I DON'T DO DRUGS, I AM DRUGS

2010

2010-01-18T13:54:00.000-06:00

first blog post of the new year.

sort of unfortunate it came in the middle of January, whoops.

I'm just trying to enjoy my last free weekend for a while. I've got finals and SAT II tests coming up soon.

I am both excited and dreading college.

worst park job ever

2009-12-26T23:15:00.001-06:00

I still don't know how she got her license.

men of snow

2009-12-26T17:04:00.001-06:00

The Return.

2009-12-26T15:44:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone, I am back again!

I seem to have gone through a prolonged phase of blogging ADD during which I both created and destroyed countless blogs and Tumblrs in an attempt to find a medium where I could be, I don't know, imaginative? cool? hipster? intelligent?

Anyways, I am ecstatic to say that I have returned from the graveyard site of webpages bearing my name to my original beginning point.

I don't know for sure if I will again suffer from another stage during which I can't make myself crank out an entry, but for now I'm feeing quite at home.

There might be a some new changes made to the site but expect some blog posts in the next few days :)

again.

2009-08-26T20:24:00.002-05:00

hi.

i moved, yes again.

sorry.

http://groundedinmn.tumblr.com

is anyone still reading anyways?

sorry

2009-08-18T19:42:00.002-05:00

I've been depressed lately.

I don't know if it's a legit clinical depression but I'm definitely feeling sad. I just walk around all day with a heavy lump in my stomach and my arms and legs are always weak. It's hard waking up in the mornings and I've been really stressed for the upcoming school year.

Sorry if my blog is getting annoying and banal. I'll try and get back into a routine once I get my spirits up.

cheers,

Eura

Toronto

2009-08-06T21:49:00.002-05:00

I am falling in love with this city.

When I first heard that for our family vacation this summer we were driving to Toronto, Canada I wasn't extremely excited. After all, last year we had flown to California and before that, sunny Florida. I wasn't sure I was prepared for two days worth of driving to a place that had the same temperature as the state I was currently inhabiting (Minnesota).

That all changed the minute we rolled into the city.

I could feel the energy just rising from the pavements, from the pedestrians with their fashionable clothes, from the street performers crooning to the crowds that had formed around them, and from the exotic smells emmanating from restaurants. I can't help but look up at the architecturally beautiful apartment buildings and wonder if one day, I could live in them.

As of right now, I'm sitting in the hotel lobby of the beautiful Delta Chelsea listening to a jazz band, I never want to leave.

I forgot to bring my camera cord down with me, I'll post some photos up as soon as I get the chance.

again.

2009-07-25T10:55:00.002-05:00

For the time being, I've sort of given up on Tumblr. At first I was enticed by the simplicity of the whole process of uploading photos and embedding audio but after looking at everyone else's blogs, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Sure there were a lot of pretty graphics and deep, mind searching quotes ... but nothing of real substance. I missed the rants and long commentaries I was used to reading on Blogger.

So I'm back.

And unfortunately I have nothing much to say at the moment.

library.

2009-07-22T10:00:00.003-05:00

I really adore the library. I love the calm peacefulness, the sounds of people turning crisp pages, the comforting hum of the air conditioning.

These days I've hated being at home. I don't think it's really anyone else's fault but my own, I've just been getting more aggravated with my family. I get annoyed with everything that anyone says and I hate it. I think I'm just in a bad funk these days.

But at the library, I'm just happier. I guess I'm just more of a solitairy person recently.

new ?

2009-07-21T08:46:00.010-05:00

sorry for changing things up on people/followers again, but I've decided to start up a new blog on a different website called Tumblr. I've been looking around and exploring a bit and so far, I'm liking the format much more, especially for uploading photos. I'm sure that I'll stick around on this site for a bit (it's almost been a year since my last post!), but who knows? I might permanently make the switch, only the future will tell.

go to onedayiwillbecool.tumblr.com and add me to your subscriptions! (I would put up the actual link, but blogger says a page is missing when I click on it, so you'll have to copy and paste for now)

down by the riverside.

2009-07-20T10:32:00.003-05:00

There was a free concert downtown last night that my friends and I decided to go to.

Who cares that none of us knew who the band was? Or that it was country ... and none of us liked country?

The word FREE just sort of overshadowed all those facts :)

walking one day.

2009-07-18T08:29:00.010-05:00

I think yesterday was sort of inspired by one of my favorite songs, "Trolleywood" by Eisley. It's a beautiful, airy tune that I've been finding myself singing this past week.

The photos are snapshots of the wonderful day I had with my friends bowling, feeding geese, and returning to the palaces of our youth: playgrounds.

Out one day
Walking one day
Out one day
With you, hallelujah
We found a wood with trolleys on wheels
Rolling all around the hills
Hallelujah

And just as soon it had slipped into
The sleepy dusk and it's not very likely
That we'll see it a, we'll see it a-again

Out one day
Walking one day
Out one day
With you, hallelujah
We found a wood, we un-found a wood and then
And then we cried, "Oh No"
And, please tell me will we ever find it again?
In the depths of Trolley Wood
Do trolleys still drive?

Gone for the day to the Trolley Wood
I've gone for the day to the Trolley Wood
The Trolley Wood is taking me away

Out one day
Walking one day
Out one day
With you, hallelujah
We found a wood, we un-found a wood and then
And then we cried, "Oh No"
And, please tell me will we ever find it again?
In the depths of Trolley Wood
Do trolleys still drive?

Gone for the day to the Trolley Wood
I've gone for the day to the Trolley Wood
I've gone for the day to the Trolley Wood
The Trolley Wood is taking me away

Out one day
Walking one day
Out one day
With you, hallelujah

happy thoughts!

eura.

thursday.

2009-07-16T21:19:00.003-05:00

I know I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again: Rochester is ass melting-ly boring. Not even exaggerating. There's nothing. However, on Thursdays during the summer, part of downtown gets blocked off for a sort of bazaar/marketplace where local businesses and restaurants basically just sell stuff on the street. It still doesn't make Rochester very exciting, but on a beautiful day like today was, one just had to take advantage of the situation.

conversations.

2009-07-15T19:52:00.004-05:00

I'm currently employed in an ice cream shop that is extremely customer oriented. I know that all stores are supposed to cater to the consumer, but where I work, we take it to a whole 'nother level. The moment someone walks into the door, a large chorus of, "Hi! Welcome to Coldstone!" echoes throughout the vicinity. We are encouraged to make as much small talk with the person as soon as they step close enough for us to speak to them without yelling. Usually it's questions like, "How's your day going?" or "Got any fun plans for the night?" Even as we're mixing their order up, we're gabbing away, "Would you like a waffle bowl or cone?" "How about some nuts with that?" "Man, I sure do love the smell of amaretto ice cream!"*

(* I actually said that to someone to fill the silence.)

So basically, if you hate speaking to peppy strangers, don't step foot inside a Coldstone.

But even though I'm talking to the customer, I never feel like I'm actually making conversation with them. Unless I've served a person more than once, they never realize that I'm basically asking the same questions and commenting on the same things over and over again. I've gotten better at just automatically spitting out words while making the customer think I'm actually engaging in a chat with them.

However, today was something different.

A couple walked in. They looked like an average couple. Both looked to be in their early 50's. The husband was wearing a shirt that he probably won at some state fair, the wife was dressed conservatively in a solid pink shirt and khaki capris. They stopped in front of the ice cream cooler and I started off on my usual barrage of talking, "Hi, welcome to Coldstone! Can I get you guys any samples? We've got the new Jello pudding ice creams in and Country Time Pink Lemonade sorbet!"

The man replied first. He wanted to try a sample of the chocolate Jello pudding ice cream and the watermelon sorbet, which I had suggested. His wife tried the amaretto. He decided that he wanted chocolate ice cream on the bottom and the watermelon on top in a nice large waffle cone. I ended up making the order a little too big and when I handed the cone to him, his eyes widened. "Wow, is this really a medium?" he exclaimed. I laughed, "It's just a little bit larger, my mistake. But in actuality, the medium sizes here are a lot bigger than people expect." He smiled widely and joked about walking out the door and getting arrested. His wife got a small amaretto with almonds in a cup.

When I started to ring them up, something strange started to happen: the customers and I actually began to have a conversation. He made some mention of how beautiful weather in Minnesota was and asked if Rochester was always like this. Of course, being a Midwestern, I'm quite learned in the art of talking about the weather and I replied, "We've got our ups and downs. Sometimes we get gorgeous days but other times it's absolutely dismal." Soon after we got to talking about the windiness of the morning and other occasions.

I asked them if they were from around the region and the woman replied that they were actually up from upstate New York. After a few more words about the similarities between the climates here and there, I asked them what they were doing in Minnesota. They explained that they had dropped their daughter off at the airport where she was flying to Israel for an archaelogical dig in an ancient palace and spontaneously decided to take three weeks off and just drive across the country.

I immediately expressed my jealousy for not only the daughter, but also their ability to just pack up and take a long road trip. Nearing the end of our conversation, he replied, "You know, you're a sweet girl!" I smiled and told them to enjoy the rest of their trip.

The only downside?

They didn't leave me a tip.

pants-less

2009-07-12T09:27:00.005-05:00

oh if only more people could read this article.

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS, PEOPLE

dead like me

2009-07-12T08:45:00.008-05:00

Have any of you guys ever heard of the show Dead Like Me? If you haven't, I strongly encourage you to go to Hulu and look it up. If I'm not convincing you, check out the opening title sequence from the show, it makes me laugh everytime.

Unfortunately, the show was canceled after only two seasons. I never watched it on Showtime when it was still running but I guess that a "loss of quality" ensued and that there were internal problems with the directing staff that caused the station to drop the show. I haven't even made it to the 2nd/last season so I'm not sure if the plots get any worse, but I can tell you that the first 4 episodes that I've seen so far are brilliant.

And of course, one of the main characters, Mason, is played by a British actor named Callum Blue who is pretty easy on the eyes.

super shrimp sandwich

2009-07-10T16:29:00.006-05:00

I was definitely inspired by my delicious open shrimp sandwich from IKEA, so when I was hungry today, I decided to make my own version! Of course, I needed to know how to boil an egg, cook shrimp, and make the mayo sauce first. Luckily, index cards make everything oh so easy.

I wa so glad to find out that the shrimp we bought was already cooked and that all I had to do was thaw them out. After they were not frozen anymore, I sprinkled a bit of salt and lemon juice on top.

Usually I hate mayonnaise. I think it's disgusting and unhealthy. However, with a dash of lemon juice and a bit of dill, it actually wasn't too bad.

Step 1: Spread some butter on toasted bread.

Step 2: Take the mayonnaise and spread over the bread.

Step 3: Slice your boiled eggs and set them neatly on top (or haphazardly, whatever floats your boat).

Step 4: Put shrimp on top of the egg!

Step 5: Take a spoonful of pesto and put it on top as decoratively as possible. It's obvious to see that I failed at that part.

And there you have it. A super shrimp sandwich a la Euranator.

It tasted good.

IKEA

2009-07-08T12:52:00.014-05:00

It was one of those spontaneous outings. After breakfast and a bit of forced studying for the PSAT by my parents (Asians, I tell you), my dad loudly declared that he wanted to go to IKEA. And so my brother, my dad, and I hopped into our Lincoln Navigator (which I'm scared to drive not only because it's gargantuous, but also out of fear that some Greenpeace activists will egg my car or something) to take the 2 hour trip up to the cities.

Only 13 mpg? Sorry environment, luckily our Honda Civic and bikes get the most use in our household.

Some quaint MN countryside for you.

I couldn't resist sticking my head out of the window like a dog.

These are nearby the local refinery plant that is situated along Hwy 52. I think they look like those tripods from War of the Worlds.

We finally reach our place of destination! I love the stark simplicity of this place.

These jars filled with the most delicious cookies I've ever tasted were everywhere throughout the store. I think I ate about 20 of them.

My lunch: An open faced shrimp sandwich, yum!

I wonder if I can convince my parents to let me have a wall of Swedish Fish in my room?

Dad had his favorite: raw salmon!

Of course, my little brother went the chicken-tenders-and-fries route.

Almond pie, yum. Swedish food is delicious!

A quick little sketch my dad made in like 2 seconds while my brother and I looked on open-mouthed. Why oh why did I not get skills like my pop??

Of course, we took boxes of cookies home with us :)

When we finally arrived home after 5 hours of looking at modSwedishcolorful furniture, I was definitely going through some sensory overload. However, we're supposed to be going back next week to find a desk and bed for my room, and I'm ready to go!

tell them? or not?

2009-07-06T13:46:00.004-05:00

There is a certain conflict that I've had within myself ever since I started this blog: should I tell my friends about it or not?

At the moment, nobody that I've met personally has ever read anything I've written on this site. A grand total of 3 people are aware that I have a blog, but have never seen it. I don't even let my family know. My dad was the one who encouraged me to start up one, but I still don't allow him to peruse through my posts.

I don't know why I'm like this. I guess I'm too embarrassed to let anyone I'm close to read what I've written. It's sort of like Speech team. I hate having to practice because it means I have to present in front of one of my coaches. But during the meets, when I get to speak in front of a judge I don't know, I'm perfectly fine and unconscious about my words, appearance, etc.

But I guess there are some plus' to giving my friends my url. Maybe they'll create their own blogs and I'll be able to see their daily thoughts. It could be a sounding board for our thoughts and various comments accumulated throughout the day. I would probably get more responses on my posts.

Overall though, I think it's nice that I have my own private sector of the Internet to myself. I try not to bash anyone I know online, but sometimes those feelings have to come out and I don't want to hurt someone because of my temper. And besides, with Facebook and Twitter, it seems like my friends read enough about me as it is. So there's the decision: I'll try my best to keep this blog separate from my own personal life. It'll just be for me.

And those other readers out there :)

green grass girl

2009-07-05T11:11:00.004-05:00

hola readers.

I've decided that I'm ready for a change and I have shed the old name of this blog and its url.

you are now looking at www.greengrassgirl.blogspot.com

I think it's a lovely name, and maybe in the winter when I'm shivering underneath 3 blankets and an XXL sweatshirt, I'll look at the name of this site and be reminded of that one summer day when I gazed out my window and saw the freshly mown green grass :)

very late at night, and in the morning light

2009-07-04T17:01:00.004-05:00

my brother has been surprisingly agreeable these days.

verification?

2009-07-04T08:42:00.002-05:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

I just thought I would try out this website I found called Bloglovin . Hopefully it'll be a new way for me to discover other bloggers, and share ideas. Feel free to join and follow me :)

The Lonely Hunter

2009-07-03T22:04:00.006-05:00

by William Sharp

Green branches, green branches, I see you beckon; I follow!

Sweet is the place you guard, there in the rowan-tree hollow.

There he lies in the darkness, under the frail white flowers,

Heedless at last, in the silence, of these sweet midsummer hours.

But sweeter, it may be, the moss whereon he is sleeping now,

And sweeter the fragrant flowers that may crown his moon-white brow:

And sweeter the shady place deep in an Eden hollow

Wherein he dreams I am with him -- and, dreaming, whispers, " Follow ! "

Green wind from the green-gold branches, what is the song you bring ?

What are all songs for me, now, who no more care to sing?

Deep in the heart of Summer, sweet is life to me still,

But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.

Green is that hill and lonely, set far in a shadowy place;

White is the hunter's quarry, a lost-loved human face:

O hunting heart, shall you find it, with arrow of failing breath,

Led o'er a green hill lonely by the shadowy hound of Death?

Green branches, green branches, you sing of a sorrow olden,

But now it is midsummer weather, earth-young, sun-ripe, golden:

Here I stand and I wait, here in the rowan-tree hollow,

But never a green leaf whispers, "Follow, oh, Follow, Follow !"

O never a green leaf whispers, where the green-gold branches swing:

O never a song I hear now, where one was wont to sing.

Here in the heart of Summer, sweet is life to me still,

But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.

Just thought I should share this lovely poem with every one of you :)

image: http://www.photoeverywhere.co.uk

moving, volunteering, babies, shoes, etc

2009-07-02T21:00:00.011-05:00

Upon reading some of the blogs that I follow (PHYU PHYU, for example), I felt a bit depressed about my current shoe situation ... which was looking quite bleak. Don't get me wrong, I'm not like those girls who will blast their entire paycheck on that one pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos, but I do like to get myself a few statement pieces every once in a while :)

And so I was inspired to go find some suitable, and reasonably flashy homes for my feet. First stop? Saver's. I've got the friends that wouldn't ever dare to wear shoes bought from a thrift store, but hey! For these prices, no one would be able to resist them.

Doc Martens $20

Purple Suede Boots, babe!: $6

So as some of you may know, I volunteer at our local hospital, St Marys, every Thursday. (There is no apostrophe in the name of the clinic because the founders did not want to show posession ... or something like that). Anyways, on nice days I nix taking the tunnels from the parking ramp to the building, but instead walk on the path outside. This means that I get to pass the Rapunzel castle.

I always expect to see long locks of flaxen hair along the sides.
Don't you just love the look of freshly mown grass?

Now here are the photos of my new room that I promised earlier. It's a bit smaller, and I still haven't put anything on the walls but I really do like it so far. I feel like I'm in my own little loft :)

Books I am reading, are about to read, or have finished: Music of the Dolphins by Karen Hesse, Seeing by Jose Sarragamo, The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, Unseen by TC McMullen, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, Artemisia, The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy, some book about Jesus and the Templar Knights, and The Religion by Tim Willocks plus a DVD of Monty Python's Flying Circus is sitting on the top. I haven't read The Crossing, the Templar book, Artemisia, or The Religion yet but I'm eager to get into those. The rest I'm re-reading. I definitely recommend The Heart is a Lonely Hunter for anyone looking for a good book.

You can sort of see the roof of my old house in between those two white houses in the forefront.
The lovely view from my bedroom window.
Overview of aforementioned living quarters.
My closet, look how organized and pleasant it looks!

And of course, a cute baby with whom I had a happy, fluffy feeling 10 minutes with while her mother looked around at our garage sale.

Settled In

2009-06-29T13:51:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the temporary absence. It's been incredibly hectic the past few days what with moving boxes, carrying furniture, and putting photos on walls.

AND we won't have Internet until July 1st.

That means that after a 12 hour day of hefting around our endless supply of cardboard boxes and 2 tons of furniture, I don't even get a chance to relax by sifting through pages on Facebook.

But I guess it hasn't been as bad as it really seems. We're currently living in a townhouse only 1/4 of a mile away from our old address (In fact, we're right across the same lake and I can even see the roof of the previously owned home from my window!). We'll stay here for one year and hopefully by then, my dad will have either found a new house or started building one.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with our current living conditions. Sure it's a little bit smaller, but it's cozy and clean ... which I'm perfectly content with. I even have a better view from my bedroom of the lake (before I had a great front row panorama of ... the driveway). I've finally finished rearranging my room, I still have a few pictures I want to hang up, and some odds and ends I have to take care of, but I already feel at home. I'll take some photos and put them up as soon as I get the chance.

Just wanted to give you guys an update and hopefully I'll be writing more regularly within the next few days. I promise to post some good pictures!

moving.

2009-06-24T11:41:00.002-05:00

goodbye house.

thanks for 12 years of shelter.

i'll miss you.

Come On Eileen

2009-06-22T22:21:00.003-05:00

I've already decided that the soundtrack to Summer '09 is the popular one hit wonder, and my personal favorite 80's song, 'Come On Eileen' by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

It's absolutely magical.

Here we are, doing what any Midwestern teenagers will do on a Monday night: loiter around Target.

"Guys look! I found the AllSpark! And it was on freakin' clearance!"

It's Like Been a Century ... of Posts

2009-06-22T13:18:00.003-05:00

This is it, people. This is my 100th post. I feel like this should be some absolutely sublime post, a post that I'll be able to look back on and be like, "Whoa, dude. That was some kick ass 100th post." Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are like 1 in ... well like, a hundred. So I guess that today's writing will contain a large collection of rambles and incoherent statements, like usual.

So I was at work yesterday and I was thinking, "Why is it okay to say 'ladies' but it sounds weird to to just say 'lady'?"

Repeat after me

"What's going on, ladies?" -- Yep, that sounds pretty decent to me.

But what about:

"What's going on, lady?"

Whoa. That just sounds so wrong. But how could this be? After all, the only difference between the two sentences is that in one the noun is singular, and in the other the noun is plural. It's just that when I hear the word "lady" it sounds so harsh. Sort of like if someone were saying, "Give me all your money, lady!"

But yes, that was my random thought of the day, and something that kept me thinking throughout my 5 hour shift.

And yes, that was my 100th post.

green

2009-06-21T21:31:00.005-05:00

I'm sure that many of you out there have heard some or most of the news about the current situation in Iran.

For those of you who are a bit behind onthe times, here's a little update: basically, the election results for the Presidential race between incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi have managed to anger many Iranian citizens. The June 12th election declared Ahmadinejad the winner, however Mousavi and many of his supporters are claiming that votes were "stolen" and that foul play has been employed.

I've been following the politics of the whole situation pretty closely (thank you, Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper!), but I think that the thing that really gets to me is this whole revolution that's taking place. More than a million have taken to the streets in protest of the results wearing green, the color of the movement.

It fills my heart to see these people stand up to a government they don't believe in and face the risk of being punished, or even killed (the death toll caused by brawls between police and protesters has been set at about 19). Although decriers are claiming that the marchers are wild and uncontrollable, actual videos of the events show the protestors as peaceful actors of civil disobedience.

I guess the matter of who actually wins the election is not imperative to me. After all, from what I've read and heard, the nuclear policies and feelings towards the US are pretty much the same between the two candidates (although Mousavi has shown more partiality to our nation). I think the fact that those who disagree with the matter at hand are being punished and harmed is what really gets to me. I know that democracy is not perfect, but the number one thing that makes it valuable is the freedom of speech. Even if countries don't accept the same form of government that we have, I think that they should, at the very least, give their citizens the right to speak their minds and disagree with the administration.

That's just my opinion, and I think that the world would be a lot better off if it were like this.

Early Morning Biking

2009-06-21T13:19:00.003-05:00

3 days a week I have swim practice at 7 in the mornings. However, to reach these workouts I have to ride my bike. While sometimes this seems like a curse (have you ever tried pedaling up hills on 4 hours of sleep?), there are those days when the sheer beauty of everything before the daily commute has arrived makes up for the fact that it's 6:15 AM and my ass is crying for mercy from those godawful banana seats.

Yesterday morning was one of those days (the good ones).

Luckily, I had my camera (a Canon PowerShot SD 1100, scoff away photo taking enthusiasts but I love it), with me and I managed to get a few shots of things I deemed photographable.

My house is the brown one in the middle.

Poor little red shirt left behind .. on a tree of all places!

I tried to get a closer photo of these beautiful flowers but they were all surrounded by some nasty looking stinging nettles.

I was downtown when I saw this group of kids playing around in the fountain in our Peace Plaza. I snapped a quick photo at the risk of being clawed by some overprotective mother. Add, "play in the fountain" to my things-to-do-this-summer list.

OH and Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there!

Sleepless in Rochester

2009-06-19T08:03:00.003-05:00

Today I have decided that I am going to stop whining about the number of comments on my page and just say FUCK IT!

I like blogging and nothing is going to stop me from doing it.

(well, at least school starts up again when I bury myself under mounds of procrastinated homework ... but I'm not going to think about that right now!!)

I skipped swimming today. I seriously did not get to sleep last night until 1 AM. Now I know all you other people out there are scoffing and thinking, "It's summer! What the hell is she complaining about?" Well here's the dealio my friends, I have to wake up at 6 every morning so I can eat breakfast, and then bike 6 miles to the pool where I have dryland workout for an hour and then swimming for 2.

So anyways, the cause for this temporary insomnia was this: IT WAS TOO FUCKING HOT! I was lying spreadeagle on my bed in a tank top and shorts praying for my body to cool down enough so I could fall asleep, but alas, my dumb self would not listen. I even attempted sleeping on the hard, but slightly cooler bamboo mat in my room, but my eyes still would not close. I finally drifted off out of sheer exhaustion only to be woken up a mere 5 hours later by the incessant blaring coming from my alarm clock (I need to buy one of those clocks that wake the sleeper up with a calming, soothing sound ... my mornings would be so much better). The morning was made even worse when I remembered that I had to work a 6 hour shift today. So I decided to skip workout and instead go to swimming tomorrow.

The only really good thing that came out of all of this was that I whined like a huge baby at breakfast and right now, the air conditioning is on.

It's Warm

2009-06-18T14:50:00.003-05:00

How to Be Sophisticated

2009-06-17T13:23:00.003-05:00

1. Walk into any coffeeshop (Preferably one that is locally owned and plays indie music, but Caribou will do in a pinch ... Starbucks is starting to get tacky).

2. Bring in your laptop in a bag that could possibly pass for a stylish oversized hobo purse.

3. Order your drink without even looking at the menu (you don't have to decide what you want because you're a regular, right?). Get something exotic, like with soy and white berries or something.

4. Upon receiving your drink, sit down at a table near a window (so people passing by can marvel at your blinding sophistication).

5. While sipping your drink, open up your laptop and head to your blog. Those sitting near you will see that you're writing something obviously very important and will be impressed that you actually write ... for fun (There's also the added bonus of being mysterious. They might be dying of curiousity to to see what's being written).

And there you go. Use these tips to dazzle those around you.

I am doing all of the above at this very moment, except that I brought my laptop inside of a beat up yellow backpack I've used since 3rd grade... and I'm wearing baggy sweatpants and a Speech t-shirt, which greatly downplays my sophistication.

human pyramids

2009-06-16T09:08:00.003-05:00

It must be a Minnesota thing.

Go to any party and expect to be part of a human pyramid, or a failed attempt to make one.

And then expect photos on Facebook the next day.

I got suckered into the bottom row on this one. I'm the only Asian in these photos if you have trouble finding me :)

The boy I was balancing on (I have the darker sleeves and am on the row with two people) had the smallest back ever.

Included/Excluded

2009-06-14T18:28:00.002-05:00

I went to a party last night. I don't really hang with the "party" crowd at my school (by "party crowd," I mean the drinkers, drug users, sex addicts), so this get together was pretty tame. A couple liters of soda, bags of candy/chips, and a pot of spaghetti were enough to get us through a few hours.

There were about 20+ there. I walked in, greeted a few people sitting near the door, grabbed a handful of orange and yellow Starbursts (my favorite), ... and was immediately plunged into major cognitive dissonance.

For those of you who have never heard of "cognitive dissonance," let me explain. Cognitive dissonace is basically a feeling of disagreement with yourself. Wikipedia describes this phenomena as "an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously."However, my cognitive dissonance isn't so simple. In fact, instead of merely 2 contradicting ideas, I had 4.

It's like cognitive dissonance, but squared.

So why exactly was I so perplexed? What was it exactly that I was so unsure about?

Well, since the party had so many guests, 4-10 people had broken off to form their own circles. There were the band kids, who were lighting plastic bags on fire and tossing them around, and trying to convince me to join them and get over my fear of matches. On the other side of the lawn, there were the cooler band kids, the one a little higher up on the social ladder. They were pogo stick racing and having Roman Candle battles. Two of them are very close friends of mine. Sitting on the deck eating candy and chatting was the group that I usually talk to during class. I wouldn't classify them as nerds per se ... but they are far from being dumb. The final group was the more popular girls. One of them was already flirting with a boy living next door and another was debating whether or not she should text back some guy named Brett. They were already waving at me as I walked through the door.

Here's my dilemma. Who should I sit with? Who would be most offended if I gave them a smile but walked off with a different clique? I stood there, my feet frozen (or stuck in a puddle of sticky Dr. Pepper spilled on the deck) thinking over my options. I could pick one group to spend the party with at the risk of pissing off the others. Or ... I could simply mingle among the various circles. The latter idea sounds like the best one until I realize how much energy will be required to actually accomplish this. I'd have to jump in and out of different conversations, trying to remember where I last left off. I'd have to actually get up and walk instead of just staying put in one spot. The more I think about it, the less appealing the idea sounds to me.

Finally I just decided to sit down in a deck chair, pull a bowl of candy near, and thought of how silly all the cliques were. But don't worry, I still had piles of fun at the party. Various people (and they were mostly the ones that I was the closest to) sat down with me, and we un-intentionally created our own circle. However, we started to diffuse with the others and eventually we had a human pyramid and a few hours of night games.

Overall, a good night.

new strings

2009-06-13T11:08:00.002-05:00

I finally did it.

I re-stringed my guitar. All by myself.

It was a good thing too, because the previous strings have probably been there since I bought the guitar. Which was ehhh, 3 years, give or take a few years. Why did it take me so long? Well I guess the number one thing was that I was too scared. I thought I would either snap the strings and/or break the guitar. At last, I mustered up the courage to find a helpful website and do the deed (Ok, so the "finding a helpful website" didn't take that much bravery, it just required me to get off of Facebook, which is tougher than it sounds).

As soon as I snipped the strings and tuned them up, I began to play.

Wow.

I never really realized how beautiful my guitar could sound. I'd always blamed my less than stellar playing (hey, I only just re-picked it up a couple months ago), on the age of the strings, but I guess inside, I just thought I sucked.

Now there is hope for me. I do not sound nearly as bad as before, but you can still tell that I'm a beginner.

I feel like changing the strings is sort of a symbol to how this summer is going to be. I'm never going to know how wonderful these next few months will be until I try. I know it sounds unbelievably corny, but even sappy things can be true.

currently ...

2009-06-12T16:18:00.002-05:00

What am I doing at this very moment?

Well I'm sitting on a very uncomfortable chair at the public library. Unfortunately, this less than butt satisfying seat is also right about an air vent... one that is expelling a very cool, very persistent breeze. Of course, I'm feeling a bit too lethargic to get up and move all of my things to a different location. Instead, I am bent in a V shape with me laptop resting in the er ... vertex, if you will. In this position, I am able to keep the bottoms of my forearm and the tops of thighs slightly warm.

I honestly don't know why I'm at the library. Everything I've done so far here (check my Facebook, watch a few AutoTune videos, look them up on YouTube!, reply to a few emails) are things that could have gotten accomplished at home.

Here's my theory. The only type of computer I've ever had is a desktop. Does anyone even remember what those things are? Huge monitors connected to a large plastic brick, connected by miles and miles cords? Anyone? Ringing a bell?

Anyways, I think that all those years of being tied down to a desk and chair at home just to use the computer has caused me to rebel. In fact, since I've gotten my laptop yesterday, I haven't sat down on a chair and put the computer on a table to use it. So far, the laptop has either been on the floor, my lap, or on the bed.

Speaking of laptops on the bed, I just recently finished the critically acclaimed film, The Changeling starring Angelina Jolie. After at least two hours of motionless, open mouthed watching I have one message for all the readers of this blog: See it.

There's something in there for everyone. I cried (more than once, actually), was repulsed, shocked, terrified (in fact I nearly fell out of my bed at one point, but then again, I am a rather jumpy person), and uplifted. I have to give some credit to Jolie who plays a very convincing distraught mother. I haven't seen very many movies in which she has acted ... actually, I think this was the first one in which I have seen her.

Overall the movie was very satisfying, but the ending still manages to leave the viewer so ... unsatisfied.

Any other flicks I need to see?

the aftermath

2009-06-12T11:47:00.003-05:00

Everyone left about an hour ago and I realized that the aftermath of every sleepover is always the same.

1. Vacuum sprinkles and various food crumbs from the rug.

2. Fold up spare blankets and put them into a closet where they will sit until the next time.

3. Return assortment of items to my room. Today it was my guitar, laptop, and teddy bear.

However, on separate occasions I've taken Bop-Its, my iHome, Monopoly ... etc.

4. Brush fuzzy teeth.

5. Eat something healthy to balance out all the cookies and Cornpops eating the night before.

6. Spend the rest of the day in a half sleepy daze.

Sounds like fun, huh?

I'm just sort of sitting here sort of disappointed in myself. So far this whole, "getting totally buff" plan has gone down the drain. The problem? I'm just too lazy. I'd be happy if I could just sit on my ass cooped up in my room this entire summer ... well with food at least.

Oh and by the way, check me out on Twitter! The username's Euranator. Tell me your's and I'll follow you.

Up Late

2009-06-12T02:20:00.003-05:00

It's been a pretty productive night.

I convinced two of my friends to finally see Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Monty Python and the Holy Grail for the first time. Watching movies with friends just automatically makes the whole experience better, don't you think? Everything just seems so much funnier.

After that, it was a few hours of watching stupid videos on YouTube which is something that I haven't done since 7th grade. I'm pretty sure that we've watched every single clip from Britain's Got Talent (we've observed that Simon Cowell is very obviously more happier in his home country than he is in the US). Listening to all those cheery British accents has sort of rubbed off on me. In fact, even as I am typing this, I'm imagining myself saying it in a cockney sort of way.

Now I'm the only one left awake. Luckily, my whole list of things to do when I'm the last one up increased exponentially since the acquisition of this laptop. I've already checked both my email and my Facebook 4 times within the last hour, and in ... 12 minutes, I'll probably have this post finished!

Well I'm sorry for this completely pointless post. Turn off your computers and go to bed like normal human beings.

Anyone There?

2009-06-11T15:06:00.002-05:00

It's sort of depressing to look at the blogs that I've subscribed to and see that there haven't been very many new updates. I guess since I've been gone, two people I often enjoy reading have shut down their sites.

I'm still here, but I feel marooned. I know there's a whole active blogging community out there that I still haven't tapped into yet, I just don't know how.

Anyone out there?

Summer

2009-06-11T09:47:00.004-05:00

And so is the long awaited return of ... me (Sorry, I'm not nearly as narcissistic as this sounds).

I won't go too much into detail, but basically the stress and elation that comes with the incoming end of the school year got to me, and I just couldn't find the time or energy to set myself down in front the computer.

However, all the last minute papers, projects, and finals are over and I am free to do as I please.

Expect a lot more writing from me this summer because ... I got a laptop! The very weight of it on my lap and the sound of the keys clacking merrily away is more than enough motivation to keep me wanting to continue this blog.

I've named him Sheldon.

I'm eager to bring him with me into some coffeeshop, sip on some chai, and join the ranks of laptop toting, "cool" people. I'm aware that last sentence has prevented me from ever being "cool" but hey, a girl can dream right?

Onto a different, but still very exciting topic: summer.

The long awaited days of sun, fun, and sleep has finally arrived and I am ready for it. I've compiled a list of all the things I want to do for these next freedom filled 3 months and I intend to follow through.

Read 50 good books. By good, I mean substantial, thought provoking books. I've created an account on http://www.goodreads.com/ and hopefully I'll be able to find some good ones to peruse through. I'm open to any suggestions.
Watch at least 5 cult classics. This list could include: This is Spinal Tap, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Freaks, and Harold and Maude.
Become amazingly fit. I'm planning on swimming, biking, running, volleyball, tennis, and canoeing. I'm going to get off of my ass and do more.

I'll add to the list as the days go on.

Hope the beginning of everyone's summer is going well.

The Return!

2009-06-10T08:52:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to drop a quick note and say that I am back!

A longer explanation is on the way (but don't expect anything that truly justifies my prolonged absence).

But I promise, promise, promise, that later tonight or tomorrow morning, a lengthier post is on its merry way.

Hi! Welcome to Coldstone!

2009-04-30T22:06:00.003-05:00

I finally found the time to sit down and memorize "1234" by Feist on the guitar. I will find a chance to tape it and share it with you guys since it is one of the few songs that I have skill enough to play ... plus it's in my very minimal vocal range.

So far working at Coldstone has been AMAZING. People have been telling me that I will get sick of it eventually and I know that that is a large possibility considering my attention span (can we even call it a "span?", about a speck?), but as of right now, I am having some serious fun. I mean, I get to sing at work for garsh's sake! And sample ice cream! (When the manager isn't looking of course) And I'm getting paid for this!

There has to be a catch.

Well, I guess that the visor I am required to wear isn't so great (the thing always slides down my forehead and over my eyes), but it's not even worth mentioning. The bottom line? I love my job! How many people do you know who can say that?

Salads

2009-04-29T17:42:00.008-05:00

Update on the "swine" flu:

I just read in the paper today that we're supposed to be calling it "North American Flu" because it originated in Mexico and is now spreading to the United States (just like the 1918 flu pandemic is commonly known as the Spanish Flu because it originated in Spain). More deaths in Mexico, but as of right now, no confirmed cases in Minnesota. Hope everyone is staying healthy! I took this entire epidemic thing as an excuse to buy myself some wonderfully scented sanitizer. Thi is so if I ever die of the flu, I'll at least smell like raspberries and vanilla.

So, has anyone ever seen the movie, The Darjeeling Limited, with Adrian Brody, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman? If you haven't, please do! I've decided that the entire film is like a wonderful garden salad. The beautiful backdrop of India is like the lettuce along with the colorful vegetables dispersed throughout. The three brothers (the main characters of the film) are like the croutons, essential parts of the salad (at least to me) but sort of out of place (I mean, who ever decided to stick hardened bread into a bed of greens?). The dressing, which I believe would be the light Caesar vinagrette kind, is the underlying story and inner difficulties that the three have inside. Altogether a very filling and satisfying movie. I definitely recommend it!

Jack (Jason Schwartzman), Francis (Owen Wilson) , and Peter (Adrian Brody)

I'm hoping to rent The Motorcycle Diaries this weekend. It looks like another good film placed in a gorgeous backdrop. Any other movies I should see?

I was reading through some of my older posts on this blog and I realized that at first glance, it looks pretty boring. I'm sure if you looked close enough, you might find some writing that interests you, but the first impression certaintly is not very exciting. This is why I have decided to add more photos to my entries! I have three for you that don't really have anything in common, but still are quite eye catching.

A YELLOW FIRETRUCK! I've decided that when I am older, I will buy a yellow firetruck, gut the inside, and refurbish it so that I can live in it. Sort of like the van in Little Miss Sunshine only like 10x bigger and sans the incessant honking. However, I don't think the gas (or diesel) mileage will be so great.

Behold! My favorite sandwich in the world! Dill pickles, alfalfa sprouts, mustard, salami, bacon, and turkey on toasted bread. Dee-licious, any ideas for names?

This photo was taken from a book found in my school library. Something about the history of Batman. I just think it's funny when you compare the photo above to the Dark Knight of today:

(Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!)

Hand Sanitizer!!

2009-04-28T22:07:00.003-05:00

Update on my friend?

Pretty much the same. I managed to make her smile a few times today, but she's still different. People are starting to notice, and since they know I'm good friends with her, they've been asking me what's going on. I don't feel comfortable telling them what really happened because I don't know if she would want me sharing that sort of news, so I just say that she's suffered a big loss.

On the same note of death: swine flu. It's spreading and we've all got to be prepared. I just read an article that a couple hundred are suspected of having it in New York City. Even Mayor Bloomberg was quoted as saying, “we may sadly see people either in New York City or nationally” die of it.

My advice? Use lots of hand sanitizer, stay away from sick people, you know the usual things.

I am aware that this might be a thing that will quickly blow over, like West Nile Virus and Mad Cow Disease ... but there's this nagging fear inside of me that tells me that something is going to happen. Maybe it's just my morbid streak, or the fact that I read Blindness, a book about a pandemic (blindness, obviously) that cripples the entire world ... but I can't help but feel like this could be it. We could all get sick and die.

Okay, I need to stop thinking sad thoughts. I have a chemistry exam tomorrow, wish me luck!

PS
Even as I am writing this now, I can hear the news coming from the TV in my parent's room and it's all "swine flu... swine flu... swine flu..."

Conflict

2009-04-27T16:07:00.003-05:00

One of my really good friends recently found out that her trainer (she rides horses) committed suicide.

I'd never met this person, so the news didn't really impact me, but the fact that my friend started bawling scared the living shit out of me.

I've never seen her cry. In fact, she has to be one of the happiest, craziest people I've ever known in my life and to see her break down jarred me.

And the worst part?

I have no idea what to say to her. I can't think of anything to make her feel better. I'm ashamed to say this, but I even took a different hallway to class because I knew I'd run into her if I went the usual way.

I just want her to now that I feel so sorry for her loss, and that I'm here if she ever needs me.

Let's Take a Quickie

2009-04-22T20:52:00.003-05:00

Short update on my life.

It's been a busy week so far. I just came back from a Select Orchestra rehearsal about an hour away (playing for 4 hours... oof, my arse is in considerable pain) and just starting to force myself to being homework.

I got a job! I'll be serving ice cream at Coldstone Creamery for 6.55/hour + tips... not too shabby for a first job I suppose (and I get free ice cream while on the job!).

I've sort of been going on a movie streak the past few days. Finished up watching Garden State, Little Miss Sunshine, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (I've seen the last two life 5 times already!) and just about halfway through Once. Unfortunately, I have view this wonderful films in little increments, as I don't have time to finish them up in one night.

I know Michael has expressed interest in the collabrative blog ... anyone else?

And that's all for now folks. Hopefully I'll be back soon.

Everyone Poops

2009-04-13T16:30:00.006-05:00

YouTube used to be blocked on all our school computers, but returning from Spring Break, it was soon discovered that this was not true anymore. Of course, this means quietly laughing at stupid videos (like a sleepwalking dog, or a fat kid getting shot at with a paintball gun), instead of doing any actual work.

Anyways, my American Studies class was in the computer lab researching for ideas for our 1950's party. Of course, my friends and are totally off on a tangent.

En route to a video about game shows, I come across the trailer for the movie Where the Wild Things Are, based on the book by Maurice Sendak directed by Spike Jonze.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--N9klJXbjQ

The trailer itself is beautiful, and strangely surreal (the uplifting song by Arcade Fire playing in the background adds to the feeling). I honestly cannot wait to go see the movie and I'm searching around the house looking for my book.

But then came the real find of the day: Off to the side of the video, I found a link to another one titled "Everyone Poops."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsLqKAvKiQM

You have probably seen or heard of this wonderfully frank book that explains to children that, well, everyone poops. In fact, find it and read it with your friends ... it's an amazing laugh.

And now there's a movie trailer for it that's obviously spoofing the Where the Wild Things Are one. I think I've watched it maybe 4 times now? If this were made into a movie, I would be the first in line to buy tickets.

“That’s life. It’s real, and sometimes it fucking hurts, but that’s all we got.”

2009-04-12T17:25:00.003-05:00

I was watching one of my favorite movies, Garden State, and I realized how utterly stupid my life is. Watching Zach Braff and Natalie Portman stand at the edge of that abyss in the pouring rain with trashbags on made me feel so incredibly mundane.

Everyday, I go to school, do homework, volunteer, practice the guitar, workout, and go to bed.

I want to break out of my routine, and do something.
I want to ditch the whole college thing, and just hitchhike around Europe for the rest of my life.
I want to leave home, and join the Peace Corps.
I want to be a foreign exchange student in a South American country.

There are so many things I want to do, yet I'm stuck here. But when I look around, the only thing that's really tying me down, is my own inhibition. Try as I might, I can't get rid of the logical side of me,

"What about money?"
"What about your parents?"
"What if you get sick, or kidnapped, or robbed?"
"What if you get homesick?"
"What about your parents?"

I've been following the same path for so long, there have got to be grooves in the road in my mind. I don't even have to think anymore in the mornings, I just go.

I wish I were the girl that could change someone's life, the spontaneously exciting one that jolts that special person. But instead, I'm the girl who apologizes after you bump into her at the grocery store.

Help

2009-04-04T10:16:00.004-05:00

I've managed to put off this Family History project due in my American Studies class for the past 4 months.

That's right. You think your procrastination is bad? I have avoided this entire assignment for practically half of a school year.

And spring break? Yeah, there's two more days left and I haven't even touched it.

But there's still salvation. I have two weeks until it's due. That's 14 days!

So what exactly do I have to do for this project?

create an extended family tree, as far back as I can possibly go
interview a family member and create a brochure on their life
write a personal narrative on my life thus far
trace back the very first immigrants to America in my family (this one isn't so hard, they were my parents)
create a family quilt with squares that represent my family
write a textbook entry about 2008 elections, complete with graphs, other info
brocure/document/pamphlet that highlights your culture
present differences between immigration today and in the past
+4 extra projects that show off own culture/family history

Phew. I currently have three things done. Can I do this? Now that I've written the entire list of requirements out... I'm a bit intimidated.

But I guess it's really a need to just sit down and finish it. Nothing seems top difficult I guess, it'll just be time consuming. And once I've got all the research done, I can try and scrapbook all together in some way, which isn't too bad.

Okay, I need to go plug in my iPod and finish this.

Hope all you kids learned a lesson and choose not to follow in the footsteps of this procrastinating perfectionist.

Anyone still interested in that collaborative blog I was talking about in my post yesterday?

Join Me!

2009-04-03T14:22:00.006-05:00

I was thinking of how much fun it would be to be part of a collective blog where there are different contributors.

Anyone want to start one up with me?

I was thinking a place where we could put stories, poems, and song lyrics that we wrote or just like.

Or if the contributors all live in different cities/countries we could all take a photo of a commonly found thing (like a water fountain, for example) and put them up (I am curious to see how different a water fountain in Rochester looks from one in say, Japan).

I'm open to anything.

On a different note, I just came back from thrift store shopping!

There's nothing that feels more sublime than finding that special something you can't wait to wear for like half of the usual price.

Today's finds weren't as marvelous as past excursions, but they were still worthy of the $16 I paid total!

Lilly Pulitzer polo

the softest sweatpants I have ever felt in my life

yellow mocassins!

May I give myself a pat on the back? Because I just gave myself a pat on the back.

I found the polo on the Lilly Pulitzer website. It's originally $65! Hooray for recycling.

I took your Polaroid down from my wall...

2009-04-02T17:10:00.004-05:00

I'm just sort of waiting around for one of my friends to come over. We're planning on taking out our guitars and singing some Kimya Dawson.

You might recognize her from the soundtrack for the movie Juno, but she's got a ton of other fabulous songs.

Anyways, lucky for me, her lyrics are crazy wack but the guitar parts are quite playable so I've been having fun with that.

Oh and everyone should cross their fingers for me; I've applied for jobs! I'm desperately in need of new clothes and with all the new spring floral dresses and strappy shoes out I'm practically drooling ... but alas, none of these things can be obtained without money.

So far I've tried Coldstone, Caribou Coffee, Barnes & Noble, Panera's, and Bruegger's Bagels. Caribou and Bruegger's are my top choices but I guess I'll just have to take whatever is offered to me. I've already planned out how I'm spending my paycheck, and I don't even have a job... how sad am I?

PS

If you have a Twitter, I want to know! My friends are all too wrapped up in Facebook to get one, and I'm only really following celebrities ... and they're not too interesting.

Raw Fish

2009-04-02T09:21:00.007-05:00

When you live in Rochester, MN, there aren't very many chances to have some real good, authentic sushi. In fact, whenever I'm with my friends and the urge to chow overcomes us we usually lean towards either a pizza or Taco Bell (89 cent burritos? Hell yeah!).

But when a new Japanese restaurant opened up recently, a group of us decided to go try it.

Taking the chance to dress up (we've been wearing sweatpants all break!), everyone headed over to the new place.

It was definitely a very pretty place to eat (this is not the best photo to prove that, so you'll have to take my word for it).

I ordered Tekka Maki (raw tuna roll) and Miso soup while my friends tried The Crazy Monkey Roll (avocado and shrimp tempura wrapped in banana topped with spicy mustard), the Hidden Dragon Roll (avocado and breaded shrimp wrapped in cream cheese and breaded deep-fried wit nishiki sauce) and the Yin & Yang Roll (cucumber, kaki-age, and cream cheese wrapped in bbq eel and yellowtail with unagi sauce).

Eating/drinking miso soup, the authentic way ya' know! (With lots of slurping!)

My tuna rolls, yum. And of course I stole everyone else's pickled ginger.

Crazy Monkey Rolls. Bananas, mustard, rice, and shrimp make a better combo than expected.

The Dragon Roll! (Note the juxtaposition of the Minnesotan thumbs up with the global/urban-ness of sushi).

The eel definitely looked pretty sketchy once it arrived at the table. However, once you got over the strange mushy texture of it in your mouth, it tasted delicious.

I ended up eating pretty much half of everyone's rolls (I guess it's very filling for some people... but it only makes me more hungry!)

Overall, the meal was very pleasant, and I think it was a good starter course in sushi for my friends who'd never had it before.

Of course, we stayed close to our hometown roots with desert at Coldstone (a Like it cheesecake+cake batter with Heath for me, please!)

Aww cute.

2009-03-31T06:30:00.005-05:00

My dad went through this phase where he decided to organize all of the family photos. You can tell that I'm the first child because there are entire boxes of me eating, sleeping, laughing, taking bath (whereas, my brother has like, one album... and he was a cuter baby than I was).

I started looking through some of these, and before I knew it, it was 4 hours later and my cheeks and stomach hurt from laughing and/or smiling.

I decided to put a couple of them up for you all to enjoy.

Warning: I look like an old man in a lot of these.

My mom and I in London (I'm sorry, but for some reason some photos were turned around and I can't figure out how to turn them back!)

My dad and I in Washington DC.

These photos make me laugh so much because I swear they make me look like the dad of my friend (below).

Man, I was an ugly child.

AND, my most favorite photo of me was taken just after I was born.

Look at my face. I confronted my dad about this picture and he defensively claimed that, "I just looked like that." Thanks dad, thanks a lot.

XXL Blog Post

2009-03-30T10:06:00.004-05:00

I woke up this morning, and I just felt so energized! It's like I was plugged in and charging all night, next to my phone and iPod, and now I'm running on full juice.

It is a mystery as to why I am feeling this way. I didn't get that much sleep last night. In fact, I was up until almost one reading Sophie's Choice by William Styron (an absolutely splendid book, so far) and listening to some Elvis Costello and Kimya Dawson.

But instead of trying to figure out why I'm feeling this way, I am going to choose to embrace this wonderful feeling of awake-ness.

And that is why this is going to be the mother blog post of all blog posts.

You see, when I rose from my bed at 8 (which is early for a spring break day morning!) I not only woke up with energy, but my mind also dispelled some ideas for posts that it's obviously been holding back these last few weeks ... and so here they all are.

I'll put bold headings for each of the different ones so you don't have to read through the ones that don't sound interesting to you.

late night cleaning

I'm not sure if I'm the only person who feels this way, but I believe that the best time to clean my bedroom is anytime after 10 PM. I'm not the most organized person in the world, but I do get those sudden urges to just... rearrange!

Most of the time, it's one little thing that sets off this vaccum-like frenzy. Maybe a pair of jeans on the floor, or an overfilled trash can; before you know it, I'm in full maid mode.

There have been many times where I have meant to just organize my desk ... but this intention morphs into me arranging my underwear by color at 3 in the morning.

And the crazy thing about all of this?

I actually like this feeling! Maybe it's just that the moment I plug my iPod into the iHome and turn up the tunes, I'm invincible ... time means nothing to me.

It's like I'm Cinderella ... except for the evil stepmother... and stepsisters, and Prince Charming, and little enchanted animals... okay forget that entire analogy.

But in the end, falling asleep in a nicely made bed in a resplendent room makes up for it all.

intelligent texts?

Is it an oxymoron? It must be. In the past 1 hour, I have received around 45 text messages from 4 people and I could probably summarize them all for you: hey what's up/i'm bored/let's hang out/ugh i should do my homework.

I look back at all the time I've spent texting and it's daunting... to be honest, it's a huge waste of my time.

So why do I still do it?

I don't know, maybe I feel loved when people send me a 'hey, what's up?' or it's just a good time waster?

But here's an invitation to all my blog readers: Start up an intelligent text message conversation with me that is actually worthwhile. If you're ready to step up to the challenge, send an email to swedishfishnovels@gmail.com, maybe we can start a revolution against worthless messages.

Unfortunately, this offer is only for those who live in America ... and non creepy people (This is not unfortunate). So in your email message to me, you have to prove somehow that you are not creepy.

the new and improved Eura

This post is going to be pretty straightforward.

So basically I'm going through an awakening of sorts. I'm shedding the parts of myself that were stale and just basically there because of routine (for example, my t-shirts with sarcastic sayings).

Keep in mind, that I'm not doing this for anyone but myself. There's no clique that I want to join, and my parents aren't making me do this. This is my decision. I'm just ready for a change, and I'm sick of having pretty much the same wardrobe as I did two years ago.

There are 4 basic areas in which I have decided to improve myself on: books, clothing, music, and music (different area).
books
OLD: basically just reading what's been assigned in school. I've read two books in the last two months for fun (Fast Food Nation and To Kill a Mockingbird) but I want to start being more literary. I remember when I was little, I would borrow 25 books from the library and devour them all in a matter of weeks. But since I'm in high school now, it's been a lot more difficult to find time to just read.

Now, I'm shrugging that excuse off. I'll find time to read. Like time wasted on mindless Facebook, or whenever my orchestra teacher opens her mouth I'll just hide behind my cello and crack open a book, or anytime I have to wait in line anywhere. So basically, I've discovered all this lost time that could be spent reading, and it feels great.

Ever since this revelation, I've managed to read East of Eden and Of Mice and Men (I've really become a big fan of Steinbeck) and I'm currently about halfway through Sophie's Choice. Next up for me is Vanity Fair by William Makepeace (oh man, I love that) Thackeray and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (If you haven't noticed yet, I'm trying to read more literary classics too).

ACCOMPLISHMENT: more intelligent book reading.

clothing
My style before this wasn't too bad actually. In fact, I like most of the clothes in my closet. My wardrobe basically consists of jeans, various flowy skirts, big buckled belts, a few cardigans, and a variety of tops. You know, just simple.

I would usually wear outfits to school that color coordinated, not over the top... but like I usually wore a certain pair of shoes and a belt with this one shirt because they were the same hue... that sort of thing. Now I've just decided to throw that all out the window.

For example, yesterday: olive green army pants, navy blue American Eagle tank top, sky blue Lacoste polo, flip flops, and a bright pink hat someone knit (knitted? knat?) for me in 7th grade. Man, that's how I roll.

I've decided not to care about how it all fits together. If I want to wear flower print shorts with a striped shirt... I'm going to do it, goddammit!

ACCOMPLISHMENT: more enjoyment with wearing my clothes.

music

I'm like most teenagers out there with a soul. I really like music.

But lately, I've been too lazy to look up any new bands or songs and so my iPod became something that I just listened to on the bus.

Not anymore.

I've checked out some cds from the library, perused through iTunes, and asked friends for suggestions and now I'm completely re-fallen in love with music.

new finds (at least to me) include Be Your Own Pet, The Moldy Peaches, and Elvis Costello.

And you know what else?

I've decided to stop being so snobby towards some of the mainstream music out there. Before, I would turn my nose up to the Top 40 stations and instead turn to my Radiohead... I'm going to admit it, some of those songs really arent' that bad. Sure, I don't think that I'll ever be able to fully stomach a lot of the r&b/rap songs out there, but honestly... Taylor Swift is pretty decent! And there's nothing better to blast while you're cruising down the highway than 'Gives You Hell' by the All American Rejects, or 'My Life Would Suck Without You' by Kelly Clarkson.

ACCOMPLISHMENT: more tunes, and more open minded-ness to music!

the other music:

You may have read the post a few ways back about my re-pickup of the guitar. Well I just wanted to tell y'all that it's going great. I am now unable to honestly say I'm bored again because whenever a feeling of lethargy comes over me, I just hustle on over to the geetbox and life is exciting.

Sure I can only play simple songs (like Taylor Swift and Oasis) but that's okay with me.

Basically my goal in this area, is just to get better and continue having fun with it.

ACCOMPLISHMENT: re-learned the guitar, and found something that I hope to do for the rest of my life.

end
:)

Haiku # ... can't remember!

2009-03-26T17:12:00.002-05:00

ponderings...

If Benefiber
is tasteless, then why do i
taste it in my juice?

YES.

2009-03-11T17:19:00.005-05:00

I've desperately been needing to brag about something for the past few days.

But overt bragging is something that I can't stand from other people, so I am unable to bring myself to inform my friends... and yet, I feel as if I'm melting inside from the sheer lack of not telling anyone.

However, since I don't see you readers on a daily basis (well, more like ever at all), I feel comfortable with simply typing out my proud feelings.

If you really do not think that you can stand to read my self appreciation... stop right now:

I'M NUMBER ONE.

That's right people. Out of a class of 342 in my school, my rank is numero uno. Of course, I share the spot with a few other people, so technically I'm not number ONE.

But still.

It gives me warm, sparklies in my tummy to know that all the hard studying and hours of homework are paying off.

I'm on top of the world, waving my report card to those unfortunate souls down on Earth.

Okay [end shameless boasting here].

ERROR

2009-03-10T19:02:00.002-05:00

I can't even view my own blog. Everytime I try to read my posts, this annoying little dialogue box pops up and seemingly screams at me:

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet Site. Operation aborted.

And I click OK, and then my page is gone. I'm sorry if others are having this same problem! I've been looking up some information about it, and I guess it has something to do with a bug in Internet Explorer 7... I'll keep those that can still read my blog updated.

Wrathful Grapes

2009-03-09T17:10:00.003-05:00

The books we have to read for American Studies are usually quite depressing.

CAUTION: SPOILER ALERT
Book #1: The Jungle -- An immmigrant family from Eastern Europe comes to work/live in Chicago's infamous Packingtown. [insert tough times, gruesome descriptions of the industry, death of family members, and eventual salvation through Socialism here].

Book #2: The Great Gatsby -- Story of the immoral lifestyles of the rich in the Roaring Twenties. [insert adultery, yearning love, murder with automobile, murder with gun, suicide here].

And Book #3: The Grapes of Wrath -- I'm only about halfway through the book, but it definitely is a Debbie Downer. Lots of description of dust, losing the family farm... oh and the total body count so far is a grand total of 3 (including the dog, who manages to suffer a graphic end).

But honestly, it really isn't too bad. John Steinbeck (The author of GoW) has a definite style of writing that takes some getting used to. Unfortunately, most of the people I know are ready to burn the book with its meticulous descriptions that take pages and pages (There is, in fact, an entire chapter on the journey of a turtle on the highway), but I actually enjoy the wording that Steinbeck uses. Sure it's more words to read, but the visual images that seem to pop straight from the pages make up for all of it.

However, there is the bane of all required reading in English.

Character/plot/symbol charts.

How am I supposed to enjoy a classic novel when I am forced to put the book down every 2 minutes to pick up my pencil and spend valuable reading time writing down a quote that will in no way benefit me down the line? How can I savor the words describing the tribulations of the unlucky Joad family when I am constantly searching the pages for biblical allusions or examples of symbolism?

And the ever present question of high school: How the hell is this going to help me in real life?

Just let me read my goddamn book.

Twang

2009-03-08T19:15:00.002-05:00

Our school's annual variety show was held on Friday. I give kudos to my fellow classmates who risked total embarrassment to flaunt their skills in front of the entire student body.

Thankfully, this year's performance was a vast improvement over last year's.

I'm not saying that those previous show participants weren't talented, per se... it's just that some of their acts were cringe-worthy.

There was the boy who brought his guitar on stage and spilled his guts out in a angst-ridden song complete with passionate exhortations and vocalizations into the mike in a slightly tone deaf whine.

Or the girl with the powerful voice... but not the range required to sing the song (Think James Earl Jones attempting to vocalize one of Mariah Carey's impossibly high lines).

But anyways, 2009's show was everything a talent show should be. Full of talent.

There was one performance that really struck me (not including the violin duo in sunglasses who managed to play pretty much every hit played on the radio brilliantly): a senior girl who played the guitar and sung "One Sweet Love" by Sara Bareilles. She just walked onto the stage and she looked so cool.

It wasn't what she was wearing. In fact, her overly bohemian dress (long knit sweater, brown leggings, thick scarf, brown suede boots) was overkill.

It was her guitar.

And I was inspired to pick up my Fender at home later that day and start playing again.

I'd taken lessons a few years back, but I quit due to the fact that I had no time... and I was just getting bored with it.

Now I'm back, and I'm really enjoying it!

Maybe I'll have to put a video up of me playing some annoying-ly simple pop song... but when I get better.

Tweet.

2009-03-01T21:27:00.001-06:00

I decided to get myself a Twitter.

Check me out: neongreentea

It's basically just the status update part of Facebook.

Blegh

2009-02-25T21:19:00.004-06:00

It's definitely been a pretty rough week for me.

Instead of regaling you with stories of my recent misfortunes, I'll simply explain the reason for my prolonged absence in the blog-world.

The flu, cough cough.

I seem to have caught a nasty bug floating around my school. However, it wasn't a total surprise. I knew that it was simply a matter of time before I was pulled in by the sickness.

I enjoyed my few weeks of being healthy as my friends hacked and coughed away, but in the end no amount of sleeping with sweatshirts and socks on, and drinking tea in the mornings could keep the last stronghold from falling.

I ended up skipping school yesterday to sleep and shiver under my bedsheets. However, the most interesting incident happened about 7:30 that night.

Still a bit dizzy (from lack of any real food and strength), I had gone on the computer to check for any assignments I had missed. Since the Internet was being a bit lethargic for some reason, I decided to go downstairs to get a drink. I remember getting out of my chair, walking out the door of the computer room, and then

WHAM.

I wake up, my face on the floor, every tooth screaming in pain, and the taste of blood on my tongue.

Understandably, my first reaction is ow, ow, ow, ow. A quick glance in the mirror reveals no gaps in my mouth (thank goodness), but a few cuts in my lip, and a very nappy hairstyle.

The idea that I must have fainted didn't hit me until a few minutes later. Of course in the movies, the actresses always seem to faint gracefully: hand on the forehead, a little quiver in the legs, a "sigh", and then a fall back into the arms of a dashing gentlemen.

But seeing as how this is me we're talking about, it makes complete sense that I would fall flat on my face.

This morning I woke up with lips the size of Angelina Jolie's and a gross looking scab on both the inner and outer parts. My jaw and chin are definitely feeling out of sorts, but nothing too major I suppose.

I did have fun at school today telling people I either got into a major gang fight or was making out with a kid with braces.

Go Away

2009-02-17T16:07:00.002-06:00

The past week here in Rochester, MN has brought us some pleasant weather.

Keep in mind that "pleasant weather" actually means above 25 degrees to me (I go out in flip flops and a sweatshirt if the thermometer reads over 32).

But I was greeted with some disconcerting news this morning.

It's going to snow tonight.

I hate snow.

When will spring come?

When will school be out and when will the summer finally be here?

I don't think I can survive anymore below freezing weather.

BA +2

2009-02-15T17:58:00.004-06:00

For the record, I am not very badass at all.

I've never gotten drunk before, I've never smoked in my life, and I've never shoplifted anything either. I'm just a Korean girl living in good ol' Minnesota whose idea of a good time is staying with some friends in the basement watching movies and taking ugly photos.

There are still a few things that prevent me from being a straight line though: I swear, I flick people off while I'm driving, I've gone streaking, and I've snuck out of the house (although it was only to take jumping pictures in the dark).

Yeah, I guess my "BA" list makes me seem sort of pathetic.

But this past weekend, a few things brought me up a few notches on the rebel scale.

As you all know, the past Friday was the infamous Friday the 13th. One of my good friends really wanted me to go see the movie Friday the 13th with her because it came out on that day. Now I've written about my intense hatred for scenes in which things pop out of nowhere and I knew that the film was basically made up of a madman jumping in front of the camera with bloody weapons... but to make a long story short, I was convinced to go.

One problem. The movie was rated R. We were both 16. Even though my friend desperately tried to flirt/whine/cajole her way into tickets, we were turned down by the pimply, pale cashier. So we decided to buy tickets for Push after reading a short summary involving psychic warriors or something (?), but after getting our stubs back from another acne stricken employee, it was decided that we were going to assert our badass-ness by sneaking into the forbidden movie.

Oh yeah.

I was pretty much terrified the first five minutes because:

1. The managers kept coming into the theatre and searching in the aisles with their flashlights... and kicking out other badass wannabes mere seats and rows from my friend and I.
2. For some reason, I was worried that my parents would find out... now I don't really know what I was thinking.

Anyways. The movie was stupid. I think I covered my eyes and ears for more than half of it. But the entire day was pretty much redeemed by that one act of my insolence.

Then the next day. Saturday. I drove to watch a friend of mine swim in a meet when I receieved a call from another cohort saying she needed a ride.

Now when I got my license, my parents very strictly told me that I was not to drive anyone other than my brother around within the first 6 months... and I have to say, the rule makes total sense.

However, my rebel-ness must have still existed on me that morning because I decided to go and pick her up.

I'm sure that there are people reading this rolling their eyes and laughing at what I think is so adventurous... but hey, I'm taking it a step at a time, okay?

Heard In the Hallways

2009-02-12T18:22:00.003-06:00

Every Thursday, I volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital for about an hour and a half.

It may sound weird to others, but this is definitely one of the highlights of my week. I'm stationed in the hospital library where I do pickups and deliveries from and to various patients around the building. This gives me a chance to see all kinds of situations and people and no day is ever the same.

Today for instance... it was a pretty normal session for me. I was sent out to deliver some DVDs and books when I came by an interesting scene. There were 4 or 5 doctors huddled around a computer, intently staring at some sort of spreadsheet on the screen.

As I walked by in my black slacks and blue volunteer vest, I overheard this:

Nurse 1: Dammit. Karen Thomas must have locked the information!

Nurse 2: Why would she do that? She knows this is important.

Nurse 3: Gawd, we need this.

Nurse 4: I've gotta go find Rich. [runs off]

Maybe you just had to be there... but the whole scene felt like something right out of some kind of medical/mystery show. I almost laughed.

Anywho, after walking a TV to the Mary Brigh building I realized that the quickest way back to the library was through the 28 Days Later hallway.

... It's really not called that. It's actually called Joseph 7, but the 28 Days Later Hallway suits it much more well.

You know that scene in the beginning of the movie? When Jim wakes up in the hospital and it's completely silent and empty, but with bright, sterile hallways?

Yeah, this hallways is exactly like that. The lights are on, the computers are merely on sleep mode, rooms are fully stocked... looking like every other hallway in the hospital, except for people.

I always manage to get the heebie-jeebies when walking through. Every second, I look over my shoulder, expecting to see some blood thirsty zombie limping after me. And it doesn't help that the soda machine at the end of the corridor makes a huge bangbangbang noise every few seconds.

And then a couple strides later, and I'm in the Mary Brigh building... back into society.

www.facebook.com

2009-02-11T17:01:00.003-06:00

Two days ago, I began an arduous and seemingly impossible task: going for 5 days without logging onto Facebook.

Last night, was okay. I did my homework, finished up a bit of research on the internet, and even wrote a new post. The urge to check the wall posts and photo comments people have left me (according to the bombardment of e-mails I've received) was strong, but not enough to pull me in.

No matter what the Facebook starved voices in my head may say, I know that this is good for me.

It's baffling to think of all the hours I have wasted looking at other people's profiles and photos. In fact, I couldn't even tell you anything useful I've obtained from the countless days spent on that famous blue headed page.

It's getting difficult though. I'm so used to double clicking on the internet icon and then heading straight away to http://www.facebook.com/ (I had to write the entire address out just to give my fingers a few moments of relief).

Oh Facebook, your red
notification pop ups
are my nicotine

It's going to be a tough run.. but I can do this.

On another note, today was registration for all sophomores. I can't believe that I'm going to be a junior next year! I'm not too ecstatic; I've heard that 11th grade is the toughest out of all 4 years of high schoool, and it's not that hard to believe. What with scholarship applications, entrance exams, and AP classes, it's going to be difficult to stay above the sea of workload.

The classes I've signed up for:

1st Semester:
AP Lit and Composition
Math Analysis Honors
Physics Honors
Latin III Honors
Symphonic Winds Honors
AP Macroeconomics
Reading for College Honors

2nd Semester:
AP Lit and Composition
Math Analysis Honors
Physics Honors
Latin III Honors
Symphonic Winds Honors
AP Psychology
AP Human Geography

So basically I'm taking all the hardest classes offered to juniors... remind me why I'm doing this again?

To My True Love

2009-02-10T18:46:00.002-06:00

Dear Amazingly Cute Boy I Always See at the RAC (Rochester Athletic Club),

Hi. You may have noticed me drooling on the treadmills as I watch you play basketball.

Sorry, that may not have been the best way to start off a letter.

Hello. My name is Eura, and I am madly in love with you.

Scratch that.

You're beautiful.

No really. Your cheekbones look like they've been carved out of pure marble by God himself (and I'm not even sure I truly believe in a higher power). Have you considered ever being a model? Then I could cut out your advertisements from magazines and paste them on my wall next to my Beatles poster.

It's weird because it seems as if I see you everytime I go to workout. Whether I'm there at 7:30, 8:15, 9:00, or even 10:00, I catch a glimpse of those shimmery green basketball shorts you always wear.

I've even mustered the courage to go on the courts myself and attempted to shoot a few baskets in an effort to be a few feet closer to you.

I think I may have just embarrassed myself.

But haven't you noticed the State/Section/Big 9 swimming t-shirts I wear now in hopes that I will seem just as athletic as you?

I added you on Facebook. From this I have acquired the knowledge that you attend the other high school in Rochester, and that you are graduating this year. My heart threatens to burst at the thought that you will no longer be living in the same town as I soon.

Oh, and we play the same instrument: the cello. I saw you at the big orchestra concert... in fact, you sat in the stand behind me. I hope you didn't notice me practically hyperventilate when I realized that I was so close to you.

And it wasn't an accident when I "dropped" my bow behind my chair.

Okay, so that's the end of this letter.

My "love" with you, makes me wonder if there's someone I don't know who has the same feelings for me too?

Ergh.

2009-02-08T11:57:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.

I start writing something... and then I decide I hate it.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with something interesting to say.

A Music-Less Morning

2009-02-03T15:59:00.004-06:00

Trust me on this.

Bad things happen when I don't listen to my iPod in the mornings.

Having to wake up at 6:25 AM to jump on the bus (I can't start driving to school until this spring) at 7:00 can be a drag 5 days a week. The only thing that really gets me going is rocking to some groovy tuneage.

My AM mix usually includes some Rage Against the Machine, Rilo Kiley, and Relient K, with some other ones thrown in.

However, there are some mornings when I'm just in too much of a hurry, or I simply just forget to grab my iPod from the iHome on my bedstand.

Those are the worst days.

First off, the bus ride not only becomes long and monotonous but I also manage to fall asleep. This means that I get a little extra dose of lethargy into my day after being forced to wake up and walk into the school.

Secondly, something always goes wrong. Something. I'm not being paranoid.

For example. Today, I left my iPod on my desk so sadly, I was sans groovy tuneage this morning. I also happened to have a rehearsal for a large orchestra concert tonight.

Guess what happened at this important, two hour rehearsal?

I forgot my bow.

Now I play the cello, and you sort of kind of have to have a bow to play it. Yeah, I left it at school.
Go me.

So the entire time, I had to pretend that I was playing while desperately hoping that neither one of the two orchestra teachers would notice and yell at me. Of course, I had to move my right arm back and forth like some sort of fool, trying to ignore the inquiring stares of the various cello players seated around me.

... not forgetting my iPod again.

... Middlesex...

2009-02-02T22:16:00.004-06:00

I've been thinking a lot about colleges lately.

And I know it sounds pretty bad, but about 75% of the reason why I started volunteering and doing so many other activities is because I want to load up my transcript. Still, I'm not saying that I don't like staying busy, it's just that the looming fear of applying my junior/senior year is keeping me more than motivated.

So my top choices are Berkeley, Stanford, and NYU. Of course my parents are really pushing for Harvard... but come on, is that even a possible feat??

But I was talking to my mum the other day, and a very interesting suggestion came up.

For those of you who don't know, I was born in London, England. When my parents were young, they traveled a lot around the world, hitchiking and backpacking. They spent most of their time in Sri Lanka and Japan, but they settled down in London for a bit where they established a still existing Korean newspaper.

Anyways, I was born there (in Middlesex Hospital, a name which precedes many giggles for some reason) and stayed for about a couple of months.

Now I need to research this a bit more, but my mom believes that I'm still eligible for a British citizenship, and that maybe I can go to school overseas after high school!

Again, this is something that should be looked up... but man, it would be beyond skill if I could go back across the pond.

Ohh, and I got my report card today:

Symphonic Strings Honors: A
American Studies Honors (Eng): A
American Studies Honors (Hist): A
Chemistry Honors: A
Health Honors: A
Algebra 2 Honors: A
Latin 2 Honors: A

Does it sound like I'm gloating? Because I'm sorry if I am :)

Capitol Trip 2009

2009-01-31T08:49:00.005-06:00

Sorry I haven't on lately, it's been a busy week!

For those of you who tried to help me on what color I should paint my nails for the capitol trip on Friday, I decided to go white. Why? Because I found out that one of my good friends already had purple nails. Don't worry though, I'm liking mine.

So the capitol trip went pretty well. It was basically a chance for the people of Rochester to go lobby. I was really lucky and was able to speak to two representatives to try and convince them to up our student funding.

The whole thing started off with a really formal, tasty lunch.

Note the wondrous looking lemon cake in the background. They even had like four different forks! Luckily, since this was my third year in this event, I knew that I had to go outside in... wait, right?

Afterwards, Governor Tim Pawlenty, came in and talked to us. I don't remember much of what he said, I was too busy trying to get a good photo of him. I did not succeed.

Following the lunch, I had my two appointments with the Representatives and then I had 3 hours of downtime to just wander around our beautiful capitol building.

Then came the best part of the night: the reception. Basically a huge hall of free food and exhibitors (otherwise known as tables giving out free crap with their names on it and candy).

My friend and I were a bit excited by these pretty Raspberry Tiramisus. You can also see my white nail polish.

So there was my capitol trip 2009.

Help, please

2009-01-26T21:51:00.005-06:00

I am going up to my state capitol this Wednesday to talk with some representatives and try and convince them to work harder on up-ping funds for education.

It's sort of a nervewracking experience but this is my third year doing it, and it's a ton of fun. I'll be sure to take some photos and put them up afterwards!

Anyways; my dilemma: I bought two new shades of nail polish this past weekend... French White Tip and Purple Pizzazz Frost. I'm currently wearing purple on the left hand and white on the left because I thought I would have decided by now... sadly, this is not the case.

Which color do you think will look the most assertive and professional but still sort of show them that I'm a high schooler?

I would love suggestions as soon as possible!

Thanks!

Oh and a quick joke:
A man and a giraffe walk into a bar. The giraffe gets really drunk and passes out on the ground. The man gets off to leave and the bartender says, "Oy, don't leave that lyin' there." and the man says, "I didn't come in with a lion."

PS: You sort of need to read the joke aloud to understand it.

I don't think it's a very accurate, word-for-word version but I got the basic gist. Anyone know what movie it's from?

RING!

2009-01-24T10:07:00.006-06:00

I was sitting watching V For Vendetta (which is a total skadoosh of a movie, in the most positive connotation possible) last night when the doorbell rang.

My heart started to pound louder than the Tchaikovsky Overture blaring from the TV. I wasn't expecting anyone.

I tried to calm myself down. "It could be anyone; your neighbors, one of those door-to-door evangelists, a salesperson.... or a crazy psychopathic runaway inmate intent on shooting your brains out when you answer the door point-blank."

Ohhh shite.

Please don't laugh readers, but this is my biggest fear.

I know it's sort of a comical one, and it definitely isn't a phobia because eventually I'll open the door and be greeted by someone asking if I want a new roof or whatever; but there's always those 10 seconds, before my hand turns the knob, of pure terror.

There is a long window next to my door; however, its position is so that you can only see straight ahead, and a few inches to either side. Unfortunately, the builders of my house did not have the foresight to imagine the kind of blindspot that the front of our door is.

The only way to find out who rang the bell... is to open up and face him or her (But I think most psychopathic inmates are guys... is that a stereotype?).

I need one of those peepholes.

Or Does It Even Matter?

2009-01-23T10:58:00.001-06:00

I've been so unsure about things lately.

My grades, my friends, the way I feel about certain things.

But I guess the biggest conflict that pops up while I'm trying to get to sleep is the most common one: God... ?

I don't know if he (or she) exists. I don't know if I even want this higher entity controlling the Earth.

My first 10+ years were easy. I had no doubts. Sure my family didn't go to sermons that often, but I went to Catholic school in 3rd grade, and some odd weekends we'd stop by the Lutheran Church in town (I went mostly for the cookies at the end of the service). I was never confirmed or baptized, but I believed. I believed that Jesus died for our sins, that God has unconditional love for us, and that we're all saved because of this love. Things were simple.

And then the big question occurred. I don't specifically remember when I started to doubt; I'm guessing when I was in 7th or 8th grade. One of my best friends was Atheist. She and I never talked about religion, but I knew that she didn't believe in a higher power, and this made me think.

And I realized, that I couldn't worship a God. I'm a person that needs to see something to believe it. God wasn't tangible, why should I praise him? If God is so amazing, wouldn't he know it already? Why does he need us to sing songs to him?

These thoughts kept bugging me until I'd had enough. I stopped. He doesn't exist to me anymore.

But there were those nights when I wanted to pray for something. When I was worried because my brother was really sick, my grandfather had died, or even because I had a huge math test the next day.

What do I do?

The last two years, I've proclaimed myself an Agnostic. I get a ton of crap for, "staying in the middle," but I can't help it. I simply do not know. It's not that I don't care about religion, it's just that I don't have enough evidence to make an educated inference. I wouldn't be able to solve the crime of the murder if there were no fingerprints, no motives, and no body.

I feel that the times that I do want a God to exist, it's mostly for my own selfish reasons. The other times, I can just conveniently forget about the whole thing, because I don't "believe."
So will I burn in Hell? Or will I simply cease to exist after death?

Or maybe this.

Done

2009-01-22T18:03:00.002-06:00

I am done, finito, finis!

No more finals for me.

Oh and I have a miracle to report!

The kid whose cologne inspired the post below, did not knock me out with his A&F smell and I am proud to say that I was able to concentrate fully on my final.

...

I wonder if he read this post?

Please.

2009-01-21T16:37:00.002-06:00

Dear _____________,

I don't know how to tell you this, but it's something that really needs to be said. Not only is it an issue with me, but almost everyone else around you. I don't want us to become enemies, in fact, I barely even know you. However, this problem we need to address makes me want to cry everytime I see you.

Your cologne. Seriously. Do you take a bath in it every morning? I even know that the stench you wear is from Abercrombie and Fitch and that you paid $50 for it. I am aware of this fact because everytime I walk by the store in the mall, I can smell it... and trust me, you smell 100x stronger than a store.

I'm sure that whenever you or whoever bought this cologne for you, the little spritz on the sample piece of paper smelled good. That's right: little spritz. Try it. Maybe press down on the little silver nozzle thing once, or twice. Or here's a thought, just take a shower with normal soap and simply smell like nothing. That would be really nice.

I would greatly appreciate it if you took my words of advice as soon as possible. At least before finals tomorrow, that way I can concentrate on my test and not on the inhumane vapors coming off of the back of your neck.

Sincerely,
The Girl Who Sits Behind You

#4

2009-01-20T16:43:00.010-06:00

I'm afraid to admit that I'm totally out of the loop of Obama's Inauguration, but I have been using up some of my studying time for finals clicking around TIME.

All these photos invoke this sort of feeling inside of me. Almost like I want to cry, but not really. Pretty much just an overjoyhappyecstaticnervouscurious-bonanza!

I'm hoping to watch some actual coverage tonight, and maybe even get to see why Michael didn't enjoy the poetry reading so much.

Speaking of Michael: he tagged me to find the fourth photo out of my fourth folder (say that three times fast!), post it up here, and say a little bit about it.

If you don't recognize this, it's from a Wii. My friends and I were at the mall (which unfortunately, is the only place to go in this town and quickly losing its not-so-great-to-begin-with appeal) and decided to drop in at GameStop. After watching some gangly boys swing the controls around, one of my friends proceeded to create her own Mii.

It started out sort of looking like her, but after discovering some other add ons such as moles and mustaches... well as you can see, we just couldn't resist.

Sort of an angry Dumbledore mixed with Cindy Crawford... oh and a bit of my friend mixed in there too.

Onto my tags:

Hail to the Thief. Maybe she'll show us some interesting snapshots of her "surburban nightmare?"

Rosalie Bass. Even if she decides not to present a photo, a trip to her site will be more than worth it with her sharp, biting commentaries on life.

Daughter. Who knew that 3 lines of words could make me laugh so hard? Maybe she'll put up a good photo or two to describe some of those ingenious haikus?

Zobot Robot. My San Franciscan twin. Another entertaining and better writer than I.

Onto studying for finals! Only two more days left....

Is This What Irony Is?

2009-01-18T12:34:00.004-06:00

Quick post today. I've got to cram in some studying before finals!

Two advertisements I found in the paper this morning. Almost made me spit out my eggs because I thought they were a combined box at first.

Gracias

2009-01-17T20:23:00.003-06:00

I have something to say to all the readers of my blog.

I love my mom.

Seriously. She's amazing.

Sure; I'm a teenager, she's a parent; naturally we're going to clash, but I really think that I got lucky being born to her.

Here she is:

Thanks for making me breakfast in the mornings mum :)

Skills On Toast!

2009-01-16T10:43:00.006-06:00

And so that is why students, we did not have school today. And that wasn't even the windchill, that was the legit temperature.

I passed my driving test fools!

Wait, are my eyes closed in this photo? I can't tell.

Damn my Asian eyes.

Anyways, it's been a good day. No school, got my license, and finals got pushed back another day.

Nerves! And Haiku #6

2009-01-15T16:02:00.011-06:00

Tomorrow is the day that I have been waiting for since I was born.

Taking my behind-the-wheel driver's exam.

Er, I might be exaggerating with the whole, "...since I was born" shenanigan; but it just shows you how this could potentially change my entire life!

Basically, I really want to be able to drive by myself.

I know I have the ability to pass, but if I do happen to fail, it'll simply be because I psyched myself out.

Plus it's super snowy and icy out at the moment so I'm definitely worried about the weather conditions.

Damn Minnesota
and the shit roads and the cold
frozen snot in nose

But of course, I had a school free day because of aforementioned chilliness, so I can't complain too length-ily.

My backyard. It reminds me of the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia: pretty, but fucking cold.

NOTE: I have never actually seen the Chronicles of Narnia so this may be an incoherent analogy.

Only In Minnesota

2009-01-14T19:49:00.004-06:00

That's right fools;

I don't have any school tomorrow.

"Why?" you ask?

Because it's too cold to go.

Which means that I'm not doing any homework/studying for finals tonight.

Poor grill.

Below 10 right now, and that's not even the wind chill.

One of the homework items on my agenda for tomorrow involves the final draft of an essay I have to write for my American Studies/English class. I just finished the book, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It's a pretty famous novel written around the turn of the 20th century by an journalist who went undercover in Chicago's infamous Packingtown (pretty much where all meat in the US came from back then) and revealed all the disgusting processes the products went through before arriving at the dinner table (For example; the "inspector" letting cows and pigs with tuberculosis or cholera pass by into the slaughterhouses, people employed for the sheer purpose of sweeping up the waste from the floor and packaging it as "High Grade Lard", and a lack of forms of sanitation, forcing immigrant workers to wash their hands in the vats before eating...). He then published The Jungle which is a story about an immigrant family from Lithuania and all the hardships they go through. It was a pretty groundbreaking book that actually convinced then President Roosevelt to pass some acts and laws; one of which prohibited companies from putting chemicals into their products (that's right, there actually had to be a legit law against this). In the end, it ends up being this huge Socialism propaganda novel, but the first 2/3 really isn't too bad. It's not a book that I would choose to read on my own, but it was definitely easier to get through than most other assigned books.

However, critics suggest that although The Jungle may have been a successful book in terms of stirring up some new laws, Sinclair didn't necessarily write a literary masterpiece. Basically my essay was explaining whether I thought Sinclair wrote a success in The Jungle and explain why I thought so.

So this is my rough draft; feel free to critique; hell you don't even have to read it. If you don't want to go through the essay (it's sort of lengthy, sorry), you can stop now. I don't have anything else to say :)

Having fingers worn down by pickling acid, being eaten alive by rats, and ears snapping off; these all may sound like various scenes from a horror B-movie, but in truth, they are incidents that happen in Upton Sinclair's muckraking novel, "The Jungle." Any individual reading these situations would be horrified to find that people actually suffered through the same abominations, and this reaction is what the author is aiming for. The misfortunes of the protagonist, a Lithuanian immigrant, Jurgis, and his family coming to early 20th century Packingtown to make it rich all lead up to Sinclair's main goal in penning this book: opening the world's eyes to the difficulties and unfairness common in the life of a newcomer. Critics may complain about the lack of character development and dialogue in The Jungle but in the end, it achieves author Upton Sinclair's main purpose of informing the public about the mistreatment of immigrants working in Packingtown, the unsanitary conditions that food went through before arriving at the kitchen table, and the solutions that Socialism brings to the corruption of the United States.

Being an immigrant in America is hard enough with the language barrier, cultural shock, and the abandoning of any past life in another country. The Jungle illustrates these difficulties quite vividly throughout the book, making the reader more sympathetic to the protagonists with every heavy blow. Before Jurgis even steps onto American soil, he is presented with the first of many trials dealt to him simply because he is from a different country. On the ship from Lithuania to Ellis Island, "-there was an agent who helped them, but he proved a scoundrel, and got them into a trap with some officials, and cost them a good deal of their precious money," (Sinclair 24). Unfortunately, the Rudkus and Lukoszaite family come across other income sucking schemes such as the too-good-to-be-true "house, brilliantly painted, new, and dazzling" (Sinclair 46) which magically transforms into a quickly built, flimsy 15 year old structure built on top of a landfill that continually attracts flies. Not only are the living conditions lower than sub-par, but the meat packing factories in which they toil for 10 hours a day, presents many difficulties to the characters' mental and physical health. To pay for the growing rent, Jurgis finds work in the most villainous of all areas in Packingtown: the fertilizer plant. This is the location where, "-they dried out the bones, -and in suffocating cellars where the daylight never came you might see men and women and children bending over whirling machines and sawing bits of bone into all sorts of shapes, breathing their lungs full of the fine dust, and doomed to die, every one of them, within a certain definite time" (Sinclair 135). The abuse that Ona suffers at the hands of her boss, Connor, leads to her breakdown in which she experiences, "- fearful nervousness...; she would have frightful headaches and fits of aimless weeping, and sometimes she would come home at night shuddering and moaning, and would fling herself down upon the bed and burst into tears. Several times she was quite beside herself and hysterical, and then Jurgis would go half-mad with fright" (Sinclair 148). These scenes deftly paint the image that Sinclair wants us to see: one of a vulnerable immigrant family being forcefed unfortunate events and cheating schemes by a greedy forces. The reader quickly realizes how arduous the life of an immigrant can be. Others may claim that so much unluckiness could never befall one family; but in reality, wouldn't even one of the obstacles that Jurgis and his family must face, be especially wearisome, to anyone?

The great detail that is put into the despicable system of processing meat also leads to the The Jungle's success. Stories where, "- the beef had lain in vats full of chemicals, and men with great forks speared it out and dumped it into the truck. This floor was filthy, yet they set Antanas with his mop slopping the "pickle" into a hole that connected with a sink, where it was caught and used over again forever, and if that were not enough, there was a trap in the pipe, where all the scraps of meat and odds and ends of refuse were caught, and every few days it was the old man's task to clean these out, and shovel their contents into one of the trucks with the rest of the meat-" (Sinclair 64) and descriptions of, "-two thousand dollars a week hush money from the tubercular steers alone, and as much again from the hogs which had died of cholera on the trains, and which you might see any day being loaded in boxcars and hauled away to a place called Globe, in Indiana, where they made a fancy grade of lard" (Sinclair 101), angered civilians and even the Presdient alike when these preposterous claims were proven to be true. What Sinclair writes about easily explains why, "-the 'embalmed beef'... had killed several times as many United States soldiers as all the bullets of the Spaniards;" (Sinclair 102). Sinclair once stated, "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach," which is obvious by the actions taken after the book's publication. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 which strictly forbade the selling of any tainted products and increased inspection of manufactured products, was passed almost directly because of Upton Sinclair's muckraking. This in turn leads to increased reform and laws towards protecting the health of the consumer. In this way, The Jungle has influenced American society more than most other books, either directly or indirectly.

However, the author's passion for Socialism and its beliefs manage to come through strongly in the novel. Sinclair builds up all of Jurgis' pain and suffering until the impoverished immigrant discovers the wonder and the understanding of the Socialist party, after which all hardship gradually strips away. Members of the organization are treated fairly and even called, "comrade." "For four years, now, Jurgis had been wondering and blundering in the depths of a wilderness, and here, suddenly, a hand reached down and seized him, and lifted him out of it, and set him upon a mountaintop, from which he could survey it all," (Sinclair 337), he feels that he has finally found a place where he is an equal. Good fortune seems to follow Jurgis soon after he joins the Party; he finds a job at a hotel under the management of, "-the kindest hearted man that ever lived, and the liveliest..." (Sinclair 340) and he learns to read and complete his education. The contrast between Jurgis' previous life in the factories and his life after joining the Socialist party is quite stark and makes the reader really see the positives of Socialism.The book seems to lose its main character in the end and turns instead to the "-harvest fields of the future, to which millions of happy men and women come for a summer holiday, brought by special trains, the exactly needful number to each place! And to contrast all this with our present agonizing system of independent small farming, - a stunted, haggard, ignorant man, mated with a yellow, lean and sad-eyed drudge, and toiling from four o'clock in the morning until nine at night" (Sinclair 366).

Although it is often said that Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle is not a literary masterpiece, it is not fair to simply judge its success based off of flowery language and thought provoking dialogue. In fact, this novel does the job that it was written for; it informs the public about the conditions that immigrants had to live in, exposes the disgusting process of meatpacking, and glorifies Socialism. Based on these three points, Sinclair has made a great success with The Jungle.

Note: If you didn't notice, I get tired towards the end so I sort of just pulled the conclusion out of my ass... and I need better transitions.

Okay, be the worst critics you can possibly be!

Don't Poke Me

2009-01-11T12:11:00.004-06:00

Biggest pet peeve of all time.

Poking/prodding/kicking me to get my attention.

I can totally understand it if the circumstances don't allow any speaking or any other form of getting me to look at you, but really? In class? When you're right next to me? And it's work time?

So here's the scene:

I'm in Latin class in a group filling out a worksheet on reflexive pronouns when a girl sitting next to me (We'll call her Sarah... because that's her actual name) attempts to poke a hole in my back to get me to turn to around.

I swing to face her and (quite bitch-ily I may admit) spit, "What."

"Oh I just wanted to say you were right about question 16."

OHMYGOSH.

It took all of my energy not to explode because this was not the first incident.

Please, is it really that hard to whisper my name? Or to text me? Or to wave your hand in front of my face?

Must you physically touch me?

Maybe I'm being a little too anal.

But, aghhh.

Fried Spam

2009-01-10T14:43:00.003-06:00

First off; thanks to BLACK.blood for the interesting book suggestion [Identical by Ellen Hopkins], I'm going to reserve it from the library right now!

Oh and she also brought up the color of my blog. I admit that I changed the scheme because I just wanted a change and this was just a simple, easy one. However, if anyone has any suggestions as to what hue would be the most enjoyable for the eyes, feel free to say so!

Well today I was checking my email (ugh, so prehistoric, right?) and I realized the sad, sad truth. I have 11, 803 messages in my inbox, but about 2% of them are from actual people.

What does this mean?

It means something along the lines of 98% of advertisements, Urban Dictionary Word of the Days, UN Wire updates, Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters ads, Greenpeace newsletters, and waywayway too many Facebook notifications.

Pathetic, right?

So I decided today to create an all new email address in which I would still get some of the above messages, but also incorporate some human contact.

My new one is swedishfishnovels@gmail.com

Feel free to send me a message! However, I do delete emails if I do not recognize the name of the sender so don't forget to put something about blogging in the subject line.

Me and Eight Others

2009-01-08T21:43:00.004-06:00

I'm reading this book called, Sybil, written by Flora Rheta Schreiber and I cannot put it down.

It's absolutely amazing, and it even inspired a post.

I'm going to give you a gist of the plot, but I suggest you go out and read it yourself; it's hackin' interesting:

Okay so this woman named Sybil Dorsett (a pseudonym) goes in to see a psychologist named Dr. Wilbur. Through many sessions, Dr. Wilbur finds out that Sybil has 16 distinct personalities inside of her that come out and use her body when she is either distressed or extrememly emotional. Each personality believes that they have their own appearances (even though they are really speaking through Sybil) and Sybil has absolutely no memory of what happens when these other characters take over.

And the best part is?

It's non-fiction.

So I was wondering; if I had Multiple Personality Syndrome, what would each of my personalities be? I know that those who have this condition aren't allowed to choose their different characters, and that often this disorder arises through severe traumatic experiences ... but I'm just going to have some fun making up my own people.

First off; there's me; the "waking self."

Eura Chang (16 yrs): 5"8, thick brown hair, easily laughs, moody, OCD tendencies.

Then my (I'll give myself 8) "alters."

Jean Rousseau (19): impoverished artist complete with black tights and beret; white-blond hair in a pixie cut; enjoys painting mustaches on billboards at night; will cry over the dead bird seen in park but gladly enjoys thoughts of torturing capitalist pigs.

Ainsley Parker (16): total bitch; won't hang out with people whose clothes were cheaper than hers; favorite color is mint green; shoulder length amber hair; favorite pastimes are filing her nails and eating frosting out of the jar.

Rhoda Bush (14): absolutely loathes the fact that her last name is the same as our sitting duck, 43rd President; black hair; brown eyes; too scared to talk to anyone except her family; changing her name to Precious Ampferschaat as soon as she turns 18.

Cecilia Tudor (17): talkative; adventurous; once bicycled naked through town just because she was dared by someone who obviously didn't know her very well; curly blonde hair; always has braces with purple bands.

Marion Anderson (12): pretentious; uses big words like "dilettante" and "exigencies"; gave up her Barbie's body for science; favorite outfit includes a plaid skort, white polo, and a pocketwatch she took out of her Grandpa's dresser.

Kenley St. Clair (18): hates life; convinced she's a vampire and enjoys biting; wears black nail polish and fishnets every day; has the entire "Thriller" music video memorized; doesn't even remember what hair color is from excessive dying of it purple.

Alice Thomson (3): likes puppies but not butterflies; favorite color is sandwich; enjoys drawing on her bedroom walls with markers; terrified of the tooth fairy.

Noah Hartford (16): brown hair; likes skateboarding and shooting things.

Question

2009-01-06T22:21:00.003-06:00

So here's a question for you guys.

Would you rather spend the rest of your life having to take 4 showers a day, or only 4 showers a year?

I'm 98% sure that I'd go with the 4 showers/day. I can't stand going more than a day and a half without standing under running water; I can practically feel the dirtiness creeping up on me.

But on the otherhand, I'm sure that many showers would give me very dry skin.

sloth + UPDATE

2009-01-04T12:06:00.006-06:00

So here it is.

The last day of Winter Break and I'm sitting here feeling like I've accomplished absolutely nothing.

Sure I've watched hours of TV, seen countless movies (more bad than good), and wasted entire days on Facebook but I don't think that they really account for anything.

And tomorrow I go back into the daily grind of high school.

I logged into my Blogger with absolutely nothing to say.

And I sign out in the exact same predicament.

LATER @1:13

Okay, so I'm signing back in with something to say.

I had a dream last night which was so totally off the wall that it could possibly be made into a movie.

So here's the scene:

High school in the middle of this big muddy desert. (I don't know how a muddy desert can exist, but this is a dream, remember?) The whole set's basically pandemonium what with teenagers running around screaming and their parents running around screaming. In the midst of all this chaos, some trusty classmates and I are at the bottom of a deserted, rusty stairwell looking up.

The really weird thing is that we're all dressed up in some sort of Indiana Jones garb; basically I've got the khaki uniform, hat, and big boots, sans the whip however. Anyways, we're all looking for something (the item escapes me unfortunately) when out of the blue, three vicious velociraptors burst into view.

Well of course, I almost shit my pants and begin to search even more frantically while trying to ignore the screams from those that are trying to fend off the bloodthirsty, cunning dinosaurs. Here is where I totally blank out and what happens next totally escapes me...

And the next thing I remember about the dream is that I'm outside of the school with my trusty classmates again begging for the person at this chain link fence to let us in to safety. One of my best friends has passed the test and is already in but the rest of the group is forced to prove that somehow we're on the good side. (In the dream this makes sense because we might be zombies trying to infiltrate the survivors, but now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing any zombies in my dream.) I'm trying to show the guard my big swollen thumb (the only injury received from the fight with the velociraptors) but I'm still not deemed credible enough.

Looking out into the distance I see headlights coming from a distance. When I turn to look the other direction, more car lights greet me. I somehow make the realization that the cars aren't going to help and I grab my friend who is sitting behind the chain link fence and say, "They're not here for us, but they're here for that necklace." (I'm thinking that the necklace is what we were looking for in the stairwell and now it is around my friend's neck.)

So our gang runs off into the distance, trying to escape the cars. We steal onto an old school bus and speeds away. The bus is swerving and threatening to flip over as we splash through mud when all of a sudden we're hit by a sudden impact. As I look out the window I realize an angry bull has torn a hole in the side of our vehicle. As it starts to paw the ground in anticipation for another attack we attempt to drive off again. However, another look behind us shows only that the bull is chasing us, faster than any car and is about to cause even more damage with its ungodly horns.

Realizing that there is no escape from the bull's angry infatuation with the bus, everyone evacuates as quickly and quietly as possible, running to the edge of the cliff just as the bull makes impact with the yellow vehicle, destroying it completely.

Lucky for us, the cliff isn't very steep and one at a time (the friend with the necklace going first) we climb slowly down the muddy face and crawl about a hundred feet through the mud where we finally stop to rest behind an abandoned semi-truck; somehow we all know that the enemy is pursuing us.

And then... my mom wakes me up.

There are plenty of plot holes, but it was definitely one of my more interesting dreams.

I wonder if I could interpret any meaning from this?

Old Ladies

2009-01-03T11:32:00.002-06:00

So first off; check out the So How Was Your Day? blog and see whose story made it up today :)

Secondly; I was doing some deep thinking in the lockerroom at the fitness club last night (Because blaring 80's music and the smell of old ladies invokes deep thinking) and I realized, if I died, how would the [insert "few"/] readers of my blog know of my passing away? In fact, most of them would probably think that I just gave up for good, or was just on an extended hiatus.

So I've decided that if I don't write a single thing in this blog for 28 days, you can assume that I've gone onto a better place... or a worse one, we'll have to see about this.

Capisce?

It's a morbid thought to be thinking on a Saturday morning, but I think that it's something that just needs to be taken care of.

Onto happier things!

I am now in love with That 70's Show!

Firsts, Resolutions [sort of], and A Movie

2009-01-02T12:53:00.006-06:00

Here were my firsts of 2009:

word: douchebag [long story, involves some trippage right before the ball dropped.]

movie: 28 Days Later [more on that below...]

food ingested: cupcakes [white with white frosting]

song: The Marriage of Figaro -- written by Mozart [have you heard it? it's fucking unreal]

text message: she says she's not asleep, but she so is! [again, long story; feel free to ask about]

clothes worn: bright blue jeans, Elvira t-shirt. [see profile photo]

.... and that's all I can remember for now.

I've decided that I'm not having any more New Year's Resolutions, because there's basically 3 major ones that everyone has:

1. Lose weight

2. Spend more time with the family

3. Just be a better person in general

And since I think that all three of those things should be focused on throughout the entire and not just for the month of January and then dropped on month number 2, I've decided on some life resolutions.

1. learn how to play another instrument; not saying that I don't enjoy playing the cello, but I can't just pull it out of my backpack and start playing it like say... the pan flute.

2. watch the top 100 movies of all time; I'll have to find a legit list first, but it would make for a great long weekend.

3. learn/memorize how to make the best cookies ever; again, I need to find the recipe first.

4. run a marathon; I like to run, marathons = running, I'll give it a shot one day.

5. write in this blog more regularly; need I say more?

So as I mentioned way, way above; the first movie I watched this year was 28 Days Later.

It was pretty good. I've always been into movies where people are in peril, running for their lives from scaryviolentfaststrong antagonists [case in point: The Mummy, Jurassic Park, etc] so basically, I enjoyed this movie. I expected this to be a scary movie so I was sort of relieved when it turned out to be more of a zombie flick. I'm not much of a scary film fan, I HATEhatehatehate it when things pop out so that basically crosses most of them out.

Anyways, a good first movie for the year.

How was everyone else's New Year's?

Rocky Racoon

2008-12-23T20:52:00.001-06:00

Probably the best way I've spent a boring 20 minutes of my life. All you do is put your iPod on Shuffle and click the next song to get the answer.

The next time you stand up in front of a group of people, you'll say:
Song: Mutha'uckas
Artist: Flight of the Conchords
Comment: Not sure my mum would be too thrilled about that.

Your favorite thing to say when drunk is:
Song: The Gospel Truth II
Artist: Music From Disney's Hercules
Comment: It is a fun song to sing, unfortunately, I don't think my pitch gets any better with alcohol.

Your message to the world:
Song: It's Raining On Prom Night
Artist: Me First & the Gimme Gimmes
Comment: I hope my pessimistic views don't depress the world.

Your deepest secret:
Song: I'm a Boy
Artist: The Who
Comment: Dammit, how'd it know?

Your innermost desire:
Song: Figure It Out
Artist: Plain White T's
Comment: Oooh, my iPod's getting cheeky with me.

Somewhere in your wedding vows, you'll include:
Song: Take Me Away
Artist: Avril Lavigne
Comment: Hitchiking through Europe for a honeymoon sounds A-OK with me.

On your deathbed, you'll whisper:
Song: We Might As Well Be Strangers
Artist: Keane
Comment: Well, if it's to a doctor, yeah it makes sense.

Your friends say behind your back:
Song: Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore
Artist: Beulah
Comment: Wow, I wish they would tell me these sorts of things to my face.

You say behind your friends' back:
Song: Two In a Million
Artist: S Club 7
Comment: That's right bitch!

When you wake up in the morning, you mutter:
Song: Already Gone
Artist: Crossfade
Comment: Makes sense... okay not really.

If you found yourself lost on a desert island, you'd yell:
Song: Casimir Pulaski Day
Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Comment: I don't even know what that means.

Right now, your feelings are:
Song: Bring the Noise
Artist: Anthrax
Comment: Ugh really? I'm tired.

What's your excuse for reposting this:
Song: Lightyears Away
Artist: MoZella
Comment: In other words, I have no excuse.

Your life's soundtrack:
Song: Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")
Artist: Bill Conti
Comment: Two words. Fuck. Yeah.

The day you fall in love will be the day that:
Song: Holy Smokes
Artist: Iron Maiden
Comment: This answer seems more like something you would say while in a conversation. "The day that I fall in love will be the day that - HOLY SMOKES! Did you just see that nun walk out of the drug store with a pack of cigarettes?"

You scream during sex:
Song: College Kids
Artist: Relient K
Comment: ... more than one college kid?

What do people assume when they first look at you?
Track: The Modern Age
Artist: The Strokes
Comment: ...

What will be a big challenge in life for you?
Track: All Time Lows
Artist: HelloGoodbye
Comment: Depression?

Are you a good boyfriend/girlfriend husband?
Song: We Are Broken
Artist: Paramore
Comment: Well I did break up with my last boyfriend...

Do you have a secret admirer?
Song: When The Sun Goes Down
Artist: The Arctic Monkeys
Comment: This is scary. Maybe my admirer turns into an evil stalker at dusk. I'll make sure to lock the windows and doors.

Will you ever become manically depressed in your life?
Song: Gimme Some Truth
Artist: John Lennon
Comment: Yeah, I want to know!

How will you die?
Song: Rocky Racoon
Artist: The Beatles
Comment: So I'll obviously be stoned to death by racoons. Pleasant.

Is someone trying to kill you?
Song: Save Your Scissors
lArtist: City and Colour
Comment: Sounds like a warning. Maybe my stalker is only able to be repelled by scissors.

What's for dinner tonight?
Song: You're So Damn Hot
Artist: OK Go
Comment: Savoury...

Your farewell message to the readers of this:
Song: Stella was a Diver and She was Always Down
Artist: Interpol
Comment: But you already knew this, right?

Festivus!

2008-12-23T08:26:00.010-06:00

Merry Festivus everyone!

If you subscribe to Urban Dictionary's Word of the Day, you'll be in the know.

However, for those lacking in information(because Urban Dictionary provides a plethora): A Summary of Festivus, the Holiday for the Rest of Us.

Festivus actually gained its roots in the popular TV series, Seinfeld. To be honest with you, I've never seen an episode of this show. In fact, I'll just keep clicking through it to see if there are any episodes of the Office or House on. (Thanks a lot Zoe, you got me completely addicted.)

This holiday is perfect for me, or anyone whose beliefs are similar to mine. Here's my belief: Christmas has become too commercial. Now, I'm agnostic, so I don't even celebrate Christmas; however, it upsets me to see one of the most celebrated holidays on Earth, has been turned into a mobfest at the local Walmart. What does this say about our race? [insert shudder here.]

My family has never really gotten into the whole Christmas spirit. We're not a bunch of Grinches, but we figure that our time of giving and thankfulness should happen throughout the year instead of stockpiled for that one day in which we pour it out. And sure, I love presents! But why wait? If I want something, and I deserve it then I'll get it. (Wow, that came out more bratty than I really am.) Okay, so if I want something, and I deserve it and I can explain my good use for it, then I'll get it. (Better? And trust me, my parents have different ideas about what a "good use" is, and it's usually along more academic lines.) So basically, the whole gifts thing, is a lot like the good feelings. If they're spread out along the year, it'll feel more sincere. Plus, getting every single one of your presents on one day, causes you to get tired of them... and then what are you supposed to do for the rest of the year?

Anyways, back to Festivus. (Oh, and it's traditionally celebrated on the 23rd of December)

The stalwart symbol of this illustrious holiday is The Festivus Pole!

The Festivus pole is to be aluminum (for its high strength to weight ratio) and completely unadorned. This stands as a defiance to the commercialization and over sparkliness of the Christmas tree.

And now on to the Celebration of Festivus! There are 2 main traditions commonly followed:

The Airing of Grievances is basically the one time in which you are allowed to say your disappointments in each other. Go ahead, join the catharsis. Understand each other's feelings and get closer as a family. If you're irked by what someone may have said, wait until the next part of the celebration to let it all out.

The Feats of the Strength. Basically a big wrestling match. Festivus officially ends when the head of the head of the house is pinned to the ground.

To see Photojojo's hilarious take on Festivus, check it: http://photojojo.com/content/photojojo-original/festivus-traditions

I've yet to present this idea to my family. But if nothing else, I can always find a little aluminum pole to set up in my bedroom.

So what are we going to do on Christmas Day? I don't know yet; maybe watch TV, eat a little, or join our Jewish community on eating Chinese food and going to the movie theatres.

By the way, you're probably not too interested, but here are some photos from my Sweet Sixteen.

DON'T BREAK THE ICE. Probably one of the greatest games ever invented. Those plastic mallets really hurt when thrown in frustration.

TWISTER. Another classic game. My friends made it violent.

We also played Apples to Apples and Jenga. Again, more casualties resulted from these two games.

Haiku #5

2008-12-14T14:15:00.001-06:00

leaves falling red gold
snow blanket green grass swift wind
PSEUDO HAIKU!

(Hint: number of syllables in last line)

I promise longer, more biting, and more sarcastic posts are coming soon!

Haiku #4

2008-12-03T17:02:00.003-06:00

small unassuming
quiet flutter of their wings
bats are conspiring

I wrote this poem after reading a newspaper article about the small rise of reported bat bites that tested possible for rabies.

Mission

2008-11-30T20:03:00.002-06:00

Alright everyone, I have an important request to ask of everyone who comes across this blog.

Stereotype me.

That's right. Comment and write the first labels you think of when you read these words:

teenager. high schooler. korean.

Go ahead and look at my profile stats/photo, but base your pigeon holing on the three words above.

I won't take any offense at anything, I'm just curious to know what people think of me.

Mob

2008-11-30T10:25:00.004-06:00

One more bullet to add on my list of reasons to move out of the state when I turn 18:

Desperate shoppers will kill for a good deal... literally.

So I just recently read that on the infamous Black Friday, crazed customers stormed a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, NY and trampled over a employee trying to curb the mob back.

When the announcement was made that the man had been killed and that the store must be closed, some shoppers protested loudly and kept on shopping.

Really? I'm cringing at the thought. Is a $28 vacuum or a $9 DVD worth a human life?

I actually did not really go out shopping on Friday. I left the house around 8:30 and bought a new camera at Office Max and went straight home, so that was the extent of my Black Friday.

I also apologize for the lack of haikus, I promise I'll have some splendid ones written up soon.

What Happens After Cake

2008-11-29T09:26:00.004-06:00

How was everyone's Thanksgiving?

My family isn't really into the whole "celebrating Thanksgiving" thing, so there was no turkey or cranberry sauce for me. (But then again, my family isn't really into those things either.)

HOWEVER, I did get two bowls of mashed potatoes with gravy and was able to watch 14 episodes of The Office.

Now that I am thankful for!

Here's a little video my friends and I made on my new (!) Canon Power Shot SD1100 IS. I would say that it's very Cloverfield-esque, with a bit of The Exorcist at the end... but it's all in good fun.

Note: We filmed this in like 10 minutes and edited it in like 2... so like half the time it took to make Cloverfield :))

Oh and most of it is sideways, my bad.

Haiku #3

2008-11-23T14:21:00.001-06:00

walks in the city
night lights, pavement, gangsters roam
Oh shit, where's the car?

I Make People Cry and Haiku #2

2008-11-21T22:01:00.004-06:00

Here's the scoop: I've been having these super weird dreams lately and they all involve making my friends cry.

And I don't think that these dreams are happening to me because I'm mad at them, because I'm not. In fact, nothing has changed at all in my relationships with these people.

But all of my dreams basically consist of me yelling/shouting at a different friend every night (this has been going on for 3 nights in a row), subsequently causing them to break down into tears.

Am I really just a super mean person deep inside?

I don't have any rageful suppressed feelings that I know of.

Any ideas on what these dreams could mean?

Here's your daily dose of horrible poetry:

brown furry unreal
Sesame Street is cool
Snuffleupagus

Haiku #1

2008-11-20T22:21:00.002-06:00

dry, desert, stinging
begging for fruity relief
where is my chapstick?

Outrage

2008-11-19T20:46:00.003-06:00

I'm feeling quite indignant at the moment. I planned on taking a quick look at my blog to see the Nietzsche quote of the day and what do I see?

Lose Weight! Try the new Rachel Ray Cookbook.

Oh the humanity!

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