Thankful (Still)

Today was just one of those days where things don't work out the way you'd like.

But I am glad to find myself still thankful for all the good things I've been surrounded with. As Thanksgiving approaches I thought it would be appropriate to share some things I'm grateful for.

such as...
friends,

family (left to right: shadow, dad, me, mom, sandy),

music (mayer),


being accepted and attending UCLA (go Bruins) (photo credit: josh),


beauty of nature,


for there being people who fail as much as I seem to do...,


inspiration (photo credit: maddie),


creativity,


good hugs,


perseverance (I will always support you Nash regardless of your crappy team),


admirable (and beautiful) people,


genuine joy (anchorman),


the world I will explore in the future,


and definitely, my sense of humor.

There are too many to consolidate unto one blog post so I thought I would just stop here. I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving and takes some time throughout the day to think about all the good things we've been given.

p.s. I am also very thankful for everyone who takes time to read my (somewhat) interesting thoughts. You rock.

musical memories

As I sit here frustrated at not being able to understand calculus while my damn puppy insists on gnawing on my clothes, I am thinking about how music has the ability to elicit so many memories. (not that my situation and that point correlates at all.)

Some of my memories are:
Tupac - Unconditional love = 8th grade and beginning to understand the true meaning of the saying "bros before hoes."
Augustana - Boston = desiring/contemplating the decision to go to east coast for college to start fresh and leave everything behind.
Brooke Fraser - Arithmetic = my continual longing to understand Grace.
U2 - With or Without You = James, Jeff, Andrew, Biggie
Yellowcard - any song = Caleb's obsessions with things he likes.
John Mayer - Daughters = being called "homo" for liking this song.
Dashboard Confessional - Vindicated = agreeing with my friends in eighth grade that this song was for all the weirdo emo kids and making fun of them when in reality I liked the song. (my confession.)
Jon Foreman - any song = David Kim
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights = Jeff Ahn
Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned (I think she knows) = my constant internal conflict between dancing and being too embarrassed.
Kanye West - Stronger = daft punk
Daphne Loves Derby - any song = my only sibling.
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze = the first song I learned on guitar.
Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day = Mike Ly
Journey - Don't Stop Believing = karaoke-ing this at prom and the strength of believing wholeheartedly in something.
50 Cent - P.I.M.P. = My life till this day. (just kidding.)
David Crowder Band - All I Can Say = Realizing that when it comes down to it, my problems and troubles are minuscule in comparison to who He is.
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved = I just remember Jose loving this song for some reason.
The Fray - How to Save a Life = reminds me of how much I used to hate this band because of this song where I couldn't understand what the hell the main singer was singing because he slurred the hell out of the words. But now they are fine.
Colbie Caillat - Realize = me realizing that I am in love with Colbie Caillat.
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Ladies (let me talk to you) = probably the most awkward moment in my life as I was designing my pages for yearbook in the photo room alone. It was the first time I've ever heard this song because it came on randomly through shuffle and I thought it was a nice groove so the last chorus comes around and I'm there singing "I've got sexy ladies" which is already sufficiently awkward only to be complemented by my yearbook adviser Mr. Ziegler coming in right as I was singing. The look he gave me was a mixture of confusion, worry, and "wtf?"
Hillsong United - any song = Genuine encounter.
John Mayer - Gravity = reminds me of anytime I am down and maybe slowly, but definitely surely, get back up and get going again.
John Mayer - any song = the reason I love guitar and appreciate the art of song writing.

this picture rocks (even if it doesn't deal with the blog at all). but I don't support either team.