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| To those three to four people still in the Xanga community, I too am jumping ship to Wordpress.
I've used Xanga since 2003 and it has taught me many lessons on what I should and shouldn't talk about in the public domain. Fortunately, I have only tasted a small amount of cyber-bullying. Most of my blogging experience has been fun as I wrote about transitioning from high school to community college to UCSD to post college. I loved the comments most of all because it lets me connect with readers.
My favorite year of blogging was in the 2007-2008 era. My celebrity sightings were fun to blog about. Unfortunately, I don't work for Apple or Disney-ABC anymore because of the current recession. As I'm about to hit age 25, I realized that l need to let go of my carefree college life and embrace twenty-something life. Or simply put...adulthood. Real adulthood.
People move. They get married. They continue to build their careers. We're not kids anymore.
There is life after college and I'm still trying to find it. So to chronicle my adventure into real adulthood I am using a more professional looking application. Xanga, it's been fun.
To follow Russell's new journey, go to russellfung.wordpress.com | | |
| JULY 2008 was so great and it ended with an earthquake! When i was a teen, I would write a journal every summer, chronicling my adventures. I have lost touch with doing that, so perhaps a very long blog entry will act as my summer journal. Here are the highlights of JULY 2008:
-I have a nice summer job at Disney ABC Television Group - International.
-The San Diego Comic-con was such a fun experience (except for the crowds).
-My first time in Las Vegas with family and relatives was satisfyingly relaxing.
-The Dark Knight blew me away.
-Visiting Joe Ho, Jen Chang, Katrina, and Andy Park makes my summer more happy.
-Weddings make me optimistic.
-July 4th weekend was fun thanks to James's BBQ and my roommates inviting me to Anime Expo.
-My birthday weekend with Mike and Steve in Daly City was the most chilled out and low key.
Notes for Russell to remember:
1. SAN DIEGO COMIC CON July 26th-27th
- I WATCHED THE SEASON 3 PREMIERE OF HEROES! The Heroes panel started at 10:30am on Saturday morning. My bros and I showed up at 8am and the line stretched out around the convention center and reached two hotels a few blocks away. Wow. I loved the premiere episode and the Q&A session. Jeph Loeb and the cast are outstanding. Maybe I shall become a Heroes fan. (I haven't seen Season 1)
- MY FAITH, HOPE, AND ENTHUSIASM FOR SMALLVILLE'S FUTURE HAS BEEN REJUVENATED. After watching the sizzle reel at the Smallville panel first thing Sunday morning, I was elated. The Q&A session with Jeph Loeb, the new producers, and the new cast members were outstanding as well. I'm actually excited for season 8!
- PINEAPPLE EXPRESS LOOKS SMOKIN'! The weed action comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco is something I want to see.
- LOST panel was fun, but revealed almost nothing about the new season. Ah well, at least I had fun watching the viral marketing and the enthusiasm of LOST fans.
2. LAS VEGAS July 18-20th
- NEW FAMILY DRAMA, DYNAMICS, AND RELATIONSHIPS. I love that this summer I finally got to see my relatives. It's been too long and i think that the last time we got together in the summer was in the year 2001. This time we all met in Las Vegas instead of Northern California. A lot of things have changed.
- DONNY AND MARIE OSMOND ARE PRETTY ENTERTAINING PERFORMERS. I didn't expect much. I just came to Vegas because my parents wanted me to. So I dragged my twin bro along. It wasn't like we were doing anything that weekend anyway.
- THE NEXT TIME I GO TO VEGAS, I'M BRINGING MY BUDDIES. Who's down to go to Vegas? Eh? Eh?
3. JULY 11TH WEEKEND was so nostalgic because I got to hang out in San Diego with my good friends from college. I loved how I never had to step foot on the UCSD campus. Nor did I have to meet freshmen and drive them to events. We all know how much trouble I get into when I meet newbie college kids. Instead, it was just dinner, drinks, and a movie. Low key stuff is nice.
4. JULY 4TH WEEKEND was where I met lots of new people.
- In post-college life, it's very hard to meet new people. I was fortunate to do so at the BBQ and surprisingly, at Anime Expo. By some funny occurrence, I got drafted into being a staff member, editing videos and going to exclusive events. I had fun editing, partying, and meeting new people.
- Justin and Ashley's wedding was so beautiful. I felt honored to have the opportunity to video tape it. On top of it, I was able to use my swanky new professional camcorders! But that's not all...I had my own assistant! Sweet huh? Plus, it is always a good feeling to see InterVarsity alumni...and of course meeting new people.
5. BIRTHDAY WEEKEND June 28th-July 1st
- TRAVELING TO AND FROM AIRPORTS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH OLD FRIENDS. I asked my friend, who I haven't seen in over a year, to drive me to LAX, where I would fly home to Daly City. I love having different people drive me to the airport or picking me up from there. I dunno, it's just the experience of travel that I love. I remember when I asked Drew to pick me up at the airport after my trip to China. We had a good chat and we ended up hanging out. I remember asking Kent to pick me up after my first year at UCSD and watching Batman Begins in theatres right after. I also like driving other people to airports or picking them up.
- DALY CITY IS NICE IN SMALL DOSES. It pains me sometimes to see the fog. It's so depressing. But after a heat wave in Los Angeles, the fog was such a great symbol of nostalgia. In the summer of 2006, I spent most of my summer at home, trying to meet up with as many friends as possible because I knew I wouldn't come back. I would be in LA, pursuing a career. Now in summer of 2008, that has become a reality. This time I didn't call anybody. It was just Mike and Steve who I rarely see now.
- HANGING OUT WITH FAMILY IS NICE AS AN ADULT. As a kid or a teenager, parents and brothers were irritating to me. They still are now, but it's not as bad, haha. We talk to each other like adults and that dynamic is way better.
- LOW KEY BIRTHDAYS ARE THE WAY TO GO. I used to think that the more lavish and populated the party is...the better. So not true. Hanging out with Mike and Steve on my birthday dinner was enough. My twin joined us as well. Too bad Drew couldn't make it, but there's always next time.
- BROTHERS ARE LESS ANNOYING AS WE GET OLDER. Rod and Randy aren't just annoying little bros anymore. They're now fully articulated people with problems I could relate to at one point. I can't wait for the day little Rod becomes a pot head. That would be so rad.
Conclusion
Anyhow, that's summer so far. It's August now and we're entering the last half of the summer. Enjoy!
***Those who actually read this whole blog...thanks for being interested in my life! I hope we get to hang out soon!
Peace!
- Russell
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| I'm not one to get star struck. But I shall fully admit that David Beckham and Johnny Knoxville have a strong masculine presence. They are good-looking dudes....no lie. Being a cool guy that I am, all I did was say hi and went about my business. No need to lower my value by starting small talk. I hate small talk.
So it's been exactly a year since I graduated from UCSD. I look back at nine months of living in LA and today, I feel very satisfied with where I'm at. My survival job at Apple has been a very good run. I loved working there. Honestly. I loved my coworkers. I loved meeting enthusiastic customers and celebrities. Giving personal shopping to attractive women wasn't so bad either.
In two weeks, I will turn 24. Thus, my 23rd year of life is coming to an end. So...where am I at now?
I have a very nice job at Disney-ABC International Television. I help distribute awesome shows like LOST and Hannah Montana to Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. I also help distribute crappy shows like Power Rangers and Grey's Anatomy. Kidding! Don't hate! Seriously though, I'm responsible for getting the right tapes to the right places.
I work inside the Disney Channel building in Burbank and I dunno what else to say. I can't believe I'm here! After all the pain, the struggles, the sacrifices...everything I've done in my life led me to this job. I like it so much and I hope my temp status becomes something more. After all, it's a temporary job for the summer.
I still work at Radio Disney on weekends. I can do two Disney jobs because I'm under a temp agency's payroll and Disney's payroll. Thus, I found a loop hole by accident.
I could talk for hours. Summer's here. I'm excited. Hit me up in LA.
Peace,
Russell 
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| The Hills' Lauren Conrad. Drew Carey (again). Leelee Sobieski.
I didn't see Lauren Conrad but my coworker mentioned seeing her come in to buy an iPod Touch. This whole week I've seen her on magazine covers. Apparently, she's still the subject of bullshit drama that nobody cares about. Wow, really? Do we really care about what's going on between her, Audrina, and Heidi? I guess people do.
Drew Carey was friendly and nice to me this time. I rung him up some items and helped him make a firewire cable purchase.
Leelee Sobieski is beautiful in person. That's all I have to say about her.
Other News About Work
Same ol' same ol' at Apple. We got new shirts. I do personal shopping with customers. I deal with never-ending customers inquiring about iPhones. At Radio Disney I got a pay raise. Sweet as! I also took a tour at Walt Disney Studios. That was fun and insightful.
Can you tell that I'm so enthused with my life? Har har. It's May. I hope I get that job. Wish me luck!
Peace,
-Russell
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| It’s been over seven months into my new life and I would say that it’s going along just fine.
Most people ask me, “How’s LA?”
There are many ways I can respond to that. The most honest answer I can come up with is that life in LA is what I expected. It’s just months and months of struggle to stay afloat. To pursue, to dream, and to find contentness with my work... All of that is a struggle.
I made it into the final 12 for the ABC Studios post-production job. Right now I’m in that hopeful time period where I can be worried or excited about a potential outcome.
I’m working on GREEK on ABC Family. I love doing background work because among the beautiful actors and actresses, I find at least one person worth meeting and chatting with. Career, God, and struggles are topics I love.
Apple at The Grove is a good place. I don’t take it for granted. I love working as a Mac Specialist, where I help people discover the Mac and the creative things they could do with it.
Last weekend was wonderful. I went to Thurgood Marshall’s semi-formal with my friends and I had a great time. They ended the night with Usher’s song, “Love In This Club” which I thought was a terrible song until I realized that it was made for dance events, not for listening in the car or on the computer.
I love visiting San Diego. I only visit about once or twice a quarter. When I do visit, I like to try out different churches, meet new people, and chill out with my buddies. Nothing makes me more happy than when I’m in San Diego.
Ciao!
-Russell
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