Month: October 2006

  • Event Recap:

    Nintendo Fusion Tour, The Grove of Anaheim
    October 24th, 2006

    Background:

    The Nintendo Fusion Tour blends the best of hot new music and the coolest new video games. This year Nintendo had something special in store for attendees and had playable Nintendo Wii systems hooked up and ready to play.

    Hawthorne Heights is headlining the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour, with support from Relient K, Emery, Plain White T’s and The Sleeping.


    The Grove of Anaheim, 22nd Stop on the Nintendo Fusion Tour

    The Nintendo Wii:



    As many of you may or may not know Nintendo is set to release their newest video game console on November 19th, 2006 called the Nintendo Wii.  Well everyone has been dying to get their hands on one to try out one of it’s newest most revolutionary features, the Nintendo Wiimote (See Below).  The greatest thing about this new controller is that it’s completely motion sensitive.


    The Wiimote <3

    So as you walk in the venue you are greeted by the site of about 15 LCD screens hooked up to Nintendo Wiis and smiles all over the place.  Some of the games that were playable were Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, Tony Hawk, & Wario Ware.

    Any time during the concert you were allowed to line up and play as long as you wanted.  The lines were a little long so I ended up deciding to try just two games: Wii Tennis and Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.

    The first game I had a chance to play was Wario Ware: Smooth Moves and having had a chance to play many video games over the years I have to say this shit was a blast to play.  You find your self gyrating your hips to emulate hula hopping, waiving your hands in the air to hit flys on the screen, & using the controller as a steering wheel to try to drive down a curvy road.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have to say with the right friends over and some drinks this game will be a blast to play at home.



    After I had to stretch my legs out a little bit it was time to head over to another line to try out some multi-player action with my friend Michelle.  We had a chance to play Wii-Tennis and quell my ultra-competitive spirit.  Lets just say there is a reason there is only video of the first game in the match and not the other two games.  (It’s not my fault, she played Varsity in High School)


    At least I won the first match. 

    The Concert:



    I have to say the line up was pretty good even though I didn’t know several of the bands.  The band I was really there to see was the Plain White T’s.  My friend Michelle introduced me to them several months ago and they are honestly one of my favorite bands now.  They are a little punk-pop and after seeing them in person I have that much more respect for them.

    It’s kinda funny but the band really doesn’t just sell Plain White T’s (Har, Har, Har)


    Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, & Mike Retondo


    Plain White T’s playing Hey There Delilah.


    Plain White T’s playing Hate from their new CD

    Rating the other bands:
    Sleeping – 3 out of 5
    Relient K – 4 out of 5 (Time to limeware that shit!)
    Emery – Missed them because I was playing the Wii, but I heard they were good
    Hawthorne Heights – 4 out of 5


    Hawthorne Heights


    Recap:

    I have to say this was one of the more interesting concerts I’ve been into my life.  I’ll probably end up trying to come out to Nintendo Fusion Tour 2007 because of the good mix of music, alcohol, & games.



    For those of you who take the time really check out the Plain White T’s.  Seeing how much the enjoyed themselves up on stage makes me respect their music even more.

    Now on to the Wii, I’m not sure how it will fair exactly against the PS3 or Xbox 360 but my initial impression is that it’ll be a crap load of fun and I could probably even get my sisters and dad to play along too.  With the right marketing it could definitely do well in the next generation of gaming.


    All bow down to your new master.


    Something Extra:

    I was hoping to come away from the night with something more than just pictures and good memories and I got it.  Below is a picture of the drum head I got signed by the members of the Plain White T’s. 


  • Event Recap:

    Lakers vs Clippers, Staples Center
    October 19th, 2006

    Background:

    Just to key you guys a little bit on what’s been going on in my life…..for the past several years I’ve worked in the mortgage business as a loan processor, underwriter, funder, & manager. (Basically, all jobs that require the expert skill of pushing paper around ) 

    Well earlier earlier this summer I decided I wanted to take a chance and make a jump to another are of the mortgage business and I became a “Senior Mortgage Banker”.  It’s a sales position and is very different from what I’ve been doing for the past several years.  It was a hard transition at first but I feel like I’ve been getting the hang of it.

    This month my company decided to run a little sales contest with a prize a lot of people were excited about for once.  Well the contest just ended today and guess who won


    There she is the beauty.


    The Game:

    This is my fourth Lakers game and my first preseason game.  Which means Kobe Bryant wouldn’t be suiting up tonight but at least you get to see all the bench warmers play a little.  Let me start of by saying these seats were awesome.  By far the best seats I’ve ever had for a NBA game. 


    I could smell the sweat on their balls

    Something about being at a live sporting event is just electrifying. When you are there you honestly feed of the emotions of the other people in the crowd.  Every point your team makes just makess you want to jump out of your seat.  And on the flipside of that, every foul makes you cringe.  Anyways, it was a great time and being able to watch the “battle for LA” was definitely a Thursday night well spent.


    My friend Jameson & I

    The Lakers ended up losing the game 90 to 91…

    but I have to say I had a great time and the beer that was flowing all night definitely may have contributed to that.  At least they lost to the Clippers.  Heheheh they’re like the little brother you still root for but don’t like as much

    The Real Show:

    At every Lakers game people go to there is always a little show within in the show.  At every long time out the Laker Girls come out to shake their stuff and just to reward you guys for reading to the end of this post I’ve included a little clip of the Laker Girls shaking their stuff.  You can thank me later


    I think I found out what I want for my birthday.  And yes, I want all the Laker Girls!

  • About Me:

    I have a confession to make.  I’ve been keeping a secret for the past year and it’s about time I shed light on it.  It’s been eating me up inside that I haven’t shared this secret with more people and I just hope my friends can forgive me for not telling them sooner…….


    1 year ago….



    11 Months ago….



    10 Months ago…



    9 months ago…







    5 months ago



    This last weekend…





    [Edit:]  I just got home from work after a long day of getting calls from several friends asking why I didn’t tell them I had a baby.  I just wanted to say I didn’t realize this blog would come off like I had a baby and after reading it now,  I realize my mistake.

    Just so we are clear let me say again.  I AM NOT A FATHER!  Even though I couldn’t think of anyone more I’d like to be my son the pictures above are actually of my very first nephew Winston.  He just turned 1 over the weekend and I had a chance to visit my family out in Phoenix to celebrate the occasion.

    Sorry again for the confusion and over the next few weeks I’ll be updating more on how his first birthday party went and what the hell I’ve been doing over the past year or so since I last blogged.

    ~Lan

  • Question of The Day:

    Have you ever cared about someone so much that you were willing to sacrifice your own feelings to make them happy?


    I have…