Thoughts

"The only thing consistent is change, change, change." -Trevor Davis

I hate change. I'll roll with it, because what else can I do, but if this were Facebook, I would not be a fan of "change". I would not add it as a friend. I would not click the "like" button. I might want to utilize SuperPoke and hadouken it... but I'd still hate it.

But more changes in life and stuff happening around me looms on the horizon, including Andy leaving and me needing to figure out this whole living situation again... not sure what that will look like. New roommate here at the current apartment? Me moving to another place? Getting a condo? Finding a place with the cousins? It will definitely not involve me moving back home, that's for sure. I might look into this opening at a place that I found through Flood connections... but I know that whatever happens, my 25th year is going to start off having to welcome change.

At least for tonight though, I got to rest in the current state of things: me and Andy at our apartment, having beer and pizza while finally watching the season finale of "24" and also the movie "Nothing But the Truth" (with the hot Kate Beckinsale). We haven't really gotten to do those kind of things much as roomies, I feel... there's always been something going on, or people over, or he's been in and out due to work trips. So I appreciated that this evening was just us, getting to hang out for a mellow night. And maybe the beer played a part in this, but we got to talk about honest life stuff, and just listen to the other... and it was nice. I won't speak for him, but I know I needed that time to just be real again... I'm really going to miss living with the guy, and having my best friend around. Even if I've been frustrated at things, he's been like the older brother I never had. (I don't mind saying that here, since he's not a blog reader... and even if he does come across this... well... dammit, you know I'm an awkward and sensitive sap, Andy.)

So anyways, change is brewing, and I'll deal, and try to put on a smile... Like the Carolina Liar lyric goes:

I lie, I pretend 'til I'm almost certain it's a beautiful world...

Show me what I'm looking for...

Last week, during Coffeeshop Tuesday, I was sitting at the Starbucks as per usual and checking my email on my phone, when I noticed another email from radio station KPRI. And as soon as I saw the headline, I think I may have "squeeed" like a fanboy just a little bit... because Carolina Liar was having a show on the Hornblower!

I can't remember exactly how I got into this band... but I'm pretty sure Kasey told me to check them out a few months ago. And I was sucked in, thought they were rad. They're the type of rock music I'd normally like. So when the chance came to see them for free, I jumped out of my seat and drove like a maniac to try to score my free tickets.

And I did. Made it in the nick of time before the store closed!

I told Kasey about the concert the next day, since I figured both he and Tiff would be down to see them. We went on our lunch break to score more passes. I checked with Janice to see if she was going to get her passes too, and she did. Each pass covers two people to get on the boat.

I've been on these radio station boat concerts plenty of times before, but I don't think I've ever been so stoked. It ended up being Melodi and me, Kasey and Tiff, and the OSF heading down there. When we got to the boat, we were almost pushed away when the bodyguard was trying to say that there was no more room on the boat. We almost walked off but decided to wait a little bit longer, and then he let those of us waiting on the side onto the boat. It was crowded, and full of people who didn't really know the band but were just there for the free boat ride. But we found a nice spot where could still see the band and could sing along.

Only two of the band members were there - the lead singer, and another guitarist - so it was more of an acoustic set. They came across as really friendly and it was cool to hear them talk about the songs before playing them. They didn't play many of their songs, but they did play my two faves ("I'm Not Over" and "Show Me What I'm Looking For").

Tiff really wanted to meet them, and really so did I, so as the boat kept cruising around, we eventually found them signing pics and taking pictures on the 2nd level of the boat. Tiff pushed her way up there and I took a pic, and she had a little poster signed. We walked away, thinking we were content with that, and then Kasey and I caved in and made our way back up to the guys. Talked to the guitarist for a bit and he was very cool. I guess the band has played at the House of Blues down here before, so I'm bummed that I didn't get into them sooner. But they might go back on a full band tour later this summer. If so, I'm there!

Nemesised

Look what I found waiting for me when I got home.



Could that be a tasty delectable treat in that brown paper bag? Like a frozen yogurt? Or possibly a red vine? Noooooooo. No such happiness awaited inside the darkness of that bag.

It's a dark I know well.



Green sauce from Wahoo's Fish Tacos. Green like kryptonite!

-- Post From My iPhone

"Rara"

Since I was a little kid, I've been known to my cousins as "Rara".

Sidenote: Typically, when I refer to my "cousins", I'm talking about a group of five that technically are not even my first cousins. All of those real first cousins are in the Philippines and I've never met them. These "cousins" are the ones I grew up with and while we really are family, I'm technically on the same family tree level with their mom (as second cousins, I believe). But her kids and I have always considered each other cousins since we're in the same age group (me being the oldest).

Anyways, I guess when the first of them (Johnny) was old enough to give me a name, that name was "Rara". We're only three years apart, he and I. Which back when we were kids, at least to me, seemed like a huge difference. My nickname for him was "Sas-See". I have no freaking clue how that came about. That name had a short life (thankfully for him), but the name "Rara" kept living on with each of the four siblings that followed. At least that name made sense, right? It's easier for a little kid to say "Rara" than to say "Ryan".

Well, I'm a month away from my 25th birthday, and I'm still Rara. All of them still call me that - although the older ones have shortened it to just "Ra." (A few of my friends who learned of this nickname have started calling me that too sometimes.) It's funny when I'm visiting their house and they have a friend over and the friend comes to think "Ra" is actually my real name. Sometimes they'll correct them... I don't mind. It's funny. And it's a nice part of my childhood, of a much simpler innocent time.

The youngest of them, Tia, will graduate high school in 7 years. She'll be 18, and I'll be 31 when she does. It's crazy to think about that. But I bet I'll still be called Ra... and I know I'll be thankful for that.

Success and Juevos

So Chris and I are sitting here at the Broken Yolk Cafe in PB after Kristen's graduation at SDSU (congrats Kristen!) and we've been looking for cool apps for our phones. And lo and behold, there's this great little app to blog from the iPhone! So this is my test. If this works, I'll probably be more apt to update, like when I'm out and about.

I have stuff to say about last night's outing that wasn't but became something else, and blogs that I need to read and comment on (I'm so behind on the times) but I'll do that at the comfort of my home and laptop. For now, I look forward to the California breakfast burrito. Mmmmmm...




-- Post From My iPhone

Saturdays with a Twist

Also known as "SWAT"...

Saturday was going to be another fun symphony outing. The only ones committed to going were me and Melodi. Kasey claimed he was a maybe - and though he really wants to see the symphony, his love for the NBA (and the Lakers) is much greater, and there was a game on Saturday evening (more on that later). The plan was to head down to the Yardhouse for dinner and drinks, watching a little bit of the game, and then go on over to Copley Symphony Hall to listen to some Rachmaninoff.

I don't know much about Rachmaninoff, except for one composition that Michelle Kwan used for one of her classic figure skating programs.

Confession #1 - Before there was Lea Michele, and before Mandy Moore, there was Michelle Kwan. My celebrity crush. My sole reason for watching figure skating. The way she moved on the ice was so beautiful. In the same way I'd download a song after seeing someone use it on "So You Think You Can Dance", I'd download whatever music she used... she was just the complete package. But I digress...

Back to the symphony outing... it ended up just being Mel and I going downtown. We really should've had plenty of time, but we were just enjoying our food and drinks. I even tried something with lobster for the time time, which for me is a big deal since I don't try things that have been in the ocean. It was tasty, I'll admit. But then we looked at our phones and saw there was no way we'd make it to the symphony... so instead of rushing through our meal, we enjoyed it while watching the Lakers beat the Nuggets (in a really close exciting game).

Missing the symphony was disappointing, but there's always another one coming up, so I'll be sure to plan another outing. With our original plans dashed, Mel and I tried to see if anyone else might be heading downtown for some nightclub action. No one was, but we got a hold of Suzy and decided to join her and her roomies down in Pacific Beach. Specifically, Typhoon Saloon.

Confession #2 - Johannah and I ditched church one time to head to PB. Not like we got up in the middle of the Sunday night service, but the plan was to go to Flood that evening and join our friends like we did every Sunday. Well at the last minute, the two of us decided to play hooky and head over to what was then known as Big Bertha's to see my friend Pete Thurston. He was playing a show at the bar, and we decided to check it out. Not being PB goers, we were a little lost and hesitant, but it ended up being a nice little excursion and cool to see Pete and Cass (as always). Oh those days of "Jack and Jen's" random outings... I miss them a lot. "Jack and Jen" being a reference to Dawson's Creek, btw. I was Jack (minus the gay) and she was Jen (minus the baby).

Typhoon Saloon wasn't that busy at first, but by the time 11pm hit, the place was packed. People weren't dressed as nicely as they would at the Gaslamp. This was the first time I really paid attention to how other people get down at these places. You have your group of girls dancing with their drinks and then you have the group of guys just standing with their drinks looking around for hot girls. And on the dance floor, guys will just walk up to a girl and start dancing with her... and she'll be okay with that and then they'll start grinding. And then maybe they'll face each other, decide the other is decent-looking enough, and start making out. It's all very interesting. Which leads me to...

Confession #3 - I actually like going out clubbing. I know the idea of paying money to go out dancing in loud dark rooms with strobe lights and paying even more for drinks is ridiculous, but I find the atmosphere fun. Not to go looking for someone to hook up with (as if that's how I roll), but I like the different types of music (hip-hop, 80s, techno, pop, for example) and nice beats and getting a little dressed up. But I'd only feel comfortable going in a group of close friends. Except none of mine are into any of that stuff, so I'll take what I can get when the offer comes up from other friends.

So it wasn't the symphony, but it was still a good night out... no hangover either, which was muy importante since I wasn't going to get much sleep before waking for Kristen's graduation the next morning. Phew!

Don't Stop Believing!

Just a little video post for now :)