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My (former) interior designer WhatsApped me out of the blue last Thursday, to apologize for the renovation delays, what with the process beginning in April 2021 with the hacking, and stretching to December 2022. The renovation process would be a good story to recount someday (and with the accompanying home photos, finally), but a few other points might be noted here, also with the understanding that the renovation was eventually completed as desired, if well over schedule:
Most of all, the message highlighted how much can change in a few years (as in the personal domain) - or months, and inevitably led to some more reminiscing on could-have-beens; what if I had resolved to get in shape in my early thirties? Or been more receptive to opportunities (e.g. the time when a girl viewing my rental apartment with her family as potential buyers, literally straight out handed me her phone number [I suppose she liked the books]), stretching all the way back to junior college (thinking back, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment)? Would I be dealing with Junior's own emotional troubles now? I don't have too many regrets in life, but if I had one, it would be not fulfilling my grandma's wish to see me married, while she was alive. Ah, stubbornness, I guess.
 Back on the water Las Vegas isn't known as the entertainment capital of the world for naught, even neglecting the greyer areas, and a room at the Mirage (soon to be rebranded as the Hard Rock Las Vegas, as part of a native reclamation project) made for a centralized base to explore the Strip. Choosing how to spend one's nights wasn't easy with the myriad hit shows on offer, so it went:
The days saw some traipsing about the area, such as downtown at the Fremont Street Experience, the Mob/Neon Museums and the Pinball Hall of Fame, which brought back arcade memories at a quarter apiece. Basked in the majesty of a guardrail-less Grand Canyon for some hours too, with a seven-plus kilometre kayaking round trip to the Emerald Cove (which, truth be told, was far smaller than I had come to expect). Finally got to try out an AK47/MP5/Glock after many happy hours fragging (and being fragged by) classmates in Counter-Strike 1.6 from my high school days (I suppose the M4's not too different from the M16 in National Service), but noped out of putting up an additional hundred bucks for five Desert Eagle rounds (the game has a magazine of 7 .50 AE rounds at US$40, which appear to go for around US$2/ea in bulk); the bunny-hopping while quick-swopping the DE and AWP sniper rifle will have to wait for a future trip - possibly from a gunship - then!
 Two-and-a-half days here
 Eclectic selection indeed
A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, all the more having dropped twenty-five grand on matchmaking, so why not have some quality pics to go with the profile? Granted, the importance is likely reduced due to the appointments being set-up for you at a weekly clip - I'm speedrunning the process now, folks - and really I guess it's good to get to know more people, if nothing else. I'm pretty ok at one-on-one conversations, if I do say so myself. Still hate having to reject anyone, even if implicitly, but at least there should be a mutual understanding on this for all participants... The first shoot had me picking up a little on lighting reflector setup, and the wonders of pomade and face cream. Sounded cheaty, but I'll take all the assistance I can get at this point.  [Enlarged]  [Enlarged]  Poverty arms for now, thus the need for proportionality [Enlarged]  Side-by-side comparison on request [Enlarged, with original unedited photo of left] [N.B. Yes, dieting was all it took]
The other perk of reaching forty whilst maintaining... particular status conditions would be the attainment of archmage status; it was for science, no need to mention it. There's no need to dawdle with the landmark reached - and new mission unlocked, and from how Destiny has contributed in this respect thus far, the only way she'll come good is if I make it rain in Vegas. Recruiting some professional help, and indulging in some in-depth soul-searching, had me realize that much of my life thus far had been in pursuit of Number Go Up (in more ways than one), which while not exactly dissatisfying or unprofitable, does have its limits: there'll always be someone with a bigger number out there, and number can always go further up. Further self-reflection on my current criteria for a life partner had me also discover that I am, indeed, rather a shallow bastard. Well, it can't be helped, but in my own defence, I'm willing to make an effort on that end myself, fair is fair. This, then, is where last year's physical salvage project came in, which had bodyweight come down from some 88kg at the beginning of 2023 (after some downers in the latter half of 2022, that encouraged binge eating towards coping), to sub-70kg by September 2023, or a loss of some forty pounds. Since I'm not at all that private or shy about these things, here's the before-and-after transformation:  Top: October 2022; Bottom: March 2024 [N.B. Shirt just happened to match the Atlas Bar decor tones] I suppose it should be evident that I never put much stock in personal appearances, given how it has - or should have - essentially no bearing on my main (job) functions and interests. If such has become necessary, however, then let's make a sporting go at it, and no, I'm not going to be the guy who claims that it all comes naturally (akin to the chaps who insist that they don't study, only to secretly mug their nights away at home). That said, a few more inches on the chest and arms - and a few less about the waist - should about do it, so it is merely a matter of putting the plan together, and executing it. Here, I've gotta credit my cousin for his photography skillz (and loan of his wedding blazer, for the above scene). Let's see how the black & white shots come out, once we get the studio:  About halfway there, all considered [N.B. Eyebags reduced/complexion improved digitally, for fair disclosure; original photo used for actual service, but those areas can be fixed in time]
 The chimp inspects his prize [N.B. Kecak dance arena at left in far background] [N.N.B. Not too proud at having blurted out "He won!" at the coup] The past fortnight has seen a trip to Bali for the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress, with a free afternoon devoted to the Uluwatu Temple for their ritual dance, for which the star was arguably the monkey god Hanuman; and fittingly too, given how his underlings have turned the temple complex into a happy hunting ground for (sun)glasses. These scamps are able to ambush from three dimensions - with more than a few tourists falling prey to muggings from eaves or tree branches - although the loss is often not permanent. As it turns out, the monkeys tend to be more than willing to return their loot, in exchange for a suitable offering of food. This honour system economy does seem quite stable, in their defence. It was fortuitous, then, that I had no spectacles to risk, having taken the plunge on Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery. This admittedly came a little late in life, but after having been informed that my corneas were too thin for regular LASIK (and related procedures such as [Trans]PRK, SMILE, LASEK etc.) about a decade ago, I had shelved the thought of correcting my vision surgically. The desire would strike me again, however, and a little research brought up the option of ICL, which unlike LASIK and its ilk is an additive treatment that inserts an additional lens (think contact lens, which I never got used to), instead of sculpting (and thus removing) cornea material. Having become less willing to procrastinate with age, I quickly scanned through local forums for recommended providers, which tended to turn up the same few names - reasonable, since ICL depends more on individual surgical skill than the laser-based procedures, which have been largely automated. Well, I had cause to trust the local ophthalmic fraternity perhaps more than most, and thus requested any available surgeon, which got me a consultation arranged by the next day. The good doctor indeed mentioned my colleague and supervisor at first meeting, so small world I suppose. A battery of tests revealed that my anterior chamber depth was just about sufficient, and I would have laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) performed on both eyes about a week later, with two machines used to puncture tiny holes in both irises to forestall potential pupillary block (and glaucoma). Despite some trepidation, there would be only very minor soreness and no burning odor as warned by some, which was a good start. Most of the discomfort came from getting lens pushed onto the eye. How it is done The surgery itself would take place four days later, and the morning began with liberal application of dilating eyedrops. I discovered that I was not even the first patient upon arrival, and the clinic staff would briskly dab my right arm with iodine (probably to test for allergic reaction) after I had donned the standard gown and cap. Upon getting on the surgical bed, my left sock got rolled down with an accompanying light pinch near the ankle - if that was the sedative, it was efficient. It then proceeded much as I had read from past accounts online - sheet over face with only a hole for the eye cut open (right one first), eyes held open with tape and then speculum, after which the incisions were made with periodic application of iodine. Some accounts have the patient instantly getting crystal-clear vision once the lens is placed, which was unfortunately not the case here, although the overhead lights did come into focus somewhat. This was then repeated for the left eye, with the entire business taking maybe ten to twenty minutes. It was a testament to modern anesthesia that next to nothing was felt throughout, though there would be some minor soreness in the right - and later the left - eye for a day or so. Vision would be technically 6/6 the day after, if slightly hazy compared to glasses, but I'll give it a few months before deciding whether additional lasik touch-ups might be called for. The excellent visual quality on stepping out from hot showers does lend confidence that it might just be a dry eye issue, though. That's one item off the checklist, and the dentition is next, after finally dispensing of my wisdom teeth last August. I'm suspecting that my habit of consistently sleeping on the same side might have contributed to the slight misalignment here, but this should be fixed in about nine months if the Invisalign ClinCheck projection is anything to go by.  Wonder if it'll affect the side profile?  Not that obvious from the outside
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