UPDATE and more

So school is getting pretty busy, but still really enjoyable. I was lucky this quarter to have gotten such interesting classes and great professors. I personally believe the professor makes or breaks the class. I just spent half of my day in the library working on my English paper but I was actually enjoying myself (I feel like this is weird but I would rather be working on my paper than hanging out with actual people, the older I get, the nerdier). It is comparing and contrasting samurais of Ancient Japan and Ancient Greek warriors by looking at The Iliad by Homer and the film Chusingura (also known as 47 Samurais). Not gonna lie, it is taking a lot of time to write and research for but since it is actually interesting its not that bad. I have only written 1.5 pages out of 10 and it is due Thursday but I don't mind taking my time because it literally feels like meditation while I am writing it. Wow, all new level of nerdiness.

I was also super stressed about finding a job awhile back (I still don't technically have a job) but I have started babysitting for some friends. It is literally the best, I babysit once a week and the baby, Noah, is so good. He really likes me too which helps and I know this will help for my future nursing endeavors. It is a small income but just what I need right now, enough for my phone bill and a little extra for myself.

All in all times have been pretty amazing. Despite my huge workload, I am able to enjoy every bit of it and I don't have to work so much which is also amazing. Also blogging has been a huge release for me. It is so relaxing and helps me get my thoughts out, even if no one reads my blog it is still nice to able to look back and remember different things (my memory is awful). Ever since being at university I have been very tightly strung, anxious, and stressed and now I am finally learning how to relax and enjoy every bit of it while I can.

Here is the playlist that I have put on repeat for these past few weeks. It has some old songs I used to listen to and some new ones too. Including a track from the Django Unchained soundtrack, which was flawless might I add.

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"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." 

~Henry David Thoreau

Delta Rae and ZZ Ward Concert!!

This past Sunday, I attended the Delta Rae and ZZ Ward concert. I actually pretty much forgot that I had tickets until the Friday before... It was actually much more fun than I expected it to be. First I just want to talk about how nice the venue was. The Crocodile here in Seattle is small but has a great atmosphere and is clean. Like really clean, the bathroom was so clean, did I mention it was clean? Bathrooms in clubs and restaurants here in Seattle are usually packed and disgusting so I was very pleasantly surprised. The only bummer was that the people under 21 were closed off from the rest of the crowd because they had a back bar.

Next I'm talking about the opener. I didn't even know who the opener was and he turned out to be  one of my favorite things about the show. He was British yet everything about him screamed New Orleans. He had his vest on with a hat and a glass of whiskey. And his music was super bluesy, folky, southern and soulful, he played a steel stringed guitar (I think that is what it is called) and he rocked the ish out of it.

(picture from here)

Here is him playing Honey Bee live (this wasn't the concert I was at but I can't find one from my concert and I definitely prefer his live music) so you can see I ain't bluffin':

Next was Delta Rae, the reason that I went to the show. And even though I only know a few of their songs, their performance and stage presence is amazing. They literally were just rocking out on stage the whole time and having a lot of fun, it makes me kinda wish I was a performer. Like I said, I only knew a few of their songs but regardless, the concert was incredible and mostly because of them. Another thing, the singer for The Bottom of the River, Brittany Hölljes, is shockingly beautiful, in my opinion. The band is also like all related pretty much which is also awesome and the name of their band comes from a fictional character in one of their mother's books...pretty kick ass.

Here is the live performance from The Crocodile of Bottom of the River (it is kinda shaky but gives you the idea) followed by some other performances and interviews of them:

And for the chain sounds they used these sick trashcans (and a hammer? I just can't..) and used them from drums later on in the song, here is a picture of them from off of their website: 

Here is them performing the same song on Conan, much better quality:

Annnnnd just some videos of them being hilarious and interviewed:

(I literally cannot stop watching this, I find it so hilarious and I just can't stop)

And the final and main act was ZZ Ward, I personally think she should have been the opener and I don't understand why everyone was so excited to see her. No doubt she is very talented but she had awkward stage presence and her mic was far too low for us to hear her over the instruments. She did bring her dad on stage to play harmonica with her which was quite adorable and her mom was at the side of the stage watching and smiling the whole time which was also quite adorable.

But like I said, I went mainly to see Delta Rae perform and I loved every bit of their performance. Overall the concert was fantastic and I hope they come to Seattle again to play!

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alt-J (∆)

So lately I have just been listening to an extremely random arrangement of music. I have been revisiting my Metro Station and Panic! at the Disco phase as well as my broody One Republic phase (used strictly for paper writing). I am noticing that I am turning away from the techno dub-step style that I have usually liked to listen to and going back to alternative genres.

But the purpose of this post is to discuss alt-J, because they are literally amazing. I started to listening to them over winter break when I heard one of their more popular songs on the radio (Fitzpleasure). I think why I love them so much is the unique sound of the lead singers voice. Also I find their music videos absolutely fascinating. It is like they accomplish a certain art form with the combination of the rhythm and the different ideas portrayed in the film. I know I don't know anything about art (thats some Socrate's shit for all y'all philosophers). But I still have ideas about art and what it means to me.

Also I think their band name is interesting, it is literally just a triangle... ∆ meaning change, like the delta symbol in mathematic equations, the name came at a turning point for the band.

The following is the music video for Breezeblocks

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Ok I just want to say something regarding the video then I'll be done. I think its so interesting the way it is set up, at the beginning I think it is about an abusive husband who accidentally kills his wife out of rage (I know this sounds awful, but it is just how my brain has been programmed to react to images like that, I'm sure you can relate) but it turns out it is about a man protecting his wife/sister/daughter from what seems to be a dangerous person... just some thoughts. And I still don't fully understand the video, which is why I just love watching it over and over again.

Also this song is so good, I literally want to blast this and sway to the music for hours in my room by myself. 

Another video I love by them is for Tessellate

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

I have no idea what this video is about but it is just so visually appealing to me and also the song is incredible.

And lastly Fitzpleasure (not my favorite music video but definitely my favorite song by them)

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

This was the first song I heard by them and of course it made its impression. I love the combination of his voice and the heavy beat. Also it is all english, hard to believe but it is. This video is very interesting to watch as well, again I literally have no idea what it means but I find it fascinating to watch over and over again.

All in all I enjoy the combination of the music and video that alt-J uses to create a new kind of art. I truly believed that they have mastered something here and I wish their concert at The Neptune Theatre didn't sell out in what feels like 10 seconds or I would totally go....

Music is for so much more than listening, it is for feeling,

~~~

"Do you know where the wild things go? They go along to take your honey" -Breezeblocks ∆

Social Tips for University

Well so far this quarter has been very interesting. I almost dropped out and went home at one point but I stayed and decided to tough it out. University has been nothing like I thought it would be. Well the classes are amazing but the social aspect is way different. Some things that I have learned these past few weeks:

1. If people don't understand the fact that you are an actual human being, do not be their friend.
2. Don't go to parties to make friends, you will exchange numbers with a ton of cool people but they won't remember you ever again and your efforts will be fruitless (I have literally met this guy Noah like 6 times and just recently he recognized me after several sober encounters, it was awkward to say the least)
3. People will get cliquey like heck and don't try and force your way in, you don't want to be part of any clique, you should always be willing to make new friends and explore instead of hanging with the same people and ignoring the rest of the world.
4. Make friends with your roommate and their friends (unless he/she is a mini satan). Just recently I have been hanging out with my roommate and she is actually a really cool person with nice friends.
5. If people drink or smoke every night a week, your best bet is to not be their friends because they will probably drop out at the next quarter, sure go out every once in awhile and have some fun but not every night or your life will be miserable and your grades will show it (trust me, personal experience).
6. Take time for yourself, please just go for a walk and listen to some music maybe even try meditating because university is a constant whirlwind and you seriously need to take personal time to ground yourself.
7. Don't seek out relationships, I know so many people that are miserable because they don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Just be yourself and people will come to you and it'll be so much easier, and don't try and be anyone else besides yourself for a girl/boy.
8. Socialize with your neighbors! It wasn't until this quarter that I actually talked with my next door neighbors, and we are actually perfect friend soul mates! And I have become great friends with my RA's one time we literally danced and joked in the hallway till 2 AM in the morning and it was awesome, don't be scared to hang out with your RA's, for the most part they want to be your friend and you would be surprised how cool they actually are!
9. Hang out in the lobby, do your homework or just scroll through tumblr, you would be surprised at the amount of people you can meet. Sometimes my friends and I will play a game in the lobby and just invite random passerby's to play and we meet a ton of cool people!
10. And lastly, remember, no one cares who you were in high school and if they do, then don't hang out with them because they should care about who you are now.

Here is a video of a cat, a very adorable cat, enjoy!

Always remember, be yourself and you will find life a lot easier.

~~~