I think I’m supposed to be at the 2nd part of school, before play, work, play, work, etc. but I feel like i’m at the first part of school according to this picture. kinda sad.

It’s been awhile. Really busy, but here are some two quick things I’d like to share.

Happens to me so often now…

Makes me sad…yet happy.

I have a lot of posts waiting to be written/edited. So when I have time, I promise I’ll get on those. But for now, here’s something I read today…

http://www.questcrew.com/questyle/paint-with-all-the-colors-of-the-wind/

If you were too lazy to read it, here’s a small snippet of the article (but definitely read it)

“Looking at the style choices Quest has made, it’s no wonder they have charmed millions, won America and MTV over, and most importantly clearly articulated a message of harmony through their performances. Just looking at the bold colors they sport day in and day out, usually with at least one being a shade of purple, you can extrapolate plenty. Purple - a color that has come to represent both majesty and mystery in the literary world and in our physical surroundings. From the drapes of Agamemnon to the mysterious clouds that top mountains in the Jiangsu province of China, purple embodies the qualities of all its individual components - just like Quest. Rarely have I seen unity through diversity executed as well as when Quest performs. They have found an amazing capacity to take all the talents they hold as individuals and use them to benefit the entire group. In fact, they have also perfected an ability to highlight individual members without creating any competition (except maybe in a Spam Musubi contest) and without taking away from any single member.”

After reading this article. I thought about why I choose to wear the color purple and about how my color selection in the past has actually said a lot about who I was. I used to wear a lot of dark colors- being like everyone else, having thoughts to myself. I think the majority of the population wears dark colors- blue, black, brown, etc. It is a common color that everyone wears, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. I think it means they are common colors that everyone can enjoy.

Then I think about why I chose to buy purple. True, I was inspired about Quest Crew, but every time I choose to wear purple it feels a little different. People do a double take and have a slightly different look on their face when they see me wearing purple. It is not a common color, it’s…different. The color purple sends a message that someone is different and it may be even extended to say that someone is unique. I feel that when people wear purple, they are unconsciously saying “hey, I’m a little different”. Although many people may wear purple, they are all unique individuals. The color purple encompasses people’s individualism but it is also a color that these unique individuals can come together in. The color purple harbors all the unique individuals under one roof, without saying a word.

So whenever someone is wearing purple, I know they are being bold, being different, but above all, being an individual: being unique. They don’t need to say anything to anyone to get their message across. Quest Crew does not need to say much about their choice of the color purple. Look at what they’ve done for people, look at what they’ve done for me just by wearing the color. Just look at the increase in everyone wearing the color purple.

So go out, wear some purple. Be bold, be an individual, be unique, send your message.

Sorry for not posting for a long time, I’ve had really nothing to write about. School has been good, starting the semester off right.

But I wanted to write about something that has definitely changed me over the summer. The topic of inspiration.

I feel like everyone needs something that inspires them to do something great or something crazy awesome cool. I have new found respect for people who do that now. My first inspiration was Yellowcard. Their music really helped me get through the lowest point in my life thus far, and challenged my music ability/creativity which lead me to take on interning at Jive records.

But As some of you might know, I’ve been practicing more flips and stuff now and I’m actually starting to get some of them down surprisingly. You could say Quest Crew has inspired me to try these things, and whenever I need a new challenge, I look at what trick they have done and try it.This inspiration has gotten me through the school year so far, and I can honestly say that I feel so good about myself, especially when I start practicing everyday. My positive attitude from over the summer has FAR surpassed anything I expected, and I am so amazed with myself and although it might sound weird, I love myself even more now. I can honestly say that I have not been very depressed or have been thinking about negative things since before the summer. What’s that, almost 4 months? (I can’t believe it…)

But diving into something more profound, I now wonder what inspires people? The concept of inspiration feels so powerful to me because what it can do to people. I’ve never asked anyone what inspires them because it was something that I never thought about. But now, since I see what it has done for me, I am so curious what inspires people academically, physically, creatively, etc. to try new things and keep at it. I feel like everyone should have something that inspires them and if you don’t, I challenge you to find something that inspires you.

Diving into it further, I really wonder how it feels to inspire other people. It must be one of greatest feelings in the world knowing that what you do inspires other people to try new things. I wonder how Yellowcard feels or Quest Crew feels every time people tell them that they inspire them to pursue their dreams…

So tell me, What inspires you to be/do something great?

ahh it’s been awhile…. Well I wanted to FINALLY get this post done about going back to New York to check out the rapper my boss is trying to sign named DONNIS. So Arthur and I took a day trip down to New York to get to this event to see Donnis. Little crazy at first, but it was so worth it to see him, his manager, and all the people I worked with at Jive. Here we goooo

A little dim sum before new york actually…

on the busss

waiting outside for my boss to come and let us in since we were underage haha.

The free drinks. Don’t worry, I didn’t drink. I took a sip of beer though, and it was GROSS.

In the crowd. SOOOOO hot in the place we were in.

DONNIS

Arthur. Kinda dark though

Donnis after the show. Got to talk with him for a few minutes. AWESOME

decided to take a picture after everyone cleared the super hot and humid room. haha

Got home @ 3:59am. sooooo tireddd =(

Anyways…That was going back to New York for like 3 hours haha. Thanks to Arthur for coming. I have no idea what to post about next. Only time will tell! Thanks to everyone who has been reading!

The famous chicken and rice place on 53rd and 5th. “Street meat” as people at work call it haha. Only $5! but people you feel like you’re gonna die after you eat it, but I didn’t haha.

Anyways…

Skip all this mumbo jumbo if you just want the basic summary and go to the last paragraph. This thing is more for me than anyone reading.

So where to begin? I said I would talk about New York, Work, Music, and other stuff. Well, let’s talk about New York first. New York- such an awesome place to be. The best part is that you can get everywhere in the subway, which is so convenient. Always bustling with life, New York City is truly the city that never sleeps. My boss invited to a bar which was awesome (don’t worry I wasn’t drinking), but it was a freaking amazing time, even if I was just sitting around talking with people. But at the same, it can feel quite lonely sometimes. Even if there is so much life, you still don’t understand everything. So many people, but it’s sad that you don’t get to know each individual person, and see how unique there are…

WORK! Working at the Sony building at Jive records. This is one of the best experiences in my life. I loved going into work everyday. Even if I wasn’t doing too much, I enjoyed being surrounded by people who love music. I met so many adults who are passionate about their work (even if they are a little crazy) and it made me feel that if you love something, you CAN make a career out of it. Words cannot express the great feelings I have towards working at Jive records. It’s a feeling like no other, and to experience it, you would have to be working with the same people I have. Everyday, I would have fun, even if it was just for a total of 30 mins a day out of my typical 8.5 hours workday. The 30 mins, would be absolutely worth it. Again, I cannot express the feeling of working there. You tell me. Finding about new music and upcoming bands before anyone else in the world? Sitting in on recording sessions with upcoming artists? Meeting with unsigned artists and then hanging out with them? Seeing how everyone else in the workplace is doing what they love AND having fun doing it? Chilling out with people talking music, politics, life, religion? Hearing about other people’s experience of the music business and how they got into it? These are just some of the things off the top of my head that I’ve done at Jive records. Just writing about it makes me feel great.

Other stuff? Well let me just reflect on everything. At first, I was really scared about coming to New York. No friends, no real job experience and nonetheless working in an office of a major record label, and living in a city where I’ve been to twice for 30 mins? But fast forward 10 weeks? I feel like I can take on the freaking world, anything in my way, I know I can overcome it, no matter how bad it is. These 10 weeks have made me more ambitious than I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve trained for squash and started to really practice tricking and gymnastics (even though I still suck). When I go home, I plan to really sit down and get to know my guitar again, train more for squash, and do even more ticking stuff. I feel like I can learn anything, and I just feel great about myself. And the best part is- I did it by myself. I know it might sound super selfish and cocky and every other bad word out there when I say it, but I’m just going to say it. I feel like I’m better off than most people out there who are around my age right now. I don’t really know anyone who has told me that they had their own experience of super ambitiousness, worked at a major company (nonetheless a record label), and lived by themselves for 10 weeks. If you’ve done something that encompasses all that, please tell me, and then I’ll feel like a total ass, but you’ll probably become my new best friend. Staying away from my friends and getting thrown into a new environment has been the best reflection period in my life. Of course I missed Taiwan and camp, but it was the necessary exchange for me to feel this good about myself, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade that for the world right now. Not to say I feel like I have everything in the world in the moment or that I don’t feel sad, but I feel like I’m on my way to becoming a more enlightened individual.

So after everything, New York, Music, Reflection, and my super new ambitiousness, I hope that I come off as a more positive person. I hope I can send my positive vibes to you, so that you too will feel great about yourself and to really try that everything you want to. I’m already on my way to doing that, and let me tell you, it feels freaking amazing. If I only got paid this summer (haha), I would feel like I was in heaven. I know when I go back home, I’ll be training for squash and kung fu, but I know I want to hang out with everyone. Although I wouldn’t say I had the most fun this summer, I’ve definitely had the best summer in terms of stepping into the real world. So let’s hang out when I get back! I’m sad that I’m leaving this place of positive vibes, but I’m ready to go back home and see everyone again!

What I’ve been up to

The Secret Handshake concert (mainly to go see playradioplay though)

Ann Arbor (they weren’t that great in my opinion)

Love You Long Time. They were awesome! one of my new favorite bands

Pre PRP set!

Playing with his guitar setting after one of his songs to make the everything sound awesome

Playradioplay! so freaking awesome. Got to meet him after and have a talk with him about the music business! and got shirts signed!

The Secret Handshake. They were pretty good too

Moving on….

Was dropping off jonas brother’s tickets from my boss to his friend. Paul Mccartney was playing outside on the Late Show with David Letterman! Stayed for a few minutes to check it out. So many people!

Sushi again! =)

Ben and Jerry’s near where I live! I’ve had it once already.

Then I went to Times Square one night to explore!

Ferris wheel inside the Toys R’ Us….so freaking ridiculous…haha

nerf gun heaven! =D

Hershey’s place where I got my Reese’s hat like 3 years ago!

These hat’s SUCK compared to the one I got before. So sad though…

M&M store! 3 Floors?!

Custom M&M bags you can make! I didn’t get any though haha

Moving on…

This pizza place I went to called Artichoke. Freaking best pizza ever. A slice of Artichoke pizza was so good and huge. Almost exploded after.

At a bar where this artist my boss is trying to sign performed. His name is Donnis, a rapper. He’s so freaking sick. I’ve hung out with him a lot at work and he’s awesome. He’s gonna be big, I already know. Great performance that night even though it was 10 mins.

Fried salmon Tempura! so good!

This purple shirt that I really want to get from this store called Energie. Too bad it’s $110 =(

Wireless internet powered by solar energy! so awesome!

Need I say more?

hahahahahahaha. I was @ banana republic

Washington Square park. awesome fountain in the middle

@ a store called Toy Tokyo searching for stuff for my friend. Foudn it, top shelf, called bearbrick. They are collectables

More bearbrick

Um yes Mario and Luigi hats? ALREADY BOUGHT THEM HAHA

These are the mats I was practicing to flip over for my double leg 540. Too bad I cant’ do it anymore cause the people there won’t let me cause they suck and cannot comprehend my awesomeness in the making

Ice benches @ Union Square!

Stayed tuned! Big blog post about the summer in New York, Music, work, and everything else really soon!

Is anyone still out there?

Are you guys liking the blog?

Random stuff going on

At work, sitting in the recording studio listening to an artist my boss is trying to sign. He’s a rapper (not the guy sitting in the chair). The recording process is so cool

So it was raining really really hard and there was thunder and lightning. Saw it on the way to pinkberry and back. Nothing will stop me from going to pinkberry! haha. This time: Mango, mochi and raspberry

It might not look like it, but this slice of pizza was HUGE. This place is called 2 bros Pizza and guess what? Each slice of pizza is 1 DOLLAR! It’s such a good deal. Pizza is really good too!