Telling fun stories in fun ways.
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Staircase Wit
Check out a side project I've been working on. If you like Hyperbole and a Half then you might enjoy this.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
One Day
One day, I'll know why the
things are happening the way they are. I'll hear how music was supposed
to sound. I'll see colors for numbers. I'll understand the words
from someone's heart. I'll get to hug and kiss the person I fell in love
with, just because I can. I'll get to tell a new life that I love them
till the day I die. I'll get to taste words, see the product of my
imagination, and hear young dreamers chant their inspirations as they move
forward to their own identity.
Sometimes you get a conviction to write - after a great conversation, a thoughtful moment during a cup of
coffee or a pot of tea, after reading an amazing quote, after reading someone's
blog/post/note, while listening to a certain song, etc. And when you open
up a blank page to spill your thoughts, everything seems to spill the wrong
way... or is it wrong? I've been wanting to write a post about
different issues, subjects, and/or events, and every time I opened up my page
to write, I feel a stronger conviction not to. And I think it's because
I've been having several thoughts interwoven in such a way that expressing it
in a word-vomit style would not be appropriate.
Breathing.
Last year one of my best friends, Jason, had a sudden collapsing of his right lung. He had 4 operations in total and is finally out of the hospital and recovering at home. He is graduating UCLA with a summa cum laude, got invited to the prestigious phi beta kappa honor society, he is integrated with various parts of campus clubs and activities, and many fellow bruins who know him through kcm, ccm, etc. look up to him. When he collapsed for the second time and was in the hospital bed, it was the first time I thought, "oh man, a friend of mine is going to die." And not just anyone, but one of two friends that I grew up with since 5th grade. I remember celebrating his birthdays at his old house above valley view elementary school. I remember when his sister made bomb-ass food for us. I remember when he had yellow highlights on his bangs, and when he went through his "gangster" phase and wrote a chain necklace and heavy Rocawear jean shorts and vest. I remember when we would go over to our other best friend, Daniel's house and play video games. I remember his mom.
I'm glad he's alright. But he won't ever be the same as he was before physically. Many of his future goals shifted. His life is forever changed. And through him, my life has changed.
Last year one of my best friends, Jason, had a sudden collapsing of his right lung. He had 4 operations in total and is finally out of the hospital and recovering at home. He is graduating UCLA with a summa cum laude, got invited to the prestigious phi beta kappa honor society, he is integrated with various parts of campus clubs and activities, and many fellow bruins who know him through kcm, ccm, etc. look up to him. When he collapsed for the second time and was in the hospital bed, it was the first time I thought, "oh man, a friend of mine is going to die." And not just anyone, but one of two friends that I grew up with since 5th grade. I remember celebrating his birthdays at his old house above valley view elementary school. I remember when his sister made bomb-ass food for us. I remember when he had yellow highlights on his bangs, and when he went through his "gangster" phase and wrote a chain necklace and heavy Rocawear jean shorts and vest. I remember when we would go over to our other best friend, Daniel's house and play video games. I remember his mom.
I'm glad he's alright. But he won't ever be the same as he was before physically. Many of his future goals shifted. His life is forever changed. And through him, my life has changed.
One day, I'll know why the
things happened the way they did.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Who we are. We are who? Who are we?
Do what you love, and love
what you do. Maybe it should be said in reverse - Love what you do, and do what
you love. Majority of the time we complain about the things and events that
occur in our lives and we end up complaining about complaining itself, and
complain about how we hate complaining but do it anyways. Venting is one thing,
complaining is another. So many of us are stuck in between thoughts and
struggles that dreaming becomes a fantasy and the pursuit becomes nothing more
than a hero's journey filled with misfortunate foreshadowings.
I complain. There's no need to lie about such a thing. I admit, I'm guilty of it. And it's so easy to go back to that state of complaining, of sulking, of feeling defeated, of not caring. I don't think we forget, we just choose to look away. Is it okay do that? Ignorance is bliss, but for how long? Can ignorance lead to happiness? What is happiness? Is happiness something we dwell in? Something we become? Somewhere we belong? Something/where we can even obtain? Is it only something to have in front of us to keep us going? What is it and who are we within it?
Happiness. I believe that Happiness has character. People say one must chase after Happiness to obtain it. Why can't it chase us instead? I think happiness is more than an emotion, more than a place, more than an identity. It lives and chooses its host. Some say that luck is with the well and prepared. If you're prepared for the worst, if you're capable of making healthy choices, then luck will be on your side. That makes it sound like luck is not just made by one's decisions, but Luck chooses who gets lucky or not. Maybe Happiness is the same way. Maybe if we are someone who Happiness could trust and depend on, Happiness will choose us.
It's a given that we get obstacles to overcome. So what if the phrase, "Do what you love, and love what you do" was intended to be said, read, and told backwards - Love what you do and do what you love. There's a beauty is every thing, situation, one. Yes, there's a specific talent given to each person, but sometimes Life happens. We are given jobs that we are not suited for. We are put into situations we don't like. We are forced to take classes we don't want to be in. However, reality is.... we are in it. We have to deal with it. Maybe we have to find the love, the joy, the beauty in what we do, and THEN we're able to do what we love. Makes sense in my head. But who knows, I might be thinking this whole thing completely wrong and taking a longer route around the mountain. Or maybe I'm right and I'll arrive at the top faster to look over the horizon as the sun decides to set.
"Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be so hard, oh take me back to the start."
A little encouragement to help push through the week.
Patience and Perseverance.
I complain. There's no need to lie about such a thing. I admit, I'm guilty of it. And it's so easy to go back to that state of complaining, of sulking, of feeling defeated, of not caring. I don't think we forget, we just choose to look away. Is it okay do that? Ignorance is bliss, but for how long? Can ignorance lead to happiness? What is happiness? Is happiness something we dwell in? Something we become? Somewhere we belong? Something/where we can even obtain? Is it only something to have in front of us to keep us going? What is it and who are we within it?
Happiness. I believe that Happiness has character. People say one must chase after Happiness to obtain it. Why can't it chase us instead? I think happiness is more than an emotion, more than a place, more than an identity. It lives and chooses its host. Some say that luck is with the well and prepared. If you're prepared for the worst, if you're capable of making healthy choices, then luck will be on your side. That makes it sound like luck is not just made by one's decisions, but Luck chooses who gets lucky or not. Maybe Happiness is the same way. Maybe if we are someone who Happiness could trust and depend on, Happiness will choose us.
It's a given that we get obstacles to overcome. So what if the phrase, "Do what you love, and love what you do" was intended to be said, read, and told backwards - Love what you do and do what you love. There's a beauty is every thing, situation, one. Yes, there's a specific talent given to each person, but sometimes Life happens. We are given jobs that we are not suited for. We are put into situations we don't like. We are forced to take classes we don't want to be in. However, reality is.... we are in it. We have to deal with it. Maybe we have to find the love, the joy, the beauty in what we do, and THEN we're able to do what we love. Makes sense in my head. But who knows, I might be thinking this whole thing completely wrong and taking a longer route around the mountain. Or maybe I'm right and I'll arrive at the top faster to look over the horizon as the sun decides to set.
"Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be so hard, oh take me back to the start."
A little encouragement to help push through the week.
Patience and Perseverance.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Kristen mutha effin' Wiig
Bridesmaids. Hands down one of the funniest films I've seen
in the past year. I'm always satisfied coming out of a Judd Apatow produced or
directed/written films. This film
was directed by Paul Feig (actor turned director; he's directed episodes of The
Office and Arrested Development) and produced by the amazing Apatow crew. Sidenote: if you haven’t seen an
episode of Arrested Development, you’re missing out on life.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
If you haven't watched the film yet, and is the type of person who
hates it when you hear others talking about a film that you plan on watching...
then stop here and go back. I try not to go too much in depth about any
movie so that it doesn't ruin it for people that will eventually watch it, but
just in case, you have been warned.
Pros:
This film is awesome. If you love awkward humor as much as I do, then
you'll understand the hilarious awesomeness of this movie. Even if you're a manly-man, this movie
will have you laughing the whole time. It’ll definitely be placed in your
top 5 every-guy-has-one chick flick list. Don't give me that "what
the gay? you have a chick flick list?" confused face. EVERY guy has
their own favorite list of chick flicks - Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's,
Love Actually, Flashdance, Splash, When Harry Met Sally, Ghost, Pretty Woman,
Titanic, Stepmom, You've Got Mail, Never Been Kissed, What Women Want, Mean
Girls, The Notebook, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, etc. I'm sure
I just hit the jackpot with Mean Girls, Ghost, and/or When Harry Met Sally.
I mean, c'mon, those were some great films. Guys, if you're ashamed
of having a chick flick list, you need to MAN the hell up. For reals.
It's just romance movies. Romance films are the ones who taught us
how to woo a girl, how to kiss, how to sweep a girl off her feet, how to plan
events that seem unique, but are really just different variations of the same
thing. But don't go flaunting about how much you love chick flicks,
because that just makes you weird.
Kristen mutha effin' Wiig. Her impression of a penis.
Brilliant. Awkward sex scene with Jon Hamm. Brilliant.
Sweating profusely from food poisoning. Brilliant. She is
just- you could fill in the blank. Anything else? oh yeah, go watch Garth
and Kat skits from SNL on Hulu right now.
Also, Jon Hamm's transformation is pretty amazing. Many see Jon as the dashing, suave sex
symbol from Madmen, but it was refreshing to see him play a complete dashing,suave douchebag.
Cons:
I really would have loved to see Ellie's character shine a bit more, same with Maya's character. The whole point was seeing the ups and downs of Kristen's character, but I thought the supporting characters could have had a little more. But nonetheless, it was still executed very well. I also thought it was very odd to have a Irish-American Cop as the protagonist. He was definitely funny, but it seemed a little too random. Was it just me? Maybe.
I really would have loved to see Ellie's character shine a bit more, same with Maya's character. The whole point was seeing the ups and downs of Kristen's character, but I thought the supporting characters could have had a little more. But nonetheless, it was still executed very well. I also thought it was very odd to have a Irish-American Cop as the protagonist. He was definitely funny, but it seemed a little too random. Was it just me? Maybe.
Overall Rating - 4.5/5
Directing:
Paul Feig - 5/5
Paul Feig - 5/5
Writing:
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo - 4/5
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo - 4/5
Acting:
Kristen Wiig - 5/5
Maya Rudolph - 3.5/5
Rose Byrne - 3/5
Ellie Kemper - 2/5
Melissa McCarthy - 4/5
Wendi McLendon-Covey - 3/5
Jon Hamm - 4/5
Chris O'Dowd - 3/5
Kristen Wiig - 5/5
Maya Rudolph - 3.5/5
Rose Byrne - 3/5
Ellie Kemper - 2/5
Melissa McCarthy - 4/5
Wendi McLendon-Covey - 3/5
Jon Hamm - 4/5
Chris O'Dowd - 3/5
Soundtrack - 4/5
Movie Poster - 3/5
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