Apogees and Nadirs

it's coming...

2007-06-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

long awaited pictures, posts, and other trite shite since my last one.

sorry guys, life just caught up to me.

school is ending soon

lots of changes to tell you about

subterranean homesick blues

2007-03-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

Just two more days until spring break.

The days could not come any faster. I am tired. I’m getting a cold, and getting sick of L.A.

I’m not unhappy mind you. Actually, I’m quite happy. My happiness on the job is pretty high, my relationship with Rachel is pretty awesome, and my dog is getting cuter every day.

Last year at this time, I was really shitty. I was on medication for panic attacks, and I made an appointment for a therapist (never went though).

I think I’m finally starting to make some progress on the whole quarter-life-crisis thingy.

I’m just tired. Not enough exercise, not enough sleep, not eating enough vegetables.

My trip to N.Y. will be good for me. I’m gonna see some great friends, and hopefully make some new ones. I’m gonna spend most of my money of food and booze.

So even though I’ll thoroughly abuse alcohol, eat too much rich food, smoke way too many cigarettes, and not get nearly enough sleep, this trip will somehow leave me more refreshed than before.

The formula for surviving Los Angeles?

Leave at least every 3 months. You don’t have to go far. Just a place where L.A. is another city, cut off from the physical, spiritual, and cultural ailments that L.A. is known for.

Don’t get me wrong, I love L.A., I just have to leave once in a while.

One day, I’ll leave for good. Maybe New York, Detroit, Tucson, Denver.

In the mean time, I’m gonna take my Emergen-C, drink my water and try to stay sane.

I can only hope at least that much for you.

See you in New York

bees knees

2007-03-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

I had quite the weekend. After much cleaning, and burning of fragrant candles and incense, Rachel and I welcomed Erin and Matt into our home. Having friends over is one thing, I’ll tidy up, but I’m not going to stress out about it. Having family over, especially my little sister and her husband is nerve-wracking.

What will she think of my apartment? How does this reflect on my lifestyle? What drinks do I buy?

Anyway, Erin, Matt, Rachel, Ana, and I had a great time. What’s nice about having family that have already been to LA is that you don’t have to show them the typical sights. I have more of an opportunity to show “my” LA.

Thursday started late, we grabbed dinner at Nyala in Little Ethopia. We all were quite exhausted. After a few beers, we called it a night.

Friday was a wonderful day. It started off with the realization that I took the day off. Then I came into the living room to find my Erin, Matt, and my cousin Ana.

After breakfast at the Brite Spot, we went on a little tour of the East side of Los Angeles. We checked out Chinatown and Olvera street. We went south to Little Tokyo and the Disney Music Hall.

We arrived a bit early to our 1 p.m. appointment with Adrian at American Electric Tattoo. After a few months of deliberation, most of the Guevara kids (Erin, Melissa, Justin, myself, hopefully walter and Adrian) all agreed to get a family tattoo.

Many design revisions and we came up with our design.

Back in the day when the Filipinos were fighting the Spanish, each general had his army. Each army had its own flag. The design eventually came from one of those flags that was flown in the 1850’s.

Of course I went first, it was a bit more painful than my first

It is healing up quite well, I especially like the slight red outline of the design, giving it a glowing look.

pics coming soon!

A little gelato rounded out our Silverlake trip.

The rest of Friday was spent hanging out, napping, watching Jeff Tweedy’s solo DVD. We hung out at the Edison Bar, this cavernous converted boiler room. Too many suits and dresses for me, but drinks were reasonable and it was good to hang out with family and friends. We ended the night with a small pizza and more conversation.

Saturday was busy and short, all we could fit in was brunch with our Aunt Baby, Uncle Rene, and cousin Adrian. A few minutes of hangout time. Then they went back home.

It always rings true that when good friends and family leave, you then start to realize how much you miss them.

I can’t wait to see them again.

My birthday is coming up, as well as a trip to NYC. I’m glad uncle sam gave me my money back.

sing this hook, oo way ooo

2007-03-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

I can't say I know everything about music.
I often fall in love with many things, while hating others for no apparent reason (dmb, phish,fall out boy, chamillionaire).
One way to get me hooked on a song or a band is the use of strange instrumentation and delivery. I think that is one reason I am a huge Jon Brion fan. While he uses modern pop as a vehicle, his use of odd (not really odd, but underused or never used) instrumentation give the 4 minute pop song a shiny new coat.

Dig this band, Battles. Not what i'd call pop music, but they are considered a "math rock" band. Math rock, in that they use odd time signatures, using alot of elements from punk and jazz. Its abrasive, yet dance-able. Its monotonous , yet somehow complex and varied.
Anyway, their new album "Mirrored" is coming out soon, or already has. This album promises to be pretty awesome, especially with the added new twist of vocals/singing to the mix. I didn't think you could sing to math rock, but it somehow works, especially when the vocals are super stretched out and modified, rendering the human voice undetectable.

anyway, dig this video for their new song "atlas"

You may hate it. But most likely, you'll love it. Regardless, it'll probably get stuck in your head whether you want it to or not.

introductions and job titles all around

2007-03-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hello, welcome to my "new" (for some) blog.
In an age where anyone can be a writer with some audience (1?), I have created this website to do a few things.

1) As my title Apogees and Nadirs suggests, I want to talk about the highs and lows of my days.
I almost put in specific rules regarding time and frequency of postings, thankfully keyboards come with backspace buttons.

2) Refine my writing. Unlike last time, I actually want to go through an editing process. All posts will be first done in a word publishing program, edited, than posted on the website. Could this possibly limit my more reactionary-emotional posts? Possibly, but I want to put good work up here. (of course, I'm already breaking this rule as this current post is done in real time, in the blog machine).

3) What the fuck? I'll just do whatever I want to do.

For those of you who read my other blog, I thank you. Whatever small audience I had, I am grateful for it. Hopefully this continues to be a source of entertainment for you.

Here's to some good things.