Dot Com Olympic Weightlifting…

At our last Dot Com Pho – Trans Canada/Telecommuting Edition, we said that we’d get back together this past weekend for a Dot Com Pho again. Unfortunately, the awesome weather has made us all want to get a life. Although John actually did one this past Saturday in Orlando, it was a little too strange for my tastes with the perpetual talk of ball sucking action. It’s well documented that John likes balls, but it’s one of those things we’d rather not talk about anymore as it would make us all associates of an evil ball sucker.

More polite and honorable Ed Lau, fresh from his trip to Japan also did something non-pho as he watched scrawny dudes in skinny jeans whip skateboards at his head. I have no clue what Kwanye was doing, but it probably had something to do with going to a mall in the City of Malls (that’s Edmonton BTW). Iphone Gary was being gently coerced into putting on the ball and chain as he was whisked away to yet another wedding while Greg was going…umm…Greg stuff I guess. I have no clue what he did over the weekend.

That leaves me. Well, I decided that it would be fun to whip huge weights over my head and not drop them on myself like this dude.

So You Want Me To Fling This Over My Head?

Kelly was hosting a “Clean and Jerk Clinic” (my god, that’s as bad as John and his ball sucking antics) down at CrossFit Vancouver which I volunteered to attend. I mean, how hard could it be? Afterall, I’ve been working out with my Wii Fit and chasing my Roombas around the house. This should be easy right?

As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as it seems. There is quite a bit to it, especially as you progress to heavier weights. Because there are all these movements as part of the “Clean and Jerk” (snicker), it’s really easy to overthink the whole thing and end up just tossing those weights into your throat, or send them crashing down on your collar bones. I have the bruising ot prove it.

Eventually though, under Kelly’s tutellage, I was able to send the whole heap of weights over my head in what’s called a “split jerk”. Unfortunately, you’re not done till you get your back foot beside your front foot and hold the weight still for about a second. I’m just glad I’m not Hungarian or I’d be lying on the floor flailing with a dislocated shoulder or something. To have that Chinese thing going for me (no, not the math part) and the power of the Asian Squat kept me safe once again.

The Aftermath…

When I got home after the clinic, I slept from 7:00PM Saturday till 9:30AM Sunday. Everything hurt. I fell down going to the bathroom because my quads were locked (which was rather funny I have to admit). My collarbones were bruised and my arms felt like they’d been pulled out of their sockets. I couldn’t even scratch my back, which drove me completely nuts for a good part of the day. I slid down the stairs on my ass. It was actually less painful to do that than actually try to walk down, which would have ended up in me going down face first instead. It was pretty brutal and I spent most of my Sunday curled up in the fetal position, twittering.

Today, I do have most of my mobility back, though I still walk like I’m wearing chaps and I’m sure my stomach lining has worn off, popping Advil all day. You’re probably thinking that I hated the clinic as a result of these inconveniences, but truth is I actually both surprised and enjoyed myself. I also have a whole new appreciation for the Sport that Kelly has chosen to concentrate on in her bid for a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team when London 2012 rolls around.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m looking forward to the next clinic. I’m such a glutton for punishment

Dot Com Pho – The Telecommuting Edition

With Kwanye stuck in Edmonton with Landals, we thought we’d never be able to have a Pho together again. Not so. With the power of the Interwebs, we were able to have simultaneous Pho not only at the same time, but also at the same restaurants. Nha Trang exists in both Vancouver and Edmonton and as a result, gives us the feeling that we’re having Pho together…sort of. Next time I think we’ll take it up a notch and have laptops simultaneously broadcasting the two meets so that we can still talk and still see each other, but not like BobTV because that’s boring.

This week, we’ve ordered the smaller size of Pho with a side of spring rolls as only myself, Ed Lau, who has officially rejoined Canada after spending time as an ex-pat in Japan for months, and Ray who, like Cher or Prince, uses one name, was in attendance. Everyone else apparently has a life. Funny enough, another Chow was at the same restaurant, but not the Evil One. John’s brother drove all the way from Chilliwack to have Pho in Vancouver. Apparently, he does this on a weekly basis and has to drive over an hour whereas John won’t drive 15 minutes to come out to Vancouver. They are truly two different brothers from the same mother. Here’s this week’s combined Edmonton and Vancouver Edition…

John just posted his video of the Dot Com Pho Toronto meet up, but it seems like there is a whole lot of John Chow, and maybe that one real shot of the guy who ordered the Hai Nam Chicken Rice. It’s more like the John Chow Meet Up featuring Pho, and some other people too. The others appear briefly in the video as well, but less than the dude that keeps looking over his shoulder in the background.

Dot Com Pho will take a hiatus till September 13th so that we can have some me time and a Summer Vacation. See you then!

Pho Continues Tomorrow! – Nha Trang Restaurant

After starving ourselves of Pho for two weeks due to Dot Com Congee Noodle house and our Dot Com RockBand Adventure, it’s time to go back to the beef noodles that we love. For some strange reason, my body has now become accustomed to MSG and Brisket on Saturdays, and somehow, it doesn’t feel right without it. This week, unfortunately, will not have the accidental comedic stylings of Michael Kwan. He’s now in Deadmonton blogging about Oiled Cowboys. Hopefully him and Jason Landals will find some way to do a Dot Com Pho Deadmonton Edition and send the footage over for the weekly video.

This week’s Dot Com Pho will take place at the somewhat legendary Nha Trang Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, near the corner of Broadway and Fraser and not too far away from the Congee Noodle House Restaurant. The reason it’s legendary is because it’s the first place that I’ve ever had Pho with John Chow. I know it’s hard to believe, but John did willingly go to Vancouver for Pho at some point.  Here’s a map just in case you get lost:

View Larger Map

Again, everyone is welcome and we’ll be there at 12:30PM for some tasty beef noodles. Just leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter to let me know so that we can save a seat for you. At the same time, John Chow is also having a Dot Com Pho Toronto this Saturday so if you’re in Toronto, go check that out. He did some reader’s meet up earlier this week at some Hippy Vegetarian joint that he hated. John whines about a lot of things, but he has every reason to be upset about a meatless lunch. Carcass 4 Life!  See you all tomorrow!