I am one of two girls in my basketball class this semester. Yup, lost in a sea of hot basketball-dribbling men. I think I've had really good dreams that have started this way. Unfortunately, my class ain't paradise.

From the second I set foot into that gym today, all the guys turned to me and started sizing me up. Naturally, I did the same. No big deal. I've been running with the "big boys" all my life. I always get scoffs at first. That's until they get swiped by me, then they stop doubting. Our teacher, whom also happens to be a woman, wasn't there yet. So everybody was just shooting around... with two freakin' balls! Out of a class of 30, and only two balls?!?! (We must be facing really tough budget cuts.) Anyway, some guys decide to stand around. I was done sizing up people and decided to shoot around and show my skills. Mind you, to actually get to shoot, I had to first rebound the ball. I am, without a doubt, the shortest person in class. Yes, the tallest guy is SO tall that even if I jumped, I still can't tap the top of his head.

I eventually win over a rebound and proceed to shoot. I decide to take my ever-popular shot by the right wing about a foot before the 3-point arc. That's usually my sweet spot. *swoosh* First shot: nothing but net! Some guy tosses me my change and I take another shot, with much more confidence this time....

F.ck. Second shot: air ball! The guys laugh as I creep back into the middle for another rebound. I guess, sometimes, a girl just can't get a break. So much for my GREAT skills.

Please excuse this entry. It's a thought that I've had for a very long time, but always had problems articulating. But with the recent proceedings in the Olympics, I figure it's as good as any of an example to use.

The human race is very interesting. We seem to act more united when a common enemy poses a threat. However, when that enemy disappears, we seem to ache for something or somebody to fight against, so we turn on each other. Let's take basketball, for example. The NBA is hands-down the best basketball organization in the world. Within the NBA, there are exactly 30 teams. These 30 teams aren't supposed to normally get along. Anybody that knows me KNOWS that I'm a die-hard Laker fan. But this morning, at 5:30 to be exact, I found myself cheering, quite loudly if I might add, for players like Tim Duncan and Carlos Boozer. Mind you, these are players I usually despise during the season. However, when playing against Spain, I'll gladly root for Team USA, even with players I hate.

Now, take this concept to a more worldly illustration. I remember watching Will Smith's Independence Day and thinking, "Oh, so this is how you reach world peace." Though the movie isn't all that realistic, what IS real is how people would react should Earth ever be attacked by aliens. Despite whatever war or dispute nations may be having against each other, when met with a bigger threat, I'm positive that people would put their differences aside.

As best put by my brother, when a greater evil threatens our society, people will come together. But all this leaves me wondering, isn't there any other way to achieve world peace???

There's a reason why I haven't blogged in so long. Lately, I've been noticing that my vocabulary has dwindled. I think I'm no better than my 15-year old brother. Language is something that needs to be practiced and worked at. It's been two years since I taught my last SAT course, and going on a 14-day English hiatus doesn't exactly work wonders for my rhetoric. I hate when words are at the tip of my tongue but I can't figure out which word I'm exactly trying to use. I think I might start acting like my sister and read the dictionary for fun.

I guess some things just weren't meant to be.  Was tonight solely my fault?  Solely his fault?  Perhaps nobody's fault.  Don't tell me I ain't got no game!  For your information, the drink I "bought" for you was paid for by another man.  Ha, joke's on you!

DEFINITELY A RANT...

I've been noticing a trend. It seems like lately, my older male friends have discovered the art of dating the young beauties of 1986. If you do the math correctly, these girls are the newly graduated high school class of 2004. My sister falls under this category, but I've been keeping her away from lecherous guys. You see, I have a lot of issues with newly graduated high schoolers dating a bunch of newly graduated college students! These girls haven't even stepped onto a college campus and they're ALREADY dating guys that have done the bar scene and assimilated to the "frat-life" way of doing things. I don't mean to categorize or make it seem like ALL guys are terrible, but what the f.ck are you doing with girls that still "riTe lYke DiS"??? Even maturity levels are different. Yes, we all know guys mature slower, so maybe high school girls ARE at your maturity level. But let's not be stupid, there's also a sexual maturity level, which let's face it, doesn't always develop as fast for young girls. It's not so much the age difference that bothers me. Hell, I've dated MUCH older guys. But come on, at least wait 'til these girls have moved into a co-ed dorm before you start hitting on them!

SNEAK PEEK INTO THE FUTURE...
 
Feeling too lazy to back my car out of the garage and drive it, I decided to take my dad's van out for a little joyride and pick up my little brother from his friend's house tonight.  Mind you, I have NEVER driven this van before, partly because it is the company van, which means I'm not insured under it.  I don't know what compelled me to take the van, or where I found the courage to do so, but I did.

I don't know why I was ever so scared to drive it.  Driving that big tank felt like the most natural thing to me.  For a fleeting 20 minutes tonight, I felt very much like a soccer mom, driving my brother and his friends around.  If this is any indication of what's in my future, I'm not complaining.  Rather, I welcome it. 

It's funny how much priorities change within a matter of a couple of years.  I recall a particular person telling me back in high school that I would make a horrible mother and wife.  As much as I tried to block out those hurtful words, it has actually helped to reshape my current priorities.  Even the way I measure success is different.  To me, success is measured by the number of lives you touch.  But, more importantly, it starts with affecting positive change within the people you love the most, and for me that means being the best wife and mother that I can be.

THELMA AND LOUISE...
 
...AKA Jamie and Gabby, or Gabby and Jamie, whichever way DJ Julio wants to announce our names over the microphone is fine with us.  "Reunited and it feels so good, reunited 'cause we understood..."  It's a shame we didn't sing this song, since we totally rocked the house at Sapphire.  My partner in crime and I have been separated for much too long.  Tonight was the long-awaited reunion.  I'd like to announce, we're back and better than ever before!    Totally fun night, with so much more to come...  Welcome back, Gabbo!

SPORTS, SPORTS AND MORE SPORTS

For as long as I can remember, the Dodgers have always been the underdogs.  But I love my boys in blue just as much as my purple and gold Lakers.  However, this just may be the year of the Dodgers.  Rumor has it that the Dodgers may be involved in the trade for "The Unit," which may dramatically improve their chances for the playoffs.  Either way, tonight was an exciting game.  Initially down with a 2-1 deficit, they tied it up in the 8th inning against the Padres.  Like always, the Dodgers turn on the magic in the 9th.  At the bottom of the inning, Adrian Beltre came up big and brought the game to an end, knocking one out of the park.  Very exciting!  Tomorrow, I will ACTUALLY be at the game.  Hope the boys come up big again.

Aside from the baseball game, I also managed to catch, not 1, not 2, but 3 basketball games today.  Yes, the infamous Whittier Tournament, better known for putting teams through intense playing schedules.  These boys in green won all three games.  *yay*  As for me, I'm completely "basketball-ed" out.  Driving back and forth is exhausting!  I was the only "parent" that stuck around for all three games!  But wait, it gets better... my brother is playing in 2 tournaments this weekend, which means a whopping 4 games tomorrow!  The upside to all this: I have an admirer!  The downside: He's WAY too young.  Totally R. Kelly-style.  It's just my luck; they're either too old or too young.  This one reminds me of a particular track star from back in high school.  Very cute!  Joe, call me when you turn 21.     

I think I've reached a new low this time.  I have these shows that I watch late at night.  I consider them to be my secret indulgences.  The types of shows that I deem so bad, that they're so good.  Yes, those trashy dating shows like Blind Date, Elimidate, and 5th Wheel.  Well, add another one to the pile.  The newest addition to the malarkey is MTV's Wanna Come In.  This is the show where smooth-talking guys play Cyrano de Bergerac to a less-than-handsome Christian, in order to win over Roxanne and hear those three golden words: "Wanna come in?" 

Imagine my surprise when I see guys that I have chilled with before ON THE SHOW!!!!  Yup, I see my guy acting a fool on the show.  I SURE do know how to pick winners.  I'm stewing in a pot of regurgitating slime.  I think it's time to get out.      

But the worse news yet: Vlade Divac is coming back to the Lakers.  Thinking about my sister's "Slam Dunk King" donning a purple and gold jersey makes me what to puke.  But if this will give Kobe and the Lakers more depth, I can be a team player too.  I just won't cheer very loudly for him!

The slippery slope argument never held up in any high school round of debate, but if ever it were to be used and actualized, it would be now. 
 
I never fully recovered from the first.  And since then, I've jumped from pit to pit.  I can't differentiate the good from the bad; I just treat them all the same.  I've become aloof and flakey.  And it's only because that's what has been done to me.

I just found out my grades from summer school.  If ONLY my summer school grades from the past 3 years were calculated for my GPA, I'd be staring at a PERFECT 4.0.  Unfortunately, such is not so.

"I'M A LAKER AT HEART."
 
Did you honestly think I wouldn't blog on one of THE most important day in Laker history?!  I was glued to FSN as of noon today, anxiously anticipating Kobe's momentous decision.  I all about screamed and leaped for joy when the news finally hit... Kobe has re-signed with the Lakers!!!  Good thing, cuz I don't know what I would've done if he had gone with the Clippers.  All is right in LA again.  And I'm not tripping about Shaq leaving... and here's why...    
   



Shaq is overweight and old.  He couldn't hack it against Big Ben and Rasheed this past season, and that was with Kobe.  I honestly don't see him being able to do it with a youngster like Dwayne Wade or an aging Eddie Jones (though I still love Eddie!).  Granted, Shaq is VERY dominant and it definitely is a big loss to the Lakers.  The Lakers' roster is currently very small, with an even smaller Brian Grant playing the center. 
 
On the other hand, Kobe is definitely WAY overpaid at $136.4 million over 7 years.  I believe that makes him currently THE highest-paid NBA player.  Is it really worth it?  Maybe.  Kobe's barely 25; he's got YEARS ahead of him.  And he's nowhere near the peak of his career yet.  I think building a team around him will give more flexibility for him to grow as a player.  He said in the press conference today that his goal will be to try to make his teammates better, and I truly believe him.  Kobe ain't stupid, he knows that there's a lot of pressure and responsibility now put on him to continue to build the Laker legacy.  He's gotta be an even more mature player if he wants to take the Lakers to another Final series. 
 
However, all that is long-term.  Short-term, Shaq and the Heat might see more success, purely because they are in the East.  They're biggest competitors will be the Pistons and maybe the Pacers.  The Lakers gotta go toe to toe with the improved Rockets, Spurs, and Timberwolves.  (Don't count out the Warriors, either.  They picked up *tear* Derek Fisher.)  However, give Kobe a couple of years to work out all the kinks.  He'll get it together.  I AM sad about seeing the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, leave.  But who knows, let's give Rudy Tomjanovich a chance.  He can't be any worse than Del Harris, right?   



Though Kobe is my first love, I gotta show some love to Allie Mac.  Thanks for going shopping with me today, with a fan tucked under your arm the whole time! 

EVERY ROAD LEADS BACK TO YOU

Even hundreds of miles away, every little thing still reminds me of you. I try to get away from you, but with every step I take forward, I take two steps back. How hard is it to find another guy that also loves the Lakers and Dodgers as much as you do? Apparently VERY!

I miss the way...

...you'd call in the middle of the day just to say "hey."
...we would stay on the phone for hours talking about nothing.
...we'd run into each other at parties.
...you used to think I never paid any attention to you.
...we shared stories about J&S and King Taco.
...you'd get all excited about seeing me.
...you would talk about your mother like a little mama's boy.
...you used to beg me to stay the night.
...you sat about lost and would look to me for answers.
...you would look at me and tell me I'm beautiful.
...you kissed me tenderly on the forehead.

I love that thinking about you brings a smile to my face... but I hate that no matter how wrong you are for me, you're always on my mind.

I'm dating the Russ to my Ross.

WEDDING OF THE CENTURY

I went to the first wedding of my life last night: Tim and Sally's. What an honor for theirs to be my first. The ceremony was beautiful. But instead of going on and on about how perfectly wonderful their wedding was and how perfectly wonderful their relationship is, I'm going to focus on (surprise surprise) the guests...

I don't know how many Schurrites still read this blog, but it's nice to know that some things never change. The wedding was very much like a Schurr reunion, about half a decade earlier than expected. Speech nerds reunite! Jane and Lisa are still inseparable. Felicia's still chasing after Peter (except now she has her own record deal and fashion line). Delwin and Allison are still together. And I still feel like the little sister that they let tag along. It's nice.

And just for the record, despite my fears of committing social suicide, going to the wedding solo was the best idea ever. I ended up scoring the best date ever.

SPIDERMAN II




My favorite superhero has always been Spiderman. I don't know what it is about him, but if you ever asked, I'd say that Spiderman could beat Superman any day. I used to sit for hours and hours reading Spiderman comics and then watch Spiderman, the cartoon. Having just gotten back from watching Spiderman II, I'm so stoked! It was like one intense rollercoaster. Though the dialogue wasn't all that great, the action was superb. Or maybe it's just cuz I don't like Kirsten Dunst as MJ.

Haha. Irony plays cruel jokes.

I don't know what the hell happened to me out on the streets while waiting for Clinton in the dead of the night, but my right leg is all bruised up! It looks like I got beat up... but only in my right calf! Strange, no? Myabe Caroline abuses me at night while I sleep. Haha. (Caroline, just checking to see if you still read this... cuz blog, woman!)

This came from my Social Change book. It was written by a social movement leader by the name of Saul Alinsky to teach community group members how to avoid meeting unrealistic ethnical standards.

In war the end justifies almost any means.

I don't know if I can agree with this statement at all! Thanks to Mr. Anderson's 7th grade history lectures, all wars are fought for economical reasons, some more implicit than others. Even though the victor of the war may, in the long-run, become richer, I don't believe this in any way justifies the means, namely the loss of lives. What the hell was Alinsky thinking? Maybe I'm interpreting the text incorrectly. Somebody please explain.

WE ARE "CLINTONIANS"

The past 17 hours have been quite surreal. I don't think I've ever been on so many emotional highs and lows in a span of a day before. With a little urging from Caroline, the two of us set out to camp outside of Cody's a little past midnight yesterday. We had packed a picnic, blankets, and two trusty metal chairs. We got to Telegraph and Haste and actually realized we were fairly close to the front of the line. As I went through nostalgia of my days at Rochsdale, Caroline slept on the streets of Berkeley. She REALLY roughed it last night. I don't think you've truly experienced "Berkeley living" until you sleep on the floor. Unfortunately, I wasn't as gutsy... as I snuggled up against the cool of the metal chairs.

"Slick Willie" arrived right on time. Our spirits rose, until we realized that Cody's are f.ckwits and don't know how to run book-signings correctly. They had "sold" all their tickets through pre-sales, leaving no additional tickets to give out the day of, much against the wishes of Clinton's people. Caroline and I were one of the non-ticket holders. Our cushy position at the front of the line served no purpose as we watched hordes and hordes of ticketholders get in before us, accomodating people that got to the book-signing even AFTER Bill had arrived. Meanwhile, all the campers that endured the cold of the night stood watching.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I tried to get our line to rebel and just push our way through. Unfortunately, that didn't go over so well. Fearing that Bill would leave soon after he had signed books for a good 2.5 hours, Caroline and I started bumming around and asking ticketholders if they could "adopt" us and claim us as their guest. Apparently ONE ticket could get in TWO people and garner TWO signed books. (See how f.cked up the system is? And nobody knew about it 'til much too late!) So Caroline and I played the system. Unfortunately, ticketholders were very unfriendly and almost looked down upon us non-ticketholders. Just when we were ready to admit defeat, Lady Luck smiled down on us. Caroline managed to buddy up with a nice old man. Meanwhile, I finally found a buddy in a really tall man named Hal.

Caroline got through the line before me and came out really excited. Seeing at this point that I was at the front of the line, I was super excited. I would finally get my chance to meet my FAVORITE president (yes, Caleb, of ALL time). However, all was snatched away within seconds... THEY SHUT DOWN THE LINE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!

It was such a nightmare... as I stood there, tears welling in my eyes, ready to admit defeat for the 2nd time that day, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do more: blow up Cody's or crawl into bed for a good night's sleep. I guess the expression on my face gave me away. A nice police officer told me that I'd just might luck out and Bill would come out through the front of the store and sign some more books. I waited anxiously and true to Officer Odom's words, I saw Bill come down the stairs and head right in my direction.

I was right up against the barricade, and so I ended up becoming the 8th book he signed when he came out. This is what happened:

Me: Mr. President, I'm from Arkansas!!!!
Clinton: *turns to look at me* You are? Where?
Me: I was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. You were Governor when I was born! *now speaking in super speed* Three years ago when you came, I wanted to see you speak, but I couldn't get tickets and so I was really sad.
Clinton: *smiles and signs my book*

Wow... and now I sleep...

Tomorrow is a very important day. Tomorrow is the day I meet the President. No, not Dubya. Been there, done that. I'm talking about BILL CLINTON. He's by far still my favorite President of all time. (My favorite First Lady is Jacqueline Kennedy.) He will be at Cody's bookstore tomorrow. I sure hope I don't spaz and talk a mile a minute, like when I met Gray Davis. Or worse yet, say something completely stupid and idiotic, like with James Worthy.