grocery shopping is a hobby quite.

yesterday, i was lucky enough to stumble upon this incredible aisle in don quijote. although i never particularly enjoy don quijote, i love when one can uncover these kinds of not-so-hidden places. i purchased nestle green tea latte packets, and i came back today with emily. we were both in desperate need of caffeine and happiness, so this seemed perfect. emily's probably the only person i can go grocery shopping with who won't tire of my grandfather-like interests.

mr. bond, or mr. brown? now you don't have to choose!

pre-packaged iced coffee—this will be essential, later.

london fog packets!

i'd just like to say how grateful i am for emily's presence throughout today. i was feeling pretty awful yesterday, and today felt like one of the best days i've had in awhile. it's quite easy for me to feel submerged in an inescapable pool of others' worries. i usually end up neglecting my own unsettled issues, and yesterday served as a breaking point of sorts. today, i decided to move on from that minor setback by treating myself to a huge bottle of unsweetened black jasmine tea. i feel calm & reassured, and i know things are slowly weaving themselves into harmony. it'll just take more effort on my part to keep this harmony i so desire.

as i finish this, i'd like to point out that this little kitten is currently asleep.

perhaps that's my cue to sign off. i keep using this new format of posting photos when i feel too lazy to reflect. i like this. goodnight.

god that was strange to see you again.

last night was spent arguing my point to person who i will never truly understand. it was not only necessary, but at this point, i believe i'm finally ready to stop ruminating over this topic and begin my processes of moving on. this is cryptic, and it is meant as such.

i've decided that this blog will no longer be kept to such limitations of either relating to positivity or change; instead, i will go on to post things that interest me—things that make me feel good about my life. or whatever i see fit to post.

i suppose i ought to explain myself. on saturday night, my parents took me out to buca di beppo, and to see the avengers afterwards. we sat at the bar where i snapped the top-left photo. when i get to a point in my life where interior decorating will become necessary, i wish to furnish my home with vintage italian curtains. before dinner, i sipped on an iced latte (top-right), while my parents enjoyed some wine. the bottom-left photo is still a mystery to me and my mother. we both didn't understand how a cat would ever be capable of smiling as such.

we saw the avengers (bottom-right photo), which was not particularly of my liking. i'm not one for action films; by the end of the fight scenes, i was literally exhausted. it's my fault for being so boring and spending my time watching obscure documentaries. twas quite a great flick, however, i just don't think i'd see it more than once. captain america is breathtaking, but the man who plays the hulk...

i'll just stop there.

the next day, this happened:

the man you see here is sir dane neves. dane recently composed a short film entitled "poison apple", which is a take on the story of snow white from the poison apple's perspective. i had performed slam poetry for one of dane's events for 'olelo, and he contacted me to fill in for some of the character voices. it was a different experience, quite, but i'm grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a project. i will be able to see the movie at preview events/film festivals once it has been completed. many thanks to dane for making this possible.

finally. my sunday night ended with this goodness:

before sleeping, i spent a bit of time listening to the beach boys' rarities lp. bless those wonderful black disks and the charm/fairy dust they bring to analog listening. sometimes, one just needs to listen to the beach boys crooning beatles' tunes—or singing "the lord's prayer" in five-part harmony—in order to realize how lucky they truly are. had a moment of ease last night. things will be alright.

dear future rick. don't delete your past posts. you will regret this eventually.

winding down.

well. i've never really expected this to be read by anyone—for i began this blog with the intent that it would be there as a constant outlet to pour my positive emotions. i'm sorry i've been gone for so long, but only recently have i been made aware that this was being read by some wonderful friends (you know who you are). i will continue maintaining this as necessary for i've realized how much i do actually enjoy looking back on these posts and experiencing large bits of nostalgia. thanks for putting up with my inconsistency.

it is nearing the end of the school year, and i couldn't be more thankful for the experiences i've been bestowed with. moreover, i'm still very much excited for the things i've yet to accomplish. although a part of me will always continue to gravitate towards negativity—as is in my human nature—there have been some key moments that have occurred throughout this school year (e.g. carnival, function, winter camp) and i realize that i'm extremely lucky. i've also been acknowledged for my many academic pursuits in regards to english. i've had the pleasure of serving as one of three coaches for the school's slam poetry team, i've been hired as a ta for the summer's academy english program, and this thursday, i will be awarded with academic recognition for my pursuits in the english language. i will stick true to being humble and stop there, but i'm still very much thankful that i've found something i'm passionate about. i hope to achieve more successes and failures in the future.

recently, dance has become such a prevalent part of my life. i was invited to a callback for an upcoming diamond head theatre musical, "xanadu", and although i was not cast, i'm grateful for the opportunity i was given to display my knowledge. many, many thanks to tammy colucci for being so gracious with me—i've learned a great deal from her although i've merely taken two of her classes. also, i wouldn't have been shaped into the dancer i am today without the constant help of my teachers: caryn yee, christine yasunaga, and charlys ing. i've never been more fit in my life, and i've truly realized that my future cannot be sustained without the continuation of dance.

going back to the end of school—i'm very much saddened by the soon-to-be graduating class of 2012. the class is comprised of many choice people, and i will forever be touched by the friendships they've provided me. particularly my best friend kamden, with whom i've been grabbing lunch with during our weekly three-hour breaks. i honestly don't know what i'm going to do next year without someone who will accept my crude humor; without someone who constantly pushes me beyond my writing boundaries. i will truly miss this particular gem of a being.

well, i guess we really are that awkward.

i keep acknowledging the same two people in my life, but that's because i have too many people whom i so cherish and too many experiences to recall. i've had some pretty long, extensive conversations with another one of my best friends, emily. i don't know anyone in my life who will ever understand my cynicism—and my behavior resultant of too much caffeine, and too little sleep—better than she. i've realized that i need to take more initiative in regards to my relationships, and although i sometimes fail in social situations, there's a greater failure in not taking that initiative in the first place. i've found someone i can truly be philosophical, honest, and comfortable with - a sophisticated kind of friendship i didn't think i'd find until my late 20s (i don't know why i typed that last part, but i'm keeping it there). many thanks for the coffees, mixtapes, and conversations shared; i know i can forever count on you.

finally, i'd like to thank yet another one of my best friends, ariel. i recently went over to her house to aid her in a time of need, and she provided me with such great insights into my own struggles with my former-relationship. also, she took me to this part of her backyard where at night, the stars are truly glimmering. it reminded me much of sylvia plath's "black rook in rainy weather", where plath basically states how it is a trick that nature could be so beautiful at times. my time with ariel really inspired me to begin writing again, and confront my current situation with said former-relationship.

the bones in my back are growing. and to add on to all this positivity, i just got a $30 tax return from the united states treasury. things are ending, but i've also been lead to believe that things, are forever growing, and changing. and i find i'm very excited about this.

very much excited indeed.