This...is American Idol

Now that we know the Top 13 contestants of Season 8, I think I will be going the root-for-your-hometown route and support my boy Adam Lambert. 

His Idol profile claims L.A. as his hometown but don't be fooled - he is a PQ boy at heart and a Deer Canyon/Mesa Verde/Mt. Carmel graduate. Yayuh.

So he can be a little over the top for my taste when it comes to the shrills and vocal gymnastics, but he has a damn impressive range. He's one of those people whose style you either love or loathe. I think if he learns how to tone it down for the show, he has a pretty good chance of making it far into the competition. Vocally speaking, very Axl Rose to me. Maybe a little Robert Plant at times and David Bowie, vibe-wise. Some people say Freddie Mercury, but it's hard for me to compare someone to who I regard as probably the greatest rock vocalist of all time. 

Anyways, did I mention he's fab as hell? One thing's for sure, he's got the glam rock thing down. Idol needs a little edge these days. 

Team Anoop Doog too.

I Need a Breather

I feel like I've just been going and going nonstop for most of the past 2 or 3weeks. First there's been the usual homework and studying, plus a 2-week stretch in which all of my midterms fall in (last one tomorrow, thank God). Luckily I've managed to commit just enough time to study for my tests and so far I've done really well, hopefully tomorrow will be icing on the cake. Then a little over a month until finals; I really hate all of you right now with away messages like "Working on my last project!" or "___ more days until summer officially starts!" As for my summer, I'll be spending most of it in Irvine working at my current office, then towards the end of August or so I'm gonna try to look for a job that actually involves my major. I'm still undecided on whether or not I'm going to take summer classes.

Another thing I've done the past month is hit up more clubs and hotspots than I have during the other months of the year so far combined. First there was House of Blues in Downtown Disney for Best of Both Worlds. Thanks to Vicky and Debbie again for the hospitality, you guys are always awesome hostesses. The actual event was alright, waaay too many people and it was hard to stay in a group so it ended up only being Raf and me for most of the night, plus the DJ sucked. It was too hard to get around without getting humped by people on both sides of you; I made the most of the night but I had more fun last year. I'd still be down to go next time if the venue is right.

Ladies at preparty before HOB

Level 3 in Hollywood was the next stop last Thursday for Annie's birthday. After getting lost, having to cut in a looooong line, lying about being in "Hip Hop Congress" to get inside, and some guest list complications, we finally made it inside only to be a surrounded by a "super-AZN" crowd (according to Mel). The music was a little better than HOB, but they stopped everything for about half an hour for a "lingerie show" on stage. I was expecting some decent models to come out with some cute outfits, but instead the girls looked like they were picked right off of UCI's campus and let me tell you they were not fierce at all. Not too many creepers in the place, except for one guy who kept trying to get me to go onstage to dance with him. After he said "What, am I not cute enough for you" I seriously just wanted to laugh in his face. Fellas, please don't ever use a line like that unless you KNOW you have the looks to back it up aka you better be a 10, otherwise it just makes you look really pretentious/stupid.

Waiting in line in front of 500 people

And finally, this past Saturday was Belo in Downtown for the 24th birthday of Jackie's sister, Tiffanie. Overall it had good music, a good crowd, nice decor, and overall I had a really good time reuniting with the girls. I think part of the reason why I liked the aura so much was that it was 21 and up, it's still a little weird for me seeing 18 year olds get down in the clubs, I don't know. I would definitely hit this place up again. Anyone down? Haha.

MCHS c/o '05

Although not exactly a club environment, honorable mention would go to Sushi, Sake & Karaoke night at Brent's the day after HOB. I wasn't even planning on having fun that day but wow, I didn't know OC housewives could be so fun. Plus free sushi, sake, mochi ice cream and dancing? It really doesn't get any better than that. I also came across 2 new ultimate favorites of mine - Kinsen Plum Wine (only $4.99 at Bevmo!) and this:

Lychee Sake by Hana. Heaven in a glass.

Rock It Don't Stop It

Now more than ever, I dread coming out to high school functions because I don't really have too many people to say what's up to anymore. I feel old but at the same time am baffled at the way I blend in with these high schoolers that look beyond their years (or it could be the fact that I still get "Are you 16?" Damn it). Mount Carmel isn't even recognizable to me anymore, too much of a Westview vibe going on. But of course, I had to come out for MC Airbands to support my brother and let's face it, MC always holds it down when it comes to airbands. This is also the reason I only come out to band/guard shows because MC kicks ass at that too. Anyways, I was expecting a typical MC airbands show with notable guest performers and good competing groups, but if you didn't go this year you missed out!



It's nice to see Mount Carmel keep the tradition alive with current students and alumni on many of the exhibition teams, from 220, Urban FX, Super Galactic Beat Manipulators, Formality, and many other teams. Plus not only do former Sundevils rock it on the stage, but a good number are leading behind the scenes as current/former captains or directors. Great job guys.

The first big surprise of the night was a special appearance by Kevin Brewer of the Jabbawockeez/SGBM. For me, it was surreal that everyone busted out their cell phones and cameras when he came out because I've been watching him since his days on Culture Shock SD/Jabbawockeez in '03 - now he's celebrity status, which is cool but I'm still getting used to it. Raf even introduced me to him a couple times when we ran into him at Barnes and saw him at his old work (Apple Store at UTC haha). It's funny because he only came to watch and enjoy the show, but I guess everyone recognized him so during intermission they asked him to come on stage to introduce SGBM.

But the WTF moment of the night was when Donnie from Making the Band 4 made an appearance! Seriously, WTF? First the hosts from Z90 were talking about the importance of education and saying no to budget cuts, next thing you know they talk about being able to fly "someone from MTV" out here, then what do you know, Donnie steps through the curtain. Now I didn't even think Donnie was that tight on the show, but when he showed up the inner fangirl inside of me came out (think circa Backstreet Boys in their prime) and my first instinct was to scream and wail my arms like a 14-year old. Oy.



"Don't wanna play no games I want you excluuuuuusive"





All in all, it was a very entertaining show - congrats to my brother's group GCA for getting first!

So long, '07

Unless I feel compelled to celebrate New Year's Eve with drink in hand and laptop in the other, this will be my last post of 2007. Granted, I only started this blog about a month ago, but a New Year for me usually constitutes a new (and hopefully better) outlook on things, which will probably translate in my posts from now on. But before looking forward, I'm going to look back first.

I finally got a chance to spend some much needed quality time with Sybil today. It's pretty nice to have someone that I've known for so long still be there for me when needed. Anyways, we got into our usual talk about how things were in high school, who we've come across lately, the usual biz. Something that we both agreed on is how it seems like kids seem to be aging faster and faster nowadays. We're basing this on appearance and how one carries him/herself as the criteria; maturity and the like are fodder for an entirely different argument... I mean I get taken aback sometimes at how some sophomores in high school look so much older than me. And I don't just mean ME me, but say class of '05ers collectively. From the clothes to the shoes, plus make-up and hair, it's a little ridiculous to strive to look like you came straight off a magazine ad - especially when it's going to first period English or what have you. Maybe it's because teens are following trends more closely now? Or it's just a normal changing of the times? I don't know. But what I realized when we were looking back at pictures from our days at Mt. Carmel is that I'm glad that I looked like I did back then haha. If I come off superficial I'm not trying to say I was hot shit back then because I obviously wasn't (see 2 posts back for conclusive evidence). What I am trying to say is that I'm glad that I didn't realize my full potential in high school because that leaves room for improvement. I'd rather find myself more and develop in college than look in the mirror and think "Wow I haven't changed since high school". Although I'm focusing a lot of this on outer appearances, a lot of it really has to do with a sense of self, which (I think) correlates with your style and how you carry yourself. I know this came off as a little random, it's just been on my mind for a while. I don't even know if my rambling made any sense, but even if a couple of you get what I'm trying to say, then I've succeeded!

As for more recent times, 2007 has definitely been a year of highs and lows in almost all facets of my life. I'll spare you the details and just say that I've learned tons about myself this year, as well as about people I know and people in general. I just gotta keep on learning and keep a smile going into the next year, and everything will fall into place. My resolutions aren't that specific, but it's really to just take everything that I've learned up to now and to put it to good use and apply it to 2008 - this covers school, family matters, relationships, my strengths & weaknesses, even getting fit! I had to put that in, that's an obligatory resolution for me... I don't mind as much if I make mistakes every now and then as long as I walk away learning something from it. I'd also like to see myself more committed to this blog than my previous ones - it's funny to see what kind of mindset (or mindfcuk) I'm in throughout certain phases of my life.

When it comes to resolutions in general, I hate it when people say they only have one resolution, to "not have any resolutions". Hello, that totally defeats your purpose of being devoid of resolutions. Just say you don't have any then! Hah.

Thank you to my family for another year of love and support. I know I can be stubborn sometimes, but I really take to heart what you guys say, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. And Jay since you're the only one who will actually be reading this, shoutout to you! Thanks for listening anytime, and you know you can tell me anything. Thanks Raf for another year, what can I say except you're the best! You're my BFF forreal :] Thank you SD & Irvine friends & 198 for the good times in 2007, because there was NO SHORTAGE of those whatsoever haha. More to come in 2008, best believe I'm going to take advantage of being 21 until December 23 of this coming year. Because honestly, what's the next big milestone to look forward to? Turning 30? No thanks.