Is there anybody out there?
-Vin Scully
Let’s return the beating tomorrow, Tommy style.
Tomorrow’s a new day.
Filed under: Los Angeles Dodgers
October 6, 2009 • 10:05 pm 0
Twenty-five things about me
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.
1. My conscience has a British accent. I read silently and think with a British accent. Don’t ask me why.
2. I would’ve been the Valedictorian of Magee Elementary had I not gotten a “C” in second grade.
3. I developed an allergy to shellfish in my adulthood. It’s better to have loved and lost.
4. I tear up during slow mo superbowl/world series and in memoriam montages.
5. Throughout most of my childhood, television was my parent. Mostly PBS, Spanish soap operas, abc family, and Three Stooges marathons.
6. Spanish was my first language.
7. I read all of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind in the fourth grade and my teacher didn’t believe me. Aside from the various books about the Mayas, aliens and Nostradamus, that’s about all I had to read at home outside of what I was assigned in class.
8. I ditched most of my Junior year of high school because I just wasn’t interested.
9. Consequently, I had to attend truancy correction classes.
10. I was angry at my mom for 18 years because she sold my piano. When I was four years old there was nothing else I loved more than that piano. She redeemed herself last Christmas.
11. My favorite television show of all time is The Wonder Years
12. If I had the money, I’d be living in Spain.
13. I lack culture. It’s why I have such a huge appreciation for the people who are aware of their culture and celebrate it.
14. I don’t know my biological father. It doesn’t bug me that I don’t know him. It does bother me that I don’t know my other siblings. Because of this I live with a constant “what if” hanging over my head.
15. I used to think the BET channel was called the bet channel as in “Let’s make a bet,” until one day Anais corrected me and said, “No, it’s B-E-T. As in Black Entertainment Television.” It’s the last memory I have of her.
16. From the time I was 11 to maybe 13, I had a 2Pac poster hanging on my wall positioned in front of my bed. I took it down one night when I awoke and noticed he was looking at me funny.
17. The myth might be better than the truth.
18. I’ve been in love twice. The first time I didn’t know it.
19. As I type this, Mel Brooks’ History of the World: Part 1 is playing in the background.
20. I appeared in the NY Times when I was 18. Not a glorious moment given the fact that I had pink eye and a horribly short and unflattering haircut at the time.
21. I have an uncanny obsession with studying the Kennedy Family.
22. I love a good conspiracy theory.
23. I prefer non-fiction reads. Life is truly more fascinating and stranger than fiction.
24. People never cease to amaze me.
25. Laughter is the way to my heart. I revel in comedy.
Filed under: My So-Called Life
October 5, 2009 • 3:11 pm 0
Mad Men: the one where Betty does a little dance and makes a little love
Seriously.
Filed under: Television
September 19, 2009 • 9:08 pm 0
Pantheon No. 4
Filed under: Music, Pantheon , Afro-cuban, Guadalupe Victoria Yolí Raymond, La Lupe, La Yiyiyi, Queen of Latin Soul
September 12, 2009 • 12:52 am 0
Pantheon No. 3
Filed under: Music, Pantheon , Bass, Charles Mingus, The Angry Man of Jazz
August 24, 2009 • 11:20 pm 0
M.I.A. to play Downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, Location TBA
Just got the following email from Dance Right:
| N.E.E.T. in association with
Subversive, Media Contender, Dim Mak and MFG presentA very special exclusive M.I.A. performance in Downtown Los Angeles with Blaqstarr, Pase Rock (live performance), South Rakkas Crew, 500 of tickets will go on sale * NO LINES BEFORE 12:30PM TURNTABLE LAB Location will be released on the day of the event. UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE at DANCERIGHT.NET/MIA |
Filed under: Happenings, Los Angeles, Music
August 16, 2009 • 7:10 pm 0
The Flaming Lips at Del Mar Race Track
Copyright © 2009 by Ashley Aguirre. The Flaming Lips. Del Mar Race Track. Del Mar, Calif. Aug. 2009
Filed under: Photography
August 10, 2009 • 9:31 am 0
“Only Love Can Break Your Heart”-Neil Young with Crosby, Stills & Nash
August 7, 2009 • 12:21 pm 0
Pantheon No. 2
John Hughes (February 18th 1950 – August 6th 2009)
How do we go on withoout John Hughes? by Josh Tyler at Cinema Blend
August 5, 2009 • 12:34 pm 1
Making Mad Men Dreams Come True: Win a Walk on Role
Ever feel like you were born in the wrong era? Dreamed of living in the early 60’s? Smoke Luckies by the pack? Have impeccable style? Desired to act?
Well if you’re caught in a 60’s time-warp still day dreaming about acting, the Lord has heard your prayers. AMC and Banana Republic have teamed up for a special Mad Men casting Call. The contest deadline is August 11th, so hurry up and enter you weirdos! You just have to go to Banana Republic, get a magic code (no, you dont need to buy anything), use your code to create an account via the casting call site, upload your best Mad Men inspired photo, and hope that enough people vote for you to be the person who gets the walk-on role.
If you don’t enter, go vote for Hannah. More photos here. She was born to play this role. =)
Filed under: Cool Contests, Television
August 3, 2009 • 1:38 am 7
Oh My Blog: How this came to be or not to be
This post just wasn't complete without a picture of Jake growing out of Prince's shoulder.
I’ve been really, really, really, lazy about blogging the last few months, but after attending a blogger meet-n-greet organized by the ever enchanting Prince Gomolvilas at the Americana in Glendale for friends of Bamboo Nation, I started to think a lot about my blog–about its true purpose, content, and audience. In truth, I’ve never taken my blog seriously, so I’ve never really given much thought to any of these things. Anyway, we got some interesting questions going during our meet-up and now that I’ve thought about it a little, I’m going to try and answer them as honestly as possible, if only for my own sanity.
Why did I start this blog?
Out of spite, boredom, and necessity. Let me try and illustrate what my brain looks like. It’s an office full of crazy people who drink too much coffee, who run up the aisles of cubicles frantically making copies of things, spilling things, knocking things over. Behind one desk is a musician whose job it is to make sure the right song is always playing at the right time. Across from him is an artist, her desk is located in front of my eyelids. Her job is to paint all that she sees and give it to my secretary to copy and file accordingly. Unfortunately, all I could afford was an impressionistic painter, which explains my sometimes fuzzy logic. Then there’s the editor who goes through the filing cabinets on a daily basis because they’re flooded with too much information, so his job is to throw out what is unnecessary or no longer important, or too old. That trash is what ends up here. The things that for one reason or another I can’t keep in my head. See, I’ve always had this fear (and this dates back to when I wee years old) that my head was going to explode because I just had way too much going on in there. It’s kind of like when I used to be afraid to eat watermelon because I thought if I swallowed a seed a watermelon would grow in my stomach. It’s a common fear.
See, I’ve come to truly understand, that my brain’s trash is another brain’s treasure. What I throw out gets recycled into someone else’s and vice versa–it truly is a beautiful exchange. Those things I throw out often come back to me improved. Make sense? If it doesn’t let me tell it to you this way:
A few years ago I got hired to sit behind a desk, answer phone calls, and smile at people. Sounds easy, right? Not for someone who has the need to constantly be doing something. I’ve always known that I wanted to write for a living. I didn’t care which medium, as long as I was doing it. So with nearly six hours to kill a day, I knew that I couldn’t just sit there playing crossword puzzles all day and that the best way to become a writer was to *drumroll please* write. Blogging was hot, so I thought why not? It didn’t have a real purpose then. I didn’t even care if anyone read it, with the exception of one person. All I knew then, was that if I didn’t write those crazy people inside my head were going to become suicidal and jump right out my eyelids and leave me completely blank.
My first few years of blogging were fun, but then I got promoted and didn’t have as much time at work to blog and of course when I come home I hate turning on the computer. I still use one most of the time at work, but I’ve got a lot more to do. Moving forward with my blog, I know that it won’t exactly be all that I want it to be because of the time factor, but I do hope to keep it alive. At least as a place that I can come to and share thoughts, stories, a song, or a funny video with anyone who’s willing.
What’s behind the title?
Ashley Aguirre. Well it’s my name. Someday I may have some claim to fame and will need to own ashleyaguirre.com, so I thought why not now? Might as well hold my place.
Okay, I’m kind of tired of writing now and I’ve got a psychology exam to study for.
‘Twas a Sunday well spent. Thanks Prince, for getting everyone together! Can’t wait for our next quarterly. I loved everyone’s stories.
Check out these blogs, I look forward to reading through them. A great bunch of interesting people in the blogosphere (and outside of it, too):
Noel Alumit - The Last Noel
Jake Bradbury - Jake & Will: Video Contest Warriors
Donovan Keith - Another Actor in LA
Cheryl Klein – Bread and Bread
Louise Larsen - Louise on the Left
Scott Lowe - Tropico Station
Peter Varvel - Plastic Bubble World
Stephanie – The Water Glass
Filed under: Writing
July 30, 2009 • 1:27 am 1
Pantheon No. 1
Phyllis Diller (1971-?)
Inspired by Sean’s Witzke’s, now defunct Pantheon feature on his blog, I’ve decided to create my own Pantheon.
Filed under: Pantheon
July 29, 2009 • 6:40 pm 0
Go Watch Funny People this Weekend!
Judd Apatow’s third film, Funny People, is almost a masterpiece. I say almost because I haven’t decided whether I want to call it that, yet. That’s not to say it isn’t a brilliant film, because that, it is. Like the 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, much of Funny People’s appeal comes from Apatow’s ability to take an awkward, or in this case tragic situation, and make it easier to not only talk about, but to laugh about.
At the center of the film is one of the most beautiful and refreshing stories of the year. If you’ve ever known anything about any of the people who make you laugh, about the people who stand-up before a crowd exploiting themselves to get a laugh, than it’s really no news to you that behind every funny person, lies a personal tragedy.
I’m going to wait to write a detailed review until after the movie hits theatres on Friday because I feel I can’t give it a proper review without spoiling it for everyone, but I can tell you that you really should see it. That it’s one of Adam Sandler’s best performances in recent history. Growing up he was one of my favorite comedians and one I always mimiced (around Halloween you’ll definitely always here me say, “Leave the candy on the desk. Did I mention I was crazy?” then proceed to wiggling my hand) sometimes I still randomly talk in my “Sandler” voice, but in recent years, aside from Punch Drunk Love, I couldn’t stand watching any of his movies.
Within the first 5 minutes of Funny People, I was laughing hysterically while my eyes welled up with little tears of joy ( I hope none of my friends noticed). Shot nearly 20 years ago when Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow (before their days of fame) were roomates, the opening credits reveal a young Sandler making prank phone calls.
Judd came out for a Q&A after the screening of the film and said that when he’d come home he’d hear Adam talking and walk into the room to find him making these prank phone calls by himself, not even to make anyone else laugh, but just for his own satisfaction and he just had to film it. He said,
“my wife is always telling me to get rid of some of my old stuff because I’m such a packrat, but now she can’t tell me to do that because I held onto these tapes for 20 years and I can say to her ‘I need these things for my movies.’”
These tapes are a true gem– a look at back at the balls out comedy that made me love Adam Sandler so much and reminds me why even after all these years, I’ve refused to pack away my copy of What the Hell Happened to Me? even though I’ve listened to it at least a thousand times.
The movie highlights the now signature members of the Jew Tang Clan Clan Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill (and for the first time, I found him to be the funniest), while bringing back to the clan Jason Schwartzman (haven’t seen him since the Freaks and Geeks days). I enjoyed watching two of my favorite funny people and hardest working comedians of the last couple of years, Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza. One of my disappoinments was the choice to cut a lot of Aziz’ “Raaaaaaaandy!” material, but I know that although it was hilarious, it didnt really have a place in the storyline.
I got to see him perform some of the material while he was developing it for the movie, and even though it wasn’t his usual style of comedy, the stuff he wrote, to this day is some of the most hilarious shit I’ve ever heard. Even if his stuff was meant to poke fun of Dane Cook, I can say that Aziz Ansari does Dane Cook better than Dane Cook does Dane Cook. Thankfully, Judd announced that he wants to develop a full length Raaaaaaaandy movie, aside from the documentary Aziz and Human Giant’s Jason Woliner are currently working on.
Anyway, back to the movie. I’m going to watch it for the second time this weekend and then decide if I want to call it a masterpiece, I get the feeling that this movie is going to be better the second time around. It is more than 2 hours long, but defintely worth watching.
Also, please take a notepad and see if you can keep tab of how many cool shirts everyone wears. If you catch this movie at the Arclight, you may wanna go eat some Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles down the street, like my friends and I did. Damn those subliminal ads in movies. Mmmm, that sounds so good right now.
Filed under: Movies, Uncategorized
July 21, 2009 • 11:39 pm 1
Ashley’s Official Guide to “The Con”
It’s that time of year, again—a time when squealing fanboys and girls unite to celebrate all things geek. The 40th annual San Diego Comic-Con. If you are one of the lucky pass holders to the sold-out (no memberships sold onsite) 4-day event, you can bet your keister that you’re in for a treat. What started off as an annual meet-up for comic book enthusiasts—creators, writers, illustrators, and fans has evolved into a convention of all that comic books have inspired. You don’t have to be a comic book geek to attend the con anymore—you just have to be a geek, period.
With that said, I’m not going to lie and admit that I am foremost a Television/Film geek, okay okay, I’m really foremost a music geek, but the con hasn’t really picked up on that yet. And given the choice between attending a panel with some of my favorite directors, actors, or just even get a glimpse of an upcoming film project versus one relating to comic books, I am always going to pick the film panel. It’s not that I don’t like comics, hello, I LOVE comics, but my love for them doesn’t really stretch beyond Tank Girl, Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes, and anything Frank Miller and Alan Moore get their hands on. I also have a weak spot for Stan Lee, but really, don’t we all?
The point is that Comic-Con has a little something for everyone. They’ve remained true to the loyal comic book lovers that brought them success by offering some amazing panels that any comic book geek would cream their panties to attend. All while expanding and opening up their world to the television/film industry and even the gaming/web industry, which have undeniably formed a symbiotic relationship with the comic book industry: constantly reaching out to one another for material and inspiration.
So, I’ve compiled my own list of things to see, I didn’t pick out too many for Saturday and Sunday because I’ll be working the convention those days and my time for panels will be limited.
Thursday
11:00-12:30 Disney: 3D Panel— Walt Disney Pictures presents key filmmakers, select cast members and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland and Tron. Special guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey, Steve Lisberger, and moderator Patton Oswalt.
I wanted to hate Tim Burton after what he did with Charlie and the Chocolate factory and for being completely unaware that there are other actors in the world who aren’t Johnny Depp, or his wife, Helena Bonham Carter, but he’s redeemed by the fact that he’s made some of my favorite films. If you’ve seen the posters for Alice in Wonderland, you know it’s bound to be way over the top and the true heart of the tale will be lost. But, I have hope that just maybe it will turn out sort of great.
Tron. You NEED to start getting excited about this and just pray that they don’t fuck it up.
Also, the panel is being moderated by the great, Patton Oswalt.
1:45-2:45 Summit Entertainment— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage of some of its upcoming major film releases!
Astro boy—A classic superhero origin story set in a futuristic world, Astro Boy is an all-new CG-animated feature film about a young robot with incredible powers and his adventure-filled journey in search of his identity and destiny. Join Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell as they premiere the final trailer for Astro Boy before it’s in theaters.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon—Summit Entertainment is proud to present the panel for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s box office smash Twilight. Surprise members of the cast will answer your questions about the second film in the series and debut never-before-seen footage from the new film.
Stick around for the Astro boy preview stuff. It’s about time we finally see what’s going on with it.
Do yourself a favor, skip the Sorority Row and the New Moon (the movie sucked and the only way I’ll ever watch another one of the films is if Drew Barrymore directs it, as has been rumored, but only because of my undying love for her) part of this while you run over to catch what you can of this:
2:00-3:00 Sony Pictures Animation: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs— In 2009, Columbia Pictures’ and Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will be the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the classic children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food begins to fall from the sky like rain. Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian) is the voice of Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone’s life. Anna Faris (The House Bunny) takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weathergirl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint’s technophobic father. SNL’s Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint’s invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map, and Mr. T plays the by-the-rules town cop, Earl Devereaux. Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models) is Carl Devereaux, Earl’s son. Appearing in person: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Bobb’e J. Thompson, and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord.
Sounds fucking incredible. Imagine how amazing it’d be if they brought out Mr. T as a surprise guest? I’d just about die. Oh yeah, and I have a huge crush on Andy Samberg. ::blushes::
Then comes THIS, dun dun dun:
4:30-5:15 Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus— Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of both Comic-Con and Monty Python, we welcome the sole American Python, the great animator and director Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, 12 Monkeys) to introduce you to his new film starring Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits, and Lily Cole. Dr. Parnassus is a fabulous anachronism, touring the streets of modern-day London in a horse-drawn carnival wagon accompanied by his beautiful daughter, devoted dwarf, and neophyte barker. On stage Parnassus plays a holy man whose Imaginarium can realize the innermost fantasies of all who dare to enter. Backstage, he is a drunkard, a gambler who centuries ago lost a wager with the Devil and must now pony up with his daughter once she turns sixteen. Tomorrow. Yet, there may still be hope for the Doctor and Valentina in the person of Tony, a well-dressed amnesic they rescue from a perilous fate and invite into their world of unrelenting magic and possibility.
Yes, yes, yes, yes! This is the thing I am most excited for this year. Just being in the same room with Terry Gilliam is an honor. I’m so excited for this movie, which happens to be Heath Ledger’s last film. Gilliam, who has the worst luck of any director postponed the production of this film after Heath’s death, but made some re-writes to the script and brought in some of Heath’s acting friends to complete the film. Also, did I mention Tom Waits plays the Devil in this?! GENIUS!
Filed under: Happenings, Movies, Uncategorized
July 20, 2009 • 4:02 pm 0
Eye Candy: Zooey Deschanel
Hipster Queen, Zooey D., for the August 2009 issue of GQ.
Filed under: Eye Candy, on the cover , GQ, Zooey Deschanel
June 28, 2009 • 3:09 am 0
06.25.09
When I was a little kid, there was nothing more I wanted to be in life than a back-up dancer for Michael Jackson–a dream I’m sure I shared with millions around the world. Those days, I spent a lot of time glued to the television relentlessly waiting for his videos to come on so that I could hit the record button on the VHS player. I cleared space in the living room, played them back, and devoted countless hours to studying every move, and rehearsing them each to perfection. As I type this, I can still recall those memories when my siblings and I gathered in our living room to put on our own “Talent Shows” for mom and dad. We’d make fliers and put them up around the house announcing our latest show, we handmade tickets with strips of paper and crayon and assigned “seats”(couch space). We’d put on plays, reenact movie scenes, comedy skits, and of course, I always had a dance number, which was usually a mirror of Michael’s latest video, sometimes I’d switch off and do something by Madonna or Elvis (My dad’s childhood nickname for me was Madonna), but I was at my happiest when I was showing off my moonwalk or mimicing the fight scene from “Beat It” with my little sister.
I held onto my dream of being a dancer, but it was hard to hold when I was15 and had knee surgery after injuring it. I can still dance, but it’s never been the same–there are certain movements I just can’t make without feeling like my knee is going to tear apart. But, to this day, no matter where I am, whenever an MJ song comes on, you can guarantee I’m up and dancing because for the time that his music is playing, I’m a kid again holding on to my big dream, hoping that someday the pain will go away and I will regain some of the mobility I lost and dance behind Michael.
With Michael’s passing, I mourn more than the death of an Icon who brought the world together through its universal language–I mourn the death of my biggest childhood dream. His death hit me hard when I heard his young voice through my radio singing, “I’ll be there.” I wasn’t alive during the Jackson 5’s heyday, but I can imagine anyone who heard that voice for the first time instantly knew that he possesed a talent unlike anybody else. I hope that in the coming days people will be kind and just let the man rest in peace and take comfort in his musical legacy–the music that houses such fond childhood memories, the music that still continues to bridge the gap between generations and bring the world together.
As Jody Rosen from Slate writes:
Today, the popular-music landscape has crumbled into bits and bytes, splintered into hundreds of market niches, subgenres, and microgenres. Though the occasional huge hit collapses the distance between audiences, we will never again experience a moment like Jackson’s 1980s apotheosis, when Thrillerseemed to shrink the world. Weeping for Michael, we are also mourning the musical monoculture—the passing of a time when we could imagine that the whole country, the whole planet, was listening to the same song.
Thank you, Michael–for being a constant source of inspiration, for making my soul dance, for sharing your gift with me and the world. Thank You.
“Never Can Say Goodbye” – The Jackson 5
I also can’t go without mentioning Los Angeles music hero, Sky Saxon of the Seeds and the woman who’s death undoubtedly shattered a million school boy dreams, Farrah Fawcett. Both died the same day as Michael Jackson.
“Can’t Seem to Make You Mine” – The Seeds (One of my absolute favorite tunes of all time–gonna pull out the vinyl and spin it tomorrow)
Filed under: Memoriam
June 10, 2009 • 1:34 am 1
Learning to Dance in the Rain with Vin Scully
A few months back I was catching up with an old friend from high school, who graduated last year from Pepperdine University. She was showing me some old pictures and in there were some from her graduation. In these pictures, everyone was wearing a Dodger hat. Excited, I asked her, “did you guys wear dodger hats in lieu of traditional caps?!” Then she said, “Oh, we did that because the guy who is the announcer for the dodgers was our commencement speaker.” “What?!!! Vin Scully was your commencement speaker and I wasn’t at your graduation?!” was my immediate response. Since I wasn’t there, I could only imagine how inspirational something like that must’ve been.
Here’s the short clip via youtube:
And an excerpt from the full length version (Yes, like a geek I typed it out as I heard it. Can I get a woot for typing 95wpm?).
Ernest Hemingway wrote in A Farewell to Arms, ‘the world breaks everyone, but some come back afterward, even stronger in the broken places.’ When you think about those players, the greatest thing about the character of a great baseball player or a successful man, is a desire to excel. A desire to dominate and it confines him to a single mission. Nothing else matters. The greatest menace to a man’s success is a perfect willingness to excuse his own mistakes. The players I’ve talked about have demonstrated something rather imperishable and man some enduring moral fiber that just will not bow before the most demoralizing blow. From these giant soul champions we can borrow from courage and we can dream.[...] I was in high school, sitting in the back row of the auditorium with the best athlete on campus. His name was Larry Miggins and we were talking about what we hoped to do with our lives. And I said to Larry, ‘Gosh, I would love to be a sports announcer and maybe do major league baseball.’ And Larry said, ‘I would love to be a major league player.’
In 1952, a few years later, I was broadcasting for the Brooklyn Dodgers and they were playing in Ebbets field against the St. Louis Cardinals and Larry Miggins was in the starting line-up for St. Louis. Now I only worked two innings in those years, the 3rd and the 7th, and in the 3rd inning Larry Miggins came up while I was on the air and hit a homerun againt a pitcher named Preacher Roe. It was the most emotional moment outside the birth of my children, I think, in my entire life.
Can you imagine such a far fetched dream coming to reality? So, I get back again to those four words: Very difficult, but possible. Hold on to that. We can’t tell you to survive the storms of life, but we can tell you to learn to dance in the rain. [...] I wish for you: May the road always rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, may the rain fall gently on your field, may the sun be gentle to your face, and above all may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
Filed under: Inspiration
June 6, 2009 • 5:03 am 4
Eye Candy: Emma Watson
May 27, 2009 • 5:09 pm 0
Reposted: Abraham Lincoln Bones Queen Elizabeth
Prince just posted this video over on his blog, Bamboo Nation, and I can’t help but repost it ’cause it’s like the greatest commercial ever, really:
A German financial institution named Bontrust recently revealed a cool animated commercial that starts out cute, but ends up nasty. Really really nasty. Watch:
Filed under: Funny Videos, youtube
May 23, 2009 • 1:12 am 0
I got my hands full all summer long
The Walkmen. El Rey Theatre. Hollywood, Calif. Copyright © 2009 by Ashley Aguirre
The Walkmen are awesome live, but I wasn’t too crazy about their set list. And I was dying to hear “Another One Goes By” live. No dice.
Filed under: Music
May 16, 2009 • 11:57 am 0
Listen While the Listening’s Good
“From” – Dr. Dog
It’s nice to wake up early and it’s a nice day to be listening to Dr. Dog. Carry on.
Let’s have ourselves a soul saving music session asap. I need it more than anything. Hit me up, putos.
Filed under: Music
May 14, 2009 • 2:52 am 1
“You are Capable of deciding your own destiny. The Question is: Which Path Will You Choose?”
I feel an extreme amount of guilt for going to see Star Trek tonight. Why?
Disclaimer: Skip ahead if you don’t care about my personal life.
See, it’s finals time for me, which means I’ve been super busy writing essays and prepping for presentations. I even had to blow off a few birthday celebrations. A few nights ago Caitlin, Jenn, and I were up working on our proposal to “enact an effective recycling program” at school as part of our final project when it was brought to my attention (well more like I was snooping around at her movie collection) that Caitlin and I shared a deep bond that we had yet to discover—a bond that transcends time and space. Yes, she is a Trekkie. Finding herself in the same boat spacecraft as I: she hadn’t had the time to see the latest Star Trek movie. Of course, all of our friends had seen it (even the non-trekkies). So, we made each other a promise to wait and see it together once finals were over. But, tonight as I watched the trailer for the millionth time, I cracked. I was shivering with anticipation. I’d been waiting for this for a FUCKING long time. I ran into the living room flailing my arms— “Mom, mom, mom, I can’t take it anymore, let’s go see Star Trek. I’ll even pay for everyone. Let’s go!” We packed the kids in the car and got there in time for the 8:15 showing. Yes, I broke a promise, which is a lot to feel guilty about. I HATE breaking promises. I let Cait know I went to see it, luckily, she said I could make it up to her by watching it again with her (in IMAX of course) even though she was a smidge hurt. Gah, there’s the guilt again. Ok, on with the show.
It’s safe to read now.
Let me just get my one complaint out of the way. I didn’t like the new Romulans—they’d look more in place as part of an episode of LA Ink gone wrong. But, even this is somewhat redeemed by the fact that you have Eric Bana playing Nero. He’s a bad ass, there’s scientific data to prove it, too (see Munich). With that out of the way, I can say that Star Trek is near perfection and has earned itself a well deserved spot on my favorite movies list.
Of course, coming into this as a Trekkie who was comfortable with the classic characters and storylines, I was worried. It’s sacred material—no other person has ever stepped into the role of Captain Kirk. Now, not to piss anyone off, but Chris Pine’s portrayal of the Capt. is way better than Shatner’s. Compared to Pine, Shatner’s Kirk is restrained. Pine brings a whole new depth and dimension to the role—full of passionate intensity. As my homeboy Jonny blogs, he “plays Kirk the way you’ve always wanted to see him, as a rules-are-for-pussies maverick that likes to bed green women.” I can’t think of a better way to say it myself.
I won’t go into much detail about Zachary Quinto’s performance as Spock other than to say that I couldn’t think of a better actor to take on the legendary role. There’s something to be said here about J.J. Abrams’ stellar casting. It is one of the best cast films I’ve seen in years. Each actor shines without ever taking away from the other—they complement each other, while feeding off each other’s energy to create beautiful and sometimes rightfully subtle relationships. I can tell that this was probably a cast that got along extremely well, both, on and off the set—their commitment to doing the film justice really shows.
I squealed with joy the minute Simon Pegg arrived on screen as Scotty. This could be due to the fact that I love anything even remotely related to Simon Pegg (He’s my dream man minus the whole being a blond thing). There’s something so genuine about his character that only a sci-fi devotee as big as he could bring to the role. Equally as endearing is Anton Yelchin as Chekov. He is just fucking adorable; it’s hard not to smile when he’s on screen. AFUCKINGdorable. Then along comes John Cho as Sulu sword fighting and kicking some Romulan ass mid air. And of course, Zoe Saldana is perfect as Uhura. Abrams could’ve made the Transformers mistake and by that I mean casting someone like Megan Fox (yeah she’s hot, but hot is just a distraction sometimes from substance) but he didn’t, he picked someone real with strength and poise. That’s all I’ll say about the acting. Btw, how fucking amazing did the Enterprise look?!!
I didn’t expect to be as engaged in the film as I was. Ten minutes into the movie I was crying like a bitch. It never lost me for a second. Even when I had to go to the restroom, I contemplated peeing my pants just so I wouldn’t miss a second. I had to get up and go, but I swear I haven’t ran that fast or peed that fast in ages (TMI). What Abrams did so well was make me care about these characters again, maybe more so than I ever did. They’re real, they’re endearing, and just like many of us they struggle to find that balance between logic and heart.
I get told Star Trek is lame by people all the time. This is my chance to say “fuck you.” I felt a great deal of Trekkie pride after it was all done. There’s a fire behind this Star Trek that has been absent for years. It was enough to get my little brother and sister hooked and I’ve been trying for years to do that.
I can’t wait to see more. Without a doubt, Abrams has taken this to a magical place—where Trekkies and non Trekkie’s alike can agree that they are watching a truly beautiful tale unfold: a tale of friendship, risk taking, exploration, logic, time and human emotion. It’s opened up the door to a new generation of Trekkie’s without ever isolating the tried and true.
-Ashley, out.
Filed under: Movies
May 3, 2009 • 4:20 pm Enter your password to view comments
Protected: Photoblog: 23 is My Lucky Number.
Filed under: Uncategorized
April 26, 2009 • 5:23 pm 0
Time and a Word
Time is an intangible distance. When someone you love dies, all that separates you from them is time. Unlike the miles, state lines, or oceans that once divided you while they were alive, time has no retrograde. You can never physically return to a place in time. Even with the strongest of memory, details dissipate. Was his shirt blue? Was he wearing his glasses? Was that freckle on his right or left cheek?
I don’t remember.
All that remains intact are two fragments of time. I open up the door as I walk into the house, he’s sitting at his favorite spot on the creme colored couch with a newspaper by his side. But I don’t see him anymore, even in this memory all that’s left of him is a shadowy figure. I still hear his voice though and I know he’s smiling as he gets up to greet me “Ashee Mawee.” I’m 8, maybe 9 years old. I hug him tight as he asks if I want to watch cartoons. I joyfully decline and say he can watch the game while I do my homework. I’m distracted as I can’t keep my eye off the game. The game ends. There’s something on the news about Selena being shot. My eyes get watery andhe tells me it’s going to be okay as he dances with me to “Bidi bidi bom bom.”
I’m 19 as we sit on the green bench in grandma’s garden as he counsels me on matters of the heart. It’s the last meaningful conversation I can recall having with him. It’s the last thing I remember about him. Despite the fact that he only lived a mile away from me, I didn’t visit much in his final year. I didn’t want to remember him in the shape he was in. So thin and pale hooked up to oxygen–at times unrecognizable. I knew he was dying and my first instinct was to run away because I refused to watch him die.
Only now can I see how truly selfish my actions were. I wasn’t there when he needed me most. To make him laugh like I did when I was a kid, or to read him the paper as he had done for me when I couldn’t. To tell him it was all going to be okay and hug him as he had done for me.
April 26th, 2009. Three years now seperate us. This morning before I left I reminded my mom, “Today is the anniversary of Grandpa’s death.”
She replied, “That’s right and I bet no one has gone to the cemetery.”
She was surprised to hear that I had already gone.
I visited that tiny spot in Rose Hills on Aprill 22nd in honor of what would’ve been his birthday. And as I stood there, flowers in hand, over that plaque on the ground recalling that moment when they began throwing the dirt over his casket, my eyes welled up with tears as I whispered, “I never even knew what kind of flowers you liked or if you even liked flowers.”
If time can teach me anything it’s to get to know the people in my world to the fullest I can. I love spending time listening to my grandma tell me stories about her growing up or how her and grandpa met. I just wish I would’ve been able to hear grandpa tell me about those things, too. About how beautiful abuelita looked on their wedding day or how he felt when he found out he was going to be a dad for the first time. So many questions.
Filed under: Memoriam
April 25, 2009 • 5:22 pm 0
This Place Has Known Magic–Very Dark, Very Powerful
• 2:39 pm 0
Thank You For Being a Friend, Bea Arthur (1922-2009)
…and thank you for the laughs.
Filed under: Memoriam
April 19, 2009 • 3:12 pm 0
George Harrison – I’d Have You Anytime
April 13, 2009 • 4:07 am 1
Guatemalan Adventures
I’m back in California. I loved Guatemala. I flew over 3 volcanoes before landing at a gorgeous airport that my cousin helped design and is still overseeing the construction of a few more phases before it’s complete. She’s an amazing architect. I learned a lot about my culture, family, and history. Had intense and stimulating conversations with my cousins and uncles about universal politics, the future, the past, religion, the supernatural and love. Stood among the ruins of a lost civilization. Walked about 15 hours straight on streets of cobblestone. PAINFUL.
Now, I am tired. Got a long day ahead of me. Taxes, bills, reading, and essays. Oh, how fun.
-AMA
Filed under: Uncategorized
April 1, 2009 • 2:20 pm 1
It’s Blitz! as Reviewed by My 10-year-old Brother & Me
Matt’s Review:
“It’s not really good. It’s like ‘come on get a bass player already.’”
He makes me so proud.
My thoughts:
This is all based on first impressions because I havent really given it a real shot yet. I went song by song and nothing grabbed me–and that’s how I am with music, if it doesn’t instantly grab my attention, I walk away from it. I dont have patience for boring music. I felt that frustration skipping through tracks–waiting for some furious beat or screech from Karen O to just pop and lure me in “I’m here, I’m in your face, now listen.” I’ve always regarded changes in musical style as a good thing. It’s great to see a musician grow, so who knows maybe I’m just not giving them enough credit? But the YYY’s have always been that band I turn to give me a kick of adrenaline. I dislike comparing anyone to their old work or any other musicians. I like to judge each new albums as a new piece of art. It’s hard though when you’ve come to expect certain things out of a band–and by my expectations, what I could manage to listen to, was too tame for my taste.
Filed under: New Music, Reviews , It's Blitz!, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
March 19, 2009 • 7:03 pm 0
I am having a love affair with Twitter.
Dear blog,
You have been good to me, believe me you are amazing, but our relationship requires maintenance beyond my capacity. You’ve probably wondered where I’ve been all those late nights when I should have been at home with you. It’s true, I’ve been unfaithful. As you know, I am a commitaphobe to the nth — this is why I have set my eyes on a younger, newer, less time consuming, low maintenance, outlet of expression. His name is Twitter. You know sometimes when I need you, you aren’t always within reach, or sometimes I feel stupid when I solicit you to only tell you one word. Twitter is okay with me being brief, in fact, he prefers it.
Now, please, don’t take this the wrong way. I love you. You are still my favorite, so I hope you will believe me when I say that I still want to be friends. By friends, I mean that you don’t mind me canoodling with Twitter while I occasionally come back to you and explain in detail all of life’s mysteries. Maybe Twitter and I won’t work out, you need only wait and see.
I’m sorry, but you can’t compete with this:
Even Opie follows me, you should too.
Good grief,
Ashley
Filed under: Uncategorized
• 6:38 pm 1
Yes, I STILL love YOU!
I’m talking to YOU, person who googled “Ashley do you still love me” and came across my blog.
One of my favorite things about using wordpress is the blogstats feature, which allows me to see what searches people make that bring them to this here blog. Also, I can see what links people visit or any incoming links–it’s cool, really. Except, I’ve scared off a few people by revealing that I have the ability to see this. “You mean you can see how many times I’ve clicked on the link to your myspace and flickr?” Yes! “You can see how many times I’ve googled your full name?” Yes! Well fear not, even though I can see THAT I can’t see WHO you are. So rest assured that your anonymity remains. Unless, you also use wordpress. Dun dun dun.
Today’s search put a big smile on my face. I’m glad someone out there is seeking my validation. Some other favorite searches:
“Fired for liking the Beatles”
Really, I need to know who googled this! Did this really happen? Is my job also at stake because of my musical taste?
“Ashley A Bomb”
Allllright (in a cool guy voice)! Yes, I took on the alias “A. Bomb” when I was writing for Fantastic Weapon. I thought it was cute. Weapon of choice = A. Bomb.
“What’s the name of that one song”
Does it go na na na na na na? If so, it’s the theme song for every show on television. See: America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, How I met Your Mother. Words are too expensive these days. Various forms of “na” are in.
“mick jones adorable”- Agreed, haggard teeth and all.
“Tina Fey Feet”- I can’t help your foot fetish, but the people over at Defined Celebrity Feet can. “For the lover of defined celebrity women feet. Defined meaning bare feet that look tone and delicious with veins and tendons.” I have to ask, why have my feet not been featured on this? I have actually been quoted as saying, “Omg, my feet look delicious.” What? They do!
“Beard & mustache rides”- Hey man, once you go beard, you never go back. That’s all I’m saying. Whiskerino turns me on.
Filed under: Uncategorized
March 11, 2009 • 11:45 pm 2
This is what happens when you fall off the face of the Earth
Begin Transmission:
In Space, we do not cry for fear that we might expel every ounce of limited energy we possess–to do so would be suicide.
In Space, we are in a state of constant contradiction with ourselves.
In Space, we query that which can not be answered.
In Space, we orbit ceaselessly without direction.
In Space, we feast on the flesh of fools.
In Space, we do not sleep.
In Space, we shrink.
In Space.
Space.
In.
.
Enduringly Yours,
Ashley in Space
-----------------------------------------End transmission
Filed under: Uncategorized
March 7, 2009 • 5:10 pm 0
Us Punk Rock Whores, We Don’t Need You.
Since Brandi is having a 90’s timewarp day, I decided to egg her on with some of this. What a great decade. I wish I were in Texas hanging with you now, B.
Bikini Kill-Don’t Need You
Cat Power-Metal Heart
“Metal Heart” is probably still my favorite Cat Power song next to “Nude as the News.” The newer version she did for Jukebox is pretty good too, but the Moon Pix (1998) take is packed with so much 90’s vitriol it’s impossible to outdo. Even if you’re trying to outdo yourself, Chan.
Cornholio!!
“You can not escape the almighty bunghole!” God, I miss watch B&B all day.
Filed under: Uncategorized
