Monday, April 29, 2002
For the most part, today was a normal day of work, except for one thing. =] Get this...
Someone actually came up to me and told me I resembled Johnny Depp! Yeah, same guy who's usually the bad boy heartthrob in myriad Hollywood flicks, he who has captivated ~thousands~ of female admirers through his on-screen personas. Ha, ha...
On top of that, one of my airport acquaintances told me this morning that I resembled Ichiro...
Now, do Johnny Depp and Ichiro resemble each other? I suppose, in the fact that one is Asian [Ichiro] and the other who exhibits Asiatic facial features...
Thing is, I'm Filipino. I think it's really funny being a Filipino man in this culture, sometimes people are not sure which ethnicity you are, and you get pigeon-holed into that whole "exotic" label. I'm conscious that I probably should be offended by such a label, but somehow I don't find it offensive when people assume that I'm of a certain ethnicity whether it be Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, Vietmamese, Native American [which Johnny Depp is], and so forth. At least not anymore. I think I've learned to revel in the ambiguity, it's something I think plays a huge part in defining who I am. I'm gray, foggy...a guy that people can't really see through, no matter how bright they try to shine their headlights down the road which leads to defining who I am. It's a road that has countless twists, embankments, rest stops, turns...all the traffic terminology one could think of. There's pro's and con's to it, but I think the one ~pro~ that overshadows everything else is the fact that I can adapt to any situation that I find myself in. I can't really say I have a home-land in the conventional sense of the word. Here in the States, I'm too "exotic" to be a true American, and in the Philippines too "Inchek" [Asiatic looking] to be Filipino.
I guess if I was forced to declare a home, I'd say it'd have to be ~ambiguity~ itself. Being a Christian, sometimes I wonder why the Lord made me who I am and put me in these circumstances [ethnicity, height, and so forth]. Don't intend to be all poetic when I say this, but I guess I'm currently a river of ambiguity that, Lord willing, will someday find solace in the ocean of serene clarity...
Someone actually came up to me and told me I resembled Johnny Depp! Yeah, same guy who's usually the bad boy heartthrob in myriad Hollywood flicks, he who has captivated ~thousands~ of female admirers through his on-screen personas. Ha, ha...
On top of that, one of my airport acquaintances told me this morning that I resembled Ichiro...
Now, do Johnny Depp and Ichiro resemble each other? I suppose, in the fact that one is Asian [Ichiro] and the other who exhibits Asiatic facial features...
Thing is, I'm Filipino. I think it's really funny being a Filipino man in this culture, sometimes people are not sure which ethnicity you are, and you get pigeon-holed into that whole "exotic" label. I'm conscious that I probably should be offended by such a label, but somehow I don't find it offensive when people assume that I'm of a certain ethnicity whether it be Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, Vietmamese, Native American [which Johnny Depp is], and so forth. At least not anymore. I think I've learned to revel in the ambiguity, it's something I think plays a huge part in defining who I am. I'm gray, foggy...a guy that people can't really see through, no matter how bright they try to shine their headlights down the road which leads to defining who I am. It's a road that has countless twists, embankments, rest stops, turns...all the traffic terminology one could think of. There's pro's and con's to it, but I think the one ~pro~ that overshadows everything else is the fact that I can adapt to any situation that I find myself in. I can't really say I have a home-land in the conventional sense of the word. Here in the States, I'm too "exotic" to be a true American, and in the Philippines too "Inchek" [Asiatic looking] to be Filipino.
I guess if I was forced to declare a home, I'd say it'd have to be ~ambiguity~ itself. Being a Christian, sometimes I wonder why the Lord made me who I am and put me in these circumstances [ethnicity, height, and so forth]. Don't intend to be all poetic when I say this, but I guess I'm currently a river of ambiguity that, Lord willing, will someday find solace in the ocean of serene clarity...
Sunday, April 21, 2002
Today definitely had a sports vibe goin' for it...
At work today, the entire time I essentially spent anticipating the first game of the Sonic first-round playoff series against the Spurs. On my mind naturally was also baseball, and the game that I'd attend tonight. I'd have to say that while at work I was more pumped about the Sonics being in the playoffs since it hadn't happened in over two years and 'cause I thought they'd have a legitimate shot at upsetting the heavily favored Spurs since the Supes had played them close three out of the four games of the regular season...
Got off the jobby-job at 2:15pm, I was quite hungry, so I opted to eat at a place I occasionally stop by after the Sea-Tac thing, a place in Burien called "Ichiro's Teriyaki." Figured I'd take care of a pair of things at once, since I was feenin' for teriyaki and there was a television there. Real enjoyable, gettin' my teriyaki fix and simultaneously watching the Sonics build themselves a 5 point lead after the first quarter. Bolted the place right after grubbin', so I could watch the rest of the game in the comfort of me'z own premises...
Halftime, tied 52 apiece. Hey, the Sonics are hangin' in there. I take a shower during half to get ready for the M's game, and 40 minutes later I come out and the Supes and absolutely gettin' blitzed by the Spurs who'd turned up the pressure defense and ruined the Sonic plan of containing Tim Duncan by having the big fella pass out on the double teams. 11 assists for Duncan, who posts a triple double, doesn't bode well for the Supes, who are shell-shocked by the score of 110-89. Despite the defeat, Supes can still turn it around, I mean there's always the possibility [see 1994 #1 seed Sonics, dethroned by Mt. Mutombo's 8th seed Nuggets].
I hop aboard the 21 Metro at around 5:30pm, and arrive at the game about ten minutes late, due to the bus driver taking an ill-advised exit goin' through the Viaduct. No real sweat, I actually don't mind bein' there a few minutes late 'cause of all the pre-game hoop-lah. As long as I'm there in time enough to see A-Rod first at-bat and gauging the Safeco crowd's reaction to Mr. Rodriguez aka "A-Fraud" or "Pay-Rod." I can't help but chuckle as the crowd lustily boo's Alex...definitely no love lost between the two sides, just like a messy high-profile divorce. Later in the game, the crowd is in a virtual riot frenzy as Alex steps up later in the game during a couple pivotal situations. Every strike, the crowd mercilessly rips Alex, building into a climax as he strikes out and flies out in both respective times up. It's kinda funny how Alex is so good at portraying himself as unfazed, saying that he made a "smart business decision" in leaving the M's for a Jerry Maguire-esque "show me the money," but one thing I think he needs to understand which was poignantly illustrated in today Seattle-PI is that all the jeers he's getting are also "sound business decisions"...by the fans who he'd betrayed by telling them "it''ll never be about the money, only about winning." Real fitting how it's become all about the doe, as it's the thing that's the bane of his baseball existence, causing him all this grief from the fans, tainting his image as one of baseball's beloved superstars, and probably what irks him the most, having it anchor his Rangers down to the AL West cellar.
A-Rod aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the experienceas usual, taking in all the gorgeous scenery and vantage points around Safeco. One experience that really had me encouraged were my rounds at the Speed Pitch booth near the bullpen. I threw two rounds of eight, and tried to re-capture the velocity I'd reached at last year's All-Star game [75mph]. My first round, I tried to warm up, and I was hitting the low 60's. I chuckled when I heard a guy behind me say "oh, this guy can hit the 70's easy if he wanted to." And I guess I gotta give it up to the guy as a baseball Nostradamus of sorts, 'cause on my second go round I steadily climbed from 64 to 66 to 69 to 71 to finally 73 mph. I was quite thrilled, since I wasn't putting out 100 percent of my arm, and still managed to hit the highest MPH of the night up to that point which was about the sixth inning. I think if I stretched out my arm this spring I could hit 80mph, but I would need the aid of a radar gun to gauge my progress...
As for the game, it was probably the most electrifying regular season game I've attended. Check that, probably second behind a game I went to in '95 when Mike Blowers hit a grand slam to account for 4 of his 8 rbi's in a same that was crucial in the M's run for the post-season and also for their very survival as a team, and subsequently Safeco, and Ichiro-mania...and so on and so forth. Game went into 11 innings, with all of the drama fixin's. In the tenth, Ichiro came up w/ the bases loaded w/ the crowd absolutely rockin' w/ chants of "EE-CHEE-RO, EE-CHEE-RO." He fouled off pitch after pitch, and one such pitch he drove towards the upper echelons of the right field stands, but faded a shade foul. Thinkin' how bonkers the crowd would've went if he wasn't so in front and mashed it a split-second later...man. It was like a collective gasp, and I couldn't help but clap a few times and chuckle after he nearly tore the roof of Safeco...
M's ended up winning the contest 3-2 in 11 innings, after the dreadful Rangers bullpen once again coughed it up, loading the bases and walking in Cirillo for the game winner...
The streaking Mariners, Sonics alive and kickin' in the playoffs...could this be Seattle sports heaven? =]
At work today, the entire time I essentially spent anticipating the first game of the Sonic first-round playoff series against the Spurs. On my mind naturally was also baseball, and the game that I'd attend tonight. I'd have to say that while at work I was more pumped about the Sonics being in the playoffs since it hadn't happened in over two years and 'cause I thought they'd have a legitimate shot at upsetting the heavily favored Spurs since the Supes had played them close three out of the four games of the regular season...
Got off the jobby-job at 2:15pm, I was quite hungry, so I opted to eat at a place I occasionally stop by after the Sea-Tac thing, a place in Burien called "Ichiro's Teriyaki." Figured I'd take care of a pair of things at once, since I was feenin' for teriyaki and there was a television there. Real enjoyable, gettin' my teriyaki fix and simultaneously watching the Sonics build themselves a 5 point lead after the first quarter. Bolted the place right after grubbin', so I could watch the rest of the game in the comfort of me'z own premises...
Halftime, tied 52 apiece. Hey, the Sonics are hangin' in there. I take a shower during half to get ready for the M's game, and 40 minutes later I come out and the Supes and absolutely gettin' blitzed by the Spurs who'd turned up the pressure defense and ruined the Sonic plan of containing Tim Duncan by having the big fella pass out on the double teams. 11 assists for Duncan, who posts a triple double, doesn't bode well for the Supes, who are shell-shocked by the score of 110-89. Despite the defeat, Supes can still turn it around, I mean there's always the possibility [see 1994 #1 seed Sonics, dethroned by Mt. Mutombo's 8th seed Nuggets].
I hop aboard the 21 Metro at around 5:30pm, and arrive at the game about ten minutes late, due to the bus driver taking an ill-advised exit goin' through the Viaduct. No real sweat, I actually don't mind bein' there a few minutes late 'cause of all the pre-game hoop-lah. As long as I'm there in time enough to see A-Rod first at-bat and gauging the Safeco crowd's reaction to Mr. Rodriguez aka "A-Fraud" or "Pay-Rod." I can't help but chuckle as the crowd lustily boo's Alex...definitely no love lost between the two sides, just like a messy high-profile divorce. Later in the game, the crowd is in a virtual riot frenzy as Alex steps up later in the game during a couple pivotal situations. Every strike, the crowd mercilessly rips Alex, building into a climax as he strikes out and flies out in both respective times up. It's kinda funny how Alex is so good at portraying himself as unfazed, saying that he made a "smart business decision" in leaving the M's for a Jerry Maguire-esque "show me the money," but one thing I think he needs to understand which was poignantly illustrated in today Seattle-PI is that all the jeers he's getting are also "sound business decisions"...by the fans who he'd betrayed by telling them "it''ll never be about the money, only about winning." Real fitting how it's become all about the doe, as it's the thing that's the bane of his baseball existence, causing him all this grief from the fans, tainting his image as one of baseball's beloved superstars, and probably what irks him the most, having it anchor his Rangers down to the AL West cellar.
A-Rod aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the experienceas usual, taking in all the gorgeous scenery and vantage points around Safeco. One experience that really had me encouraged were my rounds at the Speed Pitch booth near the bullpen. I threw two rounds of eight, and tried to re-capture the velocity I'd reached at last year's All-Star game [75mph]. My first round, I tried to warm up, and I was hitting the low 60's. I chuckled when I heard a guy behind me say "oh, this guy can hit the 70's easy if he wanted to." And I guess I gotta give it up to the guy as a baseball Nostradamus of sorts, 'cause on my second go round I steadily climbed from 64 to 66 to 69 to 71 to finally 73 mph. I was quite thrilled, since I wasn't putting out 100 percent of my arm, and still managed to hit the highest MPH of the night up to that point which was about the sixth inning. I think if I stretched out my arm this spring I could hit 80mph, but I would need the aid of a radar gun to gauge my progress...
As for the game, it was probably the most electrifying regular season game I've attended. Check that, probably second behind a game I went to in '95 when Mike Blowers hit a grand slam to account for 4 of his 8 rbi's in a same that was crucial in the M's run for the post-season and also for their very survival as a team, and subsequently Safeco, and Ichiro-mania...and so on and so forth. Game went into 11 innings, with all of the drama fixin's. In the tenth, Ichiro came up w/ the bases loaded w/ the crowd absolutely rockin' w/ chants of "EE-CHEE-RO, EE-CHEE-RO." He fouled off pitch after pitch, and one such pitch he drove towards the upper echelons of the right field stands, but faded a shade foul. Thinkin' how bonkers the crowd would've went if he wasn't so in front and mashed it a split-second later...man. It was like a collective gasp, and I couldn't help but clap a few times and chuckle after he nearly tore the roof of Safeco...
M's ended up winning the contest 3-2 in 11 innings, after the dreadful Rangers bullpen once again coughed it up, loading the bases and walking in Cirillo for the game winner...
The streaking Mariners, Sonics alive and kickin' in the playoffs...could this be Seattle sports heaven? =]
Saturday, April 13, 2002
Another workday in the bag. Saturdays are usually laid back for me at Sea-Tac, and today definitely fit that description...
Yesterday evening was real fun. I headed out to the IMA at around 6:30pm, arrived there at 7pm, w/ the intent of playing a few pick-up games and lifting weights for about an hour afterwards. I guess to say a "few" would be a gross understatement. Ended up playing a whopping nine straight pick-up games, of which our team won all of them. Two and a half hours of non-stop, run-and-gun, 80's Showtime caliber basketball. Although winning all these games was cool in itself, the real cool-ness was playing and winning all those games w/ Michael Johnson on our squad. Yeah, the same Michael Johnson who was a starter on the UW basketball team for the past 4 years, and who was highly regarded prep basketball recruit from Ballard HS from '93 to '97. It felt awesome playin' on the same team w/ Mike, dishing out assists and hearing encouraging compliments from the guy whether it was a long-range shot, an assist, or even a block [ha, ha]. Kinda made me feel like I could've really thrived as a point guard in the mold of GP, J. Kidd or Stockton if I pursued basketball instead of tennis back in HS...
Afterwards, I hit the weights, and 45 minutes into the session I encountered Yee, one of my old HS friends who used to be my mixed doubles partner on the Sealth HS tennis team. We talked for about 20 minutes, mostly about what each of us ahs planned for the future [she's a chemistry major going pre-Med]. We also reminisced about our tennis "careers," much about the first match we played together against the then powerhouse Eastside Catholic team, a match which saw itself float into a nail-biting three-set tie breaker. We were up 6-5 in the third set w/ the entire team excitedly rooting us on [we were the last match to finish, and our last hope for a win 'cause we'd lost the ten other previous matches that day], one game away from taking the match. But, our nerves got the best of us and we ended up losing the next two games [last one in a tie breaker] and consequently the match. He, he...yeah, back then we used to practice w/ each other all the time, honing our skills, and we both ended up eventually vaulting to respective #1 singles positions...
The overall experience yesterday evening I guess you could say had a retro-HS feeling, full of a calming fondness derived from reminiscing. I suppose every once in a while it's good to be reminded and refreshed on some of the good times in a past era of one's life. For me it has this way of grounding me in the present, reminding me of who I was back then and the similarities and differences of that person to the current model spiritually and personality-wise. It has a way of brightening the future, sort of like an assuring reminder that the world's not ~all~ dreariness, and that myriad positive experiences are still are up ahead on the horizon...
The classic 70's Beatles tune "Here Comes the Sun" pops into mind...it's kinda like I can feel the Sun's rays right now as the chorus repeats itself in my brain like an ill-functioning 45 record. Ha, ha...
Yesterday evening was real fun. I headed out to the IMA at around 6:30pm, arrived there at 7pm, w/ the intent of playing a few pick-up games and lifting weights for about an hour afterwards. I guess to say a "few" would be a gross understatement. Ended up playing a whopping nine straight pick-up games, of which our team won all of them. Two and a half hours of non-stop, run-and-gun, 80's Showtime caliber basketball. Although winning all these games was cool in itself, the real cool-ness was playing and winning all those games w/ Michael Johnson on our squad. Yeah, the same Michael Johnson who was a starter on the UW basketball team for the past 4 years, and who was highly regarded prep basketball recruit from Ballard HS from '93 to '97. It felt awesome playin' on the same team w/ Mike, dishing out assists and hearing encouraging compliments from the guy whether it was a long-range shot, an assist, or even a block [ha, ha]. Kinda made me feel like I could've really thrived as a point guard in the mold of GP, J. Kidd or Stockton if I pursued basketball instead of tennis back in HS...
Afterwards, I hit the weights, and 45 minutes into the session I encountered Yee, one of my old HS friends who used to be my mixed doubles partner on the Sealth HS tennis team. We talked for about 20 minutes, mostly about what each of us ahs planned for the future [she's a chemistry major going pre-Med]. We also reminisced about our tennis "careers," much about the first match we played together against the then powerhouse Eastside Catholic team, a match which saw itself float into a nail-biting three-set tie breaker. We were up 6-5 in the third set w/ the entire team excitedly rooting us on [we were the last match to finish, and our last hope for a win 'cause we'd lost the ten other previous matches that day], one game away from taking the match. But, our nerves got the best of us and we ended up losing the next two games [last one in a tie breaker] and consequently the match. He, he...yeah, back then we used to practice w/ each other all the time, honing our skills, and we both ended up eventually vaulting to respective #1 singles positions...
The overall experience yesterday evening I guess you could say had a retro-HS feeling, full of a calming fondness derived from reminiscing. I suppose every once in a while it's good to be reminded and refreshed on some of the good times in a past era of one's life. For me it has this way of grounding me in the present, reminding me of who I was back then and the similarities and differences of that person to the current model spiritually and personality-wise. It has a way of brightening the future, sort of like an assuring reminder that the world's not ~all~ dreariness, and that myriad positive experiences are still are up ahead on the horizon...
The classic 70's Beatles tune "Here Comes the Sun" pops into mind...it's kinda like I can feel the Sun's rays right now as the chorus repeats itself in my brain like an ill-functioning 45 record. Ha, ha...
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Caught my first M's game this year last Saturday, which was the 2nd game of the 3 game set against the Oakland Athletics. Even though the M's ended up losing, it felt good to walk through those hallowed corridors of Safeco for the first time since last year's game 5 of the AL Division Series. Picked up a buncha M's gear while I was there, some auto decals, a free M's vs. A's shirt, and a neck-band badge holder which proclaims to legions at the airport that I'm a baseball fanatic [7 or 8 people have actually mentioned how nifty n' attractive looking it is]. There something about April, the aura of newness to the month, and to me baseball symbolizes this newness, as well as one of the increasingly rare positive things about the good ol' US of A.
On Sunday I caught the flick "Monster's Ball" starring Halle Berry. I have to admit, the only reason I decided to catch it was because of Oscar-winner Halle [he, he]. But the movie actually turned out to be interesting [aside from the junctures where Halle "steams" things up]. I had no idea what the movie was all about going into it based on the previews, and despite that being one of the reasons I enjoyed the film, I also enjoyed the emphasis on race relations and how it touched on some of its dynamics. As for the ending, didn't really feel it was particularly fitting, since race relations is still an ongoing drama, and the movie settled on exuding an "everything's gonna be OK and work itself out" kinda impression...
Just finished catching "Zoolander." I guess it's a cool movie for what it sets out to do, to be funny in a mindless, irreverent way...
On Sunday I caught the flick "Monster's Ball" starring Halle Berry. I have to admit, the only reason I decided to catch it was because of Oscar-winner Halle [he, he]. But the movie actually turned out to be interesting [aside from the junctures where Halle "steams" things up]. I had no idea what the movie was all about going into it based on the previews, and despite that being one of the reasons I enjoyed the film, I also enjoyed the emphasis on race relations and how it touched on some of its dynamics. As for the ending, didn't really feel it was particularly fitting, since race relations is still an ongoing drama, and the movie settled on exuding an "everything's gonna be OK and work itself out" kinda impression...
Just finished catching "Zoolander." I guess it's a cool movie for what it sets out to do, to be funny in a mindless, irreverent way...
Tuesday, April 02, 2002
Happy Easter! [I know, kinda belated... =]
Today was productive, which is a rarity for Tuesdays ever since I've graduated. I'm off on Tuesdays, and it's tempting for me to just sleep in until the late morning...
[*what I got accomplished today]
[1] Renewed my licence, which expires early next month when I turn the big 2-3.
[2] Filled out an application for an airport position, and drove to the office on International Blvd. to turn it in.
[3] Picked up a pack of guitar strings at Guitar Center, and ended up with a free pack courtesy of the store manager, who apologized for the faulty guitar strings that I picked up the night before. Drove back home and strung up my guitar, which now sounds and performs as beautiful as ever. Ended up jammin' for about four hours after stringin' it...
[4] Called the UW registrar to officially withdraw from the quarter, since my financial aid was put on hold in lieu of my recent graduation. Found out I'll be seein' my diploma in the mail sometime in late June...
[5] On a hunch, I checked out the oil dipstick reading on my Honda this afternoon, and it turned out that the level was *gravely* low. Put about two quarts of Pennzoil 10W-30 in the engine and raised the level to where it should be, enough to get me to Jiffy Lube... =]
[*cool quotes]
"When you play defense, everything else just clicks for you..."
-Desmond Mason of the Seattle Sonics
So true...despite Sportscenter highlight reels which have people believing otherwise, basketball's a sport that starts and ends w/ defense.
"See ya when I see ya..." -ESPN basketball analyst [NBA Tonight]
Cool way of sayin' "peace out"...
"Some people have a kind of confidence that you know will make them successful. He had it." -Pat Gillick, Seattle Mariner GM
Mr. Gillick said this in reference to Ichiro in the Seattle PI recently. And after an MVP season, deservedly so. It's a special brand of confidence, a kind that I seek to attain as well. It's part of why I find Ichiro so intriguing....
"He has showed you what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8
So simple, so eloquent...sums up the meaning of our existence on this Earth. Kinda funny how a lot of good things seem to come in threes... =]
Today was productive, which is a rarity for Tuesdays ever since I've graduated. I'm off on Tuesdays, and it's tempting for me to just sleep in until the late morning...
[*what I got accomplished today]
[1] Renewed my licence, which expires early next month when I turn the big 2-3.
[2] Filled out an application for an airport position, and drove to the office on International Blvd. to turn it in.
[3] Picked up a pack of guitar strings at Guitar Center, and ended up with a free pack courtesy of the store manager, who apologized for the faulty guitar strings that I picked up the night before. Drove back home and strung up my guitar, which now sounds and performs as beautiful as ever. Ended up jammin' for about four hours after stringin' it...
[4] Called the UW registrar to officially withdraw from the quarter, since my financial aid was put on hold in lieu of my recent graduation. Found out I'll be seein' my diploma in the mail sometime in late June...
[5] On a hunch, I checked out the oil dipstick reading on my Honda this afternoon, and it turned out that the level was *gravely* low. Put about two quarts of Pennzoil 10W-30 in the engine and raised the level to where it should be, enough to get me to Jiffy Lube... =]
[*cool quotes]
"When you play defense, everything else just clicks for you..."
-Desmond Mason of the Seattle Sonics
So true...despite Sportscenter highlight reels which have people believing otherwise, basketball's a sport that starts and ends w/ defense.
"See ya when I see ya..." -ESPN basketball analyst [NBA Tonight]
Cool way of sayin' "peace out"...
"Some people have a kind of confidence that you know will make them successful. He had it." -Pat Gillick, Seattle Mariner GM
Mr. Gillick said this in reference to Ichiro in the Seattle PI recently. And after an MVP season, deservedly so. It's a special brand of confidence, a kind that I seek to attain as well. It's part of why I find Ichiro so intriguing....
"He has showed you what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8
So simple, so eloquent...sums up the meaning of our existence on this Earth. Kinda funny how a lot of good things seem to come in threes... =]
