An impromptu trip to San Jose...
The Good:
- Dim Sum
- Chinese breakfast (I have no idea what it is...but it is GREAT!)
- seeing 3 movies while here (The Hangover, The Proposal, The Taking of Pelham 123 - I don't get to see movies often, so this was exciting)
- unbelievable Pho - can't get the correct accents on the words...sorry!
- great food in general
- seeing family
- grandpa being release to therapy right after we left ;-)
The Bad:
- grandpa falling and breaking his hip...requiring surgery (not good when you are 89)...which was the impetus for the little trip
The Ugly:
- 2 400 mile trips in 5 days...that is a quick turnaround
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Today: Moving Electronics!
Hanssie's grandfather owned a home in Calimesa that has defaulted to being ours. I have the responsibility of cleaning the place up and getting it ready for renters. Tai Gong, as we call him, had a habit of going to the second hand store and buying tons of electronics. He would take them apart and plug them in...he would then place a nice note on the machine (works good, no audio, etc...). Now that he has gone getting rid of the stuff has been a nightmare...the city told me that they would come get the electronics. The first 4 items free and $25 per appliance thereafter...
Here is a list of the electronics:
22 VCRs
8 TVs
8 stereos
2 CD players
2 BetaMax players
1 DVD players
1 Computer
1 Monitor
45 total...leaving 41 to be picked up ($1025). However, the city told me that on June 27th, 2009 they were having a large item pick up...so I should wait until then. Therefore, today was the day that I had to travel to Calimesa and set out all of his electronics.
I was going to snap a photo, but I was late this afternoon when I left.
Here is a list of the electronics:
22 VCRs
8 TVs
8 stereos
2 CD players
2 BetaMax players
1 DVD players
1 Computer
1 Monitor
45 total...leaving 41 to be picked up ($1025). However, the city told me that on June 27th, 2009 they were having a large item pick up...so I should wait until then. Therefore, today was the day that I had to travel to Calimesa and set out all of his electronics.
I was going to snap a photo, but I was late this afternoon when I left.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Jukebox IX
1.) On My Own - Les Miserables
I am not sure why I like this song so much. Maybe because Joey Potter sang it at a talent competition...and I had a major crush on her. I am not sure...anyway, the song is dope and the musical is pretty rad too. It took until the third time seeing it for me to stay awake - but we were in New York and we saw it on Broadway - amazing!
2.) He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
George Jones is one of the best old school country acts there is. I have no back story for this song...but it is in my memory. Just a sad song...and I am sappy.
3.) I Wanna Talk About Me - Toby Keith
Reminds me of my friend...he is always saying that someone is talking to much (a lot of the time it is me...I talk a lot). Anyway...music is such a memory trigger for me. I can't live without it.
4.) American Soldier - Toby Keith
This song reminds me of my oldest friend Daniel. I may have mentioned him before...he surprised me (and well, his entire family) by joining the military 3 months before his 30th birthday. He has completed his pilot's license...and is in Arizona finishing up some training. Three things I am looking forward to: 1.) seeing Daniel on the 4th of July, 2.) going to Miramar for the air show in October (hopefully the Dodgers are not playing on the same day), and 3.) his wedding in October (he is engaged!).
5.) Never Felt This Way - Brian McKnight
Brian's voice is so tender. I love this song. I am a sucker for ballads...and their is no better singer than Brian.
6.) Low - Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Hip-hop...gotta have some on the iPod. Here it is...I am getting old...so most of the time I have no idea what they are saying.
7.) You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Taylor is pretty hot right now. I really like her...and I think it is because she wears her emotions on her sleeve. I can relate!
8.) Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
Hoping to work out seeing him in San Francisco in July...so I need some Kenny!
I am not sure why I like this song so much. Maybe because Joey Potter sang it at a talent competition...and I had a major crush on her. I am not sure...anyway, the song is dope and the musical is pretty rad too. It took until the third time seeing it for me to stay awake - but we were in New York and we saw it on Broadway - amazing!
2.) He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
George Jones is one of the best old school country acts there is. I have no back story for this song...but it is in my memory. Just a sad song...and I am sappy.
3.) I Wanna Talk About Me - Toby Keith
Reminds me of my friend...he is always saying that someone is talking to much (a lot of the time it is me...I talk a lot). Anyway...music is such a memory trigger for me. I can't live without it.
4.) American Soldier - Toby Keith
This song reminds me of my oldest friend Daniel. I may have mentioned him before...he surprised me (and well, his entire family) by joining the military 3 months before his 30th birthday. He has completed his pilot's license...and is in Arizona finishing up some training. Three things I am looking forward to: 1.) seeing Daniel on the 4th of July, 2.) going to Miramar for the air show in October (hopefully the Dodgers are not playing on the same day), and 3.) his wedding in October (he is engaged!).
5.) Never Felt This Way - Brian McKnight
Brian's voice is so tender. I love this song. I am a sucker for ballads...and their is no better singer than Brian.
6.) Low - Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Hip-hop...gotta have some on the iPod. Here it is...I am getting old...so most of the time I have no idea what they are saying.
7.) You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Taylor is pretty hot right now. I really like her...and I think it is because she wears her emotions on her sleeve. I can relate!
8.) Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
Hoping to work out seeing him in San Francisco in July...so I need some Kenny!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Lebron and Kobe puppets
This commercial is hilarious. Mackenzie wants to watch "the movie" all the time. "The movie" is the "youtube" versions of all of the puppet commercials. I know I was bored...but watch and read...
Lebron: No, no, it’s no problem. You enjoy your bunyon surgery. Alright now…
Kobe: Lebron, who was that?
Lebron: Oh, that was Mrs. Lewis, we gotta watch lil Desmond
Kobe: Oh man
Desmond: I can’t believe I live downstairs from you guys. Lebron, what does it feel like to dunk on someone? Do you feel bad? Kobe, do you polish your ring? Do you have a ring polisher? I mean, why’d you cut your fro? Lebron, have you ever sat on someone’s shoulder while you were in the air? I mean, I liked your fro…are you more aerodynamic, are you faster? Kobe, do you polish your head and your ring with the same thing? Hey how did you guys pick your numbers 23 and 24, why are your numbers so close? Lebron, can you explain your crab walk dribble dribble? Kobe, your crossover is sick man? Lebron, do you practice your dunks? Ahhhh chooo…my bad brother allergies. Kobe, can I watch the game? Lebron, who’s playing? And Kobe, have you ever ate’n an empanada? Lebron, do they use a triangle offense? Lebron, Lebron you got over 20 triple doubles, can I have one? Kobe, what’chu over there reading? Are you in that magaizine? So Lebron, Kobe, Kobe, Lebron, Lebron, Kobe, can I see your shoes? Do you have any new shoes? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Lebron: Uh huh
[Desmond uses inhaler]
Lebron and Kobe watching lil Dez
Lebron: No, no, it’s no problem. You enjoy your bunyon surgery. Alright now…
Kobe: Lebron, who was that?
Lebron: Oh, that was Mrs. Lewis, we gotta watch lil Desmond
Kobe: Oh man
Desmond: I can’t believe I live downstairs from you guys. Lebron, what does it feel like to dunk on someone? Do you feel bad? Kobe, do you polish your ring? Do you have a ring polisher? I mean, why’d you cut your fro? Lebron, have you ever sat on someone’s shoulder while you were in the air? I mean, I liked your fro…are you more aerodynamic, are you faster? Kobe, do you polish your head and your ring with the same thing? Hey how did you guys pick your numbers 23 and 24, why are your numbers so close? Lebron, can you explain your crab walk dribble dribble? Kobe, your crossover is sick man? Lebron, do you practice your dunks? Ahhhh chooo…my bad brother allergies. Kobe, can I watch the game? Lebron, who’s playing? And Kobe, have you ever ate’n an empanada? Lebron, do they use a triangle offense? Lebron, Lebron you got over 20 triple doubles, can I have one? Kobe, what’chu over there reading? Are you in that magaizine? So Lebron, Kobe, Kobe, Lebron, Lebron, Kobe, can I see your shoes? Do you have any new shoes? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Lebron: Uh huh
[Desmond uses inhaler]
Lebron and Kobe watching lil Dez
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Kobe Bryant: A Defense!
The season is over...the champagne has been spilled...the 'repeat' rhetoric used ad nauseam. To quote Chick Hearn, 'the Lakers are the World Champions!' Yet here I sit, some guy in a small corner of the world (Corona, Ca), and I feel like I have to defend Kobe Bryant. Bill Simmons (an LA based guy - Clippers season ticket holder no less...who just happens to be a die hard Celtic fan) has a lot to say about Kobe. Although, most of it is drenched in Laker hater...most of it is drenched in envy (green like the putrid colors of the Boston Celtics).
[The Celtics may own the most Championships (17)...but they are not the best franchise in the NBA...for the better part of the last two decades they have been irrelevant. Let's face it...their relevance is approximately 2 years. I remember in the '90s Nick Van Exel hitting a number of huge 3s at the Garden in Boston and the place being more Laker fans than Celtic fans. Which is pathetic because at the same time the Lakers were first round playoff fodder for the good teams out West. Check out the stats:
I remember the portrayal of the Celtics in Dan Aykryod's movie Celtic Pride. I could go on...but I digress!]
First, can the comparisons to MJ please stop? Kobe and all the rest of his generation (LeBron, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, etc...) grew up watching Michael. They tried to emulate every single one of his moves. Kobe just happens to be the only one who can even come close to MJ. [c'mon LeBron throws chalk, wants to be a global icon, etc....]. No, Kobe's numbers are not close to Jordan's but they have had different roles during their careers. Would Jordan have scored as much as he did if he played alongside Olajuwon? The answer is probably not. I know...Michael would have averaged 15 assists a game if he had a dominant big man...maybe...we will never know how 'His Airness' might have responded to another alpha dog on his team. [Scottie Pippen was not an alpha dog - just an FYI]
Second, can we just appreciate Kobe Bryant for who he is? Who cares if he pumps his fist? Because MJ did it no one can? Who cares if he got a scowl on his face during the playoffs? He is on the cusp of doing something unprecedented in NBA history (more on this later). He was trying to win an NBA title...and he did! He averaged over 32 points with over 7 assists (only West and Kobe has done this in the Finals). And he just happened to make the most unbelievable shot I can remember seeing. He waltzed across the Magic defense into the lane, raised up, just as uber defensive player Dwight Howard did, faked to the right pulled it down (while in flight) went up on the other side and banked it home. Degree of difficulty...off the charts. Kobe (who is demonized as being a me first player) had to shoot the ball that way because Howard was right there, unlike Michael who made a similar move against the Lakers in '91. The famous up with the right hand, switch to the left hand layup that gets played over and over and over again. The difference, MJ could (should) have dunked the ball with his right hand - no one met him at the rim. He did not need to make that shot so difficult.
Lastly, Kobe has an opportunity to win multiple championships with multiple teams. I do not mean this in the way that Big Shot Bobby did. Horry was fortunate to be on the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs and pile up a ton of championships. Michael on the other hand won 2 3-peats with essentially the same cast of characters. By contrast, Kobe was an integral part of winning with the Shaq led Lakers and could put together another run with a vastly different cast around him. He didn't bounce from contender to contender piling up rings (no disrespect to Horry - he will always be a Laker in my book)...he was part of building something that had been torn down. Check out the wreckage left in the wake of the SS Shaq O'Neal [side note - I truly hope he goes to Cleveland...no greater way to destroy a young talented player (team) than to pair them with Shaq - it took D-Wade 2 years to recover from carrying "The Diesel" to the '06 title (the Heat still haven't recovered), who knows how long it will take Amare to recover (the Suns may never recover) - and we blame Kobe for things falling apart in LA].
Kobe is Kobe. He is moody (who isn't?). He is sometimes contrived (who wouldn't be...growing up in the spotlight). Kobe is a Champion! Sometimes, he puts his head down and tries to do it all himself...I can relate. Sometimes, he is amazing...sometimes, he takes your breath away. Sometimes, he wins championships...4 times.
[The Celtics may own the most Championships (17)...but they are not the best franchise in the NBA...for the better part of the last two decades they have been irrelevant. Let's face it...their relevance is approximately 2 years. I remember in the '90s Nick Van Exel hitting a number of huge 3s at the Garden in Boston and the place being more Laker fans than Celtic fans. Which is pathetic because at the same time the Lakers were first round playoff fodder for the good teams out West. Check out the stats:
Celtics record from 93-94 to 06-07:
472-644 .423 (2922-2000 .594 all time record)
50 win seasons 0
50 loss seasons 3
As good as they were in ’07-08 (66-16), they were almost equally as bad in ’06-07 (24-58). They were actually worse in ’98-99 (15-67).
690-426 .618 (2970-1841 .617 all time record)
50 win seasons 8
60 win seasons 3
50 loss seasons 0
As good as they were in ’08-09 (65-17), they were better in ’99-00 (67-15). The worst season the Lakers had was in ’57-58 (19-53)
Basically, the Celtics dominated the 60s…and are mediocre except for pockets since. And the Lakers have been amazingly consistent…as you see by the winning percentage over the 93-94 to 06-07 span is essentially the same as the Lakers historical winning percentage.
I remember the portrayal of the Celtics in Dan Aykryod's movie Celtic Pride. I could go on...but I digress!]
First, can the comparisons to MJ please stop? Kobe and all the rest of his generation (LeBron, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, etc...) grew up watching Michael. They tried to emulate every single one of his moves. Kobe just happens to be the only one who can even come close to MJ. [c'mon LeBron throws chalk, wants to be a global icon, etc....]. No, Kobe's numbers are not close to Jordan's but they have had different roles during their careers. Would Jordan have scored as much as he did if he played alongside Olajuwon? The answer is probably not. I know...Michael would have averaged 15 assists a game if he had a dominant big man...maybe...we will never know how 'His Airness' might have responded to another alpha dog on his team. [Scottie Pippen was not an alpha dog - just an FYI]
Second, can we just appreciate Kobe Bryant for who he is? Who cares if he pumps his fist? Because MJ did it no one can? Who cares if he got a scowl on his face during the playoffs? He is on the cusp of doing something unprecedented in NBA history (more on this later). He was trying to win an NBA title...and he did! He averaged over 32 points with over 7 assists (only West and Kobe has done this in the Finals). And he just happened to make the most unbelievable shot I can remember seeing. He waltzed across the Magic defense into the lane, raised up, just as uber defensive player Dwight Howard did, faked to the right pulled it down (while in flight) went up on the other side and banked it home. Degree of difficulty...off the charts. Kobe (who is demonized as being a me first player) had to shoot the ball that way because Howard was right there, unlike Michael who made a similar move against the Lakers in '91. The famous up with the right hand, switch to the left hand layup that gets played over and over and over again. The difference, MJ could (should) have dunked the ball with his right hand - no one met him at the rim. He did not need to make that shot so difficult.
Lastly, Kobe has an opportunity to win multiple championships with multiple teams. I do not mean this in the way that Big Shot Bobby did. Horry was fortunate to be on the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs and pile up a ton of championships. Michael on the other hand won 2 3-peats with essentially the same cast of characters. By contrast, Kobe was an integral part of winning with the Shaq led Lakers and could put together another run with a vastly different cast around him. He didn't bounce from contender to contender piling up rings (no disrespect to Horry - he will always be a Laker in my book)...he was part of building something that had been torn down. Check out the wreckage left in the wake of the SS Shaq O'Neal [side note - I truly hope he goes to Cleveland...no greater way to destroy a young talented player (team) than to pair them with Shaq - it took D-Wade 2 years to recover from carrying "The Diesel" to the '06 title (the Heat still haven't recovered), who knows how long it will take Amare to recover (the Suns may never recover) - and we blame Kobe for things falling apart in LA].
Kobe is Kobe. He is moody (who isn't?). He is sometimes contrived (who wouldn't be...growing up in the spotlight). Kobe is a Champion! Sometimes, he puts his head down and tries to do it all himself...I can relate. Sometimes, he is amazing...sometimes, he takes your breath away. Sometimes, he wins championships...4 times.
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