After celebrating my birthday with 5 straight dinners, even the Puba has yielded and said, “Enough is enough…� There were still a few friends who wanted to take the Puba out, but Puba has already appreciative for their wonderful birthday wishes and implored that the Puba only wants to be loved and need not be fed. For them to remember has already meant the world to the Puba.

So, after Tuesday’s birthday dinner celebration with the Bush Baby’s clan, the Puba headed over to the CBC for yet another night of Puba devastation…

This week, we faced-off against Incredibowl.

Besides their name, the Puba never really cared to recall who is in this team. However, after seeing Capri and his cohorts, the Puba knew he was in for a very difficult night.

Game 1

The Puba felt good tonight after enduring a long day in court.

1st throw was a strike! Then a spare! Then 4 consecutive strikes! The Puba finishes with a 236… good enough for 2nd place in the sidepots!

Too bad DeWayne and Used & Abused did not help. As I watched on, I was disgusted to see DeWayne only must up a 129 game and U&A struggle mightily for a 151.

We lose 644 – 544. Exactly 100 pins. As I burned over how I would of still lost even if I shot a perfect game, U&A returns from his last frame shaking his head… a sight that I notice too often…

Puba: Damn it! How do we lose to a man in capris?
U&A: (laughs)
DeWayne: (laughs)
Puba: I need more Judgie, I need more!

The thought of having to endure this for another season (the long season) looms like a menacing cloud in my already jammed-pack mind.

Game 2

I guess what I said must have struck a nerve as both DeWayne and U&A start off the game extremely hot. I could tell they were determined not to let me down after my 236 effort.

As we pounded Capri and his cohorts into submission, I overhear:

Erick Kim (Ed Chung… who I think is an Erick Kim look-a-like): Man, this is going to be a hard game (to Capri).
Puba (to U&A): You hear that! He scared!
U&A: Yeah, I heard that!
Puba: Good! Now it is time to step on their THROATS!
U&A: (laughs)

As the game winded down to the 10th frame, I could easily tell we had the game in the bag. The only thing I wanted now was to knock off a chunk of that 100 pt lead that they had on us from the 1st game.

DeWayne finishes with a 175. A vast improvement! The Puba thunders for a 205! U&A, who actually is bowling out of his mind and came into the 10th with 3 consecutive strikes, has an opportunity to destroy everyone with a 246 game. Instead, he f’s up and rolls and 5-4 to finish up his 10th frame for a 224.

We win by 31 pins.

Puba: Damn it Judge! You see what you did there? You let up! You took your foot off the pedal!
U&A: Yeah, I did.
Puba: That is something you will need to learn this season. Not only win, but go for the f’en kill!
U&A: (shakes his head in agreement).

Game 3

Blown off the water. DeWayne finishes with a 161. The Puba gets robbed 3 or 4 times and finishes with a 189 (my book avg). U&A shoots well for a 194 game.

However, Capri shows us who’s boss as his team destroys us by 60 pins.

Final record for this week: 1-3

Post-game conversation:

Puba: You see that Judge. I shot a 630 and I’m upset that I didn’t shoot a 700.
U&A: (looks on…)
Puba: You shoot a 569, and I see someone who could of shot a 600 but did not because he f’ed up one game.
U&A: Yeah… (slightly dejected)
Puba: All it takes is one game and we leave ourselves with only the chance to win 2.

Post-game conversation (as we watched the Bush Baby finish up):

U&A: I think Adam can pitch.
Puba: Oh yeah? Serve ‘em up meatballs or real good pitches?
U&A: He can work the pitch deep or short.
Puba: Okay, we’ll see. All I know is, I’m workin’ with guys who can’t play worth a lick on defense. And all they’re good at is burning the team’s outs on offense.
Puba (to Ryan): You coming to practice on Sunday?
Ryan: Yeah! I’ll try to make it.
Puba (with a terrorizing tone): You better bring your A game! Cause I plan to make an example out of people.
U&A: (laughs)
Ryan: (nervous laugh)

Post-game conversation with DeWayne:

Puba: Hey Wayne, we haven’t won a game with Super.
DeWayne: Oh yeah?
Puba: Yup, we’re 0-4 with him. We’re 4-4 with you.
DeWayne: (laughs)
Puba: Tell him that you’re going to bowl next week cause at least you can bring us some victories.
DeWayne: (laughs) You tell him!
Puba: Fine, I will!

Friday...

After sitting through a 7 hour jury selection session, I learn that I will be Juror #5. I am to start on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to say anymore.

Later in the evening, the She-Fiend texts me to have dinner. Not knowing anything about it, I told the Bush Baby to coordinate with her over the time and place as I was already exhausted from my “full� day in court.

To my surprise, the She-Fiend and Little Vito along with Da Cheeze and the Admiral make it a birthday dinner at Horato (a little Japanese restaurant at 3rd Avenue in San Mateo. The food was good, the company better, and the night couldn’t have been any more pleasant and warm.

Saturday…

We checked out the remodeling at our house. Things are looking good as I am starting to see progress.

After speaking to our contractor, we proceeded to buy our shower floor (little pebbles) and recessed lighting. Cha-ching! That’s the sound of more money leaving my wallet.

While looking at those little pebbles, I get a call from the Little Man about going out to dinner for my birthday.

Everyone proceeded to meet up at 7 p.m. at Boulevard Café in Daly City. Tylon’s Brother insisted we draw our bowling teams for the fall. And much to his disappointment, the Puba will not be bowling with him this year. And with that, his chance to redeem himself after the playoff/championship collapse will have to wait… at least for another year.

So this fall, it will be…

Team 1: She-Fiend, Used & Abused, Grand Puba, sub: Super
Team 2: Bush Baby, Tylon’s Brother, Da Cheeze, sub: DeWayne

My predictions are:

Team 1: Unless the She-Fiend bowls extremely well (165 avg) and the Super subs admirably while she is away on her honeymoon, the team will rely on the Puba to chalk up 200+ games for victory. Used & Abused, sadly to say, looks to disappoint with his “mediocre, I hit my average� game.

Team 2: The Bush Baby will carry this team as long as she gets the rest she needs. Tylon’s Brother will be so wrapped up to try and prove the Puba is not needed that he will falter and succumb, again proving that it is the Puba that the reason for his team’s success. Da Cheeze, unless he gets a new, and more aggressively drilled ball, will hover in the 160’s.

After dinner, we headed over to the Little Man’s house for some Super Mario Cart, Rock Band, and American Idol. I even had a chance to sing September and Midnight Train to Georgia with the Bush Baby!

As always, good times!

Sunday…

Spent my last day as a 30 year old plucking weeds at our new house. Afterwards, I went home and played some Metal Gear Solid (my gift from the Little Man).

Later in the evening, Ali’s family, my godfather and his cousin (who accompanied us to Asia), and my family all came out to La Petite Camille for dinner. The food was good and everyone had a good time. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but feel happy that the last three dinners are with my favorite people in this world.

And as for turning 31…, I take time each year around my birthday to reflect a little about where I am in life and evaluate my happiness. And this year, like most, I feel real content with everything that is going on around me. I enjoy my job, have good people in my life, and just took a big step with my wife to purchase our first home. I’m definitely satisfied and at eased with where my life is at this moment.

Tuesday night…

Unlike previous entries, I’m not going to go into too much detail with my usual humor about this Tuesday’s CBC showing… especially, when I did not perform up to par. No excuses except for the fact that the lanes were drenched in oil.

111, 183, 132 after a 225, 233, 187 week one. Now you tell me, is it the Puba or is it the lanes?

The complaint I’ve always shared with Check (our league supervisor) is that the people running the alley never know how to oil the lanes. Instead of running the oil machine down ¼ or even ½ the lane, they allow the damn machine to run straight down the lane until it knocks down all the pins.

This creates an excessive oil pattern that, needless to say, will not allow any bowling ball, no matter how aggressive it is drilled, to catch and hook back.

Puba: Damn it Check! How come they always do this sh*t (oil the lanes like this) right before we
bowl?
Check: Yeah, I know. You’re not the only one… the scores down there (points to the high rollers that are 10-15 lanes away from me) are not that good also.
Puba: … (Why bother? What can the poor, beaten man do for the Puba?)

We get worked for 4 games.

Super, who is switching off with DeWayne, was no spectacular as well. But that is to be expected as he only bowls once a blue moon.

Used & Abused is actually the one I am concerned with most. Unlike Tylon’s Brother and even the She-Fiend, the man lacks emotion, more specifically, frustration and desire. I think these are important in everything a person does because why do it if you never strive to improve or get better?

So, as much as I don’t care to admit and as much as I’m sure Tylon’s Brother would love to hear me say, Used & Abused does not have the intensity of Tylon’s Brother.

In addition, I’m also noticing that Used & Abused seems to choke very often. I don’t mind it happening once in a while, but when it becomes a repetitive issue, then it becomes a big problem… much like StinkRay with runners in scoring position (guaranteed pop up or double play).

All this, and his inability to take over a game, again proves that despite his 183 average, Used & Abused is leagues away from the awesomeness of the Puba.

Give Me Your Lunch Money (Money I took from others this…)

Super: +$3
Used & Abused: -$2
Total: +$1

Wednesday

After my stint with jury duty, (which I will have to return on Friday to see if I get dismissed) I went to check on the remodel work at my house. I am happy to report that things are finally moving along.

The weather was pretty nice in the afternoon/early evening, so the Bush Baby and I went for a walk from our condo to Broadway Ave back to Burlingame Ave (for a Mediterranean dinner and Baskin Robbins), then around our neighborhood, and finally, back home. I was pretty beat as the walk probably totaled 3-4 miles.

I remembered the Swing Kids were playing their playoff game this nice evening and called the Chairman and asked what time the game starts. I was happy when he told me 8:30 p.m. as I wanted to watch a softball game in the warm evening.

So, I went home, took a shower, and got dressed in my Wednesday, warm evening attire (A’s jersey, wifebeater, jeans, my 360s, and an A’s cap) and proceeded to Jackson Playground in Potrero Hill.

When I arrived (8:25 p.m.), the Chairman was scurrying around with his cell phone. He was worried, and counting the number of Swing Kids on the field, I could tell it was because he was short. He looks up at me and his eyes widen as he quickly exclaims, “You got your gear?�

Puba: Uh, yeah…?
Chairman: Go get it. F’en Ray is running late.
Puba: (proceeds to get his gear out of his car and returns. Swings Kids all turn and look stunned). Where do you want me?
Chairman: 1st base.
Puba: (slips on his cleats as fast as he can… forgets to even put on his batting gloves and take off his glasses and his wedding ring) Can you hold onto my wedding ring John? I forgot to take it off (to John, the 1st base umpire).
John: Sure! (as he examines the heavy piece of jewelry that is my wedding ring.)
Puba: Thanks! (takes deep breath as even the Puba did not expect to be playing in his jeans and eyeglasses.)

1st Inning

Ray runs in after the third pitch. Knowing that their plans did not include me, I told Flynn that he can take me out right away and just give Ray my at-bat.

Flynn: No, don’t worry about it. We’re playing 11.
Puba: What?!
Chairman: You’re batting 7th.

Them: 3
Us: 0

2nd Inning

The other team proceeds to put up an even more wicked number (8) as the right side of our defense is exposed.

I finally come up for my 1st at-bat. With runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs, I proceeded to take a deep breath again to calm myself down as the game was quickly slipping away from us. Also, I reminded myself to at least take one strike each at-bat.

After the first strike (very high) was called, I quickly disposed of the idea and decided that I need to do two things: 1. get us on the board quickly 2. don’t burn any outs as Ray was already sulking that I had taken his spot in the batting order.

On a 2-1 count, I proceeded to take a step back and analyze the field. Our opponents were not playing extremely deep as most of the Swing Kids do not hit for power, and especially against a guy who was in his street clothes, there was no real reason to.

POW… Shot to center field, splitting both defenders. A 3-run homer! We’re on the board!

Them: 11
Us: 3

3rd Inning

We can’t stop the other team as they score 4 more runs on us.

I come up for my second at-bat, again with 2 outs, but this time with runners on 2nd and 3rd. This time, the pitcher signals his defense to take a couple of steps back.

1st pitch arrives and it lands perfectly for a called strike. I snarl as I might not see something as nice again tonight.

2nd pitch is a ball inside.

3rd pitch is veers to the outside, but the hell with it. It was good enough!

POCK! A seeing-eye single between the 1st and 2nd baseman scoring both runners.

After 2 at-bats, the Puba’s line: 2-2, HR, 5 RBIs (accounting for all our runs), R

Them: 15
Us: 5

4th Inning

Our defense holds them slightly… 3 runs given away.

Our bats finally light up as we score 8 runs on them.

My 3rd at-bat was an extremely hard line-drive right at the 1st baseman curving towards the line (strange with the ball had some English!). The 1st baseman makes a half-hearted attempt to get it, but fails miserably. Another run driven home.

After 3 at-bats, the Puba’s line: 3-3, HR, 6 RBIs, R

Them: 18
Us: 13

5th Inning

Our defense continues to flounder (2B actually)…

Our bats are held in check as the top of the lineup only scores 1 run. The Chairman hits a weak grounder stranding men on 1st and 3rd and me standing on deck.

Them: 21
Us: 14

6th Inning

Our defense continues to flounder (2B actually)… sound familiar? Those inquiring, it was Weyland playing 2B doing his best Bill Buckner and Chuck Knoblauch impersonation. Either the guy lets it go through his legs or off his glove, or he actually fields one and proceeds to throw the ball 5 feet over the 1st baseman (Ray).

I lead off the inning with another line-drive down the line. Could of gone for second, but why bother? I was in my new A’s jersey that my mother-in-law got me for my last birthday and in my favorite jeans. That and the fact that we were down by 11.

We manage to score a few more, but come up short.

Final - Them: 25 Us: 18

Puba final line: 4-4, HR, 6 RBIs, 2R

Needless to say, I was happy I provided the team with almost half their runs. Others, on the other hand, sulked… knowing that the person who didn’t even come to play, played better than those that did come to play.

And with that, the Swing Kid’s great season came to an end.

Friday night...

Met up with the Cheeze's and had dinner at our usual Japanese restaurant in San Mateo. I enjoy the food there but always gripe that the portions are a tad small. To make the evening more interesting, we are joined by two Chinese boys who love to talk. A shame really, when their conversations lacked wit and seemed forced. But hell, at least those boys were trying to be engaging socially.

After dinner, the Cheezes and us went to grab Chinese dessert.

As always, a good time with the Cheezes and a nice way to wind down the work week.

Saturday

Attended a funeral for a close friend of the family. The deceased was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Armed Forces, and as such, there was a military ceremony.

It was the first time I've ever seen a military ceremony/funeral in person, so I didn't know what to expect.

After a long flag-folding ceremony and a 3 gun (9 shot) salute, one of the officers handed the wife the folded flag and said a few words.

All in all, it was a touching and very dignified presentation.

After the funeral, we raced to McDonald's for lunch. I was starving and was not particularly thrilled to discover that $13 got me very little food in, or all places, McDonald's. The Big 'N Tasty was small and tasteless. Unwilling to shell out $4 for another sandwich, I opted for the $1 Double Cheeseburger that was just as gratifying as the Big 'N Tasty.

After McDonald's, we headed over to New Art to buy $4,300 worth of supply for our 2 bathroom remodels.

After spending over two hours at New Art and a sizable amount of change, we headed home and rested for an hour before heading back out to the city to have dinner and drinks with the Fish at the Fillmore.

- A couple of Oysters each (not gratifying as I can down half a dozen easy!)

- Grilled Rib Eye steak (damn thing was as thin as a Hershey's chocolate bar!)

- Blackened Red Snapper (the Bush Baby seemed to enjoy it.)

- An alcoholic beverage each (which I failed to finish... of course!)

$110 for the both of us and an additional $20 for more drinks at Harry's Bar. (sh*t, we're broke! )

Sunday (Father's Day)

I was urged by the Bush Baby to go to the gym.

My regiment:

- Jogged 1.25 miles (I could of gone for a little longer, but I was pressed for time)

- 4 sets/10 reps per set of bench presses (man, I felt so weak doing these)

- 3 sets/10 reps per set of military presses (man, just like the bench presses, these were not enjoyable)

- 3 sets/10 reps per set of bicep curls (these actually felt pretty good... arms were looking pretty rock hard after 'em)

- 2 sets/10 reps per set of hammer curls (my arms are on fire!)

- 3 sets/10 reps per set of butterflies - (the price to pay to not have saggy boobs)

After gymkata, we went to have breakfast with my dad. As always, it's nice to have an opportunity to chat it once with him. We joked about getting older and wondered how life would of been for him if he stayed in Vietnam instead of migrating to the States.

After breakfast, went home to shower and slap on my A's jersey to support my Oakland A's effort to sweep the San Francisco Giants. As expected, they succeeded rather easily. I spared Francis the pain of having to watch the entire game as we left during the 7-inning stretch.

Jammed home afterwards and did some last minute cleaning up before Ali's dad and her family came over for pizza and ice cream and a mediocre Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Slept at 11 p.m. and woke up today extremely tired and in pain.

Yesterday night consisted of a lame Laker victory and a "grand" Puba showing...

The summer season of the CBC began with, as always, a long dissertation from our league secretary, Check. Knowing that is always the case, the Bush Baby and the Puba decided to show up around 8:45 p.m.

This season, as always, the She-Fiend and Tylon's Brother go into hiatus due to "fatigue" (mental, physical, emotional, typical, allegorical, etc.). As such, the much anticipated, self-destructive pairing of the Puba and Used & Abused was to occur. Our planned third bowler was to be Da Cheeze, but due to fatherly aka "sh*t" duty, Da Cheeze had to yield an opportunity to bowl with greatness (Puba, not Used & Abused). Instead, Wayne aka "DeWayne" was to formulate the latter part of the "awesome" trio (awesome, due to the Puba, not Used & Abused nor DeWayne).

DeWayne and the Puba sit around and, like we always do, make fun of others for cheap laughs. Used & Abused comes back with our team number: 18.

We make the short journey to our lanes and discover Jason of the 300 Club is our opponent for the night. His teammates were David "Chunky" and some young, overgrown, Chinese cat whose name I did not bother to remember. But thanks to his ECKO outfit, I will call him, for the purpose of this blog, ICE (Identity Crisis ECKO).

1st Game - Question Marks?

So what was to be expected after the one month hiatus... after the major disappointment of letting the championship slip through our hand...? Who is the Puba kidding? What was to be expected after the pummeling the Puba and his former teammates received in the championship match?

Only a Pubaesque 225! That's all.

Even Evanescence Rocks (Arthur) showed up with his daughter and wife to root on his 300 Club teammates. However, after seeing the Puba dispose of the competition, Evanescence Rocks makes it a point to walk down the stairs and shakes the Puba's hand for an impressive job. After that, he leaves as he cannot stand to watch anymore.

DeWayne follows and is satisfied with a 151. Too bad he later learns that his average is actually 156. Used & Abused apparently was back to his old self, shooting a lame 161, 22 pins below his average. Still, the Puba secures the victory by 30 pins.

2nd Game - Puba, What's Next?!

So how does the Puba follow up after a 225 1st game? How about 6 consecutive strikes? It might of been more, but DeWayne pulled a maneuver that would eventually ruin the rest of his night and momentarily stun the Puba.

As DeWayne heads up to bowl, he lunges like he usually does and swings his arm violently forward. Only this time, the ball does not come out! DeWayne's arm swings viciously towards the lane, the entire time with the ball attached to it. It looked weird, scary, and extremely painful. When DeWayne came back, he grimaced as he pointed to his arm.

Used & Abused sensing DeWayne's impending demise kicks into a higher gear and finishes with a 197. DeWayne struggles and manages only a 141.

The Puba, also sensing DeWayne's near future to be bleak, obliterates everyone with a 233.

We manage to win by 15 pins.

3rd game - Boredom and Sleepy

By the time the 3rd game began, it was 10:45 p.m. The Puba admits, he was sleepy and bored. After connecting on a 9-spare in the first frame, the focus lapsed and the Puba opened on consecutive frames, the first time for the night. Unfortunately, he also noticed that his teammates were not going to carry him not to mention that the Puba was only on pace for a 120 game.

So, on the 5th frame, the Puba begins to unload strike after strike after strike after strike. DeWayne is out of gas and rolls a lame 114. Used & Abused shows again that he cannot carry this team on his own when given the opportunity as he saunters along for a 169. The Puba closes with a 187 and we lose by 103 pins.

While the final tallies have yet to be calculated, the Puba has a strong suspicion that his team finished 2-2.

Additional tidbits:

Give me your lunch money! (Money I took from Used & Abused): $4

On a side note, the Bush Baby's brother asked to bowl with the Puba this season. He claims that the Puba brings out the best in him and that he bowled a 737 against the Puba and has yet to get close to that feat since. Well, the Puba graciously declined to bowl with the Bush Baby's brother as the Puba knows that the Bush Baby's brother will not be able to handle the Puba's fury. After all, the Bush Baby's brother has a 1 year old child, and the Puba does not want to destroy his father and leave him fatherless.

Worthless crap to note:

Things I can't stand: 1. That Leona Lewis song. It sucks just like that Liz Phair song. Overplayed on the radio (I haven't a clue why...). 2. Mary, the judge in So You Think You Can Dance. She annoys me with that laugh and her lame attempts of humor.

The mind keeps pushing... but the body doesn't respond...

Classic case of the dueling forces that are always in conflict, but strangely, need to work hand-in-hand to generate results.

Sunday was the day to finally make this cohesion a reality. For over a month, I've been working out sporadically (1-2 days a week). Needless to say, I'd feel good for a little while, but almost as quickly, I'd run on empty.

Sunday was different. After staying up late two straight nights and sleeping till 9 a.m., I was ready to do something to help me not feel like crap every day.

So, I slapped on the Dri-Fit and shorts and slipped into the 360s and started on a jog around to Burlingame Ave and back (1.5 miles).

Halfway into the jog, I was laboring. The shock from pounding my heavy drumsticks on the hard sidewalk bothered me more than my unfit lungs. By the time I made it home (20 minutes), I was sweaty and fatigued.

Pathetic...

I proceeded to sit in the middle of the living room and stretched out. The entire time, I questioned how I allowed myself to get to this point.

After years of working out, I always know it is tough to stop and start again. The pain and fatigue (both mentally and physically) are taxing, but the desire needs to be there to break through that initial threshold.

With that said, I'll be at the gym tonight or jogging the same route for Day 2.