I'M LEGAL, BABY!!!!!

Family,

And a good Saturday morning to you from across the Globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. It's official, sports fans - Sammy the Bull is legal to work in Singapore! Yesterday I received my "Long Term Employment Pass" from the Ministryof Manpower. It's basically a driver's license without the ability to drive, and I have to have it on my person at all times. However, as the alternative is to carry your passport at all times, I am NOT complaining. Actually, the only thing I am complaining about is the fact that I look like an AXE MURDERER in the photo. Seriously - just call me Escobar from now on...

So the work day was great - the week finished on a high note and was very productive, minus one teeeeeeny weeeeeeensy detail involving a single letter of the alphabet in Frankfurt. X - I hope this blog finds you still on a bender somewhere in the streets of Germany, with the thought of multiple bloody mary's on the flight home as further solace. It should be noted that, still reeling from the Dim Sum debacle, Sammy opted instead for a nice, mild Chicken & Bacon Ranch sandwich from (in the spirit of Amsterdam) - Subway, baby! Seriously - it's so far the ONLY place where I've seen mayonnaise. That stuff is more precious than gold here - same with mustard. I'm going to start calling both of them "unobtainium" (Rice - that Avatar reference was for you).

Also, keeping to my motto over here of "conquering the world - one Siebel ticket at a time," our team recorded some GREAT progress. Consequently, Martin (my boss) showered a few of them with chocolates. Check out a few members of my team!

I didn't work out yesterday, but I'm heading to the gym as soon as I finish the blog. Instead of burning calories, I consumed about 56,000 whilst crossing off another must do here in the Sing (and one I'll cross off about 700 more times) - dinner at Clarke Quay.

So back story - Clarke Quay, you may remember from the original mention of $18 beers, is THE SPOT to hang out in Singapore (and yes, they have OUTDOOR AIR CONDITIONING). There are about 46 THOUSAND bars and restaurants, all very cool, all very trendy, all VERY expensive. The selection of the evening (excellent call by the Terrier) was "Jumbo Seafood," which was a solid plan in theory until we sat down and Jackie said, "I don't eat shellfish." However, being the trooper that she is, we forged ahead, eating everything in the ocean.

I went for something called XO scallops - apparently XO is a type of sauce in Hong Kong. And whilst they were VERY tasty, let's just say that, from a digestive perspective, this morning's been a little rough for Sammy - and there's no end in sight. Shantan - we might be sampling your Christmas present if this continues...

Also, I watched "Knowing" last night. Honestly, for the 3rd night in a row I've managed to pick a film that is ABSOLUTE DONKEY TRASH. Seriously - this is a definite contender for the "Bottom 20" and maybe even the dreaded "Donkey Trash Ten" - it's THAT BAD. However, I'll be dropping it off for a new one today when I hit the gym - fingers crossed!

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Chat later today!

Love,

Sam and (sitting in Mel Mel's living room, drinking wine, petting Trooper, and sneezing because of that cat) Jenny

In case anyone's curious, there IS such a thing as too much dim sum...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. Day 6 at work, and so far every day's been better than the first. Fingers crossed that this trend will continue!

So Sammy the Bull learned a very, very valuable lesson today - when you are hungry but still have to work out, DO NOT GO TO THE HAWKER STALLS FOR FOOD. As I'm sure I mentioned, the hawker stalls are the outdoor food courts in the Sing where you can get GOOD food for CHEAP. Case in point, I ate there TWICE today (and had my usual Sugar Cane Juice, for the record - which I WILL take a photo of soon) - once for lunch and once for "a snack." And whilst the first did everything I needed it to, the second was, well, less than ideal.

Here was the scenario: it was 5 PM. I was starving. I knew I had another 2 hours in the office and 3 before the treadmill. And I needed something quick. What did I go for? FRIED DIM SUM, BABY. And not just ANY fried dim sum, I went with the extra special "we just fried these in 12 hour old grease and filled them with a yet to be determined green vegetable and also yet to be identified type of meat" variety. And whilst it was guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud (peppy cheekies - Terrier, that was for you...and Pauly Shore), 10 minutes later I felt like a BRICK was sitting in the middle of my gut. Seriously, it's now 10 PM, and I am STILL full from those 10 little soldiers.

Also, whilst I don't think it went straight to my dunlop, the large t-shirt at the gym was so snug I looked like Tom Price in his cycling gear during a criterium. I'm upgrading to the extra large tomorrow - otherwise I might rip through the damn thing if I sneeze or cough too hard.

Not a whole lot else to report from here, other than to say it's been a SUPER quick week. And best of all, MUFFIN WILL BE HERE IN JUST 10 SHORT DAYS!!!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!

In gym news, Sammy broke 25 minutes in a 5K for the first time in a while, which was a good feeling. On second thought, maybe 10 pieces of dim sum should be my next pre-race meal. MattPa - any thoughts on that one?

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Chat tomorrow!

Love,

Sam and (finally out of the frozen tundra that is Lancaster, SC) Jenny

The boxes are here, baby!!!!

Family,


And a good evening to you from across the globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. THE BOXES HAVE ARRIVED, BABY!!!! That's right - today, at 2:33 PM, Crown Relocation rocked up with the 20 boxes that have comprised (more or less) mine and Jenny's life for the last 18 months. Granted, 2 boxes of it were winter clothes that I did nothing but shove in a closest and 1 box was filled with books that we've already read, but hey - at least the gang's all here again!


And now, some rambling commentary about life in general:



1. Wild Card has FORTY-EIGHT followers on his blog? Dude - seriously, that guy is KILLING ME in the ratings department. Big D - this means war. I'm going to start handing out promo fliers to Hooter's and Uptown Cabaret (they do have a mean Sunday brunch) to drive up my numbers - I can't have network cancelling me and moving me into syndication.



2. On the metro today, I looked up and noticed that they have started flashing up motivational quotes while you're waiting. Oddly enough, today's quote was from Lou Holtz. Seriously? SERIOUSLY? How many people do you think in Singapore know that they're drawing wisdom from a 4 foot tall leprechaun who's trying to sell CapitalOne cards? That being said, the quote was pretty darn good (but since I can't remember it verbatim - after all, he's long winded), I won't jot it down.



3. Sammy the Bull made the gym today AND had his 4th AFD in 7 days (and second in a row). So far, the plan is holding. I just really, REALLY wish that I could lift more than the bar on the bench without it feeling heavy. Oh well, I can always use the "I'm a runner - I just do this to tone" excuse. CHUUUUUUUUUUUUBBY BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNY!!!!



4. I have spent a TON of time unpacking today, and it's almost all done. Muffin - I hope you like where everything is! Also, on a side note, I took my clothes out of the boxes and noticed pit stains, food stains, holes, wrinkles, and the fact that, by and large, most of my wardrobe is outdated - WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME? I mean COME ON - I've been thinking I'm the height of fashion all along, and now this?



Actually, in all seriousness, I did some ironing today, and I was truly shocked at the white pit stains in a few of my blue shirts. Now, let's be real clear - I've already ironed them, so they will get worn once. After that, however, all bets are off. Which reminds me - I have to figure out the washer/dryer this weekend. MUFFIN PUFFIN HAFFA HURRY TO SINGAPORE!!!!



Other than that, not a whole lot to report. I watched the movie "Elektra" last night, and UTTER DONKEY TRASH is WAAAAAY too high a compliment. However, it was free, and so I can't really complain. Maybe I should have watched it in Chinese - that could have only added to the experience.



Also, I finished "Thank You for Smoking" tonight - HILARIOUS!!!! Helen - GREAT choice. You are the smartest Merchant of Death I know. Seriously - it's a terrific read, and it sure looks good on a Kindle (CP - there was a little free advertising for you).



Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. It's time to complete unpacking and then settle down for the newest rental, which pretty much promises to be even worse than Elektra. Truth be told, if this is any indicator of the quality coming from Hollywood these days, I'm glad I haven't caught too many films lately. Chat tomorrow!



Love,


Sam and (hopefully finishing her drive on 521 and actually getting a chance to go into the office) Jenny

Meet the flat...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the globe after a truly SPECTACULAR DAY in the Lion City. So I realize that I need to catch you up on 2 days of activities, starting with a GREAT way to start your week off in the tropics - a visit to the Ministry of Manpower.

So here's the deal - if you're gonna work in the town (sounds like a line from a movie, right?), then you need what's called a "Long Term Employment Pass." Now in theory this sounds simple, but prior to that you have to have:

1. An employment sponsorship (Thanks, BAML) - this is basically your original application where they want to know EVERYTHING THAT COULD EVER BE KNOWN about you. Seriously - they wanted MY HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY INFORMATION. I just wrote on there that I was a History Major, which means that a) no I'm not qualified and b) I really have no idea why I'm over here either. This apparently worked, as they moved me to the next phase.

2. In Principle Agreement - this is a 9 page letter where they say, "Thank you, donkey - we now have a way to track your moves and tax the @#$# out of you come end of year." Of course, since that beats the alternative of CANING, I was willing to comply.

3. Once you have the above, you go for your biometric appointment. That, dear friends, was the Monday activity.

So I rock up with my docs and my photo ID, to which my handler asks, "Is this photo the right size?" I replied with the honest "I've got no idea" since, well, I'd been told that she would be able to verify if the size was right (that's what she said). Sure enough, it was NOT, so I had to get in line behind about 14,000 children to get THE SMALLEST PICTURE ID KNOWN TO MAN taken of me. Seriously - this photo would fit on the head of a pin. But I digress.

I then went back in, mini-mug shot in hand, only to put my thumb on a scanner and have the lady tell me: "Your fingers aren't oily enough." She then grabs my fingers and RUBS THEM ONTO MY THUMB for about 20 seconds, after which time my thumbs feel like they've been jettisoned into cryo-space for about 20 years concealed in a vat of Vasoline. Luckily it worked - I'd have HATED to see what the "emergency protocol" would have been.

The work day was good, complete with a New Joiner lunch in Vivo City (it's a mall), and then the evening was the highlight of the day - dinner with Terri, Ruth, Carla, and Martin (my new boss) at this place in Chinatown called P.S. Cafe. It was UBER tasty, and the wine (selected by Terri - they carry it at her restaurant back in Dallas) was EXTRA AWESOME. Now's a time to make a plug for the "World Piece Cafe" should you find yourself roaming in the Lonestar state. But I digress...

Today was a good day as well, albeit CRAZY. I know it's just Day 4, but I'm really getting into the work and loving it so far. This is a role filled with new information and new challenges, and I have ZERO complaints so far.

I did get a workout in yesterday, but today my lazy ass didn't do ANYTHING. I set the alarm for 6 to do Yoga (can you imagine how I would have looked in there?), but sleep took priority. However, I WILL get up tomorrow, as need to log mileage to a) keep up race training and b) make it to the gym 5 out of my first 7 days (he says as he eats Doritos - the new "Smokin' BBQ" flavor - I can hear T-Rowe's laughter from here).

So I've had a lot of requests to see pics of the flat, and so some are below. You'll see the living room/dining room (above), the master bedroom (Asians don't really "do comfy," but the bed has honestly slept really, really good so far. Muffin - we have no sheet, and the comforter is about half an inch thick, so it's all about regulating the AC!

You can also see the bathroom (don't worry - there is a shower) and the kitchen as well. I love the place - the only thing missing is my perfect pumpkin!

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Chat tomorrow!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Catch-up Blog #1 - The return to the QC...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. Okay, as promised (though a bit delayed), here's the first of 4 recaps detailing our time at home. These won't come all in a row, but hey - it's better than nothing, right?

Thursday: TIME WARP

So I know that w discussed the flight a bit in the final blog of 2010, but let me go ahead and say it again – THAT IS A LONG ASS FLIGHT. Seriously, since Team Taylor had a) stayed up the night before the flight with the plan of sleeping on the plane and b) actually was NOT able to sleep a WINK on the flight, Sammy the Bull ended up awake for FIFTY STRAIGHT HOURS. Lt me go ahead and tell you – that was less than fun, and I was definitely NOT the brilliant conversationalist upon arrival at Charlotte Douglas (let’s keep the jokes to a minimum, shall we?).

However, we did get home thanks to the Tacy express (read: The Honda Odyssey, complete with a new quart of transmission fluid), where we nibbled a bit and then PASSED OUT early, excited at the prospect of a real bed.

Friday: Big Daddy’s with the crew

So Friday dawned early, but the AOC project team started it off with a bang by securing an Unconditional Go for the upcoming January implementation (FULL MARKS, GANG!). After that it was over to the office, where Team Taylor reunited with some of the blog’s more colorful characters from the past year – Shogun and Old School Cool! So we cranked through some work (Cyborg, the Narvenator, and Schill Dog even made an appearance) before rolling to a long awaited destination – BIG DADDY BURGERS, BABY!!!!! Woo-hoo!!!!!

RT had planned this puppy well in advance (and h even treated me, for the record – thanks, man!), and I was treated to the surprise of SERIOUS attendance at this lunch. We are talking a royal cast of characters – OSC, C-Web, Eagle Scout, Brother Townsend, Shogun, the Hitman AND the Hairless Wonder! I mean, can you believe it? That’s a lot of literary and financial starpower under one roof! Get your tickets now (only on pay per view…).

The food was GREAT, especially considering that I got to wash it down with A FAT TIRE, BABY!!!!! That’s right – good times. In my defense, I did try to order a sweet tea, but Hitman and company were having NONE of that. In retrospect, I owe them a huge thank you.

And speaking of food, what did Sammy the Bull polish as his first official meal in the states? Well, I’m glad you asked, as it still warms my heart (and clogs my arteries). The winner was called the “Bacon Cheeseburger on Steroids.” Why steroids? Well, let’s recap, shall we?

1. 3 strips of Jalapeno bacon
2. 3 strips of Apple wood smoked bacon
3. 3 strips of sugar cured bacon
4. Baconaise (I didn’t even know this existed)
5. Bacon salt

In 4 words or less: SO GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD (peppy cheekies).

That night we chilled with the family, and we passed out early yet again. We were still SO exhausted, and we knew that we needed to rest for a big evening on Saturday. After all, the ONE NIGHT OUT in the QC loomed, and being less than refreshed was simply NOT an option.

Saturday: A festival of shirts – some purple, some 5 sizes to small for the boobs they contained…

So this day was an all out ASSAULT on the Queen City, beginning with a place I might consider my new Mecca – Sam’s Club! Yes, yes, I know – that sounds REALLY lame. But seriously, we were OUT OF CONTROL in there. For starters, we FINALLY bit the bullet and bought an SLR camera (Grimshaw – we went with a Canon – tell Barry not to hate us). That was just the tip of the iceberg, however, as we then ventured from electronics to the clothes. And THAT, dear friends, is where Sammy came unhinged.

Family, I don’t know what happened. Something in me snapped, and I can’t really explain it. All I can tell you is that, for the first time in a DECADE OR MORE, I actually WANTED to shop. And shop I did: 4 pairs of slacks, 5 shirts, a pair of jeans, and some polo shirts. And the weirdest part? ONE OF THE SHIRTS WAS PURPLE AND WHITE STRIPED. I mean, WHAT has happened? SERENITY NOW!!!!! Someone tell the Baron to look out – the only thing left is a flowered purple Brooks Brothers tie and some block Oakley glasses. Oh yes, it’s happening…

After that we raided REI, where we again dropped mad cheddar, but this time Muffin Puffin did the heavy lifting (that being said, I gave her a run for her money). In fact, we tried on so much stuff that, after 4 hours of shopping, we’d only hit 2 stores! The end result is that I now have a COMPLETELY new wardrobe…well, except for the hardened green pit stained t-shirts. After all, a guy’s gotta draw the line somewhere. Oh, and where else did we hit? That's right - BOJANGLE'S, BABY!!!! BRING ON THE CAJUN FILET BISCUIT!

We got home and showered, as the featured event of the evening was still to come – the Taylor Repatriation/Deportation party!

You see, since we only had one night in the QC and wanted to see as many folks as possible, we figured the best course of action was to throw a shindig up town and just chill there. Well, Hitman came through BIG TIME in the clutch, securing us a private room at Fox & Hound, complete with a pool table, 50 wings, 3 pizzas, and our own server! It was EXTRA AWESOME (thanks, man!), and we had a BLAST. It was such a great chance to see so many of our good friends, including Brother Ogas (the Pai Gow master), the Rex Clan, Hairless and his wife Mandy, Hitman and Shantan, Staci Shatsoff, MattPa and Marne, and Brian and Jennifer Ludwick, 2 other friends JT met through work. Oh, and did I mention who hosted us with a Fat Tire and also gave us a place to crash that night? FIZZY!!!! That’s right, folks – Fizzy was back in action, treating us to an evening at her PHAT PAD, which truly does boast the BEST view in uptown Charlotte (from a balcony off which you could launch a space shuttle – just sayin’…).

The highlight of the night was when, after much debate, the girls asked our server whether or not her boobs were real (they weren’t, for the record). This led to a certain member of our group who shall remain nameless (but who was in attendance at our first Beer Festival and used to live in London with us…not that any of that info would give anything away) who actually dressed the part of a server to see how she would look if she pursued a life of bar tending. Luckily we have no video evidence of this…oh, wait…

We ended the night about 2 AM back at Fizzy’s place with a farewell Fat Tire. Then it was off to bed because Sammy had an EARLY flight out the next morning. That, however, is another blog for another time.

Fizzy- thanks SO MUCH for hosting us – we had so much fun – wish it could have been longer! Next time, the Fat Tire is on us.

Hitman – Dude, F & H was OFF THE CHAIN – thank you SO MUCH for hooking that up and making that happen. Next time, the Sam Adams Oktoberfest is on us.

For all of you that made it out to the shindig – it was SO GREAT to see all of you guys. We had a BLAST, and we can’t wait to see all of you again when we’re finally back settled in the CLT.

Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Chat tomorrow!

Love,

Sam and (probably stuck in Lancaster in the frozen Tundra of South Carolina) Jenny

A-S-E-A-N Action - it's FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTastic...sorta...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. 4 days in, and I can still confirm that I am the tallest man in Asia. Seriously - I think I've seen one cat taller than me the ENTIRE time I've been here. I'm starting to feel like Thor.

So Sammy the Bull woke up at 8:30 this morning fresh as rain and fit as a fiddle. I banged around on the computer, had some brekkie, and chatted with Poppa Bear before rolling over to the gym for the Sunday workout. I was less than stellar, but I did manage to lift some weights and log 35 minutes on the stationary bike. Actually, I need to come clean, when I say lift weights, I mean I literally did 4 different exercises for a total of 20 minutes, including 2 sets of bench press using ONLY THE BAR. Seriously - that damn thing is heavy. Any chance it's 45 kilos instead of pounds? Yeah, I didn't think so either, but I had to ask...

But seriously, 2 things from the gym today:

1. While I was on the bike, I noticed a gal beside me pedaling at the rate of about 1 cycle a minute - NO JOKE. When I looked at her, I noticed that her EYES WERE CLOSED. Honestly, if she were moving any slower, I'd have sworn she was dead and it was just reflex taking over. She did this for TWENTY MINUTES WITHOUT SPEEDING UP A BIT. It was mind-blowing to watch - I mean, you have to work REALLY HARD to put forth that little of an effort. Much to learn, have I...

2. So just like American TV copies British television, so does Asian television follow American hits. This works fine for things like CSI (although their show, called "Counterpoint," is TERRIBLE) and The Amazing Race, but now they have announced the Asia version of "The Biggest Loser." Seriously? SERIOUSLY? EVERYONE HERE WEIGHS LESS THAN 100 POUNDS - THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE. No joke - they have another show called "The last 10 pounds," and I swear the entire group competing would have been classed as "the peak of fitness" in the states. Amazing...

Also, in a rather fortunate/unfortunate turn of events (depending on how you look at it), I made a startling discovery today. Attached to our building (and I mean TEN STEPS from the condo) is a place called "Hog's Breath Australian Steakhouse." And whilst I'm pretty sure they flat STOLE that name from Key West, the menu boasts a key item: ALL DAY EVERY DAY HAPPY HOUR - DRAFT BEER FOR $5. That, sports fans, is THE CHEAPEST beer in the Sing, and it's the closest bar to us. I must confess that I had one at lunch - once it hits your lips, it's so guuuuuuuuuuuuuud (peppy cheekies)...

The feature event of the day, however, was at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. What was the activity, you ask? An Asian Professional Basketball League game! That's right - GOAT RODEO. Seriously, this was a hoot - Muffin, I'm sorry, but we WILL be going to the playoffs. :-)

Today's game pitted the Singapore Slingers (original, huh) vs. the Brunei Barracudas. I had NO IDEA what to expect, as the website billed this as "the hottest ticket in town." I must tell you - this did NOT disappoint. Key highlights:

1. I show up to buy tickets and ask: "What do you have left?" She looks at me like I'm from Mars, rings up the most expensive ticket in the house ($14 USD), and puts me SEVENTH ROW CENTER COURT. Incidentally, I was all by myself on that row until 2 fourteen year old Asian girls dropped in next to me and spent the entire game trying to figure out what on earth was going on.

2. Singapore billed their roster as "local Singaporean talent with key selected exports." Translation: "We have 4 Americans who we paid good money to come over here and dunk, and we have a token Singaporean who will never touch the ball in the starting lineup." Seriously - we didn't see an all Singaporean lineup until late in the 4th quarter after the game was over, and the commentator actually screamed into the mike, "It's an ALL-SINGAPORE team on the floor - make some noise!!!"

3. And speaking of the commentator - he was about 22 and WEARING JEANS. Oh, and what's more - HE TALKS THE ENTIRE GAME. Seriously - it's not just "Jackson for 2" - this dude gives COMPLETE commentary. I mean, are we not WATCHING THE SAME GAME?

4. There are 5 cheerleaders, and they are practically naked. Conservative country my ass - these gals were 1 step shy of being in their birthday suits.

5. There was a guy in the crowd who SCREAMED at the refs the entire time. I mean this cat was PASSIONATE about it. He was a big, overweight white dude, and he actually presented an award at halftime (he's the Senior VP of UPS-Asia). While he was out there, the jean-wearing commentator asked him: "Sir, you're at every game. Is it your passion for the Slingers or just a love of basketball?" His response: "I just like seeing UPS on the jerseys." I mean really? REALLY? DOOOOOOOOONKEEEEEEEEEEY!

6. Speaking of sponsors, Singapore had a bunch. Brunei had NOTHING. And when I say nothing, I mean NOTHING. They only dressed 7, and I am NOT JOKING when I say that I could have started for those guys. It was car crash television to watch them play.

7. I'm pretty sure the officials had never actually SEEN a basketball before, and the game was called HOPELESSLY one sided. It didn't really make a difference, however, as the St. Ignatius Middle School JV girls team could have beaten Brunei.

8. The final score was 103-61, but it could have been 200-5 if Singapore had left their starters in. The scary thing is that they weren't that good either.

I honestly think this could become a new pasttime - start going to other countries and watching basketball games. This win got the Slingers in the playoffs - who's excited? THIS GUY!!!!!

After the game I decided to walk home, which was GREAT in theory until, after hugging the marina shore for 15 minutes, I realized THERE WAS NO BRIDGE TO THE OTHER SIDE. Oh well, I got a little exercise. I also got POURED ON for the 4th time today. Wet season - gotta love it.

Dinner tonight was in little India, which was CRAZY, as it was FILLED with people. Seriously - I really DID feel like it was Mumbai, but we ate at a great little joint, where I tried a dry chicken rubbed in spices. Terri and Jackie (another teammate - this one from Portland) joined me, and it made for a good evening. And muffin - this will shock you, I know - but I opted for ice tea instead of Kingfisher. What has become of me?

Okay, it's now time to settle down for the evening and watch "From Paris with Love." Don't make fun of me - it was a free rental from the gym.

That's all the news that's fit to print. Back to the grind tomorrow - chat then!

Love,

Sam and (probably not yet awake in the A-T-L but curled up in a ball face down with her head off the pillow) Jenny

Nothing says manly like a trip to the Orchid Garden...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the globe after another GREAT DAY in the Lion City. Seriously - we've packed it in today, and it's been GREAT. Honestly, when looking at all we did today, you can really appreciate why Singapore is so great - you can go from city to rainforest to Chinatown all in the space of 3 hours! But I digress -let's pick up where I left you this morning - at the Conrad Hotel, meeting up with some of my former Transition peeps.

So it's time to introduce a few newcomers to the blog - Terri Peeters and Ruth Melander. Terri and I actually worked together in Chester back in 2007, when she was the guru of all things Pay Service Delivery. Ruth is the guru of Oracle for HR, and I met her back in 2009 with the Merrill merger. This is a quick way of saying that I've been in about 14,000 foxholes with both of them, and we've lived through more than one Transition nightmare.

Our first destination was one of the items on Sammy's Sing to-do list - The Singapore Botanical Gardens (don't worry, muffin - we'll go back when you get here!), specifically the Orchid Garden. Now, I know, I know - this is the part where you all say, "But Sam, you're so incredibly manly, studly, and macho - why would you go to stare at flowers?" To which I would respond, "It's the national flower of Singapore, I'm trying to cultivate my sensitive side, and...okay, let's be honest - it was free and I need to scope running routes." But I gotta tell ya - this place DID NOT disappoint.
Side note - two things occur to me as I look at this picture:

1. I can just see MattPa saying "Wow - who's the guy who ate Taylor? I hope he doesn't eat one of those little Japanese cats for dessert."

2. Seriously - whatever stereotype you have about Japanese tourists - it CAME TO LIFE in this place. I saw about 49 BILLION dudes with cameras running around, and CHECK OUT THE LENS ON THIS GUY PHOTOGRAPHING TURTLES. I mean, seriously - I don't know what shocked me more - the fact that the lens had camo (does he want to SNEAK UP ON THE TURTLE?) or the fact that 35 BILLION people were trying to photograph a turtle that looked the one one mom and I painted the shell of when I was 8 (Mom - you remember that? Gizmo!).

But moving past all that, the gardens were really, really cool. There's a ginger house, visitor center, and swan lake, and the park is filled with fountains, statues, and sculptures. However, the highlight is DEFINITELY the Orchid Garden. Seriously - there are SO MANY different flavors of this plant, and we really had a great time roaming through the exhibit. And let me tell you - Terri Peeters knows EVERYTHING ABOUT BOTANY. If a plant exists, she knows what's called, what it's related to, how it germinates - you name it. I was reduced to cracking bad jokes to hide my inadequacy. But I also made progress toward caning, as I started acting like an idiot about 30 minutes in (at the behest of Melander, for the record) and posing like the statues. The local Singaporeans laughed at first, but then I could see fear creeping over their brows.

We left the Botanical Garden and rolled to Chinatown, where I confirmed that Paula McHugh is a genius. Okay, so seriously, you've heard that Chinese folks have trouble with their "l's". I never thought about this until last night when Paula and I got into a cab and she said, "I need to go to CRUB Street." Now Paula lives on CLUB Street, but the dude seemed to totally understand her. I didn't think much about this until we hailed our cab today and said, "Good afternoon - we'd like to go to Club Street." The driver looked at me like I was from Mars, shaking his head. So then I said, "We go Crub Street. You can?" INSTANTLY he says, "Oh, CRUB STREET! Chinatown! Okay!" and off we go. P-Dawg - you truly are a master linguist.

We took a brief detour to see the Hindu Temple before rolling into Chinatown for some shopping (Muffin - I got some GREAT Christmas ideas!). Lunch was the same place P took us to our second night in the Sing, where I had another BBQ stingray, baby!!!! Terri got it as well, but she might be plotting my death now after I misjudged her tolerance for spice. Ruth hit the Black Pepper Crab, and she proved to be quite an artist with the crackers. JT - we have some DEFINITE room for improvement.

I then broke off from the girls, as there was unpacking, ironing, grocery shopping, and general set-up to be done for Team Taylor. However, GOOD NEWS! Team Taylor now has a US PHONE NUMBER!!!! The number, that will ring through to Skype, is 803-335-2976. Give us a shout! Vmail should be set up - someone let me know if it isn't.

Oh, and the best news of the day? Can someone say MOUNTAIN DEW, BABY!!!! That's right - American Music, swimmin' pools, and Mountain Dew - now THAT is a recipe for a good Saturday afternoon.

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Chat tomorrow!

Love,

Sam and (waking up in the ATL with her fam and I'm sure looking forward to a GREAT weekend) Jenny