Don't Let it Get to You by ROSTAM

Got stuck on the Monsters Inc. Ride at California Adventure this weekend. lol. It was one of the more interesting visits to dland. Everything kept breaking down.

7 facts

So I was tagged by keeptryan in the Versatile Blogger Award. Here are seven random facts about me:

1. I write in all caps.
2. I dislike the sound of silverware clanking together. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.
3. Foods I dislike: mayonnaise, mustard, creamy salad dressings, cake/frosting.
4. I never learned how to ride a bike until two weekends ago.
5. I am not a morning person. I usually snooze my alarm until it turns off.
6. I used to listen almost exclusively to J-pop in middle school and high school.
7. I am not a writer. This entry took me like an hour to write. Seriously, this is why I don't blog.

Not going to tag anyone lol.

new year's resolutions

1. Save money.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Eat healthier. Cook more. Try new recipes.
4. Be more social. Be less awkward.
5. Blog more.

Wild Thing

no strings

Mayer Hawthorne - No Strings
Free download here.

mr. little jeans

fanfarlo

Fanfarlo turned out to be my most played artist this year. Every track on their album Reservoir is easy to listen to. Even the bonus tracks are repeat-plays for me, which I usually find to be pretty rare. Download and stream two of their songs here. Fortunately, Sand and Ice and Finish Line are both my favorite tracks, though the former has a more elaborate arrangement on the album than the free download in the link.

wallpapers

I decided to make my own desktop wallpapers. I basically emulated this, but used my own photographs. It adds a more personal touch to my desktop.

such a color

Listening to old songs makes me feel nostalgic. Everyone knows the feeling, but rarely do songs mean the same thing for everyone.

Beirut

My coworker recommended I check out Beirut, an indie folk band. They make really interesting harmonies of ukulele, accordion, brass instruments, percussion and the occasional electronic sound. I'm not a fan of all of their songs, but I wish I found out about Beirut earlier.

Scenic World:


Carousels:


Nantes:

Miami Horror

Music posts are easy. I think I shall do them a lot more often. I've been getting into this group called Miami Horror. Dancey. Catchy. The album art looks like it was done by Mark Weaver.

Miami Horror - Holidays

Miami Horror - Make You Mine

new apartment

Sorry. I've been neglecting my blog.

Here are pics of the new apartment. I've been living here for a little over a month now. I really like my neighborhood. I practically live on Sawtelle Boulevard, which is a kind of a trendy area with tons of Japanese businesses. Everything within walking distance. Major. Improvement.

My Room - Part II

Yeah, I have a lot of stuff. Compare with the before pictures.

jk. I'm moving out! My replacement already moved in her stuff, which I seriously don't mind at all. I'm just really happy I'm moving in less than a week. Goodbye, Playa Vista - You were just okay.

I'll post pics of the new place once I'm there! :D

The Bird and the Bee - Heard It On The Radio
This song has been on repeat for me these days. Its got that generic-yet-catchy 80's vibe. It's not a cover, but it was inspired by the songs of Hall & Oates.

Playa Vista

cars say, "kachow"

This is an interesting video I'm reblogging from Kitsune Noir, featuring glimpses of Los Angeles streets devoid of cars. You can see where I live, Playa Vista, at around 0:23 seconds.

I guess I like the idea of a car-less Los Angeles, because the reality is quite the opposite. Neighborhoods and shopping outlets are designed for cars, not people. I've noticed everything is much bigger and sprawled across longer distances. I feel small walking around my neighborhood of tall luxury condos, because I can walk for blocks without hitting a single business or person. I am close enough to work where I could walk if I really wanted to, but there is no sidewalk part of the way. A frequent topic of conversation here is being stuck in traffic. The same can be said about back home, so it's not just Los Angeles that's like this. Fact is, we live in a car-centric country. People love their cars. Like pets, people decorate them as an extension of their personality (wooWOO).

A lot of people might poke fun at me for being so immobile, but even if I were to drive I don't think I'd want to that much. I never liked the idea of so much opportunity for human error: independently moving vehicles swapping lanes and being driven by different people of varying skill levels. At least I can read, sketch, talk on the phone, or study on a bus without increasing my risk of getting in an accident. In that sense, public transportation can be more convenient and can make more sense. I don't have to worry about getting tickets, parking meters, gas, or maintenance costs. Instead, public transit has this stigma of being unreliable, dirty, and for the poor - all of which can be true to an extent.

Oh well. I like to think that I'm proving people wrong when they told me I'd have a hard time relying on the bus.

My Room

Lacks any real furniture, but it works (for now).

LA sketches I

I've had a week to myself before starting work, so I've had more time to sketch. I think I'm going to try to sketch quickly rather than slowly and accurately - "gesture" drawings, as they called them in ED11A. My perspective is wonkier (note the asymmetrical bus), but I figure I'll get better as I practice more. Plus I'd like to get a new moleskine soon, so I'm trying to fill up the pages quicker. New chapter of my life, new sketchbook? I should try to post some old sketches eventually.

The old office

This is where I've worked for the past 10 and a half months. It's a nice cozy place. I'm going to miss it.

That was my desk! And now I'm off to Los Angeles today!

Moving

Turns out I got the job, and I'll be moving to Los Angeles in less than a week. Time to say my goodbyes, pack my things, and get used to the thought of leaving the Bay for the first time. New apartment, new places, new people... I'm excited. Surprisingly I can't think of much more to say about the move. Everything is just moving so much faster than I anticipated.

Jónsi from Sigur Rós. I don't think I know many other people who like Sigur Rós. If you do, lets be friends.