=====02.05.11=====
Lunar New Year gatherings were happening around town so a few friends and I went to one of them to see what was going on. Dance performances and some singing were going on. This was coming off the coldness of weather we were having for a while which created a frozen fountain...and I punched it. It actually cut me a bit, but not much. Just a little blood rose to the surface of my knuckles.
We then ate lunch. As we left, we were walking along with the dragon/lion dancers who were traveling all around the shopping district. It was just interesting to see them go store to store.
Then I took a friend to her first hip hop class. Always fun going to hip hop class. I do look forward to doing that every week. After class, my friend really wanted to learn the routine we were taught so we went to my place and went over the steps, ha. After doing that, watching videos, and talking a bit, we headed off for dinner where another friend joined us.
We were planning to do karaoke, but our dinner was late and we were just having fun talking. Then we went to the latest friend's home and talked more, played Connect 4, and looked at her vacation photos late into the night. Her cat was a little fussy. It played with the strings from my hoodie and bit me a few times. At least I didn't get all stuffy from the cat. I guess I have selective cat allergies or something, ha.
=====02.06.11=====
The Superbowl was entertaining. I made a silly bet and lost so now I have to eat a Double-Down. I'm cool with that since I like them, but everyone else I know apparently won't eat it.
We then played a few rounds of Indian Poker. First we played for normal/atomic wings. Then we added more players (who were spicy whiners, ha) and then just did rounds of revealing interesting stories/facts if you lost. I think we all enjoyed the stories we heard as well as learned more about each other. Such a fun game.
=====02.07.11=====
I got invited to go bowling with a couple people from Soundbox. First went to the mall to kill time and then went bowling. They just wanted to warm up for a charity event the following, which they ended up getting 2nd place. Congratulatons.
I do feel a little blah about bowling now. This is the 2nd or 3rd bowling alley that has told me that I am not allowed to bowl the way I bowl. My technique: throw the ball strong and fast and make the pins explode. And I would generally use an 8-pound ball, but I'm only allowed to use 10+ from now on. I can still chuck the 10s fast, but not as fast. I understand that I can damage the machinery in the back behind the pins...but that's the only way I can bowl and (possibly) win. Anyways, I'll still bowl. I just don't like that I'm being restricted on how to bowl.
=====02.13.11=====
A friend of mine had invited me a few months ago to be a guest of his at his church. I didn't accept at the time, but I did for this day. Why not? I'm cool with all religions. I've never been to a Christian church before so I was curious. It was different from all the Catholic churches I was used to going to as I was growing up. I did enjoy the environment and the energy that was in the room. The Pastor told some fun and interesting stories also.
Went to California Pizza Kitchen afterwards and had another friend join. A lot of silly banter with some serious ones. Our final awesome conversation was over how one of my friends is a bad wingman, ha. Examples were given and then we wanted to put these to a test. He wussed out, lame. Maybe next time, ha.
So the guys left and I was left with a very nice day outside. so I didn't want to just go home. I ended up going to the Galleria waiting for a friend to join me. Greeted another friend who was working, played a free game of Tekken 4 that someone left (thankfully with Kazuya), made a hair appointment, bought 2 new dress shirts, and then my friend arrived.
Since it was nice outside, we went to the Waterwall just to walk and talk. Then we went to Rice Village to wander to different stores. And darn the Chocolate Bar...having lots of things I want (like everything)...that's why I had been avoiding going there...because I like that place and what it has...a lot. A lot. More wandering around before searching for dinner to end the day.
=====02.14.11=====
Didn't celebrate since I'm single (ladies). I did have a very bad headache and a sore neck all day. So that was lame and very annoying. Would've been nice to have someone take care of my pains (ladies).
=====02.17.11=====
A friend who works at a cafe asked us (RFM) to do some promotional photos/videos for them. So we were at OK Cafe and they brought out different dishes they prepare and we just took shots of them. We were then talking and we needed some customers to film enjoying the dishes. So we called some friends and 5 came to eat a free dinner. Hilarity did ensue when it came to getting a closing shot.
OK Cafe - CHEERS! - 02.17.11 from Royal Flush Media on Vimeo.
After all that, a few of us went to karaoke for an hour. No treasure hunting...maybe next time, ha.
=====02.18.11=====
A friend was in from San Antonio so he invited a few of us over to play video games. We ended up playing a lot of Boom Blox (all for the first time) and it was great simple fun. We also tried out a hacked version of New Super Mario Bros Wii and....that...was...awesomely-difficult-hilariously-challenging. I wanted to keep trying it (and did a little solo) because I thought it was beatable (at least on my own). We ended with some Rummikub. I actually won a match (2 total out of all the times I played). Friends left and a couple of chilled for a while to talk not too late into the night.
=====02.19.11=====
Went out early in the morning to see b-beatski. I needed to have an energy pill knowing that the rest of the day would be busy and it was. Went to the Centurion Palace to check out where my cousin is getting married next month. Took RFM members that are going to work the wedding to get a look at the place and have ideas of how to shoot things. Had an appointment set up at 3...and didn't get there until 3:40...yeah, we couldn't find the place. I'm so glad we did in the end and that we were still able to get a good look at the place. I love the place and I can't wait for my cousin's wedding.
And a friend was celebrating her birthday and her recent engagement (congratulations) later in the day. It was hot pot at 7...and they didn't seat us until 8. That's fine. At least I was able to build an appetite. Good food followed by a delicious cake made for a great dinner. We then had a silly idea to walk from the hot pot place to Dave & Busters since we were worried about parking. It wasn't a far walk...maybe 5+ minutes.
I have some weird thing going on with D&B. The last 2 times I went I would always win something from the crane game and it would always be something pink (dog and cow). This time I was able to win an ugly angel doll (it sure isn't pretty) and a purple mouse. So I am slowly building a colorful animal collection I suppose. I'll probably give those away at some point (ladies). Had fun playing air hockey and racing games. I also found a gift bag that was left alone and gave it to the birthday girl. Everyone was perplexed by why I had given her a pair of Ralph Lauren Polo socks, ha. Hey, I didn't know what was in it also either.
=====02.21.11=====
An invite to play games was made. So I went over only to find out that his mother got in a car wreck. She's fine, it was only cosmetic damage, but we went over to help her out. We went with her to get a rental car and went browsing around at some of the new cars. I don't remember what they were, but I liked whatever was $45K and $85K. They just felt good sitting in them. I wouldn't mind owning either one (ladies).
After all that was done, it was back to play Marvel VS Capcom 3. That was my first and only time playing it and it was fun. A lot of crazy action was going on and it was definitely good playing against someone on a similar level to myself. He knew a little more and was kicking my butt, ha. I won a few here and there, but I was just trying out every character before forming silly teams. What was most important was that I won the final match; Hulk/Chris Redfield/Arthur VS Ryu/Spider-Man/Morrigan. Maximum Spider!
=====02.23.11=====
Earlier in the month I met with Lucia to hand her the material from her recent Epic Dance show. She then called later in the month about doing a promotional shoot for her company since they're auditioning for America's Got Talent. At first she didn't like the price I wanted to do it for. I had my reasons such as it would be a last minute thing and I would have to push other projects to the side since she needed it ASAP. She called a week later saying she still wants me to do it and that they raised the money for it.
So I went to their practice area and was there from 7 to midnight. They did 7 dance styles and did multiple takes due to mistakes or just to do it better. I enjoyed it, but it did go on longer than I thought it would. I did expect we'd take a few hours though since this was something very important. Good thing I had no plans for later that night otherwise I would've had to cancel them.
=====02.24.11=====
And with the shooting of LD Dance Company completed, it was time to work on the promo video. Had a deadline to meet; the next day. It was actually easier to cut together than I thought it would be. Most of the time was spent syncing the audio correctly and I only had a few times where it took a really long time. Then it was just the matter of swapping takes when someone made a mistake.
I ended up making a 10 minute promo and sent the preview off to be previewed. THAT was the longest part...exporting and uploading. We need a faster internet. In the end, the video was received well with only a few minor changes to be made and a request to make a 2-3 minute version. That was easy. I just basically took 20 seconds from each performance and it was done. Made versions with the RFM logo as well...and then it took long to export...and then those had minor glitches for some reason...so I re-exported them again...and again...and uploaded all of those. Those exporting and upload times were the bulk of the work that made the whole day a work day. The initial 10 minute promo was done by 3 and the final part of uploading everything ended up happening overnight while I slept. One of them didn't even finish. It froze up and I had to send it again the next morning.
Met Lucia and a couple other people I know from her dance company to hand her the materials to send off.
LD Dance Company - AGT Promo (Short Version) from Royal Flush Media on Vimeo.
=====02.26.11=====
So...hip hop class kind of kicked my butt today, not going to lie. I was good for the first half of the routine, but then I got stupid or something and things weren't clicking so well in the end. I was getting frustrated...don't know if anyone in the class could tell, but I was. I was disappointed in myself with that.
Afterwards, had a pow-wow with a friend to "dream" along with him about a future endeavor in which I might be a part of. More on that as it develops.
Went out for lunch with him to meet someone else I've met from the studio. Cool guy. And then went a the first part of a friend's birthday at the mall ice rink. Said "yo" to a friend who was working beforehand. Didn't ice skate since we would've only done it for a short amount of time. A little talking and meeting of new people and then that portion was done and we split as they went to go do part two. Before leaving, we visited another friend who was working (probably embarrassed her, ha) and then ran into those we split from, ha.
=====02.27.11=====
A lot of time on RFM's Facebook. Facebook didn't want to cooperate all the time and I was getting very ticked off. I also had to spend time shortening a couple of videos due to Facebook's 20 minute limit on video. It was just the time of having the old projects be rendered again and exporting the new video that took a lot of time. The uploading to Facebook was actually smooth, but I spent the majority of my day working on this and it was just getting to me. I just wanted to reach the quota of videos I set for myself (spilled beyond 2AM). Apparently the 20 minute limit also means it can't be exactly 20 minutes long...dammit. 19:59 is acceptable. Exactly the limit, no. Also ran into the issue that it can't be exactly 1GB either. 999MB, acceptable. Would be nice if Facebook (and YouTube) just doesn't let you upload from the start rather than telling going through the process and 20+ minutes later you are told it won't work. Vimeo does that. at least. A very lame way to spend a Sunday, but it was for the sake of RFM. Please tag yourself or your friends and family if you're in the videos.
=====02.28.11=====
Edited a revision of a song I cut together for Soundbox's Riot Squad. Spent more time with RFM's Facebook and ran into more video uploading issues...fun. Can't wait until I get all of our videos up.
=====Final Thoughts=====
- I've actually gone back to my old workplace to visit twice this month. The first time was just to see how everyone was. They all wondered what I was up to. I was told I was missed because I was too good at what I did that I raised the bar quite high for the person that took over some of my duties, ha. I also met the new editor they hired. She was only a week in so she didn't have much of opinion of the place yet. The second time I visited was after having lunch with a couple former coworkers. I then dropped by to visit everyone and talked quite a bit with them. I got to know the new editor better and we exchanged business information.
- RFM is gaining recognition. I've been getting a lot of praise from the promo video I did for Lucia. I even had a nice phone conversation with her assistant who highly praised me and thanked me to no end for the work I did. If she was impressed by that, imagine the whole team working together and what we could do. That's another reason I can't wait for my cousin's wedding. Team RFM will be there and we're going to do a damn good job.
We're also in the process of adding photos and videos to RFM's Facebook page (mentioned earlier). So if I know you and have you on Facebook, you'll probably get notifications asking to Like it. Help us out by tagging others you know in them as well.
- I keep adding more game music to my iPod. I had to for one series though. I don't know why, but I never thought to get soundtracks for Space Channel 5. Loved those games. Now I have all of that music to listen to now. Ulala, chu chu chu!
- Ghost Trick (Nintendo DS) - Rated 5 out of 5
Loved Ghost Trick. Can't recommend it enough. As for anything I'm playing now, I've been playing through the 3rd Phoenix Wright game on WiiWare if I have some downtime (like when uploading forever...). March will be grand when I get my 3DS, yum.
- I got the All-Star Superman animated movie. It was pretty good. A little slow for my taste, but with the story they told, it had to be. Highly recommended for Superman fans.
- And speaking of things I bought, I've bought a lot of stuff this month. A watch, a gorilla pod and pivot head, silly sunglasses, hoodie, shirts, SNSD photo book, and probably more that isn't popping into my head. Odd thing is that when I receive one item in the mail, I subconsciously would order something else online. Bad habit forming, indeed.
- Been maintaining a normal workout regimen (ladies) just so I'm not sitting on my butt working on RFM stuff all day. It's just a few minutes with weights and then the rest of an hour doing routines I've learned over the years to the point that I'm dripping with sweat (ladies). Takes me back to when I was at my prime 5-6 years ago the last time I was working out regularly. Back then I could do the same thing except for an extra hour while singing also. I'm tempted to pull out BoA's 2005 or 2007 concert and go along with the whole thing like I used to. Maybe in a month or 2. I definitely could use a good massage (ladies). My muscles and my back have been in pain a little more so than usual.
- During some of my downtime (usually at night) I've started writing a fanfic. Haven't done one in a looooooooong time, but I've had an idea floating around in my head for a while. For those that didn't know, I used to write a lot especially during my time in college. I once wrote a 100 chapter fanfic over my favorite Korean girl group at the time, BabyVoX. All of my fanfics involved me either by name or an alias. This one I'm doing now is based off a Korean variety show called "We Got Married" involving SNSD's Jessica. This is most likely inspired by seeing scenes of SeoHyun's wedding shoot episode of "We Got Married" and my cousin getting married soon. I probably won't share it and just keep it to myself. It just feels good writing again even if it is for a one time deal.
- And I don't know what it is, but I've been having a slew of weird dreams lately. Usually I get those when I drink medicine, but I haven't been sick since last month. They're very much odd and I don't know why certain people are there and why certain things are happening.
That should do it for this month. Onward to March.
Thank you for reading. Be healthy, be thankful, and be loved.
Take care.
