Whiplash From Life

Happy Mothers day

2011-05-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

I agree with Mr T. when he says "Mother, there is no other, like mother... so treat her right"

Love you mom. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you.

Miss You Uncle Stan

2010-10-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

The picture above is of my Dad, my Aunt Judy and my Uncle Stan (the one with the shades).

As you can tell by the picture Uncle Stan was and always will be cool.

Uncle Stan passed away last week and will be missed. I had the chance to go to the funeral and spend time with his family and friends. His passing was sudden and unexpected. Uncle Stan was a wonderful uncle to me and I will never forget the summers I spent with him and the fun we had.

Death is a sad thing that can be hard to fully understand, but I know I will see Uncle Stan again. We do not end after this life, we all will live again. It's truths like that which brings comfort at these times.

Raise your hand if you miss Hawaii

2010-05-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

I thought I would get the Blog going again.

JoLyn and I really miss Hawaii. We miss the beach, ocean, waves, sun, coconuts, all of our friends still over there, and all that is great about that little piece of land. We are hoping to end up there someday. In the meantime we are kicking it in the land of Utah. I am doing that thing called work, and JoLyn is doing the school plus work thing. Don't worry Utah isn't that bad, there are lots of rocks here.

If you are in a hurry you will never get there. -Chinese Proverb

Journey! Not the American Rock band, but the act of traveling from one place to another.

2009-03-24T03:13:00.000-07:00

I found this clip of me on a boat traveling from the Island of Maui to the Island of Kahoolawe, and thought I would share it. I went over for a school project last semester to help preserve and protect the island. It was nice to be able to give my part to Hawaii since it has been so good to me. You can see the stuff we did on this website. It was a once in a lifetime experience to swim with dolphins, save an island, and unite with my nature side. My word of wisdom today would be... do things that are "once in a life time" kind of things and you will never regret it, unless something really bad happens. If something really bad happens on one of those "once in a lifetime experiences" just please don' blame me, it was only a suggestion.

I look forward to the many journeys ahead almost as much as I look forward to listening to the new journey album.

“If you go to war pray once; if you go on a sea journey pray twice; but pray three times if you are going to be married”
Russian Proverb

"Don’t Stop Believing, Hold on to that feeling."
-Journey the Band

All Work And No Play...

2009-03-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post some pictures of me at work. For those who don't know, I play drums for the Night Show at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I play the Tongan, Tahitian, Fijian, and Samoan drums. I have been working there for over 2 years now and my time is almost up. Sorry, It might be hard to spot me in these pictures because I do a great job at blending in.

The World is my country, all mankind my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
-Thomas Paine

Painting The Town a Reddish Color

2009-03-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

JoLyn and I went to China Town last week. We ate at one of my favorite Restaurants in town, this little Mexican place that serves the best Taco Salads.

After Dinner we went to the best Jazz club in town, The Dragon Upstairs. We just sipped our cranberry juice as the sound of smooth jazz filled our ears.

The Stairs of The Dragon Upstairs.

I played around with my ISO settings on my new camera.

We met some new friends.

We had a baby, I mean we held our friends baby.

We saw a waterfall and homeless people sleeping.

It was quite the adventure.

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”

-Helen Keller

Relativity

2009-02-27T23:58:00.000-08:00

I made it through midterms. It took countless bottles of vitamin water and my "you can do it" playlist, but it was nice to be done with my tests and finally have time to spend with JoLyn.

The photo above was taken by my friend Ellie, she was kind enough to take our engagement photos. They turned out really great. The one above is my favorite.

Put your hand on a hot stove for a second, and it feels like an hour. Sit with a beautiful woman for an hour, and it feels like a second. That's relativity. - Albert Einstein

The Biggest Problem With Reality is The Lack of Background Music

2009-02-20T02:31:00.000-08:00

The movie I make of my life is going to have some amazing background music.

A picture is worth a lot of words

2009-02-12T02:13:00.000-08:00

I like to think of photographs as pieces of our past. If you think about it, a camera can be a magic tool that freezes time for a split second. My parents got me a new camera for my graduation/ congratulations on being engaged present. I Love it. I have been taking pictures every where I go. Here are just a few sample shots. JoLyn and I went to town on the bus (ever since my car broke down we have turned to public transportation). These three pictures were taken at the bus stop.

"There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction."-Salvador Dali

2009-02-06T02:36:00.000-08:00

The first photo was taken in Hawaii, the second one was taken in St. George
I thought you might like some pictures of rocks.

I am going to bed.

Advice for the day: Whatever you do, don't sell your soul for magic beans.

The dictionary says that Engaged means... "partly embedded in a wall"

2009-02-02T01:34:00.000-08:00

Hello friends, family, and everyone who finds time to read the things I post. I have been really busy these last few months, and the whole blogging thing was put on the shelf. But, I do have some exciting news for you. I am now engaged. I finally popped the question. My girlfriend, JoLyn, is now a fancy french word I have trouble pronouncing. I am not going to give too many details, but I will tell you I asked her after a romantic dinner in a Tree House that over looked the ocean. Funny story.... after this joyous occasion we got lost on the way back to the car, and once we made it back to my car, the vehicle didn't start. I don't think it was a bad omen or anything, but it sure was something to laugh at. So, I am in Love, engaged, and getting married and I am telling the entire internet world about it, that is pretty impressive. Also, the wedding is in may if you want to come.

"My advice to you is to get married. If you find a good wife, you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher." -Socrates

I Love Saturday.

2008-11-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

For all those familar with the Northshore, you will love this video.

Olivia the Band

Saturday

Change

2008-11-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

Its been awhile since I have posted. I have been spending most of my time studying and trying to keep my head above water. So lots of things are happening these days: I cut my hair (I look like I belong in Idaho now), some one very dear to me left the Island, and lets not forget that Obama will be our newest President. We can look at things that change and say, "this is the worst", or we can realize that change is inevitable and deal with it. Sure I would have been happier with longer hair or that special someone on the same land area as me, but it doesn't change the fact that it has already happened, so we keep on.

And we’ll all float on OK
And we’ll all float on anyway
-Modest Mouse

Plus, its not like the end of the world or anything. I promise. I talked to my friend in China today (its already tomorrow over there) and everything is OK.

Keep in the Sunlight.

2008-10-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

-Ben Franklin

I have been worring more than I should, and this quote has brought me much comfort,so I thought I would share it.

No need to Conform.

2008-09-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

And be ye not conformed to this world... -Romans 12:2

Conform- to be or become similar in form, nature, or character

This world we live in has turned in to a world that compromizes and rationalizes their standards. A world where disohnesty, hate, immorality, evil, and all that crazy stuff seems to prevail. In this case conforming is a bad thing.

That is all thats on my mind today.

Indecisive Me

2008-09-17T02:13:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time making decisions sometimes. Who knows where one little decision will take us.

I have also come to realize that sometimes the longer we think the less we know what to do.

But at the same time, I have No regrets.

The Interview

2008-09-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a little inspiration for today.

Click on the link below.

Beauty

2008-09-02T02:01:00.000-07:00

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. --Confucius

Just a reminder to look around once in awhile.

It's Been A While.

2008-08-27T01:36:00.000-07:00

I have been away from the internet. I am back now that school will be starting again. God Loves You, don't forget that.

Minus The Hate, Plus The Love

2008-08-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

Dalan Fellow Earthlings and Fluvians,

Last week I wrote about a website I found called Fluvian.com. This website was created for the purpose of reuniting Fluvians, and teaching earthlings about Fluvian culture and existence. I posted some remarks that were not pleasing to the Fluvians, and after being contacted by them I decided to delete that post for good. I am now apologizing to any Fluvian that I have offended.

The Fluvians believe that they are from the planet Fluvio, which is near the star we earthlings call "Al Nair". IT can be found in the constellation Grus. They travel here by their ki (Spirit or Soul). This ki is intertwined with a human ki.

They are here to learn from us and teach us about how we can eliminate the hate, the crime, and the war that is found in our society. In no way are they invading us. In fact one thing they teach is that all are equal.

So fellow earthlings and fellow Fluvians may we continue to learn from each other and coexist in peace, love, and harmony. I do not make fun of anyone for their beliefs and I am sorry if my comments seemed that way. Humans and those from other planets have the right to believe what they want to believe.

May we continue to help those around us. May we continue to be loving and friendly to everyone we see.

Let us all Minus the Hate and Plus the Love.

May we all find Zithra. Whatever and wherever that might be.

Everyone Loves Confucius

2008-08-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile friends. I have been busy working these days, and every free moment has been spent watching the Olympics.

In honor of the Olympics that are happening in Beijing, I would like to leave all of you with a quote from one of China's finest.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Thank you Confucius.

A Picture to help keep the Olympic spirit alive.

This picture was taken a few years ago in Beijing. This is when they were building the "Birds Nest" for the Olympic Games. This is the closest I will ever be to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I hope you are all healthy and well.

Zai Jian.

"Let No Man Despise Thy Youth"

2008-08-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Life is too short to grow up.

Sometimes Life Doesn't Seem Fair

2008-07-30T02:36:00.000-07:00

I have always been trying to get the most out of my life here on earth. It is always sad when someone passes from this life sooner than expected, but this man Randy Paush gives us a good example of how we can live our lives. Professor Randy Paush was a computer science professor whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became a best-selling book. He passed away last week due to pancreatic cancer.
If you haven't seen his lecture online already I suggest that you watch it and read the book which provides a bit of background information to better understand the man and his story. Very inspiring. Great advice.

My favorite quotes from watching this:

1) The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!

2) Don't bail! The best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.

3) If I only had three words of advice, they would be, tell the truth. If I got three more words, I’d add, all the time.

4) We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

5) Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I’m dying and I’m having fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day, because there’s no other way to play it.

6) Better to fail spectacularly than do something mediocre.

7) Be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.

8) Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.

9) I probably got more from that dream and not accomplishing it than I got from any of the ones that I did accomplish.

10) Don’t complain. Just work harder. That’s a picture of Jackie Robinson. It was in his contract not to complain, even when the fans spit on him.

11) Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.

Time For Another Music Video From The Hanks

2008-07-26T00:25:00.000-07:00

This Might Change your life.

The Hanks
Believe

The Drums are amazing in this song.

Mind Blockage

2008-07-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

I am having mind blockage. Just enjoy this picture I took from the passenger seat.

Pensive Is Not Just A Racehorse

2008-07-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Its funny how you find you enjoy your life when your happy to be alive.

2008-07-10T01:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have nothing to say.

Procrastination: "If you do 10 percent better than most people, you're a superstar."

2008-07-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

I am the worst at procrastination.

I will read this tomorrow...

Happy Fourth of July

2008-07-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

I took this photo yesterday at the USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor).

The Fourth of July 2008 From The U.S Census Bureau

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html>

304 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>

Meditation Contemplation Relaxation Station Proclamation

2008-07-03T01:43:00.000-07:00

I went to a Buddhist temple today. Only in Hawaii do they put leis on their Buddhist statues. Because of this event, I have been thinking about meditation. I haven't been meditating as much as I used to and this is a sad thing.

Meditation [med-i-tey-shuhn] is a state of concentration and attention on some object of thought. Also a continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.

Everyone has their own way of meditating, this is mine.

1) Sit quietly and comfortably, but not to comfortable or you will fall asleep.
2) Minimize distractions.
3) Hands in a comfortable position. I like my hands palm. Some Buddhist have their hands in this position to catch the blessings and answers from above in their hands. I do it because it gets me into meditation mode.
4) Relax. Sometimes when I am really tense or stressed, I will tense up my whole body and the just relax.
5) Close your eyes.
6) Focus on breathing. Deep breaths.
7) Go to a nice spot in your mind. I usually go to a tree house I had as a kid and I climb up the ladder in my mind. I focus so much on that and my breathing that I am ready to concentrate, reflect, and think.
8) Hold attention on a particular object.

I like to use meditation to develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility, insight, relieve stress, and prepare for a test.

Some people use meditation to heal, I have yet to try that. i will let you know.

I learned today that Buddhist say that the path to enlightenment entails three types of training: Virtue, Meditation, and Wisdom.

Happy Meditation.

Can't Get Enough Of This Musical Masterpiece

2008-06-30T21:52:00.000-07:00

Mates of States is a husband and wife band that uses the drums and electric organ combined with deep catchy lyrics.

Enjoy this song get better.

Forget your politics for a while
Let the color schemes arrive

Come on board, it's a curious site
Absorbing sound that's never been right
Never ahead of, never behind it
Occasionally guarded, just keeps us surrounded
It's luck

Everything's gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better

I propose a less serious boat
Don't mistake for a party of jokes
You are never ahead of, never behind us
Floating in circles, there's more to remind them of less

Everything's gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better

Forget your politics for a while
Let the color schemes arrive

Mates of State

Another Chinese Proverb

2008-06-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

"He who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait a very, very long time."

— Chinese Proverb

That might save your life.

Ch Ch Check it Out -The Hanks

2008-06-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

If you have a heart you might like this Music Video.

Sit back and enjoy: The Hanks "Sometimes"

Feet

2008-06-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

I want to take this time and thank my feet. Feet don't get the recognition they deserve. Its the feet that do most of the work. They get hot, sweaty, and blistery for us. So let us all take a moment and thank our hard working feet. For info on how to take care of your feet visit http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/206_feet.html

Veronica Vaughn -Something In My Chest

2008-06-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

I play drums for this band and we just made a music video.

Just remember everything starts as somebody's day dream.

Enjoy

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

2008-06-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that its an honor to have the same birthday as this guy.

Chinese Proverb

2008-06-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

If you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up.

Good Luck to everyone studying for finals, wherever you may be.

Rivers Cuomo's College Application Essay to Harvard

2008-06-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have been a huge fan of Weezer since my early days. I can vividly remember placing the blue album in my CD player and laying on my bed when the musical fusion of "My Name is Jonas" filled my ears with delight. Thank you Rivers for the inspiration.

Rivers has recently posted his Harvard Application Essay on his Myspace website.
It's really something you should read.

What I’ve Been Up To Since I Left School By Rivers Cuomo

Weird Science
After the initial failure of my band’s second album, Pinkerton, I decided not to return to Harvard in the fall of 1997, instead setting out on a mission to develop creative methods which would allow me to be more consistent as an artist. Above all, I wanted to cure myself of the Romanticism which I believed was to blame for my failure.

Throughout 1998 and 1999 I engaged in hundreds of song-experiments. I filled notebooks and cassette tapes. I drew graphs, tables, and charts. I studied other writers’ methods. I took hundreds of pages of notes on the creative process, mostly from Nietzsche, but also from Goethe and Stravinsky.

At first, I maintained a social life, playing and coaching soccer and continuing my classical piano studies with Bruce Sutherland. Eventually, however, I became more and more isolated. I unplugged my phone. I painted the walls and ceiling of my bedroom black and covered the windows with fiberglass insulation. I disciplined myself to an extreme extent. My goal was to purge myself of all weakness so that I could write “perfect” songs as reliably as a machine.

Most of the time, I believed that I was optimistic and happy. The song-experiments, however, produced music of less and less joy and, occasionally, I would fall into despair. At one point, in September of 1999, I actually gave up my mission and decided to go back to school, sacrificing my music career indefinitely. I contacted Dean Thomas Dingman to gain admittance, but learned that I had missed the registration deadline by two weeks. I could only move forward with the music.

I struggled on for two-and-a-half years in all. I finally concluded that such intense focus on musical perfection was only scaring off any real inspiration I might have had. I needed to broaden my focus onto a more practical, tangible goal, in the hopes that music would start to flow in service to that goal. Nietzsche’s “great”men—Julius Caesar, Cesare Borgia, and Napoleon—found their genius through practical action, on the battlefield, in the pursuit of worldly ambitions. They were not locked away in a study like me. I decided to follow the example of these men, step onto the battlefield, and pursue “World domination”. I hoped that this goal would spark my creativity. .

World domination in terms applicable to me meant commercial success. Commercial success, I believed, simply dictated making the most of what I had, musically, and becoming active with my band again, and making an album and touring. I swallowed my creative insecurities for the sake of that success and revealed my songs to close associates in early 2000. Their positive reactions led to rehearsals, which led to performances. We discovered that during our long absence, we had only become more popular. Our “failed” album, Pinkerton, was now viewed by many critics and fans as great. With momentum behind me, I kept writing. At the end of 2000, we entered the studio to make our long overdue third album.

Imperial Aspirations
The Green Album was released in May of 2001, going on to sell over two million copies worldwide. We toured extensively, playing our biggest concerts ever. We performed on Saturday Night Live and at the MTV Movie Awards. The album’s success at radio and MTV, and in foreign markets wherein we had had no previous success, seemed to me to validate the approach I had taken with myself and my art. I became the opposite of the unconfident hermit I was in 1998 and 1999. I believed that my band would become “the biggest band in the world” and that I was the man to lead us to that destiny.

I sought to cultivate the same ruthless practicality in my business that I had achieved in my music. I studied the lives of Napoleon and David Geffen, Machiavelli’s “The Prince”, and contemporary texts on leadership and management. I gradually took over all of the business responsibilities from our manager and managed the band completely by myself. My performing, writing, and recording continued but were now joined by my business activities, all of which together I viewed as converging on the one goal of “world domination”. I read books on business and negotiating. I hired a staff. I reformed our operation, renegotiated contracts, and consolidated power. I found it easy to gain ground in negotiations because no music businesspeople wanted to “play hardball” with “the artist”. Furthermore, I believed we were able to grow with integrity, as I could make informed choices, seeing for once exactly how the business worked.

However, I also steered us into many bitter battles, including two lawsuits and many other very tense negotiations. For example, in order to demonstrate our independence from the record company in the new age of digital media, I shut them out of the making of our fourth album, Maladroit. We financed and produced the album entirely ourselves, sending hundreds of copies of the finished product to press and radio—but none to our record company. The record company could only watch on the sidelines as the first single quickly climbed the charts, and the fans downloaded the promotional copies off the internet. At this point, we had what I believed was optimal leverage, and we renegotiated our contract.

Ultimately, however, Maladroit was not the big hit that it had threatened to be, selling only about three-quarters of a million copies. I had succeeded in improving our financial arrangement, but not in making a hit album. The record company blamed my shenanigans for the downturn in success.

Many fans also criticized the music. They heard both Maladroit and The Green Album as being “mechanical” and “emotionless”. I tried to evaluate the criticism objectively but I had a difficult time. I had crushed my faculty of self-criticism in 1998-2000 in order to make a comeback. I could not tell if my current predicament was just a classic case of an audience lagging behind the development of an artist (as in the case of Bob Dylan when he went electric) or if I had I really “lost something”. I reacted defensively, calling the fans “little *****es” in an interview with Guitar World magazine. Now the fans were unhappy, the record company was unhappy, my associates were unhappy, and I was unhappy. I did not know what could be done to change that.

I fell into a life of ego and vice. Deep inside, however, I was having serious doubts. I asked myself, “Is my life really supporting the production of the music I know I am capable of creating?” I had to admit that music no longer gave me the feeling of sublime ecstasy that it once had. Although I had already written another large pile of songs for our fifth album, I put all plans to record on hold. There was a revolution brewing in my mind, soon to be triggered by the man we had hired a few months earlier to produce the album, Rick Rubin.

Renunciation
In February of 2003, Rick gave me a copy of Daniel Ladinsky’s translation of Hafiz’s poetry, The Gift. After overcoming my initial aversion to all things spiritual, I decided to read some of the book because I trusted Rick so much. Henry Mindlin, in his introduction to the book, says:

Hafiz wrote hundreds of ghazals [or love songs], finding ways to bring new depth and meaning to the lyrics without losing the accustomed association of a love song…He explored different forms and levels of love: his delight in nature’s beauty, his romantic courtship of that ideal unattainable girl, his sweet affection for his wife, his tender feelings for his child…his relationship with his teacher and his adoration of God.

I was struck by the connection between all these different forms of love. I recognized that the feeling of sublime ecstasy I once got from music was just one more of these forms of love.

I had an epiphany: if the feeling these mystics get in union with their God is analogous to the feeling I used to get in union with my music, then their teachings for how to achieve their union should likewise serve to instruct me how to achieve my union. A whole world of spiritual teachings opened up to me for the first time since, as a child, I had decided that I was an “atheist”. I now read these teachings as coded instructions for how to connect with my musical creativity. For example, when Hafiz says, “Self-Effacement is the emerald dagger you need to plunge deep into yourself upon this path to …God”, I read it as “Self-Effacement is the emerald dagger you need to plunge deep into yourself upon this path to Musical Creativity.” Like this, I just replaced the word God wherever I saw it. I had discovered a new path. I believed that this path was what I had been waiting for.

I eagerly studied a wide variety of traditions including the mystical poetry of Hafiz, Rumi, and Kabir, contemporary spiritual teachers such as Eckhart Tolle and Leonard Jacobson, and ancient texts such as the Tao Te Ching. In accord with my understanding of these teachings, I abruptly dropped all of my business responsibilities and hard-won power, and isolated myself once again. I fasted and lost fifteen percent of my weight. I took a vow of complete celibacy. I gave away or sold most of my possessions, my house, and my car and lived in an empty apartment next to Rick Rubin’s house for the rest of the year. I moved to settle outstanding lawsuits and reconcile myself with enemies. I apologized to many people. I volunteered six days a week at Project Angel Food in Hollywood, preparing meals for people with HIV.

Balance
Thus, my life made another extreme swing, as it has many times, at least since I was a teenager. I have been sometimes a tyrant, sometimes the most frustratingly passive person you have ever met, sometimes a socialite, sometimes a hermit, sometimes a rock star, sometimes a student. I have had little inner stability.

During this latest swing towards spirituality, however, I started a practice at Rick Rubin’s suggestion which may help me achieve some balance: meditation. I was averse to the idea, initially. My goal in trying all the crazy experiments in my life has always been to improve, maintain, or recover my connection to music. Meditation, it seemed to me, would rob me of the angst that I believed was an essential precondition to that connection. With little to lose, however, I took the chance. I experienced immediate benefits.

The technique I was drawn to is called Vipassana. It is taught around the world at over one hundred centers. (Go to www.dhamma.org for more information.) I started the practice fourteen months ago, attending seven ten-day courses and serving as a volunteer at two. Since then, I have found that the areas of tension in my mind—the fear, the anger, the sadness, the craving—are slowly melting away. I am left with a more pristine mind, more sharp and sensitive than I previously imagined possible. I am more calm and stable. My concentration and capacity to work have increased greatly. I feel like I am finally much closer to reaching my potential.

I now live in a small but comfortable apartment. I feed myself adequately. I took a class at USC this spring, “The History of Literary Criticism”, and enjoyed it very much. I take private lessons in music composition once a week from Bruce Reich, a professor at UCLA. I still volunteer, once a week, now at the West Hollywood Food Coalition, feeding homeless or otherwise disadvantaged people. Most pleasing to me is that, month by month, I have watched my creative flexibility growing. The music I have created over the last six months has brought me much enjoyment.

I am returning to Harvard in the fall. Other than that, I am wide open to whatever else comes my way…

If you liked that you will have to check out Rivers's (relatively) new solo album, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo for more insight into that brilliant mind.

Same Bat time, Same bat channel.

2008-06-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Some of the best advice and wisdom ever received was givin to us in the 1960's Batman Tv Show.

"If we close our eyes, we can't see anything." "A sound observation, Robin." - 1960's Batman TV show

That's one trouble with dual identities, Robin. Dual responsibilities." - 1960's Batman TV Show

"When you get a little older, you'll see how easy it is to become lured by the female of the species." - 1960's Batman TV show

Man-eating lilacs have no teeth, Robin. It's a process of ingestion through their tentacles." - 1960's Batman TV show

You know your neosauruses well, Robin. Peanut butter sandwiches it is." - 1960's Batman TV show

"That's an impossible shot, Batman." "That's a negative attitude, Robin." -1960's Batman TV show

C is for seeing

2008-06-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

-John Lubbock

This has to be the coolest fountain in the world. I took this picture during my Chicago adventures. The face is projected and changes ever so often.

Lessons From the Dalai Lama

2008-05-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Instructions for Life from the Dalai Lama:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Be Careful About The Words That Come Out Of Your Mouth

2008-05-23T01:42:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine works for the school newspaper, and she interviewed me for an article she was writing. The article was about a new building they want to build for the Business Majors. I jokingly shared my disbelief and then told her some wonderful things about the idea. Of course she quoted me saying, "I will believe it when I see it." I did mean the things I said, I just hope I don't come across as a jerk-face. Oh well, like Dr. Suess said, "Say what you mean because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

A Big City is No Place For a Country Boy.

2008-05-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

I think I could Could get used to the City life. There is always something to do, some show to see, or some type of sporting event to watch. This past week I went to a SIFE Competition in Chicago. If you don't know what SIFE is go to http://www.sife.org. Our school didn't win the competition, but we did a great job, and our projects had a huge impact on the world, so no need to complain. I also had a chance to get my foot in the door with some big companies, see the sites of Chicago, and lets not forget the deep dish pizza. Chicago, thanks for being a "city of opportunity" (I think that what all the signs said).

Maybe not all but some Good Things Come To an End.

2008-05-07T03:02:00.000-07:00

I have realized that sometimes things end. Whether its the sunset, relationships, or that really great chess game. Just remember that there will be other sunsets and even sunrises and don't worry about the chess games.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

Excuse me if that sounded cheesy to anyone.

A happy person is a happy person anywhere.

2008-05-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Think about that.

Champ, Chomp, Munch

2008-04-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

champ -to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth.

I took this picture a year ago in Beijing China, at the Beijing Zoo. That Giraffe was champing that girls hand.

I must be really hungry today because all i can think about is food.

The end.

fall [fawl], fell, fall·en, fall·ing,

2008-04-28T03:12:00.000-07:00

To drop or descend under the force of gravity, as to a lower place through loss or lack of support.
So I fell out of a tree the other day. I was about 15 feet above the ground and a branch broke. I fell on my back. I had no prophetic experience, my life didn't flash before my eyes, I just fell. I am still in pain. Luckily I wasn't badly hurt. I just think it's interesting how our entire lives can change from something as small as a branch.

caprice: (noun) [kah-PREES]

2008-04-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

-a sudden impulsive idea, change of mind, or action; whim.

Live Life. If you spend all your days watching movies, living your life through others, you probably should re-examine your life.

If you have never seen the ocean, you should also re-examine your life.

Have a nice day.