THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE

I still remember vividly the first NBA game I watched on TV. It was 1987. It was Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers were at Larry Bird's Boston Celtics. I was 10. Magic's Junior, Junior Sky-Hook with 2 seconds left on the clock gave the Lakers a 1-point win over the Celtics. Wow, what a game it was. As a 10 year old, the intensity and the excitement I experienced from watching that game is what made me follow Michael Jordan and the Bulls religiously in the 1990s and Yao Ming and the Rockets since his draft into the NBA.

Over the last two days, the Lakers and the Celtics have emerged as Western and Eastern Conference Champions, respectively.

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett

Both teams have made great acquisitions in the off-season and during the regular season to boost their teams' chances to win the championship. The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol to give them a formidable inside threat to complement MVP Kobe Bryant mid-season. The Celtics acquired All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the off-season to form the Big Three with Paul Pierce. Both teams finished as number 1 seeds in their respective conference.

I can't wait for Game 1 of the Finals to start. These two proud franchises are back in the Finals for the first time in 21 years - for the first time since my first game of NBA. Between them, they have won 30 of the 61 championships in the history of NBA. I just know that this is going to go all the way to Game 7. But... there can only be one! (I am rooting for the Celtics though)

Update: Beat LA! Beat LA! Beat LA! Yah!!! Celtics Win!!!

The next chapter of our lives..

For a bit over 2 months, I have been on Seek, Trade Me, Search4Jobs just about every night.. updating CV, adjusting cover letters, preparing for interviews.. but no, I haven't been looking for a new job (yet..).

And no, I haven't decided to change my career. I am lousy with my finances so God saves us the day I would be giving advice to others about theirs. But yes, Shirley has been looking for her first job in New Zealand since graduating end of last year.

For all that's been said about the lack of skilled employees in New Zealand these days, the responses from Shrley's job hunting has been thin, despite of her having previous work experience in China and being the top graduate in her year last year.

Well.. coming Monday marks the next chapter our lives.. because Shirley was offered and accepted a graduate accountant position last Friday at BDO Spicers!!! I can't describe how emotional, excited and proud I am when I heard the news. We are still buzzing!

Shirley's Picitoral Recipes: Tofu wraps!!!