OakMonster’s Den

Dear Mark,

Obviously, you also have not learned from the past, my darling Sanchez.  USC has a Quarterback Facial Hair Curse, don’t you know by now?

(Picture from the LA Times)

Last year, John David Booty tried to grow some and we barely escaped.  Previously, it has never been good for either Matt Leinart or Carson Palmer.

Scruff amounts to bad.  All the QBs under Uncle Pete has suffer such fate.  If you’ve studied the history of our team, you might not have pondered the option.

I am sure you’re thinking that we’ve won by a giant landslide.  So what of this so called curse?  But sweetie, is that worth your twisted knee?  Seriously.  I mean, DUDE!

Besides, sweetie, the stereotypical mustache you are trying out doesn’t look good on you.

(Picture from the LA Times)

So please, for the love of Troy, listen to this uberfan…who has since banish her husband from watching ANY and all USC games because everytime he pays attention to it, we lost.  I KNOW what I’m talking about when it comes to supersition.

Fight on and get REALLY healthy soon,

- The OakMonster

Two things I love most about October: Halloween and beer.

So far it hasn’t been a cold “fall”.  Heck, it was like 78 when I got to work at 7:30 a.m. this morning!  I think I will survive in my Princess Leia gitup after all.  Then again, I still have the Jedi cloak from last year to keep me warm and still in theme.

October is building up to be a busy one already.  The Bus Party tomorrow is cancelled in lieu of the debate, so that free up a bit of time.  Hopefully my newsletter will go to print on Friday.

Thriller practice this Saturday and of course, the Trojans are on and pissed off.  Watch out Oregon!

DMV Downtown on Monday…that ought to be interesting.  Haven’t been to that DMV since college!  The girls’ monthly dinner on Thursday and it’s our anniversary.  Another Thriller practice on Saturday on the beach followed by the K9 benefit show back in Fullerton.  Too bad I will have to miss the Long Beach Tweet Up!  Thrill the World LA barbecue on Sunday and, thank god, Columbus Day off.

Wednesday early board meeting.  Saturday USC at Washington and “Octoberfest” at a friend’s house who is a brewmaster.  Probably more Thriller practice in there somewhere through out.  A few Tuesdays at the Irvine practice probably.

Thrill the World on October 25 in the morning at USC at Arizona at night.

And finally, Halloween.

And after that, the Big Gala.

And after that, Thailand.

And after that, company’s holiday party I have to throw.

Not to mention my Monday dance classes.

Holy crap.

I’m a busy girl!

Friday, the Downtown goats.

Saturday, Brandon returned and the Trojans kicked the Buckeyes’ butt up and down the field 35-3.

Sunday, catching up on TV and dinner with James, Aurora, Dresden and Lee.

Good weekend. 

Courtesy of Amy, the Gridiron Goddess.

For those who didn’t know (like I did when I first watch this), Ohio State’s mascot, the Buckeye, is a nut of the Ohio buckeye tree, which according to Wikipedia, also called “fetid buckeye” because it stinks–”the disagreeable odor generated from the flowers, crushed leaves, broken twigs, or bruised bark.”

LOVE

On Saturday, two major events for me that set the happy tone for the rest of the long weekend.

First, the Trojans kicked Virginia’s butt up and down the field 52-7 which put the team in #1 spot in AP poll.  Watching Mark Sanchez, our new quarterback, TACKLED some dude to block for his running back (tailback?) was just awesome.

Still high on the Trojan spirit, Brandon and I flit up to town for the wedding of our friend Elan to her beau Chris.  The wedding took place at the beautiful hidden gem of Wilshire Ebell.  Elan actually used to live just a few blocks away from the place.  And I used to live just a mile down the road and I didn’t even know this place existed.

It was no doubt a glamorous event but yet so casual and friendly, as only Elan could have done it.  Elegant without being pretentious, effortlessly glamorous. Just like Elan. 

Chris, the Berkeley educated Aussie, and Elan met in the U.K. where they currently live.  So the crowd at the wedding came from as close as a few blocks away to as far as Australia, as young as a few months old to grandparents age.  But not more than 100 people filled the ballroom and danced to the big band.

Yes, BIG BAND.  Who does that any more these days?!  What did I say about glamorous!

Since there was no topping Elan’s wedding, we took it easy on Sunday.  Brandon and I picked up some burger buns and the Fresh & Easy $4.99 grill pack and headed over to James and Aurora’s.  The big boys grilled while Dresden hung out with Aurora, her sister Lee, and I as we sang out heads off on Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.  (That grill pack could’ve fed one more person, by the way.  What a deal!)

LABOR

Labor Day Monday was mildly laborious for us.  Brandon and I slept till noon, and since we weren’t sure what opened on Labor Day, we cruised around the neighborhood looking for lunch.  Paul’s Place provided the usual comfort of burgers and chili fries.

Once we got home, we dug ourselves out our laundry now that the dryer which has been broken all week is finally fixed. While on laundry watch, we played Castle Crashers on XBox Live until our hands cramped up. It hurt sooooo good!

Over dinner of Mac & Cheese and bacon, we watched In the Valley of Elah.  And that led us to…

LOSS

Paul Haggis’ war statement movie did indeed make a statement, at the very end.  One subtle scene and turn the whole movie upside down, and when the dust settles, the statement was clear.

Once again, Paul Haggis, you moved me in the way nobody else has. I was along for the emotional ride, and just when I didn’t think you’d do it, you throw the punch.  It’s so simple and subtle the statement you make, and yet so powerful it hit me right in the gut.  I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t even gasp.  I just sat there on the couch, letting the emotions wash over me and drown me in it.

My heart breaks for American soldiers everywhere.

Rent it.  Doesn’t matter what political view you have.

Oh, and you might want to follow that with something sunny just to balance things out.  It was too late for me last night to watch it, so I settled in to put laundry away to Ratatouille soundtrack instead.

Hey, it’s STILL Friday! And a double feature!

Me and Nhien got all goofy at Amy’s house.  And you know when people gather at Amy’s house, good times are ALWAYS had.

We partied among Amy’s fellow international MBA graduates from USC.  The world came together in this history Spanish home in Glendale, and so was the food.  There were the famous Pete’s tri-tip, Korean barbecue, lamb skewers, Chinese barbecue duck and crispy pork.  Then there were Tsing Tao, Dos Equis, Heineken, and wine of all variety and regions.

We ate. We drank. We talked. We laughed.  Tons of innuendos and inside jokes floating about everywhere.  Those lovely wigs included.  (Pete will provide accompanying video which I will surely share later on.)

Seriously good times had by all!

Oh, and yeah, hello there boys and girls from the party!  If y’all had my Moo card (and if you remember what the hell it is the next morning), you should be reading this by now.

Okay. It was unnecessarily showy for an easy touch down. But can you blame him…or us? [Picture by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.]

USC beats Illinois to a pulp 49-17 and won our 94th Rose Bowl Championship.

All because of this little man.

USC hasn’t lost a game since Joshua started to “watch” the game with his mom J.C. Heh.

Fight on, y’all!

ETA: Well…now that the Trojan talk is out of the way…

We had a great New Year celebration at my place last night. The original plan was for Nora came up and spent the night, which she did. The unexpected was that James and Aurora called just as I was going to start cooking to accept our invitation to dinner which I extended many days ago. LOL. But that’s okay. The more, the merrier!

I managed to serve dinner somewhat on time and we all were very well fed. Lots of booze between me and Nora (shots of Limoncello, a bottle of white wine, a few beers and a flute a piece of blood orange mimosa), and a cordial serving of champagne for Aurora. Oh, and there were these too…

The girls watched Ratatouille before and right after dinner and then Stardust (which is fast becoming our most favorite film) after that. The boys sort of watched the movies as well when they weren’t too busy looking at funny stuff on the internet. We paused Stardust just before the final showdown to countdown and welcomed 2008.

Oh, and the hot water situation has been entirely solved. For a few days after the return of hot water, we didn’t have any cold water. Haha. That seems to be taken care of now.

So far, it’s been a good 2008.

The obvious joy of the Trojans spanking the fucla bruins and that we are heading to the Rose Bowl was only the beginning.

What did I do immediately after the game? Well, aside from posting the last item. I hopped in the car and headed out to Nhien’s at G-dale for girls night in, celebrating our friendship and my birthday. For once, I got to show up and do nothing. Haha! Amy brought the booze. Nhien provided noshables. Eva made pasta. The main event, the Italian rolled meatloaf by Celeste.

Did I mention that Amy brought the booze?

We started watching Knocked Up but when we paused for dessert, we got into a conversation and we never went back.

And of course, whatever happens at girls night stays at girls night. Except for that very tame picture Amy took of us.

Sunday morning was lazy as well as the afternoon. Brandon and I visited our friends Paul and Lupe for a spell. (Well, actually we were borrowing their carpet steam cleaner.) And we got to play with “the kids”, Molly and Cassie. Now that Molly has grown up a bit, she mellowed out and isn’t so obnoxious any more. Cassie, on the other hand, seems to be getting a bit slow. But then again, what’s a small dog to do against a playful Rodweiler, eh?

Monday came the big news. As I made myself download my bank statements and go over the finance, I suddenly realize that we will be able to actually start saving for the house by this time next year. I mean, like, HOORAY!!!!!!

The vicious cycle we look forward to, being out of debt long enough just to get back into the biggest one of our lives…and owning a house.

Life is pretty good right now, I must say.

Hell yes.

All good little Trojans should brush up on fucla Fight Song this night.

High up in the hills of Westwood
Sprawled offensive to the eye
Lies a Cal extension campus
Known as Westwood High
(High! High! High!)
Home of all the Bruin bear cubs
UGLY is its name
The student body’s vile
The football team’s a pile
and the campus is a shame!

U (clap clap clap)
G (clap clap clap)
L (clap clap clap)
Y (clap clap clap)
U-G-L-Y
Eat My Shorts!

Now, the elusive (and offensive) verse #2 and even lesser known #3. Personally, I know verse #2 too. No, I did not make this shit up.

Bruins are a bunch of f*****s [rhymes with maggots…]
Song girls are a bunch of sluts
When they spread their legs so wide
they look like garbage trucks
(Good food! NOT!)
When we all go up to Westwood
Bruins are so gay
Each bruin in the band
his unit in his hand
will whack the night away!

U (Whack! Whack! Whack!)
G (Whack! Whack! Whack!)
L (Whack! Whack! Whack!)
Y (Whack! Whack! Whack!)
U-G-L-Y
Eat My Shorts! [or suck my…you know…]

In the locker room at halftime
Bruins give each other head
They congratulate the coach
by taking him to bed
When the bruins break the huddle
Pants will come back up
Each bruin on the squad
will surely shoot his wad
right in [enter quarterback’s name] mouth!

Fight on, Trojans!