1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.08.09)

Greetings from La Puente, California, USA!
View of San Gabriel Valley from Pacific Palms Hotel on Thursday, August 6, 2009

I miss many things. I miss cable television. I miss scripted shows Eureka and Stargate: Atlantis on SyFy. I miss reality shows Dirty Jobs and MythBusters on Discovery. I miss Top Chef on Bravo, GRSSK on ABC Family and Psych on USA. They entertain me, an hour at a time. But what I miss more is the traditional 30-minute, laugh(track)-filled, filmed-before-a-live-studio-audience, singable-theme-song, family-friendly and family-centric comedy. Where is the next Family Ties, Growing Pains or Home Improvement?

Family comedy is comfort food, especially in these sad economic times. I miss the idyllic innocence of The Brady Bunch. I miss the “Urkel” calamities of Family Matters. I miss the sidesplitting slapstick of 3rd Rock from the Sun. But new comedies are often missing something. All shows have slowly surrendered second by second to commercials and theme songs have taken the brunt of the blow.

Full theme songs (and opening credits) still exist – check out The Big Bang Theory. But more often we hear just a few musical notes and see a title card for a few seconds – The New Adventures of Old Christine for example. Far from insignificant theme songs are deeply ingrained in our culture. Hear “Movin’ On Up” and “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” and The Jeffersons and Cheers come to mind. Conversely think of Three’s Company and The Facts of Life and you recall their eponymous themes.

Theme songs serve a purpose. On The Beverly Hillbillies and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air they tell full back-stories while on Green Acres and Who’s the Boss? they distill the show premises. Others set a tone like the unique snappiness of The Addams Family theme and the 1950s pop of the Happy Days theme. And they are not limited to comedies. The Dukes of Hazzard had “Good Ol’ Boys”, Greatest American Hero had “Believe It or Not” and The Heights had “How Do You Talk to an Angel?” Remember those?

As new shows ditch theme songs, older and longer shows are edited down. But if I Love Lucy lost its opening credits to more commercials, it would not feel the same. I understand that everything changes for better or worse. Fewer people wear watches as their cel phones have clocks. Now when seeing a watch, I think that the wearer is more classy. Maybe with theme songs so rare, a new show with one gets more distinction.

I miss many things. But other things I will not miss. Every so often, after the rare rainstorm or on a windy day in smoggy SoCal, our visibility feels endless and colors are more vibrant. The weekly photo was taken on a breezy evening from a local hilltop hotel. Perhaps a theme song would make the view more perfect. As for smog one day it will be gone entirely and I will NOT miss that.

Angelo

1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.08.02)

Greetings from West Covina, California, USA!
Palm Trees directly above on Thursday, July 30, 2009

I have now spent two months without cable television and wi-fi internet access at home. The experience has been interesting. I do have web access but it is severely limited. My brother connects via a gadget that works through our cel phone service. If absolutely necessary, I borrow the gadget, typically late at night, since my always-on-the-go brother takes it with him and normally gets home later in the evening.

Otherwise I use the free wi-fi access at either the city library or the local Panera Bread Café. For the first month I frequented the former. But as a government-funded entity, the library does not have a fast connection, made even slower by many, many users. Instead of five minutes to skim through new email, I spend over an hour – very, very frustrating.

In mid-July I switched to Panera. Its wi-fi is faster and has fewer users. But the trade-off is that I should be buying food or a drink when there. Fortunately the Panera staff does not enforce this. Nonetheless I do buy an inexpensive soda or cookie about 50% of the time so I am still spending less than the monthly cost of a cheap (and slow) home internet phone connection. Plus I get something sweet to eat.

Since the library and Panera are open during the day, I leave the house and interact with the world at-large (and take weird pictures like the weekly photo). I avoid going stir-crazy as a pseudo-recluse. Also confined to public channels, my choices of television programs are extremely limited – more reason to go out. I do confess to watching a soap opera (I will not say which one) but it is recorded, freeing up my afternoons. Also when watching later, I fast-forward through boring scenes.

During the day the only scripted shows on public television besides serials are half-hour comedy reruns. The rest is “reality” stuff: court shows – Judge Judy and People’s Court, game shows – The Price Is Right and Who Wants to be a Millionaire, talk shows – Oprah (Winfrey) and Ellen (Degeneres) and local news shows – Eyewitness News at 11 and… Oh, you get the idea. Except for the news, I avoid it all.

I will survive and have wi-fi and cable again eventually. A recent saving grace was the analog-to-digital transition last June. Previously my parents had lousy antenna reception. Now all the channels are clear, at least on my TV. My soap The Young & The Restless Days of All My Children’s Lives is on. Amnesiac Erica is about to seduce, accidentally of course, her doctor Troy, twin brother of Colin, her 8th & 10th husband. Gotta go.

Angelo

1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.07.26)

Greetings from West Covina, California, USA!
Bulldog Decoration on Gate at West Covina High School on Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Class reunions are a long-standing tradition in American culture. Previously I recounted my experience at my 10-year reunion and now am looking forward to my 20-year one. In fact I joined the committee to plan the event. Last weekend we committed to a location, which is a huge relief but the overall experience to date has had several twists and turns.

First money is a big issue. With the global economic recession, we wanted to keep costs low and pass the savings to our classmates through lower prices on event tickets. To cut cost we did not use a reunion company but the committee would be on its own on researching and paying deposits for venue, musical entertainment, photographer, etc.

I have attended literally dozens of weddings but never planned one. Yet I boldly say that a class reunion can be very similar – hotel rooms, guest list, food, music, etc. An important rule: Find a location and then choose from its available dates. Before our committee had its first meeting in May, one member announced a date in June and then rescheduled it for October. To avoid confusing our classmates further, we stayed with the revised date but still needed a venue.

We set a deadline of 7/18 to commit on a location. In early June we had a frontrunner, the Embassy Suites in Brea. The hotel has an Egyptian theme and a central atrium capped by skylights seven stories up. I was impressed the moment that I entered but the final decision was made on our deadline day over a month later.

To give our classmates at least three months to plan ahead for the reunion, we had to launch our website by 7/25, just a week later. We also had a calendar of events – picnic, homecoming football game, post-game social and a hotel brunch in addition to the reunion party. One committee member and I made minor decisions non-stop – picnic at this park, post-game social at that restaurant bar – while creating the website, something that neither of us had done previously.

We used Yahoo Sitebuilder, a web building for dummies application. My past experience laying out a newsletter for a group also helped. While our four-page website won’t win any awards, I am proud of it. Plus we went live a day ahead of schedule. Whew!

Instead of looking for a job, I spent the week working – unpaid – on the reunion plans. I also went back to my school, West Covina High, to take photos of the campus. We would post them online to get classmates nostalgic and interested in the reunion events. My weekly photo is one of those shots. Incorporated into the framework of the campus’ front gate is the school mascot. GO BULLDOGS!

Angelo

1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.07.19)

Greetings from Costa Mesa, California, USA!
Chair Lift Ride over the Orange County Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 19, 2009

My brother got a new car, an Acura TL, last month. After 8 years and endless trips to the auto body shop, his old car had one final crash and the insurance company declared it a total (wreck) as the cost of repairs exceeded its value. Meanwhile after 12 years and 200,000 miles, my Jeep has seen better days. Yet I remain strongly attached to it and intend to keep it when I eventually get another car. But I need a job, not only to earn money for the big buy but also pay for my current car’s maintenance and repairs.

This week I spent over $1500 on my Jeep. Initially I needed new tires. With wheel alignment and an oil & filter change, the cost was $425. I also had a random but frequent noise from the back of my car. The diagnosis was a worn-out rear differential. Even worse, it’s an uncommon repair so the part was expensive – some $850 and another $250 for labor. My bank account is bleeding. I need a job now.

I also need to escape from reality – and the heat – occasionally. The movie Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince opened this week. I have yet to read beyond the initial Sorcerer’s Stone but felt that major details in book 6 were cut from the 2-1/2 hour movie. Still it was a great blend of action, comedy and romance in an air-conditioned theatre.

With a friend I watched the movie on Friday in La Canada Flintridge then headed to downtown Pasadena afterwards. At One Colorado Courtyard I saw my second but unplanned movie of the day – a free screening of “Singin’ in the Rain”. While real rain would have been welcomed, I enjoyed watching the film classic in the cooler evening air.

A final salvo was a return to the OC Fair on Sunday. A friend and his son were going with their neighbors and I was invited to join. The neighbor’s relative worked in the fair’s carnival and got us free admission plus an unlimited rides pass. SWEET! Perhaps because of the recession, crowds were light and lines were short. SWEET again!

Apparently my invitation came with a caveat. I went with the kids on any ride needing an adult but their parents did not go on. I get motion sickness very easily. The worst was a covered, backward-spinning ride. I never caught its name but enough said about that. Second worst was a flying version of Disney’s Spinning Teacups. NOT sweet.

I much preferred the bumper cars (did that twice) and the water ride (three times). Another favorite is the chair lift over and across the fairgrounds. This week’s photo shows my friend, his son and the neighbors in the seats in front of me and the carnival before us. It’s quite similar to my very first weekly photo. Ah, the memories!

Angelo

1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.07.12)

Greetings from Costa Mesa, California, USA!
Sand Sculpture at Main Entrance of Orange County Fair on Friday, July 10, 2009

The Orange County Fair began this week. It marks the two-year anniversary of a beginning and an ending – the start of this journal and the end of my last “permanent” job. I use the quotation marks because no one’s job is safe in this global recession. With two degrees – a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in business – perhaps I should have foreseen this.

During a dinner conversation in 2006, I told a home-buying friend that in the next five year housing values would stop rising and even fall up to a conservative 20%. A few years later, the friend recalled our exchange, noting my foresight’s accuracy. In a mature industry like housing, the market has steady long-term growth with cycles of expansion and contraction. The last boom was so large in every way that the subsequent bust would have equally far-reaching ramifications.

Crude oil had a similar story. Prices fluctuate daily with trends both up and down. The mesmerizing climb to $150 per barrel was matched by the frightful freefall to $50 and less. I knew it would drop but it surpassed my guess on how low. Despite my educated assessments, I did not publicly caution people. Would have anyone listened? Greed had full control of the housing and oil situations and only time would reveal the complete set of consequences.

I did NOT foresee the rates of unemployment nor realize when losing my job that I would be among the first of millions. A common employment procedure is “last hired, first fired” but hopefully the reverse does not apply. I do not want to be among the last ones working again. The job search continues but I make time for more pleasant diversions.

The OC “Super” Fair with the theme “Think. Big.” once again offered free parking and admission for the initial hour of opening day on Friday. Two years ago a friend was caught in the fair’s first day traffic and ultimately gave up, turning around to drive back home. Despite my warning, another friend had a similar experience this year but she eventually got in, then we met up and enjoyed an afternoon watching performances and viewing exhibits like the sand sculpture in this week’s picture.

I entered the fair’s photo contest again but my sole submission did not pass preliminary judging. This year’s art gallery appeared smaller. Perhaps the judges were more selective or fewer people submitted shots or both. I saw some noteworthy pieces but overall was underwhelmed. I went to another event at the Great Park the following day and that too paled compared to previous ones like Snow Day and Halloween. Hopefully these lowlights are not the start of a downward trend. I have had enough of those.

Angelo

1 Week, 1 Photo, 1000 Words (2009.07.05)

Greetings from Anaheim, California, USA!

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland on Tuesday, June 30, 2009

With many friends having babies this year, perhaps the Powers That Be asked the Grim Reaper to work overtime keeping our population in check. Morbid, I know. June was deadly. Entertainment industry alone lost David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. This Wednesday veteran actor Karl Malden joined them. Though he died on July 1, I hope that Malden was a belated addition to an atypical ultra-gloomy June and Death takes a holiday soon.

I knew none of the recently deceased personally but the memoriams almost included a familiar face. In early June a friend had a stroke. Her carotid artery, a major blood vessel to the brain, had 90% blockage. Because she had trouble speaking, the stroke was detected and treated early. The friend is my age and highly active so I was stunned by the news. Extremely lucky, she made a full recovery, not even partial paralysis – a common side effect, and was quickly back on her feet.

In far lighter news, last week I moved again, sort of. Soon after emptying the final box and settling into my bedroom, I did a partial repack and temporarily relocated to the guest bedroom downstairs. Last month my dad began replacing the carpet with bamboo slats in most of our house’s second floor. Only the closets and bathrooms stayed untouched.

The situation had a silver (or is it blue?) lining. With furniture out of the way and carpeting on its way out, the timing was perfect to paint over 20 years of wear and tear. The bedroom was ready for a new coat and a new color. According to my Frazee Paint flipbook, my walls were bright “Robin”, as in the bird’s blue-green egg, that matched the window blinds. I narrowed my choice to two blues – Tropical Wind and Surf’s Up.

The home improvement store stocked Behr Paint and could not guarantee an exact match to the Frazee color. Ultimately I chose Tropical Wind but once it was on the walls and dry, the paint leaned towards Surf’s Up, as the two were only a shade different. I am content with the new blue hue.

On Independence Day weekend I settled into my room again and did not watch fireworks on Fourth of July evening. Instead I saw those four days sooner at Disneyland, the home of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, this week’s photo. Amidst the home renovations I took a break and used my bonus pass from Disney’s birthday offer of free park admission.

From staring down death and celebrating a nation’s birth to creating a sleeping sanctuary and enjoying the “Happiest Place on Earth”, some moments of life we must do and others we choose to do. Relaxing in my blue bedroom right now is my choice. Surf’s up, dude!

Angelo

Photo of the Week (June 28, 2009)

Greetings from Brea, California, USA!
Photo taken on Thursday, June 25, 2009.

Last January I mentioned three babies born within three days. The first two arrived the same day and the third came two days later. Later I jokingly predicted three weddings and three funerals in the months to come. In an eerie mirroring to the trio of births, this week had a trio of deaths also within three days. Ed McMahon died on Tuesday, Farrah Fawcett followed on Thursday morning and Michael Jackson made his exit that afternoon.

McMahon lived long and well. His death simply provided the finish to his illustrious life story. Fawcett had her life shortened by terminal cancer. With early awareness of her illness, we accepted her passing more readily, a fortunate happenstance as media focus quickly shifted when Jackson died mere hours later. His life was already a constant source for tabloids and his sudden death guaranteed more dirt for these muckrakers.

A master of ceremony, McMahon was sidekick to Johnny Carson on television’s Tonight Show but also had solo success hosting talent competition Star Search. A poster and a hairstyle furthered her fame but Fawcett will be first, foremost and forevermore a Charlie’s Angel as an original member of that ethereal TV series. A singer without equal, Jackson was a music video visionary – Thriller is a crown jewel – and drew attention to fledgling cable channel Music Television, MTV, which is eternally indebted to him.

All three were entertainers and television was central to their successes. The similarities originally stopped there. Ed, Farrah and Michael had very different lives, talents and deaths. But the close timing of their passings created an unlikely third shared thread for an equally unlikely trio. Nonetheless they will be remembered because of their individual endeavors, not their group departure. May these souls endure in the hereafter.

Finally end of June was also end of gloom. The month started with rain, thunder and lightning. By mid-month overcast remained thicker and lasted longer than normal. But the last days of the month are also the first days of summer, bringing clear skies from dawn to dusk and beyond. This week’s photo is of Brea Mall’s skylights glowing warm and white. Coincidentally I took it on Thursday after Fawcett and Jackson both left the mortal plain. Perhaps this was a heavenly homing beacon. I choose to believe it was.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (June 21, 2009)

Greetings from Irvine, California, USA!
Photo taken on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.

I always find the third week of June eventful. In addition to Father’s Day, it includes my dad’s birthday and my parents’ wedding anniversary. While I need not do anything for the last occasion, the other two are another story. If the hi-tech world is symbolized by the all-in-one iPhone – a convergence of web browser, camera, media player and more – then my father is content with a rotary telephone. Thinking simply, I gave him a dvd and card for his birthday and Father’s Day, respectively.

But if he was asked what his favorite gift was this year, his response may be something not received personally – the Los Angeles Lakers winning professional basketball’s NBA Championship title last week. My dad avidly watched the team during their 1980s’ heyday. Following a lackluster 1990s, the Lakers entered the 2000s with three straight championships. Perhaps they will repeat the “three-peat”, transitioning into the next decade with another trio of consecutive titles. It would be nice and only time will tell.

This Wednesday the Lakers had a victory parade & rally. I did not expect seeing my retired dad head to Los Angeles and partake in the event but at least he would watch the telecast. Instead he was on the golf course with friends, playing their weekly game. Meanwhile I saw the televised procession. It moved down Figueroa Street, starting at the Staples Center, the team’s home, and finishing at the Los Angeles Coliseum with a rally and a presentation of the team past and present.

If only my job search had a victory. After an interview I mentally replay and self-evaluate the meeting. I had another one on Friday. My assessment was “unimpressive” and a follow-up/thank you note would not do much to improve it. My search continues. Before moving on, I proffer this: I often find myself working in one county and living in another. Doing both in the same one is always short-lived. This latest job lead was in Orange County and I live again in Los Angeles County. Hello, irony.

Plenty happened this week but I took just two photos and neither one is worth including. I must break my own rules again and select a shot from the previous week instead. At a UC Irvine event last June, I toured a building in an early construction stage. A year later I toured again the same structure, nearly complete. This week’s photo, the skyline of neighboring city Costa Mesa, was taken on its “sixth floor” – actually the rooftop. Great view and cool experience.

On the roof I could have shouted a Titanic “I’m King of the World!” atop an air vent, recording and sending it via my iPhone wannabe to my dad. But he has a rotary telephone. Irony, we meet again.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (June 14, 2009)

Greetings from West Covina, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

This year baby rattles have replaced wedding bells. Almost halfway through 2009 I have yet to receive a single invitation to a couple’s nuptials. Instead I have attended two baby showers as well as a funeral. Before delving into the births, I reflect on the wedding stats.

In twelve years (1997-2008) I have received twenty-four invitations, averaging two annually, although both 2005 & 2007 had three apiece, making up for 2002, which had zero. Some friends did not invite me to their weddings, a blessing in disguise, as my count would have likely doubled. Also my wallet would not have handled the additional flights, hotels and gifts. In fact I did not attend three weddings – the first in Australia, another in San Francisco, the last in New York City – due to travel costs.

While doing the math would result in 21 weddings attended, the more accurate answer is 20 ceremonies and 22 receptions. Typically the two activities go together. But one couple had a small private ceremony, then a larger reception/celebration two months later. Also the couple that wed in New York City held a second reception in Napa Valley for West Coast guests who missed the East Coast event. The remaining weddings were mostly SoCal affairs while a handful was in Northern California and one was in Mexico.

I remain in touch with 21 of the 24 couples, although divorce has split two pairings, a great ratio compared to the United States’ 50% divorce rate. Additionally both ex-husbands have each remarried and I attended the wedding for one just last year. Only time will tell how all these marriages will fare and if my wedding lull is a temporary situation or the end of a 12-year trend.

As the doves rest, the storks work overtime. For the 19 couples who are still married and in touch with me, 11 of them have become moms and dads to a combined 20 children – 3 born since January – while another two couples will become parents by December, both adding one each for a total of 5 in 2002 and 22 overall. Yet I know other couples expecting that will easily bring the year’s total into the double digits.

At my second baby shower of the year, I steered clear of the contests except for one – designing a diaper with toilet paper. Modeled on a teammate’s young son, our creation lost. The contest of guessing the “dirty” diaper contents had a six-way tie. These people really knew crap. Pun intended. The week’s photo shows the tiebreaker – drinking from a baby bottle. From the sidelines, I happily watched and drank from a beer bottle. Baby shower, bridal shower, wedding, whatever. Here is a toast to them all. Bottoms Up!

Angelo

Photo of the Week (June 7, 2009)

Greetings from Hollywood, California, USA!
Photo taken on Friday, June 5, 2009.

June gloom is a seasonal phenomenon but it also described this week. Beyond the traditional overcast skies, the weather – thunder, lightning and rain – complemented my glum mood brought by bad news. The agent who set up my job interview last week told me that the clients met with 4 people total and chose no one. Instead they want to see new candidates. Meanwhile next week I had another meeting scheduled but it was cancelled as that client reconsidered seeing me and offered the job to someone already interviewed.

The unwanted but much needed move back to my parents’ house slowly continued. I unpacked a majority of boxes – essentials like clothes and furniture. The rest – such as kitchen items and collections of comic books, shot glasses, etc. – will remain boxed and stored in the garage until I need or have room for them. Amidst it all, I busted my cel phone’s screen. Sure I get a new phone but I rather not spend the money right now.

The biggest change is that my parents have no internet connection and cable television service. This is like losing both your legs. Not having one is hard but neither is harsh. My short-term solution is the free wi-fi at the public library and the local Panera Bread cafe. It will have to do for now though it is far from ideal or convenient. In fact on Thursday I split six hours between Panera and the library.

I had some respite on Friday. First I went to Studio City for a business networking lunch, which was okay, then ventured to nearby Hollywood. If an entertainer has a star on the Walk of Fame, a wreath is placed over it when that person passes away. Actor David Carradine recently died and I took a shot of his wreath-covered star but chose something else for the week’s photo. Among the hand and shoe prints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre are those of legendary Clint Eastwood, who happens to share my birthday.

Also on the horizon is my high school 20-year class reunion. (Yes, I am that old.) Apparently except for a tentative date, nothing else had yet been done so two classmates sent emails asking fellow alumni to help. We formed a committee and met this weekend with the first and biggest goal of finding a location. We are off to a late and slow start but at least it is happening.

I am looking forward to the reunion but dreading the question, “What are you doing nowadays?” I do not want my answer to be, “I am looking for work and living with my parents.” Between now and the reunion, hopefully my fortunes will take a turn for the better. Then I could say, “I have a job and my own place”. As Eastwood may say, that would “make my day”.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (May 31, 2009)

Greetings from Anaheim, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

In my birthday week, I watched Star Trek on Wednesday and Up on Friday. A buoyant adventure, the latter movie is the 10th computer-animated feature by Pixar, which continues its perfect hit record. Meanwhile after 10 films in a long-running franchise, the narrative relaunch of the starship Enterprise and crew – Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, et. al. – also succeeded. Star Trek continues to live long and prosper.

Coincidentally those same days I also watched games 5 & 6 of professional basketball’s Western Conference Championship between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. I correctly predicted that the Lakers would prevail in 6 games. Kobe Bryant and team next face the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Go Lakers!!!

My Friday activities were actually in Los Angeles following a mid-afternoon job interview. Did I get the job? Find out next week like I did. After seeing the movie Up at the Century City Shopping Center, a friend and I watched the basketball game at O’Hara’s bar in Westwood, a shopping & social district. Following the Lakers’ win, we dine at an Italian place and waited in line at a bakery for very delicious cookies costing only 35 cents each. This was my first trip into Westwood and I enjoyed the adventure.

The weekend started the first two of several days in packing, moving and unpacking. Lack of work forces me to live at my parents’ house again. My two roommates have decided not to get a replacement and instead will share my old room as an office. Since they are not rushing me out and my brother missed his own deadline to clear all his stuff from my old bedroom, I moved only one carload each on Saturday and Sunday, allowing time for fun.

On Saturday evening a neighbor and I went to a barbecue by a common friend. Then on Sunday I intended to visit Disneyland since Disney offers free admission to one of its theme parks on your actual birthday. For being a California resident, I receive a two-park pass instead. SWEET! Having arrived late in the day, I went to Disney’s California Adventure, the smaller of the two adjoining parks, and have the next 30 days to use the free pass for Disneyland.

I had a packed calendar in my final week as an Orange County resident and it ended with a blast literally. The weekly photo shows the colorful bursts from Disneyland’s traditional summertime fireworks as seen over the replica of the Golden Gate Bridge in Disney’s California Adventure – an awesome way to end any birthday.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (May 24, 2009)

Greetings from Irvine & Huntington Beach, California, USA!
Photos taken on Wednesday & Sunday, May 20 & 24, 2009.

UC Irvine held a “campus celebration” on Wednesday to honor its men’s volleyball team for its national title and I went. The Anteater band performed until the coaches and players arrived via victory bus. A few brief speeches later, they posed for pictures and my FIRST photo shows the trophy hoisted above the team. Indoor volleyball may be over…

…But beach volleyball has already begun. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour crisscrosses the USA but Southern California, a beach volleyball hot spot, has 5 host cities – Hermosa Beach, Riverside, Manhattan Beach, San Diego and Huntington Beach (HB). It also has volunteer and paying jobs at each site.

I got a paying job – statistics at the HB event, which has a qualifying round on Thursday. Stats are not done then but it is a good time for paid training. The job is to track the play-by-play, especially who and how points are made. Usually statisticians work in pairs – a “caller” announcing the action and a “recorder” tallying it onto a stats sheet. Example call: Dahlhausser serves. Gibb attacks. Rogers digs, attacks and errors. Rosenthal blocks.

The main competition started the next day and I was kept busy all of Friday and most of Saturday. At women’s courts both days, I had no complaints about watching bikini-clad fit females jump, run and dive. But their rallies last longer than men’s so you do more work on calling and recording. Oh, well.

In the AVP Tour teams play a brackets-style double-loss elimination tournament. Starting in the Winners Bracket, victorious teams advance and defeated ones move to the Contenders Bracket. There too winners advances but losers are eliminated. Also indoor and beach volleyball have differences. Indoors: 6-man teams play a best-of-five series, games won at 30 points. Beach: 2-man teams play a best-of-three, games won at 21.

I did not work on Sunday but came to watch the two finals. The top teams – women’s Nicole Brannagh & Elaine Youngs and men’s Phil Dahlhausser & Todd Rogers – continued their dominance. My second photo shows both Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal leap to block as Dahlhausser lunges for an attack. The shot – sand kicked up as players jump towards the ball, palm trees lining the sky (a recent trend in my photos), scoreboard and giant volleyball filling the background – is now my desktop picture.

Despite abundant sunscreen my forehead, nose and ears were all sunburned by Sunday. Hot sand and concrete also scorched the soles of my feet. Nonetheless I went to a barbecue afterwards, played an impromptu Texas Hold’em poker game, and finished 2nd of 6 – losing to the only woman, winning some cash – a near perfect end to a great week.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (May 17, 2009)

Greetings from Claremont & Newport Beach, California, USA!
Photos taken on Saturday & Sunday, May 16 & 17, 2009.

On Tuesday I watched my second movie of the year, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The title superhero originated in comic books from Marvel, one of the two veteran publishers – DC is the other – in the “graphic novel” industry. I avidly read comics while growing up and preferred DC – home of Superman and Wonder Woman – over Marvel – home of Spider-Man and Iron Man.

I am more familiar with DC’s canon of characters (Quiz me on Batman!) and more critical of those translations from page to screen (Dark Knight was awesome!). Thus my expectations are fewer for Marvel’s menagerie of mutants. In fact my only major point of reference of Wolverine was the X-Men trilogy and, like that film trio, this latest movie thoroughly entertained me.

On Saturday afternoon I attended another crawfish boil. Although my friend stands firm on his retirement from cooking these feasts, others may use his knowledge and equipment. His coworker did just that and in trade my friend was able to invite his own guests. As if the crawfish were not enough, another attendee brought shrimp – actually giant prawns. Between the two crustaceans, I easily ate beyond capacity.

I must have tripled my normal daily calorie intake and was still attending another event that evening. Fortunately it was the Newport Beach edition of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Participating for a third straight year, I had an ulterior motive this time around. I stayed up all night and, mostly in two shifts between midnight and 8 AM, walked the track for over 3 hours – a great way to burn off the calories from my seafood feeding frenzy.

On Sunday the Relay ended at 10:00 AM and I went home, ate, showered and was sleeping by noon. Circa 8:30 PM I was semi-consciousness when an earthquake literally shook me wide awake. As a veteran “quake-rider” I felt that the shaker, a 4.7 on the richter scale, was mild. One roommate was home and actually excited. From Oklahoma but in California for over 8 years now, he had yet to experience a quake. During the last noteworthy tremblor in July 2008 he was driving his car and felt nothing.

Though centered within the metropolis area, the quake left little damage. So no pictures of shattered windows or collapsed buildings. In consolation this week has two photos, both sequels to shots from last year. In one an eager hand stretches towards just cooked and still-steaming crawfish. In the other a graphitti-like “LOVE” sign is framed by grass below, palm trees above and Relay walkers on both sides. That’s all we need – food and love… And comic books.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (May 3 & 10, 2009) Part 2 of 2

Greetings from West Covina, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, May 10, 2009.

I have enjoyed many British television series. Whenever dog-sitting for one friend at his house, I watch the BBC America cable channel, which I do not get at my own home. Fortunately some British shows appear on other networks like Doctor Who and Torchwood on SciFi. Yet other series have their premises adapted for American audiences and the results are a mixed bag. Footballer/Football Wives did not pass the development stage while Coupling was short-lived but Queer as Folk had a solid run.

Currently The Office has a small, faithful fan base while Dancing with the Stars (Come Strictly Dancing in Britain) is a big hit. I have watched the occasional episode of the latter and appreciate its charms. In fact I look at it as part reality competition and part variety show, a much-missed television genre. I even signed up online for audience tickets of its live broadcast. Because of its huge popularity, I did not expect to get in anytime soon but got an email regarding a special taping of a performance.

On Sunday in Los Angeles at CBS Studios, a friend and I went to the Dancing special. I have gone to a few TV tapings previously and typically the wait to get in and seated is longer than the actual performance. This was no exception. There for three hours overall, We were on set less than an hour to watch two takes of the special performance.

Told ahead of time that it would not include any of the show’s celebrities, professional dancers or hosts, I enjoyed the experience nonetheless. Afterwards my friend and I went next door to lunch at Farmer’s Market and shop at The Grove before I left to meet some high school classmates to plan our 20-year reunion.

The following week was uneventful until Saturday. That evening another friend hosted a birthday wine tasting. I arrived late, choosing to watch the volleyball championship at home undistracted beforehand. I still had fun. In fact I finished six bottles of wine but I am not a lush. They were already open and close to empty. I just finished them. Honest!

The following Sunday was Mother’s Day. For the occasion my weekly photo is an orchid, one of many growing in my parents’ backyard. My folks had friends from the Philippines visiting for the past week but left on Sunday morning. Otherwise it was a mellow day capped by takeout dinner from my mom’s very short list of preferred restaurants. Then I headed home just in time to watch Strictly Come Dancing with Doctor Who on BBC. Oops. Sorry, that was the wine talking.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (May 3 & 10, 2009) Part 1 of 2

Greetings from Irvine, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Over the past three weeks, college men’s volleyball had both the regional conference tournaments and the national championship. In the conference quarterfinals, the 1st-ranked UC Irvine Anteaters beat the 8th-ranked UCLA Bruins (3-1) while my other alma mater 5th-ranked USC Trojans defeated the 4th-ranked Stanford Cardinals (3-2). This meant that my two schools would face one another in a semifinal match.

As the top team in their conference, UC Irvine earned home court advantage throughout tournament play and would host the last two rounds of matches. At the campus’ Bren Event Center I watched the 2nd-ranked Pepperdine Waves defeated the 3rd-ranked Cal State Northridge Gauchos (3-1) in the first semifinal. Next was Anteaters vs. Trojans. The match was a 3-game sweep, the victor was USC and I was shocked.

Two nights later I watched the regional finals: Pepperdine vs. USC. The match lasted the maximum five games and the last one went pass the 15 points needed to win because of the 2-point lead rule. Final score was 21-19 and the Trojans beat the Waves.

The national championship was held in Smith Fieldhouse at Utah’s Brigham Young University. Despite hosting, BYU was not competing, its team eliminated in the regional quarterfinals. The three conference winners were the 4th-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes, the 3rd-seeded USC Trojans and the 2nd-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions. Also the top-ranked team nationally, the 1st-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters received the wildcard spot.

In the semifinal matches, Trojans defeated Lions (3-1) while Anteaters defeated Buckeyes (3-0). USC and UC Irvine would be having a rematch but it was not a repeat of the Trojan sweep. The finals lasted a full five games with USC taking games 1 & 3 and Irvine taking games 2 & 4. Game 5? Cable network ESPN broadcasted the matches and, watching at home alone, I yelled “YES!” as the winning point was made. Anteaters won, earning its second national championship in three years!

Soon after I was on the phone talking with a friend. Because I had gone to both UC Irvine and USC, he asked whom I really wanted to win. With the Trojans dominant in football and the Anteaters not even competing in that sport, USC has me as a pigskin fan but UC Irvine has me for volleyball. Also I preferred the ‘Eaters to win both the regional and national titles, but if forced to split the two, this year’s results – conference champs Trojans, national champs Anteaters – reflect my own choices.

Slightly blurry this week’s photo shows the Trojans with their conference trophy. Mostly glass and hard to see, it’s in the lower middle of the shot. FIGHT ON, USC!

Angelo

Photo of the Week (April 26, 2009)

Greetings from Costa Mesa, California, USA!
Photo taken on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Working or not, I find that my more interesting activities are on Friday or the weekend. It happens in part because event planners want to maximize attendance and people go out less during the workweek. Case in point, South Coast Plaza holds an annual Garden Show that runs from Thursday to Sunday. Briefly glimpsing it last year, I wanted to see more this time and went on Friday.

At the show vendors sell flowers, cacti and other plants as well as garden accessories. It showcased patios too but the event’s center of attention is more that a super-sized table centerpiece. The weekly photo shows just a small part of the two-story extravaganza. Seen in its entirety, the display could be called “Entrance to the Garden of Eden”. It had a gate, a fountain, hummingbirds and more all made from organic materials – seeds, flowers, leaves, etc. In fact it was created by the same people who do floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade.

On Saturday I ventured into enemy territory and lived to tell the tale. What possible reason could I have to set foot on the campus of UCLA, cross-town rival to USC? The answer is the Festival of Books, held in Bruin Country. For the last several years I thought of going but never went until now. This was my virgin voyage and it went well as I accompanied a friend who not only attended previously but was also a Bruin alumna.

The huge crowds surprised me. People are still interested in the printed page. In addition to perusing book booths, my friendly Bruin and I attended one of the many panel discussions offered throughout the weekend festival. The topic was the future of newspapers, the forum lasted an hour and I was enlightened. News has value but consumers seldom pay its full price. Instead information in newspapers as well as the internet is subsidized by advertising revenue. Here I am at school learning again.

The next day I had two parties and the first one was at home. For a second year one roommate hosted an intentionally belated Easter-Passover combo gathering. I steered clear of the kitchen as he prepared lamb shanks in red wine sauce for 12 or so people. The meal was quite a production and unarguably delectable. I would have gone for seconds (and thirds and…) but still had another party to attend.

A couple in Laguna Niguel hosted the second social. Dinner was more mainstream – burgers, chicken, pasta, salad, etc. – but was just as satisfying as my last meal. Lest you think that I will eat any food placed in front of me, not true. While my tastes range widely from breadfruit to wasabi, I have yet acquired a liking to African, Middle Eastern and Indian delicacies. And no anchovies on pizza either.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (April 19, 2009)

Greetings from Newport Beach, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, April 19, 2009.

On the road for its last two matches against Stanford and the University of the Pacific, UC Irvine men’s volleyball won both with 3-game sweeps and finished the season as the top-ranked team in its conference and the nation with a 24-4 record. In the next three weeks are the conference tournaments and the national championship. Stayed tuned.

[Play applause soundtrack]

Otherwise my week was significantly uneventful. On the verge of going stir crazy, I watched a movie on Friday. Leaving home without checking the listings, I went to a theatre with nothing appealing but ultimately chose 17 Again. The title conveys an oft-used premise – an adult magically becomes his teenage self again.

Not counting the documentary IMAX films in January, this was my first movie of the year. My last one was the 007 flick Quantum of Solace in November. I found 17 Again to be good, not great and rate it 2.5 stars out of 5. That concludes the week’s highlights and I rate those 1 star out of 5. Thrilling, wasn’t it?

[Pause for awkward silence]

This week’s photo offers further proof to my calendar’s recent lackluster state. Yet to take any pictures by Sunday evening, I scoured my home for a photo op. The outcome was this stuffed toy trio in a corner of my bedroom. I frequently mention my alma maters so the UC Irvine Anteater and the USC Trojan Horse are no surprise. In between the two is a costumed Winnie the Pooh bear. Embroidered on his soles are the word and symbol for Gemini, my astrological sign. Together they represent three facets of my life.

Time to put this week to behind me. Hmm… Maybe I can fast forward to the next one.

[Rewind to start]

On the road for its last two matches…

[Stop playback]

I hit the wrong DVR button. I have no need to relive a dull week. Like the malign 2008 movie Get Smart, I would not rewatch something so boring. Now where is the remote?

[Delete]

Angelo

Photo of the Week (April 12, 2009)

Greetings from Costa Mesa, California, USA!
Photo taken on Tuesday, April 7, 2009.

Averaging one stage performance – musicals, plays, concerts, etc. – annually, I hit quota for the year upon seeing Avenue Q this week. A touring version of the Broadway production, this Tony Award-winning musical reminds me of another theatre show, the bohemian Rent. But the blend of human and puppet characters also suggests an adult version of the children television series Sesame Street.

The two road-titled shows have common links. Members of the musical’s creative team once worked on the television program. Taking a “cue” from Sesame Street’s faux alphanumeric sponsors, Avenue Q is brought to you by the letter “R (-rated)” and the number “69”. Within minutes of its start, the f-word is used. Later two puppets are shown having sex with full-frontal nudity, although their bodies only go down to the waist.

Attending the theatre is typically a cultured activity but this show truly tested that notion. Nevertheless this attempt in refined entertainment was fun and spur of the moment. I had the musical’s tour dates on my calendar as tentative, being very conscious of my dwindling bank account, and spontaneously decided to go on a Tuesday night as attendance would be lower and the cheaper seats would be more available. The result – money well spent.

On the weekend I went to a baby shower. Traditionally a women-only party, this one was for a cousin – the middle of three brothers – and his wife. Also the guest list was practically family only. It was hosted by the father-to-be’s younger brother and his wife, who had the triplets (2 boys, 1 girl) last year. Meanwhile the older brother has 3 sons. The expectant parents feel no pressure to continue the three-kids pattern but nature has already perpetuated another trend, as they will be having a boy named Jared. Oh, boy!

Just how male-heavy is my mom’s side of the family tree? My maternal grandparents had 6 boys and 2 girls – 8 children in total. While 3 sons died young, the surviving 5 kids had 10 boys and 3 girls – 13 grandchildren in total. Counting Jared, my generation has added 10 boys and 6 girls – 16 great grandchildren including a stillborn daughter but not a miscarried son. Blue still outnumbers pink but the gender gap is narrowing.

I brought my aunt to the shower and, on the 210 freeway en route back to her home, my Jeep reached 200,000 miles. I photographed the odometer while driving, not the safest thing to do, but did not crash. Then again 12 years and many miles later, a new car would be nice. I have photos of the shower too but not the expectant couple. Oops. This week’s photo is at night of Segerstrom Hall, venue of the musical. From Avenue Q to the 210 freeway and beyond, life’s journey takes many roads. Here’s to the next 200,000 miles.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (April 5, 2009)

Greetings from Fountain Valley, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, April 5, 2009.

I spent a day organizing photographs – not the digital images on my computer but physical stacks with literally hundreds of prints. And film too. I keep every set of negatives and a hard copy of every picture. They are now in three-ring binders containing clear plastic sheets with pockets specifically designed to sort and view film and prints. Everything is labeled and mostly in chronological order as I occasionally had overlapping usage between two cameras such as my own and a disposable.

On a spreadsheet I list data such as exposures per roll, missing negatives and even the camera used. You decide if that is obsessive-compulsive or just highly organized. Now fully updated, the file offers info and insight. From 1987 to 2006 (20 years!), I used 166 rolls of film, the first one in black & white and the remaining 165 in color. I went through 132 rolls with my Canon AE1 camera, 17 using disposables, 8 with my dad’s Canon Eos Rebel, 6 using borrowed automatics and a final 3 with a borrowed advanced photo system (APS) camera.

My usage was normally less than 10 rolls each year (I averaged 8 annually) but hit double-digits several times. I used 11 in 1988 as I was an exchange student in Australia for six months; 10 in 1994 with trips to Australia (again), Orlando, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas; and 15 to 20 annually from 1997-2000, filled with plenty of activities and travel. But nothing compares to the first year of the third millennium, packed with events including several trips (Japan, the Caribbean and Northern California) 3 weddings and my 30th birthday activities. In 2001 I used 32 rolls of film. But a mere 3 years later in 2004 I used just 1.

I have retired my first and only film camera. Its last shot was in 2006. I bought my first and so far only digital camera in April 2007. Two years later I have taken over 2900 photos with it versus 4303 pictures shot in two decades with film cameras. For the last time I have filed away the negatives and prints as well as sorted through hundreds of duplicate pictures, pulling out ones to give away to friends and family or place in photo albums, then disposing the rest. The bulk of work is done although one day I hope to convert all the film to computer files but give me about five years to tackle that.

I am a convert to the overwhelming benefits of digital. In fact these emails include pictures made possible by digital cameras, leading to this week’s photo. A friend’s son turned 4 years old and I went to his birthday party on Sunday. The parents rented a bounce house and, as my 2900th photo shows, it was used by adults as well as kids. And animals too.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (March 29, 2009)

Greetings from Long Beach, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, March 28, 2009.

When reading these weekly journal entries, some people must skip over the paragraphs that focus on volleyball. In the midst of college men’s volleyball season, I am not getting complaints. But I do limit updates to every three weeks or so and here is the next one.

The UC Irvine team had back-to-back matches against the University of Hawaii on Thursday & Friday. On the first night I already had plans for another event but I was there the next evening. The second match was a repeat of the first with the Anteaters sweeping the Warriors 3-0 games. With these two wins, the team’s record becomes 19-3 for the season. Additionally UC Irvine now has the #1 position in the national rankings. Go Eaters!

I do watch other sports. In fact a friend invited me to see the Long Beach Yacht Club’s 45th Congressional Cup competition. It’s actually a series of races but I must confess to missing most of it. On the previous night I stayed up late doing my annual income tax forms, then overslept. I arrived in the midst of the final race right at the moment when the two competing sailboats both maneuvered unbelievably close to the pier where we were watching. You could have stretched out a hand and touched the mast of either boat.

This week’s photo shows both boats in mid-race with wind filling their sails and Island Freeman filling the background. The slender palm trees complement the outline of this harbor isle, adding scale that would have been lost with a water-only backdrop. The victor was Berntsson, a Swede (with the Catalina Adventure Tours sail), over Bruni, an Italian (with the Oceanaut sail). Go Sweden!

I included a second shot. Actually it is the same picture, just unedited. Compare the two and you see that by cropping (trimming) the image, I tightened the focus solely on the two boats and the island. Meanwhile the color adjustment brightened both the red (sails) and the blue (sails again, water and sky). These two steps brought out the potential in an average picture.

Post-race my friend and I walked to and through 2nd Street in the upscale Belmont Shores neighborhood of Long Beach. It has a merry mix of restaurants and gift shops, from the ubiquitous Starbucks to the unique Fern’s Garden. It also has a bohemian vibe. The parking meters cast “fake shadows”, silhouettes in shapes such as a carousel horse on a pole or a scarecrow. Also the walkways have fish-shaped posts that are bike racks, I think. Whatever. They’re cool. Go fish!

Angelo

Photo of the Week (March 22, 2009)

Greetings from Glendale, California, USA!
Photo taken on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

On my calendar for Tuesday was St. Patrick’s Day, a roommate’s birthday and, alas, a funeral service. The recently deceased was age 70 and had a wife of 30+ years, two children and three grandchildren – all indicators of a good life. I last saw him no less than ten years ago but probably closer to two decades. I did not know him well but he was a friend of my parents who could not attend any of the services. Since I’m not working, I went on my parents’ behalf.

I traveled to Glendale, a three-hour round-trip in workday traffic. Together the funeral and burial lasted another three hours. I barely ate anything for breakfast and was starving by the time services were over but I skipped the reception. It was at a restaurant and, if I went, I predicted another thirty minutes to an hour before I actually got something substantial to eat. I had a quick but fulfilling lunch at the Americana shopping center, where I took this week’s photo of the mall’s trolley.

Then I met up with a friend in Los Angeles for a St. Patrick’s Day drink at an Irish pub before driving home. I originally planned to join my roommate in celebrating his birthday that night but I was exhausted. For more than a week, I have had a cough get gradually worse. Combined that with the funeral and driving and I was beyond drained. I slept between 12 midnight Wednesday and 10 AM Thursday – 34 hours! Except for coughing fits that broke my sleep, I was awake for two hours only and managed to have a meal. Thankfully after a much needed shower on Thursday afternoon, I was back to my normal self.

The cough is nearly gone and I am relieved that the worst of it came sooner than later. On my calendar this Friday in big, bold letters was written “Battlestar Galatica – Series Finale”. If divine intervention stopped me from seeing it, I would be uttering the show’s curse word “Frak” until I watched it. Thankfully I had no relapse and no disaster - manmade or natural - interrupted the broadcast.

Few television series received the chance to give themselves a true ending. Then typically the longer the series run, the higher the finale expectations are. The final episode for “Newhart” is highly regarded and the one for “Seinfeld” is highly maligned while the end of “The Sopranos” has a distinct love/hate quality. In my humble opinion the finale of “Battlestar Galatica” was a perfect elegy.

I bade farewell twice this week – one to a person, the other for a television series. Two good things came to end. Time now for two new good things to begin.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (March 15, 2009)

Greetings from Irvine, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

My calendar shows that I had three consecutive days this week – Tuesday through Thursday – where I did absolutely nothing. How is that possible? Fortunately I was out all day on Friday helping a roommate with a work project. That was followed by an evening of take-out food and a board game at some friends’ house. But the very next day, Saturday, more than made up for all my inactivity.

Just two weeks after my last visit to the Great Park, I was back again but not to ice skate. Originally the Valentine’s Day weekend opening of the park’s temporary ice rink would coincide with a “Snow Day”. Unfortunately the preceding week was dominated by rainy weather and the event was moved back a month to the rink’s closing weekend instead. I could have gone by myself but it is always good to share the fun. I relayed the Snow Day info to several couples with little children and one mom was able to come with her son and daughter.

The park had three snow zones, each for a different activity – one for snowball fighting, another for snowman building and the third for sledding on a slope. My friend, her kids and I did all three. I had a sled ride with my friend’s daughter and I would strongly argue on who had more fun – her or me. My weekly photo shows the brother and sister sledding – the girl has a face of pure joy while the boy looks a tad scared but still having fun.

In addition to the snow, the event had another rink for hockey. It also had arts & crafts activities. Under some tents at one set of tables, kids cut out and decorated paper crowns. At another they made Play-Doh snowman magnets. My friend and I helped her kids with both before they all headed home. That was when my favorite moment happened. When asked to say good-bye and thank you, my friend’s son grabbed my right leg and gave it a big squeeze. It was his way of showing how much fun he had with me. Forget the sledding, snowballs and snowmen. That hug was my highlight of the week.

But that was not the last I saw of my friend and her kids that day. Her husband and she were having a get-together that night. I went and spent the evening talking, eating and playing games – namely, Rock Band and Legos. Lacking any sense of musical skills, I avoided the former and instead focused my talents on the latter – with the kids, of course. I spent a few hours playing with Legos with five-year-olds, being amused by their innocence and amazed by their imagination.

First sledding, then Legos. Don’t you wish every day was a snow day?

Angelo

Photo of the Week (March 8, 2009)

Greetings from Newport Beach, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Occasionally I come across a “time post”, something that reminds me how much time has passed. For example a high school senior graduating in 2009 was born in 1991. That student was not even alive when I graduated in 1989. This came to mind when I received an email about a reunion for my high school. TWENTY years already? I quickly learned that the email was not about a 20-year class reunion but an annual social for all alumni of West Covina and Edgewood High Schools, former cross-town rivals that merged before my final year when the school district had (suspicious) financial problems.

The email prompted memories of my 10-year reunion held at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach. It was mere miles from where I lived then, yet I almost missed it. I was in Atlanta, Georgia, working at my company’s conference until Friday. The reunion was on Saturday and I resisted an offer of a free hotel room for two nights if I left on Sunday as the cheaper plane fare offset the room cost.

I arrived at the airport to find my flight cancelled but was quickly rebooked on an earlier one with no stopover. Great but I had to run across several terminals in an unfamiliar airport to catch it. “Hot-lanta” is HUMID in August and I reached the gate covered in sweat. A flight attendant, unaware of my rebooking, scanned my boarding pass and remarked, “Oh, we were paging you for the last 10 minutes.” In between gasps for air, I replied snidely, “I’ve been running for the last 10 minutes.”

Back home a friend was to pick me up but unaware of my earlier arrival time. Sweaty, still catching my breath and last in line on the boarding ramp, I realized this fact while the woman in front of me turn to see if I was all right. I sputtered my story and she offered her cel phone to call my ride. I accepted the magnanimous offer (cel phones were less common and more expensive in 1999) and learned my friend could not make the new time. I took a taxi home instead.

The next night, I went to the 10-year reunion and came home with about a dozen classmates, spouses and friends. We drank and talked until sunrise. After all my near-misses I had a blast. This dual-school alumni social was also close to home at the Newport Beach Marriott. This week’s photo is that hotel’s fountain. I went but did not recognize a soul, somewhat odd since I run into family, friends and other acquaintances all the time. My 20-year reunion will be later this year. I expect to have as much fun as my 10-year one – and without all the obstacles.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (March 1, 2009)

Greetings from Irvine, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

Have I gone three straight weeks with nothing eventful? Will I write again about movies & television? The best television spin-off – Laverne & Shirley, Melrose Place, Law & Order: SVU? Or the best movie series – James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter? I give that topic a rest as I actually went out and did stuff.

On Friday afternoon a friend and I went to lunch and a movie. Both were inexpensive. The meal was at a Souplantation restaurant and the movie was a pay-per-view back at the home that my friend and her husband recently bought. We watched The House Bunny, a pleasant comedy. I often read the credits and saw the name Rumer Willis. I vaguely remember when she was born to her parents, actors Bruce Willis & Demi Moore. Fast forward 20 years and here she is all grown up. I feel old now.

That evening I watched a men’s volleyball match. The UC Irvine Anteaters team won the match – 3 games to 1 – against the Long Beach State 49ers, bringing the season record to 14 wins, 3 losses. Also in the three weeks since my last update, the team has moved a notch in the national rankings, up from #3 to #2. Woohoo!

On Saturday I went ice-skating for the second time. My first was three years ago when a friend invited me to an ice rink in Pasadena. I never fell down but did not last long on the ice. My problem was the rental skates. I tried on two pairs but neither fit right, making my feet hurt while skating so I gave up.

This time around I had better fitting skates and fell only once. The same friend was with me at a temporary ice rink set up at the Great Park in Irvine. It was housed in an old airplane hanger on the former El Toro Airbase. Both the rink and skates were free but limited to a 50-minute session. This week’s photo shows the ice rink, almost completely smoothed out by the zamboni in between the hourly skate sessions.

Taking full advantage of the day’s great weather my friend and I next went to Laguna Beach for a couple of hours walking along the beach, climbing the rocks and looking into tide pools. That was followed by a pizza dinner, a chance encounter with a former coworker at a coffee shop and a singles mixer. I had a long day and left the last event early. In fact I was so tired that even after a night’s sleep I did nothing the next day. Aren’t you supposed to rest on Sundays anyway?

Angelo

Photo of the Week (February 22, 2009)

Greetings from Fountain Valley, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, February 22, 2009.

The previous week was uneventful and I had more of the same this week. That being the case, I revisit – but take a different approach – to my last topic: Movies or Television. Last time I mentioned the recent series Battlestar Galatica was greatly improved on the 1970s version. But what shows have become successful movies and vice versa?

My pick for best drama movie based on a television series is The Fugitive. The original show ran for 4 years in the 1960s before becoming a hit movie in 1993. Even more, time and repeated viewings have not diminished its appeal. Additionally Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for his performance as Deputy Marshall Gerald and reprised the role in 1998’s U.S. Marshals. The only lowlight is a short-lived TV series update in 2000.

As for best comedy movie based on a television series, I favor The Addams Family. On TV it only lasted 2 seasons but endured in reruns. The Addams Family movie in 1991 proved popular enough for a sequel Addams Family Values in 1993. Then an updated television series, The New Addams Family, had a brief run in the late 1990s.

On the flip side, my choice for best television drama series from a movie is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The theatrical version was average at best but the Buffy series and its spin-off Angel were both successful, lasting 7 and 5 years, respectively. The show ended in 2003 but its fans still fuel talk about another movie but that is pure speculation so far.

My hardest category is best television comedy series from a movie as no show stands out in my mind. By default I name M*A*S*H. Following the 1970 movie, the 1972 TV show lasted 11 years, much longer than the 3 years of the Korean War, the setting for the series. It spun off another comedy and, in an interesting twist, a drama too. The former was the less successful AfterMASH, lasting only 2 seasons, and the latter was the popular Trapper John, M.D., running for 7 years. Unlike my other choices, M*A*S*H has never been remade for movie or television since the series ended.

Keep in mind that these choices are only my favorites. Several properties have moved from one medium to another and back again such as Star Trek, Ferris Bueller/Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Spider-Man, Clueless and Superman. Feel free to share your opinions.

Finally this week’s photo is another follow-up. Last year I had a shot of a golden retriever puppy sleeping on a pile of stuffed animal toys that just shouted “CUTE!” The dog, Kala, makes a return appearance, much larger, but still adorable, even when getting in (and out) of hot water literally, as this latest photo shows her in a jacuzzi. She is blonde, beautiful and, as a female dog, always a bitch.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (February 15, 2009)

Greetings from Foothill Ranch, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, February 14, 2009.

In my first week back among the unemployed, I did not do much. In fact this week’s photo – tree blossoms taken on Valentine’s Day – is practically a close-up version of last week’s shot but at least it is a different tree in a different city. In need of a topic, I pull the following from the “Hat of Ideas”: Movies or Television. Between the two, I prefer the boob tube to the silver screen. I am partial to a television series’ long-term format over a movie’s one-time experience, sequels notwithstanding. In January I welcomed the return of two shows: Lost and Battlestar Galatica.

Lost’s premise: Crashing on a Pacific Ocean isle, an airplane’s seemingly disparate group of surviving passengers attempt to return to civilization and normal lives but are hindered by the supernatural mysteries of the island and its natives. Also while most series dread cancellation, this show’s executive & creative team established a definitive endpoint, ensuring resolution to the many storylines and questions. With revelatory flashbacks, flash-forwards and other “jumps in time”, the series has kept me intrigued from the start.

Lost is an original. But eventually someone may create something remotely comparable or maybe, just maybe, improve upon it as old series are often brought back in updated form. Knight Rider recently had a short-lived resurrection after a successful first run. Popular Beverly Hills 90210 was reborn as 90210 and has had a promising first season. Then there is Battlestar Galatica (BG). Like many sci-fi shows, BG garnered a small but loyal fan base for its single season in 1978. A “revisioned” series bowed in 2004.

BG’s premise: Cylons, robots created by man, gain independent thought and attempt to kill all mankind. The surviving humanity are roaming the universe searching for fabled planet Earth as a new home and for a way to defeat the enemy while evading their own creation and finding human-looking cylon infiltrators among themselves. This Peabody Award-winning show presents a thought-provoking look into human behavior amidst a war for survival without offering simple solutions. Though a latecomer to the series, I quickly latched on to it.

Similar to Lost but in contrast to its predecessor, the second Battlestar Galatica was able to decide its own end. The fourth and final season of BG is airing now while Lost is in its second-to-last. If you are not watching either one, I hope my praise makes you reconsider. I will not guarantee that you will become an advocate too. But I will say that their stories and characters are different from and better than those in most of the other television series out there. You have my word on that.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (February 8, 2009)

Greetings from Costa Mesa, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Monday started with bad news - This would be my last week at my freelance job. The news sucks and the recession was not the cause. After nearly six months “The Powers That Be” decided that I was not the right person. My coworker was also my supervisor as she had seniority but less experience than I did. Everything had to be done her way which I did 95% of the time. The remaining 5% when I did things my way is likely the reason that I was cut loose.

The news did not take long to sink in. Better yet I quickly found a silver lining. The company’s chief operating officer had a “Big Brother” presence a la George Orwell’s novel 1984. I always felt everything – emails, phone calls, even casual conversations – was being monitored. With my job ending, I continued to do it as professionally as before but the specter of “Big Brother” no longer haunted me.

I even had a gold lining. Being my last week, I was no longer hesitant to ask for a longer lunch on Wednesday. The UC Irvine’s Athletics Department held a luncheon with guest speaker John Speraw, head coach of its men’s volleyball team. Speraw was also the assistant coach of the gold-winning USA’s Olympic men’s volleyball team and he presented a slideshow of his Beijng experience.

None of the Olympic team was there but the luncheon had open seating and I ended up at the guest speaker’s table. Speraw was not there long before being pulled away by other attendees and then his presentation. The slideshow was a very detailed and insightful look into an athlete’s (and coach’s) Olympic experience – from the pre-games orientation in the USA to the security, housing facilities, nightlife and competition in China to the victory celebrations there and back home.

Only bronze left to complete a medal analogy. I ended the workweek watching the Anteaters of UC Irvine win 3-0 against the Cardinals of Stanford University in men’s volleyball. The sport’s season started in January and UC Irvine’s team had the preseason ranking of 6th nationally. A month later, its standing has moved to 3rd. It’s a bit of a stretch but 3rd is bronze, right? The ‘Eaters swept the match and I have swept the medals.

Finally speaking of seasons, barely into February, the weather is far from cold, even for Southern California. In fact in this week’s photo, the whiteness in the trees and on the ground is not snow, but blossom petals. This may be the midst of winter but spring has taken a huge head start.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (February 1, 2009)

Greetings from Los Angeles, California, USA!
Photo taken on Saturday, January 31, 2009.

A friend invited me as her guest to a birthday party in Hollywood on Saturday night. I would be driving through Los Angeles and went early to visit Exposition Park. I had been there several times previously as it has various attractions such as a rose garden, museums and sporting venues.

The park’s California Science Center has an IMAX Theatre, where I saw two short 3-D movies. “Watching” is an understatement. “Experiencing” is more accurate. By mixing three-dimensional technology with the huge screen and surround sound, you find yourself “in the movie”. But story is still important. The first movie was a narrative nightmare. Fortunately the second was better scripted.

Exposition Park also has the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Currently it is home to the Trojans football team of my graduate school alma mater, the University of Southern California (FIGHT ON!), its campus adjacent to the north of the park. But the greatest fame comes from the Olympics. The stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the track & field events for the 1932 and 1984 games.

After the movies, I saw that the Coliseum’s Olympic Cauldron was lit and the evening sky added to the rare moment as captured in this week’s photo. The stadium had no event but some lights were on and I heard music from the field beyond my view. The USC marching band may have been rehearsing but I know not why the Cauldron need be on.

Next I met up with my friend and headed to Hollywood. Arriving ahead of schedule, we visited and took photos at two nearby attractions - the Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards aka the Oscars are presented, and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where movie stars leave their hand and foot prints in its cement pavement.

The party had a theme of prohibition-era speakeasy and you needed a password “Dillinger” to enter the back room of the Pig & Whistle restaurant where the birthday gathering was held. In the midst of this fun evening, I ran into an acquaintance. I first met Chuck at a wedding two years ago. We met again as his wife and my friend both knew the birthday girl. This six degrees of separation stuff happens all too frequently to me.

Finally on Sunday was the Superbowl. At a friend’s party, I partook in the traditional betting pool and won the 3rd quarter pot. As for the game, Arizona Cardinals almost upset the favored Pittsburgh Steelers. In the last three minutes, the Cardinals finally took the lead (20-23) but two minutes later the Steelers regained it to take the game (27-23). The Cardinals lost but I had a winning weekend.

Angelo

Photo of the Week (January 25, 2009)

Greetings from Newport Beach, California, USA!
Photo taken on Sunday, January 25, 2009.

This week my brother went snowboarding in Utah. He left on Tuesday and was to return on Saturday but missed his plane back. Because the popular and well-known Sundance Film Festival was wrapping up that weekend, the next available flight was not until Monday. My parents missed my brother’s return as they left on Sunday for a one-month trip to the Philippines. While my family racks up frequent flier miles, I needed several minutes just to remember the last time I was on an airplane.

I think my most recent flight was in August 2003 for a cousin’s wedding in Northern California. My last true vacation was in 2001 when I flew to Florida and took a Caribbean cruise on the week immediately following the 9/11 attacks. Since then most of my traveling beyond Los Angeles & Orange Counties has been for out-of-town weddings. This is any observation, not a complaint. I will take what I can get right now.

Much to my frustration, my employment history has been heavily sporadic in the past decade. In fact I recently endured 14 months between fulltime jobs and my savings were completely drained. Consequently I live the paradox of “having the time but not the money or having the money but not the time”. In the foreseeable future my travels will be limited to road trips. Thankfully gasoline prices have nose-dived. Otherwise a daytrip would be going to the community pool and a wild weekend would involve walking down to the beach.

I will be surprised if I fly anywhere this year and stunned if I travel outside the United States via any means – plane, train, car or foot. In fact if I attempt a national border crossing, I would be detained as my passport expired several years ago. Nevertheless I will set foot on all seven continents one day with three down already (Asia, Australia & North America) and four more to go. For now I can focus on setting foot on all 50 states of the USA. I have been to 17 or so thus far but will spare you a list of those.

Meanwhile home offers inspiration. Christmas was over a month ago and the fake tree is boxed but yet to be stored in the garage. Most of the ornaments have been put away too. But some are in the living room’s built-in bookcase as shown in this week’s photo. They are mixed with glasses, each from a different location of the Hard Rock Café (HRC) restaurant chain. The shorter 30th anniversary pint glasses are from my near-complete set (I have 36 of 39). The taller pilsners represent the restaurant & city that I have actually visited (a modest 14 of 80+ worldwide). The ornaments, wire sculptures and HRC barware have a unifying theme “Travel”, a sure sign that I continue to dream.

Angelo