The swimmers, they churn up the water;

But does it get any softer?

No. 

For a while, yes. 

But forever? No. 

What's the Point?

What's the point of negativity and looking for the worst in something or someone? You can't possibly be enjoying it if your complaining about it? Or is it that you enjoy complaining and that's why you do it? Will it change anything?

Someone please let me know.

The Standing Ovation

As a very involved performing artist, I have seen many musical and theater performance. Additionally, I have also been in many performances. Now, I know everyone has their own opinion and everyone has different tastes, but one thing that slightly bothers me is the phony standing ovation.

Like stated above, I know a thing or two about being on the stage side of a performance and I can remember a few concerts that I have had the privilege of participating in that have been honored with a standing ovation. For example, this past January, I was playing with the district honor band under the direction of Allan McMurray, director of the Director of Bands in the College of Music at the University of Colorado in Boulder. We played "An American Elegy" by Frank Ticheli which is in memorial of the victims and the families and friends of those involved in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. If you have never heard this piece before, it will change your life. Each note and tone is symbolic and meaningful (listen to this specific performance here). But anyways, that's a whole tangent for another time. My point is that that piece and the performance the band had was something we were proud of and did in fact receive its own individual standing-o. An it's a great feeling knowing that you did your best and and more importantly, that it spoke to and touched the audience.

However, it bothers me that nowadays, or at least at the high school level, that standing ovations are just something given out of courtesy. Don't get me wrong, I am all about giving props to anyone who has put in the time and effort and courage and practice to get up on stage and preform and I will always clap and acknowledge someone's great accomplishment, but I feel like now, a standing ovation follows every performance, even ones that it is clear are mediocre. In contrast to my other example above, I have also been a part of many disappointing performances but still people rise and cheer even though it is clear that it really wasn't anything special. I understand why people stand - to be nice - but when you stand for every thing, it diminishes the significance of the standing ovation when so actually witness something spectacular.

That's just me on my soap box, sorry for the rant.

Congratulations?

In today's world of short-lived marriages, whenever someone tells me how long they've been married I always feel the need to congratulate them. I am most sure if it is our of encouragement or praise or recognition or what, but I always do. However, after doing so I always feel slightly awkward. It's as if in saying that I show doubt towards their marriage or marriage in general. That's not what I intend but I feel that it can come off that way.

It's sad how short marriage seems to last these days. Is it weird or in appropriate to congratulate those couples who have made it 5, 10, 20, 30+ years?

Those Asian Kids, Ep. 1

First Episode of Those Asian Kids!

The De-Articulator 5000 replays your voice back into your ears at a delayed rate making it so you physically cannot talk!

Song we tried to sing: "Five Years Time" by Noah and the Whale

Music: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" by Vampire Weekend

Progressive Dinner

In response to my good friend, Tim and his recent blog post, I shall tell you about the grand adventure of our best and last Progressive Dinner with our youth group.

Once a month, our youth group does an event which we have titled SNL (Sunday Night Live). The high schoolers in the church meet on the first Sunday of the month and we get together and hangout, do a fun activity, etc. This month, we had a progressive dinner. If you do not know what a progressive dinner is, basically, it is a multiple course meal in which you eat each course at a different location. For our dinner, we had four courses and thus traveled around town to four different houses. Usually, these things have a theme and you can come dressed up and make it even more fun than just eating (but let's be real, eating is already pretty fun.....). This time, the theme was "Black and White: Wear as little color as possible." Now, initially, I was just going to wear a black and white dress and call it good, but then Tim called me and was like, "Hey! I'm going to use face paint and make it look like I walked out of an old black and white film, want to join me??" Um, Tim, HECK YES I WOULD!!

So Sunday evening, me and two other of our friends spent an hour painting ourselves grey and channeling our inner 1920s-30s selves to shine through in our new found appearances. Unfortunately  we ended up channeling a little bit of zombie too.....

Needless to say, we turned quite a few heads when we walked up to join the others...

The night was fun and fantastic and now, I know what my Halloween costume will be for next year....

Ode to the Centennial Sate

An ode written for my English class last month.

Ode to the Centennial State
Kristina Lu


O Colorado – The Mile High State - eclectic and relaxed,
Thou soaring mountains are like majestic abstracts;
From the peaks to the plains, a reminder of God;
The subtle browns and soothing greens, there is no greater laud;
A statement of thy culture, a statement of thy beliefs, a statement of thy vitality;
O Colorado, what a home you are to me!

And how art the exuberant colors of your light;
The sunrises, the sunsets: I need not exaggerate;
Each day, a stunning, aurulent greeting;
Each night, a colorfully regal final meeting:
A silhouette of cinnabar and brilliant peach,
The mauve range against a flammeous speech,
Starry night; O what a home you are to me!

We natives are so lucky, proud, and spoiled;
Our state! Our land! A place so beautiful without toil,
Dear bright Colorado, you treat us well:
How healthy are we, a tribute to you;
Kick back, relax, take a hike or two;
The powder’s great and so is the view!
O Colorado, a happy home you are to we!

And yet the world is grand and vast,
A place full of many other scenes to make the past;
Some far more eccentric and others less blessed,
A world worth seeing nonetheless.
But no matter the venture where or when,
There’s a place of returns, the Traveler has an origin;
O, Colorado, you are that place of home to me!

And down-to-Earth, thou art so rad and free!
You embody the power of our canyonous River,
You capture the freedom of a noonday skier;
A leader of Green and an attitude to match,
A spirit of adventure and limitless acts;
Diversity – an encouragement; unity – a fact;
O dear sweet Colorado, what a perfect home you are to me!