a beautiful mess

Mortician Movies

2012-02-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why, but the last two movies I've watched are about morticians. So let's talk about them! The Flowers of War (2011) and Departures (2008)

The first movie, starring Christian Bale, sets during the Nanking Massacre. I love historical fictions, and if you haven't watch the other gazillion Nanking massacre movies, I recommend you give this a try. It's not the best (lame quotes like "are you going to fall in love with me" and "I already have" ruin it for me) - but I cried nevertheless.

The second, is a movie that Ally might have recommended on her blog or Facbook. It's glorifies the mortician's responsibility; the gatekeeper between the living and the dead. I wasn't sure how they were going to do it, but it worked. Perhaps it was because the Japanese preparation was elaborately beautiful - full of gentleness, respect, great precision and a whole lot of grace. And even with all this dead people talk, humour managed to decorate the movie in an un-vulgar way. Props to that.

Okay, back to work!

are you happy?

2012-02-05T06:11:00.000-08:00

on the latest same-sex marriage/divorce, er, thing.

2012-01-13T04:38:00.000-08:00

Yay, my Facebook friends are now into politics! The latest scandal, invalidating thousands of same-sex marriages, has brought out a beautiful and healthy debate. I'm sure you've read about it too. Some of my FB friends are mad that the Conservative governments are in a bad light. Although I'm not sure - not many articles do put them in a bad light.

Although I do think the final decision was a bit weak (more about that later), I don't think the Conservative government should be blamed for a judge's - technically an objective and independent body - decision. So get over it.

Why do I think the final decision is bad? Because non-residents cannot officially marry in Canada if their residency doesn't recognize their marriage. This makes it, as one commenter said, really, really ugly. That means the following marriages are also invalid:

Egyptians and Israeli Jews.
Muslim Malaysians and someone from another religion.
Saudi women and an non-Arab men.
Japanese women who had a divorce less than 6 months ago.
Jewish Israelis married by a non-Orthodox rabbi.

Have these marriages been made invalid? They should, if they want the law to be consistent. But they shouldn't because it kind of conflicts with the Charter. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. These technically invalid, marriages are (to my knowledge) left alone.

So the question is: What made this judge get picky about this one particular case (that just happened to include same-sex marriage)?

Actually, the most important question is: Why did Canadian officials let non-resident same-sex get married in the first place?

Walmart Infograph

2012-01-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

It's only natural for a lady in debt to have a grudge against the Waltons!

How to be a 20-something

2012-01-06T17:56:00.001-08:00

From thoughtcatalog.com

Be really attractive. Your acne is gone, your face has matured without having wrinkles and everything on your body is lifted naturally. Eat bagels seven days a week, binge-drink and do drugs: you’ll still look like a babe. When you turn thirty, it’ll become a different story but that’s, like, not for a really long time.

Reestablish a relationship with your parents. You don’t live with them anymore (hopefully) so start to appreciate them as human beings with thoughts, flaws and feelings rather than soulless life ruiners who won’t let you borrow their car.

Go from eating delicious food at your parents’ house to eating Ragu tomato sauce over Barilla noodles. Develop an eating disorder to save money.

Move into an apartment on the corner of Overpriced and Dangerous. Sleep on a bare mattress with an Ikea comforter. Your mother talks to you about buying a top sheet and a duvet cover but feel like you’re not mature enough to own something called “duvet.”

Read the New York Times piece, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” Feel exposed and humiliated. Share it on your Facebook with the caption: “Um….” Your friends will comment “Too real” and that will be the end of that.

Work at a coffee shop but feel hopeful about your career in advertising, writing, whatever. Remember that you’re young and that the world is your oyster. Everything is possible, you still have so much to see and hear. You went to a good school and did good things. Figure if you’re not going to be successful, who the hell is?

Date people who you know you'll never be able to love. See someone for three months for no other reason than because it’s winter and you want to keep warm by holding another body. Date a Republican just so you can say you dated a Republican.

Eventually all these nobodies will make you crave a somebody. Have a real relationship with someone. Go on vacations together, exchange house keys, cry in their arms after a demoralizing day at work. Think about marrying them and maybe even get engaged. Regardless of the outcome, feel proud of yourself for being able to love someone in a healthy way.

Start your twenties with a lot of friends and leave with a few good ones. What happened? People faded away into their careers and relationships. Fights were had and never resolved. Shit happens.

Think of yourself at twenty and hanging out with people who didn’t mean a thing to you. Think about writing papers, about being promiscuous, about trying new things. Think of yourself now and your face looking different and your body feeling different and how everything is just different.

Form the habits that will stick with you forever. Drink your coffee with two sugars and skim milk every morning. Buy a magazine every Friday. Enjoy spending money on candles, smoke pot on Saturdays, watch the television before bed.

Move into a bigger apartment on the corner of Mature and Gentrification and finally buy a duvet cover. Limit your drug-use. If you find yourself unable to do so, start to wonder if you have a problem.

Have your parents come to your place for Christmas. Set the table, make the ham, wear a sophisticated outfit, This will all mean so much at the time.

Think about having children when you stop acting like a child. This may not ever happen.

Maybe this is assuming too much. Maybe this is generalizing. Maybe society uses age as an unrealistic marker for growth. Maybe. Still feel the anxiety on your 30^th birthday and think to yourself, “Oh shit, I’m no longer a 20-something.”

My five point plan to strengthen...me.

2011-12-25T21:55:00.000-08:00

It is quite a shame that Mother's day has to remind us to appreciate our mothers. That Christmas reminds us to help others. That New Year's reminds us that we need to get our shit together.

Through these difficult economic times, the young and middle class (me) has (kind of) fallen victim to financial despair. It is time to step up and implement small practical steps to strengthen myself economically, socially. To help improve my standard of living while I live a fiscally conservative life.

My 5 point plan on self-improvement.

Communicational development - Acquire conversational Korean skills. And then work on Chinese.
Educational investment - Under my resolutions, I will invest more time into studying to get into graduate school.
Job creation - I will hand out resumes and write up cover letters to no avail. I will only accept relevant employment.
Economic austerity measures - Save. Invest. Save. Pay off the debt. Save more.
Improved health care - Skip the coke, drink the water. Less rice, more veggies.

a woman of action

2011-12-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

I signed up for Korean classes in September. It was free, twice a week, and the classes were only a few hours each day. I went to the first two weeks, and stopped. One excuse piled on top of another, and I just felt like I was too behind to even go anymore. So I never went back.

Then, in October, my co-teacher asked me how my classes were going. I told her I stopped going.

She smiled, "I knew it."
"How did you know?" I was curious!
"I just know. That's the kind of person you are."

And now that the new year is coming, people are making new year resolutions. Why did I stop making resolutions? Because I could never keep them, and eventually gave up.

So, I put one and one together and got the message. I'm that kind of person.

I was a vegetarian for six months. I can only keep a work out regimen for four months at a time. Average is probably a month haha. I cannot think of a course I took where I attended almost all the classes. I feel like I'm saving up half of what I had planned to. I always end up returning some of the messages on Facebook. I have a half dozen unfinished cover letters and applications that are past their due date. I can't even put my eye drops in every hour as prescribed!

I'm the kind of person who makes commitments but never keeps them. That finds any excusable reason to avoid something "responsible" -despite the fact that it could aid in personal development or well-being.

But I don't want to be that kind of person.

Grace has been making lists left and write, and actually crossing things off. I'm going to work into being that kind of person. Someone who knows what she wants, and actually gets things done.

Uh huh. A woman of action. I'm going to be that person.

Greatest Speech Ever Made

2011-11-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Bravo. Beautiful. On par with I Have a Dream.

Procedures for when I die.

2011-10-20T04:48:00.000-07:00

In case anything happens to me, please tell my family my final wish is to donate my organs and then be put into a mushroom burial suit (see below). I do not want to be cremated.

Thank you!

It may seem like it, but I do not have life figured out.

2011-10-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

I began reading my posts, and I'm all like, this guy sucks at identifying feminsts, she's a bad role model, this is how you should live a happy life, you should be socially responsible, blah blah blah. I mean like, geez, why don't I ever write about what ate for lunch, or make a list of things to do like normal people?

I remind myself of my mom. Giving perhaps not-so-sound life advice. I sound like I know what I'm saying. (Or someone who thinks they know what they're saying, but actually doesn't.) But if you're a frequent visitor, you'll know that I put up posts and then take them down a week or so later thinking, what was I thinking?

So, please. I don't want to give the impression that I'm a snobby ms-know-it-all that has life figured out and lives it perfectly, because I am definitely not. Any close friend can vouch for me. I think.

Ok cool, I got that straightened out. Maybe I should think about writing some real content next. hehe

A Bone to Pick with Vloggers on Feminists

2011-09-06T02:30:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I've never really labeled myself as an academic feminist, but I do strive for equality between man and woman - especially in a relationship.

Just recently, nigahiga (I don't know his real name) decided to make an Off the Pill segment on feminists. He defines feminists as people who seek equality between men and women. He is pretty good at defining a feminist, but he is really bad at identifying one.

He assumes that all feminists are girls. This is incorrect.
He also seems to assume that all girls are feminists. This is also incorrect.

So yes I agree with you NigaHiga, you will find some double standards among some relationships...i.e. the guy has to go shopping with the girl, but the girl doesn't have to play video games with the guy.

But those girls aren't feminists. They are just insecure needy complainers.

Don't get the two mixed up. Please. It's kind of an insult to feminists.

Labeling grown up women as girls also shed light on how they view the female sex. It's definitely condescending.

True feminists are rare, and they truly do believe in equality. Not only do they agree with equal salaries for similar jobs, they will hold out doors for guys and girls, they will split the bill, and they will buy little gifts for their loved ones.

His vlog is not the only one. I'm peeved at how everyone kind of just jumps on the band wagon, and agrees with them without thinking about it a little bit.

My two cents.

Just Vote Tomorrow: your excuses suck

2011-05-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, hello fellow Canadian citizen.

We all know who I'm voting for, but I'm not going to tell you to vote for them. In fact, I'd rather our government to fairly reflect the interests of the people, and if my interest is the minority - so be it.

So whether, you green, red, blue or orange...I encourage you to vote. The following are horrible excuses not to vote.

Excuse #1: My vote will be wasted
No, your vote will not be wasted. One vote can really determine the outcome of the riding - especially on the battle grounds of BC. But even if you've aligned yourself with the Green party, and they have no chance of winning this election..your vote will not be wasted. Your vote will turn into a statistic, which can be used to boost the Green Party's morale for next time around, or to be justified for electoral reform.

Excuse #2: I don't have time
If you can make it between 7AM - 7PM then you better have a really good excuse! It is mandatory for your work to give you three hours off to vote. If last election was any indicator, line ups, if any, don't take to too long. Also, if you are in line before the polls are closed, like at 6:59pm, you can still cast your ballot. If you need a ride, contact the campaign office of the party you'd like to vote for to arrange a ride by one of the designated drivers. A lot of campaign offices have designated baby sitters to watch your kid as you head off to the polls as well.

Excuse #3: I don't care
Oh but you do! From the internet, to your family's business, to your tuition, and even the food you eat - every single item is relevant. Whatever you care about - it is affected by some sort of regulation by the federal government.

Excuse #4: They are all the same: liars
A simple look at other countries by comparing the vast differences of governance show that not all politicians are the same. You're the liar if you use this excuse. Yes offense.

I voted in the advanced polls, and the voters that I saw were touching. There was an incredibly elder lady, escorted by her son as they walk at like .000005 miles/hour from the parking lot to the polling station. There were three kids who were running around like crazy, ready to go to soccer practice after their mother had voted. A gentlemen on a wheelchair with tubes in his nose, and looked gravely ill even made it to the polls. If these people can make it, why can't you?

living a good life - defined.

2011-04-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Generally in a capitalistic society like this, ambition leads you to climb the ladder of wealth, one wrung at a time - each step, a little accomplishment. Not only do we obsessively try to climb it, we bring our children into this nonsense too.

Once upon a time, I defined accomplishments and success in a life through modes of achievement: finding prince charming, getting straight A's, a published thesis, and a high-paying job. I know my parents didn't survive a war and come to Canada in terrible conditions to see me, in their eyes, fail in life. I know that my friends continuously judge my character on my successes. And I know that when I do achieve something awesome, I feel good about it.

It's great, but that's not what life should be about. Sometime between high school and now, I've redefined my definitions of living a good life.

There is one single feeling that I love & cherish, it will never fade and can only grow stronger over again, and again, and again.

Appreciation.

I want to revolve my life around appreciation. Food, culture, people, science - it's all out there in the world, and it's all there be appreciated. Every single concept whether you agree with it or not, has its own amazing yet extremely unique story, presence, and future implications. And it's all there for us to find out.

So ask questions.
Stay for the credits of a great movie.
Vote.
Travel to unknown territories with an open mind.
Spend time with your pet.
Eat everything people offer you.
Tell your parents you love them.
Read.
Hike, and take in the awesome views.
Experience.

So, if you wondered what happened to the hardcore studying, volunteering, working, nerd trapped either in an office or at a library - she stopped to smell the roses.

the irony!

2011-04-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Christy Clark on why Liberals and Conservatives have so little female candidates:

"I think the travel is really hard for women because we still have the bulk of child care.. federal politics is even meaner, and women really don't like that."

Christy Clark, YOU are BC's premier. The boss of the men that run the province. Yet you're implying that women are (most likely) not meant to run in office because they have to take care of children and are too fragile for the political arena?

Oh, come on. It's a new generation. The only thing that's stopping women from doing everything men can do and vice versa are people sharing your old-fashion anti-feminist mentality. Come on, you're the perfect role model for girls who are afraid to do what they want because they are told they can't, and your screwing it up.

click here to see the interview

I'm headed to SK

2011-04-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

No, not Saskatchewan.

South Korea!

I've (prematurely) started a blog called, Soul to Seoul. I'm not actually staying in Seoul, just a half hour away from it. I just loved the title too much to change it. =)

Am I worried? A little, but my mom's worrying enough for the both of us.

The only thing I'm going to miss, is helping out with the provincial elections. Oh, and you guys too...of course ;)

100% worth it

2011-03-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Do you give money when you see a homeless person on the streets? If you said no, it's probably because they are just going to use the money for drugs, right?

The boyfriend introduced me to another perspective. As a poker player, he likes to look at odds, and whether the risk is worth his ideal outcome. Let's just say the probability of a homeless person using their change for drugs is 98%, and for food, 2%.

This is how he looks at it: He see's a homeless person on the streets, and gives him three bucks in change, enough for a burger. Chances are, the individual is going to wander off to find his/her fix.

However, even though the probability may be low, knowing that his change means so much more to somebody else, and that it can help them survive another day, it's totally worth it. He mused once that perhaps that person that lived another day will change his/her life around, and do wonders. You never know. There's a chance. It may be low, but definitely 100% worth it.

Life is priceless after all.

my epiphany (that other ppl have already reached. i'm slow, ok?)

2011-03-07T01:24:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and stalkers. In case you were wondering, the boyfriend and I are still very much in love. And you were. Admit it!

Luckily, for all of us, we had him consume all my complaints, banters and spazzes that I would have otherwise directed to other people. I'm at the lowest point in my life, and he hasn't run away. So I think that means something!

This immobile poor thing has ultimately showed me something: It's not about what's gone and taken away from you, it's about what you have, and still have when all the other stuff that's important, but not as important is gone.

In other words, I love and appreciate family and the boyfriend sooooooo much.

did ya miss me? grins

2011-03-04T04:12:00.000-08:00

Life lately has been full of ups and downs.
So up, I wouldn't have time to blog about it.
So down, I wouldn't want to blog about it.

I've also done a lot of thinking. You know, about our dreams, friends, and other "life" stuff.
I've come to conclusions so startling, their indigestible.

So those are my reasons for not blogging for so long. The cool thing is, i still get the same amount of visitors a day. And some of the search terms you strangers went through to stumble onto my blog is hilarious!

okay, update time!

just had to tell the story.

2011-01-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

It was a spring day, a little chilly, but there was a sun and a few white clouds in the pretty blue sky. I was looking out the window in a room by the door. A lady was walking by, saw me, came up and rang the doorbell.

Everything that had happened after I answered the door, I wish I could redo.

She looked frail, and her hair hadn't been combed for a while. She had one of those hospital wristbands on, and worn out Zellers clothes. Socks, but no shoes. Some people I know would immediately point to her and say she was a druggie. But I wouldn't know.

She told me that she had just left the hospital, and she had nowhere to go. She needed to call a friend to pick her up, and she could not use her cell phone because her boyfriend could find out. It was strange, but I lent her my phone.

Her friend didn't pick up after several attempts. She started crying, and spilling her story. I forgot exactly what she said, but I recollect that she was in an abusive and controlling relationship, where she was not allowed to go anywhere. Finally when she ended up in the hospital, she was able to escape. But she didn't know where to go. She couldn't remember anybody's number except a friend she once had, but the number is old, so she wasn't sure if he had changed numbers since then.

She continued to try calling her friend, and I left to find a card that somebody at clubs day had given to me, it was a women's helpline. I offered her the card and told her she could call them. But she said she tried. She had tried contacting several women shelters and not one of them accept pets.

Her best friend is a cat that they have. If she was to leave her boyfriend, it would have to be with her best friend, or she wouldn't leave at all.

She returned the phone, thanked me for my kindness and listening to her story, and walked away.

In retrospect, I should have invited her in. I wanted to, but my parents wouldn't be happy with my inviting a stranger that looked like that in their house. But I know, I should have done it anyways. I should have also offered to look up her friend's name in the yellow pages...I don't know why it never occurred to me that that's what I should have done. Blah.

Tap Water thumbs up

2011-01-11T04:45:00.000-08:00

Drink tap water! We have some of the cleanest waters in the world, yet we use 98% of the tap water for everything but drinking.

Travel awesomely.

2011-01-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article on how to travel social responsibly, and I want to share it with you guys. Here are some tips:

Treat your own water
Use re-chargeable batteries
Avoid plastic bags
Stay on the main trail
User biodegradable soap
Buy local products
Use mass transit, and your feet
Use eco-friendly lodging (try this)
Lend a helping hand

Raise a Puppy

2011-01-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes couples take in pets before they have children as sort of a proto-baby. If you're in that stage, you might want to consider becoming a puppy raiser or sitter for Pacific Assistance Dog Society.

Puppy raisers help raise a puppy for about 12 months. You will be taking care of a puppy that will grow up to assist somebody with disabilities! While you raise the puppy, you will be taking it to obedience classes, and pretty much everywhere! To parks, the doctor's, the mall, everywhere so it can be accustomed to being, well, everywhere.

Yes, being a puppy raiser takes commitment, but it's a rewarding experience. If you want to help out, but can't commit, there are always puppy sitters. They're the people who takes care of the puppies when puppy raisers need to go on vacation.

Click here for more information

Hope in Shadows

2010-12-31T04:27:00.000-08:00

Everybody needs a calendar. If you're the wall calendar kind of person, you must purchase a Hope in Shadows.

Every year a photography contest is held for down town east side residents, and the winners have their pictures featured in the calendar. I'm not a keen artist looker person (please excuse my lack of words!) but some of the pictures are so breathtaking. They're so thought-provoking.

Facilitated by the Pivot Legal Society, the calendars are sold on the streets by homeless and low income people. The calendars go for $20 and the vendors receive half that. I got this year's calendar from a lady outside of commercial drive station. They are sold all over Vancouver.

Socially Responsible Choices

2010-12-27T01:58:00.000-08:00

Socially Responsible is a term that we hear over and over again to the point where it may have lost its meaning to those who roll their eyes. I don't want to preach about how we should be helping out one another, because we all know we should, but a large amount of us don't because it's too inconvenient. Sad fact, but true.

But what if you could make socially responsible choices without ruining your wallet or going out of your way to do so? Yes, it's possible!

It's nerdy, but I don't care. Everyone should know what easy and feel good choices they can make when it comes to just simply living their everyday life. I'll be adding within the next few days what they can be.

i'm love with a stripper ~ lala

2010-11-29T15:34:00.000-08:00

Dug dealers. Wife-beaters. Litterers. Racists.

I adore/love at least one person that fits one of those categories.

I don't agree with the things they do, and I don't fully understand why they do the things they do. But they're still human, they're not 100% evil; they (try to) live life how they think living life is best.

Many of them are hard workers, excellent parents, sons, daughters, friends. They were brought up in certain ways, under certain circumstances, with certain cultures. It's not fair to judge based on just one aspect of the vast complexities.

Perhaps we should judge on virtue as oppose to lack of.

Everyone needs love- you don't have to be religious to know that. If they can earn it from me by being a loyal respectful friend, then let it be.

congratulations to meeeeeee

2010-11-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

The speeches were moving, my feet cold (literally), my family and friends awesome.

I have brain in my head and feet in my shoes, I will steer any direction I choose!

my beef with romeo and juliet

2010-11-23T04:43:00.000-08:00

A Taylor Swift song was playing at a restaurant today and was talking about a Romeo, and my beef with romeo and juliet allusions just all of a sudden sparked up again.

The story goes like this: they were star-crossed lovers (not meant to be), had people close to them die, and ended up dead. Not to mention, they were young at like, fourteen or something, and naive with a whole world waiting for them.

Now explain to me about these artists that allude to them. Why would someone await their Romeo, a boy that they were not destined to be with? Why would they jeopardize the lives of their close ones, their future, their lives for like a, one week romance?

That is all.

undemocratic actions in democratic countries

2010-11-16T16:24:00.000-08:00

I like it.

The HST petition went on. Colin Hansen said it wouldn't have an effect. It's not legally binding. The news reiterated him. People reiterated him. Well, guess what. He was wrong. And everyone who doubted the petition was too.

Let's see. The approval rating of the BC Liberals are behind the NDP by like 10%. Gordon Campbell's rating was the under 10% So he resigned. Hmm, what else, oh yes. There will be a binding referendum next year on scrapping the HST. Oh and the recall campaigns start next week, and from the sounds of it, it's going to be really successful.

Yea, I'm gloating.

Democracy, is beautiful.

Yearbook

2010-11-14T20:54:00.000-08:00

I hate my yearbooks. Argh.

My grad message was unedited, super cheesy, and I wrote something about how I'm going to be awesome- and I'm not awesome. I even quoted Robert Frost wrong.

Some of my yearbook pages were cramped up to the max because the other pages would have messages like "This page is reserved for Serena," and "This is Ray's page." The worse part is, they never got around to signing it.

The only pictures of me are of me with my eyes closed, or mouth open in mid sentence/song.

You see, for most high school students, school is the highlight of their day, and home is their downtime. But for me, I dated boys that belonged to other schools and held a part-time job. The customers, the boyfriends, were highlights of my day. I had no idea there was a social hierarchy because I was so caught up in my own after-school drama. My affair with the institution was strictly academic. Regret!

what

2010-11-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

The nature of tragedy causes people to ask what if. What if I had chosen differently? What if my luck had changed? What if I had made that mistake? What if he was still alive?

But, really, we need to focus what was, and the best way to keep on living, is the best way we know how.

the brave front

2010-11-11T00:37:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how we find ourselves putting on a brave front - even though we are going through tough times ourselves. How we end up being the strong one, telling others that everything will be okay, when we know, deep down inside, that everything sucks. How, if we fall apart, everything fall apart, so we owe it to not just ourselves, but our family and friends, to remain fortified.

roar

2010-11-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

My parents grew up in Cambodia when the communist forces, the Khmer Rouge, decided to purge everything associated with capitalism. The list included Chinese people, my parents. It was the world's second biggest genocide. My parents watched their family members die.

So my parents ran to Canada. Do you blame them?

Let's talk present day. Take the guy who disguised himself to be a caucasian elderly male to try to get into Canada as an example. When they arrested the Asian guy, he immediately claimed that he was seeking asylum.

Someone commented on CBC News:

Funny. I would love to move to Canada with my family. We are a young Australian family who can contribute much to your society. However we cannot move there as we have no other family members there and no University degree. Yet any old joe who is not white can break the law to get into your country and will be welcomed with open arms. Its not fair. Maybe we should go there by boat or fly there and claim refugee status..mind you it would probably be denied as we are white.

Mr. Australian, I'm sorry you can't come to Canada. I'm sure you want your life here, but this person wants to keep his life. They break rules to sneak into countries because they are that desperate. No one does silly things like wear a disguise unless they really have to. And why do you sound so racist?

This comment got fifty-four likes. Roar

mantras

2010-10-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

A mantra is a word, syllable, or phrase that you repetitively say to yourself that is capable of some sort of spiritual transformation. It doesn't mean that you have to repeat in your meditation...it can be totally organic, just something you naturally say to yourself a lot, and it starts to effect you.

My boyfriend's is I will eat healthy, tomorrow. A great goal, but a horrible mantra because tomorrow never comes.

My father's mantra is probably saving money ftw.

My self-identified organic mantra is a bit pathetic: I'm not good enough to apply for that job. I say it in my bed before I sleep, when I wake up, when I shower, search jobs, write cover letters, eat, watch a movie and talk to my friends. Yea, I think I'm going to have to force this one out. I need to go back everything will be okay.

What's yours? (a rhetorical question, I had no idea how to end this post)

kung fu fighting

2010-10-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's no secret, I'v been ~~a little~~ really stressed out lately. It's not my unemployedness, poorness and staying-at-home-ness...although they aren't making things any better.

The boyfriend asks me what he can do to make things better, but he can't. It's up to me. This is definitely a different species of pressure; it's not about getting the grades, or juggling a gazillion things, or living up to my parent's expectations. It's totally foreign.

And what's weird is that after a few weeks of being totally lost, I've been able to find some strength after stumbling upon a Kung Fu Panda song. Messed up, I know.

A Tragedy.

2010-10-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

"Muslims attacked us on 9/11." - Bill O'Reilly

Sigh.

UPDATE April 3, 2011 - I saw this post and I think it might have conveyed the opposite message that I intended it too. I think Bill O'Reilly sucks. Just thought I'd clear that up!

i can be anything i want (out of two)

2010-10-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

a never-patron

2010-10-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

every time i pass the florist
i want to buy someone special a flower
to make their day -
or at least their hour

but the only someone special i can think of
is the boyfriend
but boys don't like flowers -
or at least they pretend ;)

= FAIL

Capitalism: A Love Story

2010-10-05T20:03:00.001-07:00

I love documentaries...give this one a try if you have a couple hours to spare.

Run, Lynda, Run!

2010-09-05T04:26:00.000-07:00

In one hour I'll be running the Montreal Oasis Marathon...my first run ever! We picked up our stuff and I got this chip thing that goes on my shoes, and a couple of dri-fit shirts, and a bib. I look like an actual athlete LOL

I know I've been e-mailing and texting and facebooking - I promise to be unannoying after this - honestly: Please support my Run to End Poverty! The group of EWBers here are a bunch of of great kids (I can say that because I'm graduated now =D) - really!

Okay, time to go! Wish me good luck guys!

tell her she's beautiful

2010-09-02T23:10:00.001-07:00

She doesn't have to go through this. Tell people who are beautiful they are beautiful, because, even though it's obvious to you, it may not be so to them.

I don't know, stop asking me!

2010-08-15T01:40:00.001-07:00

Lynda, what are you going to be ~~when you grow up~~?

Yes, I'm done school. Yes, I am looking for a job. No, I don't know what kind of job in particular.

Yes, I want my job to have a positive social impact. Yes, I want to be paid well. Yes, I understand that finding a job with my criteria is difficult. No, I will not settle for a lesser job because I have student loans.

Some people have a tough time swallowing my point of view:

Career? They don't exist anymore. The average person changes jobs at least three times in their lives.
I am in Political Science & Economics. I am not trained to be anything in particular, and I can go into a lot of fields. I just probably won't be paid as much. It's not a bad thing, it's an exciting thing.
Returning to school is Plan F.

touched moment of the day

2010-08-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Silvia signed me up for this 5k race in montreal. It's good and everything but I can't really race in it because I can't even run 5k.

So that's why I was at bear creek park today; I was trying to learn how to run 5k, but after the ninth lap my calf cramped. My calf ALWAYS cramps, it's dumb. Anyways, I'm leaning against this rail trying to stretch it out and this little ~6 yr old korean boy (yellow shorts and a tacky baseball cap) runs up to me with a water bottle and asks me in a super thick accent "u okay?"

So cute. So, So cute. I wish I had a camera <3

do you remember, marky mark?

2010-08-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't know him and Wahlberg was the same guy until this year. Don't laugh! Anyways, he might be returning to rap if Bieber wants to collaborate with him. And Bieber does.

So, since I'm out of school and everything I was thinking about what that video would look like! I mean, Bieber is a midget BSB and Marky Mark is well, just look at this music video...

His outfits, you gotta love them. The baggy pants, the big jacket over the oversized unbuttoned shirt (I wonder if he buttoned it up he could lose the jacket?). Haha and he has this cane with an eightball on one end. Oh, and check out 2:41, he does this seductive lip licking thing....

deep dark secret

2010-08-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have a deep dark secret. Well, it's a little dark. But, I seem to have many personalities online now (um, none that are x-rated though). And to be honest, it's kind of fun. I pretend, and explore personalities...it's interesting.

Maybe I should be a novelist or something like that that.

the moose hunters

2010-08-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

I just had to share a joke from the Other Guys at the end of movie, after you watch all the credits. It's so bad, it's good. Oh, and if you want to keep me from "spoiling" the movie, then stop reading, now.

(Obviously this is not word by word, so don't get all anal)

There's two hunters looking for a moose in a forest. To make things easier, they decided to split up. The first hunter see's rustling in the bushes and so he gets his gun ready.

Then the second hunter jumps out of the bushes screaming, "I'm not a moose!"
The first hunter shoots him.
The second hunter, in pain from his bullet wound is bewildered: "Why did you shoot me? I told you I wasn't a moose!"
"Oh, I thought you said you were a moose!"

new subtitle

2010-08-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

I hate how in high school you have to find yourself socially.

In university, you have to find your self professionally.

As a grad, you have to do both, and you actually have to do both. This time is more important then ever- at least that's the feeling I'm getting.

And what does this real life feel like to me, right now? Bummish. I feel like a bum. Broke, no concrete plans for the future, and you just kind of find yourself bumming around. Every day.

I'm starting to think that my motto of going with the flow, is somehow flawed. But I don't see a better alternative.

there

2010-07-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

"Are we going to be friends forever?" asked Piglet.
"Even longer," Pooh answered.

tanning

2010-07-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

More startling evidence of an increase in skin cancer due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays in tanning beds. Mostly in younger women, or older girls. In fact, the World Health Organization put tanning beds in the same category as tobacco for cancer risk.

To prevent this, Victoria is considering banning tanning beds for girls under the age of 18.

someone's comment:

I'm 18 and I see girls my age and younger destroying their bodies in order to fit into society's twisted sense of what is beautiful. It's tragic how so much emphasis is put on physical beauty. Absolutely tragic. Why would you risk cancer--why would you risk your health, even your life--in order to look a certain way? Tanning is equivalent to dangerous dieting, maybe even worse. And what's the point? Do girls think that being a certain shade of orange will give them more attention? They're only objectifying themselves further than they already have, turning themselves into empty shells to be taken advantage of. And then they wonder why they end up in abusive relationships or victims of sexual attacks.

Tanning is the current anorexia which was once upon a time a norm..

Popular media likes tans. My friends like tans. Heck, even my boyfriend wants me to be a little more tanned. What's gross is that they all think that tans give you a healthy glow, and my boyfriend is asking me to increase my risk of skin cancer to look more of society's twisted sense of what is beautiful.

I give kudos to Victoria for considering prohibiting tanning for teenagers. Kids shouldn't be spending money on that when it's free outside anyways.

Okay, end of rant.

cambodia

2010-05-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

so far is amazing

minus the heat, lack of sanitariness standards and funny feeling in my stomach every time i eat something the doctor at home told me to stay away from

BIG-minus the hole in the grounds they call WC.

I came here to understand my family, their roots, their history. And what have I gotten so far? A mixture of awe, sorrow and appreciation. Here I hope to find the story of how my family, whom were targets/victims of the world's largest genocide after the Holocaust go from so-poor-they-were-malnourished, to legit millionaires in less than two decades.

Not sure if I'll find it, but maybe I'll get an idea.

Can't wait to see Prince Charming in a couple weeks, but this exploration is phenomenal.

antiperspirant

2010-05-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

they tell me its going to be hot over there. i'm going to be "sweating like a pig" and that means I'll be changing shirts at least three times a day.

so i'm leaving for southeast Asia tonight, and that means I'm currently packing. What I'm confused about is whether I should bring antiperspirant...

will it look weird if my shirt is drenched with sweat everywhere but at the armpits?

oh the horrid dillemas I face when I have no school or work! =D

boyz II men advice

2010-05-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

c'mon boys, listen to the lyrics for some tips. :)

twenty dollar bill

2010-04-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

I love reading comments on news reports- more for amusement and usually not for insight; I don't take them seriously because it seems like they are all political party and religious members sharing their (arguably) narrow views.

But one comment got to me.

Consider the life of a twenty dollar bill. Once it leaves the bank, it travels through so many hands, so many drug deals, so many thefts, so many crimes, so many church plates, so many...

Then there is the flow of the money itself. The poor pass their money up the line through groceries, rent and all the rest - the rich pay down the line in terms of providing wages, benefits, etc. to their employees. The folks at the top are in it for the money, only a small fraction flows down the line.

In my mind, all money is blood money. Someone was hurt somewhere at sometime for each buck going around the system. The more you have, the greater your responsibility is to the rest of the world.

The wealthy could not possibly have become rich if not for the poor. Your daddy isn't printing his own money in your eight car garage is he?

The delicious irony in your comments are that you are convinced that your wealth never touched dirty poor people's hands and yet your country club friends are just as convinced that every gov't project, every welfare check, every international aid handout, etc. came directly out of their own wallets.

You can't have it both ways

SOURCE: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/26/con-luxury-home-sales.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g4:r3:c0:b0

disturbed.

2010-04-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

what else is new? i need to study, but i thought i'd share a little but of youtube with you. it has disturbed me. a lot. and its upsetting that not very many news sites from America are carrying it (and if they are they make it unsearchable, downplaying it and not on the first page). this isn't a conspiracy folks. its real.

Also if you want to read more horrors, you can search "US Forces Kill Afghan Women, Then Dig Bullets Out of Bodies in Cover-Up"

the boyfriend test

2010-04-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

dear mr. boyfriend,
as you see this, i want you to call/text me right away to tell me you did.
i think it will take you at least five days to speak about this post.

your doubtful girlfriend,
lynda

(he claims that he keeps up with this blog. well, let's see about that.)

UPDATE: April 22 - he called me! I was right, 5 days... =p

turkey & chicken

2010-04-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

2nd blog of the day. I know.

For some reason when I'm stuck at my place trying to finish up work, my mind wanders off and I start googling stuff that my mind wanders off to, and find interesting stuff...

I googled whether the bird Turkey was named after the country or vice versa, but never really quite got the answer. My opinion now is that it was neither.

Anyways, I found out that Portuguese word for turkey is peru.

And I also found out that peru is slang in Brazil for penis. Someone pointed out that it makes the Brazil-Peru border interesting. Indeed it must.

I also found a place called Chicken, a small town (population ~17 ppl), in Alaska. Apparently they wanted to name it Ptarmigan (a chicken-like bird), because way back then, the miners used to eat lots of those. But Ptarmigan is pronounced Tarmigan, so afraid that they were going ot be laughed and ridiculted, the city-namers decided instead opt for Chicken instead. Go figure.

Okay guys, I REALLY need to go back to work now.

bullshit

2010-04-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

"...bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are"

-Professor Frankfurt, Princeton University

So, I had a presentation today, and was attacked with very good questions from my fellow students. They had potential to point out the flaws in our project. So, I took it upon myself to save the integrity and perhaps elevate the reputation of my group, by pulling things out of my ass. And it worked; my fellow smart-ass students were satisfied with the answers I provided. Er, at least that what I think.

Okay, so that's what got me on this subject: bullshit. What does it really mean? To my delight, there has been some scholastic literature on bullshit. In fact, Mr. Frankfurt's essay, On Bullshit was on a New York best seller's list for 27 weeks! Let me share with you a sypnosis of his paper by copy/pasting a wikipedia entry.

In the essay, Frankfurt defines a theory of bullshit, defining the concept and analyzing its applications. In particular, Frankfurt distinguishes bullshitting from lying: while the liar deliberately makes false claims, the bullshitter is simply uninterested in the truth. Bullshitters aim primarily to impress and persuade their audiences. While liars need to know the truth to better conceal it, bullshitters, interested solely in advancing their own agendas, have no use for the truth.

Just some food for thought. :)

hold your breath, it gets better

2010-04-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

"you don't want to go for a ride, do you? we can get out of the palace, see the world."

"is it safe?"

"sure, do you trust me?"

"what?"

"do you trust me?"

"...yes."

Thank You

2010-03-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all,
The morning rain clouds up my window,
And I can't see at all,
And even if I could it'd all be grey...

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay,
My head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today,
I'm late for work again...

I might not last the day.

And then you call me

and it's not so bad.

It's not so bad.

-Dido

where was his children?

2010-03-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

I was picking up a few groceries with my roommate at Save-Ons in Richmond, and we wandered into the soup aisle. I see this old Asian guy. Old because he was all wrinkly with gray hair peeping out of his tattered hat which wasn't as tattered as his dirty shoes that had a tongue each.

He had a can of soup awkwardly balanced with his body and forearm as his hand of his free arm searched through each pocket of his fanny pack. It was a thorough search too, with his fingers slowly exploring ever corner of every pocket, thrice.

He counted few coins he found from his search, returned the can of soup to the shelf, and walked away.

I saw him again behind me at the cashier. He had bought two packets of Mr. Noodles. He couldn't afford a dollar-something can of soup- he had to resort to a 40 cent-something pack of noodles.

No one should ever go through that.

hst

2010-03-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

Hopefully the last of my political blogging? Sorry guys who have no interest in this! But...

I'm a little pissed about HST, and I'm sure a lot of you are too. And although the federal part of the whole process is already passed and very soon the provincial part will pass, we can still stop it! It may be difficult, but it's possible!

No, this is not wishful thinking. Elections BC has approved this thing, where we have 90 days to collect signatures of 50% of registered voters in 2/3rd of the ridings in BC. This might not be very difficult seeing that probably more than 50% of British Columbians oppose this bill so we dont need to do any convincing. But thing is, everyone needs to be a registered voter by March 8, 2010 to be qualified to sign, and we only have 90 days to collect all the signatures.

So, if you are planning on signing the petition and your not a registered voter, you have 4 days to do so. Register here: https://eregister.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/ovr/welcome.aspx

Oh, and get the word out!

give it hell

2010-02-05T14:29:00.001-08:00

I am a fighter. And I will beat this.

- Jack Layton

When Layton announced that he had an important announcement to make, every source I could find- and I found a lot because I was really curious- speculated that he had a back injury, and because of that he's going to temporarily step down as leader.

Wrong.

It turns out that he has Prostate Cancer, and he's going to continue as leader. A ~~slight~~ major underestimation of Mr. Layton, I see.

I respect him. And now more than ever. And how many other people are like me? I learned today that there are lots.

I mean, his political opponents all wish him good luck, and told him that he will beat this, and they are behind him in all this, and etc. etc. But they had to say that kind of stuff, it'd be kind of cold hearted and detrimental to the polls if they didn't. But in forums and comments of online news articles, you can see that there are many people who are not ideologically aligned with the NDP, that respect Jack. There are lots of variations of "I will always be a conservative, and I know he has always given the conservatives hell. Well, I hope he gives prostate hell too."

Sigh, what a cool guy.

adopting one

2010-01-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

I don't quite believe in bearing a child. It takes too much work while you off from work, and there can be complications. Plus, why bring one more child in the world when there is an excess supply of them waiting for parents? Although over doing it a bit, I think Angelina has it right. Orphans need us, and if we need a child to take care of, from a utilitarian argument, we need to adopt, not to bear.

A long time ago I told my parents that I would probably adopt because it just makes sense. My mother told me I'll change my mind when I grow up. I'm 22 in one week, am I still growing up? The recent earthquake just enforced my decision. There will be thousands of orphans to add to the already high numbers in Haiti. They need us for their future. And they're so darn cute. Here's an ex-orphan that had just arrived to Canada from Haiti:

You can read and see more awesome pictures here.

the freezer

2010-01-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

I really appreciate it! It freezes things. Like, how many other things does that?

Bread. How is a lonely student suppose to eat a whole loaf of (cheap) bread before it expires without boring his/her taste buds? Answer: the freezer
Rice. The student no longer has to come home from a long day of work and school, and has to wait 30 minutes for her/her rice to finish (because that IS the staple food of the asian student diet). Just take it out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave, and you're done!
Fish. Some students like to eat healthy, but is on a budget. Solution? Buy a BIG fish, chop it into pieces and stick it in the freezer.
Vegetables. Continuation of the healthy budget thing. Microwave with a little salt and there you go, you're healthy.
Pizza. Every now and then grocery stores will have Delissio's frozen pizza for five dollars. (Safeway has it going on right now!!) Convenient, not entirely unhealthy, and cheap. This is our chance to stock up!
Ice cream, freeze pops. Study food ftw!

2010-01-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

The poet may make the poem
but the critic knows its true power.
Who better appreciates a woman's beauty,
her father or her lover?

my latest fixation

2010-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

I realize that the boyfriend takes up alot of my time. Now that he's out of the country, I find that I suddenly have so much free time on my hands. It's a good thing I guess.

My latest fixation is on Stormfront, a White Nationalist forum. There are people who are anti-racist, those that are proud to be white, and those that are super white supremists. Mostly the latter two though. It's a huge form, with thousands of members talking about just about anything, following grammatical rules but disregarding political correctness. In a sense, its a forum with the more intelligent neo-Nazis. You'll get those hicks that fall into their stereotype, but you'll also get credentially impressive people (namely, PhD and former politician David Duke. ) And yes, some of these people have held high ranks in the KKK.

They believe in freedom, but in a non-textbook concept. According to many of them, their rights to advocate white nationalism do not exist in "free" countries, and that, they say, is hypocritical. Although easily arguable, this stance is food for thought.

Since they believe in rights and such, the website says they advocate for these rights by opening a section for opposing views so both neo-nazis and anti-racists can battle out. Sounds good, right? An open forum and all? But the section is moderated; no post will be shown until permitted by a moderator (which is super likely to be a neo-nazi).

Overall, this website is a little scary but very very intriguing. I'm not saying I agree with them, but how they articulate their views gives them, do I dare say, a little bit more credibility in them. I've learned quite a bit about them from what movies they watch to where they hang out, and it's just, I don't know, so interesting.

The Boulevard

2010-01-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

Probably the coffee shop I've spent most time in. It's going to be sad when I graduate, I won't be studying or people watching anymore. I worked here for about two years, went to my Arts class, and lived on campus. I did things that the majority of Asians did not do, and so for the first couple years of my post-secondary career, I didn't realize that UBC was so concentrated in Asians. It's not a good or bad thing.

The crowd here is awesome. Of course, there are some Asian people. But there's more. People from all over the world is here. Accents, styles, hair, credit cards- everyone is different. Most are (potential) scholars. And they've all gathered here. It's like a sample of the world's geniuses and good coffee in one little shop.

And I've talked to some of them back in the day. Some of them talk weird, and think so twisted, it amuses me. But, I think if they were thrown in the heart of my hometown, people wouldn't like them very much. I sort of notice that in my hometown, people don't embrace different people or fobs, they get shunned instead. (that's why it seems as though everyone is wearing the same kind of clothes) Or is that a high school thing I'm thinking of? Anyways, these little international geniuses amuse me, and I want to meet everyone here.

But I won't, 'cause I would just come off as a creep or something. I'll just sit here, listen to their awesome accents, look at their different styles, and focus on catching up in class. I'm just a week behind, so its okay. :)

$1 Breakfast

2010-01-10T04:26:00.000-08:00

warning: emo post

around the same time of this year, over three years ago I'd be on the road to IKEA for breakfast with my friend where he'd always start his slew of witty remarks with, "but in sweden they..." i swear we spent every single day together for three months. learning about each other's culture, spending spares doing w.e, eating restaurants from around the world. we put so many hours into our chemistry provincial-- i can't believe he didn't show up for it.

yes, i know it's been a while- i just don't know how to get over it. man, i can't even imagine what his family is going through. this is more suitable for a diary entry, not a blog, i know. sorry.

but if anyone knows anything?...

Happy Belated Silvia!

2009-12-29T23:48:00.001-08:00

Let me introduce one of my main girls in my life. Her name is Silvia and I've known her since we were 5 (or so we were told). She's not awesome because I've known her for so long (although getting to acquainted with her awesomeness throughout the year helps), but because she's so selfless - ugh, it makes me look bad sometimes. She's like a hippy at heart- all green and going out of her way to be sustainable. Last year for her birthday/Christmas she asked for donations to the hospital as her gift.

This year she's joined EWB in the McGill chapter and is hoping to raise funds for clean water.

You can read about it here. Won't you guys help her out?

family lovin'

2009-12-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

no work, no school, no social outings. just plain staying home and spending time with parents that speak chinese and fragmented english while you speak english and fragmented chinese.

"i missed you so much, i'm glad your here" my mom tells me.
"oh?"
"yea, i'm not sure why- all you do is complain."

then my dad asks me to sit down to tell me a life story about saving money. he told me about this rich father who bought his son oysters at 10 dollars-a-piece. and the son said, "dad, oysters make me go diarrhea, but i will eat it because they were expensive." moral of the story, according to my dad? Better cherish what life gives you, especially if its expensive and even though it gives you diarrhea. Aww, thanks father.

that's my family-lovin'.

past-lynda so smart. present-lynda not so.

2009-12-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

so, do you guys wanna know why past-lynda booked off Monday for work three weeks ago? Because she had an exam this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Present-Lynda really thought the exam was Wednesday & Thursday. So she missed today's exam.

This is what happens when you don't sleep and all your days are mushed together- and your calendar weeks start with Saturday and you're used to the sunday-starting one.

everything will be okay!

2009-12-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

that's what i tell myself. and it keeps me going, even after a series of unfortunate events

lack of sleep
a document i worked on for 8+ hours crashes, i didn't save, auto recover only recovered the title of the document
addiction to two games during finals
arrive to work late, but it really didn't matter because i had the day off
prince charming's gone for the week
realized she's been eating fried rice thats over a week old
* not feeeling to welll =(
has only seen 4 people since Friday

actually i guess life isn't that bad, just boring and stressful. one more week!!

part-time jobs, full-time jobs, careers

2009-12-12T01:09:00.000-08:00

today at work i was handed a letter to extend my work term up until March. then i was congratulated by my boss's boss about being submitted into the job pool (he was the one that hired me). this could mean i get hired right after i graduate! it feels good to be chosen from over 300 candidates- it really does.

but now i want something more.

the stuff i study...

2009-12-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

is great. Really. It's so interesting to learn about the political and economic implications of a fruit company overthrowing a government. The UN's Millennium Develop Goals also give me a little bit of hope that this world isn't going to end up in disaster. And it's kind of cool to know why Wal-mart is more wealthier than Denmark and Hong Kong.

Like, how will I actually learn/know aobut this stuff when I graduate and enter the real world?

I think I'm getting sad about leaving school, which will be only a few months away.

Okay, back to studying.

here we go again.

2009-12-03T03:26:00.001-08:00

This time it's a Mocha Cream & Coffee Rockstar, knock-off Ferroro Rochers and Mama instant noodles.

I don't even have a thesis yet, and I need to hand it in in less than six hours.

The life of a student who doesn't know how to manage time.

facebook-less

2009-12-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

I ask my roommate to change my FB password so I can't log in and be distracted from my studies. It worked, for about day. Today, I found an awesome alternative procrastination source: LAMEBOOK.COM

Oh, how status updates can be so amusing. It's amusing how people can, through their statuses, be so cocky, so immature, break up with people, talk about their most personal lives - even when they are fb-friends with their parents...hahaha

Let me find some PG rated good ones to post up.

scholarly lynda

2009-11-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

"I think university life boils down to three things: school, a social life, and sleep. You can have two of these things; you can never have all three."
- Overheard @ UBC post

Unfortunately too true. Do we students overexaggerate the pain and suffering we go through during exam season? I don't think so. I mean like, when I'm on the 480 UBC, everyone is either sleeping, or studying lecture notes. Sometimes they don't even wake up on time for their stop (happened to me a few times -.-). And, let's take a look at some of the headlines for the most recent UBC newsletter:

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will be open 24/7 during exams starting November 30.

Need a place to crash on campus during exams? Try the Commuter Student Hostel.

Live in rez? Extended quiet hours for the exam period begin December 6 at 1:00 am.

This indicates that our seemingly over-excessive complaining is real, because concerned UBC staff have taken action to help ease our pain and suffering.

Is it like this for other schools too?

cravings

2009-11-18T21:32:00.000-08:00

i don't seem satisfied when i complete them now. i just feel fat and remorseful.

boo-f-ing-hoo.

ikea

2009-11-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

I spent the first half of my day with my parents today :) I think that because we no longer live with each other we appreciate each other more and more. My parents are back from Asia- they were planning on finding a place to settle there, and they did- but they decided that they'll settle there later. So they purchased it, came back here, kicked some tenants out of the house, did some renovations, and is moving in next week.

When I graduate, I get to move back with them. They gave me $1000 dollar budget to decorate/furnish my room (which is odd because they won't help me out with tuition) but whatever- I'm excited! We went to several furniture stores today, but had the most fun at IKEA, thinking up our dream home which will come true very shortly :)

if i wasn't researching my ass off - I would say life is good. very good.

Calories, Homework, Halloween

2009-11-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

I have nothing exciting to say because life is full of calorie counting and school. You should just avoid this blog until winter break. Anyways, here's three mini-posts for you.

MINI-POST #1: I got my midterm back this week, and it's not very pretty. No-life Lynda for 1.5 months. Can I do it? I've been hammering at school readings this whole weak, and it's making me really tired - I slept a 12 hour sleep the night before, and I just woke up from a 10 hour one.

MINI-POST #2: I know I'm not fat. Let's get that straight. But I know I can shed a few pounds and reach an ideal weight- and man, it's difficult. I've lost a little weight, so no one can tell (except for my boyfriend and one other friend) but enough to satisfy me. I did the whole calorie counting thing, and I guess it's worked, but it's sooooo much work. I give props to those hardcores who lose 30 pounds. That's what you call determination, and discipline. And I understand for those people who feel frustrated because they can't shed those pounds- it's fucking hard, I know!

MINI-POST #3: My Trick-or-Eat fundraising thing turned out to be a success! The the executive director e-mailed me letting me know that my blog post made him smile (he even tweeted about it! which in turn made ME smile!), and I got almost a dozen supporters to reach my goal of $200.00, then exceed my extended goal of $300.00. Thank you so much for your support guys!

aspartame

2009-11-02T13:35:00.001-08:00

It sort of pisses me off when they look at me drink my diet coke and say, You're going to die as they shake their heads in disgust.

I have done some research on it's harmfulness, and frankly, there has been nothing harmful about aspartame (at least nothing proved), that's why its FDA approved. There is a bad stigma around it though - thanks to the aspartame scare initiated by the threatened sugar corporations.

Do you guys even know why it is bad for you? Probably not. Because there is suspicion but no concrete empirical evidence. Remember the number rule in stats class:

Correlation doesn't imply causation.

For the non-staticians: if more fat people consume aspartame- it doesn't mean that aspartame caused them to get fat- it means more fat people are aware that their fat and so one of the measures that they take is to consume diet-ish thing likes diet coke.

Need a credible source? Time Magazine.

my mother

2009-11-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

she is coming over today to drop off chicken breast that was on sale in t&t. she told me she fillet it all nicely for me too. she also told me my place better be clean when she gets here.

i love my mother soo much. she brings me meat (everyone knows that meat is super expensive for a student budget!), and motivates me through fear to keep my place clean- even when i am hungover.

fighting my body

2009-10-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

stupid wisdom tooth. and cold sore. and back aches. and period. i hate you nail that got ripped so now my finger underneath is all exposed. f-you eye infection.

i need to go to classss

i'll fight you, i'll fight you all. *takes a big gulp of of water*

everytime i come close to youuuuuuuuuu

2009-10-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Introduced to me by Grace, all I can hear in the back of mind is this melody when I'm with Prince Charming. This song has an equally artistically-blessed music video. Looks like he has this relationship with a fictional character. (Fictional because she's too good to be true, in case you couldn't figure it out). Yet he's the one that takes her into a new world from the world of reality.

The artistry kind of mirrors my current mood- the high on life feeling probably fueled by infatuation and appreciation of everything.

In Grace's words, it's very Alice in Wonderland. And "i love how he says yeah, you're special to me.. la la la...uhh, minus the la la la"

Oh gosh, I'm so corny these days

ahhh

2009-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me

And I'm feeling good

that time of year again

2009-10-21T15:57:00.001-07:00

spend quality time with your can of rockstar (because you ditched sleep), ms word, and academic journals

dream for 4 hours about the necessary evils of exchange rates

wake up to walk to the bus to sleep on it

arrive and survive work as you look forward to your nap on the bus

nap on the bus

wake up at a stop, think you went to far and ended up in Richmond

run off the bus

find that you haven't even arrived at your destination yet

take the next bus to your place

fight the urge to sleep on your warm, welcoming, comfy, awesome, fantastical bed

spend quality time with your can of rockstar, ms word, and academic journals

instant noodles is for dinner

the poet

2009-10-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, when I worked for eBay for a whole whopping month, I met a poet/actor guy named Dan. I left for a better job (the great one I have now), and he left shortly after. He's one of those, struggling artists, passionate about their work, but barely surviving- sometimes, if I recall correct, even being homeless.

We've loosely kept in touch since, but I read many of his works. They are a bit weird, confusing and even extreme, but very entertaining. Here's his most cleverest piece yet:

Gordon Campbell's Emergency Press Conference on Homelessness

Dear Citizens of the Lower Mainland,

Thank you for tuning in today. Upon intensive discussions within my party and the local municipal leaders... We are proud to announce a comprehensive solution to eliminate homelessness and pump some much needed life into the local economy. For these solutions we turned to the Giant Turtle for inspiration. You see for the Turtle... Home is where their shell is.

Being as the homeless people in this Province are for the most part treated as animals anyway... This brought to mind two possible solutions.

1. Distribute one giant fiberglass shell to every homeless person we can find in the Greater Vancouver area,

2. Round up the homeless people in the dead of the night... and surgically weld the tortoiseshells to their body.

We opted for solution number two. Being that the entire homeless population of this city is clearly made up of illiterate drug addicts and alcoholics, they obviously have no concept of what is for their own good. Meaning that they may forego this help we are giving them and choose to continue to live in their dangerous conditions of squalor, violence and decay. Take that heart tugging incident from last year, where that poor woman from the Downtown Eastside refused to enter a Mission and accidentally set herself on fire, burning to death. Surely with the resolution of this homeless issue so close at hand we can not allow a tragedy such as this to occur again. For practical reasons we must enforce this great gift. We must be as parents looking after small children.

Furthermore, with these personal shell-on-their-back domiciles being built... there is no longer reason to maintain low income housing on the Downtown Eastside. All residents will be rounded up within 30 days and fitted with tortoiseshells. Their low class hovels will be demolished and huge amounts of local development will kick in... The purpose being to build exorbitantly priced condos for rich foreign tourists to stay in during the Olympic Games in February. Following the games they will be sold to the highest bidder.

Also, as there may be some ignorant backlash regarding this... we are quarantining these new turtle sapiens into a small, almost deserted section of the Lower Mainland... the district of Pitt Meadows... for an adjustment period which coincidentally will last until after the Olympic games next year. No correlation between the Games and the imposed quarantine of course.

As well, anyone who spreads propaganda against these great acts of humanitarianism... either through signs, words, or outright protest will be immediately imprisoned for lack of compassion towards their fellow man. For what possible reason would they not want these people to be sheltered and taken care of? Clearly a move against measures such as this is a move against decency itself, and deserves to be punished to the utmost.

Finally... after a period of reconditioning and joyous acceptance of their new place in our society--No sooner than the end of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games--the most aesthetically pleasing and charismatic of these former homeless will be commissioned to serve as models for action figures, and we will create a new cartoon based on their experiences. This cartoon will be similar to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in concept... will carry the same weirdness, but will also be educational and socially relevant. The funds raised through Action Figure Sales, TV Viewership and Video Game marketing, will be used to give tax breaks to big business... and provide us politicians with a much needed pay raise, as well as gift certificates to the local salon.

As you can see the above will do wonders to rebuild our sagging economy, and most importantly provide homes for the poverty stricken and destitute among us... helping to build a better, more loving, and tolerant BC for all of us. Thank you.

trick or eat!

2009-10-15T08:21:00.001-07:00

I'm not too sure how many people read my blog, but here goes:

On the UBC Newsletter, they mentioned that $2.7 million Canadians don't know when their next meal is. Then right after, asked me what I was doing for Halloween and told me I should make a difference with it. And so with the synthesis of the that sucks feeling, and the I don't know response I got, okay.

So here is the favor I ask of you. I'm doing that pledging, sponsoring thing where I'm just asking for donations for the hungry. (I'll be doing more than that on Halloween of course, I'll be trick or treating for non-perishable foods for them)

It's only $2.50 to purchase a meal. Wouldn't you want to purchase at least one meal and feel really really good about it, and have that person who ate it feel really good that there's someone out there for them during non-Christmas holidays?

Click here to donate/support/sponsor now.

Oh, and it's not just homeless people who are hungry. Victims of the recession that had awesome careers, a decent house, a husband/wife and children are visiting the food banks these days. They need our help more than ever!

This is my first time doing this kind of thing, so please, make my first time not a fail!

sleep

2009-10-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I missed my stop because I was sleeping...I really hate my sleeping pattern right now. And when I got back to my place, I slept until 8:30 p.m. So, so screwed up my body is.

Speaking of sleep, my brother-in-law from http://www.heavyclothing.ca mentioned a photo contest with the theme sleep. Check it out.

This is probably my favorite one:

work is fun!

2009-10-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

I received a phone call yesterday from my boss, asking me to help out with a trade show for the next morning.

And so I arrived, rather late because I got lost, in my nicest attire, armed with my business cards, ready to go. What a wonderful experience work as provided me yet again. I am really going to miss this job. I really hope my career is as different, educational, inspiring, and interesting as this. I really do.

He's lucky I like him

2009-10-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

In one of my posts, I casually noted that the boyfriend's run out of surprises- but not in a do-something-about-it-way. It was just you know, part of my complaining about my boredom.

But he certainly took it that way and told me to keep a weekday free for him. Although impressed by his proactive-ness and excited to see what was in store, I told him that I wasn't implying anything in that post. I guess by telling him that, it meant he was allowed to abandon his plans of being awesome because this weekday was never brought up ever again.

I just wanted to say publicly that, you suck. You're lucky I like you.

That was the last post about him Ashish, I promise.

Philantropists are Sexy

2009-10-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

I remember watching Dragon's Den, Canadian version, and found myself attracted to an angel investor, W. Brett Wilson. I'm not sure why. He's old and hairy everywhere but his head, and doesn't dress very well. I think it's because of his charitable deeds. He doesn't just donate the money, he takes a hands on approach in organizing events, climbing mountains for Alzheimer's, and all the jazz. That must be the reason why my heart gets all warmed up when I see him on TV. Tee hee!

After Japanese class today, a shy asian kid with glasses (think a nervous hiro nakumura) stood up with a shoe box with a slit in it and asked us to donate for Indonesia and the Phillipines. He clearly is afraid of public speaking, but clearly wanted to support the cause. In that moment he was speaking to us, he grew a little cuter. *blush*

Yes, so that's my blog of today. Time to do some readings!

ew, routine.

2009-10-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

Routines are lame. It's fun when you get into it, but once your in it, don't you have a thirst for traveling? I want to explore places nearby, and across the world. I hate routines, they drive me nuts!

My friends do the same thing, all the time. My running route has the same kids walking/skateboarding to school, the same Chinese lady in the garden with a hose, and the same handlebar mustache guy with a bike having a grande-something from starbucks. Even the boyfriend's run out of surprises. And now that I need to watch my weight, food is now bland, or the unbland food comes in limited quantities.

I might sound pathetic, but the most exciting part of my week is class. We actually learn different things each class...

I should just start up WOW again.

Anyways, I just got reminded of this song:

applications galore

2009-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Lynda, what are you going to be ~~when you grow up~~ in 7 months?

711

2009-09-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

second post of the day. awesome.

so I was at 711 checking my mail, because that's where my mail goes to and all and there's a nice looking man around his 40's smiling at me. I smile back, and I guess by doing that I welcomed a conversation:

"You're a student."
"Why, yes I am."
"What are you studying?"
"Political Science and economics."
"Ah, I see. Are you born in late January, or February?"
"February."
"February 4th, 5th, 6th?"
"3rd."

His guesses were close enough for me to be taken aback. Wow, this guy's a fortune teller or something.

"What about me made you think I was born in January or February?"
"Because you have a lot of Chi - or energy, you are helpful and social, and you are good at political science."

Then he goes on about his life. He's a German and studies natural medicine and travels to Japan, China, and south east Asia which in my opinion is a super cool career- just as cool as the journalist I had met earlier in the afternoon. He read me pretty well, or maybe he was just luck. I'd document it here, but I fear that a long blog post will deter readers away, so I won't.

We discuss about communism and capitalism, and we agree that Marx and Engels are geniuses, and so is China for being communist, but taking the awesome parts of capitalism and incorporating it into their system. And then he continues to probe me even more:

"You have a longer vision than most people, so when you joke or explain yourself, most people get confused, because their vision are shorter than yours."

I never looked at it like that, but now that he's pointed it out, he might be right about that. still got to think about it a little bit more.

We talked a little bit more, I looked at my watch, he got the hint:

"Well you seem to be busy, so I will let you leave. Thank you for talking to me, it was nice."

i wonder if i'm going to meet any other randoms today?

BC

2009-09-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

so today when I was on the ferry enjoying the scenery, a nice-looking young male introduced himself to me as a journalist for L'actualité (French version of Maclean's) covering BC and I guess BC's identity or something. He went to BC's rain forests up in the northern coast, and just interviewed Robert Fleming in Victoria and was going to meet up at a cafe with a well-known author in Vancouver. I've done none of that...

Anyways, he tried to interview me about what I thought about BC but I pretty much failed in giving answers worthy of publishing. I even told him that Brother Bear the movie reminded me of BC, but I guess I was wrong because when I got back I found out that the movie took place in Alaska.

Man, He really made me realize something: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROVINCE. He knew more about it than me..and has been to more places in BC than me...

I hope he doesn't conclude that about british columbians don't know anything about their province...bah

bc's capitol

2009-09-17T20:18:00.001-07:00

Work sent me and a few others here for a conference. And so here I am.

And gosh this little city is gorgeous! I've only seen downtown, and I've only been here for two days. And I'm already in love with this city.

And I love the ferry rids. I love watching the ripples in the water going in all different places depending on the wind and the part of the boat it's coming from, with the sky, and the islands littered with fluffy trees..I can go on.

I did the classic frolicking around town, enjoying locally made gelato. There was a gentleman in the Darth Vader suit playing star wars-like tunes on his violin, so I thought it was appropriate to throw him a couple American dollars. I also went to a bug zoo and got to hold tarantulas, millipedes, scorpions and a plethora of insects that look like twigs and leaves.

And the hotel isn't bad. Last night, I took a pleasant bath for the first time since June 12 (moved to a place without a bathtub in may), and fell into a peaceful slumber on probably one of the most comfortable bed in the world in a room on the tenth floor with a very scenic view.

And work is awesome. We got to chat, eat fine food, drink a little g&t, and we exceeded out goal. On breaks I had time to attend a Question Period in the legislative building, and that was probably the highlight of my trip. I love politics, and to watch them go at it live, is so much better than listening to them on the radio. In fact, I'm going to wake up early tomorrow morning and take a formal tour of the building.

And I just came back from a pool. Met a pretty lady who was down here for some research on health. Went into the Sauna for the first time and taught myself how to kind of swim. And the hot tub was great. Then my girlfriends left so then I had the pool to myself. Like, ALL to myself. Awesomeness.

High on life, that I am.

If I was a Giraffe...

2009-09-12T01:11:00.000-07:00

I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe, and someone said I was a snake, I'd think, no, actually I'm a giraffe.

-Richard Gere

From elementary until the middle of high school my name was Linda. But now I'm Lynda once again. It's because my elementary teacher insisted that my name was spelt with an 'i" so I believed her; at least until I found my birth certificate and applied for a passport. I was living a lie this whole time.

I think I know why I'm so happy these days; I know myself, I understand myself. I don't need no soul searching, no finding myself from within crap. I know who I am. It's like, if someone said I was Linda, I'd say, no, actually I'm Lynda.

I have a couple friends who are doing a little soul searching, and I can tell that they are progressing. Just keep on going, don't give up. You're doing great =)

On a side note. Tammy and I got a desk for her room and a dining table for our place. And although the tables might be a little wobbly, I love them to death 'cause we shopped, picked out, and assembled them. Partners in crime *pound*

Responsible Lynda

2009-09-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

I thought today was the start of a new year, a school year. But it's not. Like it could have been if I had made to to UBC today for all the orientations and fairs and stuff, but I decided to sleep a beautiful 15 hour sleep that in my opinion was much deserved after 72 hours of fighting my way to the front of the stage, then head bobbing, and helping crowd surfers stay afloat. Much deserved.

So tomorrow will be the start of something new. And although I say that for the last 8 days that has occurred after Labour Day, this year will be different. It may possibly be my last year in school so I might as well make the best of it. And when I say best of it, I mean locking myself into my room for more than 24 hours at a time in complete social isolation to get all my readings done.

Hurrah!

With a little Help from My Friends

2009-09-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

I appreciate life too much and I every time I think about how lucky I am I get a gush of some-kinda-feeling-that-makes-me-feel good. It's like, some thing has given me a little sample of Nirvana.

Gosh, my posts have been so cheesy lately. I need to change it up a bit. Hm, after this post I guess.

A little ~~eye-candy-~~ er - ear candy: