Music makes the world go round!

One month shy of graduating UCLA and a move to DC, my friend Justin asked if I wanted to join him and his friend, Logan, as they made music, I decided to check it out. Now two years later, we have continued to make music.

Here are the first songs that we have uploaded thus far.

End of the World


Just for the Night

Putting the past in the past

I’ve always been a firm believer of using every step of my past and building on it, even if certain things seem insignificant, I attempt to use their concepts, skills or ideas and transcribe them into ways that can be used in a beneficial manner. As of late, I feel as though the things I’ve achieved, things I’ve learned, the places I’ve been and to a certain extent, some of the people I’ve met have gradually become extraneous even expendable. Perhaps, this is something we all go through as we are rediscovering or establishing a new set of values and standards for the life we want to lead. Essentially, the perception that we developed as children, then as adolescents and then as young adults is constantly under revision, so maybe it is normal for our values to continually shift. Maybe sometimes we have to forget our past to assure our future.

Be thankful

I was having a conversation with a new friend concerning life, destiny, fate and the potential that we have within us. It was interesting to hear him reinforce this philosophy that I have guided myself with or attempt to be guided by. Essentially, we share this idea that we have the power to manufacture our own destiny through our actions or inactions. I know this is a bit controversial as there are a lot of circumstances that would inhibit someone from tapping into varies opportunities but I firmly believe that if you put all your energy into what you want, you can create the life that you desire no matter how difficult it maybe. Of course, hard work is essential to the fruition of your target but further, one must be thankful for what one does have because whatever your creed is or isn’t, if you are not grateful for what you have, why would anyone want to give you more?!.

Bittersweet

I purchased a 2009 Mustang on August 16, 2009, a few days later I was informed at work that there was a possibility that I would be receiving a pay cut. A deep pain sank in my stomach. Could I really afford monthly car payments on a salary reduction? Insurance? Rent? Food? If I were to get a second job how would that effect the relationships with my friends and family?

Torn between a former life and my new commitment, I quickly went into survival mode, searching for a part time job that would help me make some extra cash to supplement the loss of pay I was to endure. Within a few weeks, I was hired by Gulfstream restaurant as a service bartender. After my first shift, I had an overwhelming sense of uncertainty of whether I could do this job as efficiently as they needed; after all, I was completely out of my element. So weekend after weekend, I continued to struggle barely staying afloat, I started to fear that maybe they would take notice that I was severely unqualified for this position.


As one month past, I began to hit my stride and making drinks started to become easier. The frequent questions regarding drink recipes were diminishing, as they had been inculcated into my weekend mental dictionary. Additionally, I noticed that with each weekend that I worked, the more I looked forward to clocking in. Partially intrigued by the constant influx of people but mostly by my co-worker’s intelligent, artistic, creative and wide eyed curiosity for the world’s many offerings, it seemed that I had found a niche.


Months past and I was informed by my HR department at UCLA’s School of Nursing that I wouldn’t be receiving a pay cut. Although tempted to leave the restaurant, I decided to continue my moonlighting as a bartender. With an increase in hours and many projects taking shape, my body started to feel the physical burden that too much of a good thing is not all that great.


A few weeks ago when I put my leave of absence at the restaurant, I thought it was the best thing that I could have done but after this past weekend, I realized how much I’ll miss the atmosphere at Gulfstream and although I’ll be returning, I know from experience that when you leave something behind the dynamic never stays the same. With one more weekend before my break, I'm left with a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

Complacency

Complacency is a scary place to reside in. It’s always easiest to live in a world of convenience then to chase your hopes and dreams. Far to often we let our ambitions take a back seat in an attempt to protect ourselves from the fear of failure. Essentially, this misunderstanding that a life well lived with no pain or little disturbance is nothing but a big myth. We should absorb life with the same sense of curiosity regardless of whatever we encounter is full pain or delight. Not all our experiences will be full of pleasure, we sometimes will have to lose the ground we walk on in order to appreciate the things we have, the things we need and the things we want. We can’t be taught this through second hand experience; we can’t be told what to do and what is right for us because what is right for someone else is not necessarily right for you or me. We have to leap and sometimes fall and see the world in the many shades that it exists in. If we forever stay invested in a state of complacency, we may never know the potential that we encompass.

Another run around the sun

For 365 days, we are on a constant count down; utilizing calendars, day planners and post it notes to make our lives feel more significant. Daily routines have us rushing from one insignificant event to the next; not realizing that we casually throw away seconds everyday. Of course, these institutionalized activities are not acknowledged as a waste of time in the eyes of an industrialized society, as this “throwing away of seconds” is done in a socially acceptable manner. For some, myself included, much of what is deemed acceptable behavior is a far cry from anything I want for myself. Essentially, complacency is a scary place to exist in, no room for growth or possibility for change.


I turned twenty-four one week ago and I’m not exactly sure of how the trail I’ve left in the past year has any viable direction. I graduated from UCLA two years ago with a degree in Sociology and minors in Political Science and Theater. However, I work as a Lab technician for the School of Nursing and School of Medicine at UCLA. Not exactly remotely close to where my interest lie but a job nonetheless. Additionally, I started moonlighting as a bartender at a restaurant to pay for a small impulsive purchase. OK, a car isn’t a small purchase but sometimes we make our mistakes and we have to deal with the repercussions of those mistakes. In my case, it’s indeed one beautiful mistake.


Around the same time of my absent minded car purchase, I signed a three year contract with Schuller Talent, who once represented Mos Def and currently represents Anna Kendrick. Despite the promise of various avenues that life could take me, I settled for working 60 hours a week. I spent the latter half of my 23rd year working week in and out; sadly, I stopped enjoying the simple pleasure that life gives us daily and made my way down a one-way track with no possibility for detours. Settling and over indulging in complacency is dangerous to one’s spirit and imagination.


Last week, I tried my best to reevaluate the past year to make sure that as I make another run around the sun, it won’t be one filled with regret. Although I didn’t come up with an answer, I did start brainstorming and at the moment I’ve decided to end my stint as a bartender. In a few weeks time, the life I put on hold 7 months ago will start over again.