Curious Notions

Recommended to me by A.J.

I can pretty much summed up the book in a such a way where you do not have to trouble yourself with reading it.

50 Cent’s Bio as provided by 50th Law

His mom died at age 23 when he was a baby. Raised by his grandparents. He sold crack. Signed with Columbia. Right before the release of his first album, he was shot 9 times and was dropped from record label. He went back to the streets as drug bagger and hustled again. Sold his music himself. Discovered by Eminem. Learned the ropes of the business from inside record label and then broke free, creating his own label. When he wasn’t charming his way around the business world, he was intimidating his way around.

If you didn’t get this short outline of his life the first time 50th Law mentioned it, you’ll sure to piece it together the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th time the book walks you through it.

Also mentioned obnoxiously over and over and over again is that his name used to be Curtis but is now 50 Cent. You can really turn a reading of this book into a collegiate drinking game. Every time Greene informs you that Curtis is now named 50 Cent, take a shot!

The Little bit of Good

In a nutshell, this book suggests being fearless in all business encounters and in pursuing your dreams.
It encourages acceptance of your mortality, being proactive, and has inspirational historical anecdotes and quotations sprinkled through the book.

The Bad

As mentioned, very repetitious. The writing level felt very underdeveloped. Laced in the random inspirational quotes by influential figures is also quotations from 50 Cent. His “gems” stood out like poop on a windshield in comparison to the Nietzsche quotes and the Dostoevsky quotes.

The Ugly

The short of his advice when watered down can be considered good advice: Use fear as a motivating force; Accept mortality which will then allow you to move more fluidly towards your dreams. However, when fleshed out using 50 cent’s own life, it’s not exactly kosher. The book celebrates his aggressive and sometimes violent means to his ends. He hired thugs to mug people. He stole. He calculated and planned a studio tantrum and upheaval to raise publicity after one of his songs got leaked. He targeted and bullied Ja Rule to destroy Ja Rule’s credibility. I’m not yet jaded enough to believe this is the only way you can be successful in business. Moreover, I’m not yet jaded enough to celebrate these methods. Shame.

I don’t recomend this book but if you do decide to give it a chance anyway, please consider using the following link.

P.S. I still like his music. :)

I’ve been blue and I’m guessing this will be my general status quo for a while. I’m very much a type 7 kind of person so I don’t do very well sitting on my couch and feeling sorry for myself. I’m the kind of person who when faced with bad moods and heartache, I do my best to battle it with good times and reflecting on blessings. I cackle extra hard at mediocre jokes and I seek adventure. I’ve jumped out of planes and shot guns and traveled all in the spirit of avoiding pain. I’m pretty open to new experiences, but especially so when faced with adversity.

Although this is how I am, I don’t think it’s exactly healthy. I think we have to let ourselves mourn and feel what we feel now so that it’ll eventually run empty. It doesn’t mean I have to like it when my melancholy catches up to me and holds me in a lingering embrace. Actually it felt more like an unwelcomed, crushing bear hug. And that’s exactly what it did yesterday. The afterglow of my weekend in Houston wore off and I just felt extremely sad. All day. Most of the night. I’m a pretty rational person and I know bad times (and obviously good times) will pass. It’s just that I’m fucking impatient.

In the spirit of being more healthy about my coping with pain, I sat yesterday and bore the depression during work hours. Then, true to form I tried to use it as a trigger to propel me away. I completed tasks I was avoiding because I figured, hell, I’m having a bad day anyway, let’s just get this all out of the way. I cried my way through it and eventually made it to bed.

Here I am this morning. Ready to face it again. Tonight I’m meeting up an old/new group of friends and cooking something. Don’t know what yet. You know, to distract myself.

To nurse that afterglow I mentioned, I’m going to post random fun pictures from my weekend in Houston. (I have a progressive meal series to work on posting as well).

This picture makes me laugh out loud. I accidentally grabbed his butt right at the very second the picture was snapped. I thought it was his back! I did this to Jessica earlier that same day too. Oi.

I work a night job 2.5 weeks a month. Originally, it was a part time job to hold me over til my next full time position. After I found a new position in December, I realized I enjoyed my night time gig so much that I’m going to keep it and see what happens. It’s pretty draining. I started up the night time job for the month of January (it usually starts midway through a month and ends before the first week of the following month is over) this week. I started my new day time job beginning of December so really this is just my 2nd month of doing two jobs back to back. I wake up between 6 and 7am on these days and leave my day time job between 4 and 5pm. Get to my night time job between 5 and 6 and then get home at around 11pm. If I’m good, I’m in bed by 1am. December was brutal for me adjusting but this week wasn’t so bad. I unwind by listening to an audio book on my commute or call long distance friends to catch up. (I watched an Oprah episode yesterday about cell phone usage and how it affects your driving so I’m seriously going to cut down the car conversations.) If it’s a night I make it over to Alan’s, we usually catch up on a show (this week it’s been American Idol) and then I shower, crash, and start over.

This of course isn’t a permanent lifestyle but this is me hustling for now. Upon reflection, I do not regret resigning as a clinical research coordinator in May in the midst of a full throttle recession. I may not sleep much, but I sleep more than I did and more peacefully. I’m almost half way through rebuilding the emergency fund, and this night time gig makes me savour the weekday nights I have remaining.

Maybe I’ll live vicariously through ya’ll.

How do you spend your week day nights?

In comparison to 2008, 2009 was awful! The one thing I can think of that 2009 had over 2008 was that I read more than double the books I read in 2008. I’m anticipating the fresh feel of a new year that is 2010. In the meantime, here’s a review of how my year has gone with heavier emphasis on my blessings verses my misfortunes.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2009

• Celebrated New Years with Alan and his friends.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Saw one of my favorite movies of the year, Slumdog Millionaire.
• Kim sent me Tiff’s Treats at work to cheer me up about something.

Celebrating New Year’s with the boyfriend

February 2009

• Alan took me to my third Killer’s concert as a Christmas gift.
• Tried out Joe Dimaggio’s for the first of three times this year. Went as a Valentine’s date with Alan.
• Got flowers from Alan at work.
• Alan, his roommate, and I all played Bingo for the first time.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.

Alan and I at the Killer’s Concert

March 2009

• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Went to my first rodeo with some work friends and Brandi.
• Ate at Mighty Fine for the first time, now my favorite burger joint of the year.
• Celebrated Brandi’s birthday at Pete’s Dueling Pianos.

Rodeo, Austin, TX

April 2009

• Went to Houston for my daddy’s birthday.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Was supposed to be Jamie’s date for a wedding. We got lost in West Austin and ended up exploring Salado, Texas instead.
• Celebrated Selina’s birthday at her house on same day Jamie and I almost went to that wedding.

Selina’s Birthday

May

• Worked a lot; logged a lot of hours.
• Visited San Francisco for the first time and went with Alan. It was our first vacation together and we ate very very well.
• Put in notice at my Clincial Research Job and thus ending that career path (for now at least?)
• I finished out May working at that job and I stopped logging too many hours.
• Celebrated Sae’s graduation from Law School.
• Kim visited from Houston for Memorial Day Weekend.
• Katambra introduced me to a snowcone stand that I frequented often in the summer.
• Saw Star Trek in IMAX, was surprised to love it.

Celebrating Sae’s law school graduation

June 2009

• Ate at a lot of happy hours with old coworkers, with Alan, Sae, and his girlfriend with new free time.
• I took a certification class to become a teacher
• I went to Houston for Father’s Day
• Kim and I tried out Feast, voted best new restaurant in Houston by a handful of magazines.
• I saw Thomas in Houston and we ate at Fufu’s.
• Went on a lot of double dates with Sae and Young. (Here’s our first time at North)

Cindy and me at Grand Lux Cafe in Houston

July

• Celebrated Fourth of July with Brandi and her boyfriend at Zilker Park..
• Went on a lot of double dates with Sae and Young.
• Went to Houston for my mom’s birthday.
• Saw Cindy in Houston and we ate at Classic Kitchen.
• Kim and I discovered Hugo’s, hands down my favorite restaurant in 2009.
• Moved in with my current roommate, and long time friend, Brandi.
• Celebrated my birthday with tons of great people at Trailer Park Eatery.
• At one point, had 4 bouquets of flowers delivered at our apartment and they were all to me from different people. Felt very loved.
• I took and passed my state certification test to become a middle school teacher for science.

Brandi and me on Fourth of July

August

• The first two weeks of August, I tried to squeeze in as much time as I can with Alan because he was about to leave for Korea for up to 4.5 months.
• Starting, August 16, I started counting days Alan was gone.
• Kim came to visit the weekend of the 22nd and we saw Wicked.
• I saw 500 Days of Summer three times this month, in theatre, of course. This is the first movie I’ve done that.
• Jon visited from NYC.
• I got a part-time, part-time (yes you read that right) job, thanks to Brittany dropping a good word for me.

Alan’s last night out with friends before going to Korea.

September

• Hosted the first Alphabet pot luck. We started with the letter P.
• Wrote a blog entry about my journals, surprisingly my favorite blog entry of the year.
• Friends and I got dressed up for Deesh’s brother’s wedding reception.
• Visited Mary Ellen for a long weekend in Boston. First time I’ve gone to see her since 2005. Had best breakfast ever at Mike and Patty’s and most interesting hot pot.
• Alan surprised me by coming home from Korea early.
• Went out for Selina’s Bachelorette Party.

October

• Celebrated Alan’s birthday at Joe Dimaggio’s. Was very happy to have him back in Texas and to be able to celebrate his birthday with him and take him as a date to weddings. He had good timing :)
• Stood in Selina & Ryan’s Wedding and witnessed strong love.
• Realised I don’t really want to be a teacher.
• Threw 2nd Alphabet Potluck.
• Dressed up as a cow girl for Halloween.

November

• Went to Wurst Fest with friends.
• Went to Cathedral of Junk for the first time with Brandi.
• Texas Renaissance with Jessica and Brandi
• Had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Houston where I reunited with people I don’t normally see! (Willis, Thomas, Kim, Shane, Kelvin, Chris, Aishah, Kym, Hillary, Alex)
• Had my second progressive meal this year.

Having hot chocolate at Ren Fest.

December

• I started my new full time job and kept my part time night job.
• I struggled with what it means to be someone’s family.
• I struggled with what it means to be someone’s friend.
• I made truffles for the first time!
• Saw Avatar in IMAX opening night. Awesome.
• Attended and witnessed proudly, Bing graduate from college
• Attended annual Christmas Party for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America with my little and her family.
• Jennifer from Philly is in town and I introduced her to Teucsher.
• I went home to Houston for Christmas break and was able to see Mary Ellen, Aishah, Pinky, Cindy, and Kim of course my lovely family.
• Had hot pot on Christmas day twice. Lunch with Mary Ellen and her mom and dinner with my own family. Hot potted out! (Blog entry to come.)
• Released balloons 4 days early as part of a New Year’s Tradition with Kim. (Blog entry to come.)
• Tonight, most likely will be going downtown for New Year’s and spending it with Alan.

After party in the car.

I’m a blessed girl. Instinctively, I’d tell you my 2009 was pretty awful but when I write it all out like this and focused on the good rather than the bad, I can see now I’m still quite lucky. Farewell, 2009.

Tell me how your year went. Or better yet, if you have a year in review entry, I’d love to read yours.

I’ve never eaten at Johnny Rockets before but walk by one every time I go outlet shopping. I subscribe to a stereotype that mall food and outlet food are sub par however I’m open minded enough to acknowledge if something is amazing. Like the “yummy yummy” chicken at Sarku Japan in the food court in our Austin malls. That’s fantastic!

Jamie and I tried Johnny Rockets after a day Christmas shopping. I still have my dad and Alan to buy for. I think men are difficult to shop for. Anyway. Nothing amazing, as suspected of Johnny Rockets however they had two things that I thought were adorable.

1. The mini personal jukebox at each booth.

5 cents could get you a song by the Eagles.. or the Beach Boys! I’ve never seen a personal jukebox at a restaurant before. You know what this means? I have to eat at more restaurants.

2. There’s already ketchup on the table but they bring out a ketchup dish with ketchup art!

I highly recommend this video to those who love Queen, Sesame Street, and to my friend Nam who used to ALWAYS sing Bohemian Rhapsody when we would go karaoke.

Enjoy!

Happy Black Friday!

I love this.

Alan and I watched This is It last night which was also opening night. I was expecting it to be good and interesting but it was much more! I left pretty enthralled. It’s basically the concert that he was going to have in England. I knew he was beyond talented but I had no idea he was so involved and is such a perfectionist. He had the theatre cracking up a few times. It was a real treat. Alan tells me it’s only showing for two weeks so you should hurry and go catch it! Oprah was very timely and opened up her show about This is It today. You know, Oprah gets most of her shit right.

So the moment I’ve been dreading (dropping off Alan at the airport and not knowing when he’ll be back) has come and gone. I cried as expected. I got home about 30 minutes ago (it’s 5am right now) and finally stopped boohooing. I have to babysit in less than 4 hours and I’m wondering if I can will myself to fall asleep. I guess the plan is for me is to keep busy. Get back to finding a new career path. Continue finding new places for good food. Read some good books. Visit BFF in Boston. (or FFB – Friend from Boston). I’ll keep busy… but I’m going to miss him terribly. I think I played this song 5 times in the last 30 minutes.

Kim is visiting this weekend from Houston. I cannot wait. She’s been a pacifier in my life since 2000 fricking 2. You can call her my binky.

Related Blog Entry:
August 14, 2009 – Just Dance

This is a pretty high quality video of a live performance in Munich. Pretty crazy. At around 4:30 pm, I saw that he was taken to the hospital for cardiac arrest. I’m in my car at 5:15 pm and Alan and Sae had both texted me telling me “MJ died.” I texted Sae back and told him that he’s probably going to make it. Sae’s response: “His death was just confirmed.” Not but 10 minutes later the hip hop station I was listening to interrupted their programming mid song and announced Michael Jackson’s death. They then commenced playing Michael Jackson for 3 songs straight. It was still playing Jackson songs when I started to test the other radio stations and they were all playing his songs. My colleague told me later tonight that MJ songs were being played on her Christian radio station. I had goosebumps listening to his songs this evening.

RIP, Michael Jackson.