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Day 139: Bizarro World

Go Lakers!!!

Go Lakers!!!

Remember Bizarro, the Superman villain that did everything the opposite of our hero? As a Lakers fan, I’ve felt we’ve been in a Bizarro world the last few years as the Lakers have become the laughingstock of the NBA while the Clippers are perpetual playoff contenders. Instead of dissecting the next opponent in the playoffs, fans are dissecting the next NBA draft. June used to mean parades in L.A.; now, it means fully devoting oneself to the Dodgers or even the Kings.

Bizarre-o. And then some.

Hopefully today begins the return to glory for the Lakers. In today’s NBA draft lottery, they nabbed the second pick in the draft, which gives them plenty of top-notch players to rebuild around. I’m hoping that the Timberwolves take Karl-Anthony Towns with the first pick and Jahlil Okafor falls into the Lakers’ laps. Or vice versa. Frankly, any good young talent will be a welcome addition to the team.

Whatever the case may be, it can’t be any worse than this year, when I watched the fewest Lakers games in a season since I’ve been old enough to cheer for the Purple and Gold. I miss watching basketball played at its highest level. I miss getting together with family and friends for the annual playoff run. I miss living in a non-Bizarro world.

Day 138: Pulled Back In

imageOne of the things that any golfer will tell you is that every time we start feeling frustrated, we’ll hit a perfect shot that refuels our passion for the sport. It never fails: chunk an approach or top a tee shot and the next thing you know, you’re getting up-and-down from a bunker or draining a two-breaker downhill putt for a birdie.

Just like Michael Corleone, every time you think you’re done with golf, a great shot will pull you back in.

During my last round at a nearby executive golf course, I watched in horror as my perfectly struck approach on a par-4 found the water. I couldn’t believe it; I hit exactly the shot I wanted and thought I was safe from the lake guarding the green, but the ball wouldn’t stop rolling and ended up wet.

Feeling dejected, I fetched a new ball and took my drop in the designated drop zone about 45 yards away. I hoped to get it close for bogey, but knew that double-bogey or worse was in play, after my misread on the approach. Fortunately, like a feel-good sports movie about redemption, my pitch to the green was perfect. It flew over the lake this time, landed a few yards short of the pin and rolled right in. My buddy yelled, “Nice!” as I did my Tiger Woods fist-pump and raised both my arms like I’d just won the U.S. Open.

 

 

Day 136: Wine Tasting

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We spent a relaxing day at the South Coast Winery. The weather was chilly at first, but warmed up later, which made  for  a pleasant afternoon.

We did the winery tour and wine tasting, which included a food pairing. The winery was crowded and for good reason: each wine we tasted was excellent and our tour guide was knowledgeable and passionate about wine.

I’ve gone on many tours like this one and they’re all enjoyable, even if they’re predictable: the tour group is  quiet at the start, but by the end of the tour and several tastings, everyone’s laughing and having a good time. It’s exactly why my wife and I keep going on them.

Day 135: Asian/Pacific Islander Cultural Arts Night

Josh Chang

Josh Chang

Tonight I’m live-tweeting from the Asian/Pacific Islander Cultural Arts Night in Rancho Cucamonga, California. You can follow me on Twitter from 7-9pm; I’ll use the hashtag #APICANRC for my tweets and photos.

I missed last year’s celebration, but the previous year was awesome, mainly because I met Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of the Asian American literature classic Farewell to Manzanar. She did a brief Q&A before meeting fans and signing (free!) copies of her book.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s event, with headliner Josh Chang and other entertainers. I’ll post photos later on my Google+ page, but for now you can check out my photos of the last event I live-tweeted, the Riverside Tamale Festival, here.

Day 134: Fung Brothers

Fung Brothers

Fung Brothers

Thanks to my wife sharing a news item with me about the Fung Brothers, I just binge-watched an hour’s worth of their videos on youtube.com. I’d already seen the hilarious “Asians Eat Weird Things” song with AJ Rafael, but this was the first time I watched any of their other videos. It’s easy to see why they landed their own television show: they’re passionate, funny, and brilliant.

I loved the pop culture references, the music, and the energy in each 5- to 10-minute clip. I had a blast watching them and learned a lot, too. My number-one lesson? Don’t watch on an empty stomach. I’m craving Din Tai Fung, The Hat, Korean BBQ, fried rice, and boba right now.

Day 133: The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense

(This is part of my ongoing series on my quest to watch all 100 of AFI’s Greatest American Films of All Time)

89. The Sixth Sense

I wasn’t too sure about The Sixth Sense being one of AFI’s 100 Greatest Films. I loved it the first time I saw it and I remember enjoying it the second time as well. But for a movie that’s almost 15 years old, is it worth watching when you know its big secret?

Surprisingly, it holds up well. This was M. Night Shyamalan’s masterpiece. Like John Singleton and Boyz N the Hood, Shyamalan would not be able to duplicate the brilliance of his first film.

But what a first film it was! Haley Joel Osment is perfect throughout; even the now cliche “I see dead people” scene still brings chills. All of the supporting cast is solid (Bruce Willis,  Toni Collette, Mischa Barton, Donnie Wahlberg), but this is Osment’s movie and he nails it.

It’s been at least 10 years since I last watched The Sixth Sense. I’d forgotten how creepy it is; give me this type of ghost story over the typical slasher flick any day of the week. There are a few “gotcha” type scares, but mainly it’s the fear of the unknown. Is little Cole really seeing ghosts? Or is he losing his mind?

Like The Usual Suspects, The Sixth Sense is a masterly told tale that remains entertaining, even after its surprise ending is known.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Day 132: Score

Used graphic novel and DVD

Used graphic novel and DVD

I love my local library, especially the adjacent Friends of the Library bookstore, which is where I’ve scored a lot of fantastic used (and sometimes new) books, DVDs, and other goodies. The items are typically in great shape and sell for a fraction of their retail price.

Today after my last appointment I stopped by the bookstore and couldn’t believe my luck. I found a near-new copy of Saga of the Swamp Thing, by one of my favorite writers, Alan Moore. And right across the aisle I stumbled upon the movie Prison On Fire, starring one of my favorite actors, Chow Yun-Fat. I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read or seen either of these classics, but thanks to the bookstore and a measly seven bucks, I’ll be enjoying them soon.

Day 131: I Want to Believe

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It’s true: The X-Files is back! Well, not until next year…and only for a six-episode limited series. I’m excited and then some; the X-Files was one of my favorite shows of all time. Before the digital age made binge-watching my go-to mode of watching television, I looked forward to Sunday nights for my fix of the monster of the week or the growing Byzantine conspiracy in the X-Files world.

I’ve watched a few episodes on Netflix for old times’ sake and the show holds up well (some of it is hilarious: fax machines and old cell phones!). I’m looking forward to seeing Mulder and Scully in a more contemporary setting. Yes, this happened during 2008’s The X-Files: I Want to Believe, after sitting in development hell for six years. I enjoyed it, but it was a day late and a dollar short.

I want to believe that this new limited series will be what we fans have been hoping for: a return to glory for Mulder and Scully.

Day 130: Mother’s Day

Hanging out with Mom today.

Hanging out with Mom today.

I hope you, Dear Reader, were able to celebrate Mother’s Day with your mom, stepmom, and/or the motherly figures in your life. I’m fortunate that I’m able to spend time with my mom and I’m cognizant of the moments that I share with my her. I’m grateful for every single one.

Whenever anybody asks who my heroes are, I have a simple answer: my parents. They moved to the U.S. from the Philippines a lifetime ago, giving up their homeland for the opportunity of a better life in America and they’ve succeeded on so many levels. They raised three boys in a foreign land while supporting family members back home. They dealt with their boys acting out typical teenage rebelliousness. And they did it all with dignity and class.

Never have my brothers and I felt a lack of love from our parents, especially our mother. I remember a family party a few years ago where I overheard her talking to a relative: “It’s great when I talk to Ruel now. We’re friends.”

It was the best thing I’d heard in years. From anyone. I’ll always be her son, of course, but I’m thankful for our friendship that has evolved over the years. From our unofficial mother-son book club (we share a love of Tuesdays with Morrie and talked about it for hours) to our passion for going out to eat (we love cooking, too, but finding a new restaurant is something we both enjoy immensely), I cherish the time I have spent with mom as well as the time I will spend with her.

Call me biased, but she’s the Best. Mom. Ever.

Day 129: A Song of Ice and Fire

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones

I’ve never been into fantasy literature. I couldn’t get into the Lord of the Rings series (although I did love The Hobbit), but I’m re-considering my position. Why? Three words …

Game. Of. Thrones.

I loved season one; I’m halfway through season two and enjoying it as much, if not more. So much, in fact, that I did something silly yesterday: I started reading the first book of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Yes, I’m reading the book that the first season of the TV show was based on while I’m binge-watching the second season. I’ll also be digging up my old unread copies of Fellowship of the Ring, etc. I won’t be buying any collectible swords or looking to play Dungeons & Dragons any time soon, but for now I’m all in for the Seven Kingdoms.