I’VE MOVED! FOR REAL!

The Other Place

A week ago, I found myself in the magical hills of Boonville, CA. Restless Cities was very generously hosted by Mendocino County for a crazy four-day wine, beer, and crab experience. They always...

MOVING!

I will no longer renew withstrangers.com and will be using THIS LINK for my blog from now on. See you there! -z

2012

If you read through my blog posts last year, you’d think all I did was travel and go to shows. NOT TRUE. The real highlights of my 2012 (a prelude to my year, I like to think) include discovering...

Road to Yosemite

In 2008, my mom, sister and I took an 8-hour bus ride from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. It was my mom’s idea to visit because she had heard of its beauty from other people. I was...

Merry Christmess!

I hope you have a good one! Spend it with the people you love and care about the most. Say everything you’ve been keeping inside. Hug and kiss like never before. It’s the holidays! I’m so happy. I...

Do you hear what I hear?

OK, the reason why I got into music photography was because of the small possibility that I might get to shoot my favorite artist ever in the entiiiiire world — Sufjan Stevens. I thought I had a...

Say Yes! To Michigan!

As you can see, Michigan is a beautiful place. I could’ve used a phone camera the whole time and the pictures still would’ve turned out great. It’s just so naturally photogenic and so unlike where...

Swim across Lake Michigan

I spent Thanksgiving in Michigan where I was ridiculously spoiled by Justin’s family. They’re wonderful and I truly wish I was still back there, eating quiche and stuffing. I have a ton of photos...

My Christmas Wish List for 2012

It’s that time of the year again. It’s been a year since I made THIS. Man. It’s rather scary, isn’t it? I’m 22 and I’m still blogging on the same website about the same juvenile things. Anyway, to...

Step one: Unpack

I’ve been in my new place for a week now and it’s nowhere near how I want it to be. It doesn’t feel like home yet and I know that’s going to take a while. But I figured, maybe part of the reason...

Getaway

Excuse the overly cheesy Norah Jones lyrics, but look! Isn’t Catalina Island the perfect place to escape to with someone? It’s such a romantic and picturesque place. Take me back, please! Someone!

Catalina Island from my iPhone

As my buddy and I prepare our several features on Catalina Island to be published next week on Restless Cities, let me give you a peek on what went down with photos I took with my iPhone. I really...

Insecurities

A friend once told me that he liked my writing and that I should keep doing it. I felt good and believed him for about a minute. Then, as usual, I reverted back to being an insecure asshole about...

Another awesome adventure.

Exhausted with the present.

I have a terrible tendency to just bail out when things get rough. My track record says it all. I just want the easy way out. Let me tell you – I’ve been genuinely trying to get on with my life...

Fall is here.

OK. 2010, we need to talk.

What in heaven’s name happened to me two years ago? Out of boredom, I started reading the stuff I saved in the “Writing” folder of my Yahoo! email address (one that I never use anymore). Jeezus....

Wow.

Tourist

Yes…

I covered Wilco for Restless Cities. Then I got to watch The Shins and Washed Out for free two days later. My life is sort of ridiculous.

Gorgeous and alone

Just try.

My Morning Jacket + Iron and Wine

Let me begin this entry by saying I am NOT depressed. I feel like I’ve given that kind of impression because I write about displacement and discontent too much. I do get sad like every other normal...

This is a cheesy post.

“When I feel alive, I try to imagine a careless life in a scenic world where the sunsets are all breathtaking.” I saw two amazing bands live and I want to talk about it. POLARIS and BEIRUT. First...

tiny pieces

The past few days.

I’ve been so busy, but in a good way. Life’s mostly fair. I just need to stop forgetting.

Another day, another museum

Last weekend, I had this strong craving to see some art. It just seemed like the perfect afternoon to subject myself to some confusion (what is going on here?) and self-doubt (am I just dumb or...

Still talking about that weekend, yes.

I really can’t wait to share more details about the trip that I just had, but you’ll just have to wait because it’s going to be on Restless Cities as soon as we finish it. In the meantime, let me...

Displaced

Hello, strangers. I remember blogging about my 2012 goals in January (I remember because I always do it at the start of every year. Could I be any more unoriginal?) and one of the many things I...