(via @fitlittlebrat)

I gloss over my stroke, but I hear so many stories of people both older and younger than me who weren’t as lucky. I’m fortunate I can still speak (albeit delayed), walk, drive, work (design on the computer), shower by myself again, cut my own nails… things I def took for granted. Before the stroke, I’d never stayed overnight at a hospital, let alone a whole week, and my doctor visits were few and far between. I’d never had surgery, and I had two that week – one on my birthday! S/O to Nicholas at Torrance Memorial who sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me on the operating table, right before he shaved my chocha 😅 Now I see my PCP every few months to make sure i’m not regressing.

Anyway, I’m (mostly) happy to still be here 😅 Pammie has been my biggest advocate since the stroke, and took care of me for over a year while I recovered. She works for iRhythm – a company that detects cardiac arrhythmias through a medical device, and her work participated in the Heart & Stroke Walk this morning. She invited me to join to celebrate being a stroke survivor ✊🏼 She surprised me by making us shirts (Jessie came up with the tagline bc everyone knows I love Young the Giant – Christine suggested we wear The Strokes band shirts LOL, but Pammie thought it wasn’t very PC – next year!), and they all surprised me by showing up this morning 🥹

I don’t really tell anyone about having the stroke unless I have to. It’s not something I ever posted about on socials for sympathy. Unless you’re one of the 3 people who still reads this blog after 20 years (hi, Shirley May 👋🏼), are a relative, a good friend, or someone I’ve seen in the past couple years since the stroke and I felt compelled to explain why my voice sounds like this now, you wouldn’t really know about it.

Labs and More Rescue (where Jess and Abe got Milo) had a booth with the cutest pups up for adoption 🥹

Post-walk pan dulce cart and chilaquiles (@ Cocina 35)

To everyone who has been a part of my road to recovery, whether it’s making sure I eat better, go on walks with me, sent me flowers, or simply just asked how I was doing, thank you 🙏🏼 To everyone else (who knew about it and said nothing), eat a bag of dicks!

Young the Giant, we out here ✌🏼 (@ Pappy & Harriet’s)

The Pioneertown Motel is walking distance to where the concert was at Pappy & Harriet’s, so we could hear them doing sound check from our room.

POV: You’re standing behind two of the tallest guys on earth (they were at least a foot taller than me, so 6’7+), and they’re super gay and in love, so they’re all over each other throughout the entire show 🤪

My stems are sore today bc the show was standing room only for 3 hours. Am I getting too old for this shit? (Don’t answer that).

(via @happypotato)

They only had single rooms left, so we had to share a queen bed. I apologized to Mary in advance and told her I sleep like the purple potato 😅 I am who I am ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We were listening to her playlist on the drive home, and right before this song came on, she was like, ‘Try not to cry.’ I was like, ‘Cry??? Why, is it Bon Iver?’

You silently cry at the end of yoga during savasana one time (partly bc you’re exhausted, but mostly bc they’re playing Bon Iver), and people never let you forget it!

BRB, live-streaming Young the Giant performing their debut album in its entirety from The Troubadour in West Hollywood on Volume ✌🏼

TBT to the first of many YTG concerts in 2011. You make everyone go to one YTG show on someone else’s birthday and no one ever lets you forget it! 😅

‘Cause sooner or later
This is bound to stop
Come on, let’s savor
What we’re falling for

These shows were rescheduled from January because of the wildfires. I love Young the Giant (understatement of the year), I love when bands perform albums in their entirety, I love the Troubadour, but I hate schlepping to West Hollywood on a Friday night. And when I was looking at ticket prices in January, it was $700 to go to both shows 😵‍💫 This way, I can save several hundred dollars, and cry sing as loud as I want in the privacy of my own home. Besides, I’m seeing them live in Pioneertown next month ✌🏼

Golden hour ✨🌿🔮✌🏼

Love, love, love my new gemstone hanging from Fierce Forward. It came just in time for the Strawberry Moon 🌕

‘Cause sooner or later, this is bound to stop
Come on, let’s savor what we’re falling for

I have loved Young the Giant since my twenties, and I’ve seen them live several times since then across different cities – LA, SD, OC, SF, Tempe… Their ‘In the Open’ live acoustic sessions fill my heart with so much joy, and they’re taking them on tour this summer. I’m def gonna see them, but where should I go? Hawaii for their first show at the Waikiki Shell? Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown (the only drivable option)? At The National in Richmond, Virginia (Poppy the pygmy hippo lives at a zoo over there LOL)? Their last show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado (a beautiful venue I’ve always wanted to go to, but it’s right before my dad’s birthday)? All of them? 😜

Update:
✅ Tickets purchase to Pappy and Harriet’s show
✅ Room booked at Pioneertown Motel

The VIP experience (@ Kia Forum)

As Pammie, Christine and I were scarfing down our nachos, chicken tenders, burgers, and garlic fries before the show, I looked around and noticed no one else had food. I forgot people in LA don’t eat 😅

I think we broke Christine 😆

Her husband sent us a picture of her the next day wearing a JT shirt with a huge smile on her face and was like, ‘She’s been like this all morning!’ He told her being VIP at the JT show was like when he and I had floor seats at the Young the Giant show, and Christine was like, ‘IDK what metric system you’re using, but JT≠YTG.’ 🤣

Donna was a bad influence on me when we were kids, and it looks like she’ll still be a bad influence in the afterlife! Ha. If my sister and I were running late to class in high school, we’d skip first period and hang out at Donna’s apartment instead (I have never once gone to lockout. I guess this is why when I was late for work when I used to work in the office, I would text Nori, “What do you want from Coffee Bean?” 😅 What’s a few more minutes if I’m already late…). Donna dared me to jump off a cliff into the kids’ pool at the resort we were staying at a few years ago in Hawaii. She jumped first, but she’s also a foot shorter than me! I’m pretty sure my tailbone is still at the bottom of the keiki pool, you guys.

When I die, I just need someone to clear my browser history and play Young the Giant at my funeral.

Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant and Bakar??? Yes, please.

It’s two in the morning
I don’t need nobody else
But you’re my tragedy

Young the Giant is always a good idea.

Rolling in hella deep, headed to the mezzanine
Dressed in all pink ‘cept my gator shoes, those are green
Draped in a leopard mink, girl standing next to me
Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets (piss)
But shit, it was 99 cents

Macklemore was surprisingly entertaining and brought attention to what’s happening in Gaza.

I will not ask you where you came from
I will not ask, and neither should you

Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips
We should just kiss like real people do

And it’s worth it, it’s divine
I have this some of the time

I used to doordash Mcdonald’s for breakfast every morning, even though they’re literally across the street from my apartment. Now, I only treat myself to this meal every few months after some routine blood tests 😅 Or when I’m happy to pay $300 to get my car out of a tow yard because I initially thought someone stole it (a Mcdonald’s breakfast is celebratory. Fight me).

P.S. I’m so excited to see Phantogram at Innings Fest, even though I’ve seen them live a million times since I first saw them at Outside Lands in 2011. I’ve actually already seen a lot of the bands that will be there (Young the Giant, Hozier, Jimmy Eat World, Red Hot Chili Peppers). What can I say, I’m a repeat offender ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We were talking about how Ice Cube is exposing Jay-Z and saying he’s worse than Diddy, and how no one is safe. Seriously, nothing better come out about Young the Giant 🤣

This tracks. Although I would’ve thought Hoobastank would’ve made the cut, but Spotify stops tracking sometime in November, and I didn’t have them on heavy rotation until after that in preparation for their 20th anniversary show in December.

This is my favorite Young the Giant song, and I love that they included it on their live album that came out today. I can’t wait to see them again at Innings Fest, even though I’ve seen them at least ten times in the past decade (including at the inaugural Innings Fest!).

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Trolls Band Together also come out on November 17. What a time to be alive.

When my sister’s husband found out the Young the Giant show was rescheduled and I was going with Francis, he was like, “Christine must really trust you with her husband!” What can I say, I’m trustworthy as fuck ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But this is also me:

JK, Christine can rest! 🤣

Young the Giant is always a good idea (@ CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre)

One of Francis’ friends was working security, and he was like, “Yooo, you like Young the Giant?!” like it was a bad thing 🤣 Is this like when I liked Hoobastank?! 😅

Even though my calves burn with the fury of a thousand suns (our seats were at the very bottom and it’s a looong way to the top where the drinks are), YTG is always worth it.

Here’s Francis and I texting each other during the show because our seats were right in front of the speakers and we couldn’t hear each other LOL:

I was supposed to see Young the Giant tonight. Yesterday, Pammie was like, “At least the show is indoors. And I was like, “It’s at the Open Air Theater. It’s in the open air.” The show was supposed to be rain or shine, but I guess a hurricane changes things ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My sister will be in Hawaii the week it’s rescheduled for. Anyone want to see Young the Giant with me??? My seats are in AAA and here’s the setlist if that helps sway you at all.

Update: I’m going to the rescheduled show with my friend’s husband 🤣 (I know he likes this band, and I asked my friend first! Plus I would never, partly because it’s Francis Lansang, but mostly because I know Christine can kick my ass LOL).

It’s two in the morning
I don’t need nobody else
But you’re my tragedy
Please don’t make me say it
Cult of personality

Since today is the first day of summer and I’m seeing Young the Giant in two months!

I hardly listen to the radio in SD (partly because the DJs are garbage, but mostly because I’m usually listening to Young the Giant on Spotify). I heard this song a few times on 92.3 on the way up to LA, and I’m obsessed.

SZA – Kill Bill

I’m still a fan even though I was salty
Hate to see you with some other broad, know you happy
Hate to see you happy if I’m not the one drivin’
I’m so mature, I’m so mature
I’m so mature, I got me a therapist to tell me there’s other men
I don’t want none, I just want you
If I can’t have you, no one should

Sameer of Young the Giant played a solo acoustic show for Twitch Stream Aid and performed my most favorite song from when they were still called The Jakes. Also, I have that same case study planter, so it’s basically like he was singing to me in my apartment.

Switchfoot – Dare You to Move

Young the Giant – Silvertongue

Beck – Where It’s At

Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait

Sunday funday with Sabrina and Cass (@ Ohana Fest, Doheny State Beach)

Mumford + YTG!!!

Hold me still
Bury my heart next to yours

You’ll drive in my car
Just tell me we are going somewhere

Lord Huron – The Night We Met

Sylvan Esso – Coffee

Young the Giant – Cough Syrup

Local Natives – Coins

Head and the Heart – All We Ever Knew

(@ Culinary Dropout)

(@ Cornish Pasty Co)

(@ Pizzeria Bianco)

(@ The Arrogant Butcher)

(@ Tempe Beach Park)

We escaped the LA rain and road-tripped it to Arizona! The first of hopefully many Innings Fests did not disappoint. Good weather, great bands, amazing food…

Live from the Artists Den: Young the Giant (@ El Rey Theatre)

When your sister, your cousin and Baberaham one of your best friend’s husbands enter a contest for you to win tickets to see your favorite band’s secret show, you know you’re loved… especially when one of them wins and they take you as their guest! Young the Giant was just as good as the first time I dragged everyone to go see them five years ago! They’re coming back to LA in October, but I’m considering missing their show to go on a trip with Shi to NYC instead. I don’t even know who I am anymore.

(via @acoustictrench)

Even dogs love the dulcet tones of Young the Giant.

Say hello to my new Mazda3!

I def have a type. I would’ve replaced my Matrix with another, but Toyota discontinued them last year, and I really wanted to buy myself a brand new car. After driving a rental for almost a month, I finally found a car that I love! It’s a charcoal gray hatchback just like my Matrix was, except it looks a lot sleeker, has power steering (which I thought I had this whole time until I drove a car that actually had power steering), and bluetooth so I can listen to my Young the Giant spotify playlist instead of my Young the Giant CD, among other upgrades. I feel like I’m driving my Matrix when I’m in it.

Maybe I should’ve kept $5,000 from my insurance settlement to pay Match.com to find me a date who looks just like my ex, too.

Young the Giant – Paralysis

And lately I’ve been thinking
I’m not feeling anything at all
Will I survive in the dead of night?
And now the lights are fading faster
Save me from my disaster

When the beat of my drum meets the beat of your heart
You know I couldn’t love any other, any other

Exactly one month till the 2014 Young the Giant CD replaces the 2010 Young the Giant CD in my car and my heart explodes.

28 pounds lighter and $175 richer!

This was me winning second place at my work’s weight-loss challenge last Friday. It’s a good thing I didn’t win first, because you wouldn’t be able to handle those dance moves!

I lost to some corporate lawyer who donated his winnings to a children’s hospital. Way to make me feel like an asshole! Ha. I already spent my share on Young the Giant tickets!

Ticket purchased.
Vacation days requested.
Spotify playlist made.
Is it August yet???

Um, of course my #choking playlist has Young the Giant on it… as does my workout playlist and my baby makin’ playlist. Just kidding. (I don’t have a workout playlist.)

I had my camera in one hand and my Texas-sized maple bacon donut in the other! Um, best day evs. More videos of Young the Giant at the OC Fair here.

Things I learned at the OC Fair yesterday:

• Young the Giant is just as good the third time around.
• The porkabello kabobs from Bacon A-Fair are gravely disappointing.
• I only like cute farm animals on the interwebs—IRL the smell of livestock elicits my gag reflex.

Young the Giant has been on constant rotation in my car for over a year now. I’m not particularly proud of it (that’s a lie). And I want you to know, it ends right here (also a lie).

On the drive to work this morning, I tried listening to the radio for a change. While flipping through stations, I heard songs by P.M. Dawn, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Mary J. Blige, TLC… Is it 1992? Am I back in the fifth grade? Did I just leave a note in David Krzywicki’s desk telling him that I think he’s cute???

If I wanted to hear 90s music, I’d listen to Shi’s “current” playlist! Ha.

P.M. Dawn – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

My summer soundtrack ♥

Update (6/9): For those of you who asked—and by ‘those of you’ I mean ANTHONY, and by ‘asked’ I mean demanded—you can download all the songs from this playlist here. Enjoy, my lovelies!

After Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Coachella announced similar (amazing!) lineups, I was sure Outside Lands would follow suit. Never have twelve syllables hurt me so much to say, but NOT EVEN YOUNG THE GIANT COULD SAVE THIS LINEUP! I should have went to Coachella. At least I would have seen Radiohead. And Tupac’s hologram. Boo whore.

In other news, Incubus and Linkin Park are touring together, and their last show is here in SD! My 19-year-old self is punching the air in excitement.

Do the things I wanna do
Not the ones I’m supposed to
Why can’t I get close to the better side of me
When I was young

Young the Giant debuted some new songs last night at Soma and this was my favorite…

I’m pretty sure this is Jesse’s way of saying that he no longer appreciates hearing me blast Young the Giant in my shitty earbuds all the livelong day.

Merry Christmas to us both!

See more videos from the best day of my existence here.

YTG had 99 comments on their status update, and mine was the only one they “liked” 😉

I don’t know what’s sadder—is it how easily I recognized an In-N-Out secret menu order, or is it the fact that this was the highlight of my weekend?

My favorite band on my favorite sister’s birthday in my favorite sister’s city?!

Life’s too short to even care at all…

I’ve had Young the Giant’s In the Open Sessions on rotation all summer, but I’m pretty sure I’ll still be listening to them this fall. And next winter. And when I’m on social security.

Young the Giant – In the Open Sessions

1. Strings
2. Typhoon
3. Guns Out
4. Every Little Thing
5. Apartment
6. West Virginia
7. Cough Syrup
8. I Got
9. Your Side
10. God Made Man
11. Islands

Sooner or later, this is bound to stop
Come on, let’s savor what we’re falling for

Get out your guns, it’s time to start a fight
Whoa, and it won’t take too long
I want to make it right

I’m a little bit obsessed with this band.