So Tempting...

"Tickets are now available to next week’s tapings of So You Think You Can Dance!!

Due to your place on the waiting list, we are notifying you of ticket availability to the tapings ...."


I'm calling all my customers in LA to see if anyone needs a visit from their favorite Pup. How fun would that be to be at a live taping?!

Bleach

I just finished episode 135 of this anime series. It still amazes me that there’s nothing remotely like this anywhere in the world. Apparently, only one culture recognizes that cartoons are not just for children.

Over 135 episodes, a lot of character development can happen. Sure there are the big action and fighting episodes that you would expect from any good anime. With 135 episodes though, there is plenty of room to develop the characters to be more than these people who fights all the time. There are a lot of people who wouldn’t enjoy these episodes as they’re kinda boring in comparison, but I think these are the episodes that makes the show great.

These interlude/plot/silly episodes make the characters more than just ‘cartoon’ characters. These are the episodes that make the show more than just good guys vs. bad guys. Sure, fighting bad guys is one thing, but knowing why the good guys really fight for makes you cheer for them so much more.

The main character nearly goes insane because he blames himself for not being strong enough to protect his friends and family. Many times you see him just get beaten down badly and you feel for this guy cause you know why it’s so bad. It’s not just bad because he’s getting his ass kicked, but you feel bad because of his feelings of not being able to be strong for others. You also cheer that much more when he powers up and fights back (yes, I know most anime I watch has the exact same pattern).

How often do you see a cartoon that has that level of story? No, most of the ones out there are good guys beat bad guys the end. That’s the other thing, why do good guys always win? They really don’t you know. Just think, how much do you know about cobra commander reasons for taking over the world? OK, that’s a silly example, but you know what I mean.

I’m sure no one really knows what I’m talking about. I just wanted to make sure I remembered.

Going to the Chapel and we’re….. Gonna get marrrry….

This was the 2nd of my 4 wedding this year. For some reason, the weddings are picking up again. I went to quite a few for a few years there in a row, like 5-7 a year. Then it quieted down to 1 a year. Now, we’re back into wedding mode. I am running out of unmarried friends though.

I think unlike a lot of people, I enjoy weddings. It’s a very happy time for all involved. There’s the happy married couple, happy families, and happy people that hasn’t seen each other for a while. I am particularly happy with the dancing (even though most of the time the music is questionable, but it’s the one time I don’t mind. It’s wonderful to see the old people out there dancing). We’ve totally lost dancing as part of celebrations in our society, but that's another post.

Weddings are also great in that there's generally an open bar that keeps me happy.

I flew into Boston to meet up with my old roommate and his girlfriend, then picked up my friend and first go down to Foxwoods then the wedding. Once again, I was hit with a delay flying in. It’s been such bad luck for me on flying lately.

Instead of getting in earlier, I got in right in the middle of a Friday rush hour. What’s even worst is that I was driving to Harvard Square where to celebrate the new Potter book, they transformed the place to Diagon Alley. This was insanely cool and everyone was dressed up. I felt like such a muggle in my car. The only bad thing is that it meant traffic was pretty much at a standstill.

I eventually picked up my friend and we went on down to Foxwoods. In case you didn’t know, Foxwoods is a casino. It was strangely located though. You get off the highway and drive around in a forest in a while. Then all of a sudden, boom. Huge casino.

My old roommate and I pretty much grew up gambling together, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. The inside of casinos all look the same. However, my friend from Boston had never gambled before. This was pretty exciting for her. It was great for us too that she picked up the game (craps) amazingly fast and was enjoying it. New blood is always refreshing. She gets very excited about things too so that made it really fun.

Yada Yada.. a few hours later, I had a yellow chip. Go me!

The next day was painful as it was a morning wedding (10am). We had about a 1.5 hour drive from the casino and we stayed up till about 3 or 4am. This is so not a good idea. It was painful. What made it worst that it was a full on traditional Catholic wedding. Mass and everything.

The wedding itself was a bit long, but nice. The reception was good as it was at this old house over looking the river. I don’t know what they were using, but they served some of the best meatballs I’ve ever tasted. Seriously, the recipe must’ve called for ground beef, bread crumbs, and crack.

After the wedding, we checked into our hotel room. My old roommate and his gf left because they had a really strange schedule of flying out of Boston at 6am. Being that we’re about 4 hours away, this made the logistics very difficult. I think they were just going to go to the airport and sleeping there.

My friend and I went out after they left. We first went to this seafood place for an appetizer of oysters and crab meat. Then we walked around for a bit and found this great little place for Italian. The day and now night was just perfect. Around 80 degrees, no humidity, and a slight breeze. You really can’t beat that as we sat outside and ate under a strangely bright star lit night.

I order this shrimp pasta dish that had the biggest shrimps I’ve ever seen. The menu said it was soaked in egg, but sheese. Size of your fist. We ended up having to bag a good part of our meal which I tried to avoid, but there’s just too much good food to leave here.

We walked around a bit, then found a bar that had some darts. I’ve been fancying darts a lot lately. We drank and played darts for a while which was amazingly fun as we’re pretty competitive with each other. That’s the thing when you know you’re with a good one. It doesn’t have to be that exciting, just being with them is all that’s important.

Eventually, a couple started to play darts next to us. Being a bit drunk, my friend and I were very friendly and they were as well so we started playing together. They were such a fun couple. It was like we were old friends as we all had similar sense of humor and all. It was probably just the alcohol, but whatever.

This couple was telling us what they did, and they were chefs for movies and TV shows. They’re up there for a movie and next month they start on 30 Rock. Yup, they cook all the food for the crew and cast. So cool!

After playing for what turned out to be hours, we headed back to the hotel. By the time we got back, we were starving. We sat on the bed and just pigged out on our leftovers. We didn’t have utensils so we were just picking up the pasta and giant shrimps with our hands. Classy I know.

This was an amazingly good trip. We really didn’t do anything extraordinary the whole weekend (we drove about 500 miles, so we were in the car most of the time). Being there with good friends made all the difference. It really is all about who you’re with.

Of course, I wasn’t going to get off that easy. My flight back was delayed as well (seriously, it’s getting old) and I didn't get home till pass midnight. Oh well..

What If?

I met a really cute girl last Thursday night during our game. She came out of nowhere as I got to the field and was getting ready. The first thing that came to my mind was wow, she’s so out of my league. She was very friendly, nice, and painfully cute with a smile that could melt your heart.

We spoke for a while and then started playing some silly Frisbee related game while we waited for our game to start. We were clicking like old friends. What the hell is going on? My mind was racing with what’s she doing? I’m not even on her team or have ever met her before.

Then comes the ‘what’s wrong with her’ excuses. Too young? Nope, she mentioned having graduated college. Crazy? Maybe, but she seems to be really nice to this kids and the dogs likes her. I trust the dogs. What the hell? My mind kept racing with stupid thoughts, but none seems to be sticking.

After our game, there was a hang shake and a hug. She also offered some beers after hearing that I’ve forgotten to grab some. Serious points here. We talked a bit more while drinking the beer then departed from the fields.

I thought that’d be the end of that.

I saw her again on Sunday during the tournament. I had gotten a haircut since I’ve seen her. I was wearing contacts and had on some very different clothes. She recognized me immediately. Even before I saw her and we talked for a while about the games going on.

Not much of a story I know.

Hopefully, it’s a developing story.

Bravo, Bringers of War.

War is and should always be, the absolute last resort. Whatever the excuse, whatever the reason, war should not be on the table unless absolutely necessary.

This is obviously not a philosophy this administration subscribes to.

War does not just affect those on the battlefield. People on the battlefields chose to be there. They have been trained and are equiped to be there. The majority of the causalities of war are not the ones that are killed on the battlefield.

There are no winners in wars. Just people who’ve lost less.

This administration went into Iraq to take down one person. Under the lies and manipulation of facts, this administration coerced the American public that this was the only way to make us ‘safer’.

Do you feel safer?

That’s not what I want to argue here though. Personal opinions on safety is a very pointless topic living here in the US.

What this short sighted administration has grossly ignored are the people they have made unsafe as a result of their pointless war. These are the real causalities of war. Compare to many, the ones that perished were the lucky one.

From a recent report by Richard Engel of NBC.

“There are dozens of clubs just like this one the outskirts of Damascus -- a red light district built on the slender shoulders of little Iraqi girls in belly dancing costumes. The girls are nearly all Iraqi refugees forced into what U.N. relief agencies call “survival sex.” The reason why is cold math. There are 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in Syria. Syrian laws do not allow Iraqi refugees to work in Syria, which struggles to provide enough jobs for its own citizens. But Iraqi children can often slip under the law, especially if they work on the black market. They work to support their families. Many were traumatized even before they left Iraq, and had relatives murdered or kidnapped. Now they are forced into prostitution -- victims of war, victimized again every night.”

For the full article, please click here.

Iraqi children, having to work in sex trade to help their families survive. These families that have been displaced by the war. Families with parents that used to be engineers, scientists before the war and are unable to work now. Now, they have to see their daughters sell their bodies to provide food and rent money.

So it is worth it? Our minor, if any, increase sense of security? Is it worth these children working as prostitutes? The trauma that these children goes through on a nightly basis. Is that worth what we’ve gotten in following this administration to war?

Anyone with any decent sense knows the effects of war. Wars do not stop on the battlefield. This is not a damn video game where after you win the war, it’s over. No. When the battles are over, that’s just the beginning of the real war.

We used to be a country that helps the weak. A country that comes to the aid of those that can’t help themselves. We used to be a country that would willingly take a punch rather then allow an innocent person receive the punishment.

Under this administration, we’ve now become the ones that create and expose the weak to their predators. We’re now the country that bullies other countries that we don’t like.

This foolish administration has opened Pandora's box. They have no plan nor intention of closing it. For during chaos, those that are the loudest and spreads the most fear will rule. The wise and moderate will be silenced.

List List Lists…

Gone on a blind date X

Skipped school X

Seen someone die X

Been to Florida X

Been to Mexico X

Been on a plane X

Been lost X (ha)

Been on the opposite side of the country X (on the same day)

Gone to Chicago X

Swam in the ocean X

Felt like dying X

Cried yourself to sleep X

Played cops and robbers when I was little X (mainly robbers, and what do you mean by ‘played’?)

Recently colored with crayons X

Sang karaoke X

Paid for a meal with only coins X

Did something you told yourself you wouldn't X

Made prank phone calls (Does Drunk calls count?)

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose X

Caught a snowflake on your tongue X

Danced in the rain X

Written a letter to Santa Claus

Been kissed under the mistletoe X

Watched the sun rise with someone you care about X

Blown bubbles X

Been topless on the beach X

Crashed a party X

Gone roller-skating X

Gone Ice-skating

Gone skinny dipping

1. Nick-name? If I gave you my Alias, I’d have to kill you

2. Mother's nick name? Sue

3. What is your favorite drink? Sweet Tea

4. Tattoos? 0

5. Piercing? 0

6. How much do you love your job? Besides the fact it’s killing me, it’s fantastic!

7. Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere... with the right person

8. Ever been to Africa? No

9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? No

10. Ever been on TV? Yes (briefly on ESPN once for ultimate)

11. Ever steal any traffic signs? I can neither deny or confirm that

12. Ever been in a car accident? 3

12. Was it your fault? 1 of them was

13. 2 Doors or 4 Doors? 4 doors

14. Salad dressing? Balsamic Vinaigrette

15. Favorite pie? Banana Cream

16. Favorite number? 3

17. Favorite movies? Too many…

18. Favorite holiday? Halloween!

19. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream

20. Favorite food? Pork Chops

21. Favorite day of the week? Friday

22. Favorite brand of Body soap? Lush

23. Favorite TV show! So you think you can dance, Meet the Press, Scrubs, Family Guy
24. Favorite smell? Fruity or floral smell on a girl

25. What do you do to relax? Staring contest with Pup

26. Do you have a message to your friends reading this? You owe me $5

27. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Having a much different life than now hopefully

28. What do you do when you are bored? I don’t get bored. Boring people get bored.

Now what?

Any help or suggestions you can give me about a plan would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

When life give you lemons..

This was one hell of a one night trip.

I should’ve known this was going to be a bad trip when I drove up to my usual parking lot when I see a sign that said ‘Lot Full’. I proceeded to 3 more lots with the same sign. Finally, I get to a lot that was miles away with a few spots open.

Thing did get better as I was in first class of a very nice international plane. There was enough room for me to lay all the way down like a bed. Yea, that’s how nice the first class has it. Although I was feeling guilty and hating all the whiny first class passengers. Seriously, I’ve never seen people act so damn whiny in coach.

We got to about 12 feet from the terminal when the rain and lightning really started to come down. Because they didn’t want to endanger the ground crew, we waited for 2.5 hours on the plane before the opened the door! That’s right. 12 feet from the gate. Waited 2.5 hours.

It got a bit better as I checked into an insanely nice hotel. It was so nice the very accomodating attractive young lady that checked me in walked me to the door of my hotel. I wasn’t sure what’s going on. Was she coming in with me? Am I getting a nightcap? Is this why this room was so damn expensive? Hmm..

Sadly no, but it was still excellent service. The room too, was most excellent.

Check out this bed. Swanky.

Sadly, I was working till 3am and only got to enjoy that super nice bed for only 3 hours. The meeting in the morning went off just fine. When we got to the second meeting, the meeting that I was actually there for, they informed me that it was going to be cancelled because the team was running late.

I was actually quite excited about this. This meant that I would be able to catch an earlier flight and make it in time for my ultimate game. It was a bummer that I flew out here for nothing though but nonetheless, I’ll be back early. Yay!

I went to the airport and I was put on standby for the earlier flight. This is when all the bad started.

I was number 14 on the list. They put the first 12 on the plane. So I missed this flight. My flight wasn’t going to go for another 3 hours. I checked the schedule a few hours later, and it had been delayed an hour, then 2 hours. The final straw came when they cancelled my flight along with sever dozen other flights due to the weather in the Midwest and the South.

There was a mad scramble of people trying to rebook their flights. I talked to the travel agent that we use who wasn’t able to book me on anything on any other airline, nor was she able to find me anything the next day. The earliest flight she could get me on was Sat. afternoon. So instead of getting home early by 3 hours, I was going to get home 2 days late.

Due to the mass cancellation, all the hotels around the airport were booked as well. For some reason, almost all the hotels in the city were booked too. The cheapest hotel the travel agent could find was around $500. I was not about to stay at a place that expensive without some approvals.

I ended up calling my friend A & R. They lived closed to the airport so I thought that might be a good idea. Luckily for me, they said it was ok for me to stay with them. They’re cool like that.

The rest of Thursday night was a bit of a blur. As I mentioned before, I had 3 hours of sleep and I haven’t really had anything to eat. So while waiting for A & R to get home, I went to a nearby bar.

I think most of you who have drank with me will attest that I’m no light weight when it came to drinking. I had a couple of drinks before R got back from work. Then we had a couple together before heading home.

I had no recollection of getting home at all.

Luckily and unluckily for me, I can do my job anywhere there’s a high speed connection. So I work all day on Friday. Sad I know. So boring. I believe a certain Ko and I are switching roles.

Friday night got a bit more fun. A makes jewelry (awesomely pretty jewelry if I do say so myself) and she had a show at an event called ‘Girls night out’. Basically, it’s 2 floors of vendors so the girls can shop. The girls pay $20 to get in and it’s all you can drink. As she described it to me, it’s just wall to wall drunk women. Women to men ratio was about 400 to 1.

Now those are odds I can work with.

As she warned though, it’s insanely annoying. I threw her warning back in her face. Damn it, I need to explore it for all men out there. Is it the paradise we dream of or the nightmare A warned of?

I was all proud when I went into downtown from queens using the train. I know it’s not a big deal, but it was still a bit exciting to be doing it all by myself.

I met R at work and we went to grab some food and drinks before heading to the ‘Girl’s night out’. Walking into the place, it seems like some secret club that men have never seen. Girls everywhere, drinking and cutting up with each other. Not having a care in the world cause they’re not thinking of impressing some dude.

At first the whole thing was quite amusing. That lasted about 10 min. Just as A warned, the novelty of it wore off and it’s just a bunch of drunk women being loud. Being that I’m old and bitter, I was just generally unamused.

Since it’s a Girls thing, they catered the drinks to the population they were serving. The menu involved sweet drinks that were blue, red and orange. There was also coffee liquor (which was surprisingly good), and bud light. Wow, you’d think that selection would almost make me not drink.

It was still fun hanging out with A & R despite the women. Afterwards we went out for some real drinks. There was darts, pool, and meat on sticks (not a metaphor) involved. Good time for all.

I’m lucky those nights were there to salvage my crappy days. I left Saturday afternoon. There’s a funny story about how I amused a 7 yr old for 2.5 hours that involved paddy cakes, some other hand slapping game, drawing, writing a letter to her mom, and painting her finger nails with a highlighter (which she then returned the favor) during the flight.

Maybe another time. Just glad to be home.