lemons into lemonade?

being jobless sucks.

i'm so excited for fall to start that i've already packed one bag
i've also made a packing list on excel (it's quite beautiful)
not to mention i started my "3B conquering plan" as per tradition

but i guess having a break is a good thing.
i've made of list (because i love lists) of things i plan to do over the summer:

visit the rom
finally see the AGO
HP exhibit at sci centre
go to kensington market
visit waterloo more
dragon boat festival
danforth festival
watch world cup at HOME
softball
read ahead for courses
prep for being a peer leader

booklist (its small so i actually read them)
true story
tipping point
what the dog saw
kingdom without borders

movie list (again, small so i actually watch them)
the blind side
how to train your dragon
iron man 2
ninja (?)
diary of a wimpy kid (?) HEHEH
kick-ass
letters to juliet
robin hood
karate kid (new one)

"hopefully"s
YP Stuff: retreat, trip to centre island, laserquest, wonderland, bowling, etc.
camping trip with cousins (no adults)
G test!

visual miscellaneum

i bought this book for myself because usually it's 39.95 but it was marked down to 26.96. introduced to me by dolly, it's a book full of information in image form. some of them are graphs, some of them are mind maps, or maps, but it's really cool!

Mind you, some of them are hard to read and some of them are a little confusing, but i think this is an awesome method of presenting information.

There's this one that i saw:



and i think it's an awesome representation of how's playing their part in saving the environment and who's just screwing around.

I think if these things are used not only in environmental issues but in healthcare, or like the social system, then couldn't it evoke greater change because the public will be more educated? People don't read anymore... or stats don't really say much, but i guess it's true that a picture can say a thousand words...

slight autism

Autism: "brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior" - Wikipedia (don't judge)
Asperger's Syndrome: "known as high functioning autistics because they can more or less operate in the day-to-day world" - jPOD by Douglas Coupland

I think i'm slightly autistic - or have Asperger's syndrome... a tiny... bit - haha

I was reading jPod by Douglas Coupland and a character was describing the autism traits that are found in her co-workers.

Character: Ethan
Trait: hyperacuity - certain sound frequencies make him go crazy (some, people can't hear)
Me: the high pitched whirring of my laptop charger drives me crazy

Character: Kam and Steve
Trait: both have virtually no sense of humour
Me: Sometimes I'll find my self where i'm like, I know that's funny.. but why am i not laughing..

i believe everyone has an autistic trait in them. Just my two cents.


Post Note (for dolly) - autistics are apparently really sensitive to smell - in the book, they hate the smell of McD's so it's called... the Taint

skiddadle - part 2

"You're so Indie"
What's Indie?
Popseoul labels Loveholic as "Indie"
I like loveholic.
huh?

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Logical:
I'm not going. I should tell them.
Illogical:
I'm not going. Let them figure it out.

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If only I did that yesterday
damnit.

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jPod is a funny book
I like quirky people.

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IRIS is out. Must. Watch.
T.O.P *swoon*

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Dude. Go online

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I get frustrated easily.
Not mad.
Why can't I learn to expect less of people?
Is this turning emo?

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GAH! the sinus pain.

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skiddadle

It's cold. Freezing cold. Time to put away the flats.
There's a couple. Oh, they're hugging. Must be warm.
Did it just get colder?

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our boss is back.
it's quiet.
REAL quiet.

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enrollment was today
i got into kin 100 - anatomy
i wasn't afraid of failure; i was excited
i got home and freaked out.
i'm better now; neutral is a better word

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manuscript bible study with mackcf small group
it was fun
i missed studying the Word

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i rented out jpod from mills library @ mac
people around me were studying for midterms
i was on the couch laughing.
it's a funny book

---------------------------------

i finished the glass castle
it's a good book.
what's it trying to say, though?

---------------------------------

sniff sniff
i think i'm getting sick
i never get sick
젠장

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warm bed
down blanket
warm slippers

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tomorrow is dinner with eumee
tomorrow is 1 to 7 degrees with a frost warning
tomorrow is a new day
hooray!

This week, I...

realized that being a research ASSISTANT sucks. I want to RESEARCH.

finished 3 books. Secret Life of Bees is a good one.

realized I haven't been reading my Bible.

enjoyed studying at the Mac library for my MCATs and realized I don't suck at physics as much as I thought I did.

gave up on doing my tax returns by myself.

made another goal - be more productive each week that I live!

Before I leave, can I just say... HURRAH for cold weather! Finally the weather is not so humid and I can walk around with the cool breeze that tickles my bones!

It snowed in Waterloo - crazy weather.

2 more books

Water For Elephants:

Amazing story, tons of drama, and an extremely easy read. But I didn't like the ending. Not only was the ending a little too simple, but I felt like it was the ending of a different book - it just didn't belong.

Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson is definitely my hero. With an unstable income and a dream, he manages to build school after school to educate girls in an area where his life is always in danger. This book definitely opened my eyes to the reality behind "helping others."
It's kind of a sad reality that although you want to help people, you will come to a point where you have reached your limit as to how many people you can help. And then you have to choose who to help. I don't know if I can or want to do that. But then again, helping some is better than helping none - right?

it's amazing

how I had so much stuff in my room (which I used to think was small) but when I cleared out every corner, every drawer, and every cabinet, I found:

3 bags of junk
1 bag of stuffed animals
1 whole bookshelf of textbooks from grade 7
2 bags of recycling
3 bags of clothes you don't wear anymore

And I found out that my room is actually REALLY big.

I'm looking for a stuffed animal drive where I can send my stuffed animals that clearly need a new home - anyone know of one??

Clothes will be going to the salvation army

I'll be keeping the textbooks - cuz i'm a nerd like that :)

Eat Pray Love - a review

This book took me about a month to read.
Usually books take me two days to read.
To be fair, I didn't read it during vacation.
But then again, it was only because I didn't want to.

The story is told by the author and is literally about eating (in Italy), praying (in an Indian Ashram), and finding love (in Indonesia). It's about a woman who finds that she is too independent and cannot stay married, thus divorces her husband, finds a lover of whom she cannot let go because of her need to be loved.

Contradictory? Yes. BS? No.

Although I cringed a lot at her words - I felt like she tried too hard to make it an elegant style of writing - I felt she was immensely honest and I could actually relate to her.

Even on the subject of prayer - she takes a boat to an island near Bali. For 10 days, she lives by herself in isolation and for 10 days, she slowly but honestly reveals her wounds, anger, shame, and bitterness that is in her heart.
To whom?
To herself.
I was in awe. Sure, we all feel hurt or pain when something is happening to us. But for myself, I know I don't acknowledge it. I am a master of denial.

On the subject of love, she says how in the past, daughters were property for marriage. This has changed in the modern world and we, women, have learned to "find love" for ourselves. She points out, however, that in this discovery of autonomy, we have forgotten why it is that our fathers had so much control over who we married. It's because they wanted to make sure that we were going to a family where we would be provided for, and have a secure family. We forget to give that to ourselves and our autonomy results in us giving our hearts away easily.

If you know me, you know that I am one who has given my heart away many times.
Is that a good thing? or a bad thing?

Although a little dragged on, this book definitely gave me tons to reflect on.

i heart productivity

Accomplishing things on your list = productivity.

Accomplishing things NOT on your list for the day PLUS the things that were on your list

= being uber productive.

Found a house in Hamilton

So before I tell you this story, I should let you know. About a month ago, I had a house. It was literally 3 minutes from my work and in a house with a nice old lady. Last Thursday, I called and found out that she gave it away since I didn't leave her a deposit (which I was going to pay on thursday). Thus, I was homeless.

Today, I went to see 3 houses.

House 1: smelly, sketchy, small, and dark. Not a great first impression of Hamilton to my mother.

House 2: creepy sums it up. The listing said it was a family home and asked for a girl. I went and sure, I get the whole top floor with kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and bathroom for 300, but the main floor has a creepy old man who has no family. Something just creeped me out.

House 3: loved it. The lady who owns the house is super super nice and I get the following for 450/month

• big room with a high ceiling
• Cable + Internet
• utilities
• a HUGE (larger than my parents') bathroom with a huge tub and a TV!!
• backyard with lounge chairs, garden, and bbq
• a really really nice laundry room with my dream laundry machines (LG)

Got tickets for attractions for our vacation

• San Francisco: Bedouin at the Wharf, Aquarium at the Wharf, tour to Alcatraz, Golden Gate Garden
• LA: Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Blvd
• Vegas: Hoover Dam, Bellagio Hotel, Fremont Street Experience, Vegas Strip, Cirque du Soleil 'O'
• Grand Canyon: South Rim, Skywalk, Yaki Point
• Hawaii: Pearl Harbour Memorial, Whale Watching, surfing lessons, deep sea fishing, luau, volcano tour, parasailing, snorkeling

Watched the Time Traveler's Wife

New Theory: either watch the movie or read the book; don't do both. I felt like the movie ruined the book. They made Henry into too good of a guy and Clare into a less of an understanding person. The characters lacked depth and it was kind of disappointing. But it was still pretty okay.

Cut my hair

Yes, my long luscious hair is gone. Sniff. I now have a bob. maybe sometimes later I will edit this post and add a photo, but it's quite late and I realized I have to do pastoral prayer tomorrow, so i'm going to not go and look for a camera. And yes, Dolly, I saved the hair and will donate it on Monday morning :) It feels good :)

august 10, 28 degrees

GAH its hot!
Thank God for air conditioning or I would be a very grumpy lady right now. 13 is my ideal temperature so when it went up to 30 yesterday, I thought I was going to die. You can call me spoiled all you want, but don't come near me when it goes above 30 - I assure you I will be very short.

But don't worry! I'm in my A/C house right now, trying to figure out what to do with myself. I feel like I've been given a second chance at life after dying and I don't know what to do! But I've been thinking and playing with a lot of things so here goes!

1. 선덕여왕
I'm watching 선덕여왕 with my parents - although secretly I've already caught up to whatever is uploaded online (ep 22). My parents are currently at episode 11. It's great to watch again, though, because I missed some things that helped me understand the plot a little more. Honestly, though, I think I like sageuk (historical) dramas a lot better. Queen Seon Duk is getting to be REALLY good and my Lord Alcheon is definitely a plus to the drama *swoons* Ug can testify to this, but lately I have a thing for "noble" men teehee

And no.. that's not Alcheon in the photo.

2. Visualizing My Ideal Wedding
Sometimes, I think I hang around Dolly way too much. I have developed an obsession with weddings leading me to have watched all the SDEs and highlights on stillmotion. I would sit here and write out all my fantasies of my romantic dream wedding, but I think I'll have to save that for another time... Until then, my favourite stillmotion vid so far:
The Wow Vows

3. Helping Out Others in the Future
I realized a couple months ago that I didn't sign my Donor Card. I used to be scared of getting my body cut up and not being able to have it at the funeral for people to see. I don't care anymore, because it's not like I'm going to use my organs / skin after I die. And I don't know if I really want people to see my dead body when it's preserved and ugly. I dont' know about research yet though. I've lost a lot of faith in research in general, and until that faith is restored, I don't know if I'm willing to give up my body for it.
Other than the Donor Card, I've committed myself to cutting my hair for Cancer before I go on co-op. I don't care how short my hair would be at the end of it. One, i'm getting sick of long hair... it's too hard to manage. Two, I LOVE my hair, and if someone can appreciate it as much as or even more than I do, then I'll gladly give it up.

4. Summer Reads
Current:

Next:


5. Prepping for Coop
So many things I need to do, and I JUST got home:
- get TB test and immunization forms signed
- go for training Thursday Friday
- see the house in Hamilton, deposit cheque
- pack and buy some more work clothes
- get a new laptop charger as mine has officially died

6. Prepping for VACATION
Where am I going?
San Francisco

LA

Grand Canyon

Vegas

Hawaii


That's all for now.
That was quite tiring