Getting older. That's how it is.

There's a very important reason why you need to be happy with yourself and the life you have. Because as you get older, you spend more and more time with just that.

This isn't a post about how I'm tired of how people are growing apart or how friends become distant as they get older. Okay, it kind of is. Basically it's a post about how that's just how life is. It's not to offer a review or critcism of the quality of friendships as time goes on (i.e. people can grow apart and still remain close, as oxymoron-ic as that sounds). Rather, it just has become apparent that the amount you see people becomes less and less and how thus it becomes important that you find value in your own self and your own life.

People get married/get into relationships, people get busy jobs, people have other stuff they need to take care of. I used to wonder why my parents would only see/hang out with their friends every so often. I thought that was unusual. I realize now that it's the norm.

I have a couple friends who, and I really wish I had a different expression to use because this one really doesn't represent what I'm trying to say, I still see frequently. The truth is, it's not like anyone is consciously trying to not see one another. It's just that that's how it is. Because we have stuff to do.

I think the reason why i came to this understanding especially is because I recently got a new place. It has provided me with a black hole that sucks up all my free time. On weekends I'm either cleaning up, out buying something I need, or fixing something. By the time I'm finish I'm either too tired to want to do anything, or ready for bed. It's not that I don't want to go out. It's just that I got other shit to take care of. We just assume that we'll have time for fun later, but when later comes around, all you want to do is sleep.

Nevertheless, I think we all have a future to look forward to. A majority of time chilling by yourself. So you better love who you are, or you're gonna go bonkers. And let me be clear: we don't chill by ourselves because that's what we're striving for. It happens because we all have stuff to take care of. You want to chill and hang out, but life gets in the way. And not bad stuff. Just stuff.

The truth is, in my personal situation, we were all very different people to begin with. When you add in the fact that now all of us are in different places in life, moving in different directions, you get reality. And that reality is life is always changing and we can't all hang out anymore. I really don't see anything bad about this. This is how life is.

And when you get older and you retire, you're back to coming back to a place where everyone's lives become more similar. Kids are out of the house, don't have work to worry about, lots of free time. Maybe that's why when people get older they hang out with their friends a lot more.

And that's life.

(please note that I've said nothing about quality of life in this piece. I'm simply nothing the reasons behind why we become more isolate from others as we get older).

Violent jealousy

When you see a cute girl with an ugly guy, it gives you hope but it also makes you want to kick the dude's ass.

House update and vegas time

Buying a house has been beyond stressful. But, I think the only reason why I find it stressful is because I'm a spoiled brat who hasn't had to deal with the real life stresses of owning a house. So far, I've lived in my parents house, who have had to deal with all of the stresses that come with house ownership. I've had it easy. And now that my lazy ass has been cast into dealing with all kinds of shit, I'm complaining. I need to man up and shut the fuck up.

One thing I've learned from all this house shit is that most things turn out okay in the end. All the things I stress out over eventually get done. I also need to learn that things can be done gradually, and that's okay. I think up until now, I've wanted EVERYTHING done in the house. I wanted repairs made, all of my furniture bought, etc. Well, even if you go the cheap route, I've discovered that it costs a TON. Most of my furniture is from Ikea. I have found that when you decide to furnish your entire place with ikea furniture, it is NOT cheap. Plus, as an added bonus, if you get ikea furniture, you get a nice 3 weeks of pain due to repetitive stress injuries. Sweet.

But it's all coming together. I should be in my new place by the end of this month, and by then i'll have stopped crying my bitch baby tears.
- - -
I'm off to vegas again this weekend. My youth is leaving soon. I will be an old man. Such is life.

Seriously though, this trip should be fun. Free hotel room (MGM wanted their money back), dinner at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon, etc. What's really crazy to me is that I found out that some SD/LA people had gotten word that I was going to Vegas, and are flying to Vegas for ONE day (it was supposed to be a surprise, but I found out). I purposely didn't ask anyone because it was a busy weekend (prez day/vday/chinese new year) and I figured everyone would be super busy. I figured it was cool rolling with my brother's group. I can't tell you how much that means to me. A lot of these people have family and vday obligations and are still coming out. All I can say is....wow.

Vegas trips are gonna be fewer this year due to the new house, which is at this point is like a needy call girl that's a hot mess. All the thing does is take my money and cause me problems. But once everything is finished up, then it should be like that movie "Pretty Woman". You know, because it'll turn from a cheap prostitute to a beautiful thing. YOU KNOW?? LAWL. You see what I did there???? With the old school pop culture reference joke??? YEAH???? man, that's all kinds of giggles!

Back to work.

Internet stalking on facebook is fun for everyone

Okay it's official.

I've found my wife. On facebook. Now I just need to find a way to make her aware of this new information. Yeah. What? Nah it's not stalking because she's a friend of a friend! So it's not really stalking, right? RIGHT? [crickets]

Don't blame me! My friends need to stop taking pics with their cute friends.

What's the problem? Well, first off she's a friend of a friend, and these are all old UCSD friends that I usually don't keep in touch with. So it's not like I have an "in". And of course because you can't hit on a girl via any kind of digital means. It's creepy. And weird. And FAIL.

That and this is the bay area. And with the ratio of single guys to single girls up here, if I did find a way to go after her, I'd be competing with I'm pretty sure the entire northern part of california. I mean, now that LM is off the market, Darell's gonna need someone else to chase out of restaurants after (Only Shan will get that joke, sorry).

Grrr..I hate facebook! Seriously though, the crappy thing is had I stayed in NSU a couple of years longer I would have met her..in REAL life! hahaha (nerd laugh)

If I ever end up with her though, I will buy everyone reading this post a brand new car.

And, on a related note, I leave you with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8v2HRLs84Q

Enough said

Starting from scratch. Reinventing.

This isn't cryptic btw. I'm starting from scratch. There isn't really any more to say.

Good movie

500 days of summer. Really good movie.

I'm not even sure where to start. I have a lot to say about this movie, and it's not even the typical "OMFG THAT MOVIE WAS SO GOOD" feeling - that "afterglow" that I mentioned yesterday. I honestly felt that it was just a original work that used unique parts, relate able moments, and great casting.

First off, I think the characters were great. Tom, your typical guy who has just enough sarcasm and just enough realism for me to buy as the main character. And Summer, who for some reason, was the perfect girl for this story (The casting was GREAT btw, having Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as Tom and Summer were PERFECT.) I really like Summer's character a lot and how she was represented. I've always thought that plainer girls are the ones who can really steal my emotions away (a topic for the other blog). I really like her blatant, short statements: like when she goes into kiss him and says "I like you"...wow. But of course, Tom is the main character and the constant roller coaster of emotions we have to see him go through is tough, but is done in a way that the whole movie you'll find yourself nodding in agreement.

Second off is the unique-ness of the movie. Since the story of the 500 days of their "relationship" is offered to the viewer in a non-linear fashion, the juxtaposition of his best moments and his worst moments make for an interesting substance to chew on. The moments in Ikea, the part where he goes into why he loves Summer, then later showing the same shots with the dialogue being why he hates Summer...all really thought provoking and funny. My favorite part has to be where it shows his expectations on one side of the screen and reality on the other. These kind of juxtapositions of the two extremes are used throughout the movie and keep the story interesting.

The music is great. Especially the part with Hall and Oates, and how the world seems perfect after his first night spent with her.

Another great part of the movie is the humor. I really enjoyed how realistic the dialogue was between Tom and his friends. Another one of those movies where you wished you and your friends could eventually have conversations like that (though maybe not on the same topic).

The greatest part of this movie though is how much EVERYONE in this world can relate to the storyline. The greatest part of this movie is how Tom, like EVERYONE in this world, is just in the unfortunate situation where he loves the girl more than she loves him. And on the other hand, it's impossible to see Summer as a cold bitch because EVERYONE in this word has been in the situation where someone has liked you and maybe you didn't like them back or you just realized that they love you more than you love them. On Tom's side, you can't be made if someone doesn't love you back, and on Summer's side, you can't force yourself to feel something that isn't there. In fact, the second time I watched this movie, I was able to understand Summer's actions a lot more, especially when they go to watch the movie "The Graduate". Anyways, that's why this movie is the best - it allows all of us to yell "YES SOMEONE GETS WHAT I WENT THROUGH!" while at the same time getting a perspective from the other side of the river.

I also have to say that I really like the wardrobe in this movie. Weird thing to say, right? Well, I really like Tom's style of dress. Button up shirts, ties, sweater vests, nice jackets, slick suits, etc. Very nice. And I really like Summer's style of dress because...well, because summer dresses on girls are simply fucking hot. Seriously. I don't know see many girls that wear summer dresses but I think every girl should. Seriously. Please.

I really like the part in the movie where he "sees" Summer one last time on this bench he likes going to. I say "sees" because there's been a debate whether Summer is actually there or if it's just a discussion he's having with her in his head. I like both possibilities, but I definitely like the idea that she isn't there better because like one of the screenwriters said, "how often does one get that kind of perfect closure in life?". The other screenwriter disagrees and likes to think that she actually was there. The thing is Summer says everything that Tom needs to hear.

It should be noted that this movie is a "coming of age" movie, and NOT a "romantic comedy". I saw an interview with the screenwriters and they talked about how the ending is should not be seen as a happy ending. Their explanation of that made me feel better about the ending of the movie.

There's still a million things I can say about this movie...I think I'll talk about the more relationship side of stuff I realized on the other blog.

I think everyone should watch this movie. It's a great companion movie to "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" which I consider the only other movie that offers a great metaphor for how relationships are.

500 days of awesome

Wow. Now that was a good movie. Not just the storyline, which was a bit un-unique, but for the small parts of the movie that made it completely relate-able. The "Reality" vs "Expectations" portion was fucking AWESOME.

More than anything though, was the perspective it brought upon my cerebral cortex.

I'll write my entire thoughts on it tomorrow, after the afterglow of movies usually wears off. This "afterglow" usually happens to me after I see a good movie. Like I'll see an action movie and I'll want to go do something active and kick someone's ass. I'll see a romantic comedy and have this new found perspective on love and relationships. I'll watch Ocean's 11 and I'll want to go Vegas.