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I went skydiving with my roommate, Mike yesterday.  I have no pictures, but I will try to explain the fascinating experience as best as I can.

We drive to small town next to Lodi. (Lodi is about 20 minutes past Stockton)  We walk into the sky diving place and it was absoultely crowded (and hot).  I was thinking to myself.  What kind of a place is this? There were people sitting around, guys walking around without their shirts on talking all "hickish" and women playing pool on the half busted pool table drinking Corona’s.  The people working there (and about 75% of its patrons) basically looked like they were straight out of a Friday the 13th horror flick or some other B movie with overly excited teens.  We finally signed up and had to wait very, very, very long time before our turn to jump.

It must have been 90 degrees.  They had the mist machine outside and we were sitting on old unmatching couches trying to stay cool.  (there were numerous old couches in the building that looked like they could have been donated by a local fraternity house looking to upgrade their furniture)

We struck a conversation with these wo guys who were also in line and who also had to wait several hours like us.  They were from Oakdale.  "Oakdale"? I responded not knowing where the heck Oakdale is.  I said I’m from "Oakland".  I found out later that Oakdale is east of Modesto.  But these guys were cool, and they eventually were in our group.  It was their first time jumping, as well.

When our numbers were finally called three hours later, we had to go in and put on this harness, goggles, etc…  We took a 1980’s summer camp style bus to the hanger where we would load onto the airplane (this re-enforced my theory about being in the Friday the 13th flick)

This is where my nerves started to act up and I was thinking to myself "there’s no turning back now". 

We all jump onto this little airplane;  there were probalby 16 of us in there, and boy did we feel like sardines.  At that moment, I felt like I was in a military situation, awaiting to jump out of the plane into enemy territory.  I wanted a machine gun at that moment =)

As beginners, we aren’t allowed to jump by ourselves, so we were harnessed to an experienced instructor.  (yes we were all spooned the entire way down).

We flew up to about 13 K feet and the door flung open!  When it was my turn, I was at the door of the airplaine.  I jumped.  The first 4 seconds felt like I was on the Edge at Great America except we weren’t on a machine.  (ie that wierd stomach feeling).   For the next minute, we free fell in the sky.  What an exhilirating feeling that was!  I fell about 2 miles down before the parachute was activated.   From then, I controlled my way down (if I wanted to turn right, I tugged the right side of the parachute, and vice versa)

4 minutes later, I landed.  It was such an adrenalaine rush from the plane ride up, to jumping and free falling, and to seeing the entire land from the sky while parachuting down!  I was thinking to myself  afterward "the next time I do this, I’ll be jumping and landing in a football stadium to deliver the flag before the national anthem"

That excursion took me and Mike about 6 hours of our day (travel time included).  the entire event took about 30 minutes (plane ride, jump)

The end.

Prick in a Corvette

I was driving on 880 south towards San Jose today.  There was mild traffic right around the Fremont/Milpitas area. Everyone was basically going between 55-60 miles per hour.  I was in the far left lane.

All of a sudden, I see a red corvette come up quick behind me.  The prick then goes on the far left shoulder, passes me up, and cuts me off from the shoulder!  What an asshole!.  (he must have thought that his Corvette was more worthy than my car, although we do have the same engine).

I proceed to show him what a prick he was.  I continuously honk him for the next 20 seconds in this mild traffic.  He flips me off.  I continue to honk at him.

I finally get a look at the guy.  He was this middle aged guy with a mustache. For you basketball fans, he looked a lot like Stan Van Gundy (the old Miami Heat coach).  I never knew middle aged guys acted like that.

I was heated for the next few minutes as I tail gated him until he exited

The end

Stellas House: we were all worried about the weight of our luggage.  We proceeded to get Ivan (Stellas brother) to bring out a scale to weigh all our bags.  Guess whos bag was the heaviest?

We finally get to the airport (LAX) , after a long detour through LA, and are waiting to board the airplane.  We figured itd be a great time to take a group picture.  I kindly ask this gentleman (asshole to be exact) to snap a shot of us.  BTW, this guy is standing in the first class line.  He proceeds to give me a "first class" answer, "No, but that lady over there would"(pointing to a lady thats holding bags and kids (what a jerk).  I give him some lip and proceed to walk away, minorly flipping him off.  I got worked up, but eventually found another person to take our first group shot.

Day 2:

Rome

, Hotel

We finally arrive in

Rome

,

Italy

, about 15 hours later (I hate airplane rides, but British Airways has a decent headrest).  Its Friday night now, and we get shuttled to the hotel.  When we arrive at the hotel, I find out our rooms are about as big as my walk in closet! 

WTF?  On top of that, I find out that I can not find my Oakleys!!!  If you know me, I get pissed off when I lose things or if things arent in their correct place.  What a great way to start the trip.

We only had enough time to go eat dinner the rest of the evening.  We go to this restaurant around our hotel.  This was our first official Italian meal. 

We found out later that we got ripped off.  Nobody knew that they included the tip in our bill; we ended up double tipping the restaurant. (it pays to read the tour book before you go…lesson learned)  The food was good, but not that good to justify the large tip.  The Wong brothers proceed to get drunk off of wine that night (and the rest of the nights).  The girls (Stella, Tina, Helen) only took sips as they took pictures of us turning red.

Day 3: Dining Room,

Rome

by Day

-Breakfast at the hotel: Im telling you, it was a scramble to find an open table and get your breakfast.  I think there must have been about 5 tour groups in that dining room, all trying to eat before they started their tour.  We finally get our table and food. (ham, salami, cheese, crousaints, coffee, cereal).  It wasnt bad..until we found out that wed be eating that same stuff for breakfast the next 9 days.

-Our first stop is the

Vatican

.  If youve seen the movie, Eurotrip (and the scene where the line to get into the museum was long), we were experiencing that at the

Vatican

.  The line to get in must have been a quarter of a mile long.  NO JOKE! 

In line, we met an upbeat couple from

Ohio

that was part of our tour.  Phil immediately builds rapport with them.  While in line, the girls also bought postcards for 2 Euro.  They thought they got a steal!….until we walked 50 yards further down the line.  Those same postcards were selling for 1 Euro.    We finally arrive inside the

Vatican

museum and the chapel.  I have to admit, the architecture was amazing! 

-We proceed to the Roman Colliseum.  Ive always wanted to see this structure.  Im surprised they didnt rename it after a corporation (heheh).  Here are some pictures of that excursion. 

-Night time was our free time.  The 5 of us decided to take cab into the city to have dinner.  I must say the restaurant we went to was great!  I think the waiter was gay; he was hitting on me and Phil.  I tried to pawn him off to the girls. 

(the gay waiter)

Likewise, me and Phil shared a bottle of wine.  We also saw the Trevi fountain that evening.

Day 4:- Off to

Siena

How time flies!  Its already day 4 of our trip, and we pack our bags and hop onto the tour bus.  We spent 1 evening in

Siena

. This was a nice evening.  We went to one of the popular squares in the city and had coffee, wine.  Then we walked around more and had dinner.  This was the first night where the gals got a glimpse of my entrepreneur ideas.  You can ask them for the details ;) 

Day 5: Breakdown, Mini Wine bottles

Bus breaks down: we were riding Phat in a Mercedes bus.  But nevertheless, the bus broke down.  Never trust those European automobiles. Hehehe.  We were stuck playing games and doing nothing for a couple of hours. 

San Giagamo: We went to this small, quaint town.  I remember us walking a lot, eating some tasty gellato after a nice hike up the hill. (Hey I burnt the calories before hand)

Me and Phil also got to do some posing.  I definately rubbed off on him

While walking we saw some nice souveneir mini wine bottles. We walk in and I try to strike a deal with the shop owner.  4 for 10 is what I yelled.  Tina yells out 5 for 10, 5 for 10.  The shop owner doesnt understand a word we say, and proceeds to try to charge us full price.  We walk away because Tina swore she saw them cheaper elsewhere.  We keep on walking and walking.  Finally the last souvenier stop, we say screw it and pay a decent price (more than the original shop).

Chianti winery: all I remember is driving an hour in this windy road for a 5 minute tour.  We did get to taste some wine and eat salami and crackers.

Florence:

  We arrived in

Florence

later that afternoon.  We didnt do much the rest of the evening.  We had dinner at this local joint.  They had really good prices and huge portions!  Just the way I like it.  I think there was 1 waiter working there that night, and it took us about 1 hour just to order our food.   Needless to say, we drank a lot of wine while waiting that time, and you can guess what happened?

  For desert, the waiter gave us this lemon drink.  We all hated it; it was basically yellow alcohol.  After dinner, we stumbled upon a carnival.  I felt like I was in the movie Big.  Phil and I played this game where we had to knock down bottles with softballs.  I won a bottle of

Champaign

.  Phil, needless to say, didnt have his control that night.  Helen shot some coke cans with a BB gun. Tina and Stella threw pingpong balls into a small hole.  They flirted with the worker and coerced him into giving them a bigger prize.  Girls can have the darnest effects on guys.

Day 6:

Florence

by Day

We did a lot of shopping and walking in

Florence

.  I bought a high quality leather coat as my splurge for the trip.  One of the highlights of the day was the tour of the Ufizzi museum.  There are no pictures from the museum, because they do not permit it.  Our tour guide yelled at a few youngin’s as they tried to sneak a picture.  We saw a few famous pieces of art while we were there.  I do have to admit that the tour guide was a bit long winded.  Afterwards, while the girls went shopping, Phil and I decided to chill and have a drink at a local café.  That was a welcome since weve been walking all day.

Day 7:

Pisa, Venice by Night

Pisa

: We drove out to

Pisa

to get a glimpse of the leaning tower.  I swear, we must have spent half the time trying to perfect our poses with the tower.  (Helen pushing down on the tower, while Tina and Stella pushing up, me and Phil in some Rated R shots with the tower).   Fun times, I must say. 

Venice

area:  we arrive in the

Venice

area.   We had some time to roam around the hotel before heading off to the famous city.  Our hotel was next to this shopping mall (reminds me of some desolate shopping area in the middle of nowhere).  We did wounder into a book store, where I found this book.

At night we take a boat to the islands.  We had dinner at this restaurant, where I sang with the accordion player. 

Venice

during the night time is so beautiful.

Here is a shot of Phil and Stella by the pier.

Day 8:

Venice

by Day

We head off for a day tour in

Venice

.  We first start off with a brief tour, then go to the glass factory.  Never in my life would I have thought glass can cost that much.  After the tour, we walk around, and go on a gondola ride.  Overrated if you ask me, but it was a good experience. 

Later, the girls go shopping, while me and Phil wonder off.  We stop at this café called Florian.  Its a really famous place in Saint Marco square.  Our snack and capucino cost us 50 Euro.  But we did get to listen to a nice symphony by our window seats.

During our last night in Venice, we had some free time.  Can anyone say stupid pictures?

Yes I know you’re looking.  I give you permission.  Hey, the ass machine at the gym paid off. heheh

<

Day 9: Back to

Rome

   

We take a long ass bus ride back to

Rome

.  Helen, Tina, and I go off and take the bus into the city.  We go sight seeing and eat dinner. 

The waiter was pretty inappropriate.  (you can ask Tina for details as she wants to keep it a secret). 

No rated R pictures here since this is a secret =)

Day 10: We leave

Italy

, and fly home.   We got chueferred to the airport via the bus.  Phil and Stella almost missed it; those laggers.  Before getting on the bus, the girls did take their final FOB shot

On the way home, we did take a shot with the Bugs Bunny (shady Bugs!  What’s the guy trying to do?)

T-Dub had his first "Annoying Bitch" encounter at the gym today (not bad after 6 years)

TW heads inside and grabs this cardio machine next to this girl (big,overweight girl).  He moves the US magazine that was sitting on the bike to the ground and sits on the seat.  2 minutes later, she finally notices that T-Dub’s there, and says "I saved that for my friend".  Thinking that he took her US magazine, he picked it up, apologized, and handed it to the bitch.  She responds by saying "No I saved the machine for my friend who’s coming soon". 

T-dub gives her a WTF look and lets her have the machine.  She didn’t like his WTF look (but T-Dub can’t please everyone) He moves to the next machine to avoid "fat girl confrontation". Friend finally arrives and they yap about her guy problems (I wonder why)  Tim has to listen to this for the next 20 minutes.

Fast Foward 45 minutes……

Tim moves on and is now working out his legs. (thigh/ass machine to be exact).  In between sets, T-dub stands and stretches his legs (T-dub had a prior leg injury , so stretching is important).  The SAME bitch comes by and takes his machine (even though his sweatshirt was on the ground next to the machine). 

T-Dub responds by saying  "excuse me, I have 1 more set" (no exageration there, his exact words).  The fat annoying bitch quickly responds "um…okay, but that’s kinda rude, I was already here" and then walks away and talks shit about Tim being rude to her friend

T-dub pretends not to here and finishes his set.

T-dub goes home and ponders his actions. 

AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT OVER DINNER, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN RUDE.  SHE OBVIOUSLY NEEDED THAT MACHINE MORE THAN I DID.  I SHOULD HAVE GAVE IT TO HER TO WORK OFF THAT JUNK

The end