bucuomatt's Xanga

Travel agents

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:01:10 GMT

Anyone out there know of a good travel agent either in NY, Cali or Virginia? I'm looking to go to Italy...

Lemme know!

The good news for Bucuo

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:16:49 GMT

Hey Xangers,
How many are left? this is like the last few supporters of Mike Huckabee out there...

So on Feb. 8th, I had two amazing things happen. First, I got a new job offer!!!! No longer working for the educational world, I will finally make the brave and bold step into the private world...via a government contractor in Ballston! Its worlds better pay, much better incentives, and best of all I am no longer someone's admin assistant! Glorious!

So that was good, but then the better news happened that night. I got engaged! I was really nervous the whole day, since I had Plan A fall through 'round about Tuesday evening at 8 PM. Weeks of planning were derailed...but I refused to lose. Jen deserved a special,memorable night and I was not going to let her down. That, and I cried like a baby. Well, almost.

So Plan B went into full effect...I google searched "romantic dinners" in DC and after some digging, I found a horse and carriage option. Perfect! Then I called one of jen's classmates for suggestions about romantic dinners around the Capitol building. Hmmm, nothing jumped at me. Several options were ok, but I decided to check them out in person. I did this on Wednesday, Feb. 6th....2 days before the P-day! Nothing like playing it close to the deadline.

Both places didn't seem quite right, sort of like that last bottle of milk on the grocery shelf, the one with the crusty white stuff on the cap. You think maybe it could work, or maybe you will wind up in the bathroom at 4 AM with the cramps. Same thing with these restaurants.

Undetterred, I asked my ace in the hole Bill at work. A wise, tricky fellow, he often advises me on life, love, and being sneaky. He suggested 701 Penn Ave, and bingo, it sounded perfect. Unfortunately, I couldn't get down there in person with less than 2 days before the proposal, so I relied on Citysearch and DC Foodie.com for the goods. They actually know their stuff.

Finally, things looked like they were coming together. I said a quick prayer on Thursday to God, that he would let it all sort itself out and that Jen would like it. Sometimes God pats me on the head, and this was a head patter Friday. Oh, and on Thursday I booked the horse and carriage ride...minutes before my second interview at the contractor! The interview went well, I think we bonded over the fact he got a degree from Jen's school and I was coming from a school job. Thursday seemed to have all the stars aligned and God was smiling on my frantic soul.

So Friday dinner...I tell Jen we are going to dinner, but she doesn't know where. We are 10 minutes late, so I am frantically calling the horse driver to tell him to hold "our seats" in keeping with the fib about dinner. We arrive outside the Willard Hotel. Instead of going in, I take her to the horse and carriage waiting outside the hotel and tell her "This is an early Valentines gift, as well as a way to celebrate my new job." Jen doesn't suspect a thing!

We go on a 30 minute drive around the monuments and all is swell with the world. Many people on the street wave and smile at us, and even one cabby pulls over and says how beautiful the whole thing is...then reminds us to call his cab for a ride home. As we come up to the Botanical Gardens, there is a nice view of the Capitol Building and a reflecting pool. We get out to take a picture, supposedly, in front of the pool. In fact, I asked the driver to take a picture of us while I proposed to Jen...I wanted to be able to walk back to the spot it all happened 20 years from now, so I didn't want to do it in a carriage. Luckily, Jen cooperated and got out for the picture...

As she turned to smile, I told her how much I loved her and that I wanted to take care of her the rest of my life...I dropped to one knee and asked her the question. Looking back it was fluid and smooth, but at the time I must have been rambling. Still, she was just so shocked that all she could say was "no way, no way, no way!" We hugged, kissed, and she cried a little...then I asked her to say "yes" to make it official. She did!

Dinner was fine, a very classy place 701 Pennsylvania Ave is. Jazz bar, red theme decor, and good food. We had seafood dishes that were exceptionally good and complemented our romantic evening. One more surprise lay ahead though, as I had given Jen's extra key to her condo to our pal Jason. He let in all her closest DC friends and also let in Kara, Jen's best friend from Cali who flew up just that night for the big event. When we arrived home, all her friends were hiding waiting for her and gave her another great surprise. And so the evening went on, mingling and sharing this same story I am sharing with y'all. Pics coming later...

Whew. Time for some breaks...my hand is hurting from the typing.

Fantasy football nightmare

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:14:36 GMT

Arrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Brady and Romo stunk up the joint at the same time...in the first round of the playoffs? Wow, who knew that would happen. There goes the season. On to basketball and the never ending job search. Wheee.

Fantasy Basketball is better than real basketball

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:39:29 GMT

Fantasy basketball is finally here, and i couldnt be happier. Oh wait, yes i could...I would have drafted Lamarcus Aldridge or Big Al Jefferson in one of my leagues instead of Sammy Dalembert. But we can't win them all...

Since I don't know who reads this blog anymore, I'll just post something for my own enjoyment: Bucuo's Sleeper predictions in Fantasy Basketball.

1. Some Players who will exceed expectations (Bucuo's expected 2007-08 stats in parenthesis):

Hedo Turkolu ( 14 pts, 2 three pointers, 5 rebounds, 82% FT)

John Salmons (12 pts, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 stls) - keep in mind this is until Bibby comes back in late December

Boris Diaw (11 pts, 8 reb, 4.5 asts, 1 blk, 1 stl)

Brad Miller (14 pts, 7 rebs, 5 asts, 1 blk)

Acie Law (10 pts, 7.5 asts, 1.5 stls) - keep in mind this is after the Hawks go on an 8 game losing streak and Claxton gets hurt, prompting a major shake up

2. The biggest "jump" player will be Andrea Bargnani with 16 pts, 7 rebs, 1.5 blks, 1.5 three pointers per game in consistent minutes at C and PF.

3. Guys who will meet expectations as "jump" players: Lamarcus Aldridge, Big Al Jefferson, Andrew Bynum. Possibly over hyped; this year they'll live up to hype but don't expect much more.

4. Guys who will flame out or fail to meet expectations miserably:

Kevin Durant (18 pts, 6 rebs, 40% FG, less than a BLK per game)

Marvin Williams (13 pts, 5 rebs, less than a BLK or STL per game)

Mike Conley Jr. ( 7 pts, 4 asts, 1 stls)

Marco Bellini (9 pts, 3 asts, 1 three pointer per)

Channing Frye (not really high expectations to begin with)

Zach Randolph (16 pts, 8 rebs, no defensive stats)

Ben Wallace (7 pts, 8 rebs, 1.5 blks, 1 stl)

Let's see if Bucuo is close at the end of this season.

Best birthday week...ever?

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:40:27 GMT

Hooray for birthday's....I had a BBQ for friends on my b-day last weekend. We made kick-a$$ cheeseburgers (4 kinds of cheese), terriyaki wings, spicy sausage and even some flounder for Anny "I only eat fish" Hong An. Wanda brought some delicious beer bread, and even Vic brought his famous costco-cupcakes with the power rings. Fun.

We played some competitive bocci ball, drank some beer, and had a sweaty good time in the VA summer heat (it was back for my b-day. How thoughtful). I made a fine I-tunes BBQ playlist, too, which was well received by the BBQ- goers. I should have skipped my MA and been a DJ.

Good Fall Weekend

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 02:47:26 GMT

Summer has taken a backseat to fall weather this weekend...which allowed for a good, sweat-free time. As I like to say, Foggy Bottom is not just a Metro Stop in DC during the summer.

We had a killer meal at Tono on Friday; that place has the best sushi rolls in DC. Then a wine festival with our pals Jarv/Steinberg and Wanda and Paul. We only bought four bottles this time: 2 Reislings, one Cabernet Sauvignon, and one Merlot. Considering the fact that we took 12 months to finish 5 bottles last year, these should last us until the next heat wave.

At night, we spent a few hours getting to know the profs and the SEA first years at chez Jackson; it was a very nice night for all. Free thai food for all.

Natures finest

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:00:18 GMT

I love nature...you never know what's gonna happen next. Especially in Africa:

Water Buffalo vs. Lions vs. crocodile!

This is probably the most amazing nature footage I've seen, and the commentary from the British tourists is a plus! Its funny to see them rooting for the buffaloes...no love for the meat eaters, I guess.

El Busto

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:07:06 GMT

One of my favorite chicken joints (though we've only gone once so far) is El Pollo Rico in Arlington, VA. It has mouth watering chicken with some kinda magical spice rub that tastes like the stuff Columbus was looking for when he first crossed the Atlantic. So imagine my dismay when the proprietor got busted recently for illegal workers! Aye yi yi!

At least the Arlington chain is still open and ready to roll...I think I'll celebrate with a delicious whole roasted chicken with Jen this weekend.

In other news, I hear someone might bring an X-box to the hotel during Januel's nuptial proceedings...this could be the best wedding ever.

In more other news, the Wizards let Juan Carlos Navarro go for basically another first round pick; normally I'd be upset that a promising combo-guard was swapped for an ambiguous draft pick next year (lottery protected), but my faith in Ernie Grunfeld is supreme. The man is a savvy GM, and I think he's underated. The only move I can critique is the extension he signed Etan Thomas for a couple years ago. More recently, he's been just short of brilliant:

Got Caron Butler (2007 All Star) for Kwame Brown (never ending bust)

Got Antonio Daniels to replace over-paid Larry Hughes

Signed DeShawn Stevenson to $1 million contract last year (solid defender and starter)

Let Jared Jeffries walk, which NY overpaid for (Darn you Isiah! Stop messing up!)

Picked up useful bench players in Darius Songalia (shoots well and hustles enough for 8th man spot) and Michael Ruffin (big man banger and ideal 10th man)

Letting Jarvis Hayes walk (supremely streaky and not dominant in any category)

I give Ernie an A- for his work in the past 3 years. Let's see the Wizards go to the 2nd round this year! (Knicks are still a work in progress, though I'll bleed orange and blue forever).

Full speed ahead

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:09:55 GMT

Once again, China is in the spotlight for neglecting Western standards in their rush to propel economic growth. A few months ago it was harmful toothpaste from Chinese manufacturers; more recently, its lead in the paint of kiddie toys.

See the story here...

China claims its products are 99% safe and of course, they are trying to rectify the problematic 1%. Being in China, and knowing how China seems to speed ahead in production so it can increase its wealth, I have to believe the pessimists and think that more than 1% of their goods are made with less-than-safe materials. Its reflective, I think, of China's mentality of getting rich as quickly as possible and not slowing down to analyze the results. Look at the huge disparity in wealth; look at the environmental costs in China; look at the repressive nature of the CCP (which is still better than things were in 1989).

Overall, you gotta think that China's drive to be the best regardless of its effect on its citizens or its trade partners is worrisome. At least, that assumes continues moving forward. If China starts to move backwards, such as suffering from an economic downturn or another SARS-like epidemic, then I worry even more for its citizens and neighbors, who will face more than lead filled paint and toxic toothpaste.

Back to school

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:07:59 GMT

My first mid term in almost 18 months is today...Sure, I have an MA but I decided to torture myself alittle more by taking a Macro-econ class this summer. Its like vegetables, the class will help me in the long run. Still, can anyone explain the Derivation of Output multipliers to me? I understand that the change in GDP is equal to one over the marginal propensity to save, (who doesn't know that?) but how do I determine change in investment?

Right, this is summer fun...

In other news, my boo is off to school again...she's learning micro-economics at a place called SAIS. We'll be seeing each other quite often, as I also happen to work for the school. Its just like when we first started dating at BU! Minus the cool office and leather recliner chair...i miss my old job.