New website I'm starting up soon....

So...2011 is here. It was the year that I promised to make it "not suck", or basically awesome...lol. It's already the middle of February. Time has flown by really fast!

Well anyway, I said to make 2011 awesome, and I am already in the process of doing so. As an avid transit buff who has an "infatuation" of the subway, as well as New York City as a whole, I decided to dedicate a page that is solely based on just that: the urban setting. Sure there are a lot of webpages that are all about New York. Who am I to say that my page will be any more or less different than the other sites? I just want to build up my own webpage so I can post everything based on what I've seen and what I have to say about them from my perspective, both in text form as well as my photography. That is why I started a new blog page for my new website. I have not bought the domain yet, but I am in the process of doing so. But I have started up the blog page as a teaser for what's in store...for those who are interested. I'll post the link at the end of this post.

That is a preview of my new website, Enter: The Underground. Now some of you guys may be tempted to ask me as to what inspired me to make a website? WHO inspired me to make a website? I'll discuss that right now!...


UNDERCITY from Andrew Wonder on Vimeo.


The video is titled "Undercity", filmed by Andrew Wonder on his Canon EOS 5D Mark II back in the Summer of 2009, who recorded his friend Steve Duncan, a self-proclaimed urban historian, doing some pretty serious shit, such as entering the subway tunnels, dodging trains, and even climbing bridges!!! Yes, they climbed the Williamsburg Bridge. These two guys were even on the Today show (here). While I cannot say that my website will feature some of the crazy stunts they've done, all I will say is this: you won't be disappointed with what my website has in store for you.

So that's one of my inspirations...actally, make that two.

I don't have an exact date as to when I'll launch the site, but I will keep all of you posted on the Enter: The Underground blog from this point forward. http://enter-theunderground.blogspot.com/ Hope you guys like it!

2011 is here!

Okay...2011 is here! Good riddance to 2010, it really sucked!!!

I haven't been on here in a long time but I'm going to make an effort to post here at least once a week. It's only fair, for what it's worth. I finally got a job so the search as well as the job depression is finally over (for now because it's good until April because it's seasonal), but I'm pleased nonetheless.

I go back to school on January 29th (a Saturday)...speaking of school, I did no much better in my classes this semester compared to my first year in college...I got a B- in my Computer Science and Spanish class, a B+ in my Cinema history class, and the biggest shocker of all, an A- in my English 151 class! I'm extremely pleased with myself to the point that I'm going to keep on striving to make sure my education perseveres.

Well, that's all for now. I hope everyone's 2011 is a good one...it's kinda early to say that it is for me but I'm gonna make sure 2011 is my year...and there's nothing that will stop me...no person or any obstacle, absolutely nothing.

Break

I love the break. I get to derive my attention away from school for my favorite hobby: riding trains. Why? Why do I like riding trains? It's something I do. I enjoy it. Not to mention, they make for good photo opportunities, whether the train is stationary or moving. I could care less about what the cops have to say about it because everything I do is legal. I don't jump onto the tracks, enter the tunnel, or act a fool in the subway. Why ask for extra attention?

However, with the recent bombing that occurred in Russia last week, it's becoming harder for us rail buffs to enjoy our hobby in peace, and it's getting real annoying. September 11th ruined it all. Will we ever be able to enjoy our hobby in peace?

Today is our last day of our break. School begins for us on Tuesday; however, classes for me resume on Wednesday. I'll stay home tomorrow most likely and finish any schoolwork that needs to be done.

Back to school....

Wow! I had the past nine days off from school, and it was awesome! My Wednesday class was canceled because of the huge snow storm that hit New York City on the 10th and the Presidents' Day weekends called off my Friday and Saturday classes. I haven't been in school since the 8th, and now it's the 17th...so yep, nine days off. I'm not too enthused with heading back but hey, I need to do what I need to, cuz it may just lead to better things happening.

IT'S BEEN CANCELED!

My classes for tomorrow have been canceled! Thank goodness! I am looking forward to a good week off. I won't have to return to class until next week Wednesday!

On a side note, I am definitely heading out on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, I'm going to meet up with my friend, visit our hold high school, and visit some people in Staten Island. On Saturday, I'm meeting up with my railfan crew and ride trains just for the sake of it. And on Sunday...I don't know what I'm going to do, but nothing Valentine's Day-related, that's for sure.

I need my own place

I really do need my own place.

My mom has officially gone to the shitter. All her ranting and bickering at night between her and her "fiancee" really has me at the boiling point where I just want to walk out and leave. If only it were so easy to do so. To live on your own, that requires money.

I have been talking to my friend who travels back and forth between Massachusetts with his biological dad and here in Brooklyn where he stays with his mom. He says that he's better off in Massachusetts but needs to be in the city. We've considered the idea of rooming so it woun't be such a detriment to either of our finances, yet I need a job. It's gonna take some planning but what the heck, I just want to be on my own already, and the sooner, the better.

On a side note, my first week of classes for the new semester turned out okay. I'm already in my second week and a class has been canceled because of the snow. I hope my afternoon history class gets canceled next!

I SHAVED MY HEAD!!!!!!

This past Thursday, I did the unthinkable: I shaved my head.

The day after New Year's, my cousins' father insisted that I cut my hair down, just because. I hate it when people who aren't even your parents instruct you to do things that you shouldn't be obligated to follow, yet he bickers and tells me to turn off my iPod when I'm in the car, get off the cell phone after I spend too much time talking to people, etc., etc. Me being the idiot that I am went along with what he said 99.9% of the time, and I fed into his B.S. yet again when my cousins' and I went to the barber and had my hair taken down, just because of their father's idiocy thinking that he's my dad too...when he isn't!

I was not please as to what became of my hair to the point where I said "screw it", and I shaved it all off. There was no reason for me to cut my hair off just because he told me to, I had a right to do what I wanted with my hair, even if it meant growing it long and having it straightened, because that's the style I like to have it: straightened and combed backwards with hair glue holding it down. I always left my house with my hair in a presentable manner, but he didn't care.

So I'm starting from scratch, because the barber botched my hair when I picked it out and it didn't look even at all. My mom was shocked with what I did but she didn't really question me so much as to why I did it. But I'm never listening to anyone when they tell me what to do with my hair. So now I shaved everything off, and I'm growing my hair from scratch, and when it's back to a reasonable length again, I'm doing what I want to do with it, whether I want to straighten it, spike it, or fauxhawk it for the matter.

Week of my life....

This past week, I have done absolutely NOTHING.

Don't get me wrong; sometimes, it's fun to do nothing. But then it gets absolutely boring and sooner or later you'll eventually feel like crap because your life will go to the shitter. So yeah, I need to get myself out of bed and find something to do.

I have already registered for classes for next semester at my college (I still go to the College of Staten Island), but my classes won't start until the 29th of this month (which falls under a Friday). So I have nearly three weeks till school, which I really can't wait for.

I'm back!!!

It's hard to believe that I haven't posted here since August. Time sure does fly...I've been real busy. But I promise to be more active and pay some attention to my blog, because it certainly does help to write what's on my mind.

So let's see, it's 2010 already. I, for one, am extremely excited that 2009 is dead and gone, because that year honestly sucked, seriously. Everything that could have went wrong sure as hell did. The only things good I saw out of 2009 was the fact that I graduated and that I got into a good college, although I didn't need anyone's help to pull through; I did it all on my own (trying not to be selfish, so to speak, but it's true; I try to seek little help in terms of what I do). And I can't forget the fact that I'm 18 now! As much as I dread the fact that my childhood days are over, I have to continue on with reality.

2010 so far...too soon to tell. I'll wait till the end of the month to give my critique as to how 2010 has been and how I hope it will be.

In terms of school, I didn't do as well as I had provisioned. I took four classes in my freshman semester: a history class, two film classes (film after all is my major) and an english class. I got a C+ in my English class, a C in my history class and one of my film classes, and an A in my other film class. I do not know what that averages to, but I'm going to say that it averages to a solid B-. Not bad, but I know I can do better than that. After all, I do want to impress NYU if I want to transfer to that school come my junior year. Next semester, I am taking five (5) classes for a total of 18 credits. I really hope that I get higher than a B in all of them but I know I'll have to work harder. No muss, no fuss. I can pull it off if I have a strong mind frame...which I do.

This week....

Well, this week was a fairly interesting week. On Sunday (August 2nd) I attended a tour of the 207th Street Yard and was able to board one of the Nostalgia Arnine trains from the 1930s, and man, those trains are the bonb! I cannot wait for the next event.

I really wanted to get a camera but unfortunately I wasn't able to because one of my friends also attended the trip and he was being a jerk and wouldn't lend me his camera. So I may as well attend the next trip on my own next time.

Today marks the last day of summer school (fr my friends at least, because they blew off classes this past year!). Thank goodness I graduated on time, and I was able to walk. But lets hope that they don't have to go through a repeat next year, because that would honestly suck. I am going to stop by the school today and pay everyone a visit and then I will play this sort of disappearing act and make a surprise return when I visit the school at their new location. People are already hype. But I can only pull such a thing off if I drop contact with almost everyone I know. It seems silly but I really want to surprise everyone at an unexpected moment. Well people be shocked when I return? I wasn't really popular around the school until late junior year until mid-senior year. But at least some people are already anticipating my return. They'll get one today, and then they'll get one in a few months. When will that be? They'll just have to wait.

Let's see....

Dang, I haven't been here in a loooooong time.

Let's see what's new with me. Oh, yes, I am now a high school graduate. I am done with high school, but without a doubt, I already miss my fellow high schoolers. We did it all. I wouldn't rather have it any other way, but oh well, we cannot stop progress. For a fact, we'll run into each other real soon someday.

So let me see what's new. For one, I am going to college. For once, I am going to listen to my mom. She is known for making poor decisions, especially when they pertain to me, but right now, I'm not going to worry about that. I really wanted to go to Marymount Manhattan College, but maybe it's time to be real. I'm not even paying for the school, financial aid is. My tuition is covered. But if what my mom says is true and I get the unused money back, then I can save that up for NYU, which is my main priority. So I will be heading to the College of Staten Island for one year instead. I am actually psyched about it because I love the commute between Staten Island and Brooklyn/Manhattan, and unlike my friends, I actually like Staten Island. But NYU is where I WILL be in sophomore year, trust me.

My GPA for Term 4 came up to be a 2.9, how, I don't know. I thought it was supposed to be higher and better than that. I am a little disappointed with myself, as I really wanted to go out in style, with grades that were off the wall. But hey, at least my rank is within the top 20, and at a recent awards banquet (where I received some awards and more money for college), 19 other kids and I got recognized for it, so it's all good. I am content with that.

What's new? Oh, yes! I am getting my Advanced Regents Diploma!!! After FOUR attempts, I got a 66 on my Math B Regents, and I also took the Latin Regents; I got a 79.

I am good to go! Phase 1 of my life is complete! (That was to graduate high school with a top award.) Phase 2.1 is complete: get into college. All I need to do is complete Phase 2.2, which is to get to NYU, and complete Phase 3, which is to pursue my career in filming and make my own TV show! Then my life will be complete. Stay tuned!

End of the road. No, U-turns are not allowed....

For the past several weeks, I seem to have reached a new low, and I really wonder: how can I turn myself onto a path if the signs don't alow you to? In my case, I can't make a proper turn for where I want to head becuase obstacles are telling me otherwise.

On the first day of April, I realized that I didn't get into NYU, the college of my dreams, the college where I hoped that I would start it all, and I'll never forget that day, not only because it was April Fools', but the whole thing seemed too wrong, and I was torn. There is a part of me that will never mend because of NYU's decision to not let me in, and I don't think I can ever forget that, or forgive them for their decision either.

I had a perfect backup college: Marymount Manhattan. I was grateful that one college saw my potential and let their doors open for me to walk in. But I don't even know if I will be able to make it through those doors in time; I have a $200 tuition deposit that's still pending and my mom really doesn't care if I even attend college anymore becuase she wants me to attend a CUNY college, the most overlooked college in New York and on the East Coast. My mom's only concerned abou her needs; she hates spending money on anyone and usually dishes it all out on bills, nails, hair care, and cigarettes, my biggest pet peeve ever. And I get the short end of the stick of $10 a week. Like really, like I can do anything with that for a whole week. And she usually takes it back for whatever reason, my goodness. Now I don't even know if I will be attending college at all, and I feel that the past year planning on colleses have been wasted. I feel like my whole life has been wasted.

Sometimes I wonder: do your relatives share your best interest, or your friends? My brother thinks that his friends share his best interest, and I'm starting to think the latter now. For most of my life, I've been anti-social, an outcast, a nobody, just the average joe that dealt with school and home, and didn't have time for friends. A few months ago, I've been blessed with five wonderful people that I can consider friends and share my best interest, more than my mom ever will. My former circle of peeps from junior year disbanded, and I was left with no one. But not anymore. If I had to choose the five people I've got to know two months ago and everyone else who would give me a thousand bucks to be their friend, I'd choose the former: no one can buy friendship, that's something that's ultimately...priceless.

Two Months Left!

Wow, only exactly two more months and my four-year tenure at The Williamsburg Charter High School is over.

What a run. The first school that I've been to and I spent all my time there (I've been to different elementary and junior high schools, but I've been to one high school, and I rather wouldn't be anywhere else. I mean that to a great extent.

What made my school the way it is? The wonderful people that go and work there. I'm glad to know all the students I have made friends with, as stuck-up as they may be. But they have taught me that here will be a variety of people in college and you can choose who you want to hang out with. But no matter what college(s) I'll be in, I won't meet any greater staff members or teachers that I have come to know over the years.

I'm sincerely going to miss everybody, but the good news is, it's far from over, so I'm going to make these last two months the best two months ever!!!

Back in the slump....

2009 is not my year. I may as well just be upfront. I thought things would get better, but not so. My life at school is in shambles. I found out what my grades were for this term, and I don't like them. I'm passing, but 'm not content:

• Government: 72
• Senior Seminar: 79
• English: 70
• Math: 78
• Art: 78
• Biology: 73
• Latin: 85

I find it crazy that I've been performing at this level, when I thought I would be doing way better. I'm back in the slump.

I have two months left until I'm officially out of high school. I need to step up to the plate or I'll be back making up classes for another semester.

Rejection hurts....

Yesterday was a bit of a rough patch for me, although it's not like I'm already bombarded with the craziness of the week in progress to get any last-minute work done before the third term ends tomorrow. I still have work to do anyway. But sometimes I wonder, what if my work doesn't pay off? Turns out it didn't. I didn't get accepted to NYU, the college of my dreams, the college that I was ready to give my life to, and I'm not handling it well, especially since they didn't show any faith in seeing what they could do for me as I was ready to show them what I could do in return.

I feel like I wasted my time, and I am shocked in their decision, and I'm also shocked in what made them go with that decision. I don't think I'll ever find out; it's not like I can call them and ask them, "WTF was that about?" That'd be crazy, more on the borderline of absurd. I want to pretend this didn't happen, but I can't. The damage is done, and is irreversible.

The good news is, there are other colleges out there that show some interest in having me as a sudent. I'll never forget the first acceptance letter I received, which was from Marymount Manhattan. Long Island University accepted me as well, and Marist had me on the waiting list. I would be somewhat content if NYU put me on the waiting list becuase at least they would have some interest in having me attend their school, but I guess that's not going to be the case.

I'll get over it, but I don't know how long it'll take though. I'll be starting my college career at Marymount and eventually transfer, but I'll never forget the moments and dreams that I had about being enthusiastic for becoming an NYU student. Those dreams will forever remain dreams.

3/6/9 all gone wrong!

I was really looking forward to a great day today. After a three-and-a-half month hiatus, I finally came back to skateboarding. I ordered a new deck last week on Wednesday and it came Monday. Today, March 6th, 2009 (or 3/6/9), I planned a skate trip to Staten Island and I invited some people to come with me. I planned the trip since November, and started inviting people in January. People were interested or couldn't go. Earlier this week I canceled the trip because it was going to train today but it turned out not to be the case. I rescheduled the trip, but some of the people who wanted to come changed their minds because I rescheduled on short notice. Some let me know that they weren't going to come, while the others that were supposed to didn't contact me at all. So yea, I'm glad to me skating again but things just didn't go according to plan....

...Which leads to the next incident: I booked tickets to see Late NIght with Jimmy Fallon, and I invited my cousin to come with me. Unfortunately, his brother got into a car accident, and can't come. I can't find anyone else to go with, as NBC's rules states that ALL members of your party must be present to attend the taping. I can't find anyone else to go with, so I'm going home, and will miss out on seeing Jimmy Fallon.

Sometimes, things just don't turn out the way you plan, and sometimes, that will lead to a big disappointment, just like now.

So, anyways....

Man, I haven't been around here in a long time.

Let's see what's to tell: oh, yes!!! My return to skating! March 3rd, 2009 is the day. I ordered my board earlier this week and it's on it's way. I'm finally seizing the moment.

Also, the 24th of February 2009 marked thirteen months since my board was stolen (yes, my board had been stolen because my school doesn't know how to take care of others' property and they had to pay for it). I ordered my board that day. the 21st marked the day I stopped skating overall in November on the 21st because of the stress building up in my life. I couldn't function right. Now, I feel that I can function and balance my life at school and at home. The 20th marked Conan's last show on Late Night, and I was indeed sad. I went to bed at 10 and woke up at 12:30 a.m. that day just to watch Conan's last show. I'll miss him as he will progress to bigger things in California, but I think Jimmy Fallon will do a great job at hosting. He starts Tuesday morning at 12:30 a.m. and I'm looking forward to watching his show.

I got Facebook!!! Yeah!!! It's way better than MySpace because you don't have to worry about being friends with people that you don't even know, so thank goodness for Facebook.

March 3rd is just a few days away!!! I will skate again! And March 6th, 2009, codename 3/6/9 is a skate trip to Staten Island with my friends. I am so looking forward to everything that lies ahead of me. I have rose again!...

I'm Coming Back!!!...

My desire to take control of my life again has finally come into play. School is no longer a factor for me, and here's why:

• My English grade went up from a 75 (term 1) to a 92 (term 2), averaging to an 84 for semester 1.
  
• My Pre-Calculus grade went from a 67 to a 81, averaging into a 74.
• AP Bio went went from a 79 to an 80, averaging into an 80.
• AP Government (History) stayed at a 77 for both terms, meaning I have a 77 for Semester 1.
• Latin went from an 81 to an 82, averaging into an 82.
• AP Art grade went from a 73 to an 87, averaging into an 80 (not included in GPA).
• Senior Seminar went down, but by only one point, 95 to 94. At least it's a 95 for Semester 1 (not included in GPA either).

All in all, my GPA went from a 2.2 to a 3.3, rounding roughly to a 2.8 (I ranked at no. 17 out of 124 students for the first semester).

So what does this mean? I'm at a "I can do better but I'm content with where I'm at" level, and there shouldn't be a reason why I shouldn't be. I wasn't on track last term, and I paid for it. I made sure I did better this term to "even" everything out. I still felt that I could have done better, however.

The good news is that I can return to my normal life. I just have to take control of what needs to get done first, and what can be put on hold for later. But the even good news is that it warrants a return for skateboarding. When? I'm not revealing yet until...02/13/2009! Not far away at all!

Looking back...and looking forward....

I wanted to write this when I graduate in June, but I think I'll write this now:

The past three-and-a-half years of high school was an experience that I'll promise that I'll never, ever, ever forget. I've had my ups and downs, and I loved every minute of it, because high school taught me how the real world will be, not just college, but the work force as well. Now that I'm a senior, I only have five months before it's all over. Senior year was the most challenging year ever. Freshman year, you would be getting used to high school, and sophomore year is the same, except that you're now used to it. Junior year is when the challenge comes into play, and if you don't adapt to the challenge in junior year, then you won't be ready for it in senior year. Trust me, because I feel that I could have done better in junior year. I could have been in the National Honors Society, but my GPA wasn't good enough becuase I wasn't good enough. I'm not trying to be hard on myself, I'm not at all, but I'm just looking back to realize what I could have been. It may be too late to leave a mark in high school now, but it's not too late to leave a mark in college, probably becuase college for me didn'tm even start yet. If I do get into NYU, I promise to make sure that I'll accomplish everything that I didn't in high school. I'm not using NYU as a rebound, but I know that they would want to see the best in me, and nothing less. If I don't get into NYU, then I know that I'll be able to transfer, but only if I put myself to the challenge in my freshman year in college. I can still do this. NYU is not out of my reach. It's a far reach, but I can get there if I put myself to it.

The worst is SO not over....

I've almost finished finals. Congratulations to me. Things at school is getting much better. Things at home, eh, not so much.

I really wanted 2009 to be my year, but right now, it's not looking good. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. My mom and I had a huge argument and something almost ugly ensued. I'm not at liberties to discuss it, but I think a lot of people know the definition of ugly is when something happens between you and your parents.

I don't think I told anyone about the death of my dad, but if I haven't, I'll spill it out. He passed away in 2004, a day after my thirteenth birthday (December 18th, so his passing occured on the 19th). I really don't tell anyone about my dad, especially if they ask though.

My dad and I lived together for twelve-and-a-half years. He got sick in 2004 and I had to move in with my mom, and my life has gone downhill ever since. I've lost interest in the things I used to care about. My grades have slipped. I don't even know if I ever want to skateboard ever again. That's how much my life sucks. When you're a teen and don't want to socialize, then something must be wrong with you, and you're not a normal teen at all.

I remember one time my cousin, who's 23 right now, was told by his mom not to come to the house for the rest of the evening. This was sometime around last year, and he, along with both of his parents and an older sister and a younger brother, live under the same roof. He slept at his girlfriend's house for the night, so based on the severity of what went down between me and my mom yesterday (did I mention that my iPod and phone are gone?), I'm going to stay over at my brother's house for the weekend, and hopefully, she'll cool down, and so will I.