Loving life

I am back at school now and pretty much juggling academic work, enough sleep and enough money without much hassle. I like being like this. I like being busy, I like being occupied. It bothers me that I was never like this when I was starting university. Too fast, too much I would say (also indirectly quoting Jesse McCartney's song Crash and Burn).


I just like myself better these days. I am out there, I'm taking chances, I'm making new friends. School work does drive me insane but it feels a little like euphoria - like I'm used to the hustle and bustle and it all melts away into a well-timed symphony.

I'm volunteering and loving every minute of it - I volunteer to walk teaching dogs and I also volunteer to socialize with small animals. Even though I don't get paid, it is a very rewarding experience. I can't believe I didn't do it earlier. Especially socializing with small animals such as rabbits, rats and guinea pigs. I don't usually go in the rabbit room because they're very scared and shy - I go to the rats because they are all up for some lovin' and a few volunteers go to the rat room because well... they don't like them and they're not as cuddly and as appealing as the rabbits or guinea pigs (which are all lies, by the way. The rats are so cute).  And the rats are pathogen-free and will probably be the cleanest rats I will ever hold in my entire life, so I'm not complaining. And they like my singing... or so I think. I was whistling "Yesterday" by the Beatles when I was playing with them and they perked up and well, seemed to like it. Haha, or maybe not. But they're just adorable and I can't wait to see them tomorrow!

I have also seemed to grow a pair of balls and now trying to talk (or have talked) to guys I like. Improvement? I bloody think so.

Ramblings

Sick for the second time this summer. I don't get it. I've been pretty healthy when I was in school and now it seems as if the plague is after me. Ugh. Well I shouldn't complain, it's not like I have a job or life that I would miss because of this sickness or anything.

On the brighter side of things, my mother bought Buckley's Complete and I've been chugging that stuff down as long as the dosage will allow. I love that stuff, it's like drinking liquid Vicks Vaporub (weird, I know. But it is soothing!). I have never had it before and I thought that it would taste like Jaegermeister, all herb-y and whatnot, but nope. It's like drinking Strepsils and Vicks. Speaking of Jaeger, I actually miss that stuff. I wouldn't buy it of course, but it was such a sure way to get hammered during my freshman year in university. I don't know what happened, but all I remember was that my floor mate poured shot after shot for me and the next thing I knew was that I was dancing with some unnamed boy. Well I think I remember his name. Eck, that was two years ago. Moving on...

I've watched three movies today. Yes, three movies. I'm that bored. I watched Bend It Like Beckham on cable this morning and I was sighing all over Jonathan Rhys Meyers from the moment he cropped up. Then I watched The Namesake with Kal Penn during lunch and then Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off after dinner with my mom and brother. Oh dear. I'm so bored. I'm supposed to be studying for my license. But I've accepted the fact that I'll never drive and just rely on the bus my entire life... until I marry someone who does drive. I'm kidding. I really should study for my license. But there's so much good books to read!

I've been reading the Tudor series by Philippa Gregory, and I am in love. Not with Henry VIII, ick (maybe if he looked like Jonathan Rhys Meyers...). He is such a tyrant. Now I know her novels aren't really historically accurate but there's no denying that the man was crazy. I requested The Queen's Fool from my local library but someone else has it so I also requested The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir, I hope it's good. I need something to whet my Tudor era appetite while I wait for The Queen's Fool.


Finally making my mint brownies tomorrow! Too bad I don't have green food coloring (or yellow, since I already have blue here), so they can't look like this

I wanted to make it nanaimo bar-style, with the brownie at the bottom, then the mint icing (I guess mine with either be variations of red and blue since that's all the food coloring I have here, or purple), then a chocolate ganache on top. I probably won't make the ganache, I like saving my chocolate chips for cookies. I'll try to post pictures!

Of Season Finales - Grey's Anatomy Season 7

I know Izzie and George should not be there. What the hell happened to Izzie anyway? I really liked her.

It's been a while, and I'm not really sure whether I fully remember the episode but I shall try my best. I have been watching Grey's Anatomy religiously ever since it came out (okay, I might have missed half a season or something, but I did re-watch everything... I think). If you've watched that epic finale last season, of course you would expect a finale just as amazing or more for this season.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.

I understand that the characters need to grow and whatnot, but there were too many babies this season. While I do adore baby Sofia Robbins Sloan Torres (she's gonna enjoy writing that) and baby Zola with Meredith and Derek, Christina's pregnancy was overkill. I knew she was bound to get pregnant. Too much babies and pregnancies! Are they going to make a Kepner-Stark baby the next season? How about a Lexie baby, a Bailey baby? Ugh. Just too much babies in one season.

Speaking of Christina, which happens to be one of my favorites - I cannot believe that Owen threw her out because she did not want his child. I mean, it's Christina for goodness' sake, just by knowing her you'd know she wouldn't want children. It goes against everything she is, and Owen is stupid for not realizing that. But then again, Christina should have gotten her tubes tied or something if she really did not want kids. And did they even talk about children before getting married? Sigh. Well the episode ended with her scheduling an abortion, and we'll see in Season 8 if she gets it or not, but I think she will. I hope she and Owen patch up things too. I like them together.

Alex prattled to Owen while he was drunk (and possibly still suffering from his job being taken away from him by his "girlfriend") that Mer had meddled in the Alzheimer study she and Derek were doing. She was going to get fired, but then the Chief learned that she did it for his wife, and he settled on suspending her instead. Of course Derek is furious and calls Meredith a bad mother when they have their spat, and he doesn't answer her calls or comes back home to her that night (and most likely for the nights to follow). I've always loved Mer and Der together, but Derek is such an ass sometimes. How dare he call Meredith a bad mother, when she has been trying so hard in preparing to be a good mom to Zola? Ugh. Derek, you need a slap. I understand that what Meredith did compromised his study, but she is still his wife, and that insult was very low. He frustrates me, really.

I hate Sloan in this season. He's just pure ego now. I did not like it when he "gave away" Lexie to Avery. It was rude and unnecessary. I sort of don't like Lexie with Avery either, but now, I don't want Sloan for her. Let's just leave Lexiepedia alone. I like her single.

Congratulations to April Kepner for being Chief Resident! I don't have anything against the Mercy West invaders (as my sister calls them), but I wanted the Chief Resident to be someone from the original cast. I did feel very sorry for her when Owen announced her as the winner, and nobody congratulated her. Poor April.

Teddy and her "husband" - the only thing that I loved in that finale. I knew they were bound to fall in love along the way when she offered to marry him so that he could hop on her insurance. I really thought she was going to be with Andrew and fly off to Germany (or was it Russia?) and they were going to have beautiful "spatzle-eating babies". I mean, I would. I'd go with Andrew, just saying.

More Bailey and her hunky nurse man! She needs a break. I don't want them to get all loopy and romantic but I wish they would show them more, not just at the end of the episode.

This season finale was weird in a sense that it didn't leave me wanting for more, like it did last season. Of course I'll watch the Season 8 premiere, but meh. Could have been better.

Of Season Finales - The Big Bang Theory Season 4

Warning: There are spoilers!

The Big Bang Theory

 

Image from moviecarpet.com.

I love this series, and I've been watching it religiously since my friend showed the Halloween episode from Season 1 in class. I like Big Bang because it's different from the usual series - it's not about teens in high school or teenagers/ young adults in general which I have to say, I am getting sick of (ehem ehem, One Tree Hill, The OC). It's about four nerdy scientists with very different personalities, and I just love all of them. Okay, I'm not going to ramble on about how I love each and every one and explain why, so I'm just going to talk about the season finale from last week.

I feel bad for Leonard because Priya won't introduce him to her parents, but then again I do feel Priya's pain because I have also been the same boat, although for different reasons. I have mixed feelings about Priya, I'm not too sure whether I want her to stay or leave for India. I really thought she was going to stay and live with Leonard. However, I really want Penny and Leonard to be together. Penny was stupid for dumping Leonard when he got serious, but once again I feel Leonard's pain because Penny might not have been ready. Well, we all know from that drunken night that she regrets leaving him.

Penny and Raj sleeping together was so predictable - I knew it was going to happen when the booze started flowing. I didn't like them sleeping together though, it was so weird. It's like the producers didn't know what to do with Raj so they made him sleep with Penny or something. And I really wish Raj would speak to women! Ugh, they better address that issue in the next season.

Howard's insecurities, I find, are a little too immature at this point. He should be happy for (Doctor) Bernadette. But then again, I understand his pain, but he doesn't need to lash it out on his fiancee. I know Howard's constantly teased by how he doesn't have a PhD and Bernie getting her PhD doesn't make it any easier for him, but he should grow up a little 'cause he's getting married! I understand that he feels that it should be him buying Bernie pretty things and being the breadwinner, and I think he should take his PhD too, if it irks him so much. Hell, if I was Howard's position and my fiance would have his PhD in Microbiology and shower me with Rolexes, I wouldn't mind.

NEED. MORE. SHAMY. I love Sheldon and Amy together, I cannot get enough of them. I love how Amy isn't as serious (?) as Sheldon, and I like how she gets along with the girls, Penny and Bernie. Sometimes I think that Amy genuinely likes Sheldon. I don't know, we'll have to see. I am dying for Season 5 already!

Next up: Grey's Anatomy Season 7

His Dark Materials I

I finished Pullman's science fiction fantasy trilogy last night and I was floored. The trilogy is an amazing read, it's right up there with Harry Potter. I have to admit, the beginning was a little slow and confusing for me, and that is why I cannot say that it is better than Harry Potter (I mean come on... nothing can top Harry Potter). But the last few chapters of every book in that trilogy... wow. Pullman definitely knows how to tug at the heartstrings of his readers. I cannot stop praising the series.

I love the second book, The Subtle Knife, the most. For one, I wanted the knife all to myself too (like the hundred people or so after it) but for me, it was the most adventurous-y. Now of course that would be false because the final book was the most adventurous-y, but there was something about the second book that I love so much. Maybe because it was the only book out of the series that I bought brand new, ha ha! I found the first and last book in thrift stores, each costing me less than a dollar and both in good condition. After I read the first book, I was itching to get my hands on the second one but I stopped myself from trekking to Chapters and buying it, for I had exams and assignments and manuscripts to be handed in, and I knew that I would not care for anything once I bought the book. I think it was one of my not so busy days that I wanted to buy some candy from Bulk Barn, and I marched to Chapters before getting myself some candy and bought The Subtle Knife and Darwin's On The Origin of Species. And lo and behold, I did not let that book out of my sight. I brought it with me to class (but I still had the decency to not read while lecture was ongoing, no matter how boring lecture was), while waiting for class, while doing laundry, while on the toilet, etc. You get the point. I think I finished the book from 4 days to a whole week, which was pretty impressive since I always had so much to do when I'm school, and I think I didn't ignore anything or anyone... well, I hope I didn't.

I didn't even mind that the cover art was juvenile (well, it is a children's book).

Image from  hdm.wikia.com

I carried that book with me everywhere. I started reading my Origin of Species at the same time too, but I had to put it down since I was recovering from the wrath of Genetics from the previous semester. Why'd I buy the Origin of Species you may ask? I am taking a third-year evolution course with friends in the fall and I didn't want to come back to school stumped and clueless, so I am trying to get ahead, even just a little.

I am going to stop here because I am short on sleep from waking up early to walk my brother to school this morning, but I shall continue!

Let's Get Technical! Or Technological... whatever

Wow, almost a month since my last entry. I would be lying if I said I've been busy. What have I been doing? I think my parents are taking advantage of my 4 month long summer vacation and my mild obsessive-compulsiveness and they're making me rearrange and clean the house.

I'm not professionally diagnosed with OCD. It's just a self-diagnosis. I just have a certain (sometimes side-eye inducing) preference for furniture arrangement and cleanliness.

But what have I been doing aside cleaning? Aha! I've been reading. I shall do an entry about that some other time. I've been reading and looking for work and watching television. Still no calls. I've been calling the employment agency every now and then asking if there's any job that they can hurl my way, and there's none, so far. I mean, I like being at home but I hate it too. And I need money. I need money for school, for books, for school...

University in a foreign place is definitely money-draining. I know I've been here for almost four years now, and I should call it "home", but meh. Still a foreign-ass place if you ask me.

On the topic of this blog, I need new headphones for my iPod. I've also been eyeing a wireless mouse and a task/ computer chair. I used to have the iPod headphones but they broke (what's new). I tried patching them up with electrical tape but that just irritated the hell out of my ear. Then the right earphone completely fell apart when I was in the library. Sigh. I have a Skullcandy one that he gave me for our first Christmas together, but I just feel iffy using the things he has given me, now that we're not together. Besides, that one is broken too, no sound comes out of one of the earphones. So I plan to buy this (while it's on sale)

Image from zdnet.com

They're on sale for around $10, which is alright. I mean, anything on sale is okay with me. The wires are pink which matches my iPod (yes, I am very matchy-matchy! Not really when it comes to clothes) and the headphones themselves are orange. Very girly and summery.

Image from geeky-gadgets.com

This is the Microsoft Mobile Wireless Mouse 4000. I don't know how much they are but the 3500's are around $35, so I'm guessing these are going to be a little more pricey. I don't have any issues with the track pad here on my laptop but a mouse would be really handy.

Finally, I'd really like a computer chair. The chair our residence gave us was so bad - its height was disproportionate to the table's height, so I spent many hours studying and crushing my chest against the table edge. Trust me, I've tried everything - from propping myself up with pillows and cushions to every position imaginable. The issue with computer chairs here is (aside from being expensive) is that they don't rise that much! I like studying with my feet dangling, I don't know why. I've found one computer chair that does that, but I didn't buy it because I was going to wait till September rolls around and Staples has their back-to-school sale (oh, the downside of waiting for sales all the time). My dad told me to get a leather chair so that it would be easy to clean. Another downside? Leather is expensive, man! But the chair I liked was leather and it was around $100-$130.

Image from build-gaming-computers.com

Why you so expensive?!

But this coming September, I really need one though. I can't imagine studying on that awful chair again.

Just Another Epic Dream

I've been having this dream twice now. It's really cool (well, I think it is, haha) and Harry-Potter themed, and I really wish it would happen in real life... maybe not, since in this dream Voldemort is chasing us through some sort of Vegas-like town.

On a side note, I really need to cut my nails. I can't type with such long awful nails!

My dream opens in a dingy hotel, in a Vegas-like town. Okay maybe a motel, because it looked very run down and not well maintained. It was a big place though, with lots of stories high. I was with people, mostly girls, I have never met before, but their faces looked very familiar, and we were huddling in the middle of the room we were staying in. The room we were in had ten or so beds in it, making it look like a camp room. Our things were stashed in a corner and the room overall was not well kept.

I don't remember what we were talking about, but it was serious business since everyone's faces looked glum and thoughtful. I knew we were being chased by Voldemort, and my best guess is that we needed a new hideout since he was hunting us down, big time. All I remember after that is that someone suggested that we head to Hogwarts and try to spy on Professor Snape and the rest of the Death Eaters. Apparently Voldemort's gang had made Hogwarts their head quarters.

Myself and three others decided to head to Hogwarts and try to figure out what they were doing while the others stayed and kept watch in the motel. I got on my broom with the other three and flew to Hogwarts at dusk in order to keep detection at a minimum. We hid in a cave dug out from a hill that faced the school. It started raining after a while, and then we saw Professor Snape head towards the cave we were hiding in. We didn't know how he saw us or how he knew we were there, but we panicked and we mounted our brooms and headed back to the hotel, knowing that we were seen already.

Hoping that we were not going to be followed, I told our group to lean to the left side while flying because the wind was also blowing in that direction, and we would reach the motel faster. It worked for a while, but the wind separated our group, and I ended up with this girl, let's call her Lilian for the time being. Now Lilian's family seemed to have owned the motel we were staying in because we entered the motel through the main entrance and she told security at the front to just let me in since I was with her.

In the time that we were gone, apparently a huge party started in the motel. And it was a fancy party for a motel, mind you (hence the reason why I still find it difficult to say if we were in a hotel or motel). Everyone was in heels and fancy dresses, and the men were donning tuxedos and some were even in masks, like it was a masquerade ball. Lilian was already sprinting in front of me and half-shouting at me, telling me to get ready for the party. I gave her a wild look but played along nevertheless. When I got to our room, one of the girls who got separated from us warned me that some of the people in party downstairs might be Death Eaters, so I have to be careful. I got dressed and got out of the room, and I remember I was wearing a red and black dress of some sort, and I saw this guy in the middle of the party looking up at me. I could tell in my dream that I like him.

And that is where my dream ends.

Isn't it so lame how it ended that way?! Ugh. The first time I had this dream, pretty much the same thing happened. Isn't it so cool though? It's like a modern Harry Potter... minus Harry Potter.