Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Recipes I tried this season

http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/10/persimmon-pudding/
pretty good. lots of oven time = lots of energy. maybe just make persimmon bread next time.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/02/best-chocolate-pudding/
Really good. instead of cream and eggs, used whole milk and cornstarch. Not too sweet.
Put it into puff pastry cups and sprinkled pomegranate seeds on top (rather than whipped cream). Would like to do with with phyllo dough cups next time.

http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/galbijjim
Loosely followed a tripling of this recipe but began with wayyyy too much water. We had to cook it a long time to reduce it, but long stove time = lots of energy. Also, instead of sugar, I use honey.

In the future, I'd sautee the garlic, onion, soy sauce, and gogi before I pour water and everything.

Also, added potatoes and button mushrooms to the mix (rather than just radish and carrots) and heckkk no am I going to cut the veggies into little balls. that's lame.. and way too much work.

Taste? = great!

And then of course, tried and trues: bacon-wrapped dates. (mi favorite!)

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Bones

Eww.... I got the skeevies when Bones told Booth she loved him.
I literally made a disgust face.  Yikes.


Also, I don't get it.  How did they have a baby in the first place?

Anyway, I have to finish my research paper.

I used to love Bones despite its suckiness.. but last season there was no actual "solving".. just Bones "hearing" from the bones.  and it's just lame.

blehgh.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

My last piece on Steve Jobs.

I just read the eulogy by his sister: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/mona-simpsons-eulogy-for-steve-jobs.html

as I read this, I see people grasping at straws.
I see a man who was self-sufficient and good at what he does.
Who was good at being "good" and yet, that's not enough, is it?

Steve was not a saint.  Not even close.  The news/anecdotal accounts/hushed stories attest to that.

and yet, he affected his family so deeply.  the people he touched.  and here is a man, that may be closest to one who universally affected the world.  the contemporary alexander the great, caesar, or King Solomon, if you will.

Yet Solomon's wisdom prevails.  All is vanity.  There is nothing new under the sun.  Steve may have done his best at making his mark, but in the end, he will fade into history.

His last words tear at my heart.  "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow."  I wonder.  were these words uttered in rapture or horror?  What did he see past those shoulders?  Those two words, expressed through a dying man's lips.  A man whose physical being will pass away, but whose soul will remain forever.

It hurts my heart.  Because he was a "great" man.. but greatness does not make for salvation.

What did he see?  Did he see the depths of hell automatically or did he see the complete righteousness of Christ illuminating the complete failings of his sin?  What will I see?

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Friday, October 21, 2011

nostalgia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Ot_AqGfTjjg

I was watching this and I felt sad because I miss those old sepia toned movies, where there's the quick, bantering dialogue and the relative sweetness.  Seeing those 4 guys harmonizing and singing together, looking young and sharp, smiling, it's sad.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Good bye Steve Jobs

I only got on the Steve Jobs fan club in this past year.  Mainly because as I worked at College Track (co-founded by his wife) and began to play around with Apple stuff, I realized he knew what he was doing.
I appreciate just his hard work, his creative genius, how he opened the doors for other young eager entrepreneurs to continue.

I'm mainly writing though because I feel sad for his family.  Okay, I never actually face-to-face met Laurene Powell Jobs... I once saw her back at the Justin Bieber College Track benefit concert.  BUT at least that humanizes the family a bit for me.  And I'm sad that there was so much stock shakiness when Steve Jobs would take leaves of absence.  I'm sad that people freaked out about APL when he decided to resign.  I'm sad that he didn't resign earlier ... (I feel like maybe he tried but then for the sake of people freaking out, maybe he came back?)

I just wish he had had more time with his family. I dono.  . :/

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Uh oh, Taylor Lautner's actually acting

And no werewolf business either.



Alfred Molina, you're so awesome, why are you here?

gravelly, sinister tone: "Listen to me, Nathan, we're going to find you"
Nathan's deadpan cartoon boy voice: "Not if I find you first."

WHAT?  Why?  That literally makes no sense.  RUN AND HIDE, NATHAN. RUN AND HIDE!


Good night.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

3 Things about the Cronkhite Private Bathroom

The automated paper dispenser is a little strange.  Sometimes I stick my hands out and the paper doesn't come out.  A friend taught me to just hit the bottom, and it comes out.  Someone else told me that I can just gently tug.. and it'll come out.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES when I walk in and the light goes on, THE PAPER DISPENSER DISPENSES PAPER!  Or.... when my shadow hits it.  anyway, it's strange.

It has the water conserving toilet.  But I don't think it conserves water.  B/c every time I pull up (For #1), the toilet paper never goes down.  So then I have to reflush.  I feel like two #1s > 1 #2.  So.. they should just have it so that you flush it down normally.  But I do appreciate the green handle.. does it really kill germs?

HOLY CRAP I POO'D 4 TIMES TODAY!  <-- a tweet that I ended up choosing not to post.

the tendency to fall apart

I skipped my S005 class this morning (it's offered online, but that still doesn't make me feel better about it).  Last night went to bed around 1, and made the conscience decision .. to.. skip. :(
Woke up with a sore throat, took a much needed shower, hurtled it to class, came in at 10:40am and was confuse that class was in full gear.  Around 11am, I realized the reason why there were so many notes and people seemed so on top of things was because ..... class doesn't start at 10:30am, it starts at 10!  

Seriously?
-___-

I'm such a noob when it comes to things like this, and I fall apart so easily.
I don't know why "study services" / "student counseling" sessions are offered.  When you probably need it, you're also super busy and you don't want to spend time talking to someone for .5-1 hour.  When you DO have time, then you don't need it!

Instead of taking my lunch to my room, I sat and ate with people.  that was good.  I'm not more focused on this paper.

It's a puny thing, really.  500 words.  Not too much.  I think I'm freaking out unnecessarily.... pride?  perfectionism?   Am I a perfectionist?  I didn't think I was.  I think I'm more of a comparatist....... I compare myself to others, feel like I'm better, and get annoyed when I'm not.

Oh wait, what's that word again?

Oh yeah.

PRIDE.


Living off Sovereign Grace music, Proverbs and 1 John.  I try some Isaiah, but lately it's been really murky in those woods.

When I eat a meal, i eat A LOT, because lately I've been missing the times and skipping it.. and living like Lena and Kathy.. on fruit and nasty almond butter without salt.


Think about this often:


Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives to his beloved in his sleep. (Psalm 127:1-2)
Pastor John from 1980:
I think the main point of these three verses is: "Don't eat the bread of anxious toil." It means just the same thing Jesus meant when he said, "Don't be anxious about what you shall eat."
When we grow up we must all work for our bread. And we can either work nervously, worrying about what men will think of us — and so eat the bread of anxious toil. Or we can work with serenity in our hearts, as serving Christ and not men — and so eat the bread of peace. God's will for his children, indeed the sign of whether we are children or not, is that we not eat the bread of anxious toil.
God does not lay down specific rules for how early we rise for work and how late we knock off at night. But he does lay down this principle for his beloved: Don't rise early and go late to rest out of anxiety, out of fear and fretfulness. If the joy of fruitful labor lures you to work 12 hours a day, so be it. But take heed lest you are really deceiving yourself, and in fact are being driven by anxiety, or by her twin sister, selfish-ambition.
Christians will work hard, but they will work more for the joy of all the good their work can bring to others than they will out of fear at what men will think if they fail. So,
Be diligent as God may lead
And eat the bread you earn,
But fret not over what you need
And let not worry burn.


http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/hard-work-or-anxious-toil-a-christian-understanding-of-labor

Sunday, September 18, 2011

la da da da da

I have so much to do and I'm so bad at doing it.

Thoughts and Updates

1) I'm not used to being in school.  Thus, it's been hard to balance readings and writings.  Plus, the classes are all so different.

A) Managing Financial Resources in Nonprofit Organizations
GREAT Prof.  I realized he has to be great.  Because how am I staying awake for 1.5 hours listening to him talk about cash and accrual accounts and auditing and all that jazz?  Also, I realized that EVERYTHING I had been doing as a work-study student as an Accounting/Admin Assistant has to do with ... drum roll.............  CHART OF ACCOUNTS!!!!!!!!
So basically, things have been making sense, so I'm glad.
BUUUt I'm worried.  I have now .. accumulated around 250 pages of reading that I haven't done yet.  But... if I understand what's going on in class, do I need to do the reading?

B) Introduction to (Quantitative) Education Research
EASY prof.  Who basically said we'll all get A's.  Just learning basic stats.  I've started to check my email in class... and stuff...... but he's really interesting, and I think I want to do an independent research project instead of the class assignments.  Should I?  It's semi-over-achieve-y ...... meh.

C) Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Learning
AMAZING prof.  She used to teach at HBS and came over to the Ed School.  Case-based class and it's interesting.  It's interesting not having a lot of reading, but studying a case and meeting with people outside of class on my own time to discuss it.  I never thought I'd do things like that.

If you can't tell, classes A-C are electives.

D)  Reading Development and Instruction.
AWESOME PROF!  She's also the Program Director.  She's DONE it all and knows it all. lol.  About Reading, that is.  And I'm having a great time LEARNING, but I'm behind on the reading, and a little intimidated by all these people who seem to KNOW everything about reading.  I wish I'd taken my psych / ed classes..... oh well.  Anyway, I have my first paper due, and I'm worried since it has to be about how I learned how to read... and I HAVE NO CLUE HOW I LEARNED HOW TO READ!

E) Adolescent Literature (module)
I was going to also take the Children's Literature module, but I think once this is over, I'll welcome the extra time.  Love the instructor - she works in publishing and she's great.  LOVE the reading..... i love reading.... i love it.. i love it.....  Read some awesome YA books so far.  Dang it,  I want to take Children's Literature.  I think I should continue.  But that means I'm taking 20 units. o_O.

2) My job and internship are both pretty sweet.


A) The Harvard Bridge Program - Really cool concept.  Harvard offers classes for workers at Harvard to take literacy, ESL, citizenship, computer, and other classes along with tutoring opportunities and stuff to help them out in terms of job mobility.  The people I work with are great.  I'll be mainly doing admin stuff, tutoring, and social media development.  (8 hours, close to my place and the gym)

B) reDesign - a private, for-profit, small, education consulting company.  Again. Great people. Cool ideas.  Trying to get my feet wet in this whole "consulting biz" to see if I see myself there.  I'll be working mainly with social media platforms here too.  (7 hours, go to office 1x a week, and the rest from home)

3) I'm excited for church tomorrow!!!!

A) I visited Hope Fellowship yesterday and it was aiight.  Really liked the sermon.  But I don't know... I'll explain more later in person, if you want to know.

B) Excited to go back to Redeemer Fellowship tomorrow.  Because I just loved it.  And you know, I'd always be the girl telling people that when they're church shopping, they should try it out for 2-3 weeks at a time, really engage, and get to know a church.  But I think I'm at a point where I know what I want and the rest is kind of non-essentials.  It's the chem.  and so yeah.  I don't have too much time (I think.. i mean, who knows..) soooo I want to jump in asap. So yeah!  and I think, yeah, just being happy about going back tomorrow, makes me happy.  I love going to a church where people there love being there.  Yaddamean?

4) So much to do here, so little time.


A) I really need to learn how to balance school work.  I can't figure it out

B) I'm worried about my liver.  All people do here is go out for drinks.  I mean, the pubs and stuff here are REALLY cool.... historical, artsy, cultural, musical, etc.  But my wallet, liver, and gut probably can't handle this if it becomes regular... which I think it is.  Last night I tried just going to our cohort's happy hour and not ordering anything.  No calories, no negative dollar(ies), hooray!

C) Today I could have gone to a concert, a classmate's birthday party, and a live band swing dance thing with my dorm mates.  Instead, I worked out, helped out a friend by letting him do an assessment on me, and researched for my class.  I wish I were able to do more things in a day.   But today I have to work.. since tomorrow I'm going to Maine.

5) Interesting stuff up ahead!


A) I think I'm joining the HGSE for Haiti club and it's cool.  I like meeting the people there, and yeah.  I'll be treasurer, so that also adds to time commitments, but I've worked with grant writing before and it will be interesting learning this sort of money-managing thing.

B) This also means, this Winter, I may be in Haiti!

6) Little regrets


A) When I talk with people about classes they're taking, I wish I were taking it too.  I wish I were taking Catherine Snow's class (From Language to Literacy) since she's literally a pioneer in that field AND even though I ran away from the whole idea of linguistics, I wish I didn't chicken out.  Also I wish I were taking Chinese Comparative Education with Fong.  I had cool ideas for the research proposals in that class.

B) I wish I had taught more before I came to HGSE.  But then I couldn't get a job... so then I had to jump into grad school right away... it was kind of catch-22.  But still.  I miss teaching... but then, also, when I think about teaching, I think about Mrs. Chow.  I think about CCS.  I think about mean parents and apathetic kids.  I already start feeling tired.  One person said that she thought that maybe I'm a bit traumatized from my GCA experience.  Maybe she's right.  Anyway, I get anxious sometimes thinking about what I'm going to do for my job.  Is it a given that I should expect to work 50-60 hours a week?  Is it not possible to separate my job life from my work life?  I feel like to do anything interesting, I have to put in 150%.  To do anything tolerable and still have time for me to pursue my other interests, I'd be .. like.. a boring desk job at a university or something like that.  God doesn't want me to be anxious.  and I think about that a lot.

B) I'm eating too much and gaining the chubs :(

7)  I miss calling my mom whenever I want to.

A) I think that was hard.  Not just being able to call people on the spur of the moment to tell them about my day or tell them something cool.

B) I ended up calling Christy Pak a lot.
This is how I start my phone conversation, "Are you still unemployed?  How's the job search?  Okay, well anyway, let me tell you about ME!"

C) Anyway, I miss people. and it sucks that all my CLOSE FRIENDS have YET to email me ON THEIR OWN.  They're all either replying BACK or ASKING ME FOR A FAVOR.   (Do you feel guilty yet?)

8)  I need a haircut


9) Food is better in California


10) I feel like such a hippie dippie here


A) I feel overly dressed up whenever I go to class

B) I am a bit frustrated that there's no compost bins at restaurants and people don't recycle properly

Thursday, September 8, 2011

have to get this off my chest

You know when you do something embarrassing, and you still think back on it and you shudder, because you're embarrassed?

There's only a few moments like that in my life (the pure embarrassment, no humor, just embarrassment)...

today was a moment that wasn't THAT bad but my mind keeps replaying it in my mind.

In my H818 class, my prof opens it up to discussion and people have lots of ideas.  I kinda felt like a lot of people touted there "when I taught in X country.. blah blah" a bit, but it was fine.

When we got to "class norms" and the question was posed, what kind of norms should we have for our classroom, I thought (this was in the context of children and teachers and cultural biases) this question was directed to us as teachers with our own classrooms.


So... i open it up, stumbling and speaking too fast (when i get nervous i overspeak) about just my experiences dealing with cultural issues, identity, etc...... and how I want to open up my students for being able to dialogue not from just a "minority" standpoint and not to marginalize the "dominant culture" kids either.. (i can explain later.. this isn't the point)...

So then my professor nods and goes, so... open dialogue?  and i'm a little confused and go "yeah"

and the TF writes it down.

and then someone else says "I think people should say each other's names"
and then someone else says "i think we should try to be understanding of each other's viewpoints"

and THEN so on.

and THEN i realize.. after like the 4th or 5th point.. that.... WE WERE WRITING CLASS NORMS FOR THIS CLASS.. FOR THE CLASS I WAS IN..  SHE WASNT ASKING ABOUT HOW WE BUILD NORMS FOR THE CLASSROOM BUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC CLASS.
and i had NO REASON

TO
TALk
ABOUT
ANYTHING
THAT
I DID

I FEEL
LIKE
SUCH
A
LOOOOOOSEEEERRR!!!!!


gAH!



foot in the mouth

freaLZ!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Field Trip to Historic Concord Email

 It's all boring and normal until you get to the bottom. LOL LOL LOL.  I love being here.. I didn't realize how fun bookish nerdyness could be!

Meet:  11:15-11:20am on Porter Square commuter rail platform
(see entrance, separate from subway entrance, on plaza)

Depart: 11:30am sharp (arrive in Concord 12:03pm)

Return: 3:31pm from Concord train station (arrive in Porter Square 4:02pm)

Highlights: downtown Concord; the Old North Bridge (American Revolution battleground site); and the Old Manse (home of philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson’s family; residence of novelist/short story writer Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Additional sites to choose from, time permitting –or for those who’d like to return on the later 5:58pm train: Authors’ Ridge (gravesites of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts); Orchard House (home of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women); Emerson House (where an HGSE grad will soon be living as caretaker); Walden Pond (subject of Thoreau’s eponymous book); Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge; Concord Museum….

Costs: $12.50 train fare ($6.25 one-way fare to and fro Concord); $6 admission fee to Old Manse

Reasonable Suggestions: *Wear your walking shoes, because we’ll probably be walking three miles or so (five or more if you go to Walden Pond to swim afterward and catch the later train). *Bring your lunch—or enough change to buy a quick sandwich on the way to the Old North Bridge and the Old Manse— so that we can picnic in the meadow by the river. (We have a 1pm tour scheduled at the Old Manse.) *Do a few minutes of online research about Concord if you’re not familiar with the American Revolution or the Transcendentalist literary movement!

Unreasonable Suggestion: *Read the complete works of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Alcotts (Louisa May and her father, Bronson), Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, and all of the Abolitionist poets and philosophers who were tromping around eastern Massachusetts back then!

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Church Search

So, I initially was sold on the idea of relocating because I thought I'd be attending a church with most of my friends from college.  But as time passed, I realized I wanted to see what else was out there, and I wasn't super keen on going to a large church with people I already knew from the past.

Besides, I'm not the type of person that needs to "feel" comfortable at a church to be there.  I look at the church's genuinity/sincerity, the Pastor's humility and integrity... and that's that.  Honestly, even with EBCB, I didn't LIKE PJ at first, but I really admired his sticking to his guns, and I was blown away by the sincerity of the members... I was surprised that people actually read the Bible and liked it. haha.

Anyway, in California, I looked through the EFCA and 9Marks websites and just browsed the net.  Came across a few and read through their statements of faith, emailed one, listened to a few sermons.

The church I *really* wanted to check out first (I really enjoyed the sermon) is actually no longer meeting - they don't have a building anymore!

Then it turned out that last Sunday, because of Irene, the public transpo was shut down and churches were closed!  (Apparently, a very rare thing).

So, today was my first Sunday.  I boarded a bus that was pretty close to my place, and it took around 15 minutes straight down the street to get there.  Where?  Redeemer Fellowship Church in Watertown, MA.

It's in this large historic looking church that was beautiful and people were warm and friendly.  Actually, they were VERY welcoming (although sometimes, there WERE patches of awkward standing by yourself, feeling awkward... feeling awkward.  Sure, it's seriously less than a minute, but. it. feels. so. long. . . !) It's a smaller congregation (apparently around 80ish people), started 2 years ago..... and basically (as one lady put it) a cross section of many cultures and stages in life.  There were older families, young families, just-marrieds, singles, kids, various ethnicities (mainly Caucasian, few Asians, few everything else).

The acoustics in the building was amazing.  I could barely hear the praise team because I was overwhelmed by the gustily singing congregation around me, voices echoing off the high roof and floors.  The songs were familiar hymns, but we sang verses that are normally omitted at EBCB.  I also learned a new song.

The pastor is sincere, and he preached on church unity in John 17.  I wasn't too blown away by a sermon I had listened to online, but I really felt fed during today's sermon.  It was part of Jesus' high priestly prayer, and he spoke about how Jesus makes 5 requests, and only 1 refers to us (" those also who believe in Me through their word").  And that prayer is for unity.  He spoke on different causes for disunity (the most obvious being SIN, and then elaborating), and then explained how TIGHT this unity ought to be (Jesus compares the unity among the brethren with the unity between the Son and the Father).  I sometimes feel like unity is overemphasized, but after this sermon, I'm glad that my church back home also emphasizes it.  Pastor Chris also talked about unity in the context of the local church, which is also helpful.

As I was speaking with people, especially since this is a starting church, I'm realizing just ... yeah, the wisdom in going slow.  This church also had a separate board of elders until recently (past January) when they finally got their own elders.  It's great to hear about people being enthusiastic about being "biblically-founded" and "Christ-centered."  For me, it was wonderful to hear, and at first I thought that well, these are buzzwords that people would love.  But then I realized, they're only buzzwords to a crowd that WOULD want that.  I don't know, do you follow?

Anyway, I plan on coming back a few more times and then I am going to check out Hope Fellowship Church and maayyyyybe Heart Change Fellowship.



Sorry, this is really disorganized, and the paragraphs aren't real paragraphs anyway... but yeah, I hope you can overlook that.
 

Some Learning Points:
- EBCB isn't weirdly obsessed with unity
- EBCB's elders are bonafide
- NEVER let a new person alone.... those minutes feel really long (Even if you're extroverted like me)


I mean, I REALLY liked it here, and part of me feels like well, it's fine, it's Biblical, I'll stay... rather than check out another one.  But maybe I should look around?  Even though at EBCB, all I did was come and stay.  Hmm Hmm HMM


Sunday, August 28, 2011

My First Week

Got into my dorms at 1am on Tuesday.
Tuesday was a blur (woke up around 10ish and walked around outside in PJs.....NEWSFLASH: in BOSTON, NO ONE WALKS AROUND IN SWEATS!)

Wednesday: Full day

Thursday: Full day (went to bed around 3)
Friday: Full day (went to bed around 3)
Saturday: full day.  (useless writing workshop, then cohort happy hour, then passed out in a huddle on my bed, then went to the hurricane irene party)

So, let's see.
My 2 boxes still haven't arrived.

I don't have certain essentials.

I love it here.

Kinda stressed about classes/internships, but making some *good* friends.
Thankful.

I forgot what I wanted to write on my list..........

OH i love my cohort and my program director is pretty amazing.

I'm happy.

I love private school.  I'm gonna make sure my kids go to a public school and learn to earn their education.  hah.

Getting excited about projects/research .... gonna try to test the waters for The Mind Garden.


I feel *very* California.  Too relaxed.  I say "like" and "dude".  Good thing I don't say hella.  I said "noob" and they didn't know what i meant.  But i DID feel like a noob.  I didn't bring an umbrella (still in my bag) b/c.. come on, it's SUmmer!  I don't have rainboots yet.. and yeah.

but yeah. :)

Visit!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

-.- but i love it here!

Me: If I got a PhD -
Alice: you for suuuuure won't be getting married
Me: wait what really?
Alice: for suuuuure.
Me: no.
Alice: Dude I think so!
Me: nooo are you sure?
Alice: Yes.  yeah you for SURE can kiss your eggs goodbye because you won't be using any

Friday, August 26, 2011

random memory i'd like to keep

Bohyun and I got out of the car.
IT was dark.
I looked at the driveway and there was a black cat.  Uh oh. I think.  Bad luck!
It was heaving.  Hairball. I think. Gross.
It kept heaving. Poor cat. I think.
It threw up finally, not a hairball but a big glob of orangey brown gook. AHHH. I scream.
The cat runs away.  AHH! I scream.  This is probably REALLY bad luck. a black cat crosses my path and throws up in front of me!
Sarah screamed too. REally loud.
Then as we walk, the cat follows.  Then it leaves.  Whew. I think.
THEN suddenly it appears and follows as I turn into the Emeryville house.  I pick up the pace.
Sarah and I run into the house.  We ran in our heels.  We ran.  Away from the throwup black cat.

(The throw up black cat earlier went back to sniff its vomit. Gross.  You know what they say about a dog that returns to its vomit... I thought a cat would be smarter...)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011


Hey Everyone,
I'm here.  It was all in all a nice flight.  My bags ALL fit and Kathy and Grace helped me run a BUNCH of errands before I left!  In the first leg, I got stuck between a 79 y/o man with a French wife of 50 years and a larger white boy.  The man likes bourbon and ferraris and talking about the war.  I tried to sleep most of the trip.

Then I had an hour before the next flight, but pretty much just made it in time as they were boarding and chilled in my seat before take off.
I dozed on and off then too and listened to an old podcast of EBCB's Spotlight.  It was bittersweet (Nate and Frank MCing, Pedro interviewing Frances, Cass's "Realization", and Ebony's announcements).  

When I got off the plane, I got my bright pink bags RIGHT away... but then, I had the wrong phone number for Veronica (my pickup) and just waited at the airport....... and kiinda worried, but kinda didn't. B/c honestly, they speak English here, and that makes a HUGE difference.  And Veronica and PaulJ just came!  and got me!

And I'm in Cronkhite (used to be the all women's dorm for Radcliffe)!  3rd floor. A little closet of a room. Overlooking a sweet corner.  Right next to the Kitchen, across from a bathroom, near the elevator.  Sweet!  It's a little confusing b/c MA law states that you need keys for the stairs.  And certain stairs don't allow the keys, and.. there's swiping.  Oh, Cronkhite is kind of like a low-key version of Dwinelle.  My 3rd floor is only accessible through walking across the 2nd floor first.  Oh well. Adventure.  Basically, the front desk girl (Rebecca) knows me already b/c I kept on getting lost, having to go back down to the first floor, and walk back in through the lobby.

I probably won't be writing lengthy updates, but right now I'm procrastinating looking through courses and such.  Love you all!  Not too homesick... b/c seriously, Boston right now is kind of like Palo Alto.  Pretty, cute, quaint buildings.  People speak English.
I think the people speaking English part helps a lot. hahahahaha

The lights got brighter and brighter!

My door!

My room.

My view!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

another milestone.

So after lots of stress and craziness, today I moved ALL 26 of my boxes into Christine, Natalie and Junny's attic.  (Thank you so much girls for your hospitality, flexibility, care, and love!!)  You're probably thinking 26? What the.  Let me explain.  Only 7 of them were large boxes.  The rest were small.  some "boxes" were really just a backpack or a sleeping mat, that I still marked with my tag.
Anyway, I chatted with CMyung, and we always have the most eventful conversations.

Since everything was last minute, I managed to stick everything into my little Honda Accord and then proceeded to lug each box up the stairs.  Then, I had to carry it up the ladder into their attic.  The first box I tried to take up (the really heavy one) caused a lot of drama.  I couldn't go up or down and my leg was shaking badly.  It was frightening.  I finally figured out how to get it up there... and then I took a quick breather and went down to get the rest of the boxes.

As I carried them up, I realized, that dude, I never have to get married.  I am bonafide self-sufficient.  I'm carrying 20+lb boxes up the stairs UP A ladder and storing it in an attic!  Like a GI Joe!  Christine (half-heartedly) countered, "It's not about carrying boxes, it's about companionship."  But I feel like I have better companionship elsewhere.  I voiced those thoughts.  Then she responded (a little too enthusiastically), "NO DOn't say that!! But YEah! I feel like that too!  I have a feeling that it's gonna be you, me, and Grace Son living together in the future."   I cracked up at that.  What a life.  I bet Grace would get mad and tell me to take her off the list.

Anyway, afterwards my hands were tingly, I was sweaty, but I was done!  All under an hour!  But I think I broke their ladder (but apparently Junny's strong and can fix it?  I guess if not, John can?).

Then I chatted a bit with le Myung.  I think I thought a lot though, these past few days.  Especially with my mom gone, me moving out, etc etc, and just reflecting and feeling isolated and alone (granted, this was late at night and I wasn't at the best emotional state).... sometimes I wonder if I'm independent because I put myself in this situation or if it's because others leave me alone.  And then I wonder what the purpose of relationships and friendships are, if they continue to pass.  I used to think relationships were like ponds, that simply grow deeper or shallower (depending on the rainfall or sun).  But now, I see it more like a river, where different currents intertwine for a time, but then move on.

Anyway, I'm moved, I'm packed.  They say "it's only ten months" but ten months is still a really long time.  I also am afraid of the reality that I may not come back.  If I'm not coming back, I want to know NOW and not 8 months from now.  I don't want to find out in April that I'm staying in Boston.  I feel like the more I want to return though, the more I'll have to stay.  That's how my life works!  Whatever I want, I don't really get.

Where will I BE?  People tease me about marriage (don't worry, a guy would never be my reason for staying in Boston.. I mean really?  Changing my life plans for a person I've known for like.. a few months?  No thank you.  I'm 24, not 44.  Plus, Janet said she's gonna sabotage any relationship I have there, so I guess that's that.  Lastly, I want to be the one with the advanced, frivolous degree.. a real man wouldn't be wasting his time in academia - he should focus on fixing a toilet (I mean if I'm saving money by cooking, he should save me on car and house upkeep!). HAHA. )... but I'm thinking.. I'm like almost too self-sufficient to need to be married.  In fact, I can fix my own car, carry my own boxes, build my own shelf... I have applecare so I don't have to worry about computers.  And if I can't.. my dad can.

So I guess until my dad dies, I can stay single and be relatively happy.

Unless this guy comes along.
  But otherwise. meh.




Anyway, til next time.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

smile smile smile

yesterday i went to SJC and went to the parking lot.
it's $2 for 30 minutes. SO cheap. RIGHT next to baggage claims

when i ran in, there was no line. just a pleasant woman.
i got my backpack. everything was in it.
she was shocked when i said my laptop was in it.
i guess you're never supposed to check in a laptop b/c there's no reimbursement. eeps!

smile smile smile

this morning, i couldn't open the backpack zipper very well.  realized nailpolish leaked on it.
opened my smaller pocket, saw that nailpolish had broken in a very bizarre way but the bottle didn't cut me b/c the nailpolish had leaked over it!

I had put it into the smaller pocket so it only got on the bottom of my sandals but not on my clothes!

my eyeshadow had also exploded.. but b/c i had kept it in a small makeup bag, only that stuff was covered in the dark fine powder.


I really have no idea how this happened.. but I do realize, NEVER check in a backpack, and ALWAYS compartmentalize!

I was so happy at the small blessings in my life.


I mean, yes, stinky stuff happened, but they pale in comparison to what COULD have happened!

Monday, August 8, 2011

a wonderful weekend (final Socal trip of 2011)

Well, let me qualify my title: it was a wonderful weekend but ended up incredibly sucky, (no) thanks to Southwest.

I'll finish this later.

But:

Friday:
- picked up belated bday present to myself from UPS
- drove down.
* i LOVE the 5 drive.
the masses of sunflowers on the side of the I-5
the lack of traffic in the afternoon when the lanes are condensed to one
spanish music
news
cheesy christian c(h)ontemporary
rihanna
country
the radio stations along the I-5 are BOMB di-juh-tee!
- went to Forage with John Chizz and caught up
- went to some hookah bar/cafe with fcs Joy and caught up (with bad coffee, an okay crepe, and suffocatingly sweet hookah smoke that drifted in from other tables.)

Saturday:
- drove to the wedding with no issues with Abe (who never goes over 65!  we were still super on time!)
- lovely lovely lovely wedding. (i was genuinely very very happy for charles and christine.)
- fun, engaging, lively reception
good catching up with my class at my table
great MCs
everybody were great sports.
- OC Fair with people
i realized i'm still scarred from last year's OC fair, where i made quite the first impression on Jen ex-Han.
urghle. so, i shied away from fried food
made Grace Dwej and Beekerz walk with me as i looked for Jumz
- Jumz&My Disney Date
Jenny is qualiTee.
"do you like caramel apples?" - yes
"do you like apple pie?" - yes
"do you like apple pie caramel apples?" - no ... how would I know?! -_- :)
we saw edward cullen twins
we watched / listened to various live musics
we tried out every freaking sample at sephora -_-
we consumed apples, kettle corn, and mojitos at various joints
we looked at disney princess propaganda and PERUSED THE LEGO STORE I LOVE LEGOS
we saw fireworks!
my blase attitude towards disneyland and fireworks was semiii converted.  not entirely though.
i found a girl after my own trashy-music-heart.  (she can bust out to country, nicki minaj, rihanna, and bruno mars with the best of them. HAH!)
by the time we got home, i was assaulted by her crazy dogs.
and my voice was gone and i was tired, but being the good host she is, she insisted i stay up and engage in "girl talk" and not fall asleep on her, like i did last time.... but seriously, i always fall asleep on her b/c .. well, we girl talk all the time.  (when girls talk, is that not girl talk?)

Sunday
- waking up surrounded by dogs snuggled against you is surprisingly heartmelting
- found jenny and crawled into her bed and Bubba got mad but calmed down and then the dogs snuggled around us again and we slept some more.
- drove to starbucks
- john picked me up and he explained such SWEET things about why he was attracted to his special lady friend.  i think john's the only person who could sincerely say these things, and i have no urge to tease or barf, but i'm just.. encouraged and happified.
- ate brunch with some ebcoc munchkins and listened to reallllly bad jokes that are only funny b/c they laugh so hard.
- caught up with china esther lee..... and it was good. encouraged by how good it was / how good it is now as she's phasing back in... (for me, in retrospect, easing back into ebcb after TW was really hard.  especially since it felt like people were really busy with their lives and my close friends had left... i love you alicklee; God sovereignly didn't let you find a job until I was all nice and adjusted.  i also love you 201 girls of americana.  you are the most selflessly serving girls i have ever met.. in my...  LIFE!)
- EBCOC - so sweet.  loved seeing pastor dennis, dawn, and joy again.  and then of course the other members.  PD started on a series on the Attributes of God - of God's holiness.  It was good, but i was getting realllllly sleepy. so i pinched myself.  now my arm is covered with tiny welts.  but, it was a good sermon - and i think i remember everything.  so i feel pretty accomplished.  i'd rather pinch myself than drink coffee.
- dinner with joy at Hilton Checkers restaurant
SO . SLOW.
but.
YUMMY
but..

i was running tight at LAX
but THEN
there was
(out of all the people with various issues in front of me)
- 2 european girls who had to pay extra b/c their luggage was too heavy
- a central/south american couple who had to rearrange the stuff in their luggage
- a mexican couple who.. i think had passport/ID issues (from what my eavesdropping ears could gather as they quietly stood while 2 men were speaking with them. yikes)
- an obese couple who didn't realize that they could move forward and not hold up the lines since there was an extra kiosk

in addition to a lot of other people.
also there were 4 ppl working.
one lady was old and definitely having difficulty with checking people and luggage in
another lady, after helping the european girls, left.
TWO men were working with the mexican couple
leaving.. only..... ONE (old) lady to help the rest of the people milling about.
It didn't help that the lady who left would occasionally walk by and joke around with the old lady.
please, i know, if you have other things to do, at least... don't rub it into our faces that you're not helping us by distracting the old lady and joking around with her!  you may be able to multi-task, that old lady could not!

and.
so.
in the end.
my bag was marked late.

this was a backpack
it held (among other things).
a macbook
hair curling iron
contact solution (large bottle)
facewash (12 oz)
face lotion (7 oz)

i think i wouldn't've been able to carry it on.... (and when i was reasoning, i thought, it's such a hassle to carry-on a laptop, i'll just check it in.. plus i can't carry it on.  i have liquids and gels and a potentially dangerous curling iron!)
but.. could i have?
or should I just have chucked the $25 worth of toiletries....

This question is niggling the back of my mind.


would that have been worth not having to....

meekly/prettily ask if i can cut twice in the TSA line
grabbing my bags and shoes and sprinting through LAX barefoot (while 2 people cheered)
making it on time since the flight was delayed (and running into Tony - a humorous twist of fate since i had just bade him farewell yesterday and told him matter-of-factly that i would most likely never see him again)
having to scan the check in luggage pick up area
wait in the southwest line
be told that since it was a late check in, it's my fault and they can't do anything about it.. and even though i half-heartedly brought up the fact that it's not my fault that their lines are slow at LAX AND that their workers are incompetent.. but yeah, no, this is SJC.  if i have issues with LAX, have to bring it up with them.

I get to call back in about my bag and figure out when i can come back to pick it up (probably will have to take some time off work and park the car and walk in and wait in the office = more time and money and lost income).

i REALLY hope they don't lose the backpack... because i'd be very sad.
it has a dress, a new mbpro, my glasses, and a favorite pair of jeans.


Okay,
now.
i'm kind of sad.


I wonder.  if i had just gone directly to carry-on, even though it would've been a hassle to unload the laptop, ... it wouldn't be worth all this extra driving hassle.
i'm sad.
i want to call southwest and complain
i could've complained at LAX.
but..
i was too tired.

next time, i should video camera the ridiculous line waiting.... then they'd understand it wasn't my fault.
boo.
hoo.
and yes, i'd like some cheese with this whine.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

today

after an impromptu shopping trip at stanford (which could be successful or unsuccessful, depending on how you look at it), i treated myself to haagen daaz for dinner.

i tried a few flavors and then settled on cookie dough and belgium chocolate chocolate.  the belgium chocolate chocolate made me audibly say "whoa".  I regret not just getting belgium chocolate chocolate.

anyway, instead of going home, i decided to sit outside.  it was a little past 8 but still bright.  i felt like corporate, material-girl, America.  or at least, very palo alto.  

i went to stanford to buy a pair of oxfords.  i thought urban outfitters was there.... and it will be, but right now they're still mid-construction. :(  i went to macy's, opted not to buy tights but interested in checking out more like these).  then stopped by lucky and ended up buying 2 pairs of jeans.  (might return one pair, probably won't. Hah!)  oh! and i picked up my free birthday cake bubble bath gift from sephora.  that was fun. i waltzed to the front and said, "it's my birthday! can i pick up my gift!"   as i was walking with my bag from sephora to lucky, i passed starbucks and had a passing thought, doesn't starbucks do birthday gifts too?  what's up with this?  where's my birthday present free drink?!!!!!.  I was tempted to walk in an say IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!  but i didn't.

Anyway, i was thinking about my purchases and exceedingly happy and comfortable.  I couldn't find a pair of oxfords at aldo's, macy's, or at bloomingdale's.  but now i have jeans.  and i was eating ice cream.  and THEN, as my tongue curled around the flakes of chocolate, i realized something amazing.

THIS delicious belgium chocolate chocolate flavor was familiar!  It is the CLOSEST i will ever get to swiss chocolate ice cream from Movenpick that I used to eat in Taiwan!  It makes sense!  Belgium and Switzerland are NEIGHBORS.  And.... the flavor was ALMOST identical.  the Movenpick is definitely stronger chocolate and the sheets of chocolate are more delicate (and thus crackly), but this Haagen Daaz Belgium chocolate chocolate DEFINITELY shares a similar quality.

I was very happy.




Also, if anyone knows how to get movenpick in the states.... PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

miss my class

had the weirdest dream last night
that we were doing senior banquet, and my class boys did a weird asian-inspired kungfu, choreo'd dance that they attributed to Ben Saetang..  it was my class boys plus two random asian girls that i didn't know dancing...
then some sort of funky skit that someone else did..
and we mobbed the 2011ers.. and i cried when i held sarah and sofie's.. NECKS IN MY HANDS!?

and then i was wearing a huge diamond ring on the wrong finger and it had a pearl on the other end and i was engaged.

and... hmm other stuff happened in my dream, but now i'm forgetting.


this most likely has a DIRECT correlation with my conversation with hannahw last night.. about church, our class, the split, people leaving, and engagements.

WEIRD HUH!


I decided this morning I need to be careful of what I input into my brain before I sleep.  otherwise, it's CRAZY AND WEIRD!
I mean Sam Kim and DLee were doing pirhouettes and John Lee was doing something kungfu-ey.  so was caleb.  So. Weird.



in other news:
family is such a strange idea....... SO STRANGE SO STRANGE .. and i think when all is said and done, I can't help but be grateful, and thankful..... but.. yeah, it's so interesting.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

joy williams

I remember listening to Joy Williams in middle school/high school.  She was the pretty blonde girl that my 'oppa' (seriously, only guy in history beside my cousins that i'd maybe call oppa) had a FATTY crush on.

She had an interesting voice.

FAST FORWARD



found this song on my friend's blog.  thought she looked familiar (b/c of her mouth), but couldn't tell because she's now a brunette.

"Poison & Wine is a musical snapshot about the dichotomy of love - that while it can be the thing that destroys you, it can also be the very same thing that beckons and builds you. JP and I are both married have been for several years now - and we got to talking one day about what a tug and pull our individual relationships can be. The longer you know someone - and the longer you allow someone to know you - the more the light and shadows inside each person become more vivid. This song was our attempt at being as brutally honest about the dangerous and beautiful process of knowing and being known." (-Joy Williams, The Civil Wars).

it IS joy Williams!

"I don't love you, but I always will". makes me sad. hah.hahaa.

I wonder what it's like to sing in a duo with someone but be married to someone else. It's one thing to like sing occasionally, I think, maybe totally different to be in a DUO group. Anyway, excited to look into the Civil Wars a little more!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

"50 Easy Ways to Eat Green" Adapted from Bon Appetit - Feb 09 Issue

So yeah, some of them are lame / too extreme.  But it's always nice to know and pick out a few to apply.  
I bolded things that I like/do, I italicized my comments, and I grayed stuff I won't be doing.


1. Eat fair trade organic chocolate
good idea - more expensive, i'll eat less, and it'll be a treat. plus i don't like the way hershey's tastes anymore
2. Boil Once, cook twice: (ie: boil noodles, then poach shrimp/fish... toss with olive oil, tada!)
3. Fill up your freezer: uses less energy
4. Read in Defense of Food (shorter than Omni's Dilemma)
5. Eat Bison: best way to save a species is to eat it.  
???
6. Ask a farmer if they are

  • certified organic
  • if not, use organic practices? (b/c organic certs. are expensive/lengthy)
  • if not, non-synthetic pesticides?
  • if pesticides, minimal spraying?
If they answer yes to any of these questions, it means they're being conscientious.. sure.

7. Every time you peek into an oven, it loses 25-50F
8. (How to) buy a side of beef

  1. Find a group to go with (about 4-6 families since a side of beef ~200lb after butchering).  Each family will get ~50lbs for about $4.50/lb
  2. Make sure you have storage space - Energy star-rated chest freezer
  3. Ask around at a farmer's market for a local producer or go to eatwild.com
  4. Look for grass-fed beef and arrange to get it delivered to a nearby slaughterhouse
  5. Choose cuts: standard side of beef breaks down to about 10 roasts, 30 steaks, and 50 lb ground.

9. cook more often 
(no shiza sherlock)
10.  Roast a whole chicken (less processing, less packaging = less waste; use left over bones to make own stock and save a can)
Don't know how much saving 1 can would do for the environment...but yeah!
11.  Use less electricity by being better with your knife - stop using a food processor 
(or go for a manual one like this; we got a pretty good one from Korea- easy salsa, easy garlic mincing)
12.  Eat alaskan wild salmon: wildpacificsalmon.com
13.savor sardines   If you want something less fishy: mybela.com
(ooh the korean in me loves me some kkongchi!)
14. Get nuts/grains from bulk bin section: less packaging/processing
15. Plant heirloom veggie garden (heirloomseeds.com)
16. Learn how to read a a label

  • Product of USA (greener than global = you know where it's from)
  • Local (closer the better)
  • Organic (free from chemical pesticides)
  • Natural (doesn't mean much: just means that no artifical ingerdients or colors)
  • Free-Range (means they have "access" to outdoors, but usually overcrowded/dirty pen - not really green)
  • Certified Humane Raised and Handled (super green)
  • Fair Trade Certified (requires companies pay fair prices to farmers/producers who treat workers well and cultivate land sustainably) - transfairusa.org

17. Barramundi: a US-raised white fish
18. Make your own coffee


19. Recycle take-out containers and reuse sturdier ones 
Sometimes reusing the plastic is actually not good for you...
20. make stock with leftover veggies from veggie bin
21. Make your own cereal
22.  Join a CSA: localharvest.org/csa
(I am a part of farm fresh to you.  So far so good!)
23.  Eat American cheese!

  • artisan: made in small batches w/ special attn to trad'l art of cheesemaking
  • farmstead: cheese is from milk from the farmer's own flock/heard
  • cheesesociety.org

24.  When buying fish, text fishphone: 30644 with word FISH followed by the name of the fish you want to buy: it tells you if the variety is good for you/world
25.  Veg out
meatless mondays, anyone?
26. Turn off lights when you leave the kitchen
see comment #9
27.  Clean with nontoxic, organic soap (jrwatkins.com)/sponges (twistclean.com)
28. Start composting
mayyyybe..... it's a loooot of work...
29. Eat grass-fed beef
mayyyybe.... i heard it actually doesn't taste that good b/c we're used to corn-fed.  I'm just limiting overall beef consumption
30. Become an urban forager (fallenfruit.org)
LOL - my parents were doing this before it was hip
31.  Eat Sustainable shrimp
32.  Eat free food
See comment #9
33.  Heritagefoodsusa.com = get on their mail list
34.  eat sustainable sushi (seafoodwatch.org)
35.  Become a locavore: eat foods that have been grown/produced near your home (100milediet.org/get-started/map)
This would suck if you didn't live in CA
36.  Bike
37.  Support your local green restaurant (eatwellguide.org)
38.  Get a stainless steel lunch box (like Bento!)
39.  Eat more tofu
(but i also heard if guys eat too much, they're estrogen levels will fly up)
40.  Don't let tea water get scalding/whistling hot: bring it only to a boil
41.  Use your dishwasher efficiently  (energy star-rated are even better)
42. Reuse plastic bags OR get a good grocery tote
43.  Mix your drinks:  Try boxed wine (threethieves.com)
44.  Take the leftovers to go
wow, you can really tell this magazine is for rich people... of COURSE you take the leftovers home!
45.  Pack a lunch
46.  Support your local winemaker
47.  Read Edible Estates: to see how to turn lawns into productive vegetable gardens
48.  Eat the greens of the plant instead of throwing them away
49.  Plan your paper use (ie use washcloths instead of paper towels)
50.  Recycle the magazine.


From this list I realized, Asians were green WAY before it was cool to be green.  Simply because we're industrious, wastenotwantnot people... who pickle EVERYTHING instead of throwing it away.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

secretariat pt 2

okay, so the ending was crazy.
i love races
that horse was so beautiful
everything was so beautiful.

smiling family, good sportsmanship, striking actors/actresses, and a great soundtrack. just great sound/music choices.


i dono.. WHAt exactly the message is.
i'm going to write about this later.

basically the reason i want to though is b/c my mom likes this so much.
and maybe i just have a lot of personal issues that i want to work out.

but basically......... i just don't like it when a lot of issues gets merged into one.  in this movie, a lot of issues got merged into one main issue, when it wasn't that.  anyway yeah.

secretariat

so my mom LOVES this movie.
and i watched it.

and i'll say a few things later, but i wanted to say this now.

during the scene where the woman looks at the horse and "communicates"... i used to LOVE those moments.  I'm sad that I don't care about animal-people connections anymore.  Or that I scoff at it.

Actually, i'm not sad that I don't care.. I'm just sad that I changed.

HAHa. because I don't like change.

I used to LOVE horses.  like really love them.  like.. pretend my bicycle was a horse and neigh like a horse and feed the next door neighbor's horse licorice stalks.... and read all the black stallion books and watch all the movies.


the end.


i still like unicorns. hehehehehehehehehe

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

random answered prayers about church

Or stuff that I didn't even pray about that happened!

* babies.
I remember at EBCB freshman year, I was really disappointed because there were only 2 babies, Elijah and Sammy, and both babies were shy.  Now, there's like a gazillion.  and ALL of them LOVE me the MOST!  (or they will...>:])

*youth group
Ditto above.  Except they don't know me, and I'm not a part of it (yet).  But I'm excited.... it's exciting.  When I came to EBCB, we started EAT in order to try to reach kids that way and start a youth group.  But the youth group just sort of started with other kids.. and that's just cool.

*local mercy ministries
In the beginning of this year, PJ told us that he wants our church to engage in more local, compassion work (ie expand on what we have currently).  That just sounds super cool (since I'm not sure how it will practically be worked out), and it's an answered prayer!

*a bosom friend
This prayer/desire was answered differently.  I think I spent the first 20 years of my life looking for my own Diana Barry.  I think over the years, God taught me people come and go, and that He's created me to be able to continue to keep in touch and keep up my relationships.... I think learning that, and learning that not everyone was "like me" helped resolve a lot of hurt and has resulted in a lot of new, sweet companions.

*connection with my pastors
You know that your relationship with your pastor's not great when after your first sermon, you never wanted to come back.  (To be fair, my first sermon at EBCB was on celibacy (1 Corinthians 7), the bus had broken down so I had to sit on this plastic non-seat in Sara (then Oh, now) Kwun's car, and EBCB had uncomfortable pews!).  Then afterwards, if you inform the pastor that you "don't agree with most of what he has to say but you like the people"....  oh golly.

Anyway, long story short, I love PJ, his family, his integrity, his teaching, his leadership. wahoo.

*older people
I think the median and mode of ages at EBCB my freshman year was .. like 22.  Now, it's definitely older, more diverse...  i loooooove that.  I *really* didn't want to go to a "Korean" church.  I think around my junior year, we hit the milestone of "maybe there's more Chinese people than Koreans!" and now, it's just a mixup  (although it's still heavily Asian. but now I love Asia too. so that's great!)

*lunches
Okay, this was not a prayer request EVER. but seriously, our lunches are getting so much better. hahahha.  (I mean, i came from this larger Korean church that served hefty gomtangs and bibimbaps for lunch...that I always got for free (usually $2) since I always knew the parents manning the $. hah)  And please (with all due respect), I know some people like it, but can we please phase out that white rice+cheese+broccoli+chicken dish FOREVER?  It's so random that even when it's fully cooked and warm with tapatio, my brain gets very confused.   :-D


Okay wow, the end.
(I originally intended to only write about babies and local compassion ministries...)

Saturday, April 30, 2011

explaining new trends

I'm glad God created me with an appreciation for arts and crafts.
Actually, I bet he created everyone with an appreciation for arts and crafts.  They just come out in different ways (whether through "crafty" math problems or through a romp in the wild outdoors).

Anyway, I've been puzzled at "changes" I see in my life, because I'm one of those people that desperately cling to the quotidian.

I like how people can see me and comment that "I haven't changed"; whether it is the old family friend commenting on my cheeks or the high school classmate commenting on my jokes.

But I do.  My interests, or where my time has been spent is changing.  I realized this might be because with my added time (away from school), I've had the opportunity to explore hobbies.  And with blogs from amateur experts, I can vicariously live through what they do, and I see that little bits rub off on me.

Some changes were expected.
For instance, reading copiously.  I wasn't able to read in college, and now that I'm out, I'm back to reading my old favorites and picking out the new YA lit that's out there.  I realized children's and YA lit are my favorite... they're timeless.  I love it.  Not to mention, I had to read a bit for my work, and since I love being "hip and with it" I started to read books they recommended to me!

Another change that is more interesting to me is an added interest in fashion.  I guess it was inevitable, since my mom loves to dress well, and my sister is a shopping queen.  I think I'm getting better though!  My eye is being honed, AND the fashion these days ARE fun.  Gone are the midriff baring tanks and flared sparkly jeans (Okay fine, I loved them back in the day).  And now it's a throwback to the 50s classic pieces.  I love the idea of sewing (key word: idea) and re-making clothes.  I used to do that in high school in my attempts at individuality.  And lastly, it's not necessarily fashion, but just knowing how to dress for one's body and how others should dress for theirs.  I guess my mom religiously pounded that into me back in the day... heh.

So in addition to that, I like hair and makeup.  I love how braids are back, and I can go back to my Barbie-days, but instead of Barbies I have friends' and my own hair.  And makeup, it's just fun to see and know and experiment and critique.

And the last fun thing about fashion is that it appeals to my inner competitiveness.  I like it when I try something and it shows up in a magazine later.  I like it when I predict something and it comes true.  I guess it's pretty easy since societal trends are dictated by the "higher-ups", but still, it's nice to be the lemming that's one foot ahead of the other lemmings.

Last trend:  being in on the news.  I guess it comes from listening to the radio with my different commutes... and honestly, if it were not for the gas, I would LOVE driving.  In fact, i LOVED driving in high school as well.  I love the radio.  The country station, the oldies station (gone now), the classic big band station (there's been times where all I listen to is the boom ba ba), and of course, NPR.  I love just knowing and learning random tidbits of facts and then learning about current events and history.  I LOVE how when you know history, you can CONNECT THE DOTS!!!!   I love that.

Something I try to do but I'm lazy about:
gardening
eating more veg.
jogging
working out on my own.

The last part is hard because I'm used to team sports and being forced to go....

something that I'm working on:
Being okay with being alone.


I think that last part has a LOT to do with the previous trends in my life.


Anyway, I guess that's all.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

lists


i love making lists.
movies i loved (as in I can re-watch whenever)
  • cinema paradiso
  • amelie
  • casablanca
  • now and then
  • josie and the pussycats
  • eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
  • girls just wanna have fun
  • the sure thing
  • my tutor friend 
  • anne of green gables
  • 10 things i hate about you
  • stardust
  • o brother where art thou
  • pretty in pink
  • LOTR: The Two Towers
  • the incredibles
movies i want to watch
  • timer
  • road, movie
  • new york, i love you
  • paris, je t’aime
  • scott pilgrim vs the world
  • paper heart
  • bella
  • burlesque
  • the blind side
  • that facebook movie… i forgot the name LOL
  • away from her
  • fight club
  • memento
  • a requiem for a dream
  • true grit
random movies i like (that i think of fondly but may not watch again, or used to be on the “love list” but not anymore)
  • when harry met sally
  • pan’s labyrinth
  • motorcycle diaries
  • a very long engagement
  • chocolat
  • mad hot ballroom
  • while you were sleeping
  • science of sleep
  • my fair lady
  • wait until dark
  • titanic
  • west side story
  • the sound of music
  • the prestige
  • empire records
  • mr. smith goes to washington
  • where the wild things are
  • palo alto
  • tomb raider series
  • red cliff 1 and 2
  • ip man
  • seven brides for seven brothers
  • the princess bride
Overrated movies or just crap
  • Kung-Pow: Enter the Fist (first movie i ever stopped watching)
  • A Walk to Remember
  • PS I Love You
  • Garden State
  • Nacho Libre
  • Finding Neverland
  • Mona Lisa Smile
  • gigi
  • My Sassy Girl
  • Sixteen Candles
  • love and basketball -_-
someone REALLY needs to make a riveting movie with a magnificent unicorn in it.  preferably in a foreign language.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Comforts of Home


pouring water into a used glass knowing that someone else had only used it for water before and so it’s “clean”
having the light on when you come home
not having to wear pants if you don’t want to
knowing that there’s always a way inside the house (even without a key - even if you have to get creative about it.. please noburglars)
bathrooms that magically clean themselves
rooms that magically tidy themselves
casual laundry habits (i do some of yours, you do some of mine, we both fold daddy’s clothes)
….
i hope that when i become a mom, my kids don’t break out in rashes from dirtiness…
okay fine, i hope that when I become a mom, I’ll be able to build a comfortable home just like my mom does.

Friday, April 8, 2011

top chef final

dude, must suck being the chefs called back over and over again to be the sous chef or the partner chef.

It's funny though, the first shot of the losing competitors (as sous chefs)... they looked so ticked off. hahaha.

and marcel's a hoot.


i mean, even though they joke about jetski reservations and such, it must be super humbling and sucky to do your best on an amuse bouche and then to not be chosen... and then even when you're chosen, to be a sous chef for the very competition you lost out on....


i think, i still have random issues of coming in second place. heh.


and suuuucks for you mike, but you handled it well.  people will love you and if anything, you'll be pretty well-known too.


also lastly, it's kinda sad that winning top chef really meant THIS MUCH to Blaise.. to the point where he cries and isn't there for his wife's last few weeks of pregnancy.. i mean, yeah.. i don't know.  if i ever wanted something like that that badly, i hope i won't actually get it.



and yes, it's a little sad that i have a separate label for top chef on my blog. hahaha

Goodbye Paula!

GREAT BBQ. (ate so much)
SWEET time with SWEET people.
SOU (our homegroup leader) is SOUPER competitive.
But FUN...

Anyway, this little gem gives you a peek at my homegroup's dynamics...
and draws attention to the fact that I'm very very single.  (but happy!!)

Friday, March 18, 2011



This picture cracks me up / brings me so much joy.  Seriously - I mean, just look at them.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

I love selected shorts


and came across a real gem today: “The Swim Team” - Miranda July.
The reader was so good too.
Find this story based on a girl who was a swim coach for three old people in the town of Belvedere, a town with no pool.  They practiced with bowls of warm salt water in her living room and they practiced dives from her desk to her bed…
It was great.  Hilarious. Poignant.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

“If you knew someone you loved would be outside in the cold for a very long time and would not be allowed to wear mittens, you would give them the warmest jacket you could find. Because when someone you love is going through a tough time out of your control, what they need from you is a warm, caring, sweet attitude, not a constant reminder of how cold their fingers must be.”

smart pretty awkward

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

i miss..
 picnics
 delicious food
 impromptu games
 love from abroad 
 being closeknit 
 shenanigans


i'm looking forward to...
 Never Say Never
Mint Leaf Restaurant
Dream High finale
Grad school?


pale.


A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. 

- Maya Angelou

Saturday, February 19, 2011

obligatory top chef post

"obligatory"

hahaha.  glad/sad that fabio is gone.  i guess the time for fun and games is now OVER

gotta say, i love Blaise.. high-falutin', plays fair, works hard, Blaise.  he's gonna get owned.
don't love Angelo. he's sneaky.  he oversneaked my love (forgot his name but bought a similar hat) ... SPIKE!
plus he talks like a weirdo.

LOVE LOVE LOVE CARLA.

but ultimately, the point of my post is this:  even though Dale has a crappitude and just bugs me in general, but this is hilarious:  "You know what?  I almost got eliminated today but it means nothing cause i'm here and i'm gonna kill it on this next one.  I'm gonna wear that championship belt around my waist.  And i'm not like these new school parents who are like "we're all winners" **** that.  that's buuulll *** man.  Who the *** said losing's okay?  Like, in what country is that cool?"

I know, profane.  but hilarious.

Mike and Carla WOULD like sesame street. -_-

currently going through my head

the reason i'm having a tough time budgeting is b/c i'm trying to live like a rich bay area person on a poor bay area person's income

i get mad when people mess something up for me because I don't just want an apology, I want them to fix it.

In general, I get frustrated when something is "not right": why can't someone fix it?

i don't understand myself sometimes, so then, i try to ignore myself, until i can't. and then it's back to square 1.

it's hard to make objective decisions when matters get personal.

i don't know why i save cards and letters...  i just do.

i've been yelping regularly now, and it's just made me more critical.  why can't I have a 5-star experience anywhere?

in 2 weeks i'll know something about at least 1 school.

i still have lots of little things to do.. and that's why it's both gratifying and frustrating at the same time when i finish an item off my list.

my laptop sounds like an airplane and randomly crashes.  but i don't want a new one b/c i'm loving how it's working otherwise...

the more i use windows 7, the more pro-pc i become.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12513403: wow; that sounds so .. what's that WORD?

i'll be back.