All-American, even back in 1st grade. Guess I was prepping for TX even before I knew it.
July 23, 2010
Wandering Around
Austin has some absolutely beautiful things to see. It’s easy for me to get caught up doing things indoors so I’ve been making a concious effort to get out there and check things out!
Wednesday night I went to Blues On The Green. Beautiful evening. Zilker Park (possibly has the best grass in the world, p.s.), and live music. And about 10,000 other people, just hanging out on the grass. And the city skyline as a backdrop.
Super good people watching. I was looking around at all the different people Wednesday night at Zilker Park. And I realized that one of the things that makes Austin unique is that there is SUCH a diverse population of people here (free-spirits, more corporate people who probably work for the government, Dell/tech. places here, educators…St. Ed’s and UT…a huge student population, a huge artist/musician population, etc.) however, everyone just seems to kinda co-exist. No one really judges or gives the ‘elevator look’ to anyone else…everyone just kinda does their own thing.
I think Michael was the one who told me the following and it’s so true: In Austin, if you are weird, there is someone more/less weird, if you are musical, there is someone more/less musical, if you are random, there is someone around here more or less random…the diversity (and I’m not talking skin color) is huge, but the thing that Austinites seem to have in common which makes this city unique is that there’s just this underlying “live and let live” mentality which I think is very very cool.
And then last night…just seemed like a good night for a little night driving / exploration.
I ended up at an archery field? Random…
Up toward Lake Travis…
Emma Long Park
Finally, ended up at St. Ed’s where there is a perfect view of the Austin skyline. This picture of course does not do the beautiful view justice, but wow, if you haven’t checked it out…do.
July 21, 2010
Just Random
Talked to a friend online this week from the airplane.
In recent years, I’ve loved flying, primarily becuase it was literally the only place in the entire world that I did not have access to the internet at all times. Cool that technology has allowed to now have internet access 32,000 feet up…but also somewhat depressing that I now cannot escape from email, Facebook and Twitter, even 32,000 into the clouds.
Heck, I even read an article about the first Tweet from outerspace. AH. (I can’t wait to look back at this point and laugh at how archaic my life was back in 2010…kinda like if I were to read a post now about this crazy technology popping up everywhere called a “cell phone”. ughhhhhh)!
In equally depressing news, I’ve had Santa Claus, a cat, and God all request to follow me on Twitter this week. (wow.)
Salsa dancing – Realized I haven’t said anything in my blog about this. Over the past few months, I’ve gotten into it. Started when I took classes at UO, then studied in Mexico and danced there. Austin has a huge salsa scene – there’s a place to salsa literally every night of the week. I love salsa dancing, cumbia and merengue are growing on me…bachata however, I still really don’t like.
My biggest hurdle to overcome with salsa is the whole ‘trust’ part of it. In salsa, the guy is the ‘lead’ and the girl is the ‘follow’. Basically, the guy chooses which moves to do, and the girl needs to follow based on cues given by the guy.
I think this is a great system…however…I have this little problem called micromanaging…based on a multitude of things, I have become accustomed to depending on myself for most things / have the attitude of “if you want something done, you’ve got to do it yourself”. Well…regardless of if this is a good policy to follow in life or not…the point is that it’s definitely not for salsa dancing…so yes, in case you all were curious (which I know you are), that’s what going down with me and salsa dancing at the moment.
What else? I’ve been told by 3 people in the last month … and well actually a handful of people over the past year that I have ‘guy humor.’ Not quite sure what that means, but I’m taking it as a compliment. I think perhaps it’s because my sense of humor includes: not taking anything seriously, being completely dry, and somehow finding ironies in most daily situations and commenting on them with a dry + sarcastic twist…all with a smile on my face. Hmm. Who knows…not me, but it’s interesting commentary nonetheless.
Comments about me: As we all know, I tend to meet completely random people, due to: the things I like to do, places I like to go, curiousity in pretty much everything/one, willingness to listen to mostly anyone (and boy, do people like to talk about themsevles…shoutout narcissism), eclectic and completely non-realated areas of interest, random pool of knowledge, and ability to keep conversations going as I have about 357 questions stored in my head to ask at all times.
Anyway, it’s been funny to be down here as I came down completely alone, knowing no one, and having no one down here know nothing about me, my past, where I’m from, etc.
Back home people know me as being from Salem, as not sleeping, as being super into music, as being Greek, yadda yadda…I have an identity back home and here all of that went out the window. For example, out salsa dancing last night, some guy told me I look French and asked if I was from France. I’ve never had that comment before in my life.
Another guy started speaking Spanish to me – although I know Spanish I replied in English asking him why he thought I knew Spanish and he said, I thought you were Hispanic. Although I like to pretend like I am because I love the Hispanic culture…I definitely am not!
People ask me if I’m a student here as I guess I look young (I take that as a compliment). But no, I am a young professional. (weird). I went to a Hungarian bbq last fall and someone started speaking to me in Hungarian…I don’t know any Hungarian (unfortunately). I told them that and they were shocked that I have Hungarian heritage and am not hardcore into my culture. I guess Hungarians here are really into Hungarian culture (awesome!), but back home we just don’t have that presence and I guess people here don’t realize there aren’t huge Hungarian communities everywhere.
One of these days (i.e. next time), I’m just going to say “yes” to whatever is thrown my way. See where the conversation goes…stir things up a bit.
I’ve also had countless conversations like this:
Person: “Where are you from?”
Me: “Oregon”
P: “Oh, cool! Are you from *scrambling to pull any random city from Oregon* uhhhh…Portland?”
M: “Ummm…no not really…but for all intensive purposes…yes. Yes, I am from Portland.”
M: “Do you know where Oregon is?”
To which I have received the variety of responses:
“Somewhere up there way far north”
“Is it below or above Washington?”
“east coast” (wtf?!)
“Somewhere around California”
Not that my east coast geography isn’t rusty because it sure is…the point is, I was def. in a little Oregon bubble before moving to central Texas and really didn’t realize how foreign my hometown/state really is to so many.
Weird.
It’s also funny that the group of people I spend time with occasionally with down here really doesn’t know what I do. Just as I do not really fully understand what they do as I am not in the science / medical field. Again…living in that bubble…up until moving here, everyone around me knew what I did…what brand management was, what a planner is and how a planner is not a coordinator, they understood strategy and what it means to be a strategist and the agency structure, advertising lifestyle, etc.
However, here, people don’t know what I do and really don’t understand my past. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked: “So..is it really like mad men??” Which I’ve thought about quite a bit…and yeah…it really kinda is like a 2010 version of mad men. And yes, there are insanely creative spaces out there. and yes, people drink frequently at work and pull all nighters all the time. and yeah, there is some crazy awesome creative work going on out there and insanely smart minds. and yes, there are white boards everywhere and conference rooms designed like a bird’s nest. it’s all real life!
To continue with this completely random theme, I’ve also been thinking that i have so much documented on this blog that my future kids will probably read. and the videos they will watch. actually, come to think of it, they probably won’t care until they are adults.
To add to the randomness of this post, Jeramy sent me this and it cracked me up. Oh typeface jokes. (=
He also sent me an article on on Facebook – found this part most interesting:
I’d be certainly interested to learn the strategy of FB’s brand managers. Interesting food for thought: “One of the patterns that has emerged is that Facebook makes a set of changes and walks those back a bit after the backlash . . . Facebook has been using a mode of asking for forgiveness rather than permission, leading to this progression over the years.”
And on one final random note – I have recently realized that I actually do have a random and not-related-to-anything-else-in-my-life talent. And it has to do with awkwardness. I’ve realized that I have … well, I wouldn’t really call it a talent…but perhaps a skill…to either A. make awkward conversations / situations not awkward…or my preferred variation – B. make non-awkward conversations / situations awkward within about ten seconds.
Yup.
Annnnnnd, in final unrelated updates…I have friends coming to visit over the next two weekends…excited to see them…but sweet! More revolving friends! (boohoo)
July 20, 2010
Is Not Obsessing Over ACL A Sin? Oh Yes…and My Love, Jamie Cullum!
So, it’s not that I wouldn’t go if I was given the opportunity. And it’s not that I don’t think there are a handful of extremely talented artists participating, because of course all of that is true.
HOWEVER…with that said…I have minimal desire to attend ACL.
GASP, I know.
There’s just something about all the hype that comes with large music festivals like that. And maybe I am being a music snob. However, I think perhaps I am a bit jaded toward music that has become popular these days as in my opinion, much of it is not real music.
Music is played by a musician. A musician is someone who understands and appreciates music, who has put time in and is doing things for the right reasons – for the love of music…not for the fame and/or fortune. And with that said, I think the same goes for the fans of the musicians…fans say just as much about musicians as the musicians do. Without going into detail, let’s just say that I’m pretty sure my taste in music is not the same as the taste of those people you find down on dirty 6th. Capiche?
That and the huge crowds kill me. I think it’s this whole “sheeple” thing I am thoroughly against. I’d rather go see a completely unknown but completely talented musician in a hole in the wall venue. Now, that’s more my scene.
So with that said…I went and saw Jamie Cullum perform last week at Stubb’s!
The opening girl for Jamie Cullum did a good job…at making Jamie Cullum appear even more talented than he already is. (I’m probably going to hell for the previous sentence).
I always say that if you say a critique, there has to be a reason. So here we go: There was nothing special about her. Nothing stood out. She wasn’t an amazing artist. She wasn’t an amazing musician. Her style was the same as everyone else who is trying to be different. She didn’t attempt to connect with the crowd…it was about her strumming the same 3 chords on the guitar, while trying to be cute + charm the crowd with her accent, see-through shirt, and pleather pants, rather than the music and/or experience. (and no, this is not jealously haha believe me, I do not aspire to be like the previous description). The best way I could describe her would be: if Macy Gray and Avril Lavigne were to have an Australian love child.
(If I wasn’t going to hell after the comment 2 paragraphs up, I’m pretty sure I have a 1 way, direct flight there now).
Anyway, before that happens, let me talk about the love of my life, I mean, Jamie Cullum.
I must thank my bff Tia for introducing me to Jamie Cullum. How did it happen? you might ask. Well, I got an iPod in 2005, 1 day before we left for the Vienna trip. I didn’t have time to load all my music onto my computer/ipod, so we just plugged my iPod into Tia’s computer and I took all of her music for the trip. Over the next few weeks in Germany, Austria + Italy, I ate, breathed and drank Jamie Cullum. (and Gavin DeGraw, I can’t lie.) (=
I think “All At Sea” was the first Jamie Cullum song I ever heard. Either that, or it was the first song I played on repeat 437 times.
You know what the best thing is? Listening to an artist for years, finally hearing them live in concert…and realizing they are even BETTER live that recorded. Such a freaking good feeling to know that your favorite musician is legit:
Have I mentioned that I love covers? Welp, Jamie Cullum…good job because you owned this…way better than Rihanna did. Jamie 1, Rihanna 0.
Another thing I love about Jamie Cullum?? He’s a REAL MUSICIAN. You can’t learn skillz like this overnight. Check out this jam:
Oh Jamie, you’re so funny! Changing the words from ‘Mary’ to ‘Jamie’. 5 more points to Jamie…and 10 more for getting the audience involved in the show!
So, I like this next song. Obvi. But what I liked most was his intro to it. He gave a brief back story to explain why he wrote it – talked about how he used to be a scrawny kid in Wiltshire, England…and that no girls liked him, yadda yadda. He thought if he learned guitar girls would like him…yadda yadda…somehow connected to photographs and kinda vicariously living through others as he was kinda like a nobody growing up, ppl still think he’s a dork/nerd, etc. …you know, a story to pull on the heart strings a bit. So then he started to play the following song.
HOWEVER, I wanted to say…ummm wait, hold the phone Jamie Cullum…you forgot to mention the fact that you are MARRIED TO A MODEL! I think your life is ok now! (= ANYWAY…enjoy this song, it’s a good one!
Such a lovely song. And what’s even more lovely? The fact that this was at an outdoor venue…probably lower 80s, warm Texas breeze…ah.
July 17, 2010
Unusual Facts About…ME! (From 2004)
Mortified just happened in Portland, so this morning I decided to look through old journals. Found the following gem in a journal from 2004 – I was in high school…either a junior or senior.
So…yeah. my personal favorites? Number 3 and number 4, together. Complete contradiction. I also like number 13. Kuwait? WTF. I have no recollection of ever wanting to live in Kuwait.
Enjoy:
July 16, 2010
Some Hometown Inspiration
Like I’ve said many times before, I do love where I’m from. There’s something pretty special about Salem, Oregon, although it might not be obvious to the masses. I wouldn’t say it’s a good place for young adults, but it’s a great place to be raised. In Salem, we are lucky enough to have a huge arts community – comprising both participants and patrons.
Anyway, I had a great experience in high school, full of music and arts-related activities and peers. Some of these peers happen to be on ‘American’s Got Talent’ at the moment…so freaking neat, right? I’m so proud of and excited for them. Check out the Masseys:
July 15, 2010
4th of July
Went down to Auditorium Shores for the fireworks this year. First experience and it was a memorable one. About 100,000 people attended, but as Austin has that little big city vibe, it didn’t feel crammed.
My favorite part – the Austin symphony performed before and during the fireworks. I love love love live orchestras. Fireworks were shot over Lady Bird Lake with the city skyline in view. Stunning.
Irony of the night – I was sitting on the curb enjoying the live symphony music + fireworks + of course people watching…and the symph. started playing Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture…and I started thinking about the irony of the situation.
Irony:
- Tchaikovsky is Russian
- Tchaikovsky wrote the 1812 Overture in honor of Russia defending Moscow from Napoleon’s army
- The 4th of July is to celebrate the United States’ independence from Great Britain in 1776
…
Anyone else see the disconnect?
I did some research to try and figure out how the 1812 Overture became tradition on the 4th of July…and really…there is little connection between the 1812 Overture and US history.
Interesting. But doesn’t surprise me. Go America.
Regardless, it was a good 4th of July, and not to sound emo, but really a good time to reflect on our country’s history and be thankful / grateful for what we have here in the states…there’s really alot we take for granted and probably should appreciate a BIT more.
Of course I took video – the first is of the Austin Symphony, the second is the Firework show with the Austin Symphony in the background:
July 13, 2010
Sex, Drugs + Cocoa Puffs…And Weekends + Swimmings Pools + Sunshine
*Editors note: I don’t know what the heck is up with the formatting of this post. I’ve tried to fix it…even messed with the HTML. But the more I fix it, the worse it gets. Freaking lame. Anyway, enjoy the post, disregard the formatting fail:
- Fact: I love reading.
- Fact: I love owning books. I am a minimalist and do not like having STUFF. I don’t get excited about decorations, furniture or accessories. I do, however, get very excited about having books. (…and clothes, I will admit that).
- Fact: My attention span + ability to focus in at an all-time low. Probably has something to do with this multi-tasking / over-stimulated / fast-paced / techno. – fiended millennial generation I am part of (ugh!).
- Result: I have a sizable number of books that I have started to some degree…almost all waiting to be finished…
- Fact: I love love love sunshine and being outdoors. Maybe it’s because I spent 15 years in Oregon where most of the time the skies were gray. Oregon is an absolutely beautiful place, but for everything, there is a tradeoff. We had gray skies but beautiful scenery, huge trees, and green everywhere.
- There were a handful of summer months when there was sun; however, in high school and college I was either working, in school, and / or interning. …or practicing / at private lessons, rehearsal / string camp / etc. Freaking loved this stuff though. String camp was by far the highlight of my summers!
Anyway, I remember one summer I was inside and someone said something about the heat wave we were having. I remember thinking to myself: WTF? We’re in the middle of a heat-wave? Then I thought: How have I been so wrapped up in my work that I didn’t even know that was happening? FML!
- Fact: I’m bad at relaxing. Like…really really really bad at it. However, I am working on it. It’s hard for me to clear my head and do something enjoyable when there are 5.7 million other things I have to get done. However…again with this whole work / life balance thing I’m trying to get into my head…I have been getting better at taking bits of time to not multi-task and to do something enjoyable + relaxing.
- Result: Pool time with a book! I am extremely lucky to have a beautiful pool at my complex. I am also lucky to have a few days each week that I can enjoy it during the daylight hours.
In case you needed a visual for the previous paragraph, here are my legs and my complex’s pool:
One of the books I have to finish is ‘Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs’ by Chuck Klosterman. Spent this past beautiful Sunday at the pool with this book. Love this writer…he’s very snarky…but in an intelligent and factual way.
- Fact: Many people do things without thinking of the process about why they chose to do what they do. Acting without thinking. I suppose you can say many people think without thinking too. I guess that can also be called being brain-washed…or ignorant? Or Naïve? Or all of the above. Actually, let’s just call them ‘sheeple‘. More all-encompassing.
(=
Anyway, the short story long is that I was thoroughly enjoying this book. At the pool. In the sun.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite pages along with some notes I wrote in the book. Enjoy:
July 9, 2010
Digging This
Chris gave me a few songs as reference points to the inspiration behind his music. This being one of them. I’m really really quite digging it:
“Bells Of Harlem” by Dave Rawlings
July 5, 2010
As Of Late
Maybe it’s because people think they’ve “been to Salem” by driving through it on I-5. However, the Salem you see on I-5 is not a good representation of Salem, Oregon as a whole. NE Salem is also not S. Salem which is not central Salem which is not West Salem. Not one of those areas is Salem, they are all Salem as one unit.
So I realized I’ve been getting caught up in the S. Austin / Westlake part of Austin which, just like Salem, is not Austin, just part of Austin. And p.s. on that note, can I just say how funny it is that each HEB totally is tailored to the neighborhood it’s in. Like how the HEB on the east side is totally crappy and the one in Westlake has drive-up grocery service? Just saying…
Anyway, I decided to explore the east side of Austin a bit this weekend. Got in my car and drove around a bit – not sure what I was going to find, but it was a really awesome experience. Def. saw a part of Austin I’ve never really seen before. There are some up and coming areas of the east side, lots of hispanic sections, lots of areas that would be considered lower on the socio-economic level…however, a TON of personality.
This side of town actually reminds me alot of some of my favorite parts of Portland – NoPo, Alberta Street, SE Portland kinda near Burnside, etc. Check it out:
Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Restaurant. If any business deserves to succeed, this is it. Lola Stephens, the woman who runs this restaurant, has worked ridiculously hard to get her restaurant going. She had no money going in and was actually homeless for a part of her life, after she had lost her job. She was lucky to get enough money to get things together and with a combo of hard work, passion and good cooking, got the restaurant going.
The one day the restaurant isn’t open is Sunday. Why? Well, it’s because she feeds the homeless for free out of the back of the restaurant on Sundays. What a saint, is she not?
Church:
School:
Love this. Almost reminds me a bit of kid robot:
Tats. Neat sign – I like the typeface:
Nom nom nom:
Yup. Pretty neat morning I had. My suggestion to you: try something out of your normal routine today. Whether it’s how you get to work, where you get your coffee, what you do after work…whatever it is…switch it up. And pay attention to the things and people around you in the process…it’s amazing how easy it is to get caught up in the daily routine and how much we’re missing because of it!
In other news, my life is going well. Tonight I jammed with Chris Kelly for a few hours. Recording some tracks for him in the near future, which I am very excited about. There’s something so soothing about spending an evening just jamming with other musicians who are in it for the right reasons.
And P.S. I accidentally wrote “35″ (Austin freeway) instead of “I-5″ (Oregon freeway) when I was talking about the freeway in the first paragraph. Almost as weird as I when I said “y’all” that one time without realizing it until afterward. Weird, weird, weird.
