Gamer and Gamer Jr.

Last year, the whole familia went to stay at the JW Marriott in L.A. Live.  Brandon and I were there to see Video Games Live at the Nokia Theater.  It also happened to be the same day as the 2010 NBA Finals Game 7.  Judith and Kara watched Game 7 from our hotel room as Brandon and I went to get our nerd on.  As we took our seats, all the fellow geeks were complaining about how all the Laker people made parking difficult for them.  haha.  And when they made the announcement during the show that the Lakers had won game 7, I shouted at the top of my lungs.  I was alone in my celebration and immediately I was given the stink eye from all the dorks around me, but I didn’t care.

B ended up falling asleep by intermission last year.  This year, I would arm him with his Nintendo DS to keep him awake.  Last night right around intermission time, he started to get sleepy and once my kid falls asleep, he is done for the night.  He wasn’t even interested in playing his DS so I had to give him my iPhone to play Catan.  He got his second wind and was able to stay up for the entire show which ended exactly at 2300 hours.

They closed off the night with the sing along song “Still Alive” which is the credits song from the game Portal.

B held up his illuminated DS with thousands of other gamers and we sang along like drunk pub patrons.

Ahhhh…good times.  Next year, we will keep the tradition going.

Pictures!

Last year before the show and before the Lakers won game 7

Nintendo’s future CEO

Asian of the Week

This is what I look like when I play Resident Evil

Haven’t had one of these in over a year, but how can I deny one of my peoples from making the cut?  Li Na made history by being the first Chinese person (from China) to win a major tennis championship.  We’ve always dominated table tennis.  It was only a matter of time before we got our tennis trophy.  Not to be debbie downer, but this was probably kind of a fluke.  As good of a tennis player as she is, I don’t see years of dominance coming.

Chinese people need to step up and figure out something we can dominate in.  The Korean gals are dominating in golf.  Maybe we can dominate in more creative planking poses.

The Asian flat nose is perfect of planking!

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Paso Robles Food Tour

This is my cousin Ling on my dad’s side.  Her sister May’s a little older than my older sister and Ling is a little older than me.  But we’re both born in the year of the dog.  Woof Woof!  Anyway, Ling was in Paso Robles last week and so I asked her for some food recommendations since there are really not many eating options on base.  The following places were the ones she recommended.  The first 2 places, I got the food to go, but tonight, I went to dinner by myself.  Yes, I sat solo and pretended not to notice the other patrons looking at me wondering why I had no friends.  Tonight, my iPhone was my friend as I continued reading Twilight 4: Breaking Dawn.  Soon, I will be able to talk about it with Judith and then our marriage will ascend to the next level…the Twilight level.

Picturezzzzz

Camp Roberts was about 15 minutes north of Paso Robles

Hooah!

Diversity with unity

So I have a break between SRP and tonight’s chapel service. I really hope some soldiers come out to service. There were a few Bible studies earlier this week before I got here and I heard not one soldier showed up. I guess that’s what happens when the religious meetings are “optional” I can’t say I blame the soldiers though. Some of them have PT (physical training) and others are jumping through all the hoops to get processed for deployment. The days are long.

Switching subjects to the word, “Hooah.”

This word has so many different meanings and applications. It reminds me of that old Bud Light commercial where they show you just how many applications there are for the word, “dude.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyMSSe7cOvA

I think around soldiers, the most common use is a way to communicate, “Positive,” “Affirmative,” “Yes,” etc.

Example:
Wu: Did you hear about tonight’s chapel service at 1830?
Soldier: Hooah.
Wu: Will I see you there?
Soldier: . . .

Another common way it is used is like the word, “Amen,” in an African American church. Sometimes a higher ranking sergeant will almost sound like he’s giving a sermon when talking about the military and you’ll hear the “Hooahs” from the soldiers if they’re feeling the passion. Sometimes, the sergeant will solicit the response as a pastor would solicit the Amen.

Example:
 Jesus died for you. He shed His blood for you. You don’t deserve it, but He died anyway. That’s how much our sweet Lord loves us. Amen?
Congregation: Amen!

Let’s see…it can be used to mean, “Great!” “Cool!” “Awesome!”

Example:
COL Sanders: Men, you’ve had a long day. I’m giving you the rest of the day off to relax.
Soldiers: HOOAH!!!!!!

Well, I’m sure there’s a ton more applications, but at least now when you are watching movies or TV, you’ll understand the context of the word. My civilian friends will probably not hear me use it in our conversation because you are not a part of the brotherhood of soldiers. Here are some sample conversations that could take place.

Leslie Beltran: Am I the best Filipino golfer you know?
Alex: Yes.

Cindy Park: I was on the treadmill and I stepped off to rest for a few seconds. But then I misjudged how fast I had to move my feet when I stepped back on and ended up hanging on to the top bar and ultimately let go of the machine and ended up face down on the ground behind the treadmill. Amen?
Alex: Amen.

Tom Hsieh: Alex, I am going to the MEGA fishing trip next month.
Alex: Cool.

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Travel Day

Today was my travel day to San Miguel…just north of Paso Robles.  The L.A. part of the drived sucked kaka, but the rest of the drive was pretty scenic.  I listened about 60/291 songs on my iPhone on the way up.  Thought about and prayed for the soldiers I have yet to meet.  Started wondering what it would be like if I were going to be deployed overseas.  Probably a ton of anxiety knowing that there is always the risk of an IED roadside attack.  I will do my best to encourage these heroes.  They may not see themselves as heroes, but seriously, they are putting themselves in harms way for our country.

Once I settled in my room, I set up the laptop and went on Hulu to watch The Office.  This is exactly what I used to do when I was in Ohio.  I guess I’m a creature of habit.  I brought a workout DVD.  I’m hoping there is a fitness center so I can work out a little.  I’ve been uber lazy these past few months.  Anyway, enjoy the pictures.  More to come…

Armed with my trusty guitar.  Going to lead the soldiers in some singing

I love L.A. traffic…NOT!

The Twitter 10

I am relatively new to Twitter. I created my account last week after having multiple conversations with my good friend Lester. Basically, I have learned that twitter is a fun way to stalk people you would normally never have any connection with. And if you don’t have any followers (I currently have 2), it’s kind of pointless to tweet. Although I have tweeted twice. I guess I can dedicate it to my followers. The first one I dedicate to George Andy Yarmon…and the other one I dedicate to kuyales.

So who to follow, who to follow. Charlie Sheen? No way. He’s used up all his good lines and material. There’s no way he can keep the up the crazy talk. Jessica Alba? I’ve been a fan of hers since Flipper. Ok…maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Nah…she’s not worthy of my following.

I thought real long and hard on who to follow. There was a complex decision matrix involved. I decided to hit the categories.

Sports – Magic Johnson

Who else? The man, the myth and the legend. Contrary to popular belief, “Showtime” is not just a cable channel. And he tweets a lot…probably the most out of all the people I follow. Mostly about his thoughts on the NBA playoffs going on right now. One of these days when he tweets his location, if I’m close enough I’m going to go find him and give him a hug.

Alex Wu on CBS

This is me before I shaved my chin hair off.

Click on the image below to see me on TV:

And yes…I will sign autographs for you now that I’m a celebrity

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OASIS L.A. Burger Tour

Many many years ago, when Oasis was probably half its size, we decided to have a game night.  What game did we play?  Taboo.  How did we divide the teams?  Men vs. Women.  Who won?  The women by 1 stinking point.  Fast forward to game night number 2.  Same game.  Same teams.  This time the men absolutely dominated the women.  Fast forward yet again to game night number 3.  With both teams having won, it was decided that there would be something at stake.  Whoever won would get a free kidless day or night to do something together.  It wasn’t as much of a slaughter this time, but the men were once again victorious.

Final fast forward to Saturday, March 26th, 2011.  The men many years later, finally organize their guys outing.  A long road trip to Los Angeles to sample some high quality burgers.  Lots of laughs…lots of carnage…and as you can imagine, lots of gas.  As I write this post, OASIS has retired and 2 groups have spawned from it.  INCEPTION and CHEERS.  Although we are no longer an official group, I am sure that good food will unite us like Voltron in the future.  Our next food outing will either be a Pizza Tour or O.C. Burger Tour.

Enjoy the pictures.  They are making my stomach growl as I type.

The Honda Odyssey.  Accept no substitutes

Where are the ants?

O.M.G…HOUSE CENTIPEDE!!!

I’ve never been afraid to write a blog post until now. It’s one of those “knock on wood” subjects. When we first moved into our house in 2000, there wasn’t a huge ant problem, but they did ambush us quite a few times. In fact, they ambushed us during our housewarming party. When I had my doggy, there was a plastic bin that I kept her dry dog food in. Apparently, the gaps in the lid were not too small for an ant and they got into the stash. Had to dump the whole lot. Ants suck.

But for the past several years, I really wonder where the ants have gone. We certainly did not get an exterminator. As tempting as it was, I couldn’t get my cheap Chinese DNA to fork out the dough for one. They literally all seem to have disappeared. It’s like there was an ant rapture. And it’s not like Judith’s kids (B, K and A) don’t leave crumbs on the floor. There is food for the taking. Sometimes when we get too busy (or lazy), we’ll leave dirty dishes out. Food mecca for ants, but none come.

Bucket List #1

 
like kocoum from pocahontas…so serious.

I graduated near the top of my class in high school and my desire was to apply to the Air Force Academy. My cousin Jerry was in the Air Force. My pops in his own loving way told me he would disown me if I gave it another thought. So much for Alex’s military dreams. I became an Anteater instead. ZOT!

After speaking to my lifelong friend Johan last year, he mentioned the CSMR as a great way to serve, be a part of the military and utilize my gifts. I went to check it out and before I knew it, I was submitting my application to become a part of the organization.

Fast forward to last Saturday. I was officially sworn in as a Chaplain Assistant for the CSMR. I will be working with a Chaplain and our ministry will be to the Sunburst Youth Academy on the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. I will soon have the privilege of ministering to some at-risk youth kids who are trying to make a positive change in their lives.

Hooah!

Photo credit: Sunburst Youth Academy Facebook

one of the graduating classes