is now trying to get back in touch and reconcile. I dunno why. I left Canada with perfectly good relationships with no bad blood with anyone. Then again, maybe I am just thinking too much. I guess everyone is doing their own things. It was just so much easier when I was younger with less hassle, less drama, just kids being kids, run run run eat eat eat sleep sleep sleep, repeat.

I do miss people, I am just happy at where I am. I think if I had to pick just one person that I missed most, it would have to be my little bro Johnny. Johnny is a big time up and coming hockey superstar. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and has been in the minors for the past 2 years gaining invaluable experience before making the jump to the big show. I admire him for all his efforts and sacrifices. He is a great hockey player and my best friend. In the summers is when I got a chance to hang with my little bro. We would literally be together everyday. We did everything together and sometimes I miss that. I am really happy for him and just can't wait to see him. This pic is from Stampede a few years back, what a gong show. My older bro Sam was so wasted that he took the Queen of the Stampede home, thanks to Johnny, dirtiest player in the game. haha.

Just a random though for today.
I always have these casual conversations in my head, and how I would share them. I find that when I am running on the treadmill is when I daydream the most. Random ideas, like how I could possibly work for Tiesto. Or how I would open up my own tea shop back home. Or, coming up with ideas to make millions. I wish I could capture all my thoughts. As soon as I step off the treadmill, it is as if I had been unknowingly beamed to another time and universe. When I come back down, I am back to reality. Cwazy. That's all for now... Stay tuned in next time for....I dunno trying to be witty, no dice. I got nothing STOP

Days go by......

Herrrro, it's me. Again. What's new. Well quite few things on the go at the moment.

First off, I decided to stay for a wee bit longer, AGAIN!!! Financially speaking, it just wasn't the right move. I mean my plan was to get my Dive Master in July, go home in August and start school in September, in Kamloops. Quite a full plate. Plans just never work out, well for me at least. I'm just not the best planner, money-wise or time-wise, etc.... So well I will be here for a wee bit longer.

Second, is the Dive Master program. I am hoping to head off to the Gili Islands this July. The DM internship program takes at least a month or longer to complete, so I want to head off at the beginning of July, and finish around 5-6 weeks later, so until latest.....mid August. I want to be back for the new school semester here with a new job set in place, more on that later.

I have been in contact with Joe Cooperman, Dive guru of Taiwan Scuba, he lives across the street from me. I 've been inquiring about this DMI for months now, and have kind of been following an outline he gave to me to achieve my goal of completing all the prerequisites for my DMI. So this past weekend I went over to his house for another installment of "Dave asks Joe a million questionsathon" about this final leg of the DMI. He completed his Dive Instructor training on Gili Trawangan at Manta Dive, and has suggested that I do my DMI there as well. He says it is awesome, he knows the people, he has contacts there, so I'm going to trust him as I have nothing else to go on. Plus I have heard from other divers that the Gili's are absolutely amazing.

As a bonus, after completing my DMI, Joe said he would hire me to go on his diving trips he organizes on the weekends. That wouldn't mean getting paid in cash, but going on these trips, guiding and gaining experience, while having all my expenses paid. Deeeecent! I think that t would be a greater asset for me going into the adventure program, with experience as a dive master, rather than just having my certificate saying that I am one with no experience.

Next on my check list is......Oh ya new house.
L and I went and signed our new contract for our new bitchin pad. We have lived in foxhole/cockroach infested shanty long enough. We have been paying a mind boggling 5000NT, ha a mere $175.00 Canadian dollars, per month for rent for the past 2 years for our place. Now we are moving into a 2500 square foot beaut! A little pricey for Taiwan standards, but split between 3 people, it works out to 6000NT each. We move in on the 10th of June, exciting!!

Next, me.
Just me.
I joined a yoga studio here in Taichung a few months back called California Yoga. I had previously attended the yoga classes at the gym I go to, which was fine for awhile, but it grew old, hence the move to CY. I love it. I feel great, and I'm noticing improvements in my flexibility and in strength. It is really amazing what some people can do with their bodies.
Also, I have been running for quite some time now. Now that I wll be staying a little longer, it will give me the opportunity to run in the Taroko Marathon in November. I am planning to run the 1/2 marathon as it will be my first competitive run. A friend of mine here gave me a number for a guy here in Taichung who trains for marathons/triathalons. I am going to call him up and see if I can train with him for the November marathon. I feel that in order for me to be able to successfully complete and compete in the run, I need some guidance from someone who has done this, plus it will add a motivating/competitive factor which has been lacking in my workouts due to my independent training.

Oh and today I met a foreign guy today in yoga that has a golf academy, who runs in the mountains near Taichung on the weekends. I chatted with this him and he offered to allow me to tag along for his mountain runs. He has a car, so could pick me up. Deecent! Just adding alternative training methods.

Finally, work.
I have been working at a school called Sesame Street for the past 2 years. I have been taking it up the hoop from them knowingly, like a deer in headlights. I am finally putting my foot down. Enough is enough. I just cannot continue to make pennies when there are sweet-well paying jobs out there. I mean I love the school, love the kids, I just need a change. I have an interview tomorrow at one the "SWEET" jobs available. I am pretty excited as I definitely need a change in jobs, and more moolah. I have taught at a number of schools, teaching various ages and levels, so I have the experience. We'll see. Crossing fingers, toes.......

On a side note, if any of you out there find my lost money tree, I am looking for it to answer my economic issues. I am putting my name out, making phone calls, trying to get another sub job until I head off, I just need a little more dough to make all my present dreams come true.
Oh and my kitty is sporting his new mohawk! True punk rocker! He loves it.
Cheers.