End of Summer 2k11 - Wisdom, Wagers and Hip-Hop

Love the Patriotism today on the 9/11 anniversary. It's humbling to see how far we've come in 10 years. Remember and Represent, Represent.


Is Summer really over? Have we passed Labor Day? Is it COLD!? August not only flew by (like we all know it does) but it was one of the most amazing months of my life. Hurricane scares aside, New York (and Vegas) is an amazing time to PBS. 


Side Note: I don't know when Leggo became an acceptable saying in our Pop culture, but..#LEGGO!

Fall Previews - While the end of Summer can be a major downer (fact: NY'ers love to complain about every season change, myself included), there are many things to look forward to in the Fall. Especially for guys. Things I'm looking forward to are A) Football Sundays B) The Dallas Cowboys inevitable 2011 NFL Championship C) Fall Bowling Leagues D) Giving up on "that diet" and E) Wearing blazers as jackets for those 3 weeks when it's not too cold to do so

My August highlight was traveling to Vegas. I'm convinced Vegas is the only place on Earth where the only way to fully express your emotions is by repeating that place's name and smirking uncontrollably. Looking at your friends and giggling "New York..." or "Damn, Boston..." just doesn't have the same effect, does it?

I've been to the Sin City before (Re: Poor, but 21), but let's just say that things become a lot more interesting when you actually have money to blow/gamble with. There is nothing worse than losing your money and having to "conserve" while all your friends play around you! Let's add that to life's list of worse possible scenarios, right behind the dinner party with not enough food. It's taken me some time to fully appreciate and understand my lessons learned. That and I had was too drunk all the time to remember had unfinished business to take care of. Lessons?


Lesson 1 - Go to the day pool parties. When people ask me about the trip, I always try to respond honestly and skip around the mandatory "IT WAS AWESOME" brags. That being said, the most shocking time in Vegas was the day Pool Party at Tao. And It Was Awesome. The best way to describe it is LFMAO's "Shot, Shot, Shot" music video, except in real life. Seriosuly, the pool party has no rules. Splash fights? Check. Rocking Jesus-Pieces? Check. Pouring Ice on Strangers? I didn't do it, but Check. Shouts to Roger Ebert for always pushing the limit!


Lesson 2 - Learn How to Play Blackjack. Playing cheap Blackjack is a fun way to kill time during the "day" in Vegas (a.k.a. that awkward period after brunch but before dinner where you are too full to drink but too excited to nap). It's not that hard too stay fairly even as long as you remember to play by "the book." Asking the dealer for advice is encouraged and extremely helpful. But anytime someone doesn't play by "the book"? Constant, relentless ridicule is required. In fact, blaming your friends for losing is both strangely satisfying and agonizing..whether it's their fault or not.

Typical Blackjack Table Interaction:
Me: "What do you think?" (translated: should I hit?)
Friend: "Dude, I'm feeling this one" (translated: obviously, you idiot)
Dealer: "Sorry, you bust!"
Me: "Oh well, it was the right play I guess.." (translated: I hate you so much..)
::everyone does a collective head shake::

Lesson 3 - Don't Be Afraid to Take a Crazy Chance. There are cliche sayings about Vegas, but my advice would be to never hold back!. Whether it's that bet that GUARANTEES a loss ($10 on a number in roulette, Casino War, only putting $20 in a slot machine, etc.), or the words you probably shouldn't say - sometimes, it feels good to go all out. (See: Beast Mode. WAB.)

Shouts to Zordon, Birdo, Apollo 11, Doctach, Ms. Cooper, Roger Ebert, Cornhell, Robin, W. Wonka, Diddy and everyone else. We'll see each other again, I promise.

Over Labor Day weekend, I went to Rock the Bells - the annual hip hop festival held on Governor's Island. I would never consider myself a hip hop "elitist" but anytime you can see Nas performing, attendance should never be in question. This year's lineup featured some of my previously-mentioned favorite performers (Big KRIT, Joe Budden) and some artists who I had wanted to see live (Childish Gambino, Roc Marciano). Besides the nightmare transportation situation and having to stand in the sun all day - Rock the Bells is a premier event for featuring the right mix of old school/new school hip-hop. Highlights include Lauyrn Hill regaining some credibility by performing "Killing Me Softly" (it was a bit touching) and Slaughterhouse coming onstage to a raging chant. Let the record show that 99% of Joe Budden's fans are guys. Maybe hip-hop isn't dead after all..

In my first Gambino sighting, I cannot disagree that Donald Glover is an exciting up-and-coming artist, but let's not anoint him yet. At least not until he gets a more respectable wardrobe. He has a killer flow, good energy and is a metaphorical/lyrical phenom, but he still needs to pay his dues and serve some jailtime before I respect him. Shouts to Bosi, H-Money,  Yoko, Ms. Cooper and DKNY!

You will get street credibility..one day. maybe.

Finally, Mud Run frenzy has officially taken over!! (Jump on the bandwagon while there are still spots available). It may not be an official "hobby" just yet, but I signed up for another run in a few weeks. I had such a fun time winning finishing surviving the Warrior Dash, I couldn't wait for another chance to test myself. But this time, I want side-bets (the key to any organized activity with friends). Don't call me a gambler, but I'm willing to put up a little humiliation (or slaps) this time...

In honor of the pain to come, I present the official Mud Run theme song of 2011. Incase you didn't know, I'm a Warriorrrrrr.

Peace & Love,
MKP

This Weekend, I tried to be "Hip" and listened to Watch the Throne

Watch the Throne Album Cover

Musical Aside (Yes, I'm "theatrical" now. See below): I'm writing this post as I take my first few listens of Jay-Z and Kanye West's new collaboration album, Watch The Throne. FYI the first single, "OTIS," has special meaning to me as my boy O.K. coined this catch phrase years ago when Otis Redding randomly came on during an iTunes session. In the years since, I have taken this phrase GLOBAL. If you ever hear someone yell out "OTIS!!!" - think of me.


Obviously, this album is downright Amazing. Beautiful. Classic. There hasn't been an album this hyped in the past few years (No, Drake's Thank Me Later does NOT count) - and it's refreshing to have music not only live up to its hype but surpass it.


Initial "Watch The Throne" Thoughts:
1. Kanye's musicality shines through each song on this album. Whether it's the smooth "Made it in America" or the downright epicness of "Lift Off" - every song has its own unique 'Ye vibe. Take it to the stars!
2. By sound alone, I truly believe that this album couldn't wouldn't exist without Kanye's debatable hit, 808's and Heartbreaks. He seems to have channeled everything he learned from that experience and multiplied it by 10 - drumkits and all. I will defend 808's to my grave - so for all the haters, at least it made Throne possible.
3. Jay-Z still has it. As if there was ever a doubt. Call him Harry Potter, he's a wizard with words.
4. "Murder to Excellence" is my favorite song on the album. If  we could go back in time to when Mount Vesuvius erupted and a sea of lava was spilling towards Pompeii - this song could be played and the hot, molten lava would acquiesce to the greater Fire that is this song.

---------------------------

Early August is upon us, and the constant partying that is summertime in NYC has been starting to drag on me (tragic, isn't it?). As it isn't quite time yet for the "24 hour champagne diet REMIX" associated with the end of the season - I've been looking for new ways to explore the city.

It's a well known fact that I never rarely travel above 14th Street on the weekends. I can be a lot of things - stubborn, "crazy," lovesick, funny - but "Hipster" has never been one of them. Eager to see what it's like, I took Urban Chique (patent still pending) to Williamsburg for Mr. Hyde's birthday. Degenerate stories aside (Oh, there are a LOT of them), here's Where Brooklyn's At:

Pros:

• I'm pretty sure Brooklyn is the only place where you can play classic 80's video games at a bar (Well, besides Dave and Busters, I guess. But I go there too much anyway). For our first stop, we stopped off at Barcade - whose name explains its very existence. Needless to say, the Iron Lung and I have googled how much it would cost to buy one of these machines for the apartment. We have to spend our bonuses somehow..
• Beer, beer and more beer. If you like to drink the potion as much as I do, this is the place to go. Dark Hofbrau!?! On Tap!?!? REALLY??
• You can wear as much plaid/flanel as you want and nobody will judge. Hell, I can even rock that backwards hat look I love and not get stares. #Win!

Cons:

• I don't know whether it was our group of downright degenerate Asian men or the lack of female companions, but I couldn't shake that feeling of being out of place. Remember on Nickelodeon they had that show about The Rugrats when they were in high school? Yeah, that's how awkward it felt sometimes.
• People in the BK must love to walk because places can be VERY FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. Annoying? Check. Tiring? Yes. A walk that seems 10x longer because some friends need to be carried on a stretcher to the next bar? Duh.

While I had a good time in Williamsburg, I think I'm Manhattan to the bone. It's not so bad - At least we have Artichoke!!!

In MTN, in today's class Kru Phil Nurse gave us a speech about digging down and finding that inner energy that can propel you past your normal limits. Whether it's called chi or adrenaline or even rage - it's a place I want to get to. UFC champions like Georges St.-Pierre and Jon Jones have experienced what it's like to reach that place under Phil's tutelage and I want to accomplish the same.

Highlight of the Class: Finally being able to land a spinning back hand punch during some light sparring. Watch out, Warrior Dash. Hey Troll, Lovebird, Workaholic, Big Game Hunter, Ghost, Blackout and Femme Fatale - Get ready to lose this weekend. All it takes, is all you got.

Finally, I've booked tickets to see "Sleep No More" later in the Fall. How can anyone say no to voyeurism, masks, and Macbeth? Stay tuned for my transformation into an "arts lover" now that my attempt at being a Hipster was a fail. Stay tuned.

Peace & Love,
MKP

This Weekend, Armageddon Hit NYC

Note: I finally understand why people pay Geek Squad so much money. Fixing your computer (Windows errors, hardware errors, viruses, etc.) is not only a SOLID TEN on the annoying scale (right above doing dishes), but it's also one of the most confusing things on the Internet. Lessons Learned? 1) Reading technical forums is horrible. 2) Dealing with any kind of "service manual" is harder than sitting through Ashley H's constant insecurity on The Bachelorette. 


This past weekend reminded me of the Lloyd Bank's classic, Fire. Banks' lyrics - "We on Fire / Up in Here, it's Burning Hot / We on Fire" - perfectly describes what its felt like to live in New York as of late. Can anyone imagine being in Times Square in 100+ degree heat? Not even Chicken & Rice would be worth it. Now, I don't want to be that guy who says "called it" out loud (do I do that?), but we are definitely in Stage 4 of Summer - see an earlier post for reference.

While on the Hip Hop note, last week I went to an old-school Joe Budden concert in Brooklyn. While he definitely mailed in his performance a bit (had a fan rap a whole song for him), I can't deny that I had a good time. He might not be the best lyricist, or have good radio "musicality", but he's someone hip hop fans can and should appreciate. Can't wait for Rock the Bells in September or the release of Watch The Throne - The initial reviews on the Jay-Z, Ye album (released at a party earlier this month) were craazy.

In MTN, my weight-loss goals are starting off to a good start. I am starting to get more serious about it -along with the sport as a whole. Especially enjoying learning all of the Muay Thai techniques now that I can finally handle the cardio aspect of the classes. All I need to do to reach my goal is continue to tell myself my new motto - "All it takes, is all you got." (Warrior Dash 2k11, here I come. Taking bets as the 4:1 favorite.)

Finally, I'm not sure whether or not True Blood has gone off the deep end a la "jumping the shark," but it's certainly getting close. While the past few weeks episodes have been entertaining - they also been somewhat disturbing (in a good way?). Normally, there are very few things to get excited about on TV in the Summertime - no football/basketball, most shows going off the air, etc. But to a TV junkie like me, it's nice to know there can still be things to look forward to. I'll be watching next week.

TV Quotes of Summer 2k11:

• "BREED, GHOST DADDY. BREED." (True Blood)
• "I'm doing this, FOR ME." (Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition)
• "These men go through the toughest training the world" (Surviving the Cut - every episode. The show details basic training for some of the US military's most exclusive units. Very inspirational.)
• "I'm definitely falling for Ashley." (Every Bachelor in The Bachelorette)
• "I just can't get over Bentley." (Ashley H, The Bachelorette - it's messed up, I know.)

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, Follow my Lead

Note to self: Next time, take better care of your computer!! Remember all of those times that Windows told you NOT to shut down because it was doing something important? I somehow seem to always blatantly disregard the warnings...


The end of the 4th of July marks the last "work" holiday for the foreseeable future. It's a sad, sad time for all post college adults as they realize that an awesome vacation will probably consist of a 3-day weekend trip that always seems to last a day too short until Thanksgiving (shouldn't we schedule "catch up" days into our vacation plans anyway?)

For my 4th of July weekend, I did not make the usual trip down to the Jersey Shore (although from what I've heard it was too serious for me anyway) and instead went to Orlando with my family. I've been to Orlando, literally every 2-3 years since I was a kid for one reason or another (#X-10) and in that time period have ridden/seen/visited every attraction possible. (Rankings? #1. Universal. #2. Disney. #24. Sea World). But Alas, I discovered two new things:

1. Harry Potter World is amazing. Butterbeer is as good as they describe it in the books.
2. Americans love $3.99 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets. Including me, although I can't pound pancakes like I used to.

On Friday Night, Tommy Boy, BKing and I checked out some actual muay-thai fights at the Beacon Theater in Midtown. A few people from our school, The Wat, were fighting (and did quite well actually, one of our instructors won his third title belt.) . It was incredible to see people really going at it, and there were definitely some Oooohs and Aaaahs from the crowd. It made me wonder if I would ever get to the point where I would want to fight. A crazy dumb interesting thought?  If I invited everyone I knew would I be nervous? That or supremely overconfident.

Hip Hopically, I just got tickets to see Joe Budden perform on Friday in Brooklyn. I've seen him before as a part of Slaughterhouse, but this will be my first time seeing him as a solo act. No hip hop fan can deny his flow talent and the fact that dude is HILLARIOUS on Twitter (follow him). A few people are amazed he's still around since releasing "Fire" and "Pump it Up" like 10 years ago. Check the dude's mixtapes, he might be the best rapper out there right now. Which is debatable, but I'm willing to defend it.

"Box Update"
The game I learned in Chi and upgraded NYC Style has has officially joined the ranks of the 'Best Games to Play at Parties" list - along with Pong, Kings, Flip, Boom, Never and Buffalo (which apparently has been in play for years by a group of older NYU alum). I thought about posting a picture of it to get people more interested in what it is and how to play - but you'll probably just have to see for yourself. When you play.

Don't blame me, blame The Box.

Peace & Love,
MKP

This Weekend, I Went to Chi-Town City

Have you ever had one of those weekends when you look back on it a few days later and realize the following?

1. I spent more money in the past 3 days than I did in the past 3 weeks.
2. Most of the people I met probably think I'm insane. (For reference, see this Wikipedia definition)
3. I need to invest in Segway (The Segway Tour was the best part of the trip)
4. I consumed > 4,000 calories per day. Including McDonalds. #epicmealtime
5. AND IT WAS SICKKKKKK. (with "SICKKKKK" being defined as a) no puking, b) having pictures to remember and c) having things drawn on you when you are sleeping) 

Usually a "good" weekend in New York may consist of one, two or maybe even three of the above points. However, this past weekend visiting Chicago, I may have pushed the limit. In the end, I think I made some really good friends and have a few craZ stories. (shouts to Spike, Brawl & My Hero for hosting me! Love you guys, I know I'm an absolute terror dream to live with.)

Now that I've had a few days to digest and really think about it, I wanted to try and compare life in New York vs. life in Chicago to see if I could ever live there myself.

IMHO:

#1 - Degenerate (nyc lingo) vs. Delinquent (chicago style)
Fun Fact: Both places have a word for guys who like to party.

The truth is that I'm beginning to realize more and more that Filipinos are pretty similar everywhere. In both places, guys just love to rip-on each other and chill and take whiskey shots. It obviously always makes for a great time. Both Chicago & NYC folk like to party.

(In other news, I learned this awesome new game called The Box that I will soon be bringing EAST! stay tuned.)

That being said, since a lot of people in the Chicago area live in the suburbs and need to drive into the city to party (It befuddles me.). And since we're all responsible young adults (sometimes), NYC wins.


#2 - "Sports Craziness" - Cubs vs. Yankees
One of the first things I did upon booking my trip to Chi was looking up tickets to go see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Even though I really don't consider myself a giant baseball fan, I can appreciate its history & significance. The place is really beautiful. Chilling in the park and sipping Old Style was a memorable experience for me.

They were also playing the Yankees which was pretty crazy. There were a looot more Yanks fans than I expected. I wore a fitted cap, but there were definitely a lot of people in full gear. But nothing beats Cubs fans, who love to drink during the games.


#3 - "Fatness"
Chicago deep dish pizza? Probably a bit overrated.
Chicago style hot dogs, mustard, relish, a full pickle, tomatoes, onions and peppers)? Weird, but good.
Hot Dougs? Amazing. (anyone who has ever had it can attest)
Still, can't ever beat Chicken & Rice.


#4 - "Architectural Beauty"
 jk. who really cares. although for the record, nothing in the world compares to New York.

#5 - "We're Just Ordinary People"
It's a well known fact that living in New York numbs you to a lot of things. I honestly believe it's the only city in the world that nothing ever surprises you. Think about it. Homeless man relieving himself on the subway? eh. Couples pushing the limit of public decency in a back alley at 3 AM? big deal. Someone getting mugged/robbed/shot outside your apartment? it happens.

Now, compare this to life in the Chicago where people are just generally nice. Call it the Midwestern charm. But would anyone in New York really go 30 minutes out of their way to drive a friend and his stranger friend home? Doubt it. (+1 Chi-Town)

All in all, I loved Chicago - but I don't think anything compares to New York. 

Crazy start to the summer, I wonder how it's going to end.....

Peace & Love,
MKP

This Summer, Will be Epic

Note: My computer has been on the fritz the last few weeks so I haven't been able to update as much as I would like to..so to all of those drunken bromances - what we do in life, echoes in Eternity (name the quote and I'll buy you a cookie).

June has officially arrived in NYC and that can only mean one thing - it's summer summer summer time. The Summer (Summer will now and forever be capitalized. And no, this is not an OC reference) brings a lot of amazing things to the plate when you live in the City. There are the Soho Girls walking around lower Manhattan in their sundresses, high heels and sunglasses that cover half three-quarters their faces. There are the Bros, who walk around Murray Hill "Wolfpack" style, sporting bright striped polo shirts, DEP hair and an occasional barbed wire tattoo. And let's not forget the RIVAL ASIAN GROUPS who love to play "Red Rover" as they traverse Broadway/Chinatown, linking arms and walking in a seemingly impenetrable line of gossip, foreign languages and bubble tea.

As an NYU veteran, I've been around the city the past few summers and can officially break it down into five stages:

Stage 1 - Nice Weather = 24 Hour, Champagne Diet

Usually around late May/early June, this stage brings back Outdoor Drinking. You can tell it's this stage of the Summer because you will receive the following text on a Tuesday night - "It's nice weather, LET'S DO THISSS." Other qualities include: not checking a jacket at the club, creating a "Movies I Need to See" list and re-discovering a love for Blue Moon..

Stage 2 - I don't care if we live in NYC, I still want my TAN

People like to be tan in the Summer, city-dwellers or  not. This stage is classified by beach visits, laying out in Central Park or playing basketball outdoors. You know when you see someone at work Monday morning whose face is completely sunburned but you play it off by saying something nice like "you got a lot of color this weekend!"? Classic Stage 2.

Stage 3 - I hate people.

Tourists invade NYC  and bring with them everything that vexes someone who lives in the City. Lines for anything, 2 hour waits @ Shake Shack, strangers asking you for directions on the subway, men wearing visors, etc.

Stage 4 - Apartment Lockdown

Instead of trying to explain this one, I'm going to go Nostradamus on you and look into the future. Guaranteed Tweets to occur during stage 4 include:

• "FML IT'S SO HOT"
• "WHY IS IT SO HOT"
• "My air conditioner is broken, WHYYYY"
• "I'm not leaving the apartment, EVER AGAIN"
• "Wahhhhhhhhh someone please bring me an ice cofee :("

Stage 5 - Crap Summer is ending = 24 Hour, Champagne Diet REMIX

Around late August, there is the slow realization that Summer is ending and Fall will slowly but surely set upon us. It's been drilled into our brains since elementary school that while Summer is a time of fun & craziness, Fall brings back work and responsibility. And you know what college/post college young adults say to this? THIS.

For the record, we are the transition between Stage 1 and Stage 2. I hope to have a great Summer with good eats, amazing friends and memories to last a lifetime. Summer 2k11, LET'S DO THISSS.

In MTN, my next biggest challenge is to cut weight - my goal is to be in the low 170's range by the middle of the Summer. Ever since I've gotten back on a regular workout schedule, I've slowly been gaining weight (muscle, I hope). While I normally wouldn't mind, I'm afraid that if I continue to gain I'll lose some speed in my punches/kicks. This means cardio cardio cardio - I've been trying to take some of my Muay Thai classes back-to-back to get a better workout too. Don't forget - I'm still the Biggest Loser Champion (see one of my other posts for an old picture).

In other news, I've been to Atlantic City two weekends in a row. While this may make me seem like a complete degenerate (a status which I adore, gimme the belt baby), I have learned some valuable lessons. I may be a few hundred dollars poorer, but knowledge is power. Just do me a favor friends, next time we are at the Casino, remind me of these rules should I forget them.

(I'll continue to add to this last as I get older. Shouts to Mrs. Cooper, Predator, the Boss, Troll #1, Shaolin, Doctah, Zordon, Apollo 11, Air Jordan, Ke$ha and Nanny McPhee. Day & Night All Day)

MKP's Gambling Rules

Rule #1: Always, always, ALWAYS gamble with women. The other guys at the table will love it, you will love it, and they bring luck. (When was the last time the - "I went to AC with a bunch of my boys" story actually had a happy ending? Usually, it ends with a) a tamed down version of the Hangover the next morning or b) trying to chase girls at 3AM because you forgot Rule #1)

Rule #2: Time passes so quickly in the Casino, don't even bother trying to plan out the next day. I kid you not, it's like backwards Inception because where hours feel like minutes. Thus, when it's 8AM and you stumble back to bad, realize no one is going to be functional the next morning. It's just not happening.

Rule #3: Even if you have your own special game, the Sex and the City slot machine is fun. Because no matter if you're a man, woman, grandma or child you will always end up thinking - Why thank you Machine, I would LOVE to pick out Samantha's next outfit!

Finally, happy belated/early birthdays to One Love, The Queen & Zordon!

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Discovered an Affinity for White Wine

World of Warcraft WoW Springtime is FLYING by in New York right now, plus or minus the occasional torrential downpour. It has to be a side-effect of global warming because somethings giving in the atmosphere. Thankfully, it was a short-lived allergy season for me this year as we approach that sweet, sweet time of year where people bid adieu to their college lives. I remember graduating to the tune of constant partying amidst constant crying (think the final battle scene from The Last Samurai, except with partying). Was it really one year ago that I graduated from NYU? ::gasp:: #oldness

Congratulations to EVERYONE graduating, get ready for your life to change in major ways when you realize a) the new typical weekend"nightlife" = texting all of your friends only to realize that nobody really wants to go out b) instead, getting housed on the weekdays is not only totally acceptable but a great story to tell colleagues the next day. and c) Friday is Pink Shirt Day. As the Czech would say, Na Zdravi!

Today, I  put on my classy-hat (see right) and tried to put my French white wine tasting class to use. A few weeks ago, I went on a wine-tasting adventure with some Gurls from work in an attempt to gain some classiness. But then I thought about it and realized there is one reason and one reason only why anyone under the age of 50 40 should ever pays for such a class. DUH. Among many secrets learned that day (besides the fact that I suck at wine tasting. who really cares what the differnece is between high acidity and low acidity anyway?!!), was that I would give drinking white wine on the regular a chance. And the verdict? I think Drake said it best.

In MTN, I've started moving away from the more beginner-oriented classes and more towards the "intermediate" realm oooooooooooo. This means more work with the dreaded pads (think what boxing trainers hold in their hands during workout sessions). Working with pads allows you to use a lot more force with your punches/kicks so it brings a whole new dimension to the workout. I thought I was in good shape before, but this stuff is TOUGH. Last week I could barely walk around the office but truth be told - No Pain, No Gain. Next time I have a good sparring round, I'll post the play by play here. Watch out, Warrior Dash 2k11.

I have also started booking plans to visit the mythical Chi-town in a  few weeks. I'm pretty excited, as I've owed both Lupe Fiasco & my man Sp!ke a visit for quite some time. Yay - I can cross it off my list!!

Mental List #218: Places I Want To Go

-Machu Picchu (Life Goal)

-Los Angeles (Long Term Goal)

-Chicago (Long term Goal)

-The Highline in NYC (Summer Goal - it's a shame I've never been wah /hint)

-Dairy Queen (Short Term Goal)

-Taco Bell (Shorter Term Goal...must...go...soon..)

Finally in the Music World, I am SO hyped for Joe Budden's newest album, Mood Muzik 4.5, to be released in late May. Anyone true to the hip hop game has to give the man respect - his lines are not only catchy, but can be both clever and deep at the same time. That, and he's a really funny guy (peep him on twitter, esp. on #sundressdays) Is there anyone with a Jersey affiliation who didn't scream "Let me just make the statement loud and clear, Jersey's HERE!"during Fire? Anyone???

On that note, here's my favorite song from his last mixtape. Cheers.

Stuck in the Moment
I can’t explain it, I just gotta embrace it
But something got me feeling this way
Instead of running, I’m waiting here for it
Cause nothin ever felt this great
I’m stuck in the moment
Stuck in the moment, the moment
Stuck in the moment, the moment
Stuck in the moment


Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, Allergies Reigned Supreme (AND MEMPHIS IS AWESOME)

Note: In the middle of writing this post, I took a 2+ hour hiatus to watch the 3OT Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder playoff game. Even in defeat, the Kobe face picture I was going to post at the end will now be replaced by Z-Bo. #Respect.

There are few things worse in this world than having uber, uberly bad allergies in springtime (it's May...). I'm one of those unlucky people who are afflicted by uncontrollable sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes and all of that other sticky-icky-icky stuff that is associated with having allergies. And today, at work I almost had a total breakdown.

Have you ever been in a public place and wanted to sneeze/cough/laugh/cry loudly & uncontrollably? And been helpless to do anything about it? Then there's a little, tiny piece of your subconscious that believes you might be able to hold it together? Yeah, that never happens. Trust me, I'm known for doing this annoying cute thing where I sneeze and sneeze and sneeze again for no apparent reason. Anyone who has EVER slept in a room with me knows exactly what I am talking about.

Today it was so bad, it almost eclipsed the time where my headphones fell out of my phone when I was streaming the Spice Girls Pandora Station and blasted "Say My Name" for a solid 30 seconds. True Story.  Situations like today reminded me of the list that me and The Iron Lung put together a few years ago:

Worst Things That Could Ever Happen (in no particular order):
1. Drowning
2. Going to a Dinner Party With Not Enough Food
3. Allergies
4. Having Someone Else Ruin the Season Finale of Glee
5. Being Allergic to Chocolate

In MTN, I am finally getting back in the groove of working out on a constant basis. After going hard for the first 5-6 weeks, the beautiful weather drew me in yet again. But, I am happy to report that I am now back on my grinding schedule (I want to see those push ups, Mrs. Cooper). One thing I do have to work on is my punching form. I have a tendency to lead with my arms too much and not put enough of my body/legs into my hooks. For anyone who ever took AP Physics, I need more torque.

Finally, in honor of the saddest tweet I've seen in 2011 - "i wanna go on a date" here are some IDEAL places to meet girls. I feel a new Summer 2k11 Pact coming. And this one Ladies & Gentlemen,  has a chance to top the "American Pie", "Slap Bet", "Throw Up or Sun Up" AND "Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore" pacts...one of these has to work right?

• Bowling Alley
• Car Wash
• Blackjack Table
• Lady Gaga Concert (Tix pls, Zordon)
• Anywhere that Serves Milkshakes

(I have to mention it, R.I.P. Lakers Mini-Dynasty. We all loved Kobe #24, now it's time for the next generation - Bynum 2.0, The Executioner)

And now Z-Bo. See the first few lines of this post for reference.

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, Justice Has Been Done

In the middle of writing one of my usual blog posts, breaking news came across the wire - Osama Bin Laden has been confirmed as killed by the United States. By the time anyone reads this, they will definitely already know about it, but I think it's important to write something on this anyway. Everyone remembers where they were that day and I certainly do - it was my middle school Applied Technology class when whispers started going around that the U.S. had been attacked.

At the time, I know was too young to really understand the gravity of that moment. Now, almost 10 years later (and on a seemingly normal Sunday night), I'm reminded of that sense of national unity & pride. I think I can speak for everyone when I praise our military and the job they do protecting this country. Thank You.

Details we all want to know:


-The intimate details of the firefight that killed Osama. I don't know if I've seen too many episodes of 24, but I'd like to believe there are some heroes out there (Real Life Jack Bauers) who carried out the mission.

-The timeline. Obama apparently had knowledge of the situation for a while and OK'd the mission today - on the heels of a hysterical White House correspondents dinner (watch this, you won't regret it). He's the definition of cool under pressure and obviously able to hand the immense stress of the job.  I don't envy the decisions he has to make each and every day - can we say reelection yet?

-How crazy the college parties will be in DC. All of those people rushing the White House gates will definitely need somewhere to go later. What a moment! Wish I could be at Ground Zero tonight.

-Does this finally kick The Royal Wedding off the news wire? (Fox News Fail: During the Osama coverage, the original programming was entitled "Royal Wedding Recap").

(below is the post I had originally wrote before the announcement. God Bless!)

-------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday, I went to my first official game at the new Yankee Stadium. I'd been to the Stadium before for my NYU graduation (one of those bittersweet moments where fml meets /cry) but had never been to an actual game before. Score aside, which the Yankees pulled out, the most impressive thing about where we were sitting was the fact that they have servers who can bring you food. Can it really get any better than that???

The best thing they serve at Yankee Stadium? Cheese Fries. See below for important information.

Things that cheese goes well on (in no particular order):

-Fries

-Broccoli

-Meat(s)

-Substance

(Thx out to the Doctah for the awesome seats! Definitely need to go to more baseball games during the summer. Mets? Yanks? Let's gooo)

On Saturday, I played in the annual IFA Tony Regina Basketball Tournament. It was great to see everyone again and catch up with past & present Flying Tigers. Yes, I fouled a freshman girl at the rim. And Yes, it was all ball baby.  #balltillIfall

After Hooters (an after tournament tradition), I checked out my first UFC PPV event featuring GSP vs. Jake Shields. While this was a  great match on it's own, the true brawl was the title fight before it - Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick. I don't know what a Hematoa is, and I never want to. All I know is that Hominick had a welt THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL on his forehead. I'd post a picture of it, but it's defintely not for the faint of heart. I definitely let loose one too many girly yelps manly roars during the bout. Google, but beware.

Finally, Zach Randolph may a beast in Memphis this year - but Knicks fans don't forget his tenure with the team. Reminds me of a night out with Jazz, Air Jordan and Apollo 11. Mass MT this week, stay tuned!

Peace & Love,
MKP

This weekend, was 3 days long.

Just got back from class today and boy did I need the sweat. I'm finally starting to get the hang of Muay Thai kicks - it takes balance and a lot of trust that you won't fall over. There have been multiple times where I have completely wiped out and had a "that guy" moment. Hopefully those days are behind me now. Top highlight of the day: High Kicking Tommy Boy straight in the kisser.

So this past weekend was 3 days long (Happy Belated Easter). The funniest thing about a 3 day weekend  is that you always try and convince yourself you're going to "take it easy." Always. And you know what Always happens? The complete opposite of "taking it easy." 

Have you ever tried to recap one of your friends on what you did over the weekend and it comes out like some kind of shopping list? Here goes:

"Got Ready" for PCN (Philippine Cultural Night, an NYU Tradition)

Went to PCN. Shouts to IFAmily, making us alum proud!

Went out with the oldies

Got Cheesesteaks, again.

Got a Manicure (jk?)

Went to Lair (interesting, but expensive)

Went to People to wish my boy the Predator a happy birthday

Got an entire Articoke pizza, again. I'm a sad, sad mess. 

Went to MSG for Game 4 of the Knicks vs. Celtics

On Sunday, I checked out my first Knicks playoff game. Despite the loss, the Knickbockers didn't play too terribly (if you discount the first 30 minutes of the game). I was proud to see them fight it out until the end even if they couldn't look up defense in the dictionary. Shouts to Bosi & OK!

Top chants of a drunken, rowdy MSG playoff atmosphere:

"THESE REFS SUCK"

"BOSTON SUCKS"

"KG SUCKS" (anything with the word sucks after it was fair game)

"ADEL-MAN, ADEL-MAN" (Might need to fire D'Antoni next year. TBD.)

My personal creations:

"GET THE BABY A BOTTLE" (Glen "Big Baby" Davis Reference)

"YOU ARE OLD. YOU ARE OLD" (Boston in General Reference)

In the music world, heading out to see Big KRIT tomorrow in the BK.  In his honor, peep the song below. Sooo hyped, lets do thissss.

Big Krit - My Sub

Yeah let my trunk knock till the tape pop,
My rims chop chop, while the bass drop,
Yeah let my trunk knock till the tape pop,
My rims chop chop, while the bass drop

Peace & Love,

MKP

The other day, I saw Jon Jones

So the other day during the beginner MT class (the beginner class is the first one you go to when you try out the gym) I noticed that a bunch of people were setting up lights and camera's around the ring in the gym. This could only mean one thing and one thing only..someone famous was coming!! As I pondered who it could possibly be..current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones walked into the gym.

Granted, I had no idea who this was either until about two months ago..but still, it was awesomeeee (and not like the Miz). Dude is a BEAST. An absolute animal. As the class was going on,  I kept thinking about what would happen if Bones Jones just went rampage on the entire gym - Kill-Bill Volume 1 Style (classic duh).

Jones probably chose to hold his mock workout photoshoot at The Wat because the head of the gym, Phil, is one of his trainers. Phil Nurse is known for his creative striking. Am I creative at all during the day? Maybe. Best thing I could come up with - the different versions of "lol" I used in one conversation with New Moon. The official "lol" hierarchy (I tried) -

lol - as common as using "is" "as" or "the"
lol. - kind of interesting but not really
lolol - this is funny because its dumb
LOL - wow i'm dumb
LOLL - wow you're dumb
LOOOL - this actually made me smile. win.

(typing masters FTW)

I've been playing a lot of ball recently too, trying to attain my goals that I outlined in an earlier post. Making some steady progress. Becoming somewhat  automatic from the free throw line but that's about where my jump shot ends. Shouts to Bosi, OK, Air Jordan!

In NBA playoff news, the Knicks lost again the other night after 40+ amazing points by Carmelo Anthony. Tough losses but I have to say I was very impressed with Jared Jeffries play in the game. In his honor, see his official "Coming Home Video." The Coming Home song is the designated song of the Knicks after the Carmelo Trade. Let's go game 3! SO PUMPED I'M GOING TO GAME 4 ON SUNDAY. BACK ROW BLEACHERS BABY!

Also, Kenyon Martin changed the tattoo of the pink lips on his neck to a crown. WTF.

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, the NBA Playoffs Started

It's official. Derrick Rose is amazing. He's like the Jon Jones (current light heavyweight champion) of the NBA. He just single-handedly willed his team to victory. He's a beast. I love him.

(sorry if that seems random, it just needed to be put down on paper so I will always remember today. Non-NBA fans, he's going to be this year's MVP)

The NBA playoffs today, a two month long annual tradition of basketball excellence. So many interesting sub-plots here..

1. Kobe's legacy
2. KNICKS BABYY NYC REP #imcominghome @ProofDaddy
3. The Superfriends aka Miami Heat starting a new Evil Empire in the NBA.

For the record, my all time favorite series was definitely the Warriors-Mavericks series a few years ago with The Baron, J Rich, Mr. Harrington, Matt Barnes, Stephen Jackson, etc. In honor of the playoffs starting today, see the mythical Baron Davis beard ~~

No Muay Thai on Friday this week. A tad sad I missed the class this week but good luck to all those fighters on the pro tour going in this weekend!

In other MTN, I started watching UFC Primetime in anticipation of the George St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields match on April 30. GO GSP!! (totally missed seeing him at the gym the past two times he was there, womp). You have to appreciate just how hard both of them work. It's nonstop, 24/7 training. Workout after workout, it's ridiculous! Jealousy aside, it's encouraging to see such determination and work ethic still out there today.

Going to need to throw a UFC party. Stay tuned (a good chance to make up for missing my Wrestlemania party - you know who you are!!)

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Devoured Wendy

By far the most underrated thing about constantly working out is being able to eat WHATEVER YOU WANT! This translates into me literally trying to eat everything in front of me. Remember when The Biggest Loser first came on TV (my new fav show since The Bachelor season ended. Luv it. Don't hate, look at the new girl trainer.) and they would show what the contestants would normally eat in a day? I am 1000% certain this is how the conversation went with whoever you were watching with:

You: WOW, I cannot believe people on this planet eat that much. That is disgusting.

Anonymous Friend: Totally, I could never eat that much.

You: If I'm ever like that, feed me a cheeseburger kill me.

I've gotten into the habit of eating late night after going out - cheesesteaks, fries, Doritos, ice cream, pretzels, sesame chicken, fruit roll ups - literally anything is fair game. And world, I am still standing.

The reason I bring this up is because I had Wendys for dinner tonight for maybe the second time in the past 4 years. I missed her. Dearly.

In MTN (my new acronym for Muay Thai News), arm bands are now a part of our uniform. The bands are basically a piece of white rope tied in a knot that you wear on your left arm, above the tricep. This symbolizes that you are a student. I'm waiting for the day when I can wear a headband around my arm, John Cena style.

On Monday's class, we learned a new boxing combo: right uppercut - left hook - right cross - left uppercut - right cross. This basically means nothing to most people but riddle me this: Did you ever joke around and punch the air like a boxer warming up? And after about 5 seconds of looking cool this turned into your arms just randomly flailing around in circles? Well, this USED to happen to me all the time.

But the more I practice that combo, the more my shadow boxing (warm up boxing) actually resembles punches. Look at me now. 

Next time: Secrets of Jumping Rope (actually much, much harder than it seems)

Peace & Love,

MKP

Yesterday, I Got Beat Up by a Girl

On Friday's class, Kru (meaning teacher) Phil gave us the chance to spar. Nothing crazy and without gloves, but we got the chance to practice all of the combinations we had been learning for the past hour and a half. This was definitely a new experience for me - so many different things go through your head at once.

I found myself planning out what I was going to do as I jabbed and moved around against my opponent - right high kick, step-over elbow with a back elbow, jab-jab-cross-knee, etc. At first, all was well as I sparred against the Burger King. We worked up  a good sweat and each landed a few blows (defense is an entire other story, being able to read what your opponent is going to do and counter is something that must come with time).

And then I got beat up by a girl.

We switched sparring partners several times and I found myself matched up with a more advanced fighter. She is only about 5'2'' so I wanted to try and keep her away with the jab and use my length advantage. But, no matter how much I tried she kept getting inside on me, successfully dodging and deflecting my punches and kicks.

And then she hit me in the face. Nine Three times!!!!

I had just been KO'd by a girl. It's amazing to me that I have so much left to learn. As sports movies always say, hard work beats talent every time. Anyway, it got me thinking of how women can be underrated in so many things. Strong-willed women in entertainment/politics/workplace are definitely noticeable and deserve RESPECT! Here's my list of the most strong-willed women in the business:

Strong Willed Women List:

-Oprah

-Queen Latifah (for anyone who hasn't seen Just Wright yet, DO IT ASAP!)

-Rihanna (both the artist and the nickname)

-Doctah Dre (yes, this means you)

Anti Strong-Willed Women List:

-Tina Fey Sarah Palin (her Palin impression has to rank up there in terms of the GOATs of SNL)

-Avril Lavgine

-Carrie Bradshaw

-Justin Bieber (I say this with a grain of salt as I am currently in a search to find a theatre still playing Never Say Never in Manhattan...)

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Did Not Eat 4 Orders of Soup Dumplings

Went to Joe's Shanghai tonight after a failed attempt to go to Wo-Hop-Kee (Everyone who has ever been there past Midnight 3AM can attest that both places are indistinguishable) and it reminded me of just how much I used to eat. I can specifically recall one time my freshman year where I walked to Joe's just to get a taste of their magical soup dumplings. And I am 100% certain that the conversation went something like this:

Waitress: Hi, table for one?
Me: No thank you, madame, I will just be ordering take-out!
Waitress: Let me get you a menu
Me: Just give me 4 orders of pork soup dumplings..

That's right, 4 orders!!! 4!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh the crazy things I used to do. In that spirit, I am going to relive my past a little bit as some of my work friends still don't believe me. One of these pictures is of me from last year, and the other one is from 3 years ago - can anyone tell the difference? (yes, I have patented the double point-pose.)

This one's for you - Pregnant Yoshi, Burger King, New Moon, Tommy Boy, ZZ Top, Tension and Rihanna.

In Muay Thai news, I'm beginning to realize that playing music really DOES help the workout. I was never a big ipod user at the gym, usually I am trying to workout as quickly as possible. However, during my warm-up the other day they were playing Lupe Fiasco and I found myself kicking higher, punching harder and sweating up a storm.

In that honor, I'm also going to start putting some of my favorite tracks up as part of my posts. It's very rare that something goes on "repeat status" for me, as I listen to so many different things at once. But this right here is my official jam of the moment:

Big K.R.I.T - Rotation

Old school when I ride, forever sky high
Workin wood wheel, when the sun outside
I’m just rotating my tires, rotating my tires, rotating my tires, rotating my tires
Not a care in the world, me and my girl
Candy coated pearl with the bowling ball swirl
I’m just rotating my tires, rotating my tires, rotating my tires, rotating my tires


Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Kicked Someone in the Face

Note: Thanks to everyone who is reading this/reads this in the future!!

So during today's class I practiced my high kicks for the first time. A high kick is where you extend the kick up to your opponent's face, rather than a traditional body blow. Anyway, I had never actually tried to perform such a feat until today. And let me tell you, I CAN KICK PEOPLE IN THE HEAD. This might not seem like a big deal, but it feels totally awesome and not a lot of people have that kind of flexibility.

I've also sort of developed this reputation for being flexible in a lot of funny ways. For instance, I can put both of my legs behind my head. (Work readers, the only reason I have not performed this in the office is because I have this habit of falling on my face when I attempt this. I'll save this for the next time we are at M1-5 Circle). It felt good that something unique about me could translate into Muay Thai.

This got me thinking..could my training translate into new and exciting opportunities? Could I one day be able to do a successful cartwheel? Or better yet, dunk a basketball? On an official sized hoop!?!??!! (Yes, I dominate fisher price slam dunk contests).

I'll keep everyone posted on this. I'm going to try and start playing more basketball to see if this Muay Thai thing has helped my athleticism and/or basketball skillz. For all the ball I play, my game has developed to the following skills:

1. Hustle on D
2. Rebounding
3. Cutting to the Hoop

I've always liked to set my personal goals high so hopefully I can achieve the following:

1. Ability to finish with my left hand (LOL No, not like that)
2. Getting blocks
3. Breaking defenders off with a quick first step and a left hand dribble

Dream big boys and girls, and get pumped for this year's Tony Regina Basketball Tournament.

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Thought About Getting a Tattoo

Had a good training session today, mainly because I got the chance to practice my kicks with the Burger King. For some strange reason, I lack the foot-eye coordination to pull off a proper "switch" (A switch is where you change your stance by changing your foot position, bringing your left foot back). Many times I spun completely off the ground Liu-Kang Mortal Kombat style.

As sweat was pouring down my face and as I gazed into the mirror, I couldn't help thinking what I would like with some rad tattoos on my bulging biceps. To be fair, most of the guys who do Muay Thai are certified "badasses"equipped with tats that only make them look more intimidating and scary than they already are.

The way I see it, there are only a few possible outcomes to me getting tatted up:

Scenario A: I look like a complete fool and become "that guy" with the pink lips on his neck. (Think Kenyon Martin, look him up.)
Scenario B: I look awesome and gain an incredible amount of Street Credibility. This is the best possible scenario as it would help move along my budding rap career.
Scenario C: I chicken out half-way through because of the pain and am left with a half-sentence quote like "Impossible is..." or "When there's a will, there's..." This would inevitably lead to joke after joke.

Right there, as I pondered each permutation of possible outcomes I immediately used my better judgement and closed the book on this whole tattoo business..until.....

I saw Carmelo Anthony with a Warner Brothers logo tattooed on his shoulder during the Knicks game...

CARMELO HAS A "THAT GUY" TATTOO!! If it's good enough for 'Melo, then it could be good enough for me. Oh the crazy things that go on in my head.

Peace & Love,
MKP

Today, I Started My Blog

Note: Post was first written on 3/26

Wow I can’t believe I’m finally going to start this..

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the first post of my new blog for 2011. I am going to try and document all of the awesome semi-awesome details about my life, with a focus on my transformation into a Muay Thai master. I’ll also try and bring up some other interesting points of being me. And don’t worry friends – nicknames (I have nicknames for everyone, one of my many habits) only, let’s see if you can all guess who you are.

For those of you who don’t know - I recently started training at The Wat in NYC, a Muay Thai gym, as a hobby and a way to break up the monotony of being old. I’m currently about 3 weeks into it, having been to about 10 or so classes total. I’ve gone the whole nine yards and bought the boxing gloves, the ridiculously 
short shorts, and a “ready to WERK” attitude. Now, all I need is a nickname.

Based on suggestions from friends, my main men/roommates Wombosi & The Iron Lung, and various other individuals, I have compiled the following the list as a starting point:

"Muay Thai Mike"

“The Rampage”

“The Hurricane”

“Mr. Steal Your Girl” (thanks to RX337)

(As you can tell, I’m still taking suggestions)

I thought about posting pictures of my various phases/body types as I learn more about the sport and get in better shape, but as most of my friends already know, I’ve already gone through my “dream makeover.” It’s funny that my work friends can’t believe that I used to be like 50 pounds heavier!! Is it that unbelievable? For anyone who wants to know, I lost all of the weight on a steady regimen of – egg whites, wheat bread, always swapping fries for salad when ordering a bacon cheeseburger, limiting the late night eating, and always making sure to have breakfast. I’m also addicted to caffeine.

In non-Muay Thai news, the reason I finally have the time to start this is because I am with Family for the weekend. Things I have learned in my short stay:

1. Suburbia does not compare to NYC in any way, shape or form

2. My brother is cooler than I was at 15 (sad, but true)

3. Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino aka Troy from Community is my hero (He’s an NYU Grad too! Go Violets! Go Bobcats! Go Boblets? Does anyone actually know what our mascot is..)

4. I can still spit fire like Spyro

That’s it for now. My plan is to try and update this blog every few days with something new and fresh. I’ll limit the “FML SO SORE FROM WORKING OUT”, “FML SO HUNGOVER” and “FML SO BROKE” posts because we all have twitter for that.

Peace & Love,

MKP