Hiatus.

So I just got back from a great weekend in Palm Springs. We had a college ministry two-day retreat at the Ranchos Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage. I really learned a lot, came home with some deeper convictions as well. Something I definitely needed.

So to help me keep a little more spiritually focused and get things back on track, I'm going to be fasting (or taking a break) for 2 weeks. Normally one would fast with food, but for two weeks... that'd be really hard to do. I've decided to fast from using the internet. It's something I spend WAY too much time on and honestly, it's been pulling me farther and farther away from God. So I need to give it a rest for a while to re-evaluate my life, spend time in prayer, and give my best and fullest to God.

Alrighty... so obviously, that means... no more blogging, myspace, facebook or emails for the next two weeks. If you need to get a hold of me, do what everyone else did before those things became popular. Call me.

See you in dos semanas!
Cy

Outfit Twins

So yesterday, I mentioned seeing Ben, a HOBY friend of mine. He's an actor and that's pretty cool.

Anyway, he and his buddy recently made a little youtube clip that I think is pretty funny. Check it.

My Cinematic Life

If my life were to be made into a movie, terms associated with being late or having to make up ground would probably be appropriate...

RUSH (working title)

Scene 578:

FADE IN:

INT. ELEVATOR LOBBY
The scene is white washed and immaculate. There is a lone faux plant standing in the corner.

Our protagonist and his trusty sidekick are standing anxiously in front of a set of elevator doors. A "ding" is heard and the doors open.

JUSTIN
Okay we're on parking level 1. P1. Where to?

CY
Um... The office is on the third floor
so maybe P3?

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR LOBBY 2

The lobby looks the same as the last except a staircase is seen and a different plant is in a different corner.

CY
Ah crap. This isn't it.

JUSTIN
This is so odd. Everything looks the same.

CY
Seriously. How are we doing on time?

JUSTIN
It's 4:30.

CY
Dangit.

The doors close shut.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR
Typical elevator music plays while our two characters stand in complete silence. Doors open.

CUT TO:

INT. MAIN LOBBY
A very large and clean room. Granite flooring tiles and a high ceiling. A row of elevators is situated in the middle of the room.

CY
Ah there we go. This looks familiar now.

Both Cy and Justin walk to an elevator. Cy presses a button and seconds later another "ding" is heard and a set of doors opens up behind them.

FADE TO:

INT. HOBY OFFICE
The office is very empty. Just a desk with several papers is seen. A hallway stretches around the corner. Our two characters walk down the hall and are greeted by several people before making a stop at the last office down the hall. In the small office room is a man with straight neck-length hair.

CY
Hey hey! Ben Blair! What is up, bud?

BEN
Oh not too much. Just working. Oh here's your camera.

CY
Great thanks a lot, man.

BEN
No problem.

CY
Hey listen, could you give us a shorter way to get
to Universal Studios? We kinda don't want to take
the 101. We're in a bit of a hurry.

BEN
Oh for sure.

Ben logs on to google maps. Searching for a while, he finally produces a sticky post-it note with directions.

BEN
Take this route, you should be good.

CY
Thanks a lot!

BEN
Oh, and don't forget to pick up some of those Matrix
DVD sets on your way out!

CUT TO:

INT. CY'S SATURN VUE
It's a roomy vehicle that has served its owner well the last 3 years. There is some wear on the seats. There's a light assortment of trash about the floor.

CY
What time is it?

JUSTIN
Almost 4:50.

CY
Wow that took a while. Maybe we'll make it in time.

JUSTIN
Maybe. I just want to get there before she does.
I just hate the thought of her waiting alone.

CY
Aww. That's sweet of you. I'll drive as fast as I can.

JUSTIN
I try.

FADE TO:

EXT. SATURN VUE
The car is steadily cruising down the street. It's apparent it hasn't been washed in a few weeks.

CUT TO:

INT. SATURN VUE

CY
We're almost there. This was way better than taking
the 101.

JUSTIN
I agree.

A cell phone starts ringing.

JUSTIN
Oh hey babe... okay... oh... alright then.

CY
She's there already.

JUSTIN
Yep.

CY
Frick. Sorry, man.

JUSTIN
It's cool.

FADE OUT

So that was on Friday the 13th of this October when we went to go to Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights. It was a lot of fun. We had wanted to get to Citywalk before Heather did, but that didn't happen. Regardless, we still had a very fun night. We ate at a cool seafood restaurant called Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. and spent the rest of the rainy night in Universal Studios for their Halloween event.

There was a camera crew running around getting people to participate in a scream contest. The finalists would be put up on the website the following day to be voted on by the public. Justin and I both participated in this contest. Justin went first and didn't do too bad at all. I went next. Justin and I sort of have this competitive kind of relationship. He and I always have to one up each other. (in a related note, Justin and I are in the same history class. We got our tests back today. I got a 95. He got a 96... touche, friend. touche.). I screamed for the camera. It was the most hammed up scream I think I could ever do. Ever. Justin promptly said, "You suck. That was like 4 screams. You know you're going to be on the website."

... and on the website I was! I wasn't a finalist, but I did make their "Outtakes" reel. I found a way to rip the video off their site and upload it for myself on YouTube. So without further ado, here is my blood-curdling debut. I'm at 1:14...


Good times. Good times.

What a great weekend

1. flying out to houston
2. hanging out with hoby friends
3. 2 stepping
4. youtube
5. wedding crashers x3

good times. good times.

I'm way too emotional.

So it started simply enough: A shopping trip to Costco. My mother and I hop into the car and drive a couple miles to the popular wholesale warehouse.

We make our way through the store grabbing the various things we need; food, detergent, food, christmas greeting cards, food, etc.

After 40 minutes or so we're done shopping and head for the registers. Once we get there, I remember what was missing.

"Oh, we forgot the oatmeal!"

My mom replies, "Ooh that's right. Go get it. You know where it is, right?"

I shake my head saying, "No."

"It's in the rice aisle."

So I go on over to the rice aisle and there is no oatmeal to be found. I thought maybe I overlooked it, so I walked down the aisle again. Nothing. I check the other aisles adjacent and no sign of oatmeal. 4 rows down, I finally spot an employee and ask him where the oatmeal is.

"It's just in this next row, bro."

I thank him and cross over to the next aisle. Lo and behold, there is the oatmeal. Next to the cereal. I grab the box and start for the registers. I make a quick pit stop to the CDs and try to look for the new Christina Aguilera CD. One of my coworkers asked her mom to get it for her birthday, but her mom did not deliver. I thought it'd be nice if I got it for her, but it was a little pricy and I was in a hurry to get home.

I reach the register area and can't find my mom anywhere.

"Cy!" I hear from a distance.

"Cyril!"

I look over and on the other side of the registers, by the food place, is my mom. All checked out and ready to go.

She motions for me to get in a line, but all the lines already have 3-4 people waiting. I breathe a sigh of defeat, set the box of oatmeal on a closed register and head past towards my mom.

"You couldn't wait?" I say to her.

"Gee, Cy. I was already in line. I thought you would be back sooner."

I was thinking to myself that I wasn't even gone for all that long. I felt disapointed. I remain silent until we reach the lady checking the receipts to who I said, "Thank you."

As we walk to the car, I can tell my mom is feeling a little uneasy. We unload the cart into the trunk. She gets into the car as I take the cart away.

I get in and start the car. I can tell she's looking at me, but I'm not returning any glances.

She starts the conversation, "Cyril, that is so rude y-"

"What? Not waiting for me?" I interrupt abruptly.

"I was already in line. What was I supposed to do?"

"Well normally, you let people go in front of you if you're not ready yet!"

"You are so rude, Cyril. Here I am, buying this food for you and this is what you do?"

I'm thinking, all this over a box of oatmeal... Thoughts of the "Lost Incident" come rushing back. I press the issue.

"Mom, why couldn't you have just waited? You don't care! You've done it again. Just like with Lost!"

"It doesn't matter, Cy. What you did was rude."

I give her silence the rest of the ride home. What is really rude about what I did? I left a box of oatmeal on the register because I didn't want to wait in line anymore.

I don't know what it is, but when my parents do something that is meant to be done with me without me, I get really discouraged. It makes me feel unimportant; like I'm not part of the team.

And yeah it seems so petty over a box of oatmeal or a season of Lost, but if it happens on the little things, what's to stop it from happening on something of more importance?

Eh. I'm over it.

Now I have to go buy some oatmeal at the grocery store.

Stop the car.

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Romans 7:14-20

What's up with being addicted to...

Drugs
Alcohol
Food
Television
Video Games
Pornography
Smoking


What's up with being continuously/compulsively...

Deceptive
Greedy
Lazy
Prideful
Slanderous
Faithless
Ingenuous


For my own life I could pick out several things from both lists that I have a difficult time with. I am resolved that addiction to all the aforementioned is wrong. I am resolved that though I am saved under God's grace through the Christ's sacrifice, it's dangerous to unrepentantly dabble in the treacherous waters of sin.

Why is it so hard to break a habit? The scriptures tell us it's our sinful nature. What is nature? It's what's inherant. We're set up to do these things from birth.

I'm not a perfect person. It seems lately I can't go a week without screwing up and hitting the ground HARD. Where are my convictions? Where is my repantance? Where is my resolve?

Where's the hope? In God and his power.

Thankfully, turning this around isn't dependant on my strength.


I want to stop, but I cant. I want to start, but I cant.


God Can.

"No chance in Hale"

[9:26p]

Thursday night is Philosophy night, but I'm going to keep it brief and lighthearted. I just haven't felt the blogging bug this week. Haven't found all too much to write about... or I'm just lazy. You be the judge.

Tonight, Dr. Hale gave us our Midterm assignment. It was to write a paper on euthanasia, or mercy-killing. What was great about it was that on his requirements, he stressed that we do not use a plastic cover nor do we use paper clips, but rather that our paper is stapled in the top left hand corner. We literally talked about this one point for ten minutes. No joke.

He went over different scenarios of what could happen if we turn in a paper with a plastic cover or a paper clip...

Dr. Hale: "If I'm walking out to the parking lot and your plastic cover falls off and your paper is blown away by the wind, you have to ask yourself one question. Do I look like the kind of person that will chase your paper across the parking lot?"

Class (unison): "No..." *giggles and chuckles*

Dr. Hale: "Exactly. There's no chance in Hale!"

Class (unison): *laughter*


Oh man... Dr. Hale is seriously so cool. If you go to AVC, I recommend you take a class with him. PHIL 105 is an awesome class that really makes you think.

Anyway, that's all I really wanted to say. Fun times.


ooh yeah! I'm super psyched because tomorrow I'm heading down with one of my best friends Justin to Hollywood to hang out with his girlfriend Heather and her sister Chelsea. We're going to probably watch a movie at Arclight, have dinner at Bubba Gump's at Universal Citywalk, then go to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights event at 7pm. It'll be a fun filled day for sure.


woot!

[9:33p]

i still suck at poker.

[9:38p]

It's true. I've started playing poker again the last couple weeks. It's been more than a year since I've played poker seriously and I'm having a difficult time getting back into the swing of things.

Justin and I had planned a tourney for tonight at 6p. 10 people showed up. The buy-in was $20. Kinda pricy. Winner gets $120, 2nd gets $60, 3rd gets $20.

With ten people we split it up into two tables; one with 4 people and another with 6. I sat at the smaller table and was the first to get knocked out at 7:45p. By this time, two people had already gotten knocked out at the larger table.

I'm not going to go into much more detail about the tourney because you'll probably hear different perspectives of the event from both George (who is going heads up (1v1) against another player as I write this) and Justin (who is quite upset about tonight) on their own blogs.

Right now I have two Biology tests I need to study for. I had a fairly eventful weekend, but I'll talk more about it tomorrow.

Peace.

[9:42p]

I am up much too early.

[6:43a]

I'm up really early because I fell asleep last night at 10:00p. I wanted to take a nap then head out to the gym at 11:00p, but I slept instead. I woke up this morning at 6:30a.

Last night was really chill. Got home from work around 6:20p and did pretty much nothing for the rest of the night. I got bored and decided to play a little WoW. Yes, yes. I know I quit playing a little more than a month ago, but don't worry. I only played for an hour last night. That's really all I can stand to play. It's definitely lost its appeal to me.

Around 9:00p, I felt really hungry. Yesterday was a terrible day for me, nutrition wise. I've been trying to eat a lot, getting a lot of protein, carbs, and calories to build mass, but this week's been kind of lame. I've stopped keeping a food log, mainly due to laziness. I should start that up again.

Anyway, I went to Subway to get some food in my belly. As I was waiting in line (it was quite busy), I noticed a strange character in the corner of the room. He was a man, maybe in his late 40's. His shoulder length hair was blonde and wavy, but it didn't shine. It was dirty, faded, and frizzy. He wore a tattered pair of jeans and a worn green fleece sweater. The clothing fit loosely over his skinny 5'10'' frame. His face was as dirty as his clothes and was laced with many wrinkled lines. His green eyes seemed dim.

When I came into the store and waited in line, he was already done with his food. He only had a tray with an empty cup and a napkin. He didn't get up to get a refill, but just sat in the corner at his table. He had the most pitiful look on his face. At one point he sighed loudly and rocked back and forth in his chair. A few moments later, he chuckled to himself, sighing once more. His grin had turned to a smile and he shook his head as if he couldn't believe something.

As I was ordering my food, he got up, walked behind me to the soda machine and filled his cup. He went back to his table and picked up a Camelback backpack. The ones that have a tube that leads to a water bladder that you can drink from. He walked to the door, looked back at the table, gave one last sigh and exited.

It was quite an interesting scene to have witnessed. I couldn't help but wonder the entire time what this guy has been through. What events in his life got him to where he is now? I could assume that he was homeless from his clothing and hygiene. The wrinkles in his face were strong lines that probably tell many stories. His dim green eyes were intriguing. What has this man seen in his lifetime? What was he reflecting on that made him sad and moments later made him laugh?

I wonder, if I was in his situation, could I still find humor?


-Cy

[7:10a]

Natural Rights, TV Shows, and "Nigger"

[10:53p]

I. Natural Rights

Y'all probably know by now, Thursday nights are Philosophy night. Dr. Hale continues to astound me week after week.

Our class is now getting into the discussion of the Priniciples of Social Morality and Responsibility. To set that up, we started off with a topic that must first be addressed: Natural Rights.

What are Natural Rights? They are rights that are imparted onto us since birth that can be known and realized through reason, as opposed to rights imparted onto us by society, government, emotion, or culture.

John Locke had stated, "...and reason teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought harm another in life, health, liberty, and possessions."

We have our right to life, health, liberty, and possessions simply because we are human. Again, no person has more value than another. Both you and I only have this moment. Our lives can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Neither you nor I are gauranteed the next week, day, or even hour. So who has more value? If I have a PhD and you have a GED does that mean I have more value than you? No, I might die tomorrow. What good does that make me? These degrees are only tools to help us do our job and fulfill our potential to help contribute to society.

Anyway, Thursday nights are always interesting.

Freedom is innate. You will always have the freedom and right to either live or cease to be. Cogito ergo sum.


II. TV Shows

Okay, so DVR is going to be the death of me. I usually don't watch TV that much, but now that I have the ability to record shows, I'm watching too much it seems.

Here's what's on the DVR.

• Guilty Pleasure: Family Guy


• Inspiring: The Amazing Race


• I'm a cry baby: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition


• Witty and fast paced: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip


• I liked the movie: Friday Night Lights


• Yet another guilty pleasure: America's Next Top Model


• Most anticipated show: Lost


• Best Comedy: The Office

I know... it's a heck of a lot. But they're really good! *sigh*... It's too much TV... and then The OC is coming back Nov. 2.

III. "Nigger"

Note my use of quotation marks (""). No, I'm not saying the word because I want shock factor. I'm saying it because it's a real word with real meaning.

WARNING: Incoming Rant

Alright. I don't get it. I go to a community college where a large demographic of the student body is that of african descent. Or in layman's terms, 'black'. I've already come to the conclusion and decision that all people are equal and that it's ethically wrong to assign worth to someone based on anything, race included. Frankly, I'm not concerned with what term is politically correct or not (ie. African-American or Black).

What I am concerned with is the term "Nigger". EVERYDAY on the Antelope Valley College campus, I hear this word thrown around so often primarily in verbal exchanges between black people. It is as if you get a dollar each time you say it.

Let's talk about where the word came from, shall we? It's derived from the Spanish "negro" which came from the Latin "niger" which means "black". Originally, the word was not used as a derogatory epithet, but rather just as you could call a white person caucasian, you could call a black person nigger. However, as History unfolded, the term has grown into something of great offensive connotation as it is linked with terms like "inferior" or "weak" or "disgusting".

Now here's my gripe. Why do many of the Black people I see and hear on campus choose to call each other "Niggers"? (note that I say many and not all.) Is it a way of empathizing with each other? God forbid a person not of African descent ever come up and call a black person "Nigger". That person would probably get an earful, if not their mouth being slapped clear off their face.

Do these people who choose to shout this term to each other loudly on campus find it funny? Do they relish and delight in the history of pain, suffereing, and oppression that comes with this word? Do they just love the it's derogatory nature and embrace it?

Really... I dont get it. Help me out here.


[11:40p]

Cy, over and out.

Coldplay tells my life story.

1. Choose a band / artist: Coldplay

Now answer all the questions using only that band's song titles.

2. Are you male or female: X&Y

3. Describe yourself: Yellow

4. How do some people feel about you: Trouble

5. How do you feel about yourself: We Never Change

6. Describe your last relationship: What If?

7. Describe current relationship: Talk

8. Describe future relationship: Sparks

9. Describe where you want to be: In My Place

10. Describe how you live: Speed Of Sound

11. Describe how you love: Fix You

12. What would you ask for if you had just one wish: God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

13. Share a few words of Wisdom: Everything's Not Lost

14. How do you feel at this moment?: Swallowed In The Sea

15. Whats Your Favorite Time of Year?: Shiver

16. Where Do you Live?: Hardest Part

17. Describe your Friends: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

18. What do you hope to become?: A Message

19. Now Say Goodbye: Don't Panic

Weekend Update, New Buys, and the Knights of Cydonia

[8:25p]

I. Weekend Update

Since I didn't blog all weekend, I'll give you a quick rundown of what went down.

Friday

• Stayed home from work in the morning to wait for the DIRECTV guy to come over and install our new DIRECTV Plus DVR! (DVR is essentially Tivo - pause, rewind, record live TV, etc.)


• Sat around messing with our new toy, figuring out how to work it.


• Hung out with my good friend Emily, getting Jamba Juice, hanging out at Barnes and Noble, and having a long due heart-to-heart.


• Went to the gym for a good workout.

Saturday

• Went to church choir practice in the morning.


• Chillaxed at home for the whole day, playing around with the DVR (Digital Video Recorder)


• Took a nap.


• Went to Cinemark Movies 22 to hang out with Justin L. (Known henceforth as JLeb), Emily (his girlfriend), Jen (Justin's sister), Manny (Jen's fiance), Justin's parents, and several friends of Manny and Jen's.


• Watched School for Scoundrels in celebration of Justin's 20th birthday which is actually today (Tuesday). It was funny in some parts, but overall the film was lacking. At best, it helped me confirm that Jon Heder (AKA: Napoleon Dynamite) is not a great actor. He should just make Napoleon Dynamite: The Series... it's probably the only role he can play.


• Drove down to Alhambra to spend the night at my friend Grant's house.

Sunday

• Went to Cal Poly Pomona for a special college student church service and 'sportsfest' event.


• Went to a mall in Santa Anita with Grant's girlfriend Jessica and her best friend Anya. We visited Brookstone for their awesome massage chairs.


• Brookstone now sells a ridiculous product called the iGallop, a fitness machine meant to give you better abs.
  When I straddled the product and gave it a go, I couldn't help but laugh. I actually felt quite violated. Check out all the YouTube Videos of the iGallop. I guess the product originated from Japan? Anyway, here's the original TV commercial:
  


• Experienced the Nun Incident.


• Played Poker at JLeb's house with JLeb, Justin, Emily, and Manny. Long story short, we started playing at 10:05pm, I got knocked out first at around 11:30pm, and dealt for the rest of the night until 1:40am.

I hope your weekend was as eventful as mine.


II. New Buys

I've bought several new things in the past couple days. Saturday, I purchased the CD The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch from the Buffalo, NY band with the equally long name Cute is What We Aim For.



The music is alright. The instrumentals aren't really anything all that special to write home to mom about. Lead vocalist Shaant doesn't have all that impressive of a voice either. It's almost kind of whiny. The lyrics aren't very thought provoking either...

And you check labels more than the FCC
and these calories are, are killing me
This is a sticky situation
So keep your chest in the game
And drop your jaw and coax me
(just coax me, just coax me)

- "There's a Class For This" - Cute is What We Aim For


...what???

Really, the only thing that works for them, is that the music is repetitive enough to the point of actually being pretty catchy. I knew right away that I didn't really like the album, but it might be one that grows on me, simply for its simplicity.

--

Today I purchased two things: Thank You for Smoking and The Killers' new release, "Sam's Town.



I actually just listened to the entire CD while writing this blog entry and I have to say, upon first impression, it's pretty darn good. I'll probably write more on what I think about it later in the week as I give it a couple more spins.

I really do like their new single, "When You Were Young". Have a listen, courtesy of Imeem.com



III. The Knights of Cydonia

...and in TV news, I was watching Fuse last friday after I got my DVR installed, and came across a super sweet music video. The song is "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse. Watch it, it's astounding. I don't think I've ever seen a music video like it.




[9:40p]

Cy

Who will save your soul?

I'll post a complete entry tomorrow. I swear/promise (whichever is least offensive).

In the meantime...

On the 14 freeway the other day, as I was driving home from 'Down Below' (anything South of the Antelope Valley), I saw three vehicles pulled over on the shoulder of the road. Two huge trucks, the ones with the gigantic wheels that you need a ladder to climb into the cab (not really, but almost), and an old Volkswagon van.

When I first spotted the scene, I saw two men. Typical description of who you would guess drives those kinds of trucks: Bulky, shaved heads, backwards black baseball cap, black sunglasses, goatee, wearing Skin Industries apparel. That wasn't surprising.

What was surprising, was as I neared the three vehicles and passed the two trucks, I saw who occupied the van; A gaggle of nuns. Suffice to say, I was quite shocked as the drive around the trucks revealed many women in long black outfits with a sash of white draped around their heads.

It was an odd sight to see. I guess the beefy dudes were helping the nuns with car troubles?

Oh well, I suppose it was nun of my business. :)

Cy