Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Had a great day lounging around at the park and at the end of the day, we went and saw the Jonas Brothers! :) revisiting tween years. twas great!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Heading down to Atlanta for one last weekend get-away before madness sets in with the start of my last semester!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
No idea where this is takem. The downfalls to not uploading and posting everyday.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Organized a dinner for a friend who will be leaving us for 2.5 years to serve in the Peace Corps! She will be stationed somewhere in Panama, possibly without any electricity, definitely without any internet or cell phone service.
So brave and honorable :) Quite proud of her and I can't wait to visit.
Spent a fun night trying to forget about the future for just a few hours.
So brave and honorable :) Quite proud of her and I can't wait to visit.
Spent a fun night trying to forget about the future for just a few hours.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Spent a relaxing day at the beach with two of my favorite people!
Also had one of the best naps ever and it has made it into my list of "Top 5 Best Naps."
Also had one of the best naps ever and it has made it into my list of "Top 5 Best Naps."
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Bright sign in a dark room - a random bar in the "historic" part of the town I currently reside in.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Another trip into Georgetown to visit a friend... she's starting her post-bacc program for physiology (i think...?). Super smart!!
Monday, August 3, 2009
On my drive home from work - saw a car with a license plate from Quebec. Picture is blurry - probably for the best since I don't know how to censor out the actual numbers...
They look the same as ours here. Kinda disappointed... kinda don't care.
They look the same as ours here. Kinda disappointed... kinda don't care.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Spent the day resting, reading and chilling. Sundays are the best... even though there's Saturday to rest too, usually Saturdays are filled with stuff to do... but Sundays are different. There seems to be an unspoken rule to not have anything scheduled or planned. Perhaps because it is known as resting day for God.
Anyway, ended the day reading.
Anyway, ended the day reading.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Hard to believe, but the summer is almost to an end. The beginning of August means the start of the end of summer, the month to start thinking about classes, work and weeks of no sleep. It also means that I've been keeping up with this blog for about 3.5 months!
I don't know whether I should be surprised or not, but I am somewhat pleased with myself! There are a few days I've failed to take a picture, and I am obviously not posting everyday... perhaps with time I will become a bit more disciplined.
Went to a birthday lunch for one of my greatest and oldest friends. (Not old in age, but oldest in that we've been friends for quite a time!)
I don't know whether I should be surprised or not, but I am somewhat pleased with myself! There are a few days I've failed to take a picture, and I am obviously not posting everyday... perhaps with time I will become a bit more disciplined.
Went to a birthday lunch for one of my greatest and oldest friends. (Not old in age, but oldest in that we've been friends for quite a time!)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Last day of July! Where has the summer gone?! Watching Good Morning America and trying to get a picture of my friends on TV!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Watched Spring Awakening at the Kennedy Center. Never get tired of good music!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Made the long trek to New Jersey to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Didn't realize what the hoopla was about, but I learned so much today!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Went to Georgetown and did some window shopping and a nice dinner. I love GTOWN!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Took my friend to DC and hit up all the touristy spots. Finally got to the Lincoln Memorial and it was great! The weather wasn't fantastic, but it was a blessing in disguise. The lighting was great and there was a rainbow shining over the monument. Great day!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My friend came to visit me from Idaho! Took her to Annapolis, ze capital of Maryland! Often overlooked - but a gorgeous, quaint town, and absolutely gorgeous at sunset.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Had the most amazing pedicure of.my.life... it was royal treatment. Fell asleep while people were massaging and pampering mis pies. Pure bliss...
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Spent the morning by the pool.. and I must say, it was quite awesome. The perfect way to start off a sunny Saturday morning and start the day with great people :)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Flew down to Atlanta today to visit a friend. Great day and a great start to an awesome weekend!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Watched the new Harry Potter movie at midnight!! Did not see a single person that wasn't a teenager waiting in line for this movie.
Friday, July 10, 2009
More and more days go by between each post. Laziness is slowly taking over. ah! But I am still taking a picture each day.
Reunion with friends that were abroad. Always a good time.
Reunion with friends that were abroad. Always a good time.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I have finally finished reading The Beatles: The Biography. I've always wanted to learn more about this group, their music and the phenomenon that surrounded them. I always heard about Beatlemania, their music and their names - John, Paul, George, Ringo - without ever knowing what it meant.
I was a fan of their music before I read this book - but wasn't exposed to much of a variety. But the stuff I had heard, I loved it, and while the movie Across the Universe wasn't the best - the soundtrack was - making the movie bearable.
The book was a lengthy 983 pages - including the appendix, pictures and such. It took a good 2 1/2 - 3 weeks to finish it, (the longest so far this summer) and every second was well spent. The book started from the beginning, literally, from the birth of each boys, and even sometimes their parents.
It was fascinating to learn about their beginnings and how it wasn't instant fame. They roughed it out, going to gigs in horrible conditions, without even being guaranteed regular meals and a warm/safe place to sleep. It was compelling to read about how hard they had it, but how they kept going because of their shared passion and gift for music - particularly rock and roll.
It made me realize that, whatever you do in life, you have to have a passion for it. Of course we are told that all the time, and to a certain degree, we know it. But in order to be successful and happy, you have to pursue your dream and persevere. This is what the boys did. They had their eyes and hearts set on music, and persevered.
I especially liked how the book was able to reveal their characters. Learning about who they were, their relationships with each other and others outside the group, made their music and songs much more meaningful. Listening to the songs now, I enjoy some songs more than I did before, just because I know what inspired it - the history.
There is no doubt that they had something special - something other than pure talent with their guitars, voices and drums. They had charm and an aura that attracted a certain frenzy. They were attractive physically, especially with their iconic haircuts, cute accents (to the Americans at least) and their young energy. When the Beatlemania hit in the early 60s, they were in their early 20s. What an attractive and appealing age! This was before the hippie-vibe set in, so their polished, clean-cut image was a success. Along with that, they had personality. They were witty and lived life to the beat of their own drums (tempted to put in a joke about Ringo but I will resist). I love watching interviews from their earlier days - they were funny, witty and sarcastic. They handled themselves well under ridiculous pressure, and under even more ridiculous and preposterous questions and interviews.
As the book continued, I followed the rest of their journey. They became lost - typical of any mid-20-year-old - searching for something more than what the world had to offer materialistically. At this point, they had it all - they had money, fame, looks, big houses, flashy cars, etc. But something was still missing - and so they all ventured off with their personal lives, each shaping into completely different people. Their personalities became more distinct and shaped each person into something completely different. Through the soul-searching, a lot of drugs were used, which also contributed to the forming and shaping of these iconic people.
John Lennon was probably most influenced by the use of drugs. Coming from a difficult childhood, he suffered the most emotionally and internally, and used drugs as a way to find comfort. Speed, pot, LSD, heroin, and lots of pills and alcohol. He became reckless and lost in a downward spiral, but definitely wasn't the only using and abusing. It was amusing at first to read about how often and liberally these drugs were used. They would live days off of drugs, sometimes without sleeping or eating... but in the end, it was sad.
There are a lot of theories and blame for why the Beatles broke up. There are those who find fault in Yoko Ono, or others in the managers - sometimes blame may be put on individual members of the group - but I would have to say, drugs was definitely a big part of the break up. Although it didn't directly break them up, especially since all of them used, it was more about the effect it had on them and how it molded them in the end - particularly John. It made him paranoid, more depressed and distant from the others. The break up may have been inevitable, but the way it was handled could have been one hundred times-over better.
And that comes to my final point (although I could go on). What I found most touching was the relationship and chemistry within the group, especially between John and Paul. There was no doubt that these two were the leaders in their own right. John can be credited for bringing the group together and making them the four. While John was musically talented, Paul had the special ingredient - at least in the beginning - for bringing them to fame. He had a knack for lyrics and a poppy sound that embodied much of their music in the beginning - the music that brought them into the spotlight. I loved how the book didn't sugar coat their relationship. They both had their faults, making them human: Paul was bossy, self-righteous and was striving for something upper class. John was rebellious and could be down-right mean. They were often jealous of each other, but this jealousy was insignificant to their friendship and musical influence on each other. They worked seamlessly, huddled in a room or a corner together for hours, writing lyrics, composing music and creating works of art.
The biography of this group was amazing - they had their ups and downs, and I felt the joy when they felt joy - and was sad when they were. But what truly made this almost unbearable to read was towards the end. It wasn't unbearable because of the writing -it was what was being written. Somewhere, the group took a wrong turn and it was harder and harder to read about what they had become, and how it only got worse. The recording sessions that were once written with optimism and ended with success - were now being described as tension-filled sessions, with constant bickering, sometimes resulting to people leaving and not coming back for days at a time. This group that had taken the world by a storm, were fighting, fueled by a variety of demons: jealously, money, drugs, paranoia, manipulation by others (I'm looking at you Yoko) and power. It was a power struggle, mainly between John and Paul and how much influence they had over the group. It was also sad to read about how John - who had inspired the group in the beginning - now didn't care - at all. It was especially disheartening to read how the special connection between John and Paul deteriorated - they had learned so much from each other, depended on one another and had each other's backs, until one day, they considered the other an opponent.
It was a tragic ending to a story that started off like a typically fairy tale. Boys coming from a city that was unheard of, in conditions that were poor. They worked hard and had their eyes set on the prize. They became each others' brothers - but in the end, that bond was so easily broken. They had known each other for 10 years (sans Ringo who joined a bit later), but their love for each other was extinguished in a few months, a year at tops.
I could keep writing, on and on, about this group... and book. It was an enlightening book that not only revealed the group, but also various political, social and cultural aspects of history during that time. This book also rings true to the saying "ignorance is bliss." I had an idyllic view of these boys - often associating the group from when they were in their 20s. Now, it's hard to think of the Beatles without thinking of the drugs, the fighting and their bitter end.
Regardless, even while they were fighting with words, they were able to come together through music and produce great, and ever-lasting music.
I was a fan of their music before I read this book - but wasn't exposed to much of a variety. But the stuff I had heard, I loved it, and while the movie Across the Universe wasn't the best - the soundtrack was - making the movie bearable.
The book was a lengthy 983 pages - including the appendix, pictures and such. It took a good 2 1/2 - 3 weeks to finish it, (the longest so far this summer) and every second was well spent. The book started from the beginning, literally, from the birth of each boys, and even sometimes their parents.
It was fascinating to learn about their beginnings and how it wasn't instant fame. They roughed it out, going to gigs in horrible conditions, without even being guaranteed regular meals and a warm/safe place to sleep. It was compelling to read about how hard they had it, but how they kept going because of their shared passion and gift for music - particularly rock and roll.
It made me realize that, whatever you do in life, you have to have a passion for it. Of course we are told that all the time, and to a certain degree, we know it. But in order to be successful and happy, you have to pursue your dream and persevere. This is what the boys did. They had their eyes and hearts set on music, and persevered.
I especially liked how the book was able to reveal their characters. Learning about who they were, their relationships with each other and others outside the group, made their music and songs much more meaningful. Listening to the songs now, I enjoy some songs more than I did before, just because I know what inspired it - the history.
There is no doubt that they had something special - something other than pure talent with their guitars, voices and drums. They had charm and an aura that attracted a certain frenzy. They were attractive physically, especially with their iconic haircuts, cute accents (to the Americans at least) and their young energy. When the Beatlemania hit in the early 60s, they were in their early 20s. What an attractive and appealing age! This was before the hippie-vibe set in, so their polished, clean-cut image was a success. Along with that, they had personality. They were witty and lived life to the beat of their own drums (tempted to put in a joke about Ringo but I will resist). I love watching interviews from their earlier days - they were funny, witty and sarcastic. They handled themselves well under ridiculous pressure, and under even more ridiculous and preposterous questions and interviews.
As the book continued, I followed the rest of their journey. They became lost - typical of any mid-20-year-old - searching for something more than what the world had to offer materialistically. At this point, they had it all - they had money, fame, looks, big houses, flashy cars, etc. But something was still missing - and so they all ventured off with their personal lives, each shaping into completely different people. Their personalities became more distinct and shaped each person into something completely different. Through the soul-searching, a lot of drugs were used, which also contributed to the forming and shaping of these iconic people.
John Lennon was probably most influenced by the use of drugs. Coming from a difficult childhood, he suffered the most emotionally and internally, and used drugs as a way to find comfort. Speed, pot, LSD, heroin, and lots of pills and alcohol. He became reckless and lost in a downward spiral, but definitely wasn't the only using and abusing. It was amusing at first to read about how often and liberally these drugs were used. They would live days off of drugs, sometimes without sleeping or eating... but in the end, it was sad.
There are a lot of theories and blame for why the Beatles broke up. There are those who find fault in Yoko Ono, or others in the managers - sometimes blame may be put on individual members of the group - but I would have to say, drugs was definitely a big part of the break up. Although it didn't directly break them up, especially since all of them used, it was more about the effect it had on them and how it molded them in the end - particularly John. It made him paranoid, more depressed and distant from the others. The break up may have been inevitable, but the way it was handled could have been one hundred times-over better.
And that comes to my final point (although I could go on). What I found most touching was the relationship and chemistry within the group, especially between John and Paul. There was no doubt that these two were the leaders in their own right. John can be credited for bringing the group together and making them the four. While John was musically talented, Paul had the special ingredient - at least in the beginning - for bringing them to fame. He had a knack for lyrics and a poppy sound that embodied much of their music in the beginning - the music that brought them into the spotlight. I loved how the book didn't sugar coat their relationship. They both had their faults, making them human: Paul was bossy, self-righteous and was striving for something upper class. John was rebellious and could be down-right mean. They were often jealous of each other, but this jealousy was insignificant to their friendship and musical influence on each other. They worked seamlessly, huddled in a room or a corner together for hours, writing lyrics, composing music and creating works of art.
The biography of this group was amazing - they had their ups and downs, and I felt the joy when they felt joy - and was sad when they were. But what truly made this almost unbearable to read was towards the end. It wasn't unbearable because of the writing -it was what was being written. Somewhere, the group took a wrong turn and it was harder and harder to read about what they had become, and how it only got worse. The recording sessions that were once written with optimism and ended with success - were now being described as tension-filled sessions, with constant bickering, sometimes resulting to people leaving and not coming back for days at a time. This group that had taken the world by a storm, were fighting, fueled by a variety of demons: jealously, money, drugs, paranoia, manipulation by others (I'm looking at you Yoko) and power. It was a power struggle, mainly between John and Paul and how much influence they had over the group. It was also sad to read about how John - who had inspired the group in the beginning - now didn't care - at all. It was especially disheartening to read how the special connection between John and Paul deteriorated - they had learned so much from each other, depended on one another and had each other's backs, until one day, they considered the other an opponent.
It was a tragic ending to a story that started off like a typically fairy tale. Boys coming from a city that was unheard of, in conditions that were poor. They worked hard and had their eyes set on the prize. They became each others' brothers - but in the end, that bond was so easily broken. They had known each other for 10 years (sans Ringo who joined a bit later), but their love for each other was extinguished in a few months, a year at tops.
I could keep writing, on and on, about this group... and book. It was an enlightening book that not only revealed the group, but also various political, social and cultural aspects of history during that time. This book also rings true to the saying "ignorance is bliss." I had an idyllic view of these boys - often associating the group from when they were in their 20s. Now, it's hard to think of the Beatles without thinking of the drugs, the fighting and their bitter end.
Regardless, even while they were fighting with words, they were able to come together through music and produce great, and ever-lasting music.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Did absolutely nothing today. SIGH!
I actually had plans to go out, but they fell through... and the sad thing: I was more relieved, because it meant I could stay home and read. I know there are things about me that other people consider weird... and anti-social. There is no doubt that I enjoy spending time at home, and I don't mind being alone. I enjoy reading... a LOT. My siblings have encouraged me to go out, but I just wrote it off to them taking all the genes that allowed any kind of social skills.
But even I worry myself, when I find myself avoiding real human contact, and preferring to be lost in a world that is not my own, through books, movies and day dreaming.
And what do I day dream about? Leaving.
I actually had plans to go out, but they fell through... and the sad thing: I was more relieved, because it meant I could stay home and read. I know there are things about me that other people consider weird... and anti-social. There is no doubt that I enjoy spending time at home, and I don't mind being alone. I enjoy reading... a LOT. My siblings have encouraged me to go out, but I just wrote it off to them taking all the genes that allowed any kind of social skills.
But even I worry myself, when I find myself avoiding real human contact, and preferring to be lost in a world that is not my own, through books, movies and day dreaming.
And what do I day dream about? Leaving.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A typical Tuesday. Work in the morning - office in the afternoon. Spent some time in Starbucks being young and trendy, reading a Time Magazine.
Monday, June 6, 2009
So I do take pictures everyday - that hasn't been too hard. The hard part has been actually posting it everyday. For example, this picture was taken at work in my cubicle - watching a beatle's clip on youtube from the 60s. During this time in my life, a full four days ago, I was halfway through their biography written by Bob Spitz. I was reading about Beatlemania, and I gotta say, I was experiencing it. The book was well-written enough for me to feel like I was there... the youtube clips just added to it.
The problem with not posting it on the day-of is, now, I forget what I wanted to say that accompanies this particular photo. I distinctly remember having something to say about it, whether it was an adoration of the boy-band, or the feeling I got when I watch their video clips. Whatever it was, I forget...
Alas, Beatlemania has hit me - 40 years too late? I think not...
The problem with not posting it on the day-of is, now, I forget what I wanted to say that accompanies this particular photo. I distinctly remember having something to say about it, whether it was an adoration of the boy-band, or the feeling I got when I watch their video clips. Whatever it was, I forget...
Alas, Beatlemania has hit me - 40 years too late? I think not...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky-tacky, Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes, all the same. There's a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses All went to the university, Where they were put in boxes, And they came out all the same. And there's doctors and there's lawyers And business executives, And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf-course, And drink their Martinis dry, And they all have pretty children, And the children go to school. And the children go to summer camp And then to the university, Where they are put in boxes And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business, And marry, and raise a family, In boxes made of ticky-tacky, And they all look just the same. There's a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same.
- Malvina Reynolds
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy Independence Day!
Celebrated the day in Washington D.C. - fireworks by the memorial, picnic and good company.
A good time was had!
Celebrated the day in Washington D.C. - fireworks by the memorial, picnic and good company.
A good time was had!
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