I decided to start this blog when I moved to California as a way, if people were interested, updated on my life. I had dreams of clever stories and outlandish tales of the west and the wonder that is L.A..
L.A. has been great but since I started working and going to school, exploring has come to a screeching halt. So I am left with other stories to tell you.
I am now a runner. I have been running for years. Running to the Chinese buffet, Mcdonalds etc.. But recently I have made it more of a hobby and as a result I now look like Brad Pitt. Well, that is a bit of a stretch, but I no longer breath heavy when I go up a set of stairs. I try and run at 2 miles, 4 times a week. Its fun. I bought special shorts for it. Running is serious business.
Today, I was running in my neighborhood. It is a pleasant, typical suburban neighborhood. So much so it would not surprise me if I stumbled upon the home from Step by Step.
I run with my mouth open. I'm still a novice when it comes to running. I'm not sure if one is supposed to breath in through there nose out through their mouth, like I was in labor, but until I am told otherwise my mouth will remain open. Today, on my run a bee flew into my mouth. A BEE FLEW INTO MY MOUTH!! FLEW INTO MY MOUTH! It hit the hanging thing in the back of my throat. I spit it out and this feeling came over me. A feeling like I have been taken advantage of.
And there you have it. The West Coast is nuts.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Oct. 18, 1985- Oct. 18, 2009, 24.
Birthdays are not the same as they used to be. There was a time when outside of Christmas this was the high light of my year. All of my friends would come over, they would bring me presents. I would have a cake, with my current favorite superhero in the frosting, and pizza. What more could a boy want? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
As I got older birthdays became less of a production. This was mostly because of my choosing and people told me that when your 13 it's not cool to have Batman themed parties anymore. But, still it was a day of celebration. It still revolved around food and interaction. Some of my favorite birthday's have been in the last couple of years when I was in college and right out of college. I did not really have any money and neither did any of my friends but we always were able to put something together for each other. There is something still special about that day and we would try and make a point to make a person feel special.
This year I had all but forgotten the day. Between 1,000 pages of reading a week, 20 hours of Greek study and working 20 hours a week who has time to remember that trip down the birth canal?
This year I spent my birthday morning attending Bryant Temple AME Church. It is an African American church in Downtown LA. It was mandatory for one of my classes I am taking at Fuller. Initially, when I was considering my day the last thing I wanted to do was spend it in a three hour long church service. But little did I know that this place knows how to do church. It was a blast. Hooting and Hollering and enjoying one another. Real interaction as a community as well as a body of believers. I can't think of a better way to spend the beginning of my day.
After the marathon service was over, it was time to eat. My stomach was eating my back to say the least. So Sam and I went to Foo-Chow's. You may remember this restaurant from the first Rush Hour movie. Chris Tucker order Camel's hump from there. (Surprisingly, they do not serve the delicacy). We ate Curry Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Let me tell you, Chinese food has never tasted this good. If all I was able to eat for the rest of life was Foo-Chow's than I would lead a long, happy, content life.
Once we completed maybe one of my top three meals of all time, we braved China-town. Chinatown is everything I wanted it to be. Porcelain Buddha's, Chinatown Snow Globes, and weapons that no one needs but all men want. While exploring this unknown world of Knick Knacks, I stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries this side of penicillin. A bargain bin of Wooden Japanese Practice Samurai Swords! Sam being the champion combination of roommate and friend, without even hesitating purchased these swords in celebration of my 24 years. You may be wondering what kind of bargain could I be speaking of? Does $7.99 sound like a bargain to you? That's what I thought.
It was a good thing to, because after leaving the store and continuing through Chinatown looking at Asian themed new balances and fireworks, there was something evil around the corner. Ninjas. From every corner, every nook and cranny, ninja's jumped out with only one thing to accomplish. To keep me from seeing my 25th. We fought with the spirit of the tiger and of Foo-chow. There was no way I wouldn't see a quarter century. I mean my insurance will go down and I can rent a car. These are major milestones. I will say we took our licks but we bested them this day. They fell to our swifts hands and agile minds.
So, overall my 24th was a success. And actually, I got my themed birthday celebration. From this point on I will refer to it is the year of the OX. May Foo-Chow live forever.
As I got older birthdays became less of a production. This was mostly because of my choosing and people told me that when your 13 it's not cool to have Batman themed parties anymore. But, still it was a day of celebration. It still revolved around food and interaction. Some of my favorite birthday's have been in the last couple of years when I was in college and right out of college. I did not really have any money and neither did any of my friends but we always were able to put something together for each other. There is something still special about that day and we would try and make a point to make a person feel special.
This year I had all but forgotten the day. Between 1,000 pages of reading a week, 20 hours of Greek study and working 20 hours a week who has time to remember that trip down the birth canal?
This year I spent my birthday morning attending Bryant Temple AME Church. It is an African American church in Downtown LA. It was mandatory for one of my classes I am taking at Fuller. Initially, when I was considering my day the last thing I wanted to do was spend it in a three hour long church service. But little did I know that this place knows how to do church. It was a blast. Hooting and Hollering and enjoying one another. Real interaction as a community as well as a body of believers. I can't think of a better way to spend the beginning of my day.
After the marathon service was over, it was time to eat. My stomach was eating my back to say the least. So Sam and I went to Foo-Chow's. You may remember this restaurant from the first Rush Hour movie. Chris Tucker order Camel's hump from there. (Surprisingly, they do not serve the delicacy). We ate Curry Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Let me tell you, Chinese food has never tasted this good. If all I was able to eat for the rest of life was Foo-Chow's than I would lead a long, happy, content life.
Once we completed maybe one of my top three meals of all time, we braved China-town. Chinatown is everything I wanted it to be. Porcelain Buddha's, Chinatown Snow Globes, and weapons that no one needs but all men want. While exploring this unknown world of Knick Knacks, I stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries this side of penicillin. A bargain bin of Wooden Japanese Practice Samurai Swords! Sam being the champion combination of roommate and friend, without even hesitating purchased these swords in celebration of my 24 years. You may be wondering what kind of bargain could I be speaking of? Does $7.99 sound like a bargain to you? That's what I thought.
It was a good thing to, because after leaving the store and continuing through Chinatown looking at Asian themed new balances and fireworks, there was something evil around the corner. Ninjas. From every corner, every nook and cranny, ninja's jumped out with only one thing to accomplish. To keep me from seeing my 25th. We fought with the spirit of the tiger and of Foo-chow. There was no way I wouldn't see a quarter century. I mean my insurance will go down and I can rent a car. These are major milestones. I will say we took our licks but we bested them this day. They fell to our swifts hands and agile minds.
So, overall my 24th was a success. And actually, I got my themed birthday celebration. From this point on I will refer to it is the year of the OX. May Foo-Chow live forever.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saturday Morning
In the last 5 years, give or take a year, I have heard a lot of people talk about getting your hair washed while at the Salon, barbershop, Super-Cuts, where ever you go. Everyone talks about this as a phenomenon that exceeds your wildest dreams. When people begin their description of getting their hair cut they always pause..."Oh and she washed my hair, it felt incredible!" For a while I had no idea this was an option. Maybe I was going to some bush league salon but up until my freshman year of college no one had touched my scalp in that way but myself. At first I was a fan. But, slowly this desire to have someone else wash my hair faded.
First of all, I have yet to meet a woman that can keep my collar from getting wet. How hard is it really? My neck is sitting in a slot designed to keep the water in the sink.
Second, It never fails that when it is over they dry your head off with a towel. I always either feel like a young child or a dog. Today when I went to get a trim, as they say in the biz, since I shaved my beard I was beginning to look like a member of the Beatles and since I go to seminary, I did not want to give them any ammunition. I wanted to do a preemptive strike. After the wash (I tried to not have the wash but she looked at me like, "There is no way I'm cutting that rat's nest before I know it is clean") She placed the towel on my head and began to rub, not in a pleasant, ora cleansing way but more like some one cleaning the rims on your car.
At that point I decided that I do not like the wash before a haircut.
After my haircut I went to buy some bread. I have been craving some PB&J's bad. I went to the store to get the supplies. On my way in it was a gauntlet of guilt waiting on me. First, I had the boy scouts trying to get me to buy their popcorn. How did the boy scouts get stuck with popcorn? I would have bought some cookies but popcorn? How about steak? Perfect for the Boyscouts. They could even get a Merit Badge for killing the meat themselves, then selling it in front of a grocery store. The Capitalism Merit Badge.
After I avoided the boys I was blindsided by the most aggressive man I've ever met. "Sir, would you donate a dollar? I know you have money, you are going to buy food right now. The people I'm raising money for don't have that luxury!" I walked in the automatic doors ready to punch the dude in the face. Does he know who I am? I worked with Habitat for Humanity! I have bought homeless guys food before! I am giving!
I forgot about him shortly after aisle 3 when I realized they have a new version of Doritos. I think its a combo of Moutain Dew and Nutella. Super pumped. Anyway, as I was walking out, PB&J ingredients in tow, I had a dollar ready to give, as well as a piece of my mind. I was ready to tell Mr. Homeless Money Raiser Guy that you need to be a lot less offensive in your endeavor to save the homeless community on grocery store at a time.
As I walked out the doors, back into the D-Day of support raising, I gave the dollar and before I could start on my carefully crafted speech, the guy says, "Hey man, people your age don't usually give, I won't forget this." I responded, "Huh?" "Yea man, I won't forget." perplexed I responded, "Yea...No Problem".
So, in review I hate shampoo's at the barber shop and Homeless people.
First of all, I have yet to meet a woman that can keep my collar from getting wet. How hard is it really? My neck is sitting in a slot designed to keep the water in the sink.
Second, It never fails that when it is over they dry your head off with a towel. I always either feel like a young child or a dog. Today when I went to get a trim, as they say in the biz, since I shaved my beard I was beginning to look like a member of the Beatles and since I go to seminary, I did not want to give them any ammunition. I wanted to do a preemptive strike. After the wash (I tried to not have the wash but she looked at me like, "There is no way I'm cutting that rat's nest before I know it is clean") She placed the towel on my head and began to rub, not in a pleasant, ora cleansing way but more like some one cleaning the rims on your car.
At that point I decided that I do not like the wash before a haircut.
After my haircut I went to buy some bread. I have been craving some PB&J's bad. I went to the store to get the supplies. On my way in it was a gauntlet of guilt waiting on me. First, I had the boy scouts trying to get me to buy their popcorn. How did the boy scouts get stuck with popcorn? I would have bought some cookies but popcorn? How about steak? Perfect for the Boyscouts. They could even get a Merit Badge for killing the meat themselves, then selling it in front of a grocery store. The Capitalism Merit Badge.
After I avoided the boys I was blindsided by the most aggressive man I've ever met. "Sir, would you donate a dollar? I know you have money, you are going to buy food right now. The people I'm raising money for don't have that luxury!" I walked in the automatic doors ready to punch the dude in the face. Does he know who I am? I worked with Habitat for Humanity! I have bought homeless guys food before! I am giving!
I forgot about him shortly after aisle 3 when I realized they have a new version of Doritos. I think its a combo of Moutain Dew and Nutella. Super pumped. Anyway, as I was walking out, PB&J ingredients in tow, I had a dollar ready to give, as well as a piece of my mind. I was ready to tell Mr. Homeless Money Raiser Guy that you need to be a lot less offensive in your endeavor to save the homeless community on grocery store at a time.
As I walked out the doors, back into the D-Day of support raising, I gave the dollar and before I could start on my carefully crafted speech, the guy says, "Hey man, people your age don't usually give, I won't forget this." I responded, "Huh?" "Yea man, I won't forget." perplexed I responded, "Yea...No Problem".
So, in review I hate shampoo's at the barber shop and Homeless people.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Overqualified
I recently started a new job here in Pasadena. I am working at a burger joint called Islands. I've always wanted to say, "Burger Joint". I never new the right time. What constitutes the joint portion? The guy who hired me called it that and he's a general manager. You don't get to that position in life without knowing what is and what is not a Burger Joint. Anyway, I had been looking for a job for quite some time. I had two problems with myself as a candidate. I am student and I was only looking for about 15-20 hrs a week. Pasadena is a college town. There are about 4 or 5 colleges in the surrounding area and apparently everyone is looking for part time work and no one wants part timers. That is problem one. I was unaware of my second problem until I was in the middle of my interview process for the Burger Joint.
While being interviewed for this job as Host/Waiter my interviewer looked over my application and paused. When you are looking for a job and the interviewer pauses your heart sinks to your knee caps. All of a sudden you find yourself thinking back to whether or not you spelled your name correctly, that you did not check the felony box etc. After what felt like an eternity, she look at me and winced. I have never been more terrified in my life. She says;
Matthew, your a Master's Student? (in thick Australian Accent)
Yes, this is my first quarter of my Master's of Divinity program.
Oh, well...boy...um. You are seriously overqualified for this job. Wouldn't you rather be working in a more related field?
Well, like I said I am in school and my time is limited because of my class schedule. So that limits me.
Yea, I understand, but you are very much over qualified.
Yea.
I have never been more patronized over that fact that I am educated in my life. I found myself regretting my undergraduate degree. Hating the fact that I desired to have higher education. Despising the fact that I am smart. Why can't I be a below average student that is content with mediocrity!
Finally, after much convincing and mind manipulation with small words, I was offered the job.
To make things even worse. After I was offered the job I received a phone call.
Hi, is this Matt?
Yes
Hey, this is Ralph from Islands, I just wanted call and tell you orientation is at 8:30 Saturday morning.
Ok, no problem.
Also, I was told you have a beard.
Yea.
Yea, at islands we only allow sideburns and goatees, so you will need to shave.
...ok
See you Saturday!
I'll be there.
Friday night was the night. Doing something I had not done for years. Shave. Not just trim and shape up. Baby face. No longer will people confuse me for Grizzly Adams or their Rabbi. Now, they will confuse me for their twelve year old brother.
If anyone hears of any jobs in Pasadena, let me know. Only ones that allow beards.
While being interviewed for this job as Host/Waiter my interviewer looked over my application and paused. When you are looking for a job and the interviewer pauses your heart sinks to your knee caps. All of a sudden you find yourself thinking back to whether or not you spelled your name correctly, that you did not check the felony box etc. After what felt like an eternity, she look at me and winced. I have never been more terrified in my life. She says;
Matthew, your a Master's Student? (in thick Australian Accent)
Yes, this is my first quarter of my Master's of Divinity program.
Oh, well...boy...um. You are seriously overqualified for this job. Wouldn't you rather be working in a more related field?
Well, like I said I am in school and my time is limited because of my class schedule. So that limits me.
Yea, I understand, but you are very much over qualified.
Yea.
I have never been more patronized over that fact that I am educated in my life. I found myself regretting my undergraduate degree. Hating the fact that I desired to have higher education. Despising the fact that I am smart. Why can't I be a below average student that is content with mediocrity!
Finally, after much convincing and mind manipulation with small words, I was offered the job.
To make things even worse. After I was offered the job I received a phone call.
Hi, is this Matt?
Yes
Hey, this is Ralph from Islands, I just wanted call and tell you orientation is at 8:30 Saturday morning.
Ok, no problem.
Also, I was told you have a beard.
Yea.
Yea, at islands we only allow sideburns and goatees, so you will need to shave.
...ok
See you Saturday!
I'll be there.
Friday night was the night. Doing something I had not done for years. Shave. Not just trim and shape up. Baby face. No longer will people confuse me for Grizzly Adams or their Rabbi. Now, they will confuse me for their twelve year old brother.
If anyone hears of any jobs in Pasadena, let me know. Only ones that allow beards.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Red Bull
When I was driving across the country about 2 months ago I realized something. There is a ton of crap to do in L.A.. I began to make a list of things I wanted to do in L.A. and California. Things like; go to the Hollywood Bowl, see a movie star, go to Salinas Valley where John Steinbeck is from, make-out with a movie star in Malibu, etc. This list is pretty long in its physical sense. It is infinitely longer in my head. When I hear of something cool to do or see I make a mental note. If it is something super serious it ends up written in my journal for further consideration.
All of that is to say my first evening in L.A. I saw a giant advertisement for the "Red Bull Soap Box Derby" needless to say I made a mental note, wrote it in my journal, tattooed it on my body. I refused to do anything else on September 26. If my dad died, the funeral would be postponed. I mean Red Bull gives you wings. Think what it could do for my dead dad.
It was everything I thought it could be. Over 100,000 people attended this glorious even
t. The breakdown is this. Remember those soapbox derbies you may or may not have attended as a child? Maybe you were a boyscout or just watched a Disney channel movie that culminated with the main character winning the race as well as growing as a person and learning a life lesson. I knew that I had to be there. (I've missed out on a lot of life lessons) There were about 40 contestants all equally crazy in their themes and presentations. Eric Estrada was a guest judge. They gave away free energy drinks to men, women and children who really did not any more blind energy than they already had.
Where do you go from the Red bull Soapbox derby in Downtown L.A. in the shadow of Skyscrapers and homeless dudes selling Blow pops for a quarter? I went to an outdoor showing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Richard Dreyfuss at his best as a crazed man who saw...something...and is now a exhibitionist sculptor with potatoes and play-do. There is something special about watching a movie outside. Perfect weather. No one under the age of 40 except Sam and I. Apparently, the youth of today have something better to do than watch a classic Spielberg film outside on a blow up screen with a raffle for telescopes going on.
School started for me yesterday. More on that soon. Once I get out from under about 600 pages of reading, I'll tell you about it.
All of that is to say my first evening in L.A. I saw a giant advertisement for the "Red Bull Soap Box Derby" needless to say I made a mental note, wrote it in my journal, tattooed it on my body. I refused to do anything else on September 26. If my dad died, the funeral would be postponed. I mean Red Bull gives you wings. Think what it could do for my dead dad.
It was everything I thought it could be. Over 100,000 people attended this glorious even
t. The breakdown is this. Remember those soapbox derbies you may or may not have attended as a child? Maybe you were a boyscout or just watched a Disney channel movie that culminated with the main character winning the race as well as growing as a person and learning a life lesson. I knew that I had to be there. (I've missed out on a lot of life lessons) There were about 40 contestants all equally crazy in their themes and presentations. Eric Estrada was a guest judge. They gave away free energy drinks to men, women and children who really did not any more blind energy than they already had.Where do you go from the Red bull Soapbox derby in Downtown L.A. in the shadow of Skyscrapers and homeless dudes selling Blow pops for a quarter? I went to an outdoor showing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Richard Dreyfuss at his best as a crazed man who saw...something...and is now a exhibitionist sculptor with potatoes and play-do. There is something special about watching a movie outside. Perfect weather. No one under the age of 40 except Sam and I. Apparently, the youth of today have something better to do than watch a classic Spielberg film outside on a blow up screen with a raffle for telescopes going on.
School started for me yesterday. More on that soon. Once I get out from under about 600 pages of reading, I'll tell you about it.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Carson Daly vs. Ryan Seacrest
Is it possible that Ryan Seacrest swooped in and stole the future of Carson Daly? Recently I happened to be up way later than I intended to be and caught a few minutes of Last call with Carson Daly. I went on a trip down memory lane, to times of TRL and N'Sync and J-Lo (A.K.A. Jenny from the block). When I thought about it I assumed when he left T.R.L. he would have a bright future of hosting ahead of him. Then out of no where this young buck, this newbie, Ryan Seacrest came on to the scene.
Where did he come from? Its like one day, you think the world is going to be one way but the you have the rug pulled out from under you and you don't know left from right, up from down. Ryan came in and turned my world upside down.
Why is no one talking abut this? Obviously, Carson is the better host and has a higher moral character.
I'm just saying.
Where did he come from? Its like one day, you think the world is going to be one way but the you have the rug pulled out from under you and you don't know left from right, up from down. Ryan came in and turned my world upside down.
Why is no one talking abut this? Obviously, Carson is the better host and has a higher moral character.
I'm just saying.
Campus Tour
Today I went to one of my first Fuller functions and it was everything I expected it to be. Helpful but full of awkward social interactions. During my lifetime I have spent the better part of my adult life interacting on an academic level and social level with Christians. Hands down, without a shadow of a doubt there is not a more awkward group of people. Again, today, my theory was proven to be true. I went on a tour of the campus, which is about the size of a average front yard, and it took about an hour. During this time my leader named Jeremy pronounced Jeremi (long i) confused many different locations on campus. Which begged the question, "Why are you giving me this campus tour?" If I end up in the men's room instead of my greek class I will blame Jeremi long i.
Short but I have orientation all week and I can only imagine what lies ahead for me. Don't worry, when I get involved in some kind of uncomfortable situation, you the reader,will be told.
Short but I have orientation all week and I can only imagine what lies ahead for me. Don't worry, when I get involved in some kind of uncomfortable situation, you the reader,will be told.
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