Stupid Saturday

Forget Super Sunday, March Madness, Terrific Tuesday, or Freaky Friday.

If there are times some entries in a blog are really dull and boring, this is got to be IT. When I type some (if not most) of my entries, I do think about them. However, this is the exception to any rule, the thorn among the roses, the mole in the clear skin, and all. This entry is made out of sheer need to exercise my fingers and relieve stress from my joints. Quality points minus 19. (What the heck are quality points? Honey, I don't really know. I just made it up as I type this shizzle.) I haven't even proofread this baloney.

Rode a cab going to school, then Ateneo's gate 2 was clogged up with bazillion cars and I have to pass through there. It was close to impossible, so I had no choice but enter gate 3, then when I knew I'll be inevitably late, I just came to the JEep (Junior Engagement Program) Integration. Attended it in Leong Hall, sat behind Grucia (from the Filipino play before) and when the integration ended, walked back and forth from MVP building to A-Shop. Really. Back. And. Forth. Ateneo won the senior men's basketball championship for the 71st UAAP Season last September 25 in case you didn't know or were living under the rock for some time. Championship shirts were ridiculously expensive (and plain) and those buying them were high school students and noisy alumni.

I have nothing against alumni. They're really scary and powerful. And scary. Have I mentioned scary and noisy and powerful?

Then went to the cafeteria and met with the CROs and then tadah! Lace was there. Lace the exchange student in Singapore was there. She just stayed for a week in the Philippines and is going back to Singapore to eat more noodles and attend classes.

My internet was busted a while ago. I just hooked on the wireless internet from our neighbor yesterday. When I checked out a while ago, they already had a WPA set up. Maybe they realized I was eating their bandwidth. Well, in case they haven't noticed, their internet is as slow as the growth rate of midgets. (What?!)

Then went to Reema's advanced birthday party. Ate, drank, and sang. They kept on asking me what time I would be arriving. Turns out they were waiting for the camera girl. Gaah. I took a lot of pictures of them/us, and they're all expecting me to upload the photos. HELLO. I am really lazy when it comes to uploading pictures (yeah and you say it's as easy as 1...2. Yep, no more 3. That's how easy it is!). I need motivation to upload them.

I can't reach the deadline of the CS150 presentation and I haven't scanned our diagrams. Death. Is. In. The. Ateneo.


MORAL: You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape reality. If only Enrique Iglesias would sing Escape for me.

Western Woman Conference

Actually, I only became a WNBA fan during/after the Olympics. I didn't know Alicia Keys helps support WNBA and a video presentation with her performing and of players' special moments will be shown in the start of ABC/ESPN2 televised matches. How did I know? I watch the WNBA, d'oh. Haha, no, really, I saw (for the first time) the commercial about it and when I searched about it, I found this on Alicia Keys' site and found out it's been there for some time already:

"Alicia Keys and the WNBA | May 19, 2008
Starting today on ABC, Alicia Keys will open every ABC/ESPN2 televised WNBA game with a special performance of "Superwoman!""

This makes me love Alicia Keys more! Though I am not surprised that her song "Superwoman" is the theme song of the WNBA and she does help in the promotion of the league because well, Alicia Keys' songs (some if not most) are pro-woman. That's why I love the lady (even more).

The Alicia Keys song "Superwoman" is also the theme for the 2008 WNBA season. This video is from the opening game (May 17th) and features footage of all the teams and several players, including Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson, Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith, Becky Hammon, Alana Beard, Sheryl Swoopes, Candace Parker, Cappie Pondexter, Seimone Augustus, and Janel McCarville. --> I just ripped the whole paragraph from the note of the one who posted the video.

On other notes, when asked about what she thinks of the other (Candace Parker) dunkin' diva's 2 dunks in a single game (don't compare it to the NBA), Becky Hammon told a lot about how it helps the league, the Sparks, and women's basketball and, "So Candace, throw it down as many times as you can do it, baby." She looks so pretty but she talks like uhmm, like a siga. Haha. She also helped the San Antonio Silver Stars wipe the Sacramento Monarchs.

(The photo shows Seattle Super Storm's Sue Bird #10 and San Antonio Silver Stars' Becky Hammon in #25.)

There are infinite "Hammonite" posts on Why I Love Becky threads all around forums (no, I don't join forums) and if I'll ever post one it would be related to her controversal decision to play for the Russian national team (she just became a Russian citizen early this year, but she's really American) when she wasn't accepted in the US team. They were bashing her for joining one of the opposing teams, but you can't blame her. The heads of the Olympic team maybe thought otherwise of getting her, and since America as they say is a "free country," she has every right to do join other teams (Russia welcomed her into their team anyway, and even though Becky still speaks English and they're having difficulty relaying the tactics with her, she played for them). Oh, WNBA players also play for other leagues around the world after the WNBA season. There are Korean, Russian, and mostly European leagues for women.

Uh, Lisa Leslie (the other dunkin' donut) was named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. I just wanted to type that.

I just realized (considering I have just followed the WNBA after the Olympics) how strong the line-up of the Seattle Storm is. They have Sue Bird (I really love her hair. If there's one person whom I'll do a trade-or-do-anything-for-her-hair, it's gotta be Sue Bird's.), Lauren Jackson (I like her even though she looks so scary and she creeps me out when she wears eyeliner), Swin Cash, Yolanda Griffith, and Sheryl Swoopes. I am a Sparks fan, but then, the Storm is the only other team (San Antonio Silver Stars is okay with Becky Hammon and Ruth Riley, but the Storm just have more impact on me. Haha.) that can make me watch WNBA.

Oh, the Sparks eliminated the Storm. I guess Lauren Jackson can just take her revenge next season, while Sue Bird can continue brushing her hair in the post-season. I hope Jackson can play in the post-season.

The Connecticut Sun was defeated by the New York Liberty! Noooooooo! I was rooting for Lindsay Whalen's team, but whenever I watch the team I support, they kinda have the tendency to lose. Not good for the Sparks.

In the Western Conference, Sparks vs Silver Stars. Why do they have to beat the crap out of each other?! Why can't they just meet in the WNBA finals? I don't really care much about the Eastern Conference (Detroit Shock vs New York Liberty). Gaaah.

MORAL: Women's basketball ain't flashy as the men's. So, never compare what men and women can do in sports. There's just too much testosterone in men's basketball (NBA). Try watching EuroLeagues, they're closer to the WNBA. Hahaha.

Open US 2008

So my Sharapovanovic theory still holds. In the last Grand Slam of the year, Shriekapova didn't join because of her still-lingering injury. Ana's still participating. However, I don't expect her to really progress far in the women's draw because well, Shriek is not in the tournament.

Why does my annoying theory still haunts me around? How far did Ivanovic last in the tournament? It's not surprising that Ana lost in the 2nd round. I knew she couldn't bear to continue living in the hotel rooms of the USA (New York) while Shrieksterva (I personally don't know where these names come from) was everywhere. She probably can't handle all the pressure of thinking about her.

Anyway, Serena Williams won the US Open. Her sister, Venus Williams, won the Wimbledon earlier this year. I knew it from the start that Serena will win over Venus Williams. Why? Serena probably told her older sister, "C'mon. You already got your 5th Wimbledon plate. We are sisters. If you have a Grand Slam this year, I must have one as well. Add to that, you already have an Olympic gold medal for the singles, plus 2 gold medals for the doubles, which I share with you. Also, if I win all the way, which I'd probably would because I am a Williams, too, I would be number 1 again. But if you do win it, you're not going to be number 1. You could be number 1, after I become number 1 again. It's still because we are sisters. We shouldn't be even discussing this right now."

And Venus couldn't do anything so she accepted her fate. If you watched the match, you'd be supporting my nonsense dialogue above, too. It was a Venus match all the way then Serena just produces a miracle to come back.

Don't forget that US Open this year (2008) is equal to Jelena Jankovic. Serena won it, but after the finals awarding ceremony, Jelena Jankovic is officially a legend-slash-entertainer. She did a lot of comments, her speech was very much detailed (she even thanked her driver for bustling the roads of New York), and I'll repeat, her comments were humorous.

And oh, Roger beat the crap out of Novak to get to the finals of the US Open, while Andy (Murray, not Roddick) burned Rafa. So Federer-Murray in the finals, and it was a lopsided match. Roger won clean and green. 13 Slams. In your face.


MORAL: Never write someone off. The beauty of sports is that there is no assurance that one will surely win over the other. There are days - there are really days - when you expect someone else to win, but s/he doesn't. Boohoo.

My Dog Did His Fart

This scene is in the same part in my brain where I keep my thoughts about aliens, UFOs, unicorns, vampires, Valkyries, Roger Federer, Marat Safin, and all the divine, mythical, and most beautiful creatures you could ever imagine. (Marat Safin is a very, very beautiful creature. Roger Federer is a divine creature because he doesn't grimace when he hits a tennis ball.)

September 12, 2008 || 11:44pm


I was painting the foam black for our play next week. As usual, I always call our dog whenever I stay at the garage or pass by his (but I think he is a ‘she’) kennel. Then afterwards, I was fixing the painted foam already when I called our dog again. The Japanese Spitz looked at me and we were staring at each other’s eyes like we were searching for the Holy Grail as if it can be found inside each other’s skull. Then for a while, I heard the sound of water dripping on a thick plastic. Our dog’s kennel is covered on one side by a thick plastic because we cannot afford a wet, shivering dog possibly getting pneumonia every time there’s a rain.

My eyes were surveying the area in search of the source of the mysterious water that fell on the plastic. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything. From afar, my yaya called for our dog and teased him (or her), “Oh Butchoi, tumatae ka noh. Di ka gumagalaw diyan sa dilim.”

Then it hit me like how Alex Rodriguez would strike a homerun. Our dog just farted. That was the first time I heard a dog fart. And he did it while staring at me.


MORAL: Tell me how am I supposed to breathe without air?

Attack of the FLiPs

What makes you tick?
What makes you run?
What makes you scream and shout, run amok, throw elbows to people you meet, and cuss all the way (oh, you do all of these at the same time)?
What can make you forget you're not wearing anything and all of a sudden you do cartwheels and splits in front of a lot of people?

I have an answer to all of the questions above.
No.
It's not terror profs.
Not low grades. Though they can do heavy damage on me.
It's not a secret anymore.
It is flying cockroaches.
Or what I call, FLiPs ----> FLying iPis.

Dang.
I don't like them when they're just prancing around.
I loathe them when they fly.

Just a while ago, I was talking to a friend in our garage when I saw a cockroach strolling (what a great choice of word) on our gate.
I told him I would run if it will fly (since it was raining and the water is somewhat splashing on it).
We didn't have to wait for a long time to prove it.
I suddenly had a dose of my running prowess.
I ran.
Like crazy.
While cussing a little.
He told me he thought I was just joking about it.

Jokes are really half-meant true.
FLiPs are really annoying.

Why do they even have wings?!


MORAL: Don't use household insecticide to dispatch the species of cockroaches (I'm supposed to type the scientific name of the cockroach but I'm really too lazy to search for it). I read that tsinelas (slippers) are still the best weapon to dislodge them from this precious planet. However, I wouldn't dare use (my) slippers to even touch them. I'll just walk really fast and ask someone else to do the dirty deed (killing animals/insects is considered as a dirty deed for me). Amen.

WNBA / WTA Touchdown!

I haven't posted some clips for a while. These kinds of foreign commercials are the ones I love to watch. Of course I'm just lying that I love to watch them. I'd rather watch Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, Chuck, Grey's Anatomy, and Pushing Daisies than watch commercials - foreign or local. I just happened to stumble upon them on the WTA site. I don't go to YouTube and go video surfing. I just go there if I'm looking for something like a brawl in the WNBA or some music videos. Amen!



Meet the sporting siblings, from two different leagues.



It's obvious the dog is the clear favorite (at least in the commercial). I would love to take a picture of her, too - the dog. You know from the start this is about the dog, right? The dog's name is Dolce. Here in Manila, Dolce is a bar along Tomas Morato/Timog. It's not really a "dance bar" but somewhat like.... I don't know. I don't usually go to places like those - full of smoke, alcohol, flashing lights (beware epileptics! This is worse than GameBoy consoles!), and all.

Here's from Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. I don't think it's an effective commercial but since she's the promising (and rising) tennis star in her country, it doesn't matter if she just stands there with her phone and earphones all day (and even night) long. People would watch it and might even want to buy the phone she's endorsing.



And here's the brawl from the WNBA. I can't help but watch it and post it. This is from the match between Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks last July 22, 2008 with only 4.2 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. It was pretty obvious that the Sparks wins the game but Plenette Pierson and Candace Parker extended the show for a really long time. I love the drama and the intensity of fights and brawls. It makes sports very entertaining though it leaves sportsmanship out of the context.



But if you think that one was just elementary, THIS is the one!




MORAL: Don't watch too much YouTube. And oh, be careful doing rebounds for your team. You might wake up in a stretcher or somewhere else.

Twins: Paris Hilton and the Olympics

Welcome the Nega Star. Prepare for negativity.

The Olympics is the Paris Hilton of sporting events.

What's with the Olympics? It's (just) sooo overrated. Why? Number 1, it's a quadrennial event. You could only play a number of times in the Olympics because you're probably ancient by the time you keep on competing there. If they think, "It only happens every 4 years. I have to do my best," I think they're missing out the boo-hoo. If they try to make it really special because it only happens every four years, then Halley's Comet is in the same page. Why not make it a bi-annual event? There are those who perform really well in their careers and then suck up at the Olympics because maybe they got their period and had cramps during their swim or run, or the star player of the national team stumbled in the Olympic Village and blew up his toenail, hindering him to play. There are unavoidable events that could happen and the sad part is that, usually it happens when you least expect it to (read: you're competing in the Olympics, the quadrennial "special" event).

But this is good for those who are not really at the top of the food chain in their respective sports. This is the best time to just win something and be glorified forever. One-hit wonders as they say. You might be virtually unknown let's say, in the tennis world, then you win the (Elusive? Can't they think of any other adjective? Coveted? Scratch it.) gold and now everyone knows you. Oh, you don't really win tournaments (before and after the Olympics).

Then there's the "because of injury" thing. You train all your life for your sport, sacrificed familial events, then you sprain your ankle doing your final grocery before you go to the host country of the Olympics. You can't run. You have focused on your sport in the last four years for the Olympics, then you slipped in the bathroom while doing your victory pose (since you're a sure winner) and your thumb inflamed or was broken. There goes four years of your life. Total? 8 years of life lost. 4 years in training, another 4 years of "what-ifs" and regrets. Well, if you can really move on fast, don't mind the other 4 years of "what-ifs."

Worst case, the same thing happens to you the next Olympics. Next thing you know, you're too old for your sport (example: gymnastics) and you get the gold medal or an award for Best in Training or A for Ey-ffort (Effort). What a bummer. You retire and just coach future gunners. Ooops, you haven't really participated in the Olympics, they won't hire you as coach, either.

Hey, there's an opening in the fastfood chain around the corner.


MORAL: Guess.

Sportsmansheep

I was watching the Women's Basketball Semi-Finals. First game was between USA and Russia. I knew it was clear that team USA would win the game hands down, no contest. However, Russia (led by Maria Stepanova - sounds familiar) managed to keep team USA's scoring average of 90+ to a really low one. They went in to the 3rd quarter with USA leading 33-32. While watching, I wasn't sure if USA can pull out of this one, but I was hoping they would considering they won the last 3 Olympic games. They obviously were not in their zone. In the end, USA edged out Russia, but the latter gave USA a run for the medal. USA's field goals percentage was shameful but what won them the game: rebounds. They now own a 49-3 (.942) overall record in eight Olympic appearances (wow). Score: 67-52.

People in team USA to watch out for according to me: (just search for them to know more)
Candace Parker (6ft. 4in)
Lisa Leslie (6ft. 5in)
Tina Thompson (6ft. 2in)
Diana Taurasi (6ft)

How about Russia? Just search for them (again). For the physiognomists, the Russian team offers a lot of eyecandies.

Next match was between Australia and China. I'm rooting for Australia (200 and 2004 silver medalists) because I have seen them play prior to the Olympics and dang, they're pretty tough! Not to mention I love their trademark jumpsuit-like uniforms. Australia is also the obvious team that can give USA a really hard time considering Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson the perfect blend of height and muscles, Cherifer-and-Growee-enriched, amazing player are playing together. I heard that Lauren Jackson is the 2nd generation in their family playing for the Olympics. Her mom was a player for Australia before. Wow. China's coach is an Australian, and during time-outs, he gives really fast talks and then a Chinese interpreter sets it out for the team. Crazy. Australia demolished China, and Penny Taylor didn't even play because of an ankle injury from the quarterfinals. Score: 90-56.

Players in team Australia to watch out for according to me: (just search for them to know more)
Lauren Jackson (6ft. 5in)
Penny Taylor (6ft. 1in)
Laura Summerton (6ft. 2in)
Rohanee Cox (6ft. 6in)

So, it's Australia and USA dismembering each other for the gold. Hoorah. It was expected, though. Expect it to be a rough match, because during the Aug. 5 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball gold medal game (wherein USA won 71-67), the referees there were so lenient and both teams went home with scratches, bruises, and black-eyes. No kidding. I was able to watch the delayed telecast of the match and I am disgusted to say that the referees and umpires in that match were useless and should have just gone home stabbing themselves.

Yeah yeah my teams won their matches but what really upsets me is that Russia and China's supporters were yelling out and booing the opposing teams. During the USA match I can't even hear the sound of the ball being dribbled because the Russian support camp were so loud with their "boo's" and all. China was a duplicate. I was hoping they would vomit their lungs out cheering whenever someone from their country scores, but not waste spitting out their saliva and cavities (not that you can really spit it out) when someone from the opposing team scores.

Really, now.


MORAL: Keep your mouth to yourself. I'm not. That's why I'm typing it out here instead.
[I still want Russia, Australia, Switzerland, and Germany's Olympic apparel. Hmm, any Olympic apparel. I. Want.]

Swimfun

I'm certainly gasping for air in the swimming madness I'm experiencing. I am a certified swimfan. I wonder why are there only a few swimmers in the country, considering it is a sport we can be good at. Then I thought that Filipinos have a fear of getting darker - complexion wise. Everyone wants to have fair skin. Oh well, can't blame them. People always want what they don't have. I want diving goggles because I don't have those kind of goggles. I want a smartphone because I don't have one (well mine was actually stolen). I'm also wondering why most female swimmers have (mostly black) nailpolish. Then I'm constructing this theory that maybe it makes their fingers/nails more "visible" when there are replays when judges try to double-check the video footage. It's certainly easier to see black nails touching the wall, than those with... colorless nailpolish.

Also, I'm still holding on to my theory that Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova are together. Yeah, like girlfriends (sing Katy Perry's song "I Kissed A Girl" in the background). Why? Well when Sharapova lost in the Wimbledon, Ana lost the next day in the same event. So ok. She didn't want Maria to get all the negative write-ups. Then there's the Rogers Cup. Same fashion. Maria lost (she withdrew) then Ana lost the next day. Great. Then to make the foundation stronger, Sharapova withdrew from the Olympics citing sore throat from too much grunting. Kidding! Well she withdrew from the Olympics and not to surprise you, Ivanovic also withdrew citing inflammation of her... right thumb. WTHeck.
All I can say is that they are very patient ladies. They don't mind waiting for another 4 years for the Olympics.


MORAL: I like black nailpolish because well, they are black. No, seriously, they look nice when you play the piano or even the keyboard. It looks like it harmonizes with the instrument. However, there are boys who sport black nailpolish which makes me take another look at them. I have nothing against it because I believe I am sooo open-minded my brains are falling out already. Regarding the Sharapovanovic duo. Hmm, it is a touchy topic only open-minded people can understand. Whatever.