Braydon Szafranski

January 26, 2009

probably has some of the worst tattoos ever. But I don't think having "good work" suits him. So in any case.. Braydon Szafranski has some of the best tattoos. Ever.

photo: Patrick O'dell

Puff Puff Pass

Reunited and it feels so good

January 25, 2009

Last night was amazing. It was the first time in a long time that a good group of dudes got together and hung out at a party. There was some serious "dancing" during the SMARTS set, and then some serious "fucking-shit-up" in the house. There was the usual yelling, screaming, and stomping (especially when someone turned the lights out or if someone new walked in the room), along with throwing things, lighting household objects on fire, and peeing everywhere BUT the toilet. For a second, someone mentioned that the coffee table might be drunk, which would've been terrible news.. but the coffee table was sober. Chad found a tub of ice cream in the freezer that everyone went in on with a giant wooden spoon, then when Chad decided everyone was done eating it, he put it IN the light fixture on the ceiling. Tom D was probably the most outrageous guy in the whole house. I think he fell into Dondero's drums during their set.

When the night was over and everyone wreaked of beer and cigarettes, we went to Nino's for some 3am pizza (where there was almost a serious brawl between a customer and the guy making all of the food). Chad, Chris, Robbie, and I came back to my apartment and passed out to Robbie laughing at Japanese game shows on YouTube. I remember waking up at one point and having Chad in front of me, then trying to roll over and Robbie being on the other side. Then later in the morning, Robbie was on the hardwood floor while Chris slept like a baby on the couch. I was SO tired and SO stinky.

I love Baltimore.

After sending all the boys home in the afternoon, I spent most of the day inside, cleaning and watching movies. Chad picked me up around 6:00 to go witness some serious bromance, which was a lot of fun. I got to see a lot of dudes that I haven't seen in a while, plus dudes I didn't even expect to be in the hood.

There was some 50 year old man at the bar, sitting up and passed out. Then someone proceeded to light a napkin on fire and placed it on this man's head whilst yelling, "FIRE!". It was amazing.

I love Baltimore.

1.. 2.. 3..

January 23, 2009

I think this is my 4th or 5th iPhone.

Note to self: Do not leave phone in pocket while helping friends move. It could fall out and plummet 4 floors to utter disaster.

When I went to the apple store to retrieve my new phone (I upgraded to a 3G but I miss the regular-ass one), I cruised by the HUGE new Forever21 that opened up directly across from H&M. I went inside for about 2 minutes and headed right back out. I think I'm sick of that damn turquoise flannel that everyone has. It's the worst when one can be like, "Oh hey, you got that at [insert store name]". But I also think I'm sick of flannels on girls in general. Boys do lovely in them, but I feel like girls have overdone it. Blegh. Although, the Dude and I stumbled across a gold mine of flannels in search for a new blanket.

The First Princess

January 21, 2009

She looked like a princess in that Jason Wu gown.

WHAT TO SAY..

January 20, 2009

Aye where do I begin.

CALIFORNIA
Three weeks in California was good. I didn’t do much.. but that’s exactly what I needed. I spent a lot of time with my family, which was numero uno on my list of To Do’s. I got to see old friends and didn’t get to see some at all. I ate lots of Pinkberry, watched three seasons of House, two seasons of Weeds, almost all of Band of Brothers, and got through a terrible book I’ve been fighting to finish (which isn’t even worth mentioning).

SUPERCULT
I need everyone to add Chase Lisbon on Flickr, and join Zivity and vote for his new set that is going up on Monday. I know the Zivity thing won’t happen, but please add this Flickr profile.

BALTIMORE BICYCLE WORKS
A few friends opened up a bike shop down the street and I'm so proud. It's one thing to work at Gentei where the shop is more established and well known throughout the street-wear/track bike world, but this is a real bike shop with real dudes that love bikes. It's nice hanging out after hours while the dudes drink beers and watch YouTube videos. People are starting to do things.. so please support the guys at BBW.

THE SOUND ARCHIVES
Nick's band is playing at Chain Reaction this Friday.

HEAVEN
I know it's late notice, but if you're in the Los Angeles area tonight, stop by Heaven at the Silverlake Lounge.


THE DUDE
We went to the Dude’s folks house to pick up a sleeping bag for the trip he is currently on but ended up spending the whole day there. We played in the attic and dug up his past: old board games, clothes, school projects, toys.. etc. It was awesome.

He started playing with his camera and I got to play model for an afternoon. I have cry baby face because I just finished crying about 15 minutes before he started taking pictures of me. After all of the hard work, we stuffed our faces at an awesome Chinese restaurant in the hood.



I had been waiting to come back to Baltimore to watch Gran Torino with the Dude and it was definitely worth the wait. His brother told him it was good, but really racist, and I read a few reviews about Clint Eastwood’s character being racist.. but I don’t think the movie is about racism at all, but more about culture and the differences in generations in these cultures vs other cultures.

It got me thinking though. White people will never know what racism is. Even though I’ve grown up being the only Asian person in any group of friends, I’ve definitely come across malicious comments in my day. And it’s not even situations where Derek will tell me that I have SARS or something, because that’s just Derek being Derek and finding a joke in a situation. I don’t know, I guess I can’t explain it. But I’m just saying, white people will never know what it’s like to be black, yellow, or brown. It’s just the way it is, no matter how far we’ve come in society.

Anywaysss, back to the Dude. I love him :)

BARACK & ROLL
Chris and I had a semi-heated discussion on the Obama situation. As much as I refrain from talking about any politics for frustration of other peoples own opinions, talking to Chris was nice. He claims he is sick of Obama because of what a phony image the media has put on him and how much he is glorified, when in reality he can't really change much. He says he hates the fact that Obama has become a trend and that it's dulled down to being "cool". I definitely understand where he's coming from, and agree with him to a certain extent.. but I think it's such a positive "trend". In four years, I doubt he can do much to change the world. Chris claims that he is not going to make the poor man richer, but people think that he will. I definitely don't believe that Obama can better the lives of every individual, but I think the most important thing about him being our President is that the attitude of the whole country has changed.

Attitude. I kept telling Chris that it's all about the attitude. There is already such a positive energy out there and I think everyone can feel it. Yes, Obama's face has become an icon and perhaps a false understanding of what the future will bring.. but I think Sheppard Fairey's HOPE posters really exemplifies what he brings to the table. He gives us hope that our lives might be better. He might not change everything, but at least our hope is back, and I think that's the most important thing.

I kind of got mad at him for being such a negative energy in the universe. So what if the country is following this new trend. So what if people are being manipulated by the media as they put Obama on a pedestal. And so what if he might not change much. But people are happy and a hope that was taken away over the last decade is now restored. He might not change the individual directly, but he makes people want to become a better person. Maybe in that light, the poor man might get up and try harder to bring in the loot. Na mean?

"I need a love that is greater than the love I lost."

January 08, 2009

Someone close to me is turning 29 and without a love, not a prospect in sight. The men she dates don't stand a chance because they don't compare to her past love. I envy that past love. It was a great love. They were perfect. After four years of separation I still hoped that it'd work out, that after all of this time, after "seeing what else was out there", he'd be the one, her great love. Because it was a great love.

"I need a love that is greater than the love I've lost."

But what if a greater love does not exist? I am not the aforementioned person, so how can I expect my life to be the same, to fear for the same.

Every girl wants a great love story. But "great" means something different to each person. "Great", to me, is when he opens a water bottle for me, not the door. "Great" is when he surprises me with a juice that I like, not flowers. "Great" is when it hurts the most and when I am the most happy.

I know, wah wah.

Earthquake!

There was a teeny tiny earthquake about a minute ago. Me and my brother, just chillin' in his room. The room shakes. The usual.