Whenever you breathe out, I breathe in..

Home Is Wherever There Is You

2010-04-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

After 2 crazy days in the desert sun for Coachella I flew to Utah to attend one of my best friend's weddings. I couldn't have asked that Keaton find a more amazing woman to fulfill his life with him. A bit of a pessimist when it comes to weddings, I must say, this was the funnest wedding I've ever been to... so much, it may have changed my outlook on weddings and marriage. Just standing near the newlyweds you could feel the love they have for each other and the strong bond between them.

Things I must mention about their wedding that make me smile:
How many times Keaton's hygiene was brought up during vows, speeches, yada yada... Take a shower Keaton!
Their cake topper was a black couple.. Nothing but soul babeh!
The soundtrack.
How amazing both of them looked, and how happy they were.. even with Keaton's broken collarbone.
The fact that their after party was a show at an awesome venue/bar... amazing idea!

Congrats Keaton & Ashley.
I love you both so much and I can't wait to see what your lives together bring!

Coachella 2010

2010-04-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Day 1

Helping promote for Goldenvoice really has its perks and pay offs, Coachella being at the top of that list. Coachella is one event that will be marked on my calendar every year for years to come. The first time I went to Coachella was last year (2009), and I truly thought I was in a dream. The atmosphere and vibes there are almost indescribable. For those of you who don’t know much about Coachella I’ll summarize it for you. Palm Desert, 3 days, 50+ bands and DJ sets, amazing and massive art pieces, and 80,000 music nerds. Mix all of those components together and you get one hell of a good time.

I was pretty excited on the line up this year. I feel like the previous year there were TOO many bands I wanted to see which made it stressful, crammed, and less enjoyable. Instead of burning myself out this time around I watched the bands I really wanted to see, and took it easy in between those sets. On top of the music festival I had to leave Sunday morning to fly to Salt Lake City for a good friend’s wedding. Exhausting!

To start the weekend, I began my trek to the desert on Thursday night. I recommend it to anyone trying to get down there, you save a lot of time on traffic. Kassi’s family friends let us stay in their house again, which was nice because it’s only 15 minutes away from the venue. Unrelated and off topic, but they have two French Bulldogs named Loreal and Barney… I want to steal them. Camping and hotels book up really quickly, but I’d like to try camping one of these future years.

Friday morning started off with a delicious lunch at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants, Native Foods. After lunch, with sunscreen and sunglasses in hand, Kassi, Maggie, Gia, and I headed towards Indio to let the real fun begin. Goldenvoice did things a little different this year and only sold 3-day wristbands rather than weekend packages AND/OR single day tickets. This meant 80,000 people showing up on the same day to get credentials and wristbands instead of being spread throughout the weekend. We waited in line for over an hour to get through security, therefore missing As Tall As Lions and Baroness. Bummer. Hopefully both of those bands will be back through this fall.

The first Friday band we watched was She & Him, fronted by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward . Is there anyone out there who doesn’t absolutely adore Zooey Deschanel? She’s definitely in my Top 5 girl crushes. Their entire set was full of fun and catchy songs, ending with their cover of ‘I Put a Spell On You.’ Zooey danced around in a very chipper manner during every song. She appeared to be having just as much fun on stage as anyone in the crowd was. In my personal opinion, it’s much more enjoyable for the audience when the band doesn’t look like their feet are glued to the stage with the facial expression that they may die as soon as their set is done. She & Him did quite had quite the opposite attitude. I’d definitely like to see She & Him again in a non-festival setting. Unfortunately, so would everyone else in the greater Los Angeles area and their shows usually sell out right away.

Kassi and I split with the other girls to walk around a bit. We caught a couple songs from The Specials and Lucero, wandered around looking at all of the art pieces, and of course, took our infamous jumping photos, which turned out absolutely fantastic. We caught a bit of Passion Pit from a distance while eating dinner, then headed towards the Mojave tent for the start of Grizzly Bear’s set.

I was really torn between watching Grizzly Bear or La Roux, whose set times started within 15 minutes of each other. After a few songs of Grizzly Bear’s set, it was clear to me that they weren’t a band I’d like to see in a festival setting, especially in the company of the extremely LOUD group of people surrounding us. I hope to one day see them in an intimate venue with more respectful fans. Heading over to the next tent where La Roux was scheduled to play was nearly impossible. I never knew she had such a following. There was no way Kassi and I were going to be able to get into the tent, or within 20 feet of it, but I was determined to at least hear her. Although we couldn’t see much of the stage, she sounded awesome. Looking at it now, it was definitely one of my favorite sets from the weekend. There wasn’t one person in the crowd standing still. Love love love love love La Roux.

Anyone who has been to Coachella knows how impossible it is to try to meet up with someone. Put 80,000 people in that small radius and the cell phone networks freak out. Kass and I caught a glimpse of LCD Sound System while we were trying to find the other girls. After searching for a bit we gave up looking to watch partial sets from Imogen Heap and Erol Alkan. I saw Erol Alkan in January whilst in England in a room that could comfortably hold less than 50 people. Although that entire experience was amazing, seeing him with thousands of other people had a much more exciting energy. Imogen Heap was exactly what I needed to cure a bad case of a migraine. Kassi and I laid in the grass for quite some time during her set. I can’t think of any other festival that would be clean enough to lay on the ground.

After Imogen Heap we had planned to meet the other girls at our shared locker. You have to book a locker pre-festival, and they usually sell out quickly, but I HIGHLY recommend it. Thankfully Gia had the brilliant idea to rent one. We were able to catch a couple of Vampire Weekend’s songs while we headed to the general direction of the lockers. Vampire Weekend has always screamed summer band to me. Their songs are beyond catchy, send positive vibes, and have a super beachy feel to them. They sounded great, and I wasn’t too disappointed to miss most of their set because Kassi and I were fortunate enough to work as side stage security (aka sit on the side of the stage) for a somewhat secret show earlier this year. I highly doubt their Coachella performance could top that experience.

I had absolutely no expectations from Jay-Z, the final performance for Day 1. I’ve never really cared much for Rap or R&B, and although I thought it was uber cheesy that he had a rather large countdown as his entrance, it got the crowd pretty excited. He really impressed me. Rare, but I guess there are still some people out there who are actually good performers and have rightfully earned their turn in the spotlight. A guest appearance from Beyonce and fireworks only added to how awesome the entire day was.

Day 2

Frank Turner was the number one person I had wanted to see all weekend. He was scheduled to play first on Day 2, which meant I had to get up much earlier than my body was ready for. The other girls weren’t too fond of the idea to go to the venue that early in the afternoon, so I headed down solo. Spending one day in the blistering heat is exhausting. By days two and three the trick to staying energized is to go once the heat starts simmering down a bit. Unfortunately, that wasn’t on my agenda since Frank was my number one priority. Thankfully there are always misters and plenty of shade in VIP… another plus of promoting for Goldenvoice.

I have never seen Frank play with his band. I was a bit apprehensive when I heard that the whole band would be flying out because I love the energy and intensity he has when he’s on stage by himself. I was worried that the band may change that vibe to an average Joe kind of set. Boy, was my idea wrong. Not only did the band make the entire set sound awesome, they brought Frank to a whole new level of confidence. His intensity multiplied, and he delivered a flawless performance.

I was only able to catch a few songs of RX Bandits before running into a friend of mine, Chris. Excited that I wouldn’t have to spend the entire day alone, I joined Chris, Frank Turner, and his band, to the main stage to watch Old Crow Medicine Show. Old Crow Medicine Show is definitely one of the best Bluegrass bands out there right now. Their set was so much fun and energetic.

Another band I was really looking forward to seeing were The Temper Trap. These Aussies drew quite the crowd for Coachella. Their set was just as good as the previous time I saw them. I probably enjoyed the Coachella set more due to the fact that I was more familiar with their songs this time around. Rumor has it they have a fall tour stopping in LA. I can only hope that the rumor is true.

After The Temper Trap I decided to cool down for a bit in VIP and watch Tokyo Police Club from a distance. To my surprise, Old Crow Medicine Show were playing a small additional set for the press staff. It was quite the treat to see them again. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that they put a hat on the ground to collect any donations people may throw out for them.

I was finally able to meet up with Sarah and her friend Anna just in time to watch The XX together. This trio from Britain has had quite a buzz recently, and I was relieved they were playing Day 2 so that I didn’t have to add them to the roster of bands I’d been dying to check out and would be missing on Day 3. The XX are definitely buzz worthy and live up to any hype you may have heard. Even Jay Z and Beyonce were spotted side stage watching them.

The rest of the day seems like it went by with such a blur. I stuck around with Sarah and Anna for a majority of the evening, while bumping into Chris, Frank, and the boys again. Caught a few songs from Coheed & Cambria, Hot Chip (danced my little heart out during their set), and Faith No More. Wish I could have controlled my festival ADD and watched full sets from all three of those bands. Sigh.

For anyone who has seen Muse, you’ll understand why I don’t have to say much about their set. Muse were amazing, both musically and visually. They played all of their hits, and I was surprised by how many of their songs I actually knew. I was in awe over their glass piano and their light show. The entire time they played seemed so surreal, leaving me speechless.

I separated with Sarah and Anna to start promoting with Eddie for my last time at Coachella 2010. I have never heard of or seen Tiesto prior to the festival. Eddie described him as the biggest DJ in the world… blah blah blah. The only thing I cared to know about Tiesto was how true the rumor that Tegan & Sara were to come out and perform a song that they had done with him was. I had bumped into Tegan in VIP earlier in the day who confirmed that they wouldn’t be teaming up during his performance due to lack of sound check and practice. I still had high hopes that they would though. Unfortunately, Tegan was telling the truth, and they didn’t come out. Tiesto’s set was awesome regardless. The crowd went insane, and he was perfect background music to keep me awake while passing out flyers.

The night ended with the red vines and 7 layer dip at Joslyn’s, less than 3 hours of sleep, and an early flight to Salt Lake City with an even earlier 2 hour drive to LAX.

All in all, the only complaint I had about Coachella this year was the fact that I missed a lot of amazing bands on Day 3 for scheduling conflicts, and the Icelandic volcano for not allowing Frightened Rabbits to make it overseas. I was really looking forward to seeing them play.

Thank you Coachella 2010 for being incredible.

Liars

2010-04-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

You'd Break Your Neck To Keep Your Chin Up

2010-03-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

I distinctly remember the first time I heard and saw Copeland. The Starting Line was scheduled to play Ventura Theatre back in March of 2006 on the 'Screaming Is For Babies Tour.' Joined with Gatsby's American Dream and Cartel, Copeland was the only band on the package tour that I hadn't heard of. To my surprise, I found their album 'In Motion' for $3.99 at my work (which by the way had the most scarce selection of cd's ever seen.) I popped it into the cd player of my '89 Mercedes and drove home from work slower than normal that night. Needless to say, I was instantly hooked. I had just gotten out of my first and only serious relationship, my routine was no more, and I felt completely lost as to where my life was going to go. Thankfully my sister was visiting at the time. If I close my eyes, it brings me back to driving up the 101 with her while repeatedly listening to track one of 'In Motion', No One Really Wins. It's over four years later, and I still think of and miss her every time I hear the same song. 'In Motion' will forever be tied to that time in my life. I will always be amazed at how nostalgic music can be.

On October 29, 2009 Copeland posted the following statement online:

Dear friends,

We have come to an extremely difficult decision. It has come time for us to move on from Copeland and follow other paths in our lives. We are absolutely grateful to have been able to make music for as long as we have. In the last 9 years we've been able to see parts of the world that we never dreamt we would see. We have shared the stage and built friendships with immensely talented artists. We've been afforded the opportunity to make 4 records that we're extremely proud of. Most of all, we feel honored that people have cared so much for our band and for our art. We appreciate every listener who has allowed our music to be a part of their lives. We want to offer our deepest thanks to every individual who has supported us on this ride. It has profoundly impacted our lives.

To put your minds at ease, we assure you this is not a bitter break up. We all individually feel Copeland has run its course in our lives and it’s time for us to pursue what is next. We couldn’t end things without a proper goodbye, so we are planning a final farewell tour in the US this coming Spring, as well as one final jaunt around the world to some of our favorite countries. We are really excited about seeing you all one more time, and we hope it turns out to be the best Copeland tour ever.

It has been discussed and we are not ruling out the possibility of recording one more album sometime in the future. However, this spring tour will be our last.

From the bottom of hearts, thank you for all of your love and support.

Aaron, Bryan, Jon & Stephen

As heartbreaking as reading the above news was for me, it was assuring to know I'd be able to see them one last time. I'd seen them play multiple times between the first show I went to and the scheduled March 26th show. The farewell show was no doubt, my absolute favorite time seeing them play. It seemed as if I wasn't alone in holding this performance near and dear to my heart. It was a very special and emotional set for me. Reliving the moments of first listening to them, to realizing how much I've grown as a person since then. Copeland's music has been there for it all.

Asking for a better setlist for the evening was completely unnecessary. They did a great job at combining new and old songs to deliver the perfect goodbye.

Take Care
Careful Now
I'm A Sucker For A Kind Word
The Grey Man
Chin Up
Control Freak
Coffee
On The Safest Ledge
The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)
Eat, Sleep, Repeat
Pin Your Wings
No One Really Wins
When Paula Sparks
California

Encore:

15. Love Affair
16. You Have My Attention

I can only hope for a reunion someday. I won't be holding my breath though. It's safe to say they did such a good job with their farewells that I will still have satisfaction if a reunion never happens. Until then, I'll keep 'California' as my ringtone and cherish the memories I have with their music, and continue to make more.

'Cause Everybody's Shakin' Like The End Of The World

2010-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of Bruce Springsteen. I never understood the hype about 'the boss.' A couple of years ago I heard another band's name thrown around a lot, The Gaslight Anthem. I never really gave them a chance because anytime I would ask someone to give me a comparison of who they sound like, their reply would always be Bruce Springsteen. Nooooo thank you.

Boy, was I ever wrong. Maybe I should have actually listened to them, or gone to one of their shows before I let my judgement call rest.

Gaslight's singer, Brian Fallon, had a scheduled acoustic show at my favorite Hollywood venue, The Troubadour. Never really hearing Gaslight, I had a strange urge to go. I'm a sucker for acoustic. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing bands perform live, but if there's someone from a band I like (or in this case, a band I had a stigma against for being known to sound like Bruce) performing acoustically, you better believe I'll be there. In most cases, I'll probably enjoy it more than seeing the actual band live. That may be due to the fact that its more of a rare occurrence, which makes it a real treat. Brian Fallon proved me wrong like a brick to the face. He was amazing.

We were running a little late, so by the time we had gotten there, he had already started. We walked in mid story to a glowing fella holding a guitar, with a HUGE smile on his face. He was so excited about the story he was telling. I instantly took a liking to him before I even heard him play a song or caught on to what his story was about. He was so animated, gave off so many humble vibes, and simply seemed down to earth.

Brian did a good job of making fans in the crowd feel like they had known him for years. He told the crowd stories about how he geeked out when he first met Bruce Springsteen, how he would have swallowed nails when he was younger to sound like Chuck Ragan (now a friend of his), growing up in Jersey, stories of things his mother tells him, and the shock he always had when tough Jersey guys from their hardcore scene would confront him and say, "Hey I like your band." He used a different voice for every new character he would talk about which only made it more entertaining. I'd pay to grab a cup of coffee with him just so I can hear his animated stories.

When he started playing, that was a whole other story. He owned the stage and his entire set was amazing. From what I understand, he played mostly Gaslight Anthem songs rotating between their two full length albums and their EP. He closed with an encore of The Clash's "Lost in the Supermarket." Leaving The Troubadour that night, I have to say my wall of a stigma against Gaslight immediately tumbled down. I can only hope to see their music live as a full band now.

(Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I don't have any of my own videos or pictures. I snagged the photo below - Photo by Matthew Baldwin for The Daily Titan, and the video of Brian's encore is from youtube.)

Through Rough Seas Our Ship Will Sail

2010-03-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

I asked for guest list to see The Temper Trap without any expectations. I had only heard Sweet Disposition, their song featured in '500 Days of Summer', which was enough to strike an urge to see them. These Aussie boys sure know how to put on a show. I'm still in shock over the voice that can come out of singer, Dougie Mandagi.

Their entire set really impressed me. Every song had a great beat that left no one in the crowd standing still. They ended the set with the same instrumental song they end their album with, Drum Song. The energy this band put into their entire show is intense and rare. I picked up their cd, Conditions, and haven't been able to stop listening to it. It's fantastic, and I highly recommend picking it up! I can't wait to see them at Coachella!

I Never Want To Be Lukewarm Again

2010-02-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

Jonah Matranga has been one of the funnest show I've been to in ages. There is nothing better than an acoustic show on a rainy LA night. He kept the show going by playing an extra song in the parking garage of the venue. I wish more musicians care this much about hanging out with their fans.

"I never want to say my best days are behind me."

Jonah Matranga - Lukewarm (Live) from Adam Chazen on Vimeo.

Your Coffin Or Mine?

2010-02-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

"It's a been a long time since I've been close to you, It's been a long time since I've been sad."

Jaked On Green Beers was the first song I ever heard by Alkaline Trio. I had just turned 15 when I picked up the first Atticus compilation from a now closed chain, The Warehouse. Despite being the first track on the compilation, the Alkaline Trio song always stood out to me more than the others on the playlist. That song was the start to a long road. Every Alkaline record holds a place in my heart. Each with different stories, memories, and feelings of nostalgia tied to them.

I had seen Alkaline Trio a few times through Warped Tour and other Ventura shows, but it wasn't until their Goddamnit tour that I plunged head first into their music. I owe it all to my friend from high school, Tammy, who happened to have an extra ticket to the Anaheim stop of that tour. I've never met anyone more obsessed with the trio than Tammy. She's has multiple Alk3 tattoos including lead singer, Skiba, tattooed in a Jesus/Darwin fish. I guess you can say she's rubbed off on me a bit as I now have a lyric tattooed on me, and a dog named Skiba.

I was lucky enough to see Alkaline Trio twice this week. Kassi and I headed down to The Glasshouse show on Tuesday. Dan's band, The Dear & Departed played first and Cursive second. I'd yet to see Cursive before and they left no disappointment. Although, I didn't manage to snap one decent photo of their set either night.

By the time the trio finally came on, saying I was excited would be an understatement. I sang along to every word like it was going to be my last breath. I attempted to keep track of their setlist as followed.

This Addiction
Armageddon
Emma
Dine, Dine My Darling
We've Had Enough
Mr. Chainsaw
Dead On The Floor
Fatally Yours
Crawl
Fuck You Aurora
Goodbye Forever
In Vein
Continental
Blue Carolina
Sadie
Nose Over Tail
'97
Fine
Attitude (Misfits cover where Derek Sang and Matt Skiba played drums)
Blue In The Face

They played again the next night at House of Blues on Sunset. This show was even better because Tammy was there, and her excitement is nearly impossible not to pick up on. The setlist was almost exactly the same except for a few songs. I didn't mind as long as they ended with Blue In The Face again (which they did.) All in all, both shows were absolutely fantastic. Also, on a side note I'm glad they decided to touch base with their old roots on their new record. It is everything I have been hoping for since I heard they were recording a new album. I can't wait to create memories to go along with this cd. Over and out!

With Grace In Your Heart And Flowers In Your Hair

2010-02-10T23:19:00.000-08:00

Three words. Up and coming. Though true, those three words do not give near enough justice in describing my all time favorite band for 2009, Mumford & Sons. Discovering them by somewhat of an accident, I latched onto this British band immediately. I purchased a ticket for a New Year's Eve show in London with the intentions of seeing Frank Turner play. Having no idea who anyone else on the bill was I decided to give the headliner, Mumford & Sons, a listen. To my surprise, they were beyond amazing. To cut a long story short, Frank Turner didn't end up playing the show as scheduled, but I didn't mind one bit because I discovered Mumford & Sons through it all.

'Sigh No More' was the exact type of album I had been craving and searching for for months. They've created an atmosphere with their music so broad on the spectrum that at some points I can lay in bed and relax while listening to it, and at other points, I can't sit still because my heart is racing from excitement. Add some of the best written lyrics of love, heartache, and life to that, and my search to fill my music void was complete.

How fickle my heart and how whoozy my eyes

I struggle to find any truth in your lies

And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

My weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all

But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall

Lend me your eyes I can change what you see

But your soul you must keep totally free.

Their performance on New Years Eve was phenomenal. I couldn't have asked to bring in the new year in a better way. It's even better that I can tie them in with my trip to England. Makes everything so much more meaningful for me. Before I even left England I found out they would be playing The Troubadour February 9th. It gave me something to look forward to when I came home and helped lessen the blow of wanting to be in England still.

I didn't really know what to expect of an LA crowd after seeing how crazy their London fans were. I knew there would be no comparison in the energy coming from the audience. Mumford & Sons, however, put just as much energy playing in front of a crowd 1/4 the size as before. I haven't been this impressed by a band in ages, if ever. Lead singer, Marcus Mumford, had my jaw on the ground at multiple points. He's the first person I've ever seen play drums, guitar, and sing at the same time. They recently played on David Letterman where he cracked a joke saying, "They're going to use the proceeds from this show to hire a drummer." I'd like to ask Mr. Letterman if any other band he's featured on his show has ever done that. I highly doubt it. He should be praising these guys, not mocking them.

Their set was absolutely amazing. In addition to the great company I was with (Kassi, Sarah, and Jon,) it appeared that Jake Gyllenhaal and Benecio Del Toro were in attendance too. I'm curious to know how everyone at the show found out about them. I'm sure I would have stumbled upon them eventually, it just so happens I got lucky to find out about them before The Troubadour show sold out.

"My head told my heart let love grow but my heart told my head this time no this time no"

I can't wait to see whats in store for this band. They played a couple new songs which sounded amazing. I have a feeling they're going to blow up within the next year. They've got this energy that people tend to gravitate towards. Not to mention they've got British humor to charm everyone with.

Music Is My Substitute For Love

2010-02-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

Between hearing about Frank Turner through multiple twitter posts and other online outlets, I've really got to give my friend Katy the credit for introducing his music to me. I finally got the chance to see Frank back in October on The Revival Tour's Hollywood stop. I was nothing but impressed. It's a rare sight to see an LA crowd amped for a show, let alone to actually show it. Frank seemed to bring all the energy out of the crowd with the intensity of his singing, poetic lyrics, and not to be neglected, his English charm. It's hard to resist tapping your foot and clapping your hands during his set. From that moment on I've been addicted to his album 'Love Ire & Song.'

I got to see Frank play twice this week. The first show at a more intimate venue in Hollywood, Hotel Cafe, and again the next night in Riverside for a free college show. I was so wrapped up in the show itself, I didn't get a chance to take too many photos. Oops! He played amazing sets both nights, although I seemed to enjoy myself more at the Riverside show. I was glad I got to sing 'Ballad Of Me And My Friends' word for word with Katy. Completely worth driving 200 miles roundtrip to see.

I'm a bit late on posting a Top 5 list for 2009. Between procrastination on writing one up, and not actually being able to decide who to narrow it down to, I probably won't write one for this past year. Regardless, Mr. Frank Turner has definitely earned a spot in my top lists in more than one category; Top Albums for 2009, Top Albums that came out in 2009, Favorite discoveries in 2009. 'Love Ire & Song' didn't come out in 2009, so that slides in under Top Albums for 2009. However, his newest, 'Poetry of the Deed' can squeeze in Top Albums that came out in 2009. If you haven't had a chance to listen to Frank yet, I highly suggest getting to it right away. Substitute, The Road, and Back In The Day are three of the catchiest songs that can (and will) get stuck in your head for days. Don't stop there though, there isn't one song on either of his three records that I skip while listening to. For those that don't know, I usually help a friend flyer for Goldenvoice. With Coachella creeping around the corner we've been handing out flyers with the line up on them. I get so excited when I glance down to see I'm promoting for a show Frank will be playing. Coachella is just the start. I can't wait to see what this upcoming year brings to him and his music.

“There’s no such thing as rock stars, there’s just people who play music, and some of them are just like us and some of them are dicks.”

Skeletons of Steel

2010-01-25T23:39:00.000-08:00

Unless you've recently met me, or do know me and have been hiding in a closet for the last few years, you'd probably know that Dallas Green of City and Colour is my favorite musician. I've found a joy in sharing his music (something that is very near and dear to my heart) to people who have never heard of him. I've probably listened to his album 'Sometimes' more than anyone else, and probably more than any other album I own. Over the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with him through our mutual friends. Those times being some of the best I can recall, and will remember for the rest of my life. The highlight of them all would be him playing Sam Malone for me in the summer of 2007. At this time Dallas had never played any solo shows in California. That being the case, he was nice enough to play a song for me of my request. Best part about it, the only people around were the two of us. Truly one of the best moment of my life. Getting to know Dallas a bit has only enriched his music for me. He's one of the more genuine people I've been around.

Since that summer, he's played LA a few times. Each time he comes back around he sells out a larger venue. It's nice to see the progress of his music being spread here. It also comes with the frustration of bigger crowds, which entails more people talking during his set. He played in Hollywood this weekend. I was especially excited for this show not only for his set, but to see everyone else I knew that would be going as well. I love that music brings so many people together. To make things even better, Cancer Bats were in town and their show had been cancelled, so they came as well. Talk about Canadian overload!

City and Colour's set couldn't have been any better. Adding the twist of a live band with songs I've listened to religiously as just acoustic made me feel like I was discovering the songs for the first time all over again. He played every song as if I would have written the set list myself with the addition of a couple new songs (which were amazing!)

The night ended on a high note. Vagrant threw an after party with a delicious taco bar. Said my goodbyes to everyone with hopes of seeing them all soon. Both Cancer Bats and Alexisonfire should be back sometime around May. That's what I'm hearing, and keeping my fingers crossed on.

A Heart Floats in the Bay

2010-01-18T21:29:00.000-08:00

I think I love the idea of living out of a suitcase too much. I hadn't even unpacked from London before my closest friend, Kassi, invited me to San Francisco for the weekend. So on a Friday night, barely home for one week, I find myself packing another bag to head a few hundred miles up north. We only drove a few hours to Bradley where her lake house is, saving the rest of the drive for the morning. Despite a few sharp right turns, listening to Jets to Brazil, Death Cab, Mumford & Sons, Nada Surf, and Third Eye Blind made the drive whiz by.

The drive in the morning seemed to go by quickly as well. Taking the 101 for a majority of the time, then switching over to the PCH in Salinas for the last stretch. We made it to an overcast San Francisco by lunch time. We made a couple of pitstops (Golden Gate Bridge, the house from Full House) before heading to Haight-Ashbury area. Most important stop of our trip, Escape from New York pizza and Ameoba.

We stopped at Alamo Square, put a blanket down, and sat in the park for a bit until we could check into our hotel. Once we were settled in we walked over to Union Square and Market Street. I enjoyed a nice Chai Tea and found an awesome jacket that I've been on the prowl for. By the time we were done shopping the rain moved in on us. Found shelter and dinner at a really good vegan restaurant referred to us by my friend Alex, called Golden Era. The food was amazing. Afterwards, we decided to go to a few bars around town, all of which were a bit of a disappointment. We found a pizza place open late next to our hotel and retired in around 2. As non eventful as our night seemed, I think I laughed more than my body could handle.

We started our morning off with bagels, then headed to Fisherman's Wharf. Finalized our trip with a Ghiradelli sundae, which may I add was delicious, and headed on the road for a rainy, rainy drive. Bon Iver was the perfect soundtrack for the weather. Although London is a tough act to follow, and there seemed to be constant reminders everywhere, it would be selfish to ask for anything more than the past weekend consisting of a great city, great drive, and a great friend.

Ten Minutes To Downtown

2010-01-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

I met a friend of mine, Brad Gilboe, within the last couple years at some point. At many some points in fact. We've got a bunch of mutual friends and always bump into each other in random places. I think I have more random run-ins with him than any of my other friends combined. I had the pleasure of joining him for his birthday dinner at a sushi restaurant in Hollywood. It was a lovely time, and I can now say I've eaten birthday cake with chopsticks.

Do I trust my heart or just my mind...

2010-01-10T22:01:00.000-08:00

What better way to welcome myself home than going to a show? Unfortunately I missed seeing the 'Where's the Band?' tour at my favorite venue, The Troubadour. For good reason though, I was still in London. I bought tickets for the Anaheim date at the House of Blues Rules instead. Despite hating the entire chain of House of Blues, the show was amazing. The tour featured Anthony Raneri of Bayside, Chris Conley of Saves the Day, Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids, and last but not least, Dustin Kensrue of Thrice. I invited Brandi to come down with me. Nothing better than seeing a show with someone you know will enjoy it as much as you.

Anthony's set was great. He played Alkaline Trio (Good Fucking Bye) and Death Cab For Cutie (I Will Follow You into the Dark) covers. If I had any complaints about his set, I would have to say I was a bit disappointed that he didn't play more Bayside songs.

Saves the Day songs are always fun to sing along to. Luckily a majority of the crowd knows the words to out sing Chris Conley. I have always, and will always love Saves the Day, but christ what happened to his voice in the last few years? Is it possible for him to become anymore nasally? Regardless, his selection of songs played were all good choices.

The night before the show my friend Katy and I were talking about Matt Pryor. She was telling me that she will love every music project he does because he's got that voice you just fall in love with. I couldn't agree with her more. I can remember playing 'Something To Write Home About' over and over in my room when I was 14. Hearing him play gave me the best nostalgia of all of those times. So much in fact, my eyes watered at one point. Such a sap!

Dustin Kensrue seems to have the same effect on me. I've listened to Thrice since I was 14/15 and I love the solo record he put out a couple years ago. I always love when bands stick to their roots and thank their family or supporters who have been there for them all along. He dedicated the song he wrote for his wife who happened to be in the crowd. Pretty sure I saw her wipe a tear or two from her eyes. I don't think there is anything cuter than the fact that there were a couple hundred other people in that room, yet there was still a very intimate moment between the two of them. He did a few covers, a few Thrice songs, and a lot of solo stuff. Definitely a performance to satisfy the entire crowd.

During the last couple of songs the rest of the guys came back on stage to join Dustin. Despite Matt's continuous attempts to cover Miley Cyrus' Party in the U.S.A. they covered NOFX's Linoleum and Jawbreaker's Boxcar. Such an amazing show to start off the year!

Southern Belles in London Sing

2010-01-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

5 Countries in 1 week. I never thought I'd ever have those words coming out of my mouth. Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, United States. I love it!

At the beginning of my trip I wrote down a quote from a book that stuck in my mind. It knew it would be appropriate to the way I would feel when the end of my trip was drawing near.

"When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end."

My last day in London seemed to fly by. In short, it consist of The Ten Bells (the infamous Jack the Ripper pub), Grosvenor Square, last minute shopping on Oxford Street, and one last tube ride to Heathrow. It was hard not to be sad or disappointed on my way home. I fell in love with a city I know I'd like to live in with the reality of having to get a visa to live there. It isn't the most convenient or affordable to go as often as I'd like. Nor is it close to my family or friends at home. So many obstacles making it hard to accomplish a move. I just need to keep in mind that I had two of the best weeks of my life, and that moving there isn't impossible if it's what I really want.

Random things I loved about London:

The smell of the tube. I can't pinpoint it. Distinct oil/exhaust smell.
The biggest escalators I've ever seen!
British fashion.. I love love love love it!
How convenient it is to get everywhere in London.
The fact that they serve curry with their chips (french fries).
Instead of signs that say "Apartment for Rent," they say "Flat to Let."
A majority of cars are hatchbacks.

I'll probably add to that list as I think of more things that made me smile.

It Won't Snow Where You're Going

2010-01-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering, France has the best croissants, baguettes, and eclairs. Extremely disappointed I didn't have a chance to get a crepe while I was there. Oh well!

We had planned to go to Paris Disneyland. Had being the keyword in that statement... we woke up to a white blanket of snow. Despite ruining our Disneyland plans, I was so excited! I hadn't touched snow it over a year. It made everything even brighter and prettier. After lunch, we did a bit of shopping at what us Californians would call Downtown Disney. Took a bus from there to the little downtown area of Bailly-Romainvilliers to send out some postcards at La Poste.

The weather wasn't looking so great as far as our train ride back to London. An email from Eurostar suggested getting to the train station even earlier in hopes of getting on an earlier train. To spare the complaining, we waiting at the 20 degree train station for at least 4 hours for our delayed train. You get the idea. I think I had enough anxiety for both Eddie and I combined. I just wanted to get back to London safely. A weird feeling of relief came over me once we were seated on the train. A kind of relief you get when you're going home. I love London.

Another Journey By Train

2010-01-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

I dreaded the idea of leaving Amsterdam. More for the fact that I knew there were only 2 1/2 days left of my trip than leaving the actual city. Our trek through the slosh was much easier than the day before. The train ride back to Paris was gorgeous. It went through Belgium almost the entire way. Note to self: Plan a trip to Brussels at some point. I managed to snap a few photos of Brussels from the train windows. Such an awesome looking city!

Finding our way to our hotel wasn't as easy as I would have liked to be. I need to spend more time routing out ways to get around next time I go to a foreign country. After some help from people in the train station we were set on the right metro towards Bailly Romainvilliers (Pronunciation in French sounds amazing, although almost anything in french sounds enchanting.) We opted getting a hotel a half hour outside of Paris near Disneyland Paris. To our surprise, the Marriott there consists of little houses that form a vacation resort in the middle of a golf course. Our villa was a two story, two bedroom house. Needless to say, I fell in love with it.

After repeated days of walking around a lot both Eddie and I were pretty exhausted. We both agreed on a night in, after all our little villa was worth spending time in. We bought a bunch of food from the little market in the resort area. I made dinner, did my laundry, and took a hot bath. How domestic of me! It was nice to finally get out of the cold for more than a couple of hours, and let my limbs defrost completely.

Winter Winds

2010-01-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

Amsterdam bound. I slept most of the train ride right through Belgium. Exhaustion is slowly catching up. Unlike London or Paris, there was snow in Amsterdam making it feel even colder. We received wrong directions to our hotel. Took an unnecessary tram and walked blocks, when in reality our hotel was adjacent to the train station we started at. To put it in the simplest way, we didn't have the best start in Amsterdam. Have I described my luggage? I definitely overpacked, and its extremely heavy. Eddie has nicknamed it 'The Bulldozer'. I'll learn for next time though. I had to lug the damn thing everywhere through the slosh.

Our hotel was amazing again. I haven't had a single complaint about any of the places I booked for the entire trip. Got extremely lucky with that. After getting a bite to eat, we headed towards the Anne Frank House. This is somewhere I only dreamed of going when I was in elementary. World War II has always been my favorite subject in history, and her story always amazed me. Being able to go to the house meant a lot to me. This half of the city also amazed me. It gave off such an artsy vibe. EVERYONE rides bikes and vespas, regardless of how cold it is. Every apartment building and canal on this half of the city was so cute. Some of the buildings seemed like they were leaning. I can only imagine how long they've been there. I'd definitely like to visit at a warmer time and spend time exploring the little shops and art around the city.

I saw a million dessert shops around the area. Had the best Eclair I've ever had. Although, I'm sure I could get a better one in France. I'll have to get one when we go back. I'm such a sucker for sweets.

We headed to the Red Light District after that. Definitely more grungy than the other part of town we were in... which was expected. Yes, I saw all of the coffee shops you can smoke weed in. Yes, I saw all of the hookers in the windows strutting their stuff. It's sad that the most talked about things in this city aren't even the best it has to offer. Its hilarious to see everything in the RLD, but honestly... once is enough. My favorite part of RLD were the swans in the middle of the canals. It reminded me of the scene from The Notebook with all of the swans. Amazing! Walking around there feels like a weird dream. The cold got to a point where the only thing that sounded appealing was to sit in our hotel room, so we did. Got few hours of sleep again.

Paris In Flames

2010-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

After only a few hours of sleep we were up and bound for Paris. As excited as I was, I really didn’t want to leave London. The city stole my heart. Good thing I already had everything booked forcing me to stick to the plan. The train ride was extremely fast, only a bit over 2 hours long. We had a couple silly mishaps trying to find how to get our hotel. No where near as simple as London. Eddie and his bag got stuck going through the gate to get onto the metro. He wasn’t happy, but I couldn’t stop laughing. It was beyond hilarious trying to ask people for help, no one around us spoke any English. Eventually someone came to our rescue, and we managed to get to our hotel all in one piece.

Our hotel was only 20 minutes walking distance from The Louvre so we trekked it on foot. Paris is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Everything is beautiful, even something as simple as the cobble stone sidewalks. The Louvre physically took my breath away. We got there too late to go inside. Bummer! Just the outside was mind blowing enough! You could see the Eiffel Tower from the front of The Louvre so it made it easy to figure out where to go to next. The sunset made the most gorgeous backdrop behind all of the scenery. We stumbled upon a ferris wheel and the Arc de Triomphe on our way. It’s hard for my mind to wrap itself around all of the history in this city. America seems so boring in comparison!

Some of my favorite things were all of the trees, and their contrast against the sunset. Gorgeous!

We finally made it to the Eiffel Tower after walking forever. Nearly froze to death after waiting to go up to the 2nd level, it was completely worth it though. Definitely the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen. Amsterdam has a tough act to follow. As exhausted as I was physically, I didn’t go to sleep until at least 5:30am. This restlessness is going to kill me by the end of the trip.

2010-01-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

Paris... Made it safe.. I'll write about it later.. It's 5:20 a.m. and We've got to wake up in 2 hours to catch our train to Amsterdam. This city is beyond beautiful. BEYOND. I've walked more today than I would like to remember. I'm exhausted and my restless mind is arguing against it.

Pictures soon.. Here's one hilarious one to begin with. Notice the Eiffel Tower in the background!

I Had A Dream Last Night

2010-01-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

Switched hotels first thing in the morning. New hotel is beyond amazing. 4/5-star Marriott. My first hotel wasn't bad at all, but compared to the new hotel it was a shack. Reorganized all of my stuff and relaxed for a bit. Still couldn't force myself to take a nap. I'm starting to think my lack of sleep is more than just jet lagged. I walked over to Carnaby Street while I waited for Eddie to get in. Caught up with Kassi on the phone.. Out of everyone, I wish she could be here the most. She'd love it here. (Ohai if you're reading!) Went to dinner at The Spaghetti House. Unexpectedly delicious. Our night was pretty slow other than our freezing photo adventure. Stayed up late enough to still be exhausted.

A Hidden Diamond You Cannot Find

2010-01-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

First stop: Oxford Street. Priority: Topshop (topshop.com). Victim: My bank account. CUTEST SHIT EVER! I went in just to browse around. I didn’t actually think I’d find anything I’d fall in love with. Even if I did, what were the chances it would actually fit well? Welp, I was wrong. Two dresses, one shirt, tights, and a pair of shoes later I gave into temptation and forked over my wallet. I don't even remember the last time I took mirror pictures. Probably early high school... but these were too darn cute not to share.

Once again, headed up to Camden. The new friend I met the previous night, Haley, invited me to a night that plays songs from movies. While I waited to meet up with her I headed to The Flowerpot. Met another friendly person, Olivia. She told me that Erol Alkan was spinning a set at The Locke Tavern starting midnight. Headed to The Monarch for a bit for the soundtrack night before heading up to The Locke Tavern. Super fun night. That ended around 3am-ish. Hung out with another new friend who happens to have a fantastic musical taste. Stayed up extremely late.. in fact, I didn't go to sleep at all. I finally went on a double decker bus as well. Mark that off the tourist stuff to do in England.

Well I Am Jet Set, Jet Lag, Jaded

2010-01-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

Still jetlagged. Woke up extremely late again. Decided to take different routes around town to try to see what I hadn’t yet. I walked around Covent Garden for a bit before hopping on the tube towards Tower Bridge. Also stopped at McDonald's to get fries for the single fact that they serve yellow curry. Why can't the states pick up on that? Not that I go to McDonald's all that often... but sheeeeeessssh.. delicious! Walked around the Tower Bridge area for a while before heading to Camden to see if anything was going on for the night. Since The Flowerpot was closed I headed straight to The Locke Tavern. Bumped into Harry and Dave from The Flowerpot. Harry introduced me to a few new people. I’m horrible with names due to meeting so many new people all at once… something that has always been a pet peeve of mine. Oops! I hung around a fellow named Fraser and his pal for a majority of the night. Great company. Fraser’s friend Haley met up with us. Got along with her great as well. I hope to keep in touch with everyone I meet and get along with. My night ended in my hotel, not falling asleep until after 6am. This jetlag is going to kill me by the time I get home.

By the way, there are roofies in that drink... a dosage adding up higher than the amount of straws. Haha. (For those with no sense of humor, its a joke!)

So This Is The New Year...

2010-01-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

It seems as if the afternoons here go by so fast and slow at the same time. I sat at Tiki Cafe for a bit today researching places to buy hair straighteners. Waste of time. My attempt at using my hair straightener through the voltage converter has been a complete fail so far. I finally gave in and bought a UK straighter that is complete shit. It will just have to do for now.. curly hair won't be an option in this frizz inducing weather.
I headed to Oxford Circus station to meet up with Jon and Sarah. I knew I would be extremely happy once they got there, but seeing their smiling faces was one of the best feelings ever. It was SO nice to see them. We wandered around for a bit before deciding on a restaurant for dinner. We stumbled upon an Italian restaurant called Stef’s. The meals were a bit pricey, but well worth it. It was easily the best food I’ve had the entire trip. I don’t really remember what I ordered... hopefully the pictures justify it enough. YUM!

I parted ways with them to head to HMV Forum for Mumford & Sons. On my tube ride heading up to Kentish Town I found a group of 5 guys playing charades. They were hilarious so I befriended them. I guess one plus of traveling alone is you're forced to make friends. Unless you're ok with not having any human interaction. They were headed to the forum as well, so I stuck with them for a majority of the night.

When the clock hit midnight confetti fluttered throughout the entire room and HUGE balloons were being bounced around. I felt like I was in a movie of some sort. Everything here seems so unreal though.

I walked outside to get some fresh air, and as if everything inside wasn’t amazing enough, it was snowing. Met a few other friendly people that I spend the rest of my night with. Headed to one of their flats for a bit before heading back to Kentish Town, eventually taking the tube back to my hotel. Up until 6 am again. I’ve never been so restless in my life.

I’ve yet to make any new year’s resolutions. Proud to say I have accomplished all 3 resolutions that I made last year. I’m very happy with myself. I think this years resolutions will have to have some deep thought to them. Hope all of my loved friends and family brought in the new year with a bang.

Passing Afternoon

2009-12-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

I’ve never woken up so much in my life as I have during my sleeps here. I finally got to a restful sleep right before my alarm went of this morning. I turned it off and slept until 2pm… OOPS! Determined to not let my day go to waste I hopped onto the underground to Picadilly Circus, something I hadn’t seen yet. Looks like a smaller version of Times Square. Like the two days before, I started walking in any which direction to see where it would lead me. I ended up at the edge of the park where I got my first glimpse of Big Ben. It looked even more beautiful lit up. I started on the same route as day 1 and found myself back in Trafalgar Square. Instead of turning to the right towards Big Ben, I turned to the left and found myself in Leicester Square. The only words that I can think to describe Leicester Square is a carnival and Vegas… Possibly an outdoors Circus Circus?

After walking to see Big Ben in all of its light and glory I hopped onto the tube via Westminster Station to Kentish Town. I was determined to find The Flowerpot. I looked it up on google maps the previous night to see approximately how far I’d have to walk. I had turned around right before I got to it the day before. I walked much farther this time although I had a feeling I’d gone too far. I asked someone waiting at a bus stop if they had a clue where it was, and sure enough I had passed it. I was getting discouraged after retracing my steps. I didn’t understand how I could have passed it when my eyes had been peeled and on the look out. Right when I decided I was going to give up, I looked to the left and TADA! Guess it was meant that I go there I suppose.

As soon as I walked in I loved it. It was a bit more vacant than I expected it to be, but it was still awesome. There were a few guys sitting at that bar, so I asked if I could join them. They were about to start a game of Scrabble. From what I gathered of their names, they were Tom, Robby, and Harry. A bit later a girl named Sally joined them. As most people that know me know, I’m a bit critical when it comes to girls. I took an instant liking to Sally though. See seemed like someone I’d get along with right away. They decided to head to another pub around the corner in Camden. Not ready to go back to my hotel, and happy that I may have made some new friends, I joined them. The Locke was extremely packed so we sat on the rainy, umbrella-covered patio. It wasn’t long before Tom suggested heading to a less busy pub. Next up, The Hawley Arms. Amy Winehouse was bartending… Definitely don’t think I’d see that in California. Hah. After talking with Harry for a bit I realized that the group of people I had spent my evening with were the exact type of people I’d be close with at home. They all seemed to be big music lovers as well. Going around in Camden made me realize how head over heels I am for London. It has everything I love about LA without the snobby attitudes. I never thought I’d ever love a city more than I do LA or Hollywood… until now.

We eventually headed back to The Flowerpot and after a bit I had to rush to the tube before it shut down for the night. Taxis are quite expensive and I’d rather save the cost of one for Saturday night. I love the fact that I could say “See you tomorrow” to everyone. Everyone will be attending The Flowerpot NYE Show that I purchased a ticket for a bit ago. A couple of the guys work and live above The Flowerpot, and everyone else I met were close knit friends and regulars of the pub. Instead of goodbye hugs, I got a kiss on the cheek from everyone. Catches me off guard every time.. and I love it!

I have to kick myself for taking so much critical advice from people. Rumors I won’t be following for the remainder of my trip.

1. Don’t take the tube at night by yourself.

- It was no different than taking it during the day. There were plenty of people around.

2. Don’t go to Camden at night, it can be rough.

- I felt safer in Camden than I do in Hollywood.

Jon and Sarah get here tomorrow. I hope to get to spend enough time with them before I head over to HMV Forum for The Flowerpot New Years Party. I don’t see why I wouldn’t though. Maybe they’ll even come with me. Going to bed at 6am really isn't working for me. I'm tired.

Until next time!

Take Me Anywhere

2009-12-29T05:49:00.000-08:00

I woke up a bit later than I’d like today. I had plans to meet with Phil, my new friend from the plane, around 10:40. Didn’t make it to our meeting spot until almost 11. Ended up to be a very short visit, but a very pleasant one at that. Seeing someone relatively familiar in a city this big was nice. After we parted I took the tube up to Camden, regardless of the rain. Walked around Camden Market for a bit. Reminds me of a Melrose/Venice Beach hybrid. I found a vegan restaurant/coffee shop to find shelter from the rain for a bit. A man I assume was the owner instantly greeted me with an oversized smile and a shot glass sample of hot chocolate. Best hot chocolate I’ve ever had… I ordered myself a full mug of it. I sat there for at least an hour, maybe even two. The same man returned with a sample of some of the vegan soup of the day. Absolutely delicious! Too bad my appetite has been non-existent since I’ve been here. I’ll be sure to go back to that place once and if it returns.

A little over a month or two ago I met someone from England who referred me to a pub called The Flowerpot. Not far from Camden, I decided to head up the tube one stop to see if I could find it before it got dark. I walked for what seemed like forever before I turned around. No luck. I didn’t feel like going back to my hotel as early as it was, so I took a detour and got off at Oxford Circus to walk along Oxford Street. Circus doesn’t even describe it. MADNESS!!! Complete madness. It was so packed I felt as if I was weaving in and out of a crowd at a sold out concert. Oxford Street consists of a lot of retail stores, mainly what you would see in a mall spread out onto the street. First thing I spotted was an Urban Outfitters. Come to find out it’s a 4-story UO. Very nice! Unfortunately it was as packed as the street was, and the line for the dressing room was far too long for my interest. I walked up the street as far as my tired feet and sore legs would allow. I settled for Tiki Café once again. I wish there were more independent coffee shops around Ventura County, or LA for that matter. They have a much better atmosphere than Starbucks or Coffee Bean.

The Story So Far...

2009-12-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

Have to love song titles and lyrics for titles to blogs.

The past couple days still seem like a dream to me.. regardless if I haven't been sleeping much. Day dreaming maybe?

My first impressions were so haywire. My flight was delayed almost two hours and I had an entire cheerleading team of at least 50 on my flight. Not trying to be stereotypical, but they were practicing their routine in the terminal. That's where my patience began to run thin.

As soon as I sat on the plane a huge sigh of relief came. Lucky me, didn't get have to sit by a creepy old guy. It was a 15 year old freshman in high school named Diego (I found this out through talking to him of course.) Across the isle was another friendly face. Later learned his name was Philip (Phil for short.) He is originally from England, and was returning home to visit his family. Dun dun dun, first british accent to swoon over. Hah. Diego had a really bad migraine, so we came up with a plan to ask Phil to switch seats with him since he had no neighbor and Diego could lay down. Phil shot back with the idea of me sitting in the empty middle seat next to him instead so Diego could lay in the corner and sleep. Don't ask how I was convinced to give up my beloved window seat for a middle seat... but I did. There was no compromising for the isle seat with him... wanker! Anywho, flight went very smoothly. I was really anxious and enjoyed listening to Phil talk far too much to sleep, regardless if he wanted to or not... haha... I think I slept only an hour on the 10 1/2 hour flight. Watched 500 Days of Summer... yada yada.. less about the flight, more about the city!

*You can click on any of the photos to see a bigger size*

Getting through customs was a drag.. so many redundant questions. Finding my way around the airport and to the tube was a bit tricky. I opted for taking the underground rather than the Heathrow Express because it was far cheaper. People were really willing to help which made it nice and simple. Bought and Oyster Pass so I have free roam in zones 1 and 2. Don't really need to go further than those anyways. I can't believe how simple it is to get around here. I'd move here for the public transportation alone! Its amazing, and so fast to get around. By the time I got to my hotel it was 9pm.. I was exhausted from staying up for over 24 hours so I stayed in. I'm really happy with my hotel accommodations. I was really worried I would be far from things I wanted to do or see, but I'm not. Yay!

As exhausted as I was I still slept horrible the first night. I woke up a bunch and couldn't fall asleep for long periods of time. I feel like I was laying in bed watching the clock. I finally got out of my hotel around 10:30/11:00am, just enough time to make it to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of Guards. Woohoo! I got off the underground and walked through Green Park... my first day time sights in London.. absolutely gorgeous. Lucky me, it was really sunny. Didn't know sunglasses would have came in handy here. Buckingham Palace was stunning, even just the gates around it. So much detail put into everything. Changing of the Guards was an awesome experience. I think I may try to go back tomorrow to see it again now knowing where the best place to stand would be. The only thing I could see with clear view was the march into the palace gates.

After gawking over Buckingham Palace I took a stroll down the long road directly in front of it. St James park was on the right where I had a clear view for Big Ben... gorgeous. Probably my favorite tourist attraction. I love clocks. I stopped by Trafalgar square before I went on the Big Ben hunt. The Christmas tree was still up. I'm going to try to go back at night so I can snap photos with all of the lights on.

After Trafalgar Square I started walking down what seemed to be the way to Big Ben. I turned a corner, and had my breath literally taken away. Big Ben. I was expecting it to be to my right, and to my surprise it was on my left. Hence why it caught me off guard so much. Not until I sat on a bench to bask in the glory of the clock bells did I realize how cold it was. I felt like my nose was going to fall off. I saw on a bench right in between Big Ben and Westminster Cathedral. Couldn’t think of a more gorgeous place to sit or be. After nearly freezing to death I figured it would be in my best interest to start walking again to warm myself up. I found two guys who seemed to know where they were going so I asked if I could tag along. The outcome was nowhere near as good as the outcome I had with Phil. After all, Phil would be in London on Tuesday (today) and had a possibility of meeting up with me. Their names were Sam and James. Sam flew in from Australia, and James lived around the corner in London. They lead me to the Tate Modern Museum and left after awhile of walking around with me. After venturing around the art museum I headed across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Stunned once again. The architecture here is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. After sitting on a bench in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral for a bit I decided it was time to head back to my hotel. I think my feet and nose took in as much cold as possible for one day. I found a cute coffee shop called Tiki Café across the street from my hotel that has free wifi. Enjoyed some chai tea and caught up on emails and such. Went to sleep fairly early… boring, boring, I know.

The Beginning

2009-12-26T00:30:00.000-08:00

I don't remember the last time I've actually kept up with a journal, or a blog for that matter. I create a consistent habit of writing entries, and eventually let them fade away into the depths of the internet. I must admit, I thoroughly enjoy reading things that I've written years ago that have long slipped my mind. Those old stories, quotes, pictures, and everything else I thought to be inspiring at the time bring me back to the exact moment I wrote about them. For that exact reason, I'm adding yet one more online outlet to my life. Here it goes...

Christmas has been very quiet this year. With only 10 minutes left, my day has been spent with both of my grandparents and my dog. I have absolutely no complaints. In fact, this may have been my best Christmas yet. Most of the gifts I received were travel related. My grandparents also helped me out enormously with helping fund for my trip. I don't think I'd be able to make the entire thing happen if it weren't for their generosity and support. I'm extremely lucky to have a family like mine.

Speaking of gifts, one of my absolute favorite things I've ever received came from a friend at work. He has a little series known as Evil Ice Cream (www.evilicecream.com) that I fell in love with as soon as I discovered it. I've purchased all of the little figures he and his wife have released, and have been impatiently anticipating the missing piece known as Mean Bean, and angry little scoop of vanilla ice cream. Darth surprised me on Tuesday with my personal little Mean Bean. They've yet to put these in production, but I suggest investing in the little guy when they do. He's adorable.

Seeing that I'm barely packed, have a migraine, and have a million other things to do tomorrow before I hit the airport I'm going to call this the end of my first entry. If you're interested in reading about my travels within the next few weeks, or adventures to follow after I'm going to make a strong attempt to keep this current. Sayonara!

Currently playing: Sigur Ros - ( )