I'm bored.
Which doesn't make much sense, considering my sister is back in town for the first time in a while and I have a ton of homework to do. I know that's a common hyperbole, but I'm pretty sure that if I amassed all of the handouts from my missing assignments and weighed them, they'd be close to that.
They say idle hands are the devil's playthings. I say that if the devil is playing my hands, he must really suck at Prince of Persia because I can't beat this damn level.
Hmm.
Here's two videos that are insanely funny to me and I have no idea why. Watch them back to back and let me know if you feel the same.
Here's part two!
-- Justin
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Look! Moving Pictures!
Haven't posted in forever...sorry about that guys. I've been getting e-mails telling me to post more frequently or at least do so in a more coordinated fashion (like every Tuesday or something), but those were obviously from people who don't know me very well. My life philosophy? Anything you can take care of today will still be there tomorrow. I figure the only exceptions to this rule would be filing your tax returns and disposing of dead bodies. But let's be honest here--if you live your life to the fullest, you're going to be hard-pressed to avoid those situations anyway.
I've had a lot of people these last few days come up to me wondering if I'm okay. I figure it's easier to just answer that question here because I know many of you read this blog. I don't feel any need to rehash the situation, but if you know me you most likely know what's up. Here's your answer--Yes, I am fine. High school drama honestly seems rather silly to me at the moment, and when shit hits the fan all you can really do is just laugh and realize that there's a little over two weeks left. Maybe once I would have cared enough about these trivial things to be upset about them, but with so little time left there's really no point. Was that a satisfactory explanation? No? Too bad, casual reader!
And now...the actual blog post!
So I was trying to think of something to write about in this post and hit a case of writer's block. My friend Spencer Kisler suggested, rather cleverly, that I write about writer's block itself! What an extraordinarily original concept it was! Of course, I ignored it, but it was highly appreciated nevertheless. Speaking of Mr. Kisler, I feel obliged to inform my readers that he has an attractive sister. I can't attest to this myself, but I do have it on good authority. (That's for quitting Band, biotch!)
Moving on, I have a few videos for you guys to check out that hopefully will brighten your day a bit. So without further ado, here's a real-life Kung Fu Panda (Bear).
How sweet was that? The best part is, this wasn't faked, although I admit that was my first impression too. The Bear's name is Cloud, and he is a resident at a Zoo in Hiroshima, Japan. I feel like I could make a really distasteful joke about how he's the most cheerful thing to happen in Hiroshima for a while, but that would be rather crass of me.
The next video--wow, hadn't realized how suggestive the video preview was--is a spoof of the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling", which was played so much on the radio this last year that I'm sure it's the song deejays put on loop when they had to go to the john. Apparently they haven't been minding their probiotic cultures. Jamie Lee Curtis would be ashamed.
I cannot decide if the next video requires a lot of, or absolutely no, explanation. I personally find it utterly hilarious, so I'll unleash it upon you and hope you feel the same way!
After viewing this video, YouTube user Ray William Johnson (who I will later cover as one of my personal heroes), had this to say:
-- Justin
I've had a lot of people these last few days come up to me wondering if I'm okay. I figure it's easier to just answer that question here because I know many of you read this blog. I don't feel any need to rehash the situation, but if you know me you most likely know what's up. Here's your answer--Yes, I am fine. High school drama honestly seems rather silly to me at the moment, and when shit hits the fan all you can really do is just laugh and realize that there's a little over two weeks left. Maybe once I would have cared enough about these trivial things to be upset about them, but with so little time left there's really no point. Was that a satisfactory explanation? No? Too bad, casual reader!
And now...the actual blog post!
So I was trying to think of something to write about in this post and hit a case of writer's block. My friend Spencer Kisler suggested, rather cleverly, that I write about writer's block itself! What an extraordinarily original concept it was! Of course, I ignored it, but it was highly appreciated nevertheless. Speaking of Mr. Kisler, I feel obliged to inform my readers that he has an attractive sister. I can't attest to this myself, but I do have it on good authority. (That's for quitting Band, biotch!)
Moving on, I have a few videos for you guys to check out that hopefully will brighten your day a bit. So without further ado, here's a real-life Kung Fu Panda (Bear).
How sweet was that? The best part is, this wasn't faked, although I admit that was my first impression too. The Bear's name is Cloud, and he is a resident at a Zoo in Hiroshima, Japan. I feel like I could make a really distasteful joke about how he's the most cheerful thing to happen in Hiroshima for a while, but that would be rather crass of me.
The next video--wow, hadn't realized how suggestive the video preview was--is a spoof of the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling", which was played so much on the radio this last year that I'm sure it's the song deejays put on loop when they had to go to the john. Apparently they haven't been minding their probiotic cultures. Jamie Lee Curtis would be ashamed.
I cannot decide if the next video requires a lot of, or absolutely no, explanation. I personally find it utterly hilarious, so I'll unleash it upon you and hope you feel the same way!
After viewing this video, YouTube user Ray William Johnson (who I will later cover as one of my personal heroes), had this to say:
So many questions! Why is there a video camera in his bathroom? Why is he smoking in the shower? What is he smoking in the shower? Why is there shaving cream on his forehead? And why does he look like Bruce Willis from Die Hard? Honestly though, for serious, I am convinced this guy is the new Jesus. I mean, look at the way he looks into your soul! (Pause at 0:17 to see what he means)Well that's it for me. I cannot think of a clever quip to conclude this post, so I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Make it memorable! Haha! Get it? Memorial - Memorable? Sigh. I'm in a slump guys, give me a break.
-- Justin
Monday, May 24, 2010
Read This If You Have Estrogen!
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If you ask a girl what she's looking for in a guy, 9 times out of 10 here's what she's going to say:
a) A guy who makes me laugh!
b) A guy who considers my feelings!
c) A guy who likes me for more than my body!
d) A guy who's not a jerk!
And of course, the classic,
e) I just want a nice guy!
Ah, the nice guy (click for handy reference chart). Given the sheer number of heart-to-heart "convos" and empowering self-help books devoted to snaring this mythical nice guy, you'd be led to believe he's a incredibly endangered species on the brink of extinction. Perhaps, these discussions often conclude, he lives on some secluded desert island, in the Tropical Rain Forest of True Love, inside The Cave of My Other Half, located along the banks of the Romantic Idealism River, which flows into the Sea of Broken Hearts at the Estuary of A Metaphor That's Rapidly Falling Apart.
It's a nice story. Most girls believe it. Why? Because that's what feels good to believe. Don't have a man in your life? No worries! Just pull out the Guys-Are-All-Jerks-Card! Don't blame my relationship troubles on me! All guys are jerks! I'm just waiting for a nice guy to come along. He sure is taking his sweet time!
Bullshit, I say.
Nice guys aren't a rarity. If you see a dude in the halls at school, there's a good 30-40% chance that he's a guy who will treat you right, consider your feelings, make you laugh, and do all the things you say you want from him.
Don't believe me? Of course you don't. But hear me out.
There are a few reasons why girls believe there aren't any nice guys in existence, anywhere. The first is due to their own inability to communicate. If they think they might like a guy, girls tend to keep their distance and wait for him to make the first move. Problem is, nice guys are considerate of the feelings of the girl, and if she's playing hard to get, he's going to assume she's not into him and leave her alone. So when a guy finally makes a move, he's usually some manifestation of that cocky dude with the low-ride jeans and a pencil-thin Douchebag beard to match (I think we all know a guy like this). Here's a hint, ladies--this guy is a jerk. You might have been in a room with a dozen nice guys, but the only one you had the initiative (or lack thereof) to speak with was, frankly, the biggest @$$hole in the place.
The second reason: being a nice guy sucks, especially with women who still go to class Monday through Friday. Why? Because you're a commodity that's supposedly desired with Gollum-like intensity, but you still have to go to great lengths to get dates. Even when you do manage to snag yourself a blushin' Betty, your troubles ain't over. Girls at this age are all rather high-maintenance (don't deny it, ladies). With hormones fluctuating with alarming severity, girls seem to always be on the verge of either crying, laughing or wanting to have a discussion about their feelings. Attempting to be sensitive in reaction to all these shifts in emotion is exhausting in its own right--attempting to recognize such situations and head them off before they explode in your face? That just about takes the cake. Being a nice guy in a committed teenage relationship can have its benefits, but it also frequently feels like you're running the Boston Marathon on a hot summer day--and as the giddiness of the new relationship wears off, the people manning the water stations along the route begin to substitute cool liquids for swift kicks in the 'nads.
Lastly, the third and most obvious reason--girls simply don't give nice guys much of a reason to stay nice guys. If you're a nice guy, what are the benefits? Sure, you get the self-satisfaction of being morally righteous, but that only takes you so far. You have to face the facts--you're not going to get the girl most of the time by being sensitive to her feelings, it just doesn't work like that. Even if you do get the girl, you're going to have a very happy girlfriend but not a very happy relationship-experience, because you'll be taken for granted and then quite likely ditched for greener pastures. You wonder why more nice guys don't exist? That's like wondering why you don't see more Komodo Dragons at Petco. If there isn't a genuine demand for nice guys or much incentive for being a nice guy, I ask you, why would he choose to be one?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday Justin Says Words received 276 page views. This would probably be more exciting if I wasn't so confused where all these views were coming from (my previous one-day high was 93 views). Anyway, to all the new readers whoever you are, thanks for stopping by. I hope you liked what you read and come back for more!
-- Justin
If you ask a girl what she's looking for in a guy, 9 times out of 10 here's what she's going to say:
a) A guy who makes me laugh!
b) A guy who considers my feelings!
c) A guy who likes me for more than my body!
d) A guy who's not a jerk!
And of course, the classic,
e) I just want a nice guy!
Ah, the nice guy (click for handy reference chart). Given the sheer number of heart-to-heart "convos" and empowering self-help books devoted to snaring this mythical nice guy, you'd be led to believe he's a incredibly endangered species on the brink of extinction. Perhaps, these discussions often conclude, he lives on some secluded desert island, in the Tropical Rain Forest of True Love, inside The Cave of My Other Half, located along the banks of the Romantic Idealism River, which flows into the Sea of Broken Hearts at the Estuary of A Metaphor That's Rapidly Falling Apart.
It's a nice story. Most girls believe it. Why? Because that's what feels good to believe. Don't have a man in your life? No worries! Just pull out the Guys-Are-All-Jerks-Card! Don't blame my relationship troubles on me! All guys are jerks! I'm just waiting for a nice guy to come along. He sure is taking his sweet time!
Bullshit, I say.
Nice guys aren't a rarity. If you see a dude in the halls at school, there's a good 30-40% chance that he's a guy who will treat you right, consider your feelings, make you laugh, and do all the things you say you want from him.
Don't believe me? Of course you don't. But hear me out.
There are a few reasons why girls believe there aren't any nice guys in existence, anywhere. The first is due to their own inability to communicate. If they think they might like a guy, girls tend to keep their distance and wait for him to make the first move. Problem is, nice guys are considerate of the feelings of the girl, and if she's playing hard to get, he's going to assume she's not into him and leave her alone. So when a guy finally makes a move, he's usually some manifestation of that cocky dude with the low-ride jeans and a pencil-thin Douchebag beard to match (I think we all know a guy like this). Here's a hint, ladies--this guy is a jerk. You might have been in a room with a dozen nice guys, but the only one you had the initiative (or lack thereof) to speak with was, frankly, the biggest @$$hole in the place.
The second reason: being a nice guy sucks, especially with women who still go to class Monday through Friday. Why? Because you're a commodity that's supposedly desired with Gollum-like intensity, but you still have to go to great lengths to get dates. Even when you do manage to snag yourself a blushin' Betty, your troubles ain't over. Girls at this age are all rather high-maintenance (don't deny it, ladies). With hormones fluctuating with alarming severity, girls seem to always be on the verge of either crying, laughing or wanting to have a discussion about their feelings. Attempting to be sensitive in reaction to all these shifts in emotion is exhausting in its own right--attempting to recognize such situations and head them off before they explode in your face? That just about takes the cake. Being a nice guy in a committed teenage relationship can have its benefits, but it also frequently feels like you're running the Boston Marathon on a hot summer day--and as the giddiness of the new relationship wears off, the people manning the water stations along the route begin to substitute cool liquids for swift kicks in the 'nads.
Lastly, the third and most obvious reason--girls simply don't give nice guys much of a reason to stay nice guys. If you're a nice guy, what are the benefits? Sure, you get the self-satisfaction of being morally righteous, but that only takes you so far. You have to face the facts--you're not going to get the girl most of the time by being sensitive to her feelings, it just doesn't work like that. Even if you do get the girl, you're going to have a very happy girlfriend but not a very happy relationship-experience, because you'll be taken for granted and then quite likely ditched for greener pastures. You wonder why more nice guys don't exist? That's like wondering why you don't see more Komodo Dragons at Petco. If there isn't a genuine demand for nice guys or much incentive for being a nice guy, I ask you, why would he choose to be one?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday Justin Says Words received 276 page views. This would probably be more exciting if I wasn't so confused where all these views were coming from (my previous one-day high was 93 views). Anyway, to all the new readers whoever you are, thanks for stopping by. I hope you liked what you read and come back for more!
-- Justin
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Notice Anything Different?
Females: OMG YES! You changed your layout! It looks awesome! I can't get over how great it looks! I didn't want to say it earlier, but you definitely needed to change! Your other one just didn't suit you. I love it! I love it!
Males: No.
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If you're wondering why the blog has been invaded by Netflix ads, it's because I finally reached their ridiculous 65-views-a-day minimum required to post their advertisements, and for each one of those ads I earn a miniscule amount of money each page view. And I like money. If they're obscenely annoying, let me know and I'll scale 'em back.
-- Justin
Males: No.
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If you're wondering why the blog has been invaded by Netflix ads, it's because I finally reached their ridiculous 65-views-a-day minimum required to post their advertisements, and for each one of those ads I earn a miniscule amount of money each page view. And I like money. If they're obscenely annoying, let me know and I'll scale 'em back.
-- Justin
Working Hard Or Hardly Working? Haha! Ow.
Yesterday I spent 8 hours spreading mulch and rock around my garden/yard. As a result, I am rather sore today. Even typing hurts. So I'm going to not type very much! Yes, I am a master of logic. And time-travel. But that's irrelevant.
Speaking of bad writing and paltry-at-best allusions, NBC is cancelling Heroes! Oh no! Well actually, I don't care a whole lot. Some TV shows should just know when their time is done and fade away peacefully (coughLostcough). Heroes should have broadcast the first season, taken a year off to contemplate the second, written it as a brilliant epic that tied up all the loose ends, and directly proceeded to call it quits while they still had their dignity and viewing audience comprised of more than the writer's mothers and trolls watching solely to point out the plot holes on message boards after the show (ex: If Hiro traveled back in time, it should have had more significant consequences, Gay-Noob!).
Speaking of trolls pointing out plot holes, I strongly feel that the show would have had been much better (aka not cancelled) if they had just let characters stay dead. I know Claire's blood can cure pretty much everything (except Hiro's tumor, which doesn't make a lick of sense) but that doesn't mean you SHOULD cure everybody. Sometimes people just need to die. Besides, infusing a dead body with healing properties would just leave you with an extremely healthy corpse. Just saying.
If you look to the top of this page, directly under the title, you'll see I have created a new tab entitled "Justin's Thoughtage". I realized that I think...a lot. Some of these thoughts are inspiring, others amusing, and most completely batshit. I will be largely forgoing the first two in favor of the latter. Check it out and take a peek inside the #$*%ed up mind of yours truly.
Have a great Sunday!
-- Justin
Speaking of bad writing and paltry-at-best allusions, NBC is cancelling Heroes! Oh no! Well actually, I don't care a whole lot. Some TV shows should just know when their time is done and fade away peacefully (coughLostcough). Heroes should have broadcast the first season, taken a year off to contemplate the second, written it as a brilliant epic that tied up all the loose ends, and directly proceeded to call it quits while they still had their dignity and viewing audience comprised of more than the writer's mothers and trolls watching solely to point out the plot holes on message boards after the show (ex: If Hiro traveled back in time, it should have had more significant consequences, Gay-Noob!).
Speaking of trolls pointing out plot holes, I strongly feel that the show would have had been much better (aka not cancelled) if they had just let characters stay dead. I know Claire's blood can cure pretty much everything (except Hiro's tumor, which doesn't make a lick of sense) but that doesn't mean you SHOULD cure everybody. Sometimes people just need to die. Besides, infusing a dead body with healing properties would just leave you with an extremely healthy corpse. Just saying.
If you look to the top of this page, directly under the title, you'll see I have created a new tab entitled "Justin's Thoughtage". I realized that I think...a lot. Some of these thoughts are inspiring, others amusing, and most completely batshit. I will be largely forgoing the first two in favor of the latter. Check it out and take a peek inside the #$*%ed up mind of yours truly.
Have a great Sunday!
-- Justin
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Young Money, Poet Laureate
First off, I have a confession to make.
"Hello, my name is Justin. I listen to 104.7, KDUK"
Oh, don't act all surprised. The warning signs were all there. How many times do I have to hum "Replay" by IYAZ under my breath until someone realizes I need help?
For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, 104.7 is a primarily mainstream pop radio station run out of Eugene, one of the four channels the crappy radio on my 1996 Toyota Sienna can pick up. It plays terrible music. And I mean absolutely awful music. But sometimes I simply cannot help myself. My murky descent into the syrupy-sweet darkness of popular music can happen anywhere, at any time--provided I'm driving my white mom-van, don't have another person in the car with me and my MP3 is recharging. I'm not addicted. I can stop anytime I want. Honest! Stop looking at me like that!
More on topic, I was listening to KDUK this morning and came across a tune which truly exemplifies the quality of popular music today. The song, "Bedrock" by Young Money, is so profound that I feel I must share its eloquent lyrics.
Feel good about that one still? Didn't think so.
Have a great weekend, ya'll. And if you went to the Coast on Senior Skip Day and the po-po come sniffing around, don't get yourself a MIP. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a great graduation present, even when accepted ironically.
Peace!
-- Justin
"Hello, my name is Justin. I listen to 104.7, KDUK"
Oh, don't act all surprised. The warning signs were all there. How many times do I have to hum "Replay" by IYAZ under my breath until someone realizes I need help?
For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, 104.7 is a primarily mainstream pop radio station run out of Eugene, one of the four channels the crappy radio on my 1996 Toyota Sienna can pick up. It plays terrible music. And I mean absolutely awful music. But sometimes I simply cannot help myself. My murky descent into the syrupy-sweet darkness of popular music can happen anywhere, at any time--provided I'm driving my white mom-van, don't have another person in the car with me and my MP3 is recharging. I'm not addicted. I can stop anytime I want. Honest! Stop looking at me like that!
More on topic, I was listening to KDUK this morning and came across a tune which truly exemplifies the quality of popular music today. The song, "Bedrock" by Young Money, is so profound that I feel I must share its eloquent lyrics.
She Got That Good Good,I'm loving the opening reference. Yes, Young Money, Micheal Jackson does have a song entitled "Bad", but I'm not sure how that's relevant. From this stanza, which is solely devoted to describing a woman, the only characteristics of her that Young Money seems interested in informing his audience about is that she: a) Has an attractive posterior, b) Doesn't use her time productively, and c) Glows if punched.
She Michael Jackson Bad,
I'm Attracted To Her, For Her Attractive Ass,
And Now We Murderers, Because We Kill Time,
I Knock Her Lights Out, And She Still Shine,
I Hate To See Her Go, But I Love To Watch Her Leave
But I Keep Her Running Back And Forth Like A Soccer Team,Mr. Money, make up your mind already. Is she good, good, or bad, bad? Is she cold, cold or hot, hot? It's almost like you don't actually have a cohesive idea of who you're describing, or that you're assuming most people won't listen to the lyrics. Haha! Oh, me and my lack of sarcasm.
Cold As A Winter Day,
Hot As A Summer's Eve,
Young Money Thieves,
Steal Your Love With Ease.
I Like The Way You Walk, And If You Walking My Way,Ah, pop culture references! Red Bull gives you wiiings! Very clever. Not quite sure what it means to be "Gudda Gudda". I can only assume that Gudda Gudda is the Hindu God of Let's-Slip-In-Some-Random-Gibberish-And-See-If-Anyone-Notices. I'm not going to comment on the last two lines primarily because they speak for themselves. In other news, did you catch the Stevie Wonder plug? Haha! Yes, that's right Young Money, Stevie Wonder cannot see! Because he is blind! So when you are imagining being in a committed relationship with Mrs. Punch-N-Glow, he would not be able to do the same. Because he is visually handicapped.
I'm That Red Bull, Now Let's Fly Away,
Let's Buy A Place, With All Kind Of Space,
I Let You Be The Judge, N-N And I’m The Case,
I’m Gudda Gudda,
I Put Her Under,
I See Me With Her, No Stevie Wonder,
She Don't Even Wonder, Cauz She Know She Bad,
And I Got Her N*****,
Grocery Bag.
Feel good about that one still? Didn't think so.
Oh Baby,Okay, a few issues. First off, Mr. Flintstone was a resident of the town of Bedrock in the classic cartoon The Flintstones. He didn't make the town. He worked at a rock quarry for Christ's sake. Secondly, when Young Money states that he does in fact want to "spend it all on you", he doesn't define what he means by this. What is he spending? It can't be time--he and his shawty murdered it earlier in a brutal double homicide. It can't be money--if you're pouring millions of dollars into research to produce a room that is, quite literally, a G Spot, I have to assume you're going to pretty damn well broke no matter how rich you were to start out with. And besides, all of his investments are tied up in bonds. Haha! Get it? Young Money? No? Screw you guys.
I Be Stuck To You,
Like Glue Baby,
Wanna Spend It All On You,
Baby,
My Room Is The G Spot,
Call Me Mr. Flintstone,
I Can Make Your Bed Rock Girl
Have a great weekend, ya'll. And if you went to the Coast on Senior Skip Day and the po-po come sniffing around, don't get yourself a MIP. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a great graduation present, even when accepted ironically.
Peace!
-- Justin
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Naked Scrabble!
Personal Heroes, continued...
#6 THE LONELY ISLAND
Just watch the clip, period. No words necessary.
#6 THE LONELY ISLAND
Just watch the clip, period. No words necessary.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Winning Isn't Anything
Today, I play the last tennis match of my high school career.
I step out onto the court and hear the gentle buzz of the crowd. There are three courts in Timberhill's main building, and all can be viewed from one platform, capacity of roughly 250 people. It is half-full now, mostly by players eliminated from contention earlier in the week, killing time until they can go home. As word of the upcoming matches spread, the doors open and a hodge-podge flood of parents, athletes, and friends fill the bleachers with curious spectators.
It is Friday at the Mid-Willamette Conference Boy's Tennis Districts. Ask any high-school tennis player what Fridays at districts mean, and the answer will always be the same. Championship Day.
Since I was a freshman, a part-time starter on Varsity that could only sit and watch districts unfold, I dreamed of playing on Championship Friday. And now as I walk onto that court, racket bag slung over my shoulder, the two Gatorades I had shoved into the front pocket sloshing morosely with every step, I felt proud of how far I had come. My dream had come true.
But something's wrong.
Like a single musical instrument out of tune, it's imperfection hidden within the grand sound of a vast and talented symphony, the glaring flaw of this moment fought to hide itself from my adolescent aspirations of a state berth and maybe, just maybe, a district title.
What was wrong with that moment? I had lost my first round match two days earlier. I would never play in a semi-final. I would never earn a berth in state. Just an hour and twenty eight minutes after taking to the courts Wednesday afternoon, my dream had sputtered bitterly, coughed, and died.
I was playing on Championship Friday, but for the consolation final. I was playing to be the best of those defeated in the first round.
The kid inside me, full of idealistic expectations, sulked in dissapointment. I did not, could not, do the same. I knew I had made choices that had lead to this point. Could I have practiced more and been good enough to advance past that first round match? Goodness yes. With every choice in your life comes a sacrifice. Tennis had been my passion. But it was not my only passion.
I breathe in deeply and smile. I shake my opponents hand. I meet my doubles partner's confident gaze and nod in his direction. One hand grasps the yellow-green ball, the other my loyal racket of four happy years.
Toss. A flurry of motion. And the match begins.
The outcome is uncertain. But already, I feel like a champion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Myself and Evan Wu lost to the #5 seed in the first round of districts, but bounced back to win 4 straight matches, including the consolation final, a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 victory over a team from CHS.
I step out onto the court and hear the gentle buzz of the crowd. There are three courts in Timberhill's main building, and all can be viewed from one platform, capacity of roughly 250 people. It is half-full now, mostly by players eliminated from contention earlier in the week, killing time until they can go home. As word of the upcoming matches spread, the doors open and a hodge-podge flood of parents, athletes, and friends fill the bleachers with curious spectators.
It is Friday at the Mid-Willamette Conference Boy's Tennis Districts. Ask any high-school tennis player what Fridays at districts mean, and the answer will always be the same. Championship Day.
Since I was a freshman, a part-time starter on Varsity that could only sit and watch districts unfold, I dreamed of playing on Championship Friday. And now as I walk onto that court, racket bag slung over my shoulder, the two Gatorades I had shoved into the front pocket sloshing morosely with every step, I felt proud of how far I had come. My dream had come true.
But something's wrong.
Like a single musical instrument out of tune, it's imperfection hidden within the grand sound of a vast and talented symphony, the glaring flaw of this moment fought to hide itself from my adolescent aspirations of a state berth and maybe, just maybe, a district title.
What was wrong with that moment? I had lost my first round match two days earlier. I would never play in a semi-final. I would never earn a berth in state. Just an hour and twenty eight minutes after taking to the courts Wednesday afternoon, my dream had sputtered bitterly, coughed, and died.
I was playing on Championship Friday, but for the consolation final. I was playing to be the best of those defeated in the first round.
The kid inside me, full of idealistic expectations, sulked in dissapointment. I did not, could not, do the same. I knew I had made choices that had lead to this point. Could I have practiced more and been good enough to advance past that first round match? Goodness yes. With every choice in your life comes a sacrifice. Tennis had been my passion. But it was not my only passion.
I breathe in deeply and smile. I shake my opponents hand. I meet my doubles partner's confident gaze and nod in his direction. One hand grasps the yellow-green ball, the other my loyal racket of four happy years.
Toss. A flurry of motion. And the match begins.
The outcome is uncertain. But already, I feel like a champion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Myself and Evan Wu lost to the #5 seed in the first round of districts, but bounced back to win 4 straight matches, including the consolation final, a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 victory over a team from CHS.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
There Can Be Only One!
For those of you who know what the title is referencing, don't get excited, I haven't seen the movie. However, I have seen something far, far better.
Speaking of furry creatures acting out select scenes from obscure movies in less than a minute, let's talk about heroes!
No, not the TV show. Hayden Panettiere will have to wait for another day. I'm talking about my personal heroes. Yes, I could identify the usual suspects--God, my parents, terminal illness survivors, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, etc. But I'm going to be far more materialistic and shallow, because if I wasn't, this would be an extremely boring post. Lets face it--if famous heroes were goldfish, and your attention span was fish food, well, your goldfish would go up to that big glass (porcelain?) bowl in the sky and your iPhone would be submerged in a pile of little multi-colored flakes bigger than the city of Mexican Water, Arizona (yes, it's a real place).
So without further ado (even though there was no build-up whatsoever), here's a countdown of my top-10 personal heroes. This is somehow relevant to your life. I just know it.
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#10 BARATS AND BERETA
These guys are visionaries. Five years ago, they were roommates at Gonzaga University, one majoring in Film Production and the other in Theatre. They decide to make a few videos on their spare time, and now they're Internet sensations. It was basically a match made in heaven, except nobody in their right mind would mistake Gonzaga as any form of afterlife but purgatory (Just kidding, Julia! Sort of!)
I just have to add that when Bereta says "You're out of milk." at 1:06, his facial expression and voice inflection are absolutely priceless. I crack up every time I watch it.
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#9 THE 2007 BOISE STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
I know a lot of people aren't that into football, or sports in general, and they'll just roll their eyes and think to themselves, "Oh yeah, a bunch of sweaty men tackling each other for the amusement of others. Soooo heroic." Point noted. However, doesn't the Pope do the same thing EVERY DAY?!? Yeah, metaphorical smackdown. You chew on that one, buster.
Seriously though, I watched the 2007 Fiesta Bowl live when I was 15 and was utterly inspired. Oklahoma had barely missed playing for the national championship, and in fact their only loss that season had come at the hands of the #1 team. They had six different current NFL starters on their roster, and nine NFL players overall. Boise State had no business winning this game. But somehow, they did. Just watch.
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#8 THE PINK AND YELLOW POWER RANGERS
Thank you, Pink and Yellow Power Rangers. You provided sex appeal to a show that oh-so-desperately needed it. I mean, the entire cast is wearing bulky full-body leather suits 24/7 (and not the good kind of leather). To add insult to injury, they spend the last 5-6 minutes of every episode combining into a huge Transformer-like contraption to take on
a variety of mad scientists/devious villains/alien overlords who always seem to have a Growth-Ray handy (maybe they have a "sharesies" policy). No matter how many times I bitterly criticized you both for being the most useless and cowardly of all the Power Rangers when I was 7, I thank you for your ability to be strangely alluring and adding a pleasant but somewhat confusing aspect to my childhood.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'll continue the list of personal heroes in my next post. Until then, don't let the bed bugs bite! Or the sleep fondlers fondle. Especially the latter. Unless you're into that sort of thing.
~~Justin~~
Speaking of furry creatures acting out select scenes from obscure movies in less than a minute, let's talk about heroes!
No, not the TV show. Hayden Panettiere will have to wait for another day. I'm talking about my personal heroes. Yes, I could identify the usual suspects--God, my parents, terminal illness survivors, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, etc. But I'm going to be far more materialistic and shallow, because if I wasn't, this would be an extremely boring post. Lets face it--if famous heroes were goldfish, and your attention span was fish food, well, your goldfish would go up to that big glass (porcelain?) bowl in the sky and your iPhone would be submerged in a pile of little multi-colored flakes bigger than the city of Mexican Water, Arizona (yes, it's a real place).
So without further ado (even though there was no build-up whatsoever), here's a countdown of my top-10 personal heroes. This is somehow relevant to your life. I just know it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#10 BARATS AND BERETA
These guys are visionaries. Five years ago, they were roommates at Gonzaga University, one majoring in Film Production and the other in Theatre. They decide to make a few videos on their spare time, and now they're Internet sensations. It was basically a match made in heaven, except nobody in their right mind would mistake Gonzaga as any form of afterlife but purgatory (Just kidding, Julia! Sort of!)
I just have to add that when Bereta says "You're out of milk." at 1:06, his facial expression and voice inflection are absolutely priceless. I crack up every time I watch it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#9 THE 2007 BOISE STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
I know a lot of people aren't that into football, or sports in general, and they'll just roll their eyes and think to themselves, "Oh yeah, a bunch of sweaty men tackling each other for the amusement of others. Soooo heroic." Point noted. However, doesn't the Pope do the same thing EVERY DAY?!? Yeah, metaphorical smackdown. You chew on that one, buster.
Seriously though, I watched the 2007 Fiesta Bowl live when I was 15 and was utterly inspired. Oklahoma had barely missed playing for the national championship, and in fact their only loss that season had come at the hands of the #1 team. They had six different current NFL starters on their roster, and nine NFL players overall. Boise State had no business winning this game. But somehow, they did. Just watch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#8 THE PINK AND YELLOW POWER RANGERS
Thank you, Pink and Yellow Power Rangers. You provided sex appeal to a show that oh-so-desperately needed it. I mean, the entire cast is wearing bulky full-body leather suits 24/7 (and not the good kind of leather). To add insult to injury, they spend the last 5-6 minutes of every episode combining into a huge Transformer-like contraption to take on
a variety of mad scientists/devious villains/alien overlords who always seem to have a Growth-Ray handy (maybe they have a "sharesies" policy). No matter how many times I bitterly criticized you both for being the most useless and cowardly of all the Power Rangers when I was 7, I thank you for your ability to be strangely alluring and adding a pleasant but somewhat confusing aspect to my childhood.--------------------------------------------------------------
I'll continue the list of personal heroes in my next post. Until then, don't let the bed bugs bite! Or the sleep fondlers fondle. Especially the latter. Unless you're into that sort of thing.
~~Justin~~
Saturday, May 1, 2010
What Do You Want?
1. I want to be able to draw.
2. I want to be able to meditate.
3. I want to dream of beautiful things tonight.
4. I want to not care so much.
5. I want to go to state in tennis.
6. I want people I love to understand why I do the things I do.
7. I want to wake up.
8. I want to focus.
9. I want to do something every day that I am proud of.
10. I want to be who I know I can be.
2. I want to be able to meditate.
3. I want to dream of beautiful things tonight.
4. I want to not care so much.
5. I want to go to state in tennis.
6. I want people I love to understand why I do the things I do.
7. I want to wake up.
8. I want to focus.
9. I want to do something every day that I am proud of.
10. I want to be who I know I can be.
High Five! Down Low! Not That Low!
The title of this post in no way correlates with the content. Which is becoming a theme with my blog, I've noticed. Heck, I'm not even sure what it means. I just sort of sleepily wrote a title and there it was, euphemism and all. Hmmm. That probably says a lot about my default state of mind.
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You might have noticed I deleted the post from a few days ago, "In Earnest Defense of Gossip". Frankly, that's because I re-read it and realized it sucked and didn't make sense. If I get the time I'll edit it up and re-post it, but don't hold your breath.
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I shaved my head a few days ago. People were really surprised (coughHannahcough). I didn't think it was a big deal. When people ask me why I did it, they never seem to believe me when I tell them that I woke up one day and decided that hair was annoying and I didn't want it anymore, which is the truth. Apparently that's not a normal thing to do. Who knew?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On that topic, every other day I'm taking a picture of my hair to track it's progress of how it's growing. I think it'd be cool to see the progression. But what this guy did was far more incredible--he actually took a picture of himself every day for SIX YEARS. Watch the video, then at the end click back to the start and see how different he is from when he began. Keep an eye out for the tiny details--how his clothing, face, hair, environment slowly changes as his life moves forward. I was flabbergasted and truly inspired. Check it out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing frustrates me more than people who don't communicate with others when they have a problem with them. I can't even begin to comprehend doing that. What do you gain out of it? Why is it so hard to go up and have a conversation with someone to clear the air between you? I guess the answer is pretty obvious--it's hard to confront someone about a problem. Because half of you is scared you're going to be made a fool of, and half of you wants to be believe the problem is real so that your anger is justified. I get it. But that doesn't make it right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some really great song lyrics:
Believe
I See You, You See Me
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guys, did you ever notice how different things become depending on how many males you're hanging out with? Here's a handy chart.
SOLITUDE - Go play Halo, you friendless dweeb. (I'm just kidding! You probably spent all your money on Magic Cards and can't afford an XBox).
BICYCLE - This makes for a semi-awkward Man Date, unless video games or intoxicants are involved. Don't do drugs, kids.
THREE'S COMPANY - A huge departure from the twosome. It is now okay to go out in public without seeming like a happily gay couple. Catching a movie, getting ice cream...anything is possible when you have some tricycle action going on! Although video games take one for the team here. Three-way split screen? Awkward turtle.
FOUR SCORE - Another enormous leap. The triangle can be awkward. The square is perfect. 90 degree angles, man! Not only are video games a valid option now, but now you can do pretty much anything and make it work. Want to play a little two on two sports-action? It can happen. Just sit around and talk? Sure, why not? Want to hug it out? Everyone has a partner!
FIFTH DIMENSION - Once you get here, there's no turning back. The comfortability of the foursome is gone, replaced by the much more uncertain pentagon. It feels like a boring party that everyone left early from. Video games don't work, 2 on 3 sports can't either, and there's now too many opinions of what to do to make any decisions that everyone's happy with. Plus now you can't hug it out without someone getting their feelings hurt. Which is the most crucial flaw of all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time to go study for AP tests. Have a great weekend, everyone! And if you get the chance, send some good mojo up to Linfield, where some very talented musicians who I love dearly are playing for state solo ensemble. Delicious sounds, guys!
- Justin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You might have noticed I deleted the post from a few days ago, "In Earnest Defense of Gossip". Frankly, that's because I re-read it and realized it sucked and didn't make sense. If I get the time I'll edit it up and re-post it, but don't hold your breath.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I shaved my head a few days ago. People were really surprised (coughHannahcough). I didn't think it was a big deal. When people ask me why I did it, they never seem to believe me when I tell them that I woke up one day and decided that hair was annoying and I didn't want it anymore, which is the truth. Apparently that's not a normal thing to do. Who knew?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On that topic, every other day I'm taking a picture of my hair to track it's progress of how it's growing. I think it'd be cool to see the progression. But what this guy did was far more incredible--he actually took a picture of himself every day for SIX YEARS. Watch the video, then at the end click back to the start and see how different he is from when he began. Keep an eye out for the tiny details--how his clothing, face, hair, environment slowly changes as his life moves forward. I was flabbergasted and truly inspired. Check it out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing frustrates me more than people who don't communicate with others when they have a problem with them. I can't even begin to comprehend doing that. What do you gain out of it? Why is it so hard to go up and have a conversation with someone to clear the air between you? I guess the answer is pretty obvious--it's hard to confront someone about a problem. Because half of you is scared you're going to be made a fool of, and half of you wants to be believe the problem is real so that your anger is justified. I get it. But that doesn't make it right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some really great song lyrics:
I am hiding from some beast
But the beast was always here
Watching without eyes
Because the beast is just my fear
That I am just nothing
Now its just what I've become
What am I waiting for
Its already done
Believe - The Bravery
I never thought that you wanted for me to stayLinks to these songs
So I left you with the girls that came your way
But darling when I see you, I see me
I often thought that you'd be better off left alone
Why throw a circle round a man with broken bones
But darling when I see you, I see me
I See You, You See Me - The Magic Numbers
Believe
I See You, You See Me
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guys, did you ever notice how different things become depending on how many males you're hanging out with? Here's a handy chart.
SOLITUDE - Go play Halo, you friendless dweeb. (I'm just kidding! You probably spent all your money on Magic Cards and can't afford an XBox).
BICYCLE - This makes for a semi-awkward Man Date, unless video games or intoxicants are involved. Don't do drugs, kids.
THREE'S COMPANY - A huge departure from the twosome. It is now okay to go out in public without seeming like a happily gay couple. Catching a movie, getting ice cream...anything is possible when you have some tricycle action going on! Although video games take one for the team here. Three-way split screen? Awkward turtle.
FOUR SCORE - Another enormous leap. The triangle can be awkward. The square is perfect. 90 degree angles, man! Not only are video games a valid option now, but now you can do pretty much anything and make it work. Want to play a little two on two sports-action? It can happen. Just sit around and talk? Sure, why not? Want to hug it out? Everyone has a partner!
FIFTH DIMENSION - Once you get here, there's no turning back. The comfortability of the foursome is gone, replaced by the much more uncertain pentagon. It feels like a boring party that everyone left early from. Video games don't work, 2 on 3 sports can't either, and there's now too many opinions of what to do to make any decisions that everyone's happy with. Plus now you can't hug it out without someone getting their feelings hurt. Which is the most crucial flaw of all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time to go study for AP tests. Have a great weekend, everyone! And if you get the chance, send some good mojo up to Linfield, where some very talented musicians who I love dearly are playing for state solo ensemble. Delicious sounds, guys!
- Justin
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