canada's victory over the usa in mens hockey...

I must admit I haven't seen a hockey match or game since the USA won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics and I know I missed something epic...

With that victory, Canada broke the Olympic record for gold medals in a single games with 14.

I've spent much time in Vancouver throughout my youth and it is one of my favorite cities in the world. I could even live in Vancouver...

I didn't watch very much of the Olympics, but it felt so familiar to me, because of my familiarity with Vancouver.

I give kudos to Canada- it was a phenomenal Winter Olympics...

a beautiful day in the city...

As much as women cause me pain and heartache, they also inspire me...

For example, although I'm starting late, I want to enjoy every last moment of sun as per a friend of mine. Many times, I lock myself into my mancave and I don't realize how lovely it is outside in the real world...

Cheers to my female friend who gave me the incentive to enjoy this beautiful day in my City...

Domo arigato gozaimashita...

closure...

It took me about two months, but I finally have closure in a personal situation...

I'm still not enthused by what transpired, however I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders...

Life is too short. In retrospect, I should have demanded closure on New Years Eve...

valentine's day the movie...

I admit it. I enjoy romantic comedies...

The critics can pan this film all they want with its all-star cast, but I found VALENTINE'S DAY entertaining.

I could have done without the casting of Taylor Swift. I just don't see a future for her in acting...

The two hot Jessicas are in this film- Alba and Biel. Jessica Biel is a superior actress over Jessica Alba. I prefer Biel. Alba can't act.

My question is- will Bradley Cooper ever be a viable leading man or is he more suited to be part of an ensemble?

tsunami warning in hawaii...

My parents live in Hawaii and my sister is visiting from the Bay Area. I'm not really worried about it, but I'm a bit concerned.

There was a tsunami warning several years ago in the islands and basically what happened was 2-3 foot waves in Waikiki.

shutter island...

The latest from Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

I'm glad I didn't read any reviews beforehand and I wasn't familiar with the book whose author also wrote MYSTIC RIVER.

I didn't like the film as much as my friend Marc who recommended it to me, but it did surprise the hell out of me...

It isn't Scorsese's best work, however DiCaprio has turned into one hell of an actor. I would even say that his performance is Oscar worthy, although most Academy Award nominated films are released @ the end of the year...

The more I think about the film, the more I like it...

tom cable...

From an outsiders point of view, I don't understand why Tom Cable isn't disciplined by the league?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodall suspends players left and right and rightly so for drug use, gun play, domestic violence and this mediocre Cable doesn't even get a slap on the wrist...

For those who don't know about Cable, he had a well publicized run in with an assistant coach that resulted in a broken jaw sustained by the assistant coach and he's had several incidents of domestic violence. Criminal charges weren't levied against Cable, but he and the Raiders are being sued in a civil suit. The domestic violence allegations didn't result in charges being pressed.

It's pretty well established he's a shitty coach who only still has the job because he's probably kissed Al Davis' ass that his lips are forever tainted with AD's stench...

I think of Cable and I'm almost longing for the days of Bill Callahan as the head coach of the Raiders and that's not a good thing...

Roger Goodall should step up to the plate for suspend Cable for personal conduct violations- which are basically what Goodall deems punishable...

Players and coaches should be subjected to the same guidelines and in this case, there is no fucking way...

holy rollers...

A film I viewed @ Sundance last month about New York hasidic jews smuggling ecstacy into the country in the late 90's before airline security got tightened after 9/11.

It was bought by First Independent Pictures and will be released this summer.

Quite frankly, I don't believe this film will make money. Jessie Eichenberg stars in HOLY ROLLERS.

Met the director Kevin Asch briefly- he kind of reminds of me of Adam Richman of MAN V FOOD, but without the charisma...

the grass isn't always greener...

Last month, I disrupted by life by quitting a club in which I was a member for about seven years. I subsequently joined a club that wasn't on par with my previous club, but was in fact more expensive. After about a week @ my new club- I quit. I couldn't justify paying more for a substandard product...

Now, I'm clubless and probably clueless...

The grass isn't always greener on the other side...

We'll see if I rejoin my previous club...

Anyway, I shouldn't have let my sadness regarding a young head case affect my life by drinking much too much and making bad decisions...

However, I can change things...

yank sing...

Just had some delicious dim sum with my cousin and her husband.

It was a great time...

apollo bulatao...

The cat has been working @ Nordstrom SF Centre for over 20 years...

And the guy really hasn't aged @ all...

Unfuckingreal...

Mens Suits.

nordstrom cafe bistro...

The service @ the counter/bar is very indifferent...

I hate having to ask for refills coffee and water every fucking time!

It pisses me off...

three days without drinking...

Don't know if I feel better or not, but I'll continue to not drink for an undetermined period...

It's a one day @ a time thing...

great grandfather on my father's side...

He immigrated to Hawaii in June of 1890- where he worked @ a plantation in Maui.

He later opened the Yamashiro Hotel in Honolulu....

shelly's leg...

I used to go to the Pioneer Square club(disco/dance) back in dark ages. This is in Seattle...

The club was named after the owner who had her leg amputated in a freak accident and with the insurance money she opened the club.

It was supposed to be a gay club, but straight guys like me would either bring their girlfriends or even troll for chicks @ Shelly's Leg.

I don't think Shelly liked that her gay club was being invaded by straight people, therefore she put up a sign that reminded straights like me that her club was indeed a gay club.

I still have fond memories of that club...

ryan gosling...

Enjoyed his film BLUE VALENTINE @ Sundance. I didn't realize he hadn't done a film for about 3 years...

Of course I liked THE NOTEBOOK, but my favorite film that Gosling has starred in is HALF NELSON, in which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.

Pictured with Gosling is his co-star Michelle Williams.

making a mistake on this blog...

I posted a pic of someone that somehow violated the terms of blogger. And I can understand why they had to remove the photo...

I'm not even going to mention her name since I want to forget about the whole situation...

My bad...

city walking...

Living on Nob Hill, I find it difficult to avoid hills.

This is a new friend's path to walk home the flattest route from Caffe Roma in North Beach to her apartment on Nob Hill...

Walk across Columbus up Green for one block, take a left and walk up Powell for two blocks and take a right on Broadway, walk up one block to Mason and take a left, walk one block to Pacific and take a right, up another block to Taylor and take a left. Walk up Taylor for five blocks to Huntington Park...

Sound complicated- not really...

kevin smith southwest...

First of all, why is he flying Southwest? And to Oakland. Apparently, he must live near Burbank, but the guy should fly first class via Virgin America from LAX to SFO. Those seats are roomy with legroom especially row 2. But the dude doesn't need legroom. The seats are roomy enough for Smith...

I thought of him last month when I was @ Sundance wearing shorts on one particular sunny day when the temperature was up in the 30's. Several years ago, I saw Smith walking on Main Street in Park City wearing shorts.

I also saw Smith @ Kahala Mall in Honolulu many years ago.

According to recent pictures, the not yet 40 Kevin Smith has put on some weight.

Quite frankly, I would not want to sit next to Smith on a Southwest flight. Actually, I don't like sitting next to anyone on Southwest, except for a beautiful wahine...

crazy heart...

The film that Jeff Bridges may win an Oscar for Best Actor.

I enjoyed the movie. It wasn't great, but good, that showcased Bridges as an actor and a singer. He really is an excellent singer.

Colin Farrell was miscast as country singer who surpassed his mentor(Bridges)in success and popularity.

Robert Duvall in a small role always shines as an actor.

Maggie Gyllenhaal as the younger love interest is good. I think of the film SECRETARY every time I see Gyllenhaal on celluloid.

I won't be surprised if George Clooney wins for UP IN THE AIR, but I hope Jeff Bridges wins for his starring role in CRAZY HEART...

adrianne palicki...

I met her about three weeks ago on Main Street in Park City. It was the weekend of the opening of her film- LEGION. We talked briefly in front of Zona Rosa while she was having a cigarette and I was waiting for my buddy. She was in town because her boyfriend was in a film called TUCKER & DALE vs EVIL. Adrianne just had lunch @ Zona Rosa and she said it was good. Later in the week, we went to Zona Rosa and it was good...

Anyway, Adrianne was waiting for her boyfriend Alan Tudyk while he was being interviewed in the Entertainment Weekly lounge.

Minutes later Adrianne and her boyfriend walked passed me and my buddy- she smiled and said hello and her lucky to have her idiot boyfriend looked away and seemed intimated by me. The dude lost all credibility with me and I had tickets to his film, but I didn't go because of his attitude. The fucking guy has a young beautiful girlfriend- he should have more confidence in himself- especially since he's showcasing a film @ Sundance and who knows? I could have been a film buyer...

I didn't see LEGION, but apparently Adrianne plays a pregnant character...

monday...

Today is an important day, everyday is an important day, but I'm really going to start anew today and go forward with certain projects in my life...

I had some personal issues with a young lady that affected me more than it should have and today I will no longer let it bother me...

I hate to be cold blooded, but she isn't worth wasting my thoughts over...

It's time to move on with my life...

balboa cafe...

It's dead on Valentine's Day....

happy valentine's day...

For any lady who reads my blog, my thoughts- thank you...

the blind side...

I hesitated for as long as I could to view the film. I shouldn't let reviews taint my desire to see a movie, but I did...

Also, I'm such a football fan that I knew the story about Michael Oher who was the starting left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens this past season as their first round pick. Oher was actually a bargain @ the 23rd pick of the draft. He should have been drafted earlier...

Sports movies based on real life are tough to make. However, THE BLIND SIDE really surprised me. One point I must make is that real life college coaches were cast in the film to give it some authenticity. For example Nick Saban head coach of the National Championship team Alabama stepped back in time and portrayed himself as coach of LSU. Lou Holtz wore his South Carolina cap. Phil Fullmer who got fucked by Tennessee was back as the Volunteer's coach. And the guy who is known as a recruiting guru who ended up recruiting Oher for Ole Miss Ed Orgeron played himself. Orgeron is back @ USC after his head coaching stint @ Mississippi and a year @ Tennessee as an assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach.

Sandra Bullock shined in the lead role. I definitely believe she will win the Oscar for Best Actress. Tim McGraw had an understated role in the film, but after I saw him in FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS- the son of pitcher Tug McGraw is a formidable actor who needs to act more. I was worried about the actor who portrayed Oher, but in a nuanced performance Quinton Aaron did quite well.

It is always great to watch a film that you have undervalued, but it ends up surprising the hell out of you...

freddie's sandwiches...

The sandwiches are fantastic! Although, I've only tried the Italian combo(dry salame, ham, salame cotto, pressed ham & cheese.

Next time I'll something else- whatever that will be is yet to be determined...

Then again, I may stick with the sure thing...

Located on Francisco and Stockton...

saturday...

Basically, I want to write that I'm looking forward to this day...

pick up artists...

About three or four years ago, someone who will remain nameless recommended a book about picking up ladies to me...

I read most of it and then I realized that the author of the book was dating an attractive lady who I met @ McCarran Airport in the Southwest Terminal. She actually engaged in conversation with me by asking me if I wanted some of her fries...

He lost all credibility with me when his so-called woman basically tried to pick me up...

When I was younger, I was handsome enough not worry about picking up women. They came up to me, I kid you not. Now, I must work @ it...

Believe me, I'm no expert @ picking up women, but I do know, the key is engaging in conversation. No cheesy pickup lines, but basic interaction that will determine if you have chemistry and/or things in common...

Plus, it's a numbers game. The more attempts you make, the more you'll fail, but in turn, you'll also be successful...

And, I believe it's important to have female friends. In the film WHEN HARRY MET SALLY- the theme of the film was that men and women can't be friends. Then Harry and Sally became friends which led them to become a couple. In my case, I love women, therefore I want to be their friend. Sure, I probably want to sleep with most of them, but I'm astute enough to realize that in most circumstances it's ain't gonna happen...
However, the illusion is very nice...

a text message that had no impact...

"I miss having you as a friend- more than you'll ever know. I really thought we could be friends for the rest of our lives- at least the rest of my life, since you will live much longer than me...That is what saddens me more than words can say... I am truly sorry for being a pain in the ass... I hope someday you will forgive me... I will always want to be your friend..."

macworld...

It sucks...

haystack pizza...

On 24th St. between Sanchez & Vicksburg makes a very good pie...

Family dining since 1972.

I just stumbled upon this joint after getting a haircut and color on Church St near 26rh...

just doing it...

On January 22nd, my sister called me and informed me that my aunt had pancreatic cancer and she had only six months to live. I was @ Sundance @ the time and I basically had to block those thoughts out of my mind during the fest...

Once I returned home @ the beginning of February, I knew I had to call my aunt and ask her how she was doing. I hesitated for about a week...

I finally made that call on Monday. It was an easy call, but her voice sounded different to me. It could have been because it was morning in Honolulu. My aunt's attitude is great, however it didn't stop me from breaking down and I had to cut our phone call short.

Throughout my life, she has always been very good to me and I appreciate everything she's done for me, from deep in my heart...

a blind post...

Over a year ago, I met a young lady @ a strip club in Vegas. We exchanged phone numbers and developed a strange text messaging relationship that went on and off for most of 2009...

In December, I found out she was a nude model for a certain website. And coincidentally I'm a member of the site...

She cut off contact with me on NYE...

I'm throwing this out in the open- if I didn't know she posed for that site, I probably would have taken her disassociation with me much better...

Her notoriety crushed my ego more than it should have...

It's a fucking illusion...

r & g lounge...

Back for my favorite lemon chicken with a cup of hot & sour soup...

During lunchtime, a single diner like myself must share a six seat round table. And it's usually dudes...

C'est la vie...

monday, monday...

Everyday is important, but I really need to make things happen this Monday...

I really do...

cris carter...

I just don't understand why the WR hasn't been voted into the Hall of Fame?

Sure, he never won a Super Bowl, but he is definitely one of the best receivers of all-time...

I wonder if he early problems with drugs has affected his HOF credentials...

If Carter isn't voted in next year- something is really wrong...

the big picture...

I love this film starring Kevin Bacon about a young director trying to make it in Hollywood. The late great J.T. Walsh is in the film...

frances ford coppola...

Saw him sitting outside @ Cafe Zoetrope...

On Friday afternoon.

a rainy day in the city...

We definitely need the rain, therefore I don't mind getting soaked...

expectations vs reality...

I was really looking forward to the turkey and cheese croissant @ Specialty's Cafe & Bakery on Pine near Montgomery...

Unfortunately, they were sold out and I had to settle for a ham and cheese croissant- it's just not the same...

And I pilfered the expectations vs reality spiel from the film 500 DAYS OF SUMMER... I met the star Joseph Gordon-Levitt @ the Sundance Awards Night and I asked him if he was half-Asian. He's of Eastern European extraction- whatever that means... Joseph is shorter than I expected... That's probably par for the course for most actors...

finally back home...

After being away for nearly two weeks, it's so good to be home... There really is no place like home...