I like to browse every once in awhile, and since there is such a broad spectrum of topics (from religion to orgasms, string theory to slight of hand, culinary arts to Legos, world hunger to aliens), one in every 5 or so I watch really grabs my attention.  Some speakers just reek (in the best way possible) of compassion and do-goody-ness, some make my brain hurt, some make my heart hurt, and some just make me giggle with titillating humor, like this snippet from Emily Levine’s Theory of Everything:

The reason I don’t do math is I was taught to do math and read at the same time. So you’re 6 yrs old you’re reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  It becomes rapidly obvious that there are only 2 kinds of men in the world: dwarves and prince charmings, and the odds are 7 to 1 against your finding the prince.  That’s why little girls don’t do math; it’s too depressing.

Some of the talks are about 20-30 minutes, but if you have about 4 minutes and 27 seconds, check out this talk about social media, memes, and humpback whales:

And Alexis Ohanian (picture snagged from this interview) is kinda cute and has a nice voice.  Just sayin’.

So yeah, TED talks are brilliant and always oh-so-interesting.  It’s my go-to when I feel like my brain’s deteriorating from too many pointless YouTube videos.

Burn Out Bright by Volcano-Club

My cousin, Michael, piano-ed, sang backup, and produced this awesomeness.  It was written, guitar-ed and sung by his friend, Aric Damm.  Yours truly laid down the bass and some backup vocals.  I think it turned out pretty well.  Check out their other stuff =)

It was absolutely perfect.  If I ever get wealthy enough to by property around those parts, I’m definitely going to.  There’s just something about the ocean, the never-ending wash of waves on the beach that makes me feel simultaneously insignificant and indispensable.

Like no matter what, compared to this vastness, my problems, my happiness, my heartache, my life is infinitesimal, but at the same time it is mine alone to experience, and sometimes it means the world to me, though not the world to the world.

I took three pictures like this on three different days.  Always on stairs, always downcast, always with feet.  It’s not that I have a weird fascination with steps…it’s just…I find it interesting that they’re all the same but totally different…if that makes sense at all.  I could be on a dock in the middle of the ocean, or in a fort where they kept and tortured prisoners, or on the beach…the steps always lead somewhere.  Why would they be there if they didn’t lead anywhere?

The trip to the Philippines was amazing to say the least.  It had been ten years since I last visited, and things have definitely changed, the most notable being an increase in the number of paved roads.  I’ll definitely be putting up photos and stories in the next few days, but for now, here are a couple of paintings I did while I was out of town.

Mind you, this is the first time I’ve ever really painted, and I found it very calming.  There’s just something therapeutic about being able to reach inside your head and smear it on a canvas.  I’m not sure how other people do it, but I found the best way for me (at least for these two pieces) was to let my mind go blank then imagine colors.

I would like to continue painting and trying new mediums.  I think the more ways you find to express yourself, the better you can do so.  I think I’ve found something I’ve needed for awhile, and it’s pretty cathartic.

Artsy-fartsy stuff aside, trip stories and photos to come!

Good news, though.  Two days until California and six until the Philippines.  It really couldn’t come at a better time.  I need a vacation to say the least.  And I did lose 10 pounds since I started this countdown in April, so this wasn’t all in vain…I don’t think. haha

In other news, Hunter and Kelli got married this past weekend.  Just adorable.

I’ve been to three weddings in the past year, and all three were beautiful.  I mean, two people promising to live with and for each other, to take care of each other, to honor, cherish, love each other for the rest of their days…what is more smile-worthy than that?

Weddings symbolize the epitome of true love, the realization of a dream: that you’ll never be alone as long as you both shall live.

There’s just something comforting in knowing that someone has your back when things get tough.  That, no matter what, you’ll work through everything.  Together.

Congratulations, guys.  Many more years of happiness to you!

Day 37
This day, too.

Day 38
Brunch: chips (queso, chorizo, salsa, guac), pale ale, fish taco, rice, black beans
Dinner: fish taco, rice, black beans, chips and salsa, water

So…apparently I’m not very good at keeping up with this or exercising.  Work has really been tiring me out lately.  I suppose this update is to remind myself to snap out of it.  Let’s go!

Day 35
Breakfast: Empanada, slice of meat lover’s pizza
Lunch: chicken, rice, beans
Dinner: 2 slices of meat lover’s pizza, slice of cafe mocha cheesecake, glass of milk

I’m not a huge fan of working UFC nights at the bar.  People run out on their bill.  People sit for the whole time (4-5 hours), run a hundred and six dollar tab, then tip four bucks.  People three times my size get all up in my face when I can’t give them an entire plate-full of limes.  I’m sorry, but we need those.  Please step off.

Flash Forward ended today.  And they’re canceling the show.  And of course there are about a million and a half cliffhangers.  It’s sad that it really didn’t catch on.  I mean, it wasn’t that hard to follow.  The characters are likable…there are random love stories, cute kids, and even Harold is in it…though I’m starting to think of him as “Demetri” instead of Harold-and-Kumar “Harold.”  But really…look at these faces:

Apparently, they already have 5 seasons all written out.  Maybe they counted their chickens before they hatched, but it’s easy to see how they hoped this would be the next Lost.  Though not as epic (?) as its ABC brother, it definitely has a similar “movie feel” to it.  You never really know who the “bad guys” are, and when it explores each character’s background and personality, you find a few surprises along the way.

So, unless the show gets adopted (read: bought) by another network (Brandon suggested SyFy), then it’s farewell to another great series.  Please, SyFy, will you keep this one alive?

First video with Agray!  Hopefully many more to come…this was fun =)

PS shoutout at 3:41 to KatyMac and Eric for the ridiculous(ly awesome) tshirt.

Day 28
Breakfast: Fiber One bar
Exercise: moving my sister’s stuff to storage the entire day
Lunch: Freebird carnitas burrito (rice, black beans, cheese, pico, cilantro), diet pepsi
Snax: blackberries, strawberry gatorade

Day 29
Brunch: nine grain bagel with cream cheese, omelet (bacon, green onions, mushrooms, broccoli), home fries, water
Dinner: Burger, doritos, dos xx, mangoes, blackberries, grapes, diet coke

Day 30
Breakfast: Fiber One bar
Lunch: edamame, double shrimp sushi (ridiculously good.), water
Exercise: 2 mile run
Dinner: blackberries, adobo, rice, salad (spring mix, oil and vin, feta, crasins), water, cheetoes

Day 31
Breakfast: Fiber One bar, water
Lunch: salmon, potato salad, salad (spring mix, oil and vin, feta, crasins), water, mango slices
Dinner: 2 empanadas, chips and salsa, water

There’s a really big difference between running on gravel and running on concrete.  For some reason, my entire body still hurts from yesterday’s run.  Maybe it’s also due to the fact that I haven’t run in awhile.  There goes my plan.  Really, there’s no excuse.  Tsk on me.  *shakes head*

In other news, Lost ended on Sunday.  I like how they made it all about the characters, not so much the “wtf, you didn’t answer any of my questions…the numbers…where’s walt…why did Jin and Sun have to die like that…what about the baby?” …etcetcetc. I don’t know if I could have come up with a better way to end it.

And…here are more unanswered questions that, alas, will never be answered: