2 weeks from today I will be boarding Korean Air!!!  UNBELIEVABLE!

Greetings one and all…. so the World Cup came to a close yesterday.  What an exciting month of watching at work it has been.  Of course the headbutt felt around the world had to occur in the closing minutes to dampen some of the marvelousness of the man and the game.

Other than the two games this weekend, I got to play some poker on Friday night and considering that is only the second game that I have played I played for 4 hours and broke even  … definitely thirsting for somemore games though.

Last night I watched Munich.  A pretty disturbing movie and highlights one of the most disturbing acts of terrorism with the Olympians at the Munich games.  Steven Spielberg did an amazing job in this movie and there was even the terrific boob scene.  So I highly recommend this movie to all if you have not already seen it…

Ah!!! this time next month I will be married!!!  (ok, just had to say that before I exploded)

I had a relaxed 4th of July.  Just went over to a friend’s place in Dupont Circle to see the fireworks from his apartment rooftop, it would have been nice cept the smoke covered up most of the fireworks… they should come up with something that blows that smoke far far away, or better yet have fireworks that produce pleasant colored smoke. 

If any of you have not heard of SKYPE, you have to try it and download it.  The talking online is crystal clear and better yet… the service is FREE!!!  Download it at http://www.skype.com.  I talk to Monique in the Philippines for free!!!

What is everyone’s plans for the 4th of July?  I really want to go to the mall and watch the fireworks from there… let me know, I have no plans at the moment

I spent this weekend in relative seclusion as I felt that if I left my house I would wind up spending money that I do not have or should not be spending.

I watched a slew of dvds including “Dave Chappelle: Block Party”, “Memoirs of a Geisha”, and “Brown Sugar”.  All very entertaining and relaxing.  And of course I watched all 4 World Cup matches including that foul frenzy Netherlands vs. Portugal matchup… WOW.

I did make it out to watch… NNNNaaaaaaaaaaaaaachhhhooooooooooooo Libre.  Quite a funny movie and Jack Black’s facial impressions and mexican accent are hilarious, the nun is amazingly hot too.

Wow, I could never have thought of CHESS-BOXING:

The rules of chessboxing are such:

Two competitors face each other in 11 alternating rounds, six of chess, five of boxing. A bout begins with chess, which is played on a board placed directly in the middle of the ring. Each round of chess lasts four minutes. After each chess round, the bell sounds, and workmen remove the chessboard for a two-minute round of boxing, the gloves go back on, the punching recommences. Participants win by way of knockout, checkmate, referee’s decision, or if his opponent exceeds the allotted total of 12 minutes for an entire match on the chessboard. Those are the basics, but they do little to answer the overriding question: Why?

Found this interesting and I have not done one of these in awhile… (plus work is going slow and I love getting distracted)

46 Things You’d Never Think to Ask…

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Nope, I am invisible remember

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
Yup.

3. When was the last time you’ve been sledding?
Well when was the last time it snowed hard in MD? I would have to say in high school 1996

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Alone… except with my M

5 Do you believe in ghosts?
yes, though I try not to

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Yes, my imagination gets the best of me

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
No… all about the pool house guy

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
I think Angelina would be my answer to everything

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
Surprisingly I know alot more than I should or want to admit

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Not really, though I love watching it on tv

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Yes, and I love those times…

12. Who was your first crush?
Angela in the 3rd grade

14. If you’re driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around would you run a red light?
No, too many weirdos at night and hidden cop cars

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
I have my little secrets but I end up telling at least someone

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
I am an Orioles and Nationals fan, so thus Boo Sox and Yanks

17. Have you ever been ice skating?
Yes

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
I remember the good ones for years, I often get deja vu

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Hmmm…

20. Can you name 3 songs by The Beatles
Yesterday, Yellow Submarine, The Long and Winding Road

21. What’s the one thing on your mind?
My Wedding!

22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
No… though love soon after

23. Do you know who Ba-Ba-Booey is?
Yes, he is on Howard Stern show

24. Do you always wear your seatbelt?
Yes, only when driving or in the passenger seat…

25. What talent do you wish you had?
I secretly wish I could dance

26. Do you like Sushi?
I love sushi…

27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
I think so, but I really would not know… I tend to fall asleep sometimes when I drive

28. What do you wear to sleep?
Boxers

29. Left or RIGHT?
right

30. Does size matter?
yes, but not to the extent that it might

31. Do you truly hate anyone?
yes

32. Rock or Rap?
rap

34. Do you know anyone in jail?
No

35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?
yes, I like making faces

36. What food do you find disgusting?
Balot… I cannot imagine chewing a beak

38. Did you ever play, “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours first?”
yes… i have mooned a car full of girls and then mooned us back

41. Have you ever been punched in the face?
nope

42. Who was the last person you danced with?
My fiance for our wedding practice

43. Do you own any stuffed animals?
yes

44. When was the last time you tripped?
Maybe 2 years ago when I was checking out some girl

45. Do you have a major crush on someone?
yes, and I am marrying her

46. Do you miss someone right now?
unbelievably

OMG!!! My dad just got this letter in the mail:  CONGRATS DAD!!!

I have the honor and the pleasure of informing you that you have been nominated and subsequently elected to the ATENEO SPORTS HALL OF FAME in recognition of your outstanding sports accomplishments for the Ateneo and/or the Philippines.

CONGRATULATIONS!

The ATENEO SPORTS HALL OF FAME (ASHOF) Screening and Selection Committee, composed of earlier ASHOF Awardees and chaired by Mr. Richard “Ricky” N. Palou, elected you out of a roster of more than thirty (30) nominees for this year’s 10th Awarding Ceremony. This event is scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2006 to be held at the Grade School Auditorium, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. The ASHOF Committee, formerly under the Ateneo Alumni Association Board of Directors until 2005, and now an independent corporate entity, has been giving awards to Ateneo sports luminaries every three (3) years since 1979.

I have discovered GoldenPalace.com… and my life leading up the wedding will never be the same.  I feel that I can win back some of the money the money I lost in Vegas.  The funny thing about this website is that it is outsourced to the Philippines, so all of the dealers are young filipino women.  It is amusing.

Another work week.  The countdown until I leave the U.S. a fly halfway around the world to be reunited with my dearest and to be a married man is 46 DAYS!!!!

Monique and I had our last private ballroom dance class last night with one of my friends from Gtown and her bf.  It is amazing how well the dance is coming together.  I just hope that I will be able to pull things together for the performance in front of everyone at the wedding… Scary!!  But it must be done and when we get through it it will really be an amazing experience.  The song will be “You and I” sung by Michael Buble and originally written by Stevie Wonder.  Quite a beautiful song.  It will be danced very slowly in a rumba style… ACKKKK!!! I am soooo nervous!  If any of you all know me, I DONT DANCE! 

K, just thought I would share. 

Monique leaves tomorrow and so she will only get to practice by watching the dvd I will make her of our dance practice.  I will continue meeting with my friend to fine tune the moves and make sure everything is smooth.