2019 PWBA US Open Champion - Danielle McEwan

source: PWBA
2019 PWBA US Open Champion - Danielle McEwan

Better late than never. But it's Danielle.

Last month as the #2 seed coming into stepladder finals of the 2019 PWBA US Open, Danielle defeated #3 seed Shannon O'Keefe and top seed/tour roommate Tannya Roumimper to win her first green jacket and second major championship. Grace under pressure, Danielle needed to bowl consecutive strikes in her semi-final and final matches to win.

I watched the entire broadcast live on the edge of my seat screaming at the TV. I have since watched it 2 more times on my DVR.

You can see it here:

The Farewell: Based On An Actual Lie

source: Deadline
clockwise: Tzi Ma, Lulu Wang, Awkwafina, Diana Lin

I first saw the trailer for The Farewell movie about 2 months ago. I knew immediately that this would be on my must-see list.

Farewell premiered in New York and Los Angeles in limited release last week. This weekend, it was in San Francisco. I bought my tickets online on Friday to see Saturday's first showing at Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinema.

Extra tissues stored in purse, I ended up not using as many as I thought I would. Not to say that won't happen when I see it again.

For me, it didn't pack the emotional wallop that Crazy Rich Asians or Joy Luck Club. But it doesn't mean it had any less impact on me. It depicted Americanized/American born children of Chinese immigrant families in a very realistic, funny and poignant way.

If you're an American born child of Chinese parents, you absolutely, positively must see the movie.
Here's the trailer:

Yee Reunion, Chapter 2

L to R: Cindy, Helen, me

Yee reunion, Chapter 2.

While I was in Los Angeles meeting up with the Vancouver Yees, Helen messaged me and said she would be in Oakland and Yosemite after the Fourth of July. She asked if I'd be available.

Me: Yes!!! I last saw Helen in 1982, not long after my Ohio State graduation and hers from Ohio Dominican College.

On Saturday, July 6 (Helen's birthday), she and her girlfriend Cindy, drive in to San Francisco from their Yosemite trip. They take me up on my offer to stay in the spare empty bedroom (with Aerobed) in lieu of a hotel. I order Thai for delivery to give us more time to catch up.

Cindy has never been to San Francisco and wanted to see the touristy spots. I hate crowds and didn't want to contend with weekend traffic. Happy medium found. Booked online a private 4-hour tour with Viator, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor.

Well worth the cost.

We started on 19th Avenue across the Golden Gate Bridge, got our picture taken (see above photo). Once we came back across the Golden Gate Bridge, I had the driver take us pretty much in this order: Presidio, Palace of Fine Arts, Marina Green, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, Japantown, Alamo Square, the Castro, Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and Ocean Beach.

Ended the day with an early dinner of yummy udon and tempura across the street from my place.

It's my hope my next Yee gathering will be a reunion in Columbus with the Cleveland cousins, Sherman, Kat and son, and the Vancouver cousins.

Yee Family Pride

2019 Columbus Ohio Pride Day Parade
Helen is on the far left

No entries for the past 2 weeks.

June 7: Spent the day in Modesto at McHenry Lanes bowling the 5-game Peach Classic Tournament.

June 14: On the road returning from a weekend trip to Los Angeles to meet long lost cousins from Vancouver who were in town for a family reunion.

Which leads into today's blog entry, my childhood friend, Helen Yee. While I was in Los Angeles having dim sum with the Yee family from Vancouver, Helen was leading the Columbus LGBT Pride parade. We couldn't have been more proud of her.

Helen and I grew up together. Our moms were longtime mahjong friends. We are only a week apart in age. Helen and the Yee cousins from Vancouver are first cousins. Helen's late dad Peter and my cousins' mom, Fong, are brother and sister. Their father Jack and my mom Susan, are first cousins. Uncle Jack's father and my mom's father are brothers.

It had been 45+ years since I last saw the Yees. Not only did we catch up, they showed me pictures from their 2010 China Trip that included a trip to Guangdong province. They visited the homes of where Uncle Jack's and Mom's families lived, and where Mom was born.

Up until last weekend, I knew very little about Mom's time before she came to the United States. This visit and seeing those pictures filled a big void.

As I reach the end of another decade next week, it's more important than ever for me to stay connected to my family roots.

Always Be My Maybe

source: imdb.com

Released on Friday and now available on Netfilx.
Movie summary:

• Asian-American childhood friends in San Francisco.
• Grew up in the Sunset District. 
• Lost touch, then reconnected after 15 years.
• Still care for each other but lives are going in different paths.

Watched the trailer with tears streaming down my face. Too close to my own personal experience. Several of you already know who he is.

Think I'll have to see it.

Check out the trailer here:

2019 USBC Queens Champion - Dasha Kovalova

source: USBC
Dasha Kovalova, 2019 USBC Queens Champion

Congratulations to former Wichita State women's bowling phenom Dasha Kovalova on winning her first PWBA title, the USBC Queens,

This year's tournament was held at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Dasha's home turf.

Two of the other finalists, Clara Guerrero and Tannya Roumimper, also bowled at Wichita State.

I first wrote about Dasha in 2013 (see June 8, 2013 entry) as one of the outstanding female bowlers on the European tour.

At the time I wrote the entry, the PWBA tour had closed operations in 2003. It relaunched in 2015. All the bowlers I mentioned: Shayna Ng, Jazreel Tan and Dasha's opponent in the European Women's Champtionship, Birgit Poppler, are ALL currently on this year's PWBA tour.
All have at least one PWBA title.

Here's Dasha's match against #2 Jane Sin (also known as Sin Jane Li):

Eight Years Ago

For the past 8 years, May 19 will always bring me back to Spock's quote to Kirk, "I have been and always shall be your friend."

Focused: Conversations with Fran Healy - PBA episode

source: imdb.com

Hoping all moms out there enjoyed their day.

At about the time the PBA Playoffs began, Focused TV aired a mini-documentary on the PBA Tour. It includes interviews with PBA Commissioner Tom Clark, current PBA members Jason Belmonte, Bill O'Neill, Kyle Troup and Norm Duke.

If you don't follow the PBA, or haven't in some time, the interviews will help you bridge the old versus the new PBA. If you have about 20 minutes, it's worth a watch.

Remembering John Havlicek

source: Columbus Dispatch
L to R: Larry Siegfried, Mel Nowell, Joe Roberts, Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek

No blog post from last week as I was at the San Francisco USBC City Tournament all weekend.

On April 25, 2019, Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek passed away at the age of 79. While best known for his prolific 16-year NBA career entirely in Boston, he was also an integral part of the 1959-60 NCAA Championship team with my alma mater, The Ohio State University.

His number 5 jersey at Ohio State and 17 with the Boston Celtics are both retired.

He remains the all-time leading scorer in Celtics history with 26,395 points.

2019 BMW 3 Series - No Manual Transmission

source: Motor Trend

I'm 6 months late to this news. It was announced in October 2018 that the next generation (G20) 2019 BMW 3 series released last month will be the first not to offer a manual transmission.

No no no no no!

Currently, other German sedans in the same class, the Audi A4 and the 'C' Class Mercedes have also stopped offering manual transmissions.

I am on my 3rd BMW 3 series. All in various shades of blue.
1. 1997 318ti E36 (hatchback)
2. 2004 325i E46 (sedan)
3. 2012 328i F30 (sedan) - my current ride

I took great pains to ensure above all else, my BMW would have a stick shift transmission. It's a long shot, but perhaps by some miracle when the next generation is released in 2026 or so, they'll bring back the stick shift.

Fat chance. I can only hope.

Oh well. There's always the 2 Series coupe.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Lakeside, San Francisco

On May 31, 2019, the current 1-year lease my roommate and I signed will end. Roommate will be leaving the San Francisco Bay Area for the East Coast to be nearer to his aging parents. Date not yet set. His current work set up is remote, so relocating out-of-state will not be an issue for him.

For now, I've made the decision to remain until the roommate has moved out. My best option would be to find another roommate. But after 5 roommates in 5 years (all but the current roommate were temporary), I don't want another roommate. Yet I can't afford the full rent. In 2 years or so, I might.

I met with the property manager last weekend to discuss a few options. She's agreed we'll chat again once the roommate has moved out.

I have looked at other places that I can afford but run into the following:
1. Size.
Most 1 bedrooms I can afford are too small. Ideally, I'd like a living area at least 700 square feet. I gave up a beautiful dining table that seated up to 8 because I didn't think I'd have room for it. In hindsight, I should have kept it. If I am going to move again, I am not giving up any more furniture.

2. Minimum income requirement.
I saw a 2 bedroom flat in the Inner Sunset I really liked. But the income requirement was 3 times my gross monthly salary. My official monthly salary doesn't meet the minimum. I do have other sources of income, but for privacy reasons won't disclose them.

3. Parking and non-coin operated laundry facilities.
Yes, I'm being very nit-picky about both. I gave up a garage to move to where I am. Although I have the option of driveway parking, I only use it when it's absolutely necessary. (Don't even get me started on roommate's girlfriend's car parked nearly every fucking weekend in the driveway).

A few Saturdays ago, I looked at 2 places. One had parking but no laundry facilities. The other, laundry facilities but no parking. I haven't used a coin-operated laundry machine since 2010. I'm too old, spoiled and lazy to have to go back to one.

Surprisingly, one of the places I looked at last month has not yet rented.  The homeowner/landlord emailed me yesterday asked if I'd reconsider with a reduced rent rate. I explained as much as I like the place, it's too small.

My vent about rent must come to an end. Gotta get cleaned up, showered and ready for work tomorrow. Stay tuned.

San Francisco USBC Open Tournament - Apri 27 and 28, 2019

source: San Francisco USBC

For all San Francisco Bay Area league bowlers, the San Francisco USBC is hosting our 13th Annual Open Championships at Classic Bowl in Daly City on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.

Teams can be comprised of all men, all women or mixed. If you are not a San Francisco USBC league bowler with membership and bowl in another SF Bay Area sanctioned league, you will be required to pay a $10 local association fee.  Click here to download a tournament entry form.

Dates and squad times:
Saturday, April 27:
1:00 pm Doubles/Singles, 5:00 pm Team.

Sunday, April 28:
11:00 am Team, 3:00 pm Doubles/Singles

Check-in begins 1 hour before squad time.
Entry fee: $30/event. Please note Doubles/Singles are considered separate events but you are required to bowl both events.

I will be there both days. On Saturday, I'll be fulfilling my Board of Directors duties helping Stephanie with the tournament. On Sunday, I will be bowling all 3 squads with my team.

Hope to see you there.

Bowling Tournament Venues Downsized

source: Trip Advisor
Grand Sierra Bowling Center
Reno, Nevada

It started in with the Hawaiian Tournament in Las Vegas. Usually held at the Orleans with 72 lanes, it was moved to Gold Coast Bowling Center. No real change, as Gold Coast has 70 lanes.

Since the Orleans renovation, the number of lanes has gone down from 72 to 52. Not yet official, the venue for future Hawaiian Classic tournaments will likely move permanently to Gold Coast.

This year's Asian tournaments in Reno, the Reno Asian (July) and Labor Day (September) will move to Grand Sierra due to renovations at National Bowling Stadium.

National Bowing Stadium has 78 lanes. Grand Sierra, 50.

For frame of reference, a few other well-known bowling centers in the United States:

• Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Michigan. 90 lanes. Site of last week's World Series of Bowling, 90 lanes. Largest in the United States.
• South Point, Las Vegas, Nevada. 64 lanes. Where I bowled Women's Nationals in 2016 and former PBA World Series of Bowling venue, 32 lanes on 2 sides.
• Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nevada. 72 lanes. Site of numerous PBA events and a popular destination for tournament bowlers.

Compared to where I regularly bowl Sunday practice and Wednesday night league:

• Classic Bowl, Daly City, California, 60 lanes.

The largest bowling center in the world is 116 lanes, Inazawa Grand Bowl in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

source: pinterest, bowlingdigital.com
Inazawa Grand Bowl

2019 PBA World Series of Bowling - Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit

source: Fox Sports 1

What a season, PBA.
Since the move from ESPN to FS1, it's been nothing short of phenomenal.

Blue oil on the lanes featured on ESPN broadcasts has been replaced by entry angles and ball speed on FS1.

Best of all, lots more live telecasts. This past week was the 10th World Series of Bowling from Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit, Michigan. With an added feature in the TV finals. To make the show, the Top 16 bowl off in best of 5 game single elimination matches. Top 4 make the FS1 TV show. They bowl 1 game in a 4-way match. Scores determine seeds for stepladder finals.

3/18: Cheetah - Dick Allen
3/19: Chameleon - Jason Belmonte
3/20: Scorpion - Kris Prather (first PBA title)
3/21: World Championship - Jason Belmonte (standard stepladder)
3/22: USA vs. World - World (best of 3 Baker matches)

Kyle Sherman of Brad & Kyle's YouTube page made 2 shows, Cheetah (finished 2nd) and Team USA on USA vs. World. Kyle's first Top 16 opponent to make the TV show was none other than Brad Miller. Kyle's next opponent to make the Top 4, Dom Barrett.

Here's their vlog:

Kitbull - Pixar Short Film

source: thisinsider.com

After a hectic week at work highlighted by a terribly bad Wednesday bowling night, the Christchurch New Zealand shooting, I'll end the week with a teary-eyed short film with a happy ending, "Kitbull".



Directed and written by Rosana Sullivan.

Jeff Adachi Memorial at San Francisco City Hall

source: SFGovTV

On March 4, 2019, SFGovTv streamed live San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi's memorial service at City Hall.

Featured speakers include former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, current mayor London Breed and brother Stan Adachi.

If you're so inclined, here's the full broadcast.


Rest in peace, Jeff.

Jeff Adachi - 29 August 1959 - 22 February 2019

source: Twitter

On February 22, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi passed away suddenly after having dinner in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood.

A fierce advocate for equality and justice, he was also an accomplished filmmaker. In 2006, he wrote, produced and directed "The Slanted Screen" a documentary about typecasting Asian males in American film (see May 21, 2006 blog entry).

In 2016, Jeff also made "America Needs a Racial Facial", an 8-minute commentary of racism in the United States.
Here's a preview:


Here's the trailer for "The Slanted Screen"
Deepest condolences to his wife Mutsuko, daughter Lauren and family, friends and colleagues.

New York Visit - February 2019

Chin and Li sisters at MOFAD

Chinese Restaurant, MOCA

I missed last week's entry as it was my first full day back from my week long trip to celebrate the birth of my nephew and celebrate Lunar New Year with the family.
Other than my 3 1/2 year unemployment phase, I usually visit New York and/or Columbus about once or twice a year.

This trip was almost like the past family cruises to Western Europe in 2017 and Alaska last summer. Day begins with a big breakfast (Sherman's father-in-law cooked every morning), sight see with loads of walking, big lunch, big dinner and retire around 10 or 11 pm. For me, it isn't until 1 to 1:30 am as my internal clock is firmly affixed in Pacific Time.

Day 1, Saturday: nephew's 100-day/Red Egg and Ginger party in Flushing.
Day 2, Sunday: Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn (MOFAD), early dinner and Kinky Boots Broadway show in Times Square.
Day 3, Monday: Girls lunch at Tamarind Tribeca, Lunar New Year Eve dinner at home with the family.
Day 4, Tuesday: Afternoon tea in the Gotham Room at The Peninsula Hotel in Midtown, near Rockefeller Center.
Day 5, Wednesday: Museum of Chinese in America, dinner at Scalini Fedeli.
Day 6, Thursday: stroll around World Trade Center
Day 7, Friday: 9/11 Museum, visit Vera, Jill and Chanterelle Sung at IMentor in Financial District.

A great visit. Lots of family bonding time, including bedtime readings to the irresistibly cute nephew. Learned a ton at the museums, especially at Museum of Food and Drink (Chow exhibition) and Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) which included an exhibit of Kip Fulbeck's Hapa Project.

Lunar New Year 2019 - What Is Peppa?

thanks Rika for the cool image

Lunar New Year (Year of the Pig) is less than a week away. Thanks to a Facebook shared post from Jeff's brother Bill, there's a video that's gone viral about a grandfather looking to find Peppa, the pig his grandson wants for his Lunar New Year gift.

It's a short, charming video which shows the lengths a grandfather will go to find Peppa for his grandson.

Below is the video. Happy New Year!

Brad Miller & Kyle Sherman - 1st PBA TV Finals

source: Brad & Kyle YouTube page

Well, the likable boys from Missouri lost to Sean Rash and Matt Ogle in the PBA Roth Holman Doubles Finals. This is Matt's first PBA title. Congratulations to Sean and Matt.

But don't fret about Brad and Kyle. They're far from being sore losers. I've been following, but had not subscribed to their YouTube page. I subscribed today - after seeing their Vlog of their TV appearance.

If you're a serious league bowler, you should subscribe to their page too.

Keep up the great work, guys. You'll get your PBA titles soon enough.