a buddy for me

There's a 10km race this Sunday, and it's a Buddy Run (e.i., you have to start and finish with your partner).

I picked Jay, a 6-ft tall guy I met in the gym about two years ago.
He's not the best runner in town, but I knew he could do 12.7 kph in the treadmill for at least 30mins. Pretty faster than me, I suppose. Afterall, I wouldn't do a buddy run unless my buddy can really outrun me.

BooshCampers Lost in Singapore Series: Group Pic

BooshCampers Lost in Singapore Series: Last Night

June 28, 2009

I just love this shot. I'm so thankful I've brought my mini tripod with me to this trip.

Diving deep deep in Queenstown

Photos taken by Chi Kuen *Crissie in white headcap #4 and green mask straps, black trunks, and silver quattros, white stick.

The sun was stunningly up on the noon of June 28. I was surprised to see some players wearing long sleeve rashguards. Papa Greg was beaming a smile while handling a big container of sunblock. Eliza was setting up her dSLR on her underwater bag, and her scuba gear. I can't believe I'm doing the deep pool session in Queenstown's 14 feet deep basin. Recalling the late night in Taboo and Tantic reminded me that I might be a water lily for the rest of the session. Oh what a hot day! I've had a drink cold of chrysanthemum tea which felt so refreshing. I brought a litter of water in my adidas bottle to get me hydrated for the entire game. I was still having a bit of headaches but it's like a once in a lifetime chance to play in a clear and wide pool. The bootcampers were mixed with the SUHCers, and were all divided into three groups. Papa Greg, PUHCer-SUHCer Joey Carpio, and UK guest player Mark Sullivan headed each teams. I was with Mark's team. With us are Eric, Ging, Connie, Aldous, Dirk, Pin, and others. I took me a long time to adjust to the depth of the pool. Normally, my body's easily adapted to 5-6feet of water. But when my lungs finally opened, I was a able to stay long down the bottom. However, it took me a long time to recover after my first dives. Blame late nights and short sleeps. But anyway, it was a great game! After the underwater hockey session, we did another lung busting game - Underwater Rugby! I could hardly convince myself that I'd enjoy the game. I almost went out of the pool to get changed. But with the first set, I found that fun was not too deep to get! Especially when Papa Greg started to grab me by my legs just to stop me and steal the ball. I had to retaliate and hugh him back. He doesn't seem to mind! LOL. And oops, Ging and I made a goal! Way to go! Woohoo! How do you play rugby underwater? Your goal is to get the ball (containing water) to touch your opponent's wall. You may pull, grab, hugh your opponent (just don't punch them) or even push the one holding the ball just to get near the wall. So the game was finally over after two hours. I loved it! I was happy I didn't back out from the game. Only that, I bear the collateral in my face - the tan line in my face! Shower time! As walked along the shower room, I caught the sight of Papa Greg showering in one of the cubicles. With a little embarrassment, I walked fast and avoided to look back, not even to look down. A few steps away, I felt a strong pressure at the my back of my neck. It's as if I was hit by something wet, a cloth or something. As I looked back, I saw the image of a 6 foot tall tanned white guy standing naked, curling his torso while showing his teeth on a very heart-felt laughter. It was Greg. Did I say he was nude? Seemingly, he enjoyed what he just did to me - throwing me his wet trunks! I was caught off guard. If I had said before that I'll trade my trunks for his used swimwear, I suddenly fell oblivious to it in this very situation. Why am I so human and all of a sudden, so slow to react? Hahaha. But anyway, even if I refused to get his trunks for my own keeps, I enjoyed the fact that this handsome Aussie is flirting with me.

Legend of Ala breathes "Legends"

Younger generations of underwater hockey players only heard of this legendary fin made out of pure rubber. Short but wide, excellent speed and maneuverability. What else could you ask for Ala? Only that production is over.

Thanks for Slovenians, the stories of the revered Alas will once again continue to break speeds and performances underwater. From the mold of this fin came a new comer, well named, "LEGENDS".

I've picked this up from a thread: http://www.underwaterhockeyworld.com/underwater-hockey-equipment-gear/692-legends-new-fin-born-7.html

Ala, translates "wing" in Italian used to be underwater hockey players' top choice for fins due to its dimension that allows speeding and changing directions easier. However, its production was stopped because the material produces toxins. I've waited for the revival of Ala. Thank God for Slovenians!

Now, how do we get one?

Four Grands of Luck

A local joke says, "when it rains, it's four." Last night, there was no rain, but my luck is like a rain - only that it's not just four. But four thousand.

My short chat with my next boss (crossing my fingers) ended earlier than I expected last night. The drizzle outside didn't stop me from walking around to get a cab to bring me to ULTRA (if you wonder why it's all caps, let me just spell it out: University of Life Training and Recreational Arena). Indeed, I arrived in the swimming pool so much earlier than I expected. Am I not too excited to play underwater hockey last night? Too bad that I didn't feel the same excitement in playing in the league as with playing with my fellow Boot/Bush-campers.

I've had a 200 meter freestyle swim with my mentor, Eric who alongside with the rookie Mara corrected my swim strokes. Now, more than ever, I can feel the glide when I paddle. Eric noticed that my strokes improved a lot since Greg Bush said I swim like shit. Eric and I did our warm ups of 200 meter swim with fins, 200 meter bounce, 4x 25 meter slow underwater swim and 25meter recovery swim back, and 4x 25 meter underwater sprint and 25 meter recovery swim back. After that, we started on our one hour game with the rookies.

The rookies are pretty though and fast. As Eric described them, "tenacious." But as normal as they're pretty new, they lack the concept of team play and proper positioning. I know they'll come to these terms as soon as they find the right path of learning.

I played Center Back, and Right Back whenever Eric is in (playing Center Back). I loved the situations where the opponents try to force the puck against my stick. So I have the opportunity to slide my stick to steal the orange matter. With every attempt of the rookies to break away, I was able to rob the puck away from their bats and curl then swim out. It's a good feeling being able to swim out your opponents. Indeed, it's good to play in varied levels of game.

With Stephen as the Left Back, Eric as the Center Back, and me on the Right Back, swinging was a breeze. We were able to do it swiftly and the swing was really wide. I guess Stephen enjoyed swimming away towards the wall while the rest of the opponents were left in the other side. On the other hand, me in CB and the only regular in the back was the toughest. If you're pretty new, you'd tend to eat the position of your teammate - which happens to me and my half backs. I had to let either of my wings to get the puck if they try to engage even if the puck is right in front of me. I had to chase stop most break aways if the last man doesn't seem to be anywhere in front of the goal. But I also had to let go some to make the quarter back realize the essence of "last man" in the defensive line.

The game was enjoying.

So we had dinner somewhere. I had to withdraw some money as I only have 20 bucks in my wallet. Eric saw me walking back and asked me to go with him to the ATM. On our way back to the dinner place, I was caught by the image of three faces on a paper folded in half along the ground just next to the parked vehicles. I bended my knees and picked the paper which proved to be a 1000 peso bill. But wait! There's more. Actually, two more. Eric got one.

As I knew it, you have to share your luck. Thus, Eric and I gladly treated our friends for dinner, drinks, and desserts. Eric couldn't believe that in such a poor country someone can afford to lose a big money. It was the first time this has ever happened to me. I don't mind it happening more frequently. As other than feasting on some hot and hunky men, I love to munch on good food with my friends and teammates. Where do I go so I can stumble on big money to bring me to an underwater hockey tourney in Australia? Or do I have to rob a bank for that?

What a lucky night? Maybe I should have gone to the lottery afterwards.

Fuck You

We were quite lost going back home from dinner after our first game in Queenstown. I couldn't recall if I had asked Papa Greg what kind of music he listens to that made him play a CD from his favorite artist, Lily Allen (who sang one of my favorite songs, "Smile"). Out of this playlist came one of mine, as well as the Bootchers' favorite.

"Fuck you.
Fuck you very very much..."

Alright, he wasn't cursing me nor asking me to spread my legs wide apart. This is Papa Greg's least favorite song in the album, "It's Not Me, It's you." Or I've heard it wrong? It's his 2nd favorite one?

Is there a sweeter way to sing/say "Fuck you" than how Lily sang it?

FUCK YOU

Look inside, look inside your tiny mind
Then look a bit harder
'Cause we're so uninspired, so sick and tired
Of all the hatred you harbor

So you say it's not okay to be gay
Well, I think you're just evil
You're just some racist who can't tie my laces
Your point of view is medieval

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So please don't stay in touch

Do you get, do you get a little kick
Out of being small minded?
You want to be like your father
It's approval you're after
Well, that's not how you find it

Do you, do you really enjoy
Living a life that's so hateful?
'Cause there's a hole where your soul should be
You're losing control a bit
And it's really distasteful

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you
Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you
Fuck you

You say you think we need to go to war
Well, you're already in one
'Cause it's people like you that need to get slew
No one wants your opinion

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you, fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you
Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you

Vin Diesel of Underwater Hockey

Here comes Simon Talbot.

Could you tell who's the Hollywood star from the Underwater Hockey World Champion?

I think I'm a fan now. :-)

Running out of words

Guess I'd let the pictures paint the thousand words that I couldn't speak.



I've lost my touch, and I can't wait to have it again.
I feel heaven's going to bless me with something great soon.

Puff No More

I used to think they're cute on your baths, especially if you are using shower gels. But no matter how I contest, I would have to leave the puff away from my skin.

Blame my royal blood (just how my derma described it) for my sensitive skin, naturally dry and prone to irritation (this pobre from Tondo doesn't really look like he has one).It doesn't help that I've been asthmatic since birth. During my first and last visit to the derma three weeks ago, I was told that puffs would abrade skin which is very traumatic for dry skin. Moreover, hard soaps, and scented shower gels could also pose serious treath.

I was adviced to change everything that I use for bathing. Soap-free baths and bath oils were prescribed to me, plus a couple of medicines to help dry up the dermatitis I've incured from scrubbing and playing underwater hockey in a rough tiled pool. An expensive cream mosturizer was also given to me. Since I didn't have so much cash that day, I only purchased the bath oil, and the mosturizer which all amounted to more than a grand. I never knew that derma consultation could really be so much of an overhead on the pocket.

Not the prince nor the princess that I thought I was, I have to look for substitutes for the expensive skincare items that were prescribed to me. I'd leave it to the grocery in one of these nights. I am supposed to coat my skin with oil everytime I play underwater hockey, or just dip in the chlorine-treated water. A triathlon suit that is so much of a drag will have to help me avoid harsh contact with rough tiles. Spectators would have to bear with me not being able to wear my skimpy bikinis on a Thursday night in ULTRA.

Three Saturdays ago in our afternoon UWHockey game, I was seen applying oil all over my skin by an old player (as in, old player, around 60). He asked, "aren't those harmful to the pool filters?" I know he was a bit blunt and nosy on the baby oil I'm spreading allover, but since he's an elderly, I had to modestly explain my side. "Oh yes, I know! But the water is harmful to my skin too!" The old guy just yawned and swam away.

I'm too vain to care for a filter.
I know, right?

Red Horse + Rainy Night + Half Bred

A beer was not named Red Horse for nothing.

My earlier years after graduating from college are a witness of how this liquor can be so much of a wrong choice for an athlete. Maybe not for some, but definitely wrong for me.

It was a Saturday night when two of my best girl friends from college asked me for a drink. We all had a bottle of Red Horse. I hate to refuse but I guess that inner machoist in me wanted to try beer, a hard one for the first time. Needless to say, I started out on hard drinks. With brandy to be exact (which actually triggered my asthma. oh poor me!).

Red Horse can taste so bad if it's not chilled. But whether it was cold or not, I knew I finished it. The next Sunday morning, I've gotten out of the bed feeling heavy. But it was no way to be sizzy as Sundays are a big training day in the dojo. Usually weekends are the best times to train for Karate Do.

Tonio was one of the strongest senior black belts in the club. He was known to have broken a wood baseball bat with his full-swing right roundhouse kick way back in the 80s in a streetfight. In one of his more recent troubles, he got one of the ribs of a stranger broken. Despite his uncanny fighting skills and hyper flexibility, Tonio was never a looker. He used to be seen as a villain in everyone's life story. That morning, he was the villain and I was the ailing subdued hero.

If it wasn't for my best friend's clever stories of me kicking lamp posts and Meralco lumber posts with my roundhouse kicks, I wouldn't be asked to spar with Tonio. Well, Tonio was so eager to test me. I knew I'd stand a chance on clearing out some clean points. But just as fate was not on my side, all of my diving roundhouse kicks were all delayed. My sense of defence were all split seconds lagging. I came home all bruised in the arms and in the shins. I can't believe I've just been a punching bag to all of Tonio's strikes.

My skills were all compromised with a night of a single bottle of Red Horse. I've vowed not to ever have any sip of it.

***

I never liked rainy days.
Classes cut because of strong typhoons way back in my school years is a different story.

Guess I was always the minimalist. As much as I can avoid it, I won't bring umbrella nor a jacket. If I get caught in the middle of the rain, most of the times I would end up running under it. Least of the times, I'll let myself get stuck in one place.

Oh yeah, I hate rainy days but if not for underwater hockey...
It wards off the swimmers that keep the pool water dirty. So, Mother Nature rain all you can.

***

Half Breds.
Half Interesting.

Of course, I made it up. It's not really true.

Let me just say, I am always into pure breds and I don't know why. Of course, Canadians, Spanish, Italians, Americans, French, Brazilians, and so the list goes on. Hardly would I be attracted to FilAms, or any cross between asians and white.

***

Today, I'm having headaches, and I'm feeling sleepy - all because last night I've had a liter of Red Horse, got stuck somewhere because of the rain, and I was with a Fil-Italian. But oh well, the sex in the shower room was fantastic!

Let me just get a coffee and a paracetamol.