I made it to Hong Kong. For 12 and a half hours,I sat next to a 300 pound girl that could have passed for a sumo wrestler. Then I nearly missed my flight from Narita to Hong Kong because I went to the wrong terminal. Upon arriving at the gate, they made me take the bike box, which is irreparably cracked, apart. Some where in there, I lost my Oakleys. Maybe in Memphis before boarding the plane, as my book bag zipper broke right before boarding. I also could have lost them on the plane before arriving into Minneapolis or while running through Narita in an attempt to make my flight.
Sep
28
Only recently have I been a blogger. But having read blogs for years, I’ve developed a taste for online journalism. No small talk, just reporting. But my limited readership, especially my friends and family, would not appreciate such a dogmatic approach. For this reason, I’ll try to keep some posts simple. I’ll write about day to day occurrences, friends, music, food… And, for other posts, I’ll try my hand at journalism, story telling, and probably some senseless rambling.
Since today is as good a day for rambling as any, I’ll ramble. Last night, Mom and I stayed at Nana and Granddaddy’s house in Fisherville, about 20 miles East of Memphis. We ate at a BBQ joint and returned home to watch a movie, Paper Moon, which had been on my "to see" list for many years.
It’s the story of two cunning con-artists, a little girl and her reluctantly adopting, perhaps paternal father, shot in black and white in the 1970’s. Good stuff. I was in bed by 9:30.
After a restless night in a foreign bed, I went downstairs for breakfast and a hot drink. I poured myself several charcoal black cups of coffee to prepare me for a long flight to Hong Kong, as normally this helps get everything moving (EVERYTHING). But to my disappointment, I soon realized that the lusciously black, normally buzz inducing fluid in my English china cup was lacking the most important ingredient, the greatest alkaloid of them all, caffeine. So now I’m buzz-less and peeing every 10 minutes.
Packing for my little trip has been an adventure in itself, mostly because I’m taking two bikes with me. Only a week ago, I returned from Portland with my time trial bike packed in a hand-me-down bike box which, after a severe beating, was near fatally cracked in three places. Monday was spent breathing new life into the box. I screwed plywood to all sides of the top to brace the most vulnerable spots. On Tuesday, I made a spur-of-the moment decision to take both of my racing bikes, the Felt time trial bike and the Giant road bike.
I had only packed a bike for air travel once but was sure that I could take two bike frames and at least one set of rims with tires. Is it possible to pack two bikes and two rims? Although it was tight and may never make it through the security screening, yes, I did it. Barely! The ply-wood mended box and bikes weighed about 80 pounds.
Since I refuse to pay for wireless internet service, I’ll be in Hong Kong by the time this is posted.
I only hope they have a Panda Express in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Sep
26
I went to a party at Jimmy Crossett’s house last night, ate some burgers, drank some beer, and recounted stories of both glory and shame.
Sep
25
On Sunday, I’m moving to Hong Kong to work at the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, a 36 hole, private golf facility.
A bit more about where I’ll be living: Hong Kong is located just south of the Tropic of Cancer on similar latitudes as Havana. The country is a peninsula that protrudes from southeastern China into the South China Sea. Kowloon and the New Territories (where I will be living) make up the peninsula, while south of the mainland is Hong Kong Island.
I will be the club’s first Research Superintendent. My assignment: to identify preferable grasses and cultural practices for use at the club. Managing the club’s 10+ acres of turf nursery is also among my duties. For this task, I may be quite useful. Something you many not know about me: I grew up on a sod farm (McCurdy Farms, Dyer, TN), and I recently earned my Masters of Plant Science degree (specifically, turfgrass weed ecophysiology).
I learned a ton while completing my masters at the University of Tennessee, and even more on the family farm. But, it’s time to try something new and adventurous.
My goals are very simple; enjoy living abroad and experience new and exciting things. Although, I will miss my friends and especially my family, I will be in touch and easily reached by phone. Yes, there are phones and the internet in China, and no, I’m not a communist, nor do I have plans to become one.
Other: Last weekend I qualified for the International Triathlon Union Amateur World Championship, to be held in Australia next September. Getting faster and stronger will also be important. The biggest obstacle I face is working too much (always the case). I expect early mornings and long days, but think that I can “adapt and overcome” almost any obstacle. Hell, I haven’t swum (I think this is the correct verb) in a pool but once since mid-May. Instead, I’ve been doing laps in our pond.
To all of you, keep in touch, and COME SEE ME!