Looking Back

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

graduate highschool, start college, a couple of things i regret, go overseas (Hawaii), played sax in a jazz band, um, get in a minor car accident, get pulled over, get my car stolen AND get it back! i love my baby

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I always forget what they were, but I can say I did improve in a few things

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I don't think so

4. Did anyone close to you die?

yes

5. What countries did you visit?

none, but Hawaii

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Patience, faith that things will work themselves out.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

Spring Break - Hawaii Trip

June 12? - Graduation

Oct 24 - =[

November 21- lets just say my life flashed before me

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Completing Highschool

college and completing the 1st quarter

couple things with band

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing sight of a couple things

giving up on a few things

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

sort of

11. What was the best thing you bought?

a couple of CDs, I'm trying to get a CD collection going

my Yamaha Custom 82Z Alto Saxophone, I was hornless for a while haha, she's my baby besides my car

gifts I got for people, especially during christmas time, it felt good to give a few gifts

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

theres a couple people, one person whom I just me this year my roommate

always positive and always there to help out

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Lots of death, celebrities and a few closer to heart

14. Where did most of your money go?

hm, i remember spending a lot for saxophone related stuff, and then a new saxophone

also i remember buying like 5 cds in two weeks time

lots of music related stuff

and college

15. What did you really, really, really get excited about?

hm, i was always excited for band stuff during senior year aha

JAZZ w/ Lapre and the homies OG's

Hawaii

Graduating and college of course

UCI, living in the dorms

seeing people i haven't seen in a while
Going to Barona for the first time haha

always got excited when i was on the verge of a new musical discovery

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

any song i played in band that year

cant believe it haha

dig by incubus

theres a bunch really

17. Compared to this time last year are you:
not as happy but its okay

more thoughtful
more into music

i feel more responsible

and im definitely more thankful

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

theres alot but these two i still think about

1. spend more time with certain people

2. play more music

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

overthink things

annoy people

things i regret

20. How did you spend Christmas?

church with the family

Avatar 3D with the family

21. How will you be spending new years?

well new years is over but i

slept in

played piano and guitar all day

stayed home with my parents

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?

hmm

23. How many one-night stands?

nada

24. What was your favorite TV program?

just recently, The Office and Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon mostly because of The Roots haha

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

nope i dont hate anyone

26. What was the best book you read?

just a couple ones ive read a bit of each at Barnes and Noble

27. What was your biggest musical discovery?

some jazz recordings, lots of Bob Florence

orchestral versions of some J Dilla productions

The Roots "sandwiches"

28. What did you want and you got?

people i could rely on and that made me happy

a saxophone

a college to go to

29. What did you want and not get?

more time with people

an ipod

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

UP, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar, District 9

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn?

turned 18

actually I remember PCN was on my birthday and some lovely people surprised me

pcn practice and last PCN ever!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

look at number 18

and a few other things i guess

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

simple, lots of neutral colors

34. What kept you sane?

my friends and family

i just thought of this today too, my car and some good music

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most?

i don't really fancy them, but michael jackson after he passed away

couldnt stop listening and watching his videos

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

i dont remember a bunch, prop 8, equality issues

37. Who did you miss?

a couple of special people

38. Who was the best new person you met?

haha id rather not rank people

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

really think before you do something

let people know they mean a lot to you

a couple of small things can go a long way

i think my sisters answer is a really good one too

"You can never tell those close to your heart "I love you" too much."

40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year:

wow this one is really hard

well this one even though its just 5 words had a pretty significant meaning to me

"i found my smile again"

theres a ton though

Been a While,Bye 2009

Well here it is, another one of those 'haven't written here in forever' type of blogs. Good timing too I guess since this year is about to end, it's just a few days away. I don't know where to start, so I'll just start off with going off to college.

This year has been a big one, the end of highschool and the beginning of college. Moving in day was definitely a mixed day. I was so happy and excited to be living and doing things in a new place, a place that will become a second "home" to me for the next few years, but of course I was sad to leave San Diego, a part of me was left back in SD and in the people there that I care about. My time so far at UCI has been great to say the least. Zot Zot! I've met a ton of chill people, and feel like I've grown a little more responsible and mature. I'm still learning the ways of a college student, it's so much fun though! Staying up late with people, late night food runs, tons of new people. It's really awesome having my car up there too, getting to explore the area is always fun. Guppies, The Spectrum, and The Lab, and The District are my favorites so far, but there's still alot out there. As for the school part though, it's very different from highschool. Big lecture halls, hardly any really homework and nothing but a few tests to make your grade. My grades, unfortunately, are the worst they've ever been, it could've been alot worse, but it could have been alot better too. I'm happy that I've survived my first quarter in college, and that I am motivated and determined to do a lot better next quarter and the rest of college.

One of the things that has constantly been on my mind and causing alot of stress for me is what I want to do in life. I'm always going back and forth between a few things. It's awesome when I hear people who know what they want to do and how they're going to get there, I wish the same could happen to me. I need to take some career test, and I wish there was some career day that I could go to haha.

Christmas was just a few days ago. This christmas was really different for me this year. Usually, I have a list of things I wish I could get, you know, like material things, clothes, electronics etc. But this christmas, all the things I truly wanted were things you couldn't buy from a store, couldn't order online, you get what I'm saying. I realized, that I've been focusing on alot of unnecessary things in life, and I've found out what really makes me happy and what really means alot to me. Being away for college, even though its not that far, I was happy to be free and independent from home but I realized I was taking time that I spend with my family for granted, and time with my friends for granted as well. Just spending time with certain people was what I wanted for Christmas. It felt so good to go out to the movies on Christmas day to watch Avatar in 3D. My parents haven't been out to the movies in forever, and it's definitely been too long since my family and I have gone out and done something just for fun. There's a few things I really miss right now, and I wish I could have even just a tiny piece of each back, or a chance to relive a few moments and experiences, but like they say you can't always get what you want..To be honest, this Christmas felt like a Thanksgiving all over again, for once I really think I felt what it was like to be thankful and really feel just what and who means alot to you, gotta be thankful for what you have everyday. Thank you everyone.

2009 has been an interesting year. Too many memories to list all down here. Definitely had alot of ups and downs. The transition from highschool to college was really exciting, I think its one of the most exciting times in a persons life. For me, feels like the year started out better than it's ending, I don't want to sound negative or anything, but these past few months especially have been pretty hard, college, and a couple other things have made some days and nights pretty tough. On the good side, there's been so many awesome, just awesome things that have happened this year. I'm excited for 2010 and for what it has in store, I definitely have no idea haha. It feels good to be writing again, anyone who's reading this, I don't want you to think that I consider myself a writer of any sort, but it feels good to put down some of your thoughts. I guess it isn't the same as talking to someone, but I think it serves a similar purpose. I wish I had more interesting things to write about, maybe I'll work on that for the upcoming year. 2009, goodbye and thank you for everything. hellllo 2010!

And I guess thats why..

they call it the blues, time on my hands, could be time spent with you

The Times They Are A Changin'

Summer, for the past three years its consisted of pretty much the same thing; hanging out, random adventures, wasting time, band, vacations, you know, the usual summer stuff. This summer hasn't been much different, but it sure feels way different than any other one. It didn't hit me at Graduation, High School was over and we were all caught up in celebrating 4 years of hard work. It didn't hit me at Grad Nite that this night would be the last time I'd ever see people that I had shared the same "home" with for 4 years. Its crazy if you take the time to think about it. After going to my college orientation, I realized, this is where I'm going to spend the next 4 years of life. A new place, new people, starting completely fresh. It's like being a painter. 4 years ago you got a blank canvas, and each year you painted or added things youve done, things you've accomplished, and all your countless memories. Fast forward to now, and now someone says great, now start this one. Thanks Melinda Ching, when you mentioned this "canvas" thing during your speech at Grad it totally caught my attention. I'm bummed to see alot of friends go, 2 of my best friends are leaving in two and three days, and a ton of people are leaving really soon too. I really wish I could have kept some friendships more intact, I'm sorry for taking a few granted...

But life is life right? Well, I am really excited for college. Props to all the staffers and planners at SPOP, it has really made me excited to be an Anteater. At the same time though I am just as nervous as I am excited. What I'm most nervous about is just the whole academic part and really finding what I want to do in life. I've heard stories of people, who seemed destined to do one thing but end up doing another. People gifted in the field of science, who make calculating this or computing this seem like a piece of cake, but who are passionate about things like social issues, or art and music. I just need to find my own balance of being practical, what I'm passionate about and what I enjoy doing. I've heard it everywhere, balance is key.

Anyways, before I started writing I remembered a scene from the movie Watchmen to the song The Times They Are A Changin, and it could totally relate to how I see this current time in my life. Things are going to change alot in the next few months, weeks, days, part of it good part of it not so good, but they are all things I'm willing to accept and embrace.

Heres the link to that one portion of the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2hNhM3dHB4

Again

So here it is, another blog about a song I like.

Esperanza Spalding. She's a talented bassist and singer, graduated from Berklee College of Music and was asked to be a professor after crazy huh! Anyways, shes a girl with real talent. Her song "Precious" is probably my favorite. Really deep song. Lots of things to ponder here, create new thoughts, but yeah well here are the video/lyrics.

Love me or leave me, but please don't decieve me

and say you'll love me how I am

You love the way I fit some ideal,

Not the real woman you've yet to understand

See, love ain't all heaven, and I am no angel

But I do the best I can

You always wanted something more from my body

And said you needed something more from my lovin'

But all you got was me and that's all that I can be,

I'm sorry if it let you down

Now it's no nice excuse, but all the magic was used up on trying to uphold

Some kind of tame, flattering persona that

Soon enough was getting real old

It takes more than pressure to change rock to diamond,

Now all you have is sand slipping through your fingers

You always wanted something more from my body,

And said you needed something more from my lovin'

But all you got was me and that's all that I can be,

I'm sorry if it let you down

But I'm not gonna sit around and waste my precious divine energy

Tryin' to explain and being ashamed of things you think are wrong with me

I'm not gonna sit around and waste my precious divine energy

Tryin' to explain and being ashamed of what you think is wrong with me

Set you up, you say I set you up

Like I was different than what I am offering you now

Let you down, you say I let you down

And drove your heart around

Did you forget about all the love & the acceptance that you promised me too?

So today, I had to go to UCI to take a test, and the only music playing was from the radio

almost all of it had no real value to it so annoying...

someone should invent something where you can access your iTunes library

from your car, how awesome would that be?

I notice alot of my blogs have to do with music, sorry if it gets annoying

to everyone (or no one) who reads this, enjoy anywayss

blurbs

today, i had nothing to do, so i decided to go to barnes and nobles and look for things to read. I across some really interesting stuff.

One on this japanese scientist who decided to study water and the crystals they form. really interesting. im not sure how he did this, but he had water and put words printed on paper into them such as "beautiful" "hate" "anger" even things like "thank you" and "mozart". Then he took pictures of the crystals that formed to each corresponding word and it was nuts how things like beauty and wisdom had perfect crystals formed, and words like hate had very broken crystals or no crystals at all. "heart broken" even had a crystal in two pieces. the book had a bunch of pictures and everything it was really coool.

the second book was by a musician who became a neuroscientist, and wrote a book about music and the brain. it was so awesome! it talked about why we like certain music, how music affects us and i really cant begin to describe everything that was in it. it really got me interested...

also, some good advice i found just reading through other things. it was talking about relationships with people, specifically when arguments or issues happen. when two people fight, they usually take a side over and issue and they each take one side and fight. what it was suggesting is that you should both take the same side and fight against the issue, i guess this way is that you get rid of the issue and not one another. i thought it was pretty helpful advice, i mean ive never really thought of the situation in that way, see what some curious reading can do? i'm definitely going to go back, read random things, im always up for learning something new or reading something new

sorry this blog is just a bunch of random thoughts, though i think its worth atleast for me to write or put down somewhere.

im still listening to michael jackson songs everyday, am i the only one? timeless music, seriously.

summer feels extra long, i guess that is cause i do have a month longer than the previous years, but each day feels longer too.

what else, im really excited for college now UCI is gonna be fun zot zot, but i miss alot of people now and i am going to miss alot of people even more when school actually starts

i really miss playing music in a big setting, the only chance i get now is with Mr. Torns summer band, which is awesome, but i wish there were more opportunities. i especially miss jazz, gah, some of the song we played were just crazy, Last Season, always got to me. everytime i listen to it i still get the same feeling.

summer jazz band was super fun forgot to mention that,got to play with some people ive never played with before, awesome music too.

speaking of awesome music, dont you just love those songs that just grab ahold of your insides? recently ive been finding alot of music like that.

i think james taylors music is timeless, i watched a live concert dvd the other day with my family during lunch, it was great. you should all have some of his songs if you dont already.

well this has been a run-on blog, peace

cuerpo y alma

This is super random, but here's the lyrics and a video for probably one of my favorite jazz standards ever, Body and Soul. Here's Chris Potter, whatta monster..haha well in this case a very soulful, emotional monster

My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you, dear, only
Why haven't you seen it?
I'm all for you, body and soul

I spend my days in longin'
And wond'ring why it's me you're wrongin'
I tell you, I mean it
I'm all for you, body and soul

I can't believe it, it's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending? It looks like the ending
Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you, body and soul

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I would gladly surrender myself to you, body and soul