Lovely Coastal Brake

Tycho – Coastal Brake EP releases December 8, 2009 [Ghostly International]

This reminds me of driving down the coast, windows down, wind blowing through my hair, flying kites on the beach, jeans rolled up, wearing sunglasses, sand in my hair, sun shining… not a care in the world.

Listen to the lengthier version here: http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13631-coastal-brake/

I love this.

A totally inventive way to make a music video through one continuous take.
Thanks, Nik.  =)

Quote of the Day

“Dwell on the positive, but have controlled, passionate anger.”

 – Pat Tyson, running coach

Sometimes it’s the little things…

… it really is the little things in this life that mean the most, that have the largest impact on us in the end.

As I was driving home from work tonight, listening to my new Bonobo album, ‘Recurring’ came on over the speakers and instantly, I became washed over with an intense array of emotion.  Thinking of several little moments in my life that have all added up to resemble such a beautiful collection of memories, I started to tear up.  I thought of solo road trips down the Californian coast, palm trees, sunshine, smiling with friends, drinking beers while basking in the sunlight, holding hands, sharing special moments that only those there with you, sharing in that very exact slice of time, will ever be privy to.  Concerts, sushi dinners, driving around in the city, just listening, participating in non-talking, taking in every bit of minutiae all around us…. consciously observing, truly getting to know someone, feeling loneliness and realizing how beautiful it is….

I am truly blessed and am so incredibly grateful for the wonderful family + friends that have enriched my life over the years, adding to the jigsaw puzzle that is my life that’s constantly expanding and growing as new pieces find their way in…

I’m reminded of the last few lines from American Beauty, when Kevin Spacey’s character looks back on his life with the utmost gratitude:

“….it’s hard to stay mad, when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst… And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life… You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry… you will someday.”

Quote of the Day

“The more I thought about what I get to do, the less I realized I had to do. It was just a shift, just a new perspective, just a new and more grateful method for labeling the things in my life. Think about it—if you stopped yourself every single time you were about to say, “I have to” and changed it to “I get to,” it might change your entire experience.”

– Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog, runnersworld.com

Unsolicited Compliments

We’ve all received ‘em. That is, compliments given to you when you’re least expecting them.  Sometimes they’re handed out by your close friends or members of your family; other times, they’re distributed by total strangers.  Whichever way you receive ‘em, they feel good, don’t they?

The other day in yoga, a beautiful woman who was practicing behind me in the back of the studio came up to me after class and said, “It was wonderful watching you practice today – your postures were perfect.”  Of course I wasn’t expecting to be on the receiving end of such a tremendous compliment, so at first I didn’t know what to say. In truth, I was completely humbled by her words because I’ve been battling a nasty cold for what feels like weeks and haven’t been feeling like my optimal self, so when this beautiful woman gave me such a sincere compliment, I gushed and awkwardly replied, “Wow, thank you very much.”

It makes you stop and wonder just how often we willingly and altruistically hand out compliments to other people.  For a while, I was on a personal mission to distribute unsolicited compliments to strangers if ever I found something about them to be compliment-worthy — whether it be that I admired the scarf that they were wearing, or their infectious smile, or their hearty laugh, whatever.  The idea sprung from both knowing how much I personally like to receive sincere compliments from others and how much people like to be on the receiving end of such an unexpected positive piece of commentary.  Perhaps I’ll take up this challenge again, for it not only makes the other person feel good, but it makes you, the compliment-giver, feel like you’ve enhanced someone else’s day by making someone else feel special, even if only for a fleeting moment, which in turn, makes you feel good.

… and with that, I’m off to yoga.  =)

Quote of the Day

Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.

– John Bingham, “Tools and Rules,” Runner’s World

New Year’s Eve with Above & Beyond!!!

Who’s excited?  Who?  Oh, that would be ME!!!!!!! 

Above & Beyond NYE 2010 @ 1015 Folsom
Event Details
VIP Ticket Includes:
Premium Open Bar from 9pm to 11pm, personal champagne bottle at midnight, expedited entry via 103 Harriet, Coat check, private bar, best views in the venue, 6am Mimosa, and snacks throughout the night!

Open premium bar 9-11, Snacks (9pm, 2am, 7am, Free mimosa at 6 am, Comp. bottle of champ. For midnight toast.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

I was able to hit up yoga before work, my awesome new coworkers took me to sushi for lunch, my Mom + Dad sent me a box full of goodies, and all day long I was innundated with emails / text messages from friends from all over the world, wishing me the happiest of happy birthdays!! 

Here’s some pics of what I got this year:

I just adore birthdays.  They give you a legitimate excuse to throw yourself a party with all your favorite people in tow, put on your favorite party dress and knock back a few birthday cocktails.  This year, I decided to throw myself a theme party, requesting that all of my friends come donning duds in Blue + Black. It was such a good time, filled with friends from all different social circles, mingling and catching up.  I recall telling someone in attendance that we’d be witnessing “Facebook in the flesh” with all these different social circles colliding in one place.  It was awesome. 

Happy Birthday to ME!!  I’m now officially one year older and in theory that should make me one year wiser, but I sometimes feel like I still have no clue what the hell I’m doing….

quote of the day

“When we run, we are already so exposed, often nearly naked in our shorts and T-shirts, huffing and puffing, purified by the effort.
Briefly removed from the defenses and secrets we maintain in so much of our lives, we feel less need to
hide our private thoughts, loves, fears, and stresses. We share.”

– Amby Burfoot, The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life