Nothing comes from something

latest linkies

2012-02-06T19:08:00.000-08:00

cooooooooool - ok go's newest video

only in taiwan... and it is totally true

something i need - manual photography cheat sheet

need a good scifi/fantasy book? choose your path...

random picture of a well placed license plate

and it's a bit old, but this is also true of snow...

sketchbook project 2012!

2012-02-01T00:18:00.000-08:00

completed and mailed!
there wasn't as many pages to fill, but i had a hard time finding motivation without roommates around. i did try some pencil-to-pen outline sketches and strayed from my original plans with the theme. overall a fun experience, even if it cost me a couple nights of 2-3am bedtimes.

check it out during their tour or in Brooklyn, NY.
my theme for 2012: Writing on the Wall

now then... bedtime.

bad habits

2012-01-28T01:51:00.000-08:00

recent bad habits i need to be mindful of........

- clenching my jaw

- tensing shoulders and neck

- eating snacks out of boredom

- going to bed past 1am

- getting annoyed at others for habits that i hate in myself

- resisting commitments

- being lazy and a loner

short term long term randoms

2012-01-21T03:15:00.000-08:00

1. new photos! mostly 2012, but added some to my christmas and winter collections
2. former roommate came to visit last weekend - lots of good food and relaxation!
3. this week's weather amused me. why? snow, ice, flood. 'nuff said.
4. a short term goal - go to yoga once a week before march (to use up a certain livingsocial deal...)
5. a long term goal - save money. first steps, eat out less, and no more buying useless stuff
6. another short term goal - be social at least twice a week
7. and another long term goal - do some soul searching...
8. way to lose your credibility, anonymous. oh wait, you lost that a while ago
9. currently on a kalafina kick. it's hard to get off of... they have such awesome voices
10. i can't believe january is almost over already. where did it go??

some recent intrigues

2012-01-15T00:48:00.000-08:00

this turtle may have depth perception issues
honest logos - true statements, amusing, and kinda neat
inspiring time lapse of someone going around the world
do you love pringles? i do too, even knowing how they're made
wait, a reasonable solution for copyright holders? no waaaay
hmm some amusing and some terrible comments from goldman sachs
zelda fans - read up on your hyrule historia! (and summarized here)

post holidays and new year, so back to the grind

2012-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

1. posted more winter photos, and then my xmas/nye travels in austin. fun times. didn't take many people pics in atx out of laziness... i kinda regret that now
2. eating out of boredom is a really bad habit and really hard to break
3. everyone's lives take drastically different directions
4. things of austin i miss - spaciousness, certain foods, certain friends
5. things of austin i don't miss - dry winters, hot summers, and people doing the same things since i left
6. glass blowing is super mezmerising
7. hills are hard to walk up again. sigh so out of shape
8. kinda happy yet sad that i still don't have a tv... happy because it frees me to do other things, sad because i have many video games gathering dust
9. sketchbook project deadline is closing in fast... barely halfway done... rut roh
10. just tried flying trapeze. holy adrenaline rush, ugh to dizziness, ow to the leg bruise, but super fun!

slightly obligatory new year's eve post

2011-12-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

2011 for me was a big year of change. giant whirlwind of emotions - excitement of moving, grief due to loss, eagerness to explore, heartache of loneliness, intrigue of new hobbies, frustration at injuries... some were great, some were downright depressing.

revisiting my 2011 goals...
1. do at least one active thing per week - semi-FAIL
first half of the year, yes. 2nd half, not so much
2. travel once every 2 months - DONE!
milwaukee (2/5), twin cities (4/8), new orleans (5/6), new york (5/18), move to seattle (6/9-not exactly traveling, but let's count it), vancouver (7/30), new york (8/20), los angeles (10/20), san francisco (11/23), austin/houston (12/24)
3. finish at least one book every 2 months - FAIL
this goal fizzled in 2nd half of the year, but I did read 4 books...
4. actively pursue a real FT job - DONE!
started a new one 6/13/11
5. finish some console games currently collecting dust - FAIL
this was hard to do in the 2nd half of the year due to lack of a TV...

so. definitely need to improve on working towards my goals.

decreeing new 2012 goals...
1. call my mother at minimum once a month, work towards once a week
2. travel once every 2 months (this was a fun one from last year)
3. pickup a new activity (once the knee fully heals)
4. finish games and projects that i start
5. read 5 books

have a happy new year!

pre-christmas tens

2011-12-24T01:48:00.000-08:00

1. new slew of photos. december always gets crazy
2. i like the excitement of seattle, but i do miss my wisconsin friends and the simpler life of the midwest.
3. seattle taxi drivers have my vote as the worst drivers in the city
4. curse you human nature for being attracted to new and shiny things even though you already have everything you need
5. "done is better than perfect" - something i need to keep in mind
6. in several lineups of watches, my favorites were always the most expensive ones, i.e. priced in the $1,500s while the rest were $300s. apparently i have expensive tastes in watches. sigh.
7. bad years cycle
8. chronic pain also cycles (re: knees)
9. how computers work circa 1978. what a gem
10. i stay up too late nowadays. the fatigue is catching up...

texas, here i come!

randomness is the internet

2011-12-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

collection of links i haven't posted...

tribute to calvin and hobbes creator - puts me in the spirit =)
and to continue that spirit... damon claus made me lol
if ever you wanted an evil fireplace... here you go
awesomely crazy slide in japan
realistically over-encumbered link... and that's why it's a fun game
something everyone could use... google tips!

Hello December!

2011-12-07T01:15:00.000-08:00

We are well into December. I've been a bit lazy lately.

1. Thanksgiving photos are finally up. I took a lot this year...
2. pack rat-ness and indecison runs strong in my family
3. i do quite love the ability to walk to places i eat or shop at
4. update on my knee... i was able to run to catch a bus today with no pain!
5. it's the first time since my laser eye surgery that i need to get my eyes checked... right eye has not been happy. farewell 2 years of corrective lens-free lifestyle.
6. december is always so busy. i have so much i want to do, and so little time
7. i volunteered to do gift wrapping and it was fun! must do it again
8. impulsive purchases have gone rampant this month
9. occupy needs to die or get organized
10. gonna be in houston 12/25-12/26 and austin 12/27-1/3. haven't been back to TX in two years...

11 minus 1 is 10

2011-11-22T01:27:00.000-08:00

pre-holiday craziness list of tens

1. had an awesome weekend hanging out with my visiting friends - photos!
2. did not realize that skyward sword theme is the reverse of zelda's theme...
3. this strand of hair was white until i quit my stressful job in 2010. i have been using it as a reminder of how long it's been since i made the bold decision to quit. it will be cut off at my next haircut and i'm actually a bit sad to part wtih it
4. my apartment is FINALLY clean after 5 months! (pics 1 2 3)
5. looking at my recent photos... i really need a camera with image stabilizer. also, i need to clean my camera lens
6. i've got two days to undo my weekend food damage to prepare for thanksgiving's food damage
7. i WILL get a TV on cyber monday... eh, if the price is right
8. the PM in me is screaming at the developers and testers, including myself. no good
9. there are so many choices to define what you will become
10. this thanksgiving, i am thankful for having such dedicated parents in my life, for without their efforts i could not do what i want at my own pace under my own roof and appreciate life for what it is

links gathering dust

2011-11-16T23:16:00.001-08:00

how to wear a scarf - friend sent this a while back, but now i'm starting to take notes
infographs of people's thoughts about infringement
reddit's way to find kentucky on a map
some programmer-related career advice (it's long but has some decent takeaways)
and because i am a futurama fan... the alignment chart

on 111111

2011-11-11T01:03:00.001-08:00

1. intriguing moment of the day - coming back from lunch and seeing 1:11p 11-11-11 on my work phone
1. i finally finished my first box of floss. hooray, my teeth feel healthier!
1. yea, i should invest in a kitchenaid considering how much i bake nowadays
1. seeing the numbering monotony yet?
1. heal, you stupid knee...
1. another reason why i want a dog - cute!

fin.

today is 11022011 (the american way)

2011-11-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

holy palindrome, batman! let's spin out ten random thoughts!

1. added some more photos... the seattle adventure continues

2. my manager/lead count at work since starting in june - 6 (7 if you count helping out on a project)

3. i had been looking forward to life in a day for a while, and now you can watch the whole thing! all sorts of cultures, emotions, hilarity, sometimes graphic (warning, not for the feint of heart). it's very enlightening

4. heeeeere comes the raaaaaiin

5. knee update - currently strengthening, probably at 75% now

6. friends visiting in a couple weeks - i'm really looking excited to see them!!! =D

7. this month i will really strive to lose a couple pounds...

8. just looked at my resolutions for this year... doing/did 3/5, it will be hard to make up "do at least one active thing per week". does walking to the bus stop and uphill to work count?

9. also looked at my 30 before 30... completed 10/30. i should actively work to complete these

10. katsu curry is a delicious japanese comfort food i wish i grew up with

ten still seems like a lot. maybe i should cut it back down to 5... or somewhere in between.

The LA times

2011-10-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

had an awesome trip recently to LA visiting friends. some of the highlights:
- lots of random photos
- zelda 25th anniversary concert and vip seats
- drunk comments that turned into an inside joke
- finding neil patrick harris' hollywood star
- chicken 'n waffles at roscoe's
- super cute husky-corgi mix
- daikokuya ramen
- Amy Adams and light paparazzi at the airport

recent tens

2011-10-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

1. i am soooo done with technical support... very glad my career is shifting
2. latest photos of fall
3. signed up for sketchbook project 2012 out of impulse. fun times ahead
4. i need to remind myself that you don't replace your friends, you make new ones
5. seeing Jonathan Frakes in person at a sci-fi pops concert was a lot of fun. seeing him run around the audience then scream "GHOSTBUSTERS" one row in front of me - priceless
6. jealousy of other people's adventures is getting in my way
7. heal, body, heal!
8. small companies are good in that individual needs are addressed... but the whole system lacks structure and process
9. fight!
10. new goal - get more than 5hrs of sleep each night

linkies r us

2011-10-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

hahaha peeling a head of garlic in less than 10 seconds works and it's fun!
10 ways to lower your lifespan - i'm screwed, 7/10 apply to me
super awesome elevator that they should make more of
self-sufficient dog, we got a smart one there

inevitable fears

2011-10-10T00:54:00.000-07:00

i'm scared of growing old
i've become painfully aware of this recently... now i understand why i have grown increasingly impatient with my life. i want to explore and travel and experience life while i'm still young and mobile. i don't want to lose my self-sufficiency......

on a related note, i don't think i will make my october goal to lose 2-3 lbs. my knees have given up on me which makes me very inactive. argh.

all going along with this year's theme of "life's big changes"

10th month of the year

2011-10-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

new list of 10 general and random things i wish to share with the general public

1. i have successfully fulfilled my goal for september (eat out 6 meals max in a week). had to say 'no' to many lunches in anticipation of dinner outings to do it. october's goal is to eat less/exercise off 2-3 lbs...
2. added some photos - seattle sunset pictures and ride the ducks tour. and thus concludes the sunny season of the city
3. trips planned: LA 10/20-10/23, SF 11/23-11/29, ATX (tentatively) 12/24-1/1
4. i need to start using my groupon/livingsocial vouchers
5. disappointed that ulrich schnauss couldn't make decibel festival, but tycho was fun
6. i suck at texting. also, i'm learning swype on the android
7. so begins the awkward transition period from tech support to QA. then comes the mentoring and buddy system. it's only been 3.5 months since i started. wee.
8. recently had an out-of-body experience where i dreamt i was floating... weird, cool, and eerie
9. piroshkis are delicious
10. i have way too many hobbies and interests and am too restless to focus on one at a time

and completely random - synchronized walking. if you're short on time, just skip to 1:37. the rest of it will just make you feel like an insignificant pixel in a video on the net.
so that's how they learn to walk in crowds... i see, i see.

Ten on Tuesday - Vacations

2011-09-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

because i can, and because i've been thinking about travel a lot recently
borrowed from linda@curious-notions which is from roots and rings

1. What is your dream vacation?
Go see the mountains and country side of China/Asia. Or, go to Europe for a month and wander

2. What has been your favorite trip so far in your life?
One of my fondest is Taiwan in 2007 for Christmas, New Years, and fun with friends and family

3. If you and one of your best friends could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be and why?
Japan because I admire the food and culture and language

4. Have you ever booked a trip using an online deal? How did it go?
Hmm, does Expedia or Orbitz count? Then yes, it worked and I got my slightly cheaper flight

5. What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re on vacation?
Eat the food, then experience the culture

6. Have you ever missed an opportunity to take a trip that you regret?
Yes, two orchestra trips in high school, a ski resort and Europe

7. You travel far away from home and get stranded with no way to buy anything, what’s the one thing you can’t live without?
Camera. Assuming I'll eventually go home, I want pictures of where I'm stranded because it will likely be isolated and untraveled territory

8. What’s one of your favorite traveling memories?
Resting in London on a bench, then being asked to mimic my roommate, and both my friend and I made the exact same face on camera

9. All included resort or backpacking? Why?
Both? Probably resort, but I do want to try backpacking once

10. Are you more of a lie on the beach kind of person on vacation, or do you prefer to see the sights?
See the sights, unless there is nothing else to do but lie on a beach. The Caribbean particularly comes to mind.

hello world. or something

2011-09-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

1. i'm shifting careers in a month. this year as been VERY eventful, and it's only 3/4 done...
2. daiso is a dangerous $1.50 store
3. my sense of perfectionism is also hindering my growth
4. the older i get, the better i am able to tell another person's age
5. i should stop buying fruit-infused chocolates because they are never as good as i think they will be
6. seattle's central library has a very intriguing design. i like it
7. dwelling on the past goes no where. people move on, i need to move forward too
8. my waistline expands fast when i wear khakis all the time. jeans give me a frame of reference.
9. scrapped princess novels are childish but fun
10. sometimes i feel like all this time i've just been running away

september tens

2011-09-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

1. this year is really flying by...
2. still in vacation mode from my trip to ny. labor day weekend did not help. anyhow here are some photos
3. i'm happy to report that i have stronger walking legs now, and was able to peruse many stretches of NYC with no problems
4. my goal for this month is to eat at home more often by capping myself at 6 meals out max in a week (lunch & dinner) (yes, still pretty generous...)
5. next set of big purchases - TV, smartphone, vacuum, and lots of airplane tickets
6. spotify is pretty neat
7. i miss my parmesan oregano bread at subway
8. managed to bike ~7 miles on flat roads. got pretty tired towards the end tho
9. hurricanes and fires and other disasters everywhere. oh my...
10. i can feel myself wasting away, hanging on to the past, and falling into routine again... just highly unmotivated recently

neato links

2011-09-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

whoa it's september already.

playing online games as an adult - yea, pretty much...

bored at work? make weapons from paperclips

ok go and the muppets - baa-aark?

if ever i buy a house with a basement, i'm getting this puzzle

katamari desk organizer DIY project looks fun

cartography of the world - globaia - very neat

10 things learned from packing

2011-08-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

here are 10 things i've learned from packing my parents' house and cleaning out boxes from 5+ years ago

1. before microsoft office, there was lotus symphony

2. i actually read quite a decent amount of books when i was a kid

3. how to be a pack rat = keep all (and i mean ALL) things that might be useful, such as receipts, paperwork, cables, maps, postcards, pictures, VHS and cassette tapes, floor plans, boxes, magazines, books, floppies, sauce packs, utensils..............

4. how to be a pack rat #2 - have one item and two backups in case that one breaks

5. how to be a pack rat #3 - buy tons of clothing when they're on sale and never wear them (i am somewhat guilty of this)

6. you only know so much about your family history as your parents tell you... ex., old photos and family trees are completely lost on me now

7. how to fill your fridge - buy all your food from costco

8. i used to weigh more, and now i know why. my parents fed me a lot of food!

9. classic gender stereotyping annoys me. men are not the only gender that can pack computer parts. in fact, i probably know more about computers than 50% of men out there. thanks for the vote of confidence.

10. hurricane irene really does not want to let anyone in or out of nyc :(

interesting links i've saved up

2011-08-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

interesting study on decision fatigue..

the whole world in a minute makes me want to travel

cool depiction of the tree of life for hyrule

want to feel nostalgic about solitaire?

i am a sucker for tiny things

10 thoughts galore

2011-08-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

1. i'll be in new york for the next 10 days to help pack my mother's house. it's going to be my last time in the area for a long while. i'm going to miss visiting regularly... it has become home away from home

2. finally finished clash of kings. i really want to watch the HBO series now...

3. music from pixar's Up will forever invoke bittersweet emotions

4. dear seattle - if being green is your goal, why are all of your stairwells locked, forcing people to use elevators to get anywhere?

5. i need a new personal phone, but should i upgrade to a smart phone when though i already lug my work's blackberry?

6. ok, so no more buying nice-to-haves. only the must-haves-to-live. except during vacation.

7. traffic patterns in seattle outright suck

8. i may be obsessed with food, since all of my planning revolves around meals

9. cupcakes are fun to make. see?

10. it's still hard to believe that it's been 3 months since craziness started. here's to more random things life throws out

seattle + 2 months

2011-08-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

it's been 2 months since i moved to seattle. time really does fly. lesse... interesting things that have happened?

- work has picked up some pace

- really enjoying walking next to pike place market each day from work

- attended many meetups for general outings and board games

- experiencied the seattle freeze first hand

- feeling some dejavu between now and when i first moved to madison

- took a food trip to vancouver

- watched a little bit of the blue angels

- lots of shopping and splurging, still

- i now have a number of groupon/livingsocial vouchers...

so goes the life of moving to a new city.

a quick 10 thoughts

2011-08-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

1. photos update: seattle firsts additions and vancouver

2. it's august, and summer has just begun in seattle. sigh.

3. the best parts about ikea furniture is the price and the fact that you get to build it

4. soon i will have a tan on the left side of my face because that's where the sun shines when walking to/from work

5. despite all the walking, i do need to find some more vigorous activity

6. sometimes i think politicians forgot how to compromise

7. this cat is quite amusing

8. the jade plants are starting to grow. hooray, i didn't kill them!

9. i read very slowly

10. back to the old bumming habits. rebuilding is tough

intriguing links laying around

2011-07-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

the work life simplified - sad but true sometimes

sunscreen infograph now that the sun is out

if link had a portal gun... oh the possibilities

our memory banks are changing

best of all... pomeranian puppies! aww those lil' balls of fluff

10 thoughts? sure why not

2011-07-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

1. long overdue set of photos taken since moving to seattle

2. green tea tiramisu at hiroki was delicious

3. just tried google+, there are certainly lots of neat and promising features. guess i'll be playing with it more soon

4. playing piano is an important de-stressor for me

5. the apartment is almost complete. just need a TV and to actually organize/clean/decorate the place

6. my career path is divided again between two contrasting roles. which way to go?

7. i wonder when i should start switching over to blu-ray. seems so costly to replace dvds though

8. the perfectionist inside is affecting my judgement

9. while the nation is baking and melting alive, i am wondering why it isn't warmer here...

10. it's been two months of many big life changes, and they're still coming

one month sure flies fast

2011-07-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

time sure flies

1. i'd really like a new career or to be able to define what my current one is

2. moving here at the beginning of summer is REALLY skewing my image of typical seattle weather

3. my wallet is crying because i've been shopping too much for apt stuff. yet i still want more

4. yes, it will take me a good year to feel settled again

5. i'd prefer to hear the loud train coming by than the constant ringing of cross signals

6. this short work week seemed really rough for everyone i know

7. i'm surprised that companies still use dial-up as standard data transfer protocol

8. won $25 playing blackjack at a local casino. gambling is fun... teehee

9. future trainers - please don't just create ppt videos that read off the text on the screen

10. people with offices should close their door so you don't overhear personal calls and reading off corporate credit cards...

a few various links

2011-07-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

landing your kid in therapy points out many interesting things about our generation

similarities of harry potter and star wars. ah the generations

lord of the rings lego style - wow...

human hair necklaces... ah, bayonetta's inspiration

inspiring 10 rules of life i've already forgotten

i don't play WoW but this made me lol

the links, they come

2011-06-28T22:38:00.000-07:00

i am guilty of perfectionism

meet eguchi aimi, part of the giant japanese group AKB48

the history of the world on toilet paper

tips about tipping - for those travels i want to take sometime

your walk provides clues on your health

watch out for those birds... they're sneaky

week 2 report

2011-06-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

10 things since moving to seattle

1. sunny beautiful weather does exist, as does awesome views of mount rainier and the bay just minutes from my apartment. teehee

2. geeked out at Play! A Video Game Concert with the seattle symphony

3. scrabble is enjoyable no matter who you play with

4. having light outside at 10pm really screws up my internal clock

5. volunteered at a food bank, filling and packing bags with rice. mmm rice

6. i am now comfortable walking to work 2mi each day, so long as the weather cooperates

7. i chuckle at my car's low mileage discount, because it started low and will be even lower due to my walkable commute

8. generally sad that groceries are more expensive here

9. i need a new career. hopefully this place will foster that

10. i've decided that whereever i live, it must have a fresh mango source.

week 1 report

2011-06-19T16:17:00.002-07:00

i completely lost my patience with movers on friday. the desk worker told me delivery on friday, so i took the day off work, but then got a call from the movers that they would unload saturday morning. i was NOT happy and could not think straight for a while.

but... i made the most of friday and took care of registration, car things, and went shopping! some highlights of the rest of the weekend:

- bought furniture from ikea, finally (previously took people there and never got anything for myself)

- found daiso (japanese dollar store)

- found 99 ranch (huge chinese supermarket chain)

- saw mount rainier while driving on a clear sunny day

- finally got basic supplies from target

- mangoes are deeeelicious

- today i have a 101.4 fever. oops.

also, today feels very empty. it's been a month already, and i miss him dearly.

linkie time

2011-06-17T08:42:00.003-07:00

super mario bros found the hydrant

the plains' milky way views make it worth visiting

i don't play chess, but i'd like this zelda-themed set

bored in an airport? the escalator bit looked fun

zombie finger, oh noes!

hey kids! go the F to sleep!

never a dull moment

2011-06-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

just moved to seattle. many interesting things so far.

- weather is generally stagnant - cloudy and mild

- the workplace changes very quickly, for example starting with a different manager than who hired me

- people on buses tend to be quite rude...

- carrying around bedding and shopping is tiring

- i have been spoiled by cars and spacious living

more to come, once i get slightly more motivation to explore...

reset button

2011-06-11T07:40:00.001-07:00

attempts to go back to normalcy... 10 thoughts!

1. the reset button has been hit. welcome, self, to the beginning of a new city life

2. photos up for new york travels and my madison farewells

3. i keep waking up at 5am sharp, regardless of timezone. don't know why, but it's getting annoying =P

4. it's always that you appreciate/enjoy things only once you've lost it

5. the goal is to splurge on urban living for a year, then go back to the more familiar suburban living

6. that said, i have been quite spoiled in terms of living space and comfort

7. one guy was so absorbed by his phone he tried to walk up the down escalator. i didn't say anything, instead i watched him almost trip and chuckled. i may be evil.

8. too many choices makes me overwhelmed

9. too many new things lately makes me want to revert to the familiar

10. there are seriously a lot of dogs in seattle

hectic

2011-06-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

A lot of stuff has happened in the past few weeks. I do mean a LOT. Random things happened, planned things didn't. I'm excited about moving, stressed about logistics, sad about recent passings, depressed about relationships, and I'm already missing friends and this city. My emotions are so jumbled that I have no idea how I'll be when people speak to me.

Just one more week until I start my new job in a new city with new faces. Nothing has worked out completely the way I wanted to. Wish I could fast forward five months to get over this heartache and stress. I want to get back to normalcy, however close I can get to it.

The one thing I am clinging to now is the old adage that "time will heal all". Which it does. But unfortunately, it takes time...

linkies again

2011-06-05T06:37:00.001-07:00

it's been a while... this blog needs some love and links

statistics of the world recalculated into a village of 100

i'm into dog vids lately: baby voice, i love you, and ultimate dog tease... yea? yea?

depressing but touching, regardless of what stage you're at... strangers again

top 5 regrets on the death bed - so enjoy life now.

and another giant swing

2011-05-17T19:56:00.003-07:00

hectic weekends means life needs to make it more hectic. then any form of planning goes out the window. ugh.

getting overwhelmed

2011-05-15T00:23:00.001-07:00

with my giant move coming up, i am starting to feel overwhelmed. today's 10 thoughts theme is, what is contributing to that? (with general latest intrigues)

1. heat exhaustion during jazz fest last weekend showed me that my body does not handle the southern heat anymore. still, i had a great time in new orleans! photos ~~coming soon~~ here.

2. you don't realize, until you are moving away from something, how much you really enjoyed that something.

3. from here on out there will be no more normalcy. i'm already missing all of the things that i've grown to like here

4. anime convention coming up and i am actually making a costume, despite my lack of time

5. i need to schedule a move date with some moving company

6. ...and then, figure out what apt i'm moving to

7. i have about 1 week free with which i want to plan some trip. haven't started planning yet...

8. emotional swings are getting stronger as time whirls by

9. i'd like to plan a last huzzah for friends here but haven't figured out what and where

10. i am already so tired of planning...

links to intrigues

2011-05-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

adorable penguin - wait for the end...

sugar gliders and cool whip containers

the eyeballing game - i am at 4.12

holy balancing sticks act

for my future self, here's how to learn to juggle...

47 facts about yourself - kinda long, they also put user interface spins to it, but still interesting

and a giant swing

2011-04-25T21:53:00.002-07:00

last saturday marked my 1 year anniversary of leaving my super stressful job.

today i got an offer for a new salaried FT job.

still hesitant on some moving and social aspects... but otherwise, hooray! =)

next month is going to be super busy.

variety of stuff

2011-04-19T19:06:00.002-07:00

latest happenings and thoughts x10

1. new laptop! nice and light and thin and plays sc2 with no annoying flashy lines.

2. warmer weather wholly welcomed. until it got cold and snowed again

3. general laziness shows up around the waist quickly. it makes me sad

4. went to the mall of america recently. interestingly, my money went mostly to candy and meals than clothing

5. i baked mojito and grapefruit yogurt cupcakes for a bake sale. both quite delicious. and yes, that does fulfill some of my 30 before 30...

6. and on that note, i've added more photos for spring

7. the controversy surrounding JCrew's pink nail polish on a young boy is dumb and ridiculous

8. just wow

9. the internet tends to drain all my short attention span nowadays

10. i hate having to make a decision where, either way i go, i will be sad about something

four ones day

2011-04-11T21:20:00.003-07:00

today is 4/11/11, and time for some link jots

toy photography - very inspirational! toys are fun

lego photography - inspirational

could use a few pointers on how to quit the internet

the classic extroverts versus introverts discussion

sign me up for tempest freerunning academy!

this internet revenge made me smile a bit

still an ISTJ, though when i first haphazardly took the test i was an ISFJ. (take test)

E/I score E = 0 I = 10

S/N score S = 14 N = 6

T/F score T = 11 F = 9

J/P score J = 14 P = 6

and on a random note... new laptop to play with!

30 before 30

2011-04-03T16:00:00.003-07:00

i'm about to complete some items in my 30 before 30 list, so i figured i'd post them to make the list official.

1. start a 365 photos project

2. move to a new city

3. learn another foreign language

4. travel to europe

5. ride a hot air balloon

6. read 2-3 more books in the song of ice and fire series

7. visit austin

8. make mojito cupcakes

9. acquire a navy blue coat

10. acquire a touchscreen device (ex. tablet, smartphone...)

11. finish writing my list of 100 things to do before i die (currently at 77)

12. replace my dying dell laptop

13. create a new website/blog of some form

14. go sky diving

15. figure out my favorite kind of wine

16. buy a hat at sacred feather (one of madison's longest standing stores on state street)

17. acquire a new camera

18. bake for a bake sale

19. consolidate burned media into 1-3 TB hard drives

20. (related to above) organize my music files

21. sell some of my crafts

22. build a small board game collection

23. organize/display my vinyl toys

24. win money at a casino poker table

25. finish making 1000 cranes

26. attend an anime convention

27. finish epic mickey

28. pick up a new physical activity (ex. team sports, martial arts...)

29. memorize the chinese pinyin system

30. paint my ansem figurine

ready, set, go!

decisions

2011-04-02T23:49:00.001-07:00

it's april now. i have some big decisions to make within the next few weeks. guess i've been putting them off for too too long. also i'm being super ambitious and too stubborn to concede to smaller goals. wish i had a clear path to go towards. i never know what i want.

late night linkies

2011-03-30T00:29:00.004-07:00

just woke up from what is deemed my personal trap-warm blanket in the evening...

sunk cost fallacy explains our poor decision making skills

compilation of 10 awesome inventions, some way cooler than others

interesting perspective on how to build an emr, properly

tv settings-i've always wondered why newer tvs bother me

i'll take edible pens, though they probably won't last long

mmm mah na mah na... oh.

miscellaneous jots

2011-03-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

10 seemed like too many, now 5 seems too few.

1. japan, stay strong

2. going to new orleans 5/6-5/10!

3. current book: the art of happiness by his holiness the dalai lama and cutler

4. current game: okamiden for ds

5. current new hobby: rock climbing

6. i still lack patience for things that are (and are not) happening

7. morning showers are cold, evening showers are half warm... this apt has such terrible water heating

8. ever since my massage, i have been more sensitive to my body's aches and pains. it's as if the massage now forces me to go back for more to alleviate the aches. argh!

9. thunder, lightning, and rain are surprisingly soothing

10. delicious ramen add-ins... mmmm my standard is egg and veggies (usually napa)

vows for self

2011-03-19T22:33:00.001-07:00

today's list of five - vows to myself, about myself, for myself

1. i will keep in touch with friends more, like greet people happy birthday on facebook

2. i will finish at least one book and one game within the next two weeks

3. i will go outside and exercise more

4. i will stop fearing the next step and work towards it instead

5. i will get more sleep

and one extra tidbit... yes, i am still an istj.

the randoms

2011-03-17T23:41:00.003-07:00

face recognition test - i was 74%, not as bad as i thought...

infograph on how to spot a liar

on motivating employees, and no it's not just about money

to all the nerds out there, check your attitude

i liked this explanation of social media

cyclical nature

2011-03-11T15:52:00.001-08:00

i seem to go through a cyclical mental state of composure.

starts with happy-go-lucky, then moving forward with goals, then frustration because nothing goes the way i want, then anger towards trivial things and self, then realization at my irrationality, then longing for social interactions, then back to happy-go-lucky...

hoping something will break this cycle.

on a different note, it's getting warm enough to walk around outside...

some links that i've had sitting around

2011-03-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

insights on the introvert mind

sometimes you just have to give up

conception of piracy is interesting

this describes me and my chemistry degree precisely

science behind traffic jams. hmm i've driven half of those worst roads...

mario w/ modern sfx. it made me smile

where did february go?

2011-02-28T16:32:00.001-08:00

february disappeared quicker than bad milk going down the drain. it always goes by so fast... sigh.

1. a recent conversation made me evaluate what i do with my time nowadays. it's never just one activity, but it is consistently hours spent perusing internet content. perhaps i should cut that down. it's like the tv time - huge time suck of entertainment

2. on a financial note, i finally put a large sum of money into savings. first time since leaving my salaried job. hooray! (might be shortlived though with trips and insurance payments coming up...)

3. it also dawned on me that i've been working at my contract job for six months now. happy half-year to me?

4. i'm getting nervous-nausea just from the idea of moving cities again. i guess i'll never adjust to big life changes well

5. i am very patient with clients and the elderly, but super impatient with my own life and goals

some interesting reads

2011-02-22T21:19:00.002-08:00

the pudu is so cute!

dumped not down exploring the emotion of rejection

designer staircases (atmos) look really nice

mistakes that introverts (like myself) make

fake smiles don't improve happiness, as previously thought. sad.

on pirating anime - totally agree with the translation/dubbing parts

(late addition) some tips to think like a shrink

overwhelmed lately by things that could be done. it makes me not want to do any of them. why does my mind work that way?

walla walla

2011-02-19T22:55:00.003-08:00

crashing at night lately. woke up on a second wind. random thoughts ensue!

1. i always desire what i do not have. this goes for material items, job locations, social circles, etc.

2. i have picked up way too many hobbies recently. just finished a baking spree, and on the radar is scrapbook, figurine painting, jigsaw puzzles, rock climbing, traveling, reading, cake decorating, foreign language classes, photography, video games... weeeeee

3. it's surreal having the nation's eyes on your city because of protests

4. warmer weather needs to come sooner so i can start exercising outdoors again. plus i will be not as inclined to fall asleep under the blankets during the evening...

5. time flies faster and faster the older you get...

valentine's baking spree

2011-02-14T09:59:00.004-08:00

this year i decided to go all out in terms of making sweets for valentine's day... so i ended up making 27 chocolate covered pretzel sticks, 21 pieces of hershey's and snaps, and two decorated cookie cakes.

more pictures over on picasa.

yaaaaay sugar highs!

new randoms

2011-02-12T08:24:00.004-08:00

mario kart irl... woooow

amuzing legend of zelda 80s movie trailer. basket case indeed

which also led me to find inglorious plummers. let's go!

and finally, deindividuation for the mob crowds

the past 18 days with egypt were mezmerizing.

also picking up too many new hobbies. more on that later

couple of links

2011-02-07T16:46:00.002-08:00

glorified eggs to watch

living the designed lifestyle

on a more personal level, newer photos, including the snowpocalypse and milwaukee photos

on an even more personal level, my body continually reminds me that i'm getting old...

for your reading pleasure

2011-01-21T23:48:00.001-08:00

make an alien abduction lamp!

workplace laziness - wait really? 39% would quit if fb was blocked??

credit card codes - dividing by 10 part really does work...

the dalai lama on countering stress

five emotions invented by the internet - so true

how handwriting relates to personality

sketchbook project completed

2011-01-13T20:04:00.006-08:00

i finished my sketchbook project, hooray! a sample of my book...

if you go to the tour, look for my book under the Lines and Grids theme

11111!

2011-01-11T18:01:00.004-08:00

i will leave as many links as there are 1's in the date today.

1. pictures of the city of ani and its history

1. cool typography animation for a random review

1. video from undercity exploring other sides of nyc

1. google book archive offers differences between sexes

1. excerpt on a book about chinese parenting - while not completely valid for me, i can relate to some of the methods and its effects

minor format change

2011-01-06T20:33:00.000-08:00

since 10 thoughts was getting difficult (and sometimes meaningless to post), i am only going to do 5 from now on. it makes more sense in my head.

1. my christmas photos are up here. also updated my general 2010 album. exploring san francisco on my own made me appreciate more of what it has to offer

2. i have been having lots of odd dreams lately including going back to work at my stressful job, 200/20 vision, extreme social circle shifts, other weirdness. guess it matches my recent unsettled feeling

3. video games no longer excite me the way they used to. now it feels like "been there, done that", or i am forcing myself to finish them

4. sketchbook deadline in a week, and 25 pages left! wee...

5. a lesson on snobbiness (courtesy of my friend at Curious Notions). i think i keep to myself often because of fear of scrutiny. what i hate is that i do it to others too.

and because i just stumbled on it, the life in a day project looks intriguing.

internet videos

2011-01-04T17:37:00.001-08:00

the internet, it is full of cool videos that awe and intrigue me.

the awl compiled a lot of cool videos. if you're short on time, check out words and pixels for sure. ok go's white knuckles too if you haven't seen it.

this cat got pwned by puppies =)

cool little lego film

relax the chicken, neat little trick (and yes i realize it has many levels of wrong=P)

(forgot one) the power of music

new year feels the same as last year. whoopee.

1-1-11

2011-01-01T21:30:00.002-08:00

the first day of the first month of 2011 requires some reflections and resolutions

five highlights of the past year:

1. quit my stressful job and became much happier

2. took a real summer break and tried several new activities

3. minimized my belongings

4. shifted relationships, but kept lasting friendships

5. had laser eye surgery and still seeing 20/20

five resolutions for the new year:

1. do at least one active thing per week

2. travel once every 2 months

3. finish at least one book every 2 months

4. actively pursue a real FT job

5. finish some console games currently collecting dust

happy new year everyone!

pre-holiday thoughts

2010-12-23T00:26:00.000-08:00

1. going to be in the bay area for christmas! 12/23-12/29

2. sketchbook at 35/80. hoping to get a lot done during my ~20hrs of travel (bus to chicago, time in airport, and flight time)

3. my newly acquired tribble amuses me

4. i seem to nag on people when they exhibit traits that i hate about myself

5. my love for mint may stem from the fact that i'm a December baby. tis the season for peppermint and other minty treats. mmmm

6. speaking of, i had a wonderful birthday celebration of hot pot and fruit tart. mmm mmm good.

7. yes, i am obsessed over good food

8. i do miss austin's trail of lights. madison's paled in comparison

9. been quite the bum lately, and crashing/falling asleep very quickly

10. tried a couple pushups during a gym class, and wow my chest hurts now. so sadly out of shape

small collection of intrigues

2010-12-21T19:32:00.002-08:00

british humor and blackberries

if you don't want to bore your audience make this presentation

9 hours in a hotel sums up this 9h hotel

this ad pokes fun at wikileaks

some ideas on how to forgive

ducked and covered - 80s guide to survive nuclear apocalypse

12-11-10 times the fun

2010-12-11T16:11:00.001-08:00

1. current sketchbook progress: 31/80. kinda been slacking, i do a lot more when i have time to kill

2. i need to change my showering habits to nighttime, because the morning cold water is NOT a happy time

3. the holidays make me splurge on gifts for others and myself. good for the season, bad for the wallet

4. i don't react well to other's extreme excitement. brain currently trying to figure out why

5. wheat thins are a glorious munchie

6. i ruined my good poofy jacket by not putting in a front load washer. and the stains didn't even come out! sadness

7. lost at sea by bryan lee o'malley really speaks to my high school self

8. epic mickey (wii) is very interesting. i am sad though the camera angles are not the greatest and gives me headaches after extended play

9. goals before the end of the year: get 70/80 pages done in sketchbook, update my resume, try rock climbing, and hem my pants that have been there over a year...

10. the list of 10 gets harder and harder to write out each time... hmm

around the interwebs

2010-12-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

silent monks singing hallelujah

and a mall flash mob (i especially like the older guys taking part - flash mobs not only for the youngins!)

the workaround culture is all too familiar

watch the year 2010 in review

linky videos

2010-12-03T15:22:00.002-08:00

latest intrigues:

google maps did good for their readability. nice one!

i fail 8th grade, now and in 1895.

it's the ducks versus wind... felt bad for the loser

how to scare a scarecrow in style

an interesting list of 34 life tips

vacation complete

2010-11-28T22:00:00.002-08:00

1. thanksgiving trip to ny was filled with awesome company and good food. pictures here

2. one thing i miss about home is waking up to the sounds of chirping cockatiels and my parents' voices

3. one thing i DON'T miss about home is the arguments

4. my desire to spend money has not stopped... rut rohs

5. current sketchbook progress: 27/80 pages

6. since going on vacation, I have gained 4 lbs. weee foooood

7. the right wrist is acting up again... my body needs some good paying attention to in the coming weeks

8. life is full of surprises and what ifs and intriguing interactions

9. decemeber is practically here already. feels so quick

10. somewhere in there i got a sore throat and am now officially sick. boohoo

it's time for linkies and videos!

2010-11-25T18:21:00.001-08:00

keep couch surfing and lookit some of the amusing things i found.

recent tsa policy from the other perspective

anime openings showing off the generic imagery. intrigued me at least

new yellow shoes not so classy

the crying frog has now replaced the human seal (see #10 from 9/13 post)

tools for the kitchen. engage!

gobble gobble.

threadless hoodie

2010-11-24T13:54:00.004-08:00

my threadless hoodie has received many comments while wandering nyc, from "i like your shirt" to "signs of the bad economy, huh?" to "i love it! she looks sweet and innocent but her shirt says she's a gangster!"

(link to the design)

latest 10 thoughts

2010-11-19T22:35:00.002-08:00

1. current sketchbook progress: 17/80 pages. admittedly some spreads are kind of lame though

2. this is the first time going to NYC that i'm more excited about the people i'm hanging out with than exploring the city itself

3. going home is always mixed blessing because i enjoy seeing the 'rents, but their age is catching up to them

4. my general knowledge seems to be diminishing rapidly. why does the brain fail to retain useful information?

5. getting interviewed by the local news for a DCHS fundraiser was a bit odd and nerve racking. no i can't find the video online

6. temperatures changed outside, and yes i am already cold

7. trying to live out life instead of worrying about the details has changed my perspective a lot

8. madison drivers need to learn to drive. ramps to a highway mean you accelerate to match traffic, not slow down and hope to catch a gap

9. madison construction workers also need to choose their cone placement better. a 1min stretch turned into 40min one night because they blocked off all but one lane... and for nothing that i could see

10. apparently, i lack enthusiasm

small spattering of links

2010-11-19T18:29:00.002-08:00

game design evolution visualization sounds about right

enjoy your chocolate now

the cliche family from commercials of the early years

nice MS paint drawing

today's average is 10

2010-11-09T21:33:00.004-08:00

11-09-10. average is 10. ten? 10 thoughts.

1. i am participating in the sketchbook project as funyun. see it on tour! my theme is 'lines and grids' since it would be the easiest for me to draw...

2. i need to spend some time to reevaluate my current lifestyle, future career plans, and why i suck at starcraft 2 so much

3. lately i've been craving all food ever that's out there. it's like i want the world to be my buffet and an infinite stomach to hold it all

4. posted some recent photos finally. of note, my halloween costume (nerd herd from chuck)

5. my desktop is so finnicky. ram broke down and forced the computer into a looping blue screen of death. at least the new ram has finally shipped

6. so i finally finished warioware on wii... uhh, good for me

7. started kirby epic yarn and am quite amused

8. sleeping hours have not been so great. 1am bedtimes need to go down to 12am.

9. anytime i use my down throw, i seem to fall asleep on my bed. there must be some magic sleeping powder laced in it... or just the beauty of warmth

10. speaking of warm... it's still 60 degrees in november! i like it :)

the latest links

2010-11-06T00:39:00.004-07:00

new set of odds and ends

snow white remix for fun

post-it note of to do's per day to simplify your life

doggie wear for the fancy dog

cupcake on a cupcake - i'll just even take the mini one, thanks =)

for those who need downtime, read on.

and posted on my twitter, break dancing i can't stop laughing at...

stuffs and around

2010-10-31T10:53:00.004-07:00

i have been incredibly lazy lately. and staying up late needlessly.

random links:

bookman's book dominos ad

a map of europe... in legos!

unpopular science - introducing physics to the real world

and to celebrate halloween - house lights to 'thriller'

onwards to less laziness!... we hope

--one late addition - an exploration of burnout and how to deal

newish links

2010-10-26T20:23:00.003-07:00

conglomerated some favorites over the past week.

no no mario - a web comic

not the biggest eva fan, but these chopsticks are pretty sweet

tiger curry - awww

one page per day - an interesting concept

dino necklace - pretty neat

improvised darth vader theme in beethoven style

doo di doo di doo

2010-10-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

1. my computers are all dying! what is going on??? =(

2. holiday travel is officially set: new york 11/20-11/27, and san francisco 12/23-12/29

3. need to stretch more and strengthen muscles. yoga today was more painful than usual

4. someday while working this contract, i will pocket some savings. someday... not this month though, not after two plane tickets, tuition, multiple insurance payments, and living costs...

5. i got 2nd place at poker night! and i thoroughly suck at head-to-head play

6. currently into beats antique and kalafina music

7. somewhere my head got wired to automatically refute anything nice said about me. hooray low self-esteem!... sigh

8. rewatching code geass as a group... aaah the anime that combines mech fights, god-complexes, high school drama, and clamp styles, all into one. good stuff

9. i feel the sleepiness at 2am, but i don't push myself to go to bed. hah, self discipline, hah

10. must... pick out... halloween... costume... somewhere...

costumes

2010-10-20T21:13:00.001-07:00

halloween quickly approaches, and i should pick a costume. either something simple or some cosplay, which is something i do want to do at some point in my life.

cosplays would be cooler but harder... potential candidates:

- rhyme (twewy) - for the giant warm orange sweater

- neku (twewy) - i like the headphones

- xion (kh 358/2) - cuz cloaks are cool, and it would generally be reusable

- roxas (kh 2) - just cuz i like the outfit

any inputs? now i just want to replay these games...

10 10 10 10 thoughts

2010-10-10T15:52:00.002-07:00

today is 10/10/10. what better day to write down 10 thoughts?

1. it's amazing to me still how a single hug can melt away all my worries

2. spicy cheese bread from stella's is quite addicting and filling

3. i am such a sucker for dogs and puppies

4. the shower keeps losing hot water the instant i glob hair condition into my hand. it must know that it is the hardest type of soap to wash out and rebels against me =P

5. finished reading game of thrones, finally. it only took all of 3 months

6. summer(ish) weather has returned! which means winter will probably pound even harder =\

7. i'm spending more than i'm earning and that makes me sad. especially since there are a lot of big purchases coming up for holiday season. augh, must readjust my spending habits...

8. driving down neighborhoods with colored trees and falling leaves is one of the coolest things about autumn. scenic drives to work everyday!

9. i am looking forward to playing kirby's epic yarn, epic mickey, and okamiden. apparently 'epic' is the new tagline for nifty games... huh, how ironic

10. the body clock has now cursed me with waking up at 6:45am on the weekends. boooooo

the cool and the cute

2010-10-06T21:06:00.001-07:00

cool: anti-theft lunch bags, to deter those lunch stealers

cute: piggie buns, likely filled with deliciousness

cool: pi necklace to help you memorize the digits

cute: pacman moleskines - i want one of these!

cool: futurama cake that is totally awesome

cute: yoshi's island, could be an epic movie

oh, and because it's random - this comic is sadly true

10 is the magic number

2010-09-27T20:50:00.004-07:00

1. colder weather means i am susceptible to sickness. i've met my quota for the year now, thanks.

2. i am again bored with the toys, games, and other stimulus around me. which means, i need another hobby, distraction, or something to fill my time

3. working in a new environment opens your eyes to the various work styles and skill levels out there

4. trivial things are annoying me again. this is my reminder to keep a check on my emotions

5. eating smaller portions means you tend to pay more for food or in a group. argh cheap bulk prices

6. mint filled oreo cookies are deeeeelicious. why am i such a sucker for minty flavors?

7. watching others attempt to organize people together seems as tiresome as i remember it being

8. i thought i would be ok with a monotonous job, but... apparently not.

9. new tires are annoyingly expensive. general car maintenance is expensive. cars are expensive. poopies.

10. gir in cake form - it's so cute!

couple of links

2010-09-25T07:22:00.002-07:00

these maps are kinda cool and rather revealing

europe stereotypes - haha to the swimming pool

neato dark mario webcomic

random quote: "If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room."

stolen links and latest hits

2010-09-16T21:44:00.003-07:00

i have been a rather boring person as of late, so here are a couple stolen links

each culture has its own expression of emotion - from the two cultures they studied, i am definitely more voice driven than face

having a sick system is how they keep people from leaving jobs. it's sad that i feel like i could check off everything for my previous employer...

and my body can't quite decide whether to be sick or not. i figured i had no chance when both roommates came down with a nasty cold, but my throat keeps giving me confusing signals. bah.

it's a new week

2010-09-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

1. fall is nice, but that means winter is coming. sigh.

2. this job really fell right into my lap as an exact fit for my goals. getting some experience, learning new languages, and getting paid for it all. sweet!

3. despite the good news, i am hitting another identity crisis. i just can't seem to figure out what i really like and/or want out of life

4. and along that note... emotions always get in the way of logical thinking. it's quite annoying.

5. started reading again, though it will be slow since i am working now

6. exercising has slowed down as well, though the nice fall weather is good incentive to go outside

7. societies should teach religious tolerance

8. i seem to have escaped both roommate's sicknesses for now... let's hope it stays that way.

9. godiva should definitely bring back their ice cream parlor truffles next year. the mint chocolate chip truffles are deeeeelicious

10. not exactly a thought, but this seal will forever make me laugh

linky jots

2010-09-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

social traps - particularly amused by #3

i am a fetus starfish based on my sleeping positions. tough on the outside but sensitive at heart, and ready to listen to others.

history can be fun as facebook statuses (p1 p2)

picturing everything you own - i should try this next time i move...

oooo pretty sushi, looks tasty

and here's an NES coffee table. has amusing comments too

90210

2010-09-02T21:07:00.003-07:00

only one day in life appropriate enough to celebrate beverly hills 90210 and high school dramas. so i will make a shout out to all my HS friends - go warriors!

and to keep it interesting, here are some amusements:

recent 1000 awesome thing that made me lol

old link, but still good to see the effects of small rejection

another old link, but this is the concept art to epic mickey, which attracted me and a friend to the game

one more - differences between men and women brain functions

thoughts on job stress

2010-08-30T22:17:00.003-07:00

further proof that my previous job was not working for me - the one strand of gray hair i've kept around has a distinct 2 inches of black starting at the root, and white the rest of the way down.

so apparently my hair grows 1 inch every two months.

ten thoughts more

2010-08-29T20:42:00.005-07:00

1. my summer break is officially over. i start training for a contract job tomorrow!

2. taking a class at the local technical college makes me realize how much professional experience changes the way you think about what they teach

3. my endurance has increased! i am now able to swim 800m mostly freestyle, and minimal tiring out

4. i am overly critical of myself

5. the hinges of my laptop are NOT happy right now. that new laptop might have to come sooner than i'd like...

6. recently made a trip to the MN state fair. hooray for fair food and fried everything. sorta wish I went to the TX state fair too... maybe someday

7. it's amazing how understanding certain people's thought process changes how you interact with them

8. finally put up some summer photos, including a photoshoot featuring electronics and alice and wonderland themes with the roommates. fun times =)

9. reasons why watching shows can be bad for me - i just spent almost 10hrs reskimming an anime that had almost 100 episodes. it's hard to turn away from that moment of joy when watching an awesome scene

10. piano is definitely a great relaxant for me, unless i cannot play the piece at the speed i want

it was a good day

2010-08-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

today was a good day.
the weather was absolutely gorgeous. crisp skies and awesome temperatures.
the interview went well apparently. training starts on monday!
the class is at the right level for me. i will definitely learn from it.
the walk outdoors was a great time to soak in the gorgeous weather.
the brief nap in the park was very relaxing and reflective.
the raspberries were sweet and delicious, as was the pom lychee tea.

yes, today was a good day.

materialism love

2010-08-22T19:49:00.002-07:00

epic mickey opening - all i can say is, serves him right, and i want to play this

ninja bread men cookie cutters - hiya i make shape

shower curtain - quite amusing actually

helium - ok not really materialistic, but no more balloon gifts

ya'll fail - Howdy to you too!

10 shenanigans

2010-08-18T16:00:00.001-07:00

1. i need to seriously plan out my travel details for nyc (thanksgiving, maybe), san francisco (christmas), and europe (for fun). wee

2. yep, still afraid of commitment

3. kingdom hearts piano collections books are now on the top of my wish list. i also wish i could level up my piano playing skills so learning new pieces wasn't so time consuming, ex. the xion piece is really pretty but will take me many months to learn =\

4. currently into the kingdom hearts franchise (if my piano obsession wasn't enough of a cue). i finally finished 358/2 and watched through the japanese cutscenes of 'birth by sleep'. this means i really should finish chain of memories, even though i'm a bit bored of its gameplay...

5. weather is finally sticking with my ideal temperature, meaning more outdoor walks and bike rides for me. yay!

6. a semester-long $360 class makes me hold on to my money tighter than going out to $20 meals 2-3 times a week, even though the little outings adds up to more than the class. oh mental tricks..

7. pugs are seriously funny dogs. there was a pair of them at the shelter that were quite crazy, and one almost peed on the other...

8. i recently passed a lion king phase - cds looped in my car, dvd is shipping to my house, and next trip to nyc i plan to see lion king on broadway. busa simba iyo!

9. slowing down on selling things, but still made $120 this month

10. one day, i will make computer and internet usage completely off limits. just to see where it goes. should be fun.

couple more links

2010-08-17T23:22:00.003-07:00

some blog posts that interested me...

- the goal is to have no goals.

- venting may not be the best answer after all - catharsis

even with all the time in the world, i still feel like i don't have enough time to do all i want. right now, that means:
-play starcraft 2
-practice kingdom hearts piano collections
-finish kh 358/2 on DS
-read and finish a game of thrones
-take walks and bike rides in this awesome weather
-find and apply for jobs
-take technical class(es)
-watch toaru kagaku no railgun
-organize some stacks of paper

and then some.

i think it's more of, i want to do ALL of that in one day. one super exciting timeless never-ending day. wee.

fillerings

2010-08-15T12:30:00.001-07:00

something in my inbox from a while ago but still cool - 自主制作アニメーション『the TV show』

sweet prank. i'll take that cube!

as for life... i stumbled upon scans of both kingdom hearts piano collections sheet music. commence tons of piano playing!

other miscellaney... you know how sometimes people say something deep that really sticks in your mind? yet they don't remember it because it was just casual conversation... yea, that's really applying to me right now.

8-9-10 intrigues

2010-08-09T08:42:00.002-07:00

book art - very neat

tipping tips - if ever you were confused

watching despicable me made me want an army of minions to play with... and crack like a glow stick

biking around the neighborhood is quite refreshing. hills are still killer.

starcraft 2 owns my life like zerg owned kerrigan's. cept my hair doesn't turn into tentacles

10 things that came to mind

2010-08-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

1. holy crap it's august of 2010. summer always flies by.

2. starcraft II owns my free time right now. my current favorite units are immortals

3. if things are out of reach, it becomes much easier to resist them. this applies to snacks and food, video games, relationships...

4. instead of being appreciative of other people's actions and kind gestures, i get bitter and untrusting because i wanted to do it myself. then i get frustrated by little trivial things. apparently my first instinct in life is to go the pessimistic control-freak route, and that needs to change.

5. bedroom is now livable, aside from the random pieces of stuff here and there. Somehow managed to fit everything in my closet and the storage spaces, though there is definitely room for more uncluttering.

6. living next door to a grocery store that has a salad bar makes me want to eat there a lot. and buy lots of fruits. unfortunately the trucks are quite noisy... but i'll get over that.

7. random revelation - the direction you turn your key for a lock is the direction the bolt goes. so to lock it, turn it towards the wall that holds the bolt. to unlock, turn it away from the bolt holder. duuuuuuh.

8. i have lots of random scratches and bruises nowadays.

9. now that i'm settled down again, i need to restart on job search and reading books. but wait, sc2... sigh.

10. recently i spoke to 3 separate people from work... speaking with them made me feel much more justified in my decision. i may not be making money right now, but i am definitely happier than i was 3 months ago.