Monday, December 28, 2009

Post Chistmas Chaos

Christmas day every year is generally the only time that my entire family can get together all in one place. Even so, we're always missing someone. This year it was Tyler, Kirstin (and the baby to be!) and Ma'afu and Ofa, and Randy, my aunt Heather's husband. Otherwise, though, I think all of the original 7 kids, so to speak, were there. And by that I mean my mom and her 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Out of the 13 grand kids, there were 10 of us there. And of course the spouses of everyone, which practically doubles the amount of adults, so all in all there were about...25 people at my grandmas house on Christmas day.
It is always insane.
But I absolutely love it. It's what I always look forward to.
The younger grand kids (so basically anyone who came after I did) are usually running around all over. The sisters, moms, and grandmas are in the kitchen. The men/boys are watching a basketball game in at least one room of the house. The older grand kids are intertwined within everything that's going on, just helping and/or staying out of the way.
Or, as I was doing, wrapping last minute presents that were forgotten by Grandma Suzie.

There is always a process with these things. There has to be, or else nothing would get done and it would end up being more crazy than it already is.
First, one present each for the younger kids who believe that the sole purpose of the holidays is for gifts and only gifts. Generally those 10 and under.
Second, dinner.
Third, clean up and put away food while little kids continue playing somewhere else for a good 20 minutes.
Fourth, everybody goes back to the living room, and, one by one, we start handing out the gifts that we have. Not everybody has gifts to give, but really...who cares? The little kids don't really notice because they all get enough things from grandma that they don't care from whom all the goodies come from.
And last, but not least, we break out the desserts. Cookies, peanut butter balls, Oreo balls, chocolate truffles, carrot cake, cheesecake, etc. For some reason I have become the resident cookie and peanut butter balls maker for the last couple of years...this duty was just kind of thrust upon me. I don't mind though.

After all is said and done, people start going their separate ways for different reasons; sleepy, kids need to go to bed, whatever. Who ever is left at grandma's house once the noise level has died down usually plays a game on the dining room table with everyone else who is still there too.
That's probably my favorite part of the day. When everyone is tired and happy and together in one place having a fun time.


I'm so grateful that I was born into such a big family. I don't ever want to not have a big family. It's just so much fun :]




Still waiting to hear from UW, by the way...




Song of the Day: "Happy Christmas Day" by Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls

Thursday, December 24, 2009

It Will All Work Out In The End

I hate when a good book has to come to an end.
I also hate sleeping on floors, but we can't have everything, now can we?
I just finished Maureen Johnson's The Burmudez Triangle. It was good. Very good. Filled with a lot of emotions, and really great characters. I'm sad that it's over...

And in regards to the floor thing: I'm sleeping in the spare room at my grandma's house. It is filled with gifts and gift wrapping materials and has a sign on the door that reads "Santa/Grandma Suzie's Workshop", as if they are partners at a law firm.
I got to hang out with Tori and Erin today, just like old times. It was so much fun, I absolutely love those girls! Best friends in the world, for sure.

I'm nervous about Washington. Waiting for a letter is horrible.
Is it bad to say that I get a strong feeling that I didn't get in? And to be honest, I think I would be okay with it. I can always try again for Fall quarter. Look at me, being all optimistic and crap.

I have to make cookies in the morning. I am, of course, the designated Christmas cookie maker of the family. Though nobody actually told me this, I know it to secretly be true.

So good night. And later days.

Song of the Day: "Pink Bullets" by The Shins
Film of the Day: Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). THIS MOVIE IS SO CREEPY. I just watched it for the first time in about 5 years, and I've decided that it should not be for children under the age of 14. Just sayin'.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Salute Your Solution

I just saw a bunch of pictures of people I used to be good friends with...and I'm kind of glad I'm not friends with them anymore. I mean, I'm definitely glad we were friends at one point, but I think it's for the best that all of our lives ended up as they did.

Anywayyy.
Ventura tomorrow. Yahoooo!!! I'm pretty excited. Except I'm not excited for the drive there. Blehh. It's all worth it in the end.

Things I'm Stoked For In Ventura:
-Blenders. OMG. I've been craving a Peanut Butter w/ chocolate and banana for weeks now.
-Chipotle. The state of Utah has two Chipotles. They are in Salt Lake City and Bountiful. LAME.
-In N Out by the beach. It's true, one of the two In N Outs in Utah is just minutes away from me, but it's not as delicious if you can't go take it over to the pier or pierpont to eat it.
-Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Chai tea blended. The end.
-Warm weather. It's been less than 45 degrees here for a couple weeks now. I'm over it.

The only downside of this trip is that I wont have a car to drive since the fam is driving down together.
I'm really just glad I'm going to get to see all of my cousins though. Living near them my whole life is something I took for granted, for sure.

I have to keep packing. I always forget something. I even make detailed lists and everything...oh well. We'll see.

Later days.

Song of the day: "Bird On A Wire" by Rogue Wave
Film of the Day: Princess Bride (1987). I kept quoting this the other day.

PS - I put up that cover I sang on my youtube.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Pants.

I need pants. Kind of badly. How could I have missed this?

Side note.
Photo explanation:
I miss Weber State Theatre Department. This is a picture from the Peter Pan musical last Spring. It was one of the most successful shows at WSU, and I'm so glad that I was able to be involved in it. And also, I sat/hid back by that latter for the entirety of act II in order to hand off props to Hook and Peter. That whole set piece was on a revolving pole that I had to stick through the set and attach to the ground on the stage; it was turned around while I hid on it, that is why you can't see my in this picture.
So much fun.

I'm going to Ventura on Wednesday. The one thing I'm looking forward to the most is seeing Jacquelynn, actually. Not physically being able to hang out with her for a year has been weird. Especially after having lived the last 4 years of my life seeing her almost every single day.

I'm actually just stoked on the whole idea of going to Ventura. When I was there last I didn't get to see my Foothill friends because they were all at their random schools all over the country.
I really hope we can do another LA adventure day. That was so incredibly fun when we did it in July.
Geeze...July feels like it happened yesterday. July was Roscoe's. July was Diddy Riese and Santa Monica. July was dodgeball and colored headbands.

Freak. Time passes so much faster than we realize. It's almost scary.


My ears just popped. Thought I'd share that with the world. It's kind of a big deal since they've needed to do that for about 2 weeks now.


Project for Awesome went so well! This was my first year participating, but it was so fun! I really enjoyed myself, and I even donated a little of what I could to feedingamerica.org. It was kind of an eye opening experience. I loved it.
But now I'm so tired haha...I'm taking a day off from YouTube.

I've decided to do a cover of "Po' Lazarus" from the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack. It's very simple, but I like it a lot because I get to kind of play around with my voice and sound very bluesy. Yay :]] Going back to my roots, as Alex Castillo would say.
I'll filmit soon and put it on the Tubes.

And here is where I end.
Later days.


Song of the Day: "Help I'm Alive" by Metric
Film of the Day: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007). Such a great film for both Brad and Casey.





Apparently I'm on a first name basis with actors now.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

No Time For Titles

This picture is from Tyler's 16th birthday over three years ago. Oh, time, where do you wander off to so quickly?



I can't stop coughing. My nasty tasting cough medicine isn't working either.

AND MY FREAKING KEYBOARD DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ACTUALLY TYPING THE LETTERS I PUT MY FINGERS ON. I have to keep going back through the words I've already written and fix them because half of the letters aren't even there.

I swear, my computer is whiggin' out, and I've barely had it a year! Is this my punishment for getting a PC? Yes. Yes, it is.


In other news, I only have two finals left for this semester. Nutrition and French. In other words, the ones I actually have to study for. But will I actually study for them? Probably not. In fact, my French exam is in 11 hours and I haven't touched my text book for that class since last Wednesday.

Honestly though, I don't really remember the last time I did study for a big test. I know it's not the best habit, like, at all, but I just don't study a lot.






I am so excited for this. I've already finished my video.

If you don't know what P4A is, click on the hyperlink you just read past. Twice.





In one week from today (Wednesday the 23rd) my family and I will be truckin' across the Nevada desert to Ventura, California. SO EXCITED. I'm planning on hanging out with Jenna (my cousin) for most of the time there since I wont have a car and she definitely owes me for all the times I used to drive her around before she had her license and I wasn't even aloud to drive her yet.

Well, hello, run on sentence, I didn't see you there until just now. Nice to have you here.

Anyway, this should be an interesting Christmas. Kirstin and Ma'aafu and Ofa won't be there (Tongan names, just in case you were way confused just then) because they can't afford the tip from Hawaii :/. I have no idea if my uncle Dallan will be there...I haven't seen him for about 2 years. And of course, Tyler will be in Provo on Christmas day, to then leave for Honduras on the...28th? I think.

It's always nice to be with family for Christmas though, despite the members that may be missing.





Here's something that's been on my mind lately: PUNK IS DEAD. I hate to say it, but it's sooo true. I mean, yes, there are a few bands out there that are kind of in the underground music scene (Killola, for example) that definitely have a punk flair in their music, but truly, there are no mainstream bands that are actually punk. And Green Day is not punk, freaking idiots. They may have once been so, back in like, oh, the 90s, but no longer. Sorry. I'm talking about The Missing 23rd, The Clash, Tipper's Gore, Dead Kennedys, and Circle Jerks. Punk is one of the best lyrically based genres of music, in my opinion. Plus it's so freaking fun to dance/mosh to.

I miss going to shows at The Underground and moshing to local punk. Good times.


And later days.




Song of the Day: "Hate and War" by The Clash

Film of the Day: I actually haven't watched a lot of movies lately, which is really weird for me. How about Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937), the first full length animated feature in the history of film making? Okay then.

Speaking of movies, the one's I need to see in theatres VERY soon are Invictus, Brothers, The Blind Side, and Up In The Air. And I wish I could have seen An Education, A Single Man, A Serious Man, and The Hurt Locker, but nothing awesome and/or lower budget and/or independently produced and/or mildly controversial ever plays in southern Utah.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Tough Week

I haven't posted a blog in several days. Having not done so, I feel a little out of practice.
No, not really. I lied.

Okay, so. This week has been insane and it's not even over yet.
I've just had much to do, had so many phone calls to make, and on top of it all, I have a horrible cold, so I can't taste any food, which is even worse than having the col in the first place. Am I right?
I'm not going to get into detail because that could take a while, but I have finally completed my entire application for...are you sure you're ready for this? Okay...the University of Washington. It's in Seattle. "Why Seattle?" you ask? Why not!? I've personally never actually been there actually, but it looks awesome! And I need a new adventure; this is my refresh button on life.
If I don't get in for the Spring quarter, then I'll apply again for Fall, along with Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film down in Nashville. I need to find some more back ups as well, just in case. Wherever I apply though, I want it to be in or near a bigger city, like Seattle or Nashville, though not quite as big as New York City. I'm also still thinking about schools in San Diego or LA area. We'll see...

I wont bore you with everything that I need to get done before Monday (and it's a lot of stuff, mind you). Finals week is next week.

I'm importing old CDs into Itunes that I randomly found today. I just found a Flogging Molly mixed CD. Today is good.



Song of the Day: "Drunken Lullabies" by Flogging Molly
Film of the Day: Billy Elliot (2000)

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Basement is Always Too Cold

I'm a huge cry baby when it comes to films and television. I have no. clue. why.
It just doesn't make any sense. I can break an ankle without crying, so why can I not get through an episode of Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice without the water works? And I swear, if I tear up next time I'm in a theatre I will...hmm. I didn't really have an ending for that thought when I started writing it.

Anyway, this has just been on my mind lately.



I'm worried about my grade in French. I won't lie. It's a hard class for me, and the fact that my teacher isn't good at actually teaching helps no one. He's a funny dude, but come on...he remembers when the Berlin wall went up. I have nothing against older folks (except that they should not drive if they have trouble walking, seeing, or thinking. Especially in the state of Utah), but there comes a time in every person's life where always consistent things must come to an end.



I really miss jumping, by the way. I wasn't any good at it or anything, but I loved it so much. One of my only regrets in life is that I only did it for my senior year of high school.





I really need to get something to record and mix my music with. I've been dying to share it with people, but I just don't quite know where to go with it next. What's the next step?



In other news, I'm extremely excited to go home (well, old home, since I guess Utah is technically "home" now) to Ventura for Christmas. I miss the ocean. I'm sooooo tired of mountains, mountains, mountains. Mountains are cool and all, but I've been over it since the first week I moved here.

At least give me snow. Oh, but wait, I live in one of the only places in Utah where it rarely snows. It just gets to ridiculously low temperatures.





Enough complaining.



I've been thinking about coming up with a playlist every two weeks and then putting it onto a CD and giving it to random people whom I believe would like said music that would be on said playlist. Thoughts?

I just figured, everyone generally likes my music suggestions, and unless everyone has been lying to me, I would like to share music that I enjoy with everyone else.



I need to go make a video. A short video. But a video nonetheless.







Song of the Day: "A House Grown With Ivy" by Let's Lumos! Thank you Kristina Horner for tweeting about them. They've already been a huge inspiration to me.

Film of the Day: Zombieland (2009). I am aware that this has previously been on of my films of the day, but it is now in the two dollar theatre on flood street, therefore it is once again worthy of being mentioned because it is AWESOME. Seriously though, if you haven't seen this yet and it's playing near you...GO. If you're Mormon, or else just aren't a huge R-rated movie goer, then I guess don't go see it, but there are only a few words of bad language and really fake blood.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Wizard Rock: My New Favorite Thing

This is an explanation of my new found love of wizard rock (wrock) music:
First I found Brotherhood 2.0. Then I found Five Awesome Girls. Then I found wizard rock music.
At first, I was sceptical. Thinking, "yeah, I love Harry Potter, but wizard rock? Really?" NEVER judge a book by it's cover. For some reason unknown to me, I was automatically hooked when I listened to The Parselmouths. Then the Moaning Myrtles. Then I remembered that I've actually seen The Remus Lupins at Warped Tour several years ago in Ventura. And I remember them being awesome.
More than anything, I love the togetherness of the wrock community. I love the dedication and the happiness that I see people get from participated in something so great. Wizard rock has truly changed my life in some ways, though I know that might sound weird. For those of you who know me, I know you think I'm a little insane when I tell you I like this music and want to be involved with it. It just kind of fits into my life perfectly, like a little piece of something that I've been missing.

Anyway, my brother Mikie and I decided we were going to start a wizard rock band. The only problem was that he doesn't play an instrument, and I don't play my instruments as well as a lot of other people. But I love to write, and I have a huge passion for playing my guitar and writing songs, so I figured we could just work with what we had. Lately, though, this little project we set out to do has become a one-man-band sort of deal. Mikie has kind of moved on, not maintaining the same enthusiasm for this as I have. Which is funny because I'm four years older than he is, thus, the more mature, so you'd think I would have moved past this as well. Alas, it is not so.

While choosing our band name, we were looking through all the other wrock band names on Wizrocklopedia, seeing what was taken already. Mikie came up with a list of possibilities before I did and showed them to me. One of them was "Fountains of Fair Fortune", from the The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I read it aloud as "Foundation of Fair Fortune".
We ended up really liking that, therefore, we decided to call ourselves Foundation of Fair Fortune. Well. I call myself that since he's somewhat out of the picture.

I've been writing a lot for the last few weeks, wrock songs and non-wrock songs alike. But mostly wrock songs. I want to keep writing more because I'd like to get some recording equipment and record a first album sometime next year. For now, I'll get some acoustic rough versions of them up on YouTube, the first of which is Magic By the Lake, as of an hour ago.


I love doing this. And I hope I get support from my friends and family to continue doing it, even though it's not necessarily the norm. But then again...so what if it's not?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

This Is One Insane Labyrinth

Somehow, Tyler let my mom know that I don't write him enough. Well sorryyy. It's not like I'll know if you don't tell me. So I guess I'll write him tomorrow.

I took my paper over to my grandpa's house today for him to read. When he finished he said that he never realized how much I liked writing, and he enjoyed reading it. Coming from him...that was pretty cool. Tyler was/is generally the grand kid of the family to share his talents with everyone than I am so everyone is always so surprised when they find out I'm good at something that I've loved doing for years.

Today was chaotic, just as I thought it would be. Running errands, getting projects and assignments done on time while skipping French class, etc. But really, French class is always the one thing that seems to be in my way of every other thing in my life. Maybe I'm over exaggerating. Maybe not.

I heard Ingrid Michaelson on the radio today. It made me happy.
I also witnessed an old man rear-end some one at the corner of 900 and River. The fact that this is the only accident I've seen happen the entire time that I've lived here baffles me. Everyone here is a horrible driver, there should be more of these things going on every 20 minutes.

I'm so excited to go to California this Christmas, even if it's only for 5 days. I wish I could go to San Diego while I'm there, but I don't see that happening. Regardless, it should be a great trip. I'm mostly excited to reconnect with people that I haven't seen since the summer, including, but not limited to, Ventura 5th Ward. Ruben will have already gone to the MTC in Provo on the 12th, but I don't think anyone has gotten a mission call since I've been gone.

I took my brothers to see Fantastic Mr. Fox today. AWESOME. Yeah, that's basically it.
I very much recommend it.

I've been trying this new thing where I go to bed before midnight. It's not working yet, but there is still hope. So good night.
And later days.


Song of the Day: "You and I" by Ingrid Michaelson. One of my favorites of hers, though there are many.
Book of the Day: Looking For Alaska by John Green. I'm not feeling the films today. And this book (and all of John Green's books) changed my life. And apparently it has already been a banned book from some high school in...New York, I think it was. Anyway, like I was saying, John Green is a genius. I don't know how much more I can do to emphasize that point.

Monday, November 30, 2009

I Will Miss You, Ceramics Class

I keep getting weird pains in my left hand and wrist. Thank goodness today was the last day of throwing for ceramics until...who knows when. It's also a sad day, because it was the last day I threw something for ceramics. It was a freaking awesome looking curvy bottle thing. I think it's one of my favorite pieces.

YouTube is doing maintenance so I can't upload my video that is already three days late going up. I'll have to do it in the morning, because once I'm done writing this, I'm off to bed. I have to go to work in the morning, then probably skip French, once again, so that I can get my contact sheet developed for my last (horrible and crappy) shoot, so that I can turn it in before 5pm. Actually, before 4, because I have to be at my other work at 4. Then I have to go trim my last two pots tomorrow night. I feel like I'm going to be pressed for time tomorrow all thanks to the contact sheet. I always seem to have problems developing a good one.

At FHE (Family Home Evening) tonight we made rice krispy sculptures. It was messy, but fun.

OH OH OH. I almost forgot. I finished my college application essay for The University of ------- today in Spoon Me. It was a great feeling. I'm going to have my grandpa read it tomorrow and let me know what he thinks (12th grade English teacher for +30 years).

This week is going to be pretty busy, but I would like to go to the temple at some point. I've never been to the St. George temple, only the Los Angeles one, and I haven't been to that for 3 years. Maybe Thursday...

Good night and later days.


Song of the Day: "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol.
Film of the Day: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). I do realize this hasn't come out yet, but I'm quite excited for it. It comes out on Christmas, limited release.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Pink Carnation In a Pick-up Truck


In Tyler's - or should I say Elder Wedemeyer's - last, and only, letter to me, he said one thing in particular that stuck in my head. Which is weird considering his letter was literally a very small paragraph, mainly telling me that he didn't have any free time at the MTC to write to me. Right.
Anyway, he said "I think you should go on a mission!" and went on to say that it is the "most powerful spiritual experience of a lifetime".

I didn't really give it much thought at the time. But I have that nagging 'what if" feeling inside me lately. What if I'm supposed to go on a mission? At the same time, I almost can't see myself doing it. Almost.

I have time to think and pray on it though. When Tyler gets back from his, maybe I'll be going on mine. Who knows...



In other news, I had a great day at Church today. When I got home after it I remembered that I still had to do my photo shoot...with barely 30 minutes of light left in the day. It was stressful, but I got through most of it. I need to finish in the morning, along with develop two rolls sometime before noon tomorrow. I'm not yet sure how that will work out, but I know everything will work out for the best.


So about that college application essay...I'm still not done. I've been putting it off. I know, I know. It's due in 15 days, but I just don't know how to end the essay with a bang. Or at least end it well enough so that it measures up to the rest of the paper, because it is a well written paper, I wont lie. It's just intimidating.



18 days of school left! I can't wait to go to Ventura for Christmas. I miss it so much. And I'll get to see Jacquelynn! We haven't seen each other for a year and a half. That is absolutely insane. We just keep missing each other when we're in northern Utah or California.

That reminds me, I haven't been to SLC/Provo/Ogden for a while either. I haven't seen Bre, Shannon or Lindsey for about 6 months. Goodness gracious. I need to make plans to go up there. Maybe...New Years?? Perhaps.


I haven't written any songs for a few days...I should get on that. I'm trying to have 10 by the beginning of 2010 (wooowwwwwm reallly?? Time is flying by like crazy!) so that I can record as soon as I get some adequate recording equipment.


I still need a new job.



Okay, I'm done. Later days.





Song of the day: "American Pie" by Don McLean. I know every word of this eight and a half minute song. Such a great contribution to music.
Film of the Day: Angels and Demons (2009). I'm watching it right now as I type this. It's really interesting. I've been meaning to read it since I was 14, but it never ended up happening. I figured the movie would be pretty close though, considering Da Vinci Code was very similar to the novel. Which I have read.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Short and Sweet

Utah lost to BYU by 3. It was an absolute heart breaker of a loss. Good game though.
In other news, I made a video today but wont be able to upload it until tomorrow because I'm too lazy to finish editing it right now.

I made my brother watch Mean Girls with me tonight. Well, he actually did it rather willingly. He's a good sport. Anyway, he loved it, as should everyone upon the earth. Amen.


Okay, well...I don't really have a lot for today.
So later days.

Song of the Day: "The Hand Song" by Nickel Creek
Film of the Day: Mean Girls (2004)

Friday, November 27, 2009

God's Good Ocean Gone Wrong


I'm writing down vlog ideas.

It's going...slowly.


I had a good Thanksgiving. Good food, good people, etc.

I'm thankful for everything. Can I say that? I hope so. Anyway, I just did. I am literally thankful for all that I have been given in my life. Everything: the blessings, the trials, the successes, the mistakes, the good people, the not-so-good people...everything. I don't generally hear people say that, so I thought I'd start a new trend. Perhaps it will catch on eventually.


It's kind of annoying that I didn't have any money today in order to go shopping on Black Friday. Oh welllll. I got a lot of stuff done. Mainly ceramics stuff.


OH. Side note off of that:

I trimmed 10 pieces today, and I trimmed them well (as usual; I'm a huge perfectionist when it comes to art). When I was done trimming I took the pieces into the back room to set on the shelf in order to be bisked.

And then I knocked my three favorites onto the ground by brushing into them with my pants.

I HATE BEING SO FREAKING CLUMSY. It's a curse, I swear.

So because I broke my favorite things, I was a bit upset, but I tried getting over it because, I mean, come on, it happens; I can't get emotionally attached to my work when it involves pots. But it still freaking sucked. After this incident, I tried to throw some more cups that were just as awesome as the ones I broke, but it didn't end up happening. I literally threw for two hours with only three crappy excuses for cups to show for it.

It was a bad day for ceramics.


I have a new subscriber on my channel. It's Kenny :)

I never really got to know him super well, but we used to talk on AIM all the time. He's a cool guy, I hope I can get to know him better at some point.


I really need a job. Ughh. Maybe I'll give pizza factory a go. That would be an amazing job. Except that I'd get paid badly besides my tips. Utah wage laws are completely ridiculous.



Manchester United had a good game today, just in case you were wondering. I quite enjoyed watching it.


Utah vs. BYU game is tomorrow! GOOOO UTES!


Later days.


Song of the Day: anything by Beastie Boys. I personally love "Sure Shot" and "Pass the Mic".
Film of the Day: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). It's out!! Go see it!!! I still need to as well, but what ever. Anyway, Wes Anderson is a genius. Amen.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

My Words Intimidate Me

My application essay is literally scaring me. Not like, what I've written, but the idea of finishing, of tackling those last 50 words in the conclusion so that they sound just right. I keep putting it off.

I wrote another song today. It's about the trail of spiders that Ron and Harry follow in The Chamber of Secrets. It's a bit slower than I'm used to, and just...simple. Easy. I have realized that just because something is easy to do does not mean it can't be awesome too. Right? Right. I really can't wait to start recording my songs. I'm looking forward to it a lot.
On a similar note, I told Jenna I listen to wizard rock, and she thinks I am kind of crazy now. Maybe it was the shock of telling her something out of the norm, but over the phone she sounded a little weirded out. She'll come around though; I'll help her see how awesome wrock can be :)
I also told her that Nerdfighters changed my life. That may have been a lot to take in, I admit it.


Thanksgiving is...well, it's today, actually, now that it's past midnight.
My step-dad's brother and parents came to St. George to celebrate and eat delicious food with us. I'm personally stoked about the sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.

I was a bit distraught when I went into Harmon's today to buy more California Chips. They were out. I couldn't believe it. And they told me they don't normally sell that brand unless they are having a special, like they just were. Bummer, er whattt??
Though the man that helped me used to live in Santa Barbara, so I felt a little better about the whole thing. It's always nice to meet someone from the Ventura, Ca. area. Like the random old tow truck guy that was from Ventura; he towed my Ghetto Honda, Calvin, to his death, unfortunately. In the middle of a snow storm...those were the days.


I still haven't even started my photo shoot that's due next week. I have to shoot and develop before Monday afternoon. GAHH.
I'm not taking photography again next semester, regardless of which school I end up attending.


I'm going to take a page from the 5AG book and say why today is awesome: I have my first subscriber on my YouTube channel. Granted, I have no idea who they are because their page is blank, I still feel happy about the situation. And apparently my aunt Nicole saw some of my vlogs as well? Mmk. Cool.

Today I did a Gaga Check (this is where I push all the presets on my radio to see if a Lady Gaga song is playing on any of them. There usually is. Alex came up with the idea, I just carried on the tradition) and it reminded me of Alex and how I've been meaning to call him but haven't. I kind of sort of feel bad. But at the same time, I take so much comfort in the fact that I know he's okay and alive and all that now, that I just forget about calling him and actually reconnecting with him vocally. I should get on that; I've been a bad best friend :/

And now, I need to catch up on House MD.
Later days.

Song of the Day: "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga. I thought this was appropriate.
Film of the Day: Ghost of Girlfriends Past (2009). Quite funny, let's be honest here.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

All I Want For Christmas

I made up a Christmas list for my mom because she asked me to do so.
I put on it the worldly things I would like for Christmas. She said it was "a little out there". Well, I was straight forward; I said what I wanted, not what was completely reasonable. This is the one time every year where I can let the world know what I truly want for Christmas, instead of leaving it all up to the gift givers. If I do that I end up getting scarves and calenders and other little things I don't need. But what ever.

Today was...hmm. What was it? I don't even remember, so it must not have been great.
Oh no, wait. It was, just kidding.
I slept in way too late, like every day. I decided to go to DI (Deseret Industries, an awesome thrift store). I went in looking for a good ol' tacky Christmas sweater, but they didn't have any. So I browsed the rest of the store, not really looking for anything in particular, and I came across the movies, which generally contain workout videos and Mormon Church movies.
But I spotted a gem among the yoga tapes and Joy To the World dvds: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the original. Like the ghetto/awesome one from the early nineties with the random/crazy teenage runaway back story. And it was only three dollars. So, naturally, I bought it without a second thought on the matter.
Best decision ever (well, not really, but you know what I mean).

I then went over to the movie theatre across the street from DI and saw New Moon. It was aight.
I enjoyed it for the most part, and I think it's because of the director, honestly. Catherine Hardwicke can direct a mean drama (Thirteen), but not the best fiction movie. I'm a little bummed that Eclipse is once again going to have a different director; I was happy with Chris Weitz. But I can't have everything, can I?
By the way...Edward? His character just kind of pissed me off. I do still like Robert Pattinson though. Just not as Edward. And Kristen Stewart was okay. I still think her best movies are the ones that have nothing to do with Twilight. Like Panic Room, for instance.

I wrote a song a couple hours ago about Christmas. I'm hoping to play it for my family when we all get together for the holidays next month. It's a completely satirical song, about how presents are the most important part of Christmas. I like it. I tried to play it for my mom, but she wasn't feeling very well, so I don't think she really cared at that moment. Maybe I'll make a video playing it, get some feedback from others.
I'm almost done with my application essay to...oh wait. Still not telling where. I'll have submitted the application by the first of December though, so ya'll will know by then.
I need to get up early for the doctor in several hours, so I'd better get to sleep.

Later days.

Song of the Day: "Brand New Day" by Ryan Star, the theme music for the show Lie To Me, which is one of my personal favorite shows, thanks to Tim Roth (remember, you can listen to all of my songs of the day by clicking that link over there on the right).
Film(s) of the Day: New Moon (2009) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Goodness, that movie is as old as I am.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Neither Cold Nor Hot


I'm always writing and posting my blogs at the wee hours of the night/morning. It could be worse.
It could be raining.

Wow, that joke brings me way back. Back to the insensitive drum line boys and the days when drum line was actually good. Not that I really care about Buena HS drum line anymore, but I do hold it in a special compartment of my heart. Those times were truly some of the best times, despite the immaturity.

Anyway, my weekend has been extremely...uneventful. I made some pots at school on Saturday, and Sunday I slept until noon and went to Church from 1-4. I hadn't been to Church for quite a while. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. A lot of the guys kind of keep to themselves, but the girls are all pretty awesome. And tomorrow night we're going to be playing Fugitive for FHE!!! I'm stoked on this event. Fugitive is like the Utah version of Rambo. Well, actually, it could be played tons of other places too, I really don't have any idea. I just know that in Ventura we call it Rambo.
Basically, there are groups of people in the dark with flashlights trying to get from one point to another point before the other groups, whilst hitting various obstacles on the way. I think that's it. That's what Rambo was.
It doesn't sound like the safest thing in the world, but it sure is a blast.


After getting home from Church, I treated myself to an english muffin with peanut butter and nutella with sliced banana to top it off. AMAZING.

Other than that, I've been painting a lot and watching HP and the Goblet of Fire. I'm working my way through the movie series because I realized I haven't watched half of them for quite a while, besides the third one with Jenna up in Ojai this summer. Even that was a while ago.



I got a facebook wall post from Alex Frantela the other day. Also known as my best friend in the world. I haven't talked to him since July because he's been doing Marines stuff, and I'd been sooooo worried about him, but I'm glad he's well. It was really bothering me. I'm going to call him tomorrow.

Speaking of calls, my dear cousin Jenna hasn't called me back after several threatening (not really) messages I've left on her voicemail in the past two weeks. I know she's been partying for her 21st birthday, but come on. In the words of Seth Meyer and Amy Pohler: Really?? Really? Really.

Gahh I need to catch up on SNL. It's horrible that I even missed it in the first place, Saturday nights are like a religious holiday for me because of that show.


I must dash off at this time; I have to write a one paragraph response to Super Size Me (REALLY?). It's almost not worth it, but at the same time...easy points. Plus, I've seen that film like seven times, I didn't even need to watch it to do the assignment.


Later Days.

PS - I wrote another song. I'm on a roll. Hopefully I can get a full album written by new years so I can record some stuff right away.


Song of the Day: "Home" by Depeche Mode (though not my favorite Depeche song, which is "I Want You Now", among others).
Film of the Day: There Will Be Blood (2007). Such an amazing film. Daniel Day Lewis won a second Academy Award for this movie (and I personally think he should have won another for Gangs of New York in 2003, even against Adrian Brody, though his performance in The Pianist was also quite brilliant), not to mention a fantastic performance by Paul Dano.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Tolerance For Obscurity

I love life. Just want to throw that out there.
Today was so close to perfect, it's incredible.
I woke up, got to class on time (thank goodness I only have one class on Fridays), and bought another bag of clay. Then I went home for a bit, ate a muffin that wasn't as good as I'd hoped it to be, and went to the art building to throw some cups.
And that I did.
Two cups, three mugs, though I haven't put the handles on yet. That's a job for Monday.

I'm also sorry to say that I will not be continuing on with NaNoWriMo.
I know, I know...quitter.
Except not. I don't generally quit, I just can see myself getting more frustrated than is healthy for me by trying to finish 50,000 words in the next ten days. It's the end of the semester and I have a lot to do.
Like bring up my French grade because of that horrible test from yesterday. Also, I have a lot of pottery to make before December, because my last day to trim anything is the third. I also have to shoot a roll of action shots before the weekend is up and develop and make prints and gahhhh. Photography is super time consuming.

Last, but nowhere near least, I have to finish my application essay before December 1st, my personal deadline, even though the application isn't due until the 15th.
I'm also kind of freaking out about my job. Or lack of working at it. I've worked two hours in the last two weeks. I need a better job.
It's such a bummer too, because I absolutely love the job that I have now, working with kids and teaching them to cook. Amazing.
But I can't not make money. Which is exactly what's happening.

And now...I'm going to go try and finish that essay.
Later days.

Song of the Day: "Baby, You Wouldn't Last One Minute On the Creek (Acoustic)" by Chiodos
Film of the Day: Pleasantville (1998)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A Good Day

There are several legitimate reasons of why I find today to be so fantastic.

One. I finally figured out who sings that "Soul Sister" song, though I'm extremely surprised that I didn't know already. It's Train, by the way.

Two. Whilst finishing my self serve frozen yogurt at Krave, the owner threw me and my brother each a free Krave t-shirt because we go there so much. I'm actually not completely sure if this is a good thing, but I dig the shirt. And then I thought it was funny when my mom was irritated that she didn't get one.

Three. I sold my electric guitar. This, also, is borderline on the fantastic scale. Seeing as it was my first electric guitar, it was tough to let go. But on the upside I made some money.

Four. I learned how to play "The Chain" by Ingrid Michaelson on my acoustic guitar. Though it is true, the song is supposed to be played on piano, as it is on the album, but it sounds pretty down on the guitar, too.



Finally, today was great because I just felt happy all day long.


I was able to get out of bed before 11 am this morning. Barely. considering that my usual wake up call is never 11 am, I see this as great improvement.

I proceeded to get ready for the day, and by that I mean putting on my Weber State sweats, an old field hockey sweatshirt, and my dirty mustard yellow Vans. By the way, I really want some new Vans, but I literally am forcing myself to not buy anything so that I can save up for some recording and mixing stuff so that I can tackle an album next year. [Dream big.]


I went over to Spoon Me, my favorite studying spot in this entire town, and studied for my French test and consumed a delicious smoothie. I then took my French test an hour later, and I'm almost certain that I got at least...a D on it. It was an absolutely horrific experience; I'd rather not talk about it.



I would like to mention that, when leaving Spoon Me, I drove past the theatre, and there were already lines for New Moon. As in the New Moon that starts in two hours. There were lines for it at noon.

Goooooooo UTAH.

I'm more stoked on the fact that HP7 part one is coming out in a year than I am for New Moon to come out at midnight in two hours.



I'm tired.

I'm going to go finish Seven (yeah, I still haven't finished it) and then go to bed.

Later Days.



PS -

Update on the mystery college application essay:

I still need to finish it. I'm almost done, I just have to tie up a few loose ends, let my grandpa read it (he taught 12th grade English for 30 something years), and maybe revise it a little. Then I will submit it.

Once I do so, I'll let know know where I actually applied to :)



Song of the day: "Boys With Girlfriends" by Meiko

Film of the Day: Fight Club (1999), seeing as it came out 10 years ago. We should all go watch/re-live its ultimate magnificence. In Tyler We Trust.

I just realized I am watching Seven, which also stars Brad Pitt, and is also directed by David Fincher, one of my favorite directors.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Paper Problems

I just had the best conversation on Omegle.


Stranger: ARE YOU WALDO
You: i wish.
Stranger: i must keep searching
You: let me know when you find him though, yeah?
Stranger: hell yes


The end. It made my day perfect.

Other than that, I found five Nerdfighters last night and one this afternoon on that thing. I generally ask if they go to Hogwarts, if they are looking for Margo too, or just simply say "dftba".

My day was alright besides all that. I was in bed until about 2pm because I woke up with a horrible migraine that wouldn't leave me alone. Once I was up and had taken a shower, I actually wrote a song about how much headaches suck. It was a good time.
I then proceeded to return a forgotten DVD to a redbox at Maverick's, and ended up developing prints in the darkroom upstairs at the art building. I'm glad it was open even though we didn't have school today (I still don't know why we didn't have school today; everyone else besides the college had school). I have three 5x7 prints due tomorrow that I needed to get done. Regardless, I ran out of paper after only having two of the three, one of them being too gray for my liking, but the other came out perfectly.
At least I have something to turn in.
I also have to shoot a roll of action shots within the next week. Not sure what my plan is for those pictures yet...

After cleaning up at school, I came home, ate some amazing burrito things that my mom made for dinner, and edited my vlog that I made yesterday/today. It was supposed to go up yesterday, but yeah. You can just watch it. My brothers think it's hilarious, but let me know.


I found someone to buy my electric guitar for 50 bucks. I'm doing it. I need money. I'll miss my guitar though, it was my first electric :[ I've had it for six years.
I'll live.



As I mentioned in my previous post, I bought Seven the other day. I started it but never finished. I keep turning it on every night and pausing it, then I get distracted doing something else and...one thing leads to another. Anyway, I still haven't finished it, and I would really like to, because I haven't seen it since my sophomore year of high school. I totally remember the day I watched it too.
Jenna (my cousin/best friend ever) and I borrowed it from our uncle Brandon on VHS because both my art teacher/local cage fighter and her photo teacher said it was a great movie. We told Tyler to leave because we knew it was rated R and didn't know what we were getting into.
Anyway, it was intense. Definitely not as intense as the first time I saw, say, Requiem For a Dream (which is one of those movies that you really only need to see every five years or so because, let's be honest: it was a freaking amazing film, but I don't know if I could survive the intensity and overwhelming emotion caused by it), but it was still crazy insane. And [SPOILER] [SPOILER] [SPOILER] Kevin Spacey makes an fantastic serial killer.

I'll end there. Later Days.

Song of the Day: "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap. Apparently it's on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, which I've yet to see, unfortunately.
Film of the Day: American Beauty (1999) starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. He won an Academy Award for it, she was nominated but totally should have won...except that Hilary Swank won for Boys Don't Cry (also a very intense/great film), who, now that I see that, definitely deserved it more. I wrote too soon. It also won best picture, best director, best cinematography, and best writing; five total.





I just realized I wrote the words "crazy insane" towards the end there. I laughed when I saw that I thought of what my 12th grade English teacher, Captain, would have said about it. Yes, we called her Captain.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dear Elder


I usually blog on wordpress, but I figured I could give this a chance. We'll see how it goes.

I'm just going to copy my last blog from http://kesharab.wordpress.com/ for my first post on this blog.




I got a letter back from Tyler the other day. It was about a paragraph long telling me that he was having a blast, but that he was busy and he’d write again soon when he had more time. I don’t even know why it took a paragraph to write that, most of it was just fluff; filler words.Regardless, it was nice to hear from him.


I didn’t get my essay for my application done quite yet. I actually completely forgot about my Saturday deadline I’d set for myself, was going to finish it today, but I’ve had the weirdest head ache going on since I woke up this…afternoon. Yeah. I know. Anyway, I woke up with a semi-migraine, got it down to a good, ol’ fashion head ache, but now it’s worked its way back up to where it started at. Not the best day.


Yesterday on the other hand was good. I spent most of the day in the art building at Dixie glazing pots and developing prints in the darkroom. While I was glazing, I got complemented on my trimming skills. Definite self-esteem booster, especially since it came from someone who’s won nationals with his pottery. I glazed 4 cups and a bowl, but I still have 2 cups somewhere on the “already bisked” shelf that I couldn’t find anywhere. And I have 4 more cups that I’ll be trimming tomorrow and glazing at some point this week. I have about two and a half more weeks to make 4 more cups with handles, and then I’m done with all of my required assignments.I spent more time in the darkroom up stairs. A couple of hours. I made a really crappy contact sheet for my portrait shoot roll, and spent most of my time making wallet sized prints of Tyler that I took of him the day before he left for his mission to Honduras, so as to give them to the family as Christmas gifts, along with the million and a half pots that I have to give away. While looking through the negatives, I really only found this one picture that I absolutely love. He’s such a great person to take pictures of. I miss him.


Song of the day: “Whisper” by A Fine Frenzy
Film of the Day: Seven (1995). I bought it at Target today for 5 bucks. “Good freaking deal”, I thought.