2013 is fast approaching! Looking back, I think I had a pretty fulfilling year. I started Restless Cities in January and since then we’ve covered dozens of shows in Manila and Los Angeles. About seven months after the launch, we introduced Weekends (which is now called, more appropriately, LA Weekends) which has taken us to three different cities now. More importantly, I managed to cover my dream show for the site — Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas extravaganza just a few weeks ago and that marked my third time seeing the guy live. Another music-related thing: I achieved my 2012 concert goal which was to see Beirut live. And yes, I bloody well did!

I feel extremely blessed to have done so many things this year that I’m extremely proud of. Hopefully, 2013 brings in more good things!

How was your year?

Fall is finally manifesting itself, albeit capriciously. It gets really, really cold in the mornings and evenings, but so ungodly hot in the afternoons. I can’t take it. Mostly because I often find myself sweating under the layers that I pile on when I leave the house.

Which brings me to another thing… I have finally moved to my own place. I mean, the house isn’t mine. I have two roommates, but I am living rather independently now. It’s been five days and I’m trying my best to make it through the adjustment period. My room is pretty big. It still looks and feels like a strange place. I’m trying to think of a good way to slowly turn it into my space, but it will take a while.

To end this random post — Skyfall is out today! EXCITEMENT!

Life updates:

1. I’ve been so so busy with work lately that I barely have time to catch up with other things that are really more important (to me, anyways) like Tumblr, for one.
   
   
2. I’ve also been working extra hard with my amazing friends to make Restless Cities’ first few days on the web as pleasant as possible. I’m so proud of this project and we’re bringing in lots of exciting content in the coming weeks. You can follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook for real time updates! (By the way, we’re one week old now!)
   
   
3. Um, a silly photo like this must have some sort of backstory with it in order for it to make sense: That’s turon. It’s my favorite Filipino dessert. I was really happy my mom made some that I had 3, I think.
   
   
4. Some days, I feel like such a hard worker. But most days, I feel like I’m not doing enough. You get this, don’t you? 

Tentative show schedule for the next two months (going to cover ‘em! yaaaay):

• Owen - January 19
• Wilco - January 27
• Gotye - February 2
• Bombay Bicycle Club - February 15

Also, there’s a Magnetic Fields show in March! MY GOLLY. I’d love to go to that one as well. We’ll see. Say hey if you’re attending any of the shows above!

(Out of topic, but I feel bad for not having a single decent photo of Beach Fossils’ drummer.)

When you’re covering a show, most of the time it’s exciting. But there are a lot of idle times as well like when you’re waiting for the band to finish setting up and you’re all alone. You check your phone a hundred times, tweet stupid things to pass the time (and flood innocent people’s timelines), and look awkward. So my mind wanders. A lot. A couple of things I thought of while covering the Beach Fossils show:

• I think I want to do this for a very long time. Could I?
• These guys are so well-dressed. I’m so glad tucking in is cool again. Also, their legs are much thinner than mine. How is this fair?
• That Sweater Girls member really looks like Kathy.
• I’m really getting some major Bob Dylan vibes from Dustin.
• Is he the same guy from the band Yuck?
• This freakin’ pit is for skinny people. Damn it. I can barely move.
• I’d really like to do this more often.
• I need to pee.

More live photos from this show (and the previous ones I’ve covered) have been added to my website. (And yes, I know that Dustin is NOT the same guy from Yuck.)

A couple of things I thought about during mass today:

• I don’t ever want to have kids!
  Context: I was seated for more than an hour beside four spoiled kids who wailed and kicked and punched each other the whole time. The tiniest one was even playing with an iPhone 4 and he wasn’t a happy camper.
  And now? I don’t know. It was pretty bad. I kind of enjoy my quiet time.
  
  
• Sufjan’s sitting in front of me again.
  Context: There’s a guy who comes to hear mass alone every Sunday. His face, body, and mannerisms really make me wonder if he’s even remotely related to Sufjan Stevens. Maybe he a cousin or, who knows, a long lost twin?
  And now? I hope he sits in front of me again next Sunday. /creeper alert
  
  
• Why Denny’s? Why not Porto’s?
  Context: Our priest always mentions that he’s going off to Denny’s for Thanksgiving dinner/Christmas dinner/regular dinner. Why?! Everything’s so greasy and unhealthy in there.
  And now? I’d go to Denny’s for some fries and red velvet puppies if I could.
  
  
• If you step on these shoes, I will slap your face off.
  Context: See first bullet point. Two words: VIOLENT KIDS.
  And now? I probably wouldn’t have slapped the kid if she had stepped on my shoes. The Zet in my head just tends to exaggerate certain qualities that are lacking in me in real life (like toughness and poise, for example).
  
  
• Mass is fun.
  Context: All of the above. 

Yeah, I get pretty distracted.

Outfit: scarf - Target, skirt - F21, tights + socks - Urban Outfitters, shoes = 80%20, shirt - Hollister Co., cardigan - Giordano, bag - vintage

GPOYW mixed emotions (+ wet hair) edition

• Lost respect for someone today. 
• I wish I could get rid of these curls.
• On a more positive note, I’m not sick anymore!

Hello again! This is something I’m really excited about. I’m now selling prints of some of my photos. For now, it’s on pre-order mode so no payments will be accepted until the end of December. So if you pre-order now, expect the prints to be shipped out in January. Please check it out and buy a print or two from me! All prices include shipping wherever you are in the world.