Oh that's right! Hope you've had fun on your spring break!

All my coworkers have been filming in Miami for a client this week (except me, I'm still on the island), so they let me work at home, since no one else is in the office. Funny thing is, I'm supposed to be working on two websites, but one client hasn't given me photos yet, and I didn't get the layout for the other one until today, so it's sort of been a break for me. It's nice to stay at home for a little bit, but not for too long! My good friend from high school, who I just spent a few hours on the phone with, is coming over tomorrow... we're gonna watch a DVD, and have some tea and cookies. Nice way to kill time without spending money!

Yesterday I got into my first incident with the car. I was parking in front of the library and tapped the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, and I hit a tree. Well at the time it wasn't funny—my mom was freaked out and pissed off—but after my mom took over driving duty and went to Costco (I bought a camera for the concert!), we were cool. Thankfully, the front's just scratched up a little, no major dent. By the sound of the thud, I thought I had totally fucked up the bumper!

I forgot U2 had a concert here, that's right! That would be awesome if they (and Muse!!) came back! Do you remember how the turnout was when U2 came here?

Edit: Never mind, it was almost sold out! But I also found this at http://www.u2.com/tour/index/ (all the way at the bottom, second and third paragraphs):

"The European tour will be followed by dates in North America beginning at Chicago's Soldier Field on September 12th, 2009. In September and October, U2 360° Tour will also visit: Atlanta, GA; Charlottesville, VA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Norman, OK; Phoenix, AZ; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC and Vancouver, BC. Complete Tour and ticketing information to follow."

Maybe Honolulu will be added later? (Or not at all...)

Oh. My. God. ... so I think I'm going on three trips in the next couple of months! (Jet lag much?)

1. It looks like the trip to Phoenix to see Franz is actually gonna happen!

2. My mom and her aunt are going to the Philippines and I'm coming with her! (I haven't been there since I was 12!)

3. The Vegas/Grand Canyon/possibly also Phoenix trip with my friends!

I got the okay from my FT job, now just need to check with my Apple job.

I've been having a rough time at my FT job too... basically it's an issue of coworkers not being productive and being inconsiderate. Like spray painting our logos on our camera cases, which should be done outside! (I don't know how they can stand the fumes, maybe they're doing it on purpose to get high!) I talked to someone about it (I was on the verge of quitting) and it looks like we'll be meeting about it soon, so hope things get better.

And yes, Lex-o is sexy!

Oi. I usually wake up around 9 am on the weekdays. The place where I work doesn't require us to be there at a specific time, so waking up later during the week is something I've been taking for granted haha. It's so backwards, though, because on the weekends, I wake up at 5:30 because I have to be at the Apple Store by 8:45. So at least with this new schedule, things are evened out...

I figured those bands were of the whiny variety. I don't know if those bands are radio staples since I don't listen to the radio, but I'll catch band names online or in magazines and recognize them by name and have no idea what they sound like. I guess it's a good thing I don't listen to the radio at all because anything of quality seems to be hard to find on the radio anymore.

I'll discover music in the most random ways. (Like you and the guy you met, haha!) Like I remember getting my first computer when I was nine, and Weezer had their "Buddy Holly" music video on one of the Windows CDs that came with it. (Of course, now I'm a Mac person! )

We just had a meeting with a popular local singer and it sounds like we're doing a huge project for her. I can't divulge too much, but it sounds exciting!

Okay, as long as we can both share him.

Btw, what's your shirt size? In case I decide to get you a shirt instead.

Oh yes, Twitter updates! I got into Twitter a few months ago and I find it a great way to keep track of my favorite bands. Oh and my friends too. Actually, Jimmy Eat World has been the best as far as sending updates, like pictures or even websites they find. Here's an amusing link they sent pretty recently: http://ronwinter.tv/drums.html

Yeah I know! Hawaii must be feeling pretty moody lately.

People were talking about some Muse karaoke songs in the Filipino thread in International. Like Hysteria (!), Starlight and SMBH. The latter, now that's one to be slaughtered!

OMG are you serious! That's awesome! I just hope they aren't just saying that! *crosses fingers in hopes that it will someday come true*

I went to Hot Topic today and looked and looked for the Muse shirt you told me about. I finally found and extra-small one on top of a stack of Underoath shirts. I thought it wouldn't fit but I tried it on and it's just right! I guess because it's a men's shirt and all, but with an extra-small it fits like a girl's t-shirt. Anyway, I asked the guy at the register if they had any more Muse shirts and he said that was all they have and that he knew that because someone else came in earlier asking the same thing. (Then I wondered if it was you and if there was a Hot Topic at Kahala Mall. I hope you were able to buy a shirt!) That's crazy to think that they actually sold out of Muse shirts and I happened to buy the last one. I didn't think they were that popular here... then I thought "those damn Twilight poser kids."

In light of this happy Muse news, I have some devastating news too. I learned this morning that the woman who was randomly stabbed at the Ewa Beach Shopping Center yesterday was my freshman English teacher in high school. Here's a link to a news story if you're interested: http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/14534/40/. You know when certain information doesn't hit you until you're by yourself and able to think? That's what happened to me. Didn't hit me until I was making my way home on the bus. I cried to myself silently for part of the bus ride. Then I was mad at whoever took her life away; I'm almost certain the guy was on drugs. Now it's a combo of those feelings + regret, since I hadn't visited her at all since I graduated, though I saw her somewhere once not too long ago. I know this news is completely unrelated but I just need someone else to share this with. Mrs. Yamashita was one of the nicest people I've ever had the chance of knowing and one of the best teachers I've ever had.

OMG, if dreams became reality right?

Care to divulge about that FF dream?

RIGHT ON! You should meet up with us - I'll be with a bunch of people from the Phoenix/Vegas threads. There's a bunch of us who are flying in from Phoenix that morning.

OMG... your birthday is on July 4, too?!

Shucks, I'm so sorry the DVDs aren't working for you! But yeah, at least you got the computer versions.

By the way, are on you Muse Live as well? There's a ton of things for download there. I'm sure I saw the Making of Absolution there for download.

Shucks. Well don't get caught because I'd hate to have you grounded even further!

Exactly! A Scottish poi dog, haha. That's cool he seems so down to earth. I wouldn't mind meeting him too. I just bought his book, Sound Bites. I'll get to reading it as soon as I finish a couple of other books I should've been done with by now!

"Words So Leisured" is a b-side that was on the special edition of their first album. It's acoustic and slow, and Alex sounds really sexy. It has reworked lyrics from "Darts of Pleasure," like how Tonight has "No You Girls" and "Katherine Kiss Me."

Still waiting to hear back from my manager about taking off those Saturdays for the trips, but I should have enough vacation hours racked up to be able to do it!

I'll definitely get something for you from the gig!

Thanks for keeping me in the loop with all the Muse and Franz stuff you shared! Things have been hectic lately so I'm keeping up today with all the music stuff and your message helped a ton! Red-nosed Bob ftw! And yeah, I don't know about that music video. It's awkward.

And yeah, it seemed like the weather was awful everywhere yesterday! It was pouring overnight Friday evening/yesterday early morning here but by the time I got dropped off at the transit center, it had calmed down. But it was raining buckets on the freeway and you couldn't even see—one time I was glad not to be driving!

Last night, I went to karaoke with a group of Apple peeps. I didn't really sing much but it was fun being entertained by the others who were singing! The songs were listed alpha by song title and not by artist, which sucked, but I managed to find one Muse song—their version of "Feeling Good"—but that song is a bitch to sing so we skipped it.

Btw, sexy av!

Tada! Here ya go!

Thank you for your festive artwork! Merry Christ"Matt" and a Happy New Year to you too! Or in Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Or in Tagalog: Maligayang pasko!

And here's to a new year with what's looking like a new Muse album! Yes!

Thanks! Amethyst is a lovely name, too! I've never met anyone with that name before.

I'll lasso Matt with my lei.

That's funny that seeing the Kooks was both the best time of your life and a sort of turnoff towards the band. That makes sense though because of how the singer was behaving. It kind of makes you wish you knew less about the band so you could just enjoy their music.

I don't think Eventful is a popular enough website to accurately gauge interest in a band, and I don't really think bands use that site as a measuring tool to decide where they'll perform. But I still wish there were more people demanding Franz!

The lei were made of wide, study ribbon that you'd use for wrapping Christmas presents. You fold each strip of ribbon a certain way to make each star. It was a pain to make each one but they came out looking nice!

Yeah, I was pretty starstruck/stunned, to say the least! I was so shy and speechless, my goodness haha. I seemed more pre-occupied than shy. Hope you get the chance to meet Muse someday!

They finally fixed the a/c a few months ago, but the combination of body heat and leaving the front doors open pretty much cancels that out. It's freezing in the morning though!

And did you buy HAARP or did you need a copy of it as well? Right now, I'm burning Hullabaloo, Absolution Tour, and Making of Absolution.

Try this version. I forgot that the max avatar size here is 90x90, not 100x100. Maybe that was the problem?

Otherwise, does this message board allow animated avatars? I know some don't.

I just found out Franz will be on Jay Leno this Thursday and Craig Ferguson next Friday. (Alex is supposed to be interviewed by Craig Ferguson on the show too. Two Scottish blokes!) Break out that DVR or VHS recorder...

Ugh seriously. The only time I had a math class that I actually enjoyed was the one class I had to take my freshman year at HPU. Not only was he super nice (and kinda cute lol), he actually made it... fun. (Yup, that's right, fun.) It was Survey of Mathematics so it was as fun as math could get anyway: probability, number patterns, that sort of thing. It was better than taking pre-cal, that's for sure!

I was looking at the Arizona thread in the gig forum, which started as a topic on a Muse gig in Arizona thread and has evolved into a meet-up thread for the Franz show in Phoenix. My friends want to go there Memorial Day weekend and they said they would make it up to me for missing Franz. Awww. I've still kinda been thinking about going for the show though.

Yes, she's in a better place now. RIP Mrs. Yamashita!

We have the same favorite tracks on Tonight: Franz, in addition to "Ulysses" and "Can't Stop Feeling" for me. I just noticed today how "Kiss Me Katherine" acts as a reprise for "No You Girls" because they share a lot of the same lyrics. I thought that was neat. Usually reprises are in musicals, but it works for this album because it has that "night out with friends" theme and that story quality to it.

Coincidentally, I asked a couple of coworkers today if they heard of Franz Ferdinand. Strangely enough, both of them confused them with Modest Mouse! "Take Me Out" and "Float On" came out at around the same time and had similar music videos, and I guess that's where the mix-up was...

I had a music discussion/YouTube search session with one of our interns. She listens to a bit of Arctic Monkeys and had me watch their music video for "Leave Before the Lights Come On." I liked how it was more of a short film set to their song than a traditional music video; I loved the clever cyclical ending to the video. We also watched/listened to some stuff from Kate Nash and the Strokes. I'll give her a copy of Tonight: Franz. She'll give me some music from Arctic Monkeys and the Strokes.

Oh man, how could I forget about reversing?! That's another thing I need to work on. Especially with the driveway we have to back out of.

Good luck on your permit!

Well, I'm still here. I guess that means something.

I felt the same way you do when I was in high school. I felt trapped (after all, we ARE on an island). My biggest concern was knowing how slim the chances were of being able to see my favorite bands live—I was lucky that Jimmy Eat World stopped by not once, but twice.

I don't 100% love being here all the time, but I don't completely loathe it either. I think after traveling for a bit, I don't feel as trapped as I used to feel. At the same time, I haven't ruled out living somewhere else for a while. I think you should go for it—get yourself out of your comfort zone, discover another place and more of yourself. I can't say that won't happen to me some time in the near future. But I also can't say I'll never come back.

Were you aware of this music video? Cool filmmaking... trippy, 70's/80's-ish.

P.S. Noob question: how do you embed YouTube videos? On another message board, the code was , but I suppose it may be different here.

Yay! Haha, yeah I know, typical islander who's never been in snow right? I've never been in snow, either.

I just got off the phone with one of my friends who I'm going with to see the Grand Canyon on Memorial Day weekend. Looks like another option instead of flying into Phoenix would be flying into and staying in Las Vegas, then driving down to the Grand Canyon for a day. I guess that would be better because there's probably more fun stuff to do in Vegas, but at the same time, I've never made it a life goal to go there. Too many people in Hawaii are all about Vegas that it gets a bit annoying sometimes, haha. Plus, I kind of wanted to explore Phoenix because I don't know too much about it and it would be fun exploring what it has to offer. But I don't mind going to Vegas! Either way would be a neat experience with friends!

Yeah both my parents are Filipino. My dad was born here but he grew up in Ilocos Norte. My mom's from Visayas but she grew up in Manila. Tagalog is the only dialect they have in common. (Not counting English of course!)

Haha, I'm not as fluent as I used to be. I'm very fluent in understanding Tagalog though!

Cool, I'll see you here on the boards!

Yeah exactly! It's great that they have consistently been recognized for being an awesome live band, at least in their home country. I would absolutely LOVE to catch Muse live!

The whole Franz/Phoenix thing isn't a guarantee but the prospect of going there to see them is very tempting and exciting! Just checked out the Franz thread and saw the messages about Phoenix. I guess that makes sense for a lot of Cali fans who aren't in the Bay Area or able to attend Coachella. I'm not sure if I would fly out there by myself if my friends aren't able to go. Maybe I could meet up with the Musers there, but it's kind of awkward for me because I still feel like a n00b here!

Yeah I know, the person who wrote that tutorial really goes into detail... which is good if you have some time on your hands, hehe. Are you busy with school stuff? Like midterms and such?

Hullabaloo, yay! Yeah, you're right, there's quite a bit of mellow stuff on there. "Recess" and "Map of Your Head" are my favorites off the b-side portion. I'm a recent believer in "Hyper Chondriac Music" too... something about me with slow songs, being half asleep, and being on the bus (like what happened to me with "Words So Leisured")... something just clicks. Though I prefer "Hyper Music"...

Hmm, I shall check out Pendulum. I listened to some samples and they sound like a mix of dance and rock music. Sounds like good stuff!

And yes, the thing with my former teacher (I realized yesterday she was also our senior class advisor) was very sad. I went to the candlelight memorial at my old high school yesterday. Very moving. I kind of lost it when her husband and two little girls arrived outside the cafeteria. Just the thought they won't be seeing their mommy...

Her husband is so strong; he told everyone not to be angry about it because anger wouldn't bring her back. And he said that this was like a part of us was dying and being reborn, and to use this as an opportunity to better ourselves so her death wouldn't be in vain. Then he made us laugh when he told a funny story about how they went to Sam's Club and she snuck a whole bunch of Twilight books for the silent reading library into the cart he was pushing. He said he looked back and there were no books left on display. (I didn't know she liked Twilight until yesterday, but it sounds like she recommended reading the books and not see the movie. Phew.)

Quite a few alumni (including some of my old classmates and coworkers) got up in front of everyone to share their memories about her. I would've spoken if I knew exactly what to say. Instead, when I got home, I wrote a short blog about her. If you'd like to read it, it's here.