days go by...

Jules Hamilton by Milan Vukirovic for L'Officiel Hommes April 2011

Lately I feel just like this picture; caught up in the middle with two sides pulling at me- one being work and the other school yet somehow unfazed by it. I've been pretty absorbed by both but I haven't landed in the complaining department just yet, which I find rather interesting seeing that I really really enjoy my free time. Guess I'm maturing? Haha. Wait. Possibly? Whaa?? But I have started to notice that my days are kinda blending into one blur and I'm usually left in a very "sigh" kind of demeanor. Like, I'm just there and complacent just like Willy Cartier in his recent spread by Mariano Vivanco in Numéro #21.

That's definitely not me... I've got too many layers of self-made crazy to act like the second coming of Nicole Kidman (we all know she's really a robot). So I'm going to make a huge effort of not being a Stepford Wife Boy or else I'll probably be booking into the Betty Ford Rehab Center shortly after I have my Charlie Sheen level meltdown. Yeah, that would be no bueno. BUT then again if someone were to film such a mess and puts it on youtube, I'd be an internet phenomenon. E! would surely come knocking on my door and offer me my very own show. Hmmmmmmmm, on second thought... 

images via tfs

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Chronicles #7

[Andrey Zakharov by Corrinne Stoll]

I've been having such a great time and actually enjoying myself during this final exams season. Yup, enjoying myself! Luckily this semester I decided to keep on top of everything and it's all paid off. I feel prepared and not freaking out on the various unread chapters that usually plague me during this hectic time. Instead I find myself taking long breaks from studying to just walk around the beach, get myself lost in my people-watching trances, or just making up perfect vacations to exotic places (I even look up the hotel, the airline, and the sights I'd love to see)... man, it feels great to be able to walk through this crazy time unscathed. I have plenty of things on my to-do list but I'm just crossing them off one by one without a worry. I feel incredibly free and I'm just taking life as it goes. It sure does pay to be responsible. Who would've thought? Ha! Btw, good luck to all those who find themselves in final exams too. Dominate those babies!

Chronicles #6: Oh no she di-int!I! My H&M encounter.

I recently went to an H&M that opened up in my little town. I wasn't really looking for anything but to pass time. If I saw something than so be it. For the most part there wasn't anything that I hadn't seen before. But for the heck of it I decided to try on some basic pieces. Now, my mom has always taught my siblings and I to be curteous and wellmannered people so of course when I got to the fitting room I flashed my little smile and said my "hello, how are you doing today?" only to be snubbed with a "how many items?". I brushed it off. As we headed into the dressing room, she placed my two shirts on the inside-rack and then handed me my jeans. Wait... "handed" me is not the right word... more like P U S H E D it on to me and then hastily walked right passed me without saying a word. Rude. I was thrown off by her ill tempered demeanor that I didn't want to try anything on so I walked right out and you best know that I was on my cellphone about to share my experience with my sister. With a phone in one hand and my clothes on the other, the little troll asked me to go back and get my number card in such a "how dare you not" tone. I steadily marched to my dressing room, picked up my number card, walked directly to her, pushed my pile of clothes onto her, heard something fall, looked at it on the floor, gave her the "bitch, you work at H&M for a living" glare, and walked out. I had won this one. 

But for some reason I didn't feel like I had. I had never EVER treated a salesperson with such a pompously douchey attitude before and I felt somewhat horrible. I knew that I could have listed out reasons as to why I was in the right and how much she deserved it but I couldn't. I wish I could have carried on with my day but I couldn't help but to think of the experience and how much I had let myself down on many levels. I was let down in the fact that I let someone get the best of me, behaved so rudely and most importantly that I did so not just as a form of retaliation but because I felt entitled to do so. For a brief second I became a classist. No bueno. So, I apologize for my earlier "you work at H&M" comment. I'm not that kind of chap and such a state of mind is totally unmerited. No one is on a high horse. Actually all of this behavior is a no-no in the R. Gratz Book of Awesomeness. I should've taken the high road and showered her with niceness instead. Not only would I have been a better person but I'm sure that it would've aggravated her to see that I was unaffected by her negativity. 

Lesson learned. Thanks, mom. 

Chronicles: #5

Is it weird that I always look forward to brushing my teeth? I'm actually a bit obsessed with it and feel McNasty when I don't. Even as a kid I'd take a travel kit with me to grammar school so I could brush after lunch or snack time. Haha, yes, I was THAT kid. But I'm not gonna lie, it has all paid off 'cause I have a stellar smile that has been my signature. It's ridiculous how far a great smile can go. I'm not sure where this going but, oh yeah, umm, brush your teeth motherlovers!!! And most importantly FLOSS FLOSS FLOSS- my dentist even told me he prefers for his patients to floss than actually brush. I wouldn't want to take chances so I do both religiously. Oh and just as an FYI please keep your toothbrush aaaaaway from your toilet because you don't want poop particles to land on it when you flush. As a matter of fact it's recommended to keep it 6 feet away. Just sayin'. 

«image via Terry Richardson»

Chronicles: #4

Umm, so this is totally random, like a lot, but I just got to thinking and I came to the conclusion that I need an albino pet. Nope, you didn't read wrong... I said I wanted an ALBINO pet. I don't even know how I stumbled upon the idea, what goes on in my head is still a mystery to me, but now that I have, I really think an albino little friend would do me right and complete my world. Wait, wait, wait!!! Killer idea in 3...2...1... how about an R. Gratz Albino Petting Zoo of Awesomeness!?? Sweet Baby Jesus! That would be soo choice! SOOOO... in true R. Gratz manner, I went ahead and recruited my ideal candidates to be part of my winter wonderland mafia. They are as follows:

Nicole Kidman, the Albino Deer

Fiefel, the Albino Tiger

Princess Cuddle-Bee, the Albino Koala

Jagger, the Albino Hedgehog

Kooks McGee, the Albino Kookaburra 

Rutherford, the Albino Owl

and last but certainly not least...

Regina George, the Albino Peacock

Man oh man, how freaking majestic/phenomenal/astonishing/extraordinary are these amigitos? They are a true testament of how truly wonderful and glorious this world can be. And even better is the fact that they also prove that being unique and different is such a beautiful thing. 

Chronicles: #3

I recently lost my wallet and have been hoping/praying/wishing/wanting for someone to turn it in at the establishment that I stupidly left it at. Sadly, that isn't the case. It makes me upset to know how people can be so inconsiderate but I knew the chances of me getting back my Gucci wallet would be slim to none. I really couldn't care less about it being a designer dud- even though it sucks, it can be replaced. What makes me truly upset is that it is MY wallet with MY cards in it! I know that these also can be replaced but it takes a couple of days or even weeks to get everything back in order and quite frankly it's just a bitch to do. And like most college students (and maybe everyone for that matter) I rely on my ATM 100% of the time and being temporarily broke is a sucky-ass situation. Fuck "finder's keepers, loser's weepers"!!! It is also at this time that I begin to think about lady karma and how she's let me down. I've found expensive personal items and although it would've been nice to call them my own, I couldn't help but to feel for the person that had lost them. Instead I gave it to the establishment where I found them in hopes that it would be reunited with its rightful owner. So where is MY nice person? Nowhere to be found. So what's the use of playing nice when you just get fucked over? Fuck it. WHOOOOOAAA!!! Wait one second... WTF am I saying!!!!??? My madre definitely taught me better than to think that way. I guess I'm just scorned a bit and needed to get my bitchassness out of my system. Now more than ever will I continue to be an honest person and I hope you will too. Stooping to other peoples level isn't ever a good thing. Positive vibes for everyone- even for the new owner of my wallet. In other news... it stopped raining :) . 

Chronicles: #2

    While reading Prince Pelayo's infamous KateLovesMe blog, I came across a post in which he reflects on his feelings about a new found "weird place" he currently resides in. Reflections are always mysteriously  reanimating to me and to read another persons was soul inspiring. As I scrolled down his post I came across a little collage that he created. It was until that moment that I started to do some reflecting of my own, which completely caught me off guard. I fell unreservedly transfixed and the collage sparked up feelings of uneasiness. I didn't know as to what it pertained to- all I knew is that I felt somewhat discomfited. But it was a good kind of anxiety. The longer I stared at the collage the more I became in-tune with what was truly bothering me: I felt incompletely complete. I don't know if that makes any sense, heck I'm still confused, but it's powerfully correct. I feel like a jigsaw puzzle that was finished by using other parts of other puzzles- a collage. I realized that I've reached out to other parts of people and somehow fused them into myself and ultimately created this entity that I thought was unique. This whole time I was thinking I was an individual and completely unscathed by other influences. I guess I unconsciously refused to see it. Yet, I didn't feel conquered or that I was living a lie. This realization made me just aware and I wholeheartedly accepted it.
    But then I also started to think: who in this world isn't impacted by others? And then I realized something really damn peculiar which is confusing yet makes sense too. As we live our lives we are constantly meeting and interacting with various types of people. We soon, whether we like it or not, start picking up characteristics and other tidbits of these people. Suddenly we become our very own collage. And like any collage out there- no two are alike. So in the end we are actually indeed individuals- we're just made up of other puzzle pieces that create our very own Mona Lisa. The chances of this not being an original idea by yours truly is probably high but I don't care. I'm just glad that I was able to disipher this uneasiness by myself and I can actually say that I'm glad I did. I was to some extent fearful but now, now I'm at ease. I love my collage and I unconditionally hope that all you do too- we are all beautiful pieces of art.

Chronicles: #1

    I just got back from an amazing stint in Mexico and man oh man was it a blast! The people, the culture, the cuisine, EVERYTHING about this beautiful country is pure perfection. I was definitely heartbroken to be leaving but alas I have countless memories that will live on forever in my crazy head. So, thanks, Mexico and all your wonderful people for tolerating my shenanigans. This was by far the best way to start the year!
    Speaking of which... it's fucking 2010 and this is my first post of the year!! Fuck yeah! And you know what!?? I'm utterly excited for this year! I know, I know... everyone always says crap like "this year is gonna be the best!" or "this one is going to go down in the books" and yadda yadda yadda, but I truly feel that this year is going to be fucking legit, amazing, sicktastic, and everything awesome! I don't know what it is but I haven't ever felt this excited for a particular year. EVER. I can't pinpoint what it is I feel is going to happen but my entire entity feels that only greatness will come my way- this year will be a PERFECT 10!!! 

    I decided that I'm going to start an array of entries called "Chronicles" which will mostly be random spurts of whatever is on my mind that is or isn't entirely connected to my mostly fashion oriented posts. I guess it will be a kind of erratic-word-vomit-journal type of deal. It can be anything from how I'm feeling on a certain day, my reactions to social and media events, what inebriated shenanigans I get into... pretty much more personal posts. I know I love to curate an eclectic array of all things fashion (and then some) but I realized that I don't tend to write about, well, me. And I don't mean "me" as in a way to be conceded but as in expose myself in a much more intimate manner that allows you all to hopefully paint a better picture of who I am as a person. I mean, you all somewhat know the kind of guy I am based on the things I cover in my posts but a more personal dash of rapport would only help. So in an effort to develop a better connection with you all, "Chronicles" is born.
   So what's on my mind now? Brittany Murphy! I had no idea she had passed away. While on holiday, I never sat down to use the internet for social media usage or did I ever pay attention to the tabloids. The world could have ended and I wouldn't have known. Which in a sense is a great thing because all I wanted to do was to get away and spend time with my family. Anyways, as I started to get back into my daily routine and got caught up with everything I missed, I came across a post about her passing and I fell into complete shock. I still am. Actually, it was more of "WTF!! Nooo waaaaay!!? Her? Never, ever saw this coming! Seriously, for reals!???" It's just soo bazaar and random to me. I pretty much just spent the past few hours reading everything on the nets about her tragic death and it still hasn't sunk into reality. I actually really did like her as an actress- she always made me laugh. I specifically loved her in "Uptown Girls" and I watch it a couple times throughout the year (yes, I just confessed it)- it's actually one of my favorite movies to watch whenever I get together with my little sister. I also remember her hilarity in "Just Married" with Ashton and who could forget her cult classic role as Tai in Clueless? I also completely digged her  vocal collaboration with Paul Oakenfold in "Faster Kill Pussycat" and to be quite frank with you, I was obsessed with it!!! I can't even tell you how many times I played it once I first heard it. My roommies will testify- it was on constant repeat. 
   I really did enjoy all her work and will remember by the legacy she leaves behind. But sadly most are now just focusing on what led to her sudden passing: her bad habits, her inner demons, etc.  I don't entirely care for what the tabloids are saying about her so-called "demise" but what I do care about is that she finally rests in peace, regardless if it was way too soon. She will forever be the beautifully corky and hilariously sweet girl that she perfectly portrayed in my favorite movies. There is no doubt in my mind that she is starring in her own flicks in heaven and making the big guy upstairs laugh. God bless her and her family. I don't want to end with a sad note so instead I leave you guys with an interview Brittany did with Letterman. I think it's a great depiction of her amazingly great personality and her beautifully genuine self- seriously just notice how polite, quirky, and lovely she is... plus her laughter is contagious. Also, I leave you guys with her music video to her song with Paul Oakenfold- pure greatness. Enjoy.