updates long overdue

I know, I know. It's been AGES since I last posted. Never mind that my being back stopped being true almost immediately...which is why I won't make any promises about sticking around this time.

So what have I been up to for the past year? Well, if you haven't already guessed it, I finally managed to escape from the clutches of Boss and launched myself into...the black abyss of unemployment. Luckily, that state was only temporary, but so was the arrangement that landed me in San Diego for six months. It's okay though, because, although short-lived, it meant I got to be closer to J and had the chance to move towards a career change.

Now I'm back in LA as a full-time student (once again) and in the clutches of another potentially crazy employer (once again), to hear the way my new coworkers tell it. At least that'll guarantee a constant stream of blogging material, eh? And just to keep adding to the parallelism, J is moving to DC for law school in less than two months. Fuck me, right?

But seriously, aside from some hiccups, life's been pretty swell. I've learned so much in the time I spent away from home, and I'm grateful for all the wonderful people I've met and enriching experiences I've had since then. On that note, I leave you with my feel-good song from the past few days:

"The Queen" by Lady Gaga

heaven is a place on earth with you

"Video Games" by Lana Del Rey

southern sun, part 2

I had this song on loop for a while several months ago. These are the colors I picture when I hear it. Vibrant and uplifting, and reminds me of scenic summer drives through La Jolla.

turning tables

Her voice is perfect for those lyrics.

to zanarkand

I just spent the last 30 minutes watching the endings of FFX and FFX-2. I hate to say it because I loved X, but X-2 really was really kind of embarrassing. It took things in a...very feminine direction and most FF fans like to pretend it never existed.

The game essentially amounted to playing dress-up with virtual dolls.

Nevertheless, that did not stop me from pouring hours upon hours into all the side quests so that I could get 100% completion and unlock the Perfect Ending (I'm only slightly ashamed). But my saved file got corrupted and foiled all my efforts, so I ended up just watching it on YouTube. Fuck me sideways, as Leigh would've said.

Anyway, here's one of my favorite Final Fantasy songs.

clouded

What the hell is wrong with the weather? I've lost count of how many times it's jumped from hot and sunny one week to cold and rainy the next in the last two months. What a waste of the first night of a three-day weekend.

I'm going to sip on a glass of wine, indulge in chocolate cake, and read a book while the rain has its way outside. J's flowers are so fragrant, they're a natural air freshener for my room. I'm crushing on Sam Tsui and his beautiful voice. (And there's something about a guy who can play the piano...or almost any other type of instrument, for that matter.)

Wow, sensory overload. My mind is all over the place. Maybe I'm not fit to be writing right now.

Sketchy is trying to reenter the picture, but his odds are...sketchy at best.

musical palette

For a brief time, I thought I had sound-color synesthesia. Certain songs would sound like a certain color. Or they would make me feel a certain color, if that makes sense. But then I realized that most of the songs that were producing this effect in my mind were only pink or orange, and on top of that, I don't really "see" the colors in my mind so much as I "feel" them. I suppose I just make strong associations. So now, unless you can tell me this can also qualifies me as a synesthete, I've given up thinking I was cool.

A pink song:

An orange song:

early resolution

People can be placed into one of two categories: 1. Those who draw their strength from others and 2. Those who draw their strength from within.

I belong in the former. "I would like someone to never give up on me, the way I always give up on myself." Yes, I've posted about her a lot, but the connection she feels to Daul is kinda like what I feel to her.

Even though I'm lucky enough to have that someone, it's not a guarantee like having myself. Other people can only take so much. I guess it's something I can work on in the coming year.

I'm throwing this in here because the chorus seems appropriate.

And the synth-y version which J will surely think is crap because he doesn't like any of my synthpop :P

world's end rhapsody

Sipping on hot chocolate while listening to Nujabes as the rain pitter-patters against my windows. Can it get any more chill than this?

my love

You gave it all, gave into the call,
You took a chance and
You took a fall for us.

You came thoughtfully, loved me faithfully,
You taught me honor, you did it for me.

My love, leave yourself behind,
Beat inside me, I'll be with you.

rediscovery

You know that feeling when you have a favorite song and then you forget about it and then remember it again? Sometimes even the most trivial things in life can bring you so much pleasure.

Here's one of my rediscoveries.

so deep, so cool

me: btw, your mom is using your old phone from two years ago

and we were in the car and it started ringing

and the ringtone is still set to "so deep"

many memories came flooding back XD

J: LOL really

thats almost kinda awkward

having my mom's ringtone be something so cool

sad panda

J left today. For some reason, I feel like this song just fits all the nameless emotions swimming around in my mind right now. Sounds a little nostalgic with Cyndi Lauper's vocals, with a hint of optimism in the beat.

White Panda spins the smoothest mash-ups that have ever drifted through my ears.

mind shift

This song, paired with the video, makes me really happy. Slow motion running and seizures in suits is genius. The end cracks me up every time.

"Damn... those Japanese are getting really good at making robots!" -YouTube commenter

houseified

Once in a while, J does this thing where he spams me with links when we're chatting online. lol He was considerate enough to give me a warning today and actually spread them out so as not to overwhelm my easily-disturbed peace of mind :P

To my surprise, one of the links he sent was to a Lady Gaga song, albeit remixed into a totally different sound. I like it, it's pretty rad.

J: its the only way i can listen to lady gaga haha
J: HOUSEIFIED