#81 Meet A Celebrity--ACHIEVED

Last Friday, I unexpectedly achieved #81 on my list. It all started when I first heard that the band Cobra Starship was coming to town. They were playing a show at 3 different malls around Manila. This mall tour was sponsored by Ayala Malls which I am actually a member of. So when I heard about it, I inquired about getting tickets. Usually when you're an Ayala Mall card holder, you're entitled to 2 free tickets. But the catch is that ticket requests are first come first serve. This time, to get tickets, you had to be one of the first 25 callers at 11am on March 22, 2010. Unfortunately, the lines were busy the whole time I was calling. I was on the phone for 1 hour pushing the redial button like a crazy person and by the time I got through, they were all out of tickets. So I had to proceed to Plan B. This included getting in line early on Friday morning and be one of the 100 lucky fans to get a free ticket. That was the plan and I didn't think it would fail because I didn't expect that many people to be at the mall so early.

Boy, was I wrong! I got to the mall at 1030am (doors open at 11am) and there were already more than 100 people waiting anxiously in line. But I didn't want to lose hope. I kept thinking that maybe they would give more tickets. So stayed in line. All by myself while everyone else was in groups. I didn't mind. I'm a fan, too. It wasn't looking too good since the people standing near me in line kept saying we were already passed the 100 mark. This is when I started to worry that my time there would be a waste. So I asked the kid in front of me to hold my spot in line while I check out the scene. That was the best idea ever because I ended up getting in line for tickets to the autograph signing. This was even better because I would get the opportunity to meet the band in person. When I got a ticket for the autograph signing, I was all kinds of excited so I went back in the show line to try my luck some more. Two hours later, I was shit out of luck and didn't get tickets so I decided to reserve tables at a restaurant with a view of the stage so that I'd still be able to enjoy the show. This wasn't my idea though. One of the moms that was in front of me suggested I do that because there was no other option. And I have to say, I'm thankful she gave me that idea because it was the next best thing to do if I really wanted to watch the show. So that's exactly what I did. I went home with my head up because even though I didn't get tickets to the show, I'd still be able to watch it, and even better, I would be able to meet them and get an autograph.

The photo above is the actual view from where we were eating dinner. It's pretty far (I guess), but it beats having to be in the crowd downstairs. It was a good view, except for those palm trees. They really got in the way at times. It rained that morning, so they set up tents which also got in the way a little bit. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the show from afar. The show was awesome! They played most of their songs on their latest album Hot Mess and a couple of songs from their previous album Viva la Cobra!.

Anyway, after the show, I had to quickly stuff my face with food because I missed dinner since I was watching the show the whole time. While I was eating, they announced on the loud speakers that those with tickets to the autograph signing should proceed to the line. That was my cue. I'm not going to lie. I was nervous. I have no idea why. I guess it's because I'm a fan of their music and I couldn't believe that I was about to meet them. So there I was, in line with a bunch of high school kids. I've never felt so out of place in my life. But I didn't care. I really wanted to meet them.

Anyway, before I get into meeting them, let me first say that I wore one of my favorite shirts because I knew it would get attention. And I kind of knew they would say something about it. I follow all of them on Twitter and they're very vulgar so I kind of guessed that they would take notice of my shirt. Call me an attention whore, because I kind of am, so I wore this shirt:

I wore this shirt. And I'm glad I did because it got them to notice me. Because when it was my turn to get my CD booklet signed, it was the topic of discussion. The CD signing was supposed to be quick. Most of their fans were just saying "Hi" and shaking their hands. But I wanted to really meet them and actually converse with them. So when it was my turn, I had to play it cool and pretend I wasn't totally excited. They were all lined up on the table signing CD booklets; Nate (drums), Alex (bass), Gabriel (vocals), Victoria (keytar), and Ryland (guitar).

And this is pretty much how the conversation went:
Nate: Thanks for coming out to the show.
Me: Dude, the show was awesome. You guys were great.
Nate: That's a nice shirt.
Me: Thanks. It's on of my faves.
Alex: Sweet shirt, dude.
Me: Thanks.
Gabe: Hey, nice to meet you. I'm Gabe. (followed by hand shake)
Me: Nice to meet you. I'm Arjay.
Gabe: I really like your shirt. Who is that?
Me: I have no idea. I think it's Britney Spears.
Gabe: No, that can't be Britney. What brand is it?
Me: I have no idea. I got it from a night market in Singapore.
Ryland: That's not Britney. I think that's Sienna Miller. I can tell by her side boob.
Me: I love that you can tell by the side boob.
Ryland: Yeah, I know my side boobs.
Gabe: Let me have that shirt.
Me: You could but I don't think it will fit you.
*Laughs all around

By that time, I was holding up the line. There was no one in front of me anymore. So the handlers signaled me to proceed off the stage. So I shook Gabe's, Victoria's, and Ryland's hands one last time and praised them for putting on a good show. And then I was on my way. Completely star struck, excited, and a little flustered that I actually got to chat with them. I'm still a little upset that we weren't allowed to take photos, since now I don't have anything to remember that moment by except through memory. Which is why I'm blogging about it now. I don't want to forget it because it was honestly one of the most exciting things I've done in a while. I know they're not really huge celebrities, but I'm a huge fan of them and their music and so I consider them to be major.

But that's not where this story ends. After I met them, I actually tweeted them a photo of my shirt just to see if they'd actually remember. Anyhow, here's the tweet:

Gabriel Saporta, the lead singer, actually replied to my tweet!! How awesome is that? I say it's quite awesome. To be completely honest, I'm still overwhelmed. Major Cobra Starship hangover. I have to say, everything worked out and I got what I wanted. I got to meet the band and at the same time cross off an item on my list-- #81 Meet A Celebrity.

Thank you Cobra Starship!!!

Concert Week

You know that feeling when you're on a natural high? When you're so happy and grateful for everything that has just happened to you? That's kind of how I feel right now. This week was kind of good to me.

It all started last Wednesday when I got to meet up with one of my good friends whom I grew up with in Japan. It was her first time back to the Philippines in 9 years so I had planned for us to get a lot done in one day since she's only here for a week and a half. It was an exhausting day but it was fun. It's always nice seeing good friends and being able to hang out. And I feel like we never ran out of anything to talk about. That's what's so great about your childhood friends. You guys can talk endlessly about everything and nothing and still have a good time.

On Friday, I went to the mall early to try and score tickets to the Cobra Starship show. Unfortunately, when I arrived, there were already tons of people waiting in line and they were only giving away 100 tickets. So I opted to line up for the meet and greet tickets because at least I was guaranteed to meet the band. And I did. Details will have to follow on another blog. Right now, I just feel like summarizing my week.

Then on Saturday, I went to the most awaited concert of the year. And it was the most successful concert to ever hit Manila. The concert was sold out! With more than 80,000 who attended the big event. I was lucky enough to get discounted tickets from the VIP section. If I had a lot of money, I would have paid $200 for the mosh pit, but since I'm not rolling in dough, I opted for the VIP section. Anyway, we got a great spot in the very front of the VIP section. We stood there for four hours until the show started, but I have to say, it was worth it.

All in all, I have to say that I'm extremely happy. I can't believe how much fun I had this week. I'll blog more about the details of each day in the upcoming days. It's been such a whirl wind that I hardly have time to blog. I just really wanted to share how happy I am right now. It's weird. I almost forgot what it felt like.

#69 Attend a Hip Hop Dance Class--ACHIEVED

As hard as it was to wake up at 7am last Saturday to attend my fourth day of dance class, I managed to attend. Saturday mornings are pretty difficult for me. I'm so accustomed to sleeping in the wee hours of the morning and waking up late in the afternoon that I find it incredibly hard to get out of bed on Saturday mornings.

Nevertheless, I enjoy my dance classes, so I'm glad I haven't missed any sessions. Last Saturday, we learned some basic b-boy dance moves. I have to say, it was actually the easiest lesson I've attended. I'm in no way saying that b-boy dance is easy, because I've seen people kill it in the b-boy department. I'm just saying that the moves we learned weren't as difficult as I had expected. Of course, I expected us to be on the floor most of the time break dancing. It was nothing like that. We learned basic steps and I have to say, it's the only choreography that I've gotten down perfectly.

I was a little frustrated and disappointed in myself after the class though. At the end of every session, we usually do some dance battles and a lot of people who have guts do their own little solos in the middle of the dance floor. Well, during this session, aside from battling, students were chosen to perform the choreography. And not just any student. They chose the stand outs of the day. And I was one of the them. And although I did quite well during class, I couldn't keep it together during the performance. My friend was videotaping me (as we usually do for every class), and for the life of me, I couldn't perfect my moves while she was recording. The weird thing is, when she wasn't recording me, I was nailing the moves. Needless to say, I'm not impressed with the video. And I was kind of disappointed in not pulling through under pressure.

Anyway, I still enjoyed myself. I think I'm just being really hard on myself because I felt like I needed to kill it because I was chosen as one of the best during that day. So yeah, I think I'm being hard on myself.

*Update: I wasn't able to attend my last class. A little upset but I really needed rest that day. Anyway, I still achieved my goal.

Wreck This Journal

I haven't shown off my journal in a long time! I just wanted to show some of the progress being made with my journal.Wreck This Journal has been very therapeutic. I'm not much of an artist, but I try to just express myself by wrecking. I'm a total control freak and perfectionist so doing this journal has been quite liberating.

The journal told me to doodle on the cover page. I thought it would look better if I glued cut outs from magazines. Call me lazy but I think it all worked out. I love what some of the cut outs say.

I collected these leaves on the same day I conquered my fear of snakes. We were in a city named "Tagaytay" and it's pretty much in the mountains. After we went to the zoo to get #29 on my list accomplished, we went to Starbucks to work on our art journals. I felt like doing this page so I went outside and picked up a few things from the ground.

This is probably one of my favorite pages from the journal. It felt so good defacing this photo of me. And the photo kind of suited the emotion I was feeling while defacing the photo. I had the idea of tearing the photo into pieces then gluing it back together. My face needed some color so I colored over it using different colors for each piece. I really love how it came out. It's a little inappropriate, but I don't really care.

I probably won't get to do my journal as much since I'll be busy in the next few weeks. I guess I can take a break from it since I'm looking for more inspiration for some of the pages.

#28 See the Petronas Towers--ACHIEVED

Last July 2009, I got the opportunity to visit Singapore and Malaysia. I was really excited about this trip because I had never been to these countries and it was my first time to visit countries (in a while) that wasn't Japan or the United States. I couldn't choose which country I was more excited about. I had heard so many great things about Singapore but at the same time, it had been my dream to see the Petronas Towers. Although it was a very short trip (2 countries in 4 days), it was a vacation that I enjoyed tremendously.

Our first stop was Singapore. It's a really small country bordering Malaysia. I didn't know much about this country but what I did know for sure was that it was famous for being clean. It gives a whole new meaning to "fine country". I say this because they have many laws in Singapore. You can be fined for spitting, chewing gum, or littering. Probably one of the strictest countries I've been to. Take note, when we crossed the border from Malaysia back in to Singapore, we were told to dispose of all food, drinks, and chewing gum to prevent being fined at Singapore Immigration.

We flew in from Manila to Singapore during the evening so we didn't arrive at our hotel in Singapore until somewhere close to midnight. This was very upsetting because I was looking forward to roaming the city. But it was for the best since we had to leave for our overnight trip to Kuala Lumpur the following morning. We got settled in to our hotel but after a long night of traveling, we were all hungry. I looked out the window and spotted an open food court across the street from our hotel. This brought my spirits up because one of the things I enjoy doing when in a foreign country is trying out local food and drinks. So we headed down to get some late night snacks.

Photo of me drinking Singapore Tiger Beer

The street food was the best. I honestly don't know what I even ate since my dad ordered everything, but I was very satisfied. I was also excited to have tried Tiger beer. This beer is actually world acclaimed. I can't really decipher the difference between beers, but Tiger beer was definitely good. After our midnight snack, we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep for our Malaysia trip.

We had an early wake up call since Kuala Lumpur is a five hour bus ride from Singapore. I did not look forward to this bus ride at all because I was under the impression that Singapore and Malaysia bordered each other. Why were they so far? Well, I learned that they did border each other. The Malaysian border was actually a 10 minute drive from downtown Singapore. It was the city of Kuala Lumpur that was so far. As much as I thought I was going to hate the bus ride, I actually didn't mind it. We had the whole double deck tour bus to ourselves. It was decked out with recliners and foot rests and personal TV sets. Needless to say, I didn't mind at all. Plus I got to enjoy the scenery.

Highway to KL

When we finally approached Kuala Lumpur, I was more than excited. I couldn't keep still. Constantly snapping landscape photos of the city from afar. I could see the Petronas Towers rising high above the rest of the buildings in the city. The towers looks amazing from a distance, I could only imagine how they looked up close.

Since we were only in KL for an overnight trip, we decided to check out the towers right away. I was with some older individuals and they were not too keen on walking to the towers in the middle of the afternoon, even though it was only a few blocks. You could see the towers from our hotel rooms. Still, they insisted we take a taxi. This kind of irritated me because it was TRAFFIC. What would have normally taken us 15 minutes to walk, took us 30 minutes of riding in traffic. But I have to say, it was all worth it. The towers are beautiful. There's no way I can really explain it into words.

#28 See the Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are very distinctive, beautiful buildings. And they're nothing like I've ever seen before. I've seen a lot of pictures but nothing compares to the experience of standing at the foot of the Petronas Towers and viewing them in all their majestic glory. I had to compose myself a few times when I realized that I was staring at them with my mouth wide open. They are amazing, and that's all I can really say about it.

After a few minutes of photo opportunities outside of the tower and under the blazing sun, we decided to grab some lunch. Nothing too exciting there since the oldies chose to eat at TGIFridays. Not exactly what I had in mind, but a free meal is a free meal. And at that point, I was famished.

 A must do in any destination: photo with street signs

After our pretty delicious American lunch, we headed to the Menara Tower. There's really nothing special about the tower except that it overlooks the city of Kuala Lumpur in 360 degrees. Parts of the viewing deck floors were made of glass, which obviously, I was afraid of stepping on. One thing that was fun about the tower is that the restaurant revolves. So while we were eating our desserts, we got the full 360 degree view of the city.

By the time we got back to the hotel, the sun had already begun to set. And everyone was tired. Except me and my 14 year old cousin, Jazmine. We wanted to explore the city since this was pretty much a once in a lifetime kind of trip. So after persuading her parents to let her come out and explore with me, we headed out to see the city at night. KL is full of shopping malls. They're in every corner. We'd literally see a Louis Vuitton or Chanel every few blocks. Clearly, this city is a shopping mecca. Unfortunately, we're not wealthy nor were we interested in shopping so we decided to just take in the sights. Here are a few street photos:

We realized, after hours of walking, that Kuala Lumpur wasn't as small a city as we had originally thought. It's a small city, but when you're walking on foot, it's pretty overwhelming. We had wandered pretty far from our hotel so we decided we would either take a cab back or try the monorail. We had money to blow, so we didn't mind either choices. But when we saw the towers, beautifully lit at night, I came up with the bright idea of riding the monorail to the towers. The monorail map looked quite simple, and I figured, if we got lost, we'd just get off and take a taxi back to the hotel. It seemed simple enough, so we got on a monorail, with our Starbucks frappes in tow. We really had no idea what stations we were stopping at so we decided to get off when we saw the Petronas Towers in sight. The city is dominated by the majestic towers, and since they were illuminating the sky, we thought we could possibly pinpoint our location to them. Little did we know it was about five blocks away. They looked so near, I guess because they're so big. The walk though, was totally worth it.

I don't really think there is a "best time" to see them, as they look great against the sunny skies and the late evening. The towers look amazing in contrast against the dark night that shows off it's bright lights. Words don't do the towers justice, so I hope the photos help.

Honestly, I could have gazed in awe up at the sheer majesty of this structure for hours. But we were exhausted from a long trip and all I could think of was getting back to the hotel and taking a long shower and getting some rest since we had to leave for Singapore in the morning.

I think I was able to capture more than enough photos of the towers. I got to admire the wonderful views and take photographs. Suffice to say, if you're ever around Asia, make the effort to get a ticket to Kuala Lumpur. I've seen some amazing things in my travels but the view of the Petronas Towers ranks high among the best.

Remember Me

This will be my first movie review. I'm a huge fan of movies, so why not?

Let me first share the synopsis with you (via IMDB):

"In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler didn't think anyone could possibly understand what he was going through until the day he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life. Soon, hidden secrets are revealed, tragedy lingers in the air, as the circumstances that brought them together threaten to tear them apart. Set in the summer of 2001, Remember Me is an unforgettable story about the power of love, the strength of family, and the importance of living passionately and treasuring every day of one's life."

I don't even know where to start with this movie, and honestly, I don't think the director of the movie did either. There was just too much going on and it was hard to see the point of it all. The acting was sub par from beginning to end. However, towards half of the movie, I did realize that Robert Pattinson can actually act. Many critics have been slamming him regarding his acting chops, but I have to give him credit where it's due. He's more than a pretty face. He made the character of Tyler likable even though he was kind of a bad ass. And he handled the emotions far more convincingly than he ever did as Edward in Twilight. However, I do have to say that aside from what I have just mentioned, Remember Me isn't much of anything else. I can't even decide what genre of film it fits into. A romantic drama? Not so much. I have to mention though, Emilie de Ravin is a breath of fresh air in comparison to Kristen Stewart in Twilight.

I pretty much expected that this film was geared towards teenage girls swooning over Robert Pattinson. Because it lacked the emotion that I would have liked for two people with so much chemistry on screen. The characters of Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin barely even get to know each other before they're in bed together. There were multiple sex scenes in this film. I mean, I guess when you meet someone like Robert Pattinson, it doesn't take much to get you out of your pants. Nevertheless, the relationship they have doesn't really blossom nor does it develop into something meaningful before it all falls apart.

The film tries to persuade the viewers to appreciate the people around you and as evidenced in the movie poster to "live in the moments". I understand that, but why did everything in this movie have to be so bland? I could not emotionally attach myself with this film. And that's where I find it ironic. The title of the film is Remember Me, but, as Simon Cowell would say on American Idol, "it's quite forgettable". Unfortunately, it failed to get any reaction from me except that I'd rather forget I even watched this movie.

I'll just wait for Eclipse to come out. Then I'll totally forget that Robert Pattinson was ever in this mess.

Dance Class Day 3

Yesterday was my third session for my hip hop dance class. I had originally missed the morning session because I could not, for the life of me, wake up in the morning. I took some sleeping pills the night before to ensure that I get enough rest and sleep for my class. Unfortunately, my body did not want to get up in the morning. My friend, Monica, who joins me every Saturday went out drinking the night before so she did not wake up as well. We did, however, manage to make it to the afternoon class. And I'm really glad we did.

We didn't want to waste our day so we actually stayed for two sessions. To our surprise, the lesson of the day was "krumping". This came as a shock but I was excited. I've always wanted to learn this form of dance. For those of you who don't know, krumping is a form of dance that originated in Los Angeles. It's when you're dancing and your body is doing a lot of different moves. It's really like you're fighting on the dance floor. It's intense, fast-paced, and a lot of sharp movements.

This type of dance is perfect for me because it takes a lot of energy and it's great to express your emotions through this dance. It has raw physicality, where your arms and torso are pumping to the emphatic rhythm of a tune. It's difficult to catch on when you're learning choreography, but what I did learn is that it's not about perfecting each move, it's about feeling the music and the beats and just expressing yourself through abstract movements and pantomime. This form of dance doesn't have the traditional form of hip hop dancing, like pops, locks, and freezes. The form is just nuanced. What you see is something like improvised poses taken from all types of dances and threaded into a rhythmic frenzy. It's all about the energy.

This was probably one of my favorite sessions so far. I've actually never been so absorbed with the choreography. Each move was intricate, yet it's up to the dancer to interpret it as their own style. After learning the choreography, we were split into battle groups. I loved that idea because you got see everyone do their own thing, even though a lot of the times, we were all messing up. But no one cared, because we were all on the same boat.

I'm really enjoying myself. Even though I have been sore all day. It's actually worth it because I'm learning a lot of different types of dance. And I'm actually learning a lot about how my body moves. So I can't complain.

I can't wait for next week. It's all about break dancing and b-boy dance moves. It keeps getting better and better. I'm two classes short of achieving #69 on my life list...

Satisfy

I first took notice of this band when they appeared on the MTV show "The Hills". Yeah, I watch "The Hills", don't judge me. It was a good show when Lauren Conrad was still on it, and as much as I like Kristin Cavallari, she's just not LC. I love LC. I'd choose the good girl over the bitch, any day.

Anyway, the name of this band is Vedera and this is their song "Satisfy". This song was featured on "The Hills" when they first got signed as a band. And today, they got their big break by performing on "The Ellen Show". I've always expressed my love for indie artists and I continue to support them.

This song is just so pure and heartfelt. And that's why I like it. Here's a stripped down version of their single "Satisfy".

Here are the lyrics & video. Enjoy.

If there was a way to try and make it back
Back to where we started from
Could I find a way to try and make you stay?
Would I know what could be done?

I don't want to deny my heart it's chance to feel
I don't want to deny my soul something real

Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy me?
Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy you tonight?

We were sailing on
I could see the world below
Never thought of coming down
Expectations fell
It seemed as though our will
Was no match for the trouble found

I don't want to deny my heart it's chance to feel
I don't want to deny my soul something real

Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy me?
Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy you tonight?

So take my hand, and I won't look back
Though I've lived tossed along these waves
I will stay

Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy me?
Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy me?
Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy you
Is there anything left in this world
That will satisfy me tonight?

#29 Overcome Fear of Snakes--ACHIEVED

“Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is being afraid and still doing what you know needs to be done anyway.”

-John Wayne

Everyone is afraid of something. And most of us have bunches of little fears, worries and apprehensions that we walk around with every day. Some are bigger than others. And some are more rational than others. One of the things that separates successful people from the wallowing masses trapped in mediocrity out there is their ability to overcome their fears and move beyond them. For so many of us, fear paralyzes our potential. It keeps us from moving forward and achieving the success that is calling to us.

I know fear has held me back for years. Ultimately our fears come down to a control issue. We so much want to be sure that everything will work out in our favor that when we face uncertainty of outcomes, we fear moving forward. If we were certain that we could control the outcome, we would not be afraid.

This is true across the board. It doesn’t matter what your particular fear is: HEIGHTS, spiders, SNAKES, public speaking, talking to people you don’t know, flying, going to the dentist, or even CLOWNS. Whatever your fear, somewhere at its root is an uncertainty of outcome that is in conflict with your desire to be in control of the situation.

Growing up, I've always known I had a fear of snakes. I've never had a traumatizing experience with snakes nor had I ever encountered one, yet I had this overwhelming fear of them. I never really knew where this fear rooted from and up until yesterday, I never thought I'd ever see myself getting up close and personal with one. I find it empowering when you tackle your fears which is why I'm so passionate about fulfilling my life list. There's no better feeling than being able to accomplish the things you've always wanted to do, no matter what it is.

I'm not going to lie and say that this task was easy for me. Because it wasn't. You have no idea how terrified I was. I was fine up until I got inside the snake room. It was difficult to even be in the same room as the snake. And the snake, unfortunately for me, was massive. Luckily though, it was too big to be taken out of the glass completely. So we were only allowed to interact with one fourth of the snake's length. This didn't give me any relief because to me, a snake is snake, no matter how big. I'll still be afraid.

#29 Overcome Fear of Snakes

When the snake handler finally opened the glass aquarium containing the python, I couldn't help but run out of the room numerous times. I couldn't find myself getting near such a disgusting creature. But I had a goal in mind, and this was something that had to be done. It helped a little that my friend Eula was interacting with the snake. She was a stranger to him and if he didn't attack her, then maybe I'll be fine. Like I sad previously, we fear things because of the uncertainty of the outcome.

So here I was, face to face with my biggest fear. And honestly, I don't know how I was able to even get close to that thing. My friend Eula was holding the snake while I was weaning myself. I knew that I had to get accustomed to it first before I could actually hold it on my own. So here I was, poking at it and trying to get a feel of it's scaly skin.

Meanwhile, my friend Monica is laughing at my expressions while documenting the whole thing on camera. Everyone in the room was laughing at me, even the photographer and the snake handler. I have to admit, I was a bit dramatic and I did show a lot of fear. But you have to understand, aside from heights, this is my biggest fear. So all the screaming and running came with the territory.

Anyway, I didn't want to waste time. I just wanted to get it done and over with. So I grabbed my fear by the balls and went for it. I grabbed that snake, took a few photos, and I was done! I held it, all on my own. That was a big deal to me. The expression on my face captured by the photographer could not have been any more accurate as to what I felt at that exact moment. Here's the shot:

On March 10, 2010, I overcame my fear of snakes. Now, I may not have overcome it completely (I don't plan on ever doing it again), but I can say this, I won't be as afraid if I ever encounter a snake in the future. I think I'll always have this fear. But you know what, I'm not ashamed of it. Because fearless isn't being one hundred percent unafraid. It's being terrified but you jump anyway. And I proved that to myself. And ultimately, that's what matters.

Here's a little video I put together about the experience. Enjoy.

#29 overcome fear of snakes from Rujay on Vimeo.

Always Love

I know I've been posting a lot of blogs regarding music, but I feel the need to share them. These songs belong to another list of mine. A list of songs to live by. There are so many songs out right now that have no meaning, no depth, just a good beat that people can dance to. And as much I as enjoy listening to those pop hits, I also have a collection of music that people normally haven't heard. There are plenty of independent artists who actually have talent who haven't broken into the airwaves. I believe in these artists and their songs. And I know, one day, people will begin to appreciate these artists for keeping it real.

Lately, I've discovered a lot of songs on my iPod that have inspired my life in one way or another. Some songs have helped me get through rough times, others have helped me overcome stressful times, and others have just been pleasant to listen to at any given time. I'm really glad I've given my iPod another chance. I've completely abandoned it ever since I got my iPhone. Do you ever hear a song from your music playlist and while listening to it, you begin to remember different memories of yourself listening to that song? For me, when I listen to The Script, I have flashbacks of studying at Starbucks when I was reviewing for the NCLEX. And when I hear "Party In the USA" by Miley Cyrus, I think about my bfff's recent trip to visit me. Maybe it's just me, but I have a lot of those flashbacks when I listen to certain songs. I remember where I was, what I was doing, and what I was feeling. That's when I know a song has made an impact in my life (Please note: I'm in no way referring to "Party In the USA" as having an impact in my life).

This song, "Always Love" by Nada Surf, is a song that I remember from way back. I was in college when I discovered this song on a TV show called "One Tree Hill" (that show, by the way, always comes out with a great soundtrack). When I first heard this song, I was watching that show. From that point on, I fell in love with it. It was actually the song on my MySpace profile for a long time. It's just a really great song with a great message.


Here are the lyrics & video. Enjoy.

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Don't wait til the finish line

Slow demands come 'round
Squeeze the air and keep the rest out
It helps to write it down
Even when you then cross it out

But Always Love
Hate will get you every time
Always Love
Even when you wanna fight

Self-directed lives
I want to know what it'd be like to
Aim so high above
Any card that you been dealt

Always Love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs.
You said
Hey, you good ones.
Hey, you good ones.

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love hate will get you every time
Always love hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs
You said..
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones

Dance Class Day 2

I felt the need to share this because I've been having a lot of fun taking these hip hop dance classes. It's different every week. We learn new choreography each session. It's funny because the choreography is so short, but it takes us about 2 hours to get it down. Watching this video makes me think I'm a stiff dancer. I need to learn how to let loose. Sometimes, I care too much about how I look. I think I should just tear my defenses down and just get down on the dance floor. I also notice that the guy on the front left of the video is doing quite well. To be fair, he's a dancer. I know this because he attended the class with his dance crew. Makes me look like a total stiffler. Three sessions to go. We'll see how it goes.

Here's a video. Enjoy.

Be Yourself

This song needs no explanation. To be yourself is all that you can do. It's easier said than done. But I like this song anyway.

Here are the lyrics & video. Enjoy.

Someone falls to pieces
Sleeping all alone
Someone kills the pain
Spinning in the silence
To finally drift away
Someone gets excited
In a chapel yard
Catches a bouquet
Another lays a dozen
White roses on a grave

To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do

Someone finds salvation in everyone
And another only pain
Someone tries to hide himself
Down inside himself he prays
Someone swears his true love
Until the end of time
Another runs away
Separate or united?
Healthy or insane?

To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do

And even when you've paid enough, been pulled apart or been held up
With every single memory of the good or bad faces of luck
don't lose any sleep tonight
I'm sure everything will end up alright

You may win or lose

But to be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do

Quit It

I already blogged this morning before I went to bed, but I have this urge to vent at the moment. Why does it always upset me when my friends invite me to go out for drinks? I don't get it. What part of me not drinking alcohol anymore do they not understand? Do I have to keep reminding them? As my friends, who know exactly what I've been through, they should already be aware. Be understanding of the situation. It really strikes a cord in me when I receive text messages that refer to going to parties.

While I was having breakfast, my friend texts me, "Hey, it's the grand opening of *****. You wanna go? They're serving cocktails. Lol".

Seriously? I don't see anything funny about it. I just don't get it. I've told you guys numerous times that I can't be around it any more. Yet, you refuse to listen. It really bums me out. We were all supposed to meet up for dinner tonight, but now I'm considering staying home and avoiding you guys all together. Honestly, I don't get it. I should just really get some space from you guys. Or maybe I'll go to dinner tonight and I'll tell you guys just how much it disappoints me when you don't support my choices. Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. Because they'll never stop unless I lay out in front of them.

Dream On

 

For an out of school and out of job person, I sure have a lot of dreams. I've recently been brainstorming for more items to add to my life list. So far, I have 84. Sounds like a lot, but my goal is to reach 100. My ultimate goal, however, is to actually achieve all goals before I die. A lot of my items have to do with traveling. I don't know what it is, I guess it's the explorer in me that makes me want to travel. I've always wanted to see the world. There's just so many things to see, so many people to meet, and so many adventures to experience. But at this moment in my life, I just don't have the means.

I've seen a few countries, a few places, but all of them were under my parents' dime. I should be ashamed of it. I'm 25 and still being supported by my parents. But a part of me does not regret it. Most individuals my age are working full-time jobs, maybe in school part-time, paying bills and learning how to survive in the real world. To be honest with you, I wouldn't trade any of my experiences or memories for any of it. Growing up is a process, and we all go about it our own ways. Some people may be quick to judge my lifestyle based on what they see on my Facebook account, but honestly, I've learned to not care what others think. I see how miserable people are with their jobs/careers and their routine lives. And yes, you may be making your own money, but in the end, what do you really have to show for it? Can you really say you've lived your life to your full potential? Have you really found happiness? Have you done the things you've always wanted to do?

What it all comes down to is this-- I'm living the life I want to live. I want to do the things I've always wanted to do before it's too late. I'm young, single, and the only person I'm responsible for is myself. You don't get to live life like that once you're a "grown up". So the way I see it, I'm going to do whatever the hell I want to do because I'm learning a lot through my own experiences. And I hope this process doesn't stop.

I just hope everyone else takes the time to re-evaluate their own lives. Reflection is good.

Feeling a Moment

I've been listening to this song a lot lately. On repeat. Trying to break it down only to find it resonating more inside me. It speaks to me. One of the things I love about music is how some lyrics, at times will not make sense, but when you experience something that relates to it, you just get it. And the lyrics to this song speaks for itself. It's absolutely one of my favorites.

Here are the lyrics & video. Enjoy.

Feeling the moment slip away
Losing direction, you're loosing faith
You're wishing for someone,
Feeling it all begin to slide
Am I just like you?
All the things you do - can't help myself...

How do you feel when there's no sun?
And how will you be when rain clouds come and pull you down again?
How will you feel when there's no one?
Am I just like you?

Turning to face what you've become,
Buried the ashes of someone
Broken by the strain
Trying to fill that space inside
Am I just like you?
All the things you do - can't help myself

How do you feel when there's no sun?
And how will you be when rain clouds come and pull you down again?
How will you feel when there's no one?
Am I just like you?
All the things you do

Don't ever feel that you're alone
I'll never let you down, I'll never leave you dry
Don't fall apart, don't let it go
Carry the notion, carry the notion back to me, to me...

Feeling the moment slip away
Feeling the moment slip away

Cause I'm just like you

How do you feel when there's no sun?
And how will you be when rain clouds come and pull you down again?
How do you feel when there's no one?
Am I just like you?

Dear Friends

Dear Friends,

Please stop telling me to return to my "old normal self". Please stop forcing me to go out drinking and partying with you guys. Please stop telling me that I've changed. Please stop. Please please please. Just stop.

You have no idea what I've been through in the past few weeks. And yes, maybe I have changed. But has it ever occurred to you guys that I may have changed for the better. That incident I went through, it ate me up inside. I fell victim to something that could have happened to anyone. But it happened to me. And in some messed up skewed kind of way, maybe God was trying to tell me to slow down. Maybe He was trying to tell me that I'm not invincible. That I can hit rock bottom. That I'm capable of making mistakes. And as unfortunate as it was, I'm trying to look on the bright side of things. That experience made me realize that I don't want to be that person anymore. I admit, it was fun while it lasted, but it became too much to handle. I didn't like the person I became. It was dangerous, selfish, and unhealthy. I know I've changed, but please stop rubbing it in my face. I'm lost, I know that. It's going to take me some time to get out of my shell. And I need you guys to understand where I'm coming from. So please, stop bothering me about not being "normal".

Love,
Arjay

Brainstorming

Today, my friend and I met up for coffee to discuss our plans on helping each other achieve our life lists. I'm really happy to have someone to share this journey with. I recently bounced back from a horrible experience, while she just recently became single and decided to live her life according to her. So it all works out. We've been friends since college, but only started getting close after college. Our bum lives brought us closer together. We hit the clubs, drink at bars, and get rowdy. Good times.

Anyway, we were both sharing our life lists and getting ideas from each other. We also tried to highlight the items that can easily be done and worked on the items that we can help each other out with. It's nice to see two people working together and helping each other achieve their goals. But with that, we also realized how expensive it actually is to accomplish such tasks. So we're trying to accomplish the items that won't break our wallets.

Here are some items on my list that we're going to try to accomplish this month:
#29 Take a photo with a snake (I have an overwhelming fear of snakes. I'm not sure if I can even do this, but I'll give it my best shot).
#32 Run a marathon for charity (We were supposed to join the marathon this Sunday, but there weren't any slots left for us. So we're waiting for the next opportunity).
#63 Learn how to shoot a gun (I'm a little scared about this. But this is something I've always wanted to try).
#76 Have my name published in a newspaper/magazine article.

I'm really optimistic about getting these items crossed off my list this month. I'm going to work very hard and I'm going to attempt to save my allowance just so I'll have funds to help me out. Stay tuned.