I am Your Sunshine

今天下午忽然安靜的彷彿外面天又陰了下來, 除了空氣中殷殷的機器運轉聲, 極偶爾從隔壁傳來滑鼠按鍵聲. 我跳起來 (其實只需要微微後仰就可以看到了), 外面的陽光透過百頁窗灑近了影印室, 原來還是晴天啊.

陰涼的天氣已經遲續兩三天了. 早上出門天空總像欲語還休委屈地就要嗚咽落淚一樣, 中午卻又放晴, 讓午飯後散步的人群能享受陽光與微風, 晚上則冷得像深秋, 鑽進厚厚的被子裡, 總是一夜好眠. 北加不若東岸四季分明, 紐約的夏天熱得幾乎可與台北媲美. 不過比起北加正統的夏季天氣, 我還比較喜歡最近的陰涼… 反正都不能穿短袖, 晚上假裝是冬天窩在被子裡好舒服啊!

It’s been more than 7 months since the last time I went there. Jas missed me, Greg wants to meet me and a Blues v Reds game bantering gathering awaits, looks like it’s time to head south again. So Cal, here I come.

And there’s even more to be added on. Just received Lisa Loeb’s newsletter saying that she’s gonna be touring later this summer, few places in east coast and one in west. With mixed feeling of anticipation and fear of disappointment, I opened her tour page and the California location revealed for me, and the date, bingo!, is the weekend I’m gonna be there. But City of Lake Forest, where the heck is that? Turned out it’s a small town further down in OC, about 45 minutes drive from Alhambra. I seriously hope that someone can join/take me there. I love Lisa Loeb since I was in junior high.

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上班的途中一直聞到不名香氣, 以為是 L’Occitane 的綠茶茉莉, 因為香氣很熟悉. 可是我明明已經很久沒有打開過綠茶茉莉, 家裡也沒有這個香氣啊.

直到剛剛我才恍然大悟, 原來這不是綠茶茉莉, 而且 B&BW 的白茶薑 (White Tea & Ginger). 會認得這個味道是因為這是貓最愛用的沐浴乳口味. 我前幾天換了白茶薑的洗手乳, 還沒有在記憶裡註冊.

不過之前用的木棉花 (Cotton Blossom) 都沒有這麼重的香氣耶.

20070729 Projekt Revolution @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Julien-K, Placebo, HIM, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park

(above is the main stage lineup. I didn’t go to Revolution stage cos I decided to dedicate my afternoon to A’s.)

We got to Shoreline around 1pm (parked and all) and found out (too late) that Main Stage wouldn’t start until 4. We circled the place, had lunch and the most interesting booths among all were the ones provided by MLB. There was a pitching cage and a hitting cage, and a video game van. I was half-hearted toward to bands playing in the afternoon. The only one I was interested in was Madina Lake, which, unfortunately, by the time we got there, they were already done. I should have stayed at home, got enough sleep and come in late afternoon. But it turned out alright. The sun was bearable and I’d definitely be gutted if I had to leave home during the middle of the game when the A’s seemed to be playing something dramatic, something memorable (which later proved not the case.)

After Casilla blew the lead and Street allowed the Mariners to turn the game around, I got myself garlic fries and Sprite, went in to main stage.

Julien-K set up the stage and rocked. I guess I’d like anything as long as the melody sounds right to me. However, with the risk that I’ll offend a lot of people, I do think that metal sometimes delivers a sense of kiddishness, rebellion for the sake of rebelling, which is one of the obvious traits of a non-grownup (among self-centeredness and unthoughtfulness), isn’t it?

Placebo was a wonderful surprise.
I was here for HIM, Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance. If it weren’t for HIM, I wouldn’t even come. HIM is Finnish and I thought it might be a once in a lifetime chance to have them in my city. As for MCR and TBS, I’m sure they’ll come often enough. (In fact, MCR was just here in May.) Therefore, I didn’t even know Placebo was going to be in the lineup.

They were the second band of main stage which was bizarre to me, cos I thought their “status” should be way higher than the rest of the bands. Even though I’m not familiar with their songs (except for Every Me and Every You,) I fully enjoyed their performance.

HIM was the reason I went.
I’m never a fan of LP and I don’t like outdoor venue as much as indoor tiny ones and I prefer one headliner band accompanied by one or two opening bands over music festival. But because I didn’t want to miss HIM. I bought the ticket. I came across HIM by chance last year and was instantly drawn to their hopelessly romantic metal. Even though this 2005 album Dark Light was considered by some a soft and unworthy work of theirs, it was undeniably the reason I fell in love with them. However, I think if it were in the Fillmore or Great America Music Hall, the experience would be so much better.

Taking Back Sunday was great, but not as melodic as I remembered.
I took loads of picture of them because I was trying capture Lazzara’s mic spinning moment. But darn, it’s hard. While not singing, Lazzara would dance around Mark O’Connell’s drummer stand which was so…. cute.

My Chemical Romance was a blast.
They have the most stage effects and finally, some people stood up.

The reason why I hate this kinda festival is because 1) the price would be expensive and 2) you’ll have loads of people who think they like Linkin Park around you. Those people eat and drink and talk and walk around… doing everything except appreciating the bands on stage, let along showing some passion you’re supposed to find in a rock concert. I heart small venue with hardcore fans!

今天的比賽我這裡看一點那裡看一點.

賽前聽到 Ken Korach 訪問 Dan Johnson, 他們在討論 DJ 的綽號 “crabber” 是怎麼來的. (他們不是前一陣子才問過嗎?)

運動完後, 我驚訝地發現比賽才進行到二局上半, 一人出局而已. 更令人驚訝的 – A’s 已經 6-0 領先!

洗完澡之後, 比賽竟然還在第二局, 然後很快地進入第三局. 今天 Club Sport 的衛星收訊很差, 所以我沒看到 A’s 是怎樣再拿下一分, 但很不幸地卻見證了條子後來追上的三分.

然後去書店. 因為我決定回家再看重播 (至少會看拿了六分的第一局), 所以我沒帶隨身聽進去. 當我準備回家, 打開車上收音機, 卻發現比賽陷入第九局, A’s 的領先被縮小到 7-6. 我在車裡不可置信地鬼叫, “你們怎麼連 7-0 領先的球賽都可以搞砸啊!!!” 不過公平地說來, 他們還沒有真正搞砸比賽, 最後的一擊是 Embree 在九局下半投出的第一球, 跟 Michael Young 看對眼, 被打出了牆外… Ken Korach 提到上一次 A’s 搞丟 7-0 領先的比賽是去年五月的事, 而且… 也是發生在 Arlington, TX. Metrodome 跟 Rangers Ballpark 對 A’s 來說真是兩個非常詭異的地方. 雖然 A’s 還沒有真正輸掉這場本來看起來必贏的比賽, 但 Dallas Braden 的勝投卻是飛了.

說到 Braden, 我真是越來越喜歡這個年輕小伙子. 他在第三局裡有點抖, 他好像找不到好球帶, 或者說… 球一直落不到該落的地方. 鏡頭照到站在投手丘上的 Braden, 對著手上的球怒吼. Ray Fosse 完全無言, 而我快笑翻了. 好個有趣的人呀. 除此之外, 他投到一壘的牽制球都非常火爆, 真是有個性.

這場比賽直到第十三局都還是 7-7, 當地時間都已經超過半夜了. 在兩人出局的情況下, Ranger 的投手故意保送 Swisher, 覺得 Piazza 比較好對付. 我在書店裡 (為什麼我又回到書店裡那就是另一個神秘的故事了) 氣的要死, 用力在紙上寫 (因為覺得在書店裡鬼吼鬼叫不妥) “Piazza, 讓他們付出代價吧!!!!” 而 Piazza 也沒有默默地被人羞辱, 他成功地打出去, 將至勝分送回家. 而 (心愛的) Mark Ellis 接著打到二壘方向, 竟然跑得比傳向一壘的球還快 (第一次看到!), 讓 Swisher 跑回本壘錦上添花. 十三局下半, A’s 幾乎已經把牛棚用罄, 派出了 Kiko Calero. Kiko 最近在大家的心目中已經跟白旗搖搖甘迺迪差不多了. 不過還好, Kiko 用 A’s 今天投出的第二十一個三振結束了這場打了四小時又三十三分鐘的比賽. 兩局內投了五個三振的 Andrew Brown 拿到勝投.

A’s 死命掙扎, 又撐過了一場勝利. 希望明天 Gaudin 狀況好, 因為他也只能自求多福了…
不過無論再怎麼樣難看, 贏球還是贏球, 贏球就是好事. =)

最後 A’s 以 9-7 拿下比賽, Marco Scutaro滿貫全壘打唷!

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繼續講昨天的比賽. (看我的blog的人應該越來越少了… orz)

因為比賽很長所以很多東西可以講 (?) XD

昨天在第十三局, Piazza 安打上一壘之後, A’s 派上 Furmaniak 小朋友代跑. 新鮮剛從河喵 (Sacramento Rivercats) 叫上來的 J.J. Furmaniak 前幾天臨時接到通知, 開了五小時的車來到 Oakland, 被送上來代跑, 然後瘋狂地跑回本來將比分追平. 好, 重點是, 昨天 J.J. 接手 Piazza 的位子站到一壘包上時, 與 Rangers 一壘手 Saltalamacchia 形成 “可能是一個壘包在歷史上站了最多字母” 的一次. Ken Korach 一直覺得這很好玩, 還說 “光這兩個人的名字就可以來玩一局 scrabble 耶! 你說這些字母可以造出哪些字?” 可是 Vince 都不理他… XD

* 剛剛查了一下, J.J. 其實不是小朋友耶… orz

Usually, I hate the announcers of an opposing team. I have the fortune of listening to Ken Korach most of the time and doesn’t find Kuiper and Fosse all that irritating as some A’s fans do (when Kuiper acts as if he’s a supporter of the other team and Fosse refuses to let go his lingering feeling toward Jason Kendall.) But every now and then, I have to endure the unbearable opposing announcers, mostly when I catch the game later on MLB.com or during a A’s v Giants game.

However, the few innings I watched on MLB.com tonight, which was the FSN Southwest’s version of the broadcast, were in fact very enjoyable, though I’m not quite sure who they were. (Possibly Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve.) I respect them.

I’m growing to NOT like my Borders (in Milpitas.)

Before I went, I checked if they have Hit List in store. They claimed they did but when I got there, I was not able to find it, yet again. And there’s not even one football related magazine available. It’s only the first week of Aug! They don’t have World Soccer, no 442, no Shoot!, no FIFA, no nothing. Even worse, they don’t have the Athletics (A’s official magazine) that I was determined to buy.

If only there isn’t always hideous traffic to Santana Row during rush hour.

I caught the game by pieces here and there. Heard a little bit of pre-game interview when KenKo talked to DJ about his nickname “crabber” (didn’t they cover that in an interview a while back?)

After working out, surprisingly I found the game was still in the top of the 2nd with one away and guess what’s even more surprising? The A’s was leading 6-0!

After taking a shower, the game was still at 2nd and went on to the 3rd. Because of the crappy satellite reception at the club, I wasn’t able to see the A’s scoring another and, unfortunately, witnessed the Rangers came back with 3 runs.

Then I went to Borders, determined that I’ll watch the game (at least the first inning) later at home, I didn’t bring my mp3 player with me. When I was about to head home, I turned on the radio and found that we were at the 9th inning, 7-6 A’s. I screamed with disbelief, “how could you screw up a 7-0 lead?” But to be fair, they haven’t official screwed up the game until Embree gave up a home run at the very first pitch of the bottom of 9th. KenKo mentioned that the last time A’s blew a 7-0 lead was last May, and guess what, in Arlnigton, TX. Metrodome and Rangers Ballpark are the most bizarre place for the A’s. It was not yet certain if the A’s had blown it, but poor Dallas Braden who is sitting at 1-6 was deprived of his much deserved win. (I’d say he earned it. After all, he did persevere til the end of 5th and struck out 7.)

Speaking of Braden, I’m growing to like this young pitcher. He was a bit shaky in the 3rd and it seemed that he had difficulties locating the strike zone, or rather, the ball was having a hard time dropping at the right place cos the camera captured a moment when Braden was scolding furiously… at the ball in his hand. Ray Fosse went speechless and I laughed. What a character. Moreover, his throws to first were the ones of the most aggressive I’ve ever seen. I like the man with some attitude.

The game stayed tied til the 13th inning. It was already passed midnight in Arlington. With two out one man on base, Ranger pitcher Willie Eyre IBB Swisher to get to Piazza, which was outrageous. I, at Borders again due to some mysterious reason, can’t help but writing down “Let Them Pay, Piazza!!!!!!” as I didn’t wanna yell in the bookstore. And Piazza did not take the humiliation in silence. He singled to right and scored the winning run. Mark Ellis hit and outran (first time I saw!) the throw to first and scored Swisher! By the bottom of 13th, A’s had almost all out of bull pen, they brought in Kiko, which was very nail biting for most of us. But Kiko closed the inning with the 21th strikeout that the A’s pitchers delivered and saved this 4hr 33 min game for Andrew Brown.

We struggled and lived through the day. Hopefully Gaudin will have a good outing tomorrow. It’s all yours.
But anyway, a win is a win is a good day for the A’s.

A’s 9-7 Rangers, Marco Scutaro grand slam!

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為什麼我寫足球都沒辦法像寫棒球那麼順呢… :(

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Work out, 吹頭髮時看 A’s 比賽, 把 Hit List 看完 (有可能嗎? 如果運動過後不像現在那麼想睡就可以吧!) 買Joe Blanton (心) 封面的 Athletics 雜誌!

之前在官網下載的 07/08 Fixture word doc 日期是錯的, 害我日曆也畫錯, 還好唯一造成的傷害是… 8/18那個周末我本來可以星期六早上再飛 LA 的, 因為以為對利記的比賽是星期六早上, 而買了比較貴的星期五晚上機票.

但我仍舊搞不懂美國這邊的轉播究竟是怎樣. 英國 SkySports 明明會轉播 Chelsea v Birmingham, 美國這邊卻是 Setanta 轉播 (我沒有訂 Setanta 啊!) (沒錯, 我看懂了! XD)

要看個足球還真辛苦耶!

比賽前一天 FSC 有 Community Shield Preview 的節目, 雖然回到家已經很想睡還是把他看完. 它先播了大量的 FA Cup final 精華, 畢竟這場社區盾就像是重演上季 FA Cup Final 一樣, 可惜球員大換血, 結果也不盡相同. 切爾西自 2005 年11月後十場不敗曼聯的記錄 (W:6, D:4) 也告一段落.

另外節目中也播了十大社區盾進球, 曼聯很變態地佔了五個以上 (進球或被進), 不愧是英超豪門 (嘖). 也報導了 Chelsea 與 Man U 今夏的轉會狀況.

整場比賽我唯一想提的是馬路達的進球, 他跟費迪南纏鬥了好一陣子, 最後背後拖著這位英超最貴後衛(其實我還蠻喜歡 Rio 的說… orz) 又彆扭又漂亮地進一球將比分追平. 這個進球讓我想到在家抱著膝蓋的獸巴, 身體強度之外, 堅韌以及企圖心都十分令人喜歡, 真是里昂精品店的好物.

最後的點球實在是很可悲. 一個又一個虛弱無力的試圖射門, 加上困惑而挫敗的切赫, 跟看起來就對點球很有自信的曼聯形成強烈的對比, 我實在很討厭稱讚曼聯, 也很不喜歡講我們家球員的壞話. 不過說真的, 你們不想要在大庭廣眾前被羞辱, 前九十分鐘就好好踢嘛!

社區盾是個贏了很爽沒拿到其實也不會怎麼樣的季前比賽, 加上切爾西在賽季開始就已經傷病纏身*, 幾個正規大將都無法出賽, 這樣的結果也還算可以接受 (詛咒盾詛咒盾~)

賽季前只拿了迪士尼碗盤感覺還是有點單薄, 這個賽季最好多拿些 silverware 回來!

*老大的賽季前訓練不知道是出了什麼問題,
眼看 07/08 賽季就要開始了, 竟然傷了將近一組上場人馬的球員.

重大傷病有 (15 or 30-day DL?):
膝傷三人組: 獸巴, 卡盧, JT. 手術恢復中二人組: 布里雞(屁股), 巴拉客(腳踝)

另外 Day-to-day 的有:
馬卡, 舍瓦, 應該快掰掰的羅本, 在社區盾倒了一下的切赫和也是在社區盾倒了一下的馬路達.

Bella Martha is one of my favorite German movies.

When I saw the preview of No Reservations, I knew it’s an adaptation of Bella Martha. Too bad that not many people will acknowledge the original film and script while praising this new work of Zeta-Jones, if it were to be praised at all. That’s why I was at first against going to watch the movie. I hate it when people enjoy the movie (it seems as enjoyable as the original based on my impression of the preview), they give credit to the wrong person, consciously or subconsciously, either way.

社區盾就要開始了還不好 ~”~
這樣怎麼跟大家一起看比賽啦~~~

(有人要在這裡推文嗎? XD 歡迎歡迎)

ps. JT out for a week 的樣子

I was at the game today but I didn’t attend AN day. Cos I didn’t know what exactly it is for. If it’s just fans gathering together, I know I’d feel like an outsider even though ANers seem all intelligent and nice. I’d just sit there all alone, didn’t know what to say and feel extremely awkward.

Turned out that Billy Beane and Ken Korach were there as guests.
It was really a shame. :(
I’d love to see the great Billy Beane in person, and I’ve always enjoyed KenKo’s broadcast.

Maybe next year?

不要太熱心 -_-

It’s a good ball game today. At least, for the three innings I’ve watched it was. But apparently, the A’s brought us more than just three innings of splendor. A’s split the series tonight, 8-4.

In the first inning, Suzuki threw out Friggins while he tried to stole, and a beautiful (close) 6-4-3 double play made my day. Not to mention Kotsay’s double and a couple of productive outs. Wow I love productive out! (Well, comparing to un-productive outs, that is.)

Later, we learned from the score box (okay, I did catch up a bit of the game on MLB.com. Darn, why are they playing Angels’ version of the game?) that Angels were able to tied the game and further more took a 1-run lead. However, the A’s, after leaving a bunch of bodies on base as usual, pulled a marvelous show and retook the lead in a grand way. (Not grand slam though.)

Late inning two-out rally! Yee-HA!

I know Sabermetrics is crucial in the game of baseball and Bill James once said that in 1985 Baseball Abstract

I didn’t care about the statistics in anything else. I didn’t, and don’t pay attention to statistics on the stock market, the weather, the crime rate, the gross national product, the circulation of magazine, the ebb and flow of literacy among football fans and how many people are going to starve to death before the year 2050 if I don’t start adoping them for $3.69 a month; just baseball. Now why is that? It is because baseball statistics, unlike the statistics in any other area, have acquired the powers of language.

But as a statistics-hating Math-major-used-to-be, I wanna watch an A’s game without having bother myself with WHIP, OPS, BA and all that jazz. After all, pro-sport is essentially another entertainment business. I should be allowed to enjoy and interpret a game anyway I like. Here at I am Your Sunshine, I value my subjectiveness.

So, don’t talk to me about numbers, I want team spirit, I want passion, I want blood.

前陣子官網宣佈 Chelsea 跟 Armani 合作, 簽了三年的約. Armani 將為 Chelsea 官方制服. 全隊將在社區盾賽前穿制服出現. 今天宣傳照(!?)出現, 大家都看起來很僵硬… XD

我期待是像醬子帥氣的照片啊~~~

[updated]
Burger 在 CIA 貼了這張圖, 你看得出誰是誰嗎? XD Continue Reading »