eating frozen yogurt at the steps

I always like talking to my friend, P. Conversations with her usually cover stuff that I don't usually get to talk to others about. Like tonight, at the back steps of of some Makati building, after getting some frozen yogurt, we talked about how, coming from our particular generation, we tend to think that we can do anything. But now that we're a bit older, we shed our dreams one by one, and stick to one that we hopefully can be good at. We're still undecided if that's a tragedy or natural function of being excellent (at one thing).

Anyway, we decided that Things We Can Never Do would make good material for, say, a specialized blog. It's just a list of things we wanted to do but can't now. With reasons and qualifications, of course.

The first thing that came to mind was that I could never be an astronaut. The reason being that I'm not a Russian billionaire who can afford to be a space tourist, and I don't have the educational background to make it to being a crew member. (What is a payload specialist?) However, this should be qualified by saying that, in a couple of decades, space tourism might be possible, and I can find myself among the stars.

But there are many things that I still hope to do. I still want to make a film, show more photography, write fiction, and build well-designed houses. I'm not trying to be a dilettante or a dabbler. Don't you need to be well-off to be one? But these things aren't outside the realm of possibility. I just need to start on something and, as P would say, enjoy the process.

PS. K suggested a blog on irrational fears. That's kind of fun too.

Found it!

The James Worthy play that I described down below is for real! It's the number one James Worthy play in this video compilation, even. It's not a made up memory! Phew.

I remember watching the epic LA-Boston matchups of the 80's. I forget which series exactly, but I remember James Worthy diving for a loose ball, crashing into the sidelines, and finding a way to toss the ball to either Kareem or Magic for lay up to win the game. It might be a made-up memory, for all it's worth, but it's what I use to justify my rooting for the Lakers (against Boston) among friends.

Somewhere along the way, after injuring myself in summer basketball camp, I decided I was non-athletic and stopped being a sports fan. There was, after all, comics, music and such.

Then I got older, and started following the NBA more seriously again. It helped that friends put up a fantasy league that got me interested again. This was around 2004, the year Detroit gunned for and got a championship. Not by carrying a superstar on their roster, but by exemplifying a team game of grounding opponents to a pulp and efficient play making. The Pistons made a believer out of me.

I like the Filipino expression, "bilog ang bola." An existential outlook has never been so succinctly and subtly expressed. Five years later, after a record number of consecutive playoff appearances, the Pistons are a shadow of their former selves.

They've traded away integral members of their 2004 championship team. Ben Wallace, though the heart and will of the famous Detriot defense, was really fading, and sending him away was a good move. But Chauncey Billups, the guy who carried the all important swagger and winning attitude, was moved this season. The Pistons still made the playoffs this year, but are down 0-3, and hopeless against the freak-of-nature that is LeBron James. James deserves his present and future greatness, but it's so sad to see it manifest and shine in the laying to waste of my Pistons.

One man dismantling my whole team.

[edit]. I'm still worked up about this. The irony is killing me. Also it's karma. Karma for trading Chauncey for the life-sucking, former-superstar that is Allen Iverson. And Darko? Who scouted that? Bosh would have been purrfect. Now they have Kwame. Good luck.

Today was supposed to be an easy day: NBA game, gym, 4pm meeting with my agent (insurance, not talent), dinner with high school buddies after.

At 12:45, as the Utah Jazz and LA Lakers started the 4th Quarter in Game 3 of their playoff series, I got a text from an ad agency to come to a bid meeting at 2pm. I showered quickly, threw some clothes on, and checked the TV. The game was tied at 86 with around 3 seconds to go. Someone was going to have the make the game-winning shot. I left.

The day isn't over, but hopefully, to keep it easy, that was the hardest decision I'll have to make. I better win that bid too.

PS. Deron Williams drilled a fadeaway jumper with 2.2 seconds left to give Utah a win.

PPS. I'm on Twitter. Hehe.

Turbo Goth shoot

I shot the band, Turbo Goth, for Preview today. It comes out in the July issue, I think, so no posting of photos just yet.

I've always wanted to do more portraits, and to shoot a band was something I've missed doing. When I was still in school, I interned for a music magazine, and it was cool knowing that I could do much more in terms of technique, now that a I know a bit more.

This shoot went extremely well. Sarah and Paolo were game and knew what do in front of a camera. I had a list of images in mind and I felt that I executed them pretty well. I think it was great that no one from the magazine could come and I was left do my own thing. But, as it is with me and my broken social skills, the day wasn't without some of my usual verbal blunderings.

Me: So Paolo, is your band your full time thing now?
Paolo: Yes. But I'm also a freelance skater.
Me: Oh, like on the long board?
Paolo: Huh? Freelance caterer! I went to chef school.

Sarah brought this tall, stiff hat as part of her outfit.

Me: Great, did you make this from a lampshade?
Sarah: ...
Me: Er, hehe.

I really thought she was one of those girls who made their own clothes (a good thing)! She's a tatoo artist for chrissake (non-sequitur)! Anyway, every thing was all but forgotten by the end of the shoot. I think. They said the liked the photos. Paolo made me take a swig of gin from his bottle of C2. That means it's all good right?