90210

Definitely my favorite track of the album.  I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to music with tragic lyrics.  If it tells a story then it's only about a bajillion times better.  I guess it's comforting just hearing that someone out there could be doing worse than me.  It's a great reminder to really cherish what I have. 

Work has been crap as of late.  I got stuck on support which means I have to carry around a cell phone from work 24/7.  Rain or shine, night or day, I have to answer any calls from any of the service people covering 7,000+ machines in production.  So when they have a problem, they call me and I have to determine the cause of the problem and attempt to fix it.  Sounds scary eh?  I got a call today on my way to lunch and had to turn back to take care of the problem.  After half an hour of walking through the problem, I was able to figure out what the person did and fixed it.  As I was walking out for lunch again, I got another call.  My first attempt to eat was at 12:15.  I didn't eat until 2:30. By the way, did you like how the first paragraph talks about being grateful for my life and then I quickly transition to how work sucks?  I'm a flip-flopper.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is ruining my life.  Someone take it away.

Until next time,

-Alex Thunderlips

Poetic Justice

On Monday my family and I went to a lunch buffet in Daly City called Kome.  My uncle suggested it because it was a new restaurant.  He had already eaten there a few times and said the food was really good.  Since I'm almost always up for new eats, I went with my mom, uncle, and aunt.  If you know where Todai used to be in Daly City, that's where it's at.

When we get there, we see the line is ridiculously long.  The restaurant opens at 11 and we arrive there at 10:45.  The entire lobby is wall to wall of people trying to get a table.  Meanwhile, my uncle arrives and tells us there's no wait.  So we follow him and the four of us walk all the way to the back of the room and sit down at a table.  Apparently my uncle knows the owner.

I have never seen so many Asians in my entire life.  Chinese people have a tendency to try new Chinese restaurants in bunches.  I thought the line to get a table ridiculous.  Little did I know, the line for food was worse.  The restaurant has the exact layout of what used to be Todai.  There is a separate island for sushi and salad, an island (more like a row) for hot foods, a noodle station, and a dessert section.  Since I had sushi on Sunday night, I opted for hot food.  I lined up all the way in the back of the line which moved as fast as molasses.

It took more than 20 minutes for me to reach the plates.  All the while, I was harassed by a toddler standing behind me with an empty plate he grabbed from another section.  This fat Asian boy had no sense of personal space and kept bumping into my behind.   As you may know, my rather large posterior isn't exactly impossible to avoid, but this kid had every intention of ignoring my personal bubble.  He bumped me at least 20 times while I was waiting in line for food and each time he did I turned around to stare him down.  After about ten times, the kid's father finally tells him not to stand so close.  Finally.  Some relief.  That's what I thought at least.  Next thing you know, the kid lifts his plate, digging into the bottom of my ass.  He literally put my ass on his plate.  At that point I'd had enough.  I waited and baited him.  Slowly the line moved and I stood still hoping he'd get closer.  Then,                      (for dramatic effect)             I totally let one rip in his face.  He was at the perfect height to eat every fecal particle I had to offer.  Victory is sweet.

Enough with the story.  Onward of the review.  The food was actually pretty tasty for a buffet.  I would definitely recommend it even though Yelp users gave it low scores.  Considering lunch buffet is 10.95, it is definitely worth a shot.  My uncle tells me that a few of the chefs were actually from Koi Palace so you know at least some of the food is made by professionals.  The Chinese BBQ and dim sum section is definitely the highlight of the buffet.

As we left the restaurant, we all got a peek of the line.  The line at this point (1PM) stretched past the next two or three store fronts.  My uncle told me that the owner of Kome got many complaints from the neighboring restaurants about its patrons blocking the entrances to their shops.  Most of the reviews you'll see on Yelp complain about the wait but if you have the inside track or don't mind going early this is definitely a place to check out at least once.  [End review]

Last night I had a very strange dream.  Chadwick, Andy, Gary, Anjuli, Kevin, a few other friends and I were sitting in a circle somewhere outside.  For some reason in this dream, Chadwick had a baby (his) in his lap and was bouncing him up and down.  Chad turned to me and asked me if I could hold the baby while he grabbed something from a bag.  I take the baby and hold him so he's facing outward.  With one hand under the baby's bottom and the other across his body, I wait for Chadwick to grab whatever he needed.  I look at the baby's face and I know what's coming next.  Doo doo butter.  I yell at Chad and tell him to take the baby before he defecates on me, but everyone just watches as the baby craps all over my hand.  Everyone there starts laughing at me which upsets me.  I look at Chad and he's laughing so hard he's on the floor.  With the crap in my hand I chuck it at him and hit him square in the chest.  Everyone continues laughing and Chad throws it at someone else.  Next thing I know, everyone is throwing doo doo at everyone and I'm carrying the baby under one arm and diving out of the way while throwing doo doo bombs at people.  [End dream]

Poetic justice...

Until next time,

Keep the doo doo to yourself.

-Alex Thunderlips

POWER METAL!

Craving power metal lately.

Crazy dream last night.  I had to write down everything I could remember before I forgot.

It started with Andy, Gary, Chad and me at a ghetto high school.  We were surrounded by hundreds of black people and the four of us were preparing for a rap battle.  We all had our notebooks out with our scribbled rhymes deciding who would go first.  Then our names were called and we walked toward the stage.  I dropped my notebook and when I looked up the three of them were gone.  Out of nowhere, four white guys (wiggas) jumped me from behind and the smallest guy gave me an atomic wedgie.  At that point I'm not feeling the rap competition so I walk away.  All the black people I walk past are asking me where I was going and how they wanted to see me perform.  Apparently, in my dreams, I'm a very good rapper.

I left the high school and got into a car where I met up with my black girlfriend (why are there so many black people in my dream?).  I told her about the atomic wedgie and decided that I wanted to get even.  We knew where the wiggas were going so we drove to a parking garage where they were going to wait them out.  At that point, we find the perfect vantage point to watch the entrance of the garage.  The plan was to seal them inside and fight them.  Then, my dream girlfriend hands me a box of C4 rigged together as a car bomb.  I said that was too drastic and I just wanted to get even.

We wait for a bit and Andy, Gary, and Chad meet up with us.  As I step out of the car to approach them, the four wiggas turn the corner and are right in front of me.  I immediately throw the small one through the window of the house we're standing next to and the other three guys run.  The small wigga is stunned after I had thrown him through the window.  I grab a wooden chair and smash it over his head.  Out cold.  Awesome.

As I walk away, someone suggests going to Henry's house to play Call of Duty.  I agree and we start to drive over there.  When we get there, I look at the TV and it has the most absurd dimensions I've ever seen.  It was ridiculously long horizontally but very short in terms of height.  It was so distorted I had trouble seeing all four players on the screen.  Oh yea, and for some reason Virginia was already at Henry's house when we got there.  [End dream]

Until next time,

Gotta love the blacks...

-Alex Thunderlips

Haiti hatin'

Watching the news is putting me in a foul mood.  All the press is focusing on Haiti and all the efforts to help save the country.  Everywhere you turn, videos, photos, and stories of the devastating earthquake can be seen or heard.  The amount of press this story is getting is ridiculous.  The United States is on the front line sending thousands (probably millions already) of dollars in aid.  Why?  I have no idea.

Facebook groups, Twitter groups, and all kinds of social networking sites and media outlets are spreading the word.  Haiti needs help.  People are opening their wallets and helping the unfortunate victims of the earthquake.  I even heard the NHL organization has donated $100,000 in aid to Haiti.  I honestly cannot find the justification for these "generous" acts.

Our country is suffering, yet our own people would rather help other countries than our own.  Our city, our state, our country is in a deficit that is growing.  You all know about the budget cuts, furlough days, etc.  So why do we help other countries when we can barely help ourselves?  We're barely getting out of a recession and people are throwing their money at Haiti like there's no tomorrow. 

Why are we even helping countries that hate us? Giving them money isn't going to make them like us better.  We have much more to lose than to gain by just needlessly throwing our money at other countries.  Why is America always responsible when a major disaster happens?  Why do we keep offering our helping hand (see video below) when we can barely fend for ourselves?  Who are we to step in and act all noble when we can't sustain a stable nation?



That statement reminds me of this.  Would you take that hand if it was offered to you?  Didn't think so.

Look, I'm all for helping people, but why not help our own first?  It's like giving away something you don't have.  It drives me crazy listening to all the people bragging about how they think they're helping the less fortunate people in Haiti while there are plenty of people that need our help here.

Call me callous, call me cold-hearted.  I just don't understand the justification of giving away money to people on the basis of "global unity".  Someone please educate me on my ignorant perceptions of global politics.  Ridiculous.

Until next time,

Let's direct headlines to more important matters.  Like the NBC late night debacle.

-Alex Thunderlips

Para-more more more. Why don't you like me? Nobody likes me.

Fact:  I have family in Haiti.  I learned the other day my great grandfather married another woman in Haiti and had two daughters and a son.  Yes, they are black.  My aunt tells me there are pictures at my grandma's house.  As soon as I can get my hands on them I will post them as proof.  I guess the jungle fever runs in the family.  I have a genetic predisposition for the sistas. 

Things to resolve by the end of the month:

• Finalize list of programs I will be applying to
• Have at least a fitting for a helmet (hopefully I'll have my scooter)
  
• Work on vocabulary

Things to avoid until the end of the month that will keep me from doing the things listed above:

• TV
• COD
• Magic
• General laziness

Until next time,

Keep your eye on the ball...

-Alex Thunderlips

Damn you Sean Connery.

Last night I had a dream that I can't quite remember.  The only thing I do remember is that I was trying to do something.  Something amazing.  And for some reason Sean Connery beat me to it.  And he stood there with Catherine Zeta Jones in his $3,000 suit (C'MON! See video below) laughing at me.  His stupid guffaw of a laugh.  That Scottish bastard.  The only thing I remember was him laughing at me because he beat me to something.  Damn you Sean Connery.





Until next time,

Keep dreaming awesome dreams!

-Alex Thunderlips

Decade in review

A lot can happen in ten years.  Looking back at the beginning of 2000, I had no idea who I was or who I was going to be.  And I still don't.  Ten years ago is a long time back.  Almost half of my life.  I was just a spoiled 13 year old kid leeching off of my parents.  I can't say I'm completely independent, but I have learned the value of a dollar.  I appreciate everything my parents do more than I did before.  Ten years ago, I had no idea where my life would lead or what purpose I had in the world.  I can honestly say that I'm still not sure.  Some people I know are lucky enough to have already found their calling in life, but I'm not as fortunate.  But, the future is unforeseeable.  I guess some things never change. 

Other things do change.  In the past decade, I have gone through many phases of music and fashion.  Almost the entire first half of this decade, I wore only what my brother wore.  I was never a fan of shopping before and he was always trying to wear what was in.  It worked out for me.  I went from "ghetto" clothes in the earlier years and later changed to more of a skater look.  It wasn't until my college career where I began to actually take pride in deciding on what I would wear.  As for music, whatever I was wearing was consistent to what I generally listened to.  The earlier years was a lot of rap and hip hop.  Then the rock and alternative phase started.  Now, there's not much I don't listen to.  Looking back at all the dumb trends and fashion faux paus of the past I hope that my current style of dress will not make me look back in regret. 

In the last ten years, I guess you can say I found love.  But if I did find it, I guess I also lost it.  It's difficult to define that line.  What I do know is that I am more open-minded about relationships and what I'm looking for.  I did things in this past decade I would have never predicted back then. 

Never say never.  When I was 13, I thought San Francisco was where I wanted to live for the rest of my life.  I said I would never date anyone who wasn't Chinese (or Asian).  I thought I'd never get sick of video games.  I always said I'd never be addicted to gambling.  I told myself when I'd go to Reno or Vegas that I would be one of those older kids hanging out at the arcade still playing Street Fighter and Area 51.  I guess all of that has changed.  I'm sick of San Francisco, I dated a black girl, I rarely play video games now (compared to the amount of hours I used to put in), I can't wait to go back to Vegas, and the last time I went to an arcade, I was drunk and playing Street Fighter.  Ten years does a lot to people.

If you haven't grown in ten years, you haven't done shit.  If you're still the same person you were back then, you probably haven't accomplished much.  There's always room for improvement so why not improve.  Everything should be a learning experience.  Take risks.  Make mistakes.  Learn what life is about.

Until 2019,

Keep living it up.

-Alex Thunderlips

This is war.

Talented man that Jared Leto.

Wednesday was a great day.  The day started with a bunch of errands.  I went to Costco to return some gifts and buy stuff for the house.  Then I went to Best Buy to return some more gifts before returning home.  Nothing special yet.  I made plans with My to have lunch in Oakland.  Since I was going to the Sharks game with Ya, it was easier if I was already in Oakland.  So I bussed and Barted to Oakland where My was supposed to pick me up.  I waited at the West Oakland station for about 15-20 minutes.  During that time I stood at the bus stop while listening to my Ipod.  After a few minutes of waiting, I hear someone behind me say, "Excuse me."  I turn around and reply, "Yes?."  The black lady then says, "I don't mean to be too forward, but I have to say, you have a really nice ass."  I couldn't hep but smile.  I said thanks and she started talking to me and the conversation went something like this:

Black Lady:  Are you waiting for a ride?
Me:  Yea.  My friend is picking me up.  She should be here soon.
Black Lady:  Is she your girlfriend?
Me:  No, just a really good friend.
Black Lady:  Where you guys going?
Me: Meeting up some other friends.
Black Lady:  All guys?
Me:  No, there's going to be some girls.
Black Lady:  Girlfriend?
Me: No I don't have a girlfriend.
Black Lady:  Really?  Handsome guy like you with a nice figure like that and no girlfriend?
Me:  Yep.
Black Lady: You gotta get on that.  I'm 37 and I've only complimented four men in my entire life about their ass and you definitely have a nice ass.
Me: Thanks.

And then we exchanged goodbyes and My picked me up.  What a great compliment to get from a black person.  Black people know great asses and apparently someone likes mine.  Anyways, continuing with the great day.  My picked me up and wanted to take me to a restaurant called Scend's.  When we got there we found parking right in front and we went in and looked around.  Nobody there.  And by nobody I mean patrons.  The owners and workers were standing around and My asked for a table for two.  They told us that they were actually closed for cleaning and they were replacing some kitchen stuff.  I jokingly said, "But I came all the way from San Francisco!"  The lady there told us that the day before an entire family drove up from San Jose when they were closed and she had to turn them away.  We chatted a bit more before we left and we wished them a happy new year on the way out.  We sat in the car in our parking spot thinking of what we should eat.  As we sat there, the owner came out and knocked on the window.  My rolled down the window and the owner asked us if we wanted to have some fried chicken.  She offered to cook something up for us even though the restaurant was closed.  I'm pretty sure she would've made us pay for the food but it was just a really nice gesture.  She said she felt so guilty she didn't want us to leave empty handed.  I don't care what anyone else says, Oakland folks are nice.  I love colored folks.

Somehow we ended up eating pizza and a spot called Lanesplitters.  I ended up eating three slices which was about half of a 19" pizza.  Yes I am fat and yes it was delicious.

Me and Ya drove down to San Jose and picked up Kevin for the Sharks game.  Kevin brought down some beers for us and we drank after we parked.  The game was intense.  First period was a little boring until the final 5-7 minutes or so.  After that the entire game was pretty high-energy.  The Washington Capitals are one of the top ranked teams and have the most electrifying player today.  Alexander Ovechkin.  The Great Eight.



^HD available and recommended.



Two of my favorite goals by Alexander Ovechkin.  The game was incredible.  In the final minutes, one of my favorite D-men, Douglas Murray, and Alexander Ovechkin really got into it.  Ovechkin put three really good hits on Murray in the same shift.  It was an intense ongoing battle between the two.  I've never seen Murray take so many hits.  Murray held his own and fought back and put a few good checks on Ovechkin.  That was definitely the match up of the night.  And what's even better, our section was selected randomly to receive free Chipotle burritos!  The HP Pavillion crew passed out cards to receive a free burrito for everyone in our section.  It was a take-one-pass-it-down-honor-system type of deal.  We all just took one since we wanted to be fair.  To add to that, the Sharks also scored more than four goals which means FREE PIZZA!  Not really.  It's a free personal one topping with any purchase or $5 off any Large or X-Large pizza.  Probably will claim it tomorrow as I only have a few days left to claim it.  The only thing that could've made it better would have been the Chipotle Hat Trick.  If any player scores three goals, everyone gets a free burrito.  Pavelski was one away from having a hat trick.  Oh well.  Sharks won 5-2 in a highly anticipated match featuring two of NHL's best hockey teams this season.  I wish more people were interested in hockey.  There's no one to talk to about this stuff.

After the game, Kevin gave me a ride back to San Francisco.  It was about 11PM and we were looking for something to do.  We made some calls and it turned out that it was Sterling's birthday and people were drinking at Yancy's.  Kevin decided not to go so he dropped me off there.  It was a good night.  Met a stranger and talked to her for a bit while everyone was outside smoking.  She invited me over to another bar cause her friends were there but I respectfully declined since everyone was having fun at Yancy's.  Had some drinks and hung out with the good folks there.  After the bar closed, Gary and I tried to go look for food, but we ended up just going home. 

That was Wednesday.  Great day right?  Thursday was good too.  I scheduled lunch with a friend at 1.  I completely spaced.  I was up at 10 and completely forgot.  I sat around watching TV and playing Gameboy the entire morning.  By 1 o'clock, I decided to go run.  I put on my running shoes and went up to my room to grab my phone.  Five missed calls and three texts messages.  I totally forgot about lunch with my friend and had to call her back to get some more time to get ready.  We ended up at Sai Jai Thai after she said she didn't want BBQ for lunch.  After lunch we went to Zephyr's and just talked until they closed.

The NYE night started off really late.  I was hooked on my mom's Chinese series and completely lost track of time.  By the time the disc was over, it was 10:15.  I called around and plans got changed.  Andy and Kevin decided to do the Polk street crawl instead of Brenda's house party.  I was ready to call it a night and just stay in to play COD: MW2 but I convinced Brian to go.  He picked me up and we went to meet everyone on Polk.  By the time we got into the first (and only) bar on Polk, it was 11:30.  The countdown was disappointing.  Nothing special and we didn't stay at the bar too long.  We decided to bail and go to a house party.  That's where the night really began for me.  Met some good people, had a few drinks, had some food, and had a blast.  Didn't get to bed until 5AM.

Tonight will be my chance to catch up on some rest.



CALL OF DUTYYYYY!!!

Until next time,

Go Sharks.

-Alex Thunderlips