M to the I to the A ... Miami!

Again, as I was saying ...  just as life was settling a call came out of the blue.  About a month of mental torment and endless internal (and some external) debate I made the decision to take a chance. It would be another three months before I actually moved ... Jess had a baby on the way and my grandmother finally lost her battle with cancer.

The job has turned out to be everything they said it would.  Everyday is a firehose of new information and strategy.  In an oversimplified explanation, I am now an analyst for the Pharmaceutical and MedTech industries.  I review the patent portfolios, litigation, FDA regulations, and finances that surround a product.  I spend many of my days reviewing patent lawsuits for insight on strategy and attend the court hearings as a spy. Ok, not really a spy (but doesn't make it sound dangerously sexy?) but more of a fly on the wall watching for clues that may help in predicting outcomes.  It's pretty much AWESOME.  I think any patent litigator would be jealous of what is essentially a job to learn what only senior partners have insight to through a lifetime of experience. I make more and work less than any BigLaw firm.  But the best part is that I work with incredibly intelligent (not that pseudo intelligence that most partners front to convince the associates that they are just minions) and genuinely nice people.

Miami on the other hand .... well .... it's an interesting place.  And when I say interesting, yes I mean interesting like she's got a great personality interesting.  I moved in the heart of the summer; something Jess was hoping would encourage me to change my mind and move back to SF quickly.  It was hot and humid, but no comparison to Singapore.  Singapore gains a point approval (I think its a total of 2 points now) as a good primer for Miami, setting the bar pretty low.  I spent the first four months living in Ft. Lauderdale in my co-workers spare bedroom (he's currently living in North Carolina).  Ft. Lauderdale is where all the rich old white people live to escape South America (aka Miami).

Although I liked Ft. Lauderdale, I am a big fan of South America ... so to Miami I went.  Despite more luxury high rise condos than you can even imagine (and the second wave building has begun) it was really difficult to find a place to live.  Dare I say even more difficult than SF.  But with a little perseverance I finally found a place to call home.  Furnishing the place .... well ... give me another couple months. ;)

Highlights so far include never being cold, great tropical rain storms, wild parrots, orchids in the trees, sailing ....

 and endless boating ...

Adventures in the Everglades ...

... and plenty more to come!

Para - Para - Paradise

In summarizing the past two years (see last post), I realized that such brevity was not becoming of Colombia or the amazing adventure we had. I could probably write an entire novel, but I will try to keep it reasonable as it will likely fall mostly on deaf ears.

As I was saying, I met up with my old friend Mark, a Canadian travel junkie I met in Sweden many years ago. He brought two more Canadians.  And we had a riot, eh.  We met up in Houston and jumped on a redeye flight to Colombia.

Arriving to the capitol of Bogota in wee hours of the morning, deliriously tired, we could not allow the several hour layover to go to waste.  So we gassed up with some Colombian coffee, locked up our bags, braved the cloudy rainy weather and taxied into the city.  A gondola ride to the top of one of the highest mountains for a view of the city and an adrenaline charged run to the bottom!

 

I am not sure if it was from lack of sleep or excitement, but no one seemed to notice that the sun had come out and none of our pasty arses had sunscreen on.  The nap on the lawn in the ghetto drug park probably didn't help matters. A little jaunt around town and back to the airport we went.

Off to Armenia ... nestled deep in the mountains a rather amusing gay couple from New York have set up a modest oasis.  We spent the first couple days just relaxing and soaking in the view ...

A modest tiny little local town ... we ventured out a few times to have some dinner (due to a lack of Spanish, it's possible horse may have been the main course for some) ....

hang out with an army of 18 year olds ...

and breath in some fresh air on a hike through the Valle deCocora.



























Armenia was a world of difference of what would be the party and flash of Cartagena.  After several hours of delay and a Facetime conversation between the airline representative and a friend back home who spoke Spanish, we finally boarded our puddle jumper to Cartagena.  The property manager met us at the private condo around midnight and all four of our mouths dropped as we walked into the three bedroom penthouse condo that would be our home for the next few days!

Cartagena is a gorgeous city rich with colors,
history, and drug money. 

The contrast between the old town surrounded by a concrete fort wall and the tip of the city dotted like an double chocolate chips ahoy with luxury high rise condos was beyond stark.  Old town is everything you picture when you think of old Colombia.  Colorful stucco walls with stained wood terraces and bougainvillea climbing the walls.

 

We ate, we drank, we danced, and we did it all again the next day...

...we danced on the fort wall (at Mark's favorite Club Del Mar) ...

.....we danced at the Havana (Cuban) club ...









.....we danced on the New Years ...

 

 

 

 

Until we could dance no more....

And then the sun came up ...

and I snuck in a little dive trip which was mediocre at best.

And we braved the Volcan Del Totumo ...

 

Not pictured are the women who escort you to the lake to wash off.  Nor the part where unbenounced they pull off your bathing suit to wash it and scrub you down.  Followed by the harassment for endless tips.


















Mark, Jeff, and Cherise had another week of vacation, but alas the American dream required me to return.  Long story that could be a nightmare of a novel in itself ... it turned out I would not be leaving quite so soon.  Four days, many tears, and $1600 later ... I was on a three layover, 20+ hour trip home.  Sweet memories.

Life goes on
It gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear, a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night
She closed her eyes
In the night, the stormy night
Away she'd fly.

And dreamed of para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

So lying underneath those stormy skies.
She said oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.
I know the sun must set to rise.

 

 

 

 

 

Back From An Extended Hiatus

After an overly long hiatus and at the encouragement of an old friend, it is time to start documenting the world travels of duck once again!

I wrote several draft posts which I never got around to posting.  Odd to read back through these and have an adverse reaction to the emotions I was feeling at the time.  Shows you have fast life can change direction, flip you on your head, chew you up and spit you out.  Needless to say, those posts are now deleted and shall live on only in the world of meta data.

Here is what you missed in the last episode (yes, I have been watching way too many marathons on Netflix recently. Don't hate. There were so many great series I missed over the last couple of years.)...

2010 - What a crazy year... Started full of love and adventure (see previous blog posts). The world was my oyster.  Ended with a lot of stress and hard feelings.  Cracked pearl.  Katy Perry said it best when referring to her ended relationship with John Mayer ... a beautiful mind and a tortured soul.

2011 - A new start....  Back home to San Francisco.  Living the "dream."  Dreams, however, were more than I could have wished for; they require sleep.  I threw myself head first into the "dream" of BigLaw at one of the top IP law firms.  Blessed to work with some of the brightest, coolest people I had ever met, only later to be betrayed by those "cool" people (see 2013).  Working exceptionally long nights and most weekends, I survived the year.  Feeling the need to be me again, international New Years was reinstated.  I met up with an old friend (and some new ones) to spend a week traveling through Colombia (separate post to come). 

Hands down one of the best trips to date!  Coldplay will forever live in the memories of that trip ...

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep
Dreamed of para- para- paradise

2012 - Was I conscious? I don't remember much of 2012 other than staring at my computer screen for 14 straight hours a day and taking power naps under my desk at work.  Honestly, as I sit here, the only memorable thing I can recall is my crazy cokehead roommate changing the locks the day before I was supposed to move out and the police being involved at 9 pm on a Friday night. 

2013 - Ok life, you have my attention now ... I am conscious. The start of the 2013 made 2011 look like a cake walk.  Those who know me well will attest to my general lack of trust in the human species; it likely stems from a shitty sibling relationship growing up, confirmed by a shittier relationship in my early 20's.  A warning to all you soon to be lawyers out there that are considering BigLaw ... unless you're willing to be unethical and back stabbing ... stay far away.  It is no place for genuine people.  Used, abused, and then betrayed by my "mentor" and a particular partner that required me to work most nights and weekends .... I went looking for greener pastures and I found them. 

Through a friend I met a phenomenal woman, Jessica Hudak .  I joined her company (www.hudakgroup.com) consulting medical device and biotech start up companies looking to manage and develop their IP strategy.  What a difference it makes to know the work you are doing matters and to like the people you work with.  I thought I was a strong and driven person; she blows me out of the water. 

And just as life felt like it was finally back on the right track ... I got a call out of the blue.  Life sure has a sick sense of humor sometimes, doesn't it?  A company in Miami was looking to hire a new analyst ... 

Affirmation and consolation

Thank you Singapore for reaffirming my intense desire to leave civilization and live in a tree house. I seriously think S'pore should impose a fine for the English speaking/reading natives that despite numerous signs, obnoxiously kindergarten-like ground markings and constant announcements INSIST on pushing past you to get on the metro before people have gotten off. CHILL THE FUCK OUT, we're not in China! (pardon my language)

Driven to seek consolation in Bubble Tea #6. Drat. Seeking change I went for the Jasmine milk tea. Oh tasty goodness.

Hate Forwards....

.... so I am posting this here instead.

Only second to the 20 something year old chubby asian girl on the metro this morning in an orange and seafoam green full bodysuit... I'm pretty sure she thought she was a super hero. It took everything in me to not chuckle out loud!

A friend just sent me this email and it cracked me up, thought I'd share.

Truths For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid This Place" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my a $$ everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time !

The Frenchie Theories...

Went out for a drink at Long Bar with one of my new roommates, Arthur. The place is famous for inventing the Singapore Sling, but I was advised against ordering one since they are now poured from a pre-made mix that is less than fantastic. At s./$22 a drink I stuck to something safe. A mojito.
Arthur is an absolutely hilarious sarcastic Frenchie. Here are his theories of the night....

The Midget Theory...
Being a midget would be great. Not only do you get the best view of girls in short skirts.... if you do the math your odds of getting lucky are better than the average Joe. Consider the number of midgets in the world and then consider the number of women with a fantasy about a midget. Bingo. What Arthur failed to account for was the chance encounter of these two unique beings should be in the same bar at the same time is quite low. Good thing he does not deal with numbers in his professional karaoke career.... oh wait, that's just at home, by day he is a banker. Scary.

The Buffalo Theory ...
http://www.joedigi.com/alcohol/buffalo.htm

Asian Bubble Tea Count: 5 .... and other oddities

The malls in Singapore are more confusing than the Vegas casinos. I now avoid the Orchard MRT and Esplande MRT.

This morning's adventure through the Esplande to find the Kimage hair salon resulted in me being 45 minutes late. Ooops. To ease my headache and brave the rest of the mall on the return to the MRT.... I caved to another bubble tea. :)

In the mall I saw a store that serves coffee and french fries. Obviously the two go well together, else why would you have a restaurant that sells only the two?

On a bus I saw an advertisement for Geox (Italian shoe company) stating 'International Patent'. Ummmm... just an FYI, there's no such thing.