Tag: writing

Golf

fastasianLeave a comment

Lately, I’ve been really focusing on my golf game, and I can feel the improvement! I picked up golf during my sophomore year and, although I’ve played on and off, I’ve really dedicated myself for almost a year now. When I first started, I was shooting around 120 with a 33 handicap. Fast forward to today, and I have managed to bring that down to a 23 handicap. It might not be pro-level, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. During my vacations, I’ve been training with my coach almost every day, working hard on my form. It’s made a huge difference, I’m also excited to be playing for my school again this Spring season. My next match is on April 2nd at Soule Park Golf Course. Hope my short game improves, especially chipping and putting. It will be crucial for me to at most 2-putt every hole to keep it under 100 in 18 holes. I will also need to be working with my driver on the slice it has gone better compare to the beginning but still got lots of space to work on.

pc: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nj.com%2Fsports%2F2024%2F04%2Fis-masters-champion-scottie-scheffler-from-new-jersey-well-sorta.html&psig=AOvVaw26kSAr2p0kneKlYjSstG6Z&ust=1742094982635000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLDM2uCPi4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Clippers game

fastasianLeave a comment

On Saturday, I went to an LA Clippers game with my school, and it was an unforgettable experience. I think it was my sixth Clippers game, but this one felt different because I was surrounded by my friends and classmates. As we arrived at the arena, I could feel the excitement in the air. Our seats were not the greatest, but the view was actually way better than I expected. We were lucky that most of the Clippers’ players were not injured besides Ben Simmons. It was a neck-to-neck game against the Sacramento Kings. I think there were 12 ties in total in the game. Kawhi Leonard ended the game with a left hook buzzer beater. the crowd went crazy when he hit the left hooker and won the game for Clippers with score being 111-110. After the game, we all went down onto the court after the workers had cleared out the court for us. We were all able to shoot a free throw. It was an amazing experience even though we still had school the next day, and we got back to the dorms late too. But that day will be an unforgettable moment.

pc: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news18.com%2Fsports%2Fnba-kawhi-leonard-trusts-his-work-after-sinking-ridiculous-left-handed-game-winner-for-la-clippers-watch-9256312.html&psig=AOvVaw2-TB8HV-1Qiq4KPXqPI5oE&ust=1742093875195000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBUQjRxqFwoTCKDszsiLi4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Junos

scarlettoharaLeave a comment

There is always at least one Juno in a person’s life. Someone who is their own worst enemy, because their worst enemy is hatred. Someone who may have everything lowly everyman could want but, whether from actual grievances or lack of worldliness, still finds cause to complain. If they’re under the thumbs of higher tyrants, I might be able to sympathize. If they didn’t also lash out against the few they have power over. They might proclaim themself a defender of men, a Hera Alexandros, but we hear the things they’ve done. Honestly, we wish we couldn’t hear them screech or moan for its own sake.

I’m a living human being, but even then I’m worried about the temptation to go down to their level. Maybe that’s part of the point, that they love company. But I’m in a relatively comfortable position, and have more support than I could ever ask for. I have a lot going for me and a lot to enjoy. I can go back to saying “yes” to opportunity, joy, the better part of myself. And why should I care about the curses Juno might send my way? If anything, I hope she gives Jove a piece of her mind and escape the millenia of myths she’s trapped in. It’s not very different from what her patrons must do.

PC:Google

Sappho 31 Revived

scarlettoharaLeave a comment

(Yes, one of the reasons I want to learn Ancient Greek is to read Sappho in her original language. Yes, one of my goals in my life is to create a poetry collection building on all of her remaining fragments, with this being the first of its kind. I have priorities.

But since this is based on an original that has enchanted readers for literal millenia, check out a translation of Sappho 31 to fully see how I turn it inside out. The skeleton of my revival is mostly based on Anne Carson’s translations, but I definitely looked to others for inspiration.)

He seems to me a man who’d like to kill god
Whatever he is, sitting in front of you
Prowling to see any bent
To deconstruct who you are
But he’s sure he’ll sink into sweet legend


Your smile after is sweeter; but how is it
Even when he’s gone
My own tongue cracks. And every word’s drought. Fruitless.
Any peep from him puts the gall in my belly on wings
So when I look at you, even a moment
No speaking is left in me


If I see you next- a subtle fire will speed through my skin
He took my sight, he burst my ears
Already so your touch makes me seize and shake
Myself, or is that you?
But whatever I try to hold
I am still paler than grass, I am deaf from all of this buzzing
I am dead- or I seem to be at this rate


But what can be endured, can be recovered
As when I saw the sun-glades shimmer in human eyes
While speaking words stronger than bone, more resistant than sinew
Yet more sensitive than nerve and barer than skin
I remembered to see the poorer half that lives

PC:Google

Hibernation

scarlettoharaLeave a comment

The return of spring is when the world returns from the dead
Or – it is so for the black bear
It creeps on its claws towards the mouth
Of the tomb, which the crumbling dirt enclosing all
Caressed the bear as it rested
It would be miraculous for it to come to life
But the immaculate, sterile state of the newborn world
Would be unearthly to the black bear
When the grime was its own closed world for so long
Recollections of the outside leaked in the time since


Perhaps the outside is too clean
Too white in its naive snow
For one so long in the dirt
Or even, that the air is not so fresh
But packed with strife
And noise and human eyes


Is there anything that can force an animal of instinct
To sink, continue, down and still
Under the earth


But awaking again-
Feeling the fur-soft grass beneath paws
Hearing the birds chirping like bells away from daily bullets
Seeing all the other creatures who
In the same place, awaken again year after year
That is what makes it worthwhile
That the black bear’s instincts make it fall and rise
Neverending

PC:Google

Bloody Knuckles and Shards of Glass

purcyLeave a comment

I’ve always wanted people to be afraid of hurting me. I put up a wall around myself. I hurt people before they can hurt me because I’m so afraid to be left or called out or cheated. In reality, I am the one who leaves and insults people and cheats. I want to be a good person and I want to make other people feel good. I wish I had the self-control just to be quiet sometimes. But I don’t. I’m loud and annoying and I take up more space than I should. I’ve wanted to be a better person since I was a little kid. Since my mom told me the reason I don’t have any friends is because I am so mean. She is right. My dad told me I was like him and I would have to learn to change my personality. I would hate myself if I met me. I want to be deserving of all the love I have, but I’m not. 

PC:Google

Spring sports

fastasianLeave a comment

As the winter sports season ends, the spring season has started. At first, the school allowed me to do both Golf and Track and field. However, they changed their mind and thought it would be unfair for the golfers since I would just be taking their spots in the league final while they work hard to earn the spots. Therefore, I have switched back to golf and left track since there will be a bigger chance to win the league final champion in golf. Last year, we took back home 2nd place, we were 1st place after the first 9 holes, but lost in the back 9. Track was great, with the new coach that broke multiple records for his college and coached many athletes to all-American and D1 offers. I was planning on running 100 meters since I was the fastest among the sprinters. There won’t be as many track meets this year, since the coaches have to go to a camping trip during the 2 track meets, so I preferred golf since I will be playing more.

pc: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2023%2F02%2F09%2Fsports%2Fgolf%2Fpga-phoenix-open-liv.html&psig=AOvVaw3EeHWn-gizr4c6M74jZkMx&ust=1741794090422000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCKjhk-WugowDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

my bsf

shallahan#1moochLeave a comment

years ago I remember wondering if I would ever be the first choice 

would I ever find someone who I chose but also chose me

and I found her 

my best friend in the whole world

someone who I will choose every time 

and who I know will choose me too

she knows more about me than i know about myself 

when I look into her eyes I see myself in another life 

we fit together like pieces of a puzzle 

even though we are on different tracks of life we still found each other through the twists and turns and turns 

and we will find each other again 

not because we want to 

because we have to

my other half

my better half 

my soulmate

a mark I won’t ever be able to erase 

arms that will always be there to hold me

hands to wipe my tears when I can’t 

a mind to think what thinking before I think it 

and bright blue piercing eyes to look at me and tell me it will be okay 

pc: Me

more Sports

fastasianLeave a comment

As the spring season arrives after the team’s defeat in the basketball playoffs, I will be joining both track and golf for this season. During this season, I will mainly go to track for practices and meets. As for golf, I will still be playing in the games and league finals for the team but not going to the golf practices as often this year. I am excited for this season since I haven’t trained for track for a while. Last year, the spring season didn’t feel as competitive because I only did golf. However, with the new coach this season, who broke the record in his college when he was still a student, plus who coached multiple All-American athletes who are now in D1, I am truly excited for the new coaching system and will finish this year strong. There will be 6 track meets this season. The first one will be held on the 7th of March. I am planning on being a sprinter and running 200 and 400. My goal is to run 100 meters and be the fastest on the team.

pc: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fnews%2Fweekend-rundown-aug-4-rcna164952&psig=AOvVaw1OFHHXFJ89atuS1jRpe31Q&ust=1739682355130000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLijkfnzxIsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Hey I Like My Dad

scarlettoharaLeave a comment

Yeah I’m going there. I am willing as a teenager to express gratitude, and other positive emotions. Because dang it, we have no predetermined purpose and cynicism has been trending since Franz Ferdinand was shot. While there are many people who would like to make our troubles worse by complaining, complaining and complaining in their everyday life, I would like to do something more helpful to myself by, perhaps, being satisfied with what I have in life. So here is a nice and accurate, but not exhaustive, list of the things I love that my dad does for me, since I know plenty of dads don’t bother with the least of what he does.

  1. He always drives six hours roundtrip to pick me up. It was only this year that he stopped taking days off work just to get me on Fridays, since his company didn’t like he was out of work so often.
  2. He gets me the best snacks. My dad works for H-Mart. That’s the company that tightened its leash on him, so he’s not exactly flowing in cash. But what he is flowing in is coupons. My dad never lacks in giving me free treats, the sorts I can never find in most grocery stores nowadays. I always wait to refill my childhood memories.
  3. He gets free Starbucks too, and always gives them to me.
  4. He gives me strategies for growing up. My dad sometimes felt like the bad cop growing up, especially when my sister and I were used to our mom doting on us. But it turned out parenting is a balance between the old adage of “you can do anything you set your mind to” and telling your children about those who seek to take that away from them. My mom is the dreamspinner, my dad is the postwar cynic. Huh, maybe I have to give those postmodern critics some credit.
  5. He has the oddest sense of humor. It’s not dad jokes exactly, but it’s hard to describe. It’s a little funky, maybe a bit something like out of a Taika Waititi production, which certainly explains my taste in media.

I’ve been worrying about what I could have left in the coming years. I consider myself an average, perhaps lucky person, but luck doesn’t run as far as it used to. I sense that if things were to go haywire there would be many fronts for “these unprecedented times” to attack me on, because I already see others being persecuted for those same things lol. But since half a person’s salt comes from their dad, I’m glad I have his principles and taste in comedy to weather the storm with.

PC: Google