.lovemystar.

.lockout no more.

2011-08-11T15:00:00.001-07:00

Thank goodness the lockout is OVER and DONE WITH. The 2011 NFL preseason starts this week and I am so excited that football is back! My Chargers play the Seahawks tonight. Although the team has had some expected changes, I am excited to see how my boys are shaping up. I'll definitely share my thoughts in the coming weeks not just about the Chargers but, other NFL related topics as well. For now, I'm a happy camper. :) BOLTS baby!

.who says.

2011-04-01T16:24:00.001-07:00

I'm not much of a teeny-bopper BUT, I adore this song by the lovely Selena Gomez. The lyrics AND melody are both in check. With so much talent and beauty, it's no wonder Justin Bieber has his eyes on her. :)

Music,

Love,

& Lyrics,

-C

.fisher's five.

2011-03-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Get to know "Fisher's Five". :) These are the SDSU Men's Basketball Starters. Sweet 16, here come the Aztecs!

D.J. Gay, #23 - Senior (Guard)

Billy White, #32 - Senior (Forward)

Kawhi Leonard, #15 - Sophomore (Forward)

Malcolm Thomas, #4 - Senior (Forward)

Chase Tapley, #22 - Sophomore (Guard)

Love,
Basketball,
& Aztecs,
-C

.open letter to fans from the nfl commish.

2011-03-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell posted the following letter to NFL fans on www.nfl.com on Friday, March 11, 2011 after labor talks ended:

Dear NFL Fan,

When I wrote to you last on behalf of the NFL, we promised you that we would work tirelessly to find a collectively bargained solution to our differences with the players' union. Subsequent to that letter to you, we agreed that the fastest way to a fair agreement was for everyone to work together through a mediation process. For the last three weeks I have personally attended every session of mediation, which is a process our clubs sincerely believe in.

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that earlier today the players' union walked away from mediation and collective bargaining and has initiated litigation against the clubs. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, our clubs offered a deal today that, among other things, was designed to have no adverse financial impact on veteran players in the early years, and would have met the players' financial demands in the latter years of the agreement.

The proposal we made included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee a reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

It was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players and guaranteed the long-term future for the fans of the great game we all love so much. It was a deal where everyone would prosper.

We remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached, and call on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

While we are disappointed with the union's actions, we remain steadfastly committed to reaching an agreement that serves the best interest of NFL players, clubs and fans, and thank you for your continued support of our league. First and foremost it is your passion for the game that drives us all, and we will not lose sight of this as we continue to work for a deal that works for everyone.

Yours,

Roger Goodell

.i believe.

2011-03-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

Most people who don't follow NCAA March Madness have no idea who the San Diego State Aztecs are when it comes to Men's Basketball. But at the moment, it's hard not to notice them - especially to those who call San Diego home. Now in his 12th season with the Aztecs, this team is led by Coach Steve Fisher who is famously known for his legendary 1991 recruiting class - the "Fab Five". Even with this noteworthy notch on Coach Fisher's belt, no one could have imagined where he'd take SDSU. The Aztecs have reached the national spotlight this year with an unbelievable record. Never before in the history of this program has the team ever been ranked in any of the two major polls (AP & Coaches).

This year that finally changed.

Losing only twice this season to BYU, the Aztecs have forced the national sports media world to not only notice, but to talk about their almost perfect record. Ranking as high as #4 in the nation, many people have been surprised by the Aztecs and wonder how far this team can go in the NCAA Tournament. Dubbed as the "hottest ticket in town," the Aztecs sold-out 13 home games this season. Students were in line and camped for days outside of Viejas Arena to get their hands on a pair. This was unprecedented.

Congrats to the SDSU Men's Basketball 2010-11 Roster:

Brian Carlwell, #5 - Senior (Center)
D.J. Gay, #23 - Senior (Guard)
Kawhi Leonard, #15 - Sophomore (Forward)
Malcolm Thomas, #4 - Senior (Forward)
Billy White, #32 - Senior (Forward)
Chase Tapley, #22 - Sophomore (Guard)
James Rahon, #11 - Sophomore (Guard)
Mehdi Cheriet, #42 - Senior (Forward)
Tim Shelton, #10 - Junior (Forward)
Xavier Thames, #2 - Sophomore (Guard)
Alec Williams, #0 - Sophomore (Forward)
Jamaal Franklin, #21 - Freshman (Guard)
LaBradford Frankin, #3 - Freshman (Guard)

A very important element of the SDSU Men's Basketball team is Sophomore, Kawhi Leonard from Riverside, California. This 19-year old Small Forward stands at 6' 7" and weighs in at 225. His athletic skills and high energy rhythm has caught the eye of pro scouts across the nation. Although he is already considered an NBA prospect, SDSU fans are hoping he stays one more year.

Love,

Hoops,

& Aztecs Basketball,

-C

P.S. As of today, the SDSU Men's Basketball team is ranked #6 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 men's basketball coaches poll and #7 on the AP Top 25 Poll. They are set to play in the Mountain West Conference on March 10, 2011.

.21.

2011-03-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

I am in LOVE with the new Adele 21 album. This 22-year old singer-songwriter amazes me with her gorgeous and soulful voice. After an acclaimed performance at the 2011 BRIT Awards, her track “Someone Like You” went straight to #1 in the United Kingdom, while the album also remained at #1. The Official Charts Company announced that Adele is the first living artist to achieve the feat of two Top 5 hits in both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since The Beatles in 1964.

"Someone Like You"

"Lovesong"

Peace,

Love,

& Music,

-C

.i have a dream.

2011-01-17T12:04:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated today, Jan. 17, 2011, just two days after he would have turned 82 years old. On August 28, 1963 he delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial.

His 17-minute speech below was delivered to over 200,000 supporters and was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

 It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, ‘My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Full speech text via The Huffington Post

.everyone loses games, few change them.

2011-01-13T21:29:00.001-08:00

Now that the 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship is over, I can tell you that there is one thing for me that stood out most from watching that game. Yes, it was exciting that Heisman recipient QB Cam Newton led his Auburn Tigers to a 22-19 victory over the Oregon Ducks - but, that's not it. And you're right, it was even more exciting that the Ducks fought back and were close to a possible OT situation - but, that's not it either.

Call me silly but, the truth is, what I remember most days later (even more than Cam's *say cheese* smile above) is just how cool the Oregon Ducks looked in their fresh custom designed Nike uniforms. Even though they didn't win the game, they definitely lost in style. Shortly after, Nike came up with an advertisement just to brag.

Quite fitting.

How were the Oregon Ducks able to obtain these cool uniforms you ask? Well, the program received a 100 million dollar donation from alum Phil Knight in 2007. If you don't know who Phil Knight is, he happens to be the co-founder and Chairman of Nike. Makes sense now huh? In fact, the team has a possible 384 uniform combinations at their fingertips, thanks to Phil. Lucky *Ducks*. ;)

Peace,

Love,

& Swoosh,

-C

Photo Credit

Nike.com

.rock church - 2011 vision.

2011-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

I am so very blessed to be a part of the Rock Church in San Diego. This congregation along with Pastor Miles McPherson is such an inspiration to me. Its vision for 2011 was just introduced and I'd like to share it with you. I pray that it will motivate you to DO SOMETHING regardless if you attend the Rock, another church, or no church at all. May you discover and be open to the purpose that God has for your life. Be blessed.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Love,

Blessings,

& Pervasive Hope

-C

Video Credits

Direction by: Chris Loope

Edited by: David Schulz

DP: Christopher Francis

Script by: Dave Franco

Motion Graphics by: Chris Loop

.marry me.

2010-12-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

This song by Train gives me goosebumps. It is so lovely.

Love,

Peace,

and Music,

-C

.be teased.

2010-12-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

I have been a huge Transformers fan since my tomboy days as a kid. I've been waiting patiently and finally, the new sneak peek teaser of Transformers: Dark of The Moon was just released. It was posted on Michael Bay Dot Com and it makes me giddy. I thought you might enjoy it. :)

Love,

Peace,

& Autobots,

-C

.please don't go.

2010-11-21T12:00:00.001-08:00

I'm really loving "Please Don't Go" by Mike Posner. This song has a catchy beat that has me listening to this jam over and over. :) Enjoy.

Love,

Peace,

and Music,

-C

.my kardashian connection.

2010-09-21T23:07:00.001-07:00

A quick peek into what I've been up to...

I wanted to share with you something I am very proud of. It's not everyday you get to be a part of something pretty cool. Several months ago, I had the opportunity to pick out swimwear for the beautiful Kardashian Sisters. As some of you may know, I adore fashion and love styling for others. Trusting my instincts, I pulled sexy white one piece suits that I knew would flatter their amazing curves. Following this project, I waited a month or so for the final magazine shots to be unveiled. I was so excited when I received a note letting me know that Kourtney and Kim were both wearing my selections on the cover and spread of Vegas Magazine's 7th Anniversary Issue. I finally got my very own copy of the magazine and it's so pretty, measuring at 12" x 10". Wow, what an honor! Kudos me. :)

Love,

Peace,

and Fashion,

-C

P.S. Although Khloe isn't wearing a style I selected, she still looks fabulous. :)

.reggie bush to forfeit heisman.

2010-09-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

Running back Reggie Bush has decided to hand over the Heisman.

Under pressure since his award winning 2005 campaign at USC was vacated, Bush said in a statement on Tuesday that he will forfeit the Heisman Trophy.

"One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005," the statement released by the New Orleans Saints reads. "For me, it was a dream come true. But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name. It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005."

The NCAA passed down heavy sanctions on USC relating to improper benefits received by Bush and basketball player O.J. Mayo. The Heisman Trust was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but it was not clear if Bush was on the agenda. The group has been reviewing whether Bush should have his award taken away.

"For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust," Bush's statement continues. "I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust."

It's the first time college football's top award was returned by a recipient.

-ESPN.com

*Update* - on the afternoon that this statement was released, Reggie tweeted: "Just want to thank everyone for their support throughout this tough time. This has been a hard decision for me today but I feel it's right. I hope that kids and upcoming youth can look at me and use this story as an example and learning tool. Challenges are a part of life. But the key is to never allow your faults or mistakes to define you, yet use them as an opportunity to mature and grow to become better! Now that this is behind me I look forward to the future and winning more awards and championships here in New Orleans! Who Dat!"

.louboutins.

2010-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Do I love shoes? Yup. Do I adore JLO? Of course. Maybe that's why I love this song. It never really made it to "hit" status but still... any girl can appreciate a good beat and a cute pair of Louboutins.

.2010 nfl draft - rounds 2 & 3 results.

2010-04-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today's NFL draft started at 6pm EST and covered Rounds 2 & 3. Again, a very inconvenient time for West Coast fans. It made me a bit upset when I heard Commissioner Roger Goodell being interviewed during the draft today. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to say that the Prime Time format brought in 50% more viewers and NO ONE had any complaints about it. I guess he hasn't spoken to anyone from the West Coast. On a more positive note, today's action was much less intense with the exception of the curiosity and anticipation surrounding where Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy would finally land. I will say that if there is any benefit to the Prime Time draft and splitting it up between 3 days, the teams sure had more time to think between rounds and even "sleep on" some major round 2 decisions. Below are the results from today.

Round 2

Rams | Rodger Saffold - OT | Indiana
Vikings | Chris Cook - CB | Virginia
Buccaneers | Brian Price - DT | UCLA
Chiefs | Dexter McClusterm - RB | Mississippi
Eagles | Nathaniel Allen - FS | South Florida
Browns | T.J. Ward - FS | Oregon
Buccaneers | Arrelious Benn - WR | Illinois
Dolphins | Koa Misi - DE | Utah
Bills | Torell Troup - DT | Central Florida
Patriots | Rob Gronkowski - TE | Arizona
Ravens | Sergis Kindle - DE | Texas
Raiders | Lamarr Houston - DT | Texas
Broncos | Zane Beadles - OT | Utah
Giants | Linval Joseph - DT | East Carolina
Cardinals | Daryl Washington - LB | TCU
Panthers | Jimmy Clausen - QB | Notre Dame
49ers | Taylor Mays - FS | Southern Cal
Chiefs | Javier Arenas - CB | Alabama
Vikings | Toby Gerhart - RB | Stanford
Steelers | Jason Worilds - DE | Virginia Tech
Patriots | Jermaine Cunningham - DE | Florida
Bengals | Carlos Dunlap - DE | Florida
Cowboys | Sean Lee - LB | Penn State
Packers | Mike Neal - DT | Purdue
Ravens | Terrence Cody - DT | Alabama
Texans | Ben Tate - RB | Auburn
Browns | Montario Hardesty - RB | Tennessee
Seahawks | Golden Tate - WR | Notre Dame
Jets | Vlad Ducasse - OT | Massachusetts
Patriots | Brandon Spikes - LB | Florida
Colts | Pat Angerer - LB | Iowa
Saints | Charles Brown - OT | Southern Cal

Round 3

Rams | Jerome Murphy - CB | South Florida
Lions | Amari Spievy - CB | Iowa
Buccaneers | Myron Lewis - CB | Vanderbilt
Chiefs | Jon Asamoah - OG | Illinois
Raiders | Jared Veldheer - OT | Hilsdale
Ravens | Ed Dickson - TE | Oregon
Packers | Morgan Burnett - SS | Georgia Tech
Bills | Alex Carrington - DE | Arkansas State
Dolphins | John Jerry - OT | Mississippi
Jaguars | D’Anthony Smith - DT | Louisiana Tech
Bears | Major Wright - FS | Florida
Giants | Chad Jones - FS | LSU
Titans | Damian Williams - WR | Southern Cal
Panthers | Brandon LaFell - WR | LSU
Chargers | Donald Butler - LB | Washington
Broncos | J.D. Walton - C | Baylor
Texans | Earl Mitchell - DT | Arizona
Steelers | Emmanuel Sanders - WR | Southern Methodist
Falcons | Corey Peters - DT | Kentucky
Bengals | Jordan Shipley - WR | Texas
Browns | Colt McCoy - QB | Texas
Eagles | Daniel Te’o-Nesheim - DE | Washington
Broncos | Eric Decker - WR | Minnesota
Cardinals | Andre Roberts - WR | Citadel
Panthers | Armanti Edwards - QB | Appalachian State
Patriots | Taylor Price - WR | Ohio
49ers | Navorro Bowman - LB | Penn State
Browns | Shawn Lauvao - OT | Arizona State
Chiefs | Tony Moeaki - TE | Iowa
Colts | Kevin Thomas - CB | Southern Cal
Saints | Jimmy Graham - TE | Miami
Bengals | Brandon Ghee - CB | Wake Forest
Titans | Rennie Curran - LB | Georgia
Falcons | Mike Johnson - OG | Alabama

Love,

Peace,

& Boo for Prime Time draft :o/

-c

.2010 nfl draft - round 1 results.

2010-04-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

For the first time in history, the NFL draft went Prime Time. The draft began today at 7:30pm EST and televised only Round 1. Tomorrow, the NFL will continue with Rounds 2 & 3 then finish off the remaining rounds over the weekend. Two unique updates to the draft this year included Zach Hatfield, a 15 year old Make-A-Wish Foundation cancer patient who was given the honor of announcing the Pittsburgh Steelers first pick in the draft. Also, NOLA Saints QB Drew Brees who was last year's Super Bowl MVP, was given the honor of announcing the Saints draft pick at 32. It is interesting to note that Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers at pick 32.

Because I live in the West Coast, I personally found the Prime Time format to be very inconvenient. I learned very quickly that I am not a fan of this new schedule. While the East Coast fans are settled in at home with their popcorn and chips, the West Coast fans were either still at work or battling traffic at the very moment the first pick was announced. Unfortunately, for West Coast fans like me, resorting to DVR proved to be the only option. Despite this problem, the draft proved to be surprising and interesting! QB Tim Tebow who most expected to fall to the later rounds, was drafted by the Denver Broncos who traded up to 25 to grab him. As a shock to many, Tebow was drafted ahead of Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy. If you happen to follow me on Twitter, you would know that this was not surprising to me whatsoever. While most of the experts and sports fans complained of Tebow's lack of throwing skills and inability to succeed at the NFL level, I believed in him. I've watched him in college and have seen many interviews that showed he is a smart young man who has the will to make it. He comes from a faith-based upbringing and he understands that every opportunity that he gets is a blessing. To me, that expresses volumes about his character.

The other aspect of the draft that I love is watching the newly drafted prospects react to their name being announced by the Commissioner. The excitement of the family, tears of joy, and what they are wearing! Call me crazy but it’s intriguing to see who’s already wearing “bling” and who’s not! Some notable picks were the Cowboys who snatched up WR Dez Bryant. This was a shock to me because I did not think he would still be available at 24. This pick by the Cowboys is clearly in reaction to the poor results shown by current WR Roy Williams. Also, the Chargers traded up to 12 for RB Ryan Mathews who will be groomed to eventually replace veteran LaDainian Tomlinson (who now plays for the Jets after being released this off season). In typical Raiders fashion, they drafted ILB Rolando McClain at 13 which came out of left field in my opinion, considering their obvious QB problem. Lastly, because this is a defensive heavy draft class, it was understandable that majority of the picks were for these positions. So, now we wait for Day 2 to continue the drama and find out where the rest of the top prospects end up.

Round 1

Rams | Sam Bradford - QB | Oklahoma
Lions | Ndamukong Suh - DT | Nebraska
Buccaneers | Gerald McCoy - DT | Oklahoma
Redskins | Trent Williams - OT Oklahoma
Chiefs | Eric Berry - SS | Tennessee
Seahawks | Russell Okung - OT | Oklahoma State
Browns | Joe Haden - CB | Florida
Raiders | Rolando McClain - LB | Alabama
Bills | C.J. Spiller - RB | Clemson
Jaguars | Tyson Alualu - DE | California
49ers | Anthony Davis - OT | Rutgers
Chargers | Ryan Mathews - RB | Fresno State
Eagles | Brandon Graham - DE | Michigan
Seahawks | Earl Thomas - SS | Texas
Giants | Jason Pierre-Paul - DE | South Florida
Titans | Derrik Morgan - DE | Georgia Tech
49ers | Mike Lupati - OG | Idaho
Steelers | Maurkice Pouncey - C | Florida
Falcons | Sean Weatherspoon - LB | Missouri
Texans | Kareem Jackson - CB | Alabama
Bengals | Jermaine Gresham - TE | Oklahoma
Broncos | Demaryius Thomas - WR | Georgia Tech
Packers | Bryan Bulaga - OT | Iowa
Cowboys | Dez Bryant - WR | Oklahoma State
Broncos | Tim Tebow - QB | Florida
Cardinals | Dan Williams - DT | Tennessee
Patriots | Devin McCourty - CB | Rutgers
Dolphins | Jared Odrick - DT | Penn State
Jets | Kyle Wilson - CB | Boise State
Lions | Jahvid Best - RB | California
Colts | Jerry Hughes - DE | TCU
Saints | Patrick Robinson - CB | Florida State

Love,
Peace,
and Rookies,
-c

.the element of freedom.

2010-04-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

I've been a bad blogger. My last post was in December! Wow, how rude of me... it's April now. Ok, just for that I am posting 2 videos of the week. I am in love with Alicia Keys most recent album, "The Element of Freedom". I've got this CD in my car changer now. Everything from the album cover to the tracks are amazing to me. Alicia really hit this one out of the ballpark, seriously. She's the true definition of an artist. By the way, check out her piano in the first video. It's crazy gorgeous, I want one! Enjoy~

"Doesn't Mean Anything"

"Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart"

Love,

Peace,

and Music,

-c

.jake olson - the kid with the biggest heart.

2009-12-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

Today, I saw this clip of 12 year old Jake Olson on ESPN. I was taken aback at how amazing he is. Jake's story is truly an inspiration to me. This kid has more courage and heart than anyone I know. He is a reminder that strength and faith will get you through anything that life brings your way, no matter how unbearable. Jake, you are my hero.

.lines by the heart.

2009-11-21T23:40:00.001-08:00

For millions of women who can recite these lines by heart and draw strength from their earthy take on female empowerment, it is comforting to know that the woman who penned them, Maya Angelou, continues to write, lecture and teach at age 81.

Pretty women wonder where
my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a
fashion model size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal women,
That's me.

-From "Phenomenal Women"
by Maya Angelou

.be inspired by beyonce.

2009-09-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

Every so often, I come across a video clip that truly inspires me. One that really makes you want to do good.

This is one of them.

In this blog-worthy video clip, the beautiful and talented Beyonce surprises a little girl named Chelsea by inviting her on stage during her Australia concert last Friday, September 18 at the Acer Arena. In front of 21,000 concertgoers, Beyonce dedicates her song "Halo" to Chelsea who is a young cancer patient. As you'll see, not only did this performance touch the audience, most importantly, it touched Chelsea who had no idea she would be face-to-face with her idol Beyonce.

Love,
Peace,
and Halo,
-Christine

.where in the world is christine? + nyc trip.

2009-08-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Here I am! If you read my blog, I sincerely thank you. :) And, if you’ve checked back for updates and noticed it’s felt like FOREVER since I’ve posted, I do apologize. I’ve been working on some really unique events that have kept me pretty busy.

Before we get to the storytelling about one of those events, let me give you a couple of updates so we can reconnect. In case you are wondering, yes—I’m still on Twitter. I’m actually starting to consider myself a *twitterbug* because it’s kind of become a part of my daily routine. Call me crazy but it’s actually turned out to be a fun way to stay connected to folks who actually appreciate what you have to say. Weird but true. I’m not sure if you heard but Twitter went “down” for a morning (actually almost a whole day) a couple weeks back. People were freaking out. Although I wasn’t freaking out, I could understand the frustrations that people had. You see, when Twitter wasn’t working, you quickly realize that you aren’t able to connect with your followers and the people you follow. The best way for me to describe it is a feeling similar to losing your address book. Ok, maybe not THAT extreme but, I kid you not once it was back up and running EVERYONE was tweeting about what happened, why it went down, and even what they were doing while twitter was out of commission. It’s like a whole other world that exists without speaking, all via texting and web updates that disappeared for part of a day. For some, that could be kind of traumatic I guess.

On a side note, I’ve also started to try and become more consistent with my workout routine. I’ve been trying to go several times a week and I even take a cool Turbo Kick Box class that makes me feel really good after. The more I hit the gym, the more I look forward to going again. That's a good thing, right?! I’m also trying to eat better so don't let me eat anymore chips! :)

Ok—so a cool thing that happened to me in June was I got to go out to New York City and work with a really great guy. This guy wasn’t someone who was a big deal to me prior to my trip. Although I’m a big sports fan (as you may know), he was actually not even on my radar as someone of HUGE significance only because I’m from San Diego (almost complete opposite of where he lives). I mean for work, he’s important to me but personally—I took it as any other event. After meeting him, I realized why this guy is so important and means so much to the city. This guy was Derek Jeter. Yes, THE Derek Jeter, Shortstop and Captain for the legendary New York Yankees. How crazy and delusional was I not to be excited about meeting him? I mean I was looking forward to it but I wasn’t starstruck excited if you know what I mean? Anyway, my flight out to NYC for the event was direct from San Diego which was AWESOME! When I arrived to New York, I was greeted by nice, cool weather (slightly rainy). I stayed at the Affinia Shelburne on Lexington Avenue. It was a quaint hotel that was an older remodeled building. My room was cute and comfy, similiar to a very modern studio. It was in Murray Hill, a Manhattan neighborhood. I always get jet-lag when I fly out to the East Coast. You’d think that 3 hours shouldn’t mess you up too badly but it gets me every time! My co-worker Carrie and I decided to grab an early dinner before calling it a night. We walked a couple of blocks and found a pizza joint which was exactly what we were craving. We had our NY pizza and cheesecake which was the perfect way to feel welcomed by the city. I'll admit, we made a quick run out to 5th Avenue to visit the world renowned NYC Tiffany & Co. My favorite part (besides the jewels) was the elevator attendant. :) Afterwards, I went back to my room and slept.

The next morning, instead of taking the limo over to Yankee Stadium for the luncheon, I opted to try out the subway for the first time ever. Grand Central Station was a few blocks away and I thought it would be the perfect experience to walk to the subway and take it all the way to the ballpark. When I got to the station, it was really crowded. It was a Tuesday morning so the commuters were going about their business hurrying to work. I on the other hand was searching for the signs and trying to make out which train to take to the stadium. Thank goodness for friendly locals who pointed me and my co-worker the right way. I will never forget sitting on the subway for the first time. I people watched mostly and noticed that almost everyone slept on the subway and had their bags/belongings wrapped completely around their arms and/or shoulders. It made me hold my purse much closer too, lol. As we approached our stop, it was really neat to see the “old” Yankee Stadium right next to the “new” Yankee Stadium. They were literally right next to one another except for a road in-between. I thought about how great it would have been to see a game at the old stadium. After getting off the subway and walking out of the station, there it was… standing like a huge castle—Yankee Stadium. It was pretty from the outside, very clean and really big. Getting inside was really annoying because it wasn’t open to the public yet for the game that evening—so many security clearances. Now I know why they say it’s just like Fort Knox.

Once inside, it was pretty amazing. It was so new and full of inspiration from the old stadium. I remember seeing the field and thinking it looked smaller than I thought it would be but still pristine. Our luncheon with Derek took place at NYY Steak (per Derek’s request). The steakhouse restaurant was located inside the stadium. The event was for a group of contest winners that had won a trip to meet Derek and have lunch with him. I made my way into the restaurant to set up our private room. Everything looked great. One of Derek’s reps arrived, she was very sweet. A few minutes later after all of the finishing touches were complete, Derek calls and is ready to go. She and I are escorted to the players parking level where Derek is waiting. As soon I stepped out of the elevator, there he was—standing at the door holding his cell phone (I think it was a blackberry) looking much taller than I expected. He was with another rep. They introduced me to Derek and that was when I realized how personable and charismatic he was. We walked into the elevator together and as we made our way to the restaurant, I gave him the run down of every important detail he needed to know before he stepped into the private room. He listened very closely and nodded at everything I said. He asked me questions and I answered, he smiled a lot. He was an obvious a professional. The moment we stepped out of the elevator and entered the restaurant, I realized what a presence he had. Everyone stopped and looked at him and became mesmerized by seeing him in person. He smiled and greeting everyone hello to those he passed by as I walked him into the private area. The luncheon turned out to be one of the best events I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on. The media we invited were cordial and Derek was great with them. He was extremely well spoken and when the cameras stopped rolling, he became very comfortable and candid with the guests. He answered every question they asked. He ate with us and was even presented with his own steak knife by the restaurant (personalized & engraved) as his meal was brought to him. Following lunch, we had an hour with Derek for an online appearance with kid fans from all over the globe.

After the 2 hour event, I instantly became a Derek Jeter & Yankees fan. Derek impressed me so much. He was genuine and loved being around his fans. He was extremely likable and by the answers he gave during the lunch, you can tell that he is a very down-to-earth person. It truly was an honor to meet and work with him. We attended batting practice and the game that evening (which they won). It was definitely unforgettable. I even stopped at the Yankee’s store and picked up my very own NY hat. In all honesty, I hope one day I get to attend another game at Yankee Stadium. And, since my Padres can’t make it happen, I do hope Derek is able to win the World Series this year. ;) Go Jeter, go Yanks!

Love,

Peace, &
NY Yanks,
-c

P.S. Much thanks to Carrie (Online Community Manager) & Terry (Public Relations Manager) pictured above with me for your help in making this event so successful. And of course to Derek Jeter who made this all possible (even on a game day)! Teamwork~

.i will remember the king of pop.

2009-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

How is it possible to be touched by the passing of a person that you’ve never met but feel like you’ve known all your life? The reality of Michael Jackson’s passing did not hit me until a few days after it actually happened. How could someone so amazingly talented and seemingly on top of the world—be gone in a matter of moments? It was much too difficult for me to handle and believe—or even want to believe. You see, I grew up with a love for music and dance. I can say with all honesty that I owe a lot of that to Michael Jackson. His music was definitely a part of my childhood. I remember playing my Dads cassette tapes filled with MJ’s music and blasting his songs in my garage while my neighbors and I danced away. We’d choreograph short routines to Billy Jean and Beat it. We even tried our best to imitate the King of Pop’s moves—as if we could. As silly as it sounds, the "Making of Thriller" was one of my all time favorite videos to watch. I'd watch it over and over so I understood how such (at the time) a scary video was made. The zombies freaked me out but once I knew the behind-the-scenes secrets, I laughed at myself for being so scared. I even memorized the dance moves which prompted my love for dance. Because of this I grew up learning the art of ballet, jazz, and even hula. Being that we were just young kids at the time—little did I realize, MJ’s music would prove to be legendary and his life would be cut without warning many years later. How could I fathom that I would be a grown adult going about my daily work day and would come across a newsflash that Michael, at the age of 50 would be rushed to the hospital with reports of cardiac arrest? At 50 years old?! Despite his tremulous lifestyle, he was a person. One who was a talented individual who was able to do what most people in this world will never EVER be able to do. That was to touch the hearts and souls of many human beings all around the globe with his voice through music, the ENTIRE globe! I choose to remember Michael Jackson as a performer and singer who possessed a priceless perfection when it came to his gift. Whatever negative comments people choose to say about him and the accusations that surrounded him are words that I will try to ignore. He is gone from this Earth now—and no one will ever know the truth about his life. What we will know is that his art is timeless—and that is undeniable. I know in my heart that his music will never get old—even as we all will. I'll never forget the man who made a white glitter glove so famous and the way he magically floated across the stage with a move we all know as the moonwalk. As Michael is memorialized and buried this coming week in Los Angeles, a part of my childhood will be with him as he is placed in his final resting place. RIP Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009).

.lakers vs. magic + twitter-bug + vick is out.

2009-06-07T21:51:00.001-07:00

Of course, the minute I complain about the Lakers vs. Magic series being BORING—Game 2 proved me wrong. With an exciting OT victory, the Lakers proved once again why they truly belong in the Finals this year. The Lakers really pulled together, most especially Odom & Gasol (and of course KB) which was no match for Howard, Lewis & Co. The Magic stood strong but in my eyes played with no sense of urgency which I believe was the cause of their breakdown during OT. Even though I'm a Laker fan, I wanted to look Howard in the eyes and tell him, "Play like you want it, Superman!". It should get even more interesting as the series moves to Orlando for the next 3 games. I expect Van Gundy to light a fire under his team unless they want to get swept at their own home court. That would be no bueno! I caught a bit of the post-game press conference and KB was asked about his game face. "Kobe, now that the Lakers are up 2-0 in the series, are you finally able to crack a smile?" asked a journalist jokingly. Kobe responds (with no smile of course), “…what’s there to smile about, the job isn’t done”. That’s hardcore Kobe for you. As for tonight’s courtside action, I enjoyed watching Lakers #1 fan Jack chat it up with players (from both teams) and even stand up and scream at the officials as they called a foul on his Lakers. Jack wasn’t the only celebrity at the game, as I learned from my new sidekick “Twitter”.

Speaking of Twitter, it’s been a couple of weeks since I jumped on and since then…it’s been pretty revealing to say the least. The best way for me to describe it is, “Better than an US Weekly”. Seriously, I am so much more “in the know” on who’s doing what thanks to all my twitter updates. If I wanted, I could even interact with the folks that I usually only read about in the news columns or watch on TV. It’s actually kind of neat—makes me wonder; is Twitter just a fad or a great way for celebs to let their fans take a peek into their world long term? Regardless, I’m enjoying all of it… the little blurbs from T.O. as he vents about house hunting in Buffalo and The Hills cast sending messages back and forth to each other about where they are going clubbing, what their eating for dinner, and even posting photos of what they are doing. Diddy's updates are motivating and he always manages to remind me about Ciroc! Little Miley and Mr. Ashton posts random thoughts and photos quite often. Call it too much information, I call it FUN! I even heard from Kimora Lee about her new baby name first because she announced it on Twitter! Here’s the actually post when her new little one came, “Welcome into the world Kenzo Lee Hounsou. Kimora's + Djimon's baby boy was born on Saturday May, 30th. He was 8 lbs and 20 inches.” How cute! Btw, I saw an article about Kimora's announcement on people.com the following morning and they mentioned Twitter as their source for the news! Haha, by then it was old news to me! :) Kimora posted a photo of herself in the hospital (via Twitter)…doesn’t she look great?! Yes, she was twittering while at the hospital...sharing with her followers that she was in labor!
In news unrelated to Twitter; according to Profootballtalk.com—“Suspended QB Michael Vick's $10-an-hour construction job has been going smoothly and he's been showing up on time.” That’s good news considering the fact that Vick’s every move is more than likely being tracked by the NFL to aid in the decision making process by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell will have to answer when Michael Vick files his NFL reinstatement papers sometime after July 20. We’ll see how that goes. I’ve been torn about the whole Michael Vick saga since the day I found out about his heinous crimes. I’m a dog lover so it was extremely heartbreaking to find out that a role model who people (including kids) have cheered for in the sports world took it upon himself to cause pain and suffering to animals. All for the love of money? I really can’t accept that as a good enough excuse but then again, money makes people do crazy things. He has served his time and is seemingly showing remorse, so a second chance isn’t out of the question. I’m sure glad that I’m not in Roger Goodell’s shoes—his decision is going to upset people either way it goes I’m sure.Peace,
Lakers,
& Second chances,
-c

.tweet tweet.

2009-05-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of stuff to catch you up on. I know it's been a while since I've posted and my excuse is my schedule (really!). It's been hectic the last couple of months to say the least. I'm doing well if you are wondering. Work is great and I've been busy with some really exciting events. I know when I started this blog, it was a commitment that I'd update it timely with fun and exciting stories and experiences of my life. Lately, that has been somewhat challenging. To help bridge the gap between my fellow blog friends and my scheduling issues, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a twitter account. If CNN and Oprah can do it, why can't I? So, a few weeks ago I did it. I signed up and I was official. Funny thing was, after that...I had no idea how to update it from my iphone (such a newb). Weeks went by and finally THANKS to facebook and my wonderful friends, I found the answer! One day I posted a status update asking for some advice: "how in the world can I twitter via my iphone?". Instantly, I got some responses from friends suggesting an app called "Tweetie". I found it on the itunes store and after downloading and updating it to my iphone--WOW! I was actually LIVE and was able to see the twitters off all kinds of people. In addition to my friends, I'm following Diddy, Kim Kardashian, and Terrell Owens to name a few. It's fun and easy...what ever took me so long? Now my only problem is, do I update my twitter or my facebook. I don't have enough time in the day to do both. I'm leaning towards twitter so maybe I'll see you all on?! Follow me friends...I made it SO easy. Find me under "lovemystar"~ tweet tweet. :)

Love,
Peace,
& Tweetie~
-c

.the FABulous life of kobe bryant.

2009-04-17T23:24:00.001-07:00

I came across this amazingly well written article by ESPN the magazine's columnist Rick Reilly. It made me smile while reading it because I could picture his experience in my mind... as if I was right there with him. These are the types of articles that I look up to. For your reading pleasure, please enjoy it below~ and BTW, a job well done Mr. Reilly.

It's 49 miles from Kobe Bryant's house in Orange County to Staples Center and yet, even in a Ferrari, it takes him 10 hours and 16 minutes.

What takes him so long? You're about to ride shotgun and find out:

7:15 a.m. Nearly $140 into a cab ride from my place, a security gate opens at the end of a very swank cul de sac to reveal Kobe Bryant, father of two, standing in front of seven vehicles—the Ferrari, the Range Rover, the Escalade, the Bentley Coupe, the two-door plastic Fred Flintstone car, the training-wheels bike and the tricycle smashed into a bush.

"You ready to go?" he asks. "I hate to be late."

I have a bag and nowhere to put it, since the Ferrari is basically a 503-horsepower engine with two seats. So he takes two helmets out of the trunk and puts the bag in.

Helmets for a car? Uh-oh.

7:21 a.m. I immediately spill my coffee in the $300,000-plus Ferrari, but how was I supposed to know he'd demonstrate its 0 to 60 mph in 3.1-seconds right at the very moment I was about to sip my delicious venti mochachino?

Trying to wipe up the puddle with my sock without him noticing and trying to be heard over the Ferrari's throaty roar, I nearly yell my interview:

Me: Why are we leaving so early for a 6:30 Clippers game?

Bryant: "Game day. Lots to do."

Me: Why does a Los Angeles Laker live clear down in Weeds suburbia?

Bryant: "It's peaceful. It's a better place to bring up kids. Nice people down here."

Me: What's the fastest you've ever driven this thing?

Bryant: "We're about to find out."

Me (to self): Did I ever complete my will?

Of course, the 11-time All Star doesn't always drive to work. Sometimes he has one of his off-duty, armed, Lakers-provided, police officers take him in a customized van so he can watch scouting DVDs and ice his feet and knees. (He ices them for 20 minutes three times a day. The man spends more time in ice than Ted Williams.) Occasionally, though, he charters a helicopter. "Sometimes, there's just things you cannot miss."

Like?

"Like my daughter's soccer game. Because what if I miss her first goal?"

Can't say I ever choppered into one of my daughter's soccer games, but still.

Bryant, 30, has been known to get up earlier than many barn owls to conduct his famously brutal workouts. One time, Larry Drew II—who now plays at North Carolina—asked to shadow him on one.

"OK," Kobe said. "Pick you up at 3:30."

But 3:30 came and went and Kobe never showed. Then, at 3:30 the next morning, he was ringing Drew's doorbell.

"You ready?" Kobe asked.

"I like to just get up and get it done," he explained to me, "then I'm back home and nobody's even up. Haven't missed a thing."

7:30 a.m. Bryant pulls the yellow Ferrari up to a massive OC health club and leaves it. This will happen many times today, leaving the car right in front of buildings. Gods do not park.

Today is a Sunday and it's bothering him that he'll have to miss coloring with his girls—6 and 2—watching Ariel in The Little Mermaid for the 1,003rd time with his girls and going to Disneyland with the girls. But he's obsessed with winning the 2009 NBA title, which means he's committed to his boys. He wants to be as chiseled as possible for the coming playoff pounding. That's why it's no surprise we're met by Tim Grover, Michael Jordan's genius strength and conditioning coach.

Grover puts Bryant through a game-day workout like I've never seen. (Warning: If you don't want to feel like a complete jelly-filled donut, don't read this next part.) Among a dozen other drills, Bryant does suicide push-ups. At the top of the pushup, he launches himself off the mat so hard that both his feet come off the ground and his hands slap his pecs. He does three sets of seven of these. This makes me turn away and whimper softly.

8:35 a.m. Bryant wheels the asphalt-eating Ferrari onto the 405 North and begins answering my questions about this remarkable comeback he's making in America, in basketball and in his life, which would be fascinating, if it weren't for the 70 mph-circus going on all around us.

People are pulling up next to us and waving. And screaming. And taking pictures with their cell phones. And honking. And craning back in their seats to see. And not watching the road. And getting too damn close. And Kobe doesn't seem to see any of it.

"Life is really good now," he's saying.

Kobe! Kill 'em tonight! Yeeeeaaahhh bbbboy!

"And it's funny. A lot of these companies who dumped us during the [sexual assault] trial [in which all charges were dropped] are calling us now asking us to come back. And I just kind of smile and go, 'No. No, thanks, homie. We're good.' But that hurt, dude. To just be dropped like that. It hurt."

The guy in the Toyota Tundra is signaling that he wants an autograph.

"But my wife and I, we toughed it out. She and I, we got through it. We're going to be celebrating our … "

Two morons are motioning to me that they'd like Kobe to get off at the next exit and take a picture with them.

" … eight-year anniversary together. And when I think about how I almost lost it, the family and everything … "

I can read their lips: "Dude! Please?!"

" … I'm just very thankful and blessed. It was really close there for awhile."

Even a Weekly Shopper reporter would follow that answer up with, "What do you mean?" But a knucklehead in a Ford truck is trying to cut in front of us so his buddy can take a picture out of the back window, so I ask, "Do you ever wreck on this commute?"

"No," he says with a grin, "but one time, this one guy was looking back and hit the guy in front of him. Not hard or anything, but he definitely hit the guy. It was kinda funny."

With all that chaos, I can't really vouch for the accuracy of all this, but I'm pretty sure Bryant says:

He's taken up golf. Played Pelican Hill the other day with Maris Valainis, who played Jimmy Chitwood in Hoosiers.
If I weren't in the car, he'd be listening to Lil Wayne, Jay-Z or Biggie Smalls.
He loves marketing and advertising. In fact, he conceived and wrote a Carl's Jr. poster, which featured Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and himself, and the slogan: "They Who Endure, Conquer."
He and his wife, Vanessa, have no nannies.
Most sports talk radio makes him nauseous.
He's addicted to Discovery Channel, loves to spear fish, and reads New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.
He has no plans to opt out of his contract at the end of this season, but "you can never absolutely say no, right?"
His daughters speak a mix of English, Spanish and Italian.
He'd like to have a boy.

Forty minutes, 37 missed quotes, and 118 gawkers later, we've gone the 43 miles from the health club in OC to the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo, right near LAX, for shootaround. He pulls up to the spot in front of the door, gets out of the car and doesn't lock it. It's all I can do not to get on my knees and kiss the ground.

12:03 p.m. After his two hours of shooting and stretching, we're off to a downtown hotel, where Kobe will ice, shower, sleep, eat (it's always the same: chicken, rice and broccoli), watch scouting DVDs and make calls until it's time to go. This time we're following one of the off-duty cops, who's driving the gray van.

"Why are we following the cop?" I ask.

"Because I need my jug to ice," he says.

"So why don't we take it ourselves?" I ask.

"Won't fit."

Do you love it? His ice jug gets a police escort.

"What if you can't sleep at the hotel?" I ask as he leadfoots it up the 110 North. "What do you do? Walk around downtown L.A.?"

He laughs and looks at me like I just landed from the planet Nimrod.

"Uh, no. I can't walk around LA. There are fans and then there are LAKER fans. LAKER fans are, like, 10 times more into it than regular fans."

Example: One time, he met a man who had the exact same tattoos as him. Literally, the exact same tattoos, down to the size, color, font, style, even the names of his daughters, his wife, the Bible verses, the crown, everything. And this was in Ohio.

"I mean, what do you say to something like that?" he says, still amazed. "I'm like, 'Wow.' And then I whispered to my security guy, 'Get his social security, OK?'"

12:14 p.m. Four security guards are waiting for us at the hotel. We leave the Ferrari AND the van out front, go through a side entrance, up a freight elevator, to a suite that's waiting for him. What does he pay for use of the suite for a full season? Zippo! "I just take care of them with playoff tickets."

Does the man ever see the inside of his wallet?

5:03 p.m. I get a call on the phone in my room and it's the cop, sounding urgent. "Mr. Reilly? Kobe is going to need to leave in exactly one minute. He was mistaken as to the start of tonight's game. Can you be expedited down here immediately?"

"Uh, well, yeah, I can expedite."

"Good. Much appreciated. Kobe doesn't like to be late."

So I've heard.

Turns out he thought it was a 7:30 start. "I'm such an idiot," he admits. "I do this all the time."

The drive to Staples is going to be a very expedited three minutes, so I have a lot of ground to make up.

How bad do you want this title?

"Beyond your comprehension," he says. "I'm obsessed. It keeps me awake at night."

Can this team do it?

"Yeah, we can do it. We're better equipped this time. Last time (in the finals) we ran into a buzzsaw. That Celtics team was hungry. And not just hungry, but full of hungry veterans."

How long do you want to play?

"I'd love to play until I'm 40, but I'm not sure anybody would want me then. Put it this way: I'll play as long as they'll let me."

As a couple in a red Hyundai shrieks, "Kobe! Kobe! Take care of us tonight!" he turns into the players' gate, where a guy with a mirror on a pole checks under the Ferrari for bombs. I'm terrified what they'll find.

Excuse me, Mr. Bryant? There seems to be mochachino leaking from your car?

He pulls it right up front, hops out, and immediately there's a still photographer and a mini-cam taking our picture as we walk. I try to get away, but he yanks me back into the shot. "Just mean mug it," he whispers. He wears the expression of a mafia don on the way to a trial. I try it, but I can't pull it off. I look like a man suffering upper gastro-intestinal blockage.

I try to say goodbye and thanks, but he's on the phone to his daughters, going "Ciao, bella!" as he walks into the locker room.

It's 5:31 p.m. The Kobe Kommute is over. He's still got the game to go. (The Lakers will defeat the Clippers, 88-85, with Bryant scoring 18 points on 5-for-15 shooting—proving that, occasionally, Kobe DOES miss things.) As for me, I'm so exhausted, there's only one thing I want to do.

Go somewhere quiet and watch Ariel.

What did I tell you? The guy can write, huh? Go Lakers! -c

.knock you down. [keri hilson]

2009-04-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a video of the week so I owe you a good one. This song features not 1 but, 3 talented artists. I love this collaboration, I hope you do too. Enjoy~ :)

.have a heart.

2009-03-26T17:02:00.001-07:00

I am more than shocked and disappointed at the news of what transpired between a Dallas police officer and Texans running back Ryan Moats on March 18, 2009. What happened in front of the hospital where his mother-in-law lay dying of cancer was unbelievable. Shame on Officer Robert Powell who showed no compassion for human life and obviously had no common sense in a matter that truly was "life or death". Here's the full scoop, courtesy of ESPN.com: Officer delayed NFL player as his relative died. The video in the article is worth watching...you won't believe your eyes.

.blah.

2009-03-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

It's 8:30 on a Monday evening. As I sit here in front of my computer with a warm cup of freshly homemade Starbucks (with a splash of my favorite Italian Sweet Cream); I have a confession.

I'm in a sports slump at the moment and I'm not proud of it.

I'm sure you may have wondered where in the world I've been. I don't have an excuse really. I can't use "traveling for work" as a reason because I've been home since my return from the NBA All-Star Weekend in February. And for whatever reason...here we are, surrounded by a ton of sports headlines and I've been M.I.A.

Hmmm, let's see. March Madness is here and I haven't blogged about it once. Manny finally signed with the Dodgers and I'm too burnt out on the subject to give you my insight. LT signing with the Chargers made me feel some enthusiasm but oddly enough it wasn't enough to boil over into my blog. Even today, Lance Armstrong goes for a tumble and breaks his collar bone and I've got nothing to say except, "ouch!"

For this my friends, I do apologize.

With all due respect, I am not saying that I am tired of sports. That's actually NOT the case AT ALL. I think the truth of the matter is, I've had too many non-sports related things going on in my life and it's causing somewhat of an anxiety/stressed/depressed feeling in my mind. No requests for pity here; I'm just trying to get you to see where I'm coming from. Ok, now I'm rambling. I will tell you though that the one semi-sports related topic that has been on my mind for the last several weeks is this. My thoughts and deepest prayers are still with the families of Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, and William Bleakley who never returned home to their families after a day out to sea. This story was one that broke my heart.

*sigh*~ With that said, today I've decided to talk about something other than sports for a slight change. It's something that I happen to love (and I'm sure I can speak for most gals out there).

PURSES!

Yup, that's right PURSES. For you guys that want to stop reading...fine. But you might want to understand a thing or two about why girls have a passion for purses.

So, any fashion-minded girl who looks to enhance her style can always turn to a cute purse. You see, it's a statement. A way to tell someone: look what I've got on my arm and yes, it belongs to me. It's no secret girls carry a number of different things everywhere they go. Some common finds in my own purse would be:

wallet
makeup bag
sunglasses case
iphone
keys
ipod (sometimes)
a pen
gum/candy

Right there you can see the need for a purse, right? So, if a girl has to carry her essentials anywhere and everywhere, why not make it as stylish as possible? Now, you may wonder why some girls want to carry more pricey bags than others? It's simple. Look at it like this...it's like a car. Some people drive a Honda and some people drive a BMW, it's a preference just like a purse. The other awesome thing about a cute purse is that you can use it with more than one outfit. It can even make a so-so outfit look like so much more! To prove my point, check out these comparisons:

So guys, the next time you think a purse is a waste of money...think again! It's one of the best accessories a girl can have. And ladies, one sidenote: it's ok to want different wallets to coordinate with different purses. Just don't forget to grab your ID when you are switching them out. :)

Love,
Peace,
& Handbags,
-c

.81 it is.

2009-03-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.— For Bills fans filling out their programs: Yes, folks, T.O. will be No. 81.

The Buffalo Bills said Thursday that newly signed receiver Terrell Owens will be getting his familiar number, and that second-year receiver James Hardy will be switching to No. 84.

Hardy, the team's second-round draft pick out of Indiana last year, wore No. 81 during his rookie season. It's unclear whether Hardy will be compensated by Owens to switch numbers. In the past, veteran players joining new teams have been known to pay for or provide compensation for the right to switch numbers.

Owens has worn No. 81 throughout his NFL career, but wore No. 80 in college at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Associated Press

.that was quick~.

2009-03-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

T.O. will be playing with the Buffalo Bills to be sure he can pay for his bills (if you know what I mean). :op Haha, ok that was silly I know but I had to make light of what could possibly be T.O.'s last stop in the NFL. I hope this isn't the case but since he signed a 1-year deal and he isn't getting any younger, the future remains to be seen. The great news for T.O. is this deal gives him more money this year with the Bills than he would have earned if he was still a Cowboy. Nice work Drew!

So, I was wrong in my thought process. No chance he’ll be back in a 49ers jersey next year after signing his 6.5 million dollar contract with Buffalo. I’ll be honest, seeing him in a Bills hat and envisioning him in a Bills uniform next season is definitely going to take some getting used to. After all, he’s always been that high profile kind of guy, wanting to play for the most high profile teams.

But, after watching his press conference when the official announcement was made that he was indeed going to Buffalo, it dawned on me how many people in the media just can’t stand him. Granted he has had his share of on-and-off the field issues. Of course there is the outspoken attitude and emotional side of T.O. that the ESPN world loves to magnify. Then, there was the “accidental overdose/possible suicide” incident that had people wondering if he’d gone off the deep end.

My take is that the guy knows he’s had chance after chance to prove the media wrong. And to date, it seems that no matter what positive he does—all we really hear about is the negative. I say give T.O. a break. Let the guy have some breathing room and let him be who he is because if anything, he’s being real. What’s so wrong with yelling on the sidelines—doesn’t that show passion for the game? Would he receive the same criticism if he was sitting on the sidelines laughing and joking around while his team trails on the scoreboard? And quite frankly, if I had his skills as a Receiver, I’d want the ball a ton more too. Listening to him speak at the Bills press conference showed me a relaxed T.O. who I think is misunderstood. The way he spoke sounded very genuine to me. I do believe he is hurt and sad to have been cut from the Cowboys but he’s moving on and proving to everyone that all he wants to do is what he loves—and that is play football.

Lastly, I give props to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. As usual, the media didn’t take him seriously that there were indeed teams interested in T.O. and that he’d have a deal in place within a week of T.O. being cut. A part of me is glad that things are working out for T.O. and I hope that he does well with the Bills. There is one thing that resonated most with me during T.O.'s press conference. It’s when he said, “God has a plan for me”. That right there is why I’m going to continue to cheer for T.O. and actually watch the Bills just to see him play.

Love,
Peace,
& 81,
-c

P.S. I wonder if he’ll still wear #81? Right now Rookie James Hardy has #81. I’m thinking we can expect a business transaction to take place—unless he pulls a Kobe and switches to a totally new number. Hmm.

.the T.O. saga.

2009-03-06T20:42:00.000-08:00

T.O. is no longer a Dallas Cowboy and unlike some Sportscasters, I AM surprised. I did not believe Jerry Jones would let his pride and joy Terrell Owens go. Maybe QB Tony Romo told Head Coach Wade Phillips that it is impossible to play with T.O. going forward. Maybe TE Jason Witten felt he couldn't be himself on the field knowing T.O. would be on the sidelines hoping for a botched Romo-to-Witten play. Maybe Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Jason Garrett gave Jerry Jones an ultimatum, T.O. goes or I go. Maybe they needed to place the blame of a horrible season on a specific person? Who really know what went on. What I can say with confidence is that in the end, he had to make a choice between his flesh and blood son Cowboys VP Stephen Jones and his adopted son Owens. In some situations you’ve got to go with family over your pride and for Jerry Jones; this was one of those situations.

After the news broke that T.O. had been cut, Jerry Jones stated, "In the aftermath of the season, we talked about change. Some of what is changing involves the process and some of it involves people. This is a decision that was made based upon consideration for an entire team. We will move on now with a new team—a new attitude—and into a new stadium. The evaluation process and the prospect for change will continue at every level of the organization.”

Wonder what that last sentence means—more changes to come at other “levels”? Hmm.

How did T.O. take it you wonder? To the disappointment of Sports Analysts and Reporters everywhere, T.O. did not come through with a ranting response or a press conference to vent, he merely released a stand-up guy statement. He thanked Jones, head coach Wade Phillips and the Cowboys’ organization. He said, “thank you for the opportunity to be a member of the team for the past three years. Big thanks to the fans—you've been awesome!” Owens added. “I look forward to the upcoming season and continuing to play in the NFL.”

Later, more news from the T.O. camp came from his infamous agent, Drew Rosenhaus. He indicated in a text message today (to ESPN) that his client won't be out of work for too long. He says, “There are several teams that are interested in signing Terrell. I have been in negotiations with these teams. I will not identify the teams at this time. Terrell and I expect to have a deal in place by the end of next week if not sooner.”

Here are a few teams I think T.O. will end up (in no particular order):

· Baltimore Ravens
· Kansas City Chiefs
· Tennessee Titans
· Oakland Raiders
· Detroit Lions
· Minnesota Vikings
· Jacksonville Jaguars

Here's a thought. Wouldn't it be bittersweet to see him sign with the San Francisco 49ers? With Michael Singletary at the helm of the team and the prospect of a new or rookie quarterback who will need a reliable receiver—it doesn’t see too far fetched. Plus, the Bay area loves T.O. and since he started with the 49ers, how awesome would it be see him full circle and make some history with the very team that drafted him? I think it would be very interesting, especially if the 49ers somehow ended up with Vick as their QB. Ok, I know it's a long shot but ANYTHING can happen in football and you know it's true!

All in all, I'm proud of T.O. for taking this like a man and being optimistic about his chances of playing for another team. I'm not going to lie, I happen to like T.O. and am a fan of his. He's an awesome and exciting player on the field. I have faith that he can be that humble, dedicated and appreciative guy he once was. The 4th time could be the charm and if I had my way, he'd be in a Chargers uniform next year. ;) Haha, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Get your popcorn ready, -c

.cornrows no more.

2009-02-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

By now you must know that Allen Iverson sported a new haircut at this years NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, AZ. If for some reason you didn't hear, to everyone's surprise he cut his hair after 13 years of sporting his trademark cornrows. He stated in an interview with NBA.com that he needed a change and since Obama is now President and that represents change, now was the perfect time. He also made mention that he wanted to make sure he had the approval of his youngest daughter (how cute~). Watch how his fellow All-Stars react to his new do. Personally, I think his hair looks good without the braids. Like a pretty-boy-GQ-look... much better!

Love,
Haircuts,
& Change,
-c

.chromatic.

2009-02-27T21:28:00.001-08:00

The art piece below was designed by Jose Palacios (artist/MMA fighter). He was gracious enough to create this piece for me. He calls it, "like the wind". Thanks Jose!

. you found me. [the fray]

2009-02-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

There’s something melodic about The Fray and their trademark sound. I personally have been a fan since the release of their debut album “How to Save a Life” in 2005 which became popular thanks to one of my favorite television shows, Grey’s Anatomy. If you haven’t heard of them, The Fray is a Grammy Award-nominated 4 member piano rock band. The band was formed in 2002 by Isaac Slade and Joe King (who were schoolmates). I see them as a unique cross and blend between Coldplay + Lifehouse + The Killers. For your listening and viewing pleasure, I’ve posted a snippet of a rare acoustic version of “You Found Me” by The Fray. Not only does it sound great, the lyrics have depth and meaning as well. Enjoy my video of the week~

Peace,
Love, &
Music,
-c

.la coupe stanley.

2009-02-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

I’m not worthy of such a trophy. What I mean is; I didn’t even feel worthy seeing it, let alone having my photo snapped with it. If you don’t know the history of the Stanley Cup, it may be difficult to understand its significance, importance, and popularity. First off, the magnitude of it is much more than you can imagine.

Let me explain.

Established in 1893, the Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley) is a Hockey Championship trophy awarded annually to the NHL Championship Team. It is commonly referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or (by sportswriters) as Lord Stanley's Mug. The Stanley Cup is surrounded by numerous legends and traditions, the oldest of which is the celebratory drinking of champagne out of the cup by the winning team. Unlike the trophies awarded by the other 3 major professional sports leagues: NBA, NFL, and MLB; a new Stanley Cup is not made each year. The Cup winners keep it until a new champion is crowned. It is the only trophy in the professional sports world that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on its chalice. The original bowl was made of silver and has a dimension of 7.28 inches in height and 11.42 inches in diameter. Today, it has a height of 35.25 inches and weighs 34.5 lbs as more names have been added throughout the years. The Stanley Cup is the oldest professional Sports trophy in North America.

Here’s something that could possibly be just as amazing as The Cup itself:

To prevent The Cup from being dented and damaged too badly, the NHL hired a full-time bodyguard in 1995. “We don't play for a bunch of flags like they do in baseball, and you can't drink out of the Lombardi Trophy," says Mike Bolt, 39, the Keeper of the Cup, also known as the "Cup Cop". "It's dry until it's won, and then it goes off the wagon in a hurry". The Stanley Cup is the only trophy in all of sport that is passed along from player to player (of the winning team), each for a 24-hour period. It's the only trophy in all of sport that has 24-hour supervision and is accompanied by a full-time bodyguard (aka “Cup Cop”).

The Stanley Cup is a chalice made of silver and nickel alloy. It travels 300 days a year and in the past eight years, it has logged more than 750,000 miles in trips to Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Austria, Germany, England, the Bahamas and the deserts of Afghanistan. "The Cup opens a lot of doors, and I get to ride its coattails." said Mr. Bolt. The Cup, said to be insured for $75,000, travels in its own case. It can be belted into a seat on a private jet, but it has ridden as baggage ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and more than one Transportation Safety Administration official has ogled it after asking that the case be opened. Mr. Bolt always wears white gloves when he handles the Stanley Cup.

When a player gets his 24 hours with it, Mr. Bolt is right there with it. "The Cup and the keeper are one and the same." he said. That means sleeping in the same house, or trailer, with Brian Trottier (a Cup winner with the Islanders and the Penguins) in Saskatchewan. Going along as The Cup went jet skiing with the Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman. Riding in a car behind it as The Cup was harnessed to the back of the Avalanche's Scott Parker's Harley. Going along in the helicopter Scott Niedermayer (a Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks) hired to fly The Cup to the summit of Fisher Peak in British Columbia, about 9,300 feet above sea level. Or accompanying the Avalanche's Peter Forsberg in 1996 when The Cup flew to Europe for the first time. The roughhousing with The Cup has diminished with the bodyguard along. A request to take it sky diving, for example was denied. But reasonable creativity is allowed. "My job is to make sure The Cup is safe and secure, but we want the players to enjoy their moment with it." Mr. Bolt said. Incidentally, Mr. Bolt has never raised The Cup over his head. He reserves that right to those who have won it.

So, is that amazing or what? I almost feel like The Cup and Cup Cop should have a reality show. Wouldn’t that be cool to follow them around after a Championship, just to see what adventures they find? Well, I hope after this post you learned something new and give this trophy the respect is deserves!

I was lucky enough to see The Stanley Cup and Mr. Bolt with my very own eyes while I was in Montreal. I even had the pleasure of getting my photo taken with it before anyone in line that day. I was escorted to The Cup right after the unveiling ceremony to get my very own photo with what I feel is the coolest, most sacred, and stunning trophy ever.

Thank you NHL! -c

.o-m-g(osh).

2009-02-09T22:30:00.001-08:00

If you didn't know, I *heart* hello kitty and I also *heart* MAC so today is a good day. Being that I'm one who loves packaging... how could I not want all of it? It's too cute and pretty + it's limited edition. I'll just have to pretend the word budget doesn't exist (just for a now).... what to do, what to do~

.montreal, quebec.

2009-02-04T20:07:00.001-08:00

Ok, ok. So, my plan to keep you posted while I was on my trip to Canada failed. I thought I could make time to sit in front of my laptop each and every night before I went to bed to update you all didn’t go exactly as planned. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, I still managed an extremely busy and tiring schedule which resulted in my need for sleep the moment I’d step foot back in my hotel room. I know that isn’t a good excuse but, here I am trying to make it up by giving you my own personal “Top 5 memories from Montreal, Quebec” in no particular order.

#1 – Lay’s Ketchup Chips
I had never heard of it prior to my visit to Montreal. In all honesty, I was kind of perplexed at the idea of the flavor. Why hadn’t I heard of it before? Why had I never seen them in California? I learned quickly that it was a local favorite along with “Lay’s Dill Pickle Chips” (which I didn’t try but will the next time I visit). Apparently they are only available in Canada which also perplexes me now that I’ve tried them. Funny thing is that when I saw the bag, my mouth started to water. I kid you not; and when I opened the bag they looked so good. After I ate my first Lay’s Ketchup chip, it was so deliciously tasty I wished every one of my friends and family were there to try it too. It was that good! Here's a photo of the bag before I ate its contents. :)

#2 – Hockey
Here at home, when I turn on my TV and click over to ESPN; it would be typical to see highlights and reports on most every sport—from the NFL, NBA, MLB, Tennis, Boxing, NASCAR, and even MMA. But what we seldom see is much reporting on the NHL. I’ll admit that I’ve been guilty for turning my attention back to my mirror to finish my make-up in the mornings the moment Hockey highlights took its turn. Watching Hockey on TV was never appealing to me and the fighting… well it was down right wrong in my eyes. I never thought I’d say this but after my trip to Montreal, I now have a new found respect for the sport of Hockey. The Canadians are nothing short of “die-hard” for their Hockey. It’s on TV—pretty much ALL THE TIME. Every Dive Bar, Sports Bar, and Restaurant with a working television had them set on the Versus Network (which is mostly hockey all-day-every-day). And yes, I do truly feel it is a sport because it takes a ton of physical ability and stamina to get through an entire game. I seriously had no idea what a cool sport Hockey really was, not to mention how great the NHL is. The league is fantastic and very professional which earns them a nod here on my list. They hosted an amazing All-Star Weekend which coincided with the centennial anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens—what a way to celebrate the sport!

#3 – French Fries Vending Machine
It’s true and no I didn’t try it. I think I was more intrigued than grossed out. They had all sorts of toppings too like cheese, gravy, and ketchup. You place your cash in the dispenser, press a few buttons, and out comes your order. The kicker was that this machine was inside a restaurant. This resulted in me NOT ordering fries since I couldn’t be sure they didn’t have a French Fries Vending Machine in the kitchen reserved for all of the French Fry orders. Ok, now I think I’m grossed out. :o/

#4 – Meeting Gordon "Gordie" Howe
Gordie is often referred to as Mr. Hockey, and is known as one of the Greatest Hockey Players of all time. Being most famous for his scoring prowess, physical strength, and the longevity of his career; he's quite a legend. He is the only player to have competed in the NHL in five different decades. It was an honor and a pleasure to meet someone so respected. I can go on and on about him but I probably couldn’t do him justice so you’d be better off googling him. He happened to be staying at my hotel so I got to chat with him for a few. I even met his best friend Felix who was such a sweet man. I hear they've been pals for over 60 years. This picture is definitely worth a thousand words.

#5 – My flight from Montreal to Dulles
Leaving the Montreal airport wasn’t an experience that I’ll try hard to remember. It was mostly terrible because of the customs lines, the long walk with my baggage, and the impersonal customs agents. But, I will remember my short flight to Dulles (where I was connecting to my flight home) upon leaving Montreal. Being on a little commuter plane isn’t my favorite but in this instance, it wasn’t so bad. I so happened to board the plan with the last group since I had an aisle seat. As I dug through my purse for my passport in case the airport attendants needed to take one last look at it prior to me boarding; I found myself just about last. Next to me was a nice gentleman who was kind enough to small talk with me for the 15 minutes as we waited to board the plane. We chatted about where he lives and he asked what brought me to Montreal. Since I knew who he was, I asked him if he ever got tired of people asking him for autographs or photos—and politely he said no. Super nice guy and I’m glad I had the opportunity to chat with him. Interestingly it was Mark "The Moose" Messier. Messier is widely considered as one of the Best NHL Players of all time and, is regarded as one of the Greatest Leaders in the NHL history. He is second on the all-time career lists for regular season points (1887), playoff points (295) and regular season games played (1756). He won five Stanley Cups with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only professional athlete to captain two different teams to Championships. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Wow!

A final thought. The fact that everyone in the city of Montreal spoke French was so cool. I kept pulling out my “bonjour” everywhere I went. As the week progressed, I got brave and added “comment sont vous” and I learned that “bonsoir” was appropriate in the evenings. I SO wish I was bilingual in French. Even with 2 years of high school courses in French, my most complicated sentence was “je m'appelle Christine”. One day…

Peace,
Love, &
Ketchup Lays~
-C

.it’s snowing outside.

2009-01-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

At the moment, I am warm and toasty in my hotel room. The only thing missing is a hot cup of coffee. Since I’m in the mood to blog about my whereabouts (diary style), here goes...

I am in a place I’ve never been before and it’s extremely cold outside. For the sake of trying to clarify for you really how cold it is—the current temperature outside is a whopping -10 degrees Fahrenheit. YES people, I said NEGATIVE 10! The moment I step outside of my hotel, it feels like I’ve opened my freezer and literally walked right into it. After only a couple of minutes (bundled up mind you), I start to feel like I'm becoming an icicle with my nose, ears, and toes turning numb. And did I mention that it is snowing too? Being that I live in sunny Southern California, this is definitely a unique experience. It’s pretty unreal that I’m in a city where it is actually snowing with piles of snow on every corner and sidewalk. Also, because everyone here speaks French, it’s a constant reminder that I’m far away from home.

Can you guess where I am yet?

Montreal, Quebec is a very pretty place. It has only been a day so I’m still learning about the downtown area. One of the most interesting things about Montreal is the underground malls. You can walk down various staircases all around the city (similar to a subway entrance in NYC) which leads you into a whole new world underground. Lucky for me, there is an entry right from my hotel. There are shops, bakeries, restaurants, and malls—including a train station. It’s much cooler seeing it in person than me trying to explain it.

So far the food had been ok. I had a good sandwich at a place on Rue St. Catherine (a main street in downtown) when I flew in last night. I think I want to visit this street again when all of the shops are open. I imagine that the shopping here might be good. :)

On a side note, the coffee has been much better than I had expected. I grabbed a Vanilla Latte from a place called Second Cup which was good. I have only seen one Starbucks since I’ve been here. The locals go to Tim Hortons (serving coffee and doughnuts) which is equivalent to our Starbucks. I’ll probably try that place tomorrow.

Until then—au revoir! :)
-c

.us against the world. [christina milian]

2009-01-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

Meet one of my most FAVORITE entertainers. I have been a fan of hers for years. She is a gorgeous girl with an outgoing personality, not to mention very talented! She prides herself in being a role model for her fans by staying true to herself... "there are a lot of people who young girls look up to, but at the end of the day you have to be your own person and love yourself."

Christine Flores, born September 26, 1981 is better known by her stage name, Christina Milian. She is an R&B and Pop singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. Born in Jersey City, NJ; Christina moved to Los Angeles when she was 13 years old with dreams of becoming an actress. By age 17, she had begun writing songs to help her obtain a recording contract. Christina has released three studio albums, and is currently recording a fourth album which is due April 2009. As for her acting career, Milian was cast in her first lead role in Love Don't Cost a Thing, played a main role in Be Cool and the horror film Pulse. She is set to appear in the upcoming film, The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past alongside Matthew McConaughey.

So... with that; please take a moment to listen to my favorite song of the moment. I've actually been playing this song in my car since November. The music video just released, so I wanted to share it with all of you! As always...enjoy~

.its go time.

2009-01-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

.flashback 2008.

2009-01-05T23:13:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I had this idea in my head that I really didn't do or accomplish much last year. After some reminiscing and digging through my digital archives, I realized I was very wrong. So with that, I decided to share with you some photographs highlighting some cool moments from my 2008.

It's pretty rare for me to allow people to take a peek into my personal photo albums but I figure...what's the point in freezing a single moment in time with a photo if they aren't shared as memories? Enjoy~

Peace,
Love, & 2008
-C

.it's beginning to look a lot like christmas + ffl championship + my nba ballot.

2008-12-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

Please forgive me for being MIA for almost 2 weeks. Here I am! :) I’ve been busy with Christmas preparations and the start of a New Year. My quest to finish buying gifts early this year was not as easy as I thought. Last month (right around Thanksgiving), I wrote up a gift list and committed to getting through it as quick and painless as possible. I started off strong by doing some shopping over the weekend after Black Friday. I was able to get about half of the people on my list crossed off. Now I sit here a week before Christmas with presents that still need to be wrapped and gifts that still need to be bought. How did I get so behind? *sigh*

Anyhow, enough about my holiday stress. The good news is, I got my Christmas tree up a week ago and it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside when I see it. I love the twinkling lights and refreshing Christmas tree scent. This year I switched from the Noble Fir (which I bought for years) to my new favorite, the Fraser Fir. Wow, it is so beautiful. It's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! Now on to sports! With my fantasy football league; I am on edge at the moment because I am in the Championship game this week. Yup, I made it to the big game and I’m so nervous because my team isn’t what it used to be. With Plaxico’s mess, Barber’s injury, and LT’s disappointing year, I’ve had to make some changes to my line-up. Wish me luck.

One thing that I haven’t touched on much is the NBA season. Just so you know, I’ve been watching and keeping tabs on the league. Mental notes are being taken by yours truly for future posts so I'll be chatting about that soon. Oh and yes, I know I promised you a NBA Rookie post; stay tuned for that as well. I can tell you that I am very excited for the Celtics vs. Lakers game on Christmas Day. You can bet I’ll be watching from the comfort of my home in my PJ’s with a warm cup of cocoa. Speaking of the NBA, I’ve cast my 2009 NBA All-Star Ballot. The game will be held in Phoenix, Arizona over Valentine’s Day weekend.
My NBA All-Star 2009 picks are:

Western Forwards:
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Pau Gasol, LA Lakers

Western Guards:
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Chris Paul, New Orleans

Western Center:
Greg Oden, Portland

Eastern Forwards:
LeBron James, Cleveland
Paul Pierce, Boston

Eastern Guards:
Devin Harris, New Jersey
Dwyane Wade, Miami

Eastern Center:
Dwight Howard, Orlando

If you wonder why those players, I have my reasons and I gave it a lot of thought. For instance, how could I leave out Melo after he tied an NBA record by scoring 33 points in a single quarter during his team's 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves last week? Or, how could I leave out Kobe who is still going strong all the while his 81 points scored versus Toronto back in 2006 is still fresh in my mind? I’ve also got silly reasons like; I think Greg Oden is hilarious. On top of that, he is finally playing some decent ball now that he’s back on the court, not to mention I met him (but I’ll save that one for another time...remind me though to explain the handshake, lol). Oh by the way, have you seen the 2008 ESPY performance by Justin Timberlake w/Oden?! Seriously, it's so great!

Love,
Christmas,
& Basketball~
-C

.it's a small world after all.

2008-12-05T23:52:00.000-08:00

As you may know, I am a Filipino-American gal who was born and raised in San Diego, California. Who would have thought that Manny Pacquiao (the most famous boxer in the Phillipines) & Shawne Merriman (OLB from my hometown NFL team, the Chargers) would be hanging out enjoying a nice meal together? After discovering they are neighbors (in Los Angeles), the two became buddies. I'm sure that Merriman was quick to learn that Filipinos love to feed their guests. From the looks of it, Shawne is diggin' some Filipino food~

.torn. [letoya]

2008-12-04T21:11:00.001-08:00

Hey Friends! First of all, WAY TO GO CHARGERS for a W (it's about time)!~ Secondly, I owe you a video of the week, so here it is. You've probably heard this artist sing before but you may not realize how or when. LeToya Luckett (known professionally as LeToya) was a founding member of the R&B female group Destiny's Child with whom she won 2 Grammys. Later she was unexpectedly replaced by Michelle Williams thus launching her successful solo career.

In the video you are about to see, there is a sports tie-in with my selection. Yes, a sports tie-in...LUCKY ME! Look out for an appearance by NFL FS Will Demps (currently with the Houston Texans #47). Some quick background info (so you can say you learned something new today)~ Demps was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at San Diego State and has also played for the the NY Giants. As a side note, he is the older brother of former NFL Safety Marcus Demps who was a member of the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2006. A non-related sports fact is that Will Demps has been known to do some modeling so I took the liberty of posting his photo for all of my gal pals. :) In case you are wondering, Demps' father is African American and his mother is Korean.

Enjoy the video~

P.S. My apologies if an advertisement pops up before the video starts. My intent is to post the highest quality videos for your viewing pleasure. Unfortunately, sometimes that means they'll include an ad. Thanks for your understanding...

-C

.the best things in life are free.

2008-11-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it definitely felt like a different kind of holiday for me. Rather than be excited about the yummy Thanksgiving meal and my favorite pumpkin pie dessert, there was much more on my mind. At first I doubted that I could feel thankful for anything this year. I mean we've got serious issues that surround us right now like the economic crisis, world hunger, and terrorism (to name a few). But, after some reflection; I realized that I was wrong.

It happened when I was sitting in my living room with my dogs on Thanksgiving morning. It dawned on me: I'm one lucky girl. I am truly blessed for everything that I have and the fact that I have the freedom to write this blog is proof. From the small things like the photographs I have to keep memories fresh, to the the big things like a beautiful home and a loving family; I have more than enough (not to mention everything in between)! If you think you don’t have much to be thankful for in life; grab a piece of paper and jot down a list of what you encounter on a daily basis. You’d be surprised. And for those of you who are going through tough times, remember there is a reason for EVERYTHING! You see, it takes going through a storm to end up with a rainbow. In light of the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, here’s a video that I dedicated to YOU my awesome blog friends. Cheers to your *good life*!

Love,
Happiness, &
Thanksgiving!
-C

.bcs 102.

2008-11-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

There are definite differences between NCAA football (college) and the NFL (as I mentioned in my bcs 101 post). It may be not be easy to pick up on these details so I took the liberty of brainstorming a list which highlights a few:

The hash marks are in different places. For college football the hash marks are 60 feet from the sideline and for the pros they are 70 feet 9 inches from the sideline. They look different because the pro hash marks are closer together in the middle of the field than the college hash marks are.
The NFL limits teams to 53 players.
In NCAA football, the defense can return a failed conversion attempt for 2 points.
In NCAA football, the game clock stops after a successful first down conversion; starting again after the officials have set the football. In the NFL this clock stoppage does not take place.
The NFL uses a "sudden death" overtime system. This means that the first team to score any points during overtime will win upon scoring. In NCAA football, each team is given an opportunity to score, with the game continuing on as long as the score remains tied.
In the NFL, teams receive 40 seconds in-between plays. In NCAA football the time limit is 25 seconds, beginning when the official rules the ball "ready to play".
In NCAA football the point after touchdown is attempted from the 3 yard-line. In the NFL it's attempted from the 2 yard-line.
NFL has a salary cap and college players can't get paid (so they say…).
College players can force someone out of bounds to void a catch.
No touch from opposing team needed when you are down in college games.
The clock stops after a 1st down in college until the refs move the chains, spot the ball and signal for time to begin again.
In NCAA football replay, officials can review every play vs. the NFL where it is done only in the last 2 minutes.
In the NFL, each team is given two instant replay challenges; while in NCAA football each coach only gets one.
1 foot (in NCAA football) vs. 2 feet (in the NFL) must be inbounds to be ruled a catch. In the NFL, a player who is receiving a pass must do several things before they establish possession of the football. They need to get two feet down inbounds and continue throughout the process to retain a firm, controlled grasp of the football. College players need to do far less to establish possession. All they need to do is to get 1 foot down inbounds and retain a grasp on the football.
NFL clock restarts after out of bounds for most of the game.
Pass interference in the NFL is at the spot of the foul or 1 yard line if in the end zone while it is a 15 yard penalty in college.
NFL allows teams to handle balls prior to game (except kicking balls) college requires new balls each game (no professional emblems on the balls allowed in college).
There is no 2 minute warning in college.
Kickoff penalties are different.
Goal posts on the field are different.
The NFL has "Playoffs" vs. college football having "Bowl Games". In the NFL, the post-season winner is decided by a standard bracket playoff system, similar to the one in place in most other professional sports leagues. NCAA football utilizes a voting system to assign teams to "bowl games," which are the only post-season matches played each year. This eventually culminates in a national champion being selected.

I am sure there are many more but as you can see, it really is a different set of rules. This is another reason the transition from college football can be a bit difficult to adapt from a rookie perspective.

One aspect that is NOT DIFFERENT between a NCAA football game and an NFL game is the excitement! A college football game can be just as exciting (if not more so at times) than an NFL game. Check out one of the most memorable plays from this seasons match up between Texas Tech vs. Texas. A not-so-small rivalry game that ended in such a BIG way! Have you ever heard of Michael Crabtree? If not, you can say you know exactly who he is after watching this clip. Enjoy~

Peace,
Love &
the BCS,
-C

P.S. If you'd like to view the above video in high def, you can do so at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaN_ce47MOY. Click on "watch in high quality" right below the volume control on the youtube screen.

.bcs 101.

2008-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

If you’d have asked me a year ago how I felt about college football, I would have told you that I honestly didn’t care for it. I had no interested in it AT ALL. Lucky for me, that all changed this year.

When college football kicked off this season, it dawned on me. How could I declare that I’m a huge sports fan without giving college football a chance? How could I dream about becoming an ESPN sideline reporter if I didn’t educate myself on every sport? That was when I decided to give college football a chance. I began to pay more attention to what the sportscasters had to say about the upcoming collegiate season. I studied the ins and outs and familiarized myself with the system. Since then, I’ve learned a few things about the college football world. One nice perk is that most (if not all) NFL rookies start there and showcase their talents in the prestigious BCS. Not to mention; following the transition of a rookie between college football and the NFL as it culminates on NFL Draft day is pretty fun to watch! College football is truly greater than I ever knew. How could I not realize this before?

As I began to keep tabs on college football, I found that I was not at all in tune with the way it worked. It is very different from the NFL in some respects and I think that in order to appreciate it for what it is, you’ve got to understand the basics. So, I decided to share with you my version of the "BCS basics" for any of you blog friends out there who may want to impress someone, learn something new, or be amused by my mini lesson! Ok, here we go. :)

First off, there are a few definitions that you might want to be clear on.

BCS may refer to several different definitions as it relates to American College Football but primarily means “Bowl Champion Series”. This is a system that selects match-ups for college football bowl games.

The term BCS can also be used in the following ways:

“BCS National Championship Game” which is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series AND “BCS Conference” which is the six major NCAA Division I-A football conferences whose champions receive an automatic bid into the Bowl Championship Series.

NCAA is the “National Collegiate Athletic Association” (often pronounced "N-C-Double-A"). It is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the US.

Now that those terms are out of the way, here’s how things come together.

The college football season begins each year on Labor Day weekend (one week before the NFL season begins). The regular season for college football continues through early December and consists of twelve regular-season games per team. During the final weekend of the regular season, there are several conference championship games and rivalry games, including the popular Army-Navy Game.

The postseason for college football consists of a series of bowl games that showcase the top 64 college teams. Each bowl game is generally a match of two teams with similar standing from different conferences. Division I Bowl Subdivision (still widely known by its former designation of Division I-A) football is the only NCAA sport which does not decide its champion with a playoff.

BCS rankings are released weekly (every Sunday during the season). Since 1998, the BCS National Championship Game has been determined by the Bowl Champion Series (aka: BCS). The BCS National Championship Game is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series. This game is played after the completion of the BCS Bowls. The site of the Championship Game rotates every year between the four BCS Bowls: the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The first BCS Championship game was held on January 8, 2007 at the new University of Phoenix Stadium, the new home of the Fiesta Bowl.

Bowl dates for this season are:

Jan. 1, 2009 - FedEx Bowl
Jan. 1, 2009 - Rose Bowl
Jan. 2, 2009 - Allstate Sugar Bowl
Jan. 5, 2009 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 8, 2009 - National Championship Game (Miami)

The system for calculating the bowl games is very controversial. Some critics argue that the system unfairly favors teams from large conferences. Critics of the current BCS Championship complain that the national champion is decided by polls and computers, not by competition on the field. The BCS method chooses only the top two ranked teams, according to a combination of the BCS computer rankings and two human polls, to compete for the national championship. This has often led to disagreements and questions as to whether the team who won the BCS National Championship Game is actually the best team. In 2003, for example, USC was not included in the BCS Championship Game, but beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and ended up No. 1 in the Associated Press final poll.

Interesting side note: In all other NCAA sporting events, the national champions are determined by a playoff system (while college football is not).

So, I’ll pause here. Be a sponge and soak this all in. I know it's a lot. Try watching a game or two (televised every Saturday during the season). You may be pleasantly surprised. Me personally, I enjoy the USC Trojans and Texas Tech Red Raiders!

.the biggest little heart.

2008-11-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

I find myself stressing on a daily basis about things that (in the grand scheme of life), don't really mean much. It is so easy for us to take for granted that we are healthy and free to do what we wish each and every day. I've asked myself time and time again, am I doing enough to make a difference in the world? It seems impossible, but is it really? Then, I ran across this story and it touched my heart. Life is too short to stress about the small stuff. Thank you Brenden for reminding me how precious life really is and that making a difference in the world is nowhere near impossible.

LYNNWOOD, Wash. - Doctors gave 11-year-old Brenden Foster two weeks to live. Those two weeks were up on Wednesday. On Friday, he shared his last wish.

.nike leave nothing.

2008-11-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

News Flash! I have just beaten the only undefeated Fantasy Football Team in my league!

I REPEAT, I have just beaten the ONLY undefeated Fantasy Football Team in my league and have moved into the #1 spot. My current record entering week 10: 8-1-0 in first place due to highest points overall. Woo-hoo~

The MNF game tonight, Steelers vs. Redskins had me on edge until the very last second of the game! The fantasy team I was playing had QB Jason Campbell going and I had only a single DL player going, LaMarr Woodley. Before the game, I was down 2 points overall. Thanks to Woodley's solo tackle, 2 assists, and 2 sacks combined with Campbell's 2 PICs and ZERO TD's... I won by .90 points! (Remember, my league plays with individual D's). I still can't believe it!

Ok now back to business. :) So, I wanted to keep you all entertained until I post my next sports write-up. For now, I've decided to share with you a collection of a few nike commercials that I consider some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy watching these videos because trust me; I would not post them here on my blog if I didn't feel they were worthy of your time. Btw, even if you have already seen these, their so good they can be watched over and over again AND be just as good the first time. Lastly, make sure you have your sound on and the volume up. Enjoy~

LOL, and I threw in the one below just for fun.

Love,
23,
and Nike,
-Christine

.kobe + friends = guitar hero world tour.

2008-10-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today, the fourth installment of the very popular Guitar Hero video game launched in North America for the PS2, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. It will definitely be a test of the gaming industry's ability to weather the current economic storm.

Activision Blizzard Inc.'s “Guitar Hero World Tour” is one of the company's most important games of the year. At $189.99, it will also be one of the most expensive games they have ever released. Although some analysts still expect the franchise to drum up $1.4 billion in sales this year, its steep price could turn away some consumers as they pinch pennies this holiday season.

So why would I spend $190 for “Guitar Hero World Tour,” which adds drums and a microphone to its mega-selling guitar package? And why would I (and you, for that matter) clutter up the living room with yet more stuff? Kai and Charles Huang, the creators of the “Guitar Hero” franchise say that it’s not just about the accessories in “Guitar Hero World Tour.” It’s also about the new software, which lets users create their own music, and upload their creations for the world to play.

Despite the new features and the cool new accessories which make this game more like its competitor “Rock Band”; my favorite thing about this launch is its new commercial.

Check it out!! omg, seriously...it's so great! lol~

Rock on,
-C

*Updated 11/05* Post-commercial reaction from Kobe~

.lovemystar.

.lockout no more.

.who says.

.fisher's five.

.open letter to fans from the nfl commish.

.i believe.

.21.

.i have a dream.

.everyone loses games, few change them.

.rock church - 2011 vision.

.marry me.

.be teased.

.please don't go.

.my kardashian connection.

.reggie bush to forfeit heisman.

.louboutins.

.2010 nfl draft - rounds 2 & 3 results.

.2010 nfl draft - round 1 results.

.the element of freedom.

.jake olson - the kid with the biggest heart.

.lines by the heart.

.be inspired by beyonce.

.where in the world is christine? + nyc trip.

.i will remember the king of pop.

.lakers vs. magic + twitter-bug + vick is out.

.tweet tweet.

.the FABulous life of kobe bryant.

.knock you down. [keri hilson]

.have a heart.

.blah.

.81 it is.

.that was quick~.

.the T.O. saga.

.cornrows no more.

.chromatic.

. you found me. [the fray]

.la coupe stanley.

.o-m-g(osh).

.montreal, quebec.

.it’s snowing outside.

.us against the world. [christina milian]

.its go time.

.flashback 2008.

.it's beginning to look a lot like christmas + ffl championship + my nba ballot.

.it's a small world after all.

.torn. [letoya]

.the best things in life are free.

.bcs 102.

.bcs 101.

.the biggest little heart.

.nike *leave nothing*.

.kobe + friends = guitar hero world tour.

.nike leave nothing.