Jessica who?

Last week as I was driving Nadire to school, she suddenly asked me if I know Jessica. I was a bit startled (I was half awake as it was early in the morning). "Jessica who?", I asked.

"Jessica Sanchez, the Filipino finalist from American Idol, she said". I turned to her and asked sleepily, "did you ever see me watched American Idol?". "No!", she answered back. "Then I don't know her", I answered.

"well am just asking because she's from here (Chula Vista) and she's the cousin of my classmate", she said smiling. I looked at her in disbelief.

That night I decided to look her up as I was curious. There was a couple of videos of her but I picked the video with her singing "I will always love you" (check out the ending!). This girl really hit every notes.

Well what do you know, a star in our own "back yard". Too bad she listed her hometown as San Diego CA. Jessica should be proud of her hometown. After all it's a great place to live...

236: Women know what men want

Got a chance to watch the Padre's game tonight but instead gave away all my tickets. I'm not a baseball fan but it would have been nice to go out on a friday night, a fitting end of a crazy week.

But it was just one of those days when you just want to go home and lay on the couch. After all, I got to catch up on my DVR viewing. I have not finished watching the Tour De France (even though it was over a week ago and am still in the Pyrenees), 10 episodes of Sienfeld, Curly, Larry and Moe, King of Queens, Big Bang and yes Gilmore Girls.

Of course, I caught a glimpse of my mom on Facebook and a blow by blow stories from my sister on her trip back home.  No thanks to the government (for shifting to the so called e-passport which ironically takes ages to process), I would have been suffering (happily) with the humid weather back home.

Instead I'm laughing silently with Jerry saying"Women know what men want and men know what men want...We want want women. How do we get them? We don't have any idea. Men gets frustrated when they see women reading articles like Where to Meet Men. We are here...we are everywhere".

222: Blanche Devereaux

Rue Mclanahan (who died today) once said "People always ask me if I'm like Blanche. Well, Blanche was an oversexed, self-involved, man-crazy, vain Southern belle from Atlanta -- and I'm not from Atlanta."  She was one of the stars of The Golden Girls. Only Rose  Nylund(Betty White) remains alive.

The show has always been a family favorite in the 80's.

#209: Brilliant Healers

As I walked into my new office for the first time, I started to use the computer. I noticed my mouse pad and really made my day as I begin to laugh. Who would forget the funny trio of Curly, Larry and Moe. Laughter is really the best medicine.

#204: Tinseltown

We're at Tinseltown and no we're not here for American Idol. We're here for Josh's audition for Berklee College of Music in Boston.

But before the big day, we first had quick drive around Little Tokyo for a nice late lunch. Then walked along Hollywood Walk of Fame and saw this guy got lucky with Marilyn Monroe.

Hollywood! Depending on what your purpose visiting this city, it could be heaven or it could be hell.

#194: Late night show gaffe gone viral

I'm a night person and I watch late night talk shows. I would surf between Leno, Conan, Letterman shows and the likes.

Recently, Leno's new show is not doing well.  There's report that NBC is bumping out Conan in favor of Leno to reclaim the 11:30pm time.  Other talk show hosts obviously is siding with Conan who seems to be the victim of NBC's incompetence.

This gaffe is now gone viral. People around the world have something to say about this including, of all people, Hitler.

#169: Office party

I missed posting yesterday. This is the second time I did it. And for the second time, I had a good excuse.

Me and my kids attended our office Christmas Party at the Casa Guadalajara, a very festive Mexican watering hole off San Diego's famous landmark Old Town. This year, the company went all out with great food, overflowing beer and margarita and to top it all, an all night strolling Mariachi (Mexican Musicians) serenading every table.

All in all it was a great night, a fitting year-end for another great year for the company. Although I had too much to drink, I know we're safe going home as Deirdre was my designated driver as Josh brought his car.

By the time we were home, I had a terrible headache and in no mood of writing anything.So there's my alibi.

#161: Three great shows

I can't remember the last time a watched a play. Tonight I had a great time watching Josh on stage acting multiple roles (Sgt. Duffy, Bill. Mad Dog Mulligan) in 2 plays. Entitled "Sorry wrong number" and "Nightmare High School".

I definitely like his role as Mad Dog, the psycho Cereal (serial) Killer. He actually killed a Chex Cereal.

The play was well received by almost 100 cheering crowd. One funny quote "We will be the first to discover why students go the restroom before taking the test".


Monk the finale
I arrived early for the play. I was determined and excited to finally watched Josh in his first play. He has been staying after school for two weeks rehearsing.

I finally settled in my sit when it suddenly hit me. It's Friday and it's the last episode of Monk. I totally forgot to set my DVR to record the show. There's no one home and my IPhone apps to access my DVR has been going crazy lately. But I tried it anyway and was surprised that I was able to access my programming and set to record the show. And I was calm.

Anyway, the show finally revealed who killed Trudy. It's a judge who Trudy had a secret affair (and got knocked-up) long before she met Monk. The judge  killed Trudy (and the midwife who delivered their baby) to cover up the affair because he was up for nomination for a higher position. The baby (girl) was hidden from Trudy (she was made to believe her baby died) and was taken away for adoption.

In the end, Monk finally figure it out the puzzle with the help of a taped message of Trudy before she died. The judged was put to jail, Monk finally met Trudy's daughter, Randy Disher moved to New Jersey and married Sharona (Monks former assistant), Capt. Stotellemeyer remained with the force.

Finally Monk remained a police consultant and continue his brilliant crime solving ability with his loyal assitant Natalie Teeger at his side.


And just like that. My friday night TV event ended after almost 8 years.

#148: Glass Slippers

Today I made a mistake watching Glass Slippers, a Korean Soap Opera (with English subtitle) with my daughter Deirdre. This 21 episode drama was lent to her by her Korean Taekwando Grandmaster.

We have watched 4 episodes so far and now am hooked. I guess I still have the sentimental side of me.

#135: It's not you it's me

Here's a tip for you out there. When you're about to get dumped and she/he started to say the "It's not you it's me" routine. Here's a good come back.

This was taken from my favorite sitcom Seinfeld . In this scene, Goerge Constanza was about to get dumped.





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#126: Believe it or not

Heard on the radio this morning the song Believe it or not from the TV series Greatest American Hero back in the 80's

This show chronicles this average man who got a red suite from a group of aliens which gives him supernatural power. Things get complicated when he inadvertently lost the instruction manual in using the suit.

This show is definitely a timeless favorite. Here's reminding you what the show's all about



And what about George Constanza paying tribute to this show by using the theme song as his answering machine greeting!



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#113: Paranormal Activity, The big hype

My kids and I just came home from the movies. Yes we decided to watch the movie Paranormal Activity after I wrote about it yesterday.

I wasn't surprised that the movie house was packed as I figured most of those who came are as anxious as I am and see what's the big hype about this movie.

The movie seems to drag on for the first half hour with no action at all. But slowly pick up the tempo a little bit half way through. There were some moments when some at the audience jumped out of their sits. But there were more reactions towards some funny lines by the actor.

We left the movie still puzzled how this film became a sensation. Maybe it's because people are curious how an $11,000.00 movie made it to the big screen. Maybe because the film maker made it appear to be a reality show.

It's still a good movie to watch considering that the total production was done in just seven days. But for me it's definitely not the ultimate scary movie. Maybe if I believe in paranormal being, I would change my perspective.

That's all there is to it - a big hype

#112: Paranormal Activity

I first heard on the radio a discussion about the movie "Paranormal Activity". Apparently this movie has taken the movie world by storm. Numerous reviews were unanimous that this is the ultimate scary movie. Some compared this movie to the Blair Witch Project.

Paranormal Activity has a simple storyline:

After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban “starter” tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.

What make this amazing is the production only cost $11,000.00 (compared for instance to the recently released couples retreat with the cost of $60 million) and was screened at limited locations. Reactions caught like wild fire. Demand for extended screening reached 1 million fans nationwide. The movie is now showing to a theater near you.

I hope I will have a chance to see this movie and see what the big fuss.

#110: First ever blogger?

It suddenly crossed my mind today while thinking what to blog the question about who was the first ever blogger?  After much searching for the answer I ran across some blogs that it was Doogie Howser.


Doogie Howser, MD was family favorite in the 80's.

it was a television comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a brilliant doctor (at the age of 14) who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager.

The best part of every episode is when at the end of each day, he would turn to his Personal Computer and would write a short journal which basically called blogging or twitting nowadays. The only difference is he wasn't doing it online.

Surprisingly, I found this blog that seems to show all Doogies' journal from 1989-1993, the actual dates when this show was on this air.

For those Doogie Howser Fans who wants to relive the show, you can watch every episodes here.


Neil Patrick Harris has recently made a comeback with the mild success of another comedy-sitcom How I met your mother.

#105: A friday night out

What does a single father do on a Friday night? A romantic dinner date? Bar hopping? A good movie perhaps? try again. Well what about a night out with a bunch of 12 year olds.

Tonight I was the designated driver for my daughter Nadire and her friends (kathy, Jenny and Darlene) to visit the haunted trail in Balboa Park. I've never been to this place but I heard it can scare the hell out of you.

We had problem finding the place even with my garmin GPS and the iPhone in hand. But after driving around the park we finally found it. The place is packed, mostly teenagers. Parking was a challenge as well.

I decided not to go in and told them that I'll just wait in the car. Few minutes later, two of Nadire's friends (kathy and Jenny) came back and told me they couldn't take it. It was too scary for them they said. Nadire and Darlene (with much hesitations) went ahead.

Together with her two friends, we probably waited for about 45 minutes. I tried to entertain them both so they won't get bored. Believe me you don't want to get stucked with bored kids on a friday night. Finally, Nadire and her friend finally came out panting and still pumped up with the experienced. She said the place was awesome, really scary at times but all in all it was fun.

later, I decided to treat them for a night cap at iHop. Well it was more of a dinner and even pretended it was Kathy's Birthday to get a a complimentary ice cream.

As I was paying the bill, the waiter smiled and asked if everything was ok. I said it was all good. "Are those  your daughters?", he suddenly asked. Probably wondering about these lovely kids together acting like their sisters. "Yes they are, they are sisters from different mothers", I said as I turned towards the door trying to hold myself from laughing.

He shouted back "you're my hero!".

#102: 3rd Rock from the sun's technology

This is a funny sitcom in the 90's. My kids gave me the first season DVD sometime ago. 3rd rock from the sun is show about a group of extraterrestrials on an expedition of what they consider to be the least important planet, Earth (the 3rd Rock from the Sun), while posing as a human family of four, to observe human beings.

One of the  character Dick Solomon ( John Lithgow), the high commander, tries to use earth's technology which he considered primitive in this hilarious scene.



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#86: Breaking Bad

I didn't catch the Emmy Awards tonight. Not that I've been waiting for it. Besides Sundays is usually busy for me. Going to the grocery, doing chores and of course doing laundry is always the highlights of my day.

I finally had a chance to look online who the winners are. I'm glad that my new favorite show Breaking Bad got the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award for Bryan Cranston . Cranston use to play Hal, the wacky father of the funny TV series Malcolm in the Middle.

Breaking Bad is about a high school chemistry teacher, upon discovering he has two years left to live due to Stage III cancer, begins running a crystal meth lab on the side in order to ensure his family's financial survival and provide care for his cerebral palsy-afflicted son

The worse thing about TV shows is when you start to love it, for some reasons or another, suddenly got pulled out off the air. Breaking Bad has already two successful seasons and with this award, it looks like it's going to stay on the air.

#53: Words Women and Men Use

I normally don't read forwarded email but today this one caught my attention (due to some circumstances). I'm posting this "9 words women use". Some of you may already have read it but I can't resist sharing to those who have not.

Well instead of posting the email. I found a video version of this:


Now to be politically correct, I have to post "phrases men use"


Here's a bonus video on How men talk to their wives.


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#49: Who killed Trudy?

I've been watching the TV series monk since it's debut in 2002.

For those who didn't know about this show, Monk is a brilliant detective who developed OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) after his wife Trudy was killed by a car bomb. You can read more about this show here.

The final season started this month and each episode will slowly lead to the revelation on who killed Trudy. A fitting finale for Monk to finally solve the most difficult case of his career.

I myself has no idea who the killer is. Is it the captain? Dale the whale? Sharona? Natalie? Randy? or was is Monk himself (thus the nervous breakdown)? All I can do is speculate, as what most of the fans in this forum are discussing.

It''s gonna be a long wait (the last episode will be on Dec. 4) and I would be watching every bit of the action. Watching Monk is a good reason to stay home on friday nights.

#46: Almost Famous

One of my favorite movie is Almost Famous, This film is based on famous director Camerron Crowe's experiences touring with rock bands The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. kate Hudson is so lovely in this movie.

I love this movie so much that I bought my own copy. Here's a perfect scene that transformed the movie into a classic. This is a song by Elton John "Tiny Dancer".



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