You don't say?

So I've been dealing with writers block. I mean SEVERE writers block. I have no idea what to write about next, and no one seems to have the solution. A lot of good ideas have been thrown my way, but nothing has really stuck so I figured I'd just start writing and see where it took me. Well just writing took me nowhere... so I decided to borrow from other people. I love quotes. I had a list of favorite quotes for a while but, well, it got a little out of hand. I'm not sure why I like reading quotes so much. I don't know if it's because I struggle to put words to the chaos that is going on inside of my head, or if it's because everything just sounds better to me when someone else says it. I guess it could just be how I apply the quote to my life at the time. Nothing has any more significance than you give it. For your enjoyment I've compiled a few of my favorites here.

"Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about."

"It is only after we have lost everything that we are free to do anything."
-brad pitt (fight club)

"If music be the food of love, play on."
-shakespeare



"Findin truth, spreadin love, searchin deep inside."
-kottonmouth kings

"The dreamers of the day are dangerous people."
-d.h. lawrence

"Music should never be harmless."
-robbie robertson



"And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make."
-beatles

"You must be the change."
-ghandi

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more."
-pierre-jules renard

"Every man is born as many men, but dies as a single one."
-martin heidegger



"Where words fail, music speaks."
-hans christian andersen

"Castles made of sand melt into the sea eventually."
-jimi hendrix

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
-albert einstein



"I live in the clouds. Reality is not for me. People say i should come down. That the clouds are not a place for grownups to be. I smile at them. Maybe one day, I say maybe one day I will come down. But i never will. Reality is not for me. I shall stay up here. the view is quite breathtaking."

"I secretly hope you're going to be miserable, but even more secretly I hope you are going to be happy."

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”



"I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air,
They fly so high,
'Till they reach the sky,
And like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortunes always hiding,
I've looked everywhere.
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air."
-G.S.E.

Dub Club

So, as of today I'm twenty... fuck I'm old. I mean I don't actually FEEL old, but when I say it out loud (I'm twenty years old) it just sounds really old to me. I remember when I was in elementary school and I thought high school kids were "adults." Well, high school kids, I have news for you: you're not, and for that you should be ecstatic. If I could I would switch places with you in a second. I'm not saying I'd do anything differently. I try to live my life without regrets. I truly believe that the moments that have been the hardest in my life so far have played a huge role in shaping who I am today, but at the same time man would I love to do it all again. I feel like, in honor of my birthday, 20 random facts about myself would be an appropriate next blog (see the disclaimer in my first blog about how the only people who have blogs are narcissist with too much time on thier hands and apply it directly to me haha). So here they are. Twenty things that either helped shape me, I'm passionate about, or simply just popped into my head as I wrote this. All the stories you're about to hear are true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.


1. I'm a liberal San Francisan. I was born in the city and raised just across the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco will forever be my favorite city in the U.S.

2. Words CANNOT describe what workshop did for me. Anyone who has talked to me about it knows, and anyone who went through it with me will say the same thing. I only hope that I was able to give back to the people I bumped into along my path a tenth of what I got out of it.

3. My freshman year in high school my soccer team won 0 games, my sophomore year we won 4, my junior year we made it to the tournament for the first time in 10 years, and then there was Fall 2007, a season to remember. We went 18-3-1 and after dismembering Marin Catholic in the finals I finally got that NCS ring with my name on it.

4. I'm a bando and I'm proud. I played the trumpet for 8 years, went to a school of the arts for high school, and attended band camp for three glorious summers. If you have anything to say about it, fuck off, it's my birthday.

5. I'm selectively passionate, quietly opinionated, and fiercely loyal. I listen, I over analyze, I care. I'm learning to love and living to learn. I have a heavy heart and an old soul. I don't judge, I won't quit on you, and that's all I'll ever ask of you in return.

6. I associate movies and music with either a time in my life or a person, always. Because of that there are some movies I can't watch and some songs I can't listen to because they bring back memories I'd rather avoid. Que sera, sera.

7. Go Greek. I love my fraternity and the opportunities it has afforded me. What? "Blah blah buying friends blah..." Well, you obviously have no idea what Greek life, or being a member of a fraternity, is about. Enjoy being ignorant.

8. When I propose to my wife, Eye to Eye from A Goofy Movie will be playing in the background.

9. When I went to Europe in high school it opened my eyes to the world around me. After just a taste of the culture in London, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland I found myself craving more. I'm more excited to go back in the spring than I have been for anything else in my life.

10. I strongly believe in following what you are passionate about. For a while when I was thinking about what I wanted to do in my future I always focused on what would make me the most money the fastest, as I think most people do. I mean it's understandable. Money allows you to do pretty much whatever you want. But after talking to my boss at my job right now and really doing some soul searching this summer, I don't care about getting where I want to be fast. I want to always enjoy where I am, in the moment. After all, "Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." -Confucius

11. I have to give a shout out to my Greek family. Jewish mafia domination. Family motto: nut up or shut up.

12. Arizona will always have a special place in my heart. I've been going there every summer since I can remember, either to visit family in Jerome, to change lives in Scottsdale, or to escape from the world in the White Mountains. A summer just won't be right if I don't spend some of it in the 115 degrees Arizona heat.

13. My favorite movie is Fight Club. My favorite TV shows are Entourage, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Lost. My favorite books are The Count of Monte Cristo and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Wrap your head around that.

14. I've found I do my best thinking at the beach, on a lifeguard tower, at night. Thankfully, living in Southern California allows me to do this year round. Sometimes I invite someone to go with me. If I do, consider yourself lucky, it's not something I want to do with just anyone.

15. My little sister is hands down the most important person in my life. I'd do absolutely anything for her. That being said, I'm not envious of her first few boyfriends, because I have no qualms about being the mean big brother. She deserves the best and I'm here to make sure she gets it.

16. I value friendship above almost all else. A true friend is hard to come by, but when you find yourself traveling through life along side one it feels right. Miles and time changes don't matter. This is a shout out to you K Lizzle, Stew Baby, and Wadopotato (again, names have been changed to protect the innocent).

17. In high school I had a teacher named Mr. Dick. No, I didn't change his name to protect the innocent. His name was actually John Richard Dick (so John Dick Dick for short). I don't know if he knows it, but he is one of the most inspiring people I have met in my life. He is brilliant, he is passionate about helping kids learn, and he is really damn good at teaching. I took 4 classes with him at my high school just because I actually enjoyed learning from him, and he's the reason I'm on the career path that I am today. I should make sure he knows that. I've realized lately that a lot of people in life that really deserve praise for what they do rarely get it.

18. After my freshman year in high school I went on a cruise to Mexico. It was life changing to say the least.

19. I started playing volleyball on a whim as a freshman in high school and have loved it ever since. It's fun, it's fast paced, and you really have to know a lot about the game to be competitive. A few good matches in the gym or on the beach is one of the best stress relievers I've been able to find. Plus, let's be honest, volleyball girls a FINE, ya dig?

20. After my senior year in high school I had the pleasure of meeting John Mayer before one of his concerts and then watching him preform from the 15th row. I wasn't a big John Mayer fan before the night, but I mean who is going to pass up an opportunity to rub shoulders with a celebrity? Well, his concert was amazing, and meeting him was actually more interesting than I anticipated. It was a night of good music, great memories, and amazing company. One of my favorites to this day.


Life comes at you fast. Be passionate. Enjoy the little things.

Let's Revisit Our Childhoods

I've recently found myself with a lot of time on my hands (it's the summer in Orange...) and Disney movies have been blowing up my TV lately. In search for a lighthearted way to kill a significant amount of time, I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane to appreciate some of the movies that made me laugh when I was younger, but are often overlooked for what they actually bring to the table. So here, in the next installment of this pointless blog, I bring you a list of my Top 7 Underrated Disney Movies. Enjoy.


7. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Some people say it's like a watered down Mary Poppins that's too long and has a forgettable score, but come on people. It's animation (though out dated now) was ahead of its time in 1971. It's a movie about escaping from dull and depressing reality into an exciting realm of fantasy. Now who can't appreciate that? While not one of Disney's greatest movies of all time, it definitely deserves more credit than it gets.





6. Heavy Weights
Excuse me, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? It deserves at least 70% just because of how ridiculous Ben Stiller is throughout the movie. It's funny, it's entertaining, and like every Disney movie it has a happy, moral filled message. So what if the movie turned out to actually foreshadow an epidemic sweeping across the United States today.... We love underdog stories, even when the dogs are 5'5" and 250lbs.





5. Robin Hood
It's a simpler Disney movie. Some say it's "lackadaisical" or will bash the animation, but shit, it's from 1973... The voices work perfectly and the music has to be some of the best, most situationally appropriate music of all time. The script is witty and the animals are fitting to the characters they portray. I wore the VHS out when I was in elementary school and I plan to enjoy watching it again when I have kids some day.





4. The Sword in the Stone
This is an extremely well made movie. The animation is superb (1963), the story is relatively accurate, and there are countless jokes that bring the Disney touch to the plot. I think it's the timelessness of the jokes that really makes this movie unique when compared to today's animated movies. Also it's a Disney movie that doesn't rely on an underlying love story, which as a young boy I definitely appreciated.





3. Cool Runnings
The acting, not brilliant, though John Candy does a very impressive job in a role a bit more serious than he generally played. The story line, not that accurate, but who really cares? If I wanted to watch a documentary I wouldn't go to my Disney movies hoping to find a factually precise one... The movie is hilarious (mainly thanks to Doug E. Doug and his portrayal of Sanka Coffie) and touches on tons of themes throughout the movie (parent-child conflict, superstition, ambition, love, hate, patriotism, ect.). It's definitely on my list of late night/sick day movies to watch to make me feel better.


2. Hercules
As a young boy what more could I ask for from Disney than for them to make a movie where there wasn't a princess, where there was ample amounts of fighting, and that had music that I still (to this day) can't get out of my head? Nothing I tell you. What's that you say? You say the Greek mythology isn't accurate? Oh... okay, well in that case... fuck off. It's a fictional Disney movie. The jokes in it still make me laugh to this day despite the fact that I can basically recite the movie for you. If it's not on your list of favorite Disney movies then I suggest you check your pulse.


1. A Goofy Movie
If you have a complaint about this movie than you should go take a long walk off a short pier (unless it's about that possum theme park... cause that shit freaked me out a little when I first saw it). It's funny, it's uplifting, and it's well made. It has a nice mix of classic Disney characters with some fresh new ones. AND if none of that does it for you, then I have just one word: Powerline. In my opinion, arguably two of the best Disney songs ever (and for the sake of this list, my opinion is all that matters).

For your viewing pleasure (I'd post it on the blog but the Internet is being shitty) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HcqCFva-Gc

"I don't want to survive, I want to live."

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and that quote pretty much sums up what I've come to conclude. Take a second and think about it. I think most people lose sight of so much as we grow up. What's really important in life? There's so much we take for granted and let pass us by. I've definitely been one of those people. Always counting down to what's coming and not really living in the moment. I can think of three, maybe four moments in my life that transcend the rest. Where nothing else really mattered and, in hindsight, I can say that I was happy. Like really and truly happy (but don't get me started on whether or not I think a person can really achieve true happiness). The most recent of these moments took place this past semester, and I let it pass me by at the time because I was so caught up in other insignificant things. It also kills me how so many people give up what they're passionate about for what they "have" to do. Don't be in a rush to get where you want to go. There's nothing that anyone "has" to do, and don't let society tell you any differently. Don't forget to appreciate the little things. I think it really became apparent as I watched my little sister go through elementary school and now off to middle school. I constantly find myself wondering at what point she's going to lose her childhood innocence. When will things she thinks she's supposed to do, to fit in, begin to override things that she wants to do because they make her happy. I mean, to be honest, it's probably already happened. You should hear how grown up she sounds as an 11 year old... it's scary. And it's hard going to school so far away from her while she's growing up. After all I went through growing up in Novato, my only wish for her is to be safe and happy. I just hope every time we talk or I see her I'm able to impart on her some little bit of knowledge that'll help her live her life happily, whatever that even means these days. But, alas, if there's one thing I've learned this summer, other than to live life passionately, it's that experience is the best teacher, and nothing else really comes close.

Oh, by the way, that quote I started with isn't from a famous philosopher, historian, or artist. It's not from a movie star or a musician. No, it's from Disney and Pixar's Wall-e, which, if you haven't watched it lately (I mean really watched it) I recommend you pop it into your DVD player or computer. It's surprising how much you can learn from a Disney movie when you watch it again from a different point of view.



I took this picture last night. It's the sunset down the road from where I live... never forget to enjoy the little things.

I'm selectively passionate, quietly opinionated, and fiercely loyal. I listen, I overanalyze, I care. I'm learning to love and living to learn. -me

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more."
-pierre-jules renard


"Never regret anything because at one time it was exactly what you wanted."

Be The Change