All Things But None

I remember using the same entry title back in January... the video and the music still mesmerize me. Yesterday at my work there was a mass layoff, which everyone actually knew about. I was 90% prepared as I have already packed all my belongings and burned all the work that I've done and brought them home. So I was ready. Anyway, it was a miserable day. From where I sit I can see people hugging, saying their farewells, people walking out with crates and boxes... Seeing a few good friends / coworkers go was almost unbearable. I got a massive headache and a queasy feeling all morning which took 3 Aleve's to remedy. It was horrendous morning.

I got off easy. For those who got laid off, a few were okay about it, but for some, it was devastating. I know a dad whose son is soon to be going to college, a guy who just came from another company's layoff less than a year ago... I wish the very, very best for them. I used to tell myself: One day at a time! I used to.

I also know a few bloggers that are going through some rough patches right now: Brett, Davey, Matty, Lewis and Derek. Life seems nothing but hurdles sometimes... But what's more important: The process or the lesson? Sink or swim, we are forever swimming... I wish the very best for them, too. Warm wishes to you all.

Life is a challenge - everyday! Take great care of yourselves everyone. Going forward: One breath at a time.

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Currently listening:
Carly Comando - Everyday

While I was driving to work this morning, I got to think... Is love everything? Everything is love? Love is everything? Is there something that is beyond death? Is there something that transcends life and our existence? Beyond God?

Is this something so incomprehensible? But is God everything? Or is that something we perceive only in our mind seeded by our society?

I would like to think there's more. Something beyond boundaries: limitless. Well that's what I was thinking about this morning.

How are you today?

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Currently listening:
Brian Eno - An Ending [Ascent]

Did you all have a nice weekend? I sure hope so. It poured down in Southern Cal this past Friday late night, it was so loud it woke us up. It doesn't happen here in the South Bay too often.

I saw my folks the 2nd week in a row. The reason being is that my aunt flew out from Melbourne, Australia. She used to always fly in with my sister Medina, but now she flies alone. She's like 72 but still in great shape. She doesn't speak a lick of English so we're glad that she made her way safely. My mum made lunch and we all just ate at the house. Might as well cuz grandma isn't very mobile. It's a delight to see them together talking. When I left, I asked my mum and my aunt if they want their pictures taken, but my aunt said next time around, since their youngest sister will be there next week, for I can take pictures of the 4 'girls' altogether - my grandma and her 3 girls. My mum is almost 75 I believe, and she was only 6 when her dad passed away. It just amazes me when I think about my grandma's ordeal... Where she raised the 3 girls all by herself during war times. The stuff that she had to go through in that life and time. I can't wait 'til next weekend!

What else took place this weekend!?! Hmm... We sorta cleaned out the garage once again. Rearranged the filing boxes, emptied some out and put 'em here and there. I came across so much stuff that I've kept from years ago. We have a hope chest, well, more like a hope 'box' really that I have tons of cards from peeps and friends and families from yeeears ago... I have over about 1000 cards and postcards I reckon. Some of them with names so vague, I don't quite remember. "Tricks maybe?", I asked myself. Why do I keep them, I do not know.

So anyway, I found this bag of buttons. Here's a better image of them! As you can tell, way back when, you know who my 2 fave bands were! Not sure what I'm gonna do with these buttons. Sorry Jef, no Bananarama's. :-) You want any of these? heh! If we do get a chance to meet next month, I should wear them out on my homemade Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen denim jacket! Owait, that's right, my mum threw it away for no good reason!! @#$%&!!

Well that was pretty much my weekend, not including the hours that I spent playing on my PS2. Do you love RPG games? I've been playing Grandia III, it isn't the best, but it's just a total time-waster. But aren't all the video games? ahaha! I think next I'll start on the .hack/G.U. series. Like THAT you need to know! :-)

Say, before I leave, is anybody else on Facebook asides from the peeps that I'm already linked to? Just curious. I know, I'm so 'highschool!' :-) But I still think it's one of the better places to upload your photos and share with others! Laterz!

Have you ever heard Discreet Music by Brian Eno? The new season is approaching, can you feel it? And it's always changing no matter how subtle... in time, summer will be back again. The cycle continues.

Similarly, people are like the seasons, too... Everyone's changing, but as for me, I seem to be just like the person I was before...

An online portfolio... I need to build one, but I don't have much 'artsy' material from my current mortgage banking job!! ugh! I need inspiration. I think I also need a new domain name. Maaaybe!

What to do!?! Hmm... Think! Think! Think! Such possibilities...

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Currently listening:
Lunz - Lunz

And we're back! Nah, I don't want this entry to go on and on 'bout what we did on our vacation, blahblahblah... So I'll make it short. We had a wonderful time! I've always wanted to see the New England states. Flew into Boston and from there, we drove all over the place! We managed to visit 6 other states: ME, CT, NH, RI, NJ, NY and of course MA! On September 10th, I visited Ground Zero for the first time. The next day, we flew out of JFK back to southern Cal.

We also got together with a few bloggers, whom all I've met before... and a very, very good friend of mine from the early 90's! With our busy lives, we hardly talk these days, but as soon as we saw each other again, it felt just like old times! Thanks Evette, it was really good to see you again!

Also we met up with Alec's brother in Beach Haven, NJ. Saw a play which he helped out as a lighting technician. That kid got some mad skillz up his sleeves! Hello David! It was great seeing you and meeting all your friends! Oh wait, I don't think he knows my blog. heh!

Y'know meeting up with friends and family was really the best part of the trip, well actually that comes second to spending time with Alec! :-) Well there you have it, we were gone for 10 days and now we're back. Here are a few touristy pictures! My hair was a big mess, thank heavens I shaved it all off last night. Well almost all!

PS. Oright, we saw Xanadu on Broadway. The ultimate cheesy fun!

Could you believe this entry isn't about my folks!!! :-) heh! Well tomorrow Alec and I will be flying out to the east coast... We're gonna fly into Boston tomorrow late night and will be driving all over 'til we get to NYC! This is basically a 9-day road trip so right now I'm burning as many CDs as I can. My car has a MP3 player so those discs ain't gonna work on the rental! gaaah!

This is a music post I reckon. Currently listening to Black Devil Disco Club... Could you believe the original [first six] tracks were done in 1978!?! Su-weet! Here's a short list of music that I'm taking...

Soulwax, Cicada, the new Ulrich Schnauss, new Robin Guthrie n' Harold Budd, ambient tracks from Brian Eno to listen to while driving under the lovely night skies... also tracks by [in no particular order] Toto Coelo, Human League, Siouxsie, Lene Lovich, Adam & the Ants, Go-Go's, Cory Daye, Blondie, Talk Talk, Donna Summer, James Figuerine, Lisa Gerard, Peter, Bjorn & John, Tears for Fears, Peter Shelley, Gabriel & Dresden, Patrick Hernandez, Frankie Smith, Stars on 45; John Foxx, Altered Images, The Psychedelic Furs, The Orb, OMD, The Vapors, Depeche Mode, Flock of Seagulls, Fun Boy Three, Pixies, Snow Patrol, Mickey 3D, Dead Can Dance... oright, and a huge collection of Cocteau Twins, including the original Garlands CD with the 6track from the John Peel session... I miss listening to that CD! It's been a long while! Oright, and some Buddhist chants and my 2 Sadness CDs to boot! Oh why not!

Anyway, that's enough for now. I should go pack since I haven't started yet! In the meantime, enjoy Black Devil in Dub. It's a good break from the chanting don't you think? I'll have my laptop with me, so I won't miss you guys too much! Happy September and hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. Keep kool! 'til next time!

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Currently listening:
Black Devil Disco Club - Black Devil in Dub