Laser Eye Surgery One of the Best Things That's Ever Happened to Me

Kobe Bryant outscored the Mavericks 62-61 after three quarters, notching a new career high. He also set a franchise record of points scored in one period with 32. The Lakers won 112-90.

I had laser eye surgery today. I had been planning it since last August when I went in to a Westwood office for a free consultation.

I can see clearly without my glasses now. I haven't been able to see like this since my freshman year in high school.

The surgery itself was quite unnerving. I was laying down face-up, with clamps to keep my eyes open (one at a time). The doctor dropped maybe eight or nine drops of anesthesia into my eye. Then I stared into a blinking red light and heard a whirring noise, which was a programmed mechanical device that sliced a flap in my cornea. Then I was blind, for about three seconds (my vision was pitch black). After that, I was able to see a blurry red light as a laser beamed across my eye (and I heard a digital female voice saying, "thirty-five percent complete, one minute remaining)."

It was like something out of a science-fiction movie.

Afterwards, I sat up and the medical assistants put transparent eye-shields on my eyes, and sunglasses over them.

A few minutes later I noticed my vision was drastically more clear than before.

I'm not allowed to exercise or get my eyes wet for the next two weeks. I'll have to maintain a strict diet.

Study Shows Running Has Tranquilizing Effect on Brain

Mike Palmquist, a Professor of English at Colorado State University, says he started running when he was in fourth grade. He says he'd run around his school for fun and found he enjoyed it.

I was the only test subject. But after doing some reading on the topic, I believe it's safe to say running does have some sort of tranquilizing effect on a man's brain.

Starting last Sunday, I ran three to five miles every other day (i.e. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).

I noticed after I'd run (usually at 24 Hour Fitness), and take a shower, I'd be in a better mood. I'd feel more introspective. I'd be more careful with my words. And I'd feel reinvigorated.

It's like a drug.

Running has been a regular part of my life since I was thirteen years old. In order to lose weight (I was chubby for a few years), I started running laps at Cerritos Elementary (where I went to school).

I also ran in high school to stay in shape, and did a two-week stint of cross country my senior year (joined late).

I only ran occasionally in college and pretty much stopped when I was teaching high school (and subsequently gained about sixteen pounds).

I began running again on a consistent basis (a few times per week) about thirteen months ago (in conjunction with my signing up for a membership at the gym). Since then, I've slimmed down to about 158 lbs (I topped out at 176 lbs.).

Smush Parker Finds His Niche in L.A.

Note: I have submitted this piece to the L.A. Daily News for a Laker writing contest.


William "Smush" Parker, 24, played a year at Fordham University (2002).


He's considered a local legend (and earned the nickname "Grim Reaper") on the playgrounds of New York City.


Parker attempts a shot against the Atlanta Hawks' Salim Stoudamire. He is an early favorite for the NBA's Most Improved Player.

After achieving legendary status on the courts of New York City, and making stops with several NBA teams, the NBDL and Greece, it seems 24-year-old Laker guard Smush Parker has finally found a home in L.A.

Parker, who’s started every game this season and is averaging 12.3 pts., has proven he’s no one-hit wonder — he's scored 20 or more points in three of his first four starts. And he’s quickly established himself as a fan favorite among Laker followers with his playground flair and level-headed demeanor.

On opening night against the Denver Nuggets, Parker had the highlight of the game when he streaked down the floor and threw down a one-handed dunk over Andre Miller. He also hit a crucial three-pointer toward the end of the fourth quarter, eventually leading to a Lakers victory in overtime.

On the court, Parker has displayed the instincts of a true point guard — he can break his defender down off the dribble and create his own shot or find an open teammate for an easy score.

Parker has also shown a knack for ball thievery. He stripped MVP Steve Nash three times during the Lakers home opener against the Phoenix Suns. He currently ranks fourth in the league in steals with a 2.18 per game average.

Before stepping foot on an NBA floor, Parker, who played college ball at Fordham University, honed his basketball skills at “The Cage” on Manhattan’s West Fourth Street, earning the nickname “Grim Reaper” (which he also has tattooed on his right arm).

"I knew I could play at [the NBA] level,” Parker said.

He has certainly proven he belongs among the big boys. And he’s always had an unyielding belief in himself.

“I knew what I could do and I think I'm showing that this year”

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at NBA Players

"Big Game James" was best known for his one-handed fast-break jams. He was a member of three NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers (in 1985, 1987, and 1988).

The New Yorker — Shaq had the chills the night before he played in the championship-clinching game of the 2000 Finals. He couldn't sleep, so he went indy cart racing with his chef and best friend. He had a habit of eating sandwiches late at night, which contributed to his weight gain.

SLAM Magazine — I learned about Nick Van Exel's relationship with Avery Johnson and how he began going to church with him. I learned Van Exel considered the game ancillary, in light of his mother's assault, which left her in the hospital.

ESPN.com — One morning Ruben Patterson woke up and decided he was going to get sober. He has dealt with a personal battle with alcohol for years. He thought about his kids. He wanted to leave a positive legacy for them.

Sports Illustrated — I read about Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'neal's mercurial relationship, and how one night in Boston, before a game against the Celtics, the two seemed the best of friends, joking with each other, slap-boxing each other. A moment captured and articulated by veteran NBA writer Jack McCallum.

Los Angeles Magazine (also published in Best American Sports Writing 2003) — I learned Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen made an immediate connection when Jackson became head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1989. They were both introverts. Both cerebral. Both saw the game from a similar perspective.

I Appreciate My Work

This morning when I came into work, I realized there were a few good things going for me at Novo 1.

If it weren't for my proofreading gig, I wouldn't have met a few new friends who happen to be my coworkers. I'll be going to a Laker pre-season game this Friday with one of them (along with an old college roommate).

It also allows me a steady source of income while I consider my career options.

I Scored Eleven Points In a League Game and My Teammates Chanted MVP

Anthony Peeler was a Lakers first-round pick in 1992. He is one of the NBA's bona fide pure shooters.

I had the best game of my life.

I scored eleven points in a league game (the highest numbers I ever put up in an organized league game).

We won our first game. We've played seven.

My teammates started chanting "MVP-MVP-MVP" afterwards. I was flattered.

UCI Grad Founder of Wahoo's Fish Taco

Wahoo's Fish Taco in La Jolla, California.

I didn't know the founders of Wahoo's Fish Taco were three Chinese American surfer brothers.

Today@UCI did a story on Renato "Mingo" Lee — the sibling who attended the University of California, Irvine (my alma matter).

He mentions that although his economics courses helped prepare him for his job as a CEO, it was the classes he took "in humanities that left the greatest impression." He said literature and art history "opened [his] tunnel vision."

Man Gets Fired For Eating Pizza

A comic by Charles Stouff 2002.

That's right.

He won a contest for telling his story. Read about it at simplyfired.com.

I saw Hustle and Flow on Saturday

Terrence Howard is moved to tears during a gospel
choir performance in Hustle and Flow.

I saw two good movies recently: Hustle and Flow and 8 Mile.

They're both about young men discovering their passion for rap music.

Another Day of Running

Jeremy Wariner was the first white man to win gold at 400 m since 1980, and the first white American man to win a medal of any kind in the sprints (400 m and under) since 1964.

I ran three miles at the track at Van Nuys High School.

I tried to sprint the first lap (like Jeremy Wariner in last summer's Olympics) but got tired about a third of the way. I guess I wasn't born with fast-twitch muscles.

I think I'm more suited for 2-3 mile runs (I did a short stint of cross country my senior year in high school).

Afterwards, I went to the gym and lifted weights. And I ran another mile on the treadmill and did five minutes on the stairmaster.

I Was Moved By Jeff Chang's Commencement Speech

Hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang gave a
commencement speech for Asian Americans
at UCLA on 6/20/05.

I was checking out AngryAsianMan.com and happened across Jeff Chang's—author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation—commencement speech for UCLA's Asian American Studies department.

I don't think I've ever read something that speaks so directly about being an American of Asian descent.

I remember he was a guest speaker at an Asian American studies class I was taking at UC Irvine. He spoke about how he started Giant Robot magazine.

I Haven't Laughed This Hard in a While

Ryan comforts himself with whipped cream, after
realizing he "missed a great opportunity."

CryingWhileEating.com. People cry for specified reasons while they eat. I read an article about at latimes.com.

Here's an excerpt:

"Yet the site's appeal is rooted in something deeper than the absurd; the effect of the clips is actually visceral. The scenes evoke the kind of unself-conscious, shame-free expressions of psychic pain that few have indulged since childhood. They capture people at their most vulnerable, taking childlike refuge in another primal experience: eating. Yet the food fails to comfort, creating a wacky incongruity. Put simply, it's at once funny and disturbing to watch someone sob uncontrollably, break for a mouthful of éclair and resume sobbing."

I laughed hard when I saw the "Ryan" clip. Mind you, I don't laugh easy.

Richard Roeper and Confessing Secrets

I was reading Richard Roeper's commentary last night at SunTimes.com about people mailing in their deepest, darkest secrets on postcards and then having them posted on this website.

Good stuff.

About spilling secrets, Roeper says telling someone in person is the ONLY way to come clean. "Anonymous confessions don't count."

Physical Activity and Mo' Better Blues

Denzel, Wesley Snipes and Spike Lee star in this 1990 film.

Today was a difficult day for me.

I had interviewed for a copywriting job at the National Notary Association last week. It went well. My interviewer gave me a writing assignment to complete in two days: a sales letter and a magazine space ad. I did both. And emailed them to the hiring manager on the alloted day. I haven't heard from him since.

I went to the gym later on in the day. It was hard to drag my body to the fitness center, knowing I didn't have a job.

I used the elliptical machine for 35 minutes. I ran two miles on the treadmill. I burned a total of about 820 calories. I usually run three miles and do some resistance training. But I had eight slices of Costco pizza yesterday.

I watched Mo' Better Blues at my apartment.

I admire Spike Lee films. Mo' Better Blues is emotionally involving, and has a stirring musical score.

For some reason, death crosses my mind quite regularly. I don't mean in a morbid way. But in the sense that I know I'm a temporal being who'll one day expire. I've read in the Bible that one of the criteria Jesus will use in judging us is whether we used our lives to serve others in some capacity.

I will be volunteering at the Los Angeles Mission beginning in August. They're located near 5th street in downtown.

The other day I drove down there around 11 'o clock at night, just to see where it was. There were derelicts on the streets. I gave one guy a loaf of bread I had in my car. He was black, possibly in his early twenties.

Toe Nail Bled After Basketball Accident

While sprinting downcourt, I hit my foot on another player's heel and my left big toenail lifted (Lamisil commercial style) — blood oozed out, staining my sock and preventing me from playing in the next full-court game.

Accidents are commonplace in street ball: a jammed finger, bruise above the eye, scraped palm, rolled ankle. It's part of the game.

It's the second time I've suffered a toenail lift (on the same toe). Pus was oozing out of it today. A new nail will grow in completely in about five months. Looking forward to peeling away the dead nail.


On this person's foot, a new toenail is about 2/3 grown.

Comic Strip: Secret Asian Man

A comic strip by Tak Toyoshima.

Here's another link to Secret Asian Man.

It's about an American male of Japanese descent, living in New York.

I Wrote My 100th Blog Last Saturday

It's been about a year and a half since I've started blogging. I was introduced to it by a college buddy.

It has proven to be a viable outlet for me to chronicle relevant happenings in my world through electronic literary communication.

I wrote my first blog on 12/31/03. It was about knowing who to keep in my social circle after experiencing trials.

I started at GeoCities. Visually, it's not much to look at. But I feel it contains some of my best writing.

Check it out if you're bored.

Korean-Canadian Trying Out for NBA

I have long yearned for a Korean-American to make it to the NBA so I could have someone to identify with when watching Laker games.

Ha Seung-Jin was the first Korean to play in the league this season (Portland Trailblazers). But I can't relate to him because he's a fob. And it seems one of the main reasons he was drafted was because of his 7'4" height. Not necessarily because of his talent.

I came across a highlight clip last night of a Korean-Canadian, Brian Kim, who, last season played for Vanguard University in Mesa, CA (lead team in scoring with 18 pt. avg.). There's one play where he drives baseline and dunks over a defender, rousing the crowd. It was absolutely jaw-dropping. The next play down he hits a three-pointer. And starts slapping his chest. This guy is for real.

He was drafted this year by a professional Korean team (second pick overall). But plans on trying out for the NBA in pre-draft workouts in June.

Check out the first video clip (the one that says w/Headband).

We're Living In a Disconnected World

We've all felt disconnected from people at certain moments in our lives. At speed dating parties, during lunch hour at work, at bible study, during a conversation with friends.

The image above represents what happens internally to two people when they are not "vibing" with each other.

Example One:

I remember I was sitting in a theater watching The Incredibles at the Century City Shopping Center. I didn't laugh once, while apparently lots of people in the audience found many moments of the movie to be chuckle-out-loud funny.

Example Two:

I was at a small group meeting in Redondo Beach, and I told a girl I had majored in English. She responded by saying, "I don't like reading." This from a UCLA graduate.

Example Three:

I was at someone's home, sitting at a table eating, and somehow the conversation turned toward living in an apartment.

I said I'd rather live in a studio because it's cheaper and because I don't require that much space. One person said in response that studio's aren't for him because when people sleep over, you get no privacy. And other people at the table starting nodding their heads in agreement.

I don't usually have people come over. Like Randy Moss (pictured below).



According to the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, Moss, the most prized wide receiver in the NFL, rarely has guests and professes to be ruthlessly self-sufficient.



Kobe prefers to go it alone and is oft-maligned as a loner.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading about public figures like Bryant or Randy Moss is because sometimes I feel I can relate to their personalities, and the ways in which they cope with the world.

A Hard Day of Basketball

Basketball is a very physically demanding sport.

Running up and down the court; getting low for the proper defensive stance; executing offensive moves effectively; making proper passes.

It is enough to deplete most people's energy.




I played on Saturday afternoon right outside the Anteater Recreation Center.

It was the hardest I played in a while. I felt intense fatigue during the course of one full court game after I had dribbled down the court and tried to drive in for a lay-up.

It's beneficial for my physical and mental well-being, though.

ESPN Special: Kobe Isn't To Blame For Lakers Break-Up Last Summer

I saw a special on ESPN about reasons Kobe isn't to blame for the Lakers break-up last summer. Elizabeth Kaye (writer for Los Angeles Magazine) mentioned Kobe resented the fact Shaq was the sun around which the planets (players) rotated, because he had the potential to be a sun himself.

I remember experiencing the same thing when I was in seventh grade and my English teacher chose Andy Nelson's (my classmate) story as the best in the class (our assignment was to write a narrative about three wishes). But for some reason, even at twelve-years-old, I thought one of the main factors she chose his was because he was white (like her).

During the read-arounds, before the top story was picked, Andy Nelson said out loud "I like Pye-Young's" (among the ones he read).

It wasn't original though, I based it on a Twilight Zone episode I saw about an owner of a pawn shop who gets an unexpected visit from a genie.

Two Masters of the Cinema: Spike Lee and Alexander Payne

I watched Spike Lee's He Got Game the other day.

The film's story centers around Jesus, a top high school basketball prospect (Ray Allen in a surprisingly effective performance) who's in the midst of making the "most important decision of his life": choosing which college to play for. Making matters more complicated, his father (Denzel Washington), who's been serving time in prison, has been released for a week to try to convince his son to attend Ball State (the governor's alma mater) in exchange for a reduced sentence.

I appreciated the movie's visual style, and the obvious passion with which it was made.

I first saw it in theaters when I was a sophomore at UC Irvine. But, like Hoop Dreams, I enjoyed it and was affected by it a lot more upon a second, years-later-as-my-perspective-has-matured viewing.

On a side note, Arthur Agee, one of the two boys featured in Hoop Dreams, makes a cameo appearance in the film's opening montage.


Sideways is another good movie I've seen recently. It's about two friends, who are very different, one is a nerdy, needy middle-school English teacher, the other is a fading TV actor who currently does voice overs for commercials.

Both movies are examples of cinema at its best.

I Have a New Appreciation for Netflix

About a week ago I signed up for a Blockbuster online account ($14.99 per month) and canceled my Netflix membership ($17.99).

I encountered a few problems with Blockbuster:

1) Scratched DVDs (i.e. Open Water and Garden State). I had to clean these DVDs with soapy water to make them playable.

2) Limited selection. I couldn't find A Tale of Two Sisters or The Machinist or Chunking Express in their database. One of the main reasons I began renting online was so I could watch not-available-in-video-stores DVDs like The Wild One or Throne of Blood

3) Movie summaries on Blockbuster's website ought to be shortened to a paragraph, that way users can read a quick lowdown on a film's plot. Netflix does it right on their homepage.

So it's back to using Netflix. Like the old saying, you don't know what you're missing until you don't have it anymore.

On a side note, I ate a Del Taco $0.79 chicken soft taco last Sunday. I think they're a good deal.

Salim Stoudamire: A Gutsy Kind of Player

Salim Stoudamire hit the game-winner with 2.8 seconds remaining to send Arizona into the Elite Eight.

While scarfing down chicken and coleslaw (from Ralphs), I flipped the channel to college basketball's Big Dance on CBS. Arizona and Oklahoma State were scrapping it out in a closely contested game.

One player stood out to me: Salim Stoudamire.

Stoudamire scored 10 of his 19 points in the final 4:35 of the game.

He said afterwards, "I thrive on those situations. That's what I live for. That's why I play basketball. Bigtime players step up in bigtime situations, and I see myself as one of those players."

I see a star in the making.

The Corvette and The Brick Wall Meet for the Second Time This Season

The falling out of the Lakers' Dynamic Duo was one of the most bitter breakups in modern-day professional sports.



In 2005, Kobe and the Lakers are no longer serious contenders, while Shaq and the Heat are a shoe-in for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.



The Golden Child and the Diesel, diametrically opposed personalities, proved in the end that they...



...couldn't look past their differences and continue competing for league titles.

Reborn on the Blacktop

Growth comes when a person does something she isn't accustomed to doing.

I was playing basketball yesterday afternoon at Culver City High School. I drove to the rack a few times and converted lay-ups. During one sequence, after stealing the ball, I went coast-to-coast on a 3-on-1 fast break.

When I was in high school, I was mostly a shooter. I used to consistently knock down 15 foot open jumpers. One of my friends labeled me "Paxson."

But I've changed. I'm not much of a shooter anymore. I have moves now. Even though I usually won't score a mass amount of points, I can safely say I'm able to hold my own.

Two of the guys I was playing alongside said they were impressed with my play.

We Often Overlook or Ignore the Power of Stories

One of the most effective ways to grab a reader's attention is to tell a story. They tap into the deep wells of our collective imagination.

Skilled writers know the power of stories.

Film directors. Journalists. Sports announcers. Copywriters. They all tell stories to ensure their material leaves a long-lasting impression.

Emails I've Gotten About My Blog

I've received several emails over the past year about my blog from friends. I am deeply appreciative of their feedback.

Here they are in unedited form:


1/13/2004

I enjoyed reading some of your blog. I like
reading Roger Ebert too.


1/16/2004

hello Pye:

Being a regular visitor to your site, I firmly believe today's updated entry is the best one yet to come. It is brief, yet eloquently written. Thanks for sharing the message. It is important that we are reminded about the message.


6/23/2004

Hey Pye,

I’m very touched by the blog you wrote about father’s day.


9/1/2004

Hi Pye,

I am so blown away by the truth, openess, and honesty in your writing. Reading your thoughts and feelings has been so special to me. It's been a priveledge reading your words, thanks for letting me read your wbsite.

No Mentor For Me

I find myself thinking about my relationships a lot.

I once heard a message at church about every believer needing a mentor in his life.

I don't really have one in particular. And I find myself wishing sometimes that I did--for guidance; to have a wiser, more seasoned man listen to me talk about whatever I'm going through.

But it's hard. Because I have to earn people's respect first. Make them like me in some way.

Since I was a kid I've always felt like I've had to go at it alone. I'm used to keeping my own counsel.

The Station Agent is a Sleeper Hit

I saw The Station Agent today. I liked it very much.

It's about people and their need to make connections with others.

I felt like I found myself after I watched it.