2009 Day One

So it's finally 2009 and I really need to get a move on a couple things. My biggest goal right now is to get my CPA license by the end of next year so I'm trying to fill out applications and such right now, but there are two problems... one is that the California Board of Accountancy is just ridiculously slow at loading things and two is getting the money to purchase all these study materials and such =_=;

The first problem, I really have no idea of how to solve it 'cause it's definitely not my connection. It's frustrating 'cause applications take around 6-8 weeks to process and I've wasted too much time already so seeing this website not do what it's bloody-well supposed to do is just plain aggravating =_=; *groans* It keeps giving me this "Page Error" message, which is really vexing me =_=; *sigh*

Maybe I should just apply in Oregon =_=... ... ... ... but I'm already out of Oregon =_=; *sigh* Oh well. I'll get someone to help me with this in a few days, I suppose.

I can't believe I start work in a few more days @_@; Such a bizarre thought. I hope I do a good job and the bosses like me. I also hope I'm able to steer away from the office politics that's been going on apparently. I don't really know what's going on, but my friend and one of our coworkers got into a mini argument about one of the people at the firm and our coworker is wondering if my friend has told me about the thing that's been going on at the office. Well, my friend hasn't told me anything 'cause she wants me to go in with an unbiased and open mind, but our coworker wanted to spill everything out to me -- though very incoherent and not exactly most comprehensible-sounding -- so I would be wary of this lady.

I find it a bit funny, I guess. I'm not very biased before getting to know someone so no matter what someone tells me, I always take it with a grain of salt. My friend, on the other hand, is pretty biased based on first impressions and doesn't always see the good merits in others until a lot later so that's why she thinks I think the same way as her and may become judgmental after what our coworker has told me. Then there's my coworker, who wants to look out for me, but in a way kind of wants me to pick a side too. Of course, when I was listening to her and my friend arguing over details and such, it sounded like a bunch of gibberish 'cause I couldn't make out what they were talking about at all. I figured I'd just find out for myself once I get started rather than think too much about it =_=;

Anyway... I'm still looking for study materials that don't cost over $2,000 =_=; I really am pretty darn poor right now so I can't really buy anything =_=; *sigh* It's so sad. I just need to save up and be careful with what I spend I guess =_= *sigh*

Well, those are some of the things occupying my mind on day one of the new year.

Goal 25!

I've set some goals now that I'm beginning my life as an independent and the one that I'm shooting for right at the moment is attaining my CPA license before I turn 25. I am 23 now so I've got around 2 years before I'm going to make myself get it. Here is my plan...

I'm starting my job in January, but I'll order some official transcripts online after I consult my university's registrar about it. I'll also submit an application for taking the CPA exam for the first time -- after I get some ideas about where to start and what to use. I would like to use the Becker, but I'm always open for more inexpensive and effective methods of studying.

Once I get my transcripts, I plan on mailing a copy to my jurisdiction in California and wait to see if I get approved. When I get the "OK," I'll officially begin studying for the exam and hopefully sit for at least 2 sections towards the end of this year when work gets less busy. I'd like to pass a few sections and then finish up studying early the year after so I can get my license by my 25th birthday.

If I get my license before I'm 25, I'll be so happy. If not then 26 isn't too bad... I just would like to be able to return home with my license in hand so my parents will be happy.

Left the Nest

So I moved out of my parents' house today and drove for about 12 hours until I got to the San Francisco bay area, which is where I'll be living and working from now on. It was a very windy trip and I got a little motion sickness, but my parents and I managed to make it to San Fran in one piece and things are good. I really should be sleeping now 'cause I was up since 5AM yesterday, but I just wanted to drop a line and say that things are good. I got the room that I wanted and there was no snow/ice on my trip down south so things are off to a good start ... at least, I'd like to think it is.

射鵰英雄傳 1982-1983

I decided to watch The Legend of Condor Heroes '82 TVB series after so many years have passed since I last viewed it. It's really well-done, a lot better than I remembered it. Of course, the special effects are a bit cheesy at times, but for an '80's television series it's pretty good, in my opinion.

I love Wong Yat-Wah (Felix Wong), Yung Mei-Ling (Barbara Yung), and Miu Kiu Wai (Michael Miu). These three made the series so much fun to watch, especially the chemistry between Felix and Barbara. I think Miu Kiu Wai is one of the best Cantonese actors ever, but he stopped acting for a while to pursue a career as a businessman instead. I don't think anyone else can beat his portrayal of Yang Kang. I also don't think anyone can ever beat Felix and Barbara's portrayals of Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

I tried watching the 1994 TVB version several years ago, but it just didn't seem to have the same sort of sparkle the 1982 version had. Sure, lots more details were added in the 1994 version, but I kind of prefer the somewhat conservative version from '82 over the newer. And then I refuse to watch any other adaptation 'cause drama from the mainland is not always great, and I just plain hate Taiwanese drama so... yeah... Also... I'm not a fan of Ariel Lin =_= so someone would have to drug me and tie me to a chair if I'm going to end up watching the 2008 version. =_= (Ugh... just knowing that she and Jerry Yan are doing an adaptation of Skip Beat is somewhat vexing ... of all people... why those two!?)

Anyway, I watched all 50+ episodes and loved everything up to the end. For some reason, Cantonese drama hardly ever end all too well for me. I keep expecting too much maybe, but the rest of the series is really good. For those who haven't seen Legend of the Condor Heroes, I really recommend the 1982 version.

Freaking Out =_=

Um... trying to find a place to live is STRESSFUL. There's the "please move in earlier," and the "pay in full," and the "other people are interested so... (basically hurry it up)." My brain feels like it's going to explode =_=; I rather live in a more expensive place than a cheaper one if it means having to do all the things I don't want to do =_=! *cries* But the studios are so expensive and I can't afford to live on my own right now. *rolls around*

I'm no good with answering phone machines either so... I don't know how to leave good detailed messages on the phone T__T *weeps* I have no idea what to do T_____T. I don't want to move away from my family T_____T! *cries*

....

Yes... I'm quite stressed right now so venting and whining in my blog is just about all I can do right now amidst all the phone-calling, emailing and detail-discussing, etc. *sigh* My head feels like it's going to just burst open and all the muscles in my body are tense. Maybe I'll go do some yoga and clear my head a bit.

Omiai!?

You'd think by now that I'd be able to let it go when my parents joke around about arranging a match for me with one of their friends' son, but now that I'm at a marriageable age, it's harder to just let it slide. There are times when the idea of an omiai sound kind of neat and something I'm willing to do, and then for some reason, hearing it during other times makes me want to run in the opposite direction. For instance...

A couple months ago when my parents were joking about setting me up on an omiai, I was totally fine with the joke and even laughed with them about it. Just today when we were chatting about my dad's longtime friend and about how this friend asked for a picture of me and then them talking about becoming in-laws really freaked me out. I mean, here I am ready to leave the nest for a new place and I have all these plans that I would like to do once I'm in Sausalito. If I meet this guy, it's like tying me down in a way. The scariest thing about a possible omiai is that if things go well, people are pushing for grandkids and I'm not ready to be a mother.

I know I'm thinking way too soon into the future, but it's always good to be cautious about things =_= Plus, there's no guarantee that I will ever get to meet this guy. My dad is too slow and dense at times to pick up on subtleties in conversation so nothing really ever happens even if the other party suggests that we meet =_=; At times, I curse my dad for being dense and other times, I'm so glad that he is =_=;

The other guy sounds really nice. He's older than me by three years and finishing up dentistry school. He's a bit heavyset, but then again so am I. He's also very shy. Then again that's all I've heard about him.

I don't know why I'm freaking out, but the thought of an omiai is kind of strange to me right now. I guess it's because I'm weird and I think too much. Yeah... maybe I will just stop thinking about it.

A Quick Update

Been busily doing other things than blogging -- as though one hasn't figured that out already ^_^;;; -- so... just doing a quick update.

I've been following my drama and anime like I usually do, but haven't really had time to write anything about any of them 'cause I've been preoccupied with drawing or coloring. I soon won't have any more time to do any of that so I'm trying to catch every second that I can. Photoshop CS2 doesn't really work all that well on my Vista OS so I probably won't be able to draw at all when I move down to the bay area -- my desktop will remain here at home with my parents.

Once I get settled in and decide to live in the bay area for good -- if I really feel that California is a better fit for me -- I will probably move all my lovely belongings with me... but for the time being... I'm going to be so sad T__T. *sigh*

Anyway, just popping in to say that I'm alive~ and I'll probably update more later ^_^