Love me tender.

I took voice lessons this spring. Then my teacher moved to Hawaii.

Snapchat Stories—Season 1.

My friends are great. They support/tolerate my bizarre ideas, even when it puts them in interesting situations.

This is one of those situations, starring the stunning Camille. (She doesn't even get a last name—she's just that amazing. The Camille.)

If you were my Snapchat friend from, like, the beginning of last summer till about Halloween time, you've seen these. Feel free to relive them, if you so wish.

To those who haven't seen them, episode 3 got the most, um, disturbed responses out of season (aptly named "Murder"). Consider this your only warning.

Guys, I'm twisted...

Chat adventures.

Sometimes a chat conversation at work gets...dramatic.

Space Adventure with Wes and Eden

Wes: r u excited about your space adventure tomorrow?

Eden: i am very excited!!!!!
           are you excited to pew pew aliens and enemy spacecraft?

W: yah
      also nervous
      what if i fail at my job?
      and the mission explodes...
      *console me*

E: we picked you because you are a capable, strong man.
     you scored the highest at the academy and we wouldn't allow anyone but the best

W: but i also scored highest in eccentricity and insecurity
      the scores don't lie eden
      ill never be normal/confident enough to lead a mission
      no matter how wise and mysterious of a mentor you are
      *sob*

E:  that only means you're teachable, young one
      as we accomplish smaller missions, your confidence will grow
      and in several years, you will be the captain of your own space crew
      and you find a boy at the academy who was just like you and you will make him a man like i will make you

It's December.

It's December.

Thank goodness.

This was perhaps one of the busiest semesters in my entire college career thus far. And to be honest, I've burnt out. Perhaps going to school spring and summer was not a good idea because everything has been rather bland to me. School, work, people, music--they all were routine. And it wasn't until these last couple weeks of this semester that I started feeling like myself again.

We were planning on going to Colorado two weekends ago to see Trevor Hall and Nahko and Medicine for the People and I thought that that would lift my mood. But the snow put an end to our plan very quick, and I was a bit bummed, but somewhat relieved because I had too much to do.

That same Saturday we were going to see Trevor and Nahko, I went to see Isaac Russell at the Velour. I think he is a brilliant artist and although it wasn't the best concert I've been too, "Heaven" had me feeling again. That, and Isaac's guitarist who looks like a bearded Ben Wyatt/Adam Scott. And I love Ben.

(This was from the same concert I attended. Thank you to n8hankins for recording this.)

Food bloggin'.

Guess what. I guest blogged. On a restaurant review blog. And it was awesome because I finally had an excuse to go out to eat. You can read it here and check out other reviews.

And I'm reposting it here too. Just because. Also, don't judge my reviewing skills. This was my first time review a restaurant. And I just usually like all foods. (The real pro at reviewing is our very own guest blogger Sam. How I wish Yelp could show all your wonderful reviews.)

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Readers of this blog. Hello. I am Eden Wen. I was asked to contribute and I thought to myself, “Yes. A perfect excuse to eat out this week.” And I knew the perfect place to go to.

However, on my way to review my favorite Mexican restaurant, Emmanuel’s (if Ian lets me do another review, I’ll do it on that piece of heaven on earth), I bumped into two friends who told me that I must go to Stan’s instead. And conveniently, it was across the street from Emmanuel’s on 9th East, so I obliged.

On the outside, it looks like any other burger joint. But, I have to say, I was very confused walking in. I was bombarded with several menus and the interior was not the most comfortable. And not only was Stan not there, unless one of the three East Indian women was Stan, he is apparently an Indian man with a love for greasy American foods.

Right now.

Right now, I am sitting in the House of Representatives Chamber in Salt Lake City. The special session of the legislature was supposed to start at noon thirty, but apparently that was just a suggested time. It's a whole fracken hour later. I may seem calm and cool and collected, but this is how I really feel.

It's a shame these cushiony chairs are bolted to the floor.

Anyway, I charged my laptop, but there's always a fear that I'll run out of battery. Also, I fear that my car won't be where it I parked it. But that's always a weird fear of mine.

The major press is sitting to my left and across the way from me. And I'm sitting in these cushiony seats just waiting. And blogging. And waiting. With my press pass.

I'm trying out different smiles. Do you like this one?

And I'm nervous. I've never really gotten into politics, so I'm not sure if I can cover this effectively. We'll see. My editor's got my back.

The important people are slowly coming in. Slowly. C'mon people, I have class to attend later tonight. And laser tagging. If you have a Pass of All Passes, feel free to join. Even if you don't, come play.

Here's a song.

I'm learning to play this. And Tyler and I will perform it. For ourselves, mainly. 

Okay, I gotta go now. Gotta preserve my battery. It may be another hour before it actually begins.

Also, I realize that I might have gotten your hopes up about how cool this post actually was with my teaser line on Facebook and Twitter, so I apologize. I was just bored and wanted to write something. So here it is.

Okay, gotta go.

Update 7/18/2013: My article on the special session.

Happy Weekend.

Finally. The weekend is here. After my sick (pertaining to health) first half of the week to my sick (pertaining to awesomeness) jackpot of sources for my next article for The Universe, I'm exhausted.

But in the midst of it all, I have successfully executed an elevator pitch to the woman who could land me my dream job, won one of the biggest prizes in a raffle during a dinner with famous Utah bloggers, AND managed to stay awake in class. All while I felt like I could have thrown up at any second. (TMI? Sorry.)

Just some of the things I won. Courtesy of Breck's Vintage. Looks like there's a road trip or picnic on the horizon.

I've also made a goal with Ariel to make it to Seven Peaks at least once a week starting now through the rest of summer.

Why?

Because it's summer. Also, because I have ombre tan lines on my arms and legs. (Is that how you would describe those?) I need to even this out.

Feel free to join us.

Here's a summery, weekendy kind of song for you.

Have a good one, my friends.

Not too bad.

After this post, I had myself and some of you worried about me living alone this summer. And I guess it didn't help that I haven't posted on my blog in a while. But, as the title suggests, living by myself is not too bad. In fact, I love it. Don't get me wrong. I love people and I cannot wait till my darling roommates come back from Africa. But I have a feeling that when I think back on the summer of 2013, I will remember it as the summer of greatness and of growing up.

School and work have kept and still keeps me busy in the mornings and afternoons. But I have to admit, I didn't know what to do with myself those first, quiet May nights. So I cleaned. A lot. And it wasn't because the apartment needed cleaning, but because I had nothing better to do. I remember making a midnight run to Smiths solely for the purpose of purchasing Lime-A-Way. But hey, the water fixtures have never been shinier.

And on the especially quiet days/afternoons/nights, I decided to not only fill it with music, but with loud music. My sincerest apologies, neighbors.

Suddenly, I realized the greatest thing about living alone.

Those of you who know me in such a setting know how much I love to dance. But dancing in an empty apartment? That's a whole new realm of awesomeness. There's just something absolutely freeing about dancing off of everything--couches, chairs, stools, counters--in anything I want and without the fear of being stomped on or accidentally touching the bare, sweaty arms and exposed pectorals of grunting bros in tank tops (ugh, *shudder*). And when I'm too lazy to go to the gym? What an entertaining form of cardio.

I'm in this. Watch it.

My life...Whaaattt!!!

I feel somewhat obligated to talk about what's been up the last couple weeks before I rant on again about music (oh no...insecurity coming up...um...do you like my music posts?) and people I will never meet or write something that I actually put effort into.

Here's a little update on my life, in a very unorganized manner.

Reading: "Eugene Onegin" by Alexander Pushkin. Whaaattt!!! Love it thus far. Those Russians are so romantic.

I burned my body at Coopers Beach a couple weeks ago. Whaaattt!!! I did not enjoy getting my first sunburn of this scale. It was a nice beach though. Waves were a little big, so I practically died (not really). I turned a shade of red I have never seen on myself. And it hurt, man. It hurt.

I flew a plane. Whaaattt!!! I got a little motion sick in the tiny cockpit, but it was fun and invigorating, and a lot less scarier than I thought it would be...my instructor was sitting right next to me.

This was the plane.

This is me in the plane.

I went to Boston to visit Mel at Berklee. Whaaattt!!! I wish I played an instrument better so I could transfer there. Also, I thought I liked Boston more than New York City for a couple minutes, but then I slapped myself when I went back to the city that same week with a dear friend of mine. Boston is cool, but not as cool as NYC. Also, Boston's homeless people are scarier...they grasp onto you. (It didn't happen to me, but to the man in front of me.) And it was darker at night. (Random aside: I've also decided that I will probably live on a coast when I graduate. East or West, in the United States or in Asia. Somewhere by the water.)

Hello. It's been a while.

Hey there. Remember me? It's Eden. I promised I would write every week...I'm sorry I haven't. I also said that I would stop apologizing for not writing. Sorry that I did it again. And to motivate myself to write and you to continue to read, here are the next two topics that I will post about: my intrigue list (LMFAO, the duo, is number one) and people who laugh at everything I say.

But here's what has happened since I wrote last.

Audio-Files. (audio-files.com)
Audio-Files is a new television series that highlights up-and-coming independent bands across the country (and many come from Provo). This is the new account that I am working on with my PR lab. I am having so much fun working with this client, mainly because it deals with music. Like it on Facebook.

Thank you Imagine Dragons. (Acoustic version of "It's Time.")

If you're in Provo this Thursday, there is a free showing of Audio-Files' first episode. It's free, but you need to register for seats. Do it. I'll be there.

Speaking of Imagine Dragons, they are from Las Vegas. Guess where I went St. Patrick's Day weekend? I went to Vegas with my Nicolle and my Camille. It was exciting and new. I learned very fast not to look at the ground. Unfortunately, no one told the little seven-year-old who was there with his family. He picked up the cards like they were pennies and collected them like they were Pokemon. I'm never bringing my kids to Vegas. 

Midterms...but not really.

With the classes I'm taking the semester, I only have one midterm coming this week. So in the time I should be spending reading, sleeping and eating, I'm looking up videos. I'm sharing them with you.

But now that I'm done, I'm off to study my brains out for History 201. And when I say I'm off to study my brains out, I really mean I'm going up to Salt Lake.

Too. Much. Information. To. Memorize.

The concept of this video is very interesting and quite creative. Also, I love Russell's voice.

I love NBC. I just realized that the majority of the shows I watch are broadcasted from this channel--30 Rock, Community, SNL, The Voice--and they're singing a song from "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" (weird...I posted about Community, The Voice and "How To Succeed" in the same post).
#savecommunity

My new project.

Three things.

First, I'm seeing Aretha Franklin perform tonight.

Second, New Year's is just around the corner. I don't have many resolutions, but I do have a big project I am working on. However, feedback on this project is well needed and much appreciated so please comment!

What I am trying to do is to consolidate all the happenings of Provo/Orem into one calendar (and should I expand?). It's a bit of a taxing experiment so I want to know if I should continue or not.

Click above or here to see the calendar. (Also, go to the January calendar to start seeing events.)

The reason I named it The Calendar Owl is first, because I like owls (the song may have had an impact on such an adoration of the animal). Second, I've practically become nocturnal trying to get the event details/finding places and such...so I've become an owl.

Third, some of my resolutions include...
1. Drinking more water.
2. Getting over my fear of the bicycle.

3. Learning Cantonese fast....before I go off to Hong Kong for the summer.
4. Working my butt off in order to get into the PR program.
5. Tweeting more.


And that's really all I can think of now...

Happy New Year, my friends. Take a cup of kindness yet, for days of auld lang syne.

I'm alive...barely.

My friends, it's been a while. Where to begin, where to begin...

I've been really busy. When I'm not working, I'm in class. When I'm not in class, I'm at the PR lab. When I'm not in the PR lab, I'm in the Wilk eating. When I'm not in the Wilk eating, I'm at home reading Marx. When I'm not at home reading Marx, I'm in my bed sleeping with a billion thoughts running through my head.

On weekends, I make an effort to socialize. I end up internally curling up into a ball due to exhaustion from the week as I sit back and do what I do best: observe, listen and laugh.

But looking back at the calendar, here's what you missed in my life:
My article about Asians made The Student Review.

My Asian friends.

It's weird. It was like this photo was the start of something new. I met all of them (with the exception of Crystal...the one right above me) that day. And now the guy in the yellow shirt is my home teacher and the girl in the yellow shirt is my FHE mom. It's funny how the world works.

I have a newfound love for kittens. Can't you just see me snuggling up with a little kitten in my arms? Can't you?

My friend showed me this. I laughed. But it's kind of how I feel about kittens.

I found out Sunday that I'm lactose intolerant. Did you know that it is most prevalent among Asian peoples? Yeah, I found that out too. Also, it's hard to stop taking in dairy when you have been for all your life. On Thursday, I was catering with friends at a friend's friend's engagement party. They had soup shots that were to die for. I had at least fifty shots. Problem was that it was Wisconsin cheese and cauliflower. And I had at least fifty. FIFTY. I didn't feel so well, but I got paid and I got to meet and mingle with wonderful people.

There were a group of people there who had Power Ranger shirts on. They were the coolest as they are accepting me in their exclusive club and offered me a membership. I had offered to be the Yellow Ranger.

That's right, I'm popular.

I got Bradley PR labber of the week a couple weeks ago. I'm still savoring the pound of fudge and pride I received that day.

Marx has taken over my life. I'm reading him for my Anthropology class and the other day, I caught myself saying something quite Marxian. It was in a joking manner, but nevertheless, it kind of scared me.

Currently, I am in the process of creating a device that recaptures all the lost thoughts that fall through the holes of my mind. It's becoming more and more prevalent in my thought process--probably due to my lack of sleep?--and it just happened to me. I remembered something important that I had to do, but it just escaped me.....

Here is a song for you to enjoy as I close this long awaited post.

Have a beautiful day, my friends.

Blah blah blah.

Um. This post is mainly to keep up with my promise of posting every Monday (or Sunday). I apologize. And I need to go and do homework now because I didn't do any today. Boo.

So yes. I was going to post earlier, but I did not. I also was going to do homework earlier, but I did not. Instead, I had a "Community" marathon with my roommates and friends, worked on a 1000 piece puzzle, and made dinner for five. I also played my ukulele on a rooftop for a little bit and Crystal and I made up a song on the spot. Keep an eye out for "Ukulele Meditations," releasing soon in a music store near you.

Meh, I don't mean to get too emotional-ish in my posts, but I feel somewhat...not special. I mean, I walk outside the other day and someone down the street is jammin' on their uke with twice the skill I have. I've kinda grown into a closet musician because there are just so many here. I'm second rate, second best and I don't really deserve to be called a musician...I'm kinda...replaceable. And I am not saying this to get pity. It's really how I feel. Anyway, enough of real emotions.

I'm writing for the Student Review, as I said in the previous post. Not only that, I'm in charge of highlighting a YouTube video every issue (because I'm a YouTubaholic). So I chose five videos and now it's time to vote on one.

Ghost

Instrumental Cover

Wong Fu

Harry Potter

Dual Step

Let me know which one you like the most by commenting with the name of the video.

Thank you, my friends. Have a beautiful rest of your evening.

Mahjong and Chuck E. Cheeses.

I babysat last week at a Chuck E. Cheese's. Honestly, places like that are breeding grounds for future gamblers--bright lights, loud bells, joyous screams, heartbreaking cries. Tickets are dispensed liked rapid fire as tokens are devoured by various games. Children are begging parents to buy more and more tokens, which they waste on one unbeatable game that promises one unbelievable prize.

For some reason, I get rather competitive when I play games with little kids. I guess it's because I never win against people my age so I feel some sort of satisfaction in beating three-year-olds at target games. Pathetic, I know. But hey, you try trampling over forty-ish three- to six-year-olds on your way to the game that held the biggest jackpot: 3,000 tickets. It's another game in itself, and the prize? The realization that you possess the ability to combat scores of children jumping on you.

But I shouldn't say anymore: What happens in Chuck E. Cheese's stays in Chuck E. Cheese's.

Now, Mahjong. No, not the internet Mahjong where you mindlessly match tiles (but I admit that I play sometimes). I'm talking Mahjong. With the physical tiles.

Those are pretty awesome tiles...I want my own set...

With the gambling.

100 HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) = 12.84 USD

You know how movies always depict groups of old men gathered around a chessboard in the park (I've never witnessed them in reality...)? Well, in Hong Kong, and I'm guessing China too, they're gathered around a Mahjong board. And I've joined in on the gathering myself. There's just something about the clicking of the tiles when you "shuffle" them and the joy you feel when have a good hand. And I'm generally a good sport. That is, only if I feel I've been beaten by a worthy hand. Otherwise, all emotions break out on my part.

But in all honesty, if your hand, which would have been worth about 20 USD per loser had you grabbed a winning tile, was vanquished with someone's "winning" hand worth 1 USD per loser, you'd be upset too. And if you were defeated three rounds in a row by such cheap hands, you'd cry too...um...which I may or may not have done.

Here is a clip from a Hong Kong movie called "Mahjong Warrior" so you can get a taste of Mahjong is like. I find this clip hilarious, but that's because I understand what they're saying; you probably won't think the same, but it's here anyway.

Sorry the subtitles weren't very good. That's just how they are in Hong Kong movies. You generally don't switch tiles with your neighbors, but the version they were playing, which they called the "American" version, allowed them to do so.

And there you have it. Mahjong. I've been trying to resist the urge to play since there aren't enough players here to Mahjong with me  (you need four players and the only people I know in my area who plays is my own family, but at the moment, only two members of my family are here) and I know I'll end up sitting at the table by myself, staring longingly at the tiles, wishing there was someway we can play with only three people.

A quick shout-out to Crystal who will be satisfying my need to play Mahjong when I'm back at school. Anyone want to join? (You are a lifesaver, my friend.)

But while I'm home, does someone want to come Mahjong-it-up with me? I'll teach you.

p.s. "Deathly Hallows Part Two" review to come on Thursday...along with pictures, which I know I said I'd post last Friday. I apologize. I lied.

Glassblowing.

First, happy birthday to my beautiful mother! I love you very much mommy!

Second, a random note: I am currently watching "Kiki's Delivery Service" for the fourth or fifth time within two weeks. It's my favorite Miyazaki film and I'm making my niece watch it. I'm only hoping that it will become her favorite that way we can watch it ALL the time. All day erryday. Not that I'm not already doing that. She can now say Kiki. 

Onto my post.

Would you believe me if I told you I made these?

Illia's paperweight. I accidentally uploaded hers instead of mine.

Cup.

Vase.

Glass flower.

Well, you better believe it, buddy. This weekend, my family and I vacationed in Vermont, which, in my opinion, is one of the more beautiful states in America.

Isn't it magnificent?

My dad offered me two choices: learn how to blow glass or be pampered at a spa. I was seriously conflicted. I love a good massage...but I absolutely love learning new things, even if it internally scars me (skateboarding, summer of 2009: I still don't have feeling in a small part of my right thigh), or sets off an expensive journey to master many instruments (violin, piano, trumpet, guitar, ukulele, drums, bass guitar...and now banjo? mandolin?). Obviously, I chose to blow glass. My older sister and my mom went to the spa and Illia accompanied me. My wonderful dad stayed at the motel and watched my niece. Thank you daddy-o!

I stepped into the building from a humid environment into a overheated workshop. There were two blazing furnaces. Needless to say, the excess heat got to me.

But it was awesome. And I want to make more. Our teacher, Andrew, described it as legal crack. You have the power to create at your fingertips and it's so satisfying to see the results. At first, Andrew asked me if I ever did pottery.

"Yes, I have," I said.

"Were you any good?"

"No." And I really wasn't. I had added too much water so my clay practically slipped off the wheel. 

"Oh. Then you'll probably suck at this."

But I proved him wrong. It turns out I'm a pro.

The start of my vase.

The molten glass pulled like laffy-taffy. I was super tempted to touch it half the time. I know, I know..."Are you crazy Eden? That's like a bajillion degrees!" I know. I am crazy. Confession: I am also tempted to step straight into a biker's path everytime I hear one creeping up behind me. 

Could you just imagine the collision? 

A ✓ off the Bucket List : Flash mob

I did it.

I participated in a flash mob. 

An Asian flash mob.

Our goal: to raise awareness for Japan. Our solution: purchase, and tell others to purchase, products from Japan. There were tons of NGOs that sprung up after the disaster, and ours seems the safest, best possible route. It would help their economy.

Buy "Made in Japan."

Weeks of lying to my roommates about where I was going can finally end. Actually, they were half-truths, so I really didn't feel bad about it.

"Where are you off to?"

"Oh, Asian Ward family home evening." 

And it was their FHE. I just lied about what we did.

"What did you do at Asian FHE?"

"Oh, we played Sudoku. We also counted rice paddies to tone our math skills." 

(I once overheard someone saying that Asians are good at math because they have to count rice paddies...)

How many can you count?

But you know, I couldn't check participating in a flash mob off my bucket list unless I had witnesses. And so I schemed. How was I going to get my roommates there? I enlisted the help of my friend Rachel who I revealed the secret of the mob to. I racked my brain for ideas. 

Brunch. Eleven AM. Wilk Terrace. And my roommates agreed. I couldn't wait for their reactions.