Tag Archive for 'life'

A Brad Chin “Quickie”

Published
by
Bradtastic
on November 3, 2008
in Personal
. 3 Comments

bradtastic brad chin at new york pizza

I HAVE A LONG, DEEP POST PLANNED, but I realized that I haven’t updated in a while. The birthday-and-post-catastrophe is over, things have been getting better. The weather is much nicer… we had our “first rain” and hopefully there’s more to come. Either way, I appreciate the gray-days—much easier on my eyes.

I’ve updated my Amazon Wish List; I’ve been told in the past that I’m “difficult to shop for,” perhaps that was the case, not-so-much anymore. On the list are items that I really want, but don’t end up buying for myself… at least not for a while. Worthy of special note: Andy (MagicByAndrew) gifted me a Soul Calibur 4 Arcade Stick and recently, the ASUS Eee PC 1000H (a phenomenal machine)… I’m also now a proud Kindle owner thanks to Kristen… (Kristen: The Kindle totally rocks, thank you so much!)

Sometimes I prefer gifts to cash for consulting and the life-coaching work that I do, some people can’t resist saying “I love you” in a special way and others end up at my Wishlist to get gift ideas for others or to take a look at “what’s hot.” There are items ranging from expensive-almost-ridiculous to under-$10. What my associates and I offer others (many, many men) is happiness, fulfillment and perhaps for the first time, successful relationships with others… and I ask, “what’s happiness worth to ya?” [Note: I really like Moleskine Notebooks, (visit the Moleskine Store) I fill'em up quickly. I think everyone should carry one. Also available at B&N, also makes a great gift!]

MY PLAN WAS TO RELEASE MY FIRST BOOK around the premier of VH1’s The Pickup Artist season two, however, as time goes on, I learn more, I add more… I’d like my work to feel “more complete.” The writing hasn’t stopped, however, far from it. During the process of self-discovery and journaling, I started to realize that I have within-me a fiction—my first fiction—I never thought that that would be my type of tale-telling. Without touting my own work too much, from what I can tell, it’s psychologically-thrilling and twisting—it’s an erotica dealing with power-exchange—instead of focusing on the pornographic aspects of love and writing a smut, I’m focussing on the inner-workings of human nature and behavior… with kinks.

I know that it’s not for everyone, but seriously… what is? I hope I can shock some people, open the minds of the closed and assure the closed-in and guarded that it’s okay to be who you are. I’m still fulfilling my original goals of crafting and consolidating a collection of my work called “The Art of Impression.” I’m also slowly releasing some of my new inkwork (Note: it’ll probably appear at my inkblog first, Bradtastic Inkblog aka bradchin.com) and I’m also putting together some new vectors… who knows, maybe I will have that limited addition t-shirt run that I’ve wanted!

Lastly, happy voting tomorrow. My perspectives on politics and society have been  called abhorrent in the Bay Area, particularly SF… my friends, family and associates understand, however. It’s okay to want different things, and it’s definitely okay to voice those opinions. Whatever happens this election/voting period, I’m sure that my life will still rock and I hope that yours does, too. We can either blame each other, society and the rest of the world for our problems, or we can say “the buck stops here,” and make life better.

Seriously… what’s happiness worth to ya?!

Until next time…

The Consummate, Fantastic

Published
by
Bradtastic
on September 11, 2008
in Personal
. 0 Comments
Today marks seven years after a national tragedy… and God bless us, we haven’t been hit again, since. I think far too many people dismiss and overlook the real threat that radical Islam presents to us, America and other free nations and peoples, all over the world. Europe has since been attacked. Many thanks to the brave men and women overseas, putting their lives on the line… and I want to mention that I truly admire the brave men of the 82nd, over in Afghanistan, willing to drive Hummers at a snail’s pace to draw Taliban gunfire to them, and away from the ANA and Afghan nationals.

 

It’s almost my birthday, and while it has been an eventful year, it’s also been a trying, hard and somewhat lackluster year for yours-truly. No longer reeling from my Grandmother’s death on a daily-basis, I look forward to figuring out the first parts of my “true” adult life, and I’ve been fortunate to have the time to think it through.

A lot of analysis, thinking and soul-searching took place before this post; it wasn’t out of anticipation or preparation to blog something big, life just gave me an opportunity and I took it. I’ve made some changes, I’ve been on-and-off sick, still struggling with Stage 2 Hypertension and medication issues… but things aren’t all bad.

I’m lucky. I have great people in my life.

I’ve met some extraordinary women…

I wouldn’t be who I am without ‘em. I think relationships are the greatest treasure, beyond assets, and therefor, this human-connection means so much to me. I let my life play out more publicly and openly than most… I don’t necessarily encourage others to do the same, but I hope it does help to open new lines of communication and encourage honesty.

I love Tennis and I miss playing the game; I’ve been thinking about restringing one of my racquets and hitting against a ball machine just to get the feel of it (and to see if I can). I have a few friends (and a great US Open) to thank for the inspiration to try. I’m playing pool a little bit more, and I’d like to get my own table someday soon. I’ve been open and honest about my politics, drug use, sex life and interests… hoping in-part that this free-communication will make the taboo a little more approachable. I’ve been trading the gadgets and electronics for fountain pen and paper, I regained some hand-control after losing the necessary coordination to perform all of the magic that I’d like… this energy and chaos is fueling my art (mostly inkwork) that I hope will one-day, someday soon, inspire tattoos for my left shoulder and beyond.

 

I don’t have all of the answers, but I like to help. I like to share, even when it’s all random stuff. Everyone has something to complain about… so I offer: get out and do, enjoy, and make life grand. Don’t waste time worrying about the wrong stuff, be thankful for the right stuff, and try to take responsibility for as much of life as possible.

I sleep during the daylight (usually), and I’m awake for the quiet, the clarity of night. The sky is filled with opportunity, and my dreams are as grand and as lively as ever (some people might blame opioid analgesics). Reality binds us all. Control goes to those who take it… and dreamers… well, I can assure you, aren’t so bothered by rising gas prices or burdened by others’ failures. Life is just too good’n’short for that.

I’m excited for this weekend, next, and the 16th. Righ’now ain’t bad!

Stay positive, honest and informed, and you can be ‘tastic, too.

Twitter Killed the Blog In Me!

Published
by
Bradtastic
on July 10, 2008
in Personal
. 0 Comments

“What’s up?!”

The inevitable question I used to answer in oh-so-many different ways. It’s not my favorite question; it’s occasionally more of a statement, and I don’t always want to share the answer.

  • With close-friends: it’s a phone call or shared in-person.
  • With other friends: SMS or instant message.
  • To all others: a blog post.

ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, I’D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUM-UP AND SHARE my life events, stories and work in the form of a blog post. If I had something particularly-important, I’d even cross-post. I enjoyed the recaps, the feedback, the small, semi-insignificant validation that my life has meaning…

this is all in the past.

Now, the web-elite has microblogging; this simple 140-characters-or-less pleasure is significant mental-masturbation, and the death of the “what’s up.”

The process is not only simple, it’s accessible and always-on. (Well, maybe not Twitter… but some microblog is going to be up!) These services can be updated via instant message and SMS; from a PC or a phone, friends, family and others can follow, get notified and update. Almost anything can warrant a change of status: going to the grocery store, standing in line for a movie or a club, meeting someone famous, having the rare opportunity to hang out with Bradtastic… and with a microblog, the whole world could know it.

Not that the whole world would (or should) care. Regardless, these services are so integrated and “status” is so heavily-prevalent, many people are likely still unaware that they’ve bought-into the trend. Myspace has it, Facebook has it… instant messengers have it.

 
Several times last month, I sat at my computer, staring at a blank page, wondering why I couldn’t blog about my life. I finally realized, and it was so simple: I already had.

Explanation of inevitable pain, thwart destruction

Published
by
Bradtastic
on July 5, 2008
in Personal
. 3 Comments

I sometimes do ugly stuff when I’m feeling sick, and I’m past my limits to tolerate the pain I’m always stuck with… I feel bad about it, but when I can’t sleep, can’t eat and can barely move

life then, just doesn’t feel worth living.

DURING THE BETTER TIMES I’ve experienced some of life’s great pleasures and wonderful experiences. I’ve met some of the most interesting people, some beautiful women with wonderful personalities and gorgeous character. During these times, I’m still in pain but I feel great; I’m in my element and it shows.

I love having people come up to talk to me, a group of women during “girl’s night out,” ignoring the groups of men and the pairs of guys (trying to pretend they’re too cool and not interested.)

The guys gawk and can’t understand how this tall, thin and possibly frail, injured, flawed, long-haired, dark-sunglass wearing Asian is getting all of this attention.

I hear “is he famous?” “I think he’s a model,” “I’ve seen him before, he was with that blonde, remember her?” It’s all in the distance… they’re too-timid to move into my territory. I’m clearly under the social-spotlight, and I enjoy the adoration. I don’t own the club, bar or venue… I do however, during these moments, dominate the ground I stand on and wouldn’t want it any other way.

I want to share these joyous memories

I want to document them; without actually seeing it happen, many can’t understand, appreciate or even believe that these stories are true. During these good times, I’m not looking for sex. I’m not looking for love… I’m finding company, personal connections. I’m entertaining and being entertained, it’s as if my soul is taken care-of by these events. The flattery is a welcome ego-boost; arrogant as I am, I know my flaws and I know my weakness…

I know that at almost any-moment, without warning, I can be stripped of it all and I’ll be sent spiraling-downward,

forced to deal with tremendous pain and the agony of defeat brought-on by my condition—no outside force is ever so irrevocably damaging as the side-effects of narcotics and the withdrawal symptoms from not taking them as the mere-shell of the deeper damage, trauma, mixture of physical and emotional pain…

…slowly seething, swirling in a brew, the eventuality always similar or same: I’m going to hurt. It’s really going to hurt.

I’m lucky to have a few great people, willing to sacrifice so much time and energy to help me feel a bit better. It must be difficult to put-out so much with prior-knowledge that no amount of effort will ever FULLY alleviate my suffering. It can be a disappointment to try so-hard and never fully succeed or accomplish one’s goal… this I know.

This, to the great ones who’ve helped me, and continue to help me through: I love you, so very much. Thank you.