Pigments Of My Imagination

new address

2009-05-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

www.youngkidatplay.wordpress.com

so

2009-05-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure if by less posts on my blog is better or worse. am i falling into boredom? time to fix it.

(blank)

2009-05-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

i just got off the phone with a close family friend of mine. his dad is dying. i grew up with this family and they are like cousins to me. i couldn't even stay on the phone long enough to ask to talk to his mom because i couldn't compose myself. i can't imagine what it's like to have to hear from so many people how sorry they are because of such a horrible thing is happening. to hear how calm my friend's voice is, i don't know what to make of it. don't get me wrong, i know it's killing him. he's taken care of his dad the past several months. i just don't know if it's where you just can't cry anymore or the reality of it all has yet to sink in.

please, no comments on this post. just pray that God surrounds this family with the support they need in this time of sadness.

vintage

2009-05-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

check out my sister's etsy store! The Kitchen Shoppe

pick-chas!

2009-05-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

so the new camera has been going to work. i still need a lot of practice, but i'm starting to understand a lot more and being able to pick out things that i haven't been able to do so in the past.

went on a shoot at the fisherman's wharf,

went to walla walla,

and just walking around on the ave.

finally

2009-04-30T00:56:00.000-07:00

today was almost perfect. woke up late, worked for a couple hours, worked on my creativity, walked around the city shooting pictures (with the help of the genius ben blood), rummaging through thrift store goods, eating a delicious veggie burger dinner, and ending it with some bowling. the one thing missing? wow, i'm not even sure. i need to make things happen so that this can be done on a more regular basis. here are some of my pics!

oh yeah, i bowled a 183 too....proof is in the picture.

wedding

2009-04-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

so i'm in so cal (again) and i get flack from both seattle and cali peeps. seattle saying "you're leaving again?!?!?" and cali saying "you're back again??!?"

what can i do, there have been a lot of events to bring me back to my hometown. including the wedding of my first friend. yes, my first friend outside of the "family friends". weird that i can say i've known this man for over 20 years. to be honest, it scares me. those are words my parent's use. yet, these 20+ years have been amazing. i actually refer to AR as my brother. we've fought physically and verbally, and gone through hell and back together. we aren't the best at keeping in touch, but i do know that he has my back if it really came down to it.

the wedding was beautiful. things went accordingly. untraditional but nonetheless amazing. it's so great to come together with family and friends to celebrate such a wonderful occasion. his family is like my family, and will always be.

also, thank you to a really kind DOC M, i got a new toy. ben, get ready for a plethora of questions.

it begins (again)

2009-04-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

this evening was much needed. again, i'm back in ca. i get a lot of "you're back again?" and i'm not quite sure how to take it. but that's another story.

so this evening i went out to irvine, ca to support two great things: 1) noah and abby gundersen and 2) to write love on her arms. my good friend kd picked me up and was gracious enough to drive us out there. we stopped at cpk and got some delicious eats before heading to the uci campus. when we got there, i called noah who was frantically looking for a 9 volt battery, so i rushed to see if i could find one. by the time i got back, he had 5 of them, but i'm glad the situation got sorted. as we sat there listening to the sound check, i couldn't help to think of how many times i've heard this dynamic duo play, and how my excitement to see them play again is still at an all time high! there was some technical difficulties as they were getting set up, but after a few adjustments, it was finally fixed. as they let people in, we sat and chatted, and it felt as if i hadn't seen them forever.

again, noah and abby delivered. rejuvenation to my being. then jamie tworkowski (the founder of "to write love on her arms") spoke about what his company is trying to accomplish, which is "movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide."

jamie spoke from the heart. it wasn't about promoting his company, but rather promoting the awareness that there are people suffereing out there that may just need an ear to listen to their cry. he even admitted that he was going through some tough times, but that being able to come and discuss these topics with people was a highlight of his day. he brought a friend up that had dealt with drug addiction, and i was moved by his story of downward spiral to upward rehibilitation.

after the program, i was able to speak with jaimie for a while expressing that what he was doing was so great, and that one day i would be able to do a similar thing. his humbleness and gratitude were amazing, and he also told me he still wears his le grand cru shirt that i gave him a year or so ago! i really do hope that one day, i'll be able to help those that need it, and take time to talk to people who just want to chat.

we invited him to eat with us, but he was tired and had an early morning to rest for, so he graciously bowed out for the evening. so, noah, abby, jenn, josh, kevin, marc, keith, and i went to the yardhouse to eat. as i sat down, i just marveled at the group we had together. a table full of talent. conversations immediately began, and i was trying to jump back and forth into all of them. there's nothing more fun than a group full of friends chatting over some delicious food! i'm so excited for the things to come, and hopefully these types of events will happen more often. i know i've said it before, that this year feels like it's going to be a good one, and tonight just reassured it. i feel that something big will happen, maybe not for me, but for someone in my group of friends, and i can't wait for the ride to follow!

interesting

2009-04-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

so the last 4.5 days (yes, the .5 is very important to me) i tried doing an all raw detox. i wanted it to last longer, but i love food too much so decided that it wasn't for me. it was actually a horrible experience and i respect anyone that can do it.

so the bigger question came: why do we subject ourselves to such torture when we could just make some small adjustments and still reach the same goals?

for example, i decided to put my body through 108 hours of eating raw foods, when i could have maybe just cut out some bad stuff and exercise more. i feel that as a society, we want the "easy" solution, but to me, it's a lot harder. anyways, i don't even know if this all makes sense, but i think i would just like to know where that psychology comes into play where i thought: raw diet would be a lot easier than going out to exercise more.

what to do

2009-03-31T00:51:00.000-07:00

the last few weeks have been nothing but fun. back and forth to california, concerts, and visitors to seattle....it's been really great. i can't say a lot of work has been done, but at the same time, new connections have been in the works, and we are really only a few steps away from completion of the website (now how long that will take, who knows).

sad news is i may be leaving this place to go back to so cal because of many reasons. haven't had the official talks with some people because they either haven't really been around, hard to get a hold of, or overseas. a lot of details need to be worked out with both these seattle and cali people so hopefully i'll be able to get to talk to them soon.

as far as lgc goes, it's not over, but it's not moving as fast as i'd like either. there's a lot on everyone's plate that's involved, but i can't afford to make it my #1 anymore either. and even though i tried living by matt damon's words in rounders "you can't lose what you don't put in, but you can't win much either," my pockets are almost all dry, and i have to take care of myself.

i want so badly for this to work out so that i'm able to take care of other people, and in turn have them be able to follow their other dreams as well, but i find it very hard to convince that my method may work. but that's because we all have our own paths to go and our own lessons to learn. i know that if i re-read this, it's going to sound like a letter of complaint, but that is not it's intention. i'm 110% sure that i wouldn't change one thing about my entire journey moving here, and i still believe there are incredible things to come.

keep the decisions that are about to be made in your prayers. things will all come together.

tomb raiders

2009-03-17T17:03:00.001-07:00

so my posts are gonna be a little out of order just cause of the amount of editing i have to do for each video. my friend MM came up from so cal this past weekend to visit. we decided to go visit some memorials. this video is sorta long, so only watch if you want to.

day 2 complete

2009-03-11T23:51:00.000-07:00

still on the road. long blog and cool pics to come.

got a ticket today. stupid officer lambert.

busy

2009-03-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

so i came home (yes, again) to get my car. hopefully it will allow me a little more leeway and give my roommate a little more freedom from having to drag me around wherever he goes.

these past 5 days have been crazy. selling shirts (thank you to all that asked and supported), bachelor camping trip (should have done more camping while i lived here) and an amazing concert (garage voice and noah&abbey were unbelievable again). i want to write more, but i need to pack a few more things for the road.

i'm dreading the drive tomorrow morning, but i'm happy i have some great company.

bashful

2009-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

wow...last night was amazing. noah and abby gundersen + garage voice. delish! i'm so very excited that i will be in ca for another one of their performances. last night, there were parts were i wanted to jump up and dance because the music was just so "feel good to my soul" but, the "sometimes i think i'm cool" in me just wouldn't allow. maybe i'll feel more comfortable when i'm back home.

so these boys have been gracious enough to lug around some of those le grand cru shirts around with them on tour. noah has been constantly asking me for a shirt so he can rock it, and i've just been horrible at getting one to him. it gives me an incredible rush when someone wants what you create.

in between the gundersen's and garage voice's set, i was standing alone and a group of my friends were talking to someone i hadn't seen before. they kept pointing in my direction so much that i finally just thought they were talking about something behind me. finally one my friends motioned for me to come over. they introduced this kid to me and he told me he wanted to buy a shirt. later my friend was telling me that he was nervous to approach me. al, whether it was your intention or not, you made me feel "almost famous". i hope that i was friendly to you and that i was able to answer all your questions. i never ever want to be viewed as "unapproachable" and will always welcome new friends.

jazzy ways

2009-02-25T01:54:00.000-08:00

what more could i ask of a tuesday night. hanging at the triple door with some friends, drinking a green dragon and eating veggie buddha rolls, with live music playing in the foreground. i'm enjoying life, maybe a little too much, but then again, we should always take time to smell the roses.

so i now feel confident in using the bus system. with the occasional getting lost, it allows me to see more of the city. there's actually a part of me that likes waiting for the bus, as long as there are no crazies asking me if i can do karate moves or being ill prepared for the chilly winds. last night while waiting for my stretch public transportation, i noticed a couple walking down the street to the stop i was at. as their bus approached, they kissed passionately and continued to do so as the bus stopped, door opened, and waited. my first thoughts were "who are these people, to think they can just make others wait." but as ms lauryn hill was teaching me lessons through my ear buds, my thoughts suddenly turned. as she stepped onto the bus, they locked lips one last time, and as the bus drove away, he tapped twice on the windows and walked away.

i want that. where your time is at a standstill until you are apart. fast forwarding in your mind awaiting the next moments you share together again.

Blog-tron

2009-02-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

my baby...check it out.

www.blog.legrandcru.us

2009-02-14T00:05:00.000-08:00

so my friend AL drove out to seattle for the weekend. it was nice seeing him again. not having a car myself, he came and picked me up, paid for dinner, and we chatted. if anyone saw how great we got along, they would have thought we were brothers from different mothers. funny thing about that is we only started really hanging out a few months ago. the reason i mention this is because AL helped me out through one of the toughest transitions of my life. from issues with people to moving to another state, we conversed and weights were lifted off my chest. not everyday can you find people like this. the type of person that wants to take care of you as much as you want to take care of them. an extension of family togetherness from a friend that people struggle to find within their own families.

rethink what's most important in your life. let those that you love feel like it's valentines day everyday.

delta my spirit

2009-02-07T02:09:00.000-08:00

goodness gracious. friends here in the northwest have introduced me to some lovely treats for the ears. like i've said, i've been going to so many shows that it's hard to embrace all this new music at once.

this is what i've been hearing lately:

the globes

karli fairbanks

noah gundersen

kaylee cole

dawes

delta spirit

please, all you have to do is google "(whichever band/artist) myspace" and even if you don't have an account, you can listen to their works.

now all we have to do is get that garage voice album released to the wild.

realize and revitalize

2009-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

back in the day, everything i did had a driving force behind it. studying, sports, chores, and practicing. oh the the piano. see, sis and i practiced by time. that wretched timer, clicking away, slower than the 10 freeway during rush hour. thinking that if i turned it around so the time wasn't facing me, that it would go faster. and after thinking maybe 10 minutes had past the atrocious smirk it had when i turned it back around and only 2 minutes had passed. i'm sorry mother, but i did fast forward it a few clicks sometimes just so i still felt i had control over that fake cheery little "ding" thing.

the funny thing is, once the A on the test, the trophy/ribbon, the clean room, and the perfect performance came through, all the "blood, sweat, and tears" that we are supposed to remember, telling us how we accomplished these things, are forgotten, and the process/attitude is the same the next round about.

so i sit here, scared out of my mind. wishing i had a test, game, parent, or recital to push me. granted, my self-motivation is there, wanting to do something good, wanting to create something of my own, but i thought a lot of things would be, for lack of a better word, different.

for instance, you would think by now i would be used to the cold. no, each time i step outside, i'm wearing 2 jacket layers (which i love doing) and the frigid cold still bites as we wait for the car to warm. i also gave myself the false impression that i would be working at my favorite coffee shop, each time walking in, the cute barista, automatically knowing my order and preparing it with a smile, and not being asked to leave, but rather "so what time tomorrow?" i did not expect the close people in my life, keeping me in check, making sure things are getting done, making comments such as "why isn't the website done yet" or "you didn't have to move up there for what you're doing right now" (and i know these are all keeping my best interests in mind). sometimes i do feel that more was getting done at in ca because if i left it alone, it would beg to be worked on.

on the b side, i've been living in a completely different city, soaking in the new surroundings. i have been to more coffee shop concerts in a month, than my entire time in ca. le grand cru has been shown love by more than just my immediate friends. i feel like these things have helped refresh my stagnant soul. my friends garage voice have a new album coming out, and it has been a pleasure seeing how excited they are as they work on the cover details, track listing, and the planning of the tour. le grand cru could use a little bit of that rejuvenation spirit, and i believe it will after i post this. why? well because this is all i have in able to try and put food on the table. this is all i have to try and pay rent next month. this is my ideal shot to living the dream and making you all proud. to be able to have my life like one of those adlib games going something like:

"hey, (person's name) , (person's name) , and (person's name) , let's take a (type of transportation) to (country name) and eat (type of food) and go (any activity)!"

no, i'm not asking for the fame and fortune of the next movie star or musician. i just want to be able to live and be free with my time, taking care of those that i hold most dear to me. so here i sit. one deep breath at a time, and diving in. pretending that the little timer is pushing me, but this time without a smirk.

thank you to all who believe in me, to all that want to see this through as much as i do. you have no idea how much it means to me.

amazing

2009-01-26T00:38:00.000-08:00

i got this from my friend a.b. and just when you thought creativity was dead....

i don't wanna grow up....

2009-01-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

....but each year keeps on coming. i'll have to admit, i didn't know what to think of how my bday would turn out being in a new city and not knowing many people. every one of my other birthdays i've been home with all my longtime friends and trying to make each party better than the last.

but i would like to first thank my housemate for putting an amazing evening together for me. we had a group of 15 come out for 5 hours of bowling! i'm definitely going to be sore in the morning. thank to you to all my new friends who came out to help this new town boy celebrate.

thank you to all my hometown friends who wished me a good day. i miss your faces and wish we could have all been together.

pictures and videos soon to follow. hopefully. as for now, i have a 9am fire drill coming up, so i must head to sleepsville.

sunday funday

2009-01-19T02:04:00.000-08:00

i don't remember the last time i had such an excursion on a sunday afternoon. first off, coming from ca, i was always used to a car, gps, and having an agenda. today, i took my first solo bus ride to the city, asked a nice lady to tell me where my stop was, and walked aimlessly taking in my new city.

walked "the ave", went to gasworks, saw the troll under the bridge, had dinner with good people, got coldstone in 50 degree weather, went and sang 2 songs at a karaoke bar, and topped the night off watching "horton hears a who!". and these activities started around 2pm! we vowed to do some sort of day like this again, planning different parks, towns, and shops to visit. hands down this was one of the top 3 sundays of my life (although i can't recall what the other 2 were).

i wish i could share this with my close family and friends at home in it's entirety rather than just via text messages. hopefully, you all can come visit me soon.

week end

2009-01-17T02:30:00.000-08:00

so the week has finally been conquered. i talk as if i've been slaving over a regular 9-5, but i haven't. i must admit, if this tshirt biz turns out, i'll be a very lucky/happy man. the events that happened these past few days have been nothing but delightful. meeting new friends (i found a place to play ball every sunday), going to concerts of some awesome local musicians, trying ethiopian food (hands only), and surviving a real winter.

speaking of which, what better way to battle the cold with a perfect bowl of pho.

also, i found an old video that i probably should be embarrassed about, but i'm not and i'm actually proud to say we won the "audience choice" award. so give me my 15 minutes. p.s. you may want to turn your volume down a bit. it's not that pleasing to the ears.

nubi buddy

2009-01-16T18:03:00.001-08:00

i know i just wrote you a message on that social network site, but it made me miss you even more. so here's to you. it's sorta funny because at one point we were hanging out almost every day. then you had to go and decide to do this school thing and be "adult-ish". the reason i find it funny is because honestly, we haven't hung out or talked as much the last few months i was in town, yet every so often when i do see you or get a note from you, it's like no time has passed. i just wanted to tell you that i love that about you. also, the blunt comments, the desserts, and our list of unfinished chick flicks that we're supposed to watch so that i can at least say, "well, i watched it with a girl". hahaha. in the last year, i met a lot more "new" people than normal and i just realized it started with you. but i'm glad that it did and that we've had time to grow and know more about each other and i hope that it continues. thank you for bringing the extra, much needed, laughter in my life with your worries on the oh so many topics we talk about. frozen yogurt will never be the same without you!

ponder this

2009-01-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

(got this from an email)

there comes a point in your life when you realize

who matters

who never did

who won't anymore

and who always will

so, don't worry about people from your past,

there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

back to the SEA

2009-01-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

between the humming of the airplane engine and people eating their dry roasted peanuts, i sat in my seat, partly eavesdropping and slightly envying the conversation behind me. 2 random people, meeting each other and talking as if they've known each other for years. the male, slightly boasting as to where he lives, i couldn't help but root for him spitting a little "game".

as i slowly got lost in my own thoughts reflecting on this past "vacation", it's amazing how much has happened. the beautiful chaos of prepping for a wedding, reuniting with friends, and finally realizing the purpose for the turbulence in my life. besides the obvious, the only thing i'm truly going to miss are the new faces i've met in the past 3 months with whom i don't get to develop relationships with. but i'm eager to meet brand new people in wa and to apply my resolutions. emotionally, i'm drained, but my spirits are high and i'm about to get my second wind.

if it were my choice, i would have made that man and woman exchange numbers and have cameras follow them to see how they would effect each other. if the conversation was purely polite or genuine dialogue. i just don't like the thought of being able to converse with someone so much and then going separate ways like it didn't mean anything. i do desire an encounter of such, and maybe i'll muster up the courage on my next flight.

JMT

2009-01-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

to my "little" sister:

you have grown to a beautiful woman and we've become closer than ever. you're wedding was absolutely breathtaking and to see your creativity become a reality makes you that much more special. the tears you saw on my face were there because i could see the complete joy in your heart as you walked down that aisle. i hope for nothing but the best for you and your new journey and i know God will bless you if you keep Him close. i felt the words i said were not adequate for how much you mean to me as my sister. know that i am always proud when being introduced as "j's older brother". call on me for anything and everything. love always.

i now prounounce you...

2008-12-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

the day before the wedding. my house has turned into an insane asylum. people running all over the place, plans turn into non-plans which then have to be re-planned again, and more errands to run than kids on santa's checklist.

the last few days have been nonstop laughs. from spending an entire day with the boys (eating sushi, watching bedtime stories from the front row, bocce ball on the golf course, and stuffing our faces with miguel jr burritos) to listening to pops freak out about his speech to be given tomorrow. for those of you who've been in my life for a while, a lot of you haven't really "met" dad. what you probably don't know is that he has a funny side that can bring the house down anytime. it's just so funny listening to him rehearse over and over, and getting more nervous each time he thinks he made a mistake.

well, tomorrow is the big day for my sis. i love her more than she'll ever know and i can't wait for her to take this next step on her journey to happiness.

be safe tonight and God bless.

another christmas come and gone

2008-12-25T23:52:00.000-08:00

christmas day. vegging on the couch with the cousin to michael jackson's moonwalker, basketball games (go lake show!), "a christmas story" on repeat television all day, and macaulay culkin's first time being alone. also, ending the night with a win over mom and aunt in scrabble ain't too bad of a way to go out.

it's funny how when we're younger we can't wait to grow up. yet, when that time arrives, we love the thought of visiting those early years with any item that can make us feel what it's like to be 8 again.

the last 2 days have been an amazing experience. my head is finally back on straight, and i have learned so much about myself. there is nothing like surrounding yourself with family and laughing until you think you may actually pass out. another new year's resolution i decided to tack on the list is to come up with "favorites" (treezy, that's for you) because i've never really actually had any.

during this holiday, it's assumed that everyone should be jolly and well. up til these last 2 days, i can assure you from my own files that things just don't work that way. to those of you that haven't had the best of holidays, my prayers are with you. honestly, i don't know how many read this, but if anyone needs an ear, shoot me a comment and we can start emailing. i can't promise you a miracle, but it helps to let some weight off the shoulders every now and then.

merry christmas to you all, and may God bless you into the new year.

at peace with myself

2008-12-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

to: c.a.
from: me

you are blessed with a gift that many do not possess. the ability to listen and comfort with words that are true, yet gentle to one's ailing heart. know that if i can ever repay what you have done for me over our lifetime as friends, i will try to with the best of my ability. i cannot imagine the burden you take on when being there for so many people. just remember that i will always be here for you, even though i may not be a hundredth as good as you on giving advice. may God continue to bless you in more ways than one. you are forever my brother.

school's out

2008-12-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

so it's time. coming back home after a month of being away, to say the least, was interesting. with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, spending time with friends and family, and a sibling's wedding right around the corner, it's funny feeling so different in a place i've lived my whole life. not to say that things shouldn't change, but even though i miss a plethora of things, i'm actually really excited to get back to seattle in order to pursue my vision. also, it will give me the much needed time to grow and work on the little things in my mind that i consider "imperfections".

i've never been one to set new year's resolutions, but i believe that is in order for the 09.

running and reading. i heard an interview with will smith (before i saw seven pounds) and he suggests that if you do these 2 things, that you will have all that you desire. that every person needs a favorite book and a place to run to let your mind escape.

openness. i sometimes think that for an instant, i should blurt out what's on my mind. it's gotten me both good and bad results. i think i just need to be a little more wary as to who i say these things to. there are a few that i can say whatever i want, and i know that you will never look at me differently. i will keep to that list.

give attention to those who are deserving. this will remain unexplained for my own reasons.

so there are a few, in which i'm sure the list will constantly be changing. but as long as the list keeps being refined, i don't find it a failure to edit these self requests.

Seven Pounds

2008-12-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

My God. Up to this point in my life, I cannot remember a movie that has moved me more. My soul churned as my heart gave way to a new outlook on life and how I want to be as a person. This day will forever remain a turning point in my world.

May God grant everyone the strength and mercy whenever going through any pain. And in those such times, may we learn to trust that He will pull us through.

My heart is pained, my soul is tired. I am finished living on a one way street.

Merry Christmas from Le Grand Cru

2008-12-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

epilogue

2008-12-09T02:19:00.000-08:00

so i decided to make this post a very selfish one. but in doing so, that i may close this book and start a new one.

"you're too nice". wowzers. that was the exact quote. at first it made no sense to me. but after opening my ears, i was perplexed at my own situation. i will not bore you with the details of someone unintentionally ripping my insides to shreds, but the gist of it was that i was giving too much of myself and people were taking advantage of it.

NOTE: DUE TO THE SKILL LEVEL OF THE WRITER, AN EXPLANATION IS NEEDED TO CLARIFY. let's make one thing clear before continuing. by me saying "people were taking advantage" the meaning i was trying to give was that i was allowing this to happen to myself rather than people consciously doing so. continue.

don't get me wrong. this isn't some pity party you've all been invited to. i completely appreciate the intent of this person in telling me something like this. i know for a fact this person is looking out for me and even giving me the "no sugar" approach. i mean, the saying "truth hurts" wasn't invented yesterday.

pops said this to me. "mike, most of your friends are going to come out of med/dent/professional school making a good living. if you want that lifestyle, you better work hard now because no matter how good of friends they are, they're not going to pay for your mortgage or your vacations."

tonight, a different friend told me that i have to help myself first. not in the "don't care about other people" sort of way, but take care of me, before taking care of others.

the point of all this? you can decide for yourself. but on this end, lesson learned. no, i'm not going to have a jerry mcguire moment or have some radical change in my personality. i am however going to be a little more cautious and aware about my own well being.

if you think mike should make this change, stay tuned. if he should continue on this path, go to page 89.

(shout out to the old "choose your own adventure" books.)

there is no page 89.

handy works

2008-12-07T02:24:00.000-08:00

so this morning, being in my "new" home, i started to think of the family and friends i missed. yeah, i'll be home in a week, but this is the first time i've actually "moved away". so sue me for missing things. anyways, The Man upstairs knew just what i needed. a box with some old treasure: hand written letters.

what's crazy is that some of these were from more than 10 years ago. from post cards halfway around the world to letters that bled with what I thought love meant in those days. sure, i've made new friends since then, but the smell of old paper and ink brought me back to the days i didn’t have to think about what i wrote, but instead what i felt, which makes it seem more pure. these days, with text messages and emails being so quick and to the point, i once again long for the paper folds, the margin doodles, the scent of perfume, and the recognition of your loved ones handwriting.

here are some shots of the finds. and even if the words don't hold the same meaning now as they did back then, they did their job today:

a couple extra tidbits:

remember when tickets were $5??!??! oh the dates....

and this was a game played in the dorm a couple months into my freshman year at uci. we wore pieces of paper on our back so that other people could write anonymous things they thought about you. the best one i got was "you live here?" proof i'm not a social butterfly

text

2008-12-05T22:31:00.000-08:00

my business partner aka "no theft" has really been into text lately. check his blog out under "links". this is for you mr. panigot.

new song by jay-z feat santogold off the new notorious movie soundtrack.

late nights

2008-12-04T01:44:00.000-08:00

working for yourself. i could always fathom the idea. how perfect it would be. right now, i'm smack dab in the middle of it. in doing so, i work at random hours. the mind always thinking what i have to do next. back home i never knew what it was like to be alone. not the "cry me a river" sad alone, just being able to sit here at 2 am, looking out the window and letting my mind wander. grant it, the roommate is asleep in the room over, but that's a relationship being built. not the same as being around those you've grown up with. for those of you who read this frequently, you know i just kinda write what's on my mind. and if you do read this consistently, you probably know me well, and if you don't, we should talk more.

before i left, i spoke with my good friend mr alexander. he spoke of how we need to redefine the way we measure success. he told me that the fact that i'm embarking on this ride should be looked at success in itself. many people vie for the opportunity to be able to chase their spark of a dream. when praying, mr alexander said "Lord, let mike know that it doesn't matter if he comes back and only his friends are wearing his shirts, or if he becomes so big, that he forgets about us. let him know that this journey is a success"

i don't know what tomorrow brings. well, aren't you scared mike? yeah, i'm scared. i can admit that. but it's the same feeling that is driving me to work that much harder.

the one thing i do know? i will never forget.

Impromptu

2008-11-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

Living with a photographer, a photo shoot can happen anytime. Sometimes, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home.

Casa de YoungBlood (our last names)

2008-11-25T21:47:00.000-08:00

I share a wonderful apartment with a fellow named Ben Blood. This man is a photog genius and his style is one of a kind. I've been in WA for almost 2 weeks now, but because of the hustle and bustle, tonight was the first night we decided to make dinner at home. Aunty Annie was gracious enough to visit me and take me out to Pike's Market for some groceries. Pasta, vegetables, and fruit, all so fresh that we planning our schedules as to when we could make this delicious feast.

Through the dinner table talk of our mutual friends, why we should be exercising, and what the future holds for both us entrepreneurs, getting to know him is going to be great. I have so much to learn from him. He is someone I can't see getting angry, so I hope I'm not the one to ever bring that out. I already told him I'm going to be asking for pointers on how to take real pictures.

Check it out:
http://blog.benblood.com/

PS: This is what I see from my balcony. It really doesn't rain here as much as they say it does, but don't tell the locals I said that, cause they'll kick my arse.

143?

2008-11-20T06:20:00.000-08:00

so you tell yourself, "don't say that, don't ruin such a good thing" but at the same time, if it isn't said, you feel like an opportunity is missed. the question is, what happens if the opportunity was never there in the first place?

you learn to love, you learn to let go, but they don't teach you how to let go of love. unless that was the one day i decided to skip class.

a friend and i spoke over the last couple of days. he's just a few years younger than me, but is going through the same thing i did a few years back. i told him, "take care of yourself first, your time will come". it pains me to see him like this because when he looks me straight in the eye and says "i can't see my life without her", it unearths old memories and i know exactly what he's saying.

i love you, always will.

Home New Home

2008-11-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

After a mini van rental, 3 gas stations, one motel, and 18 hours on the road with my sidekick Mr. Rhynus, I am finally in my apart-a-ment in Seattle. Crazy, because typically this is outside of my comfort zone to make such a move. But for those of you who know, I am trying to chase a dream called Le Grand Cru.

Here's a little taste of the place, to see all of it, you'll just have to visit.

The Final Countdown

2008-11-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

The time has come. The bags are (not) packed. These are my last "real" days in the 909. This past weekend I had a going away party which was one for the ages. Great friends and great music. I will miss all of this but I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life. Cliché I know, but it's true. I thought of all people, I would be the last one to make such a jump. But too many things have come together to not take this chance. In the last couple of months, I've made some really great friends whom I now consider very close, which makes it that much harder to leave because it feels like time that needs to be spent nurturing such a friendship is cut short. But thanks to webcams, instant messaging, and email, hopefully we can continue to grow.

Unreal

2008-10-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/martinez-north-officer-2208731-police-running

Pray for this family. The man that was killed is a cousin of one of my best friends.

2008-10-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Feverish, cough, stuffy nose, etc....my symptoms match what can be read off a nyquil bottle. It doesn't help when I'm trying to gather things to get ready for my move up north. It's slowly, very slowly, sinking in that in less than a month, I will be leaving the only place I know for another. A new adventure. The spectrum of emotions is a little ridiculous, like jumping in the freezing pool and going back to the spa a billion times. Especially since in the last few months I've made some great new friends. Hopefully I can do the same in the new place.

This picture has nothing to do with anything, but one of you may get a surprise gift.

If everyone else is getting a movie "comeback", why isn't he? Kickboxer 2 anyone?

New Leaf

2008-10-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

For those that don't know, this next year has a lot in store for me. I just got back from a much needed vacation from Singapore and am now well rested and ready to embark on my new journey. I know this may be silly, but I would like to salute the pair of shoes that carried me for 1/3 of my life. I laid them to rest in Singapore before I left.

But fortunately, thanks to my cousin Hann Sern (www.younglikeme.blogspot.com) and his girlfriend who work for the swoosh company, hooked it up! I'm set for the next year with shoes! It was nice to hang out with them in Singapore and for them to continue their business trip from OR to CA for a couple days. I had to wait until they left to officially begin my quest to drop some poundage because our eating habits were out of control.

Zoo Kid

2008-09-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to a zoo in a long time, so when I got there, it made me feel like a kid again. From the snakes to the lions, I found myself standing and staring at each exhibit longer than I had anticipated. Maybe it was because we were lucky and every enclosure we went to, it seemed as if the animals wanted to see us. Who knows. I want a tiger.

2008-09-18T06:03:00.002-07:00

4.5 kgs. It just sounds less.

2008-09-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

This is the start of my attempt to just jot memories. If it entertains, then I am glad. I am intimidated by the blogging movement because it seems as if it must be witty or out of the ordinary to be read. But no matter how long I try to come up with something, it remains just that.

I've been in Singapore since the 8th of September and will remain here until the 23rd. I've decided that this has been way too long. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because I enjoy it too much. The routine is simply this: Wake up, eat, shop, sleep, and repeat. The eats are the most incredible part about all of it. The variety of ways to gain weight is incredible. I don't even eat desserts so that I can continue to shove my mouth full of different delicacies. I have 3 faves that I always eat:

Prata en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti_prata
Chicken Rice en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanese_chicken_rice
Chai Tow Kway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai_tow_kway

Those alone I can eat 2 weeks straight. And for some reason, I eat as if there's no tomorrow. Let's just say I will rack up my frequent flier miles at the gym when I return to the US.

So yesterday we decided to deviate from the local foods and eat at Shangri-La Hotel's buffet where my cousin worked. This was the selection: BBQ, Seafood, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Dessert, and others that I had no room for. Not only did the 6 of us eat enough food that could have fed small countries, but I decided to be a little more adventurous in the tasting department. Ostrich, sting ray, and crocodile. Now, under regular circumstances, my excuses would be "Oh, I don't eat that", "I'm full", or "Get that corn outta my face!", but because of the extravagance I decided to just sample these treats. I will save the graphic details of the taste and texture, but I will say that after I tried me some croc, I actually used the phrase "It tastes like spicy chicken".

More to come from this trip, but since eating is my number one priority here, I felt that it was only fitting to begin my posts with this experience.