LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH | My Story | Pride Songs

So, as you may (or may not) know, June is PRIDE MONTH!! And while I could choose just any song for the returning Song of the Month, I didn't think that would fit the ticket. Fitting with the theme, I decided to just post this video by WatchMojo.com on Youtube instead to support our community and our Allies. Not many may consider Pride a holiday or even a month of celebration--particularly those not in the community--but LGBTQ+ peoples and our Allies are welcome to celebrate and what better place to start than by having some music, right?

Additionally, we think we may know a bit about LGBTQ+ history. I even thought I did and this was only debunked when I spent a weekend at UCLA for a Pride Admit weekend (for incoming LGBTQ+ students) and we played the very famous Kahoot with LGBTQ+ related questions that no one could really answer. It was pretty hysterical. With that said, here is another video by WatchMojo regarding some of the most significant events in LGBTQ+ history. It's pretty enlightening and interesting just to see that we've come a long way--from violence and drastic oppression to a standard of acceptance in society. We still have to overcome dangerous hazards and personal oppression maybe at work, at home, or whatever, but we as a world have gained acceptance, even despite some places in the world being more fundamentalist or extremist. People are going to disagree, but find a community (whether online or in your local area or school) where you are most happy; you'll need some environment to be there and support you when it may seem that others are not. Remember: most of the world is on your side. If you go to a pride parade, which you can find in many major cities, like L.A., you'll see a multitude of diverse faces of people in the community and our Allies who are with you. By going to the Women's March, I never knew that there were so many people that agreed with my ideology--many people of different shapes, sizes, shades, religious affiliations, gender identities, sexualities, disabilities, you name it! We're all here together. I support and love you!

Alright. If you guys are LGBTQ+ or somewhere in between and you are a little ambivalent about coming out or coming to terms with who you are, feel free to email me at funkynurd.aero@gmail.com so we can talk all about it. Everything will be completely confidential! I do an advice column on one of the blogs that I guest blog at, so this is like second nature. Additionally, I have my AA in Psychology, which doesn't say much, but I will also be getting my MS in Neuroscience, and with my personal experience and from witnessing other coming out stories (via Youtube and friends/family), I think I can help. I'm at a place in my life where I'm happier with my transition and LGBTQ+ identity. Being apart of this community is important. It demonstrates another aspect about yourself that makes you more and more unique. We all have our own paths to happiness and self-confidence, so I want you all to know that it's okay to take your time. No one should be pressured to come out.


Lastly, I want to tell you my coming out story . . . just not now . . . not yet. I am planning it though. I'll do a video and blog post on my transition with pictures and the whole shebang--but next June. It will be a year in the making. Since I am still transitioning, I felt it would make sense to see a complete transition during the next Pride month. Partially because that will require more time and dedication to acquire all the pictures and therapy and stuff, there is so much to say--from my discovering that I'm trans at the age of 3 or 4 to being in school to coming to terms with who I am, including depression and a hell of a lot more. I don't want my story to be all over the place. And, still, there's still so much I haven't experienced as a trans woman. I just know that UCLA will offer me the right resources to allow me to feel more in tune with myself and my body. 

I AM BACK!!

So peeps,

I am back, and I'm sure you all missed me (*crickets*). Nonetheless, I have been busy with my studies, as expected. To catch you all up to speed, I have been busy graduating high school and community college simultaneously, which, as you can expect, is not an easy feat. It's like being pregnant, eating for two (or in Octomom's case, nine).

The food may seem irresistible and you may not be exactly dissatisfied with eating more (I mean, who would?), but at the end of the day, it's a lot of work--watching what you consume for the sake of the health of the baby/babies. That's what my life has been like for the last, well, who could count [years/months]? Needless to say, I went to two schools and did twice the amount of work as my peers on top of my rocky personal life, extracurriculars, volunteering, and work--just so I could be one step closer to my idea of success and happiness. 

Wear the Cape: Being Bold!

Happy Friday Nurds!

To put a little flare this week than I usually do (what do I usually do?), I put a capital letter in "Nurds" for really no particular reason at all than to be a little more distinct. Ironic 'cause making the word, "Nurd" is bold in itself. Making this blog, I decided that I wanted to identify as the exterior mold of clay--conforming and always malleable, but distinct despite all of the mold that encompasses me. Nurd defines me pretty well: a nurd with flare or geek chic if you will.

4 ores on chimes = the perf hair chandelier

Have you had that moment as a seven-year-old when you ask your parents to wear your Cinderella dress to school or you simply show them, wherein the laugh and give you every reason in the book, pulling the "no" card, as parents do? Or for our male audiences here, have you wanted to wear the Spiderman or Batman costume out and about and in public? 

I woke up from my nap on a long Thursday from school, which is almost unfathomable to take naps when homework is always nailing you in the shin, and I mean ALWAYS, and read my feed from Elle and realize that it's that time of year for New York Fashion Week (Excited? Yeah, I thought so.). I read several articles, one including Leona Lewis' new album, which she released on her own without a recording company to support her. Talk about Badass! Another article vaguely describes the hype of NYFW and then BOOM! Seeing the models on the runway inspired me to wear whatever the hell I want today! 

Living in Southern California doesn't call for boots and winter pajama pants, so wearing so doesn't only seem uncomfortable in the recently 104-degree weather, but I decided to give this a shot! I like to classify myself as bold and daring, which might give people the impression upon hearing "bold" and "daring" that I'm an overconfident disaster at hand. Let's just say, I would like "bold" and "daring" to define me any day. I wouldn't ever want to think of myself as overconfident because what's there to preen about? I'm as average as the next person, with more or less advantage in my life than others, but I'm not stellar. And disaster? I may identify as bold and daring, but I'm still entirely insecure, too! Insecurity and confidence go hand-in-hand. You can't be confident without being insecure, because boldness fosters that extra push. So Disaster, I have my life together and know exactly where I'm going in life! 

To be quite honest, I was a little hesitant because my AP Calc professor, who I've had for nearly four years, is quite judgmental that he's not even subtle when he criticizes me. He does so to the point where he's "discreetly" staring at me, while I'm trying to evaluate math problems that nearly no one needs in their lives. Fun, huh? I get an A on an impossible quiz to pass and have done considerably well these last three years that he's known me as a student and he decides to make me feel like a targeted and insecure person in a masquerade? I wouldn't take it! So I nonchalantly walked into his class, ready for a lecture, wherein there was some staring and the teeth-gritting that he does, but I was confident to wear the cape because I wanted to wear it. Wearing this cape actually brought some encouragement and compliments that staring and teeth-gritting don't seem to have the power to overcome. 

To not stray from the whole Cinderella and Spiderman concept,  I realize that we should just let kids where what they want to wear. I mean telling them not to wearing an attention-grabbing and clearly distinct costume (without much reason, I might add) gives them to impression not to stand out. Like, what's wrong with  standing out? But that's how kids think, making them grow up caring about peoples' judgment without marching to their own people a little once in a while. We've grown like that, so a little call to action to us future parents out there: little the kid wear their damn costume! Okay! They'll learn from their own mistakes, so don't make them feel like another ball of clay, when they're still part of the same mold. And who knows, they might come home tired from entertaining people with "their" powers, right before Halloween, which means more candy for yourself than you give to others! Score!

Let's be Nurds together! Shall we?

~Joss

And what better way to celebrate boldness than KT Tunstall's "Fade Like a Shadow" to add color to this glorious Friday!

PS: My attire was actually unbearable to wear in the 100-degree weather, but hey, lesson learned. 

PSS: Nah, lesson NOT learned! I'll totes do this again and continue to die in unbearable heat! Challenge accepted ; )

PSS: Those who've passed will not be forgotten! God Bless! I hope Heaven is all I hope it is, and more!

Follow me on Twitter: @JLiL_Aero

Song of the Month | June 2015

Hi guys!

Happy Friday!  What a beautiful day it is here in Southern California!

I have finally caught up on my favorite movies and shows, sewing projects, and reading (of which was very minimal). But nonetheless, I watched 'Music and Lyrics", a movie, if you don't know, starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore in 2007!

The moment the movie began with the cheesy 80's "Pop Goes My Heart" by the fictional band POP, I was instantly gawking at the television screen until commercial. I must add that after my binge-watching, my DVR recordings dwindled massively so that I could make room for movies and show I'd be missing in the coming weeks.

In addition, my Photoshop editing skills are always improving, so feel free to SHARE the quote below from the movie. Drew Barrymore just looked like an innocent angel saying it in the movie. Also, please listen to the song choice of the month below the quote entitled Way Back into Love, in which the entire movie is set on making between the duo.



Summer Reads and Plans: 2015

I can't express saying summer enough!

Well now that it is officially Summer, why not be daring, darling?! Be fierce

What I have brought up for you readers include some of the best things I have ever planned in my entire life so far. So thus far, this will be the best summer for me!

Late May: Apply for my childhood Dream Job

A job is a job, and to be honest, I'm glad that the manager is giving me an interview, but my childhood dream job means nothing to me now. But, hey it's just for the summer, and I desperately need money (I mean who doesn't right?) In case you don't know, I plan to attend NYU (which doesn't mean Naked Yellow Unicorn!!!) and trust me when I say that it is not going to be easy, so yeah, I don't mind boring myself during my shifts, cuz after all, it is only is temporary! I don't know what I saw in that job!

Sundays: Also known as my reading days, I just want to go to my local park and read my Summer Picks on a Swing. Besides that I option, I wouldn't mind sitting on a street bench, writing, while glimpsing at cars and a passerby or two enjoy their beginning of summer. Likely, I'll be binge watching on my fave (or not so fave) shows and movies and blogs (on Bloglovin)

Mondays-Thursdays: Unfortunately, I have goals and sometimes I want to shoot myself for putting an overload on myself, but soon, it will take me far, I hope. I mean, I'm definitely not going to stop when I have doubts! That will just give me all the more reasons to persevere!!! Basically, I have summer assignments for my AP/Honors courses and as I planned, I will finish my work by the end of July. But when I finish my work during these days, then I can continue my Sunday work (Happiness and rainbows on the inside), which is my goal--to just relax! I work far too hard, yet  summer is all about resting and I intend to take advantage of that before I start paying the dreaded bills!

On occasional days, I'll be taking classes to master some Drawing/Painting skills and Music Theory!

Fridays and Saturdays: Still, more work load, just less extensively, thank goodness! Nothing specific besides my morning runs and Sprintz drinks after I run. Oh and a little treat at Starbucks for a great week. Catch a new blog post on these days--every other Friday or Saturday.

Fridays and Saturdays may also be those days in which comfort and confidence transpire, amping to continue writing my novels! In addition, I'll be reading every book of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series; I love the two movies and am eager to read for eager again!! I also intend to teach myself coding and ukulele!




If you recommend any books, please leave a comment below and give me some blushies!

Why bore you with my summer plans? What do you dare doing this summer? 

Ya might catch me at the Color Run in LA or at a STEM (Science. Technology. Mathematics. Engineering) conference early June. ; )

Good Morning, Loves!

Here's to unusual Spring, lovely spring (and beginning May), and all that there is for hope!

 Soon check out my summer plans in mid-May, as I'm still studying for my 4 AP exams for two weeks more. Wish me luck! I am not hoping for luck (though I would totally steal some if you had it =P) cuz as I learned the hard way, it doesn't exist (curse AP Psych for ruining my childhood, but besides that, Psych is the best class I have ever had so far, because it has answered many years of question!) 

I am just hoping that all of the social seclusion and incessant studying (well, not incessant; let's be realistic here!) have paid off, because I don't wanna retake an exam only to pay extra money and restudy the material on top of the six exams that I'm taking next year!I've been practically studying from winter vacation with a bit of a hiatus (kinda like I've had with blogging, hahaha on my part).

My exams consist of: AP Psychology, my possible major (May 4th); AP European History, pointless class to me, consisting of an ass-oholic and sexist teacher whom I've rarely listened (fathered argued with) and benefited through self study (May 8th); AP World History, well, a class I'm not enrolled in, but self-studying included most elements of European History, so I thought, "what the hell" (May 14th); and AP Human Geography, a class taught last year by my current AP Psych teacher and connected all history to society, politics, intellect, and culture, economics (SPICE); I took the exam last year by got the lowest score possible due to insufficient studying (even though I had all the resources possible!), fostered by overconfidence (since I had an A in the class) (May 15th).

If I'm not dead by the 15th of May, I'll mention those summer plans that I mentioned earlier. Again, a lot to hope for in life, positive and negative, as both pave roads to success and general generativity.

To commemorate lovely April (which by the way, consisted of three consecutive days filled with a birthday of my sister , a proposal--not to me--but to my eldest sister, and a 30-year wedding anniversary of my parents), here are three lovely songs!

How To: 6 Ways to Survive Awkward | Part 2

Let's be serious--again--we've all had our moments, yes? So grab a cup of joe and sit crisscross because here are 6 tips to avoid da moments we don't feel our best.

In continuation of Part 1, here is Part 2 (duh!)