Boom-de-ah-da, boom-de-ah-da, I love my life

Hope everyone online had a wonderful Christmas and is still feeling the holiday cheer!

Over in Korea, a group of friends in my area (Gil-dong in Gangdong-gu) arranged a potluck and a Yankee Swap. On Christmas Eve, I watched Gremlins and Die Hard 1 with a few friends in my officetel. John McClane's reputation is deserved and I felt more stupid people should've died in the other movie. My Christmas morning went like this:

• 3:oo am - go to sleep


• 11:00 am - wake up XD


• 12:30 pm - hop onto subway


• 1:00 pm - after one transfer, arrive at Costco


• 1:00 pm ~ 2:00 pm - Wait 30 mins for 2 rotisserie chickens, hunt down the marshmallows so a friend could make her candied yams, and grab 4 bottles of sparkling cider. As this is Korea, everything ended up 37,000 won, and the marshmallows were the most expensive


• 2:30 pm - drop off foodstuffs, grab my gift for the Swap


• 2:45 pm - open the cider, relax/convo/games/carols with good friends

The next day was Christmas for the West Coast in the States, so I Skyped home and ended up watching presents get opened, spoke the most Chinese I'd ever spoken in 5 years with my grandparents, and enviously watched my sister eat three kinds of dessert. It was roughly 4 hours and for the family Christmas picture, my sister held her laptop up while I looked a the camera through my laptop camera and smiled hard enough for my cheeks to hurt. Who needs care packages when it's obvious I'm loved? <3

The next day, I found out my friend who I was going to spend my vacation in Tokyo from Jan 22~ Feb 2 with had to use her vacation funds for a family emergency and would not be going with me. Still ridiculously happy, but now worrying a bit how I might navigate the Tokyo subway by myself. XD

Merry Christmas everyone, and have a Happy New Year!

In memory of family and friends who have lost the battle with cancer; and in support of the ones who continue to conquer it! Post this on your LJ if you know someone who has or had cancer.

My father's aunt or mother died from breast cancer when I was ten or so. He doesn't talk about it and I only know because we had to go help pack up her belongings.

One of my aunt's mother has cancer, but as she can't get treatment because she refuses to stop smoking.

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India Foxtrot Yankee Oscar Uniform Charlie Alpha November Uniform November Delta Echo Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha November Delta Tango Hotel India Sierra, Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alpha November Delta Papa Alpha Sierra Tango Echo India Tango Tango Oscar Yankee Oscar Uniform Romeo Lima India Victor Echo Juliet Oscar Uniform Romeo November Alpha Lima. :)

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Mike Echo Mike Echo

Fans of Generation Kill, I am ashamed if you don't get this. *hinthint*

And after Christmas, we're going to Las Vegas, and then LA.

Mom wants to see one of the signature shows in Las Vegas, but as the last time I was there, I was 12 and most my friends go there o get drunk and/or gamble, I really don't know which one's the best deal for the ticket price.

Does anyone more familiar with the place have suggestions? We'll be there the 26, 27, and 28, I think. Poor Dad's going to be the one driving 11 hours from SJ. XD And apparently, we'll be staying at a hotel called Sahara.

Thanks!

I'm homehomehome for Thanksgiving! Yesterday was spent half on the train, then in San Fran Chinatown loading up on delicious, delicious baked goods (esp. coffee crunch cake from a place in Japantown for today's festivities), and then THREE HOURS in Macy's after stuffing ourselves silly at some restaurant whose name I can't remember.

Note to self: Garden Bakery on Jackson has better goods than the famous Golden Gate Bakery (*cough*touristtrap*cough*).

OMG, Macy's was fuuuun~~! I can't believe how much I hated shopping back in high school. The presale is a thing of pure beauty. Example 1: Two Style & Co. shirts (Dad found one of them! XD) are originally $30+. With the presale, $4.50, I kid you not. In fact, I'm going to wear one of them tonight for the family brouhaha. The presale, for those who missed it (poor souls), is 40% off the marked price, with additional 25% off at register. The Union Square store was pretty empty, so there was no fighting tooth and nail like the typical Black Friday riots. Aunt L, Mom, and darkestnight12 helped me find three gorgeous skirts, and another two flattering shirts. The store took the clothes and put them away. On Black Friday, we'll come back and pick them up, for an ADDITIONAL 5% off (I think).

Essentially, you're RESERVING CLOTHES to buy cheaper later. How incredible is that? ^____________^

Right before Macy's closed, we went to the perfume counter for see which Chanel scent Mom had fallen in love with at another Macy's a week ago. Unfortunately, Mom can't remember details and while the counter had all the lines, she didn't recognize any of them as the one she saw.

As we left, we passed the watches and all of a sudden, Mom's like, "Hey, do you like that watch? That's your graduation present." She pointed out a silver, round-face Fossil. I'm absolutely floored: a watch? I ended up choosing a silver Ann Klein with a black, rectangular face.

Best thing? My sophomore sister's getting one too. How's that for feeling like a unique snowflake?


Today, Mom took me to her gym and got me in with a 3-day pass promotion. She wanted me to go to her hip hop/zumba (?) dance class.

I have no sense of rhythm, coordination, or anything resembling grace. I was sweating, yes, but terrible enough that I almost cried. I gave up halfway through and ran two miles. I felt sooooo good afterwards.

On the other hand, the Monday I return to school? I have two English papers and a project due. T_T And in the car ride up back from SF, Aunt L and Mom terrified and patronized me with talk about preparing for job search and interviews. It was kind of half "duh" and half "OMG RLY?".

My family is awesome.

So I FINALLY got around to printing my free birthday scoop coupon for Baskin' Robbins at work, since I don't have a printer at home, but when I got of the bus and walked the walk, the store was dark, the doors wired shut: they had closed up shop permanently. T_T I'd also printed out three of the $1 off Cappuccino shakes. They're all absolutely useless now. Not to mention, the two "free pints for a pint of blood" I have from some blood drives. I'll probably ask my parents when they come up to drive me down town to cash them in. If I take the bus, I'll come home with a pint of sweet soup. XD

On another rl note, snahjerblah has moved out, though her name's still on the lease as she looks for her replacement. The apartment looks so much larger and emptier now! The bathroom is practically bare of all things! Except for some Nyquill, which I think she left behind 'cause I've never used that brand in my entire life before. She also forgot her toaster and for some reason, one of her soup bowls. Where on Earth could a soup bowl be if not the cabinets or the drying rack?

There's been some responses to the Craig's List post she put up and I must remember to interview these people. They need to tell me why they're looking for housing a bare week before the new school year begins, bring at least one reference who isn't family, agree to my "no pets, no boyfriend without warning" rule, and be willing to share the living room and bedroom due to crappy wireless. Then there's the issue of formalizing it with the apartment management, getting some kind of safety deposit, changing the internet from snahjerblah's name to mind, and slowly moving some of my stuff back home. All this on top of finalizing my schedule for the fall.

There's a fashion illustration class that I've been absolutely DYING to take, but even though I'm already registered for it, my advisor informed me that there are THREE (enormously stupid) graduating seniors who need the class for their majors. As the class limit is 22 or so and isn't required for my major, there's a strong possibility I'll be booted off. I don't want to drop it without attending at least the first day--maybe other people might have dropped out? I'm a senior too! T_T I don't know my chances of getting into this class in the next two quarters because there's a possibility of time clashes for the remaining three design classes that I need for my major. T^T

Still, at least I got into the English class I wanted: ENL 149--Homosexuality in Literature. *fistpump*

On a Gaia-related note, I've opened an art shop!


I'm currently obsessed with this song and kind of wary of it. When V was visiting this past weekend, they enlightened me that many of the songs I like to sing along with are filled with innuendos. It was also that same weekend where we went for Italian in celebration of my b-day/V's last day in town and I discovered that sourdough bread with olive oil is DELICIOUS. I love it so much, I went to Savemart and brought a loaf today since I couldn't have my Pistachio scoop.

Heh, at the urging of the same two friends, I also got a cocktail called Celeste, a mixture of Irish creme, blueberry vodka, and chocolate, with my pasta. I hate vodka with a passion ever since my parents went to happy hour at an Embassy Suite and took one of everything back to our room. I'd hoped everything else would change it, but no, I wasted $9 on something that tastes like the dentist would give you. In the end, my friends told me to start small, with wine coolers. I've already tried beer, vodka, rum, champagne, wine and tequila. I could only tolerate the champagne. I'm interested in trying port, brandy, amaretto, and gin, hoping that at least one of them will be tolerable.

On a fandom related note, I have recently reignited my passion for Jeeves and Wooster fic thanks to triedunture recent swag of great fic. I have also... *pauses for dramatic effect* ...DISCOVERED A NEW FANDOM.

OMG, y'all need to check out Generation Kill. It's a HBO mini-series based on a book of the same title that takes place during the first Iraq war in 2003. It's about the United States Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, who are the Marine's version of the Navy SEALS. As in, some very hot, very capable men and in particular their commander, Nathaniel Fick (who has also written his own book!) and Sergent Brad Colbert. The latter's nickname is "Iceman" and looks like a modern day Viking. Or he's played by an actor who looks like one anyway. XD hackthis has written a whole SLEW of stupendous AU fic, but the one that got me into this in the first place was tevere's Sixteen Days in September, also an AU. romanticalgirl, shoshannagold, sparky77, and alethialia have also written great fic.

So, uh. Rambling post is rambling? ^^;;

One of my wisdom teeth has been painful just recently, so today, I tried to schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon to remove it. First, I call my dentist, who is currently out of town for a convention, but the receptionist refers me to three others. I pick one and call them. Arrange an appointment. Call my dentist to get referral paperwork faxed and for insurance info. Call oral surgeon to confirm insurance--THEY DON'T TAKE IT! Why? My dentist wouldn't refer me to another who doesn't accept the same insurance! But in a panic, I call option #2 and arrange an appointment. In the middle of that, my phone beeps call waiting. I check voicemail--OH, NOW THEY ACCEPT IT.

At this point, I'm so terrified about doing this wrong, I call my mother and let her know. And she reams me a new one. WHY AM I CALLING DENTISTS TWO HOURS AWAY WHEN SURELY MY COLLEGE TOWN HAS SOME? Very ashamed, I hastily look up the two dentists in my area and call them. No luck--neither of them have appointments until NEXT MONTH.

I call my savior again and Mom remembers that the surgeon who removed her teeth said that they can't be removed when only halfway out--I'd have to wait until it comes out all the way. At this point, I'm near tears because it's already difficult to eat and the tooth constantly digs into my cheek. I think my Mom gave up on me, because she took over.

THEN Mom calls back and says I should be able to get the extraction and to try, explaining my situation more fully, to call the local dentist again. Success! Fortunately for me, there was a cancellation for this Thursday and while I'll have to skip my second class, I can make it. But the lady cautions me about cost, obviously figuring out my student status and while insurance will pay for 80%, I'll probably have to pay about $100 out of pocket, right after the surgery.

Cue Mom. Who tells me to call the home referral again for their estimate so we can compare.

But now, everything is A-OK! Tomorrow, the local dentist will get back to me on insurance coverage and if it's 100% like it should be, I'll cancel the hometown appointment and go to that one. Hopefully, I won't be missing too much of my 2nd class that day.

I just logged onto my uni-mail after a two-week vacation, and they're offering a class I thought I would have to take during summer session one during spring quarter! That means I can either do an internship or travel abroad during the summer instead! Question is, which one in the long term would benefit me? T^T Decisions, decisions.

Travel abroad would mean England, or somewhere in Europe for English classes and it costs money, but the exotic! The chance to visit somewhere outside of the US for the first time!

But internships, either a teaching one or a graphic design one if I get accepted after applying, would look really awesome on my resume after I graduate and I wouldn't have to wait until the summer after my senior year to do it...

*sigh* Should I be responsible or selfish? Is it really a choice? -_____-

One of the lamps in my room burned out. Dad came home after a full's day work, and even before changing out of his uniform, goes to the garage to find a spare bulb and changed the whole thing for me. The problem actually had to solved by replacing the lamp and the light, and in the process, Dad even found another, smaller lamp I could take back to the apartment. My dad is so incredibly awesome.

darkestnight12 used my brand, spanking new credit card (Capital One Platinum) to purchase her fanime ticket-she's number 409. I ended up getting into an argument with Mom because I really wanted to go after an abstinence of two years. It's the 2nd to last weekend before finals week and now that I'm a design major, I have project deadlines instead of tests. Those are a little more flexible as I can make sure I finish early or get more done before playing, but my mother doesn't seem to understand that! T_T I'm at odds as to hoping I'm in an internship at that point or not. On one hand, I'm getting experience if I do. On the other, it's another thing preventing me from going to Fanime. Then, there's the problem of transportation. $22 at least by train, and that's only one way. But hey, it's why I chose the school I did! So if I needed to, I can get home!

Argh, I know I'm being incredibly selfish but it's not fun to talk to my sister about it as she's terrible at describing things and has a tendency to simply hang up on me if I start asking her questions she can't be bothered with. -_-; And I really, really miss the otaku stuff. T^T

To do for tomorrow: Wash windows. *sigh* Got out of school just last Friday and go back next Thursday. I guess I should be glad I even have the week, eh? XD

Working at a fast food joint near campus, I see a lot of student customers. Today, I saw several of my younger sister's friends here for their freshmen orientation.

... They have changed. They're so much taller now! No longer the fresh-faced kids I remember from two years ago, when I last saw them, they recognized me before I recognized them! Kiet's face was familiar, but I see a lot of people who I think look familiar. ^^" I think it was Treu? Druei? who recognized me. I feel so pathetic--I don't even remember how to spell his name.

I feel so old. T_T

It's been more than a month since I've posted anything of note, so I shall list some recent culinary, if ice cream can be considered such, discoveries. Through the pint-sized tastiness of Ben & Jerry's, I have learned that my taste buds adore not only the Rocky Road, Spumoni, and green tea flavors, but also Dublin Mudslide, pistachio, and peach flavored ice cream. It's a pity that the only peach-flavored ice cream comes with chunks of what B&J calls cinnamon pie crusts. No other brand offers peach, sadly.

Also, I am looking forward to summer school this season. No more English classes, of which I am beginning to detest, but my first foray into my second major, graphic design! Instead of textbooks, I will be spending money on art supplies--be still, my heart!

Stuck in Davis, with an adult community of mostly Caucasian people, I am craving a large serving of quality chow mein. Incredibly enough, the equivalent here consists of a thinner, udon-like noodle. Bleh, I say.

On a less self-centered topic, Van visited yesterday! It was great to catch up with each other and afterwards, we hung out a little bit more over several games of pool (aka snooker) at which I was the most miserable player and ended up the partner of the strongest player, my roommate's boyfriend's roommate. Tongue/mind-twister, eh?

My little sister got accepted into college and my family heaved a relieved sigh. She seems very flippant about the whole thing, however, and I don't think all our worries are gone yet.

Continuing this news bulletin, I truly truly desire to quite my job at McD's. Most the kinder, softer managers are quiting, due to being even more sick of working with the grease than I, and the only ones left either 1.)speak little Spanish, or 2.)take great joy in making non-managers do needless chores, such as restocking when restocking is not yet necessary. Unfortunately for me, the only jobs available on campus are lab techs, research aids that require more skill and time than I have, or tutoring. The latter may be within my reach, but I doubt my shamefully low G.P.A. would work in my favor.