From Williams, Arizona

I've kept a travel journal since the 7th grade but they have always been rushed entries that barely resemble comprehensible sentences. This is because I usually start getting motion sickness from writing too long in the car or I'm too cramped to really write something of substance. But after reading Vikram Seth's "From Heaven Lake", I think it'd be cool to travel the world with your buddies and just write travel logs about them. They'd be titled "The Daring Travels of Dvdgao: (Place)" or something. Here are some excerpts if this ever actually happened.

1. The tap water in Williams is icy cold. Finger numbing cold. I never thought of Arizona as a cold place. I thought wrong.

2. Today at the Hoover Dam, I cupped some water in my hands and tried to toss it down the 1000+ feet into the Colorado River, but it just splashed onto the side of the dam. It looked like someone took a pee off the dam.

3. The Best Western we're staying at apparently provides full breakfast (not Continental!) and free wifi! Treasure Island which we were staying at earlier did not provide these amenities, but instead provided constant smokiness and room service that took two hours to get to our room. Best Western, truly the best in the west!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was a homeless man's combination of Seth and Bill Simmons.

2009 Wrap-up Post to come.

E100: Bane of My Existence

Dvdgao9 (5:10:46 PM): Vikram Seth > any of these guys
Dvdgao9 (5:10:48 PM): my goodness
TisforT1MMY (5:10:54 PM): haha
TisforT1MMY (5:11:16 PM): i'm not sure there are many authors who are not > any of these guys
Dvdgao9 (5:11:40 PM): well, me for one
TisforT1MMY (5:11:58 PM): you could definitely do what they do
TisforT1MMY (5:12:00 PM): make up random terms
TisforT1MMY (5:12:06 PM): make it sound legit
TisforT1MMY (5:12:22 PM): "yes, im going to call this.... SUPERPHILOSOPHY"
Dvdgao9 (5:12:57 PM): hahaha
TisforT1MMY (5:13:01 PM): "what is superphilosophy? it's philosophy without actually thinking. By excluding the thinking part, the philosophy is therefore purer in form"
TisforT1MMY (5:13:03 PM): etc etc
Dvdgao9 (5:13:09 PM): true.
TisforT1MMY (5:13:16 PM): do i sound like i could belong in Norton's Anthology?
TisforT1MMY (5:13:36 PM): yeah. i rest my case!
Dvdgao9 (5:13:44 PM): "It is important to note that the beautiful transcends the imagination, superceding the natural tendency to transcribe the sublime"
Dvdgao9 (5:13:54 PM): eh? eh??
TisforT1MMY (5:15:06 PM): "yet, the ugly actually is superior to the beautiful because the shock factor forces our emotions out more efficaciously"
TisforT1MMY (5:15:20 PM): this is easy
TisforT1MMY (5:15:23 PM): lets write a book
Dvdgao9 (5:15:24 PM): hahaha
Dvdgao9 (5:15:25 PM): lets do it!
TisforT1MMY (5:15:26 PM): and make people take classes on us
TisforT1MMY (5:15:33 PM): and fail them just cause
TisforT1MMY (5:15:36 PM): we feel like it.
Dvdgao9 (5:15:41 PM): Horng: "On the Subject of Efficiency"
TisforT1MMY (5:15:46 PM): hahaha
Dvdgao9 (5:15:59 PM): Gao: "Essay on the Perplexing"
TisforT1MMY (5:16:38 PM): we'll get jenny and diane deanna carly to all chip in on this
TisforT1MMY (5:16:41 PM): and we'll have an anthology
TisforT1MMY (5:16:51 PM): we'll publish our own books
TisforT1MMY (5:16:54 PM): and mark up the prices
Dvdgao9 (5:17:00 PM): bible thin pages too?
TisforT1MMY (5:17:07 PM): yes, because they're cheap
TisforT1MMY (5:17:11 PM): and the students will HAVE to pay $200 for our book
Dvdgao9 (5:17:20 PM): hahah
Dvdgao9 (5:17:39 PM): we got to get some foreigners too with cool sounding names
Dvdgao9 (5:17:47 PM): de Berkenmuller
Dvdgao9 (5:17:57 PM): McAlifixander
Dvdgao9 (5:18:05 PM): Podsednik
TisforT1MMY (5:18:43 PM): LOL
TisforT1MMY (5:19:03 PM): and we need one name that is subtley perverse for comic relief
TisforT1MMY (5:19:18 PM): Deeck

Skunk!

Today coming home from getting my breaks replaced on ole mounty (let it be stated and confirmed for the record on this date so that the next time they say i need to replace my breaks, i can check), I saw a skunk on the side of the highway off-ramp.

Due to my attentive and fast (but safe) driving, I could not tell if the skunk was dead or alive, but I made out the definitive black and white fur pattern. Weirdly enough, I didn't smell anything when I saw the little guy, until about 2 blocks later, when the smell hit me like a brick wall. This lovely aroma went on for another 1.5 blocks or so.

Skunk : Stinky Smell \\ Us : The impact of our love and care for others

Giving Thanks 2009

1. Proverbial Putts is 1 year old, today.
2. My mother served cranberry sauce today that expired last year. She calmly noted that she bought it last year for Thanksgiving, but that it was still perfectly fine and unspoiled. Thankfully, I had the other type of cranberry sauce on the table hahah... gotta love being back home for family meals. =]
3. I'm pretty sure my sister has an addiction to whipped cream. Not only did she ask to bring it out at the beginning of the meal, but she asked to use some more when she literally had the tiniest possible piece of pumpkin pie left.
I feel like this is an apt metaphor for what the holidays have become in America. Let's all remember to use the whipped cream as a bonus trimming, and not the reason why we're eating the pie in the first place.

Would You Rather

Because we are the fun-loving, good ole chaps that we are, my small group guys were playing "would you rather" the other day. They included..

Eat chocolate flavored turd or turd flavored chocalate
Marry at 22 to someone who is just alright or at 50 to the person of your dreams
Die of laughter or of suffucation (...)

But the one that made me think the most:
Live with someone who was super cocky, or who lied all the time

At first I said the liar, because genuinely cocky people are super annoying. But then I realized that being close to someone whose words you cannot trust/believe ultimately is the worst. You think you're getting somewhere, or you have some basis of understanding, but in the end, you are just a fool for believing them. Lame.

What y'all think?

Forget and Not Slow Down

So Relient K is talking about something else in their album title, but recently I feel like I've been breezing through this quarter too quickly. How do I take a step back and soak things in?

Every day I look towards my to-do list, and finally get it done after the curse that is procrastination. Take a deep exhale, and go to bed. Next day, same routine.

I had to go through one more hideous 0/4 with 4 K's day before REALLY getting some extra batting practice.

In other news, after not leaving SoCal for basically the entirety of 2009, I'm excited for my upcoming escapades, whether it be with friends, family, or self.

But for now... going to try and slow down and take it in more. Tonight, UCI @ LMU... the game that no one else really cares about that Pappy and I have been waiting for forever. Our own little super bowl of sorts.

P.s: One of the only things E100 has taught me this quarter: I like Back to the Future because it achieves the sublime. ANDDD now... back to our regularly scheduled programming, an essay on "an essay on criticism"

Extra Batting Practice

I think over the summer, I got lucky with some bloop hits and clutch moments that covered up for my poor mechanics, but now they are starting to catch up to me.

Let this post remind me to get out of this slump and get some extra batting practice in. Starting with this english midterm coming up.

... UCI Basketball coming up in a week and a half!!!

friendship

Don't know why, but I've always valued dedication and longevity in my friendships. Maybe not consistency all the time, because that's just an impossible road to maintain at times, but i just don't get people who prefer to go through phases of friends, forming and breaking bonds like alkali metals.

Currently listening to:
Phil Wickham's Heaven & Earth Album (omg concert on 10/19 was not only amazing, but uplifting and refreshing)
She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

Goobly Gook and The Ewing Theory Analogy

Today I went through the entire day of lecture without thinking that anything I learned was all that interesting or useful.

Instead of memorizing who was Zeus' dad or Poseidon's roman name, what Longinus thought about poetry or what sublimity was, or the historical/economical breakdown of China through the last 5 centuries... two completely different thoughts that randomly popped in my head today.

1. Goobly Gook. Used in the context today, to mean 'absolute gibberish.' My question is... who decided on goobly gook to mean that?! Literally anything at all could be an example of gibberish, yet people usually know what you mean with "goobly gook". Why not... woombaja hoobamja?

2. Ewing Theory is the ESPN coined phenomena of a mediocre team getting better when they lose their best player. The as of yet untitled phenomena of not being friends with your exes, is when you don't spend any time at all on the friend you used to spend the most time on.
--> my analysis/analogy: People never like losing their star player, because everyone likes watching a dominant player, someone they can always count on. However, this star player is not always best for the TEAM dynamic. Sometimes, in the absense of this go-to guy, the rest of the players on the team all step up and end up doing better where it counts--the win/loss column. Obviously, championship teams still have go-to guys often times, guys that carry their team to the top. Indeed, the argument can be made that true dynasties need go-to guys. But the Ewing Theory doesn't apply to everyone. When it does, you know that the go-to guy wasn't the right one.

So sometimes, you have to get rid of the sweet swinging lefty power hitter, the 6'10 menacing lefty who throws 100, and the good-looking shortstop who can seemingly do it all, and go out and win 116 games.

Songs of the Moment (slightly stretched out to catch up):
Entire Forget and Not Slow Down CD by Relient K, especially Savannah & Sahara
When She Loved Me - Toy Story 2 (thanks Luigi)
Bruises - Chairlift
Entire The Resistance CD by Muse
Burndt Jamb - Weezer
Everything - Michael Buble
Magic Perfume - Charlyne Yi
Spaceman - The Killers

Avoiding the Issue

So I have been MIA on here because I have been focusing all my writing brainstorming efforts on my sports column for the New University. Here are my two columns so far, in case you, random reader, are interested.

http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/09/sports/sports-programs-are-on-the-rise-at-uci-don%e2%80%99t-miss-out-on-the-fun/

http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/09/sports/drowning-out-that-which-is-redundant-and-recycled-in-sports/

In other news, I have come to a realization about avoiding situations. Namely, that it is not the right way to go about things. For example, as a kid, when we had to get tests signed, and I got a bad grade, I would wait until the last possible day to get the test signed, just because I was scared of my parents scolding. My thought process was basically "hey, if I can avoid it for a few extra days and pretend like I haven't gotten my test back, let's do it!". Basically, I was a coward.

Ashamedly, I still do that in some ways to this day. When I get a test score back on a test that I don't think I did very well on, I'll often times not check for a few days, out of some stupid fear. "Ignorance is bliss" or something like that.

I have now realized that I should just check right away, and in general, address issues as soon as possible. Sure it may be more unpleasant in the short run, but waiting and avoiding in no way can make the situation better. At least if I get something over with, I can start on the path to correction or improvement sooner.

In other words, I'm going to start manning up. Face consequences, get stuff done, sacrifice the easy way out in the short run to do what's right in the long run.

And now, back to thinking up a column idea for next week.

Blink and Smell the Roses

In the Music World...
Last night's Blink 182/Weezer concert was like I had always imagined, sans the horrible traffic and the stunningly good looking company. I don't think it even sunk in that I was witnessing freakin Weezer and bloody Blink 182 until after the concert. Highlights: Rivers' dance moves, shouting out Burndt Jamb, holding up the weezer sign, Tom's banter and whiny voice, Travis' sheer awesomeness rotating around the sky, Blink's band moment, and of course, Mark Hoppus still being the best. Like Halloween on Christmas.
It was indeed the perfect last shabang of Summer, 2009.
And now, there are new albums from Muse, Relient K, Switchfoot, Weezer, and Phil Wickham to look forward to. Wowzers.

In the Sports World...
The Cardinals are entering the playoffs, and with that the hopes and joys of the playoffs and hopefully a return to the World Series. The Rams are starting up a new season, and with that the fears and dissapointment of another embarassing campaign. I mean... hopes and joys of a clean slate. The Blues are starting up soon as well, and with that the promise of seeing them in Anaheim with a good chance to actually win this year. College football is back, and with that the confusing and unfamiliarity of the BCS and a new generation of Mizzou Tigers. And justtt a little bit off on the horizon is college basketball, and with that the triumphant glory and utter brilliance that is UCI basketball.

In Dvd's World...
Summer 2009 was not quite what I expected in some ways, but looking back now I would have to say it was a satisfactory success. Like a lot of things in my life, it really picked up in the end, what with grades turning out for the better, the founding of turtle rock vista apartment 122, ELC in Hesperia (a reminder to love radically and with risks), and the slow but sure process of creating friendships that I will cherish for a long time. God's plan never quite develops quite like what we had in mind, but the reassuring thing is that He knows what He's doing. I find that any initial fears or worries are not only taken away, but in the end improved for the better.

There may only be a week left before classes start, but the beautiful thing is, it only gets better from here. In the words of the immortal Keisha Phillips, Let's do this like Brutus!

and i'm not talking about Spiderman

This is my gift, this is my curse.
(A little dramatic, I know.)

eventful

Resolved: That it is worse/harder for the cool roller coaster to break down right before you're about to go on it for the first time, then to be sorely disappointed by a hyped up roller coaster that didn't turn out that great.

Also, this extended weekend was definitely the last shabang of summer school summer.
Childhood couches, revolving sushi bars (inari), loaded questions (mistaken someone for Diane), Irvine dim sum (ginger tofu dessert), hw cramming (torture), Silent ninja (getting hit in areas other than my hands), Stories about Anne (no no no!), Target (1 day too late axe/mikeykoo), Iron Chef (hawaiian chicken, red pepper salad decorating), and 9 person karaoke (can't take my eyes off of you, two words: jason chung).
Definite Priceless stretch.

Noticing the Little Things: Eye Contact

I guess when it comes down to it, eyes are just a complex set of lenses and muscles that allow the ability of sight. Camera lenses can do the same thing, but there's a reason why robotic eyes are so creepy.

Eyes are in essence a direct portal into someone's soul. Cover everything else up, and you could still tell if someone was giving you an icy glare, a far off mind-on-something-else look, a roll of annoyance, or watering lip-biting emotion.

Staring deep into someone's eyes while a smile creeps up on their face can be as affectionate as a tight embrace, and as reassuring as concrete spoken words.

The added bonus is that it's very hard for eyes to lie. Empty words and empty hugs are everywhere, but I don't think I've ever experienced a fake gaze of affection. Tis unfortunate, but with reason, that this special eye contact is considerably harder to find.

Songs of the Moment:
Sing, Sing, Sing - Chris Tomlin
Phantom Limb - The Shins
First Day of my Life - Bright Eyes
In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember) - Boyz II Men

Although Unnecessary

Went to Harvest Fest today, drawn by the "headlining" act of Relient K. I was pretty excited, despite this being my 7th time seeing Matty T and the boys. However, they only ended up playing 5 songs (Who I Am Hates Who I've Been, High of 75, Forgiven, Office/5 dollar footlong, Be My Escape), and I was stuck on the walkways watching them in the middle of the infield, so it wasn't a concert feel at all. I was disappointed by that whole ordeal, since I definitely wasn't there to see Skillet or Greg Laurie.

However, we decided to stay, and walked around to the area directly behind home plate. I'm not sure what we were looking for, since the place was beyond capacity, with even the seats in the outfield, behind the stage, being full. Then, all of a sudden, the usher looks at us and says "three? come with me" and leads us to the fourth row behind home plate. Definitely one of those everyday miracles.

But at the end of the day, there were so many little things I complained about or mocked and focused on.

Did Skillet have to jump down to the field, fall, and run awkwardly around the stadium? Did Greg Laurie have to go on tangents about jumbo shrimp, women drivers (ok this one is fine in my book), Shia Lebeaouf, and Travis Barker? Did Relient K have to waste valuable stage time playing silly covers? The answer is no. People include things or do things that are unnecessary or bad decisions that can leave a sour taste in our mouths. It is all too easy to go back and chastise them for those small things. But looking back at the grand scheme of their intentions, do those small things really matter? In the end, we should appreciate what people are doing, or just that they're there for us, and let the little things go, even if they strike personal pet peeve chords in us.

living by yourself

Pros:
1. You can sing loudly and generally make a lot of noise without fear of anyone noticing you and thinking you're a bad singer/freak.
2. No one else making noise when you don't want noise.
Cons:
1. Too much eery quiet.
2. Ok screw this list, it's just going to sound depressing and lame.

Resolution: I'm going to have roommates until I get married.

raspberries

I haven't been eating enough fruit lately (but then again according to my mom I never have enough fruit, ever), so I decided to have a thing of raspberries tonight. Summertime must be a good time for the berries of rasp, because these suckers were huge. Unlike previous boxes of berries, I did not need to add any "sugar" and thus was blissfully flicking these gigantic berries of joy into my mouth, heartily enjoying that unique mini-seed popping that only raspberries can offer.

Suddenly, my prancing taste buds came to a screeching halt. The raspberry that had just entered my mouth was definitely coated with... concentrated dishwashing liquid soap.

Thinking this run to the sink was all too familiar, the soap proved to be much harder to rinse out of my mouth than salt. Even though the salt was more overpowering, at least it is a generally accepted cooking ingredient. The soap on the other hand, was busy killing off 99.9% of the beneficial bacteria in my mouth, and definitely had no business being on a raspberry (that wasn't stuck to a dirty plate).

Sometimes, things are simply out of your control.

39

This last weekend, I was able to watch Up, The Fiddler on the Roof, and 500 Days of Summer in successive days. All three were excellent. The things I have learned...
1. I want a girl like Ellie.
1a. Don't let your life go by, putting off what you want to do for a later year. Time flies by quicker than you think.
2. "Every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck..."
2a. The constant battle between tradition and forward thinking is tricky.
3. I won't get into it too much, so as not to ruin anything. But this movie was so refreshingly different.

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

If baseball is a game of inches, then life is a game of balancing. The more I think about it, the more everything, EVERYTHING is about balancing. For example, there is a fine line between being confident and being arrogant. Should I just admit I'm wrong in the interest of kindness, or should I put up a fight, to stand firm in what I believe in? Have I been spending too much time with family? Or do I need to get out more. The list goes on and on, but ultimately we all hope that life sort of balances itself out. That we naturally just stay within the lines. Unfortunately we all bleed outside on either side occasionally. It gets worse when we micromanage, actively thinking about it on every single action you perform throughout the day. Unfortunately, there's no conclusion to this one. I don't really know what I'm getting at. It just sucks when I'm left hopelessly trying to erase crayon.

The Feckless Sunrise!!!!

Just found this new band yesterday night. They're pretty rad. =)

Questions to Ponder 1

Is there such thing as having too much loyalty?

baseball analogy time

I have realized why I appreciate the role players, bench guys, and singles hitters more than the average baseball fan. Because in a certain sense, I am a slap hitter.

I'm never going to have that sweet Ken Griffey Jr. home run swing, or that perfectly balanced, completely even swing of perfection that is Albert Pujols. I'm like a mix between David Eckstein and his .250 avg and Ichiro and his .350 in that I'm not quite as successful or quirky as Mr. Suzuki, nor am I so short and limited in natural prowess like Mr. 2006 World Series MVP. I'm somewhere in between. Some of that quirk, some of that making do with a skinny frame and a weaker arm.

In the end though, even if I did have that home run pop, swinging for the fences makes me uncomfortable. Besides having cool names, Jack Cust and Russell Branyan are able to mash that homer every now and then, and it's pretty impressive. It's also instant gratification. But they also strike out a lot more. And even though they get that run across the board, there is nothing for the offense to build on. It's every man for yourself.

So I'll keep on building rallies. Sac bunting here, stealing a base there. Smart baserunning, sound baseball fundamentals. I might not score everytime. But it's alright. I'll be concentrating on building those rallies. It is, after all, how we won that softball championship.

. . .

Life isn't bad being on the backburner. This simmering provides a nice constant heat, and is completely necessary for the proper development of the meal. In any case, being on the stove is a lot better than being in the trash can. Or sitting on top of a disgustingly rotten (to the point of juices instead of meat) year-old fish in a neglected refridgerator drawer. But I just hope that the pot doesn't get forgotten on the backburner. Don't want to reach the point where all the soup has evaporated and it's just really chewy, hard, inedible pieces of pai gu left in the pot. No, the meat must be added to the meal at the right time. And then it will be delicious.

embarking on the unknown... and PB&J

First... inspiration from DNgo and a bowl of oatmeal I had during finals week. We were moving out soon so in an effort to finish the bit of strawberry jelly we had left, I just dumped it in my oatmeal.

After a few bites, I realized that the bland oatmeal was not doing enough to counteract the overly sweet preserves. The jelly had made its point. It needed some peanut butter.

In life, whether its from our parents or our friendships, we need both jelly and peanut butter.
Jelly is the sweet loving kindness that makes everyone smile.
Peanut Butter is that salty base that keeps you honest.

Without jelly, peanut butter just seems a little too mean and dry. Your mouth can only handle so much before it gets glued together. Without peanut butter, jelly just gets kind of old. You stop growing as a person and your character becomes stale without someone to kick you in the behind every once in a while.

. . .

So tonight begins my first Irvine experience without Yibs and Mwen. It's weird not having that constant comfort blanket of people to talk to or eat with. I don't even have Princess, and the availability that comes with her. I would go into some emotions and feelings such as loneliness and slight anxiousness yet excitement at the same time but Arkin's reading of that random journal will forever prohibit me from doing so in a blog. I will now stop name-dropping like a vatz of fat.
Summer '09 embarking... now.

Silly Nonsense #1

Tonight the thunder storms
and the lightning flashes
the small boy inside the man
remembers a time cozy and warm

Tonight the rain clouds roar
and the night brightens
the remaining childhood glee
pokes its head out a little more

Tonight the darkness quakes
the window an escape
the stresses of the hard day
slip and slide into the wake

epic amounts of fun

A list to capture the rest of one of the most fun weeks of my life, because obviously no one likes to read drawn out thematic formats, especially when they're not actually in choose-your-own-adventure books... and I won't even use the word hectic to describe anything.

Weds (eye of the storm):
Jennyfershurr visits... karaoke revolution
Families Forward Interview... eye opening experience
Officially named Sports Editor for the New U for 2009-2010! Hasn't even sunk in yet that I'm finally an editor.

Thurs
VDCn - Gao 6, VDCn 0 ... upset of the century... especially proud of Vanessa Anne and Linda who played with us for this game.
Quality Jennyfershurr time
Akkalaka stops by
The fabulous DLy is named Copy Editor for the New U for 2009-2010! Soo excited to have such an esteemed colleague.

Fri
Chicken and Broccoli at Le Dip
Strasburg at UCI... fail
Mini-Re:act
Banquet Practice

Sat
All day Edge Banquet extravaganza. Loved everyone's performances. Soo much fun. Even if my jai ho tutting was off from everyone else.
Quick stint as flower delivery guys.

Sun
2,600 word recap article... sports editor hazing.
Editor shadowing
Softball... VDCn - Gao 10, Laguna 9. Down 9-3 in the bottom of the 5th, really came together and pulled this one out. AWESOME game.
VDCn - Gao 15, Middle Earth 3. Opposite way singles all the way! From 0-4 in the regular season to 4-0 in the playoffs!!! Housing Intramural Champs!!!
Dave & Busters AA banquet... so fashionably late gucci would be jealous. Actually picking the 200 ticket case for the deal or no deal! Picking all the ugly girls' cases so they would leave the stage actually worked.

Week 9, so unbelievably fine...

Isn't it nice to know... that we're goldennnn

After getting by the three-headed serpent, you and Phineas feel immensely relieved. As the chocolate monkeys scream euphemisms, Phineas worriedly looks your way. "What do we do now?" he says, with a tired look. He hasn't been getting much sleep these days, and he looks the part. Suddenly, a phantom pterodactyl swoops by while a hidden cave door swings open simultaneously. The Phinster's eyes widen at the sight of such a cliche mystery movie gimmick and an extinct dinosaur appearing by his head at the same time. Before you know what to do, Bigfoot suddenly stomps by, with a shady photography lense mysteriously cast over him at all times. Phin, overwhelmed by the bizarre sequence of events, starts to hyperventilate. Oh no. To explore the dark tunnel behind the hidden door, turn to page 52. To chase after the mythical creature in an attempt to appear in the National Inquirer, turn to page 19. To find the nearest paper bag for Phineas, turn to page 26.

Page 52
You decide to go down the tunnel in an effort to be like Scrooge McDuck in your favorite childhood film. All of a sudden, Anteater Ballpark appears to your left, with its newly christened Cicerone Field looking all nice and professional. You squeeze into the new bleachers, when your friend Amy decides to try and set the record for shortest stay at a baseball game, lasting half an inning. However, Annie promptly shatters that record by staying at the ballpark for 10 seconds before departing, a stint that will truly stand the tests of time. Despite being surrounded by UCLA fans and associated parents, the game turns out to be epic. Kyle Knee-key shocks the college baseball world by striking out 8 in 4.1 innings of relief, while the 'Isch proves that you can be gangly and lanky and still hit home runs. The game heads into extra innings, when the Bruins burly first basemen crushes a home run, devastating the chants of UCI and random zot zot zot's. However, the scrappy Anteaters do what they do best... scrap. Tommy Reyes hits a one out double, forcing the Bruins to be all dramatic and bring in their best starting pitcher, Gerrit Cole, a first round draft pick out of high school, to try and Randy Johnson it up. Reyes manages to move to third on a groundout to Cole, but then the Anteaters appear to fall short when Ronnie Shaeffer grounds out routinely to the UCLA shortstop, son of former major leaguer Mike Gallego. However, he amazingly bobbles the ball, and the game is tied. After a wild pitch from the pressing Cole, Casey Stevenson strokes a clean single into left field, bringing the Anteaters out on to the field in a dogpile. Doesn't get much better than that.

Page 19
Bigfoot, despite appearing in a recent naked game, has struggled on the softball front this quarter. Losing all 8 games played in the regular season, hopes weren't terribly high for the playoffs. Indeed, things started off rocky as the first inning jitters produced a 2-0 deficit. However, the rest of the game became an outright domination, with runners taking extra bases, their mashers hitting their pitchers with balls, and Michael drawing the ire of a opposing girl fan who took offense to his aggressive home plate advancement. To top it all off, Jason hit a monster 3-run shot to put the icing on the cake. VDC Norte-Gao 23, Selva 3.

Page 26
Deciding to stay loyal to your friend, you rush off to the only place you know where you can find a paper bag: The Glass House in Pomona. Despite a haphazard journey that included mysteriously ending up on the 60, heading towards Montclair instead of Diamond Bar in a search for Banana Bay, going back to Pomona but failing to find the elusive Indiana Hills Thai restaurant, the trip was salvaged by delicious iced coffee and $1 strawberry sundae from Mickey D's. Meeting up with a somewhat random but fun group of RK aficionados, it was also your first time seeing Relient K in such a small club venue. While waiting in a long line wrapping around several blocks, your attempts to grow a goatee are noticed for the first time in your life. Rumors that the said facial hair was inspired by Singy were unconfirmed. Runner Runner started the night off, bringing out the teenage girls and emo claws. It was fun making fun of them and their interesting fusion of Metro Station, Simple Plan, All-American Rejects, and the Jonas Brothers in 5 years. Next, Owl City dazzled the stage with its 17 keyboards/synths/laptops, taking you on a starry flight through pleasant looking landscapes. Rainbow Veins, Hello Seattle, Saltwater Room, and On the Wing were nice, but not as nice as the main guy Adam after the show. Of course, Relient K proceeded to dominate the night. Unfortunately for two particular individuals, Matty T decided to skip out on Must Have Done Something Right and Pink Tux, but made up for it with a truly epic Deathbed encore. Just when you were satisfied over a solid concert, Jon Schneck from Relient K walks by, and is nice enough to take a photo with you. Then, in an amazing turn of events, Biff from Back to the Future happens to be at the show, and is nice enough to stop and take a photo as well. Truly on cloud 9 now, you somehow find a 7-11 while images of manure trucks and the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance flash through your head. With a tasty Lemonade Hawaiian Punch Slurpee in hand, you head back home. Who knew that going to look for a paper bag would turn into one of the most memorable nights of your life?

I always liked how you could go and read all three scenarios/possible paths in those books.

freaking fudge monkeys!

Too much fun/prior obligations over the weekend.
Absolutely screwed for tomorrow.
Tuesday of Week 8. A day that will go down in infamy.
chinese test - 8 AM (and hw packet due)
LJ article - 9:30 AM (and associated interviews)
Acct midterm - 12:30 PM (*&%*&*&$#&*^ in general)

Things I'll Miss About UCI #'s 57, 83, 91

57. Squirrels with ridiculously bushy tails that fluff around like cottontails while they drink from tiny streams.

83. Seeing national champion athletes on ESPN2 one day and in my classroom the next day.

91. TWO DOLLAR LOLLICUUUUUUUUUUUUPP!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas in May

Relient K's rendition of Silver Bells came on shuffle yesterday.
I marveled at how it was still good to listen to on a somewhat hot 79 degree day.
I even got in a Christmas mood for 5 minutes or so.
Yet another reason to <3 Rk 4L.

a lot like love

when there is only like and no true love
like is catapulted and captivated
cultivated into strong like and a pretty dove
but it all comes crashing down, deactivated

because it is so hard to determine this love that is true
hard to wait and keep your head on straight
when your heart and soul takes on an idea without queue
this is cool, that is nice, everything is fate

the feelings may be normal
but striving for real love is key
beyond that which is official or formal
a focus and dedication to truly see

Grace

As defined in the dictionary:
a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace2 a: approval, favor barchaic : mercy, pardon c: a special favor : privilege d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e: a temporary exemption

To elaborate on my "getting lost in hillsong" point from last post... I did not go to the concert that everyone went to a while back, which I realize is what it sounds like. I've just been listening to them a lot on my computer. I've always been more of a Phil Wickham/Starfield type over Hillsong, probably based on musical reasons. (Side note about this: lyrics are important, but how a song connects with you musically is equally important. There's a reason God gave humans the gift of music. Imagine how bland life would be without it.) But last night I was just listening to Hosanna and The Stand over and over again while praying, and probably combined with listening to Grace by Phil Wickham earlier, it just hit me. I've been so blessed in my life, particularly of recent years... and I don't really deserve any of it. In exchange for everything God has provided me, I was stagnant with my faith, keeping him on the backburner, and thinking I could do everything myself. How ignorant and stupid of me to be presented with this knowledge all of these years and yet not truly be moved to action. How indebted and ungrateful I've been. It made me pretty sad.
I must stop expecting things like I deserve them.

I pray for dawn a new day to live
I pray for mercy only Jesus gives
Though darkness falls and a million cry
I believe overall there’s a greater light shining for us

Firsts

This quarter is breezing by, so I thought I'd stop and provide some things to remember. Specifically... some firsts in the life of me.

- Losing 6 straight softball games now... but still having fun through appreciating team camaraderie, and the love of the game.
- Actually. 3 of those losses were probably amongst the most depressing and ridiculously frustrating games of my life. I won't elaborate which ones.
- Spelling camaraderie three different ways before finally just googling it.
- Injuring my pinkie off a line drive from Yi Bu's bat. My left hand is now down to three perfectly functioning fingers.
- Directing a scene of a Mean Girls parody
- Driving to Santa Ana for a 35 minute sit down interview outside my comfort zone.
- Picking up Mr. Singh from the train station.
- Going down to San Diego in the morning and driving back that same night, running through the streets of downtown SD, sweating profusely in a federal office building, riding a dolphin, eating Board & Brew plus Jamba Juice, standing like a loser on traintracks, being a tourguide, and saluting an American flag made of flowers.
- Morning prayer at 7AM in the middle of Aldrich park
- Witnessing two ranked number 1 in the nation UCI teams.
- Getting lost in the music of Hillsong United
- Hearing Jaeson Ma. period.
- Eating xing ren dou fu that actually comes close to the xing ren dou fu my mom makes.

Pretty much what college is all about.

Guest Starring: The Killers

First off, we'd like to thank Dgao who was so kind to give us this opportunity to make a guest apperance on his fabulous blog. Frankly, we are honored to be here, and thought this would be a golden chance to release some of the lyrics we are working on for our next album.

I'm just trying to get by, trying to get far
but someone whispered that
You had a babysitter
who looked like a fastball sitter
that i saw in the September before last

I've got heart, but I'm not a heartbreaker
I've got heart, but I'm not a heartbreaker
Because I'm leaving the stage
and i'm jumping too well
Now he's calling my name
and it's really a shame
it was only a hug
it was only a hug
how did it end up a pug

Well he doesn't swing a thing like Albert
But he skips like a president
like you thought of when you were five
(skips like a president)
(like you thought of when)
you were bold
when you... were bold

Can't you just walk with me
Can't you just hold my hand
It's what's expected
Can't you just trim my hair
Can't you just clip my nails
It's what's expected

Are we aliens or are we prancers?
Are we aliens or are we prancers?

High School U

I have a chinese quiz at 8 AM tomorrow, history assignment due at 10 AM, and management midterm I feel kind of lost about on thursday, but I just felt the overwhelming urge to get something up on here. It's going to be a speedy blog because of the aforementioned commitments and watching Amazing Race earlier, so I am afraid I will have to skimp on any signs of good writing. This includes grammar, eloquency, and any form of flow or organization.

Schoolwork wise, I feel like high school all over again. Every morning struggling like crazy to wake up at 7 something, staggering to school in a disheveled state, and turning in homework for every single class.

But whereas freshmen year was much different from high school academically, in all other facets of life I was pretty much stuck in high school and my SD life. Now, I feel like I'm headed in this new and right direction. My goal since winter break and this blog's birth has been forward motion, moving to become better as a person, and a more positive college experience. Not to say that I've abandoned my high school life or memories, but I feel like there have been more steps in the right direction in the areas of my life that needed change.

I haven't gone back home to SD yet this quarter, and I feel like I'm getting more and more connected with UCI. I mean it's a slow process, but I am ecstatic over the new friendships and activities that have occupied my life.

- This weekend, I got to go to Skid Row in downtown LA for a streetcorner message in the midst of the homeless. We passed out food and clothes and it was just an unbelievable experience. Not only was the message one of the best I've heard, but to just be thrust in such a radically different place with the LA skyline in the background.... something I'm really glad I got to experience.
- I had the honor of playing keyboard/synth for Singy at his home church. It was my first time playing with a modern worship band, and even though I didn't do that well, it was sweet just being up there on stage with the guys, praising God with a setlist that I was quite fond of.
- I have been challenged to lead a small group for next year. It's something I really have to pray about, among other things. Basically pray for me that I have a more effective and steady prayer life.
- If you were to ask me at the end of freshmen year if I had met any best friends in Irvine, I would have had to say no. I mean the whole concept of "best friends" is a label I don't like to dish out much, to avoid complications, but as this year progresses, I have pretty high hopes that I've developed some really strong bonds with people here. Friends I will be "inviting to the wedding," like Singy put it. People that no matter how often you hang out with and see on a day-to-day basis, you never get sick or tired of hanging out with them. People you can have deeper conversations with, but at the same time always have a good laugh with.
Its muy bueno. Don't even have to incur any two hour penalties along the way.

but it's my bday...

Ok so the obnoxiousness ends with the title, but some mild sappiness lies ahead. Be forewarned.
Two hours into my 20th bday, the fire alarm goes off and Michael frantically runs into our room saying it's a real fire we need to evacuate. We end up staying outside while fire fighters casually check out the area and determine that all the smoke was just caused by two fire extinguishers being discharged all over the place. However apparently these chemicals are poisonous or something so we have to stand outside for an hour while they do whatever they do, and then we sneak back early because Yi, as usual, disregards personal safety advice for the comfort of his own bed.
So we finally get back to bed at 3:30 and wake up at 7:30 for a chinese quiz at 8.

Good thing the rest of the day and entire weekend was most excellent.

I am a lucky guy in many regards, and for this I am most appreciative.

I'm still a teenager

Time keeps breezing by, which is a good thing. There is always something to look forward to, something to accomplish, fix, settle, read, play, buy, check off the proverbial to-do list.
Time only goes by slowly when you're doing something you wish you weren't doing, and wish time would go by faster.
Such is life.

I'm not really sure what's going on in terms of the artistic direction of this blog. However, I feel like it is dangerously close to, if it hasn't already happened, becoming some sort of lamesauce diary thing. I'm not sure if my original goal of taking this thing in a substantially different and improved direction from my xanga is happening.

Thus, I will attempt to devise a few poems in an attempt at representing my life in an artsy fartsy way... gross.

Amazing Race, Friends
morning Chinese and job search
must gym routinely

Baseball is in the air
Mizzou had a good year
The lit journ class is au contraire
While traditional characters equal fear
New reebok cleats and cheap sunglasses
There's spilled apple juice in aisle six
Taking it as slow as molasses
Wait got to get my blockles fix
Poseidon, Korean BBQ, and Mexican Food
No water, Soccer momming, and naked game
Blues getting back into the playoff mood
New small group? AA to blame
Can't believe sophomore year is almost done
Upperclassmen and twenty something, no fun.

Looks up, expecting some kind of applause, or at least snaps.
Crickets Chirp.
Everything goes black.
World falls away.
Takes a few steps on an invisible boardwalk.

I was never good at rhythm.

Winter Quarter in Recap

Well first off, due to certain events that occurred in my English class, I am now paranoid about writing anything on here.
Thanks a lot Sam.

Anyway, I would just like to say this winter quarter of my sophomore year killed me. It really did. In a good way!

Coming into this quarter, I was excited and anxious to start this new direction in life, and I am glad to say that I am ecstatic with how it went. I set some pretty lofty goals and was all gung-ho about self-improvement after winter break, and although I obviously came short in many aspects, I can say that I made some small progress. Which is what we should always be striving for.
I'm going to stop this self-reflection thing now, just in case anyone decides to read it outloud to a random class during a final. Wouldn't want to be embarassed or anything.

Highlights:
All my classes - I can honestly say I enjoyed all of my classes this quarter. Really nice teachers, all fair and humorous to different degrees (all guys), and all topics that were at least somewhat interesting.
UCI Basketball - Sure it was an off year, but we really improved a lot during this winter quarter, which I'm happy about. I also got to cover my first game and interview my favorite player, which was personally gratifying. Also... Eric Wise, Recognize. Bland Rules the Land, Lauer Power, Strings got Wings, and of course, Decasas In the House. haha...
Meeting a lot of New People - For various reasons, I met a lot of cool people this quarter. Whether it was through Edge, softball, anthro, english, management, or just randomly, I thought it was a markedly better quarter than usual in this aspect. Cool beans.
Having Class with People - I was lucky enough to have anthro with Yeebs and Mwen, management with Singy, and class everyday with the wonderful DLy, which made a HUGE difference in how fun these particular classes were. It made going to class actually exciting and something I either looked forward to or took solace in. Especially journalism, I would have died in that class by myself.
New Keyboard - I am ridiculously excited to play it next quarter, and for future aspirations that involve the Px-320. This quarter was only the beginning.
General Progress - Ok so I'm mixing things to note with highlights, but yeah I'm glad I got to experience all of these: More or less determine apartment issues for next quarter, get into chinese for next quarter, try-out for worship team, take a practice LSAT, have one of the funniest sleepovers of my life, FINALLY get my first paycheck for newspaper staff, and bowl a 210. No big. =)
Spiritual Growth - This is always hard to judge personally, but I definitely am happy that I'm no longer in a state of stagnancy with my faith. On the way back from seeing Phil Wicky again this quarter, we almost got smashed by a Coach bus and then ran over this huge sign that was laying across the emergency lane. I'm not saying it was a near death experience or anything (although some people might think it was), but I definitely thank God for keeping me safe on that occasion and throughout this quarter. I don't have the fastest reflexes, but they have been able to save me from catastrophe so far in my life. Anyway, overall I'm still always hoping to make forward progress in my relationship with God. Praise Him for blessing me this quarter with all these awesome things.

Lowlights:
Procrastination Still - My initial goal of doing everything early and with plenty of time for office hours etc did not really pan out. I'm not sure if it was due partly to the teachers, or maybe the fact that I had 20 units, but I definitely had too many late night essay writing extravaganzas this quarter. Can't do that next quarter with 8 o'clock class everyday.
Gym Fail - After starting out well my first 2 weeks... going to the gym routinely absolutely failed. I think after that sickness I never really recovered. Plus the weird scheduling that occurred because of management. This is a MUST improve for next quarter. Or so help me God.
Mario Kart Skills Fading - Ok, maybe this is more just Mwen my padawan completely surpassing me and lamely breaking a bunch of my records. But this was very disgruntling. I am glad mario kart is no longer in Irvine.

Songs to define the quarter:
On the Wing, The Saltwater Room, Rainbow Veins, Hello Seattle - Owl City
Phil Wickham self-titled album - Phil Wickham
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Mad - Ne-Yo
I am Free - Newsboys
Someone to Love - Fountains of Wayne
Africa - Straight no Chaser
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli
Turkish March - Mozart
Kiss me through the phone - Soulja Boy
Mmhmm album (especially the songs with intros that Yi shook to) - Relient K
Invincible - Muse

Numbness

This little breakdown has nothing to do really with what is going on in my life but it came to me while walking around lovely ring road, and it's not like my writing slate for these two weeks is ridiculous or anything.

Levels of Numbness:
1 (not very numb): When you are forced to get up at 7 AM or earlier to attend something you have no interest in attending. The walk through campus and any subsequent interaction with other humans will inevitably be a second slow, as the looming unhappiness at such an early hour is all your mind can really focus on... hazily at that.
2 When you run into some gorgeous or famous person you've been admiring from afar, and all of a sudden you have nothing to say.
3 When the teacher scans the room looking for someone to call on, and you have absolutely no idea what the question or possible answer is. Said teacher walks closer and closer, and you quickly look down at your desk to avert the inevitable eye contact.
4 When you check a test score or get an essay back expecting a half decent score or maybe not even expecting a decent score and you click that button, and the page refreshes, and staring right back at you is 76... out of 200. Your stomach also usually drops into the abyss at this point.
5 When you're performing a piano recital and the lights are all shining on you with a dark audience... and you forget what goes next. So you start again and quickly stumble to an ugly crash of notes. At this point everyone in the audience is glad that they are not you. You are also sweating profusely and red in the face. Yes, you have at this point truly lost sensation in the rest of your body, most of all your fingers.

That being said, my new keyboard is in. I'm excited, but apparently that is not enough. Mike Koo says I need to make love to this instrument. Aw Shucks...
In other news, I am interviewing Kevin Bland tomorrow and covering the UCI CSF basketball game on saturday that will be on Fox Sports West. Both are firsts and things I have been looking to do for quite a while now. Look for me on saturday night at 5 PM on media row courtside. I'll be wearing a bright shirt.

Hell Week Schmell Week

So I've got 4 essays due in the next week and a midterm to boot.
I do believe this will go down as a big first test for my new career path.
I'm excited. I also have no time for a blog with flowing thoughts. So here are some thoughts thrown together willy nilly.
I have decided to completely give up illegal downloading of music. Before I took the compromising weaksauce approach of "Oh, if it's legit, I"ll buy it and support it. If it's just a guilty pleasure or not quite good enough for my tastes, then it's ok to just download."
That's a pretty ridiculous stance to take I realize. It's the same thing as saying "Oh this girl is pretty enough, I"ll pay for her dinner. / Ehh this girl isn't that great but still good enough to go on a date... I'll just pretend to go to the bathroom and then leave and then the bill will be on her"
Plus I'm a sucker for the whole supporting artists and crap ideal.
Plus God said thou shalt not steal.
So it looks like a lot of youtube listening from now on to determine if songs have that lasting power and quality.
Speaking of which I am listening to disney(mania) songs right now on youtube. Let me tell you, these songs have lasting power. But I can't bring myself to buy them at the age of 19.
New keyboard please arrive soon!!

When no one else gets what is so dang funny

padmike19 (11:33:17 PM): this is dumb we should go on strike
Dvdgao9 (11:33:20 PM): hahahaha
Dvdgao9 (11:33:23 PM): the problem is
Dvdgao9 (11:33:25 PM): no one would care
Dvdgao9 (11:33:31 PM): i'm pretty sure our campus is whatever about the paper
padmike19 (11:33:32 PM): i know
Dvdgao9 (11:33:40 PM): i'll put it this way
padmike19 (11:33:41 PM): but nobody would even know
padmike19 (11:33:46 PM): who would write bout it
Dvdgao9 (11:33:50 PM): more people probably pick it up for the sudoku/crossword/coupons then for the writing
Dvdgao9 (11:33:55 PM): hahahaha good point!
..........
padmike19 (11:36:23 PM): like if u write a great book, then high school kids hate u b/c they have to read it
padmike19 (11:36:51 PM): i know im stereotypin
Dvdgao9 (11:36:57 PM): hahaha
Dvdgao9 (11:37:00 PM): i get your point
padmike19 (11:37:24 PM): like everyone thinks they can write as well as a columnist
Dvdgao9 (11:37:32 PM): sigh
padmike19 (11:38:05 PM): thats why im retirin from journalism at the end of college
Dvdgao9 (11:38:13 PM): haha WHAT!
padmike19 (11:38:20 PM): (gasps from the crowd of 2)
Dvdgao9 (11:38:23 PM): hahahahahhaa
Dvdgao9 (11:38:27 PM): wow.
padmike19 (11:38:31 PM): im jk
Dvdgao9 (11:38:35 PM): good self-depricating humor from pappy!
Dvdgao9 (11:38:37 PM): impressive
Dvdgao9 (11:38:47 PM): i swear... if other people got as much of a kick out of me you and steven's humor..
Dvdgao9 (11:39:01 PM): we'd be world-class comedians
padmike19 (11:39:02 PM): HAHA i know wed be making six digits
padmike19 (11:39:05 PM): HAHA
Dvdgao9 (11:39:05 PM): HAHAHAH
padmike19 (11:39:10 PM): im laughing histerically
Dvdgao9 (11:39:12 PM): HAHAHA
Dvdgao9 (11:39:17 PM): always good to hear.
padmike19 (11:39:27 PM): my roommate thinks im nuts

Moments and friendships to remember.

Voice

Since I'm becoming literary journalism major in the near future, I thought it'd be important to note something right now before I got too into the classes and such.

Whenever I sing during church or worship nights or in my room when no one else is there, I hecka struggle with the octave I'm singing in. If the song has a higher voice, I'll try to go up higher with the singer, until I realize I probably sound like a girl with a terribly screechy voice/an idiot. At that point I drop down to the lower octave. Other times, I'll start out low thinking I sound better that way, and then it'll drop too low and I'll find myself stretching my face in weird contortions trying to make audible notes that don't make me sound like I'm grunting/an idiot. So embarassing.
But musical voice aside...

I am scared to death that my writing has absolutely no unique voice, and never will, even after completing my major. While I believe I have an adequte ability to imitate other people's voice, I never look back at something I wrote and think oh nice, that's my voice right there. After reading Frankenstein or Shakespeare or whatever, I usually am able to mock their style/content. After just reading two lines of Twilight (before throwing up in my mouth), I can do a fair Stephanie Meyer impression. Well, at least something that could go into the Onion or something. But, if you were to ask someone to recognize a piece of my own writing, I doubt they'd be able to. Unless it was marked with shoddy grammar or sports cliches.

"I was half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can."

I hope after I'm done with undergrad, I can have at least 1/10th of Mr. Salinger's voice.

On a side note... http://www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=soaring_across_the_seas178
I apologize for the disgusting last sentence. They took out my slightly creative last two sentences that were suppose to complete the red thread. I swear.

Put the Blame on Me

When's the last time you asked your roommate or friends or siblings "how can i change to improve myself?" It was really refreshing to do so today with one of my roommates. The truth may sting a bit, but if everyone maintained this mindset, the world would have a lot less arguing and falling outs. Someone who thinks their own way is always right, or is oblivious to their own shortcomings is someone who is doomed in the end.
. . .
In the "did not expect to find a good quote here" department:
"Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes." - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book that my sister had on our last vacation and I was reading in different accents to mock her
"Insomnia is nothing to sleep over" - Hooters hand wipe that I saw when we went there for Yi's birthday last year
. . .
Five classes is starting to be a bit overwhelming.

My teacher didn't show up at office hours today...

Disheveled and sleepy, Sam Arkin trudged into the computer science class room, ready to "teach", or at least talk about, english 28b, comic and tragic vision. His lesson plan consisted of reading a couple of pages of Titus Andronicus or The Bacchae, while musing to his class about how screwed up Dionysus was... or something like that. Before class he had just finished inhaling steroids into his weak lungs while gazing longingly at his dusty saxaphone in the corner of the room, and thus had no time to relieve himself before class.
Looking around, he noticed a man-child in a pink polo, looking rather resigned and humbled to be seen in such a lowly undergraduate class. "I'm a 5th year double majoring in classics and fantastical medieval civilizations," he proclaimed. His goatee twitched.
Next to him sat Scarecrow, from Batman and Cartier eyewear advertisement fame. He looked around pointedly, ready to exchange critical analysis gems of knowledge with anyone who dared make eye contact with him.
All of a sudden, Arkin noticed a certain shorter Asian girl wearing a Yale sweater staring rather intently at his shoes. Intrigued by the reppin' of his alma mater, he noticed that she seemed to be mouthing "Je t'aime" over and over again, with a fanatical glaze over her eyes. When Arkin off-handedly mentioned his ex-woman from New York, he saw her laughing uncontrollably, and then furiously scribbling in a small notebook. Slightly weirded out, Arkin headed over to Starbucks after class, to host office hours. Much to his horror, there the girl was again.
She tried to force feed him a croissant. He managed to get out of the way of the buttery snack, brushing the flakes off his shirt. She tried to share a chai latte with him. He refused to participate. People were starting to stare. Finally, with a desperate glance around the room, she got down on one knee and proposed. Unable to take it anymore, he ran out the door. Needless to say, meeting with students to go over analytical essays was no longer a priority.

Forward Motion

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) basketball squad won today after losing 51 straight times in a row. It reminded me that no matter how many times we fail in life at something, we can always get back up that 52nd time and change, and succeed. God will still be there with open arms, welcoming us back.

The Edge retreat over the weekend was not only fun, but inspiring. It was already a success in terms of meeting some new people and getting to know others better. The key to making it a fully successful retreat though, is to carry through with what we learned, and follow up on the conclusions/revelations we had. Personally, I realized that I had to stop accepting a state of stagnancy in my life.

in anthropology discussion

So of course a day after my rather inane "life is good!" post on here, I get struck down with a debilitating fever. Tuesday I was bedridden from 2 o'clock in the afternoon all the way til midnight. At that point I woke up feeling a little better finally, but the next morning I was feverish again and coudln't really function. In between, I experienced the modern day marvel that is socks. I was experiencing shivers and entire body coldness while in my sheets and comforter, unable to fall asleep. I put on some socks--promptly fell asleep, and woke up sweating profusely.
I somehow managed to go to two of my four classes that had mandatory participation, so sorry for those in my classes who witnessed the atrocity that was me during those two days.
In other news:
I am sitting here in anthro 2a discussion, meaning I am officially taking 20 units. Let's hope this doesn't bite me in the butt.
The Cubs and the Cardinals should make a pact that once you play for one of the teams, you can't play for the other. Jason Marquis, Jim Edmonds, Aaron Miles, now So Taguchi?! When does the insanity stop!
UCI 52, Pacific 51 !
Edge Retreat this weekend !!

struggling without struggles

If I were a baseball player right now, I would be riding a 2/38 slump right now and on the verge of being benched in favor of Aaron Miles.
If I were a musician I would claim to be exhausted from non-stop touring and taking artistic license to not come out with a new album for 4 years while releasing concert DVD's and B-Sides so as not to completely dissapear from the face of the earth.

The blogging idea well has run a bit dry as of recent. I worry about this when/if I get my own column.

Maybe it's because I'm too happy right now. I think if I were to take a step back right now, I would agree with all those adults that wistfully tell me that college is the best years of my life. While I hope that's not true because it is depressing to think that life is all downhill from here, I have to say that I am pretty blessed to be me right now. I think it's the nature of the beast that people write a lot more when they're troubled/not content/struggling. You naturally just think about things a lot more compared to when you're content. It's why music and art is heavily centered around depression, sadness, and love. "Awow", "Story of my Life", "Bain of my Existence", "my eye", "suriously", "bloody", "gaish" and etc have one thing in common and that is they do not proclaim general jovial happiness. There are no movies or shows made about people who are simply content and happy, but without juicy love stories or epic struggles to overcome. Except maybe Mr. Rogers and his make-believe neighborhood.

Much love to all the good buddies who took the time to drive up to Irvine this week to visit and made this week a blast, and all you other good people in Irvine who never fail to crack me up... Much excitement for the humor and styles of Mr's Harrison and Arkin minus further class cancellations...

Time to Say Goodbye

to 2008.

Today on the way back from the Spectrum, five of us in my Mountaineer listened to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman sing pretty much the best song ever. There were four guys of college age, and there was opera. There were no complaints. No mocking. No noise. Just appreciation and a blissful harmony.
It was akin to the end of some epic movie where all five characters just gaze out into space, listening to the absolute and stunning beauty of the music. At peace.

Here's to many more similar moments in 2009.