.ocho nocho causin a comocho. :p

"The Cincinnati Bengals receiver has legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., a switch that became official this week. Johnson, who lives in Miami, didn't return a message left on his cell phone Friday night." - ESPN.com

LOL, this guy is full of surprises. The 2008 season has not yet officially started and he's already coming up with antics to shock the fans. After being fined 5k for the stunt of wearing an "Ocho Cinco" name plate on his jersey over his last name "Johnson" back in 2006; he's finally figured out how to get his way without having to pay for it. Legally changing his name... wow! What a smart idea on his part. What's the NFL going to say now? I'm not saying I agree with it but hey, it's not my name! He obviously feels very strongly about this so we should let him be who he wants to be. If he went through all the legal hoops, I feel like he deserves the jersey change. Hands down, this beats T.O.'s Sharpie pen in the End Zone. I wonder what Ocho will come up with next? When will we see his new jersey for sale at NFLshop.com? Guess we'll just have to wait and see. If he plays well, I'm sensing a very marketable #85. You think? :op

...why jason why?...

I just heard it straight from Mike and Mike that Jason Kidd is giving away his OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL!! Get this... not to a charity or a museum. Not even to a child or a family member. He's giving it to Steve Wynn's wife!?!? And guess why? Because she's a "good friend" whom he met at a banquet. They chatted and ended up making a deal that if he won a gold medal, he'd give it to her. All because the Wynn's treated him so well in Vegas. *sigh*...must be nice to be a Wynn these days. Own a few hotels, get an Olympic Gold Medal as a gift...no biggie. :o/ Guess Jason Kidd is a guy that's good for his word.

Hey Jason, I've got an idea! How about giving it to your fellow Olympian and Elite Volleyball Vixen, Misty May Treanor. I mean the gal idolizes you so much she permanently imprinted her body with your jersey number! That counts for something, right?

Or for crying out loud... as someone smartly pointed out, how about COACH K? I'm sure he would adore a gold medal. After all, I saw him on the sidelines during the medal ceremony and man was he proud. Like a Dad watching his kids grow up. Shouldn't he be deserving of a medal too?

.finally! some sports talk!.

As most of you may already know (from my first blog posting); I'm a sports fan! I'm sure you've been wondering when I'd bring up a sports related topic to discuss. Since I had you wait 5 long blogs for this, I have not 1 topic but 3! So, here we go:

Topic #1: Merriman to forgo surgery and will play with knee injury.

At first glance, the headline makes you wonder how long into the season before his knee gives and he’s “Lights Out” for good. After all, 4 different doctors have told Merriman that he needs surgery. More than likely all 4 doctors told him that having the surgery sooner rather than later was the wise option. What could Shawne Merriman be thinking…? I believe that he visited multiple doctors because one by one, they did not tell him what he wanted to hear. Could doctor #4 have given him some kind of hope that surgery wasn’t absolutely necessary RIGHT NOW? Of course! Why else would he play despite the possibility of jeopardizing his future? I understand that he is passionate about his career, football, and the Chargers. But, is it worth endangering your entire career in the sport that you love so you can play for 1 season? Honestly, it really doesn’t matter what I think. The fact of the matter is—he’s playing and that’s that. Most people think he’s crazy but some of his teammates are ecstatic! My thinking is that the Chargers feel that they currently have the best team they’ve had since Rivers turned QB1. Maybe Merriman knows something that we don’t. Maybe he knows this year could be THE year. If Merriman wants to be the NFL’s equivalent to Tiger Woods playing injured, so be it. My only hope is, he and the Chargers DO have their best year EVER and the Chargers win the Super Bowl. And if by chance, the Chargers do make it all the way to the big dance; I pray that Merriman’s knee holds up long enough for him to participate in what could be the most important game of his career and finish as Tiger did at the Masters. After all, Tiger won the biggest game of his life and then had surgery—let’s hope Shawne can do the same.

Topic #2 – MLB to use instant replay on a limited basis—strictly on home run calls.

Bud Selig loves it and now we will find out if the rest of the Baseball world agrees. Instant reply in Baseball isn’t my idea of fun but I knew it was bound to happen. Technology is on the rise faster than ever these days. Businesses and schools have taken advantage of modern computers and programs to better their efficiency and accuracy. Sports are not an exception to this by any means. A perfect example is the touch pad timing technology used in the Olympic Games which calculated Michael Phelps had won the 100m butterfly thriller by one one-hundredth of a second. Or how about the photo finishes we see at Horse Racing events and the replays we see at NFL games to confirm if a player's knee touched the ground before the ball fumbled? Currently instant replay is limited to home run calls in Baseball and that I can handle. Besides the worry that it will lengthen games, I really don’t think it will be a bad thing. I’m sure it won’t take more than 5-7 minutes which could be shorter than waiting on a coach to finish yelling and spiting at an umpire because they disagreed with a call. On the other hand, if instant replay is extended to base calls, then I’d be an unhappy camper. You see, my feeling is that you get so much excitement from watching a play unfold (especially those that are close calls). Isn’t it great to see an awesome play and then seconds after, the umpire waves his hand to confirm safe or out? Most times after the signal, you are either jumping for joy or upset the call wasn’t in your teams favor. Now that edge of your seat excitement is what Baseball is all about. I would hate for instant reply to ruin those moments, especially since the sport has been successful and entertaining without instant reply for so many years.

Topic #3 - Source: De La Hoya, Pacquiao agree to Dec. 6th in Vegas

Pay-per-view must be excited about this one! Obviously, people are going to want to see this fight. I can imagine Vegas being packed! If it's true...as T.O. would say, "Get your popcorn ready"!

*best week ever* FFL08

After lunch at PF Changs and a few errands on Sunday; I ran over to my Mom’s place to get ready for the annual Fantasy Football draft. This year was pretty important because we had a LIVE DRAFT set up. We had 4 out of the 10 team managers all in the same room on separate computers. The rest of the managers were at their respective home computers.

What you don’t know is that last year, this league (which consists of regulars) was all set for a live draft as well. Everyone was ready in front of their computers waiting for the draft to begin. All of a sudden, we realize that the draft is now marked AUTO. I make some calls to Yahoo Sports (fantasy football tech support, lol) and we find out that because 1 person failed to log in and register timely, the live draft was automatically cancelled and turned into an auto draft. Wow, were people upset!

SO, this year…that particular person was replaced with a new manager and we were set for this years LIVE DRAFT. Everyone registered weeks prior and had planned their entire day around this exciting event.

6:30PST the “Best Week Ever” League’s LIVE DRAFT begins!

Unlucky me, I had 9th pick. As the draft progressed, I got quieter and quieter because I became more and more unhappy with how my team was coming together. I was pretty bummed I didn't get my man Romo. *sigh* Ok, well because I promised I would post my team, here it is:

1. Randy Moss
2. Marion Barber
3. Plaxico Burress
4. Jay Cutler
5. Philip Rivers
6. Jason Witten
7. LenDale White
8. Roy Williams
9. Matt Ryan
10. Nate Kaeding
11. Brian Urlacher
12. Kirk Morrison
13. David Harris
14. Derrick Mason
15. Bob Sanders
16. Darrelle Revis
17. Felix Jones
18. Warrick Dunn
19. LaRon Landry

Go ahead, rip me if you’d like. But hey, the season hasn’t started and as you know, “ANTHING CAN HAPPEN”! Oh by the way, just to confirm; we play with 2 QB’s and individual defense players. It’s actually an interesting mix and it keeps you on your toes. Anyway, I’ll have to see how Rivers does. I did pick up Matt Ryan (because there is hope he may be a sleeper pick). Save your smack talk until after week 1! :op

santiago + LB saturday

This past weekend literally flew by. On Saturday morning, I got up and headed down to Hillcrest to visit my hairstylist. Santiago has been working on my hair for over a year now. He always does a fantastic job and we share a lot of laughs during my frequent visits. I’m proud to brag that he’s worked on celebrity hair such as Selma Hayek.

In the afternoon, I headed up to Laguna Beach with my family for a nice dinner and a show. Our dinner was at one of my most favorite restaurants in Laguna! We started off with a really good bottle of 2006 Indian Wells Riesling by Chateau Ste. Michelle (so elegant). For appetizers we had the “Ahi Tuna Tartare” and “Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp”. I ordered my usual, “Day Boat Scallops” for my entrée. For dessert, we ordered the best dessert EVER, “Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Crème Anglaise and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream”. Yes people, it is even more delicious than it sounds. You have no idea! If you want to know what restaurant I am raving about, just ask me! :)

After dinner, we headed over to watch the Pageant of the Masters (only a short walk from the restaurant). This was my first time going to this annual art exhibition. My Mom said it was a great show so, we made sure to get our tickets early since it sells out every year. Our tickets included entrance into the Gala Benefit Event to celebrate the 75th Anniversary which was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris (aka Doogie Howser, MD). In case you are wondering, he looks exactly the same as when he starred in Harold & Kumar, lol. Anyway, the highlight of the Gala was a raffle for a 2008 Mercedes SLK. I bought 5 raffle tickets for 20 dollars and I was feeling really good about it. How cool would it be to win a Benz for $20?! Yeah well, I’m still daydreaming about it because out came Doogie to pull the winning ticket and before I knew it, some guy named “Rafael” had been picked out of the thousands of tickets. The worst part was, he wasn’t even around to claim his prize (since it was “need not be present to win”). C’mon, how could you not be present? Most people were there for the show. Hmmm…makes you wonder!

So, the show began at 8:30 and ran until 10pm. Once the curtain rose, I saw a large piece of framed art hanging inside the stage. Moments later, the narrators’ big booming voice would begin to describe the art piece and its historical significance. I sat there staring at the various statues and art pieces that would appear on stage individually for about 5 minutes. I remember thinking to myself; this is a little weird (and slightly boring). About 20 minutes in, my Mom elbows me and hands me her binoculars. She mumbles, “That’s so amazing”. I look at her and grin thinking she’s had way too much wine. I take a peek through the binoculars and see the framed art pieces very closely. I notice the details of the painted canvas. Finally she nudges me again and says, “How do those people not move?”. It seriously didn’t dawn on me that within the oversized paintings and life-like statues were REAL PEOPLE posing there. I immediately perked up and my interest sparked. Even with the binoculars, you seriously couldn’t tell! About 45 minutes into the show, they show the audience exactly how it is done. The oversized frame is brought onto the stage, and then a flat looking surface with people moving about gets wheeled into the frame. The lights dim and when they turn back on, the once moving people are frozen as a rock in a solid pose replicating the art piece. It was pretty crazy once you realized what these people were doing. They seriously looked like they were painted into the canvas. There were even kids involved! It is dubbed, “living pictures”. The best part of the entire show was their “annual finale” which was “The Last Supper”. It was pretty breathtaking. If you haven’t seen the show, I recommend checking it out at least once. The locals in Laguna go every year. http://www.foapom.com/

.a few of my favorite things.

Once every so often I will enlighten you by sharing some random thoughts about myself. I figure if you’re taking the time to read my blog, it might be interesting for you to learn something about me you may not know.

First off, I really enjoy music. I download songs frequently and am constantly compiling playlists. Typically my playlists will match up to a specific mood, thought, or memory that I may have. At the moment, I'm feeling pretty mellow (currently listening to No One by Aly & A.J. via headphones). My style of listening to music is paying close attention to the melody and lyrics. From the first few notes, I can tell right away if I like a song or not. I’ve always wondered if people listen to lyrics like I do. Most times I hear songs as a story which is probably why I also enjoy watching music videos as well. Music is also a key element to movies. So many times, the emotion of a scene isn’t complete without the soundtrack. If you took a peek into my purse, more than likely you’ll find my ipod. I absolutely must have my ipod with me when I travel. Without it, I literally feel lonely and bored while I’m waiting in the terminals and on the plane. :(

Pastel colors are usually what I gravitate towards. I like pinks, blues, purples, and any color that is light and fresh. Because I like colors and am a visual person, it is only natural that I love make-up. I love all of the colors and the glittery palettes. I bet you didn’t know that I grew up a tom-boy! No joke. The only reason I am telling you this is because I wanted to share with you that I didn’t start wearing make-up until after I graduated high school. Scary, huh?! It’s true. The story is, after I received my very first paycheck from my very first job (when I started college); I took myself over to Nordstrom and headed for the MAC cosmetics counter. A pretty lady working behind the counter looked at me (probably saying to herself, “this girl needs some serious help”) and sold me my first set of basic makeup essentials. I remember standing there listening to her explain how the brushes worked. I was so focused on trying to remember what order to apply the various eyeshades. Geez, it was extremely confusing for a tom-boy back then! No worries though, eventually I got the hang of it! :)

I love desserts. When I’m in the mood for something on the richer side, Ruth Chris has a yummy flourless Godiva chocolate cake. My go-to dessert when I’m indecisive is probably crème brûlée. When I want something light, my all time favorite is pinkberry! Original + mochi + kiwi + mango! I have to mention that this year; I was privileged to experience Café du Monde in New Orleans during my trip to the NBA All-Star Jam Session. If I could, I’d open up a shop right here in San Diego so everyone here can enjoy a perfect beignet and Chicory coffee served Au Lait. It’s delicious!

Lastly, like most girls…I love flowers. I love the way they look and smell. I love scented floral leis from Hawaii the most. I light scented candles when I’m in the mood to relax. I also enjoy a nice glass of Riesling to unwind after a hectic and stressful day.

what's been keeping me busy this week?

Facebook
"Blog away lady" commented Jason Brenner (aka Brenzor) regarding my Facebook note which I used to introduce people to this new blog of mine. It's been a little over a month since I joined the crowd and started my very own Facebook account. I guess you can say it's the new MySpace but I describe it more like a funhouse for friends. For those of you who use Facebook, you more than likely love it. It's really the only place where you can have "Kobe Bryant thrown at you" via SuperPoke, have Peace, Happiness, and Tranquility sent to you via "Send Good Karma", or send someone a Monster Hug. Good times. One negative is, when you log in...most of the time you've got a ton of friends sending you all kinds of requests for you to add various applications (aka "apps") that you may or may not want. Because these people are your friends, you end up adding everything and your page becomes this mish-mosh collage of all kinds of images and games you probably didn't want in the first place. :o/

If by the off chance, you don't have a Facebook...this is probably sounding like complete nonsense or a foreign language even. Trust me; I was once in your shoes. The first time I logged in, it was borderline frustrating. I had no idea where to begin. In all honesty, the simplicity of the way your new profile page looks is almost complicated. Never fear, this all changes when you get your first friend request. Somehow, once you are IN..."they" (meaning your friends) find you. You see, what I realized is...it's up to your friends to sort of lead the way. Once you finally have friends, the application requests slowly but surely begin pouring in. If all else fails, add the "app". You can always remove it later if you don't want it but at least you learn by trial and error. Go on...see for yourself! http://www.facebook.com

P.S. My personal favorite app is "Pieces of Flair". My bulletin board is almost full! :op And the fact that you can update your Facebook via iPhone through a one touch shortcut, amazing.

Fantasy Football 2008
Yes folks, it's that time of the year. Preseason is winding down and before we know it, the sweet sound of football will be back on for our viewing pleasure. Along with this excitement is the one and only Fantasy Football (as I refer to it FFL08). If you can believe it, this year...yours truly is the commish. Yup, you heard me right. I placed 2nd last year which leads me to believe I'm not too shabby. We've got a 10 team league on Yahoo Sports and our live draft is scheduled for this Sunday at 6:30PST. This week I've been feverishly keeping tabs on all of the player updates and injuries. I'll be sure to post my team up. Wish me luck!

The Olympics
Let me shock you for a moment. I heard on a news segment this morning that there were 20 US Olympians who are mothers. That fact is so inspiring to me. They previewed clips of these hard-bodied US Athletes playing with their kids in Beijing. What astounded me the most was that majority of these kids were BABIES! Yes, babies!!! It's crazy to me that less than a year ago, these Olympian Mommies were pregnant (still working out) and were able to get themselves in Olympian form?! One word: WOW!

And of course, who in the planet does not know who Michael Phelps is? I can probably refer to the guy as Aquaman and people would know exactly who I was talking about. The guy is incomparable to anyone. He's a 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist (the most by any Olympian), and holds 7, I repeat 7 World Records. To top it off, he's 23 years of age.

Enough said.

Last but not least: Fun Project (aka .lovemystar.)
Since I'm pretty sure that at one point you may have wondered what my blog header meant; I'm here to tell you it does have significance. Right now, I can't divulge too much detail but I can tell you that it is my new fun/hobby/why not project. More on this will be posted exclusively on this blog. Once more details become available, you'll be the first to know. For now, be excited! :)

*first blog ever* - im excited! :)

Dear Bloggers,

I love to write which is why I have no idea why this is the first time I've decided to start a general blog. I'm kind of excited! Let me start off with an important factoid. For those of you who don't know me, I L-O-V-E sports. Mostly I enjoy Football, Baseball, and Basketball. On any given morning, you can bet that SportsCenter could be heard in the background as I get ready for work. I am opening up to other sports such as MMA (mainly because of my good friend DG). Show your support peeps by checking out his site: http://www.knoxxgear.com/.

Back to my blog.

Although this is the first time I'm blogging about anything I want, I did at one point have a sports blog on ESPN. Because I'm a native San Diego girl, I felt empowered to write about my feelings towards the Drew Brees trade from the Chargers to the Saints. Yes, I know it's been a long while but at the time I remember feeling pretty strongly about it. Happy for San Diego, no. Happy for Drew, yes.

Hang on, now that I think about it... I wonder if it's still floating around in the ESPN blog world. Let me check, brb.

... Ok, I'm back.

You're never going to believe this! It wasn't on the ESPN blog site; my trusty memory realized the home page didn't look familiar at all. Then it hit me! It was actually Fox Sports Blog, how could I forget? I tried logging into my account but I couldn't remember what email addy I used so it rejected my attempts. Good news is... I searched the "Drew Brees" blogs... low and behold, I found it! I had to LOL because it was dated Sept. 21, 2006. I told you it's been awhile!! Anyway, I HAD to paste the link here. For good 'ol times sake.

Drew, this is for you! http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/brown_eyed_girl/2006/09/21/Miami_may_be_wishing_for_a_Brees_in_place_of_their_lingering_storm
And yes in case you're wondering, I do have brown eyes!

-c