| Intro?
Fine, there's only been one "Assorted Subjects" (namely this one), so there's no need for the "Chapter" .... still, it makes the entry sound oddly formal.
edit// As you might've noticed, there's a "Part I" attached. Indeed, I decided that, since I already took three days to get the first two subjects (and part of the third) done, I should probably post this part first. I'll post the other parts a few days later, I suppose... (So, that part of the third subject would go into "Part II.")
So, it's spring break (well, not yet, officially. It's still "professionally development days," where the teachers go to school, and we don't), the period of freedom from school that I've been anticipating since the end of CNY break (six weeks! and I felt like I couldn't even survive that).
Anyway, I figured I should "brush away the dust collected on here" and attempt to help my xanga regain its luster (not that there's much luster to begin with, I know) and former glory (what glory!?) with this new entry, which promises to be uberyl long. (And so was that sentence--uberyl long, I mean.)
Without further ado, I present you "Assorted Subjects - Spring Break 2008 Chapter!"
(^ I love this dividing line, I really do.)
Miscellaneous photos (first subject, as decided by CeeTee, who's name has been revealed on her own xanga)
Of course, over the long period of time an hiatus of updating this blog, I still take photos. Usually, when I go out, however, I don't bring my camera. Actually, it's more like: I bring my camera -> doesn't take pictures, I don't bring my camera -> wants to take pictures. But with the help of my trusty new cellphone, obtained August 2007 after the breakdown of my 4-year companion (cellphone), I am still able to capture some interesting photos, even though the qualities may not be as good.
picture of cellphone, taken by regular digital camera....
cellphone photos:
Ceiling of KFC near school.
 
A Christmas tree at a restuarant near where I live, composed of film strips, photos, film, and those film containers.
 
These two photos make me feel like paparazzi  , grainy and oddly positioned camera. The story is that I was outside on the sidewalk, waiting for my dad to pick me up, and there was this cat sitting on trunk of a silver car. Then, the red-coated woman walked by and took quite a lot of time taking photos of this cat. Moments later... another woman in black jacket walked by and stopped to take a few pictures too. (I thought that it was quite funny...).
Here's the cat...
it does look like it is posing... (used zooming, which resulted in this very pixelized photo, because the red-coated woman was still on the side).
Well, the cat isn't the only animal eager for attention. This bird was wandering around in the park that I pass by when I go home (the one that lead to the stairs, CeeTee).
 
 
Food & drinks, quite self-explanatrory. Ah, the luxury!
 
Nice photos taken in Singapore--too bad my camera ran out of batteries.
digital camera photos-
(note that photos taken while I was in Tainan and Singapore the past Thanksgiving + Christmas breaks are excluded, as the sheer amount requires separate entries)
Two pictures from the GCA/brief nicinderyl reunion during winter break:
The tracks/soccer field where we went for PE class  , where there are good memories and bad (as in, running and running and running, but I think that applies more to that park place, those tracks are not as pleasant).
The backsides of hurlax and CeeTee as we enter "paradise on Earth." Fine, not really. I just made that up. But Eslite come pretty close, doesn't it? Remember when we were at the other Eslite (the one at Zhongxiao Dunhua), and we were dreaming of living there. Or was it Page One?
Flowers that my mom bought awhile ago. Too bad I didn't take pictures of the yellow ones too.
Some pictures from my room:
Partial wall of Post-its of lyrics in front of desk. "Partial" because more lyrics have been added since this photo was taken.
On my desk. Snoppy card on the right, from hurlax. The left, from myself... for cheering up (not that I buy stuff just to cheer myself up... but the message in the card is quite inspiring and serves as a long-term cheerup device).
Atop my chest of drawers.
 
Arrangements on the piano. Cans, bottles, shadowbox, Eslite magnets, metronome, clock, puppet, music/candy box, Lord of the Rings sculpture thingy, artwork (birthday present) from CeeTee, etc.
 
Closeup of cans. The Pepsi cans: well, they're not necessarily my favorite players, but... they're the ones on the cans! le Power (Mayday) cans: I'm actually missing one... Monster. And, of course, Coke cans (and bottles) of various countries and occasions, the latest one being the Bejing Olympics. (Speakng of cans, my mom wouldn't let me bring cans that are still in Tainan, including Grant Hill Sprite can, special Duke National Championship cans, FIFA Korea/Japan cans, some German/Dutch cans, and some others. And I didn't bring any back from Singapore, partly because they got thrown away by hotel cleaners...)
Remember this? SHADOWBOX!
And now, the speical presentation of a few strawberry photos.
 
Eating strawberries is a luxury seldomly enjoyed by my family. So, I went a litttttle bit crazy with the photo-taking. Here are three photos for your enjoyment (don't drool!).
The last strawberry. (And the last photo.)
Pas trop fatiguée? Not too tired from the photo galore? On to other subjects!
Sports
Duke basketball (recap of 2007-2008, as the season is over already for the Blue Devils):
Well, the Duke roster for this season seems quite satisfying, even at the beginning of the season--except, Duke still doesn't have a good inside player (but more on that later).
Nice poster too--the making of which is made into a video that was put on the YouTube page of the newly launched (Duke-sponsored) website Duke Blue Planet. The website is actually very cool, and the player-filmed videos are quite funny. So, I guess this is one + thing from this season. 
Anyway, the team played quite well in throughout the nonconference play, winning the Maui Invitational (I actually saw the last few seconds--which turned into perhaps 20 minutes--of the championship game after rushing into the hotel room in Singapore). They lost once at Madison Square Garden against Pittsburgh in overtime, which is odd, because it was the first live game I watched on the ESPN here--although, I did miss the last few seconds of regulations and the overtime due to--ahem--math tutoring.
In ACC conference play, the Duke had a good start, even climbing up to No. 2 in the AP polls (which really are just for "bragging rights") and beating UNC (albeit without Ty Lawson, but whatever) when the team, esp. Paulus, went crazy with 3-point shooting. In fact, their 3-point shooting was phenomenal durng that time.Then eventually, they had that two game losing streak. They started winning again but got beaten by UNC in the last regular season game.
I admit, I do have much higher hopes for this team in the postseason games in the ACC and NCAA tourneys. I feel like they've (especially the freshmen and Nelson, the lone senior) worn out; their three's weren't going down anymore, but they keep shooting them. Well, sometimes, they just don't hit them until it's too late. Rebounding was horrible and they gave too many turnovers. Regarding the horrible rebounding--the thing is, Duke really needs a stellar and tough player for playing inside. Zoubek is way tall (7 footer) but... okay, he's too clumsy; I get nervous whenever he gets the ball. The team lost in the semifinals for the ACC tourney, then bowed out in the second round of the NCAA tourney.
Still, I love  this team. It's got a much better chemistry, really, compared to last year. (And I don't even miss McRoberts.) The problem is... most of them didn't seem to show up during the last, say, five games. Ah, well. I'm not actually that sad that they lost in the second round, just disappointed. I guess I'll just hope for the future. Next year, they're losing only Nelson... (Although, Coach K honestly do need to successfully recruit some good, big guys. *sigh* Losing Greg Monroe to Georgetown..)
Here are some photos (relief after wall of words, eh?):
 
 
Fussball
(I'm keeping this shorter, as I really want to finish this before Sunday... I hope.) I confess... I haven't been able to watch as many fussball on TeeVee this year. This is partly because ESPN/Star Sports don't seem to be broadcasting as much--at least, during the first semester; there are more games this semester, I think. But the other reason is that I guess I've been much busier and tired this year (in terms of school). Remember how I used to get up at like 3:00 AM and then half-watch/half-sleep on the sofa for the UEFA games, even during school nights--and waking up right when the goal goes in, or when there's instant reply, just because I'm psychic? (For the fussball craze of last school year, please see previous xanga entries-- I feel like I'm typing an ad! Well, it sort of is, isn't it? Even if it's unintentional.) This year, it's like I simply cant find the energy to stay up/get up after all the school work, so that's.. auf wiedersehen to late-night fussball  . (Although, I think they're broadcasting some next week on April 2 and April 3, so hopefully, I'll catch them!)
So, the big news (for me) from last semester, is the recovery of Michael Ballack. After his return (in the game against Aston Villa, when he went on for Lampard because of Lampard's thigh injury), he actually started scoring quite lot  ... huge difference from his period of absence (well, duh). Then, he captained for a few times too, 'cause John Terry, Lampard, and Drogba were all injured... (not that the injuries are things to be happy about). Also, Germany got into the Euro 2008, no problem. There was a friendly just recently against Switzerland (cohost of the Euro 2008!), and they won that as well.
Oh, and another piece of news is that Jose Mourinho resigned as the Chelseae manager, and Avram Grant took over. But that's kind of old, so nevermind.
hurlax, GET READY FOR EURO 2008 this summer! (Although Aimar isn't in it, which you know, obviously, 'cause he's from Argentina...)
Other random topics under "Sports":
The Beijing Olympics is coming up, and, of course, many different news surround it, but I won't go far into it. The baseball fever is all over Taiwan, though, and the qualifications to the Olympics gave happy results to supporters of the Chinese Taipei team. Onto the Olyimpics! And, of course, the baseball season has started as well, resulting in more baseball and Chien-Ming Wang fanfare around the country.
Coach K is coaching Team USA for basketball, and I'm not sure what's going to happen. I mean, USA basketball hasn't been the best... Plus, there are some injured people... like .... Dwayne Wade
And speaking of Dwayne Wade, what is up with Miami Heat anyway? They just won the championship last season and then this season... they can't even get a winning record. In fact, there are only 13 wins... a winning record of 18 %. Then Shaq leaves and gets out of the hellhole... and goes into Phoenix Suns, whose style of play is supposedly the one Coach K had Duke playing. But with the addition of Shaq, they also have to tweak their style, as they have an inside man now. I wonder whether Coach K would do that too. (Or, what I really mean is, he really should do that too.) Oh, and did I mention Grant Hill got traded to Phoenix too? That Shelden Williams got traded to Sacremento, away from his fiancée Candace Parker of the Lady Vols? That Redick is not getting any minutes at Orlando, but they refused to trade him because they actually like him? That Battier, Boozer, Brand, Maggettee, Duhon, and Deng are staying where they are, some of them playing, some of them not, and some of them injured too? (Though I happened to tramp upon an article on Luol Deng in my aunt's Advanced magazine, where they talked about his past and how he's trying to improve the lives of those in Darfur.) That Melchionni is now a sports agent--assistant?--(nice choice, I think)? And that I'm just rambling off with no point?
Okay, I'll stop now.
... to be continued |
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