when i relocated to my island, i ran from the corporate giants of california so that i could easily expose myself to the smaller powers that be and contribute to my island.
however, due to the unfortunate economic downturn my time with the little people has been cut short and as of today, i've officially hopped on to the BIG boys in town.
it really is as true to the corporate engine as you can get on this island - with over 900 people strong and big wigs and their army of eager-to-please robots, my first day came complete with 800 consecutive power point slides after another and an overzealous spiel on "why we love to work here and why we are so glad to have people like you (to be manufactured into a clone)" that ran for more than an hour and a half.
ahhhhh!!!!!!!!! but what have i gained access to in exchange for all this? - job security, financial stability, a 401k plan that makes up for overdue planning, and my very own cubicle. yay.
maybe i'll have a fancy ergonomic high-back chair and an anti-glare lcd and my very own mug that i can use at the ever-so-lovely water cooler. corporate guam rocks (*insert rock-and-roll face here).
it's been more than year since i've boarded a plane and it's a shame that i've never visited any of the neighboring marianas islands. saipan was a great start for me and in all honesty, i did not expect much. i'd hate to blame it on lack of stimulation for having appreciated everything new that i learned from my visit to saipan.
saipan seems to be much more culturally aware than guam. the language, the history, the nature are all glaringly preserved in the simplistic landscape and architecture.
- the lush tree groves with massive tree trunks and expansive canopies of fiery flame trees told a story of land untouched yet tended to.
- the topography of the land where roads disect made one conscious of the hills that overlooked the ocean and intuitively led you to its presence - the azure horizon blended with deep blues were stunning even from a distance.
- the character of the architecture was regional - not a sea of concrete boxes. there were clay tiled roofs, swooping vaulted forms, arched entry ways, and buildings clad with wood siding, stone facades, and real presence.
- the roads carved into the landscape and told a story of the shores - where beach road fronts a long stretch of shoreline and a sidewalk within 5 feet of sandy ground. the buildings and cars oriented toward the water was a refreshing gesture compared to the acres between san vitores road and the water and the inward facing buildings along route 1 in east agana.
- the history - monuments and signage told another story of their own - where relics pop up amidst major avenues and between city streets. there was a real museum with a dedicated structure and exhibits. there was also a real park along a busy roadway with large trees and people in it. i was very amazed.
- the scale of the grid - i went to godfather's bar and was amazed at scale of the sidewalks and streets around it. it evoked the feeling of being in a city - where activity outside of the work day draws people to the streets. bar hopping is truly walking distance and parking meters - oh the parking meters! brought back nostalgia. there was even a bar right up against the sidewalk
i was only there for 12 hours, 8 of which were work. it calls for return visit where i will actually see more of the island.
my lonely tivo and me were more than excited for the return of weeds on monday but unfortunately only got around to viewing it late thursday night. immediately i was turned on to the ending scene where nancy expresses true (and much-needed) glee while being surprised at the flash mob of dancers.
it lead me to a search which unraveled the phenomenon of the flash mob and to discover that perhaps the largest and most popular flash mob operateurs are the new york-based Improv Everywhere which coincidentally just released a new book that documents all their so-called "missions".
the evidence is all on youtube where they orchestrate random acts of public performance to make people happy or make people pay attention. it can only be understood after viewing.
himym's season 4 finale on monday was yet another relevant episode. i can't help but project my architecture woes onto ted's stetson debacle.
this time around i prepared for the finale more than ever by re-watching key moments from seasons past. i knew it would not be ending with the uber cliche cliffhanger meant to lure you into the next season like - breakups, big moves, weddings, outright confessions of love (although unbeknownst), pregnancies (although a fake one) , etc. . this is how i met your mother...this is one awesome show.
instead we get a big piece of information as to where ted meets their mother and we can finally put to rest (for now) ted's flailing career. barney and robin become a tad bit more believable and marshall and lilly were instrumental to both life-changing moments.
and there was the genius re-emerging of multiple himym-isms - the slutty pumpkin, the goat, and sven.
the actual leap scene, although symbolic for the gang's prelude to the next chapter of their lives, was too cheesy for me. and there were far too many shots of ted and the goat rolling around.
oh common now for all of you who have or about to cross that threshhold. you've may have already randomly uttered these forsaken words but i vow to never concede. call it denial or blame it on that taurean resliency -
...i'm old
...i'm bored
...i'm settling for less
...i give up
ed burns last installment from 2007, purple violets, was on HBO this morning (via my slingbox). it was the first i ever heard of it and i will add it to my list of sleeper hits.
it is not fit for everyone's attention span, but if you have an appreciation for non-fairy tale point-of-view romantic movies, you will enjoy it as i did. ed burns has a fanbase of his own genre (and his pretty face, heheh), creating movies centered around his usual themes of relationships, family, his irish descent, and new york city. purple violets is a softer side of ed burns and the backdrop of new york city contrasted with the hampton's is presented in a softer light as well.
purple violets refers to purple and violets not being the same although they appear to be. it's about reuniting with an old friend but nothing is how it was as when you were last around each other. the characters in the movie reunite after 12 years when they last ended on a bad note. it is a movie about second chances.
an island boy.
one fine day a long time ago when i was in pain - after pouring out from the depths of my guts and my heart, i asked the world to give me what i deserved - long overdue, a man in love with me as much as he loved his home.
my time has come.
yet another HIMYM reference that proves why this show is just so awesome. and so relevant. i was late in tuning in to this week's episode and showing how the recession has caused a "vocational paradigm shift" makes this show. all the more. awesome.
but the un-awesome part would be the way that my profession and others have been suffering as a result of the levity of the market. most firms are firing and shutting down. here most practices (with other industries included) have had the luxury of catering to the needs of the military. my firm, however, has maintained their client base in the private sector. while we have put up notable work in the last year, it will be a slow and steady "vocational paradigm shift".
gladly i have my exams to keep me busy and i have already crossed the line by having had taken my very first exam last month and another scheduled within the next week. i will be completing all seven exams within the next three months and i am excited. my initial goal was to be licensed by the time i was 25 and now it has turned into 30 - which is not bad at all. did you know that currently there is only ONE licensed female architect on island. geeez ladies, good job. anyway - i plan to join these ranks very soon. wish me some kind of luck. or maybe telepathic luck ala marshall and lilly.
did i mention that I HEART HIMYM?
with the exception of friends visiting off island, my nightlife schedule as of late has been dive bars, strip joints, karaoke bars, and the occasional drop into the "current" bar...the scene can only be described as titled above.
but i do indulge in these pockets of promising fun when people drop in and if it means reuniting with a familiar face or celebrating a happy occasion. this is in fact the year of the thirty for my common folk and the year is indeed speeding by. although, thirty couldn't come any slower.
even the entertainment or music selection has been uninspiring, with only a few hits here and there. i have been so musically challenged having only being equipped with my ipod (5th generation, obsolete). in fact, gadget-challenged would be a more accurate description. i lack a blackberry or the skinny ipod but do not feel the need to upgrade for the sake of updating my facebook status from the produce section of my grocery store. it is also about time i let go of my sprint phone number that i have boastfully had for the past ten years because even they can't afford me anymore.
this useless rant has led me to believe that shaving off excess is becoming a trend that i have openly welcomed....all for the benefit of attending to the domestic duties and my professional development. and oh yes, tivo.
