I've never been much for the coffee shop culture, but with my recent difficulty studying at home I've been going to Starbucks and occasionally Williams to get some studying done. It's not me at my most productive but, considering my waning study habits, "productive" is a relative term now. I'm still struggling with school and trying my best to stay focused and motivated, and I suppose this behaviour is a step in the right direction. If you haven't heard me complain endlessly about the insane December schedule I had last year, here is this year's schedule to give you some idea of my pain (as well as an idea of the kind of courses I'm taking):
Dec 1 - Endodontics
3 - Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
4 - Fixed Prosthodontics
5 - Operative
9 - Practice Administration
10 - Periodontics
12 - Oral Diseases
15 - Anaesthesia
17 - Growth and Development
Random thoughts regarding the quotation "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I love lemons--in candy, in food, and occasionally by itself for a fun wake-me-upper haha. That said, this quote doesn't really hit home for me, but I'd much rather revise it to be: When life gives you coriander, spit it out. I warned you--random.
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2014
Thursday, October 11, 2012
OCD Diagnosis Confirmed?
Yesterday's Toronto Star had a front page article on nail-biting as a type of OCD. Seems I was more correct than I thought when I jokingly had my suspicions in an earlier post. Of course there is a range of nail-biting severity, but I think that I am pretty close to or (more likely) included in the OCD group. Just like the OCD-diagnosed individual mentioned in the article, I bite my nails, as well as the skin, which quite often leads to bleeding. Also, it has been an ongoing habit since as far back as I can really remember. Sometimes I am able to refrain from biting for a few months at a time (during which period I celebrate by painting them regularly), but the escape from the "habit" has only ever lasted that long at the most. Other symptoms they mention are superstitious or magical beliefs (sound familiar?) and tapping. As I might have mentioned before, I sometimes tend to type out lines of dialogue as I'm watching movies. Furthermore, I do other strange things like try to have an even number of steps between sidewalk slabs and parking spot lines. This last set of counting symptoms I never really took seriously because it just seemed like a childish habit that I couldn't kick. But in the context of these other "OCD-like" symptoms, I guess it might mean something a little more than that. Anyway, the name of this condition is onychophagia. Pretty awesome name, I must say. I wonder if this self-diagnosis means I need psychiatric attention of any kind? Weirdly enough, these possibilities don't frighten me in the least; they rather excite me.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A-not-so Legendary League
If you haven't heard, whether from myself in person or from my latest facebook status updates and posts, my current obsession is a game. And yes, not just any sissy game like tetris or anagrammatic anymore (i.e. oldies but goodies) but one of those real-time strategy games. On the bright side, you might say that I'm getting closer to my Korean roots, since Starcraft is the same type of game. My friend Luke has also tried to get me into a similar game, DOTA (Wow).
Nerd Legend for the Un-Nerdy: DOTA = Defense of the Ancients; Wow = World of Warcraft
Anyway, the particular game I'm playing unfortunately isn't Starcraft or Wow, but it's supposedly the next best thing: League of Legends (LoL). How does it compare with its infamous predecessors? Well it's supposedly simpler and most importantly, it's FREE!
For those curious about what the game actually entails...
You choose a champion as part of a team of 4 other champions and you face an opposing team of 5 other champions. The objective is to take out the other team's nexus (base) by taking down their defending towers one-by-one. You accomplish this by helping your auto-spawning minions overwhelm their minions or by killing enemies champions and taking down towers yourself.
I don't have particularly great reflexes, and I get a little tense when I have to make reflexive, split-second decisions in games, so why in the world would I be interested in this game? Not to sound like a broken record, but it is primarily for the POWERS. Each champion has unique abilities that enable you to damage, stun, escape from, or defend yourself against enemy champions. Of course, you also get your pick of spells, boosters (called masteries), and runes! How much more magical can a game get? :)
Let me introduce you to a few of my friends...
Morgana
This is my favourite character because she is ranged and has lots of magic power! She's also supposedly a pretty easy character to play because she has a shield and a stun that often lets her support teammates and escape from enemies more easily. Doesn't her pallid, sickly body turn you on?
Tristana
This is my second favourite character. She is also ranged but does physical damage instead of using "magic". She is basically a trigger-happy little girl with a sizable toy.
Shen
This is not one of my favourites, but because teams need balance, I decided to learn one of the characters that have a lot of health and can thus take a lot of damage (i.e. a tank). I don't usually like playing tanks because I have this impression of them being slow and fat like army tanks, but Shen is bearable. Besides, as his description in the game says, "He's a flippin' ninja!"
So far, I've only really talked about the good parts about playing this game; however, like most things, it is not without its faults. Compared to most other games, the community of players is HORRIBLE. There is so much trash-talking, noob-hating, 12 year old girls, and other individuals with the maturity of a 12 year old girl. I was about to say humanity at its worst, but really it's humanity at its non-existence. Furthermore, outside of the bad players, the basic strategies required to win are immoral and without integrity. What exactly do I mean?
1. First, know this: winning is often achieved by killing enemy champions because you receive money for the kills. This money can be used to buy stat-boosting items. So how can I kill the most champions and thus win?
The best way to kill champions is not by valiantly challenging them to a 1v1 duel. Au contraire! you must gather a sizable portion of your team and jump the enemy champion when they are alone and unprepared! What kind of message are we teaching these 12 year old girls about fairness and self-respect? Certainly nothing about fighting fair; seems all's fair in love and LoL.
2. Staying alive is good. How do you do this?
Well, other than the occasional health potion, heal spell, or whatnot, the most effective strategy is to run away with your tail between your legs. In LoL, there is no shame in running away from a fight when you are dying--in fact, most of the game is spent "running away". Even from the measly computerized minions.
Note: But of course, if your trusty teammates come over to help, you should run right back into the fight so that you can kill the enemy 2v1. Where is the courage? The decency to die with pride?
3. White flag-happy. For certain situations (e.g. you have to go back to real life) I can understand why surrendering is an option but I still hate how it is an option. Even if the game isn't completely set, people are begging their own team to surrender for the whole game instead of actually playing it. Even if you truly have no hope, just play the friggen game! Don't give stupid excuses like "this is a waste of time". Lets be realistic; you're playing an online game instead of going outside, exercising, reading a book, eating amazing food, talking to real people, playing a live board game with your friends/family, etc. I could go on and on! The point is that by being on LoL you're already wasting time. In short, LoL hasn't taught these 12 year old girls anything about perseverence or accepting one's fate gracefully and nobly.
Nerd Legend for the Un-Nerdy: DOTA = Defense of the Ancients; Wow = World of Warcraft
Anyway, the particular game I'm playing unfortunately isn't Starcraft or Wow, but it's supposedly the next best thing: League of Legends (LoL). How does it compare with its infamous predecessors? Well it's supposedly simpler and most importantly, it's FREE!
For those curious about what the game actually entails...
You choose a champion as part of a team of 4 other champions and you face an opposing team of 5 other champions. The objective is to take out the other team's nexus (base) by taking down their defending towers one-by-one. You accomplish this by helping your auto-spawning minions overwhelm their minions or by killing enemies champions and taking down towers yourself.
I don't have particularly great reflexes, and I get a little tense when I have to make reflexive, split-second decisions in games, so why in the world would I be interested in this game? Not to sound like a broken record, but it is primarily for the POWERS. Each champion has unique abilities that enable you to damage, stun, escape from, or defend yourself against enemy champions. Of course, you also get your pick of spells, boosters (called masteries), and runes! How much more magical can a game get? :)
Let me introduce you to a few of my friends...
Morgana
This is my favourite character because she is ranged and has lots of magic power! She's also supposedly a pretty easy character to play because she has a shield and a stun that often lets her support teammates and escape from enemies more easily. Doesn't her pallid, sickly body turn you on?
TristanaThis is my second favourite character. She is also ranged but does physical damage instead of using "magic". She is basically a trigger-happy little girl with a sizable toy.
Shen
This is not one of my favourites, but because teams need balance, I decided to learn one of the characters that have a lot of health and can thus take a lot of damage (i.e. a tank). I don't usually like playing tanks because I have this impression of them being slow and fat like army tanks, but Shen is bearable. Besides, as his description in the game says, "He's a flippin' ninja!"
So far, I've only really talked about the good parts about playing this game; however, like most things, it is not without its faults. Compared to most other games, the community of players is HORRIBLE. There is so much trash-talking, noob-hating, 12 year old girls, and other individuals with the maturity of a 12 year old girl. I was about to say humanity at its worst, but really it's humanity at its non-existence. Furthermore, outside of the bad players, the basic strategies required to win are immoral and without integrity. What exactly do I mean?
1. First, know this: winning is often achieved by killing enemy champions because you receive money for the kills. This money can be used to buy stat-boosting items. So how can I kill the most champions and thus win?
The best way to kill champions is not by valiantly challenging them to a 1v1 duel. Au contraire! you must gather a sizable portion of your team and jump the enemy champion when they are alone and unprepared! What kind of message are we teaching these 12 year old girls about fairness and self-respect? Certainly nothing about fighting fair; seems all's fair in love and LoL.
2. Staying alive is good. How do you do this?
Well, other than the occasional health potion, heal spell, or whatnot, the most effective strategy is to run away with your tail between your legs. In LoL, there is no shame in running away from a fight when you are dying--in fact, most of the game is spent "running away". Even from the measly computerized minions.
Note: But of course, if your trusty teammates come over to help, you should run right back into the fight so that you can kill the enemy 2v1. Where is the courage? The decency to die with pride?
3. White flag-happy. For certain situations (e.g. you have to go back to real life) I can understand why surrendering is an option but I still hate how it is an option. Even if the game isn't completely set, people are begging their own team to surrender for the whole game instead of actually playing it. Even if you truly have no hope, just play the friggen game! Don't give stupid excuses like "this is a waste of time". Lets be realistic; you're playing an online game instead of going outside, exercising, reading a book, eating amazing food, talking to real people, playing a live board game with your friends/family, etc. I could go on and on! The point is that by being on LoL you're already wasting time. In short, LoL hasn't taught these 12 year old girls anything about perseverence or accepting one's fate gracefully and nobly.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
A Double Standard of Morals
I am a Justin Bieber hater hater. Yes, two hates. First of all, why do we have to hate him? Has he done anything evil? Certainly, criticism and subconscious jealousy always cause us to judge celebrities on the harsher side. But the Justin Bieber hate seems to be particularly strong even before he hit puberty (i.e. he was still young enough to be considered a "kid"). If people only stopped to view him objectively, they would realize he actually has some talent. He may not be the best singer in the world, but are ANY of the other celebrities really ALL that they're worked up to be?
Another thing, people make fun of his adherence to cheesiness and "trying too hard". I don't understand why we point and laugh at this because the things that celebrities resort to are a direct result of what we, as an audience, support. Those stupid, trendy things he does are simply a show of him catering to what WE have made popular. And yes, most of our "trends" ARE completely stupid; is it fair to blame all of it on this one kid? He's not only the scapegoat. He's a blatant sign of what ridiculous fads we endorse today and we refuse to acknowledge it.
And all those quips about his "girly", pre-pubertal voice are hateful and rude. In case we've forgotten, decades ago, young boys used to undergo the horrible castration process to preserve such a pure, clear vocal range. Similarly, those individuals were often mocked and seen as unmanly. Clearly our race hasn't evolved or matured very much at all.
What also bothers me is how strongly people are advocating LGBT rights (hopefully that's the right order...)--and some of these very same people are also hating on Justin Bieber. I'm all for equality and eliminating the hate, but clearly we're not sincerely into our own messages if we're hating on a kid who happened to get a lucky break into the celeb world. Like charity, eliminating the hate starts at home (i.e. from our basic, underlying principles). In fact, the underlying causes of hate come from not being able to understand or appreciate another individual's position, which is exactly what is going on here. From what I see on Youtube, on Facebook, the general Internet, there is so much hate and judgement on Justin Bieber (but not just limited to him, of course)...I doubt openness and equality will be achieved anytime soon. Of course, it's not a perfect analogy because he hasn't faced nearly the same level and duration of persecution as members of the LGBT community, but do we really need to let something get that far before we finally realize we've done something wrong?
We're a pathetic species with a superficial double standard of morals. I am disgusted and ashamed.
Another thing, people make fun of his adherence to cheesiness and "trying too hard". I don't understand why we point and laugh at this because the things that celebrities resort to are a direct result of what we, as an audience, support. Those stupid, trendy things he does are simply a show of him catering to what WE have made popular. And yes, most of our "trends" ARE completely stupid; is it fair to blame all of it on this one kid? He's not only the scapegoat. He's a blatant sign of what ridiculous fads we endorse today and we refuse to acknowledge it.
And all those quips about his "girly", pre-pubertal voice are hateful and rude. In case we've forgotten, decades ago, young boys used to undergo the horrible castration process to preserve such a pure, clear vocal range. Similarly, those individuals were often mocked and seen as unmanly. Clearly our race hasn't evolved or matured very much at all.
What also bothers me is how strongly people are advocating LGBT rights (hopefully that's the right order...)--and some of these very same people are also hating on Justin Bieber. I'm all for equality and eliminating the hate, but clearly we're not sincerely into our own messages if we're hating on a kid who happened to get a lucky break into the celeb world. Like charity, eliminating the hate starts at home (i.e. from our basic, underlying principles). In fact, the underlying causes of hate come from not being able to understand or appreciate another individual's position, which is exactly what is going on here. From what I see on Youtube, on Facebook, the general Internet, there is so much hate and judgement on Justin Bieber (but not just limited to him, of course)...I doubt openness and equality will be achieved anytime soon. Of course, it's not a perfect analogy because he hasn't faced nearly the same level and duration of persecution as members of the LGBT community, but do we really need to let something get that far before we finally realize we've done something wrong?
We're a pathetic species with a superficial double standard of morals. I am disgusted and ashamed.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Old at Heart
There are many reasons why I feel extremely old at heart.
1. I lack a sense of humour. Maybe I was born in the wrong time period or I'm just a cranky old woman. Either way I don't find most of today's catchy lines, popular movies, or TV shows all that entertaining. Honestly, I've given it a try--several actually. I have sat through many episodes of Wong Fu, Ray William Johnson, Jenna Marbles, [insert chinese name of loser who thinks (s)he's funny but makes me resent my Asian roots every time I see him/her trying too hard with his/her stupid video edits], How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, The Office, etc. without cracking even the slightest of smiles.
To add onto this, I actually hate sarcasm. It's just a way to say something horrible to someone else but get away with it by calling it a joke. You know the male strategy about asking girls out on April Fool's so they can call it a joke if they get utterly rejected? I liken sarcasm to that. Hypocritical of me, you say? Why yes, that's my favoured humour of choice. Why do I hate? Simple, I'm not really capable of any other kind of humour, since I don't really understand it. Also, I'll be honest with you. It hides the resentment and hurt I am feeling. Most of the time, I employ sarcasm in response to quips by others that offend me. I'm actually pretty sensitive inside, but I've become used to people being pretty harsh and evil that I guess I've evolved indifference and sarcasm as some sort of defense mechanism.
2. I don't understand why most trends today are trends. I have also endured all 8 Harry Potter movies and all of the most recent "UNRATED" comedy movies that have been deemed worthy of a good laugh by the general public and to no avail. I came out strongly resenting the opportunity cost of my $11 movie ticket. I refuse to purchase Uggs, Coach, DG, and other brand name products. I don't even know the names of half of the latest "hot" brands. JAYESSLEE...what to say what to say...It's like we've never seen a pretty girl. Or a singer. Or someone with a foreign accent. Going to pitch the triple threat thing? Go see real talent. Go see a musical.
3. I feel alone. Sometimes it makes me sad, but every time I reconvene with other homo sapiens, I re-appreciate how good it feels to be alone. No one can make you feel anything other than what you want to feel. That's why I don't need anyone else. The only one I've always been able to rely on has always been right here.
4. Other than the bare societal necessities (i.e. bank card, SIN card, passport, etc.), I don't care too much about my possessions. They're not going to last forever, nor are they responsible for my happiness; no need to pamper them with needless attention. Instead, I place value in the small things that have sentimental value. This often makes me careless; I guess it's something I should work on until I do reach my spinster years.
5. I feel like the best days of my life have already passed. This causes me to reminisce and regret the way I acted and the things I did.
1. I lack a sense of humour. Maybe I was born in the wrong time period or I'm just a cranky old woman. Either way I don't find most of today's catchy lines, popular movies, or TV shows all that entertaining. Honestly, I've given it a try--several actually. I have sat through many episodes of Wong Fu, Ray William Johnson, Jenna Marbles, [insert chinese name of loser who thinks (s)he's funny but makes me resent my Asian roots every time I see him/her trying too hard with his/her stupid video edits], How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, The Office, etc. without cracking even the slightest of smiles.
To add onto this, I actually hate sarcasm. It's just a way to say something horrible to someone else but get away with it by calling it a joke. You know the male strategy about asking girls out on April Fool's so they can call it a joke if they get utterly rejected? I liken sarcasm to that. Hypocritical of me, you say? Why yes, that's my favoured humour of choice. Why do I hate? Simple, I'm not really capable of any other kind of humour, since I don't really understand it. Also, I'll be honest with you. It hides the resentment and hurt I am feeling. Most of the time, I employ sarcasm in response to quips by others that offend me. I'm actually pretty sensitive inside, but I've become used to people being pretty harsh and evil that I guess I've evolved indifference and sarcasm as some sort of defense mechanism.
2. I don't understand why most trends today are trends. I have also endured all 8 Harry Potter movies and all of the most recent "UNRATED" comedy movies that have been deemed worthy of a good laugh by the general public and to no avail. I came out strongly resenting the opportunity cost of my $11 movie ticket. I refuse to purchase Uggs, Coach, DG, and other brand name products. I don't even know the names of half of the latest "hot" brands. JAYESSLEE...what to say what to say...It's like we've never seen a pretty girl. Or a singer. Or someone with a foreign accent. Going to pitch the triple threat thing? Go see real talent. Go see a musical.
3. I feel alone. Sometimes it makes me sad, but every time I reconvene with other homo sapiens, I re-appreciate how good it feels to be alone. No one can make you feel anything other than what you want to feel. That's why I don't need anyone else. The only one I've always been able to rely on has always been right here.
4. Other than the bare societal necessities (i.e. bank card, SIN card, passport, etc.), I don't care too much about my possessions. They're not going to last forever, nor are they responsible for my happiness; no need to pamper them with needless attention. Instead, I place value in the small things that have sentimental value. This often makes me careless; I guess it's something I should work on until I do reach my spinster years.
5. I feel like the best days of my life have already passed. This causes me to reminisce and regret the way I acted and the things I did.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Gossip Boy
Contrary to what seems to be popular opinion, I don't think girls are more prone to gossiping than boys. Girls are simply more open and less stealthy about discussing their beef with other people. Perhaps it has something to do with the stereotypical female conversation topics.
Where men fill their conversations with sports/gaming talk (and we all know how long this can go on...), women would otherwise discuss "girly" things like fashion and their own lives--what better way to get over the issues of your own life or salvage your self-esteem than to gossip about other people's lives? This is my hypothesis for why gossip appears to be more common for women than men.
A lot of men are generally less likely to discuss their personal life or, more specifically, emotions in conversation particularly in a public area. Does this necessarily mean they don't gossip as much? I don't think so...for a few reasons:
1. I think it's part of human nature to be curious about other people and how their lives have turned out. Male or female, we need and often seek out similar standards to our own lives; isn't that part of the reason the concept of a "celebrity" even exists? And lets face it, there are plenty of female celebrities that most girls don't care about in the slightest (*cough Megan Fox). Yet they're still making headlines and selling movies; clearly, they must be receiving support from our male counterparts in the audience. Point being, there is equal motivation for males to gossip. Sometimes the motivation for seeking out gossip may be different for males and females. For example, males might entertain gossip just for entertainment, to be in the know, etc.
2. As I alluded to before, men are more stealthy. Generally, not over-brimming with emotion, they have the patience to save gossip for a private place, and when they know something, they are more experienced with keeping emotions in, regardless of how exciting it is. Take a royal flush for instance; the top 10 poker players in the world, rated by ESPN in 2010 are all men (http://www.onlinepokernews.org/poker-news/top-10-poker-players-according-to-espn/1791). This also speaks to their bluffing skills. Furthermore, men have an additional reason not to openly gossip: it's become known as a "girl" thing to do. What's that saying for a loop--something about a self-fulfilling prophecy?
3. Yes guys tend to be more upfront about things, but they also avoid creating drama or heated arguments, especially ones they know they can't win no matter what they say (i.e. husband-wife). Not being addressed directly, some of this emotional burden might come out through other means such as gossip.
4. Gay guys excluded, what do guys love ALMOST as much as their games/sports? Girls. And lets face it, we're complicated--or at least we try to be. That only adds to our allure and intrigue, but it doesn't make snagging one of us any easier for the guys. Unlike most sports/games, there isn't really a GENERAL strategy that works on all of us. I believe that has created the need for guys to discretely share intel on the different girls they are close to and have unlocked the secret levels for.
Gossip is an unfortunate but necessary thing for us as humans. Men and women do it just as frequently. However, the motivations, subjects, and ways they go about gossiping differ.
Where men fill their conversations with sports/gaming talk (and we all know how long this can go on...), women would otherwise discuss "girly" things like fashion and their own lives--what better way to get over the issues of your own life or salvage your self-esteem than to gossip about other people's lives? This is my hypothesis for why gossip appears to be more common for women than men.
A lot of men are generally less likely to discuss their personal life or, more specifically, emotions in conversation particularly in a public area. Does this necessarily mean they don't gossip as much? I don't think so...for a few reasons:
1. I think it's part of human nature to be curious about other people and how their lives have turned out. Male or female, we need and often seek out similar standards to our own lives; isn't that part of the reason the concept of a "celebrity" even exists? And lets face it, there are plenty of female celebrities that most girls don't care about in the slightest (*cough Megan Fox). Yet they're still making headlines and selling movies; clearly, they must be receiving support from our male counterparts in the audience. Point being, there is equal motivation for males to gossip. Sometimes the motivation for seeking out gossip may be different for males and females. For example, males might entertain gossip just for entertainment, to be in the know, etc.
2. As I alluded to before, men are more stealthy. Generally, not over-brimming with emotion, they have the patience to save gossip for a private place, and when they know something, they are more experienced with keeping emotions in, regardless of how exciting it is. Take a royal flush for instance; the top 10 poker players in the world, rated by ESPN in 2010 are all men (http://www.onlinepokernews.org/poker-news/top-10-poker-players-according-to-espn/1791). This also speaks to their bluffing skills. Furthermore, men have an additional reason not to openly gossip: it's become known as a "girl" thing to do. What's that saying for a loop--something about a self-fulfilling prophecy?
3. Yes guys tend to be more upfront about things, but they also avoid creating drama or heated arguments, especially ones they know they can't win no matter what they say (i.e. husband-wife). Not being addressed directly, some of this emotional burden might come out through other means such as gossip.
4. Gay guys excluded, what do guys love ALMOST as much as their games/sports? Girls. And lets face it, we're complicated--or at least we try to be. That only adds to our allure and intrigue, but it doesn't make snagging one of us any easier for the guys. Unlike most sports/games, there isn't really a GENERAL strategy that works on all of us. I believe that has created the need for guys to discretely share intel on the different girls they are close to and have unlocked the secret levels for.
Gossip is an unfortunate but necessary thing for us as humans. Men and women do it just as frequently. However, the motivations, subjects, and ways they go about gossiping differ.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Stuffing and Stuff
So, this week wasn't good from a practical standpoint (I've been told it's practical to worry about your GPA and career development). I had two midterms, and I'm pretty sure neither of them went too well. Unfortunately, all I can honestly say about it is, "Oh well." I don't know where this indifference is coming from, but my apathy for school is creeping up on me again, and I don't know whether to feel scared or relieved--I am even apathetic about my apathy.
Up an octave, physically, I feel better about everything...and I guess, myself. :) Last night, I went to sleep at a reasonable time: 1am. Baby steps right? Oh! A major reason why I haven't been sleeping lately is because I've been studying so hard. OH GOD, I hope you didn't believe me; I'm not nearly as dedicated as my ethnicity makes me out to be. -_-" The REAL reason why I've been staying up late is that I recently received Fire Emblem: Sealed Sword for GBA emulator, and it's been distracting me from schoolwork all term. I guess in a way I am a dedicated Asian because I just couldn't put the game down without beating it to completion. AND LAST NIGHT I FINALLY BEAT IT--well sort of, but lets not get into that. :(
This weekend, I went home and ate turkey with my family! It was less dry than turkey usually is, and the stuffing was amazing. THE END. Good stuffing means an amazing meal. Period. Well, I guess I should mention the other stuff anyway...so I had dinner with my family on the Saturday, and my mom made TOO much food. Hah, at least I'm not at home, so I don't have to help with all the leftovers. Sunday, I went to my Aunt's and we had Hakka takeout. It was interesting: a bit saucy and we could have chosen spicier dishes, but it was something new. It was also a celebration of my little cousin's birthday! She is turning 2 this year, and she seems to be developing faster than other kids her age. I'm rather interested to see how she turns out. I hate how my aunts, uncles, and parents keep comparing her to the development of me and my cousins. It pokes me right in my competitive spot; I feel like I want to go back to that age and show them that I can be advanced too...
Well, this week I've been reflecting on how I interact with my peers and "friends", and I think either I'm getting better at it or they are. Not exactly sure which, but somehow they've become more tolerable, and I'm starting to enjoy their company more (as I imagine I should be). I don't know what else to think or write, so I shall end that thought there.
Something random that occurred to me today:
Not that I'm emo or seeking attention, but I was thinking about people who have attempted or succeeded at suicide. Somehow it occurred to me that if I attempted suicide and backed out at the last minute or was completely unsuccessful, not only would I have to continue living, but I would also have to deal with the repercussions of my perceived emotional instability and failed attempt. Aside from all the friend/family shock, I again looked at this from a "practical" standpoint: If I ever wanted to apply for professional schools or "higher-end" jobs, my attempted suicide probably screwed whatever slim chances I ever had. Moral being, if you're going to do something, go for it all the way, I guess? I'm not sure there's really a moral in that, but it's what was going through my convoluted brain on the long walk to orchestra rehearsal.
Anyway, I'm going to try to squeeze in some forced productivity and attempt a self-imposed curfew. Good morning, good afternoon, and good night!
Up an octave, physically, I feel better about everything...and I guess, myself. :) Last night, I went to sleep at a reasonable time: 1am. Baby steps right? Oh! A major reason why I haven't been sleeping lately is because I've been studying so hard. OH GOD, I hope you didn't believe me; I'm not nearly as dedicated as my ethnicity makes me out to be. -_-" The REAL reason why I've been staying up late is that I recently received Fire Emblem: Sealed Sword for GBA emulator, and it's been distracting me from schoolwork all term. I guess in a way I am a dedicated Asian because I just couldn't put the game down without beating it to completion. AND LAST NIGHT I FINALLY BEAT IT--well sort of, but lets not get into that. :(
This weekend, I went home and ate turkey with my family! It was less dry than turkey usually is, and the stuffing was amazing. THE END. Good stuffing means an amazing meal. Period. Well, I guess I should mention the other stuff anyway...so I had dinner with my family on the Saturday, and my mom made TOO much food. Hah, at least I'm not at home, so I don't have to help with all the leftovers. Sunday, I went to my Aunt's and we had Hakka takeout. It was interesting: a bit saucy and we could have chosen spicier dishes, but it was something new. It was also a celebration of my little cousin's birthday! She is turning 2 this year, and she seems to be developing faster than other kids her age. I'm rather interested to see how she turns out. I hate how my aunts, uncles, and parents keep comparing her to the development of me and my cousins. It pokes me right in my competitive spot; I feel like I want to go back to that age and show them that I can be advanced too...
Well, this week I've been reflecting on how I interact with my peers and "friends", and I think either I'm getting better at it or they are. Not exactly sure which, but somehow they've become more tolerable, and I'm starting to enjoy their company more (as I imagine I should be). I don't know what else to think or write, so I shall end that thought there.
Something random that occurred to me today:
Not that I'm emo or seeking attention, but I was thinking about people who have attempted or succeeded at suicide. Somehow it occurred to me that if I attempted suicide and backed out at the last minute or was completely unsuccessful, not only would I have to continue living, but I would also have to deal with the repercussions of my perceived emotional instability and failed attempt. Aside from all the friend/family shock, I again looked at this from a "practical" standpoint: If I ever wanted to apply for professional schools or "higher-end" jobs, my attempted suicide probably screwed whatever slim chances I ever had. Moral being, if you're going to do something, go for it all the way, I guess? I'm not sure there's really a moral in that, but it's what was going through my convoluted brain on the long walk to orchestra rehearsal.
Anyway, I'm going to try to squeeze in some forced productivity and attempt a self-imposed curfew. Good morning, good afternoon, and good night!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Peer pressure: Stop, Go, or Slow?
So it's been a while since I've vented anything onto here, but I'm sorry to say that I'm back. It's not even a fresh thought, but I just wanted to do anything else but study for exams (even my games are getting boring).
Something I've noticed is that movies and social media in general over-emphasize the impact of peer pressure in high school--at least, where it is present, it's very subtle and not nearly as dramatic as Mean Girls makes it out to be. One particularly odd place I've noticed the effect of peer pressure is at traffic lights, especially when there are lots of people there (e.g. crossings near a university).
Scenario: A large group of students who just got off the bus want to cross North/South.
-The red-orange hand is up, but there are no cars traveling West/East.
From my personal interpretation of my observations in these situations, I have identified 3 main groups:
1. A few individuals boldly cross after seeing the path is clear: I think of them as the rebels or bolder trendsetters.
2. Others stubbornly stand their ground. After all, the red hand = stop. No but's about the rules.
3. The final group of individuals are those who stood there all that time watching Group 1 cross, unsure of whether they should do the same or not. To "break the traffic rules" or not? Finally, after a brief inner struggle with the pressure enforced upon them by their Group 1 peers, they decide to cross.
Ironically, most of the time, the West/East traffic lights would have turned yellow by then (i.e. the white man will appear soon, and those patient and strong-willed enough to stand their ground will be able to cross shortly as well).
NOTE: In the absence of Group 1 individuals, Group 2 and 3 members are indifferentiable.
I enjoy watching Group 3 struggle with this minor barrage of peer pressure. Gives me something to do during those long, uncooperative lights.
P.S. The results of this study may not apply to those ridiculously long lights in residential areas because sometimes those are just ridiculous. In those cases, late crossers may be a result of impatience. After all, none of us are getting any younger.
Something I've noticed is that movies and social media in general over-emphasize the impact of peer pressure in high school--at least, where it is present, it's very subtle and not nearly as dramatic as Mean Girls makes it out to be. One particularly odd place I've noticed the effect of peer pressure is at traffic lights, especially when there are lots of people there (e.g. crossings near a university).
Scenario: A large group of students who just got off the bus want to cross North/South.
-The red-orange hand is up, but there are no cars traveling West/East.
From my personal interpretation of my observations in these situations, I have identified 3 main groups:
1. A few individuals boldly cross after seeing the path is clear: I think of them as the rebels or bolder trendsetters.
2. Others stubbornly stand their ground. After all, the red hand = stop. No but's about the rules.
3. The final group of individuals are those who stood there all that time watching Group 1 cross, unsure of whether they should do the same or not. To "break the traffic rules" or not? Finally, after a brief inner struggle with the pressure enforced upon them by their Group 1 peers, they decide to cross.
Ironically, most of the time, the West/East traffic lights would have turned yellow by then (i.e. the white man will appear soon, and those patient and strong-willed enough to stand their ground will be able to cross shortly as well).
NOTE: In the absence of Group 1 individuals, Group 2 and 3 members are indifferentiable.
I enjoy watching Group 3 struggle with this minor barrage of peer pressure. Gives me something to do during those long, uncooperative lights.
P.S. The results of this study may not apply to those ridiculously long lights in residential areas because sometimes those are just ridiculous. In those cases, late crossers may be a result of impatience. After all, none of us are getting any younger.
Monday, June 13, 2011
My Herbaceous Sprouts
Not sure if I mentioned it in my past food flings post, but I love herbs. In pasta, in salads, or simply by themselves--they're yummy. :)
Let me back up for a second...
Last Friday, I went to see X-men: First Class--if you've seen it and you have EYES (at the least), you probably already know that it's an awesome movie. For those who haven't WISELY taken the time to see the movie yet, there's a scene in it where the young X-men recruits are discussing their code names. This is when I realized their names are unique and pretty cool. Anyway, seeing the new movie inspired me to rewatch all the movies in chronological order, so I started with the first X-men movie on Saturday night--and I realized that Rogue and Storm are pretty cool names too (Jean not so much--does she even have a code name...?).
And we're back where we started...
One day when I was bored (sitting on the toilet, if you're one for details), a strange thought came to me: herbs have elegant, unique names. I think I'd seriously consider naming my child an herb. Probably one of my favourites: Oregano or Basil (if it's a guy) and Parsley or Mint (if it's a girl). Although it's my nemesis in the world of herbs, I have to admit that Coriander is a pretty sexy name for a girl too. Anyway, I think you get the point: my child will have a crazy superhero name or that of a herb. I understand if you feel sorry for my offspring--stuck between a superhero complex and a leafy green place.
But seriously, people have named their children worse things, right?
Let me back up for a second...
Last Friday, I went to see X-men: First Class--if you've seen it and you have EYES (at the least), you probably already know that it's an awesome movie. For those who haven't WISELY taken the time to see the movie yet, there's a scene in it where the young X-men recruits are discussing their code names. This is when I realized their names are unique and pretty cool. Anyway, seeing the new movie inspired me to rewatch all the movies in chronological order, so I started with the first X-men movie on Saturday night--and I realized that Rogue and Storm are pretty cool names too (Jean not so much--does she even have a code name...?).
And we're back where we started...
One day when I was bored (sitting on the toilet, if you're one for details), a strange thought came to me: herbs have elegant, unique names. I think I'd seriously consider naming my child an herb. Probably one of my favourites: Oregano or Basil (if it's a guy) and Parsley or Mint (if it's a girl). Although it's my nemesis in the world of herbs, I have to admit that Coriander is a pretty sexy name for a girl too. Anyway, I think you get the point: my child will have a crazy superhero name or that of a herb. I understand if you feel sorry for my offspring--stuck between a superhero complex and a leafy green place.
But seriously, people have named their children worse things, right?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Funfunfun Partying Partying
So, I'm back at school this summer doing my 3B term. I'm still in the process of switching out of the Science and Business program and hopefully into Biomedical Sciences or Honours Science. Well here's the program for the next four months:
BIOL 140L Intro Microbio Lab - Haven't had it yet, but heard the instructor can give tricky quizzes.
BIOL 241 Applied Microbiology - I LOVE how this is a survey course. Me being me, I'm not one for details but I like big picture stuff. Plus, my prof is awesome. She's extremely knowledgeable and makes a (potentially) boring subject interesting. Hope the lab isn't too much work...
BIOL 303 Intro Developmental Biology and Embryology - study of embryonic development, basically. My prof is the (in)famous Dragana Miskovic--heard she's scary and whatnot, but I actually like her. She's no nonsense and she throws in dry humour jokes. Love those (no sarcasm).
BIOL 308 Molecular Biology - Don't know if it's the nature of the course or if it's the prof, but I feel like we haven't done anything for two classes now. Bruce Wolff is also infamous for his boundless stores of knowledge to go with his brawn (sarcasm). Perhaps shrugging, going off topic, and ignoring bolded/capitalized terms in HIS OWN NOTES are the new signs of genius...? This is the only class I have trouble staying awake in.
CLAS 104 Classical Mythology - Learning about the Greek/Roman gods. Awesomeee! My only regret is that Persephone doesn't have her own Chapter in the textbook or is an area of emphasis in the course. Psh, their loss, Persephone. ;) The prof is nice though, and he makes it very interesting--then again, I can't decide whether credit is due to him or the actual course content. Only downside is that there is a lot of reading (i.e. 140 pages for the first week!!).
HRM 200 Basic Human Resources Management - Like the prof. She has a strong voice and seems like another no-nonsense prof. Don't like the fact that we have to do ASSIGNED team projects...always a risk in university because at least in high school, you know who you're dealing with right off the bat. Course seems straightforward, and to be honest, I chose it because it is a well known birdie at UW. :)
So I'm finished my Day 4 of school, and I've already been trying so hard to study and stay on top of healthy eating/living habits. Surprisingly, it's going well! Although, the last thing I've been doing is having fun. While going through the countless pages of reading assigned for all my courses, that's one of the many thoughts that I "iron-willedly" had to suppress from my mind in order to stay focused on the task at hand. I eventually unsuppressed it so I could write this little complaint.
I find it annoying and pointless if people describe themselves as "fun-loving" or "knows how to have fun". Makes me see them as pretentious and egocentric. After all, the descriptor "fun" is rather subjective in nature. Who isn't fun-loving? It just depends on what people find fun. Not to endorse it or anything (because I find it super lame and one of those comedies where I feel forced to laugh after not laughing for a looong time), but Dwight Schrute is a prime example of this phenomena. Normal things that his coworkers find "fun", he doesn't, and at first glance he seems like a grumpy "un-fun-loving" guy, but you start talking about potential customers, and he's all smiles and fuzzy peaches.
Anyway, all this reading has made me quite brain-tired, so I'm going to end my post here. The reading must go on.
P.S. Orange is my least favourite colour, and I'm not feeling too happy/great right now. Hence the font colour choice.
BIOL 140L Intro Microbio Lab - Haven't had it yet, but heard the instructor can give tricky quizzes.
BIOL 241 Applied Microbiology - I LOVE how this is a survey course. Me being me, I'm not one for details but I like big picture stuff. Plus, my prof is awesome. She's extremely knowledgeable and makes a (potentially) boring subject interesting. Hope the lab isn't too much work...
BIOL 303 Intro Developmental Biology and Embryology - study of embryonic development, basically. My prof is the (in)famous Dragana Miskovic--heard she's scary and whatnot, but I actually like her. She's no nonsense and she throws in dry humour jokes. Love those (no sarcasm).
BIOL 308 Molecular Biology - Don't know if it's the nature of the course or if it's the prof, but I feel like we haven't done anything for two classes now. Bruce Wolff is also infamous for his boundless stores of knowledge to go with his brawn (sarcasm). Perhaps shrugging, going off topic, and ignoring bolded/capitalized terms in HIS OWN NOTES are the new signs of genius...? This is the only class I have trouble staying awake in.
CLAS 104 Classical Mythology - Learning about the Greek/Roman gods. Awesomeee! My only regret is that Persephone doesn't have her own Chapter in the textbook or is an area of emphasis in the course. Psh, their loss, Persephone. ;) The prof is nice though, and he makes it very interesting--then again, I can't decide whether credit is due to him or the actual course content. Only downside is that there is a lot of reading (i.e. 140 pages for the first week!!).
HRM 200 Basic Human Resources Management - Like the prof. She has a strong voice and seems like another no-nonsense prof. Don't like the fact that we have to do ASSIGNED team projects...always a risk in university because at least in high school, you know who you're dealing with right off the bat. Course seems straightforward, and to be honest, I chose it because it is a well known birdie at UW. :)
So I'm finished my Day 4 of school, and I've already been trying so hard to study and stay on top of healthy eating/living habits. Surprisingly, it's going well! Although, the last thing I've been doing is having fun. While going through the countless pages of reading assigned for all my courses, that's one of the many thoughts that I "iron-willedly" had to suppress from my mind in order to stay focused on the task at hand. I eventually unsuppressed it so I could write this little complaint.
I find it annoying and pointless if people describe themselves as "fun-loving" or "knows how to have fun". Makes me see them as pretentious and egocentric. After all, the descriptor "fun" is rather subjective in nature. Who isn't fun-loving? It just depends on what people find fun. Not to endorse it or anything (because I find it super lame and one of those comedies where I feel forced to laugh after not laughing for a looong time), but Dwight Schrute is a prime example of this phenomena. Normal things that his coworkers find "fun", he doesn't, and at first glance he seems like a grumpy "un-fun-loving" guy, but you start talking about potential customers, and he's all smiles and fuzzy peaches.
Anyway, all this reading has made me quite brain-tired, so I'm going to end my post here. The reading must go on.
P.S. Orange is my least favourite colour, and I'm not feeling too happy/great right now. Hence the font colour choice.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Mastering the Craft of War
"SO IT'S (almost) FINALS WEEK"...
and I've been looking for a new fix. No, I haven't quite ventured into the ominous world of chemical fixes (yet), but rather have stumbled upon a psychological (?) fix. And considering my ethnicity, what an appropriate fix it is...
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm talking about Warcraft, or more specifically Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (or something along those lines). Not really being very skilled with typical gaming maneuvers and the pressure of real-time gaming, I've tended to shy away from these types of games, so how could I have possible gotten myself into WC3, you may ask?!
Well, it all began...
this term when my good buddy/roommate, Luke, would blast crazy music from his room next door. We call it his "one man rave" soundtrack. Anyway, when I commented on his crazy music one time, he mentioned that it got him pumped up for DOTA, and he offered to teach me how to play sometime. The opportunity to finally uncover the mysteries of defending the ancients was too tempting to resist. Only a couple weeks ago, I infected my computer with WC3, and have been playing it every so often when I feel like searching for my inner Korean. :)
I still suck...like a LOT. Even when half-decent players team with me against an easy computer, it usually ends up being a close win because the other hero tends to level up super fast from killing me--not to mention that I haven't even DARED to play online yet.
ME PLAYING ONLINE = INSTANT TROLL TARGET :(
Anyway, if we all started out perfect, there wouldn't be a need for the dreaded entity we know as "practice". Although, admittedly, I thought I'd have a steeper learning curve than most--what with my decent manual dexterity, perseverence/motivation to learn (games), and my genetics. Before I actually tried the game, I imagined myself reaching at least 100 APM (assuming that's fast...else, how am I supposed to know? I'm a n00b...cut me some slack) in a couple hours...pfft, guess I'm truly not as Asian as I thought. Gotta be careful what I wish for...
P.S. I realize the truly Korean game is SC2, but aren't they all basically the same? APM's and all...? -_-"
and I've been looking for a new fix. No, I haven't quite ventured into the ominous world of chemical fixes (yet), but rather have stumbled upon a psychological (?) fix. And considering my ethnicity, what an appropriate fix it is...
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm talking about Warcraft, or more specifically Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (or something along those lines). Not really being very skilled with typical gaming maneuvers and the pressure of real-time gaming, I've tended to shy away from these types of games, so how could I have possible gotten myself into WC3, you may ask?!
Well, it all began...
this term when my good buddy/roommate, Luke, would blast crazy music from his room next door. We call it his "one man rave" soundtrack. Anyway, when I commented on his crazy music one time, he mentioned that it got him pumped up for DOTA, and he offered to teach me how to play sometime. The opportunity to finally uncover the mysteries of defending the ancients was too tempting to resist. Only a couple weeks ago, I infected my computer with WC3, and have been playing it every so often when I feel like searching for my inner Korean. :)
I still suck...like a LOT. Even when half-decent players team with me against an easy computer, it usually ends up being a close win because the other hero tends to level up super fast from killing me--not to mention that I haven't even DARED to play online yet.
ME PLAYING ONLINE = INSTANT TROLL TARGET :(
Anyway, if we all started out perfect, there wouldn't be a need for the dreaded entity we know as "practice". Although, admittedly, I thought I'd have a steeper learning curve than most--what with my decent manual dexterity, perseverence/motivation to learn (games), and my genetics. Before I actually tried the game, I imagined myself reaching at least 100 APM (assuming that's fast...else, how am I supposed to know? I'm a n00b...cut me some slack) in a couple hours...pfft, guess I'm truly not as Asian as I thought. Gotta be careful what I wish for...
P.S. I realize the truly Korean game is SC2, but aren't they all basically the same? APM's and all...? -_-"
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Word of My Recent Life
One of my favourite adjectives to describe some of my least favourite things is
PRETENTIOUS
I'm sure many of you can guess why...
I'm sure many of you can guess why...
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Jolly Reaper
Just to restate the obvious, I'm a terrible person, but, in truth, we all are. I have ridiculous, unconventional opinions that most people disagree with or despise. I also don't feel bad enough to hide these thoughts from the public, so don't spazz/preach at me if you're wasting your life reading this and it seriously offends you. It's a friggen blog, not the newspaper. If I wrote whatever was politically correct and common of any rationally published book, what would make it uniquely "Christie"? Nothing. Why would you even be interested in reading a "retelling" of what you already know and believe? You wouldn't.
Like the title in the classic Chicken Soup for the Soul series, here it is, the subject of my post:
DEATH AND DYING
From the movies (and/or wherever else you hear generalizations about the public), I've heard that most people are afraid of dying. Given all the other ridiculous things I'm afraid of, I'm surprisingly not afraid of death. ...And before you give me too much credit, admiration, or disbelief, I'll have to come clean and admit that I AM afraid of pain. I suppose this makes me a gutless coward, oh well. Moral: If I'm in tremendous pain, please pull the plug on me.
I've actually thought quite often about dying--how it happens, what it would be like, how people on earth would react, and if I could still watch over (or haunt!) them from heaven (hopefully). To be honest, it would, ironically, MAKE MY LIFE EASIER. Why, you may ask.
Well, knowing my lack of direction in life and lack of passionate interest in anything, what IS there to live for? Pretty much the only thing I am truly interested in experiencing is true love and raising children. I don't even mean necessarily settling down and living the quiet home life. As long as I achieve those two things, I would be content to move from place to place, travel the world, or, in the most extreme case, live off the streets. All that other stuff seems unimportant in the complex recipe for "Christie's Happiness". However, since achieving those two things (without finding a job and societal niche that I would enjoy) seems pretty unrealistic, I wouldn't mind dying at all. My buddy, the reaper, would, in fact, be doing me a huge favour.
On another note, I've been asked a couple times recently (in some form or another), "What is your preferred method of dying?" To that, I always answer, "Easy. Death by salt." I truly believe I am a sincere food lover (and not one of those loserish teenagers posting on their fb profile interests: EATING AND SLEEPING, but that's a post for another day), and one of my favourite flavourings is salt. It's pretty much the magic ingredient for making food taste good. When I inquired about how to make fried rice, someone answered that all you need is salt. Of course, that may be a more extreme, unrealistic example, but I felt it was symbolic of salt's magical properties. In fact, salt has broken the alluring spell of candy/sugars on my tastebuds. When given an option between chips and candy, salt wins me over to the former almost immediately. Apparently you can die from consuming about 1kg of it. When the time comes, I will find a way to make this possible--and enjoy every last grain. :)
Like the title in the classic Chicken Soup for the Soul series, here it is, the subject of my post:
DEATH AND DYING
From the movies (and/or wherever else you hear generalizations about the public), I've heard that most people are afraid of dying. Given all the other ridiculous things I'm afraid of, I'm surprisingly not afraid of death. ...And before you give me too much credit, admiration, or disbelief, I'll have to come clean and admit that I AM afraid of pain. I suppose this makes me a gutless coward, oh well. Moral: If I'm in tremendous pain, please pull the plug on me.
I've actually thought quite often about dying--how it happens, what it would be like, how people on earth would react, and if I could still watch over (or haunt!) them from heaven (hopefully). To be honest, it would, ironically, MAKE MY LIFE EASIER. Why, you may ask.
Well, knowing my lack of direction in life and lack of passionate interest in anything, what IS there to live for? Pretty much the only thing I am truly interested in experiencing is true love and raising children. I don't even mean necessarily settling down and living the quiet home life. As long as I achieve those two things, I would be content to move from place to place, travel the world, or, in the most extreme case, live off the streets. All that other stuff seems unimportant in the complex recipe for "Christie's Happiness". However, since achieving those two things (without finding a job and societal niche that I would enjoy) seems pretty unrealistic, I wouldn't mind dying at all. My buddy, the reaper, would, in fact, be doing me a huge favour.
On another note, I've been asked a couple times recently (in some form or another), "What is your preferred method of dying?" To that, I always answer, "Easy. Death by salt." I truly believe I am a sincere food lover (and not one of those loserish teenagers posting on their fb profile interests: EATING AND SLEEPING, but that's a post for another day), and one of my favourite flavourings is salt. It's pretty much the magic ingredient for making food taste good. When I inquired about how to make fried rice, someone answered that all you need is salt. Of course, that may be a more extreme, unrealistic example, but I felt it was symbolic of salt's magical properties. In fact, salt has broken the alluring spell of candy/sugars on my tastebuds. When given an option between chips and candy, salt wins me over to the former almost immediately. Apparently you can die from consuming about 1kg of it. When the time comes, I will find a way to make this possible--and enjoy every last grain. :)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
This Little Piggy Works in Harrow
As you may know, I am currently in Harrow on a co-op work term doing agricultural research. So far, my job has been pretty fun and full of new experiences--both enjoyable and/or otherwise.
As always, my posts have two main goals:
1. Share something interesting (often offensive/controversial)--or at least new to you :)
2. Keeping this brief so your youthful mind can be spared for more important tasks
Anyway, if you didn't know already from a chance encounter with me on MSN/facebook/or (God forbid) real life, I work for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The most important thing you should take from that lovely hyphenated, professionally abbreviated, lengthy title...is that I work for the government.
AND TOMORROW IS REMEMBRANCE DAY!
Well, I guess that would be today now...(I really gotta kick these nocturnal habits). For many of you, I'm sure that wouldn't mean much, but at a government workplace, it means a lovely day off! So to celebrate my day off in the best way that a "farmville" like Harrow should permit, I decided to do something fun by myself, and I really can't think of many things more entertaining and satisfying than eating. :)
To celebrate my mini 24-hour holiday (!), I decided to pull up the local pizzeria's menu, since I noticed they offered free delivery!! YAY!! And they had this special for 24 slices of a 4-topping pizza at the price of about $25. It seemed interesting and the number 24 didn't seem too daunting with only two figures--at least not daunting enough to extinguish my crazy brainstorming. I was actually considering ordering the whole 24 slices and eating pizza to death for a whole day. Finally my actual brain decided to turn on, and I only ended up ordering a medium pizza (12 slices)--still big enough to have a party by myself but not too big that I would have to host a real party to get rid of it.
I decided to get cheese, Italian sausage, green peppers, and mushrooms on my pizza, and it came up to $20. For dinner, I ended up eating a measly 8 slices, complemented by one bag of heavenly, mouthwatering 1% milk. Don't laugh! I swear, about 5 years ago, I so would have owned those 24 slices! Anyway, I've had a great night, eating to my heart's content! I even topped off this delicious dinner with a dessert of a juicy watermelon wedge for which my housemate renounced his eating rights. Currently, my tongue has experienced such a wide variety of flavours and sensations that I'm almost ready to turn in my stomach for the night. Now if only my brain would let those chocolate popsicles in my freezer live another day...
As always, my posts have two main goals:
1. Share something interesting (often offensive/controversial)--or at least new to you :)
2. Keeping this brief so your youthful mind can be spared for more important tasks
Anyway, if you didn't know already from a chance encounter with me on MSN/facebook/or (God forbid) real life, I work for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The most important thing you should take from that lovely hyphenated, professionally abbreviated, lengthy title...is that I work for the government.
AND TOMORROW IS REMEMBRANCE DAY!
Well, I guess that would be today now...(I really gotta kick these nocturnal habits). For many of you, I'm sure that wouldn't mean much, but at a government workplace, it means a lovely day off! So to celebrate my day off in the best way that a "farmville" like Harrow should permit, I decided to do something fun by myself, and I really can't think of many things more entertaining and satisfying than eating. :)
To celebrate my mini 24-hour holiday (!), I decided to pull up the local pizzeria's menu, since I noticed they offered free delivery!! YAY!! And they had this special for 24 slices of a 4-topping pizza at the price of about $25. It seemed interesting and the number 24 didn't seem too daunting with only two figures--at least not daunting enough to extinguish my crazy brainstorming. I was actually considering ordering the whole 24 slices and eating pizza to death for a whole day. Finally my actual brain decided to turn on, and I only ended up ordering a medium pizza (12 slices)--still big enough to have a party by myself but not too big that I would have to host a real party to get rid of it.
I decided to get cheese, Italian sausage, green peppers, and mushrooms on my pizza, and it came up to $20. For dinner, I ended up eating a measly 8 slices, complemented by one bag of heavenly, mouthwatering 1% milk. Don't laugh! I swear, about 5 years ago, I so would have owned those 24 slices! Anyway, I've had a great night, eating to my heart's content! I even topped off this delicious dinner with a dessert of a juicy watermelon wedge for which my housemate renounced his eating rights. Currently, my tongue has experienced such a wide variety of flavours and sensations that I'm almost ready to turn in my stomach for the night. Now if only my brain would let those chocolate popsicles in my freezer live another day...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Yad Sdrawkcab si yadoT
I woke up late this morning, so I only had enough time to stuff the leftover chili from a couple dinners ago into my knapsack and run to work. I'd say chili counts as either lunch or dinner food, but for the sake of making my point, lets call it dinner food.
For dinner, I ate a sandwich and canned soup because I was too tired to really COOK anything. Plus, I was trying to use up my bread, mushrooms, and peppers before they go bad.
For a late snack, I just ate an apple and a bowl of the only kind of cereal I like: Fibre 1 - the one with honey and possibly some variation of the word "crunch" in the name.
All in all, it was a good day with simple meals, and all the right nutrients--just not at their "usual" times.
For dinner, I ate a sandwich and canned soup because I was too tired to really COOK anything. Plus, I was trying to use up my bread, mushrooms, and peppers before they go bad.
For a late snack, I just ate an apple and a bowl of the only kind of cereal I like: Fibre 1 - the one with honey and possibly some variation of the word "crunch" in the name.
All in all, it was a good day with simple meals, and all the right nutrients--just not at their "usual" times.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Lonely I'm so Lonely I have Nobody All on my Own
So I'm into my second week of work at my new co-op placement. The direction and intentions of the research seem pretty interesting, and I'm eager to get into the meat of the work, but my job has started pretty slow with my supervisor so busy and me not being fully oriented in my responsibilities. So things are slow all around. Literally.
With a population of around 3000, Harrow's a pretty quiet place with not much to do and hardly any big franchises (i.e. mostly local businesses)--well, other than the standard things like banks and liquor stores. Anyway, I've attempted to use this term as a sort of...cleansing. This includes mentally, academically, nutritionally, and, much to your relief I'm sure, physically.
So far, I have been, for the most part, successful in maintaining a regular routine consisting of:
-run
-shower
-eat
-study
-chat
-reflect
-sleep
Until yesterday, I've been living in a house entirely on my own. It's awesome! I had 5 bedrooms, 2 washrooms, 2 kitchens, 1 living room, free laundry, unlimited internet, and cable TV all for $375/month. It's truly amazing--actually more enjoyable than my own permanent house in some ways. Unfortunately, someone else moved in yesterday. He's actually a 3rd year chemical engineer from Waterloo, same year as me. Anyway...although it's not really the same as when I could walk to the shower already half naked, it's still pretty awesome because his room is on a different floor, I never see him use the kitchen, and he has learned that we can each have our own washroom. :) He also seems kind of shy, so it seems like I'll still feel like I'm alone in the house since he doesn't seem interested in talking or hanging out.
You are probably thinking, "Wow, you must be lonely. All by yourself in hick town!" Or for my more narcissistic friends, "You miss me now, don't you? Being in complete isolation, now you'll be able to appreciate me more when you come back." My answer, "Sure, but it's not too bad." My real answer?
Not at all.
Maybe I'm socially retarded, but I prefer being alone. It's such a pain to meet people for the first time, make awkward conversation, and "get to know them". On the other hand, too much of people and my life can can become drama-ridden, tiresome, and I, of course, start to see faults in that person that may or may not be there.
So why do I give that untruthful answer? Well, it's what people expect. If I were to give my real answer, people would just think I'm being defiant or ridiculously unreasonable. Then I have to give an explanation. It just seems easier to go with the socially acceptable answer. People are SUPPOSED to enjoy the company of others and require human interaction at some point. Me? I feel like I could do with a lot less, from what I've seen so far...
With a population of around 3000, Harrow's a pretty quiet place with not much to do and hardly any big franchises (i.e. mostly local businesses)--well, other than the standard things like banks and liquor stores. Anyway, I've attempted to use this term as a sort of...cleansing. This includes mentally, academically, nutritionally, and, much to your relief I'm sure, physically.
So far, I have been, for the most part, successful in maintaining a regular routine consisting of:
-run
-shower
-eat
-study
-chat
-reflect
-sleep
Until yesterday, I've been living in a house entirely on my own. It's awesome! I had 5 bedrooms, 2 washrooms, 2 kitchens, 1 living room, free laundry, unlimited internet, and cable TV all for $375/month. It's truly amazing--actually more enjoyable than my own permanent house in some ways. Unfortunately, someone else moved in yesterday. He's actually a 3rd year chemical engineer from Waterloo, same year as me. Anyway...although it's not really the same as when I could walk to the shower already half naked, it's still pretty awesome because his room is on a different floor, I never see him use the kitchen, and he has learned that we can each have our own washroom. :) He also seems kind of shy, so it seems like I'll still feel like I'm alone in the house since he doesn't seem interested in talking or hanging out.
You are probably thinking, "Wow, you must be lonely. All by yourself in hick town!" Or for my more narcissistic friends, "You miss me now, don't you? Being in complete isolation, now you'll be able to appreciate me more when you come back." My answer, "Sure, but it's not too bad." My real answer?
Not at all.
Maybe I'm socially retarded, but I prefer being alone. It's such a pain to meet people for the first time, make awkward conversation, and "get to know them". On the other hand, too much of people and my life can can become drama-ridden, tiresome, and I, of course, start to see faults in that person that may or may not be there.
So why do I give that untruthful answer? Well, it's what people expect. If I were to give my real answer, people would just think I'm being defiant or ridiculously unreasonable. Then I have to give an explanation. It just seems easier to go with the socially acceptable answer. People are SUPPOSED to enjoy the company of others and require human interaction at some point. Me? I feel like I could do with a lot less, from what I've seen so far...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Facebook Groups are Stupid
You can usually discern (pretty accurately) the quality of something based on the main qualities of its creator/leader--that's how I know most facebook groups are stupid. The people who created them ALMOST ALWAYS have some kind of grammar or spelling mistake that makes their "witty" title idiotic and embarrassing to any members. Then again, perhaps the quality of the group and the leadership is also consistent with the type of people who end up joining. In the end, this complaint is likely doomed to go unheard...
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Insomnia
I'll stay up til you're next to me
Til this house feels like it did before
Feels like insomnia
I don't want to sleep!
Well I never want to sleep on Thursday nights. :)
Til this house feels like it did before
Feels like insomnia
I don't want to sleep!
Well I never want to sleep on Thursday nights. :)
Friday, July 2, 2010
A Thirst for Power
Today I spent Canada Day in Waterloo. Most of the day was unfortunately wasted away in sleep. In the evening I decided to visit my buddy John's place, and we shared food, good times, and an entertaining movie: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
The main reason why I wanted to watch this movie is that I've read about half of the book, I'm in it (PERSEPHONE!), and most importantly...It has powers.
Before I go into the last reason, let me clarify why persephone = me. For those who didn't know, it's my middle name--and well, I gotta say, I really like the middle name that my parents have chosen for me. Not to be maliciously offensive or anything, but that's just the way I am: I dislike the usual middle names that girls take on (i.e. Elizabeth, Sarah, Michelle, Anna[optional: -mari(a/e)], or just plain Maria, etc. --you get the point). Plus, if I didn't have Persephone as my middle name, I'd just have my lame Korean name Mee-young. This supposedly means source of beauty. HAHAHAHA, SO unfitting--but Persephone, on the other hand, is the goddess of spring. I suppose it fits well enough because I was born sort of near the beginning of spring, and I could TOTALLY see myself marrying the god of the underworld/dead/evil(?), can't you?
Anyways, I vaguely recall people saying that this was a crappy movie, don't see it, etc, etc...then again people think HP is amazing, AND I have lost my faith in people long ago, so why should I care or even trust what they think anyway? I actually enjoyed it. Okay, so the acting was pretty crappy, there were some major plot holes, and the girl wasn't that pretty. On the bright side, I'm heterosexual (surprise!), and the guy was pretty darn cute; I'd definitely do--I mean date him. I was also surprised to see many big actor/actress names in the opening credits: Uma Thurman (as Medusa), Pierce Brosnan (as random person--forget the name), and Rosario Dawson (as ME!). Note: I've gotta say, the scene with Uma Thurman as Medusa was pretty hilarious, as the setting and characterization of her role eerily resembled her Batman-seducing identity as Poison Ivy.
Hold on...since when did famous actors and cute boys make a movie for me? Never...and that's where my last point comes in: POWERS!
I LOVE Powers.
Doesn't it all make a little more sense now? I mean think about it...
1. My favourite TV show is Charmed.
2. My 2nd favourite TV show, as of late, is True Blood.
3. My favourite book genre is fantasy/science fiction.
4. When I'm in a tough spot in dreams, I tend to give myself ____--you got it, powers.
+more...
As I realized when discussing the movie with a friend shortly after watching it, I really enjoy magic, superheroes, and supernatural powers because it provides an escape from life. Life is stressful, and I'm not saying this in a whiny Asian way or even in self-pity. Life IS hard for everyone equally, but that doesn't make it not hard period...I'm not sure if I'm making sense but bear with me anyway. People find their own ways with coping with hardships, using other outlets, channeling this energy for good, etc. Me? I depend on powers.
By imagining myself with powers, everything seems a little more conquerable, people a little less frightening, and challenges a little less intimidating. All of this is possible when you have a supernatural ability to fall back on whenever all else fails. I know this makes me ridiculously immature, but I acknowledge and admire those who have found the maturity and strength to actually channel the negativity from their hardships to fuel the positives. I look forward to the day when I can finally outgrow the safe haven I have built up in the mythical worlds of fantasy and magic to tackle life's challenges purely on my own strength and courage. Until then, I will continue to improve my ability to freeze time and blow up objects. ;)
The main reason why I wanted to watch this movie is that I've read about half of the book, I'm in it (PERSEPHONE!), and most importantly...It has powers.
Before I go into the last reason, let me clarify why persephone = me. For those who didn't know, it's my middle name--and well, I gotta say, I really like the middle name that my parents have chosen for me. Not to be maliciously offensive or anything, but that's just the way I am: I dislike the usual middle names that girls take on (i.e. Elizabeth, Sarah, Michelle, Anna[optional: -mari(a/e)], or just plain Maria, etc. --you get the point). Plus, if I didn't have Persephone as my middle name, I'd just have my lame Korean name Mee-young. This supposedly means source of beauty. HAHAHAHA, SO unfitting--but Persephone, on the other hand, is the goddess of spring. I suppose it fits well enough because I was born sort of near the beginning of spring, and I could TOTALLY see myself marrying the god of the underworld/dead/evil(?), can't you?
Anyways, I vaguely recall people saying that this was a crappy movie, don't see it, etc, etc...then again people think HP is amazing, AND I have lost my faith in people long ago, so why should I care or even trust what they think anyway? I actually enjoyed it. Okay, so the acting was pretty crappy, there were some major plot holes, and the girl wasn't that pretty. On the bright side, I'm heterosexual (surprise!), and the guy was pretty darn cute; I'd definitely do--I mean date him. I was also surprised to see many big actor/actress names in the opening credits: Uma Thurman (as Medusa), Pierce Brosnan (as random person--forget the name), and Rosario Dawson (as ME!). Note: I've gotta say, the scene with Uma Thurman as Medusa was pretty hilarious, as the setting and characterization of her role eerily resembled her Batman-seducing identity as Poison Ivy.
Hold on...since when did famous actors and cute boys make a movie for me? Never...and that's where my last point comes in: POWERS!
I LOVE Powers.
Doesn't it all make a little more sense now? I mean think about it...
1. My favourite TV show is Charmed.
2. My 2nd favourite TV show, as of late, is True Blood.
3. My favourite book genre is fantasy/science fiction.
4. When I'm in a tough spot in dreams, I tend to give myself ____--you got it, powers.
+more...
As I realized when discussing the movie with a friend shortly after watching it, I really enjoy magic, superheroes, and supernatural powers because it provides an escape from life. Life is stressful, and I'm not saying this in a whiny Asian way or even in self-pity. Life IS hard for everyone equally, but that doesn't make it not hard period...I'm not sure if I'm making sense but bear with me anyway. People find their own ways with coping with hardships, using other outlets, channeling this energy for good, etc. Me? I depend on powers.
By imagining myself with powers, everything seems a little more conquerable, people a little less frightening, and challenges a little less intimidating. All of this is possible when you have a supernatural ability to fall back on whenever all else fails. I know this makes me ridiculously immature, but I acknowledge and admire those who have found the maturity and strength to actually channel the negativity from their hardships to fuel the positives. I look forward to the day when I can finally outgrow the safe haven I have built up in the mythical worlds of fantasy and magic to tackle life's challenges purely on my own strength and courage. Until then, I will continue to improve my ability to freeze time and blow up objects. ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)