w00t! I rock!

I don't consider myself to be a hardcore gamer or a computer hacker. But when Merriam Webster chooses w00t as their word of the year, I have to pay homage to my 733t brothers and sisters out there.

Anyway...I haven't been blogging that much because I've been rockin' out on Guitar Hero 3. I was hesitant to get it because it was $100. But even after logging over 1o hours of it over the weekend, I'm still loving it. Aside from derailing my real world guitar skills, it has been a riot. I've noticed that I make the same dumb ass guitar face that I have when playing a real guitar. But now, I'm getting my poses, kicks and jumps down. \m/ \m/ Word up.

I've also fallen into the hole that is called Facebook. So sad. I keep it minimal but I can see the potential of it taking over a good portion of my day. Pray for me. Sorry for this lame ass post, but I'm at work and should be doing some.

Recovering from Halo

I stayed up until midnight playing Halo 3. That may not sound like much to a lot of you, but I've waking up at 6 every morning for the past 2 weeks. My body is programmed to wake me up around that time no matter what time I go to bed. Which leaves me to how I'm feeling now. A big M-E-H.

I'll spare you the details about the video game itself because I'm sure you're already sick of the Halo hype. I have to admit, though, I had a good time last night. I was getting housed left and right. I was hesitant to play online because I knew that Halo addicts would be storming the servers. But to my delight I got 4 kills in my first match. Godawful for most folks, but an amazing start for me. It all went downhill from there, but I can't wait to get back on.

Tired but Funky

Wow...readers are coming out! Thanks V and Jas for the comments. The video below is dedicated to you two.

If I felt South Carolinish a couple of weeks ago, I feel like this today:

Well, not entirely. I stayed up last night until 2 in the morning playing FIFA 07. I created myself and put me as a striker for Arsenal. I made myself around the same height and build as my real world greatness. But...I made myself 21 and souped up my attributes. My victory dance is The Robot followed by the Running Man. Being 5'4" no matter how good you are doesn't give you much of an advantage when you're running against 6-footers with 4-foot legs. I couldn't win a match until 2.

Now I'm at my old job finishing notes. I'll be here for another month. I'm that behind.

This weekend was full of celebration and drinking. Friday was my going away/marriage license party. Lots of free drinks and good people. Saturday was the last Victory match. We lost, but went out with alcohol, semi-pitch invasions, flares and smokebombs. I got two jerseys from Chucky Kim! They smell like death but their mine! Sunday was the Raiders home opener. More drinking and yelling. After the game I felt so ill that I had a quarter of a head of iceburg lettuce for dinner.

I've been heavily relying on the services of Twitter. So all of you loyal followers...all 4 of you...you can keep up to date with me there. I will try to post more interesting entries soon. I only really have time for updates.

The Campaign is over

The Hyphy FC Champions League has ended. *sigh* We went down with guns blazing, though. We beat Inter to get a Golden Ticket to get into the group stage. We beat Werder Bremen in the first knockout round 3-3 (agg), on away goals, by the skin of our teeth.

In the quarterfinals, we met AC Milan. They housed us at home 3-2. The final match I rallied back to tie up the aggregate at 4-4, but their 3 away goals beat our 2. Fuck! I know, it's only a video game. But now I have to earn another 40 points for another Golden Ticket, so I can compete in it again. 40 points in "World Class" mode will take forever. Even if I go winless from now on, it'll take 14 match wins!!!

I'm still getting over the loss. Give me a minute...

Hyphy FC 5-2 Inter (or: I skinned my knee playing video games)

It was a crazy match this morning before work. I had to sign a new physio doctor because the contract of my previous one ran out, and I couldn't get a new contract card. The match opened up with a Park Ji-Sung header, that gave us a 1-0 lead. Gilardino scored quickly after. By halftime Park scored another. 3-0 into the second half, I was pretty psyched.

Morale got low with two successive Inter goals. Another goal to Gilardino. Then in the last 5 minutes Park scored his hat-trick and I jumped from the couch in excitement skinning my knee on the wicker coffee table.

7 points away from the Golden Ticket. And I got an achievement unlocked - 4 goals in a Professional match. Go Dork! Go Dork! Go Dork! *running man*

RBNY v. DCU update
La won the first leg of our MLS bet with a 4-2 DCU victory. Those 2 away goals can help pull the Red Bulls out of the hole. I did the dishes that day. *sigh* Next match 22 July. Oh shit! There's another one after that?!? I'll have to talk to La about that. We might have to renegotiate the bet.

Hyphy FC update

I haven't reported how my own squad, Hyphy FC is doing (on Champions League on the 360). We've made it to Level 5 and I now have access to purchasing gold packs. The team is beginning to gain some chemistry. With the acquisition of Stephen Gerrard, Park Ji Sung and Alberto Gilardino, Hyphy FC is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Although, we lost the last match to AC Milan 3-1, the previous wins against Arsenal (1-0) and Inter (2-0) definitely is giving us hope.

I've changed from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 during the match against Milan. That could have been our downfall. The two previous wins inflated my ego and I thought we could attack a bit more. The competition has been getting rougher, it almost feels like an MLS game. I've had 3 guys injured in the last two matches. Arsenal and AC Milan were fouling like crazy; Senderos even got red carded for taking out people. Next match will be with Man U. Gotta rest up for that one.

Status Update (or: My 2 new obsessions)

Hey Folks,

Things have been crazy lately on both the football and personal level. So all my writing, both here and journal, have been suffering. I went down to L.A. for a friend's graduation, but also got to see a Galaxy match. It was amazing to see 22K people to watch a football match! I really hope that the Quakes come back.

In local football, Victory aren't doing so well. Even so, I've caught the Victory fever. And I bought the only prescription to cure it...a cowbell. I went to the first match on Cinco de Mayo against the Mexican team, Necaxa. It was fun to meet other fans that I met on the discussion boards. Our group even made the SF Chronicle. I'm the fool in the back with the scarf La knitted for me.

I missed the home opener (I was at the Galaxy match) but I will try to make as many of the home matches that I can fit without La getting mad at me.
I'm still very active on the BigSoccer discussion boards. I seem to be checking and replying for most of the day. The supporters' group hasn't yet gone "official" with it's name, but it seems to be "1906." I don't like it, but whatever the name is I will still support the boys for the whole 90. This weekend they play the Vancouver Whitecaps (last years champion). If you're down to go, let me know. We need all the support we can get.

Another strange update is that I started playing Gears of War. I'm behind about 6 months. One day one of my clients starts talking about Counterstrike. He tried to convince me to get on it so I can play with him. The same night, I find out some friends in NY have it. They are gung-ho first person shooter fans (I, more of a sports video game player), and talked me into getting it. I have to admit, it is enjoyable. I might put down a deposit for the upcoming and highly anticipated Halo 3. Even now, after a few rounds of GoW, I take comfort and wind down by playing a few matches on UEFA Champions League.

Finally, my status update:
* Twitter status: Alvin... typing notes in the dark (undefined)
* On repeat: Here Come The Victory
* Reading: The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine
* Current Obsession: California Victory
* Last unnecessary purchase: A Cowbell and Gears of War

Rushed update

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in awhile (how many people are actually reading this. hands? hands?). I've been feeling ill and called in yesterday, as well as today. Since I haven't written in awhile, I feel as if I need to report what's been going on. Let me purge, bulleted:

• 31st Birthday was great. Hike in Big Basin, followed by unexpectedly large after party.
• CONCACAF Champions Cup sucked ass. Both U.S. Teams lost. Dynamo game was awesome!
• MLS Kickoff was cool. Good to see DC lose (sorry La)
• Arsenal doing horrible. Last draw should have been a win. La got me a Fabregas jersey. Very nice.
• Bought UEFA video game. Awesome new trading card feature. I've created my first club, Hyphy FC. Still below average but getting better with age.

Although I'm ill and should be resting, there are two UEFA quarterfinal matches on today, at the same time: ManU v. Roma and Valencia v. Chelsea. I'll be flipping back and forth. Oh happy day off!

My latest status update:
* Twitter status: Alvin... is trying to fix adium message history. (undefined)
* On repeat: The Luckiest by Ben Folds
* Reading: Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle
* Current Obsession: LibraryThing.com and UEFA Champions League (watching the real thing and also the video game)
* Last unnecessary purchase: UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 video game.

I am a WINNER!

I finally won an online soccer match on the Xbox 360!!! I am a golden god!

I haven't owned a gaming console since Nintendo 64, back in undergrad. I bought the 360 while I was acting out during the moving-in-with-the-girlfriend process, in October. So I'm a bit rusty.

I got FIFA 07 a little before Thanksgiving (the greatest game in the world), and then my future brother-in-law *shiver* got me an Xbox Live year membership for Christmas. Since then, I've been rocked by better opponents; destroyed by sedentary snot-nosed kids who live in Xbox world.

Tonight, all that has changed. And...2-0 on top of that! You should have seen the last minutes of the match. Eyes wide open, tearing so that I wouldn't miss a beat. Girlfriend comes in to say goodnight. HOLD ON! DON'T DO ANYTHING! At the final whistle, I was a little schoolboy jumping up and down in ecstasy and disbelief. I wanted to scream out loud, but it was already late...and it would only make me look and feel cooler. So I resorted to controlled heavy breathing and violent arm thrusts in the air. Winner!

5 things I learned playing DDR for the first time that are similar to sex

1. It might be more fun with a group (but solo is fun)
2. I can drink beer while doing it
3. I look like a spaz while doing it
4. Practice makes perfect
5. Playing a few rounds before work is fun

Happy New (Electronics) Month!

I just got my DVR last night. I never thought I'd ever get one. I can pause live tv now! AHHH! As La always says, "there's something wrong about messing around with time." It's not TiVo, so I've escaped that craziness for now (It's the proprietery Comcast DVR. But I've read news that Comcast will be soon using the TiVo operating system). For those who already have been on the DVR train for awhile, please excuse my nascent excitment.

I am so psyched that I can tape football matches now. Because of the time difference, I could never watch a live match because they're always on in the middle of the day. But a new era has begun. Now I can watch all the EPL matches I can handle when I get home from work. I will tape two Champions Cup games today (DC United v CD Olimpia and Houston Dynamo v Puntarenas...go USA!), and already have one Arsenal game to watch on the hard drive! I think I'm going to faint.

Today, I am also picking up my copy of Dance Dance Revolution: Universe, for Xbox 360!!! I already have the additional dance pad. For New Month, I am going to have a DDR party! Woo hoo! I've never played it in my life, not in the arcade or on any console. So I will not only be busting some moves, tonight, but also will be busting my DDR cherry, with friends and alcohol! Hey Danny Terrio, put me on TV!