It's been a hard two weeks but I am getting better. Bamboo said it best in his song "Masaya", "Agony wraps my bones... why is love like this?" I still feel those knots in my stomach. It is not fun.
Thanks to all the friends/family that helped me out. And of course, what would I do without snowboarding to pass the time away? Hahaha...
New Year and no posts. I guess I have been neglecting my blog. Been real busy (or had better things to do, lol!)
Well, here's hoping I post more. Hahahaha, we'll see.
Oh, by the way, Avatar is my new favorite movie.
It took me two years to figure out whether to do this sport. The usual apprehensiveness came up, it's too expensive, I'm gonna get really badly injured doing it and will I really enjoy it? Doesn't really seem to be my thing.
So finally, I decided to take lessons to just try it out up at Grouse on the first week of January. I had 4 sessions every Saturday and it was complete with falls, bumps and bruises. To top it all off, I was one of the people that didn't catch on it as quickly as the others.
Despite all that however, I was already having so much fun and this was becoming a sport I really looked forward to doing every winter. Now, I can officially say I am addicted. Got all the gear and thankful that I got friends (thanks Karno) to help me learn, and Aldo and Pia who also gave me individual instruction when I was still learning, and Aldo, the ever passionate one, pushing me as if I was going to eventually go to competition or something... hahahaha
The payoff is great, look below at the videos and pictures I took from my phone. You get to enjoy the view and watch other good people ski and board. On top of all that, you meet a lot of great people doing it.
If you have facebook, you will need to go to my original blog to view the videos below as it won't show up through facebook.
Karno, a passionate snowboarder of 18 years, is enjoying the view up on the mountain. This is what I have been missing figuring out whether do it or not! Karno is a real good guy to go boarding with as he gives great individual instruction and also tries to raise the bar as Aldo does.
A short 5 second clip, but you can see the reflection Karno's board made on the snow.
And a few
photos from facebook:
There was also the FIS Snowboard championship that was held on Cypress and here is another video I took on the phone. Karno has great pictures up on his facebook but again there are restrictions to who can view these photos.
Video:
Every year we have this ceremony with the same pictures and pose... This is what we call, the Ham ceremony with the relatives. Featuring, Tita Tayin and Tito Manoling
Ham 08
A mouse is walking in the forest and hears "help help." He comes upon a big hole where an elephant has fallen in and cant get out. He says, "mouse I need help to get out here" and the mouse says, "wait here i will be right back.”
Ten mins later, he pulls up in his Porsche 911, backs up to the hole, jumps out, goes to the trunk, pulls out a rope, ties it to the bumper and throws it down to the elephant
He says, “Grab the rope and i will pull you out.” The elephant grabs the rope with his trunk and the mouse pulls him out. The elephant says, “thank you mouse for saving my life i will always be in debt to you.”
Later in the year, the elephant is walking along one day and hears "help help!" Well, what do you know, its the mouse who has fallen down the hole. The elephant walks over, lowers his dick down to the mouse and the mouse climbs up his dick and out of the hole.
The moral of the story is if you have a big dick you don’t need a Porsche.
---
As my friend said this story to me, someone asked, "why couldn't the elephant used his trunk instead." Well, he replied, "it doesn't have the same effect."
I guess the elephant wanted the pleasure out of it too :p
Just when you think it was going to stop, yes the snow keeps on in Vancouver.
Link to the above Youtube clip
Click here to see a slideshow of how much snowfall we got here
We pretty much broke the record of heaviest snowfall in Vancouver, but in eastern Canada, this may be normal for them. Unlike them, however, we are not prepared for snowfall like this. We have less snowplows, and even less people with the right vehicle/skills to drive around the snow.
On that note, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays, and drive safely out there.
Here are my playoff picks for the NBA
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs;_ylt=AjeBUwbp2X9WoUGX7n9D0HO8vLYF
Eastern Conf
(1) Boston vs (8) Atlanta = Boston in 4
(2) Detroit vs (7) Philly = Detroit in 4 (yes, two sweeps)
(3) Orlando vs (6) Toronto = Orlando in 7
(4) Cleveland vs (5) Washington = Cleveland in 7
Western Conference
(1) Lakers vs (8) Denver = Lakers in 6
(2) New Orleans vs (7) Dallas = New Orleans in 6
(3) San Antonio vs Phoenix (6) = San Antonio in 7
(4) Utah vs. (5) Houston = Utah in 5. ( Alston, and Yao injured? I dont think so)
I'll take TheRapists for 200; AnAl bum Covers; The PenIs Mighter than the Sword....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etmHaeaNsCw
Hhaha, these were hilarious skits...
Let's summarize first before we go any further. So many trades at the deadline! I'll have to start with my favorite teams first.
1) Houston gives Bonzi Wells, Mike James to New Orleans and Kirk Snyder to Minnesota. Houston gets Gerald Green, slam dunk champion from a year ago, from Minnesota and Bobby Jackson from New Orleans
For Houston, I think this trade was to give more playing time to Luther Head and Carl Landry. Jackson is close to retiring. Gerald Green has potential but only a high flyer at this point. Houston had to let go its glut of guards
New Orleans got even stronger I think. James and Wells will help them a lot and keep them at the top of the standings
2) Toronto gets Brezec from Detroit for Juan Dixon
Where is Juan going to play with the Raps having Calderon and Ford? Toronto is better off keeping Graham who had been languishing on the bench because of Dixon. This shows more confidence in Graham by trading Dixon. Brezec? He was just a filler for the trade.
3) THE BIG THREE TEAM TRADE
Cleveland gets: Ben Wallace and Joe Smith from Chicago, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from Seattle
Cleveland gives: Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden to Chicago. Donyell Marshall, and Ira Newble to Seattle
Seattle gets: practically no one. Newble and Marshall and Adrian Griffin. Rebuiding phase! They also get Barry and Elson from the Spurs. Barry was waived
Seattle gives away: Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West
Chicago gets: Larry Hughes and Gooden.
Seattle is rebuilding and they got nothing on these trades.
Cleveland finally gets some help for Lebron James and they got so much stronger. Once Varejao gets back, who will be the help on offense for Z in the frontcourt? Wallace and Varejao are no scorers. I guess this is where Smith comes in. They lose a good perimeter defense player in Hughes, rebounding with Gooden. I guess James will take the brunt of the offense now. Wally is an outside shooter that will help but is not a defensive player. West really gives them that point guard they really need and moves Gibson to SG.
By getting Hughes and Gooden, Chicago is in good shape for next season.
4) San Antonio Spurs acquire Kurt Thomas and give away Elson and Barry.
This trade is pretty much meh. You can never go wrong with veterans.
So much movement in the NBA. Part 1. Yesterday there were even more trades!
Gasol --> Lakers
I love Gasol but I am a Kobe hater. I'm still contemplating whether to cheer for them. Maybe for Gasol to do well, but that's it.
Shaq--> Phoenix, Marion --> Heat
He had his first game yesterday. Can't really say much. He needs to play a little bit more. I don't like the trade and I agree with Kenny Smith who said that the Suns window to win is now just two years. One thing is for sure, the Suns will not be one of the best free-throw shooting teams anymore. 3-12 for Shaq in the free throw line. Ouch! He's lucky he's got a good FT shooting team. Maybe it will rub off on him.
Miami got a gem in Marion. Very good player to build around and will do well with Wade. I have to admit though, I am starting to like the trade.
Bibby --> Hawks
The Hawks need someone like him to build on the East playoffs where mediocrity is the name of the game
Webber--> Warriors
Meh, Webber is washed up. Signing won't do much
Kidd--> Dallas
Dallas instantly becomes a contender for a title and will surely get past their upset a season ago. He will lead them far in the playoffs.
Congratulations to the Philippines winning the 2008 Women's World Cup of Golf on the sterling play of Dorothy Delasin in the last round making 4 straight birdies herself after struggling mightily in the front nine.
Click here for the link to the story and the interview
Woohoo Noypi ako!
It's that time again. As you may have noticed, the change in background music to keep in the spirit of the season
Below is an old link to an awesome youtube video. I knew about this two years ago, and now is a good time to bring it up again
Wizards of Winter - House Lights
Sunday November 25th - The former frontman of Rivermaya came to Vancouver with his own band called Bamboo. And boy was it an awesome concert! I only had one album of his and that was his first, but I instantly fell in love with his type of music.
You know what the amazing thing is? I thought he would play most songs from his new band, but in fact, most of the songs were from his days at Rivermaya. Everyone loved it as this brought back so many memories for many people.
If I can remember right, here were some of his songs at Rivermaya which he played:
1) Elesi
2) Kisapmata
3) Ulan
4) Hinahanap hanap kita - this has got to be my favorite Rivermaya song of all time!
5) 214 - Another one of my favorites!
His songs from his own band:
1) Noypi (Pinoy Ako)
2) Hallelujah
3) Masaya - Love this song!
4) Mr Clay - another one!
And some which I cannot remember at this moment. Another amazing thing about this concert was that I saw some people who enjoyed the concert who were not even filipino. I could see them grooving and genuinely liking the music, headbanging and all. I noticed they heard Mr Clay which they knew the words by heart and sang it all the way through. His music really crosses continents.
They're coming to Toronto so you guys better not miss them!!!!!
First time I watched this, I couldn't stop laughing. I still can't now...
This is what you call taking one for the team.
To top it all off, he made 3 consecutive birdies after...
What starts out as something X rated is really not what you think.
Get your mind off the gutter!!!!
Some inspirational quotes to live by...
http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/efficacynotgiveup.html
If you want a feel-good story that inspires, look at Paul Potts a contestant in Britain's You Got Talent. Here is a guy with no self-confidence, average-looking, had a hidden talent, and ended up winning the whole thing.
Update: I added the video where Paul Potts was revealed as the winner of the show.
The Semi-final performance where he sang "Time To Say Goodbye". There is also a little spiel of what happened after that first audition.
Here is the final, which he won....
And here is another talented singer. A 6-year old! Connie Talbot. She was a finalist
The revelation of the winner of BGT
