Merry Christmas

This is my christmas card. My brother said it looks dark and sordid. But it took me forever to make. So...MERRY CHRISTMAS.



Okay, I made this from a step by step photoshop tutorial, not that it was easy, I have Gimp not photoshop, so I had to translate all the steps, which was difficult. You think maybe I should have left out the grungy old photograph part?

Coachella

With the imminence of a new year, I have recently been musing over this past one; 'tis the season right. Honestly, I reflect semi-normally about my life and probably would not feel comfortable attaching my name publicly to the results of this soul-searching, but I do like the idea of having a chance to pontificate about all the awesome things I did this year. So, along that vein, the apex of 2008: Coachella. Not really. That's a bit shallow, as this year has brought rather radical changes (graduation, oregon, a sort of realization regarding the human condition which challenged everything I knew or thought I knew and completely effected me, that sort of thing). But I do want to talk about Coachella, as it was "awesome.

Okay, Coachella is a 3-day inundation of music, modern art, sex and drugs, and American Apparel attire at Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, a couple hours outside of LA in the desert. FYI, I don't want to illicit concerned responses regarding my behavior at such an event, I do refrain from the sex and drugs and much of the American Apparel. I had such a good time, better than I envisioned by far. Thousands of people, hundreds of bands (probably closer to 80 really), 3 tents and 2 stages, 12 pm to 12 am (unless you're Prince and then you play til like 2 in the morning), 3 days in the sun, and 3 nights of camping in the desert. It was incredible, and wait until you see the line-up.

It was so hard to pick who to see, and who to cut, so many good bands. Highlights: Roger Waters, how could he not be. He performed for about 45 minutes of random stuff, old pink floyd songs, new stuff, etc. He sang Pigs and they had this graffitied pig balloon through the crowd, insane. Then they set up, and he did Dark Side of the Moon. Epic. Justice, sure they're a little played, but it was the last set of the weekend, everyone was crammed into the dance tent, feeling good, dancing with anyone, a good time. Kraftwerk, they turned to marionettes while performing robots, very trippy. Aesop Rock, they're as good live as recorded, and I love them, the lyrics, poetry, philosophy. Tegan and Sara quibbling on stage, they are sisters, and talking about sunburned breasts because H&M clothes are cheap. Rilo Kiley. Goldfrapp, she looked like a cult member from the sixties, they sang their hits and were fun. The Ed Banger crew, always fun to dance to, especially with hundreds of other people. MIA...all I wanna do is...pww, pww, pww...and take your money. Prince covering Radiohead, seriously. I could go on for three days worth of memories. Oh, and don't forget the Do Lab and the art, it is a music and arts festival. The Do Lab is a club set up like an Oasis (the show's in the desert) in the middle of the venue (which was huge) with live shows and a DJ all day and night, what an f-ing good time. Coachella '09 countdown: 124 days, oh yeah! I'm going to end this blog with a photo montage of Coachella '08 (I didn't take all these pictures).

Us and Them

Earlier tonight I watched a documentary on Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon. I guess I have Ms. McLaws to thank, as earlier I had read her post on the Beatles and it got me in the mood. Either way, pink floyd always leaves me in a very introspective mood. On top of this it brought me right back to Coachella, a 3-day music festival in the desert, which headlined Roger Waters this year. Even as I'm writing this I can't decide if I want to focus on Pink Floyd or Coachella...okay Pink Floyd, but my next post will be on Coachella, it was epic. I don't have much I want to say, you guys can opine on the band for yourselves, discuss lyrics, philosophy. Instead, I only want to suggest that if you ever find yourself innundated with feelings (maybe weird, indescribable or normal feelings) or maybe like you have something to say but it's trapped in your own head or you're really normal that's fine too, try listening to Pink Floyd; pick an album (my suggestion - Dark Side of the Moon, and that's not cliche), turn out that lights, listen, think if you want. It' cathartic, almost transcendant. The picture's Roger Waters at Coachella. Listen to the song at that bottom (Us and Them - Dark Side of the Moon).

A Glass Door Fell on My Face

Okay, it was only a cabinet door. But it really hurt. I have a record player, and I was sitting at my laptop on the floor in front of it trying to hook up some speakers, and then the door of the cabinet fell on my face. It hit be directly between the eyes, and now I have a rather deep cut across my nose bridge and a nice black eye. Yay.

Why I Love Living In LA

Here's another reason why I love LA: Downtown.

(ps I added a few pictures that I took on film)

Twilight (Not the Movie, duh)

There was this beautiful sunset the other day. It was like the sky was on fire. Seriously, I didn't mess with these.

GRE Stuff

So I finally stopped being lazy and took the GRE this morning, about time, I haven't been in school since September. Anyway, I used the GRE people's prep book, studied a bit, and signed up to take it this morning. I'll ease your suspense, it went really well and I'm pretty happy with my scores. However, let me tell you, what bad timing. I woke up yesterday with the worst sore throat, a good sign you're getting the cold. So I dosed up on cold medicine, took a bunch of vitamin C and hoped I wouldn't get sick until after the test. Of course, I woke up this morning, after a terrible nights sleep, as I was so congested I couldn't even breath, and my cold had progressed considerably. I now had a fever, the shakes you get when you feel freezing but you're sweating, ear ache in both ears, still congestion and of course the original sore throat. But I had amped myself up to take the test today, and I wasn't about to throw the $140 it costs to take the test away and wait until they had another opening at the center. So head cold and all, I took the test, and I am so happy both to be done and with my scores. Okay, no more. I take most of the pictures I put on my blog, however this one Bre took, and I really like it, plus it looks like how the GRE would look if it were a picture.

iLike Movies

I recently re-evaluated a list I had made of my favorite movies, and all these made the cut, and I recommend them highly. Briefly:

1. The English Patient - So good, seriously, really good. This movie may be like a really good classic book though, it's pretty long, and some people may not have the stomach for it, but it's timeless and for a reason, because it's so good.
2. Lost in Translation - I love the cinematography, soundtrack, and it has the best use of comical circumstance/hilarious tragedy I've ever seen.
3. The Royal Tenenbaums - I never get tired of this film, I love it; it's witty, dark, ironic, and absurd and the soundtrack once again is incredible.
4. Kill Bill - This movie is incredibly gory, to the point where it is kind of funny even, and very entertaining as a whole.
5. Goodbye Lenin! - A foreign film, and once again another tragic-comedy, but this is also heartwarming and German.
6. Fargo - Wow, loved it, not too long, only an hour and a half; full of incredible dark humor, and the midwest.
7. The Science of Sleep - Foreign film, whimsical, conflicted, Michel Gondry, enough said.
8. Les Triplettes de Belleville - As far as animated films go, this is one of my favorites, I will say I think it may be a love it or hate it though; for me, it's artistic, odd yet kitchy, involves cycling, and fun to look at.

Vote: Check

To be completely honest I was undecided on a lot of things coming into this election, up until even this morning. I wasn't even sure I was going to vote until yesterday. But, I just got back from the polling place, and I voted. I'll be honest because it's my blog, I voted for "change" and a lot of the people I surround myself with did not think that was a good decision, which I think added to my indecision this time around. But fyi I Voted.

Why I Love Living In LA

I recently moved back to Los Angeles (a few months ago), and am so glad to be back. Of course, there is a lot to miss about Utah and Oregon (though I was only there for a few months), but I love LA. Anyway, I decided to create a weekly blog installment entitled "Why I love living in LA" (maybe not weekly, but whenever I decide to add another I will). These will come in no particular order, instead just what came to mind that day. So, Why I love Living in LA #1:

1. Inundation of cultural and artistic diversity.

There are so many gems to see in LA, some famous, most obscure to the majority of people. There are representations of so many cultures. You can eat at a Delicatessen for lunch and an Indian restaurant for dinner, or your choice of whatever food you want. I rode the bus to school last semester, and my bus went right by this mural on Sunset Blvd:

It received a little fame when Elliott Smith used it as the background for an album cover, however, so many expressions in the city, like this once was, are mainly known and appreciated mainly by locals, and are all over the city.

2. Unique Architecture/Infrastructure.

Some Personal Favorites:

The Getty - I love this place, definitely in my top 3.






The LA River - The commuter train I take shows some pretty fantastic views of the derelictness.




134 Freeway/Colorado Street Bridge (Pasadena Suicide Bridge) - I haven't taken any pictures of the 134, but you can see the whole city, and if it's clear out to Catalina Island, from the freeway as it winds on a mountainy ridge, you can also see the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, another of many gems.



3. Great Weather - how can you have a list about living in LA without mentioning the weather. Seriously it's incredible, it's november and 80 degrees, followed by a few days of rainy crisp weather, then some more warmth. I love it. I will admit it gets a little hot in the summer, but there are plenty of ways to stay cool...the beach. Sunny and warm and october when I took this. The second picture is a beautiful fall night in claremont, the city I grew up in.



Note: I did not take some of these pictures, but found them on the internet to illustrate WHY I LOVE LIVING IN LA.