Gypsy Music

My friend, Joe, showed me this song. I told him I loved it because it sounded like gypsy music. He was like, "no". I guess Joe doesn't like gypsy music, or calling it that somehow soiled its artistic, musical and political significance. Anyways, I think this song is really cool...And that it sounds like gypsy music.

All them vulgar kings on their dirty thrones....

Things We Lost in the Fire

Confession: I weeped like a baby when I watched this movie. Weeped. I could have just been hormonal. Watching the preview made me cry again. PLEASE! Somebody else watch this movie and tell me they weeped too.



On a serious note: [I hate getting this way on my blog, but I can't help it! I'm still crying! I'm sorry.] This movie exposed that feeling of inadequacy. Inadequacy in our ability to find strength to cope with overwhelming trials. Sadness, loss, loneliness, addiction. But it also inspired strength to deal with things we thought we couldn't, one day at a time.

Putting Home Makeover Reality Shows into Action...SEE!

I don’t usually disappear from the comfort of my virtual world (which is sad to say) but for a week I got a life. Don’t be mad, be proud. I’ve been busy moving and fixing up the cute little house I’m moving into. It’s my friend Lacy’s home. She has completely redone the upstairs and it’s stinking cute. It has a backyard, a fire pit, a hot tub, and trees!! I miss trees. I miss grass! I’m moving into the basement. So I spent all week ripping out carpet, stripping paint, sanding eternally and soon I will start staining. To be honest I’m not really made for this kind of stuff. Home depot and power tools generally scare me. And my body isn’t really built for hard labor. Because I didn't somehow kill myself I’m thinking I’m pretty cool right now.

Next project is with that retro wood paneling and the old halogen light. Any suggestions?

"Comic Books, There Not Just For Kids, Ryan. There Not!" Seth Cohen

My most recent indulgence has been comic books. I have spent a lot of money and time on this new addiction. Batman is my favorite and anything Frank Miller, like Sin City. (After I say this you will think "Get a life," but here goes anyway.) I have been creating my own Sin City style comic art out of my pictures. Cool? Yeah, well cool never was my style.









Why am I too old for comic books? Why can't I imagine a world with superheroes?

Word of the Month: Moderation

This is similar to the manner in which I have lived my life, (observed and spoken so eloquently by Steinbeck in Travels with Charley):

“For I have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all, slept around the clock or missed two nights of sleeping, worked too hard and too long in glory, or slobbed for a time in utter laziness. I've lifted, pulled, chopped, climbed, made love with joy and taken my hangovers as a consequence, not as a punishment.” (Steinbeck)

Though it is a poetic and romantic way to live our all-too short lives, I decided some modifications should be made because it's not a mentally or physically healthy way to live a life.



Moderation. The word of the past month. I have forgotten the meaning of that word. I have forgotten how to practice the definition of that word. So in an attempt at practicing my word of the month I have made some goals.

Daily vitamin
Joined 24 HR Fitness
Walk more places
No more Coke
No more fast food
Get up earlier-and by that I mean nine or ten
More Fruit and water
And all unhealthy things I love that are not on this list must be consumed with moderation

The Monkey Circus

Like most things, I have procrastinated the date of my graduation yet another 3 months on top of the 2 years of its original expected date. It seems like a long pregnancy, and I just want the thing to be out! Knowing my Mom and Dad will be reading this post I must honestly admit, graduation seems very anticlimactic at this point. And I have thought of various ways to make the whole pregnancy just go away. Including speeches such as this:

“Mom, graduation is just another hoop we light on fire and jump through to make some people feel more important than other people. It’s a circus and I don’t want to be the monkey you come and clap for.”

I doubt my parents would buy it. Which is good because it doesn’t make any sense, yet poetic right? Though a week ago, April 25th, the day I was supposed to graduate, the herds of monkeys in matching garb did look pretty silly.

My mom said in one of our many conversations about graduation, “It’s not for you! Graduation’s not for you! It’s for your senile old Mother!”

FINE!

Bitter Sweet

It has been the longest and snowiest winter. These last cold months and icy drives to work have made me wish for nothing more than spring. And so it became spring…and now I am having an allergic reaction…to the universe. My face is swollen, my eyes are red and my lungs are asthmatic. It was 79 degrees outside and I had to lock myself in my room like an ogre. And like the ungrateful wretch that I am, I’m wishing for summer. But then again, the old Dodger doesn’t have any A/C, it just blows out hot air and a loud screeching sound accompanies it. And so my life goes.

Yippy!! I Got to the Castle!!

This may explain my past Halo addiction. And possibly my spazmatic behavior.



PS I think this was me when I was around six-ish.

My Favorite Married People

Yes. It is true that Lori and Devin got married in August. And yes, it is April. But I finally finished their wedding. This is the last third of the video. Thought I’d post it so everyone could take a gander.

It is also true that Lori and Devin are my favorite and I’m in love with them. Happiest wedding ever! Look marriage isn't so scary after all.

Sorry its so small. My apologies. I'll try and post the next two tonight.

Click To Play

American Teen

High School usually seems like it was million years ago, but some days it doesn’t seem that far away at all. “American Teen” was my favorite film I saw this year at the Sundance Film Festival. I was nervous it was going to look too much like MTV’s high school reality shows. But it was totally unique. It seemed like a movie. The characters were so natural. The resolutions were so perfect. And they all were so cool I wanted to be their friends. I was told they were all at a party I went to but I didn’t see the movie till the next day! Too bad because I think me and the “rebel” would have been best friends. After watching this, it felt like high school wasn’t that far away at all.



So question is: Who were you?

Comes out in select theatres (probably only Broadway Theatres in Salt Lake) July 25th

Nothing Works Out the Way it Gets Planned

[In addition to the previous post]

I saw Palomino and Band of Annuals tonight. It was great. Check this song out: Butter For Burns.

Decades: And all Its Trickery

Vintage clothing stores are a dangerous thing. They get you thinking you need things you don’t really need. As soon as you walk in it seems so necessary to own a Napoleon hat and a jacket with metallic epaulettes instead of an A/C that doesn’t squeal and blow hot air.

I went to Decades up in Salt Lake the other day. Two hours later I had found the kimono of my dreams! And my friend had found the suit and vest of his dreams- it dated 1940’s. We both were positive our outfits were absolutely functional and we were sure we would wear them all the time!

Instead, he walked out with a pair of old cowboy boots and I left with an old faded cowboy belt. But I still envision myself in that kimono and I can barely stand the temptation.

Whats Cooler Than Being Cool?!!

....Silly hip hop songs redone as folk songs??? I know I'll regret this.

I Heart Earth

Bet you didn’t know that it was Earth Day yesterday. Neither did I, till I showed up at work and my boss was like P.S. its Earth day and Bob, Robert Redford, is into it which means we’re into it. On Earth day the whole world is supposed to turn off all electricity for an hour and love the Earth. Which is totally radical and all but imagine this: seven waiters, a hostess and a manager all running around a candle lit cramped restaurant with steaming hot plates of 45 dollar entrees, pouring expensive wine in glasses we couldn’t see, trying to avoid tables and the big “tree” we run into even when the lights are on. Imagine the awkwardness of the lights and music being off. And the added bonus of that strange phenomenon that when the lights go out people talk in whispers. It was awkward like one big long prayer. Awkward and disastrous! But FUNNY because I like awkward and disastrous!! Bob is cool though and I’m glad he’s on his environmental crusade. Makes me wish I was on some sort of crusade- but not the kind where people die.

Yukiyo and Fredrick

Growing, flowing, hanging pots of green, and my Grandma is the medicine woman. Pots and pots everywhere with a dictionary of names. Something moss and something flower. “Pua” is the Hawaiian word for flower, my grandma tells me as she hula dances around the room and my Grandpa sings along strumming his guitar. My grandma grows it. My grandma makes it. My grandma sows it. Imagine being so self-sufficient. Imagine a time when you had to be. She gets her eggs from her friend up the street who has chickens. They wash their dishes in the sink. And they pick vegetables from the ground. When did we get too proud to bend over and pick up the food we eat? Now it’s a job for those of a lesser social standing. Is two generations really that far apart?

My grandparents are the greatest. They are not too old to dance or too embarrassed to sing. Not too tired to stay up and talk. They love to laugh but mostly they just make me laugh.

Things that remind me of my Grandparents:

My Grandpa's huge Bonzai tree in the front yard.

Plumerias.

Hanging laundry and beach towels.

This Tree.

BBQ and pancit.

Asian slippers lined up by the front door.

Miniture BBQs. Everything is miniature.

Single Cool Female Seeks Single Cool Male

Spent Easter Sunday driving around San Diego Bay as my Mom showed me places for my wedding. My Mother is so subtle in suggesting its time to get married. Found a nice little Beach House next to the Hotel Coronado. (It's not fancy but neither am I, as I sit here typing this in my basketball shorts and Batgirl shirt).

Location…Check!
Groom…uh er

Does anybody in my blogging audience want to volunteer themselves as a sacrifice? It's for a good cause, so people stop asking why I’m not married. I promise we don’t even have to live with each other or talk to each other, we just have to have a reception, at this place!







My family might be willing to pay. Please contact me if interested :)

I Don't Want My Final Jig in the Belly of a Squid!!

It's St. Patricks day which means:

A) Everyone in the world is matching which is...precious
B) AND!! I can blast Flogging Molly as loud as I wish which is...COOL!!

AND!!! Flogging Molly is cool too and silly, so listen to them, very loudly.[featured below]

Interesting Fact about Ashley and Flogging Molly: Ashley was punched in the face at a Flogging Molly concert. Cool!!

HAPPY FLOGGING MOLLY DAY!!!!

In Addition to Todays Post

Please listen to "Heavy Metal Drummer" on my side bar. I can already tell this is gonna be my spring song. You might love this song.

Symptoms may include Fever, Nausea, Fatigue, and Body Aches

I have been accused of a being a hypochondriac. Maybe I am a hypochondriac, on top of the many other illnesses I have been self-diagnosed with. So I found an “Are you a Hypochondriac” test online, (the internet holds all answers to the universe). And here is my self-evaluation:

You don’t feel well or normal. OMG I’ve never felt normal! And my family and friends reassure me of my abnormalities.

When you get the flu you worry it is something worse. Last time I had the flu, I told everyone I had malaria or small pox (this is because I was breaking out so badly I assumed my pimples were an outbreak of the pox).

You worry you have a tumor or cancer. Once I went to the doctor because I thought I had tumors in my neck. The doctor said they were just swollen glands.

You feel faint at least once a month. I feel faint when I get up too fast, when I get out of bed, when I eat something gross, when I see blood, when somebody talks about blood, when I see people eating canned green beans, when it goes from dark to light too fast, when I’m having an asthma attack, and if I don’t eat every couple hours.

Even when you are just a little under the weather you see a doctor just to be on the safe side. I once saw the doctor because I had bumps on my tongue and I thought I was losing my tastebuds.

Not only do I diagnose myself with fatal illnesses I also diagnose myself with hypochondria. I’m aware that is quite contradictory. I blame my hypochondria on my mother.

On a serious note: My right eye has been twitching like mad for a month now. I’ve become the freak with the crazy eye! I looked it up and apparently it can cause serious vision problems. I’ve been preparing myself by walking around my room with my eyes closed.



That [pictured above] is the possibility of me with an eye patch. You might wanna try and get used to it.

Secrets of a Hair Stylist: Girls, Hair and Rock and Roll volume IV

Today I took a big step (those who know me understand this). Change is not something I eagerly embrace. And when I get my hair cut it’s always an anxiety attack. But today, with the help of Chelsi, I finally decided to embrace a change. After it was over I still felt insecure until Nicole, my hair stylist, said "You look Rock and Roll.” And then I realized my life wasn’t ending and I said, “huh Rock and Roll? Say it again.”



[yes that is Batgirl on my shirt]

Notes on getting your hair done: What is it about a woman with a pair of scissors and a blow dryer that makes us reveal all our deepest secrets and fears. It could be the fact we feel incredibly vulnerable at that moment. And they hold the scissors and therefore the power. Or maybe it’s the fact we are starring into the mirror for so long, we really are starring into our souls. And the hair stylist gets to share that honest and defining moment you have with yourself as you start venting all the things you keep secret. Whatever the reasoning (probably neither of these) nobody knows more about a girl then her hair stylist.



Another observation: At the end there is that awkward moment when you have to compliment your hair stylist because they did a good job and you want to reassure them of that. So you thank them with your flattery. But it’s a tricky situation if you do the math. Because when you take a peek into the mirror and say, “Oh my Gosh! It looks so cute! I love it!” What you’re really saying is “Oh my Gosh! I’m so cute. I love me!” It’s one of the many ways girls compliment themselves while believing they are complimenting others.

Under Pressure

There is something about 80’s dancing that is naturally intoxicating. The things you’ll do on a dance floor to that genre of music. Why? I am not sure. I suppose its one of the great mysteries of the 80’s. Because of this phenomenon I went crazy the other night 80’s dancing for Rachel's Birthday.



Justin (back center) is my number one favorite dancer in the world!!



That is Mike's signature dance move!



Pressure. Pushing down on me, pushing down on me.



I love myself. I want you to love me.



But lately somethings changed and its hard to define. Jessies got himself a girl and i wanna make her mine...



Lets dance in style, lets dance for a while.


Let us die young or let us live forever... (Can you name all these songs?)
But really though, I want to be forever young.

Listography: My Life in Lists

Lists! Lists! Lists! I have been carefully crafting, shaping, listing lists my whole life. A list for every aspect of my existence. Listography. I can measure my life out in lists. And like a living organism they are constantly changing, growing and dividing to create new little baby lists that grow and do the same. When I say this song is top 25, you better believe it’s been documented. So here is this latest concoction: a list of my Top 10 Favorite Movies. (Know that it is liable to change tomorrow for this is the nature of lists).

1. Moulin Rouge
2. Royal Tennenbaums
3. Big Fish
4. Snatch
5. Almost Famous
6. Fight Club
7. Cold Mountain
8. Into The Wild
9. Juno
10. The Big Lebowski

(Please note that this was very difficult. Some were left out and it broke my heart. Here are the next five)

11. Malcolm X
12. Hero
13. I’m Not There
14. Eagle vs. Shark
15. Lord of the Rings

Blast from the Past

I was watching a band play up at the Owl Bar this weekend and this guy across from me catches my eye. For some reason I feel like I know him but I can’t figure out how. My friend who knows him tells me he used to be on the 80’s TV series China Beach. Then I freaked out and realized he was Boonie, the surfer bum, Brian Wimmer! I got so excited because I grew up on China Beach and had the biggest crush on Boonie. I’m positive nobody my age or even ten years older has ever heard of China Beach. But there I was sitting across from a guy who shaped my childhood in the same way Sesame Street shaped normal children's childhoods.



This series was the best. Emmy winning even. Every episode was a mini movie, as close as TV came to film. I remember watching China Beach with my mom when I was a little kid. I’m sure I was too young to understand what it was about, but I loved it. I still can remember this episode perfectly.

For all you China Beach fans and for my mom who was the biggest fan Click Here

(sorry I can’t embed the video you’ll have to go to the link)

Funny Story...

My family and I went Kauai for Christmas. After we got back my mom was reading US weekly and there was a section of all the celebrities that went to Hawaii for Christmas. She sees that Sarah Jessica Parker (my mom loves Sex and the City), her husband Matthew Broderick and their son were in Kauai the same time as us. So she shows my dad. My dad, who could care less about celeb gossip, looks at the picture of the kid and is like “I saw that kid!” So my mom looks at the caption and realizes they were at the same beach the same day as us. Apparently, we were just chilling right next to SJP and the fam! My dad was watching that kid play in the sand all afternoon.

The American City

Through out American history there has always been a city that has exemplified the American spirit of the times. In the 18th century it was Boston, representing political radicalism. In the mid 19th century it was New York, the symbol of the melting pot. The 20th century Chicago, American dynamism. And today….our very own Las Vegas the symbol of our national character and aspirations. A city devoted entirely to entertainment! A city of billboards, of consumption, of mass production. They have even successfully mass produced Elvis. Where things are quick and ready to sell, like McDonalds, even marriage has a drive through window in The Vegas. It’s the American way!



So I spent a couple days in the American City. And Las Vegas, the “Kingdom of If” always convinces me, with its trickery, I was intended for something better. Where people roll the dice and hope to change a decade of bad breaks and an unhappy life with an eight. "Gimme an eight! Dang! Screw it how about some whiskey straight and that all you can eat seafood buffet for 9.99!"

Vegas the Goddess of Luck, with all its neon and glitz, was not smiling kindly on my friend Mikey on the roulette table. If only he wagered on red!

A few days down there gives me a false sense of importance. Oh boy but it feels kinda nice.

Went to L’atelier, Chef Robuchan's famous restaurant. We did the nine course Chefs tasting menu. It was incredible everything was like a painting.




Then I finally saw a Cirque du Soleiel show, “Ka.” I was shocked at how good it was. It was incredible! Collapsing stages and crazy monkey trapeze artists and falling sand. It was like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon meets Lord of the Rings slash Narnia. Except that it didn’t really have a story. But that didn't matter cuz you were too busy being like "Whoa."



In the Vegas you can always wear shades cuz the sun never sets in Vegas.