Cool Cool Cool

First, I am on the edge of my seat after the most recent episode of Once Upon a Time! This hasn't happened in a while. Not sure how I'll be able to wait six more days for the next episode.

Second, I'm still trying to figure out my way around this new Blogger layout.

Third, I came to another realization recently. And it's interesting. I'll elaborate in a moment.

Fourth, I had the incredible honor of attending a fireside featuring Sister Janice Kapp Perry. I almost did not go for a handful of dumb, insignificant reasons, but I'm so glad I went, and I may have had regrets if I missed it. Hands down one of the best firesides I have been to. This also came as another spiritual slap-in-the-face. And that's all I'm going to say about that for now. But it was a joyous evening. And I should probably learn some primary songs.

Okay, back to the third. I was feeling a little down last week, so I shut myself off from most forms of contact to anyone (there are maybe two people I can name off that know a number of the details, so I suppose I contradicted myself just now) and started watching Disney movies, namely Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Black Cauldron, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Chicken Little. This was partly to check off films from my 101 list, but also because it was a great distraction. By delving into movies, I was able to shut myself from the outside world. It was almost as if life could just keep going on, without me actively involved in it, and that was okay and no one was the wiser. I could just make believe everything wasn't real, and then come back and discover that I have about two seasons worth of episodes to catch up on in everyone else's lives.

In the meantime, I watched the series of my life and find that it is probably the least viewed and lowest rated show on television. Mostly, I became fearful, this a result of various circumstances directly affecting those I care about, and not affecting them in bad ways either. I guess in the midst of their doings, I started to look into my life and wondered about myself, if I'm even going to have a place anywhere, in anyone's life, if I'm going to do anything worthwhile. And then I tried to ignore these feelings because all they did was bring me down, and that's no fun. So, I would go to work, sing some songs, make funny faces at cute babies, and come home and ponder about my day, if that was all real or if I was just making a cameo appearance in someone else's life (which is also very likely). Watching movies helped, especially Disney, and yet....

So I prayed. A lot. I prayed to understand the extent of why I was feeling so down, and especially for the strength to get through and past it all. No matter how much I avoid talking with others about my insignificant problems, it's nice to have someone to go to who is not on a time frame and always willing to listen.

And then Thursday came along, and with it the blessing of a new episode of Community. While watching, I was vastly intrigued (moreso than my two friends watching beside me, to be sure). I watched this same episode the next day after work, and I knew this episode was exactly what I needed to open my eyes to what I was feeling. And I felt so much better about myself afterwards. And I am better now. Great episode.

In a few days, I will probably look back on this entry and LOL out loud. It's kind of refreshing for me to learn something new about myself every now and then though. Now, "...I'm back to being a weirdo, back to watching from the outside... for now."

And going back to the second, this new Blogger layout will really take some getting used to.

I Owe U(tah) An Apology

The third time must be the charm because this past excursion to Utah was a stew of happiness and activity with several dashes of fun mixed together. I was pleasantly surprised a number of times throughout this trip. In an attempt to see the better in a state that is in many ways too different this one I call home, I have made a brief list of some of the good things that made my trip easygoing, amusing, and memorable:

1. The Grid: I was very much reliant on others for transportation. When I was not hitching a ride, I walked everywhere else. I did not bring my GPS, my phone is reliable but definitely not "smart" so it could not help me, and I am not always the best with directions. The grid system saved me from taking a wrong turn and otherwise finding myself stranded in an abandoned suburbian corner of the less-than-right side of town. I can't knock the grid anymore for seeming confusing at first because without it I would not have known where to go.

2. Mountains: Beautiful. There is something about a change of scene, waking up to mountains outside of your window. When all you've grown up seeing your whole life through your car and apartment windows are houses, anthills, saltwater, smog, and too many cars, it's so refreshing to see something new. The allergies were a pain, but the air was nice.

3. Weather: I may be wrong, but it seems like Utah may have experienced some kind of weather PMS while I was there. But from what I have heard, that is the norm. And sure enough, I had the chance to experience sun as well as a bit of wind, rain, and snow. (SNOW!) And yes, I spent most of my time in the same town. I guess that doesn't come to a surprise to native Utahns though.

4. Toilet paper: As mentioned, allergies made an unexpected sneak attack on my body. (I probably should have checked up on that before making the trip there.) As a result, I needed kleenex, and a lot of it. Apparently college students in Utah don't use kleenex. Instead, they all use toilet paper. This was more of an amusement than anything else. And equally amusing was a spontaneous FHE activity involving rolls of toilet paper, because nothing else was planned after the lesson. Oh, the fun that has to be made when you live in a college town in Utah.

5. Cool people: I enjoyed a great amount of quality time with lots of former Socal friends, reunited with a couple of old friends from high school, made new friends stateside and international, went on fun dates with some super awesome guys, and even in those moments I was on my own there was a friendly face around the corner if I ever needed one to help me out.

6. 101 goals: I completed a few more. =)

7. General Conference: WOW! CHORUS OF ANGELS! What an unforgettable experience! Watching is always a joy, but being there live definitely has a unique spiritual power, just to be in the presence of the prophet and his counselors and apostles. First time ever watching in person and I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to do so. Which also sidetracks back to #5 in a few ways. One of the reasons I had avoided the idea of watching GC live is because past experiences at other religious conferences has shown contention that erupts from a crowd of people who make their ugly not-so-Christian colors shown in impatience, anger, hostility, and bitterness at waiting in lines, pushing and shoving to scramble to seats, or somehow finding an excuse to bicker with the people in front of you for not knowing where they are supposed to go or what to do. Such was not the case at GC, in fact this proved to be the complete antithesis. Also, I loved hearing Motab live again. If I never get a chance to see GC live again, I hope to at least hear them perform in person one more time.

I guess there is a lot more I could add, but considering the bother of procrastination, not to mention that I have been back home from vacation for over a week, memories of this trip day-by-day are starting to fade, and I'm overdue for another blog post since I missed the entire month of March (not sure how that happened since there were several days last month I felt inclined to write), this will suffice me. Next time, I propose a trip to a museum, a hike (I'll be smart and bring walking shoes next time), or possibly snowboarding?

So, maybe Utah is not that bad, and maybe I will go back and visit again someday.

We Sing and We Samba

Today's quick post is a result of nostalgia, the delay in planning a dinner or other kind of outing for my birthday, and my most recent viewing of The Three Caballeros.

The movie starts with Donald Duck getting ready to open a big birthday box from his friends in Latin America. Lucky him, there are three presents for him to open, and we get to open them with him and be by his side as he watches home movies, dances in a condensed street of Brazil which happens to be contained in a pop-up book, and sail across and through moving photographs of Mexico. And then there are the crazy moments that appear out of nowhere of glimpses into Donald's brain of Latin American women looking pretty and Panchito and Joe Carioca behaving incredibly bizarre and somewhat colorful in what may be a drugged up environment. (Donald, of course, is getting high on life, because that is the best high.)

Talk about the ultimate birthday gift! If I could only decide what to do, an international trip guided by good foreign friends with very attractive potentials would definitely be on the list. Donald is one lucky duck.

I also love the cultural immersion that comes from watching this movie as well as another simplistic Disney favorite, Saludos Amigos. Yes, it's about 70 years old, and times have changed since then, but it is fascinating to watch different cultures in action, with their dances and costumes and languages and rituals and all that they encompass. Even when I was a kid, I was interested in learning what I could about these various cultures south of the border. It was harder to distinguish at a younger age, but the older I get, the more I enjoy learning about them and their differences.

With that note, an American duck, a Brazilian parrot, and a Mexican rooster are a pretty diverse group at that. I would love to have all three of them as my amigos. (I also want to be able to hold a note out that long someday too.)

Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot

As another year approaches its end and a new one is just around the corner, I have looked back and realized one thing: this has not been a very good year for blogging.

Literally, looking back at the entries I wrote this year, entries I sometimes scrambled to compose before the month was over just to complete a scheduled goal, most of them (especially those of the latter half of the year) are chock full of spontaneous drivel and false promises of more elaborate posting ahead which more often than not fails to deliver. I don't know if it was just a busy schedule or a blank slate of a mind or apathy, but I have a list of thoughts brainstormed which has increased in size as the months rolled by, and for one reason or another, these thoughts were put on the backburner or discarded completely.

I can truly say though that although the blogging may have not been very good, this year has ended very well. A lot of bad things have happened this year, but it truly could have been a million times worse when compared to years of the past. I have been able to make more friends, catch up with old friends, spend more quality time with family, work and work and work to points where I may have exhausted myself while still maintaining a love and enjoyment for my job, travel back to my hometown, take plenty of trips to Disneyland, and actually be happy again with where I am at. It's been a while since I have looked at my life without thinking I wish there could be something more, but I don't need more. I'm happy, and that feels good to write.

I know that 2012 will bring lots of ups and some downs, but I'm looking forward to them all. (But mostly the ups.)

If there is one thing I can put on my new 101 list, perhaps it would be to write more and write better. And so I just might do that. Or maybe I won't. But I'll still try my best. Thank you, 2011, here's to 2012!!

Holiday Hoorays!

Time for Christmas music and movies, hanging up the lights, and putting the tree up!

Here is my tree (old picture but the tree still looks great!):



Here are my lights (which still need to be put up):




And here is a Christmas cartoon:



I do enjoy this time of year. =)

Happy 100th Birthday Mary Blair!

Today's Google logo is awesome and puts a big smile on my face. I want to ride Small World on behalf of this:



Among other things on my mind are reminiscents of my vacation, pondering what to wear for Halloween, questioning my local relations, where to drive to today, and the most recent episode of Community which was nothing short of sheer genius. I'll only be touching on the last thought here for now. It's wrinkles my brain and makes me crave pizza:

SVU Tuesday > Taco Tuesday

Tuesday is upon us again. If there is one thing to anticipate on Tuesday even more than an indulgence of cheap tacos, it's a plethura of awesome SVU episodes. Whoever decided to broadcast a Law and Order: SVU marathon every Tuesday surely knew how to liven up a semi-eventful day that could otherwise be spent getting fat off good old Americanized Mexican food. I would call Tuesday "SVUesday" from now on, but it might take too much effort to add two more syllables to one day of the week while all of the others are still only two syllables each.

Law and Order: SVU has a great way of making life look so much better on this side of the fence when all seems a little more gloomy. If nothing else, I can watch and say, "Sure, my life has been rough, but at least I don't have to deal with this!" Of course, there is only so much I can take on before I realize that I need a feel good Disney movie immediately after marathoning. It's all right, when tacos fail to hit the spot, SVU sure does nail it right on. And BD Wong is awesome too. Okay they're all awesome.



Speaking of Asians, I would pay good money (once I have it) for Jackie Chan's Mandarin and Cantonese versions of "I'll Make a Man Out of You". I can only hope that a little bit of luck and searching will lead me there. I'd better keep that in mind three months from now. Hooray for Christmas! (And I suppose an extra hooray for birthdays is in order too.)

But to conclude on an SVU related note, I am also a big fan of the SVU drinking game which I appropriately play with a heavy and/or nasty tasting soda, and I just might do so before the next episode begins:



I have realized that lately I don't have very many days where I have this time to relax at home for a little bit longer than a few minutes running in and out. Being antisocial is a bugger (and reminds me that I could be turning even more into my father than I already am), but being relaxed is extremely helpful at the moment.