Mood of the Moment: Finals Season

"Non Stop Ultimate Pumping" by Steven Meisel

It's one of those indescribable feelings. No, it is not falling in love nor is it the satisfaction of giving mean people their "just desserts." It's called I-finally-finished-my-finals-in-my-hardest-semester feeling! And, oh, does it feel so sweet!

Although I feel exuberant, I'm going to be honest that I feel bummed about my Finance final. The exam's difficulty was average but some questions just threw me off. Though, I'm confident with the calculations so I should be fine. Meanwhile, the final for S.O.M. or Systems and Operations Management was a real S.O.B. There were five questions which was a combination of short answers and calculations. I was fairly confident from questions 1-4, but once I hit 5, things just fell apart. My professor has this reputation of disgruntling students by giving exam questions that are totally uncalled for. Alas, this was the case (though in my head I was defending him because he was really nice to me--too bad it's just a guise!) and I loathe him for that.

He introduced me to the men's locker room (where, apparently, it's perfectly fine to dangle one's dongles)!

Still, it wasn't all negative. My friend, JD, was planning to work out to vent his frustrations at a dumbbell. I decided to go with him since I, too, am in desperate need of unleashing my own set of dissatisfactions. JD, being more knowledgeable of the gym world, gave me a tour of 24 Hour Fitness. He introduced me to the men's locker room (where, apparently, it's perfectly fine to dangle one's dongles), and to a couple of heavy-duty equipment. JD's very focused on strength training--which I am not--so he let me do a couple of reps. It was really nice of him to coach me along the way because who knows what I'll end up doing to myself. I eventually had so much fun just hanging out with him and getting a whiff of his interests.

I should mention that his regimen of workouts is pretty intense. I am not used to weights so it's definitely an experience, and I'm proud to say that I survived this ordeal with both arms still intact (goodness, this one exercise where I squat 90 degrees, lean against the wall whilst carrying 15-pound weights on both hands, and pulling them weights above my cranium is a real killer). As a reward, he gave me an enchanting tour of the steam room! Let's just say that it's a room literally filled with steam. The air was so thick that it felt like I was in Jupiter's atmosphere; I was gasping for air while maintaining my composure but I eventually got accustomed to it that we ended up having a civil conversation amidst the unruly mists.

Anyway, back to why I feel amazing: You know those people that say exercising makes people happy? Guess what, they're right and their claim's scientifically proven (because of endorphins)! I believe in it because right after the workout, I felt so light and carefree (and slightly numb) that I even had the bravado to say "Hi!" to the bus driver! It's one thing to nod my head and acknowledge the bus driver's existence but I gave the man a complete "Hi!" He, on the other hand, gave me a "Xie xie." I believe he got the impression I was Chinese.

Videos of the Moment: A Model's Point of View

Models are seen, not heard. That's true especially when they're presence is mostly in the runway or print advertisements where looks are the centerpiece. Luckily, Swide magazine takes us backstage to uncover their oft-stifled voices. In the first video, the male models were asked whether their female counterparts are becoming dangerously thin. In the second video, they were inquired about some ways to fight the global economic crisis.

I must admit that some of them are hilarious and sometimes inaccurate.

Listen to what they have to say, though I must admit that some are flat out hilarious ("Totally too fin!" as one model enthuses) and sometimes inaccurate (especially regarding the economy, some of it is just plain wrong). Want more? Below is a vintage MTV segment (circa 90's?) that interviews both male and female models on the quintessential issue: Are male models really vain?




Videos from youtube.com

Event of the Moment: Final Fever

Yeah, I know. It's been quite some time since I blogged; the last time I was afforded such privilege was in spring break. The good news is that finals is next week. Even better news, I only have to take two! This semester may be full of team projects (such as that dour marketing plan) but the great thing about them is after they're done, c'est fini! So I'm just cruising by although studying for Finance and Systems and Operations Management should be my priority.

It's very suitable from the boardroom to la boîte...

Oh, I missed watching the Fall 2011 shows too! Too bad I didn't have time to distill the major trends like I used to. In a way, I have my own catching up to do. In any case, 3.1 Phillip Lim showcased a laconic short film featuring the Fall 2011 menswear collection. It's graphic in a monochrome way (see setting and the clothes), but it's also beautiful in a muted way. Coming from a business perspective, it's very suitable from the boardroom to la boîte (nightclub). I guess that's the world I wanna go to in my professional career, wink wink.




Image from follow-my-feet.blogspot.com; video from vimeo.com

Event of the Moment: Spring Beginning

Mugu Rock

I've been away from the blogosphere for a long time. To my dear readers, I apologize for the slight inconvenience. But if I really had to blame someone/something, it would be school. Anyway, I'm enjoying spring break with friends. I've been sleeping over E's place in Northridge. It's a huge departure from my usual routine, which is to wake up early, travel to school, stay late till my eyes drop out of their sockets, then head home.

It has been a wonderful break because of the fun I've been having with E and my other friend, SJ (he sporadically visits E and I). Yesterday, we went hiking around the canyons when dusk was literally a minute away. It was a relatively bad idea, especially when we didn't have reliable lighting. Nonetheless, the thrill was in the adrenaline rush and the constant fear that a coyote might feast on my body. Alas, I was alive after that test of endurance, and was eagerly rewarded with a bowl of frozen yogurt!

Today, E decided to bring me to his hometown of Thousand Oaks. Yes, the name did remind me of a fictitious city in Pokémon, but it actually came from the fact that the town had, well, thousands of oaks! Again, we hiked a trail that was less treacherous but equally adventurous, eventually catching a lovely view of the town: rolling hills, terra cotta roofs, winding roads, and a massive expanse of trees.

There were waves crashing against rocks, and there was tranquility.

Afterwards, he brought me to Camarillo where I met his dad. We had a hearty meal at Olas (a Mexican restaurant that offered my stomach the burrito it's been craving), then proceeded to a mental-asylum-turned-educational-facility: California State University, Channel Islands. The university was eerily dark, but believe me, it wasn't because it used to be coockoo-ville. Rather, it was because the facility is tucked into the hills, where the fog and mist shroud it with mystery. I, however, loved the Spanish inflected architecture.

Though it has been a very spry week, we didn't return to Camarillo without a peek of Mugu Rock. E's dad recommended we drive there and, boy, was he right. There was a steep cliff, waves (big waves mind you) crashing against rocks, and oddly enough, I felt tranquility. There was darkness but the moon lit the ground. In my opinion, it was romantic. Yet it reminded me of movie scenes where the killer, masquerading as a sensitive and nice guy, turns into a malevolent creature and pushes the girl to the cliff where the waves introduce her to them big rocks. Splat! Anyway, it was time for dessert, so we headed back to Camarillo.

Spring break with E has been a ton of fun. I learned a lot about him during my stay. I also learned about his family and friends--though it was almost like a coincidence that I met them. This is truly a spring to remember. Not only is it the most fun I've had, but because there were so many things that I experienced, learned, met, felt, and enjoyed too. One of them is George Craig, E's British underground rock sensation. Watch his video below!




Image from freaquewaves.blogspot.com; video from youtube.com

Item of the Moment: More Toast, Please!

I just got a little "sumn sumn" in the mail today! I'm a sucker for surprises, so it's even more surprising that I got something from my dear friend, Abby.

I love all her offering!

Now, I mention her name sporadically in this blog, and it's for good reason. She recently opened her new business, Robots in Trouble, and simply put, I love all her offering! She sells little trinkets from keychains to plushies; plus, everything is super adorable! This doesn't go without her very reasonable pricing. Everything is handmade and unique, hence you're paying for sweat and blood.

Check out her store here. She uses PayPal so you know every purchase is secure. What are you waiting for?