Music Challenge, Day 26 & Day 27 (I Dedicate This Post to John Mayer)

Slowlyyyyyy finishing this challenge...

Day 26: A Song That You Can Play on an Instrument: "Heart & Soul," a.k.a the theme from Big. Actually, the last thing I was able to play on piano was the "Minuet," but since learning it in fourth grade and quitting piano lessons to have more outside play time, I have forgotten it. So, Heart & Soul it is!

Day 27: A Song That You Wish You Could Play:

Do I have to pick just one? Well, I would say "Moonlight Sonata" for this category, but seeing as I'm not going to take piano lessons anytime soon, I want to pick something a little easier. And since I don't have him on my countdown thus far, and because I've been in a major John Mayer mood of late, and because poor John has to have surgery on his vocal chords...

I would love to learn "Edge of Desire." Why? For it's beautiful simplicity. It's sort of a sad lullaby, relaxing and melancholy all in one go--Mr. Mayer at his finest! And, I think it wouldn't be too terribly hard to learn. Eh, but what do I know?

What would you want to play on instrument?

The Challenge so far:
day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - your least favorite song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that nobody would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral

day 25 - a song that makes you laugh

Favorite Thing Thursday

A few of my favorite things...

Daffodil season...ahhhh.

Furry passengers that wanna cruise with me.

Celebrating birthdays at Disneyland. Ice cream for breakfast? Don't mind if I do!

Celebrating Changes

My buddy Christian and I both got new jobs within a span of two weeks. For me, I was in the need of a transfer; for him, he was in the need of a job after a temporary contract ran out.

Beers were definitely in order for such an occasion...

The Local is one of the MANY craft beer places springing up in San Diego, as my city has been dubbed the "Craft Beer Capitol." It's no wonder, as we have a long list of breweries and microbreweries here. And you know what? I love beer. So that totally works out for me.

Christian's fiance Bethany and I. Also, I'll be their maid of honor in their summer wedding.

Also, I've been playing around with a new photo editing tool, which made editing these pictures devilishly fun...

And of course, this post would not be complete without a video encapsulating how incredibly nerdy we all are:

CHEERS!

The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole

1065 4th Avenue

San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-4447

Things Are Looking Up, Kid

This flower reflects my current mood: whimsy, relaxed and happy to be in the presence of sunshine. I've gotten some great news this week, which hasn't been the case for the better part of the year, it seemed.

As most of you know, I was really despising my job. Thus, I sent out several applications (to different cities even), went on numerous interviews and waited, waited, waited. (I loathe waiting). I was feeling super drained from the whole process. Just when I said, "I don't think I can go on one more interview," I got a call that I got a job. Funny how things like that work out.

I'll be working for the same university, but a different location. This location means: better hours, a competent boss, and full weekends (which I didn't have before). Rejoice! Now, I don't expect a miracle here, but I expect an improvement in my life. I'm so looking forward to this.

Oh, and one more thing has me smiling today...I bought tickets for a vacation in New York City!! This, of course, has me overjoyed. If you have any tips for must-sees and recommended hostels, please drop them in the comment box.

Things are looking up (and I still have secret plans that I will divulge at the right time). If you work hard towards a change, it will come to you! I refused to stay in a sad place, so I found a way out, with a little help from the Big Guy, I think.

That One Time I Watched a Birth

What did you do on Friday night? Me? I watched my friend Jaclyn give birth. As this is clearly a once in a lifetime experience, I felt the need to write about it here.

Let me preface by saying I didn't really intend to watch the birth; instead, I meant to show up to the hospital to lend my support and congratulations. As Jaclyn had been in labor for the better part of the day, I thought the baby would surely be out by the time I came. But as I walked into the delivery room, I heard painful moans and screams. The baby hadn't come yet.

Quite honestly, I was overwhelmed by the process at first. A mix of stress and tension in the air, added to the knowledge that one day I intend to have children, made me feel like I was about to pass out. I'm a wimp. But when it was time for the main delivery (yes, I watched it ALL), it became much more interesting than vomit-inducing.

Let me tell you this: watching a birth is like learning about a death. All of a sudden all worries about work, stress and other trivialities fade from the mind; thus, we are left with the realization of our mortality and purpose within our short life. As the baby was pulled out from the birthing canal, I couldn't help but ponder all the hopes, wishes and love Jaclyn and Miguel poured on that baby. And I poured them out, too. Suddenly this being was brought into the world, and it gave me a sense of optimism. Although he's just a few days old, I can't help but smile over all the possibilities for his life.

It's nice to have these reminders, and so I write this post. I fear that I'll quickly return to a mundane schedule in where I appreciate life less and less each day. But then I'll think of little Miguel's birthday, which will remind me that we all have the opportunity for rebirth at any age, no matter the death we are feeling.

I'll hold onto that hope.

10 Questions

This is from Selma:

1) Favorite Color: Purple ALL THE WAY.

2) Favorite Animal: Dogs...always and forever!

3) Favorite Number: 3, because I was born on March 3rd.

4) Favorite (non-adult) drink: A nice hot cup of hot black tea (so I can feel regal).

5) Facebook or Twitter? Facebook, I suppose.

6) Passion: Traveling all the ends of the earth.

7) Giving or receiving presents? Giving is much more fun, because I get to be creative (i.e. the one time I made my friend a drag queen doll out of a Ken doll).

8) Favorite Pattern: Stripes.

9) Favorite Day: Sunday, the easy-going day.

10) Favorite Flower: Daffodils, which happen to be in season right now!

If you want to play along, I tag:

Ali, Brissa, Frank, Donny and Felicia.

Come on, let's all act like we're middle schoolers passing notes in class...you know you wanna ;)

Favorite Thing Thursday

1. My New Favorite Scent

***

L'Eau de Chloe...hard for me to say (I SUCK at French), but smells ohhhhh-so-good. Maybe it's the notes of grapefruit and peach that give it a clean, summery feel. I'm officially obsessed.

2. Wasting Time at Cafes

I'm the epitome of Western Civilization: I adore my coffee, I take satisfaction in adorning myself in pretty little skirts and I love to read philosophy. What better place to accomplish these silly, privileged tasks than idly spending time at cafes? Hmmm...I may belong in France.

3. Sun-Bathing

Churro and I sun-bathe everyyyyy chance we get. Have you taken a little time to soak up the sun today?

How 'Outsourced' Charmed Me to Pieces

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I had heard of the TV show Outsourced, but not the movie. Oh man, was I missing out. A possible contender for infiltrating my Top 5 movie list, I fell in love with everything about this movie. Outsourced bends your mind to experience new traditions, without being preachy.

The premise, as you can guess, is about call center jobs being outsourced to India, along with the American manager of that call center, Todd. What ensues are candid and endearing moments between two cultures clashing.

In one of the first scenes, Todd is explaining to his new Indian employees how Americans brand cows. As cows are sacred to India, looks of disgust form on all their faces, to which Todd tries to clarify,"Don't worry, we only do it to baby cows."

This prompts Asha, the lead female role, to tell Todd, "You have so much to learn about India."

***

And that's the lesson here. What follows are glimpses of Todd embracing a culture other than his own. He finds out that some countries have holes in the ground that act as toilets (I've experienced this!) and throughout the movie he loosens his tie to undo the restraints of first-world consumerism and allow his lungs to breathe in a new life.

The plot is mirrored in one scene where Todd and Asha are sitting in a taxi when he notices a curious statue on the dashboard and asks, "What is that?"

"That's Kali, the Goddess of destruction," Asha replies.

"Why would you want the Goddess of destruction in your car?"

"Well sometimes destruction can be a good thing. She ends one cycle so another can begin."

I don't want to give up too much, but even if I explained every happening in the plot, it would still be so-very-worth it to watch. Oh, and I also really want to take a trip to India now, but that's the pesky wanderluster in me.

Outsourced can be watched instantly on Netflix.

And One For the Weekend

I love pianos. I love the Foos. What more can a girl ask for?

Ashley Pants is Becoming Antsy Pants

I don't know what it is about having the name Ashley that compells others to make nicknames out of it. Probably because there are too many Ashleys going around, so variations are necessary. In any case, I get called Ashley Pants often.

But that is besides the point of this post.

The point of this post is to release a little tension, as a nice blog vent sesh often does. I know I'm in need of tension-releasing when my jaw gets really tight, because I've most likely been grinding my teeth in the night.

I think what I want to convey in this post is I'm getting really antsy for change. Not sad, not angry, but simply antsy. I know I'm on the cusp of something spectacular, and I've even been making plans for said spectacular things, but I'm terribly impatient and I want change to happen here and now! Must I slave through another mediocre day to get to where I really want to be?

The truth is, I'm no slave, and not everyday is mediocre. I have a great roommate, I have a pet chihuahua that wears sweaters and I even have the luxury of going to Disneyland for birthday celebrations. All in all, I am a lucky girl.

But seeeeee, I know I'm wanting more. Not in a greedy "I want to be the queen of Norway" kind of way, but in a "I know I can challenge myself for greatness" kind of way.

I know I'm being ambiguous here, as I'm usually good about revealing all of my plans. But this time I need a few answers before I tell you all the happenings in my mind. All you need to know is that the wheels are a'turning and pretty soon I think those wheels are going to take me where I need to go.

Music Challenge, Day 25: A Song That Makes You Laugh

Easy, peasy.



Besides this video being freakin' hilarious (HELLO crazy sideburns!), this song reminds me of my late uncle, who used to make crazy facial expressions while singing the lyrics to this song. So I suppose it's bittersweet, but more sweet than anything else.

The Challenge so far:
day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - your least favorite song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that nobody would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral