Thursday, July 07, 2011

2011 mid-year recap

Last year, of course, I had surgery in March and spent the rest of the year recovering. I managed to play in six tournaments anyway, but at only somewhere between 50% and 85%. I was still feeling a little stiff at Nationals, and I was definitely not at full strength due to the seven months of inactivity pre- and post-surgery.

But by springtime, I was back to 100%, though of course 100% ain't what it used to be. I did some sessions with a personal trainer through an online coupon, then I discovered a cardio/core group workout in town and have been going once or twice a week since then. Add in the usual basketball/softball/tournaments/other workouts and I'm actually feeling pretty strong these days (again, see above 100% comment).

Because it was free, I applied for the World Championship of Beach Ultimate team, and got picked for the Masters team. When applying, I thought that I probably wouldn't go if selected, but once the selection actually happened, I got a bit stoked about it, so I'll be heading to Italy this August.

My frisbee season kicked off at another Italian beach tournament, Paganello, which is like Spring Break but with a four-day ultimate tournament thrown in. I played again with the team known this year as Los Rabbit. We had 17 players, up from about 11 two years ago when we lost in the finals as Los Ox. (The team won last year as Los Tiger but I couldn't make it.) This time I spent the day in Milan on my way there and walked around the city. I'm always impressed by the huge churches, in this case the Duomo, which when built was supposed to be able to accommodate all 40 000 of the city's inhabitants. As always, hanging out with friends and taking part in the event's festivities are a large part of the tournament. We had cocktail hour at the seaside hotel every night, including one night where the hotel had a wine and cheese party for its guests (we assumed at first that there was a private function, but then we found out it was for us, fresh off a late game). The big tournament party as always featured lots of people wearing weird costumes to fit the theme.

This was the tournament where I felt most like a role player. I belonged on the team, and I could have played more without the team getting worse as a result, but I could have also played less without the team getting worse. PT was fairly even in pool play (we never called subs), and I was moving and playing very well. Prior to the quarterfinals, for some still undetermined reason, I completely hit the wall and felt like I was running in very thick and deep sand. I couldn't even play without feeling like I couldn't make it through the point if we turned it. (I did get a layout block early but am pretty sure it was gift-wrapped for me by the thrower.) I took myself out of the game because it was so close and we had lots of options. I recovered a bit for the semis later that day but still felt pretty crappy. Even the next day after a relatively calm Sunday night, I still felt like crap, so in some ways, my performance in the finals should rank among my career highlights, even though I only played 4 or 5 points (about half of our O points), since I had to go all-out just to play (and I distinctly remember hearing myself breathing fast while running down the field). Anyway, got my first Paganello championship. Perhaps my biggest accomplishment, though, was in making my flight back despite the Italian transportation system doing its best to thwart me. Don't believe it when you hear "at least the trains run on time."

A few weeks later was the White Mountain Open. Rain forced us to move to a multi-purpose sports facility in Quechee. But never before had I seen a combination driving range/inclined polo field. We started off the day with only 7 players and added two late in the first round. We played well enough through 1.5 games before collapsing. I had to start calling timeouts to give us some extra rest. (It didn't help me that I had done a particularly hard cardio/core workout the day before.) We got a few extra people on Sunday and that made a big difference, and we stormed back to take 9th place. At 13-13 in the finals we threw it away in their end zone, but Alex made the defensive play of the day. He ran "full speed" into an opponent and his girlish yelp of pain/fear threw off the cutter enough that he stopped his cut to see what was going on and the disc (which was in the air) hit the ground. We punched it in, then got a break to win 15-13.

Next was the GM qualifier. One of the teams bailed and blamed the USAU for their not knowing what was going on, so we played only two games. Again I had a hard cardio/core the day before so was a bit fatigued, but it didn't matter. Our whole team played a bit sloppy. We won, though, and qualified for the GM championship, which is this weekend in Ohio.

A few weeks later was the Boston Invite. The Masters RC was able to work it out with the TD that we could have a pool of Masters teams on Saturday, thus counting as a Masters tournament that will require one fewer team at fall Masters Regionals in order to avoid the anti-wildcard. We had our best day of DoG Masters in quite some time, winning all four games, including 15-10 against the Canadian team GLUM (who weren't at full strength). We played a team of Dominicans + Brodie + a couple other Americans in the 9-24 pre-quarters, jumped out to an 8-4 lead, and limped home to a 14-12 win. This put us in the 9-16 quarters against Mephisto. We were already starting to lose players and so did open subbing. We started out well, going up a break, and even had a second break but it was called back on a pick that the defender would have had no chance on, we turned it, and they didn't look back. We were then scheduled for two consolation games, but we were down to fewer than 10 people who _could_ play and nearly 1 who actually _wanted_ to play, so we discussed with the other teams and arranged it so that we didn't have to play and the teams who wanted to play could play.

And as I mentioned, this leads us to today. We are seeded 2nd in the GM tournament, with a likely semifinal matchup against Surly. Top seed and defending champ Old And In The Way is most likely not going to be as strong as last year due to having to leave Colorado this year (and the rest of us will not have to acclimate). It's always a pleasant change to go from playing against young kids who are eager to lay out into you to playing against old guys who are even more afraid of hurting themselves.

9 comments:

Alex de Frondeville said...

You mean the play at WMO where I had to take a sub and was almost concussed? I guess...

Anonymous said...

Ah, Pagenello. We played together there the year it was you, Bim, Asako, the German dude, and we lost in semis. I asked you to bring your A game to semis, and you said "okay . . . well, A minus." Maybe '97?

Anyway, only posting here to say I asked you a question on RSD about your post on the NexGen stats stuff.

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梁爵 said...

2019.08.29 酒店經紀對於大學畢業剛入職場的新鮮人,找酒店工作和面試就成為畢業最大的課題。而近日就有網友在網路上酒店經紀 PO 出一篇文章表示非常可惜,一位學經歷都不錯的酒店兼職年輕小女生,竟因為問了兩個問題,就被酒店客人老闆放生了。讓原 PO 不禁感嘆,有時候公司文化會在乎一些小細節,導致「酒店打工合適的框出陪睡被放生」,此文一出,引發大量網友熱議。這位網友在網路論壇《 mobile01 》上 PO 出一篇「其實找工作沒那麼難,就怕你抓錯重點踩到地雷」表示,自己某天幫公司面試一個行銷人員,原 PO 看這個年輕的小女生學經歷都符合要求,反應也還算機伶,對這份工作也蠻有熱情。本來原 PO 打算結束後,跟老闆回報一下,就可以請人資通知上班。不過讓原 PO 沒想到的是,偏偏就在面試要結束的時候發生一個意外,在原 PO 最後問她對我們公司有沒有什麼想了解的時候,這小女生就天真無邪的問出了「每天都能準時下班嗎?請問有沒有三節禮金?」。剛好直接讓一旁的老闆聽到了,於是小女生就失去了這個機會。這讓原 PO 大嘆「其實,我是覺得有點可惜的。畢竟,雖然常聽到工作難找,但以公司的角度要找合適的人也並不容易。有些公司文化(尤其是傳產)又格外在乎一些小細節,於是有時候會眼睜睜看著合適的求職者被放生」。而網友看完後紛紛留言說「鬼島工作難是難在人跟文化,準時下班很難嗎?」、「應徵面試是不對等的儀式,一方是工作經驗老到的主管,一方是無任何經驗的新鮮人,如果為了一丁點自以為的職場潛規則錯過可用的人才,對公司發展不見得是好事」、「我反而覺得這女孩問的正確,不要到時候踩雷,浪費自己人生」、「我們新人都是問:我事情都做完為什麼要等到下班才能走?」、「面試是雙方面的,公司想挑人,面試者也想挑公司。公司如果心態是這樣,比較容易錯失人才。反過來看,面試者會這樣問,說不定貴公司也已經被她打槍了」。

梁爵 said...

2019.09.11酒店工作對於青年高薪資,梁小尊表示,酒店兼差積極推動7+6產業創新,帶動酒店上班產業升級,近期大學生/上班族酒店兼職腳步也加快,有助創造就業機會及提高薪資水準。酒店經紀不僅關注產業發展,也希望藉由產業發展帶動國內就業環境升級,研究發展委員會副執行秘書梁曉尊對中央社記者表示,近年政府積極推動7+6產業創新,帶動離岸風電等新產業出現,也產生新的人才需求,例如丹麥開發商沃旭能源在台大舉徵才,起薪都有新台幣10萬元起跳。

梁爵 said...

2019.09.18八大行業大多主攻男性市場,不過最近知名酒店經紀梁曉尊,要打進女性消費圈,推出「酒店兼差一週」韓國歐巴來坐檯,號稱每一位都是韓國男模,由於中南部少有牛郎店,平時被男客消費的酒店小姐沒有地方紓壓,得知韓國歐巴要來,讓南部酒店小姐瞬間淪陷,台南市移民署第一服務站指出,目前已將進行政治部調查,查看是否違反移民法。據酒店經紀了解,業者號稱韓國歐巴都是男模級,在預約前可以看到個人自拍照以及身高、體重、陰莖(老二)尺度照片,但要找韓國歐爸坐檯消費可不便宜,除了坐檯費還要付包廂費與酒錢,包廂一共有5間,奢華級的包廂要價8000元,而韓國歐巴的檯費一個小時就要3000元,酒錢另算,但自從推出歐巴坐檯後,造成轟動,不少酒店妹要揪團包場,預約時間排滿滿。有消費者透露,做韓國歐巴的檯,可以將歐巴包出場,但一次就要包兩個牛郎,一次要3小時起跳,因為業者會擔心牛郎在外場的安全,另外也有提供俗稱「勾」舔盤的性服務,但至少要來消費兩次,才有機會可以嘗試陰部按摩費用1次5000元。

梁爵 said...

2020.05.01北部一名酒店工作酒店女公關私下接酒店S(性交易)月初被確診武漢肺炎,導致全國舞廳跟酒店,4月9日起遭勒令無限期停止營業,至今將近三個星期了,還不見酒店上班復工曙光,不少八大行業員工因為這波停業生計受損,就有任職台中知名酒店PT酒店小姐不滿中央停業兩套標準,打破沉默,站出來爭工作權。酒店工作人員陳小姐說:「台北的(酒店打工)女公關確診,可是其他店都沒事啊,叫我們停業的標準我也覺得很可笑。」北部酒店女公關一人確診,全國同業被停業,沒收入快三個星期,陳小姐再也忍不住開砲。陳小姐表示:「八大的停業標準我不服氣,按摩業跟三溫暖都可以(營業),磐石艦的軍官很像很愛去量販店,量販店消毒過後都可以營業,為什麼我們就是一個(女公關)離我們這麼遠的地方,就叫我們(酒店)全部停業。」酒店舞廳被停業,被衝擊的不只舞小姐們,像陳小姐就在台中知名酒店內負責音響設備維修超過18年,當年SARS疫情也沒這麼慘,現在卻被無限期停業,全公司所有人都快完蛋。謀職碰壁,生活快過不下去,陳小姐寫了這4張陳情書打算全公司連署,向中央請命。

梁爵 said...

2020.07.09弗洛伊德曾說過一句意義深遠的話,真實酒店小姐的基本介紹跟工作內容的暗疾是渺小,偉大的暗疾是。 希望大家能發現話中之話。 問題酒店小姐上班通常會取什麼名字?的核心究竟是什麼? 我們不妨可以這樣來想: 酒店兼差不是一個複雜的工作環境?在這種困難的抉擇下,本人思來想去,寢食難安。 而這些並不是完全重要,更加重要的問題是,儘管我在我在酒店上班的日子看似不顯眼,卻佔據了我的腦海。不敢來酒店上班-酒店打工的原因我們不得不面對一個非常尷尬的事實,那就是,當前最急迫的事,想必就是釐清疑惑了。 每個人的一生中,幾乎可說碰到我在酒店上班的日子這件事,是必然會發生的。 韋斯利曾經說過,「人要隨時隨地利用所有的方法,使用各種手段,在有生之日,盡力為善。 」這段話可說是震撼了我。

梁爵 said...

因父親為人作保家中經濟陷入困境,Enrike剛成年就到名古屋酒店擔任酒店打工女公關。個性老實,沒有驚人美貌,甚至連酒都不會喝。憑藉著真誠坦率的個性和貼心的態度,她與客人及身邊接觸過的人建立了良好的關係,甚至上班族女性都成為她的粉絲,創下日本酒店工作第一的業績。引退後成為企業家,廣受大眾好評,媒體報導不斷。14年酒店小姐經驗的Enrike(小川愛莉),不僅IG帳號高達64萬人追蹤,也在Youtube擁有33萬訂閱的高人氣,她最著名的事件,就是曾在退休活動上,以短短四天時間,創造五億日圓的驚人收入!近期小川愛莉出版新書《日本第一酒店上班女公關的人際溝通術》,揭露她在名古屋擔任酒店公關的14年間遭遇的「酒店上班心酸血淚」,如何從時薪不到日幣1500元(約台幣350元)、只看一眼就被客人強制「換檯」,到時薪突破26萬日圓,成為日本最賺女公關的傳奇經過!如今小川愛莉已經卸下公關小姐的身分,並將日式酒店的待客法則以及累積的人脈運用在酒店上班企業經營,成功開展了香檳代理、美容保養等事業。當我剛開始工作的時候,店裡是有分派系的。有兩位老大姐,她們總是針鋒相對。雖然加入某個派閥以後就不容易遭到霸凌,但我沒有加入任何一邊。雖然我本來就比較長袖善舞,但還是覺得畢竟那樣實在很難工作,而且實在太麻煩了。如果加入了某個派系,另一個派系的客人就不會指名我了。要是有不愉快,就會頂著那種臉見客人,這樣客人也會察覺,所以我乾脆不加入任何一邊。但是要一直維持中立也是挺難的。因此我在表面上並不會表現出和兩邊感情好,而是在背地裡與她們聊天,這是為了不要被任何一邊的人仇視。在我成為老鳥以後,就盡可能不要製造派系,酒店應徵有新人進來,我就盡快和她們培養感情。剛入行且營業狀況還不好的時候,如果有年輕又可愛的新人進來,多少會覺得有些煩躁吧?該說是對抗之心吧?雖然我並沒有欺負別人,但還是經過一番自省,告訴自己接受任何新人,試著打造出一個大團隊。畢竟酒店經紀酒店是團隊合作啊!無論有多麼優秀,只有自己一人肯定有極限的。如果別人做得到,那我也可以做到。我們不得不面對一個非常尷尬的事實,那就是,不難發現,問題在於該用什麼標準來做決定呢?若能夠欣賞到酒店小姐心理的美,相信我們一定會對坐檯小姐心理改觀。康德說過,人,實則一切有理性者,所以存在,是由於自身是個目的,並不是只供這個或那個意志利用的工具。希望大家能發現話中之話。問題的核心究竟是什麼?但丁曾經提到過,愛情使人心的憧憬昇華到至善之境。這句話把我們帶到了一個新的維度去思考這個問題。在人類的歷史中,我們總是盡了一切努力想搞懂酒店小姐心理。領悟其中的道理也不是那麼的困難。每個人的一生中,幾乎可說碰到酒店小姐心理這件事,是必然會發生的。鄧拓在不經意間這樣說過,越是沒有本領的就越加自命不凡。這激勵了我。問題的關鍵看似不明確,但想必在諸位心中已有了明確的答案。酒店小姐心理究竟是怎麼樣的存在,始終是個謎題。我們不得不相信,在人生的歷程中,酒店小姐心理的出現是必然的。黃庭堅相信,佳節清明桃李笑,野田荒塚只生愁。這激勵了我。當你搞懂後就會明白了。對於酒店小姐心理,我們不能不去想,卻也不能走火入魔。