LoL. I think last year, I went through a phase where I hardly ever blogged, because I was starting a new job and going through a tough transition in my life. I had drinking problems, friends whom treated me badly, an obnoxious roommate, an evil office manager, and bosses who seemed to get angry at me often. Not to mention, my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had another tumor towards the bottom of her spine. My mother was stressed often, so I couldn't tell her how I felt about work, and then I didn't even want to blog about it, because there was so little of anything good to tell. Telling people only made them worry about me, so I ended up holding a lot of it in. I stopped dating to concentrate on my career and to get my thoughts together. I got into fights with my supposed best friend on our moral standings concerning relationships, and then I just felt empty and alone.
Last year was so difficult for me emotionally that there were so many times that I just wanted to quit and run back home. That's the type of person I am, a coward. When going gets rough, I want to run away. That's why when I moved away from my middle school friends, I was so relieved and happy. I went through a stage of depression when I was 13-14, and when I left that small town full of people whom I could not stand anymore, I was just so happy because I was away from the conflict and could start all new again. Then the same thing happened when I was 17-18, and when I left for college, things looked up again after going through my worst phase of depression, but this is different now. I am an adult in the working world and just because things at work get rough, or because your coworkers suck, doesn't mean you can quit and run away. In the adult world, we all have responsibilities and certain obligations to fulfill. We can't be children anymore and I had to learn this for the first time last year.
I wanted to quit many times last year. I just wanted to run away, but I didn't. When my roommate was harrassing me, I didn't move out, I fought back. I have to kick her ass when she gets back home this time around too. I've decided that I can't be that coward anymore and I need to learn how to stand up and fight. I need to protect myself, because I have no one around me to protect me anymore. I am all on my own and though it is tough, I need to grow up and learn how to help myself and not hope for someone to come rescue me. So that is why this year, I have resolved to change who I have been up to now. My past is something I will think of from time to time to find reference in dealing with various different situations that occur from now on, but I am going to keep looking forward. I need to keep moving forward and be someone who not only has pride, but can protect and keep that pride. I am going to change myself gradually from the weak and frightened person I was, to someone who puts up a stronger front even if I come across something that scares me.
This year, I plan on blogging more if time and my mood allows for it. I think I need to collect more good memories -- and some bad ones too -- to let me see my growth and development. Compared to last year, I feel that I have come a long already. Though I still have a while to go, I think I am happy with just a small bit of progress since last year. Just have to keep moving forward.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
涙そうそう (映画)
Yes, I should be sleeping, but then I found "Nada Sou Sou" online and had to watch it so now I'm still crying my eyes out and have to blog it.
The movie was very, very touching and so sad that I just cried and cried and cried. The story is about an Okinawan boy, Youta, who gains a younger sister, Kaoru, when his mother remarries to a musician. One day, his new father abandons him, his mother, and his own daughter, but his mother raises Kaoru like her own until her death. Before she passes away, she has Youta promise her that he will take care of Kaoru, so when they are older, he still looks out for her like she is his own sister despite his growing feelings towards her. He falls in love with her, but continues their brother-sister relationship. Meanwhile, Kaoru, also falls for him, but reluctantly accepts their sibling bond instead of pursuing a controversial relationship. Youta works hard so that Kaoru can go to college, while Kaoru wants to work in order to help Youta start his own restaurant business. Both are siblings in name, but love each other very deeply. Unfortunately, they are not fated to be together and it makes it so much sadder this way.
Tsumabuki Satoshi plays Arakaki Youta while Nagasawa Masami plays Arakaki Kaoru. Like most of his roles, Tsumabuki's character is a nice boy whom is kind of the boy-scout type, and he is trapped with these feelings for his sister. This seems like a pretty typical role for him since he can act this type of role out pretty well. Nagasawa Masami may not be a very good actress, but there were some parts in this movie where I could not help, but be impressed. I think she should play similar characters to Kaoru, because she was not too bad at all. In fact, I thought she was actually decent in this movie. The only parts I didn't like much was when she cried. For some reason, she just isn't good at acting out crying. There was one scene that I thought she was really good in, and I just teared up.
For the most part, I just cried nonstop. The story isn't anything special, but it was still really good. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves these sorts of stories.
The movie was very, very touching and so sad that I just cried and cried and cried. The story is about an Okinawan boy, Youta, who gains a younger sister, Kaoru, when his mother remarries to a musician. One day, his new father abandons him, his mother, and his own daughter, but his mother raises Kaoru like her own until her death. Before she passes away, she has Youta promise her that he will take care of Kaoru, so when they are older, he still looks out for her like she is his own sister despite his growing feelings towards her. He falls in love with her, but continues their brother-sister relationship. Meanwhile, Kaoru, also falls for him, but reluctantly accepts their sibling bond instead of pursuing a controversial relationship. Youta works hard so that Kaoru can go to college, while Kaoru wants to work in order to help Youta start his own restaurant business. Both are siblings in name, but love each other very deeply. Unfortunately, they are not fated to be together and it makes it so much sadder this way.
Tsumabuki Satoshi plays Arakaki Youta while Nagasawa Masami plays Arakaki Kaoru. Like most of his roles, Tsumabuki's character is a nice boy whom is kind of the boy-scout type, and he is trapped with these feelings for his sister. This seems like a pretty typical role for him since he can act this type of role out pretty well. Nagasawa Masami may not be a very good actress, but there were some parts in this movie where I could not help, but be impressed. I think she should play similar characters to Kaoru, because she was not too bad at all. In fact, I thought she was actually decent in this movie. The only parts I didn't like much was when she cried. For some reason, she just isn't good at acting out crying. There was one scene that I thought she was really good in, and I just teared up.
For the most part, I just cried nonstop. The story isn't anything special, but it was still really good. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves these sorts of stories.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Cooking & Chores Ate My Saturday
So I didn't get any studying done today 'cause I was busy cooking and then I did some chores. I feel really bittersweet right now 'cause I'm happy that I got the chores and the cooking done, but not too happy that I didn't get any studying done. I finally managed to roll the air mattress up and put it back in the box, it really took a lot out of me. I still have to pick stuff off the floor and figure out where I'm putting everything =_=
I've decided that I will go and deposit my rent on Monday after all, but when my roommate comes back, I am going to tell her that this is the last time I am ever doing this for her. Paying her the rent is my responsibility, but her not being able to deposit it is not my problem. Also, my ant problem is not solved yet. Though I understand that it has been raining, she has not solved my problem yet at all and here she is asking me to do all of this stuff for her. And besides, the mail that I get is not important at all unless it's a package, so why should it be my fault that I don't go get the mail as often? She is the one who is home more often than me. I don't work at my house. God, what a moron. She thinks up all these stupid excuses to try and get me to submit to her, but I am going to give her a scalding on Tuesday when she gets back.
I should go make some copies of the agreement and highlight my rights on there. She asked me to adhere to 10+ rules, I just want her to honor one. I'm not asking too much am I?
Every time, I think about that woman, I just seethe in rage. I can't stop hating her and thinking up all the different ways one can hurt someone. In the end, I have to be an adult about this and just deal with it accordingly, but that doesn't change how much I would like to kill her in my mind. *sigh* Hopefully she gets stuck in the Caribbean and never comes back. I'm awful for wishing this, but I almost hope her passport gets stolen or something and then her phone dies so she can't ever come back or reach me. Life would be much more peaceful. Not logical or feasible, but one can dream.
Anyway, I went to work out today for over an hour 'cause I had to get rid of some of this stress. The ant situation is back so I had to go out and buy some ant traps to get rid of them. When I go deposit the rent this coming Monday, I need to go to Safeway to buy some more cleaning spray, ant traps, and there was one more thing I wanted, but I can't remember what it is at the moment =_= *sigh* I hope it comes to me later. All I know right now is that I need more shower spray and ant traps. I'm tempted to put some of that ant pheromone in the kitchen sink when she gets back so she has no choice, but to deal with it. But I don't want to deal with it either so... maybe I'll sneak into her bathroom and put it there lol j/k ^_^
Well, time to go take a shower and head to bed early. I have lots of studying to do tomorrow.
I've decided that I will go and deposit my rent on Monday after all, but when my roommate comes back, I am going to tell her that this is the last time I am ever doing this for her. Paying her the rent is my responsibility, but her not being able to deposit it is not my problem. Also, my ant problem is not solved yet. Though I understand that it has been raining, she has not solved my problem yet at all and here she is asking me to do all of this stuff for her. And besides, the mail that I get is not important at all unless it's a package, so why should it be my fault that I don't go get the mail as often? She is the one who is home more often than me. I don't work at my house. God, what a moron. She thinks up all these stupid excuses to try and get me to submit to her, but I am going to give her a scalding on Tuesday when she gets back.
I should go make some copies of the agreement and highlight my rights on there. She asked me to adhere to 10+ rules, I just want her to honor one. I'm not asking too much am I?
Every time, I think about that woman, I just seethe in rage. I can't stop hating her and thinking up all the different ways one can hurt someone. In the end, I have to be an adult about this and just deal with it accordingly, but that doesn't change how much I would like to kill her in my mind. *sigh* Hopefully she gets stuck in the Caribbean and never comes back. I'm awful for wishing this, but I almost hope her passport gets stolen or something and then her phone dies so she can't ever come back or reach me. Life would be much more peaceful. Not logical or feasible, but one can dream.
Anyway, I went to work out today for over an hour 'cause I had to get rid of some of this stress. The ant situation is back so I had to go out and buy some ant traps to get rid of them. When I go deposit the rent this coming Monday, I need to go to Safeway to buy some more cleaning spray, ant traps, and there was one more thing I wanted, but I can't remember what it is at the moment =_= *sigh* I hope it comes to me later. All I know right now is that I need more shower spray and ant traps. I'm tempted to put some of that ant pheromone in the kitchen sink when she gets back so she has no choice, but to deal with it. But I don't want to deal with it either so... maybe I'll sneak into her bathroom and put it there lol j/k ^_^
Well, time to go take a shower and head to bed early. I have lots of studying to do tomorrow.
My 401(k)
I finally saw my contribution from my paycheck in my retirement plan this morning and it's kind of interesting. I might have picked one fund that wasn't all too good 'cause I lost some money on it already =_=... Oh, that might be my stock lol. I gained some and lost some in the portfolio, but only one was bad lol. I was like O_O; then I remembered that I did decide to try and invest on one stock, the rest are mixed investments or bonds. (Yes, I have very little faith in my economy right now, forgive me for playing it safe and investing in the government lol).
Overall, I lost $0.04. I'm just going to have to see what it does in the long run, see how much I either gain or lose in the next few months or so and then decide whether or not to keep certain securities/bonds. It's so weird to be investing in anything at all @_@. Well, welcome to the adult world, I guess. I feel so grown up ^_^;
Overall, I lost $0.04. I'm just going to have to see what it does in the long run, see how much I either gain or lose in the next few months or so and then decide whether or not to keep certain securities/bonds. It's so weird to be investing in anything at all @_@. Well, welcome to the adult world, I guess. I feel so grown up ^_^;
Friday, January 29, 2010
Learning to Stand Up For Myself
This year is all about me learning to stand up and saying no to people and to stick to it firmly. If we have to go all Machiavellian about this then so be it ... except I really don't have the caliber to be Machiavellian about anything =_= *sigh* What I will do is say no and stick to my rights.
My roommate and I have a housemate relationship and a landlord-tenant relationship. I will separate the good things she has done for me to our housemate relationship (and whatever bad things that I can forgive) and then our responsibilities of money in our landlord-tenant relationship. I cannot let her off the hook anymore, and I cannot just let things go just because she happened to be nice to me recently. I have to firmly say that when things are wrong, they are wrong and not let it slide. I cannot mix housemate and landlord-tenant items together and just forgive her, because then I would be doing myself a disservice and I need to help myself more than other people this year.
My roommate asked me for rent early again this month because she was flying out to the Caribbean for a slew of conferences. I told her I didn't get paid till the 1st so I can't pay her because I don't have enough money. Then she asked me to deposit it on Monday and I said I could try ... which I regret a lot. So that makes her kind of happy, because she will have "extra" spending money to help her out. Does she really have such money issues that she has to keep doing this to me? This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time unless I do something about it. This is the fifth time she has asked me for rent early and I counted.
I think I am going to make a copy of that agreement again and highlight that clause which gives me a grace period of three days and I am not going to do anything special regarding the rent, because everyone has been giving me a hard time about it and wondering why I have been so stupid about it. I am not even going to deposit the rent this time, because I will be really busy at work and cannot leave until 5:45 that day and by the time I got home, the bank was already closed. I am not making a special trip on Monday for her. I refuse. Some people need to be taught a lesson and I cannot let her walk all over me with this money issue anymore. If she has financial problems, then she should learn how to budget better not rely on me.
I am just starting out in my career and my life, I should be the one having money issues not her. And even if I am down to just $500 left in my checking, I don't say anything about it, because it was my poor management that made it this way. You don't see me asking my bosses for an advance so I can pay my rent, or asking my roommate to give me an extra copy days after the grace period interest-free to not pay until I had more money. I suck it up and deal with it. I manage my money this best I can and if I only happen to have $500 left, then that is what I will work with. I don't beg my parents for help, or anyone else, because managing my money is my responsibility, just as her inability to have extra spending money is not my problem. She cannot use that to make me feel guilty, because I am great at managing my money and I don't understand why a woman who is almost 60 cannot do so.
Also, my responsibility with the rent ends with me handing her the check on the 1st or within three days after, it does not include me making special trips to deposit it for her. No other person out there has ever had to do what I do, I have only heard the opposite of people who are late on rent because they are so bad with managing their money that they can't pay so they don't honor their contracts and agreements. I honor my part of the agreement and I want her to do so too, so I am going to copy that page and I am going to highlight it. I am going to show her that she can't mix our housemate relationship with our landlord-tenant one and that she cannot exploit me anymore.
Everyone around me has been telling that she has been exploiting me and I have let it go each on way too many occasions to not see their point anymore. I am not going to do this anymore. We will have to see what the outcome will be on Tuesday.
My roommate and I have a housemate relationship and a landlord-tenant relationship. I will separate the good things she has done for me to our housemate relationship (and whatever bad things that I can forgive) and then our responsibilities of money in our landlord-tenant relationship. I cannot let her off the hook anymore, and I cannot just let things go just because she happened to be nice to me recently. I have to firmly say that when things are wrong, they are wrong and not let it slide. I cannot mix housemate and landlord-tenant items together and just forgive her, because then I would be doing myself a disservice and I need to help myself more than other people this year.
My roommate asked me for rent early again this month because she was flying out to the Caribbean for a slew of conferences. I told her I didn't get paid till the 1st so I can't pay her because I don't have enough money. Then she asked me to deposit it on Monday and I said I could try ... which I regret a lot. So that makes her kind of happy, because she will have "extra" spending money to help her out. Does she really have such money issues that she has to keep doing this to me? This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time unless I do something about it. This is the fifth time she has asked me for rent early and I counted.
I think I am going to make a copy of that agreement again and highlight that clause which gives me a grace period of three days and I am not going to do anything special regarding the rent, because everyone has been giving me a hard time about it and wondering why I have been so stupid about it. I am not even going to deposit the rent this time, because I will be really busy at work and cannot leave until 5:45 that day and by the time I got home, the bank was already closed. I am not making a special trip on Monday for her. I refuse. Some people need to be taught a lesson and I cannot let her walk all over me with this money issue anymore. If she has financial problems, then she should learn how to budget better not rely on me.
I am just starting out in my career and my life, I should be the one having money issues not her. And even if I am down to just $500 left in my checking, I don't say anything about it, because it was my poor management that made it this way. You don't see me asking my bosses for an advance so I can pay my rent, or asking my roommate to give me an extra copy days after the grace period interest-free to not pay until I had more money. I suck it up and deal with it. I manage my money this best I can and if I only happen to have $500 left, then that is what I will work with. I don't beg my parents for help, or anyone else, because managing my money is my responsibility, just as her inability to have extra spending money is not my problem. She cannot use that to make me feel guilty, because I am great at managing my money and I don't understand why a woman who is almost 60 cannot do so.
Also, my responsibility with the rent ends with me handing her the check on the 1st or within three days after, it does not include me making special trips to deposit it for her. No other person out there has ever had to do what I do, I have only heard the opposite of people who are late on rent because they are so bad with managing their money that they can't pay so they don't honor their contracts and agreements. I honor my part of the agreement and I want her to do so too, so I am going to copy that page and I am going to highlight it. I am going to show her that she can't mix our housemate relationship with our landlord-tenant one and that she cannot exploit me anymore.
Everyone around me has been telling that she has been exploiting me and I have let it go each on way too many occasions to not see their point anymore. I am not going to do this anymore. We will have to see what the outcome will be on Tuesday.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
My Shikibuton!
I'm really happy -- though really sore too, physically -- with my shikibuton right now. I'm not exactly psyched about the part where I have to flip it over once a week during the first month and then once a month afterward to keep it in good condition or the part where I have to let the sun shine on it =_=; I don't really have anything that I can hang my shikibuton up with during the summer so I think I'm going to have to just set up one of my hanging thingies and hope that can stay up. I'll also have to leave the window wide open during the summer for it to "dry-clean" my shikibuton meaning... it's going to be so hot T__T.
But... for now... Yay! I'm excited~ I just rolled on top of it to try it out and it's perfect. The way it's laid out on the bed frame makes it firmer so I can hopefully say goodbye to my back problems.
Anyway, this thing is almost 50lbs. My chest muscles are incredibly sore right now. I had to use a lot of strength to move it around. Also, I had to use a lot of strength to clean up the bottom of my air mattress... it was molding on the bottom.... so gross =_= *sigh* That's 'cause there's a heater right underneath where my mattress is so it does that =_= *sigh* Well, now I have a bed frame that gives the shikibuton lots of air so it'll maintain its good condition longer. I just hope it stays good for a long time. At least give me 5 years with it.
But... for now... Yay! I'm excited~ I just rolled on top of it to try it out and it's perfect. The way it's laid out on the bed frame makes it firmer so I can hopefully say goodbye to my back problems.
Anyway, this thing is almost 50lbs. My chest muscles are incredibly sore right now. I had to use a lot of strength to move it around. Also, I had to use a lot of strength to clean up the bottom of my air mattress... it was molding on the bottom.... so gross =_= *sigh* That's 'cause there's a heater right underneath where my mattress is so it does that =_= *sigh* Well, now I have a bed frame that gives the shikibuton lots of air so it'll maintain its good condition longer. I just hope it stays good for a long time. At least give me 5 years with it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
First Time Out This Year
So... I decided to go out for a little bit this evening. I had these coupons for Banana Republic that I need to use so my friend and I went up to the Village to look at GAP and Banana. I didn't really find anything I wanted at GAP, but saw two things on sale that I really liked so I bought them. They were the last ones in my size and one was a jacket that I wanted a couple months ago, but didn't buy because it was really expensive, but today they had one left and it was only $27 (compared to $60) so I got it. I love sales racks. My new take on frugality this year has been doing me lots of good, so I didn't buy any particular item that was over $35 today.
After shopping, we went over to the Cheesecake Factory, but didn't get cheesecake today 'cause the soup made us so full that we couldn't even make a dent in our entrees. The deals one gets at the Cheesecake Factory are just fantastic. Food there is so good and really more than what you pay for it seems.
My friend and I are somewhat patching things up between us, though I'm less giving now than I used to be. We have silent rules and understandings between the two of us, but some things have definitely changed. She doesn't really boss me around as much anymore, so I think it's concerted efforts on our parts to have a less symbiotic relationship between the two of us. She isn't a bad person, just really selfish at times, but still can't let my guard down completely because I don't want to be hurt again. Once this wall is up, it's hard to break down the barrier completely. In the end, I still love her, but not as much as I used to, because I've come to realize that I need to love myself more. We're making this work. We will have days where we hate each other, but if the peace and calm can last a while longer, that would be nice.
After shopping, we went over to the Cheesecake Factory, but didn't get cheesecake today 'cause the soup made us so full that we couldn't even make a dent in our entrees. The deals one gets at the Cheesecake Factory are just fantastic. Food there is so good and really more than what you pay for it seems.
My friend and I are somewhat patching things up between us, though I'm less giving now than I used to be. We have silent rules and understandings between the two of us, but some things have definitely changed. She doesn't really boss me around as much anymore, so I think it's concerted efforts on our parts to have a less symbiotic relationship between the two of us. She isn't a bad person, just really selfish at times, but still can't let my guard down completely because I don't want to be hurt again. Once this wall is up, it's hard to break down the barrier completely. In the end, I still love her, but not as much as I used to, because I've come to realize that I need to love myself more. We're making this work. We will have days where we hate each other, but if the peace and calm can last a while longer, that would be nice.
Fruitless Struggles
My studying is a fruitless struggle because I am seriously not getting anywhere. Part of it is my motivation problem. People don't call me now because they know that I'm supposed to be in study mode, but I'm so sad that no one will call me T__T It's kind of funny that I'm so bummed about this, when I know it to be reasonable and logical. Then, I'm only making progress on like 2 pages at a time @_@. This is totally getting nowhere. I haven't fully completed a chapter yet and I have less than 3 weeks left. I am so not smart about what I'm doing right now. *sigh*
I think I'm going to review all the flashcards today. Then I'm going to sit down and finish reading chapter 5. I'm going to do some practice problems and photographically memorize them. I'm going to write down the formulas and memorize them. Then once I get that done, I'm going to do the IT section and memorize everything there. After that I'm going to do chapters 1-3 in chronological order. *sigh* Yeah, I needed to make a plan today or else I was going to kill myself. Still, whether or not I will actually follow the plan is another thing ... *sigh* Why can't I be more motivated about things!? *bangs head on wall*
I think I'm going to review all the flashcards today. Then I'm going to sit down and finish reading chapter 5. I'm going to do some practice problems and photographically memorize them. I'm going to write down the formulas and memorize them. Then once I get that done, I'm going to do the IT section and memorize everything there. After that I'm going to do chapters 1-3 in chronological order. *sigh* Yeah, I needed to make a plan today or else I was going to kill myself. Still, whether or not I will actually follow the plan is another thing ... *sigh* Why can't I be more motivated about things!? *bangs head on wall*
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
English Version of Final Fantasy XIII
They changed... a lot of the dialogue... which was inevitable due to the way the mouths were moving to fit the Japanese text, now the English translation has to be made so that it will move the same as the graphics... *sigh* I swear, I was sitting here listening to the Japanese version and then I watched the English trailer and was like @_@; Um... ok... ... ... That was so not what they just said in Japanese. I guess I'll live... ... not really. The English version looks terrible now that I've gotten a chance to listen to the new trailer. They really did replace "Kimi ga Iru Kara" with Leona Lewis' "My Hands." It sounds so retarded =_= *sigh* I'm glad I bought the Japanese version, but unfortunately, my brain doesn't operate in Japanese quick enough to play that game well lol. Not that I have a PS3 yet, but when the time comes, I'm not sure I can follow what's going on with how fast you need to move to play the game. Just watching it being played in Japanese was a doozy. I could read various black magics and healing magic, but then everything else moves so fast @_@. I may have to play it in English first and suck it up, then play the Japanese version 'cause chances are that all the controls and such are the same, but it would help if I knew what the hell I'm doing lol.
Anyway, I just had to rant slightly 'cause I couldn't even finish watching this most recent trailer for the game. The English was so... gross... and the song really sucked. The Japanese song was definitely much better and fitted the storyline much better. All the Final Fantasy songs tend to fit the theme of the story, but this English version is terrible. Please don't let them do this again T__T. If they do this again I might as well just curse SquareEnix forever and hope they explode into a billion pieces or something 'cause they just ruined my fave series =_= Well, just the American branch of SquareEnix needs to be shot. I still like the Japanese branch the way it is.
I'm almost done watching the game and I must say... some things kind of happen randomly, but it's a nice story. The whole thing about Lightning's real name is kind of ... just random. It's just like one of those typical teenager moments where they're like "I'm going to change my name to feel stronger" types of things and nothing else, her real name is very... ordinary... well, I can't say ordinary, but it's nothing special to say the least. You get to hear it when the whole group goes to Gran Pulse and it's right before the final boss fight with Galenth. I was like ... "Seriously...? That's her name? Wow... I was expecting something else, but ok." Well, if you compare it to Lightning, her real name is literally like a cream puff in comparison. Which reminds me... I bet they decided not to let Snow call Lightning "Nee-san" throughout the game, so... the parts where they actually attach her name to Nee-san, I wonder how that will come out translated. Also, Hope calls Lightning-san for the first part of the game until she tells him to call her "Light," and then he calls her Light-san... He uses "-san" a lot... *sigh* This English version is doomed =_=
On a more interesting note, as I was watching the Japanese version, the line-up that was used in the sequences looks like the line-up I plan on using for whenever I get a chance in the game. A lot of times though, you only get two people on a team to fight 'cause for most of the story, the six characters were separated into 3 groups that did their own things so until the six characters reunite, you basically have a max of two people in your party. Most of the game is one to two people party until towards the last 25% of the game. I guess this helps with the "everyone levels up" ideal 'cause if they allowed me to choose my characters from the get-go, I'll just end up using the same people OVER AND OVER again lol. I play my favorites, literally ^_^ I wish that was one thing that was different about Final Fantasy VIII though 'cause Squall was at level 99 by the end of disc 2 whenever I'm done =_=; *sigh* I've considered just letting him be in the red zone for most of the game while I leveled up the other characters, but then that'd be a lot of work =_= lol.
Anyway, back to Final Fantasy XIII, though it was strange to see 2-person parties for most of it, I think it's kind of good. The battle system reverted back to ATB, which can be good and bad. I think the way Final Fantasy XII had it set up was kind of fun after a while, I mean I just program and let my characters do their own thing lol, but that's just lazy I guess one can say. The ATB system is more hands-on so it makes it more fun -- yup, no more eating dinner while your characters go pwn the bad guys -- and I like the battle theme in this game. It's very pretty compared to other battle themes lol ^_^; but still sounds like a battle theme lol ^_^ I think the only reason I really bought the cds is because I wanted the battle theme lol. I will not be buying an English version of the soundtrack 'cause that would just be a plain waste of money. No way I'm buying something with Leona Lewis in it... I don't like her very much =_= *sigh* And I'm obstinate.
Still, the graphics are beautiful. I will still buy the English version of the game, but I probably won't be able to stand listening to it much. The voices are good, but the changed dialogue and song just bugs me. *sigh* Why, oh why? *sigh* Nothing to it, I guess. Two more months to go before it's released in the U.S. And I still don't have a PS3 lol.
Anyway, I just had to rant slightly 'cause I couldn't even finish watching this most recent trailer for the game. The English was so... gross... and the song really sucked. The Japanese song was definitely much better and fitted the storyline much better. All the Final Fantasy songs tend to fit the theme of the story, but this English version is terrible. Please don't let them do this again T__T. If they do this again I might as well just curse SquareEnix forever and hope they explode into a billion pieces or something 'cause they just ruined my fave series =_= Well, just the American branch of SquareEnix needs to be shot. I still like the Japanese branch the way it is.
I'm almost done watching the game and I must say... some things kind of happen randomly, but it's a nice story. The whole thing about Lightning's real name is kind of ... just random. It's just like one of those typical teenager moments where they're like "I'm going to change my name to feel stronger" types of things and nothing else, her real name is very... ordinary... well, I can't say ordinary, but it's nothing special to say the least. You get to hear it when the whole group goes to Gran Pulse and it's right before the final boss fight with Galenth. I was like ... "Seriously...? That's her name? Wow... I was expecting something else, but ok." Well, if you compare it to Lightning, her real name is literally like a cream puff in comparison. Which reminds me... I bet they decided not to let Snow call Lightning "Nee-san" throughout the game, so... the parts where they actually attach her name to Nee-san, I wonder how that will come out translated. Also, Hope calls Lightning-san for the first part of the game until she tells him to call her "Light," and then he calls her Light-san... He uses "-san" a lot... *sigh* This English version is doomed =_=
On a more interesting note, as I was watching the Japanese version, the line-up that was used in the sequences looks like the line-up I plan on using for whenever I get a chance in the game. A lot of times though, you only get two people on a team to fight 'cause for most of the story, the six characters were separated into 3 groups that did their own things so until the six characters reunite, you basically have a max of two people in your party. Most of the game is one to two people party until towards the last 25% of the game. I guess this helps with the "everyone levels up" ideal 'cause if they allowed me to choose my characters from the get-go, I'll just end up using the same people OVER AND OVER again lol. I play my favorites, literally ^_^ I wish that was one thing that was different about Final Fantasy VIII though 'cause Squall was at level 99 by the end of disc 2 whenever I'm done =_=; *sigh* I've considered just letting him be in the red zone for most of the game while I leveled up the other characters, but then that'd be a lot of work =_= lol.
Anyway, back to Final Fantasy XIII, though it was strange to see 2-person parties for most of it, I think it's kind of good. The battle system reverted back to ATB, which can be good and bad. I think the way Final Fantasy XII had it set up was kind of fun after a while, I mean I just program and let my characters do their own thing lol, but that's just lazy I guess one can say. The ATB system is more hands-on so it makes it more fun -- yup, no more eating dinner while your characters go pwn the bad guys -- and I like the battle theme in this game. It's very pretty compared to other battle themes lol ^_^; but still sounds like a battle theme lol ^_^ I think the only reason I really bought the cds is because I wanted the battle theme lol. I will not be buying an English version of the soundtrack 'cause that would just be a plain waste of money. No way I'm buying something with Leona Lewis in it... I don't like her very much =_= *sigh* And I'm obstinate.
Still, the graphics are beautiful. I will still buy the English version of the game, but I probably won't be able to stand listening to it much. The voices are good, but the changed dialogue and song just bugs me. *sigh* Why, oh why? *sigh* Nothing to it, I guess. Two more months to go before it's released in the U.S. And I still don't have a PS3 lol.
A Hate Day
Right now, I hate both my roommate and my coworker. One is being a tyrannic bitch while the other has no sympathy at all. My coworker is just ordering people around and snapping their heads off when she's pissed and my roommate's not very sympathetic at all so I've decided I'm never talking to my roommate about work again. I'm not going to talk to her about anything else again 'cause she just makes me angrier and angrier. I don't need fuel to fire.
I don't even want to go into detail over what my coworker's been like, but she's never all too polite, now she's just plain rude. I have to vent this out or else I'll go crazy. *heave*
*sigh*
Ok, got that out of my system. On a brighter note, my shikibuton got shipped so I should be expecting it in a week or so ^__^ Finally, no more bad back~!
On another bright note, my boss gave me a return to do that belongs to a client that I worked on last year and it turns out to be not too bad so far. She gave me a budget of 10 hours 'cause there was A LOT of information. I mean, just sitting there and sifting through it gave me swirly eyes. There was so much paperwork I just wanted to cry, but I patiently weaved through the stack and did what I needed to do. Unfortunately, I kept getting interrupted by my tyrant of a coworker to go to storage and other people who just kept coming to ask me questions on how to handle certain admin things 'cause the tyrant is on her high horse =_= Ugh. My project got interrupted so many times today, it was annoying. Oh well, I guess this is what it feels like when people depend on you. I guess it comes out good in some way.
I don't even want to go into detail over what my coworker's been like, but she's never all too polite, now she's just plain rude. I have to vent this out or else I'll go crazy. *heave*
*sigh*
Ok, got that out of my system. On a brighter note, my shikibuton got shipped so I should be expecting it in a week or so ^__^ Finally, no more bad back~!
On another bright note, my boss gave me a return to do that belongs to a client that I worked on last year and it turns out to be not too bad so far. She gave me a budget of 10 hours 'cause there was A LOT of information. I mean, just sitting there and sifting through it gave me swirly eyes. There was so much paperwork I just wanted to cry, but I patiently weaved through the stack and did what I needed to do. Unfortunately, I kept getting interrupted by my tyrant of a coworker to go to storage and other people who just kept coming to ask me questions on how to handle certain admin things 'cause the tyrant is on her high horse =_= Ugh. My project got interrupted so many times today, it was annoying. Oh well, I guess this is what it feels like when people depend on you. I guess it comes out good in some way.
Uematsu Nobuo is Still The Best
So I got the Final Fantasy XIII soundtracks and even though I like the music, I still wish Uematsu had collaborated with it. We would have been saved from the stupid Leona Lewis situation =_= *sigh* Oh well. Oh, I got the Japanese version of the soundtracks so I don't have to deal with a stupid English pop song.
Anyway, as much as I do like the music for this particular Final Fantasy installment, it's just really different. I wonder if Hamauzu Masashi will be doing the Fabula Nova Crystallis series from now own. It would make sense to me if he did all the music for the series, but still doesn't keep me from hoping that Uematsu will collaborate.
I am kind of hoping for Final Fantasy Versus XIII to come out soon, but I don't think it will be out for at least another year or two. They have been developing Final Fantasy XIII since I was in high school, it seems -- I think it was probably around the same time the first version of Advent Children came out. So it took them over three years to develop the game and then they had to put it on a diet and strip out enough material that could be made into a separate game =_=; Sounds really sad to have all that work wasted on nothing. I hope they use it for something else.
Anyway, Versus XIII was shown in 2006 as well, but since everyone has been working on the development of the flagship game, I'm not sure if they have made much progress on Versus. We'll just have to see. Maybe we'll see it in another two years. I think Versus looks so much more interesting than all the other games due to the fact that they have taken a "realistic" approach to things. I tried to watch some of the trailers, but they're kind of bad quality on youtube. Oh well ^_^;
Anyway, as much as I do like the music for this particular Final Fantasy installment, it's just really different. I wonder if Hamauzu Masashi will be doing the Fabula Nova Crystallis series from now own. It would make sense to me if he did all the music for the series, but still doesn't keep me from hoping that Uematsu will collaborate.
I am kind of hoping for Final Fantasy Versus XIII to come out soon, but I don't think it will be out for at least another year or two. They have been developing Final Fantasy XIII since I was in high school, it seems -- I think it was probably around the same time the first version of Advent Children came out. So it took them over three years to develop the game and then they had to put it on a diet and strip out enough material that could be made into a separate game =_=; Sounds really sad to have all that work wasted on nothing. I hope they use it for something else.
Anyway, Versus XIII was shown in 2006 as well, but since everyone has been working on the development of the flagship game, I'm not sure if they have made much progress on Versus. We'll just have to see. Maybe we'll see it in another two years. I think Versus looks so much more interesting than all the other games due to the fact that they have taken a "realistic" approach to things. I tried to watch some of the trailers, but they're kind of bad quality on youtube. Oh well ^_^;
Monday, January 25, 2010
Interest So Low You Want to Cry
Still... I managed to make $20.65 of interest with my CD last year. I only get 1.5% APY, but oh well. It used to be 3.5% *sigh* So sad. In the last two years, I made like a total of $40. I can make that much by waiting tables for two hours. I should just take the money out and throw it into my HSA or something. That'll make it into a better investment.
This Drink is Tasty
It is kind of medicinal-like, but I like it a lot. My friend brought this back from Taiwan and I tried one today. It's so good *___* Someday if I get a chance to go back to Taiwan, I'll have to buy a lot of these.
Mmmmm. I like this stuff a lot~
Mmmmm. I like this stuff a lot~
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Squash Curry Safeway-Style
So I've successfully finished making this week's meals before noon today. I boiled the veggies, now drinking the soup from the veggies, have one thing of pasta for lunch tomorrow and squash curry. I also have some leftover beef and vegetable soup, plus beef stew, and the kani croquette plus sweet yams that I bought yesterday so this should be more than enough to tide me over for the week. At least next time I go to the city, I don't have to worry about buying veggies 'cause I'll still have lots here. It'll be another 2-3 weeks before I go 'cause my test is coming up on the 13th =_=;
Anyway, I had this one container of butternut squash soup from Safeway that needs to be eaten before February 10th, and I had some leftover curry from a week (maybe two weeks...?) ago, but it still smelled and looked fine so I mixed part of it together, and then put some coconut milk in it. The curry that I made from before had some potato starch in it 'cause I was boiling potatoes -- which I peeled all the skins off -- the same day I made the curry, and I used the water from the potatoes to mix in with the curry so it would be thicker than if I just used water. Well, I didn't eat it for a while and it still smelled fine so I re-cooked part of it and added in the Safeway soup. When everything boiled, I lowered the heat and added 1/4 can of coconut milk. It turned out pretty well. I was making some spaghetti so I put the noodles in the soup and mixed it for a bit. After maybe five minutes or so, I turned it off and let the noodles soak in the sauce. I had enough pasta for two servings so I put some for lunch tomorrow and had the other part for brunch. The remaining squash curry, I put in a container to be eaten with rice or soba that I plan on eating sometime ^_^;
While I was making the noodles with curry, I also boiled some Chinese Gai Lan so now I have greens for this week and the soup from boiling the greens to drink ^__^ I'm being all-around healthy~! Yay, go me \( ^,^ )/
I just got a little too excited and had to share this here ^__^
Anyway, I had this one container of butternut squash soup from Safeway that needs to be eaten before February 10th, and I had some leftover curry from a week (maybe two weeks...?) ago, but it still smelled and looked fine so I mixed part of it together, and then put some coconut milk in it. The curry that I made from before had some potato starch in it 'cause I was boiling potatoes -- which I peeled all the skins off -- the same day I made the curry, and I used the water from the potatoes to mix in with the curry so it would be thicker than if I just used water. Well, I didn't eat it for a while and it still smelled fine so I re-cooked part of it and added in the Safeway soup. When everything boiled, I lowered the heat and added 1/4 can of coconut milk. It turned out pretty well. I was making some spaghetti so I put the noodles in the soup and mixed it for a bit. After maybe five minutes or so, I turned it off and let the noodles soak in the sauce. I had enough pasta for two servings so I put some for lunch tomorrow and had the other part for brunch. The remaining squash curry, I put in a container to be eaten with rice or soba that I plan on eating sometime ^_^;
While I was making the noodles with curry, I also boiled some Chinese Gai Lan so now I have greens for this week and the soup from boiling the greens to drink ^__^ I'm being all-around healthy~! Yay, go me \( ^,^ )/
I just got a little too excited and had to share this here ^__^
If I Could, I Would Live in Japantown
... But then I would be very broke. Yesterday, it took a lot of willpower to keep myself from going all out -- which tends to happen very frequently -- when I went to Japantown. I got this Melody magazine 'cause I saw Ooku on it and couldn't resist, and picked up some stationary. I also bought a few other magazines and a piano book, and went to the supermarket, plus the sweets shop, but that was it. I didn't buy videos or go into any other stores, I just went to the places I needed to go. I'm pretty proud of myself right now lol ^__^;
So cute ne? I love Japanese stationary.
So cute ne? I love Japanese stationary.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Lately, I've Been Wishing...
This is random like always, but lately, I've been wanting to watch "Mars" based on Soryo Fuyumi's manga, but I don't want to watch the Taiwanese version, I want a Japanese version =_= However, no one has made a Japanese version yet T__T. The story is really old so I'm not sure how they can make it more modern or anything, then again, the Japanese are really good at making adaptations that are almost nothing like the manga and still be pretty decent.
Though "Mars" can come off as a bit cliche, the story is one of my favorites. Too bad that so many dramas out there already touched on bits and pieces of child abuse, sexual abuse, delinquent high school boys who fall in love with introverted girl, suicide, murder, insanity, etc. "Mars" has basically everything you can think of that's angsty, but it ends well. Still, it's kind of strange that it hasn't been made into a drama yet in Japan. It seems that only the ones I'm not completely a fan of gets made into drama, but the ones I love either become movies, or the Taiwanese go and make a drama of it. Surprisingly, this drama wasn't too terrible. I usually can't stand Taiwanese drama, because all the actors are quite lame =_= No one really impresses me and people who sing, should just seriously stick to singing. *sigh*
Anyway, I just wish they would make a Mars drama sometime 'cause I really want to watch it =_=
No idea who I would want to play any of the characters at this point in time 'cause no one can really act and the ones who I think are decent are too old now. If we have to pick bad boy look, anyone with long hair and an attitude will work for me, I guess. If it wasn't for the fact that some of these people can't really act, I'd pick the following to be considered:
Kashino Rei
- Kamenashi Kazuya - he has the look, but not quite all the acting skills, and he's not exactly built
- Hayami Mokomichi - this guy has the muscle, but I'm kind of tired of seeing his face lol
- Shirota Yu - he is part-foreign blood and he looks pretty wild, plus he's somewhat built so he looks the part, the thing is that I don't think he can really act that well...
- Mizushima Hiro - he looks good with long hair, but he's scrawny and it's questionable if he can act out Rei that well
- Oguri Shun - right now he is one of my fave actors, because he really does play out his parts well, and we have seen him with wild red hair, so I think he can pull it off, he's fairly built too
- Akanishi Jin - looks good in long hair, not that scrawny, might be able to pull it off
So my verdict would be... Shirota Yu vs. Oguri Shun. I think Oguri Shun would win out 'cause he's more bankable, but Shirota Yu's looks really fit the part. Then again, Akanishi can probably pull it off... Don't know.
Why I wouldn't even consider Matsuda Shota or Matsumoto Jun is 'cause they're both pretty scrawny-looking and MatsuJun's just too short =_=
Asou Kira
- Yoshitaka Yuriko - she can pull off an introvert pretty well, but Kira has more depth than the character she played in Love Shuffle so we'll see... lately, I've been feeling that her acting's kind of the same
- Kitagawa Keiko - I think she has some potential to pull off a decent Kira. I watched her in Mop Girl, Buzzer Beat, Tokyo Drift, and Hitsudan Hostess. She is pretty with long hair and it would be interesting to see her as an introvert.
- Aoi Yu - I think her version of Hagumi was much better than Narumi Riko's Hagumi, and she has the plain Jane sort of look, so maybe.
- Kato Rosa - though I like her, I haven't liked anything she's in recently so I haven't really watched her acting as of late, but from watching her in Jotei, I like her, though that was a stronger role
- Kanjiya Shihori - I have seen her act various different roles and I think she is a pretty good actress, her range is pretty versatile. First time I watched her was in Hana Yori Dango, then the next time I saw her, she was in Love Shuffle and the role she had in HYD and LS were pretty similar, but then I saw her in Buzzer Beat and was really surprised. I think she doesn't get a whole lot of attention, but I think she is pretty talented compared to some of the other actresses out there, she just may be able to do Kira.
I guess when it comes down to it, I rather see either Kitagawa Keiko or Kanjiya Shihori for the role. I would probably pick Kanjiya Shihori over Kitagawa Keiko though 'cause I think Shihori does the subdued, quiet, complex and pained pretty well. Watching Kitagawa Keiko in Hitsudan Hostess, she was good for what her role asked of her, but I think Kanjiya Shihori may be able to pull off Kira better. *sigh* Well, it's not like they're making one anyway so I can just imagine. If they do eventually make a drama and have Nagasawa Masami play Kira, I may have to kill myself. After watching so many drama with her in it, I still don't see any improvement so I've given up.
As for the other characters... if it's already causing me to crack my head open trying to think up people for the leads, there's no way I can think of anyone else to play the supporting roles.
But yeah... I just wanted to get this off my chest.
Though "Mars" can come off as a bit cliche, the story is one of my favorites. Too bad that so many dramas out there already touched on bits and pieces of child abuse, sexual abuse, delinquent high school boys who fall in love with introverted girl, suicide, murder, insanity, etc. "Mars" has basically everything you can think of that's angsty, but it ends well. Still, it's kind of strange that it hasn't been made into a drama yet in Japan. It seems that only the ones I'm not completely a fan of gets made into drama, but the ones I love either become movies, or the Taiwanese go and make a drama of it. Surprisingly, this drama wasn't too terrible. I usually can't stand Taiwanese drama, because all the actors are quite lame =_= No one really impresses me and people who sing, should just seriously stick to singing. *sigh*
Anyway, I just wish they would make a Mars drama sometime 'cause I really want to watch it =_=
No idea who I would want to play any of the characters at this point in time 'cause no one can really act and the ones who I think are decent are too old now. If we have to pick bad boy look, anyone with long hair and an attitude will work for me, I guess. If it wasn't for the fact that some of these people can't really act, I'd pick the following to be considered:
Kashino Rei
- Kamenashi Kazuya - he has the look, but not quite all the acting skills, and he's not exactly built
- Hayami Mokomichi - this guy has the muscle, but I'm kind of tired of seeing his face lol
- Shirota Yu - he is part-foreign blood and he looks pretty wild, plus he's somewhat built so he looks the part, the thing is that I don't think he can really act that well...
- Mizushima Hiro - he looks good with long hair, but he's scrawny and it's questionable if he can act out Rei that well
- Oguri Shun - right now he is one of my fave actors, because he really does play out his parts well, and we have seen him with wild red hair, so I think he can pull it off, he's fairly built too
- Akanishi Jin - looks good in long hair, not that scrawny, might be able to pull it off
So my verdict would be... Shirota Yu vs. Oguri Shun. I think Oguri Shun would win out 'cause he's more bankable, but Shirota Yu's looks really fit the part. Then again, Akanishi can probably pull it off... Don't know.
Why I wouldn't even consider Matsuda Shota or Matsumoto Jun is 'cause they're both pretty scrawny-looking and MatsuJun's just too short =_=
Asou Kira
- Yoshitaka Yuriko - she can pull off an introvert pretty well, but Kira has more depth than the character she played in Love Shuffle so we'll see... lately, I've been feeling that her acting's kind of the same
- Kitagawa Keiko - I think she has some potential to pull off a decent Kira. I watched her in Mop Girl, Buzzer Beat, Tokyo Drift, and Hitsudan Hostess. She is pretty with long hair and it would be interesting to see her as an introvert.
- Aoi Yu - I think her version of Hagumi was much better than Narumi Riko's Hagumi, and she has the plain Jane sort of look, so maybe.
- Kato Rosa - though I like her, I haven't liked anything she's in recently so I haven't really watched her acting as of late, but from watching her in Jotei, I like her, though that was a stronger role
- Kanjiya Shihori - I have seen her act various different roles and I think she is a pretty good actress, her range is pretty versatile. First time I watched her was in Hana Yori Dango, then the next time I saw her, she was in Love Shuffle and the role she had in HYD and LS were pretty similar, but then I saw her in Buzzer Beat and was really surprised. I think she doesn't get a whole lot of attention, but I think she is pretty talented compared to some of the other actresses out there, she just may be able to do Kira.
I guess when it comes down to it, I rather see either Kitagawa Keiko or Kanjiya Shihori for the role. I would probably pick Kanjiya Shihori over Kitagawa Keiko though 'cause I think Shihori does the subdued, quiet, complex and pained pretty well. Watching Kitagawa Keiko in Hitsudan Hostess, she was good for what her role asked of her, but I think Kanjiya Shihori may be able to pull off Kira better. *sigh* Well, it's not like they're making one anyway so I can just imagine. If they do eventually make a drama and have Nagasawa Masami play Kira, I may have to kill myself. After watching so many drama with her in it, I still don't see any improvement so I've given up.
As for the other characters... if it's already causing me to crack my head open trying to think up people for the leads, there's no way I can think of anyone else to play the supporting roles.
But yeah... I just wanted to get this off my chest.
A Good Saturday
So... I got my laundry washed -- now I have to dry it -- I braved Chinatown and its mass sea of people, rain, and umbrellas today to buy groceries and these new year thingies for my parents, then I went to Japantown and got some much needed me-time plus saw an old friend from college. It was so random.
So here I was, just minding my own business and I pop out from the underground parking structure and head towards this crosswalk on Post street 'cause my eyes were solely on the hardware store in front of me. Then I get this message from a Eugene phone number and was like ... "I don't have this number on my phone anywhere... it's not my family and it's not my friend who lives here either..." so I checked the message and it was like "Are you in Japantown?" I did this manga-esque flip around to see who in the world was stalking me lol and then texted back, "Sorry, but who is this?" My friend text back that it was him and I was like O,O! So I left the hardware store -- since I couldn't find what I wanted anyway -- and came out to Post Street to see where he was. He told me that he thought it was me when he saw me crossing the street, but wasn't sure. I told him to come on out so I could see him. Then there he was with his girlfriend since college -- maybe they'll get married someday ^_^; -- and I was like "ZOMG!!!!!" We hugged and chatted a little. He's working at one of the Big Four in the financial district and lives right off Lombard so that's pretty close to where we were today. It was so good to just see some familiar faces and what is with this silly luck of mine this month lol. Things have just been going so well on some of these days, it's scary! LoL.
First, my friend from Hawaii came for work training and I saw him, then my other friend came down to the bay and contacted me, I saw my other friend today, and then I met this girl who transferred from my university at the downstairs Kinokuniya stationary and gift shop. It's so random, but this month, I'm just seeing lots of old friendly faces and people who have a whiff of Oregon on them lol ^_^ It makes me really happy. I think other than the one setback is that people still think that Jeannie and I are like the best of friends, when our hearts have grown really distant from each other. Now that I can't be used, she doesn't really include me in anything anymore, but that's ok, I'm not really missing out or anything. But yeah, things are just going really well this month for the most part -- other than my studying of course lol.
I just thought I would share my happiness today~ Fill my blog with some love!!! ^_^
So here I was, just minding my own business and I pop out from the underground parking structure and head towards this crosswalk on Post street 'cause my eyes were solely on the hardware store in front of me. Then I get this message from a Eugene phone number and was like ... "I don't have this number on my phone anywhere... it's not my family and it's not my friend who lives here either..." so I checked the message and it was like "Are you in Japantown?" I did this manga-esque flip around to see who in the world was stalking me lol and then texted back, "Sorry, but who is this?" My friend text back that it was him and I was like O,O! So I left the hardware store -- since I couldn't find what I wanted anyway -- and came out to Post Street to see where he was. He told me that he thought it was me when he saw me crossing the street, but wasn't sure. I told him to come on out so I could see him. Then there he was with his girlfriend since college -- maybe they'll get married someday ^_^; -- and I was like "ZOMG!!!!!" We hugged and chatted a little. He's working at one of the Big Four in the financial district and lives right off Lombard so that's pretty close to where we were today. It was so good to just see some familiar faces and what is with this silly luck of mine this month lol. Things have just been going so well on some of these days, it's scary! LoL.
First, my friend from Hawaii came for work training and I saw him, then my other friend came down to the bay and contacted me, I saw my other friend today, and then I met this girl who transferred from my university at the downstairs Kinokuniya stationary and gift shop. It's so random, but this month, I'm just seeing lots of old friendly faces and people who have a whiff of Oregon on them lol ^_^ It makes me really happy. I think other than the one setback is that people still think that Jeannie and I are like the best of friends, when our hearts have grown really distant from each other. Now that I can't be used, she doesn't really include me in anything anymore, but that's ok, I'm not really missing out or anything. But yeah, things are just going really well this month for the most part -- other than my studying of course lol.
I just thought I would share my happiness today~ Fill my blog with some love!!! ^_^
Friday, January 22, 2010
Nodame Cantabile - Encore - Opera Arc
ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @#$(*%)*#@#%)*#%)*#@%)*#@)%*!!!!!
\( ^ o ^ )/ *`*.`*'`* \( ^ o ^ )/
<( ^,^ <)(> ^,^)><( ^ , ^ )><( ^,^ <)
*`*.`*'`* Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ *`*.`*'`* Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ *`*.`*'`*`*.`
(￣▽￣)ノ＿彡☆バンバン！!
Yeah, that's how happy I am. I was finishing reading Nodame Cantabile volume 23 and was like ............................... "That's ... it!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"
Now that I know there's a sequel, I'm good. Yeah, definitely more so than good.
The story basically starts with Nodame and Chiaki returning to Japan as Mine has decided to help with the opera troupe to put on this Rising Star-like production for opera. The first chapter was really cute lol, and put her heart to rest as I was assured that Nodame didn't just end like that with volume 23. Oh good, people still know how to make me happy ^_^
\( ^ o ^ )/ *`*.`*'`* \( ^ o ^ )/
<( ^,^ <)(> ^,^)><( ^ , ^ )><( ^,^ <)
*`*.`*'`* Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ *`*.`*'`* Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ *`*.`*'`*`*.`
(￣▽￣)ノ＿彡☆バンバン！!
Yeah, that's how happy I am. I was finishing reading Nodame Cantabile volume 23 and was like ............................... "That's ... it!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"
Now that I know there's a sequel, I'm good. Yeah, definitely more so than good.
The story basically starts with Nodame and Chiaki returning to Japan as Mine has decided to help with the opera troupe to put on this Rising Star-like production for opera. The first chapter was really cute lol, and put her heart to rest as I was assured that Nodame didn't just end like that with volume 23. Oh good, people still know how to make me happy ^_^
Internet Finally Works
I am having all these nightmarish issues with internet connections =_= The internet here wasn't working again today and I just basically freaked out. I had a couple new statements out for my bills so I wanted to go online and set up my payments for them. If I don't get internet within the next week or so, I would probably go insane 'cause I need to pay off my bills. I'll be able to pay off my Old Navy & Banana cards, and then I'll only have AMEX and my main bank one remaining. I need to set up payment for my AMEX one once the statement comes out in a week. *sigh* I really don't want to spend any more using my credit cards especially since I'm not sure how much I'm getting paid these days anymore =_= I wish I can withdraw some cash, but then I'll put myself into the danger of not having enough money to pay my bills off =_= *sigh* I think starting next month, I'll be spending more cash than cards, if I can help it that is. I don't want this messy situation to happen again =_=
On a brighter note, I had an excellent day at work today. I learned how to prepare 1099-DIV statements for the first time. I was given projects to fix and then my boss even thanked me for making it much clearer to understand ^__^ (A super plus), and my other boss sat down with me and my other coworker and taught us about trust accounting. He talked for over an hour and it was very, very interesting stuff. I've been doing trust compilations for part of the week and I love working and learning about these so it was very nice to get a good educational lecture now and then. Overall, it was a really good day 'cause my bosses showed enough faith in my work to let me fix these projects and when I explained things, they just accepted it without question. It was a very nice feeling to be trusted and relied on. I was just happy leaving today.
The lack of internet did spoil my mood later, but now all is peachy ^__^
On a brighter note, I had an excellent day at work today. I learned how to prepare 1099-DIV statements for the first time. I was given projects to fix and then my boss even thanked me for making it much clearer to understand ^__^ (A super plus), and my other boss sat down with me and my other coworker and taught us about trust accounting. He talked for over an hour and it was very, very interesting stuff. I've been doing trust compilations for part of the week and I love working and learning about these so it was very nice to get a good educational lecture now and then. Overall, it was a really good day 'cause my bosses showed enough faith in my work to let me fix these projects and when I explained things, they just accepted it without question. It was a very nice feeling to be trusted and relied on. I was just happy leaving today.
The lack of internet did spoil my mood later, but now all is peachy ^__^
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Room Needs An Uplift
I seriously lack the funds to do this right now, but I really want to just go to the container store or WalMart and buy those plastic drawer thingies. I do not want any more boxes in my room. I am just sick of looking at them! I've decided that I won't be moving out after all. Now that my roommate and I somewhat are at peace with each other (*knocks on wood*), I think I can allow myself to settle in this place for a while longer. I mean, I even bought a bed frame and futon the other day online so that means it's time to make some real changes around here.
Next time I go back to Oregon, I'm packing up this air mattress and taking it back to my parents. I also have all this extra stuff that I don't even use so I'll bring those back up as well. My next trip back should be through driving so I'll be able to carry more up there.
I need a water boiler too. Right now I have a coffee pot and a pitcher-looking water-boiler, but I'm taking up space on my small table so it's kinda annoying.
Oh, I should buy a flat-screen TV while I'm up in Oregon and bring it back down with me. It'll be light and I can get rid of that thing that's next to my closet right now 'cause just uses up a lot of space I can't store anything. The TV she let me borrow is so old and heavy =_= and I want to get a PS3 eventually so I want a TV with good picture quality. I need to make a list of things to get when I'm up there.
My plan is to go up during Memorial Day weekend this year and stay for a week. I'll be able to get some shopping done, see my family, get my hair cut and colored maybe. I'm pretty poor at the moment so I haven't gotten a haircut since August, I haven't bought any new clothes this year as of yet, I haven't even bought much of anything that I usually buy, but important things like a bed (lol) and groceries. I should get a bookshelf or something...
I just re-organized my closet, so I can fit even more stuff in, but I don't think I want to put anything more there... I can fit maybe 2 more boxes, but I don't want to see another office box again for a while =_=
Well, we'll just have to see how much money I make in the next few months before I can completely revamp my room. Storage containers are not cheap, especially the ones I like =_= (Yeah, I have expensive taste lol). Anyway, I hope my futon comes soon.
Next time I go back to Oregon, I'm packing up this air mattress and taking it back to my parents. I also have all this extra stuff that I don't even use so I'll bring those back up as well. My next trip back should be through driving so I'll be able to carry more up there.
I need a water boiler too. Right now I have a coffee pot and a pitcher-looking water-boiler, but I'm taking up space on my small table so it's kinda annoying.
Oh, I should buy a flat-screen TV while I'm up in Oregon and bring it back down with me. It'll be light and I can get rid of that thing that's next to my closet right now 'cause just uses up a lot of space I can't store anything. The TV she let me borrow is so old and heavy =_= and I want to get a PS3 eventually so I want a TV with good picture quality. I need to make a list of things to get when I'm up there.
My plan is to go up during Memorial Day weekend this year and stay for a week. I'll be able to get some shopping done, see my family, get my hair cut and colored maybe. I'm pretty poor at the moment so I haven't gotten a haircut since August, I haven't bought any new clothes this year as of yet, I haven't even bought much of anything that I usually buy, but important things like a bed (lol) and groceries. I should get a bookshelf or something...
I just re-organized my closet, so I can fit even more stuff in, but I don't think I want to put anything more there... I can fit maybe 2 more boxes, but I don't want to see another office box again for a while =_=
Well, we'll just have to see how much money I make in the next few months before I can completely revamp my room. Storage containers are not cheap, especially the ones I like =_= (Yeah, I have expensive taste lol). Anyway, I hope my futon comes soon.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Compilation, Complicated, Comped Out
I have to get up early tomorrow so I can go and finish one of the compilations I'm working on. Well, someone else worked on it and now I'm fixing it. I've been wanting to tear my hair out for the three consecutive hours that I had been staring at it, because the way my coworker did it was so different than the way I did it @_@. *sigh* The tracing was all weird, it looked disorderly, and my eyes were basically going all swirly on me. I have to redo most of it to make it match the tax return and also match what happened last year.
The accountant who handled this before me, did something really, really strange and now I'm having tons of issues with it. I can only dread what the next one will look like =_= Well, it's good that all three compilations have been given to me because I will have more power over them and the general direction of things. They will all look the same and be just as neat. I can't stand messy-looking files, they're aggravating, but what I can't stand the most is that I have to do this scavenger hunt for these odd numbers all over the place. I seriously have no idea how my coworker got some of these numbers @_@. Ok, that's a lie, but I really am not sure where to start in fixing things 'cause it's such a mess, so I've just been fixing as much as I can all day long. I mean the excel file had like 4 versions of the same tab/workpaper and I had to go into the file to figure out just which one she used so I could get rid of the other three. I hate repeating tabs, they're obnoxious. A file should only have one of each section and not multiple parts of the same thing. The compilation already has a lot of workpapers, I don't need to be sifting through miscellaneous, unimportant crap =_= I really want to get this one turned in tomorrow. I already fixed the first one and got that one approved, now I want this one out of the way so I can start on the hardest one of the three. I did all the tax returns last year so I know what happened with those corresponding returns and I know what should happen with these compilations.
*sigh* I just want these done so I can start the new year's =_=
The accountant who handled this before me, did something really, really strange and now I'm having tons of issues with it. I can only dread what the next one will look like =_= Well, it's good that all three compilations have been given to me because I will have more power over them and the general direction of things. They will all look the same and be just as neat. I can't stand messy-looking files, they're aggravating, but what I can't stand the most is that I have to do this scavenger hunt for these odd numbers all over the place. I seriously have no idea how my coworker got some of these numbers @_@. Ok, that's a lie, but I really am not sure where to start in fixing things 'cause it's such a mess, so I've just been fixing as much as I can all day long. I mean the excel file had like 4 versions of the same tab/workpaper and I had to go into the file to figure out just which one she used so I could get rid of the other three. I hate repeating tabs, they're obnoxious. A file should only have one of each section and not multiple parts of the same thing. The compilation already has a lot of workpapers, I don't need to be sifting through miscellaneous, unimportant crap =_= I really want to get this one turned in tomorrow. I already fixed the first one and got that one approved, now I want this one out of the way so I can start on the hardest one of the three. I did all the tax returns last year so I know what happened with those corresponding returns and I know what should happen with these compilations.
*sigh* I just want these done so I can start the new year's =_=
Monday, January 18, 2010
BECK (映画)
I am just really excited at the moment!!! They made a live-action version of BECK and I love BECK!!!!! I watched the anime before reading the manga, but I really like the story and the music. Just saw a trailer for the movie and the cast is pretty close to what I have in mind appearance-wise, as for the actual acting we'll have to see. Mizushima Hiro is Ryusuke, Sato Takeru is Koyuki, Kiritani Kenta is Chiba, Mukai Osamu is Taira, and Nakamura Aoi is Saku, and Kutsuna Shiori is Maho. With the exception of Satou Takeru and Kutsuna Shiori, the rest really do look like the characters. Koyuki is kind of wimpy so having Sato Takeru play him will be interesting for me to see. I think Maho is a pretty strong-willed girl, so while Kutsuna Shiori has the ideal look for Maho, I wonder if she can pull off her character. Mizushima Hiro definitely has the look that I imagined for Ryusuke, but will he be able to pull off a total bad ass who can speak fluent English? Maho can speak fluent English too so I wonder how mangled the English will be in the movie lol. If Tsumabuki Satoshi were younger, he'd fit right into the role of Koyuki lol. He always looks quite wimpy lol, and yet I still love him ^__^.
Well, other than acting in question, the look is pretty much perfect at this point for me. They all match what I have in mind for the live action, which is a first. I always have issues with at least one or two actors that I feel do not look the part, but oh well ^_^;;; (For instance... I am still not sure about Ninomiya Kazunari playing the lead in Ooku... but we'll see)
On a side note... I have been very obsessed with 8018 doujinshi lately, especially the ones by Yoneda Kou -- one of my newest fave mangaka as of early last year -- and I am searching the net like mad. It's so bad, I really should not be wasting my time like this, but I just cannot stop myself @_@ *sigh* I love Katekyo Hitman Reborn so much, it's kind of silly lol. Why am I such a sucker for shounen series? At first, I was stuck on 6927, then 8059, then D18, but now I'm just crazy about 8018. I really can't see 1880 even though I tried one doujinshi with the pairing in that way, but at the same time with Hibari's seme-like dominance, it is also hard to see Yamamoto top him, but I guess they're interchangeable. Mmm, why am I so obsessed with 8018? It is all Yoneda Kou's fault! If I don't love her work so much, I wouldn't be in this predicament lol. I blame her talent and storytelling skills! Just like I blame Yoshinaga Fumi for constantly distracting from life because her stories are so beautiful *___*
Well, other than acting in question, the look is pretty much perfect at this point for me. They all match what I have in mind for the live action, which is a first. I always have issues with at least one or two actors that I feel do not look the part, but oh well ^_^;;; (For instance... I am still not sure about Ninomiya Kazunari playing the lead in Ooku... but we'll see)
On a side note... I have been very obsessed with 8018 doujinshi lately, especially the ones by Yoneda Kou -- one of my newest fave mangaka as of early last year -- and I am searching the net like mad. It's so bad, I really should not be wasting my time like this, but I just cannot stop myself @_@ *sigh* I love Katekyo Hitman Reborn so much, it's kind of silly lol. Why am I such a sucker for shounen series? At first, I was stuck on 6927, then 8059, then D18, but now I'm just crazy about 8018. I really can't see 1880 even though I tried one doujinshi with the pairing in that way, but at the same time with Hibari's seme-like dominance, it is also hard to see Yamamoto top him, but I guess they're interchangeable. Mmm, why am I so obsessed with 8018? It is all Yoneda Kou's fault! If I don't love her work so much, I wouldn't be in this predicament lol. I blame her talent and storytelling skills! Just like I blame Yoshinaga Fumi for constantly distracting from life because her stories are so beautiful *___*
I Don't Remember Love
For some reason, I just can't seem to recall that feeling of being in love with someone. Not that I believe I've been truly in love with anyone, but even that happy, fluffy feeling of liking someone a lot more than your average friend isn't really coming to me.
I love my friends like I love my family, and my family I love like they're a part of me. That is the only form of love I know or remember right now. Though I'm not exactly looking for a guy right now, I can't help, but wonder if I can be capable of falling for anyone at all. I just can't seem to remember at all. I wonder if this is how people feel after years of not having sex or something lol. It's a weird feeling. I haven't had a boyfriend since I was 17, and it's been seven years since. I've liked some guys, but that never really became anything. I had my heart broken so I must have liked those people to some degree, otherwise I wouldn't cry over them. But I don't remember it right now. It's a weird, empty blank.
Oh well lol ^__^ I really should be studying instead of wasting my time thinking up nonsense like this lol.
I love my friends like I love my family, and my family I love like they're a part of me. That is the only form of love I know or remember right now. Though I'm not exactly looking for a guy right now, I can't help, but wonder if I can be capable of falling for anyone at all. I just can't seem to remember at all. I wonder if this is how people feel after years of not having sex or something lol. It's a weird feeling. I haven't had a boyfriend since I was 17, and it's been seven years since. I've liked some guys, but that never really became anything. I had my heart broken so I must have liked those people to some degree, otherwise I wouldn't cry over them. But I don't remember it right now. It's a weird, empty blank.
Oh well lol ^__^ I really should be studying instead of wasting my time thinking up nonsense like this lol.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge Drama
Maybe I'm wrong, but... that castle that the characters are living in for this drama looks suspiciously similar to the one used in Atashinchi no Danshi... I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. The opening theme is ..... kind of embarrassing to look at it. I don't know why, but it just looks so dumb, that I don't even want to look at it.
They added a little kid into the drama, which I guess spices it up slightly. The characters are no longer high school kids, but college kids. I liked the manga alright, but I'm not a big fan of it from the start so any form of change within the drama adaptation is fine with me. In fact, the changes might actually make it more interesting for me to watch... then again... I don't know. At the moment, I think Kyohei, Takenaga, and Yukinojo looks just fine, but Ranmaru is not that good-looking at all. Oh well, doesn't matter to me 'cause I wasn't ever a fan of Ranmaru in the first place lol.
The kid is the one who played Yoroku (future Kanetsugu) from Tenchijin and he's so adorable ^__^ Also, something of a 180 for me is seeing Uchi Hiroki play Takenaga -- my fave character. I will say that he has the look that I like, so I approve of him as Takenaga, but I feel weird seeing Uchi play such a smart character. The last time I watched act, he was either a loud-mouth idiot or an emo-teen. I guess, I'm feeling kind of impressed at the moment lol. Weird feeling.
Kamenashi Kazuya's acting seems forced at times to me, but he's the same-ol' same-ol'. I'm just watching it out of boredom at the moment, I think =_=; (Which tends to happen quite often with me ... I use drama to procrastinate lol). I'll have to give it at least another episode or two before I pass judgement. I've already given up on Tokujo Kabachi... it was painfully hard to get through the first episode lol. I don't think I'll be watching as many drama this season 'cause nothing stands out, but this one is manageable for me.
They added a little kid into the drama, which I guess spices it up slightly. The characters are no longer high school kids, but college kids. I liked the manga alright, but I'm not a big fan of it from the start so any form of change within the drama adaptation is fine with me. In fact, the changes might actually make it more interesting for me to watch... then again... I don't know. At the moment, I think Kyohei, Takenaga, and Yukinojo looks just fine, but Ranmaru is not that good-looking at all. Oh well, doesn't matter to me 'cause I wasn't ever a fan of Ranmaru in the first place lol.
The kid is the one who played Yoroku (future Kanetsugu) from Tenchijin and he's so adorable ^__^ Also, something of a 180 for me is seeing Uchi Hiroki play Takenaga -- my fave character. I will say that he has the look that I like, so I approve of him as Takenaga, but I feel weird seeing Uchi play such a smart character. The last time I watched act, he was either a loud-mouth idiot or an emo-teen. I guess, I'm feeling kind of impressed at the moment lol. Weird feeling.
Kamenashi Kazuya's acting seems forced at times to me, but he's the same-ol' same-ol'. I'm just watching it out of boredom at the moment, I think =_=; (Which tends to happen quite often with me ... I use drama to procrastinate lol). I'll have to give it at least another episode or two before I pass judgement. I've already given up on Tokujo Kabachi... it was painfully hard to get through the first episode lol. I don't think I'll be watching as many drama this season 'cause nothing stands out, but this one is manageable for me.
Impatience & Rain
I really want to go to Japantown today to look at those straw mats that they sell. It's not the real, thick tatami, but the really thin type. I want to see if it'll fit over the bed frames ok, and even if it's slightly shorter, I still intend to buy them 'cause it'll give a little more surface to put the shikibuton on later.
But... I don't need to buy any other food products for the time being so I really shouldn't make a trip into the city just to look at the straw mats. I also need to buy Year of the Tiger decorations for new years to send to my parents in Chinatown, but a trip all the way over for just these two things is not very good. Oh, I also need to buy more scrubbing brushes and those aluminum-looking scrubbing things for the bathroom 'cause tiled showers require more cleaning maintenance than I would like =_= The one day you forget to spray it down after the shower, it starts getting dirty. So aggravating...
Well, until I actually need to buy food, I shouldn't drive over there. I would like to buy some beef though =_= Maybe I'll just walk across the street to get some lemons and beef today. I still have plenty of cereal so no buying cereal. For this year, I'm telling myself that if I have enough food, there is no buying more until it's almost all gone.
I wonder if my roommate is going to be gone later today. I would like to go to Safeway... *sigh* Well, I would like to get some gas for my car actually. I'm at half tank right now, which is not bad. I'm in no danger of being stranded in the city if I don't fill it up before I go out next week, but gas is pricey so if I only need to fill a half tank, it'll be cheaper than a full tank. Half of the gas in my car is always cheaper due to the way I fill it up =_=;
Regardless of how much I want to go to the city today, I really shouldn't because I am now officially on the verge of being sick. My throat kind of hurts and feels scratchy. My tongue is also white today, which means I over-used my throat yesterday when I was talking with my roommate =_= *sigh* I have to do all I can today to keep myself from officially getting sick.
So I should stay in mostly due to the rain and I should be patient until next week. I would really like to get some gas today though =_= *sigh*
But... I don't need to buy any other food products for the time being so I really shouldn't make a trip into the city just to look at the straw mats. I also need to buy Year of the Tiger decorations for new years to send to my parents in Chinatown, but a trip all the way over for just these two things is not very good. Oh, I also need to buy more scrubbing brushes and those aluminum-looking scrubbing things for the bathroom 'cause tiled showers require more cleaning maintenance than I would like =_= The one day you forget to spray it down after the shower, it starts getting dirty. So aggravating...
Well, until I actually need to buy food, I shouldn't drive over there. I would like to buy some beef though =_= Maybe I'll just walk across the street to get some lemons and beef today. I still have plenty of cereal so no buying cereal. For this year, I'm telling myself that if I have enough food, there is no buying more until it's almost all gone.
I wonder if my roommate is going to be gone later today. I would like to go to Safeway... *sigh* Well, I would like to get some gas for my car actually. I'm at half tank right now, which is not bad. I'm in no danger of being stranded in the city if I don't fill it up before I go out next week, but gas is pricey so if I only need to fill a half tank, it'll be cheaper than a full tank. Half of the gas in my car is always cheaper due to the way I fill it up =_=;
Regardless of how much I want to go to the city today, I really shouldn't because I am now officially on the verge of being sick. My throat kind of hurts and feels scratchy. My tongue is also white today, which means I over-used my throat yesterday when I was talking with my roommate =_= *sigh* I have to do all I can today to keep myself from officially getting sick.
So I should stay in mostly due to the rain and I should be patient until next week. I would really like to get some gas today though =_= *sigh*
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company
I found this shop in Seattle that sells Japanese futon and shikibuton so I decided to check it out. I bought a bed frame earlier this month and it shipped super fast so now I either stare at the frame for another month before I buy a mattress/futon for it, or I just buy a futon now.
Well, since I've scheduled all my credit card payments for this month already, those balances should be paid off and I'll be able to spend more money again, though I don't intend to spend any more than I absolutely need. A bed is a necessity so I can spend the extra $365 (plus shipping) for a shikibuton this month and pay it all off next month (Yes, I'm so good with managing my money I still haven't paid a day of interest in these past five years). I also got a mattress pad as well to lay over the shikibuton so that's why the overall total came out to be around $365. It's much cheaper than the alternative though 'cause I was wanting to buy a 6" cotton futon until I read the line at the bottom about how a king-size 8" futon is 120lbs so I was like ... "Hm... I can barely lift 50... I should go with a 3" shikibuton." Now all I have to do is go to Japantown to the hardware store there and look at their straw mats to see how its made so I can lay it over the frame top. I wonder if it's long enough for the length of the frame... Oh well, I'll figure it out. I'm going to drive over to San Francisco next weekend to go to Chinatown and then Japantown. Truth is, I really wanted to go today, but I have too many vegetables still and if I go to the city, I'm only going to end up buying more than I can eat, so I have to practice some patience and wait until next week to go.
I should make a shopping list while I'm at it 'cause I'm so forgetful. Every time I come back from Safeway or something, I will always realize that I forgot to buy something important =_= Such a pain.
On a lighter note... I may qualify for the full making work pay credit of $400 this year because I didn't get the economic recovery rebate of $250 last year since I only made $4,500. In the instance of me qualifying for the making work pay credit, I may end up not owing taxes -- federal at least -- at all this year and might even get a refund back, albeit a tiny one, but one less thing to worry about paying. I can just pay for my CPA tests with that money.
As for my 2010 tax approach, I'm aggressively saving for retirement this year. Took like 10% out of my pre-tax income to throw into my 401(k). Assuming that I receive a meager $1k after taxes from each paycheck, I can still survive on $2k a month. It will be very harsh, but I can practice being frugal and manage my money even better. I've always been good at managing my finances, so I have a lot of confidence in saving up a lot of money even if I don't receive a lot this year.
Oh, I also need to contribute some money into my HSA. I think I'll deposit some money in next month or the month after. I just know I have to go see a dentist before my next trip back to Oregon 'cause my mother will get on my case if I don't. I found a couple dental offices in town, but they all open only on Monday - Thursday so either I have to get off work early to go to the dentist, or wake up super early to walk down and get my teeth inspected/cleaned/etc. *sigh* It takes about 15 minutes to walk downtown, and the dental office is halfway to downtown so it shouldn't be too bad of a walk. It'll just be slightly chilly lol. But first, I need to put some money in my HSA. Just paying out of pocket doesn't bother me much, but if I can get benefits for the money I put in my HSA, then I really should make good use of it.
Trying to plan my next trip back home is proving to be quite difficult at the moment. I have my first set of exams coming up next month and then May 1st. I have no idea when my second set will be since I have yet to apply and pay CBA for it. I tried to access their website earlier this month, but it was down again. So bloody annoying. I just want to pay my $50. Stupid CBA.
*sigh* Anyway, I have to do some cooking today. My soybean leaves need to be eaten soon as well as the baby bok choy and the snow peas =_=;;; I haven't soaked any shitake mushrooms since the last batch I made so I think I'm just going to cook snow peas with tofu without shitake. I can't really eat chicken right now 'cause there's heat in it and with the dryness of the weather, I'll just be inviting trouble to my body. I don't want to get sick so I have to make all sorts of food to lower the amount of heat in my body. *sigh* Which sucks, because I like spicy foods and those don't help. I was going to make a squash curry noodle dish, but my body won't be able to handle the level of heat it will produce so I have to hold off on it =_= *sigh*
Hm.... I have so much sweet potato congee... I wonder if I should freeze some of it up... I still have like two containers of it lol, so maybe I can just put one away ^__^;;;; So much to do today~
Well, since I've scheduled all my credit card payments for this month already, those balances should be paid off and I'll be able to spend more money again, though I don't intend to spend any more than I absolutely need. A bed is a necessity so I can spend the extra $365 (plus shipping) for a shikibuton this month and pay it all off next month (Yes, I'm so good with managing my money I still haven't paid a day of interest in these past five years). I also got a mattress pad as well to lay over the shikibuton so that's why the overall total came out to be around $365. It's much cheaper than the alternative though 'cause I was wanting to buy a 6" cotton futon until I read the line at the bottom about how a king-size 8" futon is 120lbs so I was like ... "Hm... I can barely lift 50... I should go with a 3" shikibuton." Now all I have to do is go to Japantown to the hardware store there and look at their straw mats to see how its made so I can lay it over the frame top. I wonder if it's long enough for the length of the frame... Oh well, I'll figure it out. I'm going to drive over to San Francisco next weekend to go to Chinatown and then Japantown. Truth is, I really wanted to go today, but I have too many vegetables still and if I go to the city, I'm only going to end up buying more than I can eat, so I have to practice some patience and wait until next week to go.
I should make a shopping list while I'm at it 'cause I'm so forgetful. Every time I come back from Safeway or something, I will always realize that I forgot to buy something important =_= Such a pain.
On a lighter note... I may qualify for the full making work pay credit of $400 this year because I didn't get the economic recovery rebate of $250 last year since I only made $4,500. In the instance of me qualifying for the making work pay credit, I may end up not owing taxes -- federal at least -- at all this year and might even get a refund back, albeit a tiny one, but one less thing to worry about paying. I can just pay for my CPA tests with that money.
As for my 2010 tax approach, I'm aggressively saving for retirement this year. Took like 10% out of my pre-tax income to throw into my 401(k). Assuming that I receive a meager $1k after taxes from each paycheck, I can still survive on $2k a month. It will be very harsh, but I can practice being frugal and manage my money even better. I've always been good at managing my finances, so I have a lot of confidence in saving up a lot of money even if I don't receive a lot this year.
Oh, I also need to contribute some money into my HSA. I think I'll deposit some money in next month or the month after. I just know I have to go see a dentist before my next trip back to Oregon 'cause my mother will get on my case if I don't. I found a couple dental offices in town, but they all open only on Monday - Thursday so either I have to get off work early to go to the dentist, or wake up super early to walk down and get my teeth inspected/cleaned/etc. *sigh* It takes about 15 minutes to walk downtown, and the dental office is halfway to downtown so it shouldn't be too bad of a walk. It'll just be slightly chilly lol. But first, I need to put some money in my HSA. Just paying out of pocket doesn't bother me much, but if I can get benefits for the money I put in my HSA, then I really should make good use of it.
Trying to plan my next trip back home is proving to be quite difficult at the moment. I have my first set of exams coming up next month and then May 1st. I have no idea when my second set will be since I have yet to apply and pay CBA for it. I tried to access their website earlier this month, but it was down again. So bloody annoying. I just want to pay my $50. Stupid CBA.
*sigh* Anyway, I have to do some cooking today. My soybean leaves need to be eaten soon as well as the baby bok choy and the snow peas =_=;;; I haven't soaked any shitake mushrooms since the last batch I made so I think I'm just going to cook snow peas with tofu without shitake. I can't really eat chicken right now 'cause there's heat in it and with the dryness of the weather, I'll just be inviting trouble to my body. I don't want to get sick so I have to make all sorts of food to lower the amount of heat in my body. *sigh* Which sucks, because I like spicy foods and those don't help. I was going to make a squash curry noodle dish, but my body won't be able to handle the level of heat it will produce so I have to hold off on it =_= *sigh*
Hm.... I have so much sweet potato congee... I wonder if I should freeze some of it up... I still have like two containers of it lol, so maybe I can just put one away ^__^;;;; So much to do today~
Friday, January 15, 2010
Weathering the Financial Storm
I'm still looking at my checking balance being only in the mid to high hundreds and low thousands for the next few months. Looks like I won't be stable until April, which is kind of a depressing thought. I should have taken less out of my paycheck to put into my 401(k), but one doesn't think too much when they do an initial calculation of things. It's not too late to change it now, but I just want to go with what I have to see what it looks like. If it gets really hard for me to survive without taking money out of savings, I'm going to have to decrease my contribution amount to my 401(k). An initial 10% is killing me at the moment. Next year it will be 11% =_=;
When I look at my savings forecast excel spreadsheet, it just looks really dim before April =_=. At least I'm not exceeding my monthly budget. I'm just paying off my accrued liabilities since last month, which kind of suck =_=; No more crazy spending for me.
When I look at my savings forecast excel spreadsheet, it just looks really dim before April =_=. At least I'm not exceeding my monthly budget. I'm just paying off my accrued liabilities since last month, which kind of suck =_=; No more crazy spending for me.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Maybe I'm Meant For Manual Labor
I'm very quick with my hands, so maybe I really should be doing a job that requires manpower over brain power... at least that's what it felt like to me. I had to reorganize one of our file rooms and it was a lot of work. I was sweating and just totally burnt out after the day was over 'cause I moved about so quickly. Everyone was just really surprised that I was able to get things done within 2 hours, because if it had been anyone else, they'd take their sweet time, but I was just really quick. I don't diddle dawdle like other people and actually go about my work. It's pretty infuriating sometimes when things just don't get done and you're the only one doing anything at all. At least with the people my age, that's how it feels to me. Oh well. The majority of people in my generation just plain suck. I'm glad that I at least have a few friends that belong in the rare, endangered species portion of society so I know I'm not exactly alone out there in the world.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Aww, People Are Contacting Me ^__^
I feel pretty loved at the moment. Whenever I have friends fly in to the bay, they send me text messages to ask me whether or not I can go out to see them. Maybe the years really have paid off and people really are as kind to me as I am to them. It just makes me feel very loved and respected when they still want to hang out with me even after not seeing me for so long. For instance, my friend from Hawaii was here last week and he contacted me, but not the other friend of ours because he wanted to see me. I'm pretty happy at the moment.
Right now, another friend of mine came down to San Jose for his work orientation, but because it was so short notice, I can't go see him tonight. He's only here until tomorrow and since I didn't know he would be coming, I didn't plan on going out to see him, but he texted me to ask if I was in the area to hang out. Makes me feel loved ^__^. Even though we can't see each other or hang out, just them asking me if I want to go hang is very precious to me and I'm just feeling so warm and fuzzy at the moment lol. Just thought I'd ooze with joy here XD~
Right now, another friend of mine came down to San Jose for his work orientation, but because it was so short notice, I can't go see him tonight. He's only here until tomorrow and since I didn't know he would be coming, I didn't plan on going out to see him, but he texted me to ask if I was in the area to hang out. Makes me feel loved ^__^. Even though we can't see each other or hang out, just them asking me if I want to go hang is very precious to me and I'm just feeling so warm and fuzzy at the moment lol. Just thought I'd ooze with joy here XD~
Sweet Potato Congee
My sweet potatoes were starting to mold on the outside so I cut off all the molded and rotten parts and kept the good parts, then I made congee with it. I was only going to cook my tofu bean sprout dish, but when I saw that the sweet potatoes were basically wasting away, I had to do something about it. Now I have lots of sweet potato congee to eat for the rest of the week, which I guess is good 'cause it helps with digestion a bit.
I've been keeping my diet pretty well-balanced with lots of veggies, fruits, and soup. My skin still looks pretty good so I have to work hard to keep it that way. Last year, I just didn't take care of myself as well as I thought I had been, so this year I have to do better lol. I also have a better idea of what to do in order to keep myself looking and feeling well this year so we'll see how things go. I found a shop in Chinatown that sold the drinks that I like so now I can go buy them anytime I want. I love Ranch 99 as well, but it's very far away... which reminds me... I have to go get some gas for my car before my next trip into the city.
Anyway, looks like I'm keeping myself well-fed. Now, I have to make myself do some exercise. Yesterday, I tried to exercise, but I over-did it and my heart was racing so quickly, I thought I might keel over 'cause it was so painful. I have to try not to push myself so hard from now on.
I've been keeping my diet pretty well-balanced with lots of veggies, fruits, and soup. My skin still looks pretty good so I have to work hard to keep it that way. Last year, I just didn't take care of myself as well as I thought I had been, so this year I have to do better lol. I also have a better idea of what to do in order to keep myself looking and feeling well this year so we'll see how things go. I found a shop in Chinatown that sold the drinks that I like so now I can go buy them anytime I want. I love Ranch 99 as well, but it's very far away... which reminds me... I have to go get some gas for my car before my next trip into the city.
Anyway, looks like I'm keeping myself well-fed. Now, I have to make myself do some exercise. Yesterday, I tried to exercise, but I over-did it and my heart was racing so quickly, I thought I might keel over 'cause it was so painful. I have to try not to push myself so hard from now on.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Final Fantasy XIII (English Version)
So there is a rumor that Leona Lewis' "My Hands" will be playing in the credits rather than the final cut scene, but I'm not holding my breath. Still, the main theme in Japanese -- Sugawara's "Kimi ga Iru Kara" -- is playing in this trailer so I'm very hopeful. The voice acting in English actually is pretty good. Ever since Final Fantasy X, they've been using fairly similar voices to the Japanese seiyuu... of course, there were those exceptions that stood out like a sore thumb ... *cough* Seymour *cough* I've never heard such a pansy-sounding villain until Final Fantasy X in English lol. But they usually get the main characters fairly close. I think in Final Fantasy XII, I didn't like the voice for the veira, but whatever. Right now, I think I like the voice for Vanille better in English than Japanese, because she was very high-pitched in Japanese. Then again... Fukui has always had a high-pitched voice lol.
Here is the long version of the English trailer. This is the shorter version.
Though I prefer Japanese voices, I can't say I dislike the English voices for this game. So far, so good. We'll have to see what Cid's voice sounds like lol.
Here is the long version of the English trailer. This is the shorter version.
Though I prefer Japanese voices, I can't say I dislike the English voices for this game. So far, so good. We'll have to see what Cid's voice sounds like lol.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Phone Call Recipes
My mother needs to stop giving me so many awesome recipes over the phone 'cause I end up wanting to make them right then and there. It's like, I don't want to cook to eat it, but to experiment and try to make it lol ^__^;;;; I just told her that I made the veggie soup and beef stew today so she gave me another beef stew recipe that uses beer ^__^. So it requires a whole onion, chunks of stew-cut beef, brown sugar, 1-2 bottles of beer, red wine, and vinegar. It sounds quite yummy, no? XD~ Next month, I'll have to try it next month. I'll give out the verdict once I make it ^__^ I'm still not that good with making beef so it's going to require a little more practice.
Cooking Frenzy
I spent the morning cooking both my veggie soup and beef stew. I have tons of food now to eat... I still have the other vegetable soup that I made yesterday which is soy bean leaves with thousand year-old egg and regular egg. So I have some green and some not green veggies for food. The problem now is eating it. I need to figure out which part to freeze later on in this week. I think I'll keep the soup out, but freeze the stew. Now I don't really have to cook for the rest of the month @_@; And no more shopping for me too -- grocery shopping that is, I went a little overboard this month with groceries.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Date in Japantown!
Not that type of date lol XD~ My friend flew in from Hawaii to San Francisco this past week for work training and he finally had some downtime so we met up in the city. He lived pretty close to Chinatown so I picked him up from Portsmouth and then we went to Japantown for dinner. It was so good to see him. I haven't seen him since we graduated college so it was really nice. He bought me dinner and was a total gentleman, which was very new to me. He's always been courteous to me, but I just haven't had a guy buy me dinner before so I was pretty touched.
We walked around Japantown and I went to Nijiya to buy some groceries -- I wanted some fruit, but they didn't look all too healthy =_= so I just got some dried foods, stew seasoning, and bread. I'm going to be making some beef stew tomorrow along with beef & veggie soup so it'll be perfect with the seasoning that I got ^__^ I also went to Kinokuniya and bought a magazine plus piano book so I did very good today ^__^ I didn't spend anymore than necessary ^__^ Be Proud of Me XD~!
After I bought some stuff from the bookstore, we went to one of the restaurants I like there and had dinner. I had Zaru Cha Soba and it was pretty good. For some reason it was so hot out that I wanted something cold lol ^_^; Actually, everyone was wrapped up in extra layers, but I was really hot for some reason. I hope I'm not getting sick or something @_@;
Anyway, we chatted over dinner. He passed all four parts of the CPA exam so now he just needs his work experience to get the license. He's always been smart so I'm jealous. I'm no good with tests so that's why I'm scared about it, but he kept encouraging me so I hope things work out ok for me. He paid for dinner today and then for my parking ticket. He carried my shopping bags, which were kind of heavy 'cause I bought those VITA drinks =_=; and he was kind enough to hold it for me T__T I'm still very touched. If I had gone with my other friend, she would have just walked around hands free and not helped, then let me carry more later =_=; *sigh*
After dinner, I drove him back to his motel and we parted T__T. I was just so happy to see him. My other friend was supposed to come too, but she decided she liked her new friends better than him so she didn't come, which was fine with me 'cause I didn't really want her there. She and him didn't exactly get along in college 'cause she's like a little kid and didn't like that he treated her exactly like one too. I don't think she gets it even now. Oh well, not my problem lol.
It was just really nice to see him and I was able to drive around San Francisco without really getting scared or anything. I mean, I was actually driving and not squirming behind the wheel! I was so proud of myself ^__^ I'm so happy that I didn't get lost *__* I'm so happy that I was able to do all of this without having to write down directions or get my GPS out. I think I can do this after all ^__^ All I needed was a little more practice was all ^___^
We walked around Japantown and I went to Nijiya to buy some groceries -- I wanted some fruit, but they didn't look all too healthy =_= so I just got some dried foods, stew seasoning, and bread. I'm going to be making some beef stew tomorrow along with beef & veggie soup so it'll be perfect with the seasoning that I got ^__^ I also went to Kinokuniya and bought a magazine plus piano book so I did very good today ^__^ I didn't spend anymore than necessary ^__^ Be Proud of Me XD~!
After I bought some stuff from the bookstore, we went to one of the restaurants I like there and had dinner. I had Zaru Cha Soba and it was pretty good. For some reason it was so hot out that I wanted something cold lol ^_^; Actually, everyone was wrapped up in extra layers, but I was really hot for some reason. I hope I'm not getting sick or something @_@;
Anyway, we chatted over dinner. He passed all four parts of the CPA exam so now he just needs his work experience to get the license. He's always been smart so I'm jealous. I'm no good with tests so that's why I'm scared about it, but he kept encouraging me so I hope things work out ok for me. He paid for dinner today and then for my parking ticket. He carried my shopping bags, which were kind of heavy 'cause I bought those VITA drinks =_=; and he was kind enough to hold it for me T__T I'm still very touched. If I had gone with my other friend, she would have just walked around hands free and not helped, then let me carry more later =_=; *sigh*
After dinner, I drove him back to his motel and we parted T__T. I was just so happy to see him. My other friend was supposed to come too, but she decided she liked her new friends better than him so she didn't come, which was fine with me 'cause I didn't really want her there. She and him didn't exactly get along in college 'cause she's like a little kid and didn't like that he treated her exactly like one too. I don't think she gets it even now. Oh well, not my problem lol.
It was just really nice to see him and I was able to drive around San Francisco without really getting scared or anything. I mean, I was actually driving and not squirming behind the wheel! I was so proud of myself ^__^ I'm so happy that I didn't get lost *__* I'm so happy that I was able to do all of this without having to write down directions or get my GPS out. I think I can do this after all ^__^ All I needed was a little more practice was all ^___^
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tenchijin
I finally decided to start watching Tenchijin, of course this was after I decided to start watching the series backwards LoL. I started at episode 40 something and moved all the way to 46, saving the last episode for the very last episode lol. I think I watched the first episode when it first began airing in 2009, but then I kind of just stopped watching and kept dling. Now I'm starting from episode 15 or so and moving backwards from there, then starting forwards again lol. I just can't watch a series from beginning to end, I guess. I haven't any patience. If I really want to know what happened in the beginning, I can just drop the episode I'm watching now and move back to the beginning ^_^
Anyway...
I really like this series. I knew I would like it when it first came out, but it was really hard to get into unlike Atsu-hime for some reason. Even though I like the Sengoku era so much more than any of the other eras, it was just not one I started out liking. I think I might have a biased view on the Uesugi 'cause I wasn't a fan of Uesugi Kenshin from the game, Sengoku Musou, but I couldn't help, but be interested since Tsumabuki Satoshi was the lead ^_^; I think games tend to make me feel biased towards historical figures 'cause they make the less important ones so cool sometimes *___* For instance... Akechi Mitsuhide was so hot in Sengoku Musou, but they never give him a hot actor lol. Oda Nobunaga gets all the hotness regardless of the dramas that have him in it. He's good-looking in this drama, he's good-looking in the Akechi Mitsuhide tanpatsu, and he was played by Kimura Takuya in the Oda Nobunaga tanpatsu. Regardless of the series, Oda Nobunaga always looks pretty hot. Sanada Yukimura too for that matter lol ^_^;
Anyway, I managed to weave my way through the story and enjoyed it quite thoroughly. I'm still missing some episodes in my watching sequence, but I think I have the general gist of the story down lol. It really is an interesting story for anyone who is interested.
Anyway...
I really like this series. I knew I would like it when it first came out, but it was really hard to get into unlike Atsu-hime for some reason. Even though I like the Sengoku era so much more than any of the other eras, it was just not one I started out liking. I think I might have a biased view on the Uesugi 'cause I wasn't a fan of Uesugi Kenshin from the game, Sengoku Musou, but I couldn't help, but be interested since Tsumabuki Satoshi was the lead ^_^; I think games tend to make me feel biased towards historical figures 'cause they make the less important ones so cool sometimes *___* For instance... Akechi Mitsuhide was so hot in Sengoku Musou, but they never give him a hot actor lol. Oda Nobunaga gets all the hotness regardless of the dramas that have him in it. He's good-looking in this drama, he's good-looking in the Akechi Mitsuhide tanpatsu, and he was played by Kimura Takuya in the Oda Nobunaga tanpatsu. Regardless of the series, Oda Nobunaga always looks pretty hot. Sanada Yukimura too for that matter lol ^_^;
Anyway, I managed to weave my way through the story and enjoyed it quite thoroughly. I'm still missing some episodes in my watching sequence, but I think I have the general gist of the story down lol. It really is an interesting story for anyone who is interested.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Slow-Cooked Chinese Veggie Soup
So I decided to try making this soup that I like, only I didn't have any pork so I used chicken instead. So far it tastes pretty good, but can use another hour of boiling I guess... but I think I'll have to stop it soon 'cause I want it to be done =_= If I were doing this on the weekend, it'd be even better 'cause I could boil it for three hours while my roommate is away. It'll taste even better that way ^__^ But it's good as it is, I guess. I need to remember to buy pork next time so I can boil it with pork. Ah! I forgot carrots. If I had a carrot, it'd be even sweeter... oh well. I'll just remember bok choy, carrots, dried dates, and pork next time.
I'm just experimenting with everything lately ^__^ Next, I need to go buy some tomatoes, celery and carrot 'cause I need to make another type of veggie soup. I'm so excited. I finally feel like I'm settling in, in a way. I need to buy a new bed now though 'cause I can't possibly spend the next two years sleeping on an air mattress, my back is totally killing me right now. I'll have to make a trip to IKEA one of these days.
I'm just experimenting with everything lately ^__^ Next, I need to go buy some tomatoes, celery and carrot 'cause I need to make another type of veggie soup. I'm so excited. I finally feel like I'm settling in, in a way. I need to buy a new bed now though 'cause I can't possibly spend the next two years sleeping on an air mattress, my back is totally killing me right now. I'll have to make a trip to IKEA one of these days.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Another Day
I just woke up and I am praying for it to be a better day. I tell myself not to expect much and hope that I will be able to learn how to survive with three people against me, because I'm sure that the other girls would take her side since they're closer together than with me. I'm always an outsider here and while it is exhausting on a mental level, as long as I focus on my work, I should be fine. I need to be stronger and not let these interpersonal things bother me. This is what I have been training myself to be all my life: to be independent from my friends so that if I ever needed help, I can still help myself and not require someone there for me, but of course, it's always nice to receive help, but if the help isn't even reliable to begin with, why ask, why even think about being dependent on my "friends" for even a moment?
Anyway, I plan on doing that return really well today and I plan on having a good day so I'm not going to let my feelings from last night get in the way of it. I am an adult and I plan on making through my day as smoothly as possible. *sigh* Ok, I can do this.
Anyway, I plan on doing that return really well today and I plan on having a good day so I'm not going to let my feelings from last night get in the way of it. I am an adult and I plan on making through my day as smoothly as possible. *sigh* Ok, I can do this.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Returning to Surviving On One's Own
Surprisingly, the security at the airport wasn't as terrible as I expected. I made it through the line alright and the staff was even very cordial to us. Usually, airport security makes me so angry, but it's been good on the last two tries, so I guess all is well.
Again, I managed to sit next to a guy on the plane again. I should say, it was most impressive this time, because I was the only female in my role. There were two college boys in the two seats across the aisle from me and one of them saw me reading a Japanese magazine and asked if I was Japanese. I replied back in Japanese that I was Chinese, but I can read and speak it. Not sure if he understood everything I was saying though, because he's a second year. Apparently, he and his friend were traveling back to the bay area after going to Japan for vacation. I'm so jealous. One of my best friends lives there and I'm too broke (and vacation-less now) to visit her T__T. Oh well.
The other man sitting next to me did nothing, but sleep, but he was very friendly and I appreciated that. For some reason, I get along with guys really well during the daytime, but I'm totally on my guard at bars. Well, I guess it does make sense... men at bars are totally sketch. I don't trust any one of them.
Anyways, as soon as I got back, my great uncle and aunt took me out to eat and then to Ranch 99 to do some shopping. I did quite a bit of damage in all the things I bought, but I bought a lot of dried things for making Chinese herbal soups so now I don't have to shop for those things for a while. My entire family, while I was up in Oregon, taught me all these different Chinese herbal concoctions and so now I'm determined to make as many of them as possible if not all. I need to keep my skin looking good so I'm going to be drinking lots of watery broths and soups from now on. I didn't realize what I have been missing all this time down here in Cali until I went back up to visit my family. All the things I've taken for granted, I've come to realize how important and valuable it all has been so I now really appreciate all the things I had before I moved. I need to learn how to survive better on my own.
Now, more than ever, I really want to go back to Oregon and be with my family. The last few days of my vacation, I was terribly moody. I just didn't want to leave them. I was really spoiled up there and I just really, really, really missed my family.
I still have the same problem as I did when I was a kid though and I ended up crying when I had to let go of my parents. My parents dropped me off with my aunt yesterday 'cause they had to go back home to open the restaurant and my aunt lived in Vancouver so she could take me to the airport -- it's only ten minutes away. I was so upset to leave them lol. I'm such a child. I can't seem to grow up when it comes to separating from my parents. I used to cry too when I was a kid and had to separate from my parents. I wonder if it's kind of a subconscious reminder of the one time in my past when my mother walked out for a day with the intent of not returning. I was running and screaming after her, but she just left me behind with my grandmother -- who ia not the best mother in-law in the world, by the way. But she returned after a few hours and held on to me crying. I was still very young, but I think there was a slight impact there so I've always been afraid of abandonment, and I would cry every time I separate from my mother if I know I won't be able to see her for a long time. Pathetic, but it's what happens.
Anyway, I really should get a move on studying for my CPA exam this year. I have every intention of passing this thing by the time I'm 26, but if I get it by the time I'm 25 (or before -- which isn't likely), even better. I really want to get it. I hope I get it =_= But... for the next seven to eight months, I'm expecting a lot of pain and agony from studying. I should expect that my temper will be very foul in the next few months ahead =_= *sigh*
Again, I managed to sit next to a guy on the plane again. I should say, it was most impressive this time, because I was the only female in my role. There were two college boys in the two seats across the aisle from me and one of them saw me reading a Japanese magazine and asked if I was Japanese. I replied back in Japanese that I was Chinese, but I can read and speak it. Not sure if he understood everything I was saying though, because he's a second year. Apparently, he and his friend were traveling back to the bay area after going to Japan for vacation. I'm so jealous. One of my best friends lives there and I'm too broke (and vacation-less now) to visit her T__T. Oh well.
The other man sitting next to me did nothing, but sleep, but he was very friendly and I appreciated that. For some reason, I get along with guys really well during the daytime, but I'm totally on my guard at bars. Well, I guess it does make sense... men at bars are totally sketch. I don't trust any one of them.
Anyways, as soon as I got back, my great uncle and aunt took me out to eat and then to Ranch 99 to do some shopping. I did quite a bit of damage in all the things I bought, but I bought a lot of dried things for making Chinese herbal soups so now I don't have to shop for those things for a while. My entire family, while I was up in Oregon, taught me all these different Chinese herbal concoctions and so now I'm determined to make as many of them as possible if not all. I need to keep my skin looking good so I'm going to be drinking lots of watery broths and soups from now on. I didn't realize what I have been missing all this time down here in Cali until I went back up to visit my family. All the things I've taken for granted, I've come to realize how important and valuable it all has been so I now really appreciate all the things I had before I moved. I need to learn how to survive better on my own.
Now, more than ever, I really want to go back to Oregon and be with my family. The last few days of my vacation, I was terribly moody. I just didn't want to leave them. I was really spoiled up there and I just really, really, really missed my family.
I still have the same problem as I did when I was a kid though and I ended up crying when I had to let go of my parents. My parents dropped me off with my aunt yesterday 'cause they had to go back home to open the restaurant and my aunt lived in Vancouver so she could take me to the airport -- it's only ten minutes away. I was so upset to leave them lol. I'm such a child. I can't seem to grow up when it comes to separating from my parents. I used to cry too when I was a kid and had to separate from my parents. I wonder if it's kind of a subconscious reminder of the one time in my past when my mother walked out for a day with the intent of not returning. I was running and screaming after her, but she just left me behind with my grandmother -- who ia not the best mother in-law in the world, by the way. But she returned after a few hours and held on to me crying. I was still very young, but I think there was a slight impact there so I've always been afraid of abandonment, and I would cry every time I separate from my mother if I know I won't be able to see her for a long time. Pathetic, but it's what happens.
Anyway, I really should get a move on studying for my CPA exam this year. I have every intention of passing this thing by the time I'm 26, but if I get it by the time I'm 25 (or before -- which isn't likely), even better. I really want to get it. I hope I get it =_= But... for the next seven to eight months, I'm expecting a lot of pain and agony from studying. I should expect that my temper will be very foul in the next few months ahead =_= *sigh*
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Flying Home Tomorrow
I will be in three states again tomorrow. I start north in Washington from my cousin's house, then go to the airport in Oregon, and finally head way south to California. I am not looking forward to being at the airport because some blockhead decided it would be a great idea to rig explosives to his underwear and board a plane in Detroit on Christmas Day, and in turn really do us a "GRAND FAVOR" by increasing security measures at all airports. Yes, so thanks you bloody @$$!
Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to survive airport traffic, terror, and chaos tomorrow. I guess there's not much that can be done. I just need to get there three hours early, deal with security and their voyeuristic body scanners, and wait for my plane to come at 9:30A.M. Stupid terrorists and terrorist-wannabes. This is not going to be fun.
Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to survive airport traffic, terror, and chaos tomorrow. I guess there's not much that can be done. I just need to get there three hours early, deal with security and their voyeuristic body scanners, and wait for my plane to come at 9:30A.M. Stupid terrorists and terrorist-wannabes. This is not going to be fun.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Welcome 2010
Even if I don't want it to come, it's here. The fireworks are loud and obnoxious outside and I'm still awake. Wish I can be more festive, but I really would like to get some sleep here =_= *sigh*
Anyway, the only thing I'm really looking forward to is the Rose Bowl in another fourteen hours. So yeah. Happy New Year. Please let it be better this year... and please let the fireworks stop soon =_=
Anyway, the only thing I'm really looking forward to is the Rose Bowl in another fourteen hours. So yeah. Happy New Year. Please let it be better this year... and please let the fireworks stop soon =_=
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