Challenge: Tell me the story of my life

Credits to http://www.jabizraisdana.com/blog/tell-me-the-story-of-my-life/ , this challenge would fittingly be my first post of 2013 on this (mostly sports related) blog. My version, using Jabiz's photos: Mid January- end April looked mostly like this: Final semester as an undergraduate. One year later, I miss what seemed like endless nights of cramming. Being jobless and gypsy teaching isn't very much fun when I want to explore the world/visit Bangkok to meet my lovely friends (Billy, Pete, Gob, Pennee etc) for intercultural chat sessions.

The first thing that comes to my mind would be looking out of the Esplanade Library of Singapore. Some evenings spent there getting absolutely lost in the music collection(while failing miserably at associating theories from race and ethnicity)

Somewhere only (I) know, where dreaming big and being a child is the best thing ever, not having to worry how to feed yourself financially. Is my future prince waiting for me in the castle grounds? Passed by Universal Studios on the way to the beach for a much needed bike ride, two days after I quit my desk job that certainly wasn't made for me.

This might not be 2012 material, but it sure does bring back memories of public relations class: Creating a (fake) website site rebranding a franchise/brand and press kit in Singapore. This was one of the many assignments given, and only a week to do it. Here are the links: https://twitter.com/VivaVurg http://www.facebook.com/people/Viva-Vurg/100002637145710#!/pages/VivaVurg/123689841056584?sk=info http://nnchalnt.wix.com/vivavurg ((NOTE: Everything is fake in its entirety and was done for a graded assignment, which yes, I passed and got a B+))

Days in between gypsy teaching and interviews were mostly spent like that. (End September- mid December.) In 2012, I fell in love with A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, Triumph of the City by Edward Glasser, The Secret Olympian... and many more books to name a few.

Born and raised in S-G-P!

Live everyday to the best and your life will be a celebration. I clearly should have applied this to my life last year with too much anger consuming me and losing friends, memories and failing to see the beauty of my surroundings.

Coming up in the next post would be my version of the story of my life in 2012.

Blog title change!

Changed the title of the blog from This is love, this is life to Jabberjaw in Singers. With due credit to Pat, my long distance best friend. It's all good in the hood with him now. :)

It's been a month...

Writing this from my bed at the Citadines in Bangkok (third time in Bangers this year, 7th overall since 2007), one big fish after another for the Anaheim Angels. Two Rangers signed to multimillion dollar deals in consecutive years (CJ Wilson signed last year) plus Albert Pujols. Arte Moreno sure does have hidden wads of million dollar bills deep inside his pocket. By not resigning the ageing Tori Hunter, and going after a division rival free agent, lets see if this move pays off. Josh Hamilton was signed to a 5 year contract approximately the same amount that Pujols is making per season. Last year the Oakland A's leapfrogged everyone by surprise and made it to the ALDS before losing in five games to Detroit. Would the team that makes the biggest splash in free agency win the World Series next year? We shall see. The Yankees who have the highest payroll have only won it twice in the past decade, at the opening and closing, in 2000 and 2009.  Many questions await, how would Josh Hamilton assimilate into Los Angeles where the drug dealers a'plenty and the girls around? Would he have a relapse? The lineup of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, if they were to go anywhere in the 3-4-5 batting order sure does spell NIGHTMARE for every pitcher, especially when they are on a red hot hitting streak.

Josh Hamilton has been an inspiration to me, for years following his trail to stardom in the major leagues. He took the road less traveled going off track with drugs and alcohol abuse but eventually made it to an everyday player and voted to start in the All Star game and winning league MVP which solidified his remarkable achievements. Not many people can overcome these obstacles and become ultimately successful, but Hamilton has beat all the odds, shut the naysayers up. All that is missing from his storied resume is that elusive World Series title to his name, which he came up short, twice. In 2010 losing to the San Francisco Giants in 5 games, and last year in a heartbreaking 7 games to the Cinderella St Louis Cardinals.

In short.

I didn't feel like writing cause the Yankees got swept, after game 1 when they lost in extra innings, they hardly put up a fight vs Detroit. Jeter got injured, everyone was defeated and couldn't wait to go home for the winter. San Francisco played Cinderella and the St Louis Cardinals had a meltdown after going up 3-1 in the series. If Tony La Russa was still managing, this would not have happened. All of America had geared up for Detroit winning the World Series, sportswriters and previews spoke highly of Detroit pitching and Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera. However... in game 1, Justin Verlander was rocked hard and only lasted four innings, thanks to a panda, Pablo Sandoval who socked two homeruns off the reigning AL MVP/Cy Young in his first two at bats. The media was scambling for answers to Verlander's meltdown when he had been flawless this postseason. Game 2 and 3 became a pitching duel, where the Giants prevailed, and game 4 went to extra innings and of course, the Giants prevailed, Jim Leyland and his team were embarrassed on their home turf. 29 other teams will not receive rings. Bring on 2 years ago again!

NBA season is back, college football season is winding down with three games to go. USC has become the choke artist of college football this year. Losing bad, and no BCS for them! 

The Saint Louis Cardinals refuse to go away!

Down to their last strike, with two straight batters on deck, they walked. The bases were loaded, and Daniel Descalso hit a routine groundball (which should have been fielded) up the middle and two runs scored, tying the game. This reminds me of last year in game 6 in the World Series when the Texas Rangers were going to win the title, but those Redbirds never gave up.

As I speak, Cosma (need to edit for his name) hit a line drive and another two runs were packed on. Totally resilient! Then the Washington Nationals went down in order in the bottom of the 9th, sending them home for the winter.

And on the other hand, the Yankees have won!!!!!!!!!!!

CC Sabathia pitched a complete game giving up only four hits and one run! Bring on the rematch of the 2011 ALDS again, starting tomorrow. I am so afraid of Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Doug Fister, Austin Jackson and Prince Fielder.

So they had a bad day...

2 teams had their postseason dreams come to an end today. Goodbye to the Cincinatti Reds and Oakland A's. One Cinderella has ran out of magic. It was certainly a good run for the A's. All hope is not lost in the Bay Area with San Francisco advancing.

Also, there will be a game five for Washington/St Louis and Baltimore/Yankees. I don't quite recall when was the last time that all first round posteason series had came down to the winner take all, loser go home and cry game.

Just when October couldn't get even more wild, it just did!

Everybody knows he's got the magic!

Who am I talking about? Raul Ibanez has the magic in him! Two homeruns coming up as a pinch hitter for the slumping Alex Rodriguez who went 0-3 with 2 strikeouts. Joe Giradi decided to bench ARod and sent up the 40 year old veteran who is chasing that elusive World Series title after coming up short with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2009-2011! Forever in the history books.

Down 2-1, in the bottom of the 9th and scoring their only run in the third inning. Raul Ibanez came up to bat for the first time, and at the second pitch he saw, that ball is drilled deep to right field. Going, going, gone! HOMERUN! Game tied! The Yankees certainly wouldn't go away. Time to go into extra innings! Three innings later, first man up to bat in the 12th, Ibanez sent that ball into the upper deck of the seats in right field. Game over, Yankees take a 2-1 series lead and could close it out tomorrow evening!

The Baltimore Orioles resemble an annoying ex partner that refuses to go away and seems to keep up and chase non stop. Seriously, let the 27-time champions show you how its done.
I need another World Series Champions tshirt.

In other playoff news,

The St Louis Cardinals have shown the inexperienced rookie Washington National team which hasn't been to the playoffs way before I was born who is king. Chris Carpenter, slowed by injuries pitched a shutout, at the expense of his former team mate, Edwin Jackson who won a World Series ring with the Cardinals last year. Bryce Harper has hit the rookie wall. Too much arrogance will cause you to crack, at the wrong time when you know you have to help your team drive in runs. Mike Mattheny was totally underrated and has performed above and beyond expectations as a rookie manager taking over the defending World Series Champions who had lost the man who is almost as famous as Budweiser in St Louis to Disneyland.

The Bay Area teams live to see another day of California sunlight, and dream big. Oakland scored 3 runs in the bottom 9th and won the game on a walk off hit by the experienced Coco Crisp, sending the crowd into a frenzy and love spread all around. The Giants won by a comfortable margin.