Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience World Tour

This was quite possibly the concerts to top all concerts. It's pretty high up there on my list, tied for #1 with Smokey Robinson, who is a true legend onstage. Justin is definitely on his way to becoming that kind of legend.

I paid a pretty penny to be fairly close to Mr. Timberlake. Yes, I acted like an annoying teen girl the entire time. I don't give a damn.

And now, a few photos...

 Lainey and me, giddy for the concert. 

Sorry for the blurry-ish photos. One, I was dancing/jumping around too much to really care about clarity of photo. Two, it's time I invest in a newer/ better camera + camera lessons. I think that might be the next hobby I take up! 

Anyway, the clear platform you are seeing in the photo above and below was an ingenious moving platform that raised above my section and traveled back and forth across the stadium. How fantastic is that?!? Of course I was ecstatic that Justin walked on the part of the platform that was right above my seat. He knew, he just knew. 

And a couple grainy videos for you to see the intensity of the dancing + the angelic singing machine that is Justin Timberlake.

Justin, I'm just a jun-jun-jun-jun-junkie for your (music).

In Sunny San Diego

 (Sometimes it does) rain in Southern California.

 Hookah & 'Paris' tea. 

 Strange clouds. 

Hot chocolate in my favorite childhood mug. 

Trying out a pizza place in San Diego that was the "best rated" in the country. This is where internet ratings might fail a little. I mean, the pizza was good...but certainly not any better than NY pizza. 

Birria tacos from my friend's restaurant. YUMMMMMM.

My friend Christian and I drinking PBR to mock our other friends who hate PBR. We had a little debate that night about our respective sides on the issue. Totally deep conversations being had in San Diego. 

Thoughts.

I haven't been feeling super bloggy this month. Maybe it's because my mind is filled with lots of existential questions...

But for now, here is a video that I'm really digging. Reminds me of when I traveled around a few cities alone in Europe. I would be sitting on the train or next to a famous fountain, allowing myself to really take it all in and just be present with the moment, no one to distract me from reality. It was in those moments that I always asked myself the hard questions. I think I've been avoiding the hard questions lately.

Maybe I should take up a blogging challenge like Linda where I try to blog everyday for a month! whew! But what a great way to get those thoughts out...

Freaks and Geeks, A Review

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Freaks and Geeks...where do I begin?

I am thoroughly depressed over two things in regards to this show:

1. That there is only one season of this brilliant, coming-of-age dramedy. 
2. That I didn't watch it when it was on air, making me (and all of us) partly responsible for its demise. 

This show is an absolute charmer, because who can't relate to feeling freakish or geekish at some point in their life? F and G takes an insightful look into two groups of friends in a Michigan high school, circa 1980: a group of freaks and a group of geeks (you guessed it!).

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I don't think I've ever been so attached to characters in a TV Show. This is probably due to the stellar cast that was chosen, who are the perfect mix of awkward and adorable. But seriously, the cast!! Jason Siegal, James Franco, Seth Rogen--to name a few--are fresh-faced, newly discovered actors here, which makes them incredibly endearing (yeah, even Seth Rogen). My favorite character, Bill, is the perfect geek who just doesn't give a damn what people think of him. He revels in all his geeky glory and has THE BEST lines. An example:

Neil: I became a man when I turned 13.
Bill: Neil, that's just in your temple, not the real world!

I love Bill so much.

I could go on about the plot and characters, but there's no need. The best thing about this show is that it's painfully human in every episode. Maybe that's why its premature ending surely feels like a death.

Go to Netflix now and watch all 18 episodes. You'll thank me later.

Which character did you connect with in Freaks and Geeks? 

***

Other TV Show Reviews:

Arrested Development
Sex and the City

Felicity
LOST
Ally McBeal

Favorite Thing Thursday

1. Ryan Gosling Bathroom 

The most ingenious idea for wallpaper in a ladies' bathroom, EVER. Like the line for the toilet wasn't already long enough! You can find said bathroom in Downtown San Diego at a bar/club called Bang Bang. Fitting. 

2. This

As in, the moment when a sunset becomes twilight. Probably my favorite time of day. 

3. Dressing as a Zombie

For Halloween, but why not all the time? 

What were some of your favorite things this week? Did they involve chewing on flesh? 

A Three-Sentence Movie Review

This is getting fun for me...


Before Midnight

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Just as thought-provoking as the rest of the Before movies due to some of the most realistic, best scripts ever penned. The acting is so gritty that sometimes you'll forget you're watching a movie and start to feel uncomfortable. It's hard to say that Before Midnight is my favorite of the three, because each film is a different stage of the relationship and really should be looked at as one long saga.





This is the End

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Everyone raved about this film, but I wasn't surprised to see yet another typical Seth Rogen & The Gang film. It's got the same stoner, 13-year-old boy kind of humor that I don't find particularly funny or daring (it's just so...expected). However, there were a few stand out jokes, such as the Monkey keychain dubbed Terrence Peterson (giggle).









Don Jon

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More clever than it initially lets on, especially with the porn bit being a little distracting for some. A poignant and current commentary on fantasy, reality and brainwashing in the game of love (and how to see past the game). I knew Joseph Gordon Levitt wouldn't let me down, and Julianne Moore is the wildcard in said game.









Flight

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Denzel, is that you?? A gripping movie from start to finish, but maybe don't watch this if you have a fear of flying. A little preachy at times, but it gets the ultimate point across and makes you feel good by the end. 

Getting Hit With a Sledgehammer is Sometimes Needed

I've certainly been feeling better and less vertigo-y, which puts me in a better mood overall. I've even been able to drink a cup of coffee or two (my favorite drug).

Also, I've started work as a temp at a prominent university in San Diego. This has the possibility of leading to something permanent, so we'll see. And that has me thinking a lot about San Diego, and if it feels like home yet. Honestly, I think about such things too much, and I'm still overly nostalgic over Europe.

This prompted me to ask the ever-so-wise Ashley for some advice on the matter. Ashley writes an online advice column called Dear Salt. Not surprisingly, she gave me good advice. I asked:

I’ve recently come back from living abroad and I’m having a difficult time adjusting and appreciating my current surroundings. Living abroad gave me this sense of freedom and control that made me feel fiercely independent. I also know I have a problem with being too nostalgic. I want to learn to see the good around me, and not just scour the cheap ticket sites for the next plane to jump on. What are your recommendations for learning to love what’s here? And is this a sign that I should go back?

She gave me an answer that's been sticking with me the last few weeks. Which means it's a great response that hits home like a freakin' sledgehammer. The sledgehammer part being:

"...deciding to be happy where you are is not the same as choosing to stay there forever. You don’t have to hate a place to leave it. Making the most of this experience will probably improve your next experience abroad rather than detract from it." 

I'm so guilty of this! I make myself hate a place in order to give myself permission to leave it. This does a disservice to San Diego, my family, my friends and mostly, myself. The thing is, life is life no matter where I am living. I can choose to evolve in SD, or I can choose to remain stagnant. The choice has little to do with the city, and more to do with me.

The attractive thing about moving abroad is that you get a new identity. No one has put you into a mold yet, and so you feel free. This is not a good or bad thing, but it's a thing. So, coming back to your hometown after living abroad is way more complicated. I've changed a bit from living in London; thus, coming back to a place where there is a mold for me is the hardest part of all.

I'm pretty sure I'm the one that's made that mold. But I guess I can leave that thought for another post. From here on out, I want to focus on moving forward, which doesn't always mean moving locations (and there's that sledgehammer again).

On Vertigo

I've gotten a few questions about vertigo recently, so I thought I'd write a lil' post on it.

No, I'm not talking about the rad Hitchcock film by the same name. I'm talking about the sensation that everything around you is either spinning or unstable for hours, days and even weeks. IT SUCKS.

This is my third bout of having vertigo, and in my case it has to do with a virus that has infected my body and affected my inner ear. Some people are actually diagnosed with vertigo and have those pesky ear crystals that migrate out of place.

Anywho, I've had this dizzy spell for over two weeks now, and it's seemingly gotten better. What's annoying is a lot of doctors don't really know how to fix vertigo. For the most part, it has to fade on its own. I thought I would share a few of my tips for those struggling through the same crappy thing and looking for a little relief:

• Give up coffee. This was the hardest thing for me to do because I'm such a coffee addict. But the truth is, coffee is the absolute worst for vertigo. Even Earl Grey tea is a much better option for those needing a caffeine fix...but coffee, sadly, is your worst enemy. 
• Forget that glass of wine. Like coffee, alcohol is not going to help you one bit. I drank a glass of wine one day, and while I felt relaxed and better in the moment (gosh I love red wine), the next day I had a piercing headache and felt about 3 times more dizzy. 
• Eat kale and beets (and anything nutrient rich). This might be a more important step for those suffering from a virus. All I know is, kale is an amazing superfood that makes me feel instantly much better when I chow down on it! 
• Leave the house. Staying inside will leave you depressed and wallowing in your dizzy sadness. Stepping outside to take a walk in a park will help your mind expand and ease some of the symptoms haunting you. 
• Do some exercises to find your balance. The Epley Maneuver and these exercises definitely helped me. Oh, and a lymphatic massage could also help! 
• Drink excessive amounts of water. Seriously, drink water like you're trying to get drunk off of it. 

Obviously, different things work for different people. A visit to the doctor is an absolute must as your dizziness could be tied to something more serious. 

Vertigo ranks up there with food poisoning...it's pretty debilitating and you feel helpless! But even during the worst of it keeping a regular routine will do you the most good. Oh, and the occasional nap. Thank God vertigo can't carry over into your dreams!