Keep Calm and Carry On

I JUST HAD TO

07six10 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:18:22 GMT

MY MIND. BLOWN.

The Strokes' Under Cover of Darkness.

Not that I update anyway

07six10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:29:32 GMT

Off to New Orleans! Probably one of the most random getaways ever. See you all Saturday! Or more likely Sunday.

Do you watch the Grammys?

07six10 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:11:54 GMT

1. Fonts for Peas makes fonts out of handwriting samples. Some are quite pretty, a few remind me of people I used to know and didn't particularly like. You can submit your own handwriting sample as well, and if KevinandAmanda like it they'll make a font out of it!

2. My aunt and uncle are arriving for a month-long visit on Tuesday. They'll be here from then (Groundhog Day) until March 3. This place already seems cluttered and crowded with two people, I simply cannot wait for four.

3. Flora and I watched Titanic yesterday. For me, it was the first time in about ten years and I was a little dismayed over the fact that I can still recite a large majority of the lines along with the characters. Also, I adore that movie still but holy crap it's long.

4. I was not all that pleased to have been informed that I've been accepted into ~~Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry~~ Hofstra Law School, which is number 2 on the list of "Schools I Applied to Just in Case But Don't Actually Want to Go To". I sincerely hope, and am wishing and praying, this is just the first and not only acceptance I receive.

5. It tore my miserly little heart to pay for application fees and then I did the splurge on New Orleans. But before I go back to my penny-pinching ways, I'm thinking of one more splurge on a new camera lens. Hmm.

The Saints are still going down.

07six10 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:23:21 GMT

I'M GOING TO NEW ORLEANS!!!

Flora and I have talked about going there during her spring break for months now, but usually we're all talk and it never amounts to anything. But last night we found a really, really nice deal that included airfare and four nights at the Sheraton and we decided, fuck it, let's just do this and booked it. Tuesday March 23 - Saturday March 27 (for some reason it was way cheaper to go Tues-Sat than Mon-Fri), New Orleans!

I'm so, so, so excited about this, I couldn't even sleep last night because I was so wired.

Still though, no matter how excited I am about this, the Colts are going to win the Super Bowl.

Oh hi there.

07six10 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:35:14 GMT

The one thing that overcame my laziness when it comes to updating? The newest MasterCard campaign featuring Peyton Manning and Alyson Hannigan. I've been waiting ever since pre-season for these Manning/MasterCard spots and finally! I am shameless in my love for commercialism.

It also occurred to me (two weeks ago) that, even though I've complained about being in the Far East, I haven't actually said what it is I'm doing here.

I spent all of October in Chengdu, China working as a volunteer for a foundation called the Tomorrow Program. They are giving aid to 210 middle-high school age students who live deep within the mountains, about 5 hours away from Chengdu, in towns that were destroyed by the May 12, 2008 earthquake. The six of us (five volunteers, one leader) went to these disaster areas for a week and a half. While there, we visited three different towns and their middle/high schools. At each school, we spent a couple of hours giving speeches, talking individually with the students, and, in my case, giving short English lessons. The other major part of these disaster area visits were visiting the students' families at their homes which were... to be honest, I can't adequately describe how some of these people live. And I don't really want to in an unlocked post. Well anyway, that was the main thing in China.

Here in Taipei, I'm preparing, for the very last time, for the LSAT. It's undoubtedly the last time because they only let you take it a certain number of times within a certain time period, so this is it, even though it should have been over in September. Whatever, I'm over what happened and dealing with it. Also, I'm volunteering at a cerebral palsy center that takes care of younger children. I take the LSAT on December 6 here, work a little more at the center for a couple more weeks after that, get everything together as best I can for school applications... And then I head home two days before Christmas.

And there you have it.

I've got the bug.

07six10 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:41:17 GMT

Literally and figuratively. Literally in that this apartment is infested with... I don't even want to go into details about what I've seen crawling and flying around. And figuratively in that I've been incredibly nostalgic about Europe and am trying to think of ways to go back on a more permanent basis other than travel. I'm looking at London and anywhere in France.

It's also 3:45 am here and after 4 hours of tossing and turning, I've decided to just give up. I have to wake up at 7:30 am to leave by 8 am. My hours at the volunteer thing are 9-5 so tomorrow's going to be really fun, I think.

Change of scenery.

07six10 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:42:42 GMT

In Taipei. Quite an upgrade, really.

I use this icon a lot now that I don't have others.

07six10 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:56:21 GMT

Iago doesn't look so much pissed as he does surprised. Although I'm not really pissed, I'm just very disappointed at the way Julian Casablancas decided to play a show in Los Angeles on November 6, and also have pre-sale tickets available that I could have gotten, and I won't be anywhere close to LA.

Awesome, life.

In other news, pictures from our trip are loaded onto my aunt's office computers and as soon as I figure out a way to get some of those 800 pictures on my laptop, I'll share some of the highlights (that's not the right word, though).

I think my Mandarin's improving, in that I'm willing to try to talk to people now instead of sputtering and looking wide-eyed at them whenever they say "Hi."

A week goes by pretty quickly.

07six10 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:05:44 GMT

It feels like it's been so long since I've been on the internet, I'm not even quite sure which email accounts and websites I check regularly are.

The past week in those earthquake disaster areas was the most horrifying, but also one of the most gratifying, experience.

I'm exhausted and oh, I probably shouldn't mention this (especially in a public post), but I also haven't showered in nine days. SMELL ME, whether you want to or not!

Okay.

07six10 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:23:39 GMT

In China. ...Yeah.

I'm going to start giving up on subject lines.

07six10 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:03:28 GMT

It seems that if everything can go as planned, Flora and I will be going to New Orleans in March during her spring break. I've always wanted to take a random trip like this just because and aside from what little I can see from New Orleans square at Disneyland, I don't know anything about this place. So. Time to start planning. I never had much hope for 2009 in terms if it being a good year (and honestly? It sucked hard), but 2010 is looking promising already.

I went swimming today.

07six10 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:57:14 GMT

Day one: a song
Day two: a picture
Day three: a book/ebook/fanfic
Day four: a site
Day five: a youtube clip
Day six : a quote
Day seven : whatever tickles your fancy

Far from perfect, but still one of my favorite photos from when I lived in Bordeaux and traveled to various cities because I wanted to and also because it was just so easy. I'm feeling nostalgic for 2008.

I pay for, but hardly use, this thing.

07six10 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:15:41 GMT

I'm stealing this from be_found because she is awesome and this meme looks like it'll make me do something I never do: post regularly.

Day one: a song
Day two: a picture
Day three: a book/ebook/fanfic
Day four: a site
Day five: a youtube clip
Day six : a quote
Day seven : whatever tickles your fancy

Midnight Sun by The Sounds

Why it's a Sounds song instead of a Strokes song is pretty simple: the latter have been lazy asses the past three years and I want to post something new.

I feel like I've become so predictable when it comes to music as my tastes have remained relatively unchanged for the past several years. It used to be such a big deal to find out the next cool band before everyone else, but a couple of years ago, I just ran out of the patience and energy (not to mention tolerance) it took. Also, I like to think I've mellowed out and am considerably less (f)artsy and pretentious than I was then.

Uh, what's the topic? Oh yeah, so six years ago I saw The Sounds open for The Strokes at my first ever real rock concert and developed a girl crush on Maja that lasts 'til this day. I can't listen to The Sounds and not have my mood perk up at least a little bit because their energy is irresistible. I don't usually associate The Sounds with love songs, but one of my favorite things about them is that they do these love songs that don't lack any of the energy of the ones that aren't love songs per se.

But still, work was nice today.

07six10 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:54 GMT

I think that not only am I becoming exponentially bitchier, I'm much more actively so. When I got to the parking garage coming out of work, there was a huge SUV parked in the rather spacious spot next to my car (which, incidentally, was in a much smaller space next to a wall), so close that I couldn't open the door to get in. I barely had enough room on the passenger side next to the wall to climb in. A more mature and better hearted person might have just let it go because, well, I was finally able to get into the car, after all. But I gave into my impulse and left a not so mildly worded note for them on their windshield. I never used to do anything like that, but I'm finding these kinds of actions are becoming more and more common.

It should never be so bad that it gets to the point where I spit in someone's food because they're a jackass. But at this point, who knows?

I could go for a burger.

07six10 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:23:57 GMT

Every time I do LSAT practice at home, I always tell myself never to study at home again. But I never listen to me.

I think I might be addicted to Trident's Cool Mangoberry flavor which doesn't last very long so you can easily go through a pack of 12 in a few hours. I'm also very hungry right now and while it's not unlike me to indulge in midnight snacks, I want a full meal, which is a weird feeling for midnight.

These past few days, I've been wanting to bake pies which is not feasible because a) my mom hates it when we use the kitchen because of the mess, b) we don't really have ingredients or food other than leftovers from restaurants, c) I don't have baking supplies, and probably most importantly, d) our oven doesn't work. I went to my friend's house last night and it was the first time since she graduated cooking school that she made something for me to snack on. The fries and steak strips she made took less than half an hour and she made it seem so effortless, but it was amazing. Maybe if this law school thing doesn't pan out, I'll go back to school and chase another pipe dream at Le Cordon Bleu.

You know what's fun? The LSAT.

07six10 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:29:07 GMT

I finally signed up for a GoodReads account (me) so if you have one, I'd love to... follow you. Or Add you. Or whatever the lingo is on that site.

There was another wedding where I work on Saturday and it reminded me how much I hate it when there are weddings there. One of my biggest pet peeves is when wedding guests can't seem to use the elevator. "G" obviously does not stand for "Ground" in this hotel so if you're looking for the lobby, why not press the button that's has the both the labels "L" and "Lobby"? It's not rocket science, and they're no where near drunk enough yet to justify the amount of stupidity they display.

Took my mom to see Julie & Julia today and it reminded me how much I need a hobby or something. I was thinking maybe some sort of 365 Photo project because, in comparison with cooking 500+ recipes, how hard can it be to take one picture a day?

I work tomorrow so I should sleep now.

I'm feeling domestic.

07six10 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:18:01 GMT

I saw this 1980's German clock on Etsy and I love it so freakin' much. I want it, and I want to decorate my entire house around it.

I post so infrequently I never remember what tags I have and if I might have one that's appropriate, so everything gets stuck under "random."

Fail.

07six10 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:41:48 GMT

Remember how I used to be one of the most obsessed of Strokes fans? And while I still love and adore them and want their new album and will go through extreme lengths to see them in concert again, it seems that the passion of a thousand suns has been reduced to oh... maybe ten or twenty suns. Because, um hi me, how did I miss JulianCasablancas.com/solo project? Good thing there's be_found or else the whole thing would probably have completely slipped my radar.

On a completely different note, while looking for file folders and going through a pile of things I haven't touched or even looked at for at least 5 years, I found this set of dinosaur stamps. I have no idea who gave it to me or when (although since they're $0.32 stamps, I'm guessing mid-late 90's), but it's just about the most awesome thing I've ever randomly found in my house. Also, this. Neither I, nor my mom, can recall knowing anyone who loves stamps that much.

Those are my random thoughts for now.

Guess who

07six10 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:23:44 GMT

I can't help it. I still get incredibly starstruck, it's stupid.

While working at the restaurant earlier tonight, I got a phone call at around 7:15 from a guy named Jeff asking if we had any openings. As it was an incredibly slow night, I said yes and asked how many in his party to which he answered forty. So I was thinking, "Hooooly crap," but he then he was like, "Well, can you? We're kind of in a rush," so I said it was fine, even though they wanted to come in 15 minutes. And he goes, "Wait, don't put it under my name. Put it under..."

And you know who he told me to put the reservation under? Jackie Chan!!!

And for some reason, I guess because I expect people who act nice, goofy, and silly to be douchebags in real life, I was surprised at how nice he was. He was just so funny and such a cool guy. And he talked to me! It was the most interaction I ever had with a movie star, ever.

So that was a bit of excitement in the tedium of my life.

Of no importance or interest to anyone, even me.

07six10 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:03:45 GMT

It's very unlike me to actually have such a full week.

Monday, took that LSAT and I've been telling people, "I really don't know how I did; I'll find out in three weeks." And really, that's pretty much how I feel about it. I don't want to be to pessimistic about it, but I know myself enough to know that I can't get my hopes up about it either. But either way, what's done is done, and now the only thing that can really count is for me to prepare myself for September's LSAT.

Tuesday, had an entire day of work from 10:30 am - 9:30 pm. During my two hour break in the middle, I went to Starbucks where I read Boomsday for a bit and then decided I really needed a nap. As there was no where to nap, I went back to my car and realized that it is physically impossible for someone of my size to lie down comfortably in the backseat.

Later that night, I find in my inbox an email from TestMasters (the LSAT-prep course company) about applying for a full-time job with them. I send in my resume the next day, and then the day after that on Thursday I get called in for an interview today.

So because I couldn't reschedule this interview, I had my mother call my manager today and tell him that I spent the entire night throwing up and couldn't go into work today (see? I was so sick I couldn't call myself). And this interview... While I like to keep an optimistic frame of mind, I don't think this is going to be happening from me. But because this is the last day of interviews, the person said that in all likelihood, she'd let us know today about her decision, so I won't be sitting on pins and needles for too long.

And... that's about it.

Oh also, I saw Up on Wednesday.

!!!!!

07six10 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:06:42 GMT

In spite of my rather bleh day....

CONAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

♥

I didn't realize how much I missed him. WE GOT CONAN!!!

Oh hey.

07six10 — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:32:34 GMT

My friend got tickets to the premiere of Land of the Lost on Saturday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. This should be fun.

Other than that, the only thing in my life is this LSAT that's coming up... and I'm in full freak-out/panic mode.

07six10 — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:10:54 GMT

With all the Star Trek talk going around, I feel very out of the loop in this arena of pop-culture. But now I do have a fun fact to contribute to geeky discussion: "Today, George Takei came into the restaurant."

Unfortunately, that's all there was to say about it. Professionalism, and the fact my manager was there pretty much the whole time, prevented me from calling up all my geeky friends and asking Mr. Takei to talk to them.

Also, since I'm not a Star Trek fan and haven't really seen any of his films, the only thing I could remember him clearly in was "Psych" when he and Shawn had a 10 minute talk about blueberries.

07six10 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:50:46 GMT

I don't keep up with the happenings at UCSB now that I'm no longer there (which actually makes me a little sad, to be honest...) so I only just found out today, via Facebook, that the Dalai Lama made his "historic fourth visit" there. It's one of those things that I might have liked to try to see if I'd known, if only to be able to tell my Buddhist-nun grandmother I saw the Dalai Lama in person.

But as I was saying, I found out about this through Facebook where, I kid you not, everyone talking about it was spelling Dalai Lama as D-a-l-i. An innocent enough mistake, I suppose. But these are college educated adults speaking about one of the most revered people in the world. IT VEXES ME.

I miss Europe so, so much.

07six10 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:31:31 GMT

Finally something somewhat interesting happened at work!

A group of people came in today and went over to look at the menu for our teppanyaki restaurant when they suddenly started complaining obnoxiously loudly about the prices... in italian. They're going on and on about it when they finally decided to dine there anyway, so one of the men comes up to me all politely and says, "Hi, eight, please." So I answer with, "Si, signore," and, "buona sera tutti!" And the guy just looks at me all "........?"

As it turns out, it's not the best job and there are lots of things I could bitch about, but it's still a nice gig and these things make it more interesting. And... that's about the most interesting thing I have to say for this whole month, really.