Boxing for beginners

Pink hand wraps in tow, I finally entered the tiny gym of Michael the Boxer and started my boxing lessons. I unknowingly booked a private lesson instead of a group lesson but it turned out to be for the better. My teacher Jim gave me lots of helpful pointers in just one hour.

Fortunately for me, the groupon class program does not include hours of jumping rope and running around town like Rocky. But I still got tired fast! Punching a bag for one minute is easy but after two minutes, my arm started to get sloppy. And the bag moves! It doesn't move a lot but enough that I really had to focus, because you need to punch the center of the bag or you can twist your wrist badly.

My left arm was sore for a bit and I was a hot sweaty mess at the end of one hour but it was fun. It was tiring and fun, and I think I will be back a few more times to see if I can really keep up this new activity.

Like the Holi festival

But with way less south Asian people.

A few months ago Tater convinced me to do the Color Vibe held this past Saturday in Vallejo. The cool thing about it is that you get to throw colored cornstarch at your friends and everybody ends up looking like a skittles fanatic (or as some could argue, everyone looks like they raided my closet.)

The bad thing is that it is a 5K run.

I walked, jogged, hopped, yelled, threw colored dust everywhere , and generally did everything but run and roll in the chilly morning air. Overall it was fun. I even gave poor Tater "pinkeye" by accidentally getting pink cornstarch in her eye (sorry girl!)

But would I do that again? Not unless I had alcohol. My plump body, unaccustomed to such exercise, was exhausted. I tried staying awake but once I got home, I slept for 12 hours straight. You know I'm tired when I don't kick the covers off the bed and I sleep through dinner.

laughing with an accent

Last night Tater and I made an emergency trip down to San Jose's hp pavilion to see Russell Peters, stand-up comedian extraordinaire and the best impressionist at diverse accents. I credit him with making it comfortable for me to talk about race... and for some of the funniest takes on Asian accents in America. Peters' Notorious tour features all new material but this t-shirt features one of his classic - and my absolute favorite - bit:

zumba

I finally put that $5 voucher to good use and tried out the 75-minute zumba class at Metronome Collective. In my head I used to make fun of zumba, haughtily assuming it was the unwanted love child of samba and tai bo  that has captured the secret desires of housewives across America to shake it like Dirty Dancing.

After sweating so much my face was just about crusted in salt and considering leaving the class multiple times, I vow to never poke fun at zumba again! That stuff is seriously hard! I stumbled through the choreography... it's as if all those Latin and ballroom dancing classes and all those hours spent with my workout DVDs never happened! As many well-endowed cougars and openly hungover students breezed through the dance, I played the fool as I jumped and lunged in the wrong direction. Granted, I believe that zumba is easier if you know the teacher's choreography and style but this was definitely the most difficult first class I've ever been in.

My legs were so tired I decided to rest before driving... didn't want to risk an accident because my legs were the victims of zumba. When I was finally confident in my ability to apply the brakes, I drove to Carl's Jr. I don't eat fast food a lot but when I do, I make it worthy occasion.

Pigging out on a guacamole bacon burger combo...
with very little guacamole.

What are these tater tots doing in my fries?

For now, I'll stick to salsa so I can feel like I'm accomplishing something.

don't rain on the parade

After the Giants win the World Series, after persuading the bigwigs at work to move the Halloween party to Thursday so people could enjoy the parade, after distributing Angry Birds costumes and sipping on good old iced tea, I thought, "Nothing will ruin this day."

Oops.

For the past two weeks, a couple of friends and I have been taking salsa classes at Metronome Collective on Monday nights. Yes, I even went to class during the post-season games but we won both Monday games! Anyways, we three were looking forward to what would've been our third class.

Then we were informed by the gracious owner of the location that our teachers were out and the substitute hadn't showed. This mystery teacher did not turn up at all, at least for the 15 minutes we waited. The owner of Metronome Collective offered us coupons and apologized for the no-show. We all ended up going home with nothing to show for tbe night other than bellies full of Mexican food. And I really wanted to shake my tail feathers, especially since I had no part whatsoever in those crazy Mission riots.

Soleil was thrilled I came home early. We still have half our our groupon thing to go but I'm going to request that the teachers set up an e-mail list so we know whether or not they will be there, and possibly the contact for any substitutes that may be thrown my way.

il divo

If you need to make your mother happy, treat her to  a show with the beautiful quartet Il Divo! We had to drive all the way down to San Jose to the Civic Auditorium since it's one freeway exit away from the hp pavilion, it's certainly not a journey we haven't taken before.

The staff at the Civic Auditorium appear to be considerably older than those at other venues and weren't as proactive when it came to playing usher. As a result, we and many other people played the seat shuffle as we struggled to find our real seats. But eventually everyone found their place and the Armani-clad heroes of popera entered.

Many a back of someone's head...
a clue to the median age of crowd at the concert.
What can I say, popera panders to a certain demographic.

Sing me "Passera" anytime!

Sebastien, Urs, Carlos, and David take a bow.

The greatest question of the night: Why did Urs wear driving gloves after the intermission? The second half is when the men shook hands with any woman who came to the front... is the Swissman a germophobe?

meet nana

I don't want to ruin the whole shebang, so I'll limit myself to one photo from the exhibit "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk" at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park:

a wedding dress!
From the Sirens collection

From the iconic bustier made popular by Madonna to cutting-edge fashion that combines grit and glam to the costumes from the movie The Fifth Element... it's all here, and it's all JPG. Try to resist staring at just the amazing dresses and read the short quips posted on the walls... Gaultier's gorgeously creative looks are almost as groundbreaking as his philosophy on female sexuality and the blurring of the line between masculinity and femininity.

Don't miss Jean's very first bustier, created in his childhood!

party of crazies

It finally happened.

Last Saturday, at the Fox Theater in Oakland... I finally got to see Calle 13 live!

photo taken by my guy... with his super smartphone!
Let's face it: I need a new camera.

The set drew mostly from their newest album Entren los que quieren (enter those who want to) but a few older songs slipped into the night. Hearing "No hay nadie como tú" (there is no one like you) straight from Residente's mouth was an otherworldy experience. The band was jammin' hard, Residente and PG-13 were jumping all over the stage, and Visitante kept whipping out psychedelic accordion after another. Residente and PG-13 have un montón of energy and put on a fantastic show of Spanish-language genre-melting fun.

Once the music started, there was no way I was leaving my perch... which meant that my very gracious Guy and his friend were getting me drinks from the bar. They knew how long I had been waiting for this show, but it never hurts to say it again, so Thank you D & G (not Dolce & Gabbana.)

And of course, big thanks to Calle 13 for returning to the Bay Area so I could have another chance at seeing them!

Maná!

Tater and I were at Oracle Arena last night, swaying to the heart-wrenching sounds of Mexican supergroup Maná. El verdadero amor perdona!

m

sunny days

Those rare days of above-70-degree warmth are coming to a close... while you were out, did you see the snowy plovers on Ocean Beach?

Funny how they're called snowy plovers when it doesn't snow here.

It was so warm that everyone flocked outside to soak it up, even if their rides weren't in tip-top condition...

At least now we know that a single rubber band can hold up your rearview mirror!

It was so lovely outside that I felt like eating al fresco at Beachside Cafe again... my guy got the mushroom and gruyere egg scramble. Those two cute little patties are his breakfast potato croquettes! Fancy!

I veered off the waffle path and tried the Beachside Benedict... the only similarity between this and a standard benedict are the poached eggs. In place of ham or Canadian bacon, Beachside serves a much thicker and heartier piece of pork... it feels and tastes like a pork chop pounded thin. The hollandaise sauce is spiked with a tangy element that freshens up the entire plate. And in place of English muffins, Beachside bakes their own oregano-studded popovers... they provide a delicious crusty alternative to everyone else's benedict.

Well, this sunny weather is about to end. All the meteorologists are betting on rain tomorrow, so bust out the rainboots and umbrellas!

this is madness

It's the music group with the perfect name, playing at the Warfield last Thursday...

Oh this was a fun show... all these nice British men in suits playing those guitars and brass for all their worth. It's pretty amazing how much their voices haven't changed and how much stamina the group has. I like to think that they were spurred on by the audience, especially the down-in-fronters. As you can see, the lower tier of the concert was very crowded... and it soon became a very violent-looking mosh pit. Lucky for me, my guy had secured a spot for us along the rail in the second tier and we were safe from the mob.

Fun and Madness.
Photo taken by my date, on his iphone.
Funny how phones can take better pictures than my little old camera...

During "Baggy Trousers," crazy saxophonist Lee Thompson climbed up onto the amps to play. Understandably, the crowd urged him to jump. After a wink to me (my date swears that Mr. Thompson was looking at me and all I could think of to do was scream) the little bald man tipped himself in. To their credit, the crowd did not let Lee Thompson touch the floor and returned him to the stage, though they had some trouble with that.

Lee Thompson... look for his head just to the right of the fist in the center.

Ah, my back!

My guy and I agree... concerts are so much better when the band is really into it and having fun with the audience.

the SF experience

A truly San Francisco phenomenon that happened not too long ago...

You have family/friends/company visiting San Francisco and you want to show them around town. You want to take them to some interesting spots and some not-so-popular-but-still-awesome places. And you want them to be able to take in the fabulous views of the city.

So I started by taking my friend to the bison paddock in Golden Gate park... skies are gray but clouds are high. Plus, the buffalo are roaming!

Then I drove over to the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoyed the clear blue sky while explaining to my friend that  you can't walk across highways in the USA. Oh, mi lindo Peru...

From the Golden Gate Bridge visitor plaza, we could clearly see downtown. "Wow!" I thought. "No fog!"

And then, around 4 in the afternoon, I drove up Twin Peaks so my friend could look down Market Street and see the Bay Bridge. This was a mistake, especially since I started to see the gray and the moisture coming in. But if I get there really fast, we'll still be able to catch a glimpse, right? I mean, aren't these peaks supposed to keep the fog on the west side of the city?

Not only were we engulfed in dense fog at the summit, but it got very cold. I decided to snap this photo of the great gray view from inside the car.

After thinking about it, I decided that it wasn't so bad after all. No San Francisco experience is complete without a little fog, and we've got enough fog to cover all the moors of Scotland. You hear that, Heathcliff?

tourist traps and tricks

There are many in San Francisco... visited a few Friday night:

The price of a one-way cable car ticket is now $6... and you don't even get that postcard memento anymore. So glad that the cable car fare is included in my monthly fast pass!

Climbing up California Street on a cable car

A few years ago I heard rumors that the famed Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel was closing. Well those rumors proved false as the tiki-themed lounge is still serving up its famous Mai Tai... my speech professor might've said that the Mai Tai was invented in this bar in San Francisco... I'm not sure anymore, my memory isn't what it used to be.

L: Tonga Tart. R: Mai Tai

the Lava Bowl, a drink for two
but consumed by one!

The Scorpion, another sharing drink.
Despite the name, this cocktail packs no sting.
It's very sweet with a hint of coconut... never saw that coming!

During happy hour, the drinks are a steal at $7.50. Besides, the drinks make the fake rain seem almost real!

In the Tonga Room, they literally make it rain!

Lounge band boards boat and plays 90s beats.

After we'd had enough fruity drinks we could take, a group of us shuffled to nearby Grace Cathedral. On the way I saw an old friend:

Love that the EA bus prominently features a zombie from Plants vs. Zombies!

Pardon the image, it's difficult for my six year-old camera to take nice night shots but you get the gist of the cathedral tower rising up to touch the moon.

Even at night, Grace Cathedral is a lovely place to hang out. The Labyrinth maze is thoughtfully laid outside for all to enjoy, and that's just what we did. To mix it up, have a friend start in the center while you make your way in. Where will you meet?

I thought I was good at origami

until I spotted the holiday window display for Hermès on Grant at Maiden Lane...

a pegasus and a horse wrapped up in Hermès scarves

a paper creation so strong it can hold its own saddle

Leave it to the world's premier brand of luxury goods to show me how to fold animals out of paper!

now a little something

to get you in the mood... holiday mood, that is!

The view from the St. Francis Suite in the Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square...

Ice skating rink? Check.
A wall of wreaths covering Macy's? Check.
One comically shaped and sized Christmas tree? You better believe it!

Of course, I loved Christmas as a child because of all the neat presents I received from relatives far away. Now that I'm older, I value the holidays not for the gift-getting but for the cherry atmosphere, the festive food, and the gift-giving... there's something really satisfying about finding uncommon gifts or the perfect present that makes a friend beam for days. Don't get me wrong, I like shopping for myself but I LOVE shopping for others. For instance - and I can disclose this because she already knows - Mumsy's delayed Christmas present (to be enjoyed next summer) is tickets to see Il Divo in concert. I strongly believe that there are just a handful of men she would drop everything for... we've already been to a Josh Groban concert and Il Divo (a group of four dangerously beautiful men) is coming up. Now if only I could find a way to get my paws on some Andrea Bocelli passes...

Oh and another plus about the holidays? The vacation time doesn't hurt!

artistry straight from the sun

If you haven't already, it's time to get your tickets for Cirque Du Soleil's newest touring program Totem... Cirque Du Soleil - the animal-less circus company from Canada - always puts on a good show but Totem is a star among Cirque productions... this tour easily places in my top three Cirque Du Soleil experiences.

Now playing in the parking lot of AT&T park... the blue and yellow tent is surprisingly warm, even in the rain.

excitement takes over...

the turtle dome stage, before the show begins but not before the clowns come in

The animals, the artistic interpretations of American Indian legends, the feats and the clowns... Totem has some familiar acts I've seen in Alegria or Varekai but everything is taken to the next level.

Also, Totem is the first show I've seen with a woman this jacked...

image from cirquedusoleil.com

And that's just one of the amazing acts in Totem... if you see only one show a year, make sure you save it for Cirque Du Soleil's traveling shows!

that left knee is mine!

Yesterday kicked off the 3-day challenge of constructing a 12-foot Santa Yoda, made entirely of legos (with a couple of metal support beams.) The public was invited to come to Union Square and help Master Builders (that's their official title) build Lego bricks for Yoda, all next to that tiny ice skating rink.

Guess where I spent two hours of my morning...

impressive he is...
this is the mini-model.

the feet of the giant Yoda,
as cared for by Master Builder Steve

my first brick!

I've lost count already... this is between my tenth and fifteenth brick

Master Builder Eric isn't afraid to give Yoda a little tough love
with the mallet

my "team" kept hitting the bottom of the lego bucket.
Yes, I was part of an unofficial "team" of strangers building bricks together.

Master Builders Eric and Steve plan their next step

the legs at the end of my two-hour adoration of Yoda

I lost count of my bricks early on but I would guess that by the end of the two hours I spent there, I'd made 90 - 100 bricks. What I seriously needed after was a little food and a lot of hand lotion... brand new Lego blocks are sharp!

Building continues today and is scheduled to finish tomorrow around 6PM. I'm not sure if I can return tomorrow but I've been told that there were two camera filming the entire process and a stop-motion video of Yoda's emergence will be show on the official site after completion. Very cool.

Even better, when I read about this epic event in the newspaper, it sounded like they would deconstruct Yoda on Monday! The horror! But it turns out that they will just be moving him to Connecticut, the US headquarters of Lego. What a relief... you can't just destroy Yoda and crush the holiday dreams of children around the developed world.