As you all probably know, physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle is very important to me. Therefore, our group in H449: Mass Media and Health made a video to promote this perspective. Please help us out by giving it a quick view on the main YouTube page and “liking” the video using the button below the player. Thanks!
T-minus 23 hours left of this 365th day of 2011, and there’s no better way to ring in the start of 2012 than with some of my best friends. We’re tying the Windsors, pop’in bottles, and getting our class on tonight downtown at Urban Studio, a swank venue to be hosted by Liquid Productions.
I am so excited to finally experience New Years amongst Portland’s nightlife. While growing up I have enjoyed spending that turn of 12AM with my parents, but for the past few years I have always felt a significant longing to do something more. I had become really frustrated sitting on the couch, watching the TV coverage. Parents would go to bed, and here I’d remain watching a lifeless television screen. I needed more. I needed social interaction. Tonight… We will make up for all that we’ve missed. Let’s live it up!
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Bright Shiny Morning | James Frey | 501 pages
Throughout our vacation to Hawaii, we had numerous down-times where we would just kick back and relax. I had slightly started a fictional novel by James Frey called Bright Shiny Morning. I actually found this autographed book at Borders on clearance — and with my coupon it came down to just under four dollars. Once I got through the rather confusing approximate first fifty pages, I realized my good purchase turned to a great purchase. But hear me out — the first fifty or so pages are a struggle. It was confusing to know what was going on in the novel because you are introduced to so many different characters — each with their own storyline. It takes a while to get a hold of all the information and just really begin to enjoy what Frey has written. Additionally, James Frey chooses to use a unique writing style, and instead of every single sentence, paragraph, and chapter being perfectly proofread and edited, I felt like I was reading out of a journal as sentences were fragmented, repeated, and sometimes required to be read again. He also, occasionally, goes against proper novel rules and, randomly, addresses the reader directly. This was surprising to read but, in end, it helped the story process. Furthermore, the entire novel is laced with supplementary sort of factoids regarding the main setting — Los Angeles, California. These details are interesting and sometimes fun — but not fundamental to the multiple storylines. Sometimes, entire chapters will be unrelated to the immediate scenarios.
However, the real novel is about several characters and their challenges developing and living in Los Angeles. Each of the characters come from different backgrounds and have diverse stories to tell. They are very unique and keep you stuck to the text to learn more and more. The stories are riveting, touching, and sometimes strange — but they are wonderful creations of James Frey that ignite a quite interesting reading experience. I couldn’t believe how resistant I was to put the book down.
Overall, Bright Shiny Morning was still an amazing book to read despite the quirky writing style. By mid-vacation I was glued to the novel — reading it in the condominium, taking it in the car on the way to the beach, and of course finishing it up on the airplane ride home. As you may know, during this last school year I have made an attempt to read more books — and that I did do. But of the books I read, Bright Shiny Morning has honestly been the best one so far. At 501 pages in length, it sounds daunting to a softer reader — but believe me, it’s so good. I actually wish it was longer. The four or five simultaneously-developed individual storylines covered in these pages could have been brought to an end a little better. I kind of found that a couple of stories concluded abruptly. This, however, did not alter my feelings about the entire work of literature.
One of the stories, however, was developed so well that I was really involved in it — mentally that is. I was so caught up in their scenario and emotions that its shocking ending moved me mentally and physically. I really hope you read it and discover the goodness I found in James Frey’s novel, Bright Shiny Morning. I plan on pursuing Frey’s preceding creation, My Friend Leonard, which has also received positive critiques from various readers.
Saturday was absolutely packed busy with awesomeness. In the morning, my mom decided that she did want to make a poster to bring to the concert that night, so we went to the FedEx Office across the street from our hotel. Ideally, we wanted to make a poster and then have in laminated so that it won’t wear and tear. However, this FedEx Office on Market Street had a broken laminating machine so we tried the next one up a few blocks. We went there and then they said that their laminating machine was broken as well. Frustrating! So, we opted out of laminating and got poster board and some Sharpies. It turned out nice after all.
After making the poster, we met my brothers Trevor and Corey and their girlfriends Jen and Melissa at Burger Bar in the Union Square Macy’s. It was quite a tasty burger! I went with basic, but at the restaurant you are offered countless ways to customize your burger — you can even put sprouts and asparagus on it! It was so good to see everyone again. The last time I saw my brothers was spring break of last year. Too long.
We departed in our own ways, and my mom and I took a trolley down to Fisherman’s Wharf. We actually didn’t walk around a whole lot, but we got my grandma a loaf of sourdough bread, as she likes, and did other little knick-knack shopping at street vendors.
We realized the time was getting a bit late so we took a bus all the way back up Market Street to our hotel. We changed, got our stuff ready, and headed back out again — this time taking the underground Muni shuttle to AT&T Park just southeast of where we were staying. There was a lot of confusion figuring out which train to get on. We almost gave up to take a cab instead.
So, finally we were off to see Paul McCartney. It was just a short ride and the shuttle arrived down near the park. We got off and could hear Paul actually performing another sound-check. It was teasing! We were hungry by this time and decided to try and find some food. Naturally, being any type of event at AT&T park, good luck on finding an opening anywhere. Many places had over and hour waiting time. We got lucky and found downstairs seating at a place I can’t even remember the name of. The place was packed and our chips and salsa appetizer and drinks took a long time to arrive. It was understandable, though. This process took quite a while, but once it got relatively close to Paul McCartney time, we headed over to the Park.
After a little confusion we found out how to get to the field where our seats were. We made acquaintances with a nice Japanese couple to our left to whom we talked to for a long while as Paul was an hour late to start the concert. Then, it started, and nothing else mattered — not even my need to pee. He sang so many songs (over 30!) — I think a couple of my personal favorites were “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da”, “Live and Let Die”, and “Dance Tonight”. I was thrilled with “Dance Tonight” because Paul had released his Memory Almost Full album in the time after I last saw him in concert. So, this was the first time hearing that song live. With “Live and Let Die”, everyone knows that this is the “big bang” song that has all the pyrotechnics. Because the stage was outside in an uncovered area, the show was impressive. During the key points in the song, you would not only have sparks and stuff on stage — but also higher aerial fireworks that were amazing!
Also, during one of the songs, we saw the camera pan right in front of where we were sitting. I held the “Paul” side of the poster up and you could see it on the big screen behind the band! So neat! Whew! It was such a good concert. I’m so happy I was able to go with my mom — even if it was only for the weekend and with an incredibly long drive to get to San Francisco.
After the concert, we were going to take a cab to Tommy’s Joynt, a restaurant where Paul had visited in the past, but all the cabs were taken and it was too late. We finally figured out how to get back to our hotel and opted to split Subway instead. We were so tired of being on our feet all day. I think I even fell asleep with my glasses on looking out the floor-to-ceiling window in front of my roll-away bed. I loved our weekend excursion to San Francisco. I still love the city and can see myself working there someday. Until next time, San Fran.
I’ll post the rest of this action-packed day come tomorrow, but for now we are at Pete’s Tavern just near AT&T Park. We took BART to get here and that was a bit tricky to figure out. But, it all worked out and here we are. We can hear Paul playing his soundcheck, but the gates don’t open until 6pm.
Anyway, I have set up my blog for phone-in audio postings. I’ll call my blog and hold the phone so you can all hear Sir Paul himself. So, check back after 7:30pm. Enjoy!
The God Cookie | Geoffrey Wood | 286 pages
Having just finished reading The God Cookie by Geoffrey Wood, I thought I’d offer my opinions on this novel. For your knowledge, it may contain mild spoilers.
First of all, I found this to be a successful story and overall good read. I enjoyed the storyline of one man, John Parrish, who follows the quest, supposedly by God, as was presented to him unusually in a fortune cookie at a local Chinese restaurant. This initial action leads to the next, and the scenes begin deploying around the corner bus stop where he meets two ladies: Audra and Rose.
In Parrish’s first visit to the bus stop, he discovers a folded piece of paper that has fallen underneath the bench between the two women, and as he accepts this discovery as a sign from God to find the owner, he sets forth with this task in search for an answer.
Further into the novel, Parrish not only learns about himself, but about the lives of others as well – which spirals down to a surprising, yet mostly satisfying, close to the novel.
Overall, I had a great time reading The God Cookie. However, because it is geared towards those who have interest or faith in God, I found the novel to be very “safe” as there was no love or intimacy between two characters. I really expected this to be present in the story – but it wasn’t and, in end, that detracted from the overall experience.
But, in end, I am much more thrilled with the novel than any of my other complaints can deter. I suggest this to anyone for a nice, easy, and casual read.
