In chronological order, I have met Hai, Ester, John (don't know his last name, the guy from my English class), and Ramya. So yes, plenty of people at Davis.
The second day of class is somewhat smoother. There're some issues with the arrival of my textbooks or, in this case, the lack thereof. Since I have been repeatedly instructed to 'take advantage of the library', I imagine I'll go and haunt the reserves area until my books come. There's probably a way to find out what books you need before you take the class, but I have yet to find it. The RA was being nice again and took my registered name from the nametag on my door and replaced it with "Susan" and I really have no idea how anything of the things in the above paragraph connects in any remotely coherent manner aside from the fact that they're all logically connected. Somewhat. Mostly because they're all things from a same day.
Math homework, and I'm going back to Cupertino tomorrow, for the weekend.
20050930
20050929
Recap: Appointment With Time
First day of class and here I go, running into glitches again.
Two of my classes that I registered for turned out to need pre-requisite classes, which I didn't know because I was registering from a pdf catalogue with a 16 hour time difference and an 104F fever at the time, so I learned something there. It never occured to me to check up on the classes during PASS2, so now I have to drop the two classes, which would be easy, and add two more, which would be not, primarily because the system keep asking me for PTA codes, which turned out to be Permission To Add codes for the class, which I don't have and don't know where to get.
That was a heck of an run-on sentence, wasn't it?
Aside from that though (if you can put aside the fact that I only have four classes and two of them aren't working out), the first day was great. I'll need to see an academic advisor this afternoon, but I have successfully completed my quest for my IS (Intergrated Study) reader, which involved a trip through the downtown by foot. I've located a US post office between street C and D (I think), so, for the future reference of anyone else at/will be at Davis....
Highlight of my day involved reading this interpretation of the BOOK OF RELEVATIONS in which President Putin from Russian is named the antichrist (in the light of GOOD OMENS, he's just not Adam, he can't be), and trying this orange/banana/strawberry juice from the DC (dining commons, and yeah it tasted better than it sounded).
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush
Snap go the dragons.
Snap.
[edit 14:35]
Thanks to my RA (resident advisor, and yes I'll keep dumping on the abbreviations for you non-Davis people), I now have a workable schedule! Have dropped plant physiology and o-chem and is taking orchard/gardening and general psychology instead. (Hey, I'm a freshman, my classes don't have to be closely related.) I'm giving up on basic physics and chemistry until I get my registration priority this winter, and I'll go ahead and schlep (my new word of the day) down to the advisors in 22 minutes and see that I haven't messed anything else up, just in case.
Happy first day, everyone.
Two of my classes that I registered for turned out to need pre-requisite classes, which I didn't know because I was registering from a pdf catalogue with a 16 hour time difference and an 104F fever at the time, so I learned something there. It never occured to me to check up on the classes during PASS2, so now I have to drop the two classes, which would be easy, and add two more, which would be not, primarily because the system keep asking me for PTA codes, which turned out to be Permission To Add codes for the class, which I don't have and don't know where to get.
That was a heck of an run-on sentence, wasn't it?
Aside from that though (if you can put aside the fact that I only have four classes and two of them aren't working out), the first day was great. I'll need to see an academic advisor this afternoon, but I have successfully completed my quest for my IS (Intergrated Study) reader, which involved a trip through the downtown by foot. I've located a US post office between street C and D (I think), so, for the future reference of anyone else at/will be at Davis....
Highlight of my day involved reading this interpretation of the BOOK OF RELEVATIONS in which President Putin from Russian is named the antichrist (in the light of GOOD OMENS, he's just not Adam, he can't be), and trying this orange/banana/strawberry juice from the DC (dining commons, and yeah it tasted better than it sounded).
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush
Snap go the dragons.
Snap.
[edit 14:35]
Thanks to my RA (resident advisor, and yes I'll keep dumping on the abbreviations for you non-Davis people), I now have a workable schedule! Have dropped plant physiology and o-chem and is taking orchard/gardening and general psychology instead. (Hey, I'm a freshman, my classes don't have to be closely related.) I'm giving up on basic physics and chemistry until I get my registration priority this winter, and I'll go ahead and schlep (my new word of the day) down to the advisors in 22 minutes and see that I haven't messed anything else up, just in case.
Happy first day, everyone.
20050928
Recap: Another Day
In response to the Mystery of the Apple, what I'm basically refering to is the fact that I like to eat apples with the skin on, and when I do that, I occasionally give myself cuts on the roof of my mouth because, somehow, the apple peel will manage to slice me there. It hurts and is a vaguely embarressing problem to admit especially since I haven't a clue how on earth I managed to cut myself eating an apple, but that's the story.
I understand not many people can injure themselves from eating an apple. That's probably a good thing.
Meanwhile I have yet to discover how to walk into someone in an empty room, but I expect to reach a breakthrough some day.
Another picture in today's entry: an outside shot of Miller Hall, where I live and where I still feel like I'm living in a hotel, but it's a fading feeling.
I want to get a shot of Dutton Hall sometimes today, for the simple reason that I like the building. I've located three of the giant-head statues at Davis and have yet to find where the rest are.
Not much that I'm academically bound to do today, but classes start tomorrow, so it all works out.
I understand not many people can injure themselves from eating an apple. That's probably a good thing.
Meanwhile I have yet to discover how to walk into someone in an empty room, but I expect to reach a breakthrough some day.
Another picture in today's entry: an outside shot of Miller Hall, where I live and where I still feel like I'm living in a hotel, but it's a fading feeling.
I want to get a shot of Dutton Hall sometimes today, for the simple reason that I like the building. I've located three of the giant-head statues at Davis and have yet to find where the rest are.
Not much that I'm academically bound to do today, but classes start tomorrow, so it all works out.
20050927
Recap: Abbreviations
Alas, why is it such a long word?
Today is my forth day at Davis and already people are asking me for directions to places. On my way to breakfast I was waylaid and asked where the chemistry building was and so I gave directions, wondering if the guys who were asking knew that I barely memorized the place just last night, because I have a chem placement test there this afternoon. And yes I do, have a chem placement test today, I mean. I am reviewing and remembering the good 'o times I've had with dimensional analysis (was that was it was called?), sig figs, and the recital of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2...et cetera. Which reminds me, I miss the old chem room, the now-calculus room. There was so much history in there, though I daresay the new chem room is picking up a few stories of its own. I wonder how long it will be before the room picks up enough 'battle scars' for Ms. Uji to start giving lectures about. Or has that happened already?
Weather at Davis is very interesting. It was sunny and it rained for five minutes and then we had a thunderstorm, except I couldn't for the life of me say whether it actually rained or not, but the lightning display was there. The weather was summer-ish through it all, and I believe the temperature will go up tomorrow.
Loads of meetings yesterday, and then today I have nothing for schedule except the placement test. So much for evening out the schedule. So much for the schedule. So much for everything, and thanks for all the fish.
Yes, I'm procrastinating from further studies in chemistry, and I will stop procrastinating now.
Meanwhile, I remain, yours truly, the only girl you know who can injure herself by eating an apple.
Today is my forth day at Davis and already people are asking me for directions to places. On my way to breakfast I was waylaid and asked where the chemistry building was and so I gave directions, wondering if the guys who were asking knew that I barely memorized the place just last night, because I have a chem placement test there this afternoon. And yes I do, have a chem placement test today, I mean. I am reviewing and remembering the good 'o times I've had with dimensional analysis (was that was it was called?), sig figs, and the recital of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2...et cetera. Which reminds me, I miss the old chem room, the now-calculus room. There was so much history in there, though I daresay the new chem room is picking up a few stories of its own. I wonder how long it will be before the room picks up enough 'battle scars' for Ms. Uji to start giving lectures about. Or has that happened already?
Weather at Davis is very interesting. It was sunny and it rained for five minutes and then we had a thunderstorm, except I couldn't for the life of me say whether it actually rained or not, but the lightning display was there. The weather was summer-ish through it all, and I believe the temperature will go up tomorrow.
Loads of meetings yesterday, and then today I have nothing for schedule except the placement test. So much for evening out the schedule. So much for the schedule. So much for everything, and thanks for all the fish.
Yes, I'm procrastinating from further studies in chemistry, and I will stop procrastinating now.
Meanwhile, I remain, yours truly, the only girl you know who can injure herself by eating an apple.
20050926
Recap: Dorm Life
In comparison (from what I heard), the complex that I lived in is a hotel compared to the motels that are around. My room still feels like a hotel to me, too, complete with those weird wardrobes and stainless-steel bars on the wall (in the bedroom) to hang your towels on. The hallway feels like a hotel, or a very clean and new apartment except for the fact that we have a nice, spacious lounge right off of the stairway. One side of it is completely glass and so, given the Davis weather for the previous day is 88 F, it was a very sunny place to be at.
I've also learned not to go out wandering at 14:00 to 15:00 without a cap/sunglasses of some kind.
The people in my building are nice, being in an honors program meant that the bottom line IQ is still somewhere up there. Saw Sergei (sp?) here too, apparently he lives on the second floor while I live on the third. Saw Xi-lin this morning at the book store, Christine Kim yesterday (moving in), and the tall Indian guy from my Networking class whose name I can't remember. Back to the original topic, we had several meetings already among the residents of Miller Hall (all ISH residents). I have met potential doctors and engineers and writers and scientists, I have also been congradulated by a guy for knowing what an ellipse (which I apparently can't spell yet) is, but that was because the mandatory meeting dragged on way too long last night and everyone was braindead at the end. However, everyone agreed that the circle we were suppose to form was no where near any recognizable, regular, geometrical shape.
My room is nice and quiet when the door is closed, and my roommate is the sort that likes to hang out (usually followed by one or two guys) and around, so mostly I get the room to myself. Have been applying for jobs but had not gotten anything yet and this afternoon is my first test of the school year--placement test for pre calc.
Wish me luck?
I've also learned not to go out wandering at 14:00 to 15:00 without a cap/sunglasses of some kind.
The people in my building are nice, being in an honors program meant that the bottom line IQ is still somewhere up there. Saw Sergei (sp?) here too, apparently he lives on the second floor while I live on the third. Saw Xi-lin this morning at the book store, Christine Kim yesterday (moving in), and the tall Indian guy from my Networking class whose name I can't remember. Back to the original topic, we had several meetings already among the residents of Miller Hall (all ISH residents). I have met potential doctors and engineers and writers and scientists, I have also been congradulated by a guy for knowing what an ellipse (which I apparently can't spell yet) is, but that was because the mandatory meeting dragged on way too long last night and everyone was braindead at the end. However, everyone agreed that the circle we were suppose to form was no where near any recognizable, regular, geometrical shape.
My room is nice and quiet when the door is closed, and my roommate is the sort that likes to hang out (usually followed by one or two guys) and around, so mostly I get the room to myself. Have been applying for jobs but had not gotten anything yet and this afternoon is my first test of the school year--placement test for pre calc.
Wish me luck?
20050925
Recap: Possessed
a.k.a. in which an AC is rendered free of an evil spirit.
Our room has climate control, to put it in such away as to simplify the elaborate system of thermometers and wires using as few words as possible. Our room, therefore, has the regular AC ducts that carries out the job of climate control.
Our AC was possessed.
It wasn't noticeable at first, but by afternoon, everyone who had spent longer than five minutes in the room noticed the loud buzzing/quiet shrieking that was occuring from the grid above the door. It was high up, so we couldn't see what was in it, much less what was wrong with it, but back then it was still okay, the noises going off and on.
By nighttime, however, the noise had escalated slightly to the point where it was difficult to ignore, and the frequency in which the sounds were issued increased. I stayed up till 2 AM listening to the AC wailing gently above the door. It was not the Darth Vader sound that I had heard from one AC before, it was a cross between a badly maimed violin played by a blind magpie and a malfunctioning rice-thrasher (as pointed out by my roommate).
In the series of events that followed, I went to the resident adviser, who advised me to go the the service desk, who referred me back to my own room or, my internet-connected computer to be exact, to file a repair request. The request sent page said that a repair should be made in the next two to three days and imagine my joy when I heard that. Only two more nights of mad violin music, oh joy.
But, luckily, this story had a happy ending. For reasons unexplained to me, a repairman miraculously showed up in about one to two hours, followed by another one who showed up five minutes later. They took off the grid and tightened a few loose things and now the grid is exhaling chilled atmospherical gas happily and, more importantly, quietly. I look forward to sleeping sometimes soon.
The End
Our room has climate control, to put it in such away as to simplify the elaborate system of thermometers and wires using as few words as possible. Our room, therefore, has the regular AC ducts that carries out the job of climate control.
Our AC was possessed.
It wasn't noticeable at first, but by afternoon, everyone who had spent longer than five minutes in the room noticed the loud buzzing/quiet shrieking that was occuring from the grid above the door. It was high up, so we couldn't see what was in it, much less what was wrong with it, but back then it was still okay, the noises going off and on.
By nighttime, however, the noise had escalated slightly to the point where it was difficult to ignore, and the frequency in which the sounds were issued increased. I stayed up till 2 AM listening to the AC wailing gently above the door. It was not the Darth Vader sound that I had heard from one AC before, it was a cross between a badly maimed violin played by a blind magpie and a malfunctioning rice-thrasher (as pointed out by my roommate).
In the series of events that followed, I went to the resident adviser, who advised me to go the the service desk, who referred me back to my own room or, my internet-connected computer to be exact, to file a repair request. The request sent page said that a repair should be made in the next two to three days and imagine my joy when I heard that. Only two more nights of mad violin music, oh joy.
But, luckily, this story had a happy ending. For reasons unexplained to me, a repairman miraculously showed up in about one to two hours, followed by another one who showed up five minutes later. They took off the grid and tightened a few loose things and now the grid is exhaling chilled atmospherical gas happily and, more importantly, quietly. I look forward to sleeping sometimes soon.
The End
20050924
Recap: Soo...
Getting the internet was surprisingly quick, considering that I had to trouble shoot twice, once for getting the MAC wrong and once because I didn't wait long enough for the registration process, but at least things work now.
Roommate v. nice. Parents going home now. Things settled in. Food v. good and building v. nice and clean. Not much writing now too tired more later maybe?
[edit 19:40]
Picture of my room; enjoy:
Roommate v. nice. Parents going home now. Things settled in. Food v. good and building v. nice and clean. Not much writing now too tired more later maybe?
[edit 19:40]
Picture of my room; enjoy:
20050923
Recap: So It Goes
Don't know when I'll have the internet again, so this'll be a 'wait-and-we'll-see' entry.
Being a first-time college-student who's about to move into the dorms tomorrow, I was nervous until about ...er...last night, roughly. Now I'm sitting here and being reflective, as in the mood, not the property of a mirror (I wouldn't make a very good mirror), and I'm thinking about my previous four years of public high school education. They can be summarized as follows:
Year 1. Chemistry at 7:35 in the morning, and I managed to go through the year without substaining a single injury, which, all things considered, is pretty miraculous. Met Victoria there and spent long hours pouring over FLINN and the...Merck (?) Index, before the later-years got it all convenient-ized and had stuff online. Scary, scary Ms. Stimson who marked me late by three second because I was cleaning up after a chem lab...P.E. How I hated thee. How I still hate thee but alas, I no longer have to put up with thee. Have some interesting time talking with Malvina during warm-up laps though, about tea. Fruit-flavored tea are the best. 9th grade seminar was a waste of time, though the debate-training was helpful. Found out how absolutely easy it was to impress people in Computer Applications...Anna was in my math class...Seaver was absolutely the horrors with the shrieking and hell's fires combined. I had the most astonishingly illustrated book cover for that class and I think I still have it around somewhere, taped to a scrap book. First started building website for the Chinese teacher, who, having put me on independent study, thought I should do something useful.
Year 2. Hm...physics, not bad. Good memories about finishing the electricities portion ahead of everyone else and the guy in my group pretending to be Rudolph the reindeer by plugging the clip and lightbulb to his nose by the clever use of his wire-rimmed glasses, the wires on which, apparently, conducts electricity. Art third and met Emily, fun times there...what did I do second...? Fourth and fifth I had core, with some interesting and some not so interesting people. Excellent teachers, though, (Emmert & Lawson,) and we have three guys named David in the class so it's fun when we a sub. Anna right after lunch, again, this time in P.E. And I remember being tortured by the tune of "American Pie" over and over and over again, for about two month straight, it seems. Holy stars remembered second period. It was the terrific (irony implied) Kelly, in which Christine, Lucy and I are fellow sufferers (see how my subconscious had blocked out that memory? Good natural defense...I tell you...good natural defense...). That March Music Math thing, or whatever it was called, was downright humiliating and I've never forgiven Kelly for wasting my educational time that way. Still hated P.E. though, and always will. Spanish with Sr. Murillo definitely would've been better had I been granted with classmates who would spend efforts other than talking about guys, girls, cars, movies, video games, and trying to find out if I knew how to insult people in Spanish. Oh wait, I just described most of the teenage population, minus the Spanish part.
Year 3. My, my, junior year already, eh? May I just mention how much I utterly DESPISE the SATs? Lucy in my Literature class and that class was rather less useful that I had hoped. I had very little to no respect for Hoffman and even less for the poetry presentations. Biology second, but at least I got first period to wake up even though there's really no way to mentally prepare yourself for a 22 minute multiple choice test and then a 22 minute in-class essay and a 15 minute quiz on every 30-something chapter (sometimes we do double chapters and on breaks we do five chapters at a time)EVERY SINGLE week (except for the times when we get an entire period of multiple choice one day and an entire period of in-class essay the other). Nighmarish work, I tell you, but the labs are awesome. Bacteria transformation a complete disaster but that was fun too. Third period math, SO unbelievably thankful to have an intelligent math teacher after two years that words can't express my relief.... Forth is art, in which we drew, and goofed off, but mostly drew. Victoria studying bio and Lucy and I studying for APUSH while inventory-ing the mysteries of the "colorless blender" from the prismacolors color pencil. APUSH therefore follows, we had a group of guys in the back of the class who sang "A Whole New World" (yep, the one from Aladdin) after an APUSH chapter quiz, so, as you can see, that class was always interesting whether Mr. Morse was interested or no, which he usually was. Sr. Cutshall seems to operate on a semi-permenant caffeine high and has turned going-off topic into an art form. I have picked up Latin, French, history, biology, grammar, geography from him, and Spanish. Of course Spanish.
Year 4. Wow I'm wrapping up fairly fast, aren't I? Now I'll comment that I think I despise college apps at about the same level as I despised the SATs which, all things considered, is only fair since they belonged to the same system. First period calc with friends was more fun after we got to sit next to each other, and I can honestly say sitting right behind Christine, who was sitting right in front of the teacher, is an experience. Homework tedious, tests have been the causes to many a nervous-break down, if what I have remembered is correct...but it's an AP so I'll just move on now. Computer Networking is a joke, to put it lightly and very, very politely. I've learned more about hacking than about networking which, I'm sure, would be very useful should I choose to consider a job in this area. Mr. A's class is fun. And I'm way over my limits in terms of multitasking so I'll just chop this off short and say that I sincerely hope that college is not going to be event more irregular, which I think it will be, so I'll just say--we'll see!
Bye now.
Being a first-time college-student who's about to move into the dorms tomorrow, I was nervous until about ...er...last night, roughly. Now I'm sitting here and being reflective, as in the mood, not the property of a mirror (I wouldn't make a very good mirror), and I'm thinking about my previous four years of public high school education. They can be summarized as follows:
Year 1. Chemistry at 7:35 in the morning, and I managed to go through the year without substaining a single injury, which, all things considered, is pretty miraculous. Met Victoria there and spent long hours pouring over FLINN and the...Merck (?) Index, before the later-years got it all convenient-ized and had stuff online. Scary, scary Ms. Stimson who marked me late by three second because I was cleaning up after a chem lab...P.E. How I hated thee. How I still hate thee but alas, I no longer have to put up with thee. Have some interesting time talking with Malvina during warm-up laps though, about tea. Fruit-flavored tea are the best. 9th grade seminar was a waste of time, though the debate-training was helpful. Found out how absolutely easy it was to impress people in Computer Applications...Anna was in my math class...Seaver was absolutely the horrors with the shrieking and hell's fires combined. I had the most astonishingly illustrated book cover for that class and I think I still have it around somewhere, taped to a scrap book. First started building website for the Chinese teacher, who, having put me on independent study, thought I should do something useful.
Year 2. Hm...physics, not bad. Good memories about finishing the electricities portion ahead of everyone else and the guy in my group pretending to be Rudolph the reindeer by plugging the clip and lightbulb to his nose by the clever use of his wire-rimmed glasses, the wires on which, apparently, conducts electricity. Art third and met Emily, fun times there...what did I do second...? Fourth and fifth I had core, with some interesting and some not so interesting people. Excellent teachers, though, (Emmert & Lawson,) and we have three guys named David in the class so it's fun when we a sub. Anna right after lunch, again, this time in P.E. And I remember being tortured by the tune of "American Pie" over and over and over again, for about two month straight, it seems. Holy stars remembered second period. It was the terrific (irony implied) Kelly, in which Christine, Lucy and I are fellow sufferers (see how my subconscious had blocked out that memory? Good natural defense...I tell you...good natural defense...). That March Music Math thing, or whatever it was called, was downright humiliating and I've never forgiven Kelly for wasting my educational time that way. Still hated P.E. though, and always will. Spanish with Sr. Murillo definitely would've been better had I been granted with classmates who would spend efforts other than talking about guys, girls, cars, movies, video games, and trying to find out if I knew how to insult people in Spanish. Oh wait, I just described most of the teenage population, minus the Spanish part.
Year 3. My, my, junior year already, eh? May I just mention how much I utterly DESPISE the SATs? Lucy in my Literature class and that class was rather less useful that I had hoped. I had very little to no respect for Hoffman and even less for the poetry presentations. Biology second, but at least I got first period to wake up even though there's really no way to mentally prepare yourself for a 22 minute multiple choice test and then a 22 minute in-class essay and a 15 minute quiz on every 30-something chapter (sometimes we do double chapters and on breaks we do five chapters at a time)EVERY SINGLE week (except for the times when we get an entire period of multiple choice one day and an entire period of in-class essay the other). Nighmarish work, I tell you, but the labs are awesome. Bacteria transformation a complete disaster but that was fun too. Third period math, SO unbelievably thankful to have an intelligent math teacher after two years that words can't express my relief.... Forth is art, in which we drew, and goofed off, but mostly drew. Victoria studying bio and Lucy and I studying for APUSH while inventory-ing the mysteries of the "colorless blender" from the prismacolors color pencil. APUSH therefore follows, we had a group of guys in the back of the class who sang "A Whole New World" (yep, the one from Aladdin) after an APUSH chapter quiz, so, as you can see, that class was always interesting whether Mr. Morse was interested or no, which he usually was. Sr. Cutshall seems to operate on a semi-permenant caffeine high and has turned going-off topic into an art form. I have picked up Latin, French, history, biology, grammar, geography from him, and Spanish. Of course Spanish.
Year 4. Wow I'm wrapping up fairly fast, aren't I? Now I'll comment that I think I despise college apps at about the same level as I despised the SATs which, all things considered, is only fair since they belonged to the same system. First period calc with friends was more fun after we got to sit next to each other, and I can honestly say sitting right behind Christine, who was sitting right in front of the teacher, is an experience. Homework tedious, tests have been the causes to many a nervous-break down, if what I have remembered is correct...but it's an AP so I'll just move on now. Computer Networking is a joke, to put it lightly and very, very politely. I've learned more about hacking than about networking which, I'm sure, would be very useful should I choose to consider a job in this area. Mr. A's class is fun. And I'm way over my limits in terms of multitasking so I'll just chop this off short and say that I sincerely hope that college is not going to be event more irregular, which I think it will be, so I'll just say--we'll see!
Bye now.
20050922
Recap: Uncalled-For Weather
I'd like to make a note that on Tuesday, that's two days ago, 'the day was dark, and cold, and dreary' and there was about an hour and a half to two hour's worth of thunder, with lightning count at around 3,000. It was also chilly and it rained.
Then I'd like to notice that yesterday, despite of a slightly cloudy morning and a somewhat smoggy atmosphere all day, was very, very warm, and sunny to the point where I, waiting in the car for my road-test, was nearly put to sleep by the sun only to realize that no, that's not a healthy sleep, that's a mighty-close heat-stroke alternative that I'm getting at and I should probably take off my jacket.
Now I look out the window and spot yet another chilly, gloomy, and look-out-it-might-rain-later day, and I thought I'd say that the weather's been acting kind of funny lately.
Now why does that sound eerily familiar?
Anyway, the point is that weather around the end of September should not be oscillating between the state reached at the end of August and the end of October (though, admittedly, if you averaged the two numerically you'd be correct). The point is that thunderstorms aren't meant to happen and holy stars I realized why this sounds so familar and hope no science building will get burnt in the future.
Speaking of strange things (ahem!), Kate's starting to eat healthy. I think her time schedule for such bodily requirements is still awkward at best, but she's starting to eat healthy. What is this world coming to? (Joking...joking.)
Then I'd like to notice that yesterday, despite of a slightly cloudy morning and a somewhat smoggy atmosphere all day, was very, very warm, and sunny to the point where I, waiting in the car for my road-test, was nearly put to sleep by the sun only to realize that no, that's not a healthy sleep, that's a mighty-close heat-stroke alternative that I'm getting at and I should probably take off my jacket.
Now I look out the window and spot yet another chilly, gloomy, and look-out-it-might-rain-later day, and I thought I'd say that the weather's been acting kind of funny lately.
Now why does that sound eerily familiar?
Anyway, the point is that weather around the end of September should not be oscillating between the state reached at the end of August and the end of October (though, admittedly, if you averaged the two numerically you'd be correct). The point is that thunderstorms aren't meant to happen and holy stars I realized why this sounds so familar and hope no science building will get burnt in the future.
Speaking of strange things (ahem!), Kate's starting to eat healthy. I think her time schedule for such bodily requirements is still awkward at best, but she's starting to eat healthy. What is this world coming to? (Joking...joking.)
20050921
Recap: Untitled
So my second driving test is today. Mother thinks I'm an idiot for picking the time 8am and 12:20pm (more traffic), but given the fact that I was trying to squeeze in the second time before college, there wasn't a whole lot of choice. We'll see how that goes. Wish me luck!
Meanwhile, I'm meditating on the psychological values of ranting and, after taking into account all the things that they have on expressing one's emotions and self-expression, concluded that ranting and raving is actually very good therapy, and very healthy--until the point where you annoy your listener so much that they threaten to punch you. But then again, that could be just the side-effects of an overdosage. Too much of a good thing, perhaps?
[edidt 14:05]
So yes--passed the road test. Met a jay-walker on El Camino but only lost a point for breaking too abruptly (or so my instructor told me). License soon. Yay.
Meanwhile, I'm meditating on the psychological values of ranting and, after taking into account all the things that they have on expressing one's emotions and self-expression, concluded that ranting and raving is actually very good therapy, and very healthy--until the point where you annoy your listener so much that they threaten to punch you. But then again, that could be just the side-effects of an overdosage. Too much of a good thing, perhaps?
[edidt 14:05]
So yes--passed the road test. Met a jay-walker on El Camino but only lost a point for breaking too abruptly (or so my instructor told me). License soon. Yay.
20050920
Recap: Untitled
My neighbor has a basket full of mushrooms drying in the sun.
...
No further comment.
[edit 13:18]
Have finished tasks for today waaaay too early and so have too much time left. To fret. Am feeling slightly panic-striken but expects it to pass shortly.
Skies above email! Why is it always email!?
...
No further comment.
[edit 13:18]
Have finished tasks for today waaaay too early and so have too much time left. To fret. Am feeling slightly panic-striken but expects it to pass shortly.
Skies above email! Why is it always email!?
20050919
Recap: More Boxes
Realized I should be starting to pack away the various knick-knacks that I have around the room, i.e. the small decorations and things. Tried to imagine my room without them and the response can be eloquently shortened to three words: depressing as hell. But then, on the plus side, I won't have to spend every weekend home dusting things, which is a blessing. The pictures and the glow-stars get to stay up too, since they're all stuck-flat-to-the-wall objects and therefore won't collect as much dust.
Stuff!
Pun intended.
Stuff!
Pun intended.
20050918
Recap: Lunar Calendar
Happy Mid-Autumn (a.k.a Moon) Festival! The Chinese version of Thanksgiving except you take the turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie and swap it with crabs, grapes, and moon cakes. Of course it's not as commercialized yet, but it'll get there. A sure sign of a country reaching international levels is when it developes an overwhelming advertisement market.
By the lunar calender, today's actually mid-autumn you know.
Go and spend some time with your family, eat some moon cakes, you can't quite see the Lady of the Moon because we're on the wrong side of Earth (looking at different crater areas here) but it's the thought that counts, I'm sure.
Cheers.
By the lunar calender, today's actually mid-autumn you know.
Go and spend some time with your family, eat some moon cakes, you can't quite see the Lady of the Moon because we're on the wrong side of Earth (looking at different crater areas here) but it's the thought that counts, I'm sure.
Cheers.
20050917
Recap: Hello...hello...
I was nearly in a car-crash earlier today. A driver executed a wrong-turn at a high speed and nearly crashed into my car. Terrifying, but at least now I'm confident about my ability to swerve. Heh. Maybe it came from my conversation styles.
Also, Malvina was the cashier who checked-out our groceries at Safeway today. Said 'hi' to her, got phone number, so on and so forth. Will be back out later again this afternoon for reasons left yet unexplained to me, therefore I must once again rely on parental instincts which, for some reason, gives me a dark, forboding feeling all the way to the pit of my stomach.
It's not my breakfast, I swear.
Also, Malvina was the cashier who checked-out our groceries at Safeway today. Said 'hi' to her, got phone number, so on and so forth. Will be back out later again this afternoon for reasons left yet unexplained to me, therefore I must once again rely on parental instincts which, for some reason, gives me a dark, forboding feeling all the way to the pit of my stomach.
It's not my breakfast, I swear.
20050916
Recap: What Is In A Name?
After much contemplation, I've decided to dub my laptop 'Daemon,' partially as a courtesy 'hats off' to Christine's first suggest of naming it Hastur or Ligure. I didn't want to name it after someone who had literally fizzed out, and I'm not very fond of Hastur either (both of them seem a bit dim-witted, actually). Also naming it either Hastur or Ligur will mean that another person will be forced into GOOD OMENS worshipping by Christine....
I thought about naming it 'Device' but, as Kate pointed out, that's not a first name and Anathema is too much of a mouthful. Adam was suggested, but Lucy already has a stuffed sheep that's named Adam and I thought it best to avoid confusion between the antichrist gangster sheep and the antichrist laptop.
Besides, one antichrist per Earth is more than enough, as I'm sure Aziraphale and Crowley would agree.
Kate suggested 'Toby', from the WESTWING, because he's cynical. I moved on to THE HITCHHIKER'S. Kate suggested Arthur, but I pointed out that I want my computer to WORK, and therefore it's best not to jinx it. Trillian's already taken by Cerulean Studios. I suggested Ford, Kate suggested Marvin. After some thought I remembered that 1) There's a certain friend of mine who likes/wants to hug Marvin ('hem!), 2)it's voiced by Snape-er-the person who played Snape and 3), Marvin makes any computer system he links to commit suicide, and I thought I should be nice to my fellow students when I go to college.
So, no Marvin.
Why Daemon? It's nice and gender-neutral, breaking the so-far-established pattern of guys naming cars after girls and girls naming their laptop after guys. It's also related to Dee (for those of you who'd seen my red-headed anime creation). Also, daemon and demon has the same Latin ancestors and I thought, well, since my computer is cousin to Kate's and hers is Crowley, an undeniably hell-spawned demon, naming mine Daemon would be appropriate.
Hmm...and desktop guardian demons seem to work better than angels. Consider what a demon would do to keep its living space (i.e. the computer) safe....
I thought about naming it 'Device' but, as Kate pointed out, that's not a first name and Anathema is too much of a mouthful. Adam was suggested, but Lucy already has a stuffed sheep that's named Adam and I thought it best to avoid confusion between the antichrist gangster sheep and the antichrist laptop.
Besides, one antichrist per Earth is more than enough, as I'm sure Aziraphale and Crowley would agree.
Kate suggested 'Toby', from the WESTWING, because he's cynical. I moved on to THE HITCHHIKER'S. Kate suggested Arthur, but I pointed out that I want my computer to WORK, and therefore it's best not to jinx it. Trillian's already taken by Cerulean Studios. I suggested Ford, Kate suggested Marvin. After some thought I remembered that 1) There's a certain friend of mine who likes/wants to hug Marvin ('hem!), 2)it's voiced by Snape-er-the person who played Snape and 3), Marvin makes any computer system he links to commit suicide, and I thought I should be nice to my fellow students when I go to college.
So, no Marvin.
Why Daemon? It's nice and gender-neutral, breaking the so-far-established pattern of guys naming cars after girls and girls naming their laptop after guys. It's also related to Dee (for those of you who'd seen my red-headed anime creation). Also, daemon and demon has the same Latin ancestors and I thought, well, since my computer is cousin to Kate's and hers is Crowley, an undeniably hell-spawned demon, naming mine Daemon would be appropriate.
Hmm...and desktop guardian demons seem to work better than angels. Consider what a demon would do to keep its living space (i.e. the computer) safe....
20050915
Carrie Rue
Carrie, short for Caroline, Rue, was the younger of two sisters in the Rue household. She had a father who was an engineer and a mother who was a reference librarian. She had a sister that was absolutely brilliant enough to get into a top-rated college with a full scholarship. She had a academic record of full Cs except for the time when she accidentally managed an A in English and an F in PE but she comforted herself that it all averaged out anyway.
Carrie was not pretty, to put it politely. She had hair that alternated between hopelessly limp and uncontrollably frizzy, except for the times when it decided on being both frizzy and limp at different spots and Carrie would go to school with a lop-sided looking head full of long-ish, vague-ish colored hair that was neither brown nor blonde nor red, but somehow contrived to carry a hint of all three. She had acne and a sharp nose. She had eyes as vague-ish as her hair, if not more vague because of how pale they were. There was not much to say about her figure namely because she had not enough of a figure to speak about and she always, always showed up in shorts and sandals, even in the dead of winter.
It was probably a good thing that she lived in southern California.
Carrie was not pretty, to put it politely. She had hair that alternated between hopelessly limp and uncontrollably frizzy, except for the times when it decided on being both frizzy and limp at different spots and Carrie would go to school with a lop-sided looking head full of long-ish, vague-ish colored hair that was neither brown nor blonde nor red, but somehow contrived to carry a hint of all three. She had acne and a sharp nose. She had eyes as vague-ish as her hair, if not more vague because of how pale they were. There was not much to say about her figure namely because she had not enough of a figure to speak about and she always, always showed up in shorts and sandals, even in the dead of winter.
It was probably a good thing that she lived in southern California.
20050914
Recap: The Joy of Online Shopping
I'm a little short on patience right now. Consider that a fair warning.
I would like to take a few minutes to write that shopping for a notebook online with my parents was enough to give me homicidal tendencies. This is my recap of the entire process because, goodness knows, I need to vent before I give myself serious psychological scarring.
The entire experience unfolds as follows:
Week 1:
MOTHER: You're going away to college, it's time to get you a laptop.
FATHER: We've been thinking about it, Company A is probably the best brand.
I: Okay.
M: So what kind of laptop do you want?
I: ...Company A's...?
M: Here's a catalogue, pick one and we'll look it up online this weekend.
I: You guys can pick (since both of you are in the computer industry and knows more about software and hardware than me), I'm sure whatever you picked's fine.
M: No, you have to pick, since you'll be using it.
I: I just want something that can keep up with my typing speed and doesn't crash every time I open IE and photoshop at the same time. Just order for me, please.
M: Pick, it's for your own good. [Insert lecture about decisions and responsibilities. Hands over massive pile of catalogues]
Week 2:
I: Okay, this one.
M: On the second thought, here's Company B's catalogue, they have this laptop that's exactly the same as that one from A except it's lighter.
F: Pricing?
M: More expensive, but it's got better display. What about memories? Do you want to upgrade it? Are you okay with 1.4 processor or should we try 1.6?
I: The original one's fine.
M: Have you even looked at it yet?? I did all this research you know.... [insert lecture about parental appreciation and 'it's all for your own good anyway' lecture]
Week 3:
M: Okay, Company A, variation 1, are you sure?
I: Yes.
M: Really sure? I'm ordering now.
I: Yes!!
M: Actually, have you seen variation 2? It's got longer battery life....
I: [sighs] Pricing?
M: Don't worry about pricing. Oh, have you seen variation 3? It's like 2 except with 60 gig harddrive instead of 40.
I: Fine, order that.
M: What? What about variation 1?
I: Just order something (this is about 5 hours later, at NIGHT), tonight, please, I need to go to sleep now.
M: Patience! Have you even looked at what I mentioned about 2 and 3? I can't look at them simultaneously...how you open a new browser window? (She knows how, but she asks stuff like this, continuously. I don't know why.)
I: I've been staring at it for the past hour, variation 1 is fine, please order it.
M: Hmm, but what about these...?
I: Just order one for me, I'll be fine with whatever you ordered. I'm going to bed now, good night.
M: (this's the next day) [insert major lecture about patience and parental appreciation.] So, what do you think about variation 2 of company B?
I:....?!
M: It seems actually quite good, you know. Take a look.
Week 4:
M: I'm ordering Company A, variation 2.
I: Fine.
M: I'm ordering now.
I: Yes.
M: (an hour later) I'm thinking about the battery life, do you want to upgrade the battery life?
I: Sure.
M: (another hour later) Are you fine with original OS?
I: Yes.
M: (another hour) can I use your computer to print something out? (My printer is currently the only normally functioning one in the house.) I want to compare variation 1 and 2.
I: [counts doubles] Okay.
M: (half an hour) You don't really need to upgrade the memory, the RAMs are the same, we can upgrade it ourselves later if you need more.
I: Fine.
M: (five minutes later) The system doesn't have a separate video memory, I'm not sure if you'll understand this but [Insert techno-babble about video display with regards to processor speed and RAM] but I think the original should be enough, though.
I: Fine.
M: (another hour) Can you come and read the warranty? And the rebate? I'm not sure what it says.
I: Ookay. [Goes and translate warranty, rebate, contract, and then the ads for variation 1, 2, and 3 at mother's request]
M: You're sure variation 2's okay?
I: Yes!
M: You're dad says 40 gig should be enough for you, if you want it later we can upgrade it later to 80 gig.
I: Later? Again?
M: Wait.
M: (10 minutes later) Never mind, 60 gig it is. You need to be more patient.
And it goes on and on and on and on until one morning I woke up to find that the order has been miraculously placed the night before after I've declared myself exhausted and went to bed. Maybe it's the fact that my parents seldom buys things over 100 dollars. Maybe it's because (or do I overly flatter myself?) that I'm going to college and they want to make a big deal anything remotely related to it.
My poor father's been discretely removed from this joyous experience by the end of the second week. I envy him.
Week 5:
(2 days after laptop arrive [i.e. today])
M: have you seen the ad from Company B? They issued a new coupon for their laptops.
I: [count to doubles] ................
Either way, it drives me nuts.
I am going to stick to my laptop for the next four years even if it kills me because I don't want to go through the experience again which WILL kill me. With impatience.
Please. Spare the lecture.
I would like to take a few minutes to write that shopping for a notebook online with my parents was enough to give me homicidal tendencies. This is my recap of the entire process because, goodness knows, I need to vent before I give myself serious psychological scarring.
The entire experience unfolds as follows:
Week 1:
MOTHER: You're going away to college, it's time to get you a laptop.
FATHER: We've been thinking about it, Company A is probably the best brand.
I: Okay.
M: So what kind of laptop do you want?
I: ...Company A's...?
M: Here's a catalogue, pick one and we'll look it up online this weekend.
I: You guys can pick (since both of you are in the computer industry and knows more about software and hardware than me), I'm sure whatever you picked's fine.
M: No, you have to pick, since you'll be using it.
I: I just want something that can keep up with my typing speed and doesn't crash every time I open IE and photoshop at the same time. Just order for me, please.
M: Pick, it's for your own good. [Insert lecture about decisions and responsibilities. Hands over massive pile of catalogues]
Week 2:
I: Okay, this one.
M: On the second thought, here's Company B's catalogue, they have this laptop that's exactly the same as that one from A except it's lighter.
F: Pricing?
M: More expensive, but it's got better display. What about memories? Do you want to upgrade it? Are you okay with 1.4 processor or should we try 1.6?
I: The original one's fine.
M: Have you even looked at it yet?? I did all this research you know.... [insert lecture about parental appreciation and 'it's all for your own good anyway' lecture]
Week 3:
M: Okay, Company A, variation 1, are you sure?
I: Yes.
M: Really sure? I'm ordering now.
I: Yes!!
M: Actually, have you seen variation 2? It's got longer battery life....
I: [sighs] Pricing?
M: Don't worry about pricing. Oh, have you seen variation 3? It's like 2 except with 60 gig harddrive instead of 40.
I: Fine, order that.
M: What? What about variation 1?
I: Just order something (this is about 5 hours later, at NIGHT), tonight, please, I need to go to sleep now.
M: Patience! Have you even looked at what I mentioned about 2 and 3? I can't look at them simultaneously...how you open a new browser window? (She knows how, but she asks stuff like this, continuously. I don't know why.)
I: I've been staring at it for the past hour, variation 1 is fine, please order it.
M: Hmm, but what about these...?
I: Just order one for me, I'll be fine with whatever you ordered. I'm going to bed now, good night.
M: (this's the next day) [insert major lecture about patience and parental appreciation.] So, what do you think about variation 2 of company B?
I:....?!
M: It seems actually quite good, you know. Take a look.
Week 4:
M: I'm ordering Company A, variation 2.
I: Fine.
M: I'm ordering now.
I: Yes.
M: (an hour later) I'm thinking about the battery life, do you want to upgrade the battery life?
I: Sure.
M: (another hour later) Are you fine with original OS?
I: Yes.
M: (another hour) can I use your computer to print something out? (My printer is currently the only normally functioning one in the house.) I want to compare variation 1 and 2.
I: [counts doubles] Okay.
M: (half an hour) You don't really need to upgrade the memory, the RAMs are the same, we can upgrade it ourselves later if you need more.
I: Fine.
M: (five minutes later) The system doesn't have a separate video memory, I'm not sure if you'll understand this but [Insert techno-babble about video display with regards to processor speed and RAM] but I think the original should be enough, though.
I: Fine.
M: (another hour) Can you come and read the warranty? And the rebate? I'm not sure what it says.
I: Ookay. [Goes and translate warranty, rebate, contract, and then the ads for variation 1, 2, and 3 at mother's request]
M: You're sure variation 2's okay?
I: Yes!
M: You're dad says 40 gig should be enough for you, if you want it later we can upgrade it later to 80 gig.
I: Later? Again?
M: Wait.
M: (10 minutes later) Never mind, 60 gig it is. You need to be more patient.
And it goes on and on and on and on until one morning I woke up to find that the order has been miraculously placed the night before after I've declared myself exhausted and went to bed. Maybe it's the fact that my parents seldom buys things over 100 dollars. Maybe it's because (or do I overly flatter myself?) that I'm going to college and they want to make a big deal anything remotely related to it.
My poor father's been discretely removed from this joyous experience by the end of the second week. I envy him.
Week 5:
(2 days after laptop arrive [i.e. today])
M: have you seen the ad from Company B? They issued a new coupon for their laptops.
I: [count to doubles] ................
Either way, it drives me nuts.
I am going to stick to my laptop for the next four years even if it kills me because I don't want to go through the experience again which WILL kill me. With impatience.
Please. Spare the lecture.
Recap: Sequals
All in all, I've concluded, yesterday was a bad day.
We have problems.
Correction:
I have problems and my parents'd probably be forced to join along for the ride.
Then again, life is somewhat problematic in general and having problems is one of the ways with which you can confirm that you're alive. It's the state of being alive that causes problems in the first place, or so it would seem sometimes, and we spend the rest of the time being alive trying to solve the problems that our existence has caused and if we're lucky we'd solve the problems and end up progressing a little. If we're moderate we'd struggle a lot with the problem, not solve it, but still progress. And if we're unlucky...
The rest can go unsaid.
Progression is also a sort of problem.
No, I don't know what all that was about, either.
We have problems.
Correction:
I have problems and my parents'd probably be forced to join along for the ride.
Then again, life is somewhat problematic in general and having problems is one of the ways with which you can confirm that you're alive. It's the state of being alive that causes problems in the first place, or so it would seem sometimes, and we spend the rest of the time being alive trying to solve the problems that our existence has caused and if we're lucky we'd solve the problems and end up progressing a little. If we're moderate we'd struggle a lot with the problem, not solve it, but still progress. And if we're unlucky...
The rest can go unsaid.
Progression is also a sort of problem.
No, I don't know what all that was about, either.
20050913
Recap: What Came
First of all, my laptop came in the mail yesterday. Actually, no it didn't, it came by the delivery of a brown-clad UPS man, but it came by delivery so you get the idea. It is silver, Inspiron 600m from Dell, and looks exactly like the one Kate has. Kate, we can be computer buddies, and the only thing I can think of that is geekier than this is when a guy claimed to be my 'calculator buddy' during eighth grade because we had the same scientific calculator from Casio.
Off on a tangent: Christine's laptop is black and named Aziraphale, Kate's laptop is silver and named Crowly. It makes me think of the various scenes in the book...such as the one where Aziraphale ordered deviled egg or whatever it was and Crowly ordered angel cake.
Returning to original subject: I'll be on my laptop all day today, making modifications, adding and deleting a few programs (they have the most useless default things, I swear), and seeing of the computer has any pre-usage problems. Not necessarily in that order.
...
Aaaand I failed my first road test today. I saw the pedestrian out of the corner of my eye but, alas, my reflex is not fast enough for me to step on the break before the instructor said "stop!" so--no license for Susan. Amusingly and ironically enough, both of my parents were instructing me on patience and driving CARE-FUL-LY, and slowing down on the turns, and mother lectured me because she thinks I didn't spend long enough looking both ways at the intersections...and the most points I got marked down today was for turning too slow and taking too long at the intersections.
But, c'est la vie, there is really no way you can win against parental instincts, logic or otherwise.
Scheduled another test for the 21st, will not be breaking to a full halt at every intersection, hope there are less pedestrians, wish me luck?
Received some recruiting opportunities for jobs at Davis, will be looking into it because, let's face it, most of my afternoons and all of my nights are free, and if I want to travel around the world MY parents are not going to be financially supporting me.
I wonder how I'd be working in the dining commons....
Will be visiting 'Tino again tomorrow, probably for the last time before I leave. And nothing has changed about that place in appearance except maybe the location and number of gum on the ground.....
Off on a tangent: Christine's laptop is black and named Aziraphale, Kate's laptop is silver and named Crowly. It makes me think of the various scenes in the book...such as the one where Aziraphale ordered deviled egg or whatever it was and Crowly ordered angel cake.
Returning to original subject: I'll be on my laptop all day today, making modifications, adding and deleting a few programs (they have the most useless default things, I swear), and seeing of the computer has any pre-usage problems. Not necessarily in that order.
...
Aaaand I failed my first road test today. I saw the pedestrian out of the corner of my eye but, alas, my reflex is not fast enough for me to step on the break before the instructor said "stop!" so--no license for Susan. Amusingly and ironically enough, both of my parents were instructing me on patience and driving CARE-FUL-LY, and slowing down on the turns, and mother lectured me because she thinks I didn't spend long enough looking both ways at the intersections...and the most points I got marked down today was for turning too slow and taking too long at the intersections.
But, c'est la vie, there is really no way you can win against parental instincts, logic or otherwise.
Scheduled another test for the 21st, will not be breaking to a full halt at every intersection, hope there are less pedestrians, wish me luck?
Received some recruiting opportunities for jobs at Davis, will be looking into it because, let's face it, most of my afternoons and all of my nights are free, and if I want to travel around the world MY parents are not going to be financially supporting me.
I wonder how I'd be working in the dining commons....
Will be visiting 'Tino again tomorrow, probably for the last time before I leave. And nothing has changed about that place in appearance except maybe the location and number of gum on the ground.....
20050912
Non Sequitor: Hysterics
This post ought to be dedicated to McTabby, who knows nothing about me but have made my parents stare at me with alarm.
Great summaries that are none HP related that I must have on record somewhere:
Hopelessness doesn't float. It glides on the wind, and then falls down and hits you on the head.
Ouch?
rated PG-13 due to possible creature violence and mild language.
A lover, like a torch, burns brighter when shaken.
For some reason I'm thinking about Christine...did this person set someone on fire or not?
Contains serious course language. And I mean serious!
How nice. Which course are we talking about? English?
By the way, did anyone see the summary with Draco and Walmart? Moreover, does Mr. Morse know HP? I thought this comment was well put, though:
And what would ever possess Draco to be found inside a Wal-mart?
Very mild action coming after this chapter, but it's there.
I'm tempted to summarize "September" in LUNATICS like that.
Please read. I am getting lonely.
..............
My brain hurts. I'm stopping now.
Great summaries that are none HP related that I must have on record somewhere:
Hopelessness doesn't float. It glides on the wind, and then falls down and hits you on the head.
Ouch?
rated PG-13 due to possible creature violence and mild language.
A lover, like a torch, burns brighter when shaken.
For some reason I'm thinking about Christine...did this person set someone on fire or not?
Contains serious course language. And I mean serious!
How nice. Which course are we talking about? English?
By the way, did anyone see the summary with Draco and Walmart? Moreover, does Mr. Morse know HP? I thought this comment was well put, though:
And what would ever possess Draco to be found inside a Wal-mart?
Very mild action coming after this chapter, but it's there.
I'm tempted to summarize "September" in LUNATICS like that.
Please read. I am getting lonely.
..............
My brain hurts. I'm stopping now.
Recap: Tick-tock
Lucy:
So far my favorite is a response to summary executions number eight, it's a comment based on some of the stuff in the comments, or this one in particular:
"One boy. Two Rings. Three girls. Need I say more?"
This response, remember seeing it? :
"One boy for the Hogwarts fans, who want to see him snog.
Two Rings in I.P., that Harry and Draco wore.
Three girls want Snape with the werewolf and dog.
All in my Potterfic, need I say more?
One fic to raise hopes and one fic to dash them,
One fic to bring the boys and in the fandom slash them!"
The sad thing is, a lot of the summaries are probably better than the actual fic.... All of them are at the level where they can make you laugh until you cry. Either that or you start off crying and continue the entire way.
Eck, I think my brain's in shock.
I'll be getting a lot busier starting this Friday, I think, so a lot of my summer-time projects are going to either be wrapped up by Friday or postponed indefinitely. It's time to reorganize my time, AGAIN. Cheers.
With regards to BEA, I'm going to re-write it. Elaboration: I am going to forget what I have now and start over from scratch, going back to my so-old-it's-crumbling original plans from I-don't-know-when and using third-person omniscent perspective and rule out Kerral's perspective entirely. I think the mage's name was originally Ian. The plot's staying, but some details might get changed. Reason: writing from two people's perspective by myself requires skills I do not yet have and trying to do it is driving me nuts. Old English is fun, but I'm starting to get the personality details mixed up and trying to think of one event logically from two different sets of characteristics (which I'd soon have to do, if I continue as is), is mind-bogglingly complicated. I think it's the correct decision mostly because instead of feeling regret and frustration, as I usually do when I have to rewrite something, all I felt is relief so--hasta luego Kerral! Ciao!
I am keeping an digital file of story ideas, looking through them is very interesting.
So far my favorite is a response to summary executions number eight, it's a comment based on some of the stuff in the comments, or this one in particular:
"One boy. Two Rings. Three girls. Need I say more?"
This response, remember seeing it? :
"One boy for the Hogwarts fans, who want to see him snog.
Two Rings in I.P., that Harry and Draco wore.
Three girls want Snape with the werewolf and dog.
All in my Potterfic, need I say more?
One fic to raise hopes and one fic to dash them,
One fic to bring the boys and in the fandom slash them!"
The sad thing is, a lot of the summaries are probably better than the actual fic.... All of them are at the level where they can make you laugh until you cry. Either that or you start off crying and continue the entire way.
Eck, I think my brain's in shock.
I'll be getting a lot busier starting this Friday, I think, so a lot of my summer-time projects are going to either be wrapped up by Friday or postponed indefinitely. It's time to reorganize my time, AGAIN. Cheers.
With regards to BEA, I'm going to re-write it. Elaboration: I am going to forget what I have now and start over from scratch, going back to my so-old-it's-crumbling original plans from I-don't-know-when and using third-person omniscent perspective and rule out Kerral's perspective entirely. I think the mage's name was originally Ian. The plot's staying, but some details might get changed. Reason: writing from two people's perspective by myself requires skills I do not yet have and trying to do it is driving me nuts. Old English is fun, but I'm starting to get the personality details mixed up and trying to think of one event logically from two different sets of characteristics (which I'd soon have to do, if I continue as is), is mind-bogglingly complicated. I think it's the correct decision mostly because instead of feeling regret and frustration, as I usually do when I have to rewrite something, all I felt is relief so--hasta luego Kerral! Ciao!
I am keeping an digital file of story ideas, looking through them is very interesting.
20050911
Recap: Untitled
Here.
Or not.
[edit 11:02]
Link to most hideously hilarious fanfic summaries , link provided by Lucy. Thank you Lucy.
The stuff there is enough to give me hysterics and makes me think of Cecily from THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST when she proclaimed someone to be clever because he hasn't written any books....
I write original stories, not fanfic. I write orginial stories, not fanfic. That makes it alright, right?
Thank heavens.
Or not.
[edit 11:02]
Link to most hideously hilarious fanfic summaries , link provided by Lucy. Thank you Lucy.
The stuff there is enough to give me hysterics and makes me think of Cecily from THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST when she proclaimed someone to be clever because he hasn't written any books....
I write original stories, not fanfic. I write orginial stories, not fanfic. That makes it alright, right?
Thank heavens.
20050910
Recap: Aisle Safety
It would be horrible if I failed the driving test, if only because it means that I have to go around practicing driving for THAT much longer. Of course my ego'd suffer to, but it could stand being taken down a notch or two thanks to the extremely flattering friends that I seem to have. (Hem, hem.)
Right, so we went to Costco today, where people buy food like they're in the last stage of starvation, simply because of the size of the packets. There were Christmas things out, you know, nice artificial wreathes with twinking lights. The most I can say about that is, well, at least they waited until the temperature went down a little.
If you've ever gone grocery shopping with any regularity (or maybe even if you hadn't) you would know the irritation of pushing a shopping cart with a defective wheel. It's usually the more crucial front wheel (which determines the direction) and it usually behaves either like a hundred-year old zombie or someone who's young and extremely high on something. In the case of the zombie you get a cart that won't turn and in the case of the drugged individual you get a cart that goes like it's drunk, completely ruling out the possibility of straight lines.
Well, today I got a cart with TWO defective wheels and boy was that interesting. It was astronomically loud for something that doesn't have engines and has enough attitude to put an entire high school of teenagers to shame. The trip was less of a shopping experience and more of an all-out war with the added side-benefit of burning a lot of calories. Next time you need an arm work out, forget about a gym, go to a grocery store and hunt for shopping carts with 2 defective wheels and push them around in the block. Edit that: pushing it around the block while trying to force it to travel in reasonably straight lines.
Just remember to obey the right-of-way, even if your cart doesn't want to.
Right, so we went to Costco today, where people buy food like they're in the last stage of starvation, simply because of the size of the packets. There were Christmas things out, you know, nice artificial wreathes with twinking lights. The most I can say about that is, well, at least they waited until the temperature went down a little.
If you've ever gone grocery shopping with any regularity (or maybe even if you hadn't) you would know the irritation of pushing a shopping cart with a defective wheel. It's usually the more crucial front wheel (which determines the direction) and it usually behaves either like a hundred-year old zombie or someone who's young and extremely high on something. In the case of the zombie you get a cart that won't turn and in the case of the drugged individual you get a cart that goes like it's drunk, completely ruling out the possibility of straight lines.
Well, today I got a cart with TWO defective wheels and boy was that interesting. It was astronomically loud for something that doesn't have engines and has enough attitude to put an entire high school of teenagers to shame. The trip was less of a shopping experience and more of an all-out war with the added side-benefit of burning a lot of calories. Next time you need an arm work out, forget about a gym, go to a grocery store and hunt for shopping carts with 2 defective wheels and push them around in the block. Edit that: pushing it around the block while trying to force it to travel in reasonably straight lines.
Just remember to obey the right-of-way, even if your cart doesn't want to.
Recap: Eeesh
And suddenly it seems my weekend got more hectice. This seems to be becoming an unhealthy ritual that'll get worse before it gets better. More later. Maybe.
20050909
Recap: Noises
Catching up on reading again. Finished ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (happy, Kate?) yesterday and I must admit I liked it better than WUTHERING HEIGHT and much better than LIGHT IN AUGUST though I didn't really get into the book until the three hundred and twenty-something page, where things finally started to click together. Then again, considering that it's classical literature, I should just be glad that it clicked and all and therefore have no reason to complain.
Today I've read THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and I think what I'm looking for to describe it would be "clever, absurd, cynicism." At least I now have some idea about the origins of the various versions of the saying "the pure and simple truth is seldom pure and never simple", with the added comment that the "world'd be a tedious place if it was." Too many people trying to be clever at the same time and failing utterly, and therein lies the humor.
I will never be able to take the name 'Earnest' seriously again. Or Frank. (i.e. Frank and Earnest...ever seen the comic strip? It's clever, too.)
These two days have been what I suppose was the seasonal apartment-environment maintenance days. On Wednesday they were going over the entire place with a leaf blower for a longer period of time than usual so it felt like there was continuous air-traffic over here. It's enough to drive someone with war-related-PTS disorder up the walls, so it's lucky that no one around here has that. I hope. Yesterday they went and trimmed all the plants and when I went to get the mail I found the white orleanders reduced in mass by 3/4, which was a bit shocking for me, despite of the fact that I've been hearing the machines going "wwwwhhhHHHIIIRRRLLLL-HHHAAAA-A-A-A-ACK!" the entire morning. (It was very distracting when you're trying to read too.) Example of the human-imposed diet on things in nature. First you can change the soil's composition, then you can do the bit with plant hormones and then, when they get too big, you can just go and chop bits off. No Atkin's for plants.
I'd say the noises affects my ability to write normally but I don't think I've ever quite written normally before. Oh well.
Today I've read THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and I think what I'm looking for to describe it would be "clever, absurd, cynicism." At least I now have some idea about the origins of the various versions of the saying "the pure and simple truth is seldom pure and never simple", with the added comment that the "world'd be a tedious place if it was." Too many people trying to be clever at the same time and failing utterly, and therein lies the humor.
I will never be able to take the name 'Earnest' seriously again. Or Frank. (i.e. Frank and Earnest...ever seen the comic strip? It's clever, too.)
These two days have been what I suppose was the seasonal apartment-environment maintenance days. On Wednesday they were going over the entire place with a leaf blower for a longer period of time than usual so it felt like there was continuous air-traffic over here. It's enough to drive someone with war-related-PTS disorder up the walls, so it's lucky that no one around here has that. I hope. Yesterday they went and trimmed all the plants and when I went to get the mail I found the white orleanders reduced in mass by 3/4, which was a bit shocking for me, despite of the fact that I've been hearing the machines going "wwwwhhhHHHIIIRRRLLLL-HHHAAAA-A-A-A-ACK!" the entire morning. (It was very distracting when you're trying to read too.) Example of the human-imposed diet on things in nature. First you can change the soil's composition, then you can do the bit with plant hormones and then, when they get too big, you can just go and chop bits off. No Atkin's for plants.
I'd say the noises affects my ability to write normally but I don't think I've ever quite written normally before. Oh well.
20050906
Recap: Trivia and Trivial
Watched WESTWING at Kate's house yesterday and found myself enjoying it. They have some great dialogues and you learn somethings, too.
For instance, apparently there're only three English words that starts with "Dw", and they are "dwindle," "dwarf," and "dwell."
Name a fruit that has it's seed on the outside (which Christine got with about one second of thinking): strawberries.
This's a question that I've asked in 8th grade: what's one berry who's name doesn't end with the word "berry"?
On a note that's completely unrelated to the current subject and related to a post several days ago and, more specifically, the one about Kate worshipping McKay and contemplating ripping a hole in the fabric of the universe--
--first of all, it's confirmed that Christine will be helping with this 'project' and therefore NASA might seriously have something to worry about in a few years.
Second of all, this...uh...'event' won't be taking place until a certain Utah-Canada movement. Originally Kate and I agreed that I shouldn't have to worry about anything before the three-some (you guys know who you are) moves to Utah. Then yesterday it's brought up that Utah might not happen at all and the group might migrate directly to Canada in which case, I suppose, I should place myself on standby if I hear Utah OR Canada. Or possibly both. At the same time. (Hey if they can blow a hole in the universe....)
Lastly came my slightly problematic role in the overall scheme of things. Namely that I'm suppose to build some sort of a vehicle that can take people out of this universe when my friends blow it up. Christine also promised to help with this. I hope the ship won't blow up because that'll be extremely unpleasant. I was also wondering whether or not my friends will be planning to blow up every single universe (real or alternate) that we come to because, well, then traveling around with the hypothetical vehicle would be just a big waste of energy. And time. But if you blew up the universe I don't suppose time would matter as much as energy.
But I was 'reassured' that at every universe we come to, there'd be a stop to read ALL the new fanfic in existence first. It'd be a break whose endurance depended on reading speeds.
This is usually the point where I think something or someone is completely off their rockers.
Oh, and I've seen the link from yesterday's post (my thanks to whoever posted it) and was quite fascinated by the idea of economic/financial revolution with regards to technology. Honestly, internet is such a great thing.
For instance, apparently there're only three English words that starts with "Dw", and they are "dwindle," "dwarf," and "dwell."
Name a fruit that has it's seed on the outside (which Christine got with about one second of thinking): strawberries.
This's a question that I've asked in 8th grade: what's one berry who's name doesn't end with the word "berry"?
On a note that's completely unrelated to the current subject and related to a post several days ago and, more specifically, the one about Kate worshipping McKay and contemplating ripping a hole in the fabric of the universe--
--first of all, it's confirmed that Christine will be helping with this 'project' and therefore NASA might seriously have something to worry about in a few years.
Second of all, this...uh...'event' won't be taking place until a certain Utah-Canada movement. Originally Kate and I agreed that I shouldn't have to worry about anything before the three-some (you guys know who you are) moves to Utah. Then yesterday it's brought up that Utah might not happen at all and the group might migrate directly to Canada in which case, I suppose, I should place myself on standby if I hear Utah OR Canada. Or possibly both. At the same time. (Hey if they can blow a hole in the universe....)
Lastly came my slightly problematic role in the overall scheme of things. Namely that I'm suppose to build some sort of a vehicle that can take people out of this universe when my friends blow it up. Christine also promised to help with this. I hope the ship won't blow up because that'll be extremely unpleasant. I was also wondering whether or not my friends will be planning to blow up every single universe (real or alternate) that we come to because, well, then traveling around with the hypothetical vehicle would be just a big waste of energy. And time. But if you blew up the universe I don't suppose time would matter as much as energy.
But I was 'reassured' that at every universe we come to, there'd be a stop to read ALL the new fanfic in existence first. It'd be a break whose endurance depended on reading speeds.
This is usually the point where I think something or someone is completely off their rockers.
Oh, and I've seen the link from yesterday's post (my thanks to whoever posted it) and was quite fascinated by the idea of economic/financial revolution with regards to technology. Honestly, internet is such a great thing.
20050905
Recap: er
Trying to think in two languages simultaneously is a nightmare.
As for the travel-around-the-world mission, does no one else have any place to go? Because no one else is posting anything, priority or otherwise.
Over late yesterday, feeling groggy this morning but otherwise better than expected. Somewhere between a variety of thing ended up getting a lecture. Am getting one right now so the post might seem a bit more disjointed than usual. Patience running low. Amazing I haven't started snapping at my parents yet.
Possibly watching movies at Kate's place later. Yay.
As for the travel-around-the-world mission, does no one else have any place to go? Because no one else is posting anything, priority or otherwise.
Over late yesterday, feeling groggy this morning but otherwise better than expected. Somewhere between a variety of thing ended up getting a lecture. Am getting one right now so the post might seem a bit more disjointed than usual. Patience running low. Amazing I haven't started snapping at my parents yet.
Possibly watching movies at Kate's place later. Yay.
20050904
20050903
Recap: This Weekend
Will be leaving for library in 5 min as well as driving my parents around grocery stores the rest of the morning. More driving and accessory shopping this afternoon (blame mother). Up coming plans has been changed. Will be gone to parent's friend's place tomorrow afternoon till I don't know how late. Some other sort of plans filled in already for tomorrow morning (probably involving me driving, again). Not a clue what's happening on Monday, at all.
Cheers.
[edit 17:31]
To Lucy, taken from book one of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS:
"...and tomatoes, which are actually fruits and not vegetables as most people believe."
Sorry, I just happened to remember....
Cheers.
[edit 17:31]
To Lucy, taken from book one of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS:
"...and tomatoes, which are actually fruits and not vegetables as most people believe."
Sorry, I just happened to remember....
20050902
Recap: ....
Depletion of patience. Well, not completely depleted, but at a dangerously low level, I should say. Listening to an hour and a half of critiques every single night on top of everything else doesn't really help.
But hey, I have time to do stuff like drawing and writing and making stuff now, which help relieves tension, so it cancels out...leaving me neither better nor worser (worser? worse? Ms. Stebbins'd be ashamed of me) off than before.
I had to order extra-long bed-sheets for the beds they have in the dorm. They came by UPS. Hunter green (color of the sheet, not UPS, obviously). And to get an idea of what kind of things I'd say when I'm being absent-minded I told mother that the 'USB' delivered it.
lol linen in digitalized form. What fun.
Time to raid the library again! I suddenly craved something sci-fi to read today that I haven't read before and since I didn't have any books that fit that standard at home I went online...and found the screenplay for SG Atlantis, the entire first season, so I started reading that. At least after reading the first episode I have a better idea of what's going on (getting all the bit of information ironed out) and since I have never watched it, I won't have to be critical of the production's theoretical physics or xenobiology, much.
Interesting read but still, with all due respect, it's no substitution for the library.
But hey, I have time to do stuff like drawing and writing and making stuff now, which help relieves tension, so it cancels out...leaving me neither better nor worser (worser? worse? Ms. Stebbins'd be ashamed of me) off than before.
I had to order extra-long bed-sheets for the beds they have in the dorm. They came by UPS. Hunter green (color of the sheet, not UPS, obviously). And to get an idea of what kind of things I'd say when I'm being absent-minded I told mother that the 'USB' delivered it.
lol linen in digitalized form. What fun.
Time to raid the library again! I suddenly craved something sci-fi to read today that I haven't read before and since I didn't have any books that fit that standard at home I went online...and found the screenplay for SG Atlantis, the entire first season, so I started reading that. At least after reading the first episode I have a better idea of what's going on (getting all the bit of information ironed out) and since I have never watched it, I won't have to be critical of the production's theoretical physics or xenobiology, much.
Interesting read but still, with all due respect, it's no substitution for the library.
20050901
Ranting: Sadistic Pain
Here's a thought: When people are in pain, why do many people find the easiest way to relieve pain is by causing pain?
My initial reaction would be that this is an example of the statement 'mistery loves company'. By causing pain, the person can ensure that there is someone else who is suffering just as much as they are.
My second hypothesis is that the person needed the sense of being in control. Pain that is inflicted upon a person is generally not in control of the person, but inflicting pain is (in the control of that person, I mean). The ability to cause pain can lend a false sense of power and security--a feel-good that will counter the pain that he/she is feeling.
It may be one of the above, or a mix of both, part of both, or neither. However, I'm also contemplating the fact that pain is also a sort of energy or, at least, it is something that can release energy very well. People can do extraordinary things under pain and pain as an energy reliever is possibly only second to the thing we call 'desperation'. Causing pain is a way to relieve the person of that energy and it works well because it is the same sort of energy/feeling (pain to pain, how nice). Of course we'd all rather the person just get some sort of therapeutic (sp?) hobby, such as gardening or painting, for example, but that is neither here nor there. I am mainly toying with the idea of sadists as excellent affectors AND receivers of pain, that they act as a conductor in the overal idea.
Or would it be more accurate to say that they act like a funnel, gathering all the little misdeads from the world and concentrating them into attention focuses on a few people?
If humans are naturally sadistic
Because and therefore: for as long as the conductors work, there will always be pain.
(*note- Just to make it very, very obvious, I'm not just refering to physical neural impulses here.)
My initial reaction would be that this is an example of the statement 'mistery loves company'. By causing pain, the person can ensure that there is someone else who is suffering just as much as they are.
My second hypothesis is that the person needed the sense of being in control. Pain that is inflicted upon a person is generally not in control of the person, but inflicting pain is (in the control of that person, I mean). The ability to cause pain can lend a false sense of power and security--a feel-good that will counter the pain that he/she is feeling.
It may be one of the above, or a mix of both, part of both, or neither. However, I'm also contemplating the fact that pain is also a sort of energy or, at least, it is something that can release energy very well. People can do extraordinary things under pain and pain as an energy reliever is possibly only second to the thing we call 'desperation'. Causing pain is a way to relieve the person of that energy and it works well because it is the same sort of energy/feeling (pain to pain, how nice). Of course we'd all rather the person just get some sort of therapeutic (sp?) hobby, such as gardening or painting, for example, but that is neither here nor there. I am mainly toying with the idea of sadists as excellent affectors AND receivers of pain, that they act as a conductor in the overal idea.
Or would it be more accurate to say that they act like a funnel, gathering all the little misdeads from the world and concentrating them into attention focuses on a few people?
If humans are naturally sadistic
Because and therefore: for as long as the conductors work, there will always be pain.
(*note- Just to make it very, very obvious, I'm not just refering to physical neural impulses here.)
Recap: Random
First of all, another thought on the 6th HP book...following up on the 'they're-still-human' idea, sort of. The book is focusing a lot more on emotions, I noticed, and the idea of love seemed to appear (if you think about it) quite frequently. Another connection to the Potter's Powers idea. Also, noticed the physical appearance of Harry with Ginny. Guy with glasses and messy, black hair; girl with red hair, happy pairing, sounds familiar, anyone? At least Ginny originally picked Harry instead of the giant squid, so it must be quite good for the ego....
On a completely unrelated note: Kate worships McKay because he's conceited and blew up 3/4 of a solar system. I felt like I must make a note of it somewhere. I'm also making a note of the fact Kate promised that she'll call me if she ripped a hole in the fabric of the universe. Kate, I'm holding you to your word on that one.
Hm...I wonder if I should alert NASA so they have some sort of mental preparations...?
Meanwhile, time continues to tick by in my little world...
On a completely unrelated note: Kate worships McKay because he's conceited and blew up 3/4 of a solar system. I felt like I must make a note of it somewhere. I'm also making a note of the fact Kate promised that she'll call me if she ripped a hole in the fabric of the universe. Kate, I'm holding you to your word on that one.
Hm...I wonder if I should alert NASA so they have some sort of mental preparations...?
Meanwhile, time continues to tick by in my little world...
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