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.

Faith

     Last week I talked to our shuttle driver, who was very proud of his wife, and rightfully so. He had a right to be proud of himself, too. The shuttle driver possessed a lot of wisdom which he was generous enough to share with the passengers on board. We wanted to know what he had to say about many subjects. 

    What we learned was how he met his wife. The driver told us about his previous relationships and what he did to meet a woman fitting the characteristics he wanted. On a dating app, her picture was the first to appear. He liked her picture but wanted to check the other ones. At the end, he came back to the initial picture and profile of the woman who would become his wife.

   He then sent her something he called, a “flirt.’ I’m not sure if the message sending system was actually calling his action a flirt or if he was sending a message which was flirtatious. I think the message sending system to use to get the desired person’s attention had titled this move as a, “flirt.” In any case, he waited hopefully for a note from her to appear in response to his, “flirt.”

    Well, guess what? Our driver got a note from her. In order to read the note, he had to buy a subscription to the dating app, which he did. I’m sure if asked, he would say, “It was well worth it.” The question wasn’t going to be asked by me because of the way he spoke about his wife, which I would describe as, “in glowing terms.”

    The note and communication to follow led to him getting her phone number. Yes, a phone number. He is in his late ‘50’s and like some in his generation, good at talking on the phone. A fellow passenger said she had seen his wife’s picture and thought she was pretty. He actually hadn’t been talking about his wife’s looks as he drove. The conversation about his wife centered around what I’d say were in essence, cool things she was doing, and her great accomplishments. In addition, they felt good about their marriage as well as secure about it because they recognized that each of their strengths cancelled out their weaknesses. He also had faith on his side. You can take my mention of faith to interpret your own way.

    What I have written isn’t verbatim, but the best way I know how to describe it. 

    The person who asked the question whose answer I’ve been blogging about is me. 

    The question wasn’t small talk; my query was out of genuine curiosity. I have a friend, whose name isn’t going to be mentioned, who is in his 50’s and has complained on social media about not having a girlfriend. When I direct messaged a mutual friend, she said he was a bit particular. The good old, yellow, laughing-crying emoji ended her message. When I told our driver about this and our friend’s inability to find a girlfriend, he said, “It’s because he’s looking for someone who doesn’t exist.” Do you think that’s good food for thought? I believe it to be.

    Our driver didn’t think it was impossible for him to be in a relationship. He thought there might be apps which could work for him. Apps targeted towards specific groups or interests could show him someone who interests him. And there he has found a woman who exists, hopefully.**

* I didn’t mention the name of the driver because I’m not sure if he wanted to be name-dropped. If I had been able to ask for permission, his name might have been included. There’s a new shuttle driver now and she doesn’t know his name. She has a great perspective on life and has shared intriguing opinions. I’m thankful for their words of wisdom.

** I’m crossing my fingers that our friend doesn’t get catfished or experience some other misfortune. There might be, but I prefer to think he’s going to find a genuine person.

It’s 10PM. Do you know where your chess pieces are?

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with a new one.

    Some time ago, before the pandemic, I was taught the basics of chess at a non-profit organization for people with a diagnosis. The name of the organization, which at the time taught different classes and had support groups was, “The Wellness Center.” It was located near a McDonald’s in Lake Forest. The funds for the organization were from the government. The Wellness Center received government support to have these classes and support groups available to those with a diagnosis at no-cost because people voted yes to provide help for the mentally (some title it neurologically) ill. All of the support was given at no-cost to people with a condition or diagnosis which in some people’s opinion is a form of mental illness which can also be considered a disability. If you have a problem with the opinion about the words “mental illness,” “neurological illness,” “condition,” and “diagnosis,” I’m going to agree to disagree. I exercise my First Amendment rights with my blogging here.

   Do you want to hear the good news? The Wellness Center still exists in the same place and helps people find jobs, learn coping skills for better mental health and stability, and talk to people who have similar, the same, or different types of illnesses to help each other. To explain all of my words into simpler language, The Wellness Center in Lake Forest provides a place to go, someone to talk to, and gives people ways to improve their lives for free. Living with a mental or neurological illness is no joke. You may be saying to yourself, “Well, there aren’t any mentally ill people where I live. Why couldn’t the government have used the money for something better? Who voted for funds to be given to non-profit organizations?”

    To which I might ask, “You don’t know any mentally ill people? I do.” I can even tell him about someone who attempted “unaliving” himself because of what is termed treatment resistant depression who lived in my neighborhood. If he asked what “unaliving” meant, I could ask, “Are you triggered by the word suicide”? If he said yes, I would move on and talk to him about a neighbor who was trying to get a job despite having an illness because he wanted to work. The Wellness Center has an Employment Specialist and some computers, which helps because he doesn’t have a computer, paper, printer, or an Employment Specialist. He sincerely wants to work as he was a line chef before and thinks he has something to offer. Also, it goes without saying that the cost of living has become absurd in our area and he wants to earn money to pay his bills.

    In terms of why couldn’t the government have used the money for something better, I’m not sure how to answer the question. I vote every year and try to make what I feel are the best decisions. If I recall correctly, I was not asked to vote on measures pertaining to giving money other than the schools in our area. So now you know how I feel about The Wellness Center and now I can tell you more about the chess and how the class changed over time.

    The young man teaching me chess, whose name I don’t recall, seemed like he would be slotted into the same group as me. I would term us, “Americans of Asian descent”. If my guess as to his age were correct, he was likely 20 years younger than me, or even younger. In any case, after teaching me about chess, we played a game. I quickly lost but developed a fascination of the game and wanted to know how he won so quickly.

    In Chess, from what I have been taught at the classes, you have to play with every piece on the board in mind. Some years after my first lesson, after the pandemic had ended, I returned to the Wellness Center. For me, learning new skills, playing games like chess which stimulate the mind and take away depressing thoughts and ruminating, and connecting with people is important. This time around I got a new teacher who introduced himself as Boz. He described his background, where he came from, and details about his family and his hobbies.

    With him, I got a more in-depth lesson at the Center because more time was given. After playing different people and watching games, I finally won. The win felt good. Later on, thinking back to the pieces, the question was not, “It’s 10PM. Do you know where your Chess pieces are?*” My question was, “Did Boz let me win?”. If he did, it’s ok. I couldn’t attend every Chess class because I was focused on getting a job. The Employment Specialist worked with me to give me an advantage in interviews. I think someone with anxiety, ADHD, or depression might benefit from working with the Employment Specialist. After working with him and attending classes on how to get jobs, I felt more confident in searching for a job. He did a mock interview with me so I wouldn’t show up at an interview feeling unprepared or being seen as not the right candidate. 

    In the end, I got a job which is suited for me. The title I have up there, “It’s 10PM. Do you know where your chess pieces are?” is from a Chess.com email. One of the employees at the Wellness Center helpfully informed me about the website, which can be played for free, but I believe has in-app purchases. Since I’d rather play people than a computer, a real chess set may be a purchase I make soon. I am grateful people voted for mental/neurological health resources to be available at no cost. Voting is how we, the American people, make our voices heard and choose what we want the world to be like.

Tokyo Vice only had 2 Seasons :0

 Readers, I’ve been apprised of the fact that Tokyo Vice has only 2 seasons. I did not complete watching the 2nd season. There was a lot of fantastic acting and Michael Mann, the director, caught the feeling of the 90’s: chatter about the Backstreet Boys, one of the protagonists having a “waif”, slender and elegant look, and the way mental illness was the elephant in the room. The story, based on a book by journalist Jake Adelstein, hooked me in even though I think elements of it didn’t seem true and were sensationalized to attract viewers. One storyline, in my opinion, may not be what the author of the book really saw in his time in Japan. I can’t say for sure, but I think that particular storyline is hyped up, sensationalized, and inaccurate. It could have just been added in despite the author’s hopes. Do I know for sure? No.

I enjoyed watching the performances of many of the Japanese actors and actresses. Don’t get me wrong, the actor in the lead role was good, but I don’t think he studied the Japanese language enough. He appeared in one of the HBO behind-the-scenes features and said he studied the Japanese language for 4 hours a day. The director wanted him to study for 8 hours a day. He was smiling, but I started to form an opinion of why the Japanese actors constantly stole the show away from him. Another actress who doesn’t even look Japanese, was more captivating than him. If I recall, the actress playing the role (the character was named Samantha), talked about how she knew the Japanese language from personal experience. She had an explanation as to why her Japanese in the show sounded the way it did. Basically, the speech and accent used were those a foreigner might have.

On the bright side for the actor playing the protagonist, he was really good in the scenes where he was in the USA and spending time with his family. The actor also had credits as an Executive Producer and that’s what seems to me like a role which requires a lot of responsibility. Could that be why he studied Japanese for 4 hours instead of 8? After all, a person has to take care to not overwork. 

I’ll finish the series. Sometimes networks pull the plug and I just have to deal with it. Some days it seems like they’re pulling the plugs a lot!  I was entertained, intrigued and impressed by the acting. I hope to see the actors and actresses from Tokyo Vice again in a longer lasting series.