excerpt from v3, v1:

Konstantin, the Russian waiter with the faux-French accent serving us Italian pasta (taken by the Portuguese from the Chinese) at Le Provençal, a French restaurant inside the hotel Paris, an "I am France" establishment in the middle of the Nevada desert (Vegas), USA.

<> "Look at me, I am French." - Arun imitating Konstantin
(back in LA).

note for future reference: his name wasn't really Konstantin

current reading list:
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress -Dai Sijie
Stupid White Men -Michael Moore
Talk about Sex: The Battles over Sex Education in the United States -Janice M. Irvine

"I always knew Michael Moore would come between us."

So much has happened, so little time to tell:
v3, v1 in publication... no more Vegas please
Bill Viola's "Passions" opened at the Getty -- must see
potential/probable relapse in progress
Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles still satisfying tastebuds and clogging arteries
Jon Crispin made a 3-pt shot against Cal
the Circle Bar: where college boys go to pick up on grown up chicks
full-time work with Megan to begin spring quarter
living location for next year beginning to be secured
Randall's fragile psyche theory -- never say anything to screw anyone up, especially your kids
Adaptation: the best movie Hollywood ever made about itself. It's about flowers.
"Hey, you see that girl? Yeah, I fucked her up the ass..." "I'm just kidding"
beware of harming your gums while brushing
American Idol -- depressing proof of how many delusional people exist in this world
1 part Pimms No. 1 to 3 parts Lemonade with a slice of lemon
the Raspberry martini: raspberry pucker, fresh lime juice, absolut citron
"I grew up in LA!" "Anaheim..."
cloud panorama framed 8x10 and awaiting display -- thanks again Arun
IKEA birch dining table as desk: still just something to keep all my shit from sitting on the floor
next to figure out on piano: Hands by Jewel

A wise friend tells me there are two forms of communication: a loving response or a cry for help.

Fuck weblogs as a cry for help.

It’s time for Guerrero to put Lavin, fans out of their misery

By Jeff Eisenberg
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
jeisenberg@media.ucla.edu

With every errant pass, every wayward jumper and every chorus of boos, it has become increasingly clear.

Dan Guerrero cannot allow the Steve Lavin era to endure any longer.

Although Saturday's demoralizing loss to St. John's may have sealed Lavin's fate, it is not enough that he be replaced at the end of the season. The imposing mystique that once embodied UCLA basketball has taken more hits than ... well, has Bob Marley ever toured in Amsterdam?

And like Marley, the damage may be irreparable if changes aren't made immediately.

As the Bruins' NCAA tournament prospects continue to grow dimmer than a Chico State cheerleader, the environment at Pauley Pavilion fluctuates between caustic and apathetic. UCLA (4-7) is just 2-5 at home this season, and empty seats – like inexplicable December losses – are now taken for granted.

The Bruins are averaging just 8,000 people per game; only high school sensation LeBron James has played before a sold-out Pauley Pavilion.

Those fans that have chosen to attend have not exactly been supportive. The student section has been dotted with LoseLavin.com T-shirts all season, and the crowd has often booed the Bruins off the court after losses.

The die-hard gravediggers have even openly rooted against the team in hopes that every loss is another nail in Lavin's coaching coffin.

Although Lavin has somehow avoided the unemployment line during each of his mercurial seven years as UCLA head coach, flames have virtually engulfed his hot seat this season.

In the past, the Bruins have rallied around their embattled leader in classic "win-one-for-the-Gipper" style, easing the pain of an early-season malaise by reeling off a winning streak in February or March.

Most of the players on this year's squad appear to enjoy playing for Lavin, but the two notable exceptions could be the most crucial to the future of the program.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, sophomores Cedric Bozeman and Dijon Thompson are unhappy with Lavin and the direction that the team is headed.

Bozeman considered quitting after the Bruins' second exhibition loss of the season, but decided to remain with the team. Meanwhile, Thompson is the central figure in one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time. How he lost his spot in the starting lineup earlier in the season is as bewildering as trying to figure out who shot JFK.

Despite being UCLA's second-leading scorer on the season, Thompson played just 24 minutes against St. John's, registering five points on two-of-four shooting. He did not enter the game in the second half until only 12:41 remained in the contest.

Just the threat of losing the two most talented players on the squad ought to have Guerrero chasing Lavin through the halls of the Morgan Center, mace in hand. But the first-year athletic director has already stated that he has no intention of making a change prior to the end of the season.

For his part, Lavin appears much like a prisoner on death row who has used up all of his appeals. He has already contacted several friends at Purdue about taking over the program, once Gene Keady retires, and has also expressed interest in working in broadcasting in the future.

Regardless of Lavin's future plans, the facts surrounding this season at UCLA remain as clear as the chants at Pauley Pavilion calling for his demise.

A declining fan base, a diminishing talent pool, and a squad that appears listless and lethargic have exposed all that is wrong with UCLA basketball and appear to have spelled the end of the Lavin era in Westwood.

"I've been here seven years as a head coach, five as an assistant – I know the landscape," Lavin said after Wednesday's loss to USC. "They've lined up to execute me for seven years, but they keep missing."

Here's hoping that it's Dan Guerrero who dons the executioner's hood this time and not the media. And here's hoping he acts quickly.

The regular season ends March 8. That's 61 more days – can you wait?

Ok so what if he tried to take ridiculously illogical 3-point shots... we'll ignore that for the moment and glee in the fact that we're one step closer to losing Lavin.

SB was tons of fun. IV exactly demonstrates the University of Casual Sex and Beer stereotype. All I can say is if you are female and have a beer gut (= I'm addressing over 50% of the female population there) then please don't wear the same hooched out shirts that you wore back in high school when you didn't have a beer gut. And please don't wear those low-rider cut-off jeans that let your belly hang out even more. Please Please Please. Please Please Please.



Time for Tony's guitar lesson. peace.

Jon Crispin, if you're reading this, I'm your biggest fan! :)

Most painful Swingers moment: Mike calling Nikki within 30 min of leaving the Dresden.
Best Swingers LA moment: "818?" "No, 310." "Ohhhh..."
Favorite Swingers moment: "I grew up in LA!" "Anaheim..."

Favorite LA Story quote: "I'll have a double half decaf half caf with a twist of lemon."
Favorite LA Story moment: Steve Martin roller skating through the contemporary section of the LACMA.

(09:11) Mell: miyagi's tomorrow.
(09:12) nuttyprncs: a girl should never accept a date for friday after tues
(09:12) Mell: yes
(09:12) nuttyprncs: so have fun
(09:12) Mell: like never saturday after wednesday
(09:12) Mell: hahaha
(09:12) Mell: oh please. i'm a GIRL
(09:12) Mell: we're not going out on a date
(09:12) Mell: haha
(09:12) nuttyprncs: damn
(09:12) nuttyprncs: and I have plans
(09:13) Mell: hahaha. funny funny angie
(09:13) nuttyprncs: I do
(09:13) nuttyprncs: you think I'm just going to sit around waiting for you to invite me out?
(09:13) nuttyprncs: I have a life you know
(09:13) Mell: yes.
(09:13) Mell: oh please
(09:13) Mell: i AM your life
(09:13) Mell: you are nothing without me
(09:13) Mell: you think you can just go out and make new friends?!
(09:13) nuttyprncs: bitch
(09:14) Mell: hahahahaha

Everyone needs a Matteeo in their life. I mean, with what other friend can you act like a complete idiot and not fear judgment nor ridicule in the least? Ladies, he's single. And he plays the guitar. That makes him a player. (emphasis courtesy of Matt)

more signs that this is a parallel universe:

G-love disappears and his deceased body is found
a car runs a red light and almost hits 4 pedestrians
I open our garage door directly into the Horowitz's spotless Volvo
a truck almost rear ends a car backing out of its driveway
two cars collide at the intersection of Veteran and Gayley

I didn't pay for excitement. I paid for a victory. 4/26 overall from the 3-point line. Kapono is the epitome of UCLA sports -- INCONSISTENT.

So let's see. Ray Young (as painful as it is to say) is on fire. What does Lavin do? Take him out. Cedric Bozeman is on fire. What does Lavin do? Take him out. Jason Kapono absolutely sucks (4/15 field goals). I don't care how many points he scored in Washington. What does Lavin do? LEAVE HIM IN.

And Jon Crispin did not get ANY playing time. This is personal.

At least our soccer team is good...

So it's official. I'm graduating at the end of winter. Crazy stuff. Degree conferred: March 2003. Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science with a minor in Education Studies and a specialization in Computing. I wonder where I'll end up. Probably LA. I've grown to love it. Everything about it. Really, it's 80 degrees. I'm wearing a skirt and a tank top. It's the middle of January. Well actually, I stand by my theory that we're throwing our homeostatic abilities out of whack. But that's besides the point. I love it here. The ocean, the pretty people... It's not a desert with sprinklers... they took a desert and made it into their dreams. Yeah, I just watched LA Story. Excellent LACMA scenes.

Things I've resolved to do (not the same as New Year's Resolutions, because we all know those are a load of crap):
1. not flip off Mell
2. develop my creative side through music and photography ("and if there are THREE kids in the family, then good luck to the youngest one... hopefully they'll be an artist or something")
3. watch SportsCenter
4. stay updated on current issues
5. stop being quite so harsh on Asian people (that's a tough one)

more to come...

Today was the first day of my last quarter here as an undergrad at UCLA. I got somewhat nostalgic, especially after talking to a first year in my class who has his entire academic career ahead of him. I hope I made the most of my time here. I think I have. There really isn't much that I would have done differently, short of being more involved or following my gut instinct earlier on... I got to spend time with old friends tonight. It's funny how you can go through so many life changes and be apart for so long, then get back together and chit chat the night away as if nothing has changed. I think it's sad when people don't enjoy what they're doing and where they are, when they resent all of the studying or how far away from home they were or what the weather was like or what type of people they spent time with... Well final quarter, here I come. And I'm going to make the best out of you.

12 people. loss of over 1000 dollars in cash. lots of driving, little sleep. oh Vegas.

The Rio hotel is a blast- definite recommendation... Huge suites, fun atmosphere, shows every hour, fun dance club that's free for hotel guests, pools that are actually open in the winter... The only thing that sucks is it's off the strip, which makes strolls along the strip less accessible. It IS near the Palms Hotel though, which is nice. And it hosts the Chippendales... definitely the highlight of the trip! Remind me to show you the poloroid and the strip of wet t-shirt that I have as souveniers... The guys on our trip were none too amused though (insecure I tell ya)...

ok, I'm off. Vegas again in 13 days...

12 people. 200 dollars in cash. the Rio hotel. Vegas baby, here I come again...

New Year's 2003 a success.

Dish of the night : toss up between the Linguine Pollo Marsala (courtesy of C&O Trattoria) and Angie's spinach salad (courtesy of Angie)
Drink of the night: Vanilla Stoli and Coke
Photo of the night: Jenn and Jon after uncorking the champagne... suck suck suck suck suck!
Story of the night: Perry Choi's, um, girl he picked up from the BART station, um, we don't know her last name... but he threw her out the front door!!
Joke of the night (courtesy of a very drunk Adrian Saura... and I apologize for the lewdness, but it was just too funny of an Adrian moment to forget): What's the difference between a slut and a bitch? A slut sleeps with everyone, and a bitch sleeps with everyone but you.
Dance contest winners of the night: the guys, courtesy of Alex's handstand-from-sitting
Reading material of the night: the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale catalogue
Best afterparty moment (afterparty = the next morning): "Dueling Banjos" aka Dueling Guitar and Piano
Quote of the night #1: "So is Matt trying to get in your pants?" courtesy of Ryan
Quote of the night #2: (as Mell and I are walking down from the loft together) "If anyone asks, yes, we were making out." -Mell

Thanks to all of you who drunk-dialed me that night... I am honored that you consider me so special that you'd call me first... I guess it helps that with an A name, I'm the first in so many people's list of contacts... Those at the party definitely got a kick out of me answering my cell phone. "Hello... Hi !!... Are you drunk?..." Prize goes to Corey... it was only 9:45 when you called buddy!

email me if you have others :)