Interests:pondering walking art driving music flying cornyjokes listening discussing biking dancingfoolishly laughing and loving Expertise:laughing at people. Occupation:professional biker.
My mama is a woman of grace; she was a dance major. In her free time, she sneaked into the ice skating rinks (without her mom or dance coach knowing) in Seoul and skated for hours (until she broke her ankle and her ballet Madame got p.o at her). She was always into this whole physical artistry...thing...and it had definitely rubbed on all three of us.
...Okay, I probably don't exude the kind of grace my mother has...okay, honestly, I don't think any of us do. But all of us grew up watching ballet, ice-skating, and gymnastics and I can confidently say that we all have a great appreciation for these forms of art and athleticism. I just don't talk about it much because I don't think anyone else here cares?
All of us have taken ballet classes. Never extensively, though. Just during the summers. Even in high school, I joined a ballet class for "pre-teens" because they didn't have a normal young adult ballet class at the local school. Took private lessons here in Ann Arbor, too.
All three of us have also taken many music lessons. My older sisters are both very musically talented. But in extremely different ways. My oldest sister was the "hard-working" music student. My second, the "naturally, almost prodigal-like" music student. I don't have much talent. But I have been told I have good ears: Apparently, I had perfect pitch as a child...and I have a good "feeling" for music. Basically, I don't have much talent. I'm just good at listening to music. HA! Both of my sisters took lessons (cello/violin) for a very long time...I took lessons sporadically throughout my childhood. But again, like ballet, it was never extensive nor forced. And I'm thankful that my parents never forced us to play music. We learned to appreciate it on our own...at least I did.
Although not forced, we were always highly encouraged to listen to classical music. I remember moments when my mama described to me what kinda of imagery she was painting in her mind. This happened repeatedly throughout my childhood. Perhaps this was why I thoroughly enjoyed listening to classical music in my music class in elementary school, and my teacher would make us do the same exercise.
...huh. My mama is so cool. Never realized how quirky and how charming she is until...now.
However, my parents did force us to play at our church music festivals. My dad (the music major, now pastor) established this because he believed and still believes in the positive impact music can have in a child's upbringing and one's own spiritual life. I hated these music festivals. But I can understand my parents' intentions now. Yes, it is not about showcasing your musical talents but it is about sharing talents God blessed you with. But more than that, I think my parents felt that musical celebration, in general, kind of completes a community. We share with each other in praise. And we support each other. And bless each other through our talents (or lack of, but from our efforts of just performing). I think my parents really believed that music can really cultivate a family experience/a church community.
...
Now that I think about it. I think my parents just wanted us to be really cultured in terms of the arts. They didn't expect us to pursue music, or make it our number one priority. My mama never forced us to watch ice-skating/dance competitions. My papa never forced us to attend his concerts (but we did, anyways. We were kind of expected to? Yes, the choir concerts were super boring...but I definitely have a different kind of appreciation for music conduction cuz of him). They didn't MAKE us do anything. They just made those outlets of creative physical and musical expressions AVAILABLE. I think they just wanted us to constantly be surrounded by the arts. Absorb it all. I think they really believed in this theory that art enhances one's life. Yeah, totally.
Wow, I've just realized how cool my parents are. And I'm so grateful that they've instilled their musical and artistic values on us. It was never about being "good" at something...they just wanted us to experience and learn to "feel" life a little differently than other kids. It was always about having the heart and the soul...ALWAYS. And feeling connected to life through creative expression. Yeah. Yeah.
And I guess it's not only about us and our wordly living but also in our journey with the Lord. God doesn't care how good we are at something. He provides opportunities and experiences for us, where in the end, he just wants us to acknowledge His greatness and "feel" His presence in our lives in every opportunity, experience, and every single moment. And simply just love and praise Him with all our hearts, and soul, and our minds in all that we do.
WOW. Where am I going with this? I have no idea. Umm.. I was originally just going to post up a video of Yuna Kim, the amazing South Korean figure-skater because I don't know about you, but I grew up watching a lot of ice skating (cuz of my mom). I was just going to comment on Kim's precision, her speed, jumps, the artistry...All done so effortlessly. This entry totally took a different turn than I had expected.
Watch the video, anyways...SO beautiful:
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Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) is way too adorable.
I especially love those little wings he has at the side of his ears. You know--how his hair flips out?
[[edit]] What is wrong with me today? I only got like two hours of sleep, but I'm more cheery than usual, smiling at almost every passerby, giggling and chitchatting with a handful of strangers, including the Comcast guy who came in today... Am I on drugs? Definitely not. I feel great and super happy. I'd love to be like this everyday...but why today? Let's see how long this keeps up.
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So...I like totally love my freshman English class.
Despite being the only non-freshman, non-white student, I love the class and respect my mates. They are cute and spazz-tastic. How thankful I am to be taking this class as a senior instead of as a freshman. The experience would have totally been different...
And my professor basically lets me write about whatever I want. I should turn in my xanga for my final. I'd probably get a Z.
My Engrish is terrible, my grammar is poor...but if I weren't an A&D major, I think I would have been an English major. Or French major. Si.
Yeah, honestly, if I could start college all over again, I don't know if I would have been an A&D major. Don't get me wrong--I love it. But I'm just sooo curious about the other side of campus. Although I don't envy those neverending papers and exams, I envy the open opportunities for critical thinking and discussion...cuz surprisingly in the art school, we don't discuss or think much. We think very hard for very little, and we just DO.
I'm not in college to learn and get a degree and become an "artist" or whatever. I'm simply here to just...be? Does that makes sense?...see the world through these special set of colored glasses, learn what it means to be a citizen of the world, and just be engaged in it. You know? Honestly, I don't care what degree I get. I just want to do. stuff. See the world. Be moved. Be changed. Move. Change. Fly.
A&D, English, French...all pretty useless in the big world. But whateverz, I like what I do.
MUTEMATH Concert October 18th, 2009 House of Blues - Chicago
First one in almost two years (they were opening for bands such as The Fray and Matchbox 20, or playing shows in Europe / Japan -- too pricey for a broke college student like me)...and boy did it feel good to be back.
I wasn't as teeny bopper as I was the first 7 MM shows... didn't yell out "MARRY ME, DARREN!" like 50 times... but I couldn't stop myself from whooing about 103338 times during the show and dance and jump like a maniac. I almost wanted to cry at one point because I was basically reliving my "youth." I felt alive. It felt good. Cheezzballzz! It was soo good.
But I'm not gonna lie, I'm sad they're getting big kinda fast. Doors were supposed to open at 6pm-- at 515pm, there was a line that extended around the building, around the block. I wanted to puke when I saw that line. Thank the Good Lord for VIP passes. Sheesh. Dudde we were there since the beginning! They're our babies, all grown up.
While we were stuck in mad traffic (jokingly): "Geez, I hope all of these people aren't going to the MUTEMATH concert" (we had found out earlier that day that the show was Sold Out) "Yeah. Do you think they'll ever play at the really big venues? Like Rosemont? Wrigley Field? And sell out?" "Gah, I hope not"
Me, Mary, and our new friend. OOOh how I love that fretless. Trademark.
According to Alternative Press mag, they are the "#1 band you need to see live before you die." Here are some videos. So the first video is of "Reset" -- probably one of my favorite songs of all time. The funny homemade instrument he handed over to the crowd is the Atari. The crowd did a terrible job of playing it. The song followed immediately into "Break The Same"... The second video is just the ending (instrumental) part of "Break The Same," which concluded the show (after 2 encore performances).
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I miss going to concerts. If I had money, I think I would spend it all on shows (concerts, musicals) and shoes and silver for my projects. I am super excited for Jake Shimabukuro next month. I'll be going to this one by myself and I'm really looking forward to it. After going to the Ray LaMontagne concert solo last year, I'm even more hooked on doing everything by myself. How lonely. Gosh I love it.
