Success and Failure

Success and Failure

I had my first trapeze class today. Two things about trapeze classes stuck out
1. The fact that they give you a 10 min information session and then staright away you are using the trapeze and doing tricks
2. The climb up to the launch platform is on one of the most unstable ladders I have come across! It makes the first attempt even more of a scare than it already is.

I have to admit that my heart was racing when I got up to the launch platform the first time. But there wasn't too much hesitation before I jumped off and started swinging, annd doing what they taught us. And it is exhilarating, as I'm upside down, doing a "catch" where I move from one swing to another (just like in the acrobatics shows! Of course, on a very VERY simple level), and generally having fun.

It was a success in my eyes, to have conquered that initial fear.

Contrast that with my failure the night before to play a proper wingman for a single friend of mine when we went out to a club. So there's a group of 4 girls who are dancing near us, and I'm with my friend (who's single) and another guy (who's not). I'm told to step up and approach those girls. Of course, having watched this series you would have thought I would have some kind of ablity here. Unfortunately, after 12 years of going out to these clubs, I still have nothing...no approach, not even a "hello". It was an utter failure to launch.

This surely begs the question, why am I quite willing to risk life and limb, but have stage fright to talk to random women, in which the outcome of that talk I really couldn't care less about?

To paraphrase the instructor for the trapeze, "it's just time on the trapeze, that will be what will make it easier for you. Of course the first time you do this, you'll freeze up and have panic/fear/trepidation, just keep doing it until it doesn't".
I think the ease of cold talking to new people is something that comes with practise. And I'm not just talking about talking to random girls at a club. It's more about being able to go into a room and starting engaging with people, and make it interesting.

Vow to myself: just do it! And to my single friend last night, I vouch that I'll be a better wingman next time!

Cayman Photos Up

Stingrays feel like velvet!

Personal Trainer

There was a special on for personal trainer hours at the gym in my building. It's my first time with a personal trainer, and the guy is brutal. He was especially brutal the other day, after a big night out.

Exercise regime that just occurred:
30 x jumping jacks
25 x squat and press with weighted bar
20 x side jumps across bar [2 sets with above exercise]
8 x long jumps
10 x push ups [2 sets with above]
3 x lunges
3 x side squats
8 x dips [2 sets with above 2 exercises]
12 x curl + reverse press with weighted bar
20 x cross over hops on weight bench [3 sets with above]
5 x side lifts (10 lb each arm)
5 x side drops (arm starts at shoulder height and drops half way) [3 sets with above]
8 x front lifts, swing out to side, and back down (10lb each) [3 sets]
20sec plank
20 x plank with leg extension out to side + 5sec plank (now that 5 sec was rough)
10 x plank with knee up (each leg)
20sec plank
20 x swiss ball crunches
12 x back lifts face down [2 sets]
30 x jumping jacks

Total exercise time: 50min
No wonder people get such better results with trainers :)

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was pakced with quality expereinces:

Drinks night at K-Town (with special guest Nick Seeto). I'm down for those soju shots!





Tennis at the US Open. Tennis is so much better live, the ball goes so fast. Got to see Federer and Roddick, in picture perfect weather. More photos here:


Labor Day dinner, to sample Nick's cooking skillz. Am mightily impressed, Nick should do Top Chef :)


And in three days time, Cayman Islands!!