I have had a rather good day today. Yesterday, in my first shift after a two-year stay in the desert of unemployment, I only had a few contacts, and it was rather fruitless. Today, I got a monkey off my back. I had 21 contacts, which was a personal best for me, and I got my first pledge, which gave me a cash bonus, since it was from a list that didn’t donate as much.
At the same time, the Lakers and Clippers are now 3-1 on the Suns and Nuggets respectively. One more win for both of them, and we got us a Hallway Series, one which will definitely divide a city in two. And while my 49er Men’s Volleyball team finished their season losing to UCLA in the MPSF Championship game, Long Beach City finished off a perfect season, going the distance against Pierce, winning 3 games to 2. That’s their fifth men’s volleyball title. And another set of number to put to Long Beach City’s list of accomplishments. Men’s Volleyball State Champions: 2006. Randy Totorp, you are a god.
Thus another good day for me. Did I mention the Galaxy won on the road against Real Salt Lake 3-2? Ooops, I just did.
Un dia normal
Quick hits: April 19
I can’t believe that my Spring Break was boring. While my parents and older sister (she’s still a brat) were out working, I was stuck doing some studying and sleeping in. How boring is that!? I mean, why can’t Cal State Long Beach just do Spring Break the following week? I guess that would be bad timing….
Speaking of which, my mom checked out some new houses in Las Vegas the past few days. She’s planning on giving me a new home to live in. I don’t mind Vegas, but there are two things I have a problem with: cigarette smoke and the heat in the summer. The casinos and the one-arm bandits are a non-issue here…
Long Beach State’s volleyball team will take on BY-Who this Saturday in the quarterfinals of the MPSF tournament at the Pyramid. We defeated BYU twice this year, but will the third time be the charm for the defending national chumps? I hope not…
Just one more month, and I am done with this semester. But I got a grip of classes to go. Anyway, I’ve had enough posting. I gotta do some cramming for a couple of midterms coming up this week.
Orochon Ramen Special Level 2: Easy.
As morning calls for Saturday, I am sitting at my computer typing on another eventful Friday. I had to sacrifice my Business Calculus class for the bulk of my day.
The first event was the Meet the Industries Expo, at the Grand. I managed to meet a number of companies that were interested in my resume. I sent 9 copies, one each to the companies that were hiring positions in Information Systems. With two years left, to go, I wanted to see if I could find work. However, the lure of the Leadership Academy proved too strong, and so I wanted to go ahead and register for as many workshops as I could go for the semester. Of course, I may be overworking myself in a way, but I saw this as an opportunity to improve on what I could do. And a sweet medallion to wear during graduation…I could get all this done in 1 year. By the time Fall 2006 is through, I’ve completed this.
The big part of the day was when I headed to Little Tokyo with my friends from the Anime Club. After visiting a few stores that sold anime, even getting ticked off by the fact that I could take a picture of a statue that had oversized boobs (the figure couldn’t see what was ahead of her---unrealistic), we stopped by Orochon Ramen for dinner. The fact of the matter was that there was this spicy ramen soup, the spiciest of the spiciest, called Special Level 2. I decided that I was going to conquer that soup, no matter what. My friend, DJ of E, aka Eric, also ordered one. It turns out the bowls we had were switched (different bases), but a Special Level 2 is a Special Level 2, so it was dig in or die.
As I took a sip, it was very intense. As if they had put in so much kimchi base and hot chili stock into it. After sipping down the noodles (which was the easy part), it was time to tackle that monster that was the broth. I saw this as my rite of passage. DJ couldn’t finish the broth, and his friend Jeff took a few sips, but couldn’t wolf it down. Even by friend Mora couldn’t wolf it down, either.
I said to myself, I’m not going to let my friends down, the restaurant down, or myself down. This is my rite of passage, and I will go through this, no matter what. Midway through, the broth was tearing through my tongue, my throat, and my sinuses, which cleared. My breathing returned, any my cough had disappeared. But the broth still remained. There was a little bit left. At first, I thought I had reached my limit (I had also drank 4 cups of water) but there was no way I was going to give up this fight. Taking a deep breath, I wolfed down the rest of the remaining contents, finishing the soup in less than 30 minutes. When I completed the trip, I thought I was going to puke. But I told my gut to absorb the richness of the soup, and take it all in. I didn’t get a shirt (they ran out), but I had staked my claim as a person who finished Special Level 2 in less than 30 minutes, and my photo was on the wall.
A few reasons why I completed this…
1. No complaints. I knew this was going to be a very intense one, so I looked at this as something to enjoy. I never flinched, I took my time, pausing when I needed to, and eventually wolfed down the contents. I had to be humble.
2. Dairy before. At MIE, I at a vegetarian lasagna that had some calcium in it. Calcium is a buffer that helps take out some acidity. That may have made it easier.
3. Divine intervention. Indeed, the caption of the soup said, “For the Glory of God.” I wanted the man upstairs to help me finish this, and I did it.
4. Heart and determination. I wanted to finish my food. On every plate (with buffets being the main exception), I finish it clean, I wanted to do the same for this. I was on a mission, and it took heart.
5. I wanted to motivate myself that I can accomplish anything. Even wolfing down a hot, spicy bowl of ramen. Now, I can go back and enjoy wolfing it down at Level 7 (non-spicy) as a form of “retirement.”
The rest of the day was easy. I got the books I wanted to order (though I owe my friends some money for the second book I ordered), and I watched my friends bang on taikos, play on guitars, and do the usual shooting rounds at the arcade.
But wolfing down Special Level 2, the spiciest of the Orochon ramens, has to be one of my favorite accomplishments today. And the good thing is, I’ll live to tell my kids about it. Maybe.
The dance floor is closed.
Long Beach State’s men’s basketball team had put in a valiant run this past weekend at the Big West Tournament. I was honored to be a part of the festivities the past 3 days.
Our men had a rough go at Cal State Fullerton, but we escaped with a 94-91 win. Against UC Irvine, we had a game-winning shot at the buzzer by Aaron Nixon, winning 75-73. We had gained a few more points on Irvine in the Black and Blue Rivalry Series, which was a plus at the tournament.
However, when I saw that Cal Poly lost to Pacific, I knew that our road was going to take a detour back to Long Beach the next day, barring chaos by Bob Thomason’s Fighting Tiger Team. See, these Tigers had some talent. Christian Maraker and Tournament MVP Johnny Gray would see Pacific defeat us 78-70 on a chilly Saturday night in Anaheim.
I was so exhausted from the past two days, that I saved my energy. To my surprise, I didn’t lose my voice, and I still had some energy left. I soaked in the whole experience that night. I was proud to have been at the Big West Tournament, save for the first day.
But during this run, the Beach’s embattled head coach’s job was on the line each game. As soon as the Beach Band and Cheer bus left the Anaheim Convention Center, I knew that there was no way that Larry Reynolds would keep his job.
I mean, let’s face it. In the Larry Reynolds era, we haven’t had decent records at all. Our coach has a terrible record at the Beach, a complete aberration of his success at Cal State San Bernardino. We simply didn’t have the right system, or the best group of players to give us consistency in winning. The outgoing AD, Bill Shumard, was responsible for having Reynolds as our coach still, even though he could have rode off into the sunset by giving him his walking papers.
I will note the pluses of this season:
* Best record since 2001-02
* First appearance in the conference title game since 1995
* School and Big West record 17 3’s in one game
* Two players on All-Tournament, Jibril Hodges (the career 3-points leader) getting All-Conference first team
* Two out of three taken from Irvine, including the semifinal, giving us a bigger advantage over the Anteaters in the rivalry series
* The best year in the Larry Reynolds era
* I was on TV (personal plus)
However, all these are moot if you look at the bigger picture. A seat at the Pyramid for a men’s basketball game hasn’t been a hot commodity when Reynolds was coach. The boosters, alumni and fans are frustrated with him not delivering wins on a consistent basis. And this year, we dropped our homecoming game, a game we were expected to win.
The decision would have been tough for the administration and our new President, Dr. F. King Alexander, had the outcome been different and in our favor. I think Pacific’s ticket being punched made the decision easier.
I have so much respect for UOP. They have quality players, an accomplished coach, and are the Gonzaga of the Big West. I congratulate Coach Thomason, their players, their fans, and even the mascot Powercat, and hope they make the BWC proud at the NCAA Tournament. But it will also be a moral win for us if Reynolds is fired next week or sometime soon. If he is still our coach next year, I think our season will surely have been below expectations.
I know this isn't fair to the coach himself, and with all due respect to his efforts, it should be a privilege to coach at the Beach because we have a tradition of playing at our best potential, and having it all pay off. To not deliver when it matters most is against the wishes of the students, the fans, the boosters, and the alumni. This is the same at any institution, in any sport. If you don't win as a coach over a period of time, in all likelihood you will be sacked (as the say in the football sense).
In any case, when Long Beach State went down against Pacific, they went down fighting.
Strength in numbers...
Wow. Today was a fun one.
I started my day going over to the rugby field to watch Long Beach State clash with UCLA in rugby. The Beach went back to their normal selves, scoring on opportunities, and stretching the defense wide. I had to leave the game to see the 49ers clash with UC Davis in women’s basketball at the Pyramid. It seems to me that thanks to the pep band, I do some signature dancing with my pompom sticks. I have fun watching games at the Pyramid, waving my banner when we win or when the game starts and the 49ers take the court. UC Davis is not yet in our conference yet, but if they were, they would be on top. We defeated them on Senior Day handily.
The only negative of the day was when I went to Blair Field, and when I got inside, the game finished, the baseball team taking the 3-game serried over the Flames of Illinois-Chicago, 6-0, with one game to go.
After commiserating on an opportunity that I would have missed anyway (both games were starting at the same time), I made a pit stop at Los Altos to eat, and then returned to the Pyramid to watch the Beach take on UCLA in men’s volleyball. This time, we swept the Bruins in 3 games, snapping (coincidentally) a 3-game losing streak (2 on the roads against Hawaii, last night against UC Irvine).
I met an aspiring actress, Lauren Glenn, who starred in a number of TV series, is a graduate of CSULB, and is a sorority girl (Alpha Phi). In fact, I was surrounded by sorority girls when I watched the volleyball game. It was a fun day.
Add in the men’s basketball team defeating UC Davis, women’s tennis toppling Denver for their seventh straight win, and a water polo win over…wait for it….UC Davis (the only real negative being their loss to San Jose State), and softball defeating Wagner (a negative a choke against Western Kentucky), and we have had a good day.
Several positives against a few negatives. That’s what you call strength in numbers.
PINK? Ano sa...
Yes, I got a pink phone. And it's not because I am gay (I am not, of course, but I am not homophobic either). Actually, I do like the color pink, but there were no blue or red Motorola RAZR V3s out there, so I stuck with this. I treat this phone like a girl, a mistress with moe tendencies. I call her Rosebud, and she is all mine. At least for a few years or until they are completely bettered by something else. Or a new provider and plan pops up.
Speaking of which, I had this insane dream that I was Harima Kenji of School Runble, and I was making love to Tenma Tsukamoto on the beach. Funny how Harima finally got his wish, without any inhibitions.
But me likes my Rosebud. I think me play with it. And it's a girl, so it must be treated with respect, as well as made love to. But then again, how can you make love to a pink cell phone, if it isn't human? Oh, the frustrations of an androgynous consumer...
One great day....
Today was fun. I woke up this morning fresh from envisioning I was my friend Steve Tran, and that my sister told me she won the lottery. (She was in angel white undies saying this //// ). My first wet dream in ages...I am saved. >_< I was impressed by Long Beach State's basketball teams defeating UC Riverside. Later that night, I taped the match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales. Pacman took over in the sixth, and TKO'd El Terrible in the 10th. The Philippines rejoiced as a nation, and the song "Pinoy Ako" by Orange & Lemons kept playing incessantly. And I gorged on some chocolate in celebration.
Meanwhile, in another part of Las Vegas, Miss Oklahoma won the Miss America pageant. Her significant other should already be in Iraq by now, fighting a meaningless cause, or maybe he's already dead...I am a jinxoholic. Somebody save me, nyo.
This will set me up for a fun week, the first week of the Spring semester. I don't know if I got that position at the computer labs; I haven't received a phone call or e-mail....le sigh.
The trip to Vegas
It's now time for a little reminiscing. A 3-day holiday to Vegas during the Christmas weekend...
Day 1
When we took off in the air for Vegas, it felt like I was taken back into 1992, my last flight in an airplane. I was going on a trip with my mom to see my relatives in Pembo, Fort Bonifacio, Makati. Anyways, after my first taste of tonic water and Terra Blues, I tuned into ZZ Top, listening to bookend favorites such as Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and the like.
As we were about to land, I saw the Strip. It looked like the same old Strip from last time I visited. Only change I could see was that there was a new hotel and casino, the Wynn. More on that later. Also, Westward Ho was shutting down and would be imploded in January. It’s like I was just here yesterday. Though the shuttle took too long to get us to Stardust, I finally got to savor what I always wanted to do: play the slots. The last two visits here, I couldn’t play it, and they had to babysit me. That wouldn’t be the case this time.
After I quick change, it was time to take care of business. First thing me, mom and dad did was check out the Stardust slots. The paybacks were good for a few machines, but a lot weren’t that friendly. After a quick stop at one of the restaurants, we went to Circus Circus. Slots were nicer this time, and I nabbed $500 or so, while Dad netted $300. A number of slot machines had longer playing time. I call those machines “fighter slots,” because they fought to prevent the house from gaining the advantage.
My Cheez Whiz jar was almost full, and I got $53 in my wallet (pennies if you ask me, peanuts if you’re Supreme like McGriff or Irv like Gotti), and some confidence for tomorrow.
At the Stardust, there was a karaoke contest. One of the contestants sang like she was drunk. Think Jonathan, a female version (not unlike Jona-ko).
Day 2
To make a long story short, I gained 27 dollars. Now to make it long.
At 7 in the morning, I woke up, spent 9 bucks on breakfast from McDonald’s, much to the chagrin of my parents. Me, with my green scarf on and my hat, which I would lose later in the day (rats), went with my mom and dad to the Wynn. Now, here’s the thing. The Wynn is just like the Bellagio, only better. The food here is amazing, and the rewards card I got looked sexy like Haine. Red. Sleek, sexy red. The type of red Haine would look like a goddess in. The bane of my existence as a shoujoholic along with Sailor Moon. I treasured it. And the point are accumuilative and do not expire. Unfortunately, it was under my mom’s account, but I still treasured the card as a souvenir.
And even more so, it paid well. We got enough credits to get us one of the best buffets in Vegas. But we stopped there for a light breakfast. I grooved to Haddaway while snacking on a pancake. Ah, Steve Wynn. Your expertise and professionalism would make Bill Gates cry.
After rolling up the credits, it was off to Caesars’ Palace via Bloc Pary and “Helicopter.” This, though, did not pay well. Though I had a Players’ Club card as a souvenir, `the house was too strong. My parents bought some stuff at Abercrombie & Fitch, located in the Forum Shops. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything relevant to my interest. I’m stunned they didn’t have any LA Galaxy gear. Pete Rose was there to sign autographs, but I’m an LA Angels fan, and I could care less about buying Cincinatti Reds merchandise, and I still think Pete Rose is a cheater. Me, mom, and dad hightailed for the Bellagio. They didn’t pay well, either. The house was again too strong.
ZZ Top took over on my iPod, and as we ixed the Rio for the Tropicana, my mind began to wander about understanding Las Vegas. I came here to spend all my money on Vegas, to help make the dreams of the people who strived hard to work here come true, in my own personal way. It didn’t matter that I had money. I wanted to get rid of all of it by tomorrow. It wasn’t my own money. It was my mom’s, specifically made for Vegas. It would have been so easy for me to save the money, but this being the first time I could play the slots, I wanted to go ahead and get rid of all of it. This was my personal baptism into being a regular visitor to Las Vegas who can gamble.
I also observed one thing about Las Vegas people. They are hard-nosed folks who are frank, to the point, and won’t hold your hand. They’ve been that way for 100 years. Why should it change?
At last we headed to the Tropicana. Excitedly, I got my own account. And then it was back to the slots. Now, Tropicana had a lot of fightin’ slots. Meaning, they fought to prevent the house from gaining the advantage. No sooner has I gotten back from getting my account that to see my dad hit the jackpot. 135 dollars, to be exact. There was an instant swagger in my step.
One of the nickel slot machines, called Island Getaway, fought like crazy. I had spent an hour on this machine, gaining credits as I went along. Another slot machine, called “Go Big Money” paid well. All in all, I had over $120 bucks. After making up the blunders by getting back $5 from Winners Club, I was ready to treat my parents. But wait. The bag containing my mom’s Abercrombie gift for my sister was missing. My mom was panicking. I knew, though, that Tropicana’s security was paid tomake sure it was safe. After Mom rejoiced, I said to the security guard, “You rock!”
The Island Buffet wasn’t too bad. Granted, it was just a few selections, but the pasta was Aramark-quality. The pasta chef, coincidentally, was from West Long Beach, my neighborhood. Naturally, I tipped him, in hopes that he makes it big down the road. If people’s dreams are realized, I hope they maintain it.
As I got dessert, a shattering of ceramic could be heard across the buffet room. I thought it was bad luck for us. Actually, that wouldn’t happen until tomorrow, but Mom said it was bad luck on them. Whoops.
With the buffet down, it was ti0me to wander off to the MGM Grand Hotel, the City of Entertainment. Here I got another account, but only two cards.[ P+ayout was decent, but not as strong. We savoured the Star Wars slots.
We then decided to go to the Las Vegas Monorail. This was the first time I would go on a Monorail since Disneyland. But we had to go through something. There was not a crowd, or a mob, but a SEA of tourists from Asia flocking into the MGM Grand to celebrate the New Year. As a side note, in January, there will be a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales. I would place my money on Pacquiao to set the judges right. That fight will be at the Thomas & Mack Center. But back to the sea of tourists. They just kept on heading towards the casino, There were so many of them, I swore I was in Tokyo or Singapore. It was unbelievable how many were coming in. It just didn’t stop. An endless sea of Asian tourists.
The Monorail ride was a bit bumpy, but I got to see some very good views of the Strip. King Kong and D. Jungle Girls provided background on my iPod. The problem was, we stopped at the Hilton Station, and it was one mile to get back to Stardust. While we haqd to trudge though a junkyard/contruction zone to get there, we stopped by the Riviera.
At the Reel Em In slots, my mom hit the jackpot, and on the same machine, I caused it to tilt. I savored my new winnings, in spite of the casino unable to convert dimes.
By the way, Nevada outlasted UCF in the Hawaii Bowl, 49-48. Lucky Reno stiffs.
Day 3
We slept like babies checking out of the Stardust. We returned for the buffet at the Wynn, but the line was ridiculously long. So, we left. I got so excited, I yelled at my dad for no- apparent reason. He got mad for no apparent reason either. I probably shouldn’t have taken my medication, cause it made me sober that morning. But my dad will get over it.
So after eating at the Harrah’s buffet, I got another account there, but after seeing low payouts, we decided to go to Casino Royale. I got my last account there, and tinkered with the Reel Em In slots. At that moment, I decided to go ahead and spend it all.
We then took a taxi from Stardust to the airport, where I finished off my supply of cash on the airport’s Wheel of Fortune slots. But by that time, I was elated and happy. I didn’t care about the cash-I didn’t need to anyway; it was my mom’s-I just wanted to finally do what has been 21 years in the making-play the slots.
Now that Vegas is finished, I can now focus on the Winter Session and Spring Semester at the Beach. I understood that what I’ve wanted to buy is not in Las Vegas, but in Los Angeles. Home. I’ll have to see tomorrow if they have any Galaxy gear available, so I can buy some. But, it was apparent that it was Mission Accomplished.
Viva Las Vegas indeed.
Happy New Year!!!
Cheers everyone. This photo is copyright me, and me only. You may not steal this piece de resistance, no matter how much you want to kill it with fuego.
LAS VEGAS!!!
Welp, next weekend, after a semester full of challenges, I now can take some time off to relax. I take a plane to Las Vegas to celebrate Christmas, and now that I'm already an 18-year old in a 21-year old's body, I can now enjoy sipping daiquiris while playing slots. Anyone asks my age, they can shove it, cos I am now able to gamble without anyone nagging on me.
Of course, the alcohol is always in moderation.
This has been quite a year for me. Getting kicked off a forum, joining a new one and shunning the old one, graduating from a JC and starting again at a university, a tough semester being a wake-up bomb (sorry REM), and always available, MySpace...I think this year was definitely a year of changes.
Now, it's on to Las Vegas and some partying on the Strip.
Australia in the World Cup finals! YEAH!
Talk about making it big. The Socceroos have pleased me to a T. They took out Uruguay in penalties 4-2, after getting a n equalizer at Telstra Stadium a few weeks ago. I am so elated that the Aussies have purged themselves of any more futility. Now they can rip it up in Asia...and ASEAN. Kudos, you Aussies! Oi Oi Oi!
The Galaxy: 2005 US Open Cup AND MLS Cup Champs!
Who would ever thought that an underachieving guy like Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez would be the unlikely hero and lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to their second MLS Cup crown? In overtime, Pando became the hero, and after the game, the LA Riot Squad flooded the field, Shooter, Gunner and the gang, to celebrate the win. the only drawback is that the unpopular manager, Steve Sampson, will be signed for the long haul due to the success. Now we expect him to lead us to Tokyo next December, and hang out with the likes of, I don't know, Liverpool and Sao Paolo, for example? I don't mind winning against those squads. We're there to be the best in the world.
As a Riot Squader. I can't be more prouder of the fact that our team is now the best soccer team in America. We didn't have the best record in regular season play in the West; heck, we barely got in. But this Galaxy team dug deep down the home sretch, defeating top ranked San Jose, Landon Donovan busting out a couple of goals against Colorado, and finally, Pando Ramirez becomes the man of the day, the MVP of the MLS Cup, with a beautiful goal past the keeper to life LA back to supremacy.
Next on the agenda...getting back the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Riot Squad will be there to see that happen for sure! Congratulations Los Angeles for being the associated football capital of America once again!
As a Riot Squader. I can't be more prouder of the fact that our team is now the best soccer team in America. We didn't have the best record in regular season play in the West; heck, we barely got in. But this Galaxy team dug deep down the home sretch, defeating top ranked San Jose, Landon Donovan busting out a couple of goals against Colorado, and finally, Pando Ramirez becomes the man of the day, the MVP of the MLS Cup, with a beautiful goal past the keeper to life LA back to supremacy.
Next on the agenda...getting back the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Riot Squad will be there to see that happen for sure! Congratulations Los Angeles for being the associated football capital of America once again!
So long, Fightin' Bob!
Boy, it’s great to be at the Beach these days. But, it’s also a bittersweet affair, because Dr. Robert Maxson is leaving as university president. So I went on a little walk with him, his lovely wife Dr. Sylvia Maxson, my friend Jamie Pollock, some other acquaintances from the Beach Patrol, a party of about 800 or so other students, all who are now my friends and comrades for a certain cause (even those people from DSP, or whom I have decided to settle my personal feuds with for just this one moment; I’ll consider reconnecting with them as a member of ISSA in the Spring), and the inflatable Prospector Pete, and we walked as a unit, trudging toward that blue structure that has been perhaps the bane of my existence as an athletics supporter in black and gold, that actually has a first and last name: Walter Pyramid, or Wally for short, or for those who are nostalgic…simple “The Pyramid.”
The air was brimming with nostalgia as all the past ASI Presidents during Dr. Maxson’s tenure were there, and I was feeling so ecstatic as the pep band played like a gem. You see, Dr. Maxson changed the way Cal State Long Beach was viewed. He placed the students at the highest priority, something that I don’t think LBCC’s Dr. Kehoe emphasized as much, or that the LBCC Student Life would attest. The teams as general would be referred from now on [informally, albeit] as “The Beach,” and the world famous phrase “Go Beach!” became everyday lingo at the campus on the hill. I think it’s an indirect tradition after talking with an alum of the university, a 49er athlete, or just a prospective student for CSULB to say to them, “Go Beach!” because the phrase itself shows a clear identity where you come from. Within the past decade, Dr. Maxson has successfully placed the Beach on the map. An award was named after him. A plaza next to Brotman Hall was named after him. State University Drive is now Beach Drive, with the newly created phrase “Maxson Plaza at Beach Drive” or “Maxson at Beach” for short. (Wonder what W. Campus or E. Campus will be renamed? Can’t wait to see how that turns out.) And a lot of other things were named after him.
And there was a contest for the best Beach cheer. I like one of the band’s cheers, going like this.
When I say Go, you say Beach! Go! Beach! Go! Beach!
When I say Go, you say Beach! Go! Beach! Go! Beach!
It’s one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that?” type of rally calls. And then we walked, me listening to the Eagles as background, as to make this look like a throwback film from the 70s. The CSU University Chorus sang one of my favorite Ivy League numbers, “Gaudeamus Igitur.” As we saw a film chronicling Maxson’s tenure as the big cheese, all of us were cheering his name. “Max-son! Max-son! Max-son!” The students were quite rowdy, which is what I would expect.
As the celebration ended, I had to flock over to the soccer game, heckling the UC Davis supporters with “Win In A Minute, We’re Gonna Win In A Minute,” to the tune of “Guantanamera,” a tribute to my friends from that ragtag group of Galaxy diehards known to all the LA’s Riot Squad, which I am still an auxiliary member. A few joined in, while others had to laugh. I paid them no mind. I even asked the Davis people to “warm up the bus.”
But back to what the next president should be. I think there will be some repercussions when Dr. Maxson leaves. I don’t think he’ll be replaced. He was, is, and always will be the man behind Cal State Long Beach. But whoever the new President is, I will support him all the way, and honor the legacy he will forge.
But I assure you, that person has very big shoes to fill.
Highs and lows
I think this weekend has had a balanced set of highs and lows. First, the lows. I received a 62 out of 100 for my Geography midterm, the same score as my Accounting midterm. Since the grade is not weighted, I’ll need to bounce back on the next midterm and paper if I expect to bounce back. I think something needs to be in order with how I do in my classes. I was quite disappointed at how much I remembered the concepts. This was the second hit-and-miss midterm I had. The US Men’s Soccer Team dropped a game to Costa Rica. Also, the Angels lost Game 4 of the Division Series to the Yankees, so a Game 5 is in order.
The highs balance things, though. St. Anthony, Lakewood, UCLA, and USC won their football games. Also, Long Beach State’s soccer, men’s water polo and women’s volleyball teams swept their competition this weekend.
I think, though, that I’m going to have to recheck how I approach the material. When it comes to knowing the subject, it sinks in, but I seem to think I already know the concept, when there is so much to remember, that it goes in one ear and out the other.
I seem to enjoy the games more than classes. Go figure.
Must...GET...orgasm...
Current mood: blah
I have been in a bit of a funk these past few weeks. I didn’t get a look from the bastards as Delta Sigma Pi, so I decided not to join any clubs. Also, I had to drop one of my classes because I could not stand the instructor in that class. As far as I know, he’s old, speak with some crappy Bantu accent, and should teach somewhere, literally some good university in Africa (if there is one, I don’t think there is one).
Also, I wasted $5 watching my 49er volleyball team get assraped by Santa Barbara on Friday, and the next day see City get nipped by Cerritos. So now I’m touching up on some non-academic work before starting my Career Autobiography, as well as some stuff for my Geography research paper.
It’s hard to be humble, but I suppose if I change genders, it wouldn’t change anything. I'm bored. Really.
Please help me.
A fake press release...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 September 2005
The “White House”
To whom this may concern,
The “White House” and our leader, Jo-Ryan Salazar, received a message from one of the executive board members of the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, Lambda Phi Chapter that a letter regarding whether or not Jo-Ryan Salazar has been invited to be a provisional member of the chapter will be distributed at the ABSOC office on 19 September 2005, at 2:00 p.m. PST. The 40-member staff of the “White House” is excited about this news, and is anticipating the outcome of this letter with wondrous anticipation.
Should the letter be that of an invitation, an official press conference will take place at the “White House” press room at approximately 6:00 p.m. PST. Jo-Ryan is expected, upon receiving this invitation, to formally accept it, as well as state his goals for the Alpha Nu pledge class, which is where Jo-Ryan will be grouped with this semester. Also, Jo-Ryan will be present at the first event of this process, which will be 4:00 p.m. PST, Friday, 23 September, at a location to be determined, albeit it will be on campus.
Should the letter be that of a rejection, an official press conference will take place at the “White House” press room, at the same time as that of an invitation. Jo-Ryan will then announce his next steps after this rejection has been affirmed. As this is the worst-case scenario, the “White House” team will schedule a 30-minute meeting following the press conference to evaluate other options for Jo-Ryan.
While we will not expect the chapter’s letter to be that of an invitation or that of a rejection, we are confident that the chapter will make or has made a decision that will place the future of this esteemed organization in the best direction possible.
Jay R. Boogimon
Press Secretary
The “White House”
Looking for changes
Time for something quite serious. Yeah, I know, for most of the time it’s been upbeat, but it’s time for a change.
Yesterday, I felt quite down. I don’t know if it was the caffeine withdrawal or something, but I was overwhelmed by the many opportunities I have on campus to get involved. I wanted to get involved with Delta Sigma Pi, and as I met all these different people from various walks of life, I felt like I was the odd man out. I didn’t know anyone who graduated from LBCC that wanted to major in Info Systems that was a member of DSP. That was what really caused the cold, harsh reality to sink in: I don’t know anyone at Long Beach State, save a few, but they’re already accomplished in what they will do, and the mindset was that I had to start over again.
I realized I left behind a college that was left in shambles, at least student life-wise. The student government basically collapsed in a way, and the trends of people not being involved in the student life programs at City continued to diminish. The ASB President resigned, the Administration has ruined the role of students having a voice in how choices are made, and the future of LBCC’s students seems to be bleak in a way, unless something drastic changes. I actually broke down after realizing this.
I was told by my old friend Ashley that I shouldn’t worry about this dilemma. But let’s face it: how can’t you worry about a community college that you’ve been involved in for 3 years, and realize the direction it is headed is that of a regular, run-of-the-mill high school? I sometimes get scared that the Student Life programs of Long Beach City College will no longer exist. Instead, it will just become another glorified high school, run by baby boomers that do not care one bit about the integrity and solidarity of their students.
I wonder if I will be able to get past this first semester at the Beach. With an unfavorable schedule, and some loose ends to tie, plus JCFN, and Delta Sigma Pi, I think I’ll want to take this semester one day at a time. Or something like that.
It’s like I’m a freshman all over again.
Saturday: Mission
Yesterday was fun. Before I went to the game between LBCC and Moorpark, I went over to eat with my mom over at Genghis Khan. I piled on the meat, the pineapple, the mushrooms, carrots, peppers, cabbage, and to my surprise, I got the wrong plate when it came to me, and some other customer, this African-American lady, comes over and switches it with the one I ordered. And then she tells the folks I want a new plate. There go a few dollars worth of food wasted, and maybe a few jobs lost due to poor service. I finished the meal with my sinuses cleared, my eyes watery, and my mouth burning with chili.
Afterwards, it was time for the game. I went onto the field, and talked with a lot of people, I discussed the season with the Cheer Team, I reunited with Dr. Kehoe and Dr. Fylpaa, as well as Larry Reisbig, and I took photos of the teams practicing. I also met my friend Chris Ruiz, who is LBCC’s sports information director, and he gave me a few passes: one for the game, and one for the season. I would return to the press box later for a halftime snack.
I met some very cordial people from Moorpark College. The guys there acknowledged that the Vikings had some players with good speed. LBCC’s team’s depth will be key for them throughout the season. I kept this in mind as I wrote notes, interviewed the coaches, and then wrote my report, with some statistical and photogenical assistance from Chris.
Later that night (I had drank a few too much Diet Cokes that game), I saw this hilarious photo that said “M-F- stole my sammich.” I laughed like crazy after seeing it, I don’t know why. But after I saw a comment post that said “Sage Failure,” I said, “FIRST DOWN!” After a bit of some sensible flooding, I finally became a first-teamer on The Onion Bag.
And so ended my night, although now I gotta sleep in and try to do some accounting homework. Typed. Clean. Less use of mess and more use of fingers. I guess I gotta give my props to Habitat for Humanity not giving me a slot today: they gave me more time to do the thing I like: The Internet.
Second day in a nutshell
Yesterday, there was a mob of students clamoring for books. I had to carry backpacks into the backpack tent, send them back to the customers after they purchased, and had to guide some students to where they had to go. It was mayhem, and tomorrow, I’ll have to do it all over again.
My Business Calculus teacher, Uyammadu Mbanefo, was an old black guy with an African accent. He encouraged us to ask questions, as well as answer questions that he gave us. Of course, we were a bit awkward of getting it wrong. That was our fear of failure. Otherwise, he’s a straight, no-frills teacher who gives us the nitty gritty, and encourages class participation,
Today, I saw a few students steal a car on the Brotman Hall fountain turnaround. They pulled over, and were arrested by campus police. Ouch.
John, Ed, and Professor Tom. A.K.A. The first day
The first day of classes! Before, you are excited, and after, you’re drained. That was my day in a nutshell. I woke up at 5:00 in the morning to get to class. But I was full of energy, especially after having a dream about making love to this beautiful girl that resembled my friend Zaira, who is an officer on the A.S.I. government on campus. I’m serious, she resembled her in a way. I gotta keep having dreams like that; it keeps me full of energy all day!
My accounting teacher, John Lacey, was sponsored by Ernst & Young™. Interesting, indeed. And he is a very accomplished instructor, having taught at UCLA and USC. One of his quirks is that he isn’t very good at remembering names. I hope he remembers mine, because mine’s stands out. ^_^ But it seems he’s a very amiable teacher, and I think I might do okay in this class. It’s all a matter of knowing the concepts.
I had a long break, and I went over and bought some books and shirts with mom. And after lunch, it was time to head to my second class. Ed Funkhouser’s a young, blond, stout instructor with a cool looking name. I mean, Funkhouser? I thought he was an old, geezer-looking guy that knew how to rock and roll! But anyway, Ed’s a very cool teacher, and is very energetic about his role as an instructor. And a good deal of his class in online, so I can look at the assignments and analyze them before making my call.
Afterwards, I got treated to yet another instructor that I seem to like, Tom Frazier. Sounds like an athlete’s name (isn’t there a famous athlete by that name?), but he has been well traveled, and can speak a good deal of foreign tongues. Professor Tom, as I like to call him, is planning to earn his Master’s degree at this university in Berlin, and for our first session, broke it down quite well. All of a sudden, I got an idea for what my country will be in my case study report. The Philippines is a country that I visited, twice in my childhood. And I still have a clear vision of what it looked like then, and still looks like today. Slums, pollution, dirty filth all around. So I’m tapping that.
After grabbing some more notes, and a few test score sheets, I headed home. Oh, by the way, I decided that I will either be committed to Zeta Phi Rho (a Filipino fraternity) or Delta Sigma Pi (the co-ed business fraternity). I just gotta see what each of them has to offer, and then I’ll make a decision.
Tomorrow’s gonna be a challenge. I got to work at the registers and accommodate a ton of angry young students, and then off to my Business Calculus class in the evening. But first, some homework and hydration…and sleep.
Volleyballs and bottles
I had an eventful weekend. Two days ago, I went on the bus to the Pyramid, I met this drunken guy at a bus stop who told me about his appreciation for California, and his loathing of New York, and his never-ending love for Long Beach State. He’s a cool guy, but I don’t think he’s got a lot more years to go. And on the bus, I met this alumnus who had an appreciation for college football. We chatted a little bit on the upcoming season; I’m looking forward to it. I think USC will pound Hawaii, but by 3 or 4 touchdowns. Anything more would be declared a blowout by me. Anything less would be declared…a game.
I had to wait a few hours for the game to begin, so I loitered around the Pyramid, seeing some old documents about the founding of the University (which is younger than Long Beach City), and then the game began. There was a good crowd on the feast, and the band was there, too. So after each good play, I waved my pennants, and after each big play, I did an X with my flags. After the win, I danced on my seat in celebration. We defeated the Long Island Blackbirds in three straight sets, though we rallied in the third.
The next day, I went to the Parkside dorms on campus and rallied up the gang to venture out to the Pyramid and watch some volleyball. Sacramento State was no pushover; they really tested the 49ers early. I couldn’t watch the rest of the game because for the second time this year (including the Galaxy game I attended in July)…my shorts got ripped. I had to ask my mom to drive me home, and I dropped the tattered shorts in the recycle bin. Let the bums use that one. I found out today that the 49ers won the game 3 games to 2. Looks like the ladies dug deep and rallied.
Today I’m just gonna send some bottles to the campus recycling center and get some cash. And then I’ll apply for some more positions at the 49er Shops. Nothing too special…until tomorrow comes.
First day at the Bookstore register
Well, I had my first day as a cashier at the Bookstore today, and by the end of the day, my feet were hurting. Must have been the shoes I was wearing; the soles weren’t cushioned well enough. Otherwise, I was given the basics of running a cash register on the fly, and I was scanning books upon books upon books, swiping credit card after credit card after credit card, and for the most part I was in a zone, save the occasional brain farting and not knowing a new feature of making transactions.
This was the week that University 100 was performed. UNIV 100 is sort of like COUNS 1 at LBCC: an orientation class to college life and the purpose of colleges and universities. Except, this class has a Beach twist, and is aimed towards freshmen. So I was scanning copies upon copies of this book for UNIV 100, and every time I saw somebody purchasing this book, it was my inner obligation to welcome that person to Cal State Long Beach, even though I’m a new transfer student. The freshmen students were quite pleased with how they were treated on campus, and there was a friendly camaraderie.
I knew in the back of my head that this would be nothing compared to the bedlam I would get next week, when the lines are longer, the frustration higher, and the tenseness ever thicker. The only thing I was missing today was my Bookstore ID. I’ll have to get that tomorrow.
As I sat outside Brotman Hall waiting for my sister to pick me up from her work, I envisioned in my head that I was also a freshman, being oriented to the campus, and I was excited at getting ready to watch the 49er women’s volleyball team kick some butt against Long Island University this Friday, as well as pondering the possibility of joining Delta Sigma Pi.
I need some sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be quite interesting, yes indeed.
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