Life Update

So in case you're wondering, I'm still working on my album and screenplay.

But some things have come up within the past few weeks that have occupied my time.  

About two weeks ago I had an interview at Neo@Ogilvy, and I didn't get the job.

This Wednesday I have an interview at Neo@RMG.  I certainly hope to get more interviews down the line, but I also realize that it's a tough time to find a job.  Especially in advertising.  

So I'm going to New York again this week.  I go their so often, I seriously should consider moving there now.  But, I don't have the means...

Hopefully I'll find a job soon so I can move out there.  

So back to my projects.

My album is coming along.  slowly.  It definitely won't be as long as I said it was going to be.  I'm probably going to aim for 8 - 9 tracks.  Since my decision to actually make an album, I've only recorded one song.  And that was two days ago.  I've got writer's block.   But I've had it for what seems like a year.  

I'm now just going through old stuff and seeing if I can make things better.  Maybe re-recording them.  Maybe.  And maybe a cover.  Or two.  Maybe.  I'll figure it out.  

My screenplay is also coming along slowly.  I sort of have the beginning, but I'm still trying to figure out how it will fit into the rest of the story.  Or how the rest of the story will fit into the beginning.  It's all in my mind, but all messed up.  I have to decide which direction I want to take it.  Figure out if I want to end it on a good note, or a bad one.  It will come together eventually.  Hopefully soon.

Later.

Lost

So I've been writing my screenplay, and the software I mentioned in a previous post really helps. 

I still don't know how to describe it, perhaps it's because I'm so tired.  But I don't have to keep formatting it, because it automatically does it for me.  I just have to type.  

I'm having issues though.  Not like, me staying up WAY too late. (I still average like 7-8 hours of sleep despite the fact that I wake up closer to noon)

Rather, I have issues with my plot.  I don't know which direction to take it.  At first I wanted to make it a slightly romantic drama with hints of comedy, but I decided not to do that.  Then I wanted to do straight up tragedy, but thought that was too depressing.  I considered straight up comedy, but I'm not that funny.  

Basically, I don't know if I want to end the story on a good note, or a bitter one.  I like the concept of nobody being happy (in movies).  

Part of the reason why I hate movies that have happy endings is because a lot of the times, it's unrealistic.  But that's what movies are about right?  Escaping reality.  

I don't know what it is.  Part of me wants my main character to be truly happy in the end, and another part of me makes me want my main character to suffer.  

Nothing that involves death or anything of that sort.

I think I'm having a hard time, because I sometimes write the story as if I am the main character.  I then try and think about what I would want, but it conflicts with my story because, I have to steer my character in one direction while I know that I would want to go another way.

It's stupid, because I'm afraid that this story that I have, up here in my head, is actually going to happen to me.  Not exactly, but in general.  The only experiences I have are my own, and I can only write about what I know.  I'm not even trying to film this.  I just want to write a screenplay.  I want to write it because I've always wanted to write one.  

I want to see my story finished.  But every time I try to write, it's like I'm trying to predict what's going to happen to me in real life.  

Is there a word to describe how I'm feeling?  Besides crazy.

Can't Sleep

The picture is completely irrelevant to what the rest of this entry is about.

It's nothing big, probably not even funny to 99.8% of the people who saw it, or are seeing it now.  

I frequent CNN's Sports Illustrated website, along with ESPN.com.  I check them regularly to keep up with sports news and scores.  I enjoy reading up on my favorite teams and players.  

This one particular headline caught my eye.  

"White powers South in Senior Bowl" 

I know exactly who and what they are talking about, but honestly, when I first read the headline, all I saw was, WHITE POWERs and SOUTH.  If I wrote this article, I think I would have titled it differently.  But maybe the guy did it on purpose, It got me to click on it, because it caught my eye.  

But I know in reality, I'm just blowing it WAY out of proportion.  Anywho...

I'm heading into DC tomorrow.  I mean today.  I mean in less than 6 hours from now.  

My sister's taking the car to work, so if I don't go with her at 8 AM, then I'm SOL.  So I have to tag along.  

My friend is coming in, and then I'm staying at his friends for the night.  It's much easier for me to stay out there then to come back home late at night.  

Keep in mind DC is only like 20-30 minutes from my house, without traffic.  

The traffic here SUCKS.  Roads are congested, mostly with people who don't car pool.  There are HOV-2 lanes, which are dedicated to cars with more than 1 passenger and hybrid vehicles, and I think there are other exceptions, but I don't live around here so I don't know (great excuse, mind you**).

The HOV lanes are usually pretty empty, which is pretty sad, because they are supposed to alleviate the dense traffic, but people can't seem to live without their cars.  It's nice, because you can drive by yourself on the HOV if you have a hybrid.  THEY ENCOURAGE IT.  We need more of that now-a-days.  Encouragement.  NO ONE WANTS TO DRIVE A CADILLAC ESCALADE.  I really wish they'd stop trying to sell that behemoth.  I love advertising.  I do.  I enjoy it all.  But seriously.  The only car commercial I remember seeing during the times when gas was over $3.00, which was not too long ago, were Cadillac Escalade commercials.  

It totally makes sense, because when gas is high, nobody wants to drive a tank to work, but you can't sell a car if everybody forgets about it.  Watch me buy one in like 10  years.  I'll blame the damn commercials with Kate Walsh.  

So as most of you know, and can probably just assume without hesitation, I'm unemployed.  I would love a job right now.  I cannot say that I deserve a job right now, based off how hard I'm trying to obtain one, but one can hope.  I'll have to start picking up the pace soon.  I always say that, but it doesn't mean anything until I actually start picking up the pace.  soon.

But since I do have a bunch of free time, I'd like to use it wisely.  I've decided to read again.  I've been on a hiatus of sorts.  I haven't read for pleasure, key word pleasure, since freshman year of college.  Not to say I haven't read a book since then.  I have, and I don't count books that I had to read for school, because I never read those anyways.  I'm trying to force myself to read, to find joy in it.  I see so many people that enjoy reading, and I can see why, because when you find something that interests you, you don't want to put it down.  Me, I lose interest in books very fast, so if it's fiction, the story has to be pretty good (for my standards).  

I've had the habit of turning the TV on the second I wake up in the morning, but closer to noon. 

Now I'm gonna read, which is exactly what I did today.  If only for 30 minutes.  If it's good, I won't put it down.  So I need to find a book that will captivate me.  

I need to play less video games.  I know I have a ton of time to kill, but I can be using it more wisely, like drafting up emails and letters and such.  Although video games is a great way to pass time when you're bored as hell.  

But even with reading, and video games, and sending emails and letters, I'm still left with  A TON of time during the day.  So I decided on a couple things.  But one thing at a time.  I have limitations to my multi-tasking abilities, not to say that I'm not a "multi-tasking daddy" (reference to my Twitter update earlier)

So the first thing I want to do is, record an album.  I already have some recordings, but they were made within the last 2 years.  I haven't recorded anything original recently, and I would really like to do that.  Then get 10 songs (maybe a little more if I have enough creative juices flowing within me), and arrange them.  Burn em' on a CD or upload em somewhere.  I've always wanted to record an album.  

The other thing I wanted to do, was to write a screenplay.  I have a general idea for the theme. 

If I were to hypothetically film this movie, I would want it to be in the 60-90 minute range.  Ideally, maybe 120 minutes, but that's a long ass time.  

A good friend once told me, if you can't imagine the movie in your head, scene by scene, for how ever long you want it to be, then you can't make the movie.  There wouldn't be enough substance.  Of course, it wasn't word for word what he said, but that was the point.  

I really need to just sit down and think it through.  Develop characters, plots, settings, etc...

But this is low on my totem pole of things to do/want to do.  

Okay, I've probably lost a lot of you now.  

I'll update you with how my life is going.  I swear to be more productive.  Not only for myself, but for the rest of humanity, because the world could use one less lazy, unproductive SOB.  

NYC Chronicles 09

Today was a long day.  

I didn't leave the office till 10:00pm.  

Why?  Because our group was hard at work to put the finishing touches on our phase one presentation.  And by finishing touches, I mean finishing the power point presentation.  

I think the finishing touches are being done by a team member now, or later in the morning, before our presentation.  

I mean, it was fun and all, but I think it was just because we were all just slap happy.  

But it was good regardless, because it's nights like that I will remember.  I like my group, we all work hard, for the most part.  Some work harder than others.  

It's like 1:46am right now, and I just finished doing some research for our phase 1 presentation.  i couldn't even get all the information I was looking for.  But oh well.  Nothing's perfect.  

Aside from having the longest work day of my life, I actually have to get up early today to pick up my clothes from the cleaners so...

Peace.

NYC Chronicles 08

So I took a 3 hour nap today.  3x longer than what I had originally planned for.  

As a result, I am still awake.  

Back in Columbus, whenever I was bored, or not fully engaged in something, I had a habit of "researching" music.  

I haven't been doing much of that here in New York since I'm usually pretty busy.  

There are some things I definitely miss about life in a smaller city.  

I definitely don't go out as much back home, compared to now.  

I enjoy going out and being with everyone, but sometimes, I just want to chill.  Go to a concert.  Get some halal food, a crif dog, and/or some dessert.  

I'm still very much used to just going out into town and looking at stuff and taking stupid pictures, and then going to bed at ridiculous hours, sober.  

I pretty much do the same thing here, but not always completely sober.  I never go crazy though.  I hate not being able to control myself physically.  

I guess that's the nature of the business?  I know it doesn't have to be, but the networking aspect of it all is so important.  

I just want to do more things that I'm accustomed to doing.  Like being lame.  Playing guitar for hours, writing lame songs, then recording them.  Driving to...anywhere.  (Gas is really expensive, so I don't miss this one too much)  Playing basketball on a full-sized court.  Cooking my own food.  

I can go on.

But I love it out here.  It's such a unique experience.  Not just the work, but the program, the people, and the culture.  

Today was the first time I didn't almost pass out in my cubicle.  

Holla.

NYC Chronicles 07

A new week begins.

What a long weekend. I had a half day last Thursday, and had Friday off because of Independence Day.

Hope everyone had a good 4th of July weekend.

This weekend has left me very tired, and not wanting to do anything except sleep.

I need sleep.

NYC Chronicles 06

Almost the halfway point.  

I'm in the middle of the 5th week of the program.  4th week for me, but same difference.

A lot has happened since my last post.  I became one year older, went out, went out again, did karaoke, and saw the gay pride parade.  That was basically this past weekend in a nutshell.  I'd put up pictures, but I'm too tired.

After work we had a seminar, then we watched Wall-E.  Which, I enjoyed, but not sure if I should have paid $11.75 to see it, or any movie at all for that price.  But, despite it's lack of dialogue, it was entertaining, and did a way better job than "The Happening" in tying in a social issue into the movie.  

If you want to see pictures of my excursions, look at my FB.  That is, if you are my FB friend.  If you aren't.  Then we aren't real friends.  Just kidding.  I hope.

Sign off.  

NYC Chronicles 05

I'm at work right now.
I actually have a lot of stuff to do, but I just wanted to update.

I've been getting more comfortable here in New York City.
I've always been comfortable in the city, but people wise. I'm starting to make friends, and I hope they are lasting friendships.

If a friendship doesn't last, is it even worth it? I hate to say something like that, but I'm really picky when it comes to friends.

I don't like having a million 'friends'.
Which isn't to mean that I only have close friends, because I can only devote so much time to each person, you know?
I just like to have friends that I know I can trust, and trust is something that is earned from both sides.

This might cause problems for me, because I need to network while I'm out here. Which means, being acquainted with many people. I can't befriend all of them, or any at all. But I have to get my foot in the door somehow. I need to have some connections. Because that's what it's all about. Connections.

But the friends I make during this summer through the program, I hope they are lasting friendships, and I hope they want the same. Because it can't work if one side doesn't want the same thing.

That was longer than I thought it would be...

So, I went out on Friday night, with some friends, and we got split up because some got into the club for free, and some of us got a different color ticket and had to pay $20 to get in. And to think, $20 was the "reduced" cover charge. So I left with a friend, and went to St. Marks and chilled at a bar, then called it a night, and we went back to the lame I-House.

Saturday, I went to Coney Island during the day. There was a Mermaid Parade. Crazy & Hilarious. It was a great day to be at Coney Island weather wise too. I left the group early, by myself to change and go to a BBQ in the LIC. Good times.

I won't go into detail, because, well, I don't want to bore you.

I need to start doing things on the weekdays. Because weekends are starting to get packed.

Back to work...
or, time for lunch!

NYC Chronicles 04

My second weekend here was good.  Long, but good.  

Had a long week of work.  They got me doing a lot of busy work.  I guess it's good, because it's a good experience.  

Ogilvy is just so big.  

But, I'm never bored at work.  I'm not always excited, but I'm glad I'm there.  No doubt in my mind.  I'm happy to be there.  I'm happy to be where I am.  I'm happy to be with the people that I've met.  

Friday night, some of us went out to a night club, which was fun.  But, the lights inside were ridiculous.  Strobe lights, in 5 different colors all simultaneously going off at the same time, and it was very disorienting.  

Saturday we went to Central Park to go see Vampire Weekend.  All I have to say is.  Fail.  It rained out.  The line was really long, and it was humid.  We just walked around a little bit, then went to Union Square for dinner.  Dinner took us a total of 4 hours.  We loitered around some more, which strangely was the theme of the night.  

Stayed up late, playing guitar heros and just talking with other people in my program.  

Didn't make it out to church, which I had planned...

Instead I woke up at 1:30, and watched The Happening at 4:00pm.  Interesting movie.  Kinda dumb, but interesting.  

This dude was complaining how I sat down on the chair he put his foot on.  

a) I didn't see the foot

b) I only found out he was pissed because he was talking about me to his wife really loud (intentionally)

So I had a little argument with him.  

He was upset because I did ask him to move his foot, and I said something like "my bad" and he said that it was too late.  I admit I wasn't being all that friendly, but if someone's going to talk down to me, I'm not going to be polite.  But w/e.  I didn't intentionally try to piss him off, and also I'm not trying to start a fight in a Magic Johnson movie theater in the middle of Harlem.  At the end I just apologized because nothing should have happened in the first place.  Also, his biceps were the size of my head.  

Point is, the movie was kind of lame.  Mostly because I payed $10.50 for a matinée.

Lakers won!  Holla.

Sam Cassell is ugly.  

NYC Chronicles 3.5

I took a picture at work of my name plate...it's styrofoam though.  full timers get glass ones, but it looks cool!   In my opinion.  

I finally meet people today.  I had to break out of that box, so to speak.  I felt like I approached it in a slightly awkward way, simply because, I'm not used to meeting so many new people at once.  I'm comfortable just knowing people that I know, w/o having to meet and greet a bunch of people at the same time.  But, all is well.  I met some real chill people, hung out at the pub, played pool, and foosbal.  Also watched the Lakers beat the Celtics.  

I swear, if Boston wins another championship, I'm gonna flip out.  

That's all for now, I need to get up around 7AM.

NYC Chronicles 03

I had my first day at the office today.

It was....long, but fun.  

The orientation meeting at 8:45 went on till 10:30, then we had to fill out paper work till 12:00, along with other stuff.

Then an I ate lunch with another intern and I think two people from HR, one for sure.  Both cool people.  The other intern is cool too, a health freak (brought her own lunch) but still cool.  I felt a little awkward, because the dude went to rutgers and so did the other intern, and they've met before, so I was a little behind on the conversations.  

I met people from the team I'll be working with, all cool people.  I think I'll be hanging out with them mostly, so it's good that I think they are cool.  Hopefully they think the same of me.  

I had some more training classes to attend, then at 4:00 we went on a tour of the building.  Not the whole building, but the main spots.  Then after the tour, I went home.  

Hot day.  Again.

The other day or two my ID card didn't register at the cafeteria (I-House).  Turns out, that minor spelling error on my name "Min Chan," was the reason why it didn't register, because there is no one here under the name Min Chan...

So I had to get a new ID, new photo and everything, with correct spelling.  

Cafeteria food, is surprisingly decent.  It's not cheap shit, so it better be decent.  Their cookies are good...I bought 2.  

I got my "training" to the work out room, and I just have to turn some forms in tomorrow and my ID card will give me access....time to start running and working out.  For realz.

I got more paper work to fill out to turn in tomorrow.  

So until NYC Chron. 04...

NYC Chronicles 02

My second day in the city was better than my first.  I actually did something(s).

I misread the weather report, and thought there was 0% (zero) humidity, but it was more like 50%+.  So I wore jeans.  It was like 95 degrees.  I started sweating while waiting for the subway (above ground station).  

I went towards midtown by myself to hit up a footlocker or something, maybe do a little shopping, but it got so hot that I just bought a Vitamin Water and went to PK's place a little early for the "Cookout in LIC."  We chilled until more people started coming over, then moved to the rooftop, which was a few floors below their apartment...

I met some people from the place I will be interning at, at the cookout.  They are all cool people, so I hope that translates into the work place.  

We hung out on the rooftop for a bit, then I went to the Lightspeed Champion concert, which was friggin AWESOME by the way.  That ended a little past 12AM.  Then I went back to the I-House, showered up, then slept.  

Long day, but it was good, especially towards the end.  

Also, I'm pretty good at Cranium (I think).

NYC Chronicles 01

For the past few days, I was feeling more and more anxious as my summer in New York City approached.  I spent my last week in Columbus studying for finals, packing, and trying to find time to enjoy myself with friendly company.  

Maybe my anxiety stemmed from the stress of studying and packing?  This wasn't my best quarter academically, even if my grades say otherwise.  I was not disciplined enough, or hardly at all.  I still haven't gotten all of my grades back, but so far so good.  If it wasn't for extra credit, I would have had a mediocre quarter.  

I spent my last few hours in Columbus packing.  I repacked twice.  I got lucky at the airport, sort of.  My big bag was 51 lbs, 1 pound over the 50 lbs limit.  But the old lady at the desk let it slide.  I then got on the plane, took a one hour nap, only to wake up and realize that I was still in Columbus.  I fell asleep through the part when the captain explained why we weren't in the air.  We then got to New York, and had to circle around LaGuardia Airport for 30-45 minutes because of busy air traffic.  

Moved in, explored by myself for a little bit.  Got lost for several minutes in my building.  Settled completely.  Did nothing.  I ate some chips and cookies from the vending machine, but I was too tired to go out to look for real food, partially because I napped for several hours.   And soon I will be going back to sleep.  

I had pictures, but there was an error.  Perhaps later.

Next time: NYC Chronicles 02