Ah Swimming

So a couple of weekends ago was spent swimming at a Senior meet in Santa Cruz. My performances weren't bad I thought on the amount of training I've been doing, and weren't that far off my best times. The weather was nice, and I think I've almost gotten used to doing 'wet' starts, where I jump out of the warm-up lanes about a minute before my actual race.
I managed to have my own personal photographer, which snapped some cool pictures of me swimming..

Also I went to see the Monarch Butterfly spot there, but unfortunately there was only like one left (I saw one monarch), while thousands were promised. I took this up with my tour guide and apparently it has to do with my being there that does it... :(

SAP Open

So this week's event in San Jose is the SAP Open, held at the HP Pavilion. I got free tickets to go see the first session, which was showing Pete Sampras play an exhibition match plus the matches afterwards. Sampras was initially supposed to play the angry Russian, Marat Safin, but something happened and he ended up playing Tommy Haas.

It was an entertaining game, with both players making some nice shots. Pete showed he still had some class with some deft touches and screaming forehands (along with looking older and balder :P). However I think Tommy was just there for a hit around, as I'm scheduled to go see him play on Wednesday in his first round single's match. So I think he didn't really care that Sampras got the better of him and bet him in two sets.


I'm also looking forward to seeing Andy Roddick play on Wednesday, in his first round single's match, which is before Tommy Haas' match. Supposedly the seats I got for that session are close to the action, so hopefully I will be able to take some good photos.

Over a year now

So it's been over 365 days overseas. I have spent a while writing this blog, as I honestly don't really know what to write to cap off a year away...

I do know that I can say I have distinctly enjoyed my time here in the States. I can't say I've seen everything, but I think I have seen a good snippet of California at least. I can say I have not seen any guns (true, maybe I'm in the wrong state), nor have I been mugged or intimidated (true, maybe Im in the wrong city). I have seen massive walking whales, and I have also seen normal healthy athletic figures. I have seen the homeless to the masses of people driving ridiculously rich and oversized cars. I can attest to the fact that you can get your license here in two days - with some determination and without appointments hehe. Now I also get Simpson's jokes about the DMV - the department of motor vehicles. I have also learnt how big traditional software firms operate, and how the university school system here can be quite competitive. In any case, I'm glad I've had this opportunity to live here for a year.

As for me and my persona during this past year, I can't say that I have changed much, as for me I don't think the environment here is quite that different. I can still function for the most part the way I was in NZ without any problems :)

For the next half year I'm expecting some different challenges and thought involving decisions - like moving to a new flat, what I want to do when my time is up, when to come home, etc. And in the words of Thomas K, which he signed into Percy's 21st book - "Keep on Trucking.." I think I will do that..

Tahoe Ski Trip

So I went to Tahoe for the weekend to have some fast times in the snow. I went with a bunch of Germans from work. So in total we had 8 people hitting the slopes. We hired some pretty new 4x4 cars from Hertz. Interestingly, car that we got, the Saturn Outlook , did not handle like a cow, and was actually quite agile, and dear I say, had better than expected fuel economy.

The place we were staying at was a cabin/bach/holiday home in South Lake Tahoe. It was a very nice place with space for twelve people. On the Saturday we ventured out to Kirkwood, and spent a full day skiing. It was snowing most of the time, so snow conditions were very fresh. Cookie monster made an appearance, as it turned out to make a pretty good ski mask/hat thing..

Amusingly, I got "COOKIE" shouts from chair lifts, and surprisingly the question "Where did you get that from?" Which I'm sure was once asked with a bit of sarcasm, the other times they seemed honestly genuine. Also one guy told me "You have inspired me and my mates... " So if you see a Sesame Street ski hat craze, you will know who started it ;)

The Sunday found ourselves snowed in. The roads were covered in snow, and Kirkwood was closed :( due to avalanche clearing on the roads leading to it. So instead we had some fun in the snow, and then took off to Sierra for a half day. To be honest I didn't really enjoy Sierra that much, as the snow was really cut up, and I was looking for some speed, but I was sore and it was too much effort navigating all carved up powder.. However when I moved to going in between trees, and less skied areas, things were fine :)