Thursday, August 28, 2008

Brett Hart, Art, and tons of Booze

Been having a bit of a ball lately. It's a shame that the Dodgers aren't doing so hot or else I'd be dancing from the top of the Hollywood sign or something ridiculous like that. It started on the 21st. I had two final exams and aced both of them. It took me exactly 17 minutes to finish a hundred question Poly Sci quiz.And the English 102 exam stood no chance! After a small victory party of arcade games and a couple drinks I deemed the day a rousing success.

Friday was a bit of a high/low. The cool part was that I met some people from Canada, Alberta to be exact. My dumbass remarks that Lance Storm is from there and then couple starts talking about Brett Hart. Thank god I ran into wrestling fans or I would have looked like quite the fool. (Or maybe I am a fool for discussing wrestling who knows?)After that my buddy and I run to a liquor store to pick up some booze to go to another friend's house.I pick up a six of Newcastle and a pint of Jim Beam. After feeling a good buzz we go back for my cousin and a bottle of Seagrams 7 and what follows is that worst hangover since I broke the sink at Anarchy Library in 2003.

Saturday was filled with the realization that the Dodgers will not leave Philly with a win, and I was undoubtedly hungover. Truly a horrible time. My Madre told me to relax and watch "The Music Box" with her. Pretty funny but,I prefer the Three Stooges personally. Also caught "Remember The Titans" for the first time. Pretty awesome movie. Ended the night playing a little Halo 3.

Sunday I went to LACMA. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and saw some great stuff. I think I may have found a new favorite artist in Shizu Saldamando.She does a wonderful job of capturing subcultures in Los Angeles.I took a picture of a painting that I thought looked like me. After that I went to go play ball with a couple friends. I went home that night with the satisfaction of knowing I worked out my brain, body, most unfortunately my liver this weekend.

Monday saw the unexpected news of my professor losing my final paper for my English class. Which means I had to plan a weekday trip to the campus which I so didn't want to do. I decided to stay at a buddy's house close to school and celebrate. (Tuesday was his birthday) After learning that his toilet was out of order, we decided to walk to Yoshinoya at 2am. Walking was the only solution since no one, certainly not us, was able to drive. It was the closest open restroom and damn it I was hungry.

Tuesday morning found me turning in my paper, going to the Federal building on Wilshire to pickup a passport, going to Forrest Lawn to look at Walt Disney's grave and check out the little museum that they have there. Had fun. Only thing that kind of killed it was the heat. After that I met up with a group of friends for a buffet lunch in Downey. Food was mediocre at best but I wasn't gonna complain. (I was treated to lunch.) I then returned home for a quick nap. around six I was told that there would be a gathering at an ex-co-worker's house, where Menudo and whiskey would be flowing. As the night wound down I made the realization that there are some people I should not be talking to and that night I essentially ended a fun but strenuous association.

Nothing happened on Wednesday. Just some light house and yard work. I mean nothing out of the ordinary. But I can honestly say that I have had fun much fun this week. I am really looking forward to the Bruin game on Monday and the start of the fall semester on Tuesday. Now only if the Dodgers could get it together...

Friday, August 1, 2008

Gene Hackman and the Dodgers of 2008


I know am a little late but here is how I reacted to the Manny trade on July 31, 2008: Just as I wrote these guys off for dead, they go ahead and make feel like an ass by pulling off a move that should at least get us the NL West. For some strange reason, this reminds me of the movie "Hoosiers". If you haven't seen it yet you should. It's easily the best sports movie of all time.

It stars Gene Hackman as a high school basketball coach (Joe Torre) who's previous job was coaching at a big time college basketball program. (Yankees) He has inherited an inexperienced team, which are nothing more than young farmers. (2008 Dodgers) During the course of the season the townspeople (Frank McCourt, Ned Colletti, Logan white, LA fans and media, etc...) show signs of impatience as expectations are falling short and the losses pile up.

During the course of the season Hackman tries to help Dennis Hopper, a man who has superb knowledge concerning the game but is burdened by alcoholism. (Andruw Jones addicted to food) Along the way he wins them a game but later unravels due to his illness and is sent to a sanitarium to dry out. (Recent benching)

It is only after the arrival of star player Jimmy Chitwood (Manny Ramirez) does the team finally start clicking. Naturally that wins over the townspeople (Frank McCourt, Ned Colletti, Logan White, LA fans, and media, etc...) and the team goes on an incredible winning streak to get into the playoffs. The team then uses it's new found momentum to capture the state tittle. (World Series champs 2008??)

Hopefully I didn't jinx us with the last part there. It's been an incredible year celebrating the Dodgers' fifty years in Los Angeles. It started with Manny wearing a different uniform on the field of the Coliseum in March 29 and it could end with him in a dodger uniform in the fall classic. (Again hopefully hoisting a trophy of some sort) After all we are in Hollywood and it would be the ultimate Hollywood ending.