My love for the Olympics, me visiting sites of the Vancouver Winter Games in 2010.

This guy. <3

It's that time again... time for the Summer Olympics. I la-la-la-lovvvvvvvve the Olympics, especially the summer games, I think it's because I have no real connection to the winter games (come on, I'm from Hawaii, ice palace is the closest thing we got). The summer games has basketball, soccer, indoor and beach voleyball, track & field, gymnastics, and my favorite... SWIMMING. I'm excited to cheer on my man Michael Phelps and his quest to become the greatest olympian EVER! Get it!!!!!! I know Ryan Lochte is the favorite now (the guy is ALL OVER THE PLACE).

I feel like London was my chance to actually watch the Olympics in person. I remember when it was announced and David Beckham showed up in Beijing. I thought there's your 4 year goal, get to the Olympics. But life happens, and here I am, blogging about the Olympics instead of watching it as it happens. I know Rio is out of the question, but hey 2020 I'm shooting for you, hopefully in Tokyo or somewhere in the states. Last night's opening ceremonies was the first time I didn't watch the opening ceremonies from the start (I started watching somewhere near Micronesia). It made me miss working for the sports department, being "forced" to watch the Olympics because what else is there to watch in the middle of summer other than MLB?!? This year I'll be working throughout the games, unable to watch my favorite events and athletes, thank goodness for Twitter, Instagram, and phone apps.

I can pinpoint my love for the Olympics to 1992. Prior to that I do not recall much, I don't remember Mary Lou Retton or Greg Louganis. My first memories start with the Dream Team in Barcelona, I'm not sure what basketball lovin kid wasn't watch the greatest group of NBA players on one team take on the world. I can't believe that was 20 years ago, makes me feel real old. 1996 in Atlanta brought the Magnificent Seven and Michael Johnson, I was so obsessed with gymnastics that year. In 2000 it was all about swimming and Ian Thorpe. I think that was the year I also took notice of our US Men's Soccer National team. 2004 started my love for Mr. Phelps, and my bitter disappointment of our men's basketball team (seriously BRONZE?!?). In 2008, it was about Michael Phelps again, Shawn Johnson, and Natasha Kai and women's soccer. It was so cool seeing someone you knew, actually in the Olympics! I can't wait to see what unfold's at this year's games!

The Seattle adventures continue! Last night I went to my first MLS match at CenturyLink Field, the San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC. It was the final home match of the season and I went with my old Bong friend Richie, we also met up with my cousin Grant, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Kaiea. It was also Kasey Keller's last regular season match, he's retiring. Truthfully he was the only guy I knew on the team, from watching US soccer, so I was pretty stoked.
I really didn't know what to expect, I've only been to UH Wahine matches in college to watch Natasha Kai and my classmate Joelle. And when I worked at the Honolulu Advertiser, we only used Major League Soccer standings and results when we needed a space filler upper for Record. And I've only been to MLB and NBA games. When I heard over 60,000+ tickets were sold, I thought, this is big, really big. First of all, these crazy fans they walk from Pioneer Square to the field. This flood of people, chanting, all marching. Inside the stadium, the whole bottom levels stand the entire game. They have all these crazy rituals and chants, like this one:



It was an intense match. And we were down for most of the game, the Earthquakes were up 1-0 until the 82nd minute, Sammy Ochoa scored on an assist from Mauro Rosales. Then in 87th minute Fredy Montero put the Saunders up 2-1, it was his 12th goal of the season. The stadium went NUTS!!! I am now a full fledged Seattle Sounders FC fan, totally going to look into getting season tickets. I never got why the rest of the world was so crazy over soccer, no I get it. It's ridiculously exciting and intense, and let's face soccer players are waaaaaaay hotter than baseball and basketball players combined. :)

Brrrr it's cold. I have been complaining for the last hour or so that it's cold, as I sit wearing a tank top and some gilly hicks shorts. Idiot I am, but I refuse to spend days in sweat pants. I refuse. We have heaters here in the apartment, but I'm scared to use them, I never used one ever, what if it gets too hot. Seriously I get how awesome Snuggies could be because I totally want one right now, my arms are getting cold while I type this blog.
This week has been interview week, so far 3 interviews, 1 job fair, 2 more interviews planned for Thursday and Friday. I did accept a part time position somewhere, which I start on Tuesday. Or Monday? Eek better double check that one. I still want something full time with better pay, so I'm gonna keep applying, and keep interviewing. But at least its a start.
The photos above are from our field trip to Port Angeles for their Dungeness Crab Fest. We had some amazing food: Scallops and rice pilaf, seafood pizza, roasted corn on the cob, crab cakes, crab bisque, crab quiche, and the most amazing pumpkin pie. So much good food!! On the way back I was able to get a shot of the Seattle skyline at night from the ferry.
Oh and can you smell it... it's one of my favorite times of the year.... it's post season baseball time! :) Unfortunately none of my teams has moved on to the division championships... Mariners (not even close),  Red Sox (robbed at the end of the season), and the Phillies (lost in the NLDS to King Al and his damn Cardinals). So I am currently routing for the Tigers, because 1) they defeated the Yankees in the ALDS and 2) I think they have the hottest pitching rotation in the league.... Seriously look at this:

On the left is Doug Fister, to the right Rick Porcello, and then add Justin Verlander... DAMN Tigers. Fister was actually just traded to Tigers in August, prior to that he was with the Mariners. How I missed him on the Mariners roster is beyond me? Probably too busy stalking Ichiro, that's why. And whats worse, he pitched for Fresno State, meaning, I've seen him pitch during college too. I was probably too busy checking out our own baseball team. hehe. 

Team Billabong Waikiki

I've been getting basketballin on lately. I forgot how much I love playing basketball. In college we used to play weekly, in freshmen year daily! I'm not the greatest player, but back in my prime I think I was a decent defensive player (I think it was my long arms). I'm not so much the shooter or point guarder because I get really nervous. In time hopefully I'll get my swag back.
I have another whole weekend off ahead of me... I'm excited. We already have a hike+beach+basketball sesh+maybe yakiniku planned. I can't wait, hopefully the weather will cooroperate.
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We survived our tsunami warning. Anna and I passed out in the living room watching the news, hoping to not have to work. Unfortunately we both did, but fortunately nothing was severely damaged here. My thoughts and prayers go out to Japan (one of my most favorite places in the world). I've already pledged money to the Red Cross (text REDCROSS to 90999, and $10 goes to the Red Cross and will be billed to your phone bill). We were watching the footage at work, the tsunami almost looked like storm scene in Ponyo, devastating.

Two weekends ago me and Wayne went to the Newtown driving range. It was a nice sunny Sunday, and Wayne and I tried to put our one semester of golf to good use. It was nice to be hitting balls, I forgot how much I enjoyed going to the driving range. Also it was awesome that beers were $3 and you could take them to your hitting stall. I wanna go to batting cages next, I doubt they let you drink beer there though.
My posts have been pretty sporadic, sometimes I think it's because I don't really like turning on my computer these days. Too many old photos and memories. You know I always though how wonderful digital media was you could save it forever. Now as I am finding it hard and a long process to get rid of the files I want. Damn you technology, damn you for making this harder than it should be.

That's me and my t-shirt blanket, my Auntie Alda made it for me, out of all the UH and sports related shirts I've got (most of them for free!) during college. I have one in the works for all my favorite billabong t-shirts, hopefully I can visit her soon and we can work on another one together! Tonight we helped Tammy raise money for Pearl City High School at the USC-UH wahine vball match. I haven't been there in FOREVER, maybe since college. When I stepped through the security gate door, it just took me back to my college days! Working in the SID office and taking a gazillion KLS courses, the athletic department was my playground in college. During the school year it was running around helping out with EVERY sporting event possible, during the summer it was organizing our archives, oh and lots of checking out HOT athletes in between those times. hahaha. Those were definitely THE best days of college. It was hard work but I wouldn't have wanted any other job (COME ON... press row and box seats, and all I had to do was make copies and pass them out!). Now that I have a regular job (meaning M-F 7-4) I'm excited to be able to go to more UH sporting events as well as joining Priya and Rissa for Monday Night Football seshes. 


40 days til disneyland!

Now it's time to say goodbye... and I absolutely HATE goodbyes.

It's my last day here at the Honolulu Advertiser. I've been lucky to have spent the last four almost 5 years here, working in both the Sports and TGIF sections of the newspaper. I almost don't believe that it's over, it's very surreal.

What more could a girl ask for? Job straight out college (technically still in college, I graduated in August of 2005), in the profession she earned her degree in Journalism. Wrong! I totally hated working here the first couple of months, I was 21 just out of college ready to party, and this night time job of mine (weekend night time job!) disrupted my plans! I look back now and think about how dumb I was, such an ungrateful 21 year old. Now after four years I'm grateful for my time here, for the relationships I've made, and the experiences we've shared. There were a lot of laughs, inside jokes, rants and raves, debates, and complaints.

After working three years for UH Sports Media Relations I knew I wanted to go into sports journalism. I was lucky enough to be hired here in 2005 fresh out of college. I'm grateful to Stephen Tsai for letting me know about the opening for this position, and to Curtis Murayama for taking a chance on the girl who never even played a sport in high school (AHS marching band WHAT!) and only really knew about surfing and UH sports. Even though we (us sports clerks) hated waiting and waiting and waiting for those scores to come in, I'll miss gossiping and joking around with Seryna and Tiera. I'll miss our UH football potlucks, the entire sports staff (watching games, matches, and even the news will NOT be the same without sarcastic, witty comments coming from every direction), rooting for whoever is leading late in a game so there won’t be overtime (makes it tough to meet deadlines), Warren our No. 1 fan and caller, cheering on our favorite teams and celebrating wins, complaining over horrible calls and tough losses, keeping tabs on pop culture with my fellow clerks Seryna and Tiera. I could go on and on.

I'll also miss my TGIF/Island Life family. Even though I was only there for one year, it was one of the best. It was much more different from sports, in sports it's like you work in this little sports bubble, I can't really explain it but working in TGIF was a real learning experience professionally and personally. My TGIF family was small and close knit, and that is probably why I loved working there. I loved talking about the randomest subjects like Nick's beard, the latest celeb gossip with Diane, Gossip Girl and Project Runway recaps with Kawehi, listening about the good ol Advertiser days with Wayne and Deb, and everyone's favorite topic of conversation the latest, coolest, yummiest places to eat on the island. I learned about the business side of journalism, how networking and social media is so important, and I got a taste of making this as my career, not just a cool part-time job. I'm so grateful for your encouragement and thank you for always believing in me and my work.

Mostly I’ll miss the camaraderie and being a part of the BEST sections of the state's BEST newspaper.

Honolulu Advertiser, thanks for the memories.

Extra tired today and my back hurts. I need a real good massage soon, but I don't have the money for Aveda. Blah.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to get Photoshop. If you couldn't tell I got a new camera, well my dad bought a new camera, I sort of just took it over. Actually we had a film 35mm, which I asked to use since no one in my family used it. But according to my dad it was completely busted, so he bought this one an Olympus digital SLR E-520. I wanted a Nikon (like Ashton), but I have no complaints with the Olympus. Not too mention, I don't know how to use these types of cameras, I only took one semester of Photojournalism and honestly the photos came out looking like shit. This camera looks to be a nice stepping stone in my new found photo taking endeavors.

Last night I watched men's figure skating. Evan Lysachek is freakin HOT (he has a gf, tho) and last night his costume was designed by Vera Wang. His performance was amazing, I was so glad he got the gold. Tonight there's ice dancing... not a fan. BUT UH Baseball season has started!

End of a freakin decade!

This morning I thought, "Where did the year go?" and then tonight while watching SportsCenter, I noticed they were showing clips of not just 2009. Some of the highlights included MJ retiring AGAIN, Lance Armstrong, Derek Jeter's little shuffle pass to out Jason Giambi at home, Curt Schilling and his bloody ankles in Game 6 of the '04 ALCS, Steroid confessions, Serena yelling at line officials, and my favorite Terrell Owens crying at a press conference stating "...that's my quarterback." Then it hit me, it's not just a year that is over, another decade has passed.

In ten years, I have gone from a dorky high schooler to a college student to a still dorky twenty-something trying survive the real world full of lay offs, pay cuts, in amidst of a crappy recession. I've experienced shitty classes, dating assholes, hangovers, losing people I love, all of which has made me a stronger and smarter person. I've made and kept the best friends and reconnected with family. Best of all I've found Mike!

If you know me, I always say "The year I turned 21 was the best year EVER!" Now when I look back, the 2000s was pretty much the best decade ever. I can't wait to see what's in store for me in the years to come!

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goooooolllllld!

I got a bad case of Olympics fever. 8 for Phelps! yay! Shawn Johnson finally got one on beam. I love that girl, she's just so cute.

Speaking of Phelps, Saturday me, Mike, Priya, and her friends Jenna, Taz, and Bronson had a wonderful day at the beach. Inspired by the eight time gold medalist's pre-swim bird flap stretch, I tried to do my own sad version of it, bent over flapping my arms like some weirdo. It then prompted Priya to try it out. I told Mike to buy me a swim cap because I'm going to attempt to be a swimmer. We'll see how long this motivation lasts.

i miss...

working in and around sports. This is the first time in about 5 years that I'm working in a place where ESPN isn't readily available to me. Sometimes I do sneak a glance over Wayne Harada's shoulders to peak at the TV above the old sports clerk desk I used to sit at (right now mets are playing the phillies).

Despite my rant about how much I miss sports, let me say this, I've actually come to enjoy my job. I'd say entertainment is one of the best things to write about. I like the stability of a 9-5 work schedule and a full time position.

BOS-TON, BOS-TON!

Go Celtics! They know how to do it right...


Remember when the Lakers tried to mesh more than 2 superstars together? What a disaster that was.



i ♥ Boston! Seriously... Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox... can't go wrong with that.

On a sad note, Michael Strahan and his big gap teeth are retiring. Despite he and his NY Giants beating MY Tom Brady and the Pats last Superbowl, Michael Strahan will be missed.