blog.Xumo

We’ll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

I’ve been looking to get a digital piano, and I’m torn between getting a cheaper lower end vs. a more expensive higher end. The “lower end” pianos aren’t even bad, it’s just the notion that I can get a more realistic sounding piano that’s holding me back. At the moment I’m looking at the used options, but I can also get a new one for just a little bit more money, and I won’t have to deal with the whole ‘was it worth it’ feeling (well, ‘a different was it worth it’ feeling). I’m itching to play, but I think I’ll give it another few days before I make a decision.

edit: I am now a proud owner of a yamaha p-85. hooray!

I went to the San Diego Museum of Art this past Sunday to see a gallery by Eleanor Antin. The museum is located in Balboa park, which is a really nice (but kinda touristy) place. It’s really pretty, but the amount of people present kinda detracts from its beauty. I didn’t see too much of Balboa park, but also located there is the San Diego Zoo :D. But, I digress. Eleanor Antin’s art was pretty interesting. Her photographs were taken in the style of history paintings, portraying stories about Greek history, etc. But the most interesting aspect was the integrating of modern themes.

In Antin’s, The Tourists, Helen and Dark Helen pass by the soldiers in the Trojan War as they beg to speak with her. Helen is dressed in modern attire, shrugging them off as if she were going to the mall.

My favorite picture in her series of Helen’s Odyssey would have to be Constructing Helen. I love the colors, or the lack thereof, and the imagery of it all is interesting. Although, she was a person of much power, ultimately, she is a figure being created by man. I bet you could talk all day about this photo ;]

I bought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon this weekend. When it comes to reds, I usually drink merlot, so this time I thought I’d change it up a bit. I don’t know too much about wines, so really I just chose a wine off the shelf that was reasonably priced and that looked like a lot of other people were buying. Usually, I would just buy a bottle of Yellowtail -I’m sure any wine enthusiast reading this is shaking his or her head right about now-, which is decent for its price, but this time I felt i should try a little harder (which wasn’t all that much). The Francis Coppola Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 only had two bottles left on the rack, and its label is really simple and appealed to me. Francis Coppola, being a pretty famous dude, also probably would like to keep his street cred and wouldn’t skimp on the wine making. With all these factors coming to play, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad choice for wine.

Turns out, the wine is actually pretty good and won some -what I’m assuming is prestigious- awards:
90 Points - Cheers
Gold Medal - Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Oh, and it tastes pretty good too ;]

Today I went climbing for the first time since… winter of 2008. I was expecting to be terrible after such a long hiatus, but personally, I felt like I did ok. My finger strength gave out first, but the technique was still there, and I think my core strength has increased since the last time I climbed. It’s well known that core strength is essential to good climbing, and it felt great to be able to do the courses static (granted, I was only able to climb a couple routes before I was exhausted ;P). They also re-routed the walls, so it was nice having a change in the small campus climbing gym.

I’ve been meaning to go back and practice with TKD too, but there’s something about the pace and self-control of bouldering that I appreciate.