A Second Time Reading A First-Rate Madness by Dr. Nassir Ghaemi

A second read of A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi wasn't completed as quickly as planned. The initial reading was inspired by a friend, an avid reader. She heard about the book from her doctor. Before retiring from his practice, the doctor raved about the book. My friend strongly recommended reading the book. Placing trust in her, Dr. Ghaemi's book was purchased and quickly read.

The author didn't include a picture of himself in the book, but what he did was stated. Dr. Ghaemi's resume included being a professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. More details of his work were included, but for the sake of brevity, writing about them in my next post was decided as the best option. 

Expected for my next post: an opinion and more description of A First-Rate Madness and how the book had me, my friend, and my friend's former doctor thinking and feeling. Rating for the book after the first reading? 5 out of 5 stars, A+, and two thumbs ups.

Review of Troublemaker by John Cho and Sarah Suk

Troublemaker by John Cho and Sarah Suk is an impressive novel on many levels. I have mad respect for John Cho. To me, he is a trailblazer in American theater*, television, and film. To read the superlative story he and Sarah Suk wrote is a phenomenal experience. The feelings about the LA Koreatown Riots are all there. The story of two young friends of Korean descent who are in middle school is relatable. 

Some Koreans and Americans of Korean descent of many ages remember seeing the news about the riots. The details written by the two authors ring true to the fears of many people of Korean descent at that time. Also, I feel like the book isn't just about us; people from different backgrounds are a part of the story. 

If by any chance Troublemaker becomes an animated film, I'm going to be interested in seeing it on the big screen. The cover art by Chris Danger and cover design by Karina Granda is appealing. If the movie's animation takes its inspiration from the cover art and design, I think it's going to look really good.

*In terms of theater, me and my friend Peter remember seeing John Cho as what we feel is the main character of the Euijoon Kim play, My Tired Broke Ass Pontificating Slapstick Funk. He may not have been, but his acting is memorable. Good times! I don't think either of us are going to forget the hilariousness of the performance. We have been delighted to see him acting all these years and now out with a fantastic book.

Julie

 Julie,

I miss you. I am not the only one who misses you. When I think of you visually, I am going to remember your bright, sunny smile, and beautiful eyes. When I think of you emotionally, I am going to remember your kindness, optimism, and sunny disposition. I am praying for your family. I think you are smiling in heaven and thinking positive, hopeful thoughts for the ones you knew in your time here.

Sara Bareilles - Brave

 Here is where social media helped me. One day I was unsure of whether to buy a song by Sara Bareilles called, “Brave,” or a song from another singer whose name I'm going to omit. I didn't want to buy both of them so I asked people on my favorite social media site, "Which song do I buy?" 

Overwhelmingly, the answer was Sara Bareilles’s “Brave”. Some even said the other singer copied, “Brave.” One person even made an impassioned vote for the single because she loved her music. So I bought Sara’s single. Later on I saw the video and it was so cute. I loved what she was wearing and I thought the people she chose to dance in the video were unique yet relatable. She and her dancers danced well, too! Great song, great video.

I bought the video. The other artist? I haven’t purchased anything from her. I haven’t needed to, in my opinion.

Sometimes, I read People Magazine and Architectural Digest.

 Sometimes when I'm in a waiting room, I read articles from magazines. To explain, what I'm doing is putting my phone in my purse and reading one of the usually few magazines available. People Magazine, at least the ones I've read, are light hearted and interesting. Interior Design magazines are fascinating to me. These show up less often than People, but to get more of a taste of what they are about, I can look at their YouTube channel or Instagram. They're even still in print.

 When I am looking at my phone, when I'm at home or wherever, sometimes an Instagram post from a friend I've known since middle school shows up. The interior design of his home inspires me. I like how the pictures sometimes include extras, such as his dog, or one of his fashionable carryalls. He has good taste. For as long as I've known him, his positive attitude, his thoughtfulness, his deserved pride in where he is from, and his good taste have been a constant. 

 What impresses me about him is how he has defined and described himself on his own terms in a positive way. While his statement may be taken in context because it was so long ago; he once said with utter conviction, "I'm a War Baby!" He described hearing bombs in his native country, Vietnam.

 If he ever decided to publish the story of his life, I'd read it. If he ever published his own Interior Design magazine, I'd get it. His magazine would certainly be on my coffee table. You'd think I'd put details about his socials here, but I have to ask first. Asking for permission from a War Baby seems to make sense.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Jack’s Mannequin, Something Corporate, and Three Pianos

 Somehow Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness came onto the radio many years ago and his song, “Cecilia and the Satellite,” made an impression on me. The melody and harmony was pleasing, relaxing, and the song had a triumphant, joyful feeling. It deservedly went on to become a Gold single. I initially bought the video, which is quite beautiful, and later on bought the album, as well as his band’s “Zombies on Broadway.” For another album, “The Glass Passenger,” I used iTunes. There are more albums and songs to buy and I look forward to that.

I found out about the band, “Something Corporate,” for which he was the frontman and started listening to them. His video for “If You C Jordan” is wild. I wanted to buy it because the jumping on the piano is really entertaining, but it wasn’t available. The song is certainly what many people can relate to - being bullied by an obnoxious person. I bought it through iTunes and it’s great. Be forewarned, there are some F-bombs in the song. The inclusion of them makes sense, but if you don’t like profanity or don’t want your kids to hear it - I’ve let you know.

His solo projects (Jack’s Mannequin and the aforementioned Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness have so many songs I’ve listened to over and over again because I love them. “Miss Delaney,” (which includes profanity) from his “Everything in Transit” album is one of my favorites. I’m also a big fan of, “The Resolution” from “The Glass Passenger,” album.

“Cecilia..” was a song I listened to many times. To me, lyrics are about a person going through tough times who makes it to the other side. What Andrew had faced was acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diagnosed after a summer tour was announced to support the release of, “Everything in Transit,” which me and my cousin have listened to many times. The tour was cancelled and he received a stem cell transplant from his sister. (According to Wikipedia). On October 11th, 2024, the band Something Corporate will be playing at the Hollywood Palladium with McMahon at the helm. He had also toured for his project (…in the Wilderness) before that. 

Even though we both went to public high schools in Orange County (I’m guesstimating they are 30 to 60 minutes apart from each other), when I bought and read his book Three Pianos, I could immediately tell he had a larger English lexicon than me. Like him, I’m an American, but we’re different types (cultural diversity, right?) These days the term for me may be, “BIPOC,” way back when it was, “minority,” and a University classmate jokingly said the two of us were, “mutts.”

He’s not wrong - in the ethnicity buckets we’ve been dumped into, it’s quite obvious we are not full blooded. We’re good. We are who we are. I sometimes read, speak or write words in another language. It’s cool, and there’s time to learn new words, maybe even in Spanish.

Well, this isn’t all about me - Something Corporate is touring. Three Pianos , while not was I was expecting, was a worthwhile read. While I’ve been putting off finishing a Kafka book I purchased in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 2017, I finished McMahon’s book in two days. I gave a copy of it to my cousin and I think he’s also going to read it quickly.

* There is a Dear Jack foundation he created to raise funds for cancer victims. For more info, go to:  https://www.dearjackfoundation.org/ 

I want to vlog

 I am interested in doing a vlog with my friend, whom I shall call, "Ace Pogo." Blogging is great, I have enjoyed other people's blogs (provided the ads for merchandise and services are limited). This year, I happened to see the vlog of a tech and automotive vlogger named Marques Brownlee. His story is fascinating. Why? When he was at the Stevens Institute of Technology, studying for a B.S. in Business and Information Technology, one of his professors asked him when he was going to drop out! Marques, or MKBHD as what he sometimes goes by, was doing a phenomenal job getting people to watch him on YouTube. He called himself MKBHD after receiving an honorary PhD.  

To me, Brownlee seems like an approachable and trustworthy vlogger who gives balanced opinions on tech and automotive products. Even if he was provided or loaned an item gratis, I doubted he was acting like a shill. There's a sense of trust being built, in my opinion, when watching MKBHD. Not everyone is going to get to his level, but it seems like a new kind of fun. I have had a good time writing my blog, enjoyed taking photos, and having social media accounts, but in some ways, vlogs seem like they could be a next level I would want to go to - while keeping the blog going. 

There is, however, a tough side to vlogging. I would pass by my husband as he was watching a vlog featuring a husband and wife. He said the wife had gotten a lot of flak for gaining weight. I think getting many of those comments are upsetting. In my opinion, even one negative comment can trigger someone.

I actually didn’t realize she gained weight. I wasn’t attuned to her looks. Thankfully she still vlogs. Don’t let them get you down - right? Is Ace Pogo going to be interested in vlogging? He is on Instagram. Maybe I can convince him and we can be on YouTube amusing people. It’ll be good to talk to him about this opportunity when we next meet.

Full disclosure: My friend Ace Pogo is a Pokemon Go fan and plays it a lot with friends and community members. Also: I’ve been told Pokemon Go is addictive. For me, I have periods where I’ll play and then times when I’m involved in other activities. I have been impressed by how many walks of life players have come from; it is amazing.

I feel like I needed to have a picture here, but I don’t. In any case, I hope you have a good rest of your day.