To head to the APAM retreat

Currently Listening to: Jay Z – Real as it Gets

I’m a bit late on this.  Friday-Saturday was pretty eventful.

APAM mentee retreat started off with the bus being about 45 minutes late (awesome!) but we got there in time to lay out the house and head to the beach, where we ran a couple of icebreakers (really, really fun.. Justine and Chantal did a really good job) but also did a really good workshop.  Got to know a lot of people and I think it really mellowed spirits and set the tone for the rest of the evening.  We got back and had SUPER delicious dinner (thanks to everyone that cooked!) of Pasta, meatballs, salad, and garlic bread. yum.  After it was the race workshop, which ran okay (kind of random and the path i wanted people to walk got.. revealed.. a bit early, but nonetheless productive) and then Harold and Kumar goes to Guantanimo Bay.  I forgot how hilarious that movie is.  NPH is bomb.  After we just hung out a bit and watched Finding Forrester, again, an awesome movie.  TV kind of kills relationships in that you don’t really talk,  but thats okay.  I ended up getting 3 hours of sleep before breakfast and the relationship/appreciation web… Bus back was eventful, saw Rose Hills and got a bit emotional.

Hung out with Koko and Jessica for a bit to run some errands and then headed back home to watch the UT vs. TT game.  Feel asleep before heading out to Kev Yau’s house to see some TAF people.  Got Boiling Crab and it. was. DE.LI.CIOUS.  Awesome hanging out with TAF’ers.  Got Konjac after, that place on valley is mediocre.

Sunday was football day.  Pack lost.  Fantasy went 1-3.  To say it went bad is an understatement.

Just finished skyping with Jessica Shen.  I miss my co-co .  It was just great to talk to her though.  Got a lot of feelings to sort out.  Something about me and my priorities and .. ‘friends’ I should keep.  etc.   Its kind of an awesome feeling, but it also kind of sucks.

To see an Arctic Monkeys Live (and not do homework)

Currently Listening to: Arctic Monkeys – When the Sun Goes Down

I’m so sad that they didn’t play this song tonight. so so sad.

I’ll cut right to the chase.  I headed to LA at around 4:15 with the awesome Helen Kim.  We arrived at around 5:00 to a lineless Daikokuya. YES. RAMEN. DELICIOUS RAMEN.  from the salad, to the rice bowl, to the pork, green onions, and bean sprouts. It is literally my favorite food in the world right now.

We wander for a bit after dinner because we have time to burn, so Little Tokyo site seeing!  I go to the market place and grab some gummy candy and hi-chews. awesome.

Head over to the Hollywood Paladium to a line thats around the block and then some.  Call tinman and Bingham, because the last time I saw an Arctic Monkeys concert, it was with them (and chip).  I miss those guys.  The Like opens, an all girl band that has an awesome drummer, but nothing else.  It was one of those love at first sound kind of things.

They drop out, and the Monkeys come on.  The first thing you notice is their hair. like all of them.  It’s crazy and different.  They started with stuff from Humbug, but hit up some Favourite Worst Nightmare.  they’ve really matured as a group.  Highlight of my night was the View from the Afternoon.  That song live never gets old.  NEVER.  Anyway, they’re starting to add variety to their sound and their songs really do tell a story.  It has to grow on you, both Helen and I agreed on the drive back that listening to the album after hearing them live just makes it ten times better.  You can recognize the sound and songs and its not a conglomerate of mess.   I really like it.

btw. I totally have the hots for Alex Turner.

That ISA is bomb.

Currently Listening to: Jay – Z ft. Pharrell – So Ambitious

First of all, I feel like I’ve been writing a lot of these, which really sucks because “these” represent an end of a period of my life.  (or in the case of TAF, the end of a great period of bliss and joy).  This is actually a really strange moment for me, in the sense that I know I’m moving on, and I’m excited to be moving on, but to know that I won’t see so many people for such a long time just makes me sad.

Let’s just go over the awesome and pain that was my day, September 6th, 2009, AKA ISA LA 2009.

10:00 wake up, shower, watch some West Wing (Season 5) in which Toby Ziegler manages to save Social Security (proof that Sorkin-less West Wing is just ridiculous.

11:30 Go to Chris’ house and then head over to Vietnam house for some PHO NOOODLE!!! delicious.  Got pork with spring roll vermicelli.  great on a hot day.

12:15 return to Chris’ house, pick up the car and head over the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

12:50 park my car and see the people are already lined up. (WTF?!), head through the back and I see Ryan Oka and Chris Oka, awesome.  See James and say hi, (haven’t seen the FM guys in awhile) and meet Esna and Mama D.  In the next 10 hours, they will be two of the six most awesome people in my life. (the others being Christina, Diana, Jane, and Linda)

1:30  Meet Diana, talk over some stuff, head over to the Hilton to pick up GLP.  They have awesome British accents.   Hand out t-shirts too/meet all the volunteers (a conglomerate of 4C the power, UCLA volunteers, USC volunteers from some org (I forget) and FM Street Team).  See Linda, which is a good thing. See Jane Yoo, which is (always) a very good thing.  yay.

The next 7 hours or so is a blur.  I will summarize/guestimate to the best of my ability

2-4  Handed a walkie talkie, run around unloading stuff w/ Ted Wes and Phil for ISA merch, moving tables, setting up, delegating, figuring out things for will call/VIP/merch booths, get made fun of my Brian Fabello for having a walkie talkie, see the great and wonderful Judy Huang, who doesn’t make fun of me, unlike Brian Fabello.

4:33 realize that two people who are supposed to be manning the will call booth about 3 minutes ago are still in Hacienda Heights and USC.  Person in Hacienda Heights has to pick up person in USC and then come to SGV.  Bomb.

4:35  Mama D saves my ass, hands me two volunteers and I get things rolling, hand them list and instructions as I run around like chicken with its head cut off getting merch, money, and materials to the places that need them.  Forget about tickets for will call booth.. for like 30 minutes. FAIL

5:00 Find out that people are on the list but don’t have tickets, people who aren’t on the list that are with little kids, people who lost their tickets in San Jose but have “proof” of purchase.  My life sucks.  I hate having to bother Diana but I have no choice.  Josie drops a text, and BOOM. SHE’S THERE. YAY. JOSIE! makes my day.  I subsequently see Andrew Mai.  TWO LOVEBOATERS IN ONE DAY. IT CAN’T GET ANY BETTER!. until. JASMINE QUAN LIU AND BRYAN YOUNG. awesome.  Kev and Jae float around AWESOME. Sunny says hi to me.  She’s officially my favorite mentee (that’s not part of my mentee group).  doors open. chaos.  Sneak Christina Chou and Jon Lee past the line, they’re my heroes.  CMC’ers and Scrippsies follow.  Johnny Ko, Teresa Wen, Tina Hsu, and Emi Sawada.  Yay.

6:00 People are all in, a couple will call people trickle in.  Life resumes to being semi normal.  People watch shows, etc.  I am running off adrenaline and caffeine at this point.  My mind is a blur.  Sorry life.  David Chin tells me Enzo has moved to the Philippines.  dumbstruck.  It definitely doesn’t help me with my current mental situation.

7:00ish    Hang out with Calista Wu, Jon Lee, and Christina Chou.  Begin to realize this is my last day with some Plan C people.  Sadness begins.

7:30 Working, but find time to talk to Eric Leong, meet his brother as I bring him to the booths.  Sadness continues.

8:00 FM goes on, I watch part of it as I sneak away from work.  It is legendary.  Now this is the highlight of the night.  I’ve seen these guys perform about 10-12 times now, but they never cease to amaze.  The saddest thing is that this is probably the last possible time I see them in a long long time, and as such, I start to think about my impact on them and on the community, and more importantly, my impact on their growth (albeit minimal).

8:30.  Grab sharpies, walk over to artists area, walk w/ them to meet and greet everyone.  I am star struck, which is weird because I work with half of these artists.  Here are the 20+ performers at ISA right now.  Wow.

10:00? Group picture, running around to clean stuff up.  Ryan tells me that Tom thanked me at the end, it was a humbling moment.

11:00 head to KT.  Grab food w/ Diana, Esna, Christina, Jane, Linda, Judy, Kev, Jae, David Choi, Kina Grannis, and others (memory fades) .  I have never ate such delicious bad food, I am ridiculously hungry.

12:00 Say goodbye to volunteers, the Oka’s, Kev, Jae, Diana, Jane, Linda, and Brian.  Sadness ensues.

1:15 Arrive at CMC.  life is both good and bad.

At this point, my mind is incoherent.  This post is going to be a vicious blur that I don’t remember and will have to re-read 30 times.  I just wanted to give a quick shout out to a couple people I’ve been blessed to work with.

FM – You guys are just awesome.  The drive you guys have and the work you guys put in is just inspiring.  I stuck with this internship so long because I wanted to help, as much as I can, as little as I can,  you guys reach your goals and drive you to succeed because you guys deserve it.  I say this a lot to people, but keep doing what y’all are doing because the more people you reach out to, the better our world becomes.   I was so surprised at how loyal and appreciative you guys are of the people who celebrate you, not your fans, but each individual fan.

Kev -  officially the nicest guy in the world, truly enjoys his work and wholly appreciates each connection he makes..

James – so dedicated and motivated, ridiculously smart, a true inspiration.

Jae – Cooler than the other side of the pillow.  Soulful and passionate.

The second part of the equation comes from everyone who works to make FM/Plan C work.  In addition to just being great at what you do, you guys are truly genuine people who I’m happy to call friends.

Jane – the one who gave me the opportunity to do all the things and meet all these people.  She personifies awesome. (good luck @ your job!)

Diana – the lifeblood behind FM these last couple of months.  Without her, the group would fail.  Amazing.  She deserves so much more credit.

Judy, Brian, Ryan, Elliot and Jaimie -  Awesome people I’ve been able to work with, laugh with, and spend time with.

Christina – great great great great great person.  great friend. great mentor. great role model. my hero.

Eric – great guide towards the industry and all the functions behind it, showed me just how much work is necessary to gain little steps or progress and success.  Just cool to hang out with.

Tom – Just a blast to hang out with, always knows how to have fun, always a pleasure to work with.

Linda – The calm and level headed one who always pulls through, no matter what.  just special.

I will do a self reflection later.  Class is in 7 hours. must sleep.