Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Short Post.
Sometimes I forget what a rich life I've had at 27...and how lucky I am to have so many wonderful friends to share it with. Just sayin'.
Friday, July 23, 2010
"Take One Day At A Time, Everything Else You Can Leave Behind"
Panda Bear's "Take Pills" sounds incessantly good in the summer time...but it's this title line that seems to resonant the most with me right now. Allow me to update you all on this summer's happenings!
After getting back from Toronto, I was instantly thrust into two new jobs: teaching and counseling. I teach at UH Outreach college, and my class is Psy 371: Abnormal Psychology. Honestly, teaching is so much fun. I had an inkling I would like it but I had no idea how truly gratifying it is to help people learn more about their minds. My students are quite brilliant, and have insightful ideas into how to make the field more scientific and less "quack-ish" for all. I hope some of them decide to get their PHDs!
My counseling job is back in the comfortable but interesting field of substance abuse. I work for the BASICS program, which allows me to do two brief interventions sessions with students who get disciplinary actions taken against for the University. These sessions are mainly preventative in nature and allow me to use my newly-gained Motivational Interviewing skills. Hopefully I will be able to count this position for internship, however the PhD on board is retiring in December. I will be sure to monitor all my hours carefully, lest only the first half of the year count!
Glenn and I are currently not speaking for the first time in two and a half years, which is tough for me. Still, the universe has delivered me a gift with a new friend and companion, Jake Aesthete! Check out his sweet electro sounds at http://www.myspace.com/aestheteisimage. I knew the scene was good for something...
And speaking of the scene, my band, the Behaviorists, has been getting more shows as well. Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/thebehaviorists. We already have a mini write-up in the Honolulu Weekly, thanks to our percussionist being on board with them. I am grateful to promotors for having us and to be able to perfect my sound. I've come full circle...from Lepidoptera to Behaviorists, and if this is my last ever project I have to say I am quite proud of it.
The summer progesses apace. Soon, I will start my new practicum with Dr. Marvin Acklin. I sincerely hope I can show him that I can do valid assesments with critical thinking. Wish me luck!!
After getting back from Toronto, I was instantly thrust into two new jobs: teaching and counseling. I teach at UH Outreach college, and my class is Psy 371: Abnormal Psychology. Honestly, teaching is so much fun. I had an inkling I would like it but I had no idea how truly gratifying it is to help people learn more about their minds. My students are quite brilliant, and have insightful ideas into how to make the field more scientific and less "quack-ish" for all. I hope some of them decide to get their PHDs!
My counseling job is back in the comfortable but interesting field of substance abuse. I work for the BASICS program, which allows me to do two brief interventions sessions with students who get disciplinary actions taken against for the University. These sessions are mainly preventative in nature and allow me to use my newly-gained Motivational Interviewing skills. Hopefully I will be able to count this position for internship, however the PhD on board is retiring in December. I will be sure to monitor all my hours carefully, lest only the first half of the year count!
Glenn and I are currently not speaking for the first time in two and a half years, which is tough for me. Still, the universe has delivered me a gift with a new friend and companion, Jake Aesthete! Check out his sweet electro sounds at http://www.myspace.com/aestheteisimage. I knew the scene was good for something...
And speaking of the scene, my band, the Behaviorists, has been getting more shows as well. Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/thebehaviorists. We already have a mini write-up in the Honolulu Weekly, thanks to our percussionist being on board with them. I am grateful to promotors for having us and to be able to perfect my sound. I've come full circle...from Lepidoptera to Behaviorists, and if this is my last ever project I have to say I am quite proud of it.
The summer progesses apace. Soon, I will start my new practicum with Dr. Marvin Acklin. I sincerely hope I can show him that I can do valid assesments with critical thinking. Wish me luck!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
OH, CANADA!
Time for a vacation update. With the first summer RA-ship winding to a close and the second about to begin, I figured I would take some time to spend with friends off the island. I chose the lovely but perhaps rather unusual city of Toronto as a vacation destination for two reasons: 1. The North by Northeast Music Festival was there, and 2. My best friend, Poornima, was also there. Poorn and I go back a really long time...six years ago we met in Edinburgh and solidified a friendship based on carbohydrates, beer, and bands. We've visited each other in various locations around the world, but now that she has a solid home and job in Toronto I figured it was time to see the place.
When I arrived, I was greeted by a beautiful thirty-story building, similar to our nice ones in Waikiki or Punahou. Only difference is, this pimped-out pad had a gorgeous view of the entire city as well as a pool on the roof! (True Hackers-style "the pool on the roof must have a leak.") On Day 1 we went to Anthropologie and spent too much on clothes (although my orange dress was worth every penny), and that night we had an amazing show: The Meligrove Band playing live from the CN Tower! We went up to the very top and looked down through the glass floors. I was petrified, but Poorn's presence calmed me enough to take some decent pictures. We also saw a free-jazz show from a band called Swyves, which were wonderful. Honolulu definitily needs some more free-jazz.
The next day I saw beautiful art at the AGO, which included pieces by the Group of Seven, as well as an exhibition on "The Space," an excellent Toronto artists' collective. The next big show for me was definitly the Besnard Lakes. They were beautiful, blissed-out psych rock, reminiscent of Spacemen 3 on a good day. Yet their lead singer hit high falsetto notes that J. Spaceman could never even dream of achieving. They played two encores and left the crowd baying for more. Definitly my favorite small show of the festival.
The next day I went to Kensington Market and saw the hipsters roaming in their natural habitat. The Chocolate Addict and the Chile's Empanada place were the highlights of this neighborhood.The next night was a bit of a low point with Japandroids and Wavves. I have to say that I enjoyed Wavves quite a bit, but it was less about the music for me and more about Nathan Williams' ridiculous stage props (cardboard aliens that breathed smoke) and onstage banter that reminded me of San Diego days: "Yeah, let's all get squirrely, brah!" I suppose you have to be from the Whale's Vagina to get it. Having gone to UCSD, I was quite amused. Poorn, however, kicked me repeatedly for making her attend. Japandroids were just boring as all get-out. Like a second rate version of the far superior Hella, they tried to make a two man set work, and failed completely. The mics hooked up to the amps just didn't do it for me. However, it was possibly a bad show for them and I wouldn't mind seeing them if they ever came to Honolulu. The night improved late on as I caught Portland's Glass Candy. They really know how to work a room and I found their disco beats catchy and fun. A band I'll certainly play more of on my radio show.
The next day we headed out for a special treat : the Toronto Island Festival. Despite having a beer line that lasted for nearly three hours, I have to say that this was the best outdoors show I had seen since T in the Park. We started with Timber Timbre, a Toronto folk band that I genuinely loved. I fully expect to buy this record and play the hell out of it on my show. Next we saw Beach House, who delivered an almost too-perfect set: glissandos and vocal tics just like on the record. Still, the sound was beautiful as it carried across the giant field on a 82 degree day in the North. Broken Social Scene truly amazed me. I've never seen them live before, and their set was hugely inspriring and actually left me in tears. "Texaco Bitches" was the highlight of the set for me, and is actually much more fun to listen to away from the U.S.A! They also brought Feist up on stage, as well as Emily Haynes from Metric (best legs in indie rock, five years and counting!) They seemed to truly love what they did and they made a believer out of me. Last in the night was Pavement, as the sun finally set. Poorn and I danced like fools to "Range Life" (square-dance style), "Rattled by the Rush," "Trigger Cut," "Cut Your Hair," "Sirens of the Slipstream," "Date with Ikea," "Stereo," and so many others! Malkmus truly owned vocally, and the band seemed to be playing better than ever. The tambourinist actually gave me goose bumps with how well he played! Our ears got blown out, but it truly was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Pavement is a band I truly thought I would never see live, and I'm glad that they reformed to make all of us indie kids happy as clams this years.
However, the day wasn't over yet for me. Poorn went home to sleep, I changed into a dress I bought at Anthro, and headed out to see another act I've loved from childhood: Quintron and Miss Pussycat. They were actually the main reason that I wanted to go to NXNE! I saw them at the Garrisson, where I met a couple of nice artist types. The venue seemed like one of the better ones in Toronto, and it was small and packed to the gills when the husband-and-wife duo from Lousiana took the stage. Qiuintron's set-up is truly remarkable: A car-grill covering the Hammond Organ, the Drum Buddy (which he built) set up to the left, and Miss Pussy-cat's mikes and props to the right. They played the most AMAZING set: jumping right into the crowd "Festival-style" for "Swamp-Buggy Badass," and "Witch in the Club" had the whole place jumping. My favorite, however, was the spaced out "Dream Captains," which had me dancing as funky as I could with the lights blazing off my back. It was a blissed out moment, and perhaps the highlight of the festival for me.
The next day was all about recovery, and Poorn and I had an amazing veggie sandwhich at the Black Camel (she had two!), and went hiking in Toronto's trails. We saw an old abandoned brick factory called the Brickworks, which apparently people still play shows in! We listened to birds call and even went through an old cemetary. I accidentally washed my feet in a hose that was meant for the dead, which had Poorn groaning with rage. I eventually made it up to her. A truly Rachael moment. For our last night we had nachos and beer at Sneaky Dees, and reminisced about old times. It was just like we were back at Favorit in Edinburgh. It made me realize how valuable her friendship has been to me for all these years. I am truly blessed to have a friend like her.
As I left on the plane I picked up some maple leaf and moose souveniers for family and friends. I thought about all of the beautiful art, architecture, and culture that I had imbibed here in Canada. It truly is a wonderful place, and one I want to see more of in the future. I can see that my Canadian friends in the UH Psych Program are correct: Canada= WIN.
When I arrived, I was greeted by a beautiful thirty-story building, similar to our nice ones in Waikiki or Punahou. Only difference is, this pimped-out pad had a gorgeous view of the entire city as well as a pool on the roof! (True Hackers-style "the pool on the roof must have a leak.") On Day 1 we went to Anthropologie and spent too much on clothes (although my orange dress was worth every penny), and that night we had an amazing show: The Meligrove Band playing live from the CN Tower! We went up to the very top and looked down through the glass floors. I was petrified, but Poorn's presence calmed me enough to take some decent pictures. We also saw a free-jazz show from a band called Swyves, which were wonderful. Honolulu definitily needs some more free-jazz.
The next day I saw beautiful art at the AGO, which included pieces by the Group of Seven, as well as an exhibition on "The Space," an excellent Toronto artists' collective. The next big show for me was definitly the Besnard Lakes. They were beautiful, blissed-out psych rock, reminiscent of Spacemen 3 on a good day. Yet their lead singer hit high falsetto notes that J. Spaceman could never even dream of achieving. They played two encores and left the crowd baying for more. Definitly my favorite small show of the festival.
The next day I went to Kensington Market and saw the hipsters roaming in their natural habitat. The Chocolate Addict and the Chile's Empanada place were the highlights of this neighborhood.The next night was a bit of a low point with Japandroids and Wavves. I have to say that I enjoyed Wavves quite a bit, but it was less about the music for me and more about Nathan Williams' ridiculous stage props (cardboard aliens that breathed smoke) and onstage banter that reminded me of San Diego days: "Yeah, let's all get squirrely, brah!" I suppose you have to be from the Whale's Vagina to get it. Having gone to UCSD, I was quite amused. Poorn, however, kicked me repeatedly for making her attend. Japandroids were just boring as all get-out. Like a second rate version of the far superior Hella, they tried to make a two man set work, and failed completely. The mics hooked up to the amps just didn't do it for me. However, it was possibly a bad show for them and I wouldn't mind seeing them if they ever came to Honolulu. The night improved late on as I caught Portland's Glass Candy. They really know how to work a room and I found their disco beats catchy and fun. A band I'll certainly play more of on my radio show.
The next day we headed out for a special treat : the Toronto Island Festival. Despite having a beer line that lasted for nearly three hours, I have to say that this was the best outdoors show I had seen since T in the Park. We started with Timber Timbre, a Toronto folk band that I genuinely loved. I fully expect to buy this record and play the hell out of it on my show. Next we saw Beach House, who delivered an almost too-perfect set: glissandos and vocal tics just like on the record. Still, the sound was beautiful as it carried across the giant field on a 82 degree day in the North. Broken Social Scene truly amazed me. I've never seen them live before, and their set was hugely inspriring and actually left me in tears. "Texaco Bitches" was the highlight of the set for me, and is actually much more fun to listen to away from the U.S.A! They also brought Feist up on stage, as well as Emily Haynes from Metric (best legs in indie rock, five years and counting!) They seemed to truly love what they did and they made a believer out of me. Last in the night was Pavement, as the sun finally set. Poorn and I danced like fools to "Range Life" (square-dance style), "Rattled by the Rush," "Trigger Cut," "Cut Your Hair," "Sirens of the Slipstream," "Date with Ikea," "Stereo," and so many others! Malkmus truly owned vocally, and the band seemed to be playing better than ever. The tambourinist actually gave me goose bumps with how well he played! Our ears got blown out, but it truly was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Pavement is a band I truly thought I would never see live, and I'm glad that they reformed to make all of us indie kids happy as clams this years.
However, the day wasn't over yet for me. Poorn went home to sleep, I changed into a dress I bought at Anthro, and headed out to see another act I've loved from childhood: Quintron and Miss Pussycat. They were actually the main reason that I wanted to go to NXNE! I saw them at the Garrisson, where I met a couple of nice artist types. The venue seemed like one of the better ones in Toronto, and it was small and packed to the gills when the husband-and-wife duo from Lousiana took the stage. Qiuintron's set-up is truly remarkable: A car-grill covering the Hammond Organ, the Drum Buddy (which he built) set up to the left, and Miss Pussy-cat's mikes and props to the right. They played the most AMAZING set: jumping right into the crowd "Festival-style" for "Swamp-Buggy Badass," and "Witch in the Club" had the whole place jumping. My favorite, however, was the spaced out "Dream Captains," which had me dancing as funky as I could with the lights blazing off my back. It was a blissed out moment, and perhaps the highlight of the festival for me.
The next day was all about recovery, and Poorn and I had an amazing veggie sandwhich at the Black Camel (she had two!), and went hiking in Toronto's trails. We saw an old abandoned brick factory called the Brickworks, which apparently people still play shows in! We listened to birds call and even went through an old cemetary. I accidentally washed my feet in a hose that was meant for the dead, which had Poorn groaning with rage. I eventually made it up to her. A truly Rachael moment. For our last night we had nachos and beer at Sneaky Dees, and reminisced about old times. It was just like we were back at Favorit in Edinburgh. It made me realize how valuable her friendship has been to me for all these years. I am truly blessed to have a friend like her.
As I left on the plane I picked up some maple leaf and moose souveniers for family and friends. I thought about all of the beautiful art, architecture, and culture that I had imbibed here in Canada. It truly is a wonderful place, and one I want to see more of in the future. I can see that my Canadian friends in the UH Psych Program are correct: Canada= WIN.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Update City!
It's finals week.... so I thought I'd procrastinate with you, my adoring public. But seriously, these last few weeks have been pretty intense. I've been winding down my time at Hawaii State Hospital, and I know I will miss it immensely. I have had so many life-changing clinical experiences that it is impossible to go into them all. One of them sticks out though: Ku'aloa beach with my clients, paddling and repeating in a steady mantra "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10...switch!" We all went out in a canoe, nearly all the way to Hat Island! It was a gorgeous moment and one that I will remember forever.
This summer brings new challenges, and also some leisure time to look forward to. In June I will go to Toronto for my birthday to visit Porn (Poornima), who I haven't seen for nearly two years. Toronto Island Fest is the ultimate destination: to bask in the glow of Pavement and Beach House!When I come back I will have 1. A new practicum 2. A GA-ship 3. A Teaching Job. This summer is going to be INSANELY busy. But I know I can handle it.
In other good news, I was elected KTUH's Rock Director! Yay! This is my first radio staff position, and I know it is going to be a lot of fun.
See you all after finals,
Rachael
Friday, February 19, 2010
It Was A Strange Time in My Life....
More things have happened since last updates! Wow, almost too many to count. In terms of my work at Hawaii State Hospital, it has been an amazing experience for me. I have met such wonderful people, my boss has been compared to an 'angel' by more than one person, and my friend James listens to my show every week. The clients are even more incredible. I have the best rapport with a Native Hawaiian gentleman with a mild learning disability and possible Schizophreniform Disorder. All we do is tell stories all day, like about Pele and jumping into the volcano on Maui! He calls himself "Hawaiian Superman." We pull taro together down in the lo'i, which is hard work but incredibly rewarding.
School is hectic as usual, and next week I have to start child assesment. I have no doubt it will be difficult, but I also have faith in myself as a caring person who most will trust and speak to.
I have had about 10 billion DJ gigs all over town, most of them paid! This is a pleasant change for the 'working for drinks' ethics I used to see in San Diego and Edinburgh. I'm quite pleased with how this aspect of my life is working out. I do need to work more on my music, however. My friend Tracy and I are currently reworking the lyrics to 'Running In Circles,' so we'll see how that goes. I also feel that I should be trying to play live, even with old material. I would love to contribute something to the small but burgeoning indie music scene here in Oahu. Just writing that sounds super patronizing, but the truth is I really do love it!
My personal life has been a bit of a mess. Ever since Glenn broke up with me it seems I've been trying to fill this void that he's left by dating people that are, frankly, beneath me. I think I'm finally pau with that now. I want to actually try to be single (first time in four years). I think it will allow me to really take stock of who I am and what I want, instead of focusing on someone else. This time I'm really going to try to take it one solitary day at a time.
The final blessing in this has been my friends. I have made so many new friends here in Oahu. It seems I am never without something to do. Only last week I jumped into the cove next to China Walls with an old friend and two new ones, the sun dancing off our backs (and burning us to a crisp.) Directly after this I went to Kareoke with some different people, and the next day I had a beach party with someone else. The amount of friends I have made makes me feel truly loved, and in fact was sorely lacking in my life in San Francisco.
So the old cliches of "up and downs", and "never a dull moment" fairly accurately describes this year thus far. I will endeavour to balance it all a bit better in the coming months.
Aloha For Now,
Rach
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